Sony Mobile

Additional Specs Leak on Sony Xperia D5103, Possibly the Xperia G

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 23, 2014 | 0 comments

Last week, we brought you leaked specs for the Sony Xperia D5103 which features a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and Adreno 305 graphics. Specifically, it would be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8226 which will drive the 720 x 1280 pixels display. Following that, another leak pointed towards a new model for Sony, the Xperia G, a mid-range Android smartphone with a dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM and a 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash. At the time, it was believed that these were not two different phones and in fact, one in the same.

Now, a new set of leaks have emerged, baring the Xperia D5103 codename with one big difference, a 5.2-inch display, versus the previously believed 4.8-inch display. Is Sony building a phone with two different display options?

According to Sony, “Something Extraordinary is Coming” (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 21, 2014 | 0 comments

If Sony is to be believed, than “something extraordinary is coming” is coming from the company’s growing mobile division. Building up to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona which kicks off next week, Sony has begun sending a teaser email to its customers with the mentioned tag line and a video which can be found after the jump. The preemptive email also depicts dancing and photography which fall in line with previous rumors about Sony focusing heavy on the optics of their upcoming flagship Android smartphone. It’s expected that during the MWC, Sony will release the Xperia Z2 (code named Sirius D6503) as the Xperia Z replacement with features like 4K video recording and 15.5-megapixels in 16:9 aspect ratio photography. For reference, Sony’s current flagship model, the Xperia Z1 is only capable of taking pictures at 8-megapixel in 16:9 mode. But that’s not all from Sony.

New Xperia M, Dual 4.3 Jellybean Firmware Appears (Update)

by Jonathan Nolan | Feb 21, 2014 | 12 comments

This pocket-friendly mid-tier device was released last August but has had few firmware updates since then. Even KitKat is being rolled out to premium smartphones so the Xperia M was due a fresh update, at least to the latest Jellybean.

Sony mentioned in the past on it’s blog that some of it’s phones would be upgraded from 4.1 to 4.3 which is still Jellybean. To see this and find out what Sony has in store for the update, read on.

Confirmed: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Rear Shell is Plastic

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 20, 2014 | 0 comments

The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is what some had previously referred to as the Xperia Z1 mini. Packing in many of the same features as the Xperia Z1, the Xperia Z1 Compact is designed to be a smaller and more budget friendly version of the Android flagship smartphone. Notable differences between the two phones include a smaller screen of 4.3-inch vs. 5-inch of the Xperia Z1 but it seems that it’s not all. When revealed at CES 2014, it seemed that while the Xperia Z1 Compact would be a more budget friendly version of the Z1, that it would in fact still offer the same premium finish as its flagship counterpart. Since units were not available for hands on time, many pictures from the event depicted a phone that offered the same glass backing as the Xperia Z1 which made the Xperia Z1 Compact all the better buy. Now, we can confirm that the Xperia Z1 Compact isn’t quite as premium as many had thought.

Mid Range Sony Xperia G Leaked, We Have Pics and Specs

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 19, 2014 | 0 comments

Let’s be honest, we can’t all afford flagship devices like the current Sony Xperia Z1 or its upcoming successor, the Xperia Z2. Better yet, sometimes we don’t need one (looking at you, mom and dad!). To that end, Sony also offers a mid-range of Android smartphones to cater to those with fewer needs. The latest one to join Sony’s mid-range is the Xperia G, but don’t think of the device as a slouch. Sony is is packing in some great features like a 4.8-inch HD display and NFC. After the jump, we divulge all the leaked specs from the Sony Xperia G.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 Pictures Get Leaked, Weight Revealed

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 18, 2014 | 9 comments

The saying that when it rains, it pours has a special meaning around here. Usually, when a Sony product is leaked, it’s only a matter of time before a fury of information is revealed about it. Early yesterday, we brought you the leaked specs for the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2, the companies next flagship tablet which boasts a more powerful processor with a lighter and thinner design. Now, new pictures have begun to circulate about the Xperia Tablet Z2 with confirm that the name will be as we’ve reported. It also seems that Sony will be offering the tablet in black and white though it remains to be seen which territories the color variants will be offered in.

The Xperia Tablet Z2 is also taking a cue from the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra and, Xperia Z1 Compact by featuring magnetic charging pins versus the plugin USB of its predecessor. Another missing piece of information had been the tablets weight. While we new it featured a thinner profile, it’s now believed that the Xperia Tablet Z2 will weigh in at 426g for the Wi-Fi model and 439g for the Wi-Fi+LTE model. In comparison, the current Xperia Tablet Z Wi-Fi edition weighs 495g. After the jump, we have a few more shots to share with you.

Third Point no Longer a Top 10 Sony Investor and Why This Could Be a Good Thing

by Jonathan Nolan | Feb 18, 2014 | 2 comments

Sony’s financial performance has recently been under scrutiny with its latest quarterly earnings call revealing several surprises. The PC business is being sold, the TV business is being separated from the core group with five thousand job cuts between those two announcements alone.

A filing released by the corporation on Feb 13th revealed that the influential Sony investor Third Point was not among the top ten shareholders. You may remember Third Point with outspoken frontman Daniel Loeb calling for drastic changes at the company during the past year.

Was does this mean for Sony Corp?

Leaked: Next Generation Sony Xperia Tablet Z2, We Have Specs

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 17, 2014 | 0 comments

With the Sony Xperia Tablet Z (pictured above) having been in the market for nearly a year, it was only a matter of time before we started to hear murmurs about a follow-up tablet. Now, new leaks point to what will likely be the next generation Sony Xperia Tablet Z2. Tablets, like smartphones at this point, have already matured, so don’t expect a shocking difference from one generation to the next. Still, it doesn’t mean that the Z2 won’t be a worthy upgrade with more RAM and a faster processor.

After the jump, let’s talk about the leaked Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 specs.

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Now Available for Sony Xperia T, TX, V, and SP

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 13, 2014 | 0 comments

If you’ve been craving to get something sweeter on your Xperia phone then listen up. Sony is officially releasing Android 4.3 Jelly Bean for the Xperia T, Xperia TX, Xperia V, and Xperia SP. While you can expect the usual performance enhancements and bug squashing, Sony has also made a series of UI changes and some major upgrades to their WALKMAN, Album, and Movies app. After the jump, we go over all the changes.

Sony Xperia D5103 Gets Leaked, Features Android 4.4 KitKat and Quad-Core Processor

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 12, 2014 | 0 comments

Hot on the heel of the leaked Sony Xperia Sirius D6503, likely to be the Xperia Z2, a new Sony Android smartphone has revealed itself in the GFXBench database. The Sony Xperia D5103, with the latter part being the internal model number, while powerful, will likely fall below their next flagship Xperia Z2 though it won’t be a slouch with a quad-core processor and the latest from Google, Android KitKat. So lets talk about the nitty gritty details.

Leaked Sony Xperia Sirius (D6503) Screenshots Point to a Sleek Walkman App

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 10, 2014 | 2 comments

Like all things Sony, as we get closer to the product’s release date, more and more begins to leak about the product. In the case of the Sony Xperia Sirius D6503, we’ve already learned an extensive amount of details about the next flagship smartphone, including its screen size, processor and internal memory capabilities. Earlier today, we also learned about the smartphone’s capability to record 4K video and capture 16:9 photos at 15.5-megapixels. Now, a newly leaked screenshot points to the phone’s Walkman app, which can be seen above. So what’s changed? Quite a few things that help bring a much refined look to the app when compared to the current app, running on the flagship Xperia Z1. Let’s talk details.

Sony Xperia Sirius D6503 (Xperia Z2) to Include 4K Video Recording and 15-Megapixel 16:9 Photos?

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 10, 2014 | 4 comments

It’s widely believed that in the coming months, Sony will announce the Xperia Sirius (D6503) Android smartphone. While there is still a lot that we don’t know about this phone, including what it’s final name will be (though it’s likely that this will be the Xperia Z2), one thing is clear: Sony is looking to further push the capability of photo and video in mobile. Thanks to leaked screenshots, it seems that the Xperia Sirius D6503 will give photo fans a few things to be happy about, including the ability to manually adjust photo and video settings alongside Sony’s ‘Superior Auto’ mode which will take the best picture possible. But that’s not all.

Official: Sony Selling VAIO PC Division

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 6, 2014 | 5 comments

Usually, rumors that spread about companies tend to manifest into reality or some form of it over a multi-month time span. However, the most recent rumor, regarding Sony selling off its VAIO PC business, is an entirely new beast. Only days after news about the sell off of the premium PC brand began circulate, has Sony come out during their Q3 2013 earnings report to confirm it all. Come Spring, Sony will cease their design, manufacturing, and selling of VAIO. After that, VAIO will be transferred/sold to Japan Industrial Partners. As we’d reported previously, it’s now widely believed that under Japan Industrial Partners, the VAIO brand will be pulled from nearly all territories, including Europe. JIP will begin to focus on Sony’s home turf of Japan though depending on market conditions and success of the brand, they could expand operations once again. Unfortunately as it is with deals like this, a series of layoffs will follow.

Sony to Exit eReader Business, Move Reader base to Kobo’s e-book

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 6, 2014 | 0 comments

Shortly after announcing that they plan to exit the PC business, Sony also revealed that the company will be exiting out of the eReader business. Despite having released Reader, the companies eReader prior to Kindle, Sony was never able to gain much market share after Amazon entered the market and was able to lower priced products. While not being able to compete with Amazon’s low priced Kindles, Sony was also squeezed out of the high end market, thanks to the iPad and eventually iPad mini. While exiting a business and dropping an entire product line traditionally takes some time, Sony’s time table for this transition is far more aggressive.

Sony 3rd Quarter Financial Results: PS4, Xperia Strong, TV Divest, PC Sold

by Jonathan Nolan | Feb 6, 2014 | 9 comments

The financial results for the past three months of Sony Corp. were released today, forecasting a net loss of 110bn yen ($1.1bn) for the financial year ending March. This a revision downward from a previous prospect of 30bn yen profit.

The company reported a significant boost to sales and operating income, lifting the stock price. PS4 and Xperia smartphone and tablet sales were strong, as expected. All segments reported increased year-on-year sales and operating revenue, except for devices.

Sony has bit the bullet and sold of it’s PC business and is pushing out the TV division to a wholly-owned subsidary. This leads to impairment charges and write-offs with 5,000 job cuts planned before the end of the 2014 financial year. The PC business is sold to Japan Industrial Partners Inc. to “enhance the autonomy of the business”.

Read on the for full story.