Sony Ericsson

Meet the Sony Xperia U. We Have Specs and Pics

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 1, 2012 | 17 comments

If you’re like us, then you are beginning to see a pattern in Sony’s naming scheme. The Sony Tablet S and P are the first two Android tablets from Sony while the new Sony Mobile division will be releasing the Xperia S, P, ion, and now the Xperia U (yes, ion does throw the whole thing a bit off). Officially unveiled in Barcelona during Mobile World Congress, the Sony Xperia U will be the entry model in Sony’s 2012 lineup of phones and thus, the cheapest of the bunch, though no price has been announced. Still, cheaper doesn’t mean under-powered and while the greatest specs always sound great, many simply don’t need the most high end device while others can’t afford them so it’s good to see Sony offer devices that cater to the entire market.

The Xperia U follows in the tradition of its bigger brothers by offering a Reality Display screen with the Bravia Engine, designed for optimal color playback during videos. Unlike the Xperia S and Xperia P’s 4-inch display, the Xperia U will instead sport a 3.5-inch (854 x 480 pixels) multitouch display and drop the rear facing camera down to 5-megapixels. With a 1GHz dual-core processor, Sony claims that this 3G Android Gingerbread phone (with Ice Cream Sandwich coming shortly after launch) is capable of six and a half hours of talk time. Available in white and black, the Xperia U will be available in Q2 of this year.

For those wondering, despite the phone being available in only two colors, Sony will also be making removable caps (the bottom part) which will be offered in different colors at an unannounced price, hence the reason for the yellow and pink. After the jump, a full specs list awaits you.

Meet the Sony Xperia P. We Have Specs and Pics

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 29, 2012 | 22 comments

Sony has officially unveiled the Xperia P, previously codenamed the Nyphon. Taking a similar design cue from the Xperia S, the Xperia P is designed to be one step lower than the S with a few downgrades like a smaller 8-megapixel camera, versus the 12 megapixel that can be found on the Xperia S. Owning an iPhone 4S, I can tell you that a drop to 8-megapixel is no big deal and probably a welcome for those who might not have a lot of storage space on their phone. Speaking of storage, the Xperia P comes with a 16GB internal memory.

Unlike the white or black finish that can be found on the Xperia S, the Xperia P pays homage to the first iPhone, with a sleek aluminum back (silver, black, and red) while Sony has introduced a new technology called “White Magic” display. This new tech which powers the Xperia P’s 4-inch multitouch display is designed to give better viewing during outdoor use and viewing.

Fans of NFC technology will be happy to know that the Xperia P also supports the eventual doom to carrying cash and credit cards. And if your like most people who own a TV with an HDMI input, the Xperia P also boasts an HDMI out, letting you easily show off your HD videos and photos. Still, if your a dock fan like me and prefer to have set locations for your devices, Sony will also be introducing a dock in Q2 (that’s also when the Xperia P launches) which will have the usuals like charging your device and video out. What’s unique to the dock is the capability of plugging in a USB keyboard and mouse which can then be used to navigate the Android Gingerbread interface (Ice Cream Sandwich is planned for shortly after the devices launch) and be used for writing emails and more.

Sony has yet to announce a price but I believe that it will fall right in the $199 territory (with a two year contract of course). After the jump, the Sony Xperia P specs and our comment section await you.

Sony Ericsson Rebranding Continues. Sony Mobile Now Live for North America

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 23, 2012 | 7 comments

It’s been a few months in the making but now that the divorce between Sony and Ericsson is complete and Sony has announced their new cell phone division, Sony Mobile Communications, Sony is doing all it can to forget about the painful last 10 years. Most relationships tend to do this with burning of pictures and things that remind you of your ex. In the case of Sony, they’ve begun the rebranding of their North American website, which no longer houses the name Sony Ericsson. In fact, thew new destination for Sony smartphones is SonyMobile.com and those who visit the old SonyEricsson.com site are redirected towards the newer, cleaner site. Still, like all old relationships, it’s hard to get rid of everything that reminds you of your ex and for those who navigate over to the product page, they’ll be greeted to many smartphones that still house the Sony Ericsson name. This isn’t a surprise, seeing how there are probably millions of devices in Sony’s inventory. Still, you can be assured that all future phones like the Xperia ion and Xperia S will only contain the Sony name.

Sony Ericsson Finally Ends, Renamed to Sony Mobile Communications

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 16, 2012 | 10 comments

It’s been a long process, with Sony buying the remaining shares of their partnership with Ericsson in mid-October of 2011. The process, which ended up costing Sony 1.4 billion euros ($1.9 billion), awarded Sony more than 4,000 patents that Sony Ericsson controlled while also bringing in all mobile operations in house at Sony. The move was designed to help the company better integrate their mobile line of phones and potentially tablets with Sony assets such as Sony Pictures and services like Music and Video Unlimited. Sony also hopes that, with internal phone designs, they will be better able to leverage their many departments strengths, like screen technology from the Bravia division.

With 2011 far in the rear view mirror, so, it seems, is the Sony Ericsson brand name, as Sony announced Sony Mobile Communications to be the new mobile brand and department. Future phones which were announced at CES, like the Xperia S and Xperia ion, will now ship directly under the Sony name. After the jump, the press release.

Meet the Xperia ion. We Have Specs and Pictures

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 17, 2012 | 26 comments

The Sony Xperia S wasn’t the only smartphone announcement from Sony during CES. Landing again under just the Sony name with their new design direction, the Xperia ion is a 4G LTE enabled phone, exclusive to AT&T in the US. Though similar in design to the Xperia S, the Xperia ion loses the clear antenna design but instead gains a 4.6-inch multitouch screen. Some additional Sony Xperia ion specs include:

1280 x 720 4.6-inch display
1.5GHz dual-core CPU
1GB of RAM
4G LTE
12 megapixel Sony’s Exmor R backlit sensor
1.3 megapixel front facing camera (720p video)
1080p video recording
HDMI out
16GB
Black and White
PlayStation Certified
Android 2.3 Gingerbread

Much like its smaller sibling, the Xperia ion will ship with Android 2.3 Gingerbread but should follow soon with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Seeing how the phone will ship in Q2 2012, the delay for Ice Cream Sandwich is mostly due to additional carrier testing. Sony is also very vocal about the Xperia ion, being able to go from standby mode to the first shot in 1.5 seconds. After the jump, additional pictures and a press release await you. Of course, your comments are always welcome as well.

Meet the Sony Xperia S. We Have Specs and Pictures

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 16, 2012 | 21 comments

We’ve already given you a video overview of the Sony Xperia S, the latest 3G Android smartphone from Sony during CES 2012. This new breed from Sony has now shed the Ericsson branding, instead opting to display only Sony as the name to appear on the design. More importantly, Sony is also taking a new direction with their first in-house-built device. Long gone is the curved plastic shelling from the previous models and, instead, a new sturdy and solid design in a slightly curved back panel. Those with a keen eye will also notice a clear bar towards the bottom of the screen, indicating the end of the multitouch screen. A closer look will reveal tiny lines criss crossing each other which is actually wiring for the antenna, a clever design choice by Sony. Besides a new design, Sony didn’t forget to bring all new firepower for under the hood. Some of the Sony Xperia S specs include:

1280 x 720 4.3-inch display
1.5GHz CPU
1GB of RAM
12 megapixel Sony’s Exmor R backlit sensor
1.3 megapixel front facing camera
1080p video recording
HDMI out
16GB and 32GB models
Black and White
PlayStation Certified
Android 2.3 Gingerbread

Don’t worry too much about that last spec as Sony has assured us that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is right around the corner (Q2 2012) for the Xperia S, which is set to launch in Q1 2012. No specific partners have been announced for this 3G-enabled phone but pricing is expected to land in the $199 range. After the jump, additional pictures and an official press release await you.

As a reader on Engadget said:

sickstysicks
Proof positive that you can design a touch screen phone without looking like a iPhone. Looking at you Samsung.

CES 2012: Sony Xperia S Overview

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 11, 2012 | 17 comments

During Sony’s CES 2012 press conference, the electronic giant, who’s been long looking at tackling the US market with a proper Android handset, unveiled their latest attempt: the Sony Xperia S. Though certain models on the floor, including the one we looked at, still had the Sony Ericsson title, Sony was quick to point out that the finalized model will ship with only the Sony title, seeing how the company has spent nearly $2 billion on a buyout of Ericsson, their long-time mobile partner. The Xperia S is first of a kind for Sony, featuring a 4.3-inch LCD screen with a stunning 1280 x 720 resolution, powered by a 12-megapixel CMOS sensor and equipped with HSPA+ with up to 21MBps speeds. We’ll have plenty more for you in the future about the Sony Xperia S and the Xperia Ion. In the meantime, check out our CES video overview of the Xperia S, which includes a look at the phone’s rate of 1.5 seconds from the lock screen to a still picture.

Sony Ericsson Will End Sponsorship of WTA Tour in 2012

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 23, 2011 | 5 comments

Come the end of the 2012 season, Sony Ericsson will be ending its sponsorship of the WTA tour. Since 2005, Sony Ericsson has been the sponsor of the WTA tour with a six-year contract worth $88 million. The contract was later extended to 2012, after which Sony Ericsson will bow out.

The WTA will soon be on the lookout for a new sponsor;

2012 will be the eighth and final year of the partnership. They have been a great partner and we will miss them.

Sony Ericsson PR manager Graciela Pineda explained that

this was a strategic decision based on the evolution of the business and the brand.

It’s not hard to imagine that part of the pullback from Sony is related to the full buyout of the partnership between Sony and Ericsson in which Sony will buy the remaining 50% of the joint venture. Seeing how the full buyout will cost Sony billions of dollars and the fact that Sony is behind its rivals like Apple and Samsung, Sony needs to save every penny it can and instead use it in R&D and proper marketing of their devices.

Sony Outlines Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Rollout Time Table

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 22, 2011 | 31 comments

The soon-to-be defunct Sony Ericsson, which will then become just Sony, is revealing its hand when it comes to Android 4.0. The new update, which is called Ice Cream Sandwich, will be coming to quite a few of the Xperia phones in a multi-month, phased rollout. Sony will kick things off with the Xperia Arc S, Neo V, and Ray with a late-March to early-April release window. Then, later in April to early May, the Xperia Active, Arc, Mini, Mini Pro, Neo, Play, Xperia Pro handsets, and yes, Live With Walkman, will get their own chance at upgrading to Ice Cream Sandwich. Don’t expect that all devices will get Android 4.0 at the same time. Sony is very clear that this will be a phased roll out, meaning depending on your phone model and carrier, you could be receiving the update at a different. Sony explains that there is five parts required on their part to make Android 4.0 available to you:

It starts with public push when we as a manufacturer get access to the new Android release from Google
Our developers take the existing Xperia™ software and combine it with the new Android release
Once the coding is done we want to make sure the quality of the new software meets our, our partners and your expectations
Now we feel the new software is ready but we also need to make sure it’s approved by our external partners
All good. We’re all set to roll-out the new software. The story continues in your Xperia™ smartphone

With Sony hoping to climb the Android totem pole to the top, we can only hope that they stay aggressive and that the mentioned time table sticks.

Sony Ericsson to Be No More in Mid-2012, Currently Holds 19% of Android Market Share

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 7, 2011 | 15 comments

The days are now numbered for the once partnership that begin between Sony and Ericsson 10 years ago. The two companies are in midst of filling the final paper work that would end the 50/50 partnership. Though in the early days, the partnership was hailed between the two companies, thanks to Apple and the advent of the smartphone rise, Sony Ericsson began to fall behind and unable to compete with Apple and other Android makers like Samsung and HTC. Kristian Tear, executive VP & head of sales & marketing of Sony Ericsson,

“A lot of planning goes into getting the branding right but we will be done by middle of next year. It will also mean that the marketing and advertising investments will go up. We haven’t been as fierce as we were a few years back but we will step it up, refocus and invest more in brand-building in select markets and India is one of those markets”

Sony is hoping that by bringing all smartphone operations in house and under one roof, the company will be better able to leverage it’s many assets, including their technological strength that has the company building industry leading televisions with the Bravia line and their powerful gaming machine, the PlayStation 3. Sony of course has their hands in the entertainment industry as well with Sony Pictures and Sony/BMG (music).

“Sony is the world’s biggest entertainment company. We were earlier a 50-50 JV, but now that we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corp. We expect to gain from its assets on the content , technology and brand side,”

When looking at the larger smartphone market, Sony Ericsson currently only holds 2% of the market thought that number raises to 19% if we consider only Android smartphones. Sony hopes that by bringing in their media and consumer electronic background to the smartphone race, they can create some unique Android smartphones and rise to the top of the Android totem pole, something that they’ve been striving for during the past few years. The company has had some unfortunate setbacks though, mostly out of their hands.

“Last eight quarters have been good for us and we are proud of that. We went from focusing only on volumes to value but the big setback was what happened in Japan with the Tsunami, which put us back for this year quite a bit. But we are going in the right direction,”

With a large fragmentation happening in the Android market and little that differentiates one device from another, Sony has a unique opportunity to pull together all of their assets and offer would be Android buyers and switchers a different take and ecosystem, something that Apple has been able to do.

Sony Ericsson Contain No Carrier IQ on Xperia Smartphones

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 6, 2011 | 8 comments

By now, you’ve probably heard about the Carrier IQ controversy which has dragged companies like Apple, RIM, HTC, and Nokia through the mud. Carrier IQ is a company who offers their technology services on various devices, including iOS, Android and Windows smartphones. The company specifically provides a software called “IQRD” with “intelligence solutions to the wireless industry” which logs user data. However, without permission from carriers or hardware makers, Carrier IQ is being accused of logging Web searches and every single button that is being tapped. iOS users are the least hurt by this as only phone call and location was being logged, in which case users could have also cut off all access to the software by by simply going to Settings -> General -> About -> Diagnostics & Usage -> Don’t Send.

However, the real winner or most protected device in all this is the Xperia smartphones by Sony Ericsson. In an official press release by Sony Ericsson, the company has revealed that they do not install or support Carrier IQ on their Xperia lineup of Android smartphones. Full press release and your comments, after the break.

Sony Ericsson Will Shut Down Sync Services by December 29th

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 28, 2011 | 11 comments

And just like that, the soon-to-be-phased out Sony Ericsson will be ending their legacy, Sync services. Sony Ericsson Sync was designed to give older Sony Ericsson phones, aka not smartphones, sync abilities.

Sony Ericsson Sync service since it was meant for old generation phones and our aim is to create a more enhanced and integrated smartphone experience for you

Sony Ericsson, which will be reborn next year under the Sony moniker, recommends that users switch to alternative services, such as Google Sync, Plaxo, and UNYK. We can’t imagine that this drop of service will affect too many users while we applaud the company for dropping outdated services and letting those who are better suited to offer such services, i.e. Google, to take on the cost of development and infrastructure.

Sony Ericsson Xperia active Delayed in UK; Sony Will Offer LiveView for Free

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 22, 2011 | 2 comments

One of the things that I’ve liked about Sony Ericsson has been their attempt at creating different kinds of Android smartphones. While everyone has been busy upping their single core processors to dual core and just raising specs from one device to another, Sony has been one of the few makers who has created different smartphones, catered to different consumer groups. The efforts have also shown signs of paying off, though in our opinion, if Sony would actually properly market their products, they might be far more ahead then where they currently sit; however, that’s a topic for a different article. The Sony Ericsson Xperia active fits this bill quite accordingly. A one of a kind Android smartphone, designed for users who are well, active in their life. The Xperia active is both dust-proof and water-resistant. In fact, the phone can be kept under 1m of water for 30 mins.

Parts of Europe have received shipments of the Xperia active as early as September but UK, a major territory was left out of the launch at the last minute. Sony never confirmed the reasoning but is now targeting the end of November for a launch window. As the mantra goes, good things come to those who wait, UK owners should be pleased that Sony is sweetening the deal for them by throwing in their LiveView (£40, $63) accessory, for free. LiveView is a 1.3-inch OLED colour (128×128 pixel) display accessory with a clip which can attach to your belt, wrist band and whatever else place you can think of. With a four touch sensor display, two physical buttons and bluetooth, LiveView is designed to integrate with existing apps and display additional information for you, without requiring you to take your phone out to view the content. Examples include texts messages, email and Facebook notifications appearing right on the LiveView screen. To make finding compatible LiveView apps easier, Sony has also developed the LiveWare manager which scans the Android Market for LiveView capable apps. Now if someone would just hurry up and make a communicator badge that I can wear on my chest so that I can make calls Star Trek style, I and the rest of the geek kingdom would highly appreciate it. So would Star Fleet.

After the jump, additional pictures of the LiveView, a video overview from Sony and your chance to comment await you.

Sony Ericssons vscreens App Allows You to Stream Photos to Internet TV’s

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 21, 2011 | 10 comments

Sony Ericsson is introducing a new app for all Android 2.1 and higher smartphones which enables you to stream your pictures to a TV with a web browser with little to no setup. Android users can find the free app in the Android market, after which they simply need to surf to vscreens.com on their internet enables TV or device like the PlayStation 3 where a QRcode will appear on screen. After scanning the barcode with the vscreens app, a connection is automatically established over the air and streaming can begin. From within the app, users can then display photos they’ve taken to the streaming device, without the need for a Bluetooth connection or any other setup box or device. The free app is available now.

After the jump, additional pictures await you where of course, your comments are welcomed.

Sony Increases Smartphone Market Share and Revenue Since 2009

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 15, 2011 | 3 comments

Sony has always been extremely vocal about their smartphone strategy, insisting that they will eventually become the top Android handset maker. Traditionally, such comments tend to be grand without much to back them up, especially from Sony who has been known to be arrogant about topic matters, only to fall behind to competitors. However, if we take a step back from the quarter-to-quarter coverage of Sony’s smartphone venture and look at the company’s track record for the last three years, we might see a completely different take on the once-fledgling business venture.

When Sony released their then-flagship smartphone, the Xperia X10, the company was already playing catch up to the likes of Apple, LG, and Samsung. Even worse, when the Xperia X10 did finally launch, it came powered by Google Android 1.6, an 6-month-old OS build while competitors were launching with Android 2.1. Sony eventually announced and released Android 2.1 for the Xperia X10 but went on record that no further updates would come to the once-flagship phone. This, ironically, would leave the Xperia X10 out of Sony’s eReader bookstore, which promised wireless syncing between books purchased on Android smartphones and Sony’s Reader devices.

Months later, something changed at Sony and the company went back and stated that the Xperia X10 would indeed be getting further Android updates and eventually, Android 2.3 came to the Xperia X10. The company, from there, would actually be on the forefront of Android updates, releasing Android 2.3.4 before competitors, while the Xperia PLAY, neo, and mini received Skype 2.0 well before other Android phones would. The biggest announcement of all came in late October when Sony announced that they would buy the remaining shares of their joint venture with Ericsson and bring all future smartphone development in-house.

So, the question is: Have all these strategic decisions made a difference to the company’s bottom line and market share? In the most recent report by Oppenheimer, it seems so. According to the research, since 2009, Sony Ericsson (grey color) has been able to slowly increase its number of smartphone market shares and generated revenue. The numbers of course pale in comparison to Apple, Samsung, and HTC, as Apple alone accounts for 56% of the profits. Still, the numbers are encouraging when you account for the huge loss that Nokia continues to sustain quarter after quarter. So, although Sony still has a long road before they are to become a top Android smartphone vendor, the overall picture sheds a different light on the company’s future outlook, and, in my eyes, its a brighter one.

After the jump, view the full chart and, while you are there, share your thoughts with us.