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.
We just recognized that se-store.co.uk will offer the new XPERIA Pro in late July (UK). But as you know: SE never knows when they’ll release something or anything
The Sony Ericsson Pro is a full qwerty-keyboard phone with HD-video recording, GreenHeart features (for example charger), WiFi (well, nothing new for Android phones) and with Mobile BRAVIA engine.
As we already posted there was a competition (you were able to apply to SE and say why you want to review one of the new phones) a few weeks ago. Now the winners were chosen and four of their reviews will be published at SE’s Facebook page.
Above you can see the new Sony Ericsson phones. The one with the keyboard is the txt pro, the other one is the Mix Walkman. The OS of them is SE’s own, like the one from Yendo.
At first a few Mix Walkman details and features:
It’s a touch phone (as you already know) with a Walkman-related feature called Zappin. Let me quote the explanation: “[...] ZappinTM lets you browse through your songs in a fun way by automatically being served the chorus of the songs while skipping through them” It also has a karaoke mode that tries to lower the vocal track of your songs. There is even a way to change its look: The band around the edges is changeable!
Now some txt pro specifications:
It is designed for communication – that’s why it has a full qwerty keyboard. It has social applications pre-installed to stay connected with your friends from facebook and twitter.
They both have Wi-Fi, the four-corner interface and will be launched in Q3.
Do you think the Mix Walkman is the new phone for Walkman fans?
Yesterday Sony Ericsson announced the Experience Pack for XPERIA PLAY. It includes the DK300 Multimedia-Dock with which the PLAY can be used as a desk-clock and can be charged, a USB cable and a music cable to connect the dock to other audio systems. But there is one more thing: If you buy it you’ll get three free games from gameloft. Here is the list from which you can choose the games:
As the E3 starts soon, Sony Ericsson released a list with new games for Android. You can try many of them (including Minecraft) at their stand next week. The release dates and more details about them will be released at E3 and later. With the new games they probably want to raise their sales because they are even worse at the moment. (For more information read this)
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