Sony Mobile

Sony Presents Xperia T2 Ultra, T2 Ultra Dual and E1, E1 Dual

by Jonathan Nolan | Jan 14, 2014 | 3 comments

Today Sony has announced two new Xperia smartphones also with dual-sim variants that are aimed for China, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific rim.

The Xperia T2 Ultra is a LTE mid-range smartphone sporting a 6″ screen with a 720 x 1080 pixel display, 13 MP camera including the powerful Exmor RS sensor, running on a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm MSM8928 Quad Core processor.

The Dual model matches those specs and adds the expected second sim slot.

The E1 and Dual variant comes forward with “The most powerful smartphone processor in its class” according to Sony. Besides admirable specs at this price point, it also features a 100 dB loudspeaker.

Read on to find out the full details.

VAIO Windows Phone, US Mobile Expansion, Global Ambitions, New Flagship at MWC

by Jonathan Nolan | Jan 13, 2014 | 5 comments

We’ve only crossed into 2014 but things are really heating up on the Sony Mobile front.

Sony has finally confirmed in an interview recently that they are in talks with Microsoft about offering Windows Phones. This would broaden Sony Mobile’s smartphone catalogue from the current Android-only range. In addition to this, a rumour suggests that the company would present Windows Phones under the VAIO brand and not the usual Xperia label.

The US and China should be seeing much more of Sony Mobile this year. The T-Mobile Z1 S was just the start it seems, as Sony Corp. CEO Kaz Hirai has revealed that the company will be investing big money in the US and China markets in 2014. Further, Hirai disclosed even higher targets in 2014 and 2015 in the mobile division. 2014 might be the year Sony Mobile goes global.

There is more ‘Sirius’ news too. Sony declared before CES in a new year message that it was not yet time for a new flagship, but there are rumours now that Mobile World Congress in February might produce an awesome mobile device. The rumours tell it is US-bound.

Read on to find out the details.

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact to be Offered in Multiple Colors (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 11, 2014 | 1 comment

To the delight of those in the US, Sony during its CES 2014 press conference announced a continued partnership with T-Mobile, the 4th largest carrier in the US. Under this continued effort between the two companies, T-Mobile will be getting the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact. Previously referred to as the Xperia Z1 mini or ‘Amami,’, the Z1 Compact will offer everything its bigger brother has with a slight twist. Like the iPhone 5c, the Xperia Z1 Compact will come in a series of colors that will take the powerful phone and give it a more fun personality. After the jump, you can see our video preview of the Xperia Z1 Compact with colors.

PSA: Sony Core Not a Product but Sony SmartBand Is… Let Us Explain

by Allegra Osati | Jan 9, 2014 | 0 comments

Here at CES 2014, Sony introduced a new wearable device that combines portability and connectivity to offer a unique logging experience for your daily life. The term that the press ran with for this device was the Sony Core… which is only partially correct. Let us explain after the jump.

Sony QX100 and QX10 Comparison (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 7, 2014 | 0 comments

While not new for CES 2014, Sony was in full promotion mode of their attachable smartphone camera lenses which include the Cyber-shot QX100 and QX10. While the two lenses offer many similar functionalities, like being able to sync to an iOS or Android device and act as an improved lens with local storage and battery, there are certainly differences between the two models. While tech specs certainly differ between the two models, size is another varying factor. After the jump, we compare the QX100 to the QX10 and help give you a better sense of the attachable lens sizes.

Sony Unveils Xperia Z1 Compact, Brings Z1S to T-Mobile US (Updated)

by Jonathan Nolan | Jan 7, 2014 | 0 comments

News at last! We finally got to see what the Xperia ‘Amami’ is, as Sony unveiled a mini version of the Z1 flagship at CES named the Xperia Z1 Compact. Details of this mysterious ‘mini’ version have been leaking for a number of weeks. The Xperia Z1 Compact is a glossy, stunning powerhouse in a more petite form factor of only 127 x 64.9 x 9.5 mm.

Perhaps even more surprising than the Z1 Compact was Sony’s committment to the US market, presenting a variant of the Z1 flagship known as the Z1S, exclusive to T-Mobile due and is due in the US later this month.

Read on for the full specs, dates and lesser known features…

The Xperia Z1 f Display Superior to the Z1 Flagship?

by Jonathan Nolan | Jan 6, 2014 | 0 comments

Is the current flagship being upstaged by a non-flagship?

The mini version of the Z1 flagship, Xperia Z1 f recently became available in Japan. An international version is widely expected to become available soon, possibly revealed very shortly at CES. This international version is expected to be the Z1 s and the only difference from the Japanese launch version is likely global network compatibility.

Sony fans in Japan have been comparing the Z1 and it’s mini brother to see if Sony has improved on anything. They have, the display it seems. But they may have enhanced the screen too much to remain just the mini version. Images from owners suggest a striking display superiority of the mini…over it’s larger, flagship brother… Is the difference consistent?

Check out the other comparisons and see for yourself…

First Xperias of 2014: ‘Sirius’, ‘Canopus’, ‘Falcon’ and ‘Amami’ (Updated)

by Jonathan Nolan | Jan 2, 2014 | 17 comments

CES is upon us and it’s almost time to see which of the rumoured devices will finally become available to us.

The star of the show could be a mini version of the reigning flagship the Z1. It has undergone some design (and name) updates since it’s debut in Japan but the mini version to the powerhouse Z1 could be shown off at CES in Las Vegas. It’s a 4.3″ screen with a resolution of 720 x 1280p fuelled by a quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400. This will be the ‘Amami’.

The 2013 fleet will get an update as the Xperia E and E Dual will be updated to the E1 and E1 Dual as seen when passing through the FCC in the US. This appears to be the mysterious ‘Falcon’.

There are two more rumoured smartphones incoming, codenamed ‘Sirius’ and ‘Canopus’ according to one reliable source. What are these devices?

Read on to find out the details…

A New Direction for Sony Mobile in 2014 (Updated)

by Jonathan Nolan | Jan 2, 2014 | 2 comments

It’s January at last – the new smartphone season has begun and Sony must be close to revealing its plans. The first date in the calendar is the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from the 7th-11th. It was this time last year that the Japanese company unleashed the Xperia Z to the world and walked out with nearly every smartphone award available.

Sony may be taking a different approach to a few things this year however. Rumours are coming in of at least two major changes to Sony’s strategy this year. It seems that the company may be preparing to release smartphones on a different OS in 2014, breaking from its Android-exclusivity. There is also news on their next flagship plan thanks to a holiday message posted on their website.

Which OS and which flagship? Read on to find out more…

Sony to Launch 2-in-1 Flash Drive for File Transfers Between a PC and Android Devices

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 31, 2013 | 5 comments

If you’ve ever wanted to easily transfer a file between your PC (Mac, Windows) and Android device, or files between your Android smartphone and tablet that didn’t rely on the cloud, then you’ve been out of luck till now. Sony has announced a new dual 2-in-1 flash drive which houses a micro USB port on one end and a full-size USB port on the other end. This new dual USB drive will allow you to easily transfer files between devices without the need of the cloud, Bluet00th, or Wi-Fi. Now let’s talk details, including price and availability.

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Now Available for Sony Xperia Z, ZL, ZR, and Tablet Z

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 30, 2013 | 0 comments

Good news for owners of the Sony Xperia Z, ZL, ZR, and Tablet Z. Sony has officially begun rolling out Android 4.3 Jelly Bean for your device with a few performance tweaks and new UI touches. In addition, Sony has released updated their Smart Social Camera and Walkman apps to take advantage of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. After the break, you’ll find a list of changes to expect.

PlayMemories Mobile App for iOS and Android Received Major Update

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 20, 2013 | 0 comments

After announcing plans to give the QX10 and QX100 a host of improvements via a new firmware update come this January, Sony released a new update for the PlayMemories Mobile app. The app which is available for iOS and Android devices is required since the lenses lack their own screen. So what does PlayMemories Mobile app version 4.0 bring? Lets talk details.

PlayStation Mobile Compatible Device List

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 20, 2013 | 0 comments

Yesterday we ran a piece on 9 new countries that are receiving the PlayStation Mobile store. For those not familiar, PlayStation Mobile is an effort on Sony’s part to expand the reach of the PlayStation brand beyond official PlayStation consoles and into the mobile world. In order for a device to be able to have access to the PlayStation Mobile store which includes indie and classic PSone games, the device in question must be PlayStation Certified. After the jump, the list of PlayStation Certified devices await you.

New Firmware for Sony QX10 & QX100 to Bring Full HD Video Capture and Improved ISO

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 19, 2013 | 0 comments

Come this January, Sony will be releasing a new firmware update for the Sony QX10 and QX100 attachable external lenses for iOS and Android smartphones. The new firmware update will bring with it a host of improvements which include a higher ISO for better shots in the dark. Video fans will also be happy to note that both lenses will get the ability to record full HD video (1o80p) versus the current 720p. After the jump, lets talk details.

Sony Expands PlayStation Mobile Store to 9 New Countries

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 19, 2013 | 0 comments

The PlayStation Mobile Store is to compatible Android devices, what the PlayStation Store is to official PlayStation devices. Conceived a few years ago, the PlayStation Mobile store allows for the purchase of smaller mobile games that run on PlayStation Certified devices like Sony’s Xperia line of smartphones, tablets, and even the PlayStation Vita. When initially launched, Sony even planed to bring the store and its content to iOS though those plans seem abandoned at this point.

Now, Sony is expanding the store to 9 new countries which can be found after the jump.