Sony Mobile

Sony Xperia M Update 15.4.A.1.9 Coming Globally in June (Update)

by Jonathan Nolan | May 29, 2014 | 1 comment

Exciting times for Sony smartphone owners, updates sure are getting faster. Xperia M users watch out for a pop-up in PC Companion / Bridge for Mac in the coming weeks with the label of update 15.4.A.1.9.

This update has just appeared over at the American firmware registration authority and there is reasonable jump in the build number – new features are coming! This has come up for both the C1904/C1905 models which covers all Xperia M users globally. This is the “4.3 feature release 2” that we’ve been following and waiting for.

Let’s take a closer look…

New Xperia ZL2 Spotted in the Wild, Expected for India

by Jonathan Nolan | May 28, 2014 | 0 comments

An elegantly-designed Xperia device seems to be coming as a successor to 2013s Xperia ZL. The updated model sports a 5-inch 1080p screen with 3GB of RAM, a 20.7MP powered by a 3000 mAh battery. It’s seen in white, black, and cyan. It may not be a new flagship, but it still packs some meaty specs nonetheless.

This model is not expected to be released internationally, but instead in “select markets”. The original ZL was released in India, and likely the updated ZL2 will follow suit. No release date is known yet but a summer launch seems likely.

Read on to see the full specs that we know so far and a large gallery of images.

Is the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet Coming to Verizon?

by Sohrab Osati | May 28, 2014 | 0 comments

According to the popular evleaks group, Sony is looking to bring their flagship Android tablet to Verizon. As you may recall, Sony last month accidentally published a photo of the Xperia Z2, the company’s newest Android smartphone, sporting a Verizon logo. While the mega cellphone carrier had no comments on the matter, Sony was quick to point out that the photo was purely for internal marketing purposes and was not indicative of a deal between the two companies. With that as a backdrop, is news about the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet running on Verizon a coincidence?

Let’s talk after the jump.

Sony Sold 39m Smartphones in 2013, Aims for 50m in 2014

by Jonathan Nolan | May 15, 2014 | 3 comments

The detailed results for 2013 show that the Japanese corporation sold 39m Xperia smartphones in the past year. That is a 6m jump on 2012. The popularity of devices such as the Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact stirred consumer appetite and helped the brand achieve a broader reach globally, particularly in North America where Sony has renewed its interest. Bigger is better for Sony as they have now set their sights on 50m units in 2014. What delicious smartphones will they release next to make that happen?

What else can we tell from Sony’s results from 2013?

Sony Financial Results for FY13 – A Loss Despite Strong Sales of PS4, Smartphones

by Jonathan Nolan | May 15, 2014 | 0 comments

Sony just released the full details of its performance for the fiscal year FY13. Sales and operating income are up on last year yet net profit has been eroded, with a loss of ¥130bn / $1.27bn / €929m. The Japanese corporation pointed to a steep fall in disk-based media sales in Europe and further costs related to escorting the PC business out of the corp. as the main culprits for the net loss.

Of the three priority segments for the company, the PS4 unit sales continue to impress with a sharp rise in software sales also. Xperia smartphones came in 6m units up on FY12 but a little short of full year targets. Imaging products were flat, but very profitable.

Read on for a closer look at each segment and key unit sales.

Lifelog App Expands Support for SmartBand Beyond Sony Smartphones

by Sohrab Osati | May 12, 2014 | 8 comments

The Lifelog app from Sony, in conjunction with the SmartBand SWR10, helps bring your daily activity to life. With an interface that Sony calls “colorful, intuitive, graphic and animated,” the Lifelog app, much like similar offerings from Fitibit helps you set goals to stay active and track your progress. Beyond activity, Lifelog also ties into your social life and displays photos and music, making it stand apart from traditional fitness devices and apps. Now, Sony is prepared to expand that experience beyond their own Smartphones.

Now let’s talk expanded devices.

Instagram App Launches for Sony SmartWatch 2

by Sohrab Osati | May 7, 2014 | 0 comments

The Sony SmartWatch 2 has a new heavy hitter app that’s joining the wearables growing array of native apps. Created and maintained by Sony (not Facebook), the Smart extension for Instagram brings notifications and friends comments to your wrist. In a crowded environment? Fear not, as activities like new photos will grab your attention via a simple vibration on your wrist. Unlike the native Instagram app, this “Smart extension” is just that and does not allow for creation or manipulation of photos as you’d expect.

Sony Corp. Full Year Financial Results 2013 – Both a Profit and a Loss

by Jonathan Nolan | May 5, 2014 | 0 comments

The full year results for the fiscal year FY13 are in and Sony is suffering a loss accounted to the PC business and a fall in demand for disks. Sales and operating income are up on last year yet net profit has been eroded, with a loss of ¥130bn / $1.27bn / €929m. Sony cites that costs related to the PC business continue to drag profit downward as they prepare to wind down their VAIO division and sell off the brand.

Read on for the full story.

Vodafone Australia Introduces Updates to Existing 4.3 Software (Updated)

by Jonathan Nolan | May 3, 2014 | 3 comments

We’ve been keeping an eye on software updates around here, hints of KitKat and beyond, but there are still rounds of 4.3 rolling out too.

Some hints (here and here) have been coming out about an update to the already released 4.3 uplift, and users here and over at Xperia Care have been crying out for fixes to a few bugs. Some of the downsides of the 4.3 uplift seem to include a drag on performance, some freezing and some models can’t install the new Xperia themes – despite being a feature we were told to expect.

The latest post from Vodafone Australia gives plenty of detail of what to expect, but there is still some ambiguity. Read on for the details.

Sony Xperia Z2 for Verizon a Real Thing or Just a Mock-up?

by Sohrab Osati | May 2, 2014 | 4 comments

A curious image (seen above) has been circulating the past 24 hours with Sony’s flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z2, sporting a logo from Verizon. Till this day, Sony has had a less than meaningful presence in the US and only recently has the company partnered with T-Mobile to offer their smartphones through a carrier. A deal with Verizon, the nations largest carrier, would go a long way for Sony and help bring attention to their smartphone that they cannot get in another other way. The image, which was accidentally posted by none other than Sony, seems to hint at just that but according to Sony, it’s just a mock-up of what the future could bring. Their statement:

Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet to Arrive in Canada on May 7th

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 30, 2014 | 0 comments

Canada is already set to get the Sony Xperia Z2, the company’s next flagship Android smartphone through Bell in May. Unfortunately for fans in the US, we’ll have to settle for an unlocked version sometime this summer which will likely garner a price point north of $700. The tablet front, however, is something entirely different. Sony has announced a May 3rd release date for the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet in the US with pre-order spots already open. Now, the company is following through and bringing the tablet to Canada as well with just a few days difference.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition Receives $200 Price Cut, Now $449

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 30, 2014 | 0 comments

If you’ve been eyeing yourself a phablet because you can’t decide if you want a smartphone or a tablet then listen up. As of today, you can get the massive 6.4-inch Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition for $200 less. For those playing at home, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra offers a 6.4-inch 1080p (1920 x 1080) Triluminos display on a Qualcomm 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, with 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, and 4G LTE connectivity. Other noteworthy specs from this mega phone, which dwarfs the Samsung Galaxy Note series, include an 8-megapixel Exmor RS sensor which lacks flash and a front-facing 2-megapixel camera. What made the Google Play Edition of the Xperia Z Ultra different than Sony’s own version was the bump to Android 4.4 Kitkat and a lack of the bundled software from Sony which were in place, swapped out for software from Google.

Sony Xperia Z2 to Launch in US With No Carrier Support

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 28, 2014 | 4 comments

Sony has officially confirmed that the highly coveted Xperia Z2 with 4K video recording will be launching in the US come this summer. While no exact time frame was given, Sony was keen on using “several months” in their statement, leading us to believe that it’s more likely a July and beyond timeframe and not June for their Android smartphone.

The Sony Xperia Z2 was already released in most of Asia during March and April and is expected to be released in May in Canada. So let’s talk carrier support.

Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet Price and Release Date Revealed

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 24, 2014 | 6 comments

The Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is, dare we say, kind of a sexy thing. While maintaining even a thinner profile than its predecessor at .25-inches and weighting in at 15.5 ounces, it still manages to pack quite a punch. How much you ask? I’m glad you asked. Despite such a thin profile that puts the Android tablet on par with the iPad Air, the 10.1-inch Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet also offers 2.3 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801 and 3GB RAM. Like Apple, Sony will offer the Xperia Z2 Tablet in a Wi-Fi only model and Wi-Fi + LTE. Though Sony has yet to announce a specific carrier as their partner, the Z2 Tablet was just recently approved by the FCC for LTE support on AT&T’s network so there may be our owners. With approval out of the way by the FCC, all that remains is the launch date for it.

Sony SmartWatch 2 Now Boasts 400 Apps, Allows for Easy Customization

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 22, 2014 | 2 comments

While Samsung has just released their first smart watch with little traction and rumors continue to swirl around what Apple may do with the ‘iWatch,’ Sony has been busy tweaking and improving the SmartWatch 2. As the name suggestions, this is the company’s second foray into the portable arena and today, the company has announced a major milestone. The Sony SmartWatch 2 officially boasts over 400 apps which include the likes of Facebook and Twitter among more “generic” features/apps like a clock, weather, stopwatch, phonebook, and SMS, to name a few. Along side this milestone, Sony is releasing a major update that will bring a big smile to owners of the SmartWatch 2.