A new app for XPERIA phone’s is going to be released on August 1st: Qriocity’s video service. It allows you to rent and buy movies or TV-shows from NBC, Universal International Television Distribution, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. You will be able to watch all new released movies including an extensive back catalogue.
It’s a supplement of Sony Ericsson’s announced music service Music Unlimited. At first It will be only available on Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro. The service offers you movies and other content specific to your country: UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, Japan, Canada and the United States. Later it will be available exclusively for the 2011 released XPERIA’s.
You will get the service through a software-update or through the Android market. Do you think it is a competitor to Google Video service?
Earlier on today I brought news that the X10 had got its Gingerbread update. Finally, SE themselves have announced the update being live.
They have confirmed that initially the update is only available to Generic kits only, and they have issued only 10 percent of the scripts. The rest of the scripts will be issued later on this week. Also, they have reminded us that the new update can only be installed via a PC.
A lot of news sites/blogs yesterday have been reporting that Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) has been released for the Xperia X10. Sadly, we can reveal that this isnt the case. In fact, the news that the update is out has spread like wildfire, that today Mattias Holm, Sony Ericsson’s Head of Product PR, posted on their product that the information is “premature”, but the update is on it’s way.
He also said that there is a lot of false commenting and impersinations of Rikard Skogberg, who is currently taking some well earned time out from the Product Blog. I have seen a few comments on the Product Blog from people claiming to be him or another member of the Product Blog team, but have always been fairly easy to see. Another example of people making out to be him (and indeed, Mattias Holm) would be to take a read of the comments of the same piece of news being reported.
Now what do I make of all this then? Well, some could argue that by updating the offical Sony Ericsson website stating that an update is ready for the Xperia X10 is a really bad move. X10 owners already felt rather annoyed that the last update was to be Android 2.1, so by updating their website saying that the update is out, this wont help build bridges with the X10 owners. However, some sources say that the update will start in Europe on Friday. Let’s hope that this indeed the case.
Another game is available for the Xperia Play. This time it’s Battlefield: Bad Company 2. It’s one of the most acclaimed action series of all time. It features five intensely detailed battle zones and 14 single player missions. The game allows players to move through a rich and intense single-player story, using strategy and cooperation to bring down buildings, cause realistic destruction and battle enemies. So the players will have much fun and the game shouldn’t be too short.
Gameplay:
You can download the game via the ‘Get Games’ app for £5 via EA Mobile.
A lot of us can’t wait for the 2.3.3 update to arrive and now it seems like Sony Ericsson will push it to the X10 before August – this week! Sony Ericsson posted on Facebook that they planed to roll out the update in W30, that means it should start between the 25th July and 31st July. But don’t forget that the exact date can vary for each region. Maybe we in Germany get it before the guys in the UK or the other way round.
Here’s the official post from SE:
The launch of the 2.3 software for X10 is getting closer, and the planned release date is approx. w30. The date could still be changed, since the launch is depending on operators approval”
Skype today have updated their Android app to make and receive video calls. The new app is to be used on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) phones, which includes the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo and soon-to-be-released Xperia Pro. On the Sony Ericsson Product Blog, via the comments section, I have read though that whilst Xperia Arc can use the main camera, there isnt an option to video call. No word has been given yet if the Xperia Play can make video calls or not, but without a front facing camera, I would suggest it is unlikely. Skype themselves have released a demonstration of some of the new features in this video:
As well as the phones announced yesterday, Sony Ericsson also announced a new series of accessories called Smart Extras, which will be used for the Xperia smartphones that will create “new functionality”.The first device was a LiveDock multimedia station:
As you can see, it appears to be somewhere for your Xperia phone to lay on, and when connected, will launch the application of your choice. Also, Sony Ericsson add that if you have more than one LiveDock, then you can set each LiveDock to launch a different application depending on your situation.
However, a couple of flaws: this appears to be available in white only, and looking at the official accessory page for the LiveDock, it appears it is only compatible with the new range of Xperia devices (apologies X10, X10 Mini, X10 Mini Pro and X8 owners) The second smart accessory to get announced was a headset called LiveSound:
The headset gives out excellent sound for a more enjoyable experience, along with a cable that doesnt tangle. It features a LiveKey button that is programmable to do what you want. Example you can set it up to launch a sports app by pressing the button, press it again and it could also show you information that is being used by ANT+ accessories, for example your heart rate etc . As for compatibility, thankfully it appears to be compatible with Vivaz, Vivaz Pro, Xperia X10, Aspen, Cedar, Spiro and of course the 2011 announced phones so far, and is available in a variety of colours. Again, no mention of the X10 Mini’s or the X8.
I have also found a YouTube video featuring both accessories:
My personal thoughts:
Being a current X10 Mini Pro owner, I cannot say that I am rather excited about the new accessories. As you (probably) saw in the video, they use an app called LiveWare manager, which is coincidently used by the LiveView, so I cant really see why they are advertising the LiveDock for the new Xperia devices and leaving the poor Xperia X10 family owners out in the cold. Perhaps then they are now recoding the LiveWare manager to Android 2.3.3 (aka GingerBread)? Anyway, as I have the LiveWare Manager app installed on my X10 Mini Pro, there are options to launch apps depending on what accessory is connected (including a charger). Having said that though, on the LiveDock the X10 Mini Pro’s USB slot is where the phone would be laying.
Sony Ericsson today also announced another handset, but this time, it’s not an Android one, or a Xperia one. It, however, is the “Sony Ericsson TXT” , which is the Sony Ericsson TXT pro’s sister.
Its key features are a full QWERTY keyboard, a shortcut button to SMS messages on keyboard, and a “Friends” application which enables you to see Facebook and Twitter feeds from your top five friends. It has also features Wi-Fi and a 3.2 MP camera with video recording.
Quentin Cordier said this about the phone:
“Sony Ericsson txt is the perfect phone for easy and fast messaging on the move. We wanted to give consumers that prefer a full view QWERTY keyboard an entry point into the world of Sony Ericsson.“
As for a release date, well Sony Ericsson say it will be around from Q3 2011 in selected markets.
Product specifications:
Please note that all services mentioned below may not be available in every market
Sony Ericsson txt
Colours
White Black Pink Blue
Facts
Size: 106 × 60 × 14.5 mm Weight: 95 grams
Camera
3.2mp camera Send to web Video recording Audio recording File container
Music
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP) Media player Music tones (MP3/AAC) PlayNow™ service TrackID™ music recognition
Internet
Web browser (Obigo™ Q7)
Communication
Call list Conference calls Facebook™ application Friends application Polyphonic ringtones Speakerphone Twitter™ application Google Talk™ Vibrating alert
Messaging
Text messaging (SMS) Multimedia messaging (MMS) Instant messaging E-mail Conversations Google Mail™ Predictive text input Sound recorder
Design
Keyboard (QWERTY) Picture wallpaper
Entertainment
Java™ Radio (FM radio with RDS) Video viewing YouTube™
Bluetooth™ technology Micro USB support WLAN (Wi-Fi®) MediaGo™ 3.5 mm audio jack USB mass storage USB High speed 2.0 support USB support
Display
2.6 inches 262,144 colour TFT 240 x 320 pixels Scratch-resistant
Memory
Phone memory (user-free): Up to 100MB Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32GB
Battery life
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 3 hrs 12 min* Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 416 hrs*Music listening time: Up to 23 hrs Video playback time: Up to 5 hrs 15 min
*According to GSM Association Battery Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configurations, and phone usage.
Networks
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
In the kit
Battery (1000 mAh) Charger Micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer, and user documentation.
Sony Ericsson today announced two new handsets, the Xperia ray and the Xperia active’. I know Sony Ericsson are hard up these days, but come on chaps you can afford some capital letters; sorry but it’s a pet peeve of mine. Anyway the handsets!
The Xperia ray features a Mobile BRAVIA engine and Exmor R like the arc and sports a 3.3 inch display with an 8.1 MP camera to back it up. It will come in your choice of colour as long as your choice of colour includes black, gold, white or pink.
The Xperia active, as its name may have suggested, is the phone of choice for the outdoors-man (or clumsy people). The handset is dust and water proof as well as featuring a scratch resistant multi-touch screen with support for wet finger tracking.
The screen is just 3 inches though and the camera also sees a reduction compared with the ray, being a 5 MP model (with HD support).
Once again bad news for the X10 owners! The update to 2.3.3 will be delayed, too. We all hoped to get it within the next few weeks but now Sony Ericsson just posted that we’ll get the update in the beginning of August. They didn’t post a real reason for the delay but at least the update that is in testing at the moment is almost finalized.
What’s sure about the update now: - The X10 will keep it’s old camera application and won’t get the stock Gingerbread one which is really good - Facebook Inside Xperia will come to the X10 - It will bring an experience like on the 2011 SE Android devices to the X10
Also Sony Ericsson posted a preview video of the update:
After watching the video I’d say that the 32fps cap still exists in the update, which is bad.
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