X10
Latest
Xperia X10 officially headed to T-Mobile in Germany this April
Announced to the world in early November last year, the Xperia X10 has been Sony Ericsson's paper flagship device for a good few months now, and unfortunately the latest official word seems to confirm that the wait will be even longer. NTT DoCoMo has already stated it'll launch the handset in Japan this April, and T-Mobile has now also gone official with an April timeframe for the X10's German arrival. Guess we can consider that February 10 "expected launch" in the UK dead and buried by this point. It's all rather lackluster in our eyes -- we've seen HTC produce the devastatingly versatile HD2 and even the Nexus One in the time it's taken Sony Ericsson to iron out bugs in a UI we suspected was too ambitious from the start. Let's hope the final product is worth the wait, eh?
Fable 3, Halo: Reach and more to be shown at X10 event in February
Microsoft will hold its X10 event in San Francisco next month, giving us our first looks at Fable 3, Halo: Reach and Left 4 Dead 2 add-ons. The invite-only event will also include other games expected in 2010, including Alan Wake, Crackdown 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, Final Fantasy XIII and the Xbox Game Room. Microsoft's "X" events have been held for the last few trips around the sun by our health-insured brothers in Canada. We'll surely be in attendance for the February 11 event and get you info as soon as we can. We'd let you tap into our ocular implants, but the event won't have wi-fi for an uplink. Sorry.
NTT DoCoMo launching its own version of Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10
WinMo and Android handsets from HTC, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and others that are designed for global reach typically don't find their way into Japan for a number of reasons: localization, carriers' draconian control over handset specs, unique market needs, the list goes on. Every once in a while, though, one'll break through -- take the Xperia X10, for example, which has now been announced for release on NTT DoCoMo simply as the "Smartphone Xperia," making it the first major carrier anywhere to announce a branded deal on the set. It looks to be a pretty faithful carry-over of the same custom Android skin Sony Ericsson is launching elsewhere and features 7.2Mbps down / 2.0Mbps up, WiFi, an 8.1 megapixel cam, and availability in "Sensuous Black" and "Luster White." It'll be hitting in April -- right about the same time we suspect it'll be launching elsewhere.
3D maps demoed on Sony Ericsson X10, Snapdragon paying off
Ericsson Labs is showing off an API for navigating through a three-dimensional interpretation of the world based on real imagery powered by Saab spinoff (the defense firm, not the car company) C3 Technologies on Sony Ericsson's upcoming X10 -- and in a word, it's looking impressive. The buttons for controlling the action are a bit hokey, of course, but don't worry too much about that -- this is strictly a proof of concept, and the important thing is that no matter how much panning, tilting, and swooping through the cityscape the demo-giver does, video output stays above 30 frames per second. Thank goodness for Snapdragon, eh? There's no indication that we'll see a shipping version of this app on retail X10s out of the box, but let's hope something awesome comes of this. Follow the break for video.
Keepin' it real fake, part CCLI: Xperia X10 + BlackBerry UI + ??? = profit
Meet the Hero C7000, the closest thing you can get to a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 right now. Problem is, that's not very close -- in place of SE's highly customized Android skin, for example, you'll find a positively delightful rip of RIM's UI for the Storm series on a 3-inch display (as opposed to the genuine X10 article's 4 inches). Not quite what you were looking for? Well, look at it this way: at the right market you'll be able to find it for a minute fraction of the X10's cost -- and without a carved-in-stone ship date, maybe this thing can hold you over for a while.
Sony Ericsson Robyn pops up again, shows most of its Mini facets
The folks over at PointGphone have managed to get their paws on some more shots of Sony Ericsson's X10 Mini or Robyn handset. Unfortunately there's still no news trickling out from Sony Ericsson proper to confirm or deny -- and we really weren't expecting to hear any -- this sets existence, but we're now leaning toward it being a reality. Now that this mini, Mini deluge has started, some real specs can't be too far off and we'll get those to you as soon as we hear something new. Follow the read link to catch the rest of the goods and pics.
Rogers signed up to carry Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 as a Canadian exclusive
We still don't know whether T-Mobile is going to take on-contract advantage of the X10's AWS version in the States, but as far as we can tell, WIND won't be taking advantage of it in Canada now that Rogers has locked it up as an exclusive. The bad news is that it won't be launching until some time in the second quarter -- but when you think back to the X1 and the excruciating 16-month delay between announcement and retail on Rogers, that ain't half bad. Now, Rogers, just push HTC to rethink its decision not to move past 1.5 on the Magic and Dream and you're doing alright by us (at least as far as Android gear goes). [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Google Goggles gets video demo on Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
There's little sense in resisting the obvious: Google is slowly but surely taking over your life, but rather than get indignant and discombobulated, we'd suggest letting go and appreciating how much easier things are with the folks in Mountain View squarely in control. Take Google Goggles, for instance, which aims to convert cameraphone images into useful search results on its own Android platform. Up until now, we've been shown stock demos and videos of it running on conventional handsets, but seeing the Goggles hard at work on Sony Ericsson's not-yet-released Xperia X10 is another thing entirely. Hop on past the break for the frames you're craving, but don't bank on this making the wait for said phone any simpler to stomach.
Klipsch headquarters walkthrough: behind the scenes and between the ears
Every time trade shows such as CES and CEDIA open their doors, the collective masses are flooded with headphone after headphone, speaker after speaker. After awhile, one driver looks just as round as the next, and frankly, you start to take for granted what all goes into bringing the tunes we all dig to our ears, dens and underutilized kitchens. One of the mainstays in the audio industry opened their doors up to us this past weekend, and it didn't take much arm pulling to get us inside. We've generally found the design and sound qualities associated with Klipsch gear to be top-shelf, and we've struggled in the past to find too many gripes with the headphones and sound systems we've had the opportunity to review. Needless to say, we were quite curious to hear about (and see) what all goes into imagining, designing, testing and qualifying the 'buds and speakers that we've enjoyed for so many years, and if you share that same level of curiosity, join us after the break for the full walkthrough (and a few heretofore unreleased secrets, to boot).
Sony Ericsson starts taking submissions for Android version of PlayNow
Manufacturers and carriers are showing commendable restraint in avoiding totally bastardized, walled-garden versions of Android on their handsets (for the most part), but they're not avoiding it altogether -- take Sony Ericsson here, for instance. The company has announced that it's expanding the reach of its PlayNow app store to cover Android in concert with its launch of the X10, which presumably means that users will be juggling a minimum of two sources for third-party wares on this thing. Long-term, this kind of needless fragmentation seems like one of the greatest threats to Android's ability to become and remain a heavyweight player in the smartphone ring -- but then again, what do we know? It's not like these guys haven't already figured out how to dominate before with UIQ... ah, wait. Anyhoo, yeah, back to the topic at hand: devs are now invited to submit their Android apps for inclusion in the PlayNow store, so hey, you may as well -- the phone's looking to be a hottie, so it can't hurt to have your stuff featured on there, we figure. [Thanks, wimbet]
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 hits the FCC again, this time with AT&T's 3G bands
Yes, you might recall a version of Sony Ericsson's mighty X10 getting FCC approval last week -- but this one isn't quite the same. This time around, we've got WCDMA 850 / 1900 accompanying the quadband EDGE, which is heartwarming news for anyone on AT&T, Rogers, Bell, or Telus, though the complete lack of branding on the FCC's test unit leaves us to speculate wildly over which of those carriers (if any) will brand the unit -- and more importantly, whether any will be on shelves before frickin' 2011. In the meantime, we're guessing SonyStyle sales are a lock -- so get your save on.
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 catches FCC on a good day
Oh, to live the life of an FCC certification lab employee: setting up test benches, writing reports, playing with devices that won't be released for months or years. Instead, we're stuck enjoying their fun vicariously at an arm's length through a little portal we know as the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, where gems like the X10 occasionally pop up complete with pretty in-the-wild pictures, teardowns, and user manuals. What we're looking at here are test results for EDGE 850 / 1900 plus WCDMA Band IV (that'd be T-Mobile's and WIND's spectrum, by the bye), WiFi, and Bluetooth, so even if T-Mobile ultimately chooses not to offer it on contract, you should be able to score it one way or another N900-style. The user's manual is basically just 40 pages of good stuff plus a bunch of conformity statement mumbo jumbo, but it's still a good read -- so if you think this might be your phone of choice come 2010, have a look.
XPERIA X10 hands-on: lukewarm edition (now with video!)
We've seen the new Android-based XPERIA X10 from Sony Ericsson at a fast pace and a snail's pace, but have we ever seen it so stunningly middle of the road? We just got a chance to play with the phone in person for the second time, and from our random sampling of three or four different handsets, it seems that performance is very contingent upon how much content is loaded into the device and what particular thing it's trying to perform. Sometimes we'd fly through the stacks of faces, while other times we'd sit there waiting for the simplest thumbnails to load up. The good news is that we have until next year to see this thing really come together, and the word is that the software is improving and at a rapid pace. The big change about this phone is the "Nexus" UX platform, which actually all takes place in two "apps" at the moment, Timescape and Mediascape. Timescape is an integrated view for social networking and messaging, with an "infinite view" to see all types of communications for a particular person, while Mediascape is a more tame media app with a modicum of internet and social integration. It all seems very logically placed, and we like the fact that SE hasn't really sacrificed the Android experience -- you can still do Gmail and the Android Market and so forth, with very familiar UIs -- but it's going to have to be a lot more bulletproof before it hits the market if Sony Ericsson really expects us to use this day to day. Oh, also: the soft keyboard is terrible. We hear they're working on it, but boy does it need work. Update: We've added the video below, go check it out!
New XPERIA X10 hands-on video brings the snappy
Sony Ericsson's Android-based XPERIA X10 was mighty sluggish when we played with it at the launch a couple weeks ago, but this new video from hdblog.it shows what looks like a much newer software build that's dramatically faster and more responsive. There's nothing much new here in terms of features, but just the fact that the X10 is in the wild and running well is encouraging -- especially since we're really digging that media playback interface. Now all we need is some Stateside shipping details and we'll be all set. Video after the break. [Thanks, Nils]
Xperia X10 launching February 2010 in UK, says Sony Ericsson site
Sony Ericsson UK's got a new pre-registration page for the Xperia X10, and along with it what appears to be a brand new, February 2010 expected launch. It's hard to say for sure, but as far as we can tell this page is new, and last we heard the target window was a much broader "first half 2010." Can't say we're anymore excited about this than before, but far be it for us to get in the way of a truly die hard fan community. At least you have a better idea of when to break the bank now. [Thanks, Matej]
Sony Ericsson lets XPERIA X10 videos and press shots loose
If you weren't up all night following Engadget (and why wouldn't you be?), the first place you'll want to visit this morning is our extensive hands-on of Sony Ericsson's inaugural foray into Android territory. There you'll find the full XPERIA X10 announcement details and spec sheet, which is highlighted by a 4-inch capacitive display and a deeply customized user interface. With plenty of time to go before that first quarter of 2010 release date, though, we thought we'd get the anticipation revved up a few notches with a selection of handsome images of the device below, and a pair of videos -- one a spit-polished advertising promo, the other a useful demo of Speed Forge 3D -- after the break.
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands-on
The first Android device from Sony Ericsson may have undergone an upgrade in the naming department, jumping from X3 all the way to XPERIA X10 (probably to avoid confusion with Nokia's X3 handset), but what lies under the hood is reassuringly in line with what we've been hearing. That is to say, a 1GHz Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm, wide 4-inch capacitive touch display, 8.1 megapixel camera with LED flash, and a thoroughly tricked out Android skin named Rachael. Sony Ericsson stressed to us the symbiotic importance of both the new flagship device and "open OS" UI -- the X10 was presented as the patriarch of a whole new family of handsets, which we can expect to see in the first half of 2010, all sporting the beauty of Rachael and perhaps helping to bridge the gap between featurephones and, well, more advanced featurephones. So don't be shy, come along past the break to see our uncensored first impressions of both, along with hands-on video and pictures. %Gallery-77045%
Sony Ericsson looking ready to come clean with Android-powered Rachael on November 3
It could be argued that Sony Ericsson owes the world some love after it built up its last event only to introduce a single, solitary A2DP headset, but we might finally get what's coming to us in just a few days' time. It looks like November 3 is the date SE has chosen to unleash the first volley in its Android strategy on the world, likely the XPERIA X3 (or X10, or whatever the heck they decide to call it) with that wild Rachael UI that we've been tracking for a few months. How do we know? Well, it does line up with the latest and greatest rumors -- but more importantly, digging into the event page's HTML source reveals several mentions of Rachael by name, so... yeah, that's pretty much a lock. Should the unannounced Dragon and Sholes / Droid both be shaking in their boots already? [Via se-blog.com]
Woof! An iPhone-controlled dog treat dispenser
While you're geeking out with your techie friends building battle bots or pumpkin cannons, why not give your dog a little love at the same time?TUAW reader Stephen Myers sent us a link about a fun little project he worked on. He wants to be able to check on his dog's well-being and reward the dog with treats from anywhere he can use his iPhone. Stephen found out about ioBridge, a company that develops electronic monitoring and control modules that connect to any Ethernet network and can be controlled via an encrypted web front end.Myers used an I/O module and servo smart board from ioBridge, a servo, an old CD spindle case, some cardboard and wood scraps, a large syringe plunger, and a webcam to build his device, and then used the ioBridge web interface to create a widget that controlled the device. No programming was required. The system generated javascript that was then embedded into a web page optimized for the iPhone screen, and now Myers can check up on Cooper, his dog, and give Cooper some treats.Myers has many more details about the system in his blog entry, and he will be writing future posts about how he's using ioBridge and X10 controllers to turn lights on and off in his home -- from his iPhone.Be sure to check out the YouTube video below!
X10 automated Poker / Blackjack table is decidedly drool-worthy
Every so often, a completely unnecessary gizmo hits the scenes that hardly anyone will be able to afford, yet nearly everyone could imagine having as their own. Feast your eyes on one such device: the X10 Ten Player Automated Table from Play Hard Gaming. This masterpiece seats ten (presumably wealthy) players and features a central 27-inch LCD alongside ten 12.1-inch touch panels. The computerized dealer dishes out the cards, and individuals play along by simply tapping their dedicated touchscreen. Both Texas Hold'em and Blackjack are loaded on, and you'll even get free game upgrades for life when you commit to taking one home. Now, if only $29,950 were easier to come by.[Via OhGizmo]
