To say that this year saw plenty of big changes for the mobile industry would be an understatement. January opened up with what we can consider as a foreshadowing of how the year was going to be –the Nexus One launched within the first 5 days of the new year.
Indeed, this year, we witnessed the 1GHz Snapdragon CPU set a new standard for processor speeds. While there are still plenty of great new devices running with slower processors, there are now many apps and features that required the high speed CPU in order to run smoothly. Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10 –the first announced 1GHz Android phone, launched alongside other devices using the QSD CPU.
HD also became a new standard for video recording. The advent of HDTVs in homes has increased public awareness and acknowledgement of high resolution videos and thus, video recording in 720p is now pretty common. Even better is the fact that mini HDMI ports, such as the ones found in the Nseries Nokia N8 Symbian^3 smart phone, are also becoming a commonly found feature among the high end devices.
But it was not all hardware for smart phones, there are also many important events in 2010 that helped change the way we experience smart phones today.
The big Apple versus Adobe argument led to the near standardization of the Flash support in a wide variety of platforms except for the iOS. In the meanwhile, BlackBerry has taken a major change as RIM shifted the focus of BlackBerry OS 6 to multimedia playback and social networking.
Nokia’s MeeGo is now slowly going to take the main stage as the Symbian OS seems to be stepping out of the picture. Of course, Microsoft also unveiled (last February) and released (last October) the Windows Phone 7 platform this year as well.
Posts Tagged ‘Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-X10’
2010: the Big Year for the Smart Phone Industry
Friday, December 17th, 2010Update for XPERIA OS Delayed, LG Town C300 Released
Friday, September 24th, 2010
One of the most disappointing things in the tech industry is the delay of long awaited release dates. Especially when some announcements are made ahead of time so much that being able to deal with a sudden announcement of a delay is almost impossible.
Anyway, it was originally stated that this September, the Android smart phones from Sony Ericsson would be updated to version 2.1 Éclair from the 1.6 Donut that comes pre-loaded with the phones.
Considering that the XPERIA series came out alongside the HTC Desire and the Nexus One, it was pretty surprising that such a high end device sporting impressive hardware would actually be using an older version of the OS. But since the XPERIA series utilized the Timescape user interface, it was acceptable.
When the Dell Streak late came out with its massive 5 inch touch screen and older 1.6 Donut OS, it was pretty much established that using an older version of the OS is not a bad idea, as long as an update becomes available soon. Sadly, September has come and is nearing its end without any sign of an update.
Even worse, Sony has confirmed that November will be the official launch for Éclair updates for their devices –a full month’s worth of delay. Expect to see lots of unhappy SE users in the next few weeks.
Moving on, Korean phone maker LG has come out with the Town C300 handset. While it looks like a BlackBerry at first glance, the curved form and very rounded edges gives the device its own look. While we have yet to actually try out the keyboard, the portrait oriented four row setup looks a little crammed in the device. While obviously messaging based, the new handset lacks both 3G and WiFi, limiting the connectivity options of the users.
Up Close and Personal: the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X8
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
Just recently, a new video demonstration of the XPERIA X8 was shown off by Sony. The device, previously known as the SE XPERIA Shakira is a cross between the very high end XPERIA X10 and its lite sized counterpart, the X10 Mini.
It did not take much thinking for Sony Ericsson to come up with this smart phone, but it was certainly a great decision. The X8 is the perfect match for anyone hoping for a decent Sony branded Android handset that was not as excessive as the high end X10, nor as small as the budget priced X10 Mini.
In terms of specs, the X8 is a very modest Android handset. With a 3 inch TFT capacitive touch screen, none of the Android smart phone experience is lost to users. With a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, you can view images, videos and web content with little trouble. The accelerometer allows users to view the screen in any orientation they want and scratch resistant surface provides an adequate degree of protection. Taking a cue from the XPERIA X10, the X8 also features the Timescape user interface which allows users to instantly see the latest posts and updates on their social network.
With only 128 MB of internal memory, users will X8 owners will certainly have to rely on the micro SD card slot. It supports up to 16GB and it is also hot swappable, which means that changing content is only limited by the number of cards one can bring.
The device also packs a 3.2 mega pixel camera equipped with video recording support and geo-tagging. No details has been given if users can upload content directly to the web, but the presence of an App for Facebook as well as other Google provided functions are expected to make the process easier.
Samsung’s Tablet Device Set to Change the Mobile Industry
Friday, June 18th, 2010
It was only a while ago that Dell launched the Streak –a smart phone that practically pushed the limits of what size was acceptable for a modern day mobile handset. With the trend over the past few years moving towards smaller and lighter mobile phones, companies have been threading the fine line between having a small handset and retaining a big touch screen display.
The past few weeks have seen success and acceptance for the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, Samsung Galaxy S and several other handsets that have 4 inch touch screen displays. Bigger screens are indeed welcome –even at the cost of having a wider and taller mobile phone. The Dell Streak could already be called a non-conformist design, with the 5 inch touch screen display, but everyone still loved it.
Now, the possibility of a massive 7 inch screen has just been announced, and considering what Samsung has shown in their little teasers, the Galaxy Tape is definitely a mobile handset to look out for.
In many cases, calling the Tape a handset can be considered misleading as the most appropriate term for the device would be to call it as a tablet. With a large screen display, there is no doubt that the Tape has been designed to compete straight on with the Apple iPad.
Some fans might point out that the iPad’s screen is significantly larger at 9.7 inches. But that basic TFT display cannot hold a candle to the super AMOLED touch screen technology that the Galaxy Tape will bring to the table (the resolution will be 1024 x 600 pixels). Add in the planned 1.2 GHz CPU a front facing camera for video chat and the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system and you have the best possible combination for a touch screen tablet ever made.
And it handles voice calls too.
Double Android Offer: X10 Mini and Wildfire on Vodafone
Friday, June 11th, 2010
Vodafone UK seems to have one of the most extensive and impressive lineup of mobile phone offerings this year. The mobile network operator has already confirmed that they will be offering the iPhone 4 when it comes out on June 24, in the meanwhile, smart phone fans will get to choose between a wide range of Android handsets, including these two new devices from HTC and Sony Ericsson.
The HTC Wildfire is pretty much a surprise smart phone from the Taiwanese manufacturer. With all the focus on HTC’s Desire and Legend handsets, no one expected that they had a third device waiting on the wings and unlike the two other devices, the Wildfire is actually a low to mid range handset.
With its 3.2 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display, 5 mega pixel camera, and 528 MHz CPU, the Wildfire is pretty much the quintessential mid range Android handset. As one would expect, this phone will be making use of the Android 2.2 Éclair OS as well as HTC’s SENSE user interface. A new feature of their phone is how it heavily incorporates social networking features. Users will be able to access their Facebook and Twitter accounts with integrated apps which also allow for easy sharing and uploading of media.
The Sony Ericsson X10 Mini smart phone is basically bite-sized version of the more impressive XPERIA X10. Doing away with all the big heavy specs and the large touch screen, the X10 Mini is basically what a bare-bones Android handset should be –minimal hardware packed to the brim with features.
Sony Ericsson will also be releasing a second version of this Android handset soon. The X10 Mini Pro is pretty much the same Android smart phone as the original device, but with the addition of a slide out QWERTY keyboard.
X10 Mini Now Available on Carphone Warehouse
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010Fans of the Google Android operating system are getting a new handset in the form of the X10 Mini from Sony Ericsson.
The Japanese Swedish join venture’s newly released handset is actually a mini version of the original XPERIA X10 smart phone that was released just a few weeks ago (along with the Google Nexus One and the HTC Desire). While the X10 Mini may not have the hardware superiority to compete with the other Android smart phones, it is actually a much cheaper alternative –a major bonus for any mid range handsets.
So what’s special about the X10 Mini? First important factor is the size, even with its really shrunken down dimensions (it is about half the original XPERIA X10), it still manages to squeeze in plenty of hardware. In terms of performance speeds, the that MSM7227 600MHz CPU from Qualcomm does a pretty fair job of handling apps, but it will not be able to handle the level of processing that the original XPERIA handset can do –which runs on a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU.
The camera is also downgraded, but fares pretty well for its purpose. Even at 5 mega pixels, this is still a pretty impressive camera when compared to other handsets in the mid range of smart phones.
As one might expect, Sony Ericsson’s panels and Timescape also makes an appearance on this device, though it is not exactly the same tools available on the larger X10. Instead, the X10 Mini features a downsized version of the new panels UI and the Timescape social tool.
For those who are waiting for a good Android smart phone with a keyboard, then the X10 Mini Pro might be the device for you. Specs wise, the Pro has nothing different from the original X10, but it does have a slide out QWERTY keyboard which plenty will certainly love.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro Review
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Announced in Barcelona on February 14th along with the Xperia X10 Mini and Vivaz Pro as one of the newest additions to Sony Ericsson‘s “communication entertainment” phones, the X10 Mini Pro is expected to be available sometime during the first half of 2010. Some estimates say it will be available before the end of June with a price tag exceeding £300 before taxes and subsidies, but no official numbers have been released yet. Nevertheless we are expecting some fantastic Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro deals on its release. Intended to be the beginning of a new standard in high-quality compact phones with an impressive set of features and no-nonsense specifications, loaded with stunning features, the X10 Mini Pro is largely like its cousin, the X10 Mini, with a few tweaks.
Also modelled around the design of the Xperia X10, the X10 Mini Pro features an additional slide-out QWERTY keyboard for added convenience. Similar in size to the X10 Mini, the Mini Pro weighs about 120 grams and measures a slightly-larger 9 x 5.2 x 1.7 cm—don’t let its size fool you though; the X10 Mini Pro offers a significant amount of features with a 600 MHz processor for fairly robust performance and smooth interaction that lends itself to easy use. Along those lines, the X10 Mini Pro runs on the same updated version of Sony Ericsson’s UX platform that the X10 Mini uses, with the four-corner touch screen. Drag and drop your favourite applications onto your homescreen, and they’ll always be within thumb’s reach for quick and easy access. With the Android 1.6 OS, the Mini Pro also has access to unlimited customisability and a huge selection of applications, as well as the ability to make your own. The X10 Mini is expected to be available in fewer colours than its cousin; have your choice between Pearl White, Black, and Red.
For the most part, the X10 Mini Pro is the same as its tinier counterpart. The same “four-corner” touch screen interface with auto-rotate capability and the slide-out QWERTY keyboard accent the simple design and offer a smooth, unfettered environment in which you can access a great set of entertainment features. The clever “Infinite” button also makes an appearance on the Mini Pro, allowing you to access information at the touch a fingertip. Get info about contacts, check on social networks, find what track you’re listening to, or search for a video on YouTube with the press of a button, depending on what you’re up to. The same vivid 240×320 pixel (QVGA) TFT display used by the Mini X10, capable of displaying more than 16.7 million colours, is used in the Mini Pro, serving as a stunning viewport to all of your media in such a small package.
If you’re in need of something to look at on the luminous screen, the Mini Pro offers a 5-megapixel camera capable of capturing images or video, along with convenient auto-focus, a bright photo flash and continuous video lighting, and support for geo tagging to allow you to tell everyone where you’re at in all your photos. You can quickly upload all of your handy camera work to share with friends and family using the integrated Facebook application. Customise your homescreen with picture wallpapers to make it yours. You can even arrange the convenient four-corner interface to allow you to get to all of your favourite hotspots with easy-to-access shortcuts in the corners of your screen.
All of this is powered by a moderately powerful 600 MHz processor that keeps things running smoothly, though not necessarily at breakneck speeds. As an added bonus of running on Android, the Mini Pro is preloaded with the Google application suite and there are always plenty of other applications available on the Android Market to fit whatever desires you might have in hundreds of different categories. If you still can’t find exactly what you’re looking for and you’re feeling industrious, you can even develop your own app and share it with the Android community. Being open-source, the Android allows for nearly unlimited customisation suited to your desires; change everything yourself or find changes packaged by other Android users to fit your needs. Mini Pro also has aGPS support and access to Google Maps to help you stay on track, and, the Wisepilot turn-by-turn navigation gives you live voice instructions will steer you in the right direction wherever you choose to go.
One of the major selling points of the X10 series, Sony Ericsson Timescape gathers all of your social networking communication and threads it through a single stream to bring all the latest messages and updates from your friends to a single application with an easy to use interface. Timescape offers the ability to check on Facebook and Twitter updates, send and compose text messages, or even check your call logs for any calls you might have missed. The Webkit web browser, 3G+ HSPA and Wi-Fi connectivity provide web access on the move so you can visit any of your favourite sites. Bookmark support is also offered, making it a snap to go through your web-surfing routine, checking all of your habitual stops along the way. With support for 16 GB of microSD storage as well as 128MB of internal memory, you can store plenty of music, videos, pictures, applications, and games. To help you keep track of all this data, you can synchronise your mobile device with your computer via USB connection, or use Bluetooth from up to 10 yards away to wirelessly interface with other devices.
Like a pocket-sized entertainment centre, the X10 Mini pro gives you immediate access to streaming video, with built-in support for YouTube streaming as well as a solid offering of some of your favourite FM radio stations to listen to on the move. Sony Ericsson Music player is a proper app for music playback and organization. Album art support gives you a quick visual of all your music as you browse your library, and you can easily turn your MP3 and AAC music files into a musical ring tone to create your own unique mobile experience. The “Infinite” button also makes it easy to check out new music, instantly gathering music information from the PlayNow music store and YouTube to help you find what you’re looking for. Likewise, using Sony Ericsson’s amazing TrackID software, you can get album, artist and song info in mere moments—just record a few seconds of a song you want to check out, let TrackID look it up for you, then have the information sent to your phone immediately. With quick access to the PlayNow network of music, applications, and games, you can easily buy the song you just heard and add it to your library. A 3.5mm headphone jack or Bluetooth stereo can be used to listen to all of your new-found music picks in high quality.
In keeping up with the “communication” end of Sony Ericsson’s philosophy, the Mini Pro features text messaging with a conversation layout for easy reading, the ability to sync with a Microsoft Exchange server using ActiveSync to get push updates on your business e-mails as you get them, general e-mail support for multiple accounts, instant messaging, and predictive text input along with the slide-out QWERTY keyboard to make keeping in touch a breeze. When it is released in the coming months we will bring you more Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro reviews to help you get a good feel for this phone that should prove to be one of the top phones of the summer months.
Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10 has no Multitouch
Monday, April 26th, 2010
When you have a large touch screen, an Android operating system and a high speed 1GHz Snapdragon processor running under the hood, it is pretty much expected that such as smart phone would have as simple a function as multi touch functionality. Or so we thought.
Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10 smart is a high end device in terms of hardware. While the OS itself is a little old (the Android 1.6 Donut is just so last year), it has already been confirmed that an update to the OS would be indeed by arriving –but only in September, which means that the wait will be a pretty long one.
Anyway, it is not really that big of a deal that the phone does not have multi touch. It already comes with impressive hardware features. However, there is also the fact that you could always just opt to buy the HTC Desire, HTC Legend, the Samsung Galaxy S or the Nexus One –which means that SE’s move to place the XPERIA X10 at such a disadvantageous position would certainly be something that could spell doom for the mobile phone.
The X10 comes with a nice big 4 inch touch screen display, an 8 mega pixel camera and as mentioned, the 1GHz QSG8250 Snapdragon CPU. New to the device is the Timescape user interface for contacts which allow users to consolidate message archives and other relevant pieces of information in an easy to use and understand interface.
If the X10 may be off your budget, you might want to hold out for a little while longer and wait for the release of the X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro smart phones. The devices are not as powerful as the original X10, but come in a smaller and more budget friendly package.
Get to know more about X10 and multi touch at Softpedia.
Is Sony Ericsson Back for Good?
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
Mobile phone manufacturer Sony Ericsson has been in pretty bad straights in the past few months that it is almost hard to believe that the company is once again making a profit. According to reports, the first quarter of 2010 ended with Sony Ericsson making almost £20 million in profit. This is a big improvement of last year’s severe negative turnaround.
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. If Sony Ericsson will truly become the giant that it was meant to be, it will have to go through a whole lot more than just one quarter. As such, there are several important factors that would contribute to the success of the company.
First off, the man at the helm, Bert Nordberg; the CEO of the Swedish Japanese joint venture has been pretty brave and optimistic in his recent interviews, stating heavily that there has been plenty of progress internally and that the company would keep pushing through as it is already on the right track. Regardless of his vague claims, it seems that Bert is the man for the job –successfully building up an excellent portfolio of devices.
The phone line up is definitely the main game for SE. With new devices such as the XPERIA X10, X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro, as well as the Symbian powered Vivaz and Vivaz Pro, the company pretty much has good devices to offer both the mid to high range Android and Symbian phone users. The Greenheart series remains as one of the most successful line of eco-friendly devices being manufactured. It has also been confirmed that SE is currently working on an upcoming WP7 device as well.
All in all, Sony Ericsson’s current road is not a downhill run. With strong competition for products and a very fast paced industry, SE has plenty more to catch up with before they can once again rest easy.
Read more about Sony Ericsson’s future at Mobile Today UK.
XPERIA X10 Now Available in Hong Kong
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
Sony Ericsson’s first Android smart phone is now available for shipping from Hong Kong.
It is not that big a deal considering that by the time the device makes it to the UK, it will only be a few days ahead of the local launch. But if you really want to get your hands on the new XPERIA X10 as soon as possible, then scoot over to online retailer Play.com’s official website and order the Snapdragon Android smart phone online.
This smart phone has taken its sweet time before finally getting released. Sony Ericsson first announced the device sometime last year as the SE Rachael. Exact specifications were still scarce but it was already known that the phone would be an Android device. Later reports would confirm that it would be part of the XPERIA series, bringing rise to rumors that it would be using the latest 1GHz processor from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon CPU and the newer Android 2.0 version.
It was not until late October that Sony Ericsson finally announced the specs for the device; it would be named XPERIA X10 (as opposed to X3 which many believed) and that the device would indeed have a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU but only the 1.6 Donut version of the Android –at that time, only Motorola had a confirmed 2.0 version of the open source OS.
Recent reports have confirmed that an update to the latest Android OS will be available for the SE XPERIA device in order to bring it up to date with the new standards of Android phones. Aside from its impressive, high speed CPU, the X10 also comes with a 4 inch OLED touch screen, an 8 mega pixel camera and of course, support for AGPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and 3G.
Learn more about the XPERIA X10 available from Play.com at Know Your Mobile.