Following in the footsteps of big brother Xperia Mini Pro, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini has also landed at the FCC for some photos with a ruler. The Xperia Mini is considered to be one of the smallest Android phones around that is capable of capturing HD footage while also running the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread build. However, unlike the Xperia Mini Pro, which sports a sliding keyboard, the Xperia Mini will only give you a touchscreen to work its wonders with. Hit the jump if you’re in the mood for some more Xperia Mini and ruler photos or if you would like to see the the internals of this tiny phone.
With the realization that all content will one day be accessed via the cloud, Sony created their Qriocity Music Unlimited services which allows for unlimited music streaming to capable devices for a monthly fee. What many might not be aware of is that there also has been a video version of Qriocity in the works as well. Starting today, Qriocity video-streaming will be available to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, Japan, Canada and the United States. Through a separate software update later in the year, Sony’s other handsets, which include the Xperia arc, Xperia neo, Xperia PLAY, Xperia pro, and Xperia acro, will also be receiving Sony’s Qriocity video-streaming services.
Unlike Qriocity Music Unlimited which gave you unlimited music for a monthly fee, Qriocity video-streaming will be more like an on-demand and pay-per-view offering which will give you different prices, depending on if you want to buy or rent movies and TV shows. Current studios onboard with the program include:
In 2010, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 was the flagship smartphone from Sony Ericsson. Upon its release to the wild, the device that was designed to lead the then ailing company from the “dumbphone” to the smartphone revolution was already out of date, running Android 1.6 while many competitors were already running newer builds. Throughout the coming months, Sony Ericsson would continue an internal transition to the new business model and phone offerings and at time give hopes to X10 owners with small updates. Eventually, Sony would announce that the Xperia X10 would never see the light beyond Android 2.1 which would be release in late December of 2010. Then, something happened internally at Sony and they began to announce new and exciting models with the latest Android OS already on them. As the company escelated their support for Android, they did so while keeping owners of previous models like the X10 in mind. Sony would soon announce that Android 2.3 Gingerbread would be coming to the Xperia X10 in August of 2011.
Now, Sony Ericsson has announced reconfirmed that. Though some sites have been reporting that Android 2.3 is now out for the Xperia X10, it’s actually not quite true yet, but the update is right around the corner. Mattias Holm, who is the head of product PR from SE went to say:
The launch is imminent and timing according to plan but we just need some more days before we can push the button.
So although it might be a tad disappointing to find out that the update is not coming out today, we do have to keep in mind that Sony’s original target date was sometime in August and we are still a few days away from that. Once the update is live, users need to simply need to plug your Xperia X10 to your PC (not Mac) via a USB cable and download Sony’s PC software management which will then help you with the rest of the process. Sony Ericsson is also working on a OTA (over the air) update though no timetable has been given to that. Once Android 2.3 Gingerbread is released for Xperia X10 owners, you can expect to find the following updates:
Much like the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray, the Xperia Mini Pro has landed at the doors of the FCC for approval. With a grant from the fine folks at Washington, expect a Q3 2011 release from this Android 2.3 device. With frequencies listed as 900/2100MHS, the Xperia Mini Pro will not have 3G capabilities unless Sony Ericsson releases a different variation for the US. Those frequencies do however give eventual European owners of the device 2G capabilities. Though the lack of 3G might seem a surprise, it really goes along with the original intent of the Xperia Mini Pro: to provide an entry-level Android smartphone. However, don’t think entry as lacking when it comes to the Mini Pro. As we previously discussed in detail, some highlights of the Xperia Mini Pro include:
Sony Ericsson, which was a supporter of Windows Mobile and the CLEO, came late to the Android game and when it did finally, enter, the company was slow to update their devices with the most recent builds of Android. While companies like Motorola, LG and Samsung were fighting tooth and nail for market share, Sony at times would release a phone like the Xperia X10 with a 6-month-old Android-build. All that changed in 2011 as the Japanese and Swedish partnership began to grasp the format. The company who was once behind the times with Android is releasing the second Android 2.3 phone available for AT&T while other Android phones all hold older builds. New phones from Sony Ericsson are unique, like the Xperia Play which has the capability to play PlayStation-Certified games and all other Android Market games with a sliding gaming pad. The Xperia Arc, on the other hand, is capable of capturing beautiful photo and video, thanks to Sony’s Exmor R camera and play them back with vivid details, again thanks to Sony’s Reality Display powered by Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine.
With so much unique and state-of-the-art technology not found in other Android phones, it would be foolish to think that these devices haven’t garnered Sony Ericsson some market share and sales volume. However, things don’t seem to be so rosy, at least according to UK retailers who complain that the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is targeted at the wrong crowd. Whether it be the European commercials or US ones, Sony marketed the Xperia Play as the Android phone for the businessman who wanted to play as well.
Past the jump, you’ll find examples of Sony’s marketing and the UK retailers response.
Holy smokes! Just days after AT&T revealed that they will also be getting the Xperia Play, Sony Ericsson and Verizon Wireless have announced that the Xperia Play will be priced at just $99 with a two-year contract. This unique Android 2.3 smartphone was previously referred to as the PlayStation Phone for a good reason. Capable of accessing the full suite of Android apps, when turned sideways, the Xperia Play can reveal a slide-out keyboard, designed for those who want to some serious gaming. In addition to games available in the Android Market, Xperia Play owners will also have access to exclusive PlayStation Certified games. Some tech specs of the Xperia Play include:
Apple has proven over and over again that advancement in technology simply cannot be increased power and hard drive offerings. Instead, technology should also be based on design, and good design should keep technology in mind. Of all the PC manufacturers, I see Sony follow the same design. While HP, Toshiba and Dell give you big hunks of plastic, Sony tends to take the above philosophy into consideration when releasing their new products. This is especially evident in their upcoming S1 and S2 tablets, as well as the recently announced VAIO Z (VPC-Z21V9). The interview, which can be found after the jump, will take you into the mindset of the team behind the VAIO Z, and what they consider when it comes to designing a flagship Sony VAIO.
As Adobe’s Flash technology continues a downward trajectory, largely in part to the lack of support from Apple and poor performance on Android devices, Adobe has needed to create something in order to replace the dying format. With the app craze still in high gear on both iOS and Android phones, Flash is no longer the tool that developers reach for in order to create interactive content, so Adobe Air was born. Now, in order to drum up some attention to the format again, Sony and Adobe are teaming up with a $200,000 cash prize for the winner of the developer who creates the best app that can take advantage of dual 5.5-inch LCD screen, found on Sony’s S2 tablet.
The ‘Adobe AIR App Challenge Sponsored by Sony’ contest offers developers a chance to win $200,000 in total cash prizes and the promotion of the application on “Sony Tablet” devices. Adobe and Sony are challenging developers and content publishers to build breakthrough mobile apps optimized for the S1 and S2 tablets. The contest will give selected developers pre-release access to “Sony Tablet” prototypes and the latest version of Adobe tools. Contest categories include Entertainment, Lifestyle and Community, Games, Business and Productivity, and Innovation. A panel of Adobe, Sony and third party judges will evaluate application submissions based on quality and performance, innovation and creativity, as well as overall user experience. The contest is open to submissions from the U.S., Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the U.K.
Those who submit their app by September 16 will have the opportunity to be selected as a MAX Showcase App, win a full MAX conference pass, and more. With a large first place prize in place and the continued innovation offered from developers who work from their home office, this seems to be a great way to both promote Sony’s new tablets, while giving Adobe’s new format some fresh Air (I couldn’t resist the pun).
Hit the jump for the full press release, including contest information.
Although there is a debate to be had about AT&T and their network, it goes without much challenge that they sure know how to have exclusive items for long periods of time before other companies like Verizon and Sprint. The company, who famously had the iPhone for 4 years prior to anybody else, also holds to the key to the upcoming PlayStation Vita, Kindle 3G, and now Sony’s S2 Android Honeycomb tablet. As a refresher, the S2 tablet, which is still a code name and will change, much like the NGP is now called the PS Vita, is Sony’s dual 5.5-inch clamshell designed tablet. This HSPA+ 4G tablet (yes, it’s been confirmed) will be offer WiFi as well though we imagine there might be some kind of potential deal with AT&T as an exclusive partner. However, beyond the exclusivity agreement, which fails to mention the S1, pointing to a potential multi-carrier support, we still don’t have an official release date or price.
On a personal note, with my iPhone 4, iPad and my plans to pick up a 3G PS Vita, I do hope there eventually are deals for people who have multiple devices that run on one network, in this case AT&T for me.
Hit the jump for an exciting-as-ever press release from Sony.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, which was previously mistaken as the infamous PlayStation Phone, made its debut a few months back, exclusively for Verizon. The Android Gingerbread (2.3) phone, which is capable of being turned into a portable gaming console, was met with much fanfare and then was quickly lost in the glut of Android phones. Now, hoping to garner a wider spread audience, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is coming to AT&T, breaking news which was revealed during the carrier’s holiday preview event in New York City. The specs are nearly the same as the Verizon Xperia Play with a few noticeable changes. First, this will be the second Android 2.3 phone for AT&T while Verizon currently holds a few and users will be given the option of the traditional silver/black design along with a new blue/black palette. Being a newer phone, the Xperia Play will also be able to tap into AT&T’s newly-improved 21MBps-capable HSPA+ network. We still don’t have an exact release date or price for this gaming-enabled Android handset, but we can’t imagine that information staying hidden for too long.
[Via Engadget]
When it comes to the US market, a cell phone’s success lies squarely on carrier support. No matter how great of a device you have, for instance the Xperia Arc, if you don’t have carrier support (which means selling the phone at a subsidized price with a two year contract), you won’t have sales success either. Sure, buying a phone at $600 with no contract sounds like fun, but even Google found that only a few were willing to pay that for the Nexus when it launched, a phone that was to be a flagship and prime example of what Android could do. If the following is any indication, it can be good news for Sony Ericsson, where the FCC has just green-lighted the Xperia Ray for the US. Thanks to their documentation, we can also report that the Xperia Ray supports quadband HSPA, priming it up for AT&T and worldwide networks while it lacks AWS, meaning that T-Mobile customers will not be seeing their lady in pink pitching them one. Hopefully as Sony Ericsson increases their brand presence in the United States, they will also elevate their partnerships with different US carriers or risk selling but a few handsets only.
Hit the jump for a revealing breakdown of the Xperia Arc by the FCC.
If after this week’s teaser video, featuring the upcoming Sony Android Honeycomb (3.0) tablets, left you wanting more, then our picture gallery will only deepen your desire for these two devices. Each tablet, unique to its own design form factor, especially the S2 with dual 5.5-inch touch LCD screens, has been caught in a pose, showing you just enough to hold your interest while still not revealing any more than Sony wants. It’s clear that Sony has taken the time to make sure each device is geared towards a specific market segment, with the S1 featuring smooth curves and large 9.4-inch screen with a curved back, aimed at spreading out the weight in order to reduce strain on your hands and wrists. Media junkies will surely appreciate Sony’s efforts as both units with be deeply integrated with Sony’s Qriocity system, offering music and video streaming. The S2, on the other hand, comes off as the perfect device for those on the go who would like a large screen when computing, but something with a small footprint when traveling. Featuring a unique dual 5.5-inch touch screen, this device might turn into a multitasker’s heaven, allowing you to write an email on one screen while keeping your browser open on the other.
Hit the jump for a gallery of photos from the Sony S1 and S2 Tablets.
If the idea of having an Android Gingerbread (2.3) smartphone geared towards your media consuming habits is something that delights you, but you can’t stand having a contract, then Sony has just the right deal for you. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, which Engadget calls “one of the best handsets we’ve seen from Sony Ericsson,” is being sold in Sony stores, unlocked for $599. With a gorgeous 4.2-inch Reality Display powered by Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, an 8.3 mexapixel Sony Exmor R camera with LED flash, wireless N, and HDMI out, you’re surely destined to stand out from the Android crowd, which is something that’s very hard to do with what seems like is a new handset released with software from the guys at Mountain View.
[Via Sony]
Media hungry Android users had something to smile about after the announcement of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray. As a recap, this Android Gingerbread (2.3) smartphone packs a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 8.1MP camera with Exmor R for Mobile, HD video recording, a front and rear camera for video chatting and Sony’s Mobile BRAVIA Engine, optimized for video viewing.
Previous reports had the phone pegged for a Q3 2011 launch for Japan with no price point. Now, we can report that our friends across the pond can already pre-order the phone on Play.com and expect an August 15th delivery date. With a £350 price tag, the only question that remains for our friends in the UK is which color to get.
[Via Play]
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