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Ice Cream Sandwich coming to full Xperia lineup, Sony Ericsson confirms
Last month, Sony Ericsson hinted, via Facebook, that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich would soon be making its way to its entire lineup of Xperia handsets. Today, this forthcoming upgrade has become officially official, though details remain equally fuzzy. "We can today confirm that we plan to upgrade the entire 2011 Xperia portfolio to the next version of Android known as Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich," the company wrote in a blog post this morning. "We are working on merging our current Xperia experience with the new features in Android 4.0." The update will encompass all Xperia Arc, Play and Pro handsets, as well as the company's Live with Walkman device, though we'll have to wait a little longer for details on release and availability. As always, we'll be sure to keep you up to date.
Sony opens registration for PlayStation Suite SDK beta, lets devs build apps for Android and Vita
We first got wind of Sony's PlayStation Suite SDK back at the Tokyo Game Show in September, but the company just opened up the application process for a closed beta test, letting Windows XP and Windows 7 users in the US, UK and Japan submit their credentials for early access. Those getting the nod from Sony will be able to develops apps for use on the PS Vita, which is set to hit in February, along with the PS Suite -- that "hardware-neutral" framework that'll allow access from non-PlayStation branded products, including the Xperia Play, Tablet S and Tablet P, with the potential for third-party devices to come as well. The SDK uses the C# programming language, and doesn't require devs to have access to actual Sony hardware -- so don't expect a Vita to show up at your door anytime this year. Think you have what it takes to be a Sony dev? Hit up the source link to send 'em the word.
Sony Ericsson's Xperia Acro and Xperia Arc get PlayStation Certified in Japan
Hello, PlayStation Certification! Looks like the Xperia Play is getting a bit of company in Japan, where Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc and Acro are getting that coveted seal of approval. Updates are actually rolling out across a number of SE phones on NTT DoCoMo, enabling dozens upon dozens of new games to be tailored (and available) for the Arc and Acro in particular. Hit the source link for the official word, and if you aren't camped out in the Land of the Rising Sun, hang tight -- we get the feeling Sony proper is going to be pushing this initiative a lot harder than it has been thus far.
Sony snaps up the rest of Ericsson -- so long, feature phones
If you've been waiting for the latest and greatest Walkman phone from Sony Ericsson, we've got some bad news. Sony has announced that it plans to buy out Ericsson's 50 percent share in the two companies' joint venture –-- at a cool €1.05 billion ($1.47 billion). The goal of the acquisition, according to Sony, is "to rapidly integrate smartphones into its broad array of network-connected consumer electronics devices." In other words, "feature phones," like the aforementioned Walkman line, are kaput. CEO Howard Stringer confirmed as much during a press conference. The acquisition will allow the company to focus on Android smartphones that will integrate with its other products. As Mr. Stringer puts it, "We can help people enjoy all our content - from movies to music and games - through our many devices, in a way no one else can." The buyout is scheduled to go through this January.
Sony's Kazuo Hirai: liveblog from AsiaD!
We're back! AsiaD's concluding today, but we've got a couple of big hitters left on the schedule. Kicking things off this morning -- yeah, it's morning, we're in the future -- is Sony's Executive Deputy President, Kazuo Hirai, and we're guessing he'll be shooting it straight regarding the PS Vita, those nasty "outages" and whatever else he feels like keeping us abreast on. Join us after the break for the blow-by-blow!
Xperia Play makes itself more enticing for the holidays with four free EA games
EA is offering four big mobile titles for free for all the tens of people who own Sony's Xperia Play: Dead Space, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Need for Speed: Shift and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. The offer runs through Jan. 15, 2012, meaning you still have time to throw the PlayStation Phone on your holiday wish list and snag these suckers for free. If it helps, think of it as getting four games with a handy smartphone case thrown in for free.
Kristen Schaal wants you to build her a shrine... in Minecraft
Kristen Schaal is a funny lady with an adorable voice. She's been in some of our favorite 3D-animated movies and is a regular commentator on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart -- if any silly woman in Hollywood deserved a shrine, it would be her. So go forth and build, build her a shrine, loyal followers, and build it in Minecraft! Schaal is the star of the very first commercial for Minecraft (cleverly disguised as an Xperia Play ad), promoting a contest to build something awesome in-game, such as a Schaal castle or her giant diamond face. The winner gets a trip to New York to meet with her and "share their Minecraft brilliance with the world." We suggest building an obsidian castle-shrine completely out of Schaal's giant, funny head.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light leaping to Xperia Play
Last year, Square Enix snuck Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light onto the iOS App Store. It's following that mobile release this November with a version for Android -- specifically, Sony Ericsson's button-enriched phone, the Xperia Play. This is part of a newly announced partnership between Square Enix and Sony Ericsson, which will bring more of the publisher's "established hits" to the Xperia Play "in the coming months." As of now, only Guardian of Light has been announced. A look at Square Enix's iPhone catalog could at least suggest possibilities. [Image: iPhone version; the Xperia version won't need those virtual buttons.]
Xperia Play finally gets HD video capture, catches up with smartphone siblings
The Xperia Play's incoming Android 2.3.4 update appears to add an extra nugget of functional goodness in the form of high-definition video-recording. What, the Xperia Play didn't do so already? Nope, Sony Ericsson neglected to add that functionality to the phone's five megapixel shooter from the start. Fortunately, the new software update rectifies this, so when you're not blasting those PlayStation hits of yesteryear, you'll be able to chronicle your pet's adventures in crystal clear 720p. Courtesy of XDA Developers, see proof of the Play's new HD recording abilities after the break.
Game on: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play 4G ready at AT&T for $50
Just over four months after the unique device hit Verizon stores, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play 4G has now made it past AT&T's front door and onto shelves nationwide. The unique factor on this particular version of the "PlayStation Phone" is the inclusion of 14.4Mbps HSPA+ -- with enhanced backhaul, naturally -- and will be the first PlayStation-Certified smartphone on AT&T's network. At $50, the pricing is certainly competitive since it ships with Android 2.3.3, a 1GHz single-core CPU, Adreno 205 GPU, 4-inch 854 x 480 display, and seven pre-loaded games. At a full $150 less than Big Red's launch price, the carrier may move a few units. If you're one of those that could be persuaded, head to the source link and get your shopping on.
PlayStation Suite SDK beta coming in November, offering new games in spring 2012
We haven't heard much about the PlayStation Suite for quite some time, but at the TGS 2011 opening keynote today, Sony announced that it'll finally be rolling out an SDK for said cross-platform framework in November. Furthermore, Sony's expecting new games and apps to be available for the PlayStation Suite in spring, which means willing C# developers will be busy over the next few months should they wish to deploy their software across certified devices -- these currently include the PS Vita, Xperia Play, Tablet S and the upcoming Tablet P. Of course, we're also hoping that Sony will convince at least one other manufacturer to get its NVIDIA Tegra devices certified for the PlayStation Suite, otherwise it'll be tough to get the ball rolling for everyone.
PlayStation Suite SDK arrives this November
Ever since introducing the PlayStation Suite back in January, Sony has been slowly meting out information on the cross-platform service. But Sony blew out the service this morning during the company's TGS 2011 keynote, revealing that the Suite's software development kit will become available for devs this coming November. A brief demo of a basic sidescrolling shooter, named "Zero Gravity," was also shown, demonstrating the cross play between PlayStation Vita and the Xperia Play. Unfortunately, no price or exact date was given for access to the SDK, but Sony reps did demonstrate the ease of using the SDK for cross-platform development. A simple animation was created using a Sony tablet, which was then pushed across a variety of Sony and Android platforms -- "No play, no life," it read. We tend to be more of the "no food/air, no life" crowd, but we'll accept Sony's statement for the sake of demonstration.
Artists hack Sony Ericsson's Xperia phones to see the unseen universe, use fire as a flash
For most of us, cellphones are for texting, calling and maybe the occasional tweet, but what happens when you hand them over to some of the world's most creative minds? Giving hackers, artists and intellectuals free reign to mess with the various Xperia phones, Sony found out just how capable its handsets really are. Using a few tweaks and hacks, artists were able to create an installation that breathes fire when you snap a photo, a remote-controlled boat with GPS and a bike that uses colored lights to spell out secret words only visible when captured on camera. When Sony asked astrophysicist Joshua Peek to give it a go, he took full sky maps and telescope image data to build an app with an up-close view of electromagnetic patterns in the sky. To round out the project, musician Annabel Lindquist composed a song based on the sounds of Paris she recorded with an Arc. Now, if they could just mod one to avoid dropped calls, we'd be all set. Videos of their ingenuity in action after the break.
Sony's Xperia Play bringing exclusive content to AT&T customers Sept. 18
Sony's Xperia Play smartphone will be available through AT&T on September 18, complete with PlayStation gamepad and running on Android's Gingerbread (2.3.3) platform. The Xperia Play has been available through Verizon since May 26, and AT&T is offering some exclusive content for its customers' patience, including 4G capability, a "stealth blue" paint job, and the Sony Ericsson Multimedia Dock DK300 and music cable. AT&T's Xperia Play will come with seven pre-loaded games, in a slightly different lineup than we saw with Verizon's release: Dungeon Defenders: Second Wave Asphalt 6 Adrenaline Star Battalion Madden NFL 11 The Sims 3 Tower Bloxx: My City Crash Bandicoot The Xperia Play will cost $49.99 with a new two-year agreement through AT&T, which is drastically less than Verizon's initial offer of $199.99 with the same agreement. However, AT&T's Xperia Play doesn't come pre-loaded with Tetris, which is totally worth the extra $150, in our opinion.
Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play 4G hitting AT&T on September 18th for $50 on contract
We knew good and well it was coming, and come it has. Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play has made the natural GSM shift in the States in order to grace Ma Bell's airwaves, and despite the "4G" naming convention, this fellow will be topping out at HSPA+. In other words, LTE lovers will need to look elsewhere. This marks the first launch of a PlayStation-certified smartphone for AT&T, and given that it's been around the block a time or two, the carrier is (smartly) pricing it at just $49.99 on a two-year contract -- a buck-fifty less than what it launched for on Verizon Wireless. As we'd heard, it'll ship with Android 2.3.3, a 1GHz CPU, Adreno 205 GPU, a 4-inch display (854 x 480) and will arrive in an exclusive 'stealth blue' hue. AT&T customers will also be blessed with a gratis Multimedia Dock (DK300) and MC100 music cable, not to mention seven pre-loaded games at no charge. Full details on that are hosted up after the break, and interested consumers can line up to grab their own on September 18th. %Gallery-132961%
R-Type coming to Android September 12
"But wait," some of you youngsters might be thinking. "How can those stickers I'm always seeing on Toyota Celicas and Mitsubishi Eclipses be coming to my phone? Why would I even want that?" Take a seat, junior, you might learn something: Before R-Type adorned the window/bumper of every import with a fat pipe and under lighting, it was the name of one of the most iconic and ground-breaking shooters ever made. And now, retro-game refurbisher DotEmu is bringing Irem's historic xenophobic extermination simulator back to life on September 12, via the Android Marketplace and Amazon's AppStore for Android. All of the items and power-ups from the original are said to be present and accounted for, with touch controls taking over for the obviously absent joystick and buttons. Remakes like this strike us as perfect candidates for the Xperia Play, though no details were given as to whether or not Android devices with buttons will be able to circumvent the touch controls. No price point or Android OS version requirements have been given either, but we'd be surprised if it required anything newer than 2.2.
Minecraft available now on Xperia Play
If you're one of the lucky few who owns Sony's "PlayStation Phone," the Xperia Play ... now you have something to do with it. The very first release of the Xperia Play-Xclusive Minecraft: Pocket Edition is in the Android Market now, for $6.99. Go! Build! Actually, that's all you can do at the moment. "Alpha 0.1" has 36 different block types with which you can build, alone or with another local wireless player. Other features will be built into the game later, as with the main game. Also coming later is a wider Android release. While you think about whether to try this out, here's a miniature tragedy: That Minecraft-themed Xperia Play phone auction hasn't ended yet, so its new owner definitely doesn't have it in time for Minecraft's release.
Mojang offers limited edition Minecraft Xperia Play on eBay
There may not be many people willing to pay over $1,000 for an Xperia Play, but it turns out there's at least a few willing to go nuts when there's some Minecraft involved. That limited edition model pictured above will be given away to a few lucky winners at the upcoming Gamescon conference in Germany, but Minecraft developer Mojang has decided to let one loose on eBay beforehand, where the bidding has already topped a grand with a full six days left. Adding a bit of extra incentive for those with deep pockets, Mojang says that it will also donate all the proceeds from the auction to an as yet unnamed charity. Hit the source link below if you're in a generous and / or Minecraft-obsessed mood. [Thanks, Andrew]
Xperia Play spins original PlayStation One ISOs via emulator hack
Android developer Yifan Lu has reverse engineered the Xperia Play's native PlayStation emulator to make it run ripped PSX ISOs. That means you're no longer limited to Crash Bandicoot or the handful of other PSX titles that have officially trickled out from Sony Ericsson. Instead, you can grab your original games from the attic, rip them into disc images, and bring them back to life on your Play. Er, assuming that's legal, of course. Perhaps you should move to Papua New Guinea before trying it. We've attached one of Lu's videos to prove that his tweaked emulator actually works. His custom ISO of choice? More Bandicoot.
Refresh Roundup: week of August 1, 2011
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates Verizon and Motorola have finally begun rolling out the Gingerbread update for the Motorola Droid X2. [via PCMag] Sticking with Verizon, the LG Revolution is in the process of receiving maintenance update VS910ZV6, which consists of a few new features and bug fixes. This is not a major refresh. [via AndroidCentral] The HTC Desire Z has been updated to Gingerbread in the UK. As of now, only those devices without carrier branding are seeing the OTA show up. [via PocketNow] Unofficial Android updates / custom ROMs / misc hackery Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play, Neo, and Arc should soon be added to the CyanogenMod repository. Once approved, we'll likely see nightlies appear in the near future. [via PocketNow] Did somebody say Xperia Play? Yes, we did. It looks like the phone's finally been rooted, and the bootloader's been cracked. [via Droid-Life] The Motorola Photon 4G came out last Sunday, but XDA was able to root it within a couple days. [via SprintFeed] XDA's also the provider of a Froyo update to the Samsung Continuum. [via XDA] Along with an official update for the Droid X2, an SBF is now available for download. [via Droid-Life] Other platforms The Dark Forces Team has released tools to enable custom ROMs to be used on your first-gen Windows Phone device. Currently, the supported phones are: the HTC Mozart, HTC Surround, HTC Trophy (excluding Verizon's version), and the HTC 7 Pro (excluding the HTC Arrive). [via Windows Phone Hacker] Shortly after this, the HTC HD7 also got its first custom ROM courtesy of XDA. The downloadable package consists of a ChevronWP7 unlock, a Mango Beta 2 update, and the ROM. Head over to XDA to grab it. [via Windows Phone Daily]
