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Japan Display now making 1080p WhiteMagic LCDs, hints at high-end phones with bright screens
It's been hard to appreciate the brightness of WhiteMagic LCDs when they've been limited to lower-end smartphones like the Sony Xperia P. That shouldn't be a problem from now on, as Japan Display has started mass-producing its first 1080p WhiteMagic screen. Like its ancestors, the new 5-inch panel uses white subpixels to reach outdoor-friendly luminosity (840 cd/m2) without excessive power use; it can also match typical LCD brightness levels using less energy. Japan Display hasn't said just which phone makers are using the 1080p screen, but we wouldn't be shocked if company partners like Sony get first dibs.
Sony Xperia P blushes in metallic pink
If the black, grey and red hues of existing Xperia P models really weren't cutting it, Sony has just previewed a new color option -- pink. The device made a brief appearance at Sony's Weibo event, matching the metallic finish of our review model, but throwing in a little extra feminine charm. No news on release regions or dates, but given the Asia-centric reveal, we suspect it's unlikely to be gearing up for a world tour. [Thanks Kihoon]
Sony Xperia U review: a little slice of Android that punches above its weight
More Info Sony Xperia P review Sony officially debuts Xperia U at MWC 2012 Sony Xperia U gets torn to pieces, FCC destroys something beautiful There's an oft-used idiom about small packages, which frequently doesn't apply to the world of technology. That's to say that a diminished form factor often doesn't bring the "best things" with it. For example, Sony's NXT family members, revealed between CES and MWC, gifted consumers with the choice of three new handsets: the Xperia P, S and U. The last one in that list is by far the smallest, and in congruence with the general trend of mobile technology, the most lightly armored. However, we're not ones to make assumptions, and heaven forbid we pre-judge something based on size alone. We're as willing to be surprised as anyone, and the new baby of the Sony bunch is as likely a candidate as any to throw us a curveball. Our initial impressions in Barcelona were largely positive, so this review -- as the firm says on its marketing material for the phone -- is all about (the Xperia) U.%Gallery-156734%
Sony Xperia P review: a solid, mid-sized smartphone waiting for Android 4.0
More Info Sony Xperia S review Sony announces the Xperia P: Aluminum unibody, shipping Q2 Sony pushing ICS to more devices next week, confirms Xperia Play won't be upgraded As the middle child from Sony Mobile's NXT family, the Xperia P steps out from behind the Xperia S' shadow with its own 4-inch screen -- and a touch of WhiteMagic. Screen technology aside, the phone's design follows a path very similar to Sony's latest flagship and picks up a few quirks of its own on the way. The see-through button strip is actually touch-sensitive on Sony's 2012 middle-weight -- a curious oversight on the bigger model. It packs Sony's 8-megapixel Exmor R camera sensor (likely to be the same one found in the Xperia Arc S), a dual-core 1GHz processor and just under 13GB of user-accessible storage. But there's one unfortunate Xperia trait here -- we're still playing with Android Gingerbread, even while its ancestors begin to dip their toes into Ice Cream Sandwich. Does anyone want an incrementally smaller Android phone from Sony? And what exactly is WhiteMagic and what does it mean for the battery life?
Sony Xperia P hits the FCC, siblings nowhere to be seen
It was only two days ago we learned that the Xperia P might be coming to America in some form, and now it's landed at the FCC for the usual hoop jumping. Thanks to the report, we can at least be sure that it's bringing quadband GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900), HSPA capability, WiFi b / g / n, GPS and RFID (NFC) to these shores. There's no carrier-specific souvenirs we can see at this time, however. So, if you're holding out for some high-end Xperia action, it looks like you might have to wait a little longer, or just bite the P-bullet. At least you'll get a taste of some of that WhiteMagic.
Sony announces the Xperia P: Aluminum unibody, shipping Q2
Sony's press event is in full swing, and the first to arrive is the Xperia P. The phone follows on from the styling we saw on the Xperia S; but it looks likely to be the middle child, with a similar Sony-themed skin atop what appears to be Gingerbread Android, still housing dual-core power under the hood. Previously known as the Nyphon, the Xperia P has a 4-inch "WhiteMagic" display encased in an aluminum unibody. This new screen technology is apparently geared toward outdoor viewing, with NFC, HDMI connectivity and an 8-megapixel camera with full HD video capability. It will also be gifted with its own incoming SmartDock, which is set to arrive alongside the phone. And that's going to be pretty soon: the P model will ship mid-Q2, but pricing remains as dark as Sony's live event stage.
Sony WhiteMagic LCD promises magic formula of better brightness, lower power
How do you make a brighter LCD without murdering battery life? Simple. Add a white pixel to each RGB trio, creating an RGBW panel that pumps out more nits without recourse to the backlight. We've already seen this technology in action on a tablet-sized screen from Samsung and Nouvoyance, and now Sony's come up with an OEM 3-inch panel that it hopes will prove popular in smartphones and cameras. The VGA screen is claimed to double brightness without increasing power consumption compared to conventional panels. Alternatively, it has an outdoor mode which sacrifices this power-saving in favor of doubling brightness -- although, when it comes to the sunlight problem, we're still hoping that PixelQi's approach will eventually come of age.
