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Vodafone, O2 to launch the XPERIA X1 in UK and Germany
Sony Ericsson finally came clean with that September 30 launch date for the XPERIA X1 this morning, and now the carrier situation is starting to resolve itself -- as previously hinted, Vodafone will launch the sleek WinMo slider in the UK, and both Voda and O2 will have it in Germany. O2 UK hasn't confirmed anything yet, and we still haven't heard from any carriers in the third launch country of Sweden, but we'll keep you posted over on Engadget Mobile as soon as we hear anything.
Sony Ericsson launching first round of XPERIA X1s on September 30
Feel that heat, Touch Pro? That's right -- the Great QWERTY Smartphone War of 2008 is officially gearing up for kickoff now that Sony Ericsson has announced a firm date for the first handful of lucky countries to be scoop up the mighty XPERIA X1. Sweden, Germany, and the UK will be the inaugural launch sites come September 30, with no fewer than 32 more on tap in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America for the fourth quarter of the year. North America, China, Australia, and Russia are also listed as committed launch regions, though dates for those will be announced "in the coming months" -- scary verbiage considering that they weren't even willing to slap the Q4 label there. 2009's a long way off yet, and if there's a Touch Pro in front of us... well, let's just say that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, if you catch our drift.
Sony Ericsson releases SDK for Xperia X1 Panel Interface, panel download service in the works (updated: video)
We know what you're thinking -- it's Windows Mobile 6.1 fool, we've got the developers kit already. True, but not the SDK that allows developers to create custom, interactive panels for the touchscreen QWERTY's Panel Interface. Sony Ericsson claims that, "The Xperia X1 will offer the richest mobile user experience, putting the world at the fingertips of the user." In other words, the expectations have been set, developers, so you'd best get to downloading the free SDK -- you've got your work cut out for you. Sony Ericsson will offer a panel download service in the future, showcasing all the panels built by you, Google, and other partners.The Panel Applications are meant to be simple, rich, and fully-interactive allowing quick access to your data -- eMail, calendar, multimedia, games, IM... you name it. But don't take our word for it, SE explains the new panel ecosystem in the video posted after the break.Read -- SDK download Read -- Press Release
Sony Ericsson says XPERIA X1 still on track to ship in Q4
Rumors of the XPERIA X1 being delayed to 2009 have been floating around forever, and the chatter's only gotten louder at IFA -- to the point where Sony Ericsson's been forced into damage-control mode for a second time, telling Reuters that "there is absolutely no delay" and that the company's first WinMo phone is "on target" to "roll out in Q4." That's not quite the "second half of 2008" SE's been saying since the X1 was announced, but it's still in the window -- and given the half-baked nature of the devices we got to play with at IFA, we'd say taking a little extra time to get things right isn't the worst idea in the world, even it means missing that rumored October Vodafone release date.[Via WM Power User]
Sony's 1,000,000:1 contrast BRAVIAs launch in Japan October 10
Sony's XBR6 / XBR7 / XBR8 models are still waiting in the wings for their U.S. debut, but along with HDTVs that push the extremes in thin and fast, the company announced these more conventional models it's deemed "the highest quality BRAVIA HDTVs in history." The XR1 (read: XBR8) series will feature a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (3,000:1 static) courtesy of those new TRILUMINOS three-color LEDs, 10-bit BRAVIA Engine 2 processing and Motionflow 120Hz technology. If you can live without 240Hz or WHDI, the 1080p 55-inch edition runs ¥750,000 ($6,489 U.S.) with a 46-inch for ¥600,000 ($5,479 U.S.). The next level down is the X1 (read: XBR6 / XBR7) series, based on old school CCFL backlights limited to a 3,000:1 contrast rating, ranging in size from 40- to 52- inches and in price from ¥530,000 ($4,866 U.S.) to ¥320,000 ($2,922 U.S.) when they go on sale October 10. Digital Media Extender support, DLNA connectivity and all the other high end feature's make their expected appearance across the lineup. With fears of watered down technology effectively quelled, Sony wouldn't make us wait until October to find out when we can buy an HDTV in the U.S. or Europe from this lineup -- somehow we doubt it.
FCC outs HTC Dream's dimensions: it's smaller than the iPhone 3G
Attempts to keep the most hotly anticipated consumer electronics devices under wraps these days are getting more and more futile. It's hard enough for companies to control disgruntled employees and leaks in the international supply chain, stir in a giant government organization and things quickly unravel. Case in point: T-Mobile's HTC Dream, widely believed to be the world's first Android handset. After Engadget loosed the Dream from its FCC constraints on the 18th of August, HTC contacted the agency on the 19th with a request to use a less detailed diagram for the FCC label placement. Fortunately for us they complied, giving us what can only be construed as official measurements in the process. The newly unveiled 115 x 55-mm dimensions tell us that it beats the iPhone 3G in terms of length and width but is almost certainly thicker than the iPhone due to the Dream's sliding QWERTY. The tiny dimensions come as a surprise if you've seen the videos of the purported Dream and Dream reference design. So small, yeah, but it's still longer and wider than both the Xperia X1 and HTC's own Touch Pro QWERTY handsets. Here's how the smartphones compare: HTC Dream: 115 x 55-mm iPhone 3G: 115.2-mm x 62.1-mm Xperia X1: 110.5 x 52.6-mm HTC Touch Pro: 102 x 51-mm Image of HTC's label exchange request after the break.[Thanks, OC]
Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 reviewed in breathtaking detail
If you're looking for pictures from every conceivable angle of Sony Ericsson's first foray into the danger-fraught tar pit that is Windows Mobile, well, here you go. In fact, Smape goes so far as to take a look at both the black and metallic versions of the X1 (but don't get to attached to the metallic one just yet, seeing how it might have gotten the axe in some markets), noting that they're assembled exceptionally well and exude a premium look that's rarely seen in the WinMo realm. Unfortunately, they've dinged the keyboard for the same crappy feel observed elsewhere, something we're all hoping gets fixed by the time it hits production in a couple months' time. With that wild panel interface, you might expect some pretty miserable performance when you have the thing going at full tilt; fortunately, though, Smape reports that lags occur "only occasionally," which is better than "frequently" or "always" as far as we're concerned. Camera performance is said to be better than the Touch Pro's, though both HTC and Sony Ericsson (via HTC, ironically) still have plenty of time to tweak that via a well-placed firmware update or two. At any rate, we're definitely looking forward to seeing this thing finally materialize so the Touch Pros and X1s of the world can start duking it out in those rough, dog-eat-dog professional trenches of the world.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
XPERIA X1 to come in black only?
We're hoping beyond hope that Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 is actually nearing a launch date, but astute reader Kingsley just pointed out to us that SE's US web site no longer lists silver as an available color choice, only Solid Black. That's notable only because we've only mostly seen silver editions of the X1 until now, but a limited color palette's not going to stop us from snapping this one up as soon as it hits -- what about you?
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 scores cameo on Vodafone's site for October release
The uncertainty of trying to predict exactly when -- and where -- Sony Ericsson's beastly X1 would launch has come to be one of the more entertaining dramas in the mobile world this year, but it looks like Vodafone's ready to shut down the rumor mill. The Windows Mobile superphone has now been slapped with an "expected" launch date in October for Voda's UK audience, which means we can probably expect it in at least a few other European locales in the same timeframe. Americans (of both the South and North variety), Asians, Africans, Australians, and Antarcticans, though -- well, there's no telling where you guys stand at the moment, so hang tight.[Via CoolSmartPhone]
Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 gets early date with eBay
In this culture of instant gratification, it's comforting to know that there's at least one source out there for Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 well ahead of the official release. An eBay auction expiring this Saturday is offering up (or claiming to, anyway) the opportunity to be the first kid on your block with that sleek, sexy bundle of metal and Windows Mobile -- if, of course, the price is right. It looks like a sale price well above $1,000 is a foregone conclusion at this point, and there's no guarantee that the auction is even legit, so you'd better really want an X1 more than the next guy before plunking down that kind of cash for a prototype. We'll wait, thanks -- not because we're patient, but because we're not old money. Now excuse us while we go sob quietly to ourselves in that corner over there, okay?[Thanks, ginger.al]
India's Spice Mobile spices things up with X-1 gaming phone
Unlike the Bell X-1, the first aircraft to break the sound barrier, the Spice X-1 isn't going to break any speed records limping along with a quaint little GPRS chipset. After the initial bout of browsing withdrawal, though, the average user might be able to settle in, enjoy the phone's rather comprehensive gaming facilities, and forget about data connectivity altogether (that's not us, necessarily, but we imagine those people must exist somewhere). The phone ships with a dedicated gaming controller that can be snapped on and used when trying to blast your foes away on the standard numeric pad just isn't cutting it, and the touted surround sound and stereo Bluetooth should help give it some street cred, too. It can be had for 8,899 rupees (about $212), which isn't bad considering the feature set; just don't expect the bundled Opera Mobile to take you very far.[Via Unwired View]
Keepin' it real fake, part CXXIV: SongLiveX1 gets out ahead of actual X1
Can't wait to get your hands on Sony Ericsson's hotly anticipated XPERIA X1? Then perhaps this so-called SongLiveX1 will suffice -- or, not. If for some reason you do decide to take the plunge, however, you can apparently expect a 3-inch 240 x 320 display (not a touchscreen), dual cameras (one of which is supposedly 5 megapixels), Bluetooth, all the usual media-playing functions and, oh yes, an NES emulator. All that can be yours for the bargain price of €82 to €98 (or $128 to $154), depending on the quantity purchased.[Thanks, Rashy AA]
Sony Ericsson C905, Z780 and X1 hands-ons at Engadget Mobile
Are we taking a shot of the 8.1 megapixel Sony Ericsson C905 here, or is it taking a shot of us? Find out the answers to these burning questions and much, much more as we take a quick peek at the C905 alongside the Z780 and the mighty XPERIA X1 over on Engadget Mobile!
Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1 gets handled, photographed
The lucky chaps over at Boy Genius Report have managed to get their hands all over Sony Ericsson's latest and greatest -- the hotly anticipated Xperia X1. Early word is that the 800 x 480 screen, optical joystick, and speedy HSDPA data are all very welcome, but the keyboard (which looks like it would be a joy to type on) leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, the OS should come as no surprise, and they don't seem to have any shots of Sony's "panel interface," so for now you'll have to make do with some nice looks at the exteriors of the device. Hit the read link and check it out yourself.
Sizing it up: iPhone 3G vs. the rest
We thought you'd like to see how the new iPhone 3G stacks up against the ol' EDGE-based iPhone, Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1, and HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro handsets. To QWERTY or not to QWERTY, that is the QWEstion.
New images of Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 reveal minor updates, new color
Yeah, we know it's not earth shattering news, but we'll take what we can get when it comes to Sony Ericsson's eminently drool-worthy set. The X1's official site has dropped a few shots of the handset in a second color called Steel Silver that show a new XPERIA panel key and some new branding below the screen. Way to tease Sony Ericsson, we're not worried about the labels, just push this out the door this year, pretty please?[Via Sony Ericsson Blog]
iPhone vs. HTC Touch Diamond vs. Xperia X1... Fight!
Would you look at that: a thick slab of iPhone meat in a Sony Ericsson and HTC sandwich. The iPhone's big screen is nice and all but the device is starting to look a bit portly given that the Xperia X1 sports a QWERTY with chewy HSDPA data, the latter shared with the Raphael Touch Diamond. Tasty, regardless.Update: Er, that's not the HTC Raphael, it's their Touch Diamond.[Thanks, Al]
XPERIA X1 specs get further detailed in new white paper
Sony Ericsson's white papers have already provided plenty of details on its much-anticipated XPERIA X1 handset, and it looks like its latest one is no exception, with it shedding yet more light on the device's specs. Most notably, Sony Ericsson has now confirmed that the device will ship with 256MB of SDRAM, in addition to 512MB of NAND Flash, and it's gotten specific about the device's battery life, which it says will clock in at 10 hours talk time using GSM or 6.5 hours using UMTS. That'll take a further dip to 3.1 hours if you're making video calls all the time, with 3.5 hours required to recharge the 1500 mAh lithium polymer battery once its drained. Hit up the link below if you're looking for some more reading material to bide your time until the device's supposed September release.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 vs HTC Touch Diamond... fight!
We're not sure how they pulled it off, so kudos to CNMO for snapping the HTC Touch Diamond up against the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. Undoubtedly the world's most hotly anticipated cellphones this side of the still fictional 3G iPhone and Nokia Tube. While the Xperia X1 definitely sports some extra chub, remember, there's an arc sliding QWERTY tucked beneath that WVGA display. Hit the read link for bigger pics.Update: Ah, so that's how CNMO did it. They stole the pics from WMExperts and added their watermark. Crafty. Post updated with proper source.[Via Engadget Spanish, thanks Purloined L.]
Sony Ericsson video shows two new handset renderings
A video doing the rounds on the interblogs is apparently showcasing not one but two new Sony Ericsson handsets. It's unclear just exactly what models we're seeing in the clip, nor do we know if they're prototypes or actual production versions, though they do bear a few similarities to the forthcoming X1. One thing is for sure, Sony is definitely pushing the convergence angle on its new phones, highlighting lots of multimedia, data sharing, and a suspiciously familiar chat app. Check out another pic and the full video after the break.[Thanks, Dion]
