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Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo has revealed the lineup of mobile devices that it will start offering over the summer. Eleven models make the cut, including nine smartphones, one tablet, and one "Raku-Raku" simplified smartphone. Notable additions include a new Sony Xperia smartphone, the Aquos Phone Zeta, and the Aquos Pad tablet from Sharp.
Described by Sony as a culmination of its greatest technologies, the Xperia ZL is an attempt to bring the company’s best offerings together in a single device. In many ways the ZL makes good on this goal, offering a superb display, solid camera, and sleek design. What’s even more impressive is the compact frame that Sony was able to pack all of this into. Despite the inclusion of a five-inch full 1080p display, the Xperia ZL is comfortable to hold, and -- thanks to the relocation of the power button -- can easily be operated with a single hand. In our full review we look further into the Xperia ZL's feature set and see if it has what it takes to compete with other top Android handhelds.
Sony has revealed the latest addition to its smartphone lineup for 2013, the Xperia ZR. Like its 5-inch Xperia Z stable mate, the Xperia ZR is notable for its built-in water and dust resistance, rated at IP55 and IP58 respectively. Yet at the same time, it packs the same quad-core Snapdragon S4 found in the larger Xperia Z into a more compact, 4.6-inch device.
Details of a new mid-ranged smartphone from Sony has appeared online, complete with an alleged test of its 5-megapixel camera. The C1905 is said to be an Android Jelly Bean-based phone that will form part of the Xperia range, and will sit alongside the Xperia L in the company's product catalog, with the leak coming shortly after claimed specifications of the camera-oriented Xperia i1 Honami were reported.
A new rumor has Sony set to ramp up the smartphone camera battle in the second half of 2013 with a smartphone featuring either a 16 or 20-megapixel sensor. The sensor is also said to be one of the largest to feature on a smartphone at 1/1.6-inches and will be an Exmor RS stacked sensor type paired with a Cybershot G glass lens. It is expected to appear on the sequel to the Xperia Z, which is reportedly codenamed ‘Honami.’
Sony has opened up online pre-orders for the Xperia ZL to customers in the United States, ahead of a retail release. Available in a 4G version with a 3G-only option expected shortly, the Sony smartphone that Electronista tried out at CES in January can be ordered through Sony itself, with an estimated shipping date of the 8th of April.
Sony has revealed its new Xperia SP and L range of smartphones. The SP is a mid-range device and centers on a 4.6-inch 720p LCD display with Sony’s Bravia Engine 2 enhancing imagery further. The new L-range sits in under the SP line centering on a 4.3-inch 854x480 display and an unspecified scratch resistant glass.
Sony is taking its Tablet Z global in Q2 of 2013, after first making the device available in its home market of Japan last month. The device sports similar internal components to the Sony Xperia Z 5-inch Android smartphone that Sony also says is now available through 140 channels in 60 markets. The Xperia Tablet Z will go on sale in the US sometime around April for from $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi model that, like all editions of the slate, is both water and dust resistant.
Images of the upcoming Android Jelly Bean Sony Xperia SP have leaked online. The photographs compares the handset, identified by the model number C530x and codenamed HuaShan, to the current Xperia V, and shows they are roughly the same in terms of length, though the Xperia SP is slightly wider than it's predecessor.
Sony has taken the covers off its recently rumored Xperia Tablet Z powerhouse in Japan. As we anticipated, the new device sports an all-new design making it the thinnest 10-inch tablet currently on the market at just 6.9mm and 495 grams. It also incorporates a high-resolution 1920x1200 display that is enhanced with Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine 2 tech.
The next-generation Sony Xperia Tablet specifications may have leaked on net via a couple tweets that have slipped out of China. The current Xperia Tablet S tooks its name from the Sony Xperia S flagship smartphone for 2012 and runs a Tegra 3 quad-core processor. The purported Sony Xperia Tablet Z would take its name from the new Sony Xperia Z, the Japanese company’s flagship smartphone for 2012.
Sony continued its five-year tradition of Xperia smartphone introductions at CES, unveiling the Xperia Z and ZL at the 2013 expo. Electronista had a chance to handle the new Android handsets at the end of the company's high-profile press conference.
As expected, Sony has officially revealed the Xperia Z at the Consumer Electronics Show, its latest Android flagship. The Xperia Z is equipped with a 5-inch FullHD 1080p "Reality Display," Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 13 megapixel fast-capture back camera and LTE. A global launch is expected for the new smartphone in the first quarter of 2013.
Sony kicked off the new year with two views of its new Xperia handsets, releasing press shots of its forthcoming Xperia Z and ZL smartphones. The two devices popped up on the Sony Mobile site, giving Xperia fans a glimpse of the Japanese firm's newest high-end Android phones. The Xperia Z is the same model as the Yuga handset that leaked earlier, while the Xperia ZL is the slightly smaller Odin model.
Sony is set to announce the next in its Xperia smartphone series at CES before its introduction to the Chinese market, according to reports. The Xperia Z, also known as the Yuga, is said to debut at the exhibition next month and in China on January 15th, and will be the company's first mobile phone with a five-inch,1920x1080 resolution screen.
Sony has listed which handsets from its Xperia smartphone range will be updated to Jelly Bean. The rollout of Android 4.1 will take place in the first quarter of 2013, depending on individual carrier delays, though the update schedule also includes details of which handsets will not receive Jelly Bean, instead staying on and not progressing past Android 4.0.
One issue early adopters face is the availability of content for their new hardware, with the latest example of such an occurrence being 4K, or Ultra HD content. Sony's $25,000, 84-inch XBR 4K LED TV may be able to upconvert 1080p content to near UHD resolution, but native UHD content isn't readily available. Sony is looking to address that with a new piece of hardware it will lease out to owners of the XBR84X900 that contains some native UHD content.
Sony is going to launch a new smartphone, aimed at toppling the market dominance of both Samsung and Apple's offerings. The new flagship handset is rumored to be the rumored Sony Yuga or an Xperia-branded offering, an Android 4.1 smartphone with IP57-certified water and dust resistance, as well as a number of features seen on current flagship phones.
Sony's Xperia S tablet will go back on sale starting mid-November, Sony Japan revealed recently. The updated tablets stopped being sold in early October due to some quality control issues during its manufacture. The defect exposed some tablets to water, as a gap was present between the screen and case.
Sony's Xperia T, which is also being called the Bond phone on account of its upcoming cameo in the Skyfall blockbuster flick, will arrive this November at various Canadian wireless providers, Sony announced on Wednesday. While a specific date hasn't been nailed down, Bell, Mobilicity, MTS, Rogers, and Videotron will begin carrying the phone in November. Pricing hasn't been revealed, but the associated contracts, as applicable will no doubt last three years and require data plans.
If a couple of images of a smartphone posted on the web are to be believed, Sony and Google are entering a new type of partnership. The handset in question is being touted as the Sony Nexus X, and shows off a Google badge on the back rather than any Xperia branding, as is the case with recent Sony handsets. For this and some other reasons, the images are believed to be faked.
A new Xperia phone from Sony, the TL, will arrive at AT&T, the carrier revealed recently. It's being marketed as the official phone of the next James Bond flick, Skyfall, so it will get exclusive ringtones and wallpaper from the movie. The phone's technical specs are fairly impressive on their own, however, with a 4G LTE radio onboard, a 4.6-inch, 1080x720 touchscreen, and a 13-megapixel camera.
Sony will be bringing its Xperia tipo and tipo dual handsets to US shores as unlocked models. The two Android 4.0 handsets will connect to AT&T and T-Mobile's networks, and they will work with 2100MHz carriers internationally.
In a follow-up to yesterday's report of a security flaw that can wipe the data of Samsung's smartphones, it's being reported that handsets from other makers are also vulnerable. While the security patch for Samsung phones is already said to be out, the latest report suggests that many other Android-powered devices are susceptible. They include but aren't limited to the HTC One X, Motorola Defy, HTC Desire, and likely Sony Xperia Active and Xperia Arc S.
Sony today unveiled a previously rumored variant of its Tablet S device, one that retains many of the features seen in the original, but now carries the Xperia branding common to Sony's Android smartphones. The new model adds a number of capabilities meant to make it more useful to buyers with home entertainment systems. It's scheduled to go on sale early next month.
Sony has yet another all-new Xperia handset in the pipeline, with pictures of the Xperia J (ST26i) leaking out early ahead of IFA. Based on its specs, the new handset is aimed at budget conscious users, but should offer a solid smartphone experience. It centers on a 4.0-inch 854x480 display, but importantly comes with Android 4.0 'Ice Cream Sandwich' preinstalled.
A purported list of upcoming devices set to arrive on Japan's NTT DoCoMo network suggests that the carrier expects to receive not only the Samsung Galaxy Nexus II, but also a new Sony Xperia Nexus as well as an LG Optimus Nexus. While not out of the question, it would mark the first time that Google has opened the Nexus branding to more than one handset manufacturer at the same time. Nexus-branded handsets have been reserved as Google's flagship handsets and run a 'Pure Google' experience.
A newly updated XDA Developers forum thread has revealed new photos of Sony's upcoming Xperia-branded tablet, along with some other key information. The design mirrors that of the Tablet S that launched in 2011, though it is thinner. Otherwise, the tablet gets the same 9.4-inch, 1,280x800-pixel touchscreen.
The high-end Sony Xperia GX smartphone is now available at NTT DoCoMo. It sports a 720p-resolution display sized at a generous 4.6 inches. There is a slight curve to the handset, just like in the Xperia Arc.
Sony has an upcoming handset, the Xperia T, which was just revealed in a number of hands-on photos from Russian site Nixanbal. Along with the generous amount of photos, some of which can be send below, some early tech specs are also revealed. They include a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of integrated storage.
The sequel to the Sony Tablet S may have been leaked ahead of its launch if seemingly authentic product slides are to be believed. German site Mobiflip has revealed what appears to be a tablet that is a much a more refined version of the original Tablet S. Still apparent is the trademark 'folded-back magazine' look although it less pronounced in a design that is said to be as much 42 percent thinner than the original at just 8.8mm.
Sony will not update its 2011 Xperia-branded smartphones to Android 4.1, Xperia Blog revealed, citing a number of Facebook replies from UK Product Manager John Cooper as proof. While Cooper only references the Xperia S, Xperia Arc S, and Xperia Mini Pro and that there are no plans to bring out Android 4.1, he does say that Android 4.0 has now been approved for all Xperia S handsets.
Sony's LT30p, codenamed 'Mint' has been leaked in a big way with a leaked prototype of the device getting an early review by Mobile Review. Confirming previous details that have already leaked, the latest Sony flagship Android smartphone incorporates a 13-megapixel main camera, sports a 4.6-inch HD display, and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor.
Sony has launched a countdown on its Facebook page to the launch of a new Xperia-branded smartphone. What's a little different in this case is that the countdown is interactive, with visitors to the page getting the chance to fast forward the date so the phone will be unveiled before its originally-planned debut on June 22. On its devoted blog, Sony revealed that 2,102 users have clicked the button, which sped up the release date by 11 hours and 42 minutes, so the handset will launch at least one day earlier.
Sony has given the ruggedized treatment to its latest Xperia smartphones for 2012. Both the Xperia Acro S and the Xperia Go offer dust and water resistance for users who enjoy outdoor activities. As the videos embedded below demonstrate, the phones can also respond to touch even when wet.
Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) updates have become available today for the Sony Xperia Arc and Neo. The phones will be updated to Android 4.0.4 and will remain on phone kernel version 2.32. Other Xperia phones will be upgraded over the course of the summer. The Xperia Neo was released in July 2011, and the Arc on April 1, 2011.
A leaked video (embedded below) has surfaced from Asia showing Sony’s current Android flagship, the Xperia S, running Android 4.04 (Ice Cream Sandwich). As the video shows, the company has managed to keep the look and feel of its custom Android launcher intact, while bringing with it all of the additional fluidity and function of ICS. Sony has revealed in its latest ICS update blog that the Xperia S is due to get its official install of current Google Android operating system by the end of June, although it has not officially made the beta release of the update public.
The official Sony blog published an update today, detailing the progress on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) upgrades on Xperia smartphones. As noted yesterday, the Xperia Play has been removed from the upgrade list. All other upgrades are proceeding as previously announced.
Sony Mobile has announced its first LTE handsets powered by Qualcomm’s fast Krait-based Snapdragon S4 dual-core processors. Capable of download speeds up to 75mbps, the Xperia GX and SX will also be the first Sony Xperia handsets to launch with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) out of the box. Sony also claims that the smaller of the two phones, the Xperia SX is also the world’s lightest LTE smartphone at just 95 grams.
More details, including a newly spied photo, have emerged about two forthcoming Sony Xperia smartphones originally listed on the leaked Sony 2012 smartphone roadmap. The LT29i Hayabusa, pictured, will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 and will center on a 4.55-inch HD Reality display. The LT29i will is also expected to be just 7mm thin, yet still pack a high capacity 2200mAh battery.
Images anonymously sent to Greek site Techblog have revealed an as yet unannounced addition to Sony's Xperia lineup. Codenamed Tapioca, the Android 4.0 device appears to be a budget-level addition to Sony's handset offerings.
ST-Ericsson on Monday backed out of core app processors in an attempt to streamline its work. Research and development, and the matching staff, would be transferred to STMicro. In turn, STMicro would license back the technology it develops so that ST-Ericsson could implement it in modem-equipped processors for smartphones and tablets.
Sony's split with Ericsson is as much a cultural break as a corporate one, and the Xperia S on the surface reflects that. It's a showcase for the company's design and technology. But with the split just months old, has Sony's mobile team learned its lesson? Our Sony Xperia S review will decide whether Sony can hold its own, or if pressure from HTC, Samsung, and Apple is still fierce.
Sony has made good on its promise made last month and launched the PlayStation Suite SDK beta for developers. Any interested party can download the software, letting them create software for all PlayStation-certified hardware. This includes the PS Vita console and the Xperia line of phones and tablets.
Sony CEO Kaz Hirai has announced the Nasne, a sophisticated network attached PVR that ties together a number of its frontline consumer electronics products. The device combines a multi-channel tuner that can receive digital and satellite TV signals with 500GB of storage. Recordings can then be viewed using an owner's PS3, Vaio PC, PS Vita, Tablet S/P, or Xperia handsets.
Sony wrapped up the week with official word that its Android 4.0 upgrades had started. The Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V, and Xperia ray are getting the modern OS today, starting with Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and the mobile division's home of Sweden. More countries that carry those three phones should get the update over the next four to six weeks.
Canadian carrier Rogers has dates both official and semi-official for two of its highest-end Android smartphones for the spring. A leak to MobileSyrup of internal Rogers info has put the HTC One X release date as April 20. The provider had already confirmed that its version, which has the same 4G LTE and Snapdragon S4 as the future AT&T model, should cost $170 on a three-year contract.
The Sony Xperia Sola has been approved by the FCC in a filing published today, with AT&T-specific 3G in tow. Sola is an Android smartphone with “floating touch technology,” a proximity sensor which allows for touchscreen control by hovering your fingers above the 3.7-inch display.
Last summer, leaks and images of a higher-end dual-core processor Sony phone, the Xperia Duo emerged. At the time, the phone was reported to be on its way for released September, but that did not happen. Recently, however Sony applied for a trademark with the USPTO for the Duo name, hinting that the smartphone could become a reality in the not to distant future.
Sony's Xperia S smartphone has been plagued with an issue with its screen, Crave has found. When the phone gets too warm, its screen emits a yellow tint. Sony is aware of the problem, stating that only a "limited number" of Xperia S phones are affected when they reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
