XperiaX10Mini
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Sony Ericsson Xperia X10's multitouch update rolling out now; X8, X10 Mini, and X10 Mini Pro getting ANT+ support soon
That pinch-to-zoom update for the Xperia X10 that Japanese customers got an early lead on is now rolling out around the globe according to a new blog post from the boys and girls at Sony Ericsson. That may not be the most interesting part, though: they're also chatting up a future firmware update that'll enable ANT+ support on the Xperia X8, X10 Mini, and X10 Mini Pro, a capability baked into the chipsets on those devices that Sony Ericsson hadn't previously exploited. Theoretically, that means that heart rate monitors and other wearable fitness gear -- a market where ANT+ has really blossomed -- could connect directly to your phone rather than passing through a computer with an ANT+ dongle first, perfect for analyzing jogs on the go. Of course, workout technology is always more appealing than the workout itself... but if you can solve that problem, Sony Ericsson, let us know. You can find us on the couch over there. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony Ericsson's Xperia Android upgrade roadmap leaks out, shows 720p recording but no Froyo
Sony Ericsson made it clear way back in May that the Xperia X10 family wouldn't stay at the antiquated Android 1.6 forever -- come Q4 2010, they'd get an Eclair with freshly revamped Timescape and Mediascape filling. Now, it looks like the company's codified that promise in this allegedly leaked German roadmap. Spotted by a tipster at the Xperia X10 Blog at IFA 2010 in Berlin, the document describes a 720p video recording mode (with continuous autofocus) for the Xperia X10 alone, plus Facebook and Twitter contacts integration, an HTML5-compliant browser and five homescreen pages for the entire Xperia series with the release of Android 2.1. There's also a separate "2.1x" release after that to bring the two 'scapes up to snuff, and it seems the Xperia X8's being bundled with the mini and mini pro as far as updates go. There's sadly no mention of Android 2.2, but we wouldn't yet count it out -- for all we know, the very next page of that leaflet could be oozing delicious frozen yogurt all over these phones.
Entelligence: when less beats Moore
Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide. We are all familiar with Moore's law. The observation made by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore that the density of semiconductors doubles roughly every eighteen months. The net result? It's always going to be better faster and cheaper. Certainly that's been true of the phone space, with large screens, fast processors and lots of storage. In the last few weeks alone I've looked at new phones with 1Ghz processors, the latest and greatest software platforms from Google and RIM... but it's been one little gadget that's caught my attention and it totally bucks the trend. What device? It's the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro -- which is a lot of name for a small phone -- and it shows some very different thinking about what a smartphone is. In theory, this isn't a phone that I should like. Instead of a large 4.3-inch screen, it's running a 2.55-inch screen at 240 x 320 resolution. Don't look for a 1Ghz processor here. It's got an ARMv6 revision 5 processor at 600Mhz. Finally, forget Froyo or even Eclair. This thing's got Android 1.6 on it and may never get updated to the latest and greatest. Despite all that, I think Sony Ericsson has a potential hit on their hands if they decide to bring this to the US later this year as they said they plan to. Why am I so enamored?
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini / Mini Pro review
In a smartphone market saturated with 3.5-inch and larger displays, Sony Ericsson reckons there's still a little place for petite packages. Enter the Xperia X10 Mini (E10i) and Mini Pro (U20i) -- both direct descendants of the beastly X10 Android 1.6 handset. Apart from the Pro's slide-out keyboard, removable battery, and positioning of various features, the two Minis are otherwise internally identical -- same processor, same camera, and same screen. So can these cute baby form factors offer more than just some palm-cuddling time? Can we get a decent smartphone performance out of them? Follow us after the break to find out.%Gallery-96908%
Sony Ericsson X10 Mini teardown reveals densely packed, tiny hardware
The crew at iFixit were jonesing for something to disassemble recently, and Sony Ericsson's X10 Mini seems to have been the nearest thing they could lay hand and screwdriver upon. We'll admit HTC has us kind of spoiled with the colorful interiors of its phones, so we were a little underwhelmed by the demureness of the X10 Mini. Everything is packed into the utilitarian logic board, and although you get to decouple the screen and antenna assembly, it's still mostly a thick slab of highly integrated technology. Still, if you want to see a Qualcomm MSM7227 all naked and exposed to the elements, this is your chance. The source link contains all the intimate photography you could wish for.
Sony Ericsson X10 mini goes on sale, free on a miserly plan
What it lacks in raw power and display size, Sony Ericsson's X10 mini may very well make up in sheer cuteness -- and if you're into that sort of thing, you'll be delighted to know that the phone is now on sale in the UK. Carphone Warehouse is retailing the phone for free on plans as little as £15 ($21.55) a month -- and it's available on T-Mobile, 3, Orange, and Vodafone -- or £249.95 ($359) if you just want to buy the phone outright. You won't get Eclair or Froyo out of the gate -- but then again, when you're buying a phone that elicits responses of "awww" every time you pull it out of your pocket, up-to-date software probably isn't a priority.
Xperia X10 Mini unboxed, dwarfed by its own peripherals (video)
Sony Ericsson wasn't kidding when they called this one the Xperia X10 Mini. We must admit, it's a cute little guy -- if you'd like to see for yourself, we have the company's own unboxing video for you after the break. This is one of the very first consumer samples that's become available, and there will be some differences between what you see here and whatever lands in the UK and US, for instance. While a USB cable, charger, and stereo headset will come standard depending on market and carrier, extras -- including remote headset, powered stereo speakers, and additional back covers besides the standard black or white -- will differ accordingly. What are you waiting for? Hop past the break to see for yourself. [Thanks, Ernst]
Sony Ericsson's X10 mini meets the FCC
The biggie-sized X10 is now shipping in parts of the world, but let's be honest: every once in a while, you'd probably rather carry around a tiny scale replica of the thing. Of course, Sony Ericsson was happy to oblige with the announcement of the X10 mini back in February -- and now, it looks like we're getting close to finally enjoying some face time with the smallest Android device to come out of a top-tier manufacturer. The version that just scored FCC approval isn't for US sale on account of its Euro-only 3G bands, but at least they'll be the cutest 3G bands you've ever seen.
Xperia X10 Mini coming to Vodafone soon?
Weight: 88 grams. Talk time: 4 hours. Pictures and video: right here. We told you everything there was to know about Sony Ericsson's diminutive Xperia X10 mini during Mobile World Congress, but we didn't know when and where it might arrive. According to the image at right, the answers are "soon" and "Vodafone," respectively; Cool Smartphone tells us the pic was plucked from Vodafone's May catalog. Assuming it's the real deal, expect Robyn to land on European branches this summer for an undisclosed price, and appear in teenybopper music videos next fall.
Sony Ericsson's 'Robyn' pops into the limelight -- an X10 mini?
Sony Ericsson's supposed Xperia X10 mini -- potentially codenamed "Robyn" -- may have made an appearance thanks to GSMArena and a couple pics. Surprisingly, they lack blur, but the bad news is that there's not a lot of background on what's going on here -- we're missing specs and a cohesive answer to what market Sony Ericsson could be targeting here. If Robyn is indeed the real deal, rumor says it'll be running Android, features a much smaller touchscreen, 3G, some type of camera, and come in a range of colors -- and we figure that alone should make its older sibling, the Xperia X10, green with envy (but only figuratively). With Mobile World Congress just around the corner and a lack of announcements out of these guys at CES, we'd wager we'll hear more soon.
