Sony Ericsson Xperia Acro Announced. We Have Specs

Before anybody gets overly excited about this, we have to point that this phone is intended for Japan only and you can probably blame that on the lack of infrastructure offered in your country. The Xperia Acro, not to be confused with the Xperia Arc which will have a global launch, is Sony Ericssons new flagship phone for the Land of the Rising Sun. This Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) smartphone will carry a 4.2-inch touch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine to offer some of the most crisp and vidid viewing experience to be found on a handheld device. This is partially due to the entertainment value that the Acro will carry, seeing how the phone has built in Mobile TV functionality, enabling live TV viewing on the device, which is different from video streaming off of a 3G network. The Acro will also come equipped with a 8.1-megapixel camera with Exmor R sensor which also allows for 720p video recording. Both recording modes are optimized to offer low-noise and function under low light quality which is a welcome feature for most cellphone owners. For those of you who are looking to share you content, no need to worry as this 1GHz CPU, Adreno 205 GPU will also come with HDMI out. Besides the TV tuner functionality, another reason why we won’t see the Acro make it to the West is due to the built in mobile wallet (NFC) which allows your Xperia Acro to function as a credit card. With no standard and support system in the United States and Europe, these two features would mean a higher priced phone with a locked out functionality which of course does not make sense. Seeing how easy it is to purchase Starbucks with my iPhone app, this is a feature that I cannot wait for to make its way to the West. This would make running into the store and being out, that much more convenient while requiring me to have one less thing on me. No price point has been announced for the Acro at this point but look for the unit in Black and White by the end of Summer.

Hit the jump for the official press release from Sony Ericsson. While you are there, what do you think about the Acro? How about NFC technology? Is that something you would like to see implemented in your country?

Sony Announces New Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

Sony really wasn’t kidding when they said that they wanted to get in on the Android smartphone action and become one of the top Android handset makers. Though that dream might not happen this year, especially due to the delays from Sony Ericsson, because of the tragic events that unfolded in Japan nearly two months ago, the company has a bright future ahead with the slew of phones that they are releasing this year. In addition to the Xperia Play, Arc, Neo, Walkman W8 and rumored Acro, the company today unveiled two new Android 2.3 Gingerbread based smartphones.

The Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro which are slated for a global Q3, 2011 launch are meant to fill in Sony Ericssons gap of lowered end Android phones. Still, don’t automatically think to yourself that lower end means lower quality. Instead, both phones offer some unique features which might just be perfect for a lot of users out there, especially those who might not need a large phone or if media consumption isn’t there thing. You see, both the Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro come with a 3-inch, multitouch, scratch-resistant display which powered by Sony’s exclusive Bravia Engine for smartphones. Both units will also give you a 1GHz processor, 720p HD video recording camera and 5 megapixel photo camera and of course, have access to the Android Market, seeing as they run Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the latest from Google.

If you want to know the difference between these two models, there isn’t a whole lot is the simple answer. The obvious one is that the Xperia Mini Pro (pictured above) also features a slide out keyboard while the Xperia Mini relies on touchscreen input. The second and only other difference is that the Xperia Mini Pro also has a front facing camera for taking photos and videos of yourself and for the of course, video chatting usage.  So what do you guys think about these two new phones? They are still a few months away but they should fit nicely into Sony Ericsson’s portfolio. Would you get one or know somebody who would?

As always, hit the jump for an official press release and for a shot of the Xperia Mini.

Sony Ericsson Gains its Own Channel in Android Market

Those of you who own a Sony Ericsson phone will as of today notice a change when you access the Android Market. Traditionally when opened, you would be greeted to Apps, Games and My apps category. Now, you will notice that My apps category is gone, instead replaced by a Sony Ericsson channel. First, no need to fear, those of you who liked the My apps category can still access it by simply pushing the menu button. So what is this new channel? Sony Ericsson has taken the first inititative among Android handset makers, though we believe many are/will follow shortly and created it’s own channel, only visible to those who own Sony Ericsson handsets. Within the channel, you will find special apps that are designed and catered to Sony Ericsson phones. As Sony put it:

– Provide recommendations to help you find the best games & apps that enhance your Sony Ericsson ‘most entertaining’ experience.
– Provide a way to easily find original apps from Sony Ericsson such as Timescape plugins etc.
– From time to time offer exclusive games & apps only available in this channel.
– Help our developer partners promote their apps & games giving them a highlighted market space to our consumers.

Those who own are looking forward to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play will probably see a lot of action here, seeing how the phone is gaining some exclusive games like Backstab from Gameloft and will have access to the PlayStation One library, long before other Android phones do.

[Via Sony Ericsson Blog]

Another Ad for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, Mixing Kittens and Crossbows

Have you seen the previous ad for the Xperia Play? If not, your missing out on “stuff” blowing up. Now, here is another followup at, highlighting what makes the Xperia Play, with it’s exclusive games different from the rest of the Android gang.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Acro Leaked. We Have Details

In both the Android and Sony Ericsson community, there has been a debate brewing if Sony is planning on introducing more phones this year, beyond the Xperia Play, Arc, Neo and Mini Pro. If no new phones are released this year, does that make the Xperia Arc, Sony’s flagship phone? If there will be more phones coming, will they rank up with the Xperia Arc and be flagship based models? Now, with the leaked images and partial specs of the Xperia Acro, we might have the answer to that. Much like the Xperia Arc, the Acro will be coming with Gingerbread, Android 2.3.3 and will sport the same 4.2-inch touchscreen display. What seems to have changed is the inclusion of a TV Tuner, infrared and mobile wallet (NFC).

Beyond these few tidbit, we don’t know much about this phone and those could very well be all the changes that will be going into this phone. If true, this could indeed be a phone only destined for Europe and Japan where NFC systems and Mobile TV have actual presence. Of course if all these are true and welcomed features, I wouldn’t deem them a Flagship based model as it likely won’t be coming to the US, nor a model that everybody would want. If everything holds together, look for a Summer European or Japan release though with recent events in Japan, we have seen delays from Sony Ericsson. Are the additional features something that interest you or if the Arc enough of a phone for you?

[Via AndroidGuys]

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 on Sale at Best Buy for $1

Thanks to a report from Engadget, Best Buy is selling the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 for just $1. As the guys over there point out, they cannot find the deal online so this mean be an indication that Best Buy is looking to clear their inventory out and might be just an in store deal. As we reported last week, Sony has now changed it’s mind and will be pushing out Android 2.3 to all Xperia X10 user, making this deal, that much more tantalizing. Have you seen the Xperia X10 on sale at your local Best Buy?

[Via Engadget]

Sony Ericssons Xperia Play Grabs Gameloft’s BackStab as Exclusive

Sony has a lot riding and a lot to prove with the upcoming Xperia Play which was previously believed to be the PlayStation Phone. With a focus on gaming, the Xperia Play is designed to feed the hunger of those who want a smartphone and like to game while on the go. Now that we have an understanding of the pricing scheme that will set on games, Sony Ericsson has announced Gameloft’s BackStab will be exclusive on their device for 30 days when it launches in Q2 of 2011. If you look at the pictures of the jump, what should be immediately apparent is that this is not your average smartphone game. Set in colonial times, there are luscious 3D environments with a gameplay that is designed for fights with multiple enemies at once. That’s all that we have on the game currently but will report back, once more information is released.

As always, hit the jump for the full press release and for additional pictures of BackStab.

Full Sony Ericsson Xperia Play ‘The Donor’ Commercial

Remember that Sony Ericsson commercial during the Super Bowl? The creepy one with the Android robot getting a human thumb so it could play better games? Well, there is more to it than that. We can now bring you the full commercial which will put a little more context to the entire premise. Still, we hope Sony will go with something less gritty when the product launches, though this does beckon your attention. Then again, if anybody remembers the crying baby commercials during the PS3 launch year…yea, that didn’t go over too well.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Priced and Dated for Spain

Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play is a hot and leading phone for Sony. Combining the latest from Android (Gingerbread 2.3) and giving the users a taste of PlayStation on the go, this soon-to-be-released phone has many things going for it. Sony Ericsson also has high hopes for the device. Though the company sold over 9 million Android phones last year, the company was hardly able to make a dent or appearance in the US market. One of the ways Sony is looking to change this is with the Xperia Play, targeting smartphone users with the need for more gaming. Now we have learned that the Xperia Play will launch in the UK on March 31st and follow into Spain on April 1st. The only piece of the puzzle remaining is the price of the device, which Sony Ericsson has announced is €649 for Spain, which translates to roughly a little over $900. Now, before we all freak out, we have to take into consideration that this is the price for an unlocked Xperia Play with no contract. We should also take note that there is a big difference between the value of Euro and the dollar so an exact conversion does not give the whole picture. To put things into context, the iPhone 4 with no contract is over $600 in the US which we imagine is even higher in Europe. It will be interesting to see what price the Xperia Play gets tagged with, once carrier subsidies are factored in which helps drive the price of the iPhone 4 down to $200 with a two-year contract.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play to Be Released on March 31st in the UK

Well UK fans, wonder no more. Sony Ericsson has announced that on  March 31st, the Xperia Play, previously dubbed as the PlayStation will be released to the legion of smartphone fans who want some gaming love on the go. Sony had originally aimed for a late March release and I guess they were spot on. For those unfamiliar, previously we covered the specs and games that make the Xperia Play.  One thing that will be different during this Android based smartphones launch then the previous offerings from Sony Ericsson is a large media campaign; in fact the biggest for Sony Ericsson.

“We are currently still in commercial conversation, but I’d be surprised if we didn’t see Xperia Play appear in other channels,” Sony Ericsson marketing director for UK and Ireland David Hilton

The Xperia Play is set to be available from every single mobile retailers and operators in the UK. With games like Bruce Lee Dragon Warriors, Tetris, Star Battalion, Crash Bandicoot, FIFA 10 and The Sims 3, plus thousands of other Android games, Sony is hoping to gain the attention of gamers and none gamers a like with the first smartphone centered around gaming.

[Via MCV]

US Smartphone Market Share Visualized, Sony Ericsson Currently Not On Radar

In the past few months, Sony Ericsson has made huge strides with their Android ambitions and in the following two months, we will see the fruition of them. Though Sony Ericsson did have a few phones like the Xperia X10 and the Xperia X8 available in the US in 2010, the Android phones were released without a strategic plan, provider partnership or advertisement campaign. Now with their new lineup up Android 2.3 devices like the much anticipated Xperia Play and  Xperia Neo, Arc and Pro, Sony Ericsson will surely do better then the above graph.

[Via Nielsen]

GSM Version of Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Revealed by FCC

During the initial announcement of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, previously called the PlayStation Phone, it was believed that the device would launch as a Verizon Exclusive. Since that time, it’s became clear that an exclusivity is no longer in the cards with all mentions of it being removed from Sony Ericsson’s website. Now a new publishing from the FCC reports that the Xperia Play will also sport a global GSM bands and 900 / 2100MHz 3G, which are primarily used in Europe and Asia. This reveal here does indicate that multiple carriers will be getting the Xperia Play but for our friends in the North, Rogers will still be the exclusive carrier.

[Via FCC]

Xperia Play Gaming Video

If you haven’t already, read our prior post where we discuss the Xperia Play and what the Sony Ericsson Smartphone has to offer. For those who want to see what gaming will look like on the Xperia Play, here is another video for you. Checkout some prior videos as well if you’re still hungry for details.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Comes to Verizon in the US, Rogers in Canada (Updated 2x)

As we reported yesterday, we have a much better idea about the Xperia Play, now knowing the full spec list and games that will be offered on launch. We also reported that for the United States, the Xperia Play will be a Verizon Wireless exclusive. What we didn’t know is who our friends North of us would have as their carrier. Now we know that both the Xperia Play and Xperia Arc are coming to Canada and will be exclusive to Rogers. With a Spring release window set, we’re still awaiting an official launch date.

Update:

Looks like we are a little closer to an official date. Canada’s release window is now set for late March, similar to the US.

Hit the jump for the press release.

Update 2:

Since the product announcement, all information in regards to an exclusivity from Verizon have been taken down from both parties. As one of our readers pointed out, the Xperia Play is “gsm/hspa compatible (t-mo & at&t) with the availability to go to a cdma (code division multible access),” meaning that the phone can come to both Verizon and AT&T/T-Mobile. As we get closer to the launch date, expect us to report on the carrier status of this phone and Sony Ericssons other up coming Android phones like the Xperia Arc, Neo and Pro.

Thanks to SonyFanboy for the tip!

Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play Retail Booths Leaked

The still unannounced PlayStation Phone of sorts, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, continues its streak of public leaks. The latest is the retail booths, designed to place in retailer outlets such Best Buy to help the product stand out from the now ever-so-crowded Android market. In this case, these booths emphasize the gaming capability of the Xperia Play, in hopes of drawing in the gamers on the go. As a quick recap, the Xperia Play will boast a 4-inch multitouch 854 x 480 LCD, 1GHz Processor, 512MB of RAM, 802.11 b/g/n, 8 Megapixel Camera with 720p Video Recording and Android 2.3 to name a few.

These booths come as a great step for Sony, helping to show off the company’s new phone as well as hopefully raise the company’s profile in the US. As we reported, Sony Ericsson has enjoyed some success in Europe, selling over 9 million Xperia X10 products. Still, we think the company has some way to go before it can really compete with the likes of HTC, LG and Motorola. This is more due in part to lack of brand awareness than quality of products.

[Via All About Phones]

Sony Ericsson Admits They’ve Made Mistakes, Says 2011 Will Be Better

It’s always humbling to see a company be willing to look back, reflect, and admit that they have made mistakes. It’s even better when the company has learned from the mistakes and is both willing and planning on doing better. With the Sony Ericsson Arc on the horizon, it seems that Sony Ericsson will indeed have a different attitude and offering during 2011.

“The first generation of handsets in our portfolio was about getting the capability out there”, Steve Walker (Acting) global head of marketing for Sony Ericsson.

During 2010, Sony released the Xperia X10, X10 Mini, X10 Mini Pro which have now surpassed 9 million shipped though they all shipped with outdated Android 1.6 and only recently saw an upgrade path to 2.1. This and a lack of marketing and strategy made it hard for Sony to stand out from the crowded Android market with the likes of HTC, Motorola and LG.

“It’s important to remember that 2010 was the first year for mass market Android handsets. Yes there had been one or two things out from HTC previously, but when we started to design our 2010 handsets in 2008, nobody really knew the dynamics of the Android smartphone market or even what the smartphone market was going to be”, explains Walker in respect of a range that hasn’t been too well received over the last 12 months.

“None of us could predict 2 years previously, to what extent users would switch into smartphones. None of us could really predict what would be more important and less important for consumers”.

Sony Ericsson Ships 9 million Xperia Android Phones

With Sony Ericssons Q4 results in, it turned out to be a case of good news bad news for the struggling partnership that has been having high hopes on their new phones. In the last year, Sony Ericsson has been looking to turn their fortunes around, especially with the rise of popular devices like the iPhone and Android has been their savior like almost all other phone makers. During this time, Sony has released the Xperia X10, X10 Mini, X10 Mini Pro which have now surpassed 9 million shipped. This is the good news for Sony and this achievement is that much more impressive when you consider that the Xperia X10 is the only one of the series that was released in the US and it was a product that was never advertised. Other sites have noted that this is equally impressive because most of this fleet was running around during 2010 with the outdated Android 1.6 and only recently saw an upgrade path to 2.1. Still the bad news is that this comes as profits dip with the company reporting a moderate €35 million pre-tax profit for Q4. Though this is below what the company had hoped for and lower then previous quarters, this is still a large turnaround for a division that was losing money left and right just a little over a year ago.

No OS Updates from Sony Ericcson for Xperia X10 Beyond Android 2.1

I’ve long chronicled the hardship Xperia X10 users have had to deal with, with it comes to Android and the latest offerings from Sony. Sony Ericsson first launched the Xperia X10 in Fall with Android 1.6 which for it’s time was already out of date and it took the company till late December to begin a true roll out to Android 2.1. Still, at least those users now have the semi current build of Android. But what about Android 2.2 and 2.3? Not so much says Sony. A few quotes from Sony Ericsson:

“We believe that the current Xperia range on Android 2.1 coupled with Sony Ericsson’s proprietary upgrades and unique hardware delivers a user experience that is on par with, and in many cases better than, a vanilla installation of Android 2.2.

We’re planning another upgrade to bring new features (such as for example multi-touch for Xperia X10) to the current family of Xperia™ smartphones in Q1 2011.

Our priority right now is to keep enhancing the user experience of the existing products through coming updates and to deliver a fantastic range of smartphones in 2011 that are all on the latest possible version of Android – that is a target we are determined to hit.”

So this is a case of good news, bad news. The bad news is obviously that Sony isn’t looking to bring further Android OS releases to the Xperia X10. The good is that the X10, X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro are not being abandoned. Instead, Sony will release it’s own updates for the phones, like Pinch-t0-zoom, something that is completely different from improvements from Google’s Android and can give Sony specific areas to improve upon, without having to wait for the mothership to do something about it. Just keep in mind, the up coming Sony Ericsson Arc will sport Android 2.3 from day one.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Announced; We Have Specs

Though not the PlayStation Phone, Sony Ericsson did have a new phone to show off during CES, the Xperia Arc. This 4.2-inch phone packs some of the latest from both Sony and Google by being one of the thinnest Android phones out there with a thickness just under 8.7mm and running Android 2.3 as the OS backbone. With the latest OS comes great power and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor should please the multitasker and ADHD kid inside of you, while the phones 8.3 mexapixel Sony Exmor R camera with LED flash should give the photo camps something to smile about also. Other little tidbits about the phone include a 802.11n wireless card and HDMI out. Another first for Sony is the collaboration between the Sony Ericcsson and Bravia division to produce what Sony calls “Reality Display” with a Mobile BRAVIA Engine. This new screen is meant to fight off the Super AMOLED display from Samsung and the Retina Display from Apple with Bravia engineers optimizing the engine, insuring optimal brightness and color with special focus on deep blacks when it comes to video and game playback. As I mentioned, this also marks a first for Sony as two completely separate divisions are collaborating on a singular device to draw from the strength of Ericssons phone design and the Bravia teams know how of displays. Hopefully we will continue to see further collaboration between Sony’s many different devisions as they have a vast array of products and offerings that can complement and build off of each other, while helping to reduce cost and the need to go to 3rd party venders for parts and licensing. Once released, the phone will be available in two colors, Midnight Blue and Misty Silver.

Hit the jump for another shot of the Xperia Arc and full press release from Sony.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 to Gain Android 2.1 This Weekend

After several delays, Sony Ericsson is finally bringing its Xperia X10 to the year 2010 (just in time for 2011) by giving its users Android OS 2.1. Starting on Sunday, October 31st, Sony is going to roll out the over the air software in small segments to its users and gradually increase the adoption rate throughout November. So don’t be surprised if your Xperia X10, X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro does not notify you for an update as this will be a month long transition.

Hit the jump for a list of changes Xperia 10 owners will get from Android 1.6 to 2.1.

Sony Ericssons Xperia X10, Exclusive to Best Buy with Taylor Swift

Last week, we talked about the Sony Ericsson Xpera X10 coming to Best Buy on October 24th and the possibility of it being an exclusive product over there. We now have confirmation that indeed, Best Buy will be the only store, outside of Sonys on Sony Style stores to carry the Xperia X10. This AT&T only phone will be offered for $99 with a two year contract which is not bad at all, considering all other similar phones retail for around $149 or $199. Sony is also be pre-loading in the Xperia X10 what it called the “The Essential Taylor Swift Experience,” which is meant to promote the new Tayler Swift album that will be released on October 25th by none other than Sony/BMG. Including will be two albums, a new single, ringtone and video content, and access to her new album. And interesting promotion at a very intriguing price.

Hit the jump for the full press release.