Sony Mobile

Sony’s Motion Shot Camera App Comes to All Xperia Smartphones

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 18, 2013 | 0 comments

Sony’s latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1 has been the exclusive home of Sony’s Motion Shot camera app. For those not familiar, the app allows you to capture a short movie by automatically rendering the movement into a single still image so that it appears to be a continuous picture. Now, thanks to a porting effort, anyone running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich and above can download and run the free app. This includes devices like the Xperia S, Xperia ZR, Xperia ZL, and even the Xperia Z Ultra.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition Receives Android 4.4.2

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 17, 2013 | 0 comments

Last week, something unexpected happened to Sony’s mobile line. Via the Google Play store, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play edition came up for sale with a $649 price tag. While exactly the same in the hardware department, this iteration of the device lacks any of Sony’s custom software and instead shipped with Android 4.4 Kitkat. While seeming like a good thing, this proved to have some problematic outcomes like the inability to uninstall apps which seems like a bizarre thing to ship a device with. Thankfully, Android 4.4.2 for the Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play edition fixes all of that.

Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL Gain Android 4.3 Build 10.4.B.0.569

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 16, 2013 | 0 comments

The wait for Android 4.3 for Sony’s latest fleet of smartphone is officially over. The Sony Xperia Z (C6603) and Xperia ZL (C6503) are gaining Android 4.3 thanks to the XDA developers center though it remains to be seen if it’s the final consumer build. While there likely won’t be anymore changes coming to the build, it’s always better to take caution with such downloads and potentially wait for the official release from Sony.

Big Update Coming to Sony Smartwatch 2 Build 1.0.B.3.46/1.0.A.3.8

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 10, 2013 | 2 comments

While many look towards the Cupertino camp to officially kick off the smart watch race, Sony is continuing to tinker away and improve their second iteration. Sony has announced a new firmware for the Sony SmartWatch 2 with build 1.0.B.3.46/1.0.A.3.8 that will bring some major changes to the Android based watch. Changes include larger fonts, new UI, and even a date to go along with the clock. After the jump, full list of changes await you.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition Arrives on Play Store

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 10, 2013 | 0 comments

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is not quite a smartphone with its 6.4-inch 1080 display and yet it’s not quite a tablet which generally offer a 7-inch display like the iPad Mini. If anything, the Xperia Z Ultra is designed to compete with devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note series which houses a 5.5-inch display. Now the device is making its way to the US market, thanks to Google.

Xperia M Dual – JellyBean Update to 15.2.A.2.5 (Updated)

by Jonathan Nolan | Nov 30, 2013 | 0 comments

Xperia M Dual Sim Image

Update time! Xperia M Dual users will be glad to see update 15.2.A.2.5 on their phones. Users had mentioned issues with auto-flash and low volume quality. Well it seems our friends over at Sony Xperia Care have been listening as this update gets straight to fixing things. With all of the KitKat talk, M Dual owners may have been wishing for more than JellyBean 4.2 but this update should keep users happy while the first round of KitKat updates are prepared. What’s else has changed? Read on…

Xperia M Update Available: 4.1 Version 15.1.C.2.8 (updated)

by Jonathan Nolan | Nov 14, 2013 | 13 comments

Good news Xperia M owners – there’s a new update. It is still Jellybean but there could be some new features and bug fixes nonetheless. This moves up from the previous version 15.1.C.1.17. Users are reporting changes to the launcher, camera, menu bar at the top of the screen and more. Read on to find out more about this update…

PlayStation App Now Available on iOS and Android

by Brien Bell | Nov 12, 2013 | 3 comments

The PlayStation App, Sony’s official mobile companion to PSN and the very-soon-to-be-released PlayStation 4, is now available for download, according to Polygon and various other outlets. You can find it on the iTunes App Store or Google Play.

Announced in February, the PlayStation App allows you to access your PSN Account on compatible mobile devices. From the app, you can add friends on PSN, send voice, image, and text messages to those friends, and–when the PS4 launches this Friday in North America–view game footage and livestreams shared by PlayStation 4 users.

Sony Receives 13 CES Innovations 2014 Design & Engineering Honoree Awards

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 12, 2013 | 1 comment

Sony may have a problems when it comes to marketing its products to consumers and conveying to them why they should buy a Sony but it doesn’t mean they face the same issue with critics. Today, the electronic giant was recognized with 13 International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Honoree Awards, including four Best of Innovations honoree awards. These include products like the attachable smartphone lens, the Cyber-shot QX10/100 and VAIO Flip PC. Phil Molyneux, president and COO of Sony Electronics who was on hand to receive the awards said:

We’re honored to have won the most Innovation Awards among a competitive field of great consumer electronics. We feel this year’s winning products represent significant breakthroughs in our design and evolution of the fast-changing CE industry. Sony will continue to offer new experiences in both productivity and play while always incorporating the best technologies from our display, imaging, and audio groups.

While in the US Sony has struggled to gain mainstream traction while competitors like Apple, Samsung, and Vizio have dominated the mobile and home theater space, the company continues to pump out solid products with inspiring designs and features. In fact, Sony’s mobile line of smartphone and tablets, married with their NEX and Cyber-shot series of cameras may just be some of the most innovative and refreshing products out in the market while companies like Samsung continue to pump out generic products. So what other products did Sony receive awards for those? The list awaits you after the jump.

Xperia L – Update to Jellybean 4.2 Version 15.3.A.0.26 (Updated)

by Jonathan Nolan | Nov 9, 2013 | 3 comments

The Xperia L has finally been updated, after been left quiet on the update front since May this year. Some users had began to doubt the update support for the device until now. Thankfully it has jumped to a newer version of Android too – Jellybean 4.2. Sony says to expect an updated user interface, new camera features and more. Read on to find out when, where and how.

Update – Xperia L 4.2 Jellybean Update Certified – 15.3.A.1.17.

Sony Announces ‘Privilege Movies’ for Mobile Devices, Gives You Free Movies

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 7, 2013 | 0 comments

If you have a Sony Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra, and/or Xperia Tablet, then listen up. Sony Mobile has announced a new app titled Privilege Movies for the given devices. The new app, powered by Sony Pictures, gives device owners access to six free films. Those films include 2012, Battle: Los Angeles, Django Unchained, Elysium, Men in Black 3, Premium Rush, Terminator 4, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Karate Kid, and Total Recall. One caveat is that not every country will have access to the free app. Let’s talk details.

KitKat on Xperia – Which Devices and When? (Updated)

by Jonathan Nolan | Nov 6, 2013 | 3 comments

Sony has finally released details of the KitKat and Jellybean updates… KitKat is coming to Xperia smartphones at last! We’ve been anxious about software updates since Sony initially teased us future upgrades. We know that in addition to the new KitKat 4.4, some devices will receive another injection of sweet Jelly Bean. Read on to find out which Xperias will be updated and more about what treasures KitKat brings.

Sony to Announce Android 4.3 and 4.4 KitKat Plans This Week

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 4, 2013 | 4 comments

With the announcement of Android 4.4, aka KitKat from Google, many began to look at their favorite Android smartphone maker for news. (Yes, I can state that since I run this site! But seriously, Sony smartphone sales are up nearly 40% so they’re doing something right). Sony who in the past has been slow at adopting new versions of Android and received appropriate flack for it has been getting better in the last year. Of course with the Android 4.4 KitKat, many not only wondered when they may receive that update, but they also wondered when they’d receive Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Luckily, Sony seems to be aware of this and has announced that they will have an announcement soon.

Sony Financial Results Q2 FY13, US Market Distance

by Jonathan Nolan | Nov 1, 2013 | 0 comments

Many of us here at SonyRumors have been watching Sony’s mobile strategy carefully and wondering what their next plans are, particularly, regarding the US. With the stellar success of the Xperia Z – a phone which ranks in the top three smartphones in over 20 markets by revenue, followed by the mammoth Xperia Z1 it has been an antagonizing wait for US consumers to see when the next hot Sony smartphone will come to US shores, or worse – if at all.

The company has just released it’s second fiscal results which tells us a lot more about what’s going on at the company and we can’t forget CEO Kaz Hirai’s unpopular announcement that the US was not a priority market at the moment and hinting at a reduced presence in the market. With a combination of CEO comments and fresh fiscal results we can start to see exactly why Sony is bailing the US and perhaps estimate when they might return. After the jump, the Q2 FY13 Sony financial results.

Sony Smartphone Sales Up Nearly 40%

by Sohrab Osati | Oct 31, 2013 | 2 comments

Sony has just announced their FY 2013 Q2 earnings report and smartphones continue to be a bright spot for the company. While other divisions have been a bit of a mixed bag, smartphone sales are up 39.3% compared to a year ago. Despite a lackluster effort in the US, Sony Mobile has continued to push hard in Europe and Asia with the company releasing a steady fleet of smartphones like the Xperia Z and Z1 and phablets like the Xperia Z Ultra. Just last year, Sony Mobile was responsible for ¥300.4 (billion) while this year, the division brought in ¥418.6 (billion), making it the companies highest performing division by far.