Sony posts Android 4.0 beta for Xperia Play
updated 07:50 am EDT, Fri March 30, 2012
Sony Xperia Play gets test build of Android update
Sony finished the week by providing an Android 4.0 beta for owners of the Xperia Play. The release requires users unlock the bootloader on their phone, taking the device at least temporarily out of warranty, but will give the interface boosts and support for apps like Chrome for Android. Most of the obstacles are the risks of some games not being fully optimized as well as the absence of officially blessed Google apps, including Face Unlock, Gmail, and Google Maps.
The release is aimed mostly at developers and sees Sony actively soliciting feedback, such as how well a game ran overall and whether there were any performance or control issues.
Sony hasn't said how soon it hopes to have a finished version of Android 4.0 for the Xperia Play, although it has a discussion running on XDA-Developers that may help illustrate progress. Every 2011 Xperia smartphone is expected to get the OS upgrade at some point this year, usually before the end of the spring. [via Android Community]
