Sony Xperia ZU coming soon!!

There have been vague rumours of this in the past, but things have really developed in the last day or so in regard to the Sony Xperia ZU phablet.

That's because both details and an image have been dug up for Sony's big boy, formerly known by the codename Togari. With regard to the former, they're courtesy of the Xperia Blogand one of those 'trusted sources'. So have a pinch of salt to hand.
If true, the Xperia ZU (or Z Ultra) will come with a 6.4-inch 1080p 'Triluminos with X-Reality for Mobile' display, complete with a new type of touch screen sensor that will allow input from either a stylus, pencil or indeed, pretty much anything.
It will also feature the Snapdragon 800 chipset including a 2.2GHz quad-core processor and Adreno 330 graphics, along with an 8-megapixel Exmor RS camera sensor and a 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera, as well as water resistance (Sony's thing right now) and Android 4.2. The device is said to be 'super-slim', with dimensions of 179.2 x 92 x 6.5mm, weighing in at just 212g.
Finally, a couple of images broke via the Android Community site. The one above perhaps gives you the best idea of what to expect, although the second one features a kitten sat on top of it. If you have a love of little furry creatures, check the source link. We don't think for a minute that Sony will go down that road in its official imagery.
When will we see that official photography? Who knows, but a launch can't be far off.

Posted by Unknown

on Tuesday, June 11, 2013

No comments

Read More »

'Google Edition' Sony Xperia Z coming soon

Sony Mobile will partner with Google to release a ‘Nexus user experience’ version of its flagship Xperia Z phone, Android Central can confirm

First came the Samsung Galaxy S4 "Google Edition." Then last week brought news of the HTC One "with Nexus user experience." In the past couple of days, rumors have been circulating that Sony will join the "Google Edition" club and release a vanilla Android phone of its own, with Romanian site AndroidGeeks breaking the story. Today we can confirm through our own sources that the Japanese manufacturer is indeed preparing a "Google Edition" of its flagship Xperia Z handset.

The "Google Edition" Sony Xperia Z should be sold in the U.S. through the Google Play Store later in the year, just like the two other Google Edition handsets. Being a "Nexus user experience" phone it’s very likely this new Xperia Z will benefit from speedier system updates, though we weren’t able to specifically confirm this point. (Nor could we nail down any details on possible international availability -- though we’re not holding our breath.)The Xperia Z is Sony’s leading international handset, and it comes with an impressive spec sheet. There’s a 5-inch 1080p display, a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD expandability, a 13-megapixel Sony Exmor RS rear camera and IP57-rated water and dust-resistance credentials. Like all modern Sony phones the Xperia Z features on-screen keys, which makes it an ideal candidate for Googlification. (By comparison, the Galaxy S4 and HTC One have their own unique physical/capacitive button setups that stray a little further from the Android design guidelines.)

It’s unclear which software capabilities from the Sony Xperia Z will be making their way over to Google version. For instance, Sony’s own firmware includes features such as the mobile Bravia Engine, which reduces noise and boosts contrast in photos and video. And the manufacturer’s camera software incorporates an impressive "Superior Auto" shooting mode that’ll probably be absent from the barebones Android camera app in the Google variant.Historically, Sony has been a strong supporter of the Android Open Source Project, sharing code back to the open-source repository and even releasing AOSP-based software for certain devices, including the Xperia Z. The release of a "Google Edition" Xperia Z seems a natural next step for the Japanese manufacturer, considering rivals Samsung and HTC are already getting in on the vanilla Android action.

So we’re now looking at at least three "Nexus user experience" versions of popular Android phones this summer. On the consumer side, a Xperia Z "Google Edition" means more choice for those wanting to pick up a vanilla Android phone direct from Google. For Sony, it’s another opportunity to actually sell some phones in the United States. Neither the Xperia Z nor its smaller cousin the Xperia ZL are sold on U.S. carriers at present -- though the ZL is available to buy outright through the Sony online store, and the Z is rumored to be headed to T-Mobile. Working on a shared device would also strengthen the partnership between Google and Sony.Would you pick up a "Nexus user experience" version of the Sony Xperia Z? Shout out in the comments -- and if you want a recap of our thoughts on the Sony version, be sure to check our full review from earlier in the year.

Posted by Unknown

on Monday, June 10, 2013

No comments

Read More »

Sony Xperia L review: Xperia Lite

Sony's ticking along nicely and it's almost hard to believe it's only its second season on its own. Having finally made their presence felt in the premium end, the Japanese are showing enviable focus and determination in bringing the middle ranks up to date.


The good thing is they have a solid foundation to build on and the Sony Xperia L looks ready to take advantage. It picks up exactly where the Xperia U left off and tries to fix only what needed fixing, without overspending on gimmicks. A bigger screen, beefier battery and still resolution up from 5 to 8MP are things we wouldn't say no to. Yet, the expandable memory is what seems to be the most exciting piece of news.

The Xperia L is about to enter a segment that saw some of Sony's most compelling performers last year. This is no small responsibility but the L seems to have the right tools for the job. It comes across as one of the hottest prospect in Sony's lineup - one that's more likely to pleasantly surprise than disappoint. Let's take a closer look at what the Sony Xperia L has to offer.

Posted by Unknown

on Monday, June 10, 2013

No comments

Read More »