Sony Mobile

Sony Mobile Announces Xperia Ion HSPA, Drops 4G

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 13, 2012 | 0 comments

It’s crazy to think that Sony first announced and showed off the Xperia Ion at the 2012 CES. The AT&T exclusive phone would be Sony’s first foray into 4G LTE territory while offering other goodies like a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 12-megapixel camera, and Gingerbread which will be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich this summer. Of course, after 6 months, the phone has yet to materliaze but that hasn’t stopped Sony from announced a semi followup to the flagship phone.

Just announced today, the Sony Xperia Ion HSPA packs every single feature that can be found on the Xperia Ion, expect the 4G modem which gives the device 4G LTE capabilities. The Xperia Ion HSPA is instead aimed for countries that lack 4G networking and will instead rely on 3G. No word yet on the phones availability but seeing how it was announced today, expect a shipping time of 5-7 months from now.

After the jump ~~Apple~~ Sony’s video promotion, highlighting the Xperia Ion HSPA.

Sony Offers Free PS3 or PS Vita with Purchase of VAIO Computer

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 12, 2012 | 1 comment

If you’re starting to think about the up coming college semester, then Sony’s most recent promotion might help you decide on the computer thats right for you. Starting today, Sony is running a new back to school promotion that offers you a free PlayStation 3 (160GB) or PlayStation Vita (Wi-Fi) with the purchase of a VAIO computer. Not all VAIO computer are eligible though pricing on eligible notebooks start at around $750 and build from there. If you already have a PS3 and/or PS Vita but are still looking to get in on the action, Sony has other promotional offers as well, including $200 of PlayStation Gear. More on that, after the jump.

PlayStation Suite Becomes PlayStation Mobile, Helps Transition the PlayStation Brand for Life After Consoles

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 11, 2012 | 3 comments

On the surface, one of the lesser announcements during the 2012 E3 Sony press conference was the renaming of PlayStation Suite to PlayStation Mobile. The Android-powered initiative is designed to bring the PlayStation brand to smartphones and tablets by offering PlayStation One games (and potentially PS2 and PS3 titles way in the future) to would-be gamers. Sony is also expected to bring the service to the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, allowing games developed for the platform to be playable on their consoles and Android powered devices. Sony also hopes that the initiative will build positive awareness for the PlayStation brand and bring mobile owners to their main consoles.

With PlayStation Suite being renamed to PlayStation Mobile, many assumed that it might either be a simple legal maneuver or better branding of the platform —which it is. However, more importantly, this stands as a true realization of the PlayStation brand and the direction its headed. Many assume that console gaming as we know it will die in the future, especially if we consider handheld gaming devices like the PSP and PS Vita. As smartphones get more and more powerful by the year and their adoption rate continues to skyrocket, there will be a time (and some might argue that we are there already) that a device like the PS Vita won’t be needed. With your phone being able to make calls, get thousands of apps, take beautiful pictures, and get more powerful for gaming, the future is grim for dedicated handhelds. This rule of course also applies to Nintendo and also sheds light on why Microsoft never entered the category.

Much like Sony Ericsson was renamed to Sony Mobile to help you get a understanding for the brand, simply by its name, Sony has also renamed their new platform to PlayStation Mobile. This new naming scheme will easily help give the brand direction by letting it be known that its PlayStation content for mobile devices, unlike PlayStation Suite which was vague at best. More importantly, with the lifespan of handhelds being numbered, Sony knows that it might only be a matter of time before their dedicated console might be transitioned to your smartphone that can stream to your television or more likely, a box with cloud access. Of course, such a move won’t happen with the PlayStation 4 but with the PS5, it seems almost certain.

With the name PlayStation Mobile, Sony is now helping condition the market and consumers that the PlayStation brand is not dedicated to just something at home. With PlayStation Mobile, the PlayStation brand will now transition to mobile devices and eventually the cloud, escaping its current landscape of just being at home.

Sony Mobile Sees ‘Hardware Innovation’ as Savior

by Sohrab Osati | May 30, 2012 | 31 comments

Sony Mobile Chief Marketing Officer, Steve Walker knows that the ailing electronic giant has a long way to go to establish itself as a dominant player in the mobile wars in which Apple and Samsung own nearly all the market share and profits that go along with them. Mr. Walker believes that the first phase for Sony which is now behind them was to separate themselves from Sony Ericsson.

“With Ericsson, we were affiliated with the rest of the Sony group. Now, we’re fully integrated.”

Walker went on to talk about the integration and the roll the Xperia phones play with services like PlayMemories Online which can share your photos across a number of Sony devices:

“Being fully integrated makes a big difference. You don’t need to release something ‘exclusive’ to grab a customer’s attention, you have to offer a connected experience.”

With Sony beginning to integrate their services across their products, the company sees hardware innovation as the next step to battle the likes of the iPhone and Galaxy S. After the jump, Mr. Walker talks about the innovation needed.

Sony Mobile Announces the Waterproof Xperia go. We Have Specs and Pics

by Sohrab Osati | May 30, 2012 | 8 comments

Coming as a surprise, Sony Mobile today has announced the Xperia go, a mid-range Android smartphone with a twist. Unlike the Xperia ion and Xperia S which provide high end specs, the Xperia go instead comes with a standard 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display, 1 GHz NovaThor U8500 Dual-core Cortex A9, and 5-megapixel camera with 16x digital zoom, and LED flash. Ice Cream Sandwich fans will be disappointed by the Android Gingerbread OS but Sony has promised Android 4.0 action in the near future for the newly-announced phone. Sony has also yet to provide any information regarding release date beyond Q3, price, and carrier partners. We do know that once the Xperia go launches, would-be owners can choose between black, white, and yellow.

Oh and the twist we talked about? How about a water- and dust-proof phone with a scratch-resistant screen? That’s right, the Xperia go is part of a rare breed of phones that will launch with a manufactured waterproof coding, allowing it to be washed off with your faucet in case you drop it in a bag of flowers as Sony would want you to believe. Of course more realistically, it means the Xperia go will work when you accidentally drop it in the toilet bowl or when you decided to jump in the pool with your clothes on, forgetting that your phone was in your pocket. Not only is this a unique selling point for Xperia go in the glut of Android phones, but this will also help owners save a lot of money where previously, if they had gotten their phone wet, they would have had to buy their next phone at full price had they been in a contract.

After the jump, additional specs, pictures, an official press release, and a promo video highlighting some Xperia go features await you.

Sony Xperia PLAY to Miss Android 4.0 ICS

by Sohrab Osati | May 25, 2012 | 21 comments

Just as Sony can giveth, the company can taketh away and they’ve done just that with the Sony Xperia PLAY. Previously known as the PlayStation Phone, Sony had promised that their entire range of 2011 smartphones would be updated to the latest OS from Google. Now, Sony has confirmed that the Xperia PLAY will indeed miss Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and probably any further OS releases from Google. The news comes a bit late in the game as the gaming focused smartphone was inline to receive the update in just a few weeks, after months of internal testing. The reasoning however seems less sinister and more to do with the toll that ICS puts on hardware. After the jump, Sony lays out their reasoning.

Sony Updates the VAIO S with Intel Ivy Bridge Processors. We Have Specs

by Sohrab Osati | May 16, 2012 | 3 comments

Spring cleaning is always fun when its from the computer maker of your choice. While prices tend to stay the same or sometimes even drop, the VAIO from just a day ago is instead reborn with new specs inside, ready to be unleashed on your Facebook and YouTube habits. The Sony VAIO S 13-inch and 15-inch are no different as we’ve received word from Sony about this year’s Spring update, which includes Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 or Core i7 processors. Lets talk details after the jump.

Sony Xperia S, P and sola Gain MasterCard PayPass Ready

by Sohrab Osati | May 11, 2012 | 2 comments

MasterCard PayPass Ready is the credit card companies attempt at taking on NFC (near field communication) payment systems head on by creating a standard system. Smartphones and other devices which are MasterCard PayPass approved will be able to with a simple hover near a capable register to pay for your purchases without the need of taking out a credit card and actually swiping. To gain MasterCard’s approval and allowance of using their seal of approval on your company website and presumably product box, devices must first be tested by a MasterCard-accredited laboratory to ensure devices are functionally reliable and secure. To date, 17 mobile devices have made the cut with phones from Nokia and RIM. Now, Sony Mobile has entered the mix as well with three devices of its own.

Sony Mobile to Drop Old Sony Ericsson Logo?

by Sohrab Osati | May 9, 2012 | 22 comments

It wouldn’t be Sony without a leak showing off their products weeks or months in advance. In our latest case, a new Sony Xperia smartphone picture seems to have leaked, dubbed the ST26i. What’s most interesting about this particular leak however isn’t a new handset from Sony despite the company just announcing the Xperia GX and SX. Instead, all eyes should focus on the devices back which no longer houses the Sony Ericsson logo, pictured below. Instead, the device simply states Xperia on the back and Sony on the top front.

It’s still unclear if this is just a prototype or a true indication of where the company is headed. Of course, Sony will need a lot more than logo changing to get back into the mobile race but that’s a whole other topic.

Sony Announces LTE Xperia GX and Xperia SX. We Have Specs and Pics

by Sohrab Osati | May 9, 2012 | 0 comments

Despite the Sony Xperia Arc never officially coming to the US and Xperia S still in limbo for a US release, Sony has announced the Xperia GX and Xperia SX for Japan. Despite a name change, the Xperia GX is the successor to the Xperia Arc, Sony’s former flagship phone in the land of the rising sun. With the new name, Sony can now better fit the device in their current name scheme which includes smartphones like the Xperia ion, Xperia S, Xperia P, and Xperia U while their tablet strategy consists of the Tablet S and Tablet P. So what has Sony included in the Xperia GX to keep it as their flagship device? How about a brand new 13-megapixel camera with CMOS sensor to star things off with which of course can record in 1080p. Set to ship with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor will keep things smooth for you. Other Xperia GX specs include:

4.6-inch (720 x 1196) Display
16GB Internal Memory
Rumored Processor (MSM8960 S4 Snapdragon)
3G/4G LTE
Bluetooth 4.0
HDMI Out

Seeing how this phone is for Japan only, infrared connectivity, mobile wallet and a mobile TV will of course be included as well, giving us Westerners an idea of what the future is like. After the jump, lets talk about the Xperia SX and additional pictures.

Sony Xperia ion to be Available in the United States in June?

by Sohrab Osati | May 8, 2012 | 20 comments

While the Sony Xperia ion was shown off at CES, Sony’s first dip into 4G LTE technology, no official release date was given. Featuring a 4.6-inch display (1280 x 720), 12.1-megapixel camera, and 1.5GHz dual-core CPU with 1GB RAM, the ion, exclusive to AT&T was destined to be the companies flagship phone for the better part of 2012. With Summer nearing, many have expressed their doubts on Sony being able to deliver the phone in a timely fashion, especially in the wake of the continued success of the iPhone 4S and the newly announced Samsung Galaxy S3. Now, thanks to a Google Ad by Sony Mobile, all indications point to a June timetable and exclusivity with AT&T.

Sony, Gameloft, MLG Team Up For Xperia Mobile Gaming Arena

by Jan Hutchings | May 4, 2012 | 0 comments

Earlier today, Gameloft announced that they are partnering with Sony Mobile Corporation and Major League Gaming (MLG) to create the very first mobile platform competitive league called the Xperia Mobile Gaming Arena.

The MLG is currently the world’s biggest competitive video game league; and with this new partnership with Sony and Gameloft, they are getting ready to bring an unprecendented competitive smartphone gaming platform. The Xperia Mobile Gaming Arena events support both iOS and Android platforms and will launch with Gameloft’s premiere first person shooter Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation. Competitive events have offer winners more than $10,000 in prizes. All competition details, scores and rankings are accessible via www.majorleaguegaming.com/mobile .

Peter Farmer, Head of Marketing for North America, Sony Mobile Communications had this to say about the Xperia Play:

“From the launch of Xperia PLAY, the first smartphone to bring console-like gaming to smartphone, to now the Xperia Mobile Gaming Arena, the first-of-its-kind competitive platform for mobile gamers, we are committed to bringing the best mobile entertainment experiences to our customers,”

Farmer also commented on Sony’s new partnership with MLG and Gameloft to bring Xperia Mobile Gaming Arena to the mainstream and hardcore gaming community.

“Bringing together MLG’s authority in competitive gaming, Gameloft’s blockbuster game titles and Sony Mobile’s immersive mobile entertainment experience, the Xperia Mobile Gaming Arena is sure to deliver a new level of mobile gaming for competitors.”

To participate in the Xperia Mobile gaming Arena, gamers simply link their MLG and Gameloft accounts, play a featured Xperia(TM) Mobile Gaming Arena title and their ranking is automatically tallied on the Xperia Mobile Gaming Arena leaderboards. For now, the only game supported is Gameloft’s Modern Combat 3; however, additional competitive titles will be rolled out in the coming months.

Stay tuned to SonyRumors for more information on the Xperia Mobile Gaming Arena in the coming weeks.

Sony Announces VAIO T13 and T11 Ultrabooks. We Have Specs and Pics

by Sohrab Osati | May 2, 2012 | 4 comments

Teased during CES 2012, Sony has finally announced the VAIO T13 and T11 Ultrabooks for the Europe with a June release date. Taking a cue from Apple’s MacBook Air, Ultrabooks are designed to offer sufficient performance while the main emphasis relies on portability and battery life. As the names suggest, the VAIO T13 houses a 13.3-inch (1366 x 768) display and weighs in at 1.6kg (3.53lbs) while the VAIO T11 comes with an 11.6-inch display though Sony has left our the resolution and weight. Both units also come with Sandy Bridge Intel Core i3 processors and optional hybrid hard drives. After the jump, lets talk specs and pictures.

Sony Releases New Xperia PLAY Firmware for Verizon

by Sohrab Osati | May 1, 2012 | 20 comments

Seemingly out of the blue, Sony has released a new Xperia PLAY firmware, previously thought as the PlayStation Phone. The new firmware which build on the current Android 2.3 Gingerbread build takes the phone to Android 2.3.4 by giving it continuous autofocus while recording in 720p. To make the act of taking photos even easier, Sony has now assigned the right trigger button as the camera shutter key. Curiously, this Xperia PLAY firmware is only for Verizon owners despite the phone being available on AT&T as well. Other things to look forward to are new Verizon apps like VZ Navigator and Verizon Video-on-Demand (yay?). This update is now available and can be downloaded over the air. More, after the jump.

Sony Mobile Patent Points Towards Xperia Play with Dual Keyboards

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 30, 2012 | 11 comments

A new patent listing from Sony Mobile, the division of Sony in charge of smartphones, tablets and VAIO computers under new CEO Kunimasa Suzuki points towards a new keyboard concept. The PlayStation Phone which ultimately ended up as the Sony Xperia Play was an Android smartphone with an emphasis on gaming with a slide out gamepad. This meant that users could use the phones touchscreen for everyday use like texting and navigating the phone while saving the gamepad for just a game session. With a new patent, Sony aims to take the concept one step further by having a dual keyboard accompany what looks like the next generation Xperia Play. Tucked behind the gamepad, a second full QWERTY keyboard awaits, giving you yet another option to interact with your phone. Of course, a new patent listing should never be taken as an indication for product release but it does help stir the imagination.