XperiaX10
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Celebrity Nerds: Justin Timberlake -- secret Android lover?
Celebrity Nerds confirms what you always knew, deep in your heart of hearts: that stars are nerds like us. Send in your own confirmations of this fact right here. Oh, Justin Timberlake. Why does he insist on confusing us? Known BlackBerry user (plenty of photographic evidence to back this one up) JTimbs recently got our hearts all a flutter when he tweeted -- about Entourage, no less -- from the Twitter for Android app. Wait, what? Android? Yes, that's right. So, of course we've spent the last hour doing 'research' on the internet searching desperately for photographic evidence. What did we find? Just a photo culled from the top of Celebrity BlackBerry Sightings -- but this is no BlackBerry, friend. No, they've got it all wrong, if you ask us. Timberlake, known Sony spokesperson, appears to be holding an Xperia X10. Of course, that raises an even more troubling question -- Twitter for Android works only on devices with OS 2.1 and above, so the X10 running its current version of 1.6 wouldn't cut the mustard. Unless Justin is getting special treatment from Sony with an Eclair device? Our heart just skipped a beat. Update: Just to clarify, Timberlake's tweet did not come from the X10's Timescape app. As you can see right here, those tweets are identified as coming from "Sony Ericsson X10." [Thanks, Trucker boy]
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 officially debuts on AT&T: $130 on contract
If ever there were a place for using the phrase "it's about time," this would be it. If you'll recall, we heard rumors that Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 would be headed to AT&T as far back as November of last year, possibly proving just how grueling the certification process is for getting a handset onto Ma Bell's network. Those whispers flared up again back in April, and our hunches about yesterday's tease seem to be confirmed today. The Android-powered X10 (v1.6 so far as we can tell, but the PR carefully dodges the issue) will be available for consumers starting on August 15th, with the handset boasting a 4-inch touchpanel, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, inbuilt GPS, 8.1 megapixel camera (with LED flash), 8GB of onboard memory, a 2GB flash card and a couple of SE's own apps atop the stock Android build (Mediascape and Timescape). AT&T's claiming that this bad boy will set you back $149.99 on a 2-year service plan, but Sony's saying that it can be picked up in a local Sony Style store for $20 less. Oh, and if you wait a week, it'll be $49.99 on contract over at Amazon. Decisions, decisions. Update: Yep, it's Android 1.6. Commence weeping. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony teases something smarter, our money's on Xperia
Sony's website is slowly ticking down the hours, minutes and seconds until the company's latest product launch, but like all other Sony teasers in recent memory, there's little real doubt. If references to "X10" peppered through the site's source code left any doubt, this picture should clear it up -- mark our words, that's an Xperia X10 underneath the clock. Apparently the four-inch Android smartphone is finally ready for its US debut, though whether it's "smarter" or no will probably depend on which version of the OS it ships with. Expect an AT&T launch, and be sure to read our full review. Update: As numerous commenters and tipsters have pointed out, Sony hasn't gone to much trouble to hide what's going on -- all you need to do to see the trademark Xperia logo is drop that image into a photo editor and crank up the brightness. [Thanks, Jason]
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, Samsung Eternity II hitting AT&T in the coming weeks?
You might remember that we'd said back in April that AT&T would be picking up the Sony Ericsson X10 in the 30th week of the year. Well, turns out we weren't exactly right, but it seems we're going to end up being pretty damn close. We're hearing that AT&T is lining up for a launch some time between the middle of August and the middle of September; smartphone data is required, of course, and it'll cost independent dealers $345 per unit (retail pricing is anyone's guess). Also launching in the same timeframe will be the Samsung Eternity II, a device BGR had mentioned back in June. No details on this one, but we'd assume it'll be a slicker, higher-spec follow-on to the original Eternity from way back in '08. Sadly, there's no indication these X10s will have anything other than the dusty Android 1.6-based platform they've been running everywhere since their global launch, so get ready to travel back in time if you end up cross-shopping this with the Captivate. [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Sony Ericsson X10 firmware update introduces wildly annoying WiFi bug
Apparently, the latest firmware update for Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 (which, yes, is still based on Android 1.6) does more harm than good -- if you're frequently using WiFi and you find yourself in weak cellular coverage, anyhow. Basically, any time your cellular signal drops to zero then bounces back, WiFi turns itself off, which is particularly brutal considering that a weak signal is probably why you're leaning on WiFi in the first place. We don't have details on what X10s are affected, but R2BA026 sounds like the offending version -- so if you see it, we'd probably stay far away until SE manages to push another update. [Thanks, Sergio M.]
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 has been rooted, all is right with the world
Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 has been out and about for some time, facing off against the competition and predictably getting ripped to shreds. Now it has reached the next natural step of its evolution: receiving the root treatment by a bloke at xda-developers. Users Jerpelea, biktor_gj, and Bin4ry over there have posted step-by-step instructions on how to locate your device ID, re-flash your phone, and then enable superuser abilities. It all looks particularly straightforward, as far as these things go, and so if you're looking for a bit more control this weekend don't hesitate to click on through.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 gets software update (and no, it's not Eclair)
Sony Ericsson had previously committed to the fourth quarter for an update to Android 2.1 on its X10, and as far as we know, that date's still holding firm -- in other words, the update that's now rolling out to units around the world is still the same old Donut you're used to. That said, it looks to be a worthwhile boost thanks to promised performance improvements in the camera app and elsewhere, the addition of a free backup app, and -- in certain locales, anyhow -- PlayNow functionality has been added. It's probably not enough to convert a non-believer... but hey, for owners, it's something.
Super AMOLED vs AMOLED vs LCD in direct sunlight... fight! (video)
By now you know that (one of) AMOLED's Achilles' heel is readability in direct sunlight. But Samsung's been working hard to fix that with its new Super AMOLED technology. Techblog took the display to task by pitting the Samsung Galaxy S (4-inch, 480 x 800 pixel Super AMOLED) against the HTC Desire (3.7-inch 480 x 800 pixel AMOLED) and Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 (4-inch, 480 x 854 pixel TFT LCD). It's clear from the video embedded after the break that the LCD still has the edge in the harsh Greek sun, but the Super AMOLED certainly makes a much stronger showing than its AMOLED sib. In fact, differences in visibility between the LCD and Super AMOLED are often indistinguishable, like the picture above. That'll be good news for us just as soon as Samsung can start meeting demand... regardless of what Stevie J has to say. Check the video after the break and be sure to click the source for some more side-by-side pics, including a few taken indoors where that Super AMOLED display really shines.
How would you change Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10?
You may not agree with Sony Ericsson's time table, nor their decision on what flavor of Android to use, but let's face it: you were intrigued when SE told you the Xperia X10 would be its first Google-fied smartphone. To date, the X10 has yet to gain the kind of global appreciation shared by the Motorola Droid, Nexus One or iPhone, but that's not to say quite a few of you haven't ended up with one. We had our fair share of gripes and grins when reviewing the thing, but as you well know, this is no place for us to rehash what we've already explained. Rather, we're curious to know how exactly you feel about the Xperia X10. In what can only be described as the most competitive smartphone landscape in the history of the world, the X10 is going up against some huge players; do you feel that the product SE has delivered is up to snuff? Would you have rather seen a different version of Android from the start? Any issues with the touch panel, camera, or industrial design? Digging those hard buttons below the display? We have to imaging that the X11 is already floating around in someone's mind, and chances are high that they'll be looking in comments for advice on where to turn. No pressure.
CE-Oh no he didn't!: Sony's Sir Howard says 'when you beat Apple, you're dominating'
Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer has always been delightfully direct, and he didn't hold back at Google's I/O conference: talking about Sony Ericsson with Eric Schmidt during the Google TV launch, Sir Howard noted that the Xperia X10 is the best-selling handset in Japan, and that "when you beat Apple, you're dominating -- it's the new definition." Strong words from a gadget titan -- we'll leave it to you to debate their veracity.
Sony Ericsson X10 family to get Android 2.1 in 'Q4 2010'
The Xperia X10, one of the big mindshare-grabbing devices of the smartphone world, made us wait a cool six months between its November announcement and wide retail availability in April. One of the secret hopes while all that waiting was going on was that perhaps SE would surprise us and upgrade the dusty old Android 1.6 base installation to a fresh and creamy Eclair (2.1) or even a frosty Froyo (2.2) treat shortly after launch. Time to lay those dreams to rest, dear friends, as Sony Ericsson has come with an official schedule for upgrading the firmware on the Xperia X10 and its X10 mini and X10 mini pro siblings, which places the Android 2.1 delivery in the fourth quarter of 2010 -- and knowing the company that probably means closer to Christmas than Halloween. All we can say is you'd better really like that UX platform a great deal, because it'll be the only thing you'll be seeing for quite a while on Sony Ericsson's Googlephones.
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.
AT&T scheduled to get Sony Ericsson X10 in week 30 of this year
We've just gotten word from a trusted source that AT&T is currently signed up to get Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 in fiscal week 30 of 2010, which represents the tail end of July and the beginning of August. Naturally, those plans can change -- AT&T has been known to drop Sony Ericssons from the lineup at the last minute, after all, and there's no way they could have that week 30 time frame locked in with certainty this far in advance -- but it seems at least plausible considering the fact that an 850 / 1900MHz 3G version of the device exists (we've tested it) and that AT&T's significantly ramping up its support for Android this year. Of course, the relevance of an Android 1.6-powered X10 in the third quarter is an open question, but sadly, it could very well be the top-of-the-line Android device in AT&T's roster even that far down the road. We'll see how this plays out.
Sony Ericsson X10 can do multitouch after all, will get Android 2.1 in September?
So, was all that hubbub for nothing? British retailer mobiles.co.uk -- a wholly-owned subsidiary of giant Carphone Warehouse, for what it's worth -- is claiming a "man on the inside" as saying that the X10 actually can do multitouch after all, despite word from a Sony Ericsson product manager to the contrary. In fact, not only can it do multitouch, but it will do multitouch through a software update in the second half of the year, the source goes on to say. This all ties in nicely with the dude's claim that the X10 will see an official update to Android 2.1 in September, a window that dovetails rather nicely with Sony Ericsson's official line of 2H 2010. Of course, by the time September rolls around, we can only assume that Froyo will be alive and well, so the ultimate question of relevancy for Sony Ericsson's very first Android venture remains to be answered.
Apple iPad vs. Dell Mini 5 / Streak... fight! (Bonus: smartphone pile-on!)
Occasionally we've had strangers -- very likely non-Engadget readers -- coming up to us and ask, "Sorry mate, but is that the iPad?" To which we reply, "No, it's the Dell Mini 5." This may sound like a silly boo-boo to make, but there is this common misconception of the iPad being just "a bigger iPhone" while not knowing how much bigger it is (despite our best effort). To clear this up once and for all, we've brought the two devices in question together -- the Mini 5 / Streak smartphone on the left, and the iPad on the right. Now it's up to you guys to spread the love. As a bonus, we also threw in various phones -- HTC HD mini, Nexus One, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, and HTC HD2 -- to pile on top of Apple's latest toy, just to kill the Sunday afternoon. No magical and revolutionary devices were harmed in the making of this article. [Thanks for the toys, Chris and Andy]%Gallery-90236%
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 coming to Rogers on April 15, free Bluetooth headset in tow
So who's the first North American carrier to pick up Sony Ericsson's high-end X10? AT&T? T-Mobile? Nope -- it's Canada's Rogers, which is once again showing its superior Android prowess by getting first dibs on a phone that plenty of folks have been anticipating since its announcement late last year. Looks like April 15 has been locked in as the carrier's date with destiny, but there's more to the story than that: they'll be tossing in a gratis Sony Ericsson MW600 Bluetooth headset with integrated FM radio if you're an existing customer who's eligible for a hardware upgrade. It's actually a pretty deluxe deal -- the MW600 retails for almost $100 -- so if you were on the fence about whether to pull the trigger on the upgrade, this might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. [Thanks, Phil T.]
Xperia X10 multitouch issue is hardware-related?
Sony Ericsson's flagship Android smartphone, the Xperia X10, has been plagued by laggy performance since we first laid eyes on it, but that won't always be the case; the company has confirmed repeatedly that upgrades (including a newer Android OS version) will come. However, it now seems that multitouch is not in the cards. "There's no multitouch in X10 – and I also can confirm that it's not only related to [software] but also to [hardware]," said product manager Rikard Skogberg at the official company blog. If true, that means the X10 won't get multitouch even when rooted, much less a Nexus One or Milestone-like level of native, official multitouch support. But remember, Sony Ericsson has fancy UI quirks of its own -- though you may never pinch-to-zoom on an X10, at least you can enjoy reticulating Splines. [Thanks, Björn R.]
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 review
Of the world's largest phone manufacturers, perhaps none has taken a more twisted road to smartphone ubiquity than Sony Ericsson. It began its journey back in the pre-joint venture Ericsson days by throwing its weight behind Symbian, a smartphone platform that would ultimately become the world's most popular -- but it made a fatal error in supporting the doomed UIQ flavor that never saw even a fraction of the support its S60 cousin did. UIQ's untimely (but predicted) collapse last year left the company nearly rudderless and ill-equipped to deal with competitors like Nokia, HTC, and Apple, all of whom had long since embraced other platforms -- all with fighting chances of market dominance. Left without a platform to champion, Sony Ericsson would ultimately continue supporting Symbian through its involvement with the Symbian Foundation and phones like the Satio and Vivaz... and it would ramp up support for Windows Mobile with the Xperia X1 and X2... and it would bring Android into the fold with the X10, all within a few months of each other. All told, Sony Ericsson enters 2010 actively supporting three unrelated smartphone platforms, and comments by CEO Bert Norberg at MWC in February lead us to believe that they'd be happy to take on a fourth (or more) if the opportunity presented itself. It's an odd strategy to be sure, particularly for a company that's struggling mightily and shrinking its workforce more than any other top-five manufacturer. How it intends to effectively compete on three different fronts without spreading itself hopelessly thin, well... that remains a huge question mark. That said, the Xperia X10 is perhaps the most promising of Sony Ericsson's confusing crop of modern smartphones, combining attractive hardware with killer specs, Android, and an intriguing custom skin. Does it hold its own against modern competitors like HTC's Nexus One and Desire? And more importantly, can it keep Sony Ericsson from going over the brink? Read on to find out. Note: Sony Ericsson contacted us shortly after the review was published to let us know that this particular X10 is running pre-production firmware, which may account for some of the issues we had with keyboard performance and occasional sluggishness. Let's hope! %Gallery-88687%
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 finally arrives in UK, T-Mobile will deliver it within 10 days
At long last, the protracted wait for Sony Ericsson's first Android phone is coming to an end. T-Mobile's web store has this morning added the Xperia X10 to its stable of mobile devices, though it requests 10 days' worth of patience before getting the handsets out to their impatient new owners. Pricing is surprisingly higher than that associated with the HTC Desire -- the £15 per month two-year contract that nets you the Nexus One clone for £129 ($194) requires a steeper £191 ($287) for the X10. Mind you, with that delivery delay dragging you into April, you might want to hold out a tiny bit longer to see what propositions Vodafone may have in store for prospective purchasers of the X10. [Thanks, Jay]
Sony Ericsson X10 unboxed by -- who else -- Sony Ericsson
Guys, guys, look: unboxing is our job. We know it's fun and we know it brings eyeballs to your site, but we think your customers would be better served if you just concentrated on shipping the mighty X10 rather than teasing them with a product they can't yet have. Apparently, Sony Ericsson just took delivery of its first commercial samples of its inaugural Android device, so to kick off the occasion in style, a couple staffers have unboxed them in glorious high definition for us -- both the white and black versions, mind you -- using none other than their own Vivaz to maximize the meta factor. There's not a lot to the video, really (even the captions are disappointingly accurate), but if you're truly desperate for X10 eye candy as you wait for the retail launch, it's worth a gander. Full video after the break.
