Tag: Mobile Tech

Sony Ericsson Unveils Xperia Play at Mobile World Congress

As expected, Sony Ericsson unveiled the Xperia Play at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Combining the power of Google Android and the gaming prowess of the PlayStation Portable, the Xperia offers an impressive blend of communication, productivity, and entertainment.

It looks like the phone will hit Asia and Europe before coming to America (through Verizon) in Spring 2011. It will come bundled with a game, while several other will be available at launch. I’m guessing it will be a well-known first-party game from Sony, but that would be cool if Final Fantasy VII was the launch title. The kids would go nuts. Anyway, here’s a clip from the press release:

The Android smartphone offers all the benefits that users have come to expect from Sony Ericsson’s existing range of XperiaTM smartphones with best-in-class entertainment experiences, a great 5 megapixel camera, a brilliant 4” multi-touch screen and great social networking features.

However, slide out the gaming control and users enter a new world of immersive mobile gaming. The slide out game pad reveals a digital D pad, two analogue touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation icons: circle, cross, square and triangle. Qualcomm’s optimized Snapdragon processor with a 1Ghz CPU and embedded Adreno GPU graphics processor deliver silky smooth 60fps play-back 3D mobile gaming and Web browsing with minimal power consumption so Xperia PLAY users can enjoy long hours of battery life and game time.

Initial software partners include Sony Computer Entertainment, Digital Chocolate, Digital Legends, Electronic Arts, Fishlabs, Gamehouse, Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Handy Games, Namco Bandai Networks, Polarbit, PopCap, Trendy Entertainment, and Unity Tecnologies.

Lastly, here are the official specs:

Camera
5.1 megapixel camera
Auto focus
Flash / Photo light
Geo tagging
Image stabiliser
Send to web
Touch focus
Video light
Video recording
Video blogging

Music
Album art
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Google™ Music Player
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
PlayNow™ service*
Sony Ericsson Music player
Stereo speakers
TrackID™ music recognition application

Internet
Android Market™*
Bookmarks
Google™ search*
Google™ Voice Search*
Pan & zoom
Web browser (Webkit)

Communication
Call list
Conference calls
Facebook™ application (from Android Market™)
Google™ Talk*
Noise Shield
Polyphonic ringtones
Speakerphone
Sony Ericsson Timescape™***
Twitter™ application (from Android Market™)
Vibrating alert

Messaging
Android Cloud to Device messaging (C2DM)
Conversations
Email
Google Mail™*
Instant messaging
Picture messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Sound recorder
Text messaging (SMS)

Design
Auto rotate
Keyboard (onscreen, 12 key)
Keyboard (onscreen, QWERTY)
Picture wallpaper
Touchscreen
Wallpaper animation

Entertainment
3D games
Dedicated gaming keys
Flash Lite™
Gesture gaming
Motion gaming
Video streaming
YouTube™

Organiser
Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Document editors
Document readers
E-Manual
Flight mode
Google Calendar™
Google Gallery 3D™
Infinite button
Phone book
Set-up Wizard
Widget manager

Connectivity
3.5 mm audio jack
aGPS
Bluetooth™ technology
DLNA Certified
Google Latitude™
Google Location Service
Google Maps™ with Street View
Media Transfer Protocol support
Micro USB Connector
Modem
Synchronisation via Facebook™**
Synchronisation via Google Sync™
Synchronisation via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®
Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync
USB 2.0 high speed support
Wi-Fi™
Wi-Fi™ Hotspot functionality
* The service is not available in all markets.
** Requires Facebook™ application installed on the device.

Google™ services*
* These services may not be available in every market Android Market™ Client
Gmail™
Google Calendar™
Google Gallery 3D™
Google Latitude™
Google Maps™ with Street View
Google Media Uploader
Google Music Player™
Google Phone-top Search
Google Search widget
Google Sync™
Google Talk™
Google Voice Search
Set-up Wizard
YouTube™

Screen
16,777,216 colour TFT
Capacitive multi-touch
4 inches
480 x 854 pixels (FWVGA)

In-Box:
Xperia™ PLAY
Battery
Stereo portable handsfree
8GB microSD™ memory card
Charger
Micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer
User documentation

Facts
Size: 119 x 62 x 16 mm
Weight: 175 grams
Phone memory: 400 MB
Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32 GB
Memory card included: 8GB microSD™
Operating system: Google™ Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Processor: 1 GHz Scorpion ARMv7

Talk time and networks Networks
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 8 hrs 25 min*
Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 425 hrs*
Talk time UMTS: Up to 6 hrs 25 min*
Standby time UMTS: Up to 413 hrs*
Talk time CDMA2000®: Up to 7 hrs 40 min*
Standby time CDMA2000®: Up to 405 hrs*
Game play time: Up to 5 hrs 35 min*
MP3 playback: Up to 30 hrs 35 min*

Networks
UMTS HSPA 800, 850, 1900, 2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
UMTS HSPA 900, 2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
CDMA2000®, cdmaOne, EVDO

Colour
Black
White

Pretty cool, hey? Any of you considering this phone?

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Nokia Announces Windows Phone 7 Partnership with Microsoft

Here’s a video of Microsoft and Nokia announcing their partnership on Windows Phone 7. Nokia has been lagging on the software side for years, but still makes some of the best hardware in the business. Windows Phone 7 has tons of potential that can be realized — in terms of sales — through Nokia’s hardware and global reach. This is a huge, huge deal with tons of ramifications for the mobile phone business.

Kindly check out the clip and let me know what you think!

Apple iPad 2 Features…Built-in Obsolescence?

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Apple iPad 2 will feature a myriad of improvements over the original, but it won’t have the one feature Apple fans have been dreaming about — a “Retina Display” screen. The iPad 2 is allegedly in production. Here are the details:

The new iPad will be thinner and lighter than the first model, these people said. It will have at least one camera on the front of the device for features like video-conferencing, but the resolution of the display will be similar to the first iPad, these people said. It will also have more memory and a more powerful graphics processor, they said.

The new iPad will initially be available through Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc., but not Sprint Nextel Corp. or T-Mobile USA in the U.S., according to some of the people familiar with the matter.

There were rumors swirling that the iPad 2 will feature a display similar to the one found on the iPhone 4, boasting a 2048 x 1536 resolution. Instead, it looks like that feature will have to wait until the iPad 3. That makes sense; although processors could power such a device today, display costs are probably too high at the moment.

For customers that are waiting for the iPad 2 (like me) and chronic early adopters, the WSJ rumors present an annoying problem. The features are improved, but it will be hard to resist a high-res iPad 3. I’m sure I’ll fall into the group of millions that will buy an iPad this year and next. Damn it. Built-in obsolescence sucks.

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Nokia CEO Blasts Company, Hints at Windows Mobile 7?

I highly recommend reading this leaked memo from Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. It’s a brutally honest critique of the company’s recent performance. Once the dominant leader in all mobile phone segments, Elop admits that Apple has captured the high end with the iPhone, Google has captured the mid range with Android, and Chinese manufacturers are cleaning up in the budget market. Here’s my favorite excerpt:

The battle of devices has now become a war of ecosystems, where ecosystems include not only the hardware and software of the device, but developers, applications, ecommerce, advertising, search, social applications, location-based services, unified communications and many other things. Our competitors aren’t taking our market share with devices; they are taking our market share with an entire ecosystem. This means we’re going to have to decide how we either build, catalyse or join an ecosystem.

The last sentence is the most fascinating. Elop is a former Microsoft executive and Nokia is set to make a major announcement this week. People have taken this “2+2” and have come to the conclusion that Nokia will license Windows Phone 7. This would be a tremendous development for Microsoft and Nokia.

Microsoft has a compelling product on its hands with WP7, but it’s way behind iOS and Android. Despite having crap software for the last three years, Nokia still makes some of the best hardware on the market. More importantly, its global reach is second to none. The partnership would give Microsoft’s WP7 efforts an enormous boost and Nokia would finally have quality software that complements its excellent hardware. Here’s another take on the matter from VentureBeat’s “Dancing” Dean Takahashi:

A Microsoft and Nokia partnership would be beneficial to both companies. Windows Phone 7 is a surprisingly strong mobile entry for Microsoft, and if paired with Nokia’s strong hardware, it would give the company some killer phones that could compete against the iPhone and Android platforms. Microsoft, meanwhile, would be able to take advantage of Nokia’s popularity in Europe and other countries to help spread the popularity of Windows Phone 7.

Although Windows Phone 7 has some really interesting features, the hardware hasn’t grabbed my eye; almost every WP7 phone has an Android equivalent. The thought of WP7 running on something similar to a Nokia N8 has the wheels in my head spinning. That would be a truly compelling combo.

A tag team of Microsoft and Nokia would shake up the mobile phone market — big time. I hope it happens simply because it would be fascinating to watch (and write about). What do you ladies and gents think of this potential pair? Is it a match made in heaven? Or is it too little too late for both?

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Verizon Can Shape Bandwidth for All Customers

When is unlimited data not really unlimited? When it’s throttled and shaped. In addition to reserving the right to throttle bandwidth for the top five percent of data users, Verizon also reserves the right to shape and manipulate bandwidth for all its customers. According to Wired:

Verizon incidentally announced a plan for “data optimization” for all customers, which may degrade the appearance of videos streamed on smartphones, for example.

The “optimization” method involves caching less data and resizing video, which “may minimally impact the appearance of the file as displayed on your device” — and that affects every Verizon customer.

This makes choosing an iPhone carrier a bit more difficult, hey? AT&T has shoddier service, but faster speeds. Verizon is more reliable, but it’s slower and the company reserves the right to make its vaunted “unlimited” service sucky. In the immortal words of Dennis Hopper, “What do you do? What do you do?”

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HTC Invests $40-Million in OnLive, Boost for Android Gaming?

Here’s an interesting development that’s all Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (you know, two great tastes that taste great together): mobile-phone manufacturer HTC has invested $40-million in streaming-game provider OnLive. Here’s the scoop from The Wall Street Journal:

HTC, which has gained popularity world-wide for its early adoption of Google Inc.’s Android software in its mobile phones, said it will acquire London-based mobile platform company Saffron Digital for £30.15 million ($48.6 million) and will buy a $40 million stake in U.S.-based on-demand games company Onlive Inc.

As many of you know, I’m a big fan of HTC phones like the G2 and the Evo 4G. I’m also intrigued by the potential of streaming videogames and have been impressed with OnLive’s partnerships. OnLive is just getting more interesting all the time. Between this and Sony’s PlayStation Suite, the future of Android gaming is looking better and better. Color me psyched (which in my head is cobalt blue)!

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Sprint Unveiling Dual-Screen Kyocera Android Phone?

Sprint is holding a press event this evening with special guest David Blaine. The company promised an “industry first” for the event. The Wall Street Journal went ahead and spoilarzed the whole thing: according to the newspaper’s sources, Sprint will unveil the Kyocera Echo — the first dual-screen Google Android phone. Here are more details:

Sprint Nextel Corp. plans to unveil a smartphone late Monday that includes a twin set of touch screens that give the device a pseudo-tablet design, according to a person familiar with the device.

The device, called the Echo and made by the U.S. unit of Japan-based Kyocera Corp., features two 3.5-inch touch screens that can be stacked side by side.

A dual-screen smartphone is potentially fascinating, but I’m not going to expect too much from the Echo. Kyocera hasn’t done well with high-end smartphones and lags behind the Android competition. Then again, I can’t help but think of the early Nintendo DS rumors; people laughed at the idea of a dual-screen handheld…and Nintendo laughed all the way to the bank with that one.

Are any of you intrigued by the prospect of a dual-screen Android phone?

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Xperia Play (PSP Android) Commercial From Super Bowl XLV

A commercial for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play — the Google Android phone with PSP capabilities — aired during Super Bowl XLV, but only in select markets. If you didn’t get to see it, I’ve embedded the spot above. If you did get to see it then have fun reliving the phallic nightmare that was this commercial.

Man, the commercial still wigs me out. Check it out when you get a chance and share your thoughts (please). I’m curious to see if anyone else finds the ad disturbing.

Verizon iPhone 4 Commercial: Does Your Network Work?

Verizon’s marketers are at it again, busting out the cleverest and more appropriate use of the phrase, “I can hear you now,” in this iPhone 4 ad. It’s a cute and straightforward spot that asks consumers, “Does your network work?”.

Also, I’m pretty sure that the “I can hear you now” guy has been going through the same depression and anxiety issues that I’ve had in the last year. Perhaps I’ll call him to see if he needs a workout buddy. Ha!

Verizon Will Throttle Top 5% of Data Users (Hello iPhone!)

Just in time for the onslaught of iPhone 4 customers it will receive, Verizon has revised its terms in conditions and reserved the right to throttle data speeds. Unlike AT&T, Verizon still offers unlimited data plans. If you’re a data hog then there’s a chance that your speeds will slow down “periodically”. Here are the details:

Verizon Wireless strives to provide customers the best experience when using our network, a shared resource among tens of millions of customers. To help achieve this, if you use an extraordinary amount of data and fall within the top 5% of Verizon Wireless data users we may reduce your data throughput speeds periodically for the remainder of your then current and immediately following billing cycle to ensure high quality network performance for other users at locations and times of peak demand. Our proactive management of the Verizon Wireless network is designed to ensure that the remaining 95% of data customers aren’t negatively affected by the inordinate data consumption of just a few users.

I know that some of you are interested in picking up an iPhone 4 on Verizon’s network. Does this development change anything for you?

Source via Boy Genius Report