Phones

Sony to End Software Support on 12 Android Phones, Including Xperia S, and Xperia ion

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 4, 2014 | 2 comments

Sony believes that the typical lifespan of a smartphone is between 18 months and two years eld. To that end, the Japanese giant is discounting software support on 12 Android smartphones which the company lists as EoL (End of Life). This means that the latest firmware update that Sony has released will be the final set of new features and/or bug fixes that the handset will receive. To be clear, this doesn’t mean that Sony is pulling down any of the software, meaning that if you’re running on Android 4.0 and Sony has released Android 4.1 for your device, you can still at anytime update your phone to the latest software Sony had to offer. So what phones are getting the cut?

Vodafone Australia Confirms Xperia Updates In Testing

by Jonathan Nolan | Feb 4, 2014 | 0 comments

Sony Mobile hasn’t said much since it first introduced major upgrade plans but now hints are coming in.

Vodafone Australia has unveiled update plans for four Sony phones on its website. The world’s third largest network and owner of US carrier Verizon indicates the Xperia M, SP, TX and Z are being tested for Jellybean updates. Read on for the details.

Android 4.3 Now Available for Sony Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z Ultra via Firmware 14.2.A.1.136

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 30, 2014 | 0 comments

Own a Sony Xperia Z1 or Xperia Z Ultra but worried about being made fun of for running an old version of Android? Well Sony is here to rescue you with firmware 14.2.A.1.136 which brings the Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z Ultra to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The rollout will be a gradual one so don’t be surprised if your device hasn’t prompted you for an update quite yet. So what new things can you expect?

Sony Releases QX10 and QX100 Firmware 2.0 With Higher ISO Support and 1080p Video Recording

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 30, 2014 | 0 comments

Promised in December and said to be delivered in January (and hey, January 30th is still January), Sony has finally released the QX10 and QX100 firmware 2.0. The new update which weighs in at 87MB brings full HD 1080(30p) recording to both cameras in MP4 format, versus the previous 720p. ISO is also seeing a big bump on each model with the QX10 ISO expanded from 1600 to 3200 and QX100 ISO expanded from 3200 to 12800. The QX100 is gaining a new Shutter Speed Priority (“S”) Shooting mode which grants you direct access to the lens shutter speed. Prior to the year ending, Sony also released a massive update for PlayMemories Mobile App which is required to control the attachable lens for your iOS or Android phone. The new update was able to improve connection start up time by approximately two folds compared to previous versions of the PlayMemories Mobile application. So how do you update your QX10 or QX100 to firmware 2.0? That step is a bit more complicated.

Sony Enlists the Help of Spider-Man In a Clever Xperia Z Ultra Promo

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 24, 2014 | 2 comments

After being on the market for a few months, it seems that Sony is finally turning its attention towards the Xperia Z Ultra, their ~~mega smartphone~~ Phablet. As a recap, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra offers a 1080p 6.4-inch display that might as well be a small tablet. In fact, it’s likely that thought process which led Sony to announce a Wi-Fi only edition of the Xperia Z Ultra yesterday which in turn makes the unit a tablet. Now, Sony has enlisted Spider-Man and released a clever new marketing spot in Japan that is simple and to the point. Are you listening Sony’s marketing team in the US? The clever ad and the making of it can be found, after the jump.

Get a Free Year of PlayStation Plus With Purchase of Sony Xperia Z1s

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 23, 2014 | 0 comments

As promised by Sony, the Xperia Z1s, the companies current flagship Android smartphone with a powerful 20-megapixel image sensor is now available in the US for purchase through T-Mobile and their UnCarrier plan. At CES 2014, Sony promised to be more aggressive with the US market and the fact that they’ve shipped a phone two weeks after announcement is a good sign that they mean what they said. To make the pot sweeter for gamers, Sony is also offering a free year of PlayStation Plus to those who purchase the Xperia Z1s between January 13th and February 12th.

Sony Xperia Z1s Now Available for Order Through T-Mobile

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 23, 2014 | 0 comments

US residence rejoice. If you’ve been wanting an Android phone from Sony but haven’t been too pleased at paying full price for an unlocked version then the following will cheer you up. Announced at CES 2014, the Sony Xperia Z1s is officially available through T-Mobile stores. What makes this announcement different than past initiatives from Sony is the time frame between announcement and release which was just a matter of weeks. Traditionally, Sony has announced phones at CES, only to arrive in US market a good 6 to 8 months later.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra Gains Wi-Fi Only Option

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 21, 2014 | 0 comments

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is a fantastic ~~tablet~~ ~~smartphone~~ phablet. Beautiful in design and rich in power. As a recap, the Android-powered phablet offers a monstrous 6.4-inch display with a 1080p resolution on Qualcomm’s latest 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, with 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, and 4G LTE connectivity. In fact, the unit is regarded highly enough that Google recently launched their own version, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition which is spec for spec the same as the original, minus any custom software that Sony offers on the Android unit. Seeing how big the unit is, Sony has decided to offer it with a Wi-Fi only option, making it a true tablet.

Sony Smart Tennis Sensor Gets Official With Price and Release Date

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 21, 2014 | 0 comments

During CES 2014, Sony showed off its Smart Tennis Sensor. Designed to be stuck inside the bud of a tennis racket, the sensor is capable of detecting your:

Shot count
Impact position
Swing type
Swing speed
Ball speed
Spin rate

While only shown off on Android, today Sony revealed that they will be releasing the sensor with a compatible iOS and Android app upon launch. Sony thinks that these types of sensors are a natural extension of the wearable gadget era and boom that we’re about to enter and they want to be there from the start. The video below gives you an example of the sensor’s functionality and speed.

Microsoft to ‘Support’ Sony’s Windows Phone Ambitions with $500 Million

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 21, 2014 | 5 comments

Sony hasn’t made this Windows Phone ambitions a secret and has even gone on record about it:

We don’t want to be a single OS manufacturer, I don’t think it’s a viable position in the long-term.

While Windows Mobile has a long way to go and is a distant third behind iOS and Android, the fact that so much of Microsoft’s future hangs upon it meets that it’s likely a platform that will viable for years to come. Microsoft is also a company with deep pockets, capable of out spending their competitors in marketing and R&D. While neither necessarily translate to success, it can turn into a great payday for a company like Sony who already creates Windows 8 desktops and Ultrabooks. Now Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin has chimed in on the matter with his own two cents.

Sony Xperia 2014 Flagships ‘Sirius’ and ‘Avatar’ Separate Models?

by Jonathan Nolan | Jan 15, 2014 | 1 comment

We’re weeks into 2014 and we still don’t have firm plans from Sony on the next Xperia flagship. But there are many rumours.

Xperia Z2, ‘Avatar’, ‘Sirius’ – which is which? There is a glaring detail about one of these rumours that connects with how Sony launched the Z1 S. The latest news on the ‘Sirius’ helps tell them apart.

Read on to find out why the next Sony flagship is still hidden from view.

Sony Presents Xperia T2 Ultra, T2 Ultra Dual and E1, E1 Dual

by Jonathan Nolan | Jan 14, 2014 | 3 comments

Today Sony has announced two new Xperia smartphones also with dual-sim variants that are aimed for China, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific rim.

The Xperia T2 Ultra is a LTE mid-range smartphone sporting a 6″ screen with a 720 x 1080 pixel display, 13 MP camera including the powerful Exmor RS sensor, running on a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm MSM8928 Quad Core processor.

The Dual model matches those specs and adds the expected second sim slot.

The E1 and Dual variant comes forward with “The most powerful smartphone processor in its class” according to Sony. Besides admirable specs at this price point, it also features a 100 dB loudspeaker.

Read on to find out the full details.

VAIO Windows Phone, US Mobile Expansion, Global Ambitions, New Flagship at MWC

by Jonathan Nolan | Jan 13, 2014 | 5 comments

We’ve only crossed into 2014 but things are really heating up on the Sony Mobile front.

Sony has finally confirmed in an interview recently that they are in talks with Microsoft about offering Windows Phones. This would broaden Sony Mobile’s smartphone catalogue from the current Android-only range. In addition to this, a rumour suggests that the company would present Windows Phones under the VAIO brand and not the usual Xperia label.

The US and China should be seeing much more of Sony Mobile this year. The T-Mobile Z1 S was just the start it seems, as Sony Corp. CEO Kaz Hirai has revealed that the company will be investing big money in the US and China markets in 2014. Further, Hirai disclosed even higher targets in 2014 and 2015 in the mobile division. 2014 might be the year Sony Mobile goes global.

There is more ‘Sirius’ news too. Sony declared before CES in a new year message that it was not yet time for a new flagship, but there are rumours now that Mobile World Congress in February might produce an awesome mobile device. The rumours tell it is US-bound.

Read on to find out the details.

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact to be Offered in Multiple Colors (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 11, 2014 | 1 comment

To the delight of those in the US, Sony during its CES 2014 press conference announced a continued partnership with T-Mobile, the 4th largest carrier in the US. Under this continued effort between the two companies, T-Mobile will be getting the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact. Previously referred to as the Xperia Z1 mini or ‘Amami,’, the Z1 Compact will offer everything its bigger brother has with a slight twist. Like the iPhone 5c, the Xperia Z1 Compact will come in a series of colors that will take the powerful phone and give it a more fun personality. After the jump, you can see our video preview of the Xperia Z1 Compact with colors.

PSA: Sony Core Not a Product but Sony SmartBand Is… Let Us Explain

by Allegra Osati | Jan 9, 2014 | 0 comments

Here at CES 2014, Sony introduced a new wearable device that combines portability and connectivity to offer a unique logging experience for your daily life. The term that the press ran with for this device was the Sony Core… which is only partially correct. Let us explain after the jump.