Sony has a knack for producing waterproof devices, so much in fact, the outfit recently released a set of aquatic-friendly applications. Today, the company announced release plans for a water resistant version of its Xperia M2, aptly named the M2 Aqua. Set to launch sometime this fall, this IP65/68 rated waterproof smartphone is ready to battle the elements.
Following an update to Android 4.4 for the Xperia E1 and E1 Dual, Sony today announced the same update is now rolling out for the Xperia M2 and M2 Dual. Like the update has done for other Sony devices, Android 4.4 also brings Sony specific features including a new Status Bar and Quick Settings features, animations and live wallpapers similar to the PlayStation 4, and much more:
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IFA is almost here and while we haven an idea of what to expect from companies like Samsung and ASUS, Sony may be planning to announce some new gear as well. An alleged set of documents referencing an Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has surfaced and while we’re not exactly sure what the Japanese electronics maker has up its sleeves, this is definitely something new.
Sony has been making water resistant devices for quite a while now and to capitalize on this particular functionality the company has released a unique suite of underwater-friendly applications. Available to download from Google Play, this somewhat bizarre collection of software is comprised of six apps that showcase what your Sony-made waterproof device can do while submerged under water.
AutoCAD renderings of the Sony Xperia Z3 and its little sister, the Z3 Compact, have leaked online this morning, revealing the dimensions and some specs of the two upcoming devices expected to be revealed at IFA in Berlin next month.
The first rendering is of the main flagship, the Z3. The dimensions show the device coming in at 146.46 x 72.09 x 7.3 mm, which is smaller than the Z2 in every way. The Z2 measures in at 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm and weighs 163g, so it seems likely that the Z3 will be lighter than the Z2.
Sony just announced that users of its Xperia E1 and Xperia E1 Dual smartphones will soon get access to Android 4.4 KitKat as the update begins rolling out today. As it has already done with some of its other devices, the update to KitKat also comes with other Sony specific features including new Status Bar and Quick Settings features, animations and live wallpapers similar to the PlayStation 4, and much more:
Sony notes that its next device to get the update will be the Xperia M2 & M2 Dual. As always, the update will hit users at different times depending on your carrier and market.
We already heard that Sony would be hosting its usual press event during IFA early next month, but today we get official confirmation with screenshots of press invites making their way online (ePrice via XperiaBlog).
As previously reported, the event is scheduled for September 3rd (the week of IFA conference in Berlin) and the invite seems to hint at device announcements for a new smartphone. There are also hints at other devices on the invite, including what looks like the QX lens-camera smartphone attachment that the company first launched at IFA last year. Samsung has also scheduled its IFA press conference for September 3 this year.
As always, we’ll be on hand at the event this year to bring you updates as they happen.
Sony announced rather unexpectedly today that it will be ending PlayStation Mobile for Android devices, its mobile gaming service integrated with PlayStation that currently comes with its “PlayStation Certified” Android devices.
The service will still exist on its PS Vita handheld and PS Vita TV, but the company will no longer guarantee support on devices running Android 4.4.3 and up, meaning users planning to upgrade to the upcoming Android L release this fall are out of luck.
It’s unclear what the motivation behind the move is, or whether or not Sony has other plans to somehow bring the long list of indie and classic PlayStation games offered through the service to Android gamers. Sony has an FAQ here about the change.
The Xperia Z2 recently went on sale in the US and it appears that its successor is already in development. Today, popular gadget leaker @evleaks revealed two pictures of a device referred to as the Sony Xperia Z3. At first sight the device looks noticeably thin and it appears to have three different ports on its side (or maybe two ports and audio controls), along with some type of large round button. Although we’re not sure what the silver knob is for, considering its size, we’d guess that it could be used as a dedicated camera control.
Sony’s current Xperia Z2 smartphone
We’ve already seen several leaks this week, and today evleaks posted the specifications of the upcoming Sony Xperia Z3 with a purported model number of ‘D6653’.
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Recent rumors suggested that the Xperia Z2 was coming to Verizon, but the carrier ended up offering the Xperia Z2 Tablet instead. However, Americans looking to get their hands on Sony’s flagship smartphone now have the option to buy the device directly from its maker. Available at a discounted price of $700, the unlocked Z2 will work with most US GSM-based networks, like AT&T and T-Mobile, however LTE compatibility may vary.
This morning Sony began the update process for the Xperia Z2 to Android 4.4 KitKat. According to the documentation, the update should bring along some noticeable improvements including “enhanced call quality” and “improved charging when battery is low”. It’s not clear when the rollout will be complete, but it shouldn’t be too far off so keep checking that ‘System Update’ tab in your settings for KitKat goodness.
Sony today announced it’s rolling out a new software update for the Xperia T2 Ultra & Xperia T2 Ultra Dual that brings Android 4.4 KitKat alongside other features to the devices.
You’ll also notice a few other goodies in the update aside from KitKat, including: Sony’s newly tweaked Status Bar and customizable Quick Settings, a new UI and animations similar to those on the PS4, Xperia Themes, and a number of improvements to some of the company’s stock apps:
We’re also uplifting Sony’s entire native app portfolio to the latest versions – bringing tweaked / improved / current experiences for (to name but a few): Messaging, MyXperia, Smart Connect, Small apps, TrackID, TrackID TV, Sony Select, Smart Social Camera and…Sony’s Media apps: WALKMAN, Album and Movies, with Sony Entertainment Network cloud service integration* – a more converged and full Sony entertainment experience – Sony Entertainment Network & PlayMemories integration with a more intuitive UI, better download speeds, and more!
The update also brings support for Sony’s “SmartWear Experience” with the SmartBand SWR10 and Lifelog app.
A full list of what’s new in today’s update is below:
Sony says you can expect the update to arrive for other devices, including Xperia E1 and Xperia M2 (& M2 dual variants), in the near future.
In an effort to appeal to developers and tinkerers, Sony has made it easier to unlock the bootloaders on its Xperia devices. The company recently updated its bootloader unlocking service with a modernized look and feel that adds support for newer products like the Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 Tablet. Designed with a refreshed interface, the updated process is now broken into a few easy steps.
A handful of leaked photos have surfaced online this afternoon that provide a first look at what is allegedly the Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone, which is expected to launch later this year. The photos were posted by users on the Chinese discussion forums Digi-wo and Weibo, showing off the Chinese version (model number L55t) of the upcoming smartphone.
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At the beginning of the year, Sony announced the Xperia Z1 Compact, a smaller version of its Xperia Z with “no compromises.” While Sony’s shrunken flagship looked promising, the device never made its way to US wireless carriers. However, Sony has finally made a compromise and released an unlocked version of the Z1 Compact for $550.
Verizon today announced that it will be exclusively carrying the Sony Xperia Z2 tablet following a leak yesterday. The waterproof and scratch-resistant device will be available for pre-order from Verizon starting tomorrow, July 10th, for $600 off-contract, or $500 with a new two-year agreement.
After teasing plans for a new smartphone focused on taking self-portraits, Sony officially unveiled the Xperia C3 today. Packing a 5-megapixel front-facing wide-angle camera with a soft LED flash, the company calls it the “world’s best selfie smartphone.” In addition to spiffed up front-end optics, Sony has bundled some unique software dedicated to enhancing selfies like AR effect and Portrait Retouch, which let users edit and enhance their photos on the fly.
Smartphones built around gimmicks haven’t been that well received, but that won’t stop companies from producing them. Today, on its official Xperia Twitter profile, Sony posted a tweet saying “See your #selfies in a whole new light.” This cryptic message also included the hashtags “#GetTheFullPicture #Tomorrow.” Almost in tandem, a post from ePrice hit Chinese microblogging site Weibo revealing pictures of a smartphone referred to as the Sony Xperia C3.
Last month, Sony started accepting pre-orders for its Xperia Z2 Tablet, but absent from this announcement was support for any US wireless carriers. Apparently this exclusion doesn’t mean that Sony’s slim slab will be avoiding its the US of A, as @evleaks recently posted renders of the Z2 with Verizon branding. With an entry-level price of $500, this waterproof slate features a 10.1-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS display, a 2.3 GHz Qualcomm APQ8074AB quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, S-Force Front Surround, a 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera, an 8-megapixel rear-facing shooter and Android 4.4 KitKat.
Following the release of the Sony Smartwatch 2, the company has now pushed its latest wearable product to the United States market: the Sony SmartBand SWR10 (via Android Central). The device may look familiar if you’re a Fitbit user, and that’s because it basically does the same thing. The device features an accelerometer for tracking your steps, LED and vibration alerts for phone notifications, controls for media, and an app that works only with Android.
This Lifelog Android app is where the true functionality of this device comes, however:
Lifelog collects data from both the SmartBand and your smartphone to tell a broader story of what happens in your life — fitness, location, weather, photos, music, personal notes (life bookmarks) and more. Lifelog displays the information in a colorful, versatile interface that helps you reflect on what you did each day and set goals for the future. Lifelog displays your activity in a colorful, multi-faceted interface that lets you view your information in various ways.
You can get the SmartBand SWR10 straight from Sony for $99.99, and it comes with the removable main unit as well as two wristbands of different sizes. Alternatively, you can purchase the device on Amazon for $10 less, at $89.99.
Sony’s mobile product line increased by one today, as the company announced the Xperia T3, a mid-range device with a high-end look. Aesthetically pleasing, this new smartphone features a 5.3-inch display, a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera, 8GB of internal storage, a 2,500 mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat.
Sony’s working on a new device and it’s going to be big! Today, the company published a cryptic picture of a woman facing what looks like a enormous, but thin device. Posted to Sony’s mobile blog, the photo was accompanied by a caption that asked “do you want to know a secret? Stay tuned for the next big thing this season.” Since we’re pretty sure that Sony isn’t working on a smartphone or tablet for giant’s, the outfit is most likely teasing a follow up to its super-sized Xperia Z Ultra.
If you’re unfamiliar with this behemoth handset, it features a massive 6.4-inch 1080p display, a quad-core 2.2GHz MSM8974 Qualcomm processor, 2GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter, 16GB of internal storage and Android 4.4 KitKat. While we’re not completely sure that the Xperia Z Ultra will receive a sequel, we’re almost positive that Samsung’s marketing team will get a kick out of this mystery device’s tagline.
Sony today released Android 4.4 KitKat for some of its Xperia line of devices, including the Z, ZL, ZR, and Tablet Z. The update is rolling out based on location, as well as by carrier, so it may still be some time before you see the update notification on your particular device.
The release includes the performance optimizations and tweaks found in stock Android 4.4, but also carries various Sony enhancements.
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