Phones

Sony Xperia Z2 Gets Disassembled in Length on Camera

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 14, 2014 | 0 comments

Till the Sony Xperia Z3 is released to the public, the Xperia Z2 will continue to be the flagship Android smartphone from Sony. Boasting some incredible specs, the Xperia Z2 is a phone that’s to be reckoned with, even half a year later. But let’s say for one reason or another, you’ve already moved onto another phone and have a spare Xperia Z2 or maybe simply you like taking things apart.

After the jump, the folks at Witrigs will show you how to disassemble the Sony Xperia Z2 and conveniently have spare parts on their site in case you were to break the magnetic charging flex, for instance. While the video isn’t for the faint of heart and I wouldn’t recommend anybody doing this purely for fun, the video offers great details for those who work in the repair industry and/or for those who are interested in repairing their damaged Z2. It’s also worth noting that by doing this, you’re 100% voiding your warranty so again, don’t do this for the sake of doing it, especially if the Xperia Z2 is your main phone.

Sony Walkman 8.4.A.1.4 App Update Now Live

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 11, 2014 | 0 comments

If you’ve been enjoying the Sony Walkman app on your Android phone then listen up. Sony is rolling out the Walkman 8.4.A.1.4 update which brings with it some good UI tweaks and the inevitable “bug fixes” that tend to come with all software and firmware updates. Those looking to get their hands on the latest Walkman app update need Android 4.2 or higher on their smartphone and can download the small in size Walkman 8.4.A.1.4 update over the air (OTA).

After the jump, let’s talk details and device compatibility for the new Walkman app.

Sony Xperia M2 Aqua (D2403) – A Water Resistant Variant?

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 10, 2014 | 0 comments

Revealed in early Spring, the Sony Xperia M2 (pictured above) is a mid-level Android smartphone from Sony that still packs a punch. As a recap, the 4.8-inch phone features a 1.2GHz Quad-core Snapdragon processor, with an 8-megapixel camera, LTE connectivity, and NFC for easy pairing with other accessories (preferably those from Sony right?). Now thanks to the powers of the internet, a group of users found a rogue XML address from Sony’s own site that points to a yet to be announced device, the Sony Xperia M2 Aqua D2403.

Google Ends ‘Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition’

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 10, 2014 | 2 comments

Late last year, Google introduced the Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition. While the phablet was everything we’d come to know about the device that offers a 6.4-inch 1080p (1920 x 1080) Triluminos display on a Qualcomm 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, with 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, and 4G LTE connectivity, there was one big difference. Google and not Sony would be handling the software on the device. This meant more timely Android updates and no custom Sony software like their highly liked Timescape skin. Pros and cons for a fantastic, albeit niche device.

Now all of that is coming to an end.

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Tech Specs

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 10, 2014 | 0 comments

Now that we know that the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is officially coming to the US, what better time than to take a look at its tech specs? As a recap, the Xperia Z1 Compact offers:

4.3” TRILUMINOS™ HD Display at 1280×720 pixels
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPU and 4G LTE
RAM: 2GB, 16GB internal memory
20.7 megapixel camera with Sony Exmor RS image sensor, 2 MP 1080p front-facing camera
Sony Exmor RS for mobile image sensor
X-Reality™ for mobile is an intelligent super resolution technology
Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2
HDR for both picture/film, 1080p video recording
Up to 64GB SD support
Dust-resistant and waterproof (IP55 & IP58)

After the jump, the full list of Sony Xperia Z1 Compact tech specs awaits you.

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Officially Comes to the US

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 9, 2014 | 2 comments

Hot on the heels of the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet coming exclusively to Verizon, we have more Sony Mobile news for US fans. Revealed at CES 2014, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact has been touted as doing compact the right way by offering big features in a small form. Let’s be honest, a lot of us still want a great camera and fast phone but aren’t necessarily interested in carrying a phone the size of a tablet. Unfortunately for those in the US, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact simply hasn’t been an option for them. Until today.

Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet Comes Exclusively to Verizon

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 9, 2014 | 4 comments

Sony teased us over and over again about working with Verizon and they’ve finally delivered. While it’s not the Xperia Z2 that many had been hoping for, Sony and Verizon have officially announced the partnership that will see the waterproof tablet make its official debut in the US with carrier support. News about the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet coming to Verizon began to circulate as early as May and most recently in early June. Now that the two companies have made it official, what does it mean for you? Let’s talk details.

Is This the Sony Xperia Z3? (Update)

by Jonathan Nolan | Jul 7, 2014 | 1 comment

News has been swirling about Sony’s second and final flagship for 2014. The latest rumours about the specs is that there will be an incremental upgrade from the Z2 rather than a significant jump. As for design, some leaked images appeared a few days ago giving us an idea of what to expect (if it is the Z3). Well here is another one, it comes from the same leaker of the original images though it’s unclear if it’s a polished mock-up of the first leak or actual promotional material.

Come take a look.

Official: New Sony Xperia C3 is Made for Selfies (Update)

by Jonathan Nolan | Jul 7, 2014 | 0 comments

Are you a selfie fan? Do you like to get the best snaps you can with friends but are frustrated by the lower quality of the front camera? Well get ready for the Xperia C3, Sony’s answer to this problem. The Xperia C3 has been officially revealed and it sports a front-facing flash to help you achieve the best lighting no matter the time of day or weather.

Official specs:

Snapdragon 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Quad-core
1GB RAM
5.5″ HD (1280×720)
5 MP Front-facing camera (720p)
Soft flash for front camera
8 MP camera with auto focus
4G LTE
7.6mm thin
Android 4.4 (KitKat)
2500 mAh

Read on to find out more.

Sony Only Took 7% of the SmartWatch Market in 2013

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 7, 2014 | 2 comments

Thanks to a new study conducted by DreamChrono, we’ve have a clear picture of the SmartWatch market and how it was broken down between different companies in 2013. That might be all too familiar to Sony enthusiasts, despite being one of the first tech giants to get into the race and having released their second generation version, dubbed Sony SmartWatch 2 at the time when its rivals like Samsung were only releasing their first generation SmartWatch, Sony was only able to take a 7% marketshare in 2013. From the $711 million total market worth in 2013, Sony was only responsible for $50 million with Samsung holding the lion’s share at 34%.

Let’s talk more details, including an amazing chart that really gives you a breakdown of the SmartWatch market of 2013.

Sony Xperia Z3 Flagship and Z3 Compact Leaked (Update)

by Jonathan Nolan | Jul 1, 2014 | 7 comments

It’s new flagship rumour time! Bored with the Xperia Z2 flagship? Want more from the Xperia Z1 Compact? You’re in luck. Images are making the rounds of what’s rumoured to be the next King of the Xperias, as well as a new Compact too. New Xperia tablets are incoming, not just one, but two are believed to be coming, a flagship tablet and a new compact version!

From the images we can tell a few things are new including a white front face for the first time, not just around the sides and back. Also, take a closer look at the bezel. Sony has started slimming down the bezels now, having resisted doing this for the past few years.

Software update – after Google recently announced the latest Android version ‘L’, available to developers immediately, an Autumn/Fall flagship is very likely to sport the new OS version.

Read on find out more about the new flagship, compact and tablets.

More Sony SmartBand Wrist Strap SWR110 Colors Now Available

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 1, 2014 | 0 comments

Say you’ve got yourself the newly released Sony SmartBand. You know, the one that’s not only able to track your health, but your daily life as well, thanks to the intriguing LifeLog app. But now that you’ve got one, you’re noticing that the default black color just isn’t all that fitting to you. Heck, maybe you’d rather have different colors for different outfits, seeing how these units are as much technology as fashion accessories (and they need to be if they are to succeed). Luckily for you, as of today, if you’re in Europe or the USA, Sony is making available a host of new colors.

After the jump, all the new Sony SmartBand wrist strap colors await you.

Will Sony Produce Cheaper Xperias to Meet Asian Smartphone Boom?

by Jonathan Nolan | Jun 26, 2014 | 0 comments

Remember Ericsson? Sony’s old partner in producing mobile phones continues to be an industry champion, though not in a visible way. Having left behind mobile phone production, they continue their long history in the construction of mobile network infrastructure, another multi-billion dollar industry hidden underneath the phones by our ears. Being one of the founding fathers of the telecom industry back in 1876, the Scandinavian company continues to shed light on where the telecom sector is and how it will change with industry-respected research. Did you know that another 3.7 billion new people will be smartphone users within just 5 years?

Total smartphone subscriptions reached 1.9 billion in 2013 and are expected to grow to 5.6 billion by 2019.

The surge in new smartphone users will come from Asia. 933m people in Asia were using smartphones up to the end of 2013, and that is heading towards 4 billion in just a few years. As developing economies generally evolve, the growth won’t be fueled by ultra-expensive-made-of-the-rarest-metal-you-can-only-find-on-Mars-flagships; instead, it will come in at the entry-level range, Ericsson points out.

But this seems to present a challenge for Sony. Sony Xperia product marketing manager Stephen Sneeden was quoted to CNET in January last year as saying that they couldn’t achieve the level of quality that is associated with the Sony brand at the entry-level price point, and that they may leave the entry-level segment alone to concentrate on the premium and mid-range areas. Their 2014 smartphone range seems to reflect this, with probably only the Xperia E1 checking in at the entry-level price point so far this year. So if Sony would like to tap into new sources of market growth, how could this be achieved without reestablishing itself in the entry-level segment to meet future growth?

Read on to hear more about what Ericsson predicts is coming in the next 5 years.

Sony to Use MediaTek Chips Over Qualcomm in 2015?

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 24, 2014 | 5 comments

In the mobile world, Qualcomm is a well-known provider of wireless chipsets that power smartphones and tablets alike. Qualcomm offers an extensive array of chipsets that provide single, dual-core, and quad-core processors alongside built-in graphics. Another company who also provides such chipsets is the lesser known MediaTek. Despite catering to Huawei, Alcatel, Lenovo, Acer, Vivo, Xolo, and Oppo to name a few, the Taiwanese company has never been able to crack mobile makers from the West. When placed in mobile devices, MediaTek chips generally find their way into lower end devices like the Sony Xperia C which utilizes a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and IMG SGX544 graphics.

While the Xperia C is the only Sony smartphone to currently utilize a MediaTek chipset, that might all change come 2015.

Why the iPhone 6 Could Render the Release of the Sony Xperia Z2 on Verizon Moot

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 19, 2014 | 8 comments

The Sony Xperia Z2 launched globally in March and with it, the advent of 4K video in smartphones. The Sony Xperia Z2 features an impressive 5.2-inch full HD (1080p) Triluminos display that’s powered by a 2.3 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801 with 3GB RAM. Thanks to the powerful processor and 20.7-megapixel Exmor RS camera, the Xperia Z2 can capture video in 4K 30fps, which can be played back on any 4K television. Not bad for a smartphone right? The problem? It’s now been 5 months since the rest of the world got their hands on the Xperia Z2 and it’s yet to make a debut in the US.

During the last few months, we’ve seen what I believe are intentional leaks of the Xperia Z2 with a Verizon logo from Sony though the company swears they’re for internal mockups only. Now more and more info is indicating that the deal between Sony and Verizon will likely happen which would see the Xperia Z2 arrive in the US in Q3 2014. That means that the Xperia Z2 will have been released in other territories for nearly 6 months before the flagship smartphone makes its debut in the US and that’s not even the biggest problem facing Sony if the release window actually holds true.

After the jump, we discuss the obstacles that face the Xperia Z2 in the US come this holiday.