Phones

Breaking: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Gets Priced at Verizon. Just $99

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 18, 2011 | 2 comments

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:

Android 2.3 Gingerbread (the latest Android OS)
1GHz Snapdragon processor with Qualcomm Adreno 205 graphics processor
4-inch, 854 x 480 multi-touch LCD screen
Quad-band GSM or CDMA and EV-DO antenna chipset, depending on your country and carrier
5-megapixel autofocus camera
LED flash
Stereo speakers
Bluetooth and WiFi
400MB internal card (comes with an 8GB Micro SD card)

Previously, many had doubted the ability for the Xperia Play to garner much success in the US market without some form of subsidy from a cell phone partner. Now, with a very attractive price, all that stands in the way of the Xperia Play’s success is a good marketing push from Sony Ericsson and Verizon.

[Via Verizon Wireless]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Coming to AT&T

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 12, 2011 | 6 comments

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]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray Headed to AT&T

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 11, 2011 | 26 comments

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.

Sony Ericsson Releases Unlocked Xperia Arc for US Markets

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 8, 2011 | 12 comments

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]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray Ready for Pre-order in UK. We Have Date and Price

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 6, 2011 | 27 comments

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]

Sony Ericsson Xperia arc Housing Suffering from Widespread Cracks?

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 1, 2011 | 2 comments

The internet is good for two things. The first one, you already know and the second one is for community members discovering potential problems with their phones. This time, the culprit seems to be the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc which is said to be suffering from a housing crack. Though you might need a flashlight and a magnifying glass to locate it, the potential hairline crack appears near the light sensor on the front of the phone.

Due to this crack appearing on multiple community member phones in the same exact spot, many who state that they’ve been using a case from day one, it’s probably not a stretch to assume that such a crack may just be a weld line for where the plastic meets together around the sensor. The Xperia arc, which was released in Midnight Blue and Misty Silver, seems to be favoring the silver color, while a majority of the cracks appear on the Midnight Blue. Hit the jump for additional pictures.

Discuss:

So do you think that this hairline crack is an actual problem or, seeing as how you have to hunt to find it, it’s actually not a big deal? If you own an Xperia arc, please weigh in!

[Via Xperia Blog]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Active Announced. We Have Specs

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 27, 2011 | 68 comments

Sony Ericsson who has been on a roll as of late has just announced the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active. This new Android Gingerbread smartphone, which follows on the heels of the Xperia Ray, is a quite a different take on the smartphone. Instead of offering just a fancy Bravia engine like the Xperia Arc or being a gaming handset as well like the Xperia Play, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is geared for those who are, well, active.

You see, this new Android 2.3 from Sony Ericsson will include the latest Android built and it does include Mobile Bravia Engine, however what makes it different is starting with asthetics first. From the first look, you will undoubtedly notice the clip to the side of the phone, allowing you to latch the phone onto yourself while doing any kind of physical activity. Building from there, the phone is both dust-proof and water-resistant. In fact, the phone can be kept under 1m of water for 30 mins. Many who are familiar with touchscreen phones will know that using a device with wet hands is not only not recommended, but many touch screen phones cannot properly track your finger tips when they are wet, seeing how they rely on their heat to do that. The Xperia Active instead uniquely incorporates wet finger tracking, to ensure the phone works perfectly when either the screen or a user’s fingers are wet. Other specs include:

3-inch Touchscreen
5mp Camera
720p HD Video Functionality
8x Digital Zoom
1Ghz Processor
3G + Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
2GB MicroSD Memory Card

For all you atheltic fans, you should also take note of the pre-loaded sports apps that enable consumers to easily track your fitness levels. Users can set their ideal training route using the built-in GPS, Barometer and Compass. On-screen heart rate and pulse can be monitored in realtime (enabled by ANT+ wireless networking technology), while the iMapMyFitness app can monitor day to day performance. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active which will come in Orange/Black and White/Black will be available globally in selected markets in Q3 2011 with no price point attached yet.

Discuss:

As always, hit the jump for the official press release and additional pictures. While you’re there, let us know your thoughts on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active? Is this take on the smartphone something that attracts you or is it too much of a niche market? Should Sony even try to cater to niche markets?

Sony Ericsson Announces Xperia Ray. We Have Specs, Details, and Pictures

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 24, 2011 | 8 comments

It almost seems like a ritual at this point to expect a new Android handset from Sony, and this time, it’s called the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray. Fresh from the bakery, this new Android phone will come with the latest Android Gingerbread (2.3) while giving users the options of black, gold, white, or pink as their color of choice. Though it might not be as high-tiered as other Sony Ericsson handsets, the spec sheet on this phone looks quite delicious, especially if the price is right, though that has yet to be announced. Specs include:

1GHz Snapdragon CPU
3.3” 854×480 screen
Mobile BRAVIA Engine (optimized for video viewing)
8.1MP camera with Exmor R for Mobile and HD
Front Facing Camera
3G, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) and GPS
9.4mm thin

The Xperia Ray, which will have full access to the Android Market, is targeted for Q3 in Japan and other select markets. As always, hit the jump for the full press release and additional photos.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Getting Android 2.3 Gingerbread in August

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 21, 2011 | 3 comments

In late March, we were able to report to you that Sony Ericsson had a change of heart in regards to the Xperia X10 family and was going to bring Android 2.3 Gingerbread to the handset at some point. Two months later, the cell phone division of Sony kept good on its word to advance the OS on the Xperia X10 by releasing Android 2.1 for owners of the then-flagship device. Now, Sony Ericsson is finishing off its promise and is going to bring Android 2.3 Gingerbread to Xperia X10 users in August.

One of the many great features of Sony Ericsson phones have been their custom UI design, something which Google’s with Android 2.3 does not play nice with and has left a lot of developers and manufactures with a slight bitter taste. However, Sony is reporting that they’ve been able to create a work around and keep their custom UI in tact. In case of their unique camera interface,

First of all – we’ve seen your feedback about losing some of the camera features of the original Xperia^TM X10. Our developers have been working on it and I can now confirm that also the Gingerbread version of the X10 software will keep the original camera UI as in the Éclair version. I can also confirm that the new Facebook inside Xperia^TM functionality introduced in the 2011 Xperia^TM products will also be in the Xperia^TM X10.

Other features for you to take note of that is already available on the companies Xperia Arc will be:

Desktop layout and pinch-to-overview gesture will be similar
Wi-Fi & USB tethering
App storage on SD-card etc are included.
Customizable horizontal app tray and the media experience widgets from the 2011 Xperia Products are in
Integrated equalizer in the music player
Apps that require Android versions 2.2 or 2.3 will now be possible to download from Android Market, e.g. Adobe flash.

Hit the jump for a video walkthrough of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. While you are there, let us know if you are looking forward to this release of if you have a newer Sony Ericsson Android phone which already has Android 2.3.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Duo Pictures Leaked?

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 20, 2011 | 27 comments

If the following leaked images are to be believed, then we may have ourselves the first look at the Sony Ericsson Xperia Duo. Though beyond these two leaked images we don’t have much else to go off of, the phone appears to be of a larger size, much like the Xperia Arc. Due to the edge to edge front display, it would be a safe bet to assume that the Android power phone will more than likely sport a 4.5-inch LCD screen. Some sites are also venturing that the Duo could refer to the processor of the unit, making it the first Sony Ericsson phone with a dual core processor. Another thing to note from the images is the layout of the 3 buttons at the bottom of the phone, exactly the same as all other Sony Ericsson phones. The pictures also reveal a new UI for Sony Ericsson. Although there isn’t a huge change compared to previous models, we can spot a slightly tweaked weather widget and the media player controls under the dock. Still, take all of this with a grain of salt as there is no real proof one way or another if they are real. However, if this ends up being real, you can expect more shots in the coming weeks, if not days.

Hit the jump for one more shot of what may be the Sony Ericsson Xperia Duo. While you are there, let us know if you own a Sony Ericsson phone and if so, what your experience has been with it so far.

Sony Ericsson Brings Android 2.1 Update to AT&T Xperia X10 Owners

by Sohrab Osati | May 31, 2011 | 3 comments

Do you have a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 running on AT&T? If so, good news for you. Sony Ericsson has just released a new update for your smartphone, bringing it now to Android 2.1. So there you are folks, a free update for you to consume! But fret not, despite Sony’s earlier statements that the Xperia X10 would go no further then Android 2.1, Sony Ericsson a few months back had a change of heart and will be releasing Android 2.3 for the X10 at a later date.

Are you an X10 owner? Let us know your experience with the device in the comments section below.

[Via Sony Ericsson Blog]

Sony Ericsson’s Canadian Store Hacked, 2,000+ Account Data Taken

by Sohrab Osati | May 26, 2011 | 28 comments

We hate to be right on the subject matter but it is indeed another day and another Sony website has been hacked. This time, it’s Sony Ericsson’s Canadian store that has seen intruders illegally break in and steal customer information. More than 2,000 Canadian Eshop customers data were taken this but again, just like the previous attack, there is good news. Sony has stated that customer passwords were all encrypted, thus making them useless to the culprits and no credit card data was accessed. As Naked Security put it in our last article:

when this is over, Sony may end up being one of the most secure web assets on the net.

I think it’s important to note with all these hackings is that Sony is not the party to blame and instead, the real anger should be towards those who are stealing your information. As I wrote an extensive piece on this before, no matter how you view the company, it’s in their best interest to have events like this not occur but at the end of the day, the criminals are the hackers.

[Via BBC]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Acro Announced. We Have Specs

by Sohrab Osati | May 9, 2011 | 5 comments

Before anybody gets overly excited about this, we have to point that this phone is intended for Japan only and you can probably blame that on the lack of infrastructure offered in your country. The Xperia Acro, not to be confused with the Xperia Arc which will have a global launch, is Sony Ericssons new flagship phone for the Land of the Rising Sun. This Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) smartphone will carry a 4.2-inch touch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine to offer some of the most crisp and vidid viewing experience to be found on a handheld device. This is partially due to the entertainment value that the Acro will carry, seeing how the phone has built in Mobile TV functionality, enabling live TV viewing on the device, which is different from video streaming off of a 3G network. The Acro will also come equipped with a 8.1-megapixel camera with Exmor R sensor which also allows for 720p video recording. Both recording modes are optimized to offer low-noise and function under low light quality which is a welcome feature for most cellphone owners. For those of you who are looking to share you content, no need to worry as this 1GHz CPU, Adreno 205 GPU will also come with HDMI out. Besides the TV tuner functionality, another reason why we won’t see the Acro make it to the West is due to the built in mobile wallet (NFC) which allows your Xperia Acro to function as a credit card. With no standard and support system in the United States and Europe, these two features would mean a higher priced phone with a locked out functionality which of course does not make sense. Seeing how easy it is to purchase Starbucks with my iPhone app, this is a feature that I cannot wait for to make its way to the West. This would make running into the store and being out, that much more convenient while requiring me to have one less thing on me. No price point has been announced for the Acro at this point but look for the unit in Black and White by the end of Summer.

Hit the jump for the official press release from Sony Ericsson. While you are there, what do you think about the Acro? How about NFC technology? Is that something you would like to see implemented in your country?

Sony Announces New Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

by Sohrab Osati | May 5, 2011 | 7 comments

Sony really wasn’t kidding when they said that they wanted to get in on the Android smartphone action and become one of the top Android handset makers. Though that dream might not happen this year, especially due to the delays from Sony Ericsson, because of the tragic events that unfolded in Japan nearly two months ago, the company has a bright future ahead with the slew of phones that they are releasing this year. In addition to the Xperia Play, Arc, Neo, Walkman W8 and rumored Acro, the company today unveiled two new Android 2.3 Gingerbread based smartphones.

The Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro which are slated for a global Q3, 2011 launch are meant to fill in Sony Ericssons gap of lowered end Android phones. Still, don’t automatically think to yourself that lower end means lower quality. Instead, both phones offer some unique features which might just be perfect for a lot of users out there, especially those who might not need a large phone or if media consumption isn’t there thing. You see, both the Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro come with a 3-inch, multitouch, scratch-resistant display which powered by Sony’s exclusive Bravia Engine for smartphones. Both units will also give you a 1GHz processor, 720p HD video recording camera and 5 megapixel photo camera and of course, have access to the Android Market, seeing as they run Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the latest from Google.

If you want to know the difference between these two models, there isn’t a whole lot is the simple answer. The obvious one is that the Xperia Mini Pro (pictured above) also features a slide out keyboard while the Xperia Mini relies on touchscreen input. The second and only other difference is that the Xperia Mini Pro also has a front facing camera for taking photos and videos of yourself and for the of course, video chatting usage. So what do you guys think about these two new phones? They are still a few months away but they should fit nicely into Sony Ericsson’s portfolio. Would you get one or know somebody who would?

As always, hit the jump for an official press release and for a shot of the Xperia Mini.

Sony Ericssons new Android Phone, the Walkman W8

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 25, 2011 | 9 comments

In order to survive in today’s market, you cannot simply target high end smartphone users who need the latest and greatest. Sony Ericsson, traditionally a company who offered a wide range of Symbian based phones has seen its bottom line take a hit as of recent, due to the fact that with their transition towards Android, they haven’t had a phone offering for those who wish for a little less. Now the company is looking to change that by releasing the Walkman W8. If the phone looks surprisingly familiar to you, that’s because the phone was previously released under the name of Xperia X8. Now with the company moving forward with much higher end phones like the Xperia Play and Arc, the company hopes that the fleet of Xperia X8’s that the company once produced can help it capture a different market share. The Walkman W8 which comes in many new fun colors has the following specs:

Android 2.1
3-inch, 320 x 480 touchscreen
600MHz processor
168MB of RAM
3G and Wifi
3.2 Megapixel camera

The new Walkman phone is currently announced on Sony Ericssons German page though we assume that the phone will make its way to the states as well. No price has been announced though you can hit the jump for some additional pictures. What do you guys think though? Great phone for those need something a little simpler, yet still want access to the Android market?

[Via Sony Ericsson]