ericsson

Sony Ericsson eyes fresh Android start in 2011

Like many of you, I've watched the rumors of a PlayStation Phone spread across the Internet over the last few weeks. After a so-so 2010 for Sony Ericsson, this is exactly the type of device that could cement Sony Ericsson as a top Android contender. That is, if they get it right. Ask any Android enthusiast about last year's Xperia X10 and you'll likely hear gripes about how badly the company missed the boat.

Once expected to be one of the premier Android phones on the market, the Xperia X10 arrived with muted fanfare. Though eventually it was successful at a couple of carriers around the world, it never took off in the United States, even though it landed at AT&T.

What was the primary reason for this missed opportunity? Outdated software, of course. Even with its 1GHz processor, 4-inch screen, and 8.1-megapixel camera, the phone was hampered by Android 1.6. That inability to run many of today's better applications turned many potential consumers away. And even now, as some Android handsets are getting 2.2 or even 2.3, Sony Ericsson is just pushing Android 2.1 out to various regions. Thankfully, however, the future looks much brighter.

As of right now, the PlayStation should come branded under the Xperia umbrella, possibly carrying the Xperia Play moniker. Although branding it specifically as the PlayStation Phone could be a better move, it will be easier for the company to fold it into the Sony Ericsson portfolio. What's more, listing it with the Xperia name ties it to its other efforts, notably the new Xperia Arc. … Read more

Android in 2011: Bigger, faster, thinner, lighter

After taking a few days to decompress and wrap my head around the Android news from CES 2011, I started to notice a couple of trends with the new devices. Not only are these phones getting substantially faster with bigger screens, but they are growing thinner and lighter at the same time.

As expected, the next Android phones are going to be much faster than today's handsets. We have dual-core smartphones like LG's Optimus 2X and the Motorola Atrix 4G on the horizon, and companies such as Samsung are pushing out single-core processor handsets with impressive 1.2GHz speeds.

And when you factor in 1GB memory capacities, you have two ingredients for 2011's "superphone." Well, at least for the first half of the year. At the rate things are moving, it's pretty difficult to forecast beyond six months.

Displays With screen size, big is in. What started with HTC's Evo 4G continues this year in force. In fact, it appears that the minimum display size for touch-screen phones now hovers around 4 inches or higher. Not only does a quick look show that some of the key handsets announced at CES have screens of 4.3 inches or larger, but Samsung's Infuse 4G is headed for AT&T with a 4.5-inch screen. Anything larger and we'll be into Dell Streak and tablet territory.

It's really funny considering that last summer, plenty of people balked at the Evo because it was considered too big. Was the success of the Sprint phone a driving factor in the new designs, or are handset makers simply moving the needle whether we like it or not? … Read more

A closer look at the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Sony Ericsson released just one phone at CES, but the Xperia Arc is nothing to ignore. The hardware, to be frank, is stunning. The handset has a great feeling in the hand; we love the sleek profile; and the display is a looker.

The features are also impressive. We're particularly glad to see the device running Gingerbread--remember that the Xperia X10 ran OS 1.6 when it debuted--and the idea of the Bravia engine powering the media player is something we hadn't expected. We're still ambivalent about Timescape, and we hope it won't interfere with future … Read more

Sony Ericsson unveils Xperia Arc

LAS VEGAS--Sony Ericsson kicked off its CES experience today by announcing a new Android smartphone, the Xperia Arc. Though it's not the long-rumored PlayStation phone, the Android-powered handset offers an impressive load of features and a sleek candy bar design in midnight blue or misty silver.

Front and center on the Arc is the 4.2-inch, 16.7 million-color touch screen (854x480 pixels). Sony Ericsson is no slouch when it comes to displays so we're expecting a stunner here. The capacitive display also has an accelerometer, a multitouch interface, and a Sony Bravia engine.

Exterior features include three physical controls (back, home, and menu), a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headset jack. The Arc has a trim profile at 0.342 inch, but we're glad to see Sony Ericsson isn't trying to push it as "the world's thinnest smartphone." And even if it did, that race changes almost every day. … Read more

PlayStation phone may carry Xperia branding

A handful of new PlayStation phone rumors surfaced this week, adding to a long list of unconfirmed reports surrounding the device.

The latest gossip concerns the smartphone's eventual name. According to information uncovered by Pocket-Now, Sony Ericsson has registered for trademarks on Xperia Play, Xperia Neo, Xperia Duo, and Xperia Arc. It's possible that the Xperia Play could refer to the device itself or an umbrella of services related to the phone.

The Unofficial Xperia X10 blog also discovered that a Sony Ericsson PR firm had registered the XperiaPlay.com, XperiaPlay.net, and XperiaPlay.org domain names. Again, … Read more

Cisco wins more Greenpeace kudos

Cisco, once again, was the leader of the pack as Greenpeace released its latest Cool IT Leaderboard on Tuesday.

The environmental watchdog group named Cisco, Ericsson, and Fujitsu, respectively, as the three most environmentally responsible IT companies. Cisco received 70 out of 100 possible points, while Ericsson received 57 points and Fujitsu 52 points. Greenpeace praised Cisco for "making IT climate solutions an increasingly core part of its business strategy."

Cisco was in first place in the group's previous list in April, despite Google upping its public support for climate change legislation in the U.S. at … Read more

PlayStation phone gets time on video

The rumored Sony PlayStation phone has been spotted again, this time getting captured in video form.

A Greek gadget blog has roughly 2 minutes of blurry footage of someone reportedly playing with the device. Although we never see the phone opened up to reveal the gaming controls, it appears to be a real working model. According to Techblog.gr, the handset is codenamed Zeus and will bear the name of Sony Ericsson Z1 when it arrives.

Specifications for the PSP phone include a 1GHz processor, an 8-megapixel camera, 512MB of RAM, and 1GB of ROM. It's suggested that the … Read more

AT&T spins post-Thanksgiving deals

We've already told you about Amazon Wireless' cell phone deals for the holiday shopping brouhaha, but now AT&T is getting in on the act as well. From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, the carrier will be offering a deal a day for many if its phones. Here's what you'll see.

November 26: AT&T says it will offer "some of the best prices ever" on its "most popular" touch-screen devices. At this point, we don't exactly know which handsets that includes, so we'll have to wait and see.… Read more

First Look at presumed Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 successor

The first images and preliminary details for Sony Ericsson's presumed Xperia X10 successor have made their way online. And according to the source that passed on the tips to the Unofficial Xperia X10 blog, the device is "very, very slim."

Codenamed Anzu, or X12, the handset should feature a 4.3-inch screen and HDMI output, two increasingly common smartphone characteristics. Given the "HD" markings on the back of the phone, the video camera should record in 1080p resolution. The X10 has an 8.1-megapixel camera, so I would assume this phone has at least that … Read more

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 finally gets Android 2.1

Starting this Sunday, October 31, Sony Ericsson will make good on a promise made earlier this year. The Xperia X10 will finally get its long-awaited Android 2.1 update.

The official Sony Ericsson product blog posted an article today advising that X10, X10 Mini, and X10 Mini Pro handsets will begin receiving the Eclair update on Sunday evening. Initially, only phones in the Nordic countries will see the update, with other European countries getting 2.1 starting Monday, November 1. All other X10 phones, including those used in North America, will get their update by the end of November.

I'… Read more