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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 tipo dual shares SIMs, still fits in tiny pockets
It looks like Sony's not quite finished today, with two more phones sneaking out on its YouTube channel ahead of any official fanfare. The Xperia tipo dual (and its single-SIM version, the tipo) keep things small and simple, with a 3.2-inch 480 x 320 TFT screen and 800MHz Snapdragon processor. Both, however, will be running Ice Cream Sandwich out of the gate -- embarrassing Sony's bigger (presumably pricier) smartphones. The sub-100g (3.5-ounce) frame houses 3.2-megapixel camera and 2.5GB of user-accessible memory, expandable by microSD. A dedicated hardware key will switch the tipo dual between those SIMs, while you can also automate the phone to swap between them at different times of the day. There's no launch date or pricing yet, but you can take a video tour of both phones below.%Gallery-158154%
Sony Xperia miro unveiled ahead of time, light on details
The Xperia miro's moved up its coming-out party a whole nine days thanks to Sony Mobile's Facebook campaign. Loaded with ICS, the phone is outfitted with a 3.5-inch display, 5-megapixel camera, a front-facing "chat cam" and comes in shades of black, gold, pink and silver. Integrated Facebook features and customizable illuminations are also promised, but the lid hasn't been lifted on more detailed specs. As of now, the social-minded phone is only slated for release in Europe, but look out below for some additional glamour shots or head past the break for the video unveiling.%Gallery-158151%
Sony teases new Xperia phone unveiling within days, wants you to speed it up on Facebook
As much as we're used to companies offering big teasers for their future devices, it's still rare that they put the revelation itself under our control. Sony's trying just that: its mobile division's Facebook page is promising a new Xperia phone whose unveiling date is contingent on how many people "fast forward" the unveiling date from its original June 22nd. As we're writing, the date has already been moved up to June 20th, and there's a good chance the phone will show up sooner. Just what we'll see is a mystery -- it could be the finished version of the tiny ST21i we saw in April, an international version of the Xperia Neo L, or something else entirely. We'll know as soon as enough visitors give Sony the go-ahead, although we wouldn't be surprised if the references to time are clues.
China-bound Sony Xperia Neo L with ICS gets handled, holds nothing back
It was only a couple of months ago that we first crossed paths with Sony's Xperia Neo L, and now the Ice Cream Sandwich handset is back with a vengeance -- at least in terms of exposure. As you may know, details were revealed in abundance (read: 1GHz Snapdragon S2 CPU, 512MB of RAM) during our first MT25i encounter, but thanks to Taiwanese site ePrice, we're able to gander at the device posing in an array of different angles and leaving very little to the imagination. For now, pricing still remains a mystery, though we do know Sony's 4-inch (854 x 480) Neo L is expected to hit Chinese shelves later this month. Until then, anyone intrigued can jump past the break to check out a different look, or hit the source link for the full set of snaps.
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 U goes on sale at Three UK
We've been twiddling our thumbs waiting patiently for the littlest of Sony's new-look smartphone lineup, the Xperia U, to arrive in earnest. It's a bit of a relief then to see the Android 2.3 phone go on sale at Three UK. You'll be getting what we saw back in Barcelona, including Sony's Timescape interface and the trick color light-up strip. We're guessing that most will see the cheap-as-chips price as the real selling point: the Xperia U costs £170 ($269) without a plan, and it's free as in beer on a two-year contract for £23 ($36) per month. O2, Orange and T-Mobile will expand UK carrier choices soon, but if you're looking for a fresh entry point into Android, Three can take care of you today.
Sony helps you 'personalize' your Xperia further, announces case maker partnerships
Despite there being so many smartphones nowadays, finding cases for certain handsets can be tricky -- unless you're toting the likes of an iPhone or the latest Android flagship device, that is. Keeping that in mind, Sony has good news for Xperia owners, as it's officially announced a partnership program to bring more case options for its phones to market. According to Sony, 10 companies are currently onboard, including the likes of Case-Mate and Incipio, and some will be announcing what'll be on offer before the month's out. There's no word regarding designs or prices just yet, but here's hoping that Case-Mate brings its cuddly Creature cases into the fray -- especially the Waddler.
Sony Xperia ST21i with ICS leaks out, shows off its chunky physique
It may not be as sleek as its S kin, or even as powerful as that mid-level U, but this recently leaked Xperia ST21i might just have enough goodies to lure a handful of you in. According to Techblog, this thick, 3.2-inch unit packs some pretty run-of-the-mill features, including an 800MHz Qualcomm chip paired with 512MB of RAM, a 3-megapixel shooter to help with those Instagram shots and a low 480 x 320 screen res. Unlike a few of the other Xperias still waiting to be served, though, the ST21i has already been filled with a portion of Google's famous ICS. No word yet on when the pudgy device will see a legit introduction, but until then you can peek at some extra photos at the source link below.
Sony Xperia S, P and U to visit America, Brightstar to buy the tickets
Sony may be readying the Xperia Ion for US shores, but we haven't heard any news yet on whether the phone-maker's NXT family of phones will ever visit all those states. That's where Brightstar comes in. The wireless distributor has announced that it'll be offering up the Xperia S, P and U -- but hasn't yet offered up any concrete dates or specific markets. This means we may see the three Sony phone appearing on smaller, possibly lesser-known carriers -- Brightstar mentions its "regional and local expertise." The distributor's excitable press release is right below.
Sony outs Xperia Play ICS beta for unlocked phones, wants to know which games work
While the promised Sony Xperia Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade rollout is quickly running out of March and into April for all models, the company has just unleashed a new beta version of the upgrade for Xperia Play owners. Following the alpha release in December and a beta update in February for the Arc S, Neo V and Ray, Sony has pushed this version for the Play to find out which games may need some work to be compatible with Android 4.0. The usual drawbacks remain however, so because this release requires unlocking your bootloader -- which will keep users from upgrading to the final ICS update when it comes out -- and it lacks such creature comforts as Google Mobile Services apps (Gmail, Google Maps, Face Unlock) it's intended for developers only. If your gamepad-equipped handset is staying official-upgrade only, you can safely check out a video of the beta ROM running on an Arc S embedded after the break and take this as a heads up that the final release is that much closer.
Sony Xperia's 'Made of Imagination' TV spot, directed by Wes Anderson (video)
Sony certainly has its fair share of legendary commercials, but its first major spot since taking over the smartphone torch from Sony Ericsson is a real gem. Dreamed up by an eight-year old longing for understanding of what happens within a pocketable computer and directed by the famed Wes Anderson (you know, the guy responsible for The Royal Tenenbaums and Fantastic Mr. Fox), the 'Made of Imagination' ad features a gaggle of robots powering Sony's Android family. The rest, of course, we'll leave to you to enjoy. Head on past the break for the clip, and have a peek at the TechCrunch via below for a bit of the backstory.
Sony outs Xperia sola: 3.7-inch LCD, 1GHz CPU, 'floating touch' navigation
So, it turns out the sola isn't a US-specific version of the Xperia S after all, but a new handset in its own right -- albeit one we've already seen under the "Pepper" codename. In some ways, it's a budget version of the S, with a similar appearance minus the glittery translucent strip along the bottom and with various other reductions, including a 3.7-inch 854 x 480 LCD, 1GHz dual-core processor and 5-megapixel rear camera. On the other hand, it's a fully hazed member of the Xperia gang, with NFC SmartTags, an xLOUD "surround sound" speaker, Mobile BRAVIA image processing and, of course, full access to the Sony Entertainment Network. As expected, the sola will ship with Gingerbread but be upgradeable to ICS soon after launch. There's also one completely new spec: "floating touch" navigation for "magic web browsing without touching the screen." What is it? Does it work? We should have answers pretty soon -- the handset is due for a global release in black, white and red colors in Q2. Check the source link for full specs.Update: More on "floating touch" right here.
Sony Xperia S review
Has spring 2012 brought a rebirth to the Xperia range, or just a rebranding? On the face of it, that's an easy one. The Sony Xperia S (codenamed "Nozomi") is the first handset we've reviewed in the post-Ericsson era and you only have to glance at its spec sheet to see that more has changed than just the logo. The 4.3-inch LCD display outguns older Xperias with a bright and contrasty 1,280 x 720 resolution. This feature alone helps the device to sit more snugly on the Sony family sofa, where it can share popcorn with the tablets, PCs and TVs that Kaz & Co. want to merge into a seamless media-munching ecosystem. The Xperia S' camera pushes in that same direction, shooting 12-megapixel stills and 1080p video and then streaming its creations to other displays over HDMI and DLNA. Rounding it off, you get quirky features like NFC and a distinctive, Bravia-like physical design. But not everything here is so fresh and spring-like: other aspects of the device are still tinged with winter, as you'll discover if you read on. %Gallery-149568%
Sony's 2012 Xperia series gets together for awkward family portrait
While Sony's newly-christened Xperia phones are a bit difficult to tell apart, there's nothing quite like getting the whole clan together to tell these statement slabs apart. It's largely about the size and build differences here -- while the 4.3-inch Xperia S readies itself for retail stores very soon, the middleweight Xperia P is showing off its aluminum unibody frame. The Xperia U then shyly rounds out the series with the smallest footprint of the bunch. Hopefully our gallery below will help you decide exactly which Sony phone is the one for you.
Live from Sony's Mobile World Congress 2012 press event!
Today's Sony press conference is a biggie, and it's not just because this is the premier wireless tradeshow, or because the company is a household name. This will be the first time we've heard from Sony's phone division since Sony split with Ericsson and rebranded the operation "Sony Mobile Communications." But what's in a name, right? It's the gadgets we're after, and gadgets we'll see. So, will we get the Xperia U? A dash of Pepper? Sony's about to set the record straight, so stay tuned for a blow-by-blow of all the details. February 26, 2012 12:00 PM EST
Join us for Sony's Mobile World Congress 2012 press event at noon EST
Okay, guys, time to finish up those Sunday errands, because we have quite the prime time lineup planned, and you're not going to want to go anywhere (Oscars, schmoscars, right?). Coming up at noon EST Sony is delivering its first press conference since breaking up with Ericsson and rebranding its phone division "Sony Mobile Communications." Bookmark this page and come back a few minutes before noon, at which point we'll be reporting live on the Xperia U, the Pepper or whatever it is Sony has up its sleeve. And then when we're done you can stick around for our HTC liveblog, yeah? Yeah. See you there. February 26, 2012 12:00 PM EST
Mobile World Congress 2012 preview: what will we see?
Without hesitation, February always seems to be the most hectic time of the year for the mobile industry, thanks primarily to the annual Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain. The show has long been considered the proper venue for phone and tablet vendors to show off their latest and greatest innovations. Naturally, the internet is been set ablaze with plenty of rumors and even a few official product announcements from companies hoping to benefit from some solid pre-show buzz.In this guide we'll take you on a tour and walk through the hardware we already know will be shown off at MWC, as well as what we should likely expect to see and the things we'd really love to hear more about but probably won't. Join us after the break, won't you?
Xperia S UI poses for Mr. Blurrycam, calls itself 'UXP NXT' (video)
We've seen the Sony Xperia S before, heck, we've even gotten our grubby mitts on it. The Xperia S UI, on the other hand, has been a bit of an elusive beast. That is, until now -- the tech world's very own out-of-focus paparazzi caught a look at the handset's upcoming UI, revealing a slightly blurry view of the Xperia S ' finer details. The UI is apparently being christened "UXP NXT" and is slathered on top of Android 2.3, though a 4.0 update is reportedly on the way. The video shows off the home and lock screens, gallery, music player and a new rendition of Timescape. Anywho, feel free to check out the above vid in all its blurrycam glory.
Sony Xperia U 'Kumquat' pics leak, gets sized up ahead of MWC
It looks like one of Sony's latest creations, the Xperia S, could be getting a little brother at next week's Mobile World Congress, according to a series of leaked pics. Sixteen crystal-clear images show the new sibling -- none other than the previously seen ST25i, aka Xperia U or Kumquat -- snuggled up to the Xperia S. As it appears, the handset will likely be a lower-end offering in the Xperia lineup: it's said to feature a 3.5-inch FWVGA (854 x 480) Reality Display, a 1GHz dual-core CPU, Exmor R sensor with 720p video capture and a tiny user-replaceable 1,290mAh battery. Oh, and Android 2.3.7 is rumored, though the rumor specifically mentions it will soon be upgraded to ICS. If these whispers turn out to be accurate, the U will likely be pitched as a smaller and less expensive option for fans of the Xperia S's design. Also, we don't foresee the device's Sony Ericsson branding to make an appearance at the show, given the two companies' recent divorce. To check out the full suite of comparison pics, check out the source link below. [Thanks, Pavlo]
