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Refresh Roundup: week of September 10th, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. 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 we could find during 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!
PSA: Sony details ICS rollout for 2011 Xperia smartphones, Nordic regions to get first dibs
Good news for all you owners of 2011 edition Xperia smartphones -- Sony's Xperia Product Blog has just confirmed that the devices will begin receiving a tasty upgrade to Android Ice Cream Sandwich. The update is set to first rollout in the Nordic countries of Norway (naturally), Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland -- specifically for the Xperia arc S, ray and neo V -- followed by an expansion into other markets within the next "four to six weeks." Don't fret if you don't own one of the aforementioned devices, though, as Sony has noted that near the end of May it should have ICS ready for the Xperia arc, Play, active, neo mini, mini pro, pro and Sony Ericson Live. If you're hungering for more specific information on when you'll be able to update your device, you'll have to keep it posted to the source links below in the meantime.
Sony details Xperia's Ice Cream Sandwich progress, remains on track for late March kick-off
Yes, Sony Ericsson has already gone about communicating its intention to deliver Android 4.0 to its Xperia smartphone collection, but the company is now sharing further details about the pending arrival. So, we thought you'd like to be in on the know. For starters, the first devices to receive the upgrade will be the Arc S, Neo V and Ray, each of which are on-track for a late March / early April rollout. Then, beginning in late April / early May, Sony intends to deliver Ice Cream Sandwich to the Active, Arc, Mini, Mini Pro, Neo, Play and Xperia Pro handsets. Even the Live with Walkman is set to receive a new lease on life during the time frame. In each case, the latest version of Android will be rolled out in phases, over the course of a few weeks. Now, let's just hope that Sony Ericsson is able to keep to its schedule.
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 Ericsson Xperia pro on sale this October, corporate thumbs flex in anticipation
Back at Mobile World Congress in February, Sony Ericsson managed to surprise attack us with the reveal of its Xperia pro. Now, nearly a full year and oodles of leaks later, that Android 2.3 QWERTY slider's ready to find comfort in consumers' hands. Hitting retailers globally this October, SE's 3.7-inch enterprise-minded handset comes pre-loaded with Mc Afee mobile security, Office Suite Pro, and is designed to make syncing with MS Exchange and other email clients a cinch. Business-friendly add-ons aside, the device packs ANT+ (to keep you in peak road warrior shape), and a generous 8.1 megapixel rear camera outfitted with an Exmor R sensor for HD video and 3D Sweep Panorama capture. There's also a Type & Send widget to make use of the device's Smart Keyboard -- which suggests reply options when slid open -- letting you bang out and send off text from the homescreen. Sound like the kind of slider that'll suit your white-collared needs? Then hit up the source below to get your order on.
Fido outs the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
While Fido is sometimes known as a storehouse for the less-than-stellar handsets in the Rogers family, its launch of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro may well renew some of its gloss. Packing such niceties as an 8.1 megapixel camera, a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 CPU, 854 x 480 3.7-inch display, GPS, WiFi, and even an 8GB memory card, we're convinced it's set to become a rather popular device. With this launch, Fido's Android stable has now been bumped up to an even four sets -- including the Samsung Nexus S, Acer Liquid E, LG Optimus 2X -- and with pricing set at a pretty reasonable $50 for a three-year stint and $350 contract-free it's immediately the most affordable. Do feel free to drop us a line in the comments below if you find yourself inexplicably drawn into a bricks and mortar to pick one of these up.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro slides through the FCC, gets turned inside out
It's been a long road for the Xperia Pro, but the little sliding QWERTY phone from Sony Ericsson finally appears to be nearing release. After getting manhandled, posing for a few glamor shots, and going up for pre-order, the 900MHz and 2100MHz HSPA friendly handset has, months after its unveiling, glided through the FCC. Granted, those bands don't do American fans of SE's Android customizations much good but, on the plus side, the Pro now appears to be sporting ANT+ for all your fitness tracking needs. Unfortunately, the September delivery date still stands, so our friends across the pond will just have remain patient. %Gallery-128632%
Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro won't ship until 'late September' in the UK
When the Xperia Pro first went up for pre-order back in June, we thought it would be available relatively soon. According to Sony Ericsson's page, however, the handset won't start shipping to UK customers until "late September." A couple of friendly tipsters notified us about the change, though the SIM-free price, as you'll notice, remains fixed at £349.99 (or about $558). We have yet to hear an explanation for the delay, but in the meantime, you can tide yourself over with our hands-on. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro now available for pre-order in the UK
Outside of a bit of bootloader talk, we haven't heard much about Sony Ericsson's Xperia Pro since it made its debut at Mobile World Congress in February. The company's now gotten things rolling again, however, and has made the phone available for pre-order in the UK. As you can see above, it'll set you back £349.99 SIM-free (or roughly $575), and it should be available sometime next month. Not pictured above is one of the phone's main selling points: a sliding QWERTY keyboard -- but don't worry, you can get a good look at it in our hands-on. [Thanks, Amarjit]
Sony Ericsson teaches course on building custom Linux kernels, admission is free
When Sony Ericsson stepped out of line and opened its bootloader unlocking service, it provided a tacit acknowledgment that users should have the ability to use and abuse their phones however they see fit -- even if it voids the warranty. Frankly, we applaud SE's move, despite the caveat that supported handsets cannot be SIM-locked to a carrier (or CDMA, for that matter). Now, Sony's embracing its own movement and is teaching a free online class (of sorts) on how to build a Linux kernel and flash it to your phone. Of course, the article requires that you get comfy with the command line, but whether you're an Android developer, a casual enthusiast, or a curious observer, this tutorial is worth reading and learning from. Welcome to Computer Lib for the handset generation -- where you can and must understand smartphones now.
Sony Ericsson's Android bootloader unlocking site goes live, modders rejoice
As promised, Sony Ericsson has just flipped the switch for its Android bootloader unlocking service, meaning those with an unbranded Xperia device from 2011 and onwards -- Play, Arc, Neo, and Pro so far -- will be able to try out custom ROMs and other dirty mods with ease. All that's required here is your phone's IMEI number, which in return gives you the unlocking key to go with the Android SDK's fastboot program -- all will be clear once you've read the instructions at the source link. But remember: SE does warn that this service may void your warranty if all goes pear-shaped, so just be careful, won't ya?
Sony Ericsson will let you unlock the bootloader on new Xperia Android phones -- subject to conditions
While one group of Android phone makers is swinging towards locking their hardware down, Sony Ericsson is resolutely headed in the other direction. The Swedo-Japanese consortium has just announced it will provide a secure and legal way for eager Android hackers to gain full control of the bootloader on some of its upcoming 2011 Xperia line of phones. All four models are covered, the Xperia Play, Neo, Pro, and Arc, however you have to make sure you buy a handset that isn't SIM-locked to a carrier and then there are territorial considerations to take into account. Warranties may still be voided by fooling around with your Xperia's software (again, depends on individual handsets and markets) and SE warns gravely of the potential for "physical injuries or material damage" if you freak your Android into overheating or worse. So proceed with caution, but know that Sony Ericsson is by your side*. * Subject to terms and conditions, repair charges may be incurred, Android upgrades are promised but never guaranteed.
Sony Ericsson Xperia family portrait at MWC 2011
Sony Ericsson shook up MWC before it had even begun this year by introducing the Xperia Play -- the world's first PlayStation Certified phone -- alongside a pair of new members of its Xperia line of smartphones, the midrange Neo and QWERTY-sliding Pro. Taken together with the Xperia Arc that debuted at CES in January, this little bunch of Android Gingerbread runners will form SE's principal attack on the ever-fickle smartphone consumer's wallet this year. We can't yet tell you which of them might be the one for you, but we can certainly provide a gallery stuffed full of side-by-side pictures to help you visualize the differences, both big and small, between the four new Xperias. Enjoy! %Gallery-116992%
Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro first hands-on! (updated with video)
Amazing! Sony Ericsson actually managed to keep something secret from us. The Xperia Pro is the one handset from its MWC presser today that wasn't known about in advance, but we're damn happy to see it anyhow. It features a well-spaced QWERTY keyboard that slides out much in the same way as the gamepad would on the Xperia Play. We did notice there were some software issues on our demo devices -- the Sony Ericsson-customized Android 2.3 installation was nowhere near as smooth as what we've seen on the Xperia Arc previously, so maybe SE will need a bit more time to fashion out its software here. Physically, the Pro is compact and seems decently well built -- we did find the oddly placed power button and teeny tiny volume controls a bit of a bother to locate and operate, however. Obviously, this is a big step up in size from the Xperia X10 Mini Pro, but thickness is kept mercifully in check. It doesn't feel significantly thicker in the hand than phones that lack its hardware keyboard. We'll have video of the device for you very shortly, but for now, enjoy the hands-on shots below. Update: Video now embedded after the break. %Gallery-116438%
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
Sony Ericsson has just announced the mammoth Xperia Pro Android phone -- a slider device with a full QWERTY keyboard. The device sports a 3.7-inch, 854 x 480 display (which uses the company's Bravia graphics engine technology), runs atop a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, and is sporting SE's customized build of Gingerbread (Android 2.3). The phone has an 8 megapixel camera with LED flash, 2 megapixel front facing camera, and will be available in silver, red, and black. We're working on getting more info as we type, so stay tuned! %Gallery-116430% Check out our Sony Ericsson liveblog and read the full press release and specs list after the break!
