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Sony Honami reportedly poses for photos in near-complete form
There's been a lot of talk about Sony's reported Honami smartphone, but there haven't been photos of the beast in a nearly finished state. At least, until now: Gadget Helpline and Weibo user @latter21 claim to have multiple photos of the would-be flagship. The photos largely match up with previous rumors, which have Sony fitting a larger (possibly 20-megapixel) camera into the corner while otherwise preserving a very Xperia Z-like design. There are a couple of surprises -- the xenon flash of an earlier leak isn't visible, and a large speaker has surfaced at the bottom. Unfortunately, the photo suppliers can't verify many other details. The camera interface is purportedly unfinished, and there's no mention of the CPU and display quality upgrades inherited from the Xperia Z Ultra. If the images are accurate, though, we're looking at a subtle design evolution whose biggest upgrades are hidden inside.
The Daily Roundup for 07.16.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Sony Xperia Z for T-Mobile: what's different?
What can you say about a phone that's half a year old, already been reviewed and poised to launch virtually unchanged on T-Mobile's LTE network? Not much, it turns out. But in the event you've been eyeing the Xperia Z as a suitable smartphone replacement, we're here to help guide that purchase decision. Forget specs for a moment -- the most important thing you need to know about this Xperia Z is that it'll be available on T-Mobile July 17th for $99 with a two-year payment plan and it comes in purple (online-only). Otherwise, you're stuck with the default black option, which is still mighty fine to hold and look at, but color is always a welcome differentiator. Variety, people. Spice! %Gallery-193420%
Sony's My Xperia smartphone recovery service launches worldwide
Sony's My Xperia phone-finding service isn't just for Nordic climates anymore; following a pilot earlier this year, the recovery tool is now rolling out worldwide. Anyone with a 2012- or 2013-era Xperia phone should get access within the next few weeks. Whatever Sony device is involved, the web-based controls are the same: owners can pinpoint a lost phone's location, lock it down, sound an alert and wipe its storage. If you just can't bear to part with your Xperia Z, you'll want to sign up for My Xperia at the source link.
Sony and NTT DoCoMo announce limited edition Hatsune Miku-themed Xperia A
NTT DoCoMo has a heritage of exclusively signing up fictional personalities to hawk its handsets and following the likes of Evangelion, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and One Piece, it's the turn of not-actually-real pop idol Hatsune Miku. She'll be emblazoned on DoCoMo's Xperia A, on a limited run of 39,000 handsets. Vocaloid's poster girl offers a turquoise theme to the hardware, with a hair decal on the back. While there's no specific word yet on software-based tweaks, a website explaining the collaboration is inviting suggestions for logos, ringtone and wallpaper. The phone will launch in Japan only this September, so we advise overseas Miku fans to get straight to work on that visa application.
Sony camera UI leaks from 'Honami' system dump, gets ported to existing Xperia devices
We've been hearing stacks of rumors recently about a Sony flagship called Honami, which will supposedly come with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 and a 20-megapixel camera. A system dump, purportedly from a Honami phone, surfaced last week and now XDA developer "krabappel2548" has managed to dissect the camera app and get it working on some existing Xperia devices -- including the Xperia Z, ZL and Tablet Z, so long as they've been suitably prepped for hacking. From the resulting screenshots, it looks like Sony is set to introduce features such as augmented reality, "Time shift" (which sounds a lot like HTC's Zoe feature), live filters and an image search engine dubbed "Info-eye." All of this sounds reasonably in tune with the "One Sony" strategy of focusing on mobile and imaging. If Honami is real, and if it comes with the right hardware to support the updated camera module, it could be a big deal.
The Weekly Roundup for 06.24.2013
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Xperia Z Ultra makes its way through the FCC
Sony's new mondo handset, the Xperia Z Ultra, was just revealed to the world today, and so it should come as no surprise that the new phone has just received Uncle Sam's seal of approval. That's right, folks, a version of the 6.4 inch device sporting 1,700MHz HSPA and GSM 850/1900MHz radios has passed the FCC's battery of tests. Alas, despite its cellular and dual-band WiFi radios being put through the wringer, there's a dearth of LTE info in the docs, so we're still in the dark as to the bands that the handset's working with. Still, should you wish to know more of the Z Ultras secrets, all the charts and RF readings you can handle can be found in the source below.
Sony teases new smartwatch announcement for next week
Sony's got us waiting on a super-sized Xperia smartphone, but it could have a new wearable to show Mobile Asia Expo attendees in Shanghai next week. In recent days, its Sony Xperia account has been tweeting cryptically about its existing Smartwatch, the demand for smart devices and (well, it is Sony) the company's portable tech heritage. Sony is set to host a Shanghai-based media event on Tuesday next week, and we'll be there to cover it.
Sony Xperia ZU specs reportedly leak: 6.44-inch display, 2.2GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, 8MP camera and 3,000mAh battery
Given the quantity of rumors that are floating around, it's hard to think that we won't be seeing a Sony phablet intermediate-size phone/tablet device in the near future. One of the folks over at ePrice is claiming that the Xperia ZU (for "Ultra") will come with a 6.44-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 IPS LCD display with a pixel density of 342ppi. Internals-wise, it's said to run a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 with 2GB RAM, 16GB storage and a 64GB microSD card slot, as well as a 3,000mAh non-removable battery. On the imaging front, there's a 8-megapixel Exmor RS sensor primary camera and a 1.3-megapixel Exmor R up front. The same tipster let slip that the ZU won't come with a stylus, but will be receptive to third-party styluses and should arrive on June 25th, so we'll be waiting for an invite to Sony's July 4th Paris launch with bated breath.
The Weekly Roundup for 05.27.2013
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Daily Roundup for 05.30.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Weekly Roundup for 05.13.2013
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Japan-bound Sony Xperia UL leaks out with 5-inch screen, reportedly packs Snapdragon 600
It was only a couple of weeks ago that we got an early peek of T-Mobile's Xperia Z thanks to the FCC, but we've now already gotten word of another unannounced Sony handset. While the published FCC report doesn't offer much more than a label, Blog of Mobile has turned up some images of what's purported to be the Xperia UL (codenamed "Gaga"), giving us an early look at the 5-inch device clearly inspired by other members of the family design-wise. What's more, the UL is allegedly sporting Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 chip, along with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in storage, a 2,300mAh battery and waterproof / dustproof attributes (these being common Japanese standards). Word on the internet is the Xperia UL will be launching as a KDDI exclusive, though we'll have to wait for something more concrete to see if that's indeed the case. Until then, you can peruse the gallery after the break to get a slight idea of what to expect.%Gallery-188598%
Sony's Xperia A Android 4.1 smartphone announced for NTT DoCoMo
Sony is adding another option to its smartphone lineup with this Xperia A it just announced in Japan. Spotted a few days ago in an FCC filing, the SO-04E will be released on the 17th on NTT DoCoMo. It slots in a step below the Z and ZL models on the spec sheet however, with a 1,280 x 720 4.6-inch LCD. It shares most of their internals, with a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU and Android 4.1, which are nice, but not the latest out (Snapdragon 600 and Android 4.2.) It also packs a 2,300mAh battery, 13MP rear camera and 0.3MP front camera. Like all of the phones announced today in NTT DoCoMo's summer push it supports LTE, and it will have NOTTV access after an update this fall.
Sony Xperia Z for T-Mobile approved by the FCC with compatible LTE
The FCC's approval process can be incredibly secretive, since most companies prefer not to leak out any information that could give away the identity of their star products. Sony, on the other hand, is typically the most liberal when it comes to letting us in on the scoop, and its latest device is no exception. In this case, the T-Mobile version of the Xperia Z was spotted with a full spread of external and internal photos along with a detailed user manual (which also gives away the model, carrier association and features such as WiFi calling). If you're still in denial for any odd reason, the docs confirm the inclusion of AWS LTE (band 4) and pentaband HSPA+. T-Mobile still hasn't confirmed that Sony's flagship is coming to its smartphone lineup, but we likely won't have to wait very long before we get an official announcement from the Uncarrier. Head below to check out the docs for yourself; or, for the Cliff Notes version, we have a small gallery of images and screenshots below to get the point across. %Gallery-187257%
Sony Xperia SP on sale now in the UK at T-Mobile, Orange and EE
Sony's mash-up Xperia, the SP, is taking its transparent element light show to the UK today, giving budget-minded Brits one stylish and feature-packed mobile alternative. The 4.6-inch 720p handset, which is basically a Best of... edition of the Xperia S and P with an aluminum unibody, is shipping now at T-Mobile UK for £250 outright (about $387 USD), whereas Orange and EE are offering up the device for free with qualifying plans. If you want LTE, however, you only have one carrier option and that's EE -- a choice that'll have you shackled for a two-year period. As for O2 and Three, those carriers still have the SP listed as "coming soon," but it's safe to say you won't find a better bargain than *free. *Nothing in life is free.
Sony Xperia Tablet S Jelly Bean update starts tomorrow afternoon
After months of treading water with Ice Cream Sandwich, the Xperia Tablet S is finally being blessed with a taste of Jelly Bean. Starting tomorrow between the hours of 9AM - 10AM PT, Sony will begin rolling out Android 4.1.1 to its second-gen slate in the US, Canada and Latin America. While release details are scarce, the company stated that it will issue a changelog alongside the update. Though Jelly Bean is likely on its way to becoming yesterday's news, at least Sony is keeping its promise and that's gotta count for something, right?
Sony Xperia ZL review: a giant phone in a surprisingly compact frame
Sony took a rather unusual path with its flagship smartphone for 2013: it designed the hardware twice. The Xperia Z is ostensibly the star of the show with its glass body and waterproofing, but it's launching alongside the Xperia ZL, an equally brawny, yet plainer sibling. On a spec sheet, there's no apparent reason for the ZL to exist when its features almost perfectly match those of the slimmer and more stylish Z. Still, it's precisely that emphasis on function over form that might just win the day. Sony bills the ZL as the most compact 5-inch smartphone on the market, which could win over folks who see large-screened phones as unwieldy. But is it enough to challenge conventional thinking on big phones, especially in light of fiercer competition? And is there anything special lurking underneath the ZL's reworked hood? Read on and we'll let you know whether the second device in Sony's dual-phone strategy is strong enough to outshine the Z -- and, more importantly, its rivals. %Gallery-185056%
Sony Xperia ZL reaches Canada through Bell, Rogers and Videotron
While we're still waiting on an American carrier to officially release Sony's Xperia ZL, it turns out that Canadians don't have to be quite so patient. That promised April launch in the northern country has come right at the start of the month, and locals can order the compact 5-inch flagship from Bell, Rogers or Videotron as of today. Pricing varies sharply between networks, however. Bell is offering the most aggressive discount, at $100 on a lengthy three-year contract, while Rogers and Videotron raise the prices to a respective $125 and $200 on similar terms. You can also buy the smartphone off-contract from the carriers for $600 (Bell and Videotron) or $625 (Rogers), in addition to the $675 unlocked model from Sony itself. We'd think carefully about a purchase when the Xperia ZL is about to get some stiff competition in the next few weeks; those who want a better sense of (Omni)balance in their lives can hit the carrier links at the source.