Sony decided to buy out its long-time mobile partner Ericsson so it could focus on creating a more unified vision for its mobile unit. In a world where consumers are increasingly connecting all their consumer electronics together, Sony wants to have complete control over how smartphones and tablets play into its equation. The company now refers to its cell phone division as Sony Mobile Communications.

And that division is holding a press conference at this month’s big mobile trade show, though we don’t know anything beyond that. As far as the Xperia brand goes, it has been hit or miss in the US. The Xperia Play, a PlayStation-certified phone, was a real dud, while others like the Xperia Arc received solid reviews. It’ll be interesting to see how Sony progresses in the market without Ericsson breathing down their back.

[via Unwired View]

The price you’re seeing here comes from Negri Electronics, a store which your humble narrator has never before dropped cash on so cannot vouch for personally, but the price is telling. Inside this device you’re going to get a smashingly sized 4.55-inch HD display, a fabulous dual-core processor from Qualcomm, and a gigantic camera on the back. The camera is set at a whopping 12 megapixels strong and works with an Exmor R sensor while the processor is a dual-core Snapdragon clocked at 1.5GHz.

We’ve got our very own hands-on with this device if you’d like to take a look. Notice the 720p display, the ability to go from asleep to taking a photo in under 1.5 seconds, and the excellence of having a microHDMI port right beside your main microUSB port. There’s also a dock in there too that you’ll probably want to pick up for this device specifically, it having a couple of USB ports, microHDMI, and microUSB to get you rolling on your HDTV. Xperia on the way!

[via PocketNow]

Launch dates are included as well, for those of you awaiting Sony’s oncoming storm of handhelds, and April is the next jump-off point. Inside April you’ll find three devices, the ST251 Kumquat_I, the LT221 Nypon_I, and the MT271 Pepper_I, each of these priced right around $400, so we must assume they’re mid-range based on the price scale Sony Ericsson has already set forth with their off-contract devices here in the United States and abroad. In June we’ve got a super cute Olive_I for right around that same price range, then in July there’s a tag-team of high and low-end devices, Hayabusa and Tapioca.

August has two low-end devices, the Tapioca_DS and the Lotus, while September has three devices, the Mint_I being the hero for the fall while the Atlas_I and the AFFM will be a couple more low-end devices again. The Nypon and the Kumquat are ones to watch, each of them tied previously to the not-oft-spoken-about NovaThor U8500-based chipset. Exciting!

[via GSMArena]

The touchscreen was very fluid, and the watch is estimated to get 2-4 days of battery life on a single charge. Running Android, one would expect fast battery drain, but once the SmartWatch becomes inactive – the screen turns off. When you where a watch, don’t you expect the time to show as long as you’re wearing it? Having to press a button to wake the SmartWatch may prove to be a reason why watch pioneers don’t convert.

Those of you interested in the watch will be able to buy it for $149.99 near the end of Q1. The strongest feature going for the SmartWatch is its ability to access Android Market apps. The ability to read texts, Twitter, and Facebook alerts pushed from your phone have all carried over from the LiveView and are still features available on the SmartWatch. We’ll have to find out what version of Android is on it after its official release.

You’ll find information outside the main details not lacking a bit if you’ll be believing what the sheet says, it showing this XPERIA device to be running what they’re calling “tablet capacity” specs, that being what’s listed above in addition to what we’ve come to expect from a high-end device: Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, single LED flash, WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual microphones, and a whole new interface (though details in that regard are scant.) Have a peek at a few photos that are said to have been taken with the device in the gallery here:

Each of these photos is taken with a 13 megapixel camera, whatever the camera may truly be, and if you can’t see them for yourself: yes, they look fabulous. With a camera as awesome as this on an Android here in the USA, could you possibly resist? Rock and roll all night and Sony every day!

[via XperiaBlog]

There does not appear to be a microSD card slot, so you’ll be relying on the 16GB or 32GB of internal storage as your mainstay, and you’ll be clearing it out all the time with the gigantic camera on the back of this device: 12 megapixels with FullHD 1080p video. You’ve got a microHDMI port like many Motorola devices have had recently, 1080p streaming included, and the whole device will look rather similar to what we’ve seen from the Xperia line with the little green nubbin on the back as well. You’ll be rolling out also with a microSIM card slot too – micro city!

We’ll be seeing much more of this device in the very near future. Until then though, you’ll have to make due with this collection of shots on the front of a Sony Ericsson purple wave. Does this look like a device that has your name on it in the near future? You can bet this device won’t be coming out with Ice Cream Sandwich on it by the way, but Sony Ericsson is keen to update the masses inside 2012.

[via GSM Arena]

While it’s important to trust your instincts on this, there’s always a celebrity sports person to call up on the device you’ve just purchased to ask if you’ve done the right thing – in this case, it’s tennis superstar Maria Sharapova and her strange skull-cap haircut. It was back a few months ago that this commercial first appeared, teasing us all with claims that this device would change your sports-loving life. Have a peek at what Maria has to say about this little monster:

Then have a look at a much more superior glimpse at this device, complete with 3D vibrations that’ll make it seem like this device is certainly the one you want if you’re heavily active on the daily. Note that what they’re trying to tell you here is that this device is both dust-proof and water resistant and that it looks lovely flipping around in space. Also of note: this device is on Sony Ericsson’s list of devices that’ll receive the software update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich inside 2012. Fun!

First have a peek at the Xperia arc S, a device running Gingerbread and popping out the gate with a single-core processor at 1.4GHz. The big deal with this device is its 4.2-inch Reality display complete with Mobile BRAVIA Engine, while the back-facing 8.1 megapixel camera with Exmor R for mobile image sensor promises to be a must-see as well. You’ve got the option of grabbing this device in Pure White, Gloss Black, Midnight Blue, or Misty Silver, and it’ll cost you MSRP $549.99 unlocked.

Then there’s the Xperia neo V, another Android Gingerbread device but this time with a 3.7-inch display and a 5 megapixel camera on the back. This device really shows off the lower end of the Xperia scale and is definitely on par with the last Xperia device we reviewed here on SlashGear: the Sony Ericsson XPERIA ray. This neo V device will come in at MSRP $349.99 unlocked.

Hardware

This device is made of hard plastic and “scratch-resistant” glass for the most part, with a slightly less-than-impressive plastic button sitting at the bottom-center-front. What’s awesome about this little half-circle button is that it’s got a multi-color half-border of color around it to show off notifications galore. The not-so-awesome piece of the puzzle is that it makes a little tapping noise when you touch it lightly. This seems to me to mean that it’s made to be pressed a thousand times but that it’s not as perfectly fashioned to fit as the rest of the device appears to be.

The phone fits in your hand like one of the older generations of iPod Nanos, like a long pack of gum that just to happens to hold your smartphone guts inside it. The one we’ve got here has a wine-colored back panel complete with the Sony Ericsson green orb which looks lovely against any color, and the speaker resides underneath. The speaker is comparable to the rest of the XPERIA line, it being OK but nothing all that fantastic, while the camera and single LED bulb are certainly something to write home about. They’re great, they produce fairly awesome photos, and the shutter speed is near instant – and that LED can be used as a lamp for photos without any special hack, a definite plus!

The display has so many pixels inside it, you might have a heart attack. If you’re used to device like the iPhone 4 or 4S, you know that more pixels mean a sharper image, and that’s true here as well. One must ask though, what’s it worth at so small a scale? That’s a question you’ll have to ask yourself and your petite hands. If you’ve got any sort of fingers that are bigger than mine are (see the hands-on video), you’ll be in trouble. This device is definitely made for those with tiny fingers and tiny palms

Above you’ll see the XPERIA ray next to the AT&T Galaxy S II with a Super AMOLED Plus display – see the brightness next to this device’s TFT display’s brightness and decide for yourself which is brighter – and better.

Software

The software here is extremely comparable to the rest of the recent range of XPERIA devices, so I won’t go too deep into the specifics. Instead head back to our review of the XPERIA Mini PRO or the XPERIA Neo, both of them devices with essentially the same Sony Ericsson software aboard. That said, the software is a really refreshing vision of Android for those of you who’ve never tried it.

While some manufacturer’s user interfaces are looked down upon by those who want their devices to be strictly vanilla Android, the XPERIA range has a look that if I owned an XPERIA device, I’d keep rather than hacking or replacing with a home-replacement app. And that’s saying something. The only other custom UI I keep on a smartphone instead of reaching for the root is Samsung’s current flavor of TouchWiz, as found on the AT&T Galaxy S II.

Have a peek at a couple of standard benchmarks, one Quadrant Advanced and the other CF-Bench, to access some numbers-based details on the device:

Camera

The camera here is impressive, very impressive for how tiny the smartphone itself is. While the rest of the devices that’d otherwise be comparable to this one tote 5-megapixel shooters that are for the most part lacking, this XPERIA ray smartphone has a camera that holds its own against top-tier devices that cost 3x as much. Have a look below at some examples (with more photos found in the gallery at the bottom of this post.) You’ll find 720p video and 8-megapixel photos looking nice.

Battery

The standby on this device is amazing. The phone has a 1500 mAh battery and as the screenshot below will show, you’ve got DAYS of time with this device ahead of you. If you’re using it strictly for video and heavy processing, you’ll be working for less than 10 hours, but if you only use it like a normal person, checking the email once every couple of hours, watching a YouTube here and there, playing a game while you’re on the bus, you’ve got a couple of days without need for a charge – that’s utterly awesome.

Wrap-Up

This device is a surprisingly enjoyable to use device for its size, but the cost might be prohibitive to most Americans used to getting their devices on-contract for the major discount available when a carrier gets ahold of a device. Today you can purchase the XPERIA ray for $359.99 off-contract from NewEgg. For the average consumer internationally, that might be the norm, but here in the USA, I have a funny feeling that not just a whole lot of these handsets will be selling off the shelves.

Should Sony Ericsson find a way to hook up with AT&T to get this device’s price down to something like $150 USD, they’ll have a winner on their hands. A tiny device with a fantastically sharp display and a camera that takes excellent video and photos. The processor is only 1GHz single-core, but aside from the most high-powered apps on the market today, you’ll still be able to run everything you like, including HD videos – of course again, the display is tiny, but sharpness is key.

Inside you’ll find that Sony Ericsson calls their Timescape user interface as well as a unique collection of apps you wont find comparable to any other device your humble narrator has recently come across. One would think that such a unique looking device would be running something rather odd, and at this size, something more like a feature phone OS, but look, that’s Android alright, and it’s looking pretty darn good if I do say so myself. The single home button has a light-up rim for notifications, a long-press will give you a screenshot, and the blue tinge to the whole system makes for a rather, again, unique look at Android.

This device has a sort of wine-colored back casing that covers the battery, the AT&T SIM card, and a microSD card slot that comes with a 4GB card right out of the box. This is Sony Ericsson’s answer to a market that, with the onset of the smartphone, may well have otherwise disappeared: the tiny phone. We’ll be concentrating on seeing how well this device performs in the field over the next few days – meanwhile let me know in the comments what you’d like to know about the device – ask away and I’ll do my best to answer in the full review!

Meanwhile check out the hands-on video and the photos above and below and see how tiny this little machine really is!

This device’s motor, again, is a 1GHz Scorpion processor, you’ll also get Adreno 205 GPU with your MSM8255 Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. If that sentence just completely flew over you head, basically what it means is that you’ll do fine for games and apps, but it’s not nearly as powerful as the dual-core processors we’re seeing on many smartphones on carriers here in the USA these days. Sony Ericsson seems to be pushing this device out as a promotion of their lovely form factor and color options (white) rather than trying to win the specs contest.

They’ve also got a pretty neat little commercial to go along with the device as it’s important to have such a presentation here in the USA as you well know. The high color BRAVIA ENGINE running the display, HD recording on its 8.1 megapixel camera with Exmor R technology shown to make it all look quite impressive, the Android Market coming with the device right out of the box as well. An odd point here – they’re showing the old Android Market here still – the newest Android Market having been released since this commercial was first shown back in June.

You can grab this device from Newegg today with just a few taps and a credit card. Feel free to pick me up a few other gadgets while you’re there, Newegg for life.

Bonus colors!

After the two compact Android devices, Sony Ericsson will push out phased updates for the XPERIA Arc, neo, PLAY, Pro and acro, while the XPERIA active and XPERIA ray will have the app preloaded when they go on sale. Nine countries will support the service, at least initially – the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, Japan (albeit from the end of August), Canada and the United States – though the actual content on offer will vary depending on location.

Unfortunately, those with any other Sony Ericsson Android device, such as the XPERIA X10, won’t be getting any of the Qriocity fun. The company has confirmed that it’s exclusive to the 2011 line-up, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see Android hackers change that, at least unofficially.

In fact, Sony Ericsson shipped 7.6m devices, down from 8.1m in the previous quarter and 11m in the same period twelve months ago. A rise in average selling price – from €141 ($199) apiece in Q1 to €156 ($221) in Q2 – was offset by a two point fall in gross margin to 31-percent, and even a 150-percent increase in Android-based XPERIA volume wasn’t enough to rescue the company’s fortunes.

“We estimate that the impact of earthquake-related supply chain constraints on our portfolio was close to 1.5 million units, with most of the effect in the early part of the quarter. Our shift to Android-based smartphones continues with smartphone sales accounting for more than 70 percent of our total sales during the quarter. We have shipped more than 16 million Xperia smartphones to date. We have introduced eight new Xperia smartphones this year and we continue to see strong consumer and operator demand across the Xperia smartphone portfolio” Bert Nordberg, president and CEO, Sony Ericsson

The rise in demand for smartphones has a knock-on effect of reducing featurephone sales, which also impacted on Sony Ericsson’s figures, and the company admitted it had secured new loans during the period which take its total borrowings to €769m. Nonetheless, it reckons its total share of the Android ecosystem is around 11-percent, and forecasts “modest industry growth” for 2011 overall.

This device will run you $599 right this moment directly from Sony, that purchasing you the unit completely unlocked for your carrier of choice in the USA. You’ll also be rolling out with the Sony Bravia engine, a whole lot of new Xperia business going on, and the sleekest design in a handset Sony Ericsson has yet released. This device will be released eventually on some US carriers, but for now you’ll be able to plug in whichever 3G connection you like on this quad-band monster.

And what about a review? The device isn’t even released yet in the USA and you want a review? Lucky you, we’ve got you covered! Our man in Euro, mister Chris Davies, has a full review of this magical object right now for your full perusal. Have a look at that and report back with the facts: will you be getting one now, will you be getting one later when it’s on a carrier, or will you not get one at all?

Blasphemy!

Also take a look at the close cousins, sisters, and bothers of this device in our big review house: Xperia galore! And furthermore, if you want to purchase this phone now, you can head over to the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc product page.

It still has room for an 8.1-megapixel camera, however, and Sony Ericsson splashes on their custom UI (with, we’re assuming, Facebook Inside XPERIA integration). It’ll arrive in Q3 2011, in a choice of black, pink, gold or white.

Then there’s the Sony Ericsson XPERIA active, and as the name suggests it’s all about sporty types who worry about accidentally dunking their phone in water or getting it sweaty. The 3-inch scratch-resistant display runs at 320 x 480 resolution but can apparently be more easily controlled with wet fingers – fingers that may have been dampened as you retrieve the XPERIA active from the 1m deep water it can survive being submerged in for up to 30 minutes. It’s dustproof as well (though we guess the water would’ve washed that off already) and has GPS and Bluetooth along with a barometer. It too will arrive in Q3 2011.

Finally, there’s the Sony Ericsson txt, a non-sliding version of the QWERTY txt pro outed last month. A keyboard-encrusted candybar, it has a 2.6-inch display and borrows the Android UI though runs it on a featurephone OS. It’ll drop in Q4 2011.

[via Android Community]

We criticized the GSM Play for its single-core processor and low-brightness display, and of course neither of those have changed in the switchover to CDMA. What you do get is EVDO Rev.A connectivity along with WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and a 4-inch, 480 x 854 touchscreen. The gaming control slide pops out with a reassuringly solid snick, revealing the traditional PlayStation D-pad, four button cluster, two touch-sensitive pads that do the work of analog sticks, and start/select keys. Oddly-shaped shoulder flappers are also fitted, plus a second Android menu button.

In the box there’s a 1,500mAh battery, a USB wall charger, 8GB microSD card and a 3.5mm adapter cable. Meanwhile, Verizon preloads Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, Star Battalion, and Madden NFL 11. The carrier’s PR material suggests the XPERIA Play is the “best in class platform with 3D gaming”, though its Adreno 205 GPU has already been superseded by the Adreno 220 GPU in the dual-core HTC Sensation.

From bottom to top: Samsung Galaxy S II, Droid Charge and XPERIA Play.

We’ll be putting the Verizon XPERIA Play through its paces ahead of the full SlashGear review later in the week, so until then enjoy the hands-on video and unboxing gallery.

Related Verizon XPERIA Play coverage by Android Community:

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Hands-On and Unboxing [Verizon]
Raving Babies for Xperia PLAY Review
Xperia PLAY Comes with Screen Skin Protector Attached
Gun Bros for Xperia PLAY App Review

XPERIA Play unboxing and hands-on

Behind the 3-inch 320 x 480 scratch-resistant touchscreen there’s a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 320MB of storage and a microSD card slot (a 2GB card will be included). There’s also quadband GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, WiFi, AGPS, Bluetooth, an FM radio and a 3.5mm headphones socket. On the back is a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus, face-detection and an LED flash. A bigger, 1200mAh battery than the last-gen mini adds up to 30-percent longer runtimes.

The four shortcut corners of the original X10 mini have been retained, but each now acts as a shortcut area for four icons, in what Sony Ericsson is calling 4×4. That, along with auto-correction on both devices, adds up to what the company reckons is the performance and usability of larger Android phones, but in a very pocket-friendly form factor.

There’s also a partnership with social network Facebook, called – unsurprisingly – Facebook inside XPERIA, which pulls in social connections throughout the phone. It adds a Link button in the “most used areas” of the handsets, such as the picture gallery, music player, phonebook and calendar. Updates for Facebook inside XPERIA will also be offered as downloads to XPERIA Play and XPERIA Arc owners later this year.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA mini will go on sale in August 2011 in a choice of white, black, blue and dark pink. The XPERIA mini pro, meanwhile, will drop at the same time in white, black, pink and turquoise. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but we already know Vodafone UK will be ranging the mini pro.

Press Release:

Sony Ericsson unveils next-generation XPERIA minis

05 May 2011

Introducing two powerful, versatile and compact smartphones

Xperia™ mini – the world’s smallest HD video recording smartphone
Xperia™ mini pro –intuitive fast messaging in a compact smartphone

May 5th, 2011, London – Sony Ericsson unveils the new Xperia™ mini and Xperia™ mini pro, the latest additions to its Xperia™ family. Building on the success of the original mini series, these innovative smartphones come packed full of features, powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor, and run the latest platform of Google’s Android™ – Gingerbread 2.3. Beautifully designed, Xperia™ mini and Xperia™ mini pro both integrate best-in-class imaging and display technology from Sony, including Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine and HD video recording (720p).

The products offer a full multimedia entertainment experience. Xperia™ mini and Xperia™ mini pro enable access to over 150,000 apps on the Android Market™ and has a 3” scratch-resistant, multi-touch glass screen. The improved user interface allows up to 16 apps displayed on the home screen. Facebook inside Xperia™, a feature just announced for the Xperia™ family, provides a unique social media integration.

Xperia™ mini pro brings the optimized slide-out keyboard with smart functionality first seen on the Xperia™ pro to a compact smartphone. A subtle but fast Type & Send functionality eliminates the need to open a dedicated app for each type of message, and Smart Keyboard triggers predictive messaging actions automatically when the user slides out the keyboard. Xperia™ mini pro also comes pre-loaded with Office Suite and McAfee antivirus software, letting consumers manage documents and e-mails instantly and securely while on the move.

Steve Walker, Head of Marketing, Sony Ericsson said, “We wanted to provide consumers even greater choice across the Xperia™ range, while building on the success of the original mini series. These turbo-charged smartphones now contain even more power, enhanced functionality, a larger screen and premium features unique to Sony Ericsson. They are packed full of features, making them a perfect choice for consumers looking for all the benefits of Android and Sony in a beautiful and easy to use compact form factor.”

Sony Ericsson also unveils today a new integration, Facebook inside Xperia™, which will be included in the new Xperia™ mini and mini pro and soon to be available across the wider Xperia™ range. Facebook inside Xperia™ integrates social connections throughout the phone, by making Facebook immediately accessible from the most used areas of the phone such as the picture gallery, music player, phonebook and calendar. As people are becoming increasingly reliant on their smartphones for instant communication, Sony Ericsson is enabling people to ‘like’, share and comment more easily than ever before with Facebook inside Xperia™.

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ mini – Key features

World’s smallest Android™ smartphone with HD video recording
Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
Place up to 16 apps in the corners of your home screen
Over 150,000 apps on Android Market™
Facebook inside. Keeping your friends closer
Sony Ericsson Xperia™ mini pro – Key features

Ergonomic keyboard and smart functions for fast messaging
HD video and Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
Synch your email and view office documents safely on the go
Place up to 16 apps in the corners of your home screen
Over 150,000 apps on Android Market™
Sony Ericsson Xperia™ mini pro and Xperia™ mini with HD will be available globally in selected markets from Q3.

There’s also the official version of the leaked advert from last week, which Sony Ericsson also showed as part of its Superbowl advertising. We’re still not convinced that grafting on human thumbs in back-alley surgery is necessarily the best way to promote a smartphone, but it should at least get people talking.

The SlashGear team is headed off to MWC, so we’ll be bringing back all the details about the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play from there. We’ve also confirmed that Vodafone UK will definitely be offering the gaming handset, though pricing and specific availability are so far unknown.

Wang believes that as the past several years have yielded a set of smartphones that are overwhelmingly similar to one another, it becomes difficult for the consumer to differentiate between them. He believes that the first step toward a new type of phone is the 21:9 aspect ratio. He notes though, that upon first viewing a traditionally designed 21:9 phone, it lacks visual appeal, especially due to the fact that they’re designed, still, to be held upright.

His solution is the E2, a 21:9 device with a horizontal symmetry, and what he says is “a large screen, a relatively small size, no vertical orientation bias, and no compromises.” Specs for his concept phone are as follows:

4.6″ 21:9 ClearBlack display
Proximity sensor
12 megapixel camera with Xenon flash and 720p recording at 30fps
Concealed SIM and MicroSD slots (under the left side of the back cover, tilted 2 degrees)
3.5 mm headphone jack
Micro USB port
Multi-Purpose button (center, top) 3 zone button/rocker with capacitive layer
HDMI output
Stereo Speaker
Call speaker
Call microphone (with noise-cancellation, activation upon upward facing orientation)
2nd call speaker
2nd call microphone (with noise-cancellation, activation upon upward facing orientation)

*What these two call mics do is assure the user that any way they hold the phone, its the right way.

What do you think? We’re already sort of leaning this way with flip-out keyboards and gamepads like the upcoming XPERIA Play – is this the way of the future?

[Via Yanko Design]

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Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play caught in wild [FEATURED]

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

According to the tipster, the XPERIA Play was being publicly manhandled in London; they were too coy to interrupt and ask for some playtime of their own, but they did snap a sneaky photo of the sliding smartphone. The handset has a 4-inch 854 x 480 resolution touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread; we’ve also heard separately that it will launch on Orange UK, though we don’t know if it will be a carrier exclusive or not.

After today’s Sony NGP launch, meanwhile, we also know that the XPERIA Play – while seemingly not getting PlayStation branding – will get access to the PlayStation Suite, Sony’s new gaming platform and PS Store for titles that run on Android phones. That’s expected to be populated with PSOne classics initially, though Sony is also inviting Android game developers to have their titles certified and included in the on-device download store.

The biggest question we have – how well the touch-sensitive joysticks work – still goes unanswered, since there aren’t any games available to test them with, and emulators seemingly wouldn’t map them. However, as you can see in the video below, general gaming did work, and the Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone seems reasonably swift with its 1GHz processor and Adreno 205 graphics.

The software appears to be unfinished – WiFi doesn’t work, for instance – but the separated Timescape and Mediascape apps we saw on the XPERIA Arc are present and Sony Ericsson’s media app plays 720p H.264 with no problems. There’s also a useful widget overview view, triggered with a pinch gesture.

So far so good, but the real differentiator from the ever-more-crowded Android marketplace will be Sony Ericsson’s line-up of games and how much the XPERIA Play costs; those factors we won’t know until MWC next month. SlashGear will be there to bring back all the official details, rest assured.

Video demo after the cut

The XPERIA Arc uses a back-illuminated sensor, which shifts the light sensors to the front of the chip rather than behind the photo diode interconnects. That makes for a more sensitive camera, better at low-light photography, to which Sony Ericsson have paired a wider aperture – f/2.4 in fact – lens to allow even more light through.

Meanwhile the UI has also been streamlined, to make it faster and reduce the amount of camera lag. The video of the Arc below is recorded by another Arc handset, so you can get an idea of its HD video capabilities too. More details on the smartphone in our hands-on report.

[via Android Community]

Still, with Android 2.3 the XPERIA Arc is still a slick handset, as we discovered in our hands-on with the smartphone last week. Sony Ericsson has also confirmed four-point multitouch and WiFi b/g/n, though it’s worth noting that the Arc lacks both NFC and a front-facing camera.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc hands-on:

[via Android Community]

Other hardware specs include a 4-inch touchscreen running at 854 x 480, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash on the back, 512MB of RAM/ROM and a microSD card slot. Sony Ericsson has also dropped on dual-microphones, presumably for noise cancellation. The battery is 1,500mAh but the XPERIA Play still manages to be smaller than the PSP Go.

IT168 did some benchmarking and found that the PlayStation Phone could hit 1,733 in Quadrant and 59.1fps in Neocore; remember, this is unlikely to be finalized software, so we could well see improvements again when the device launches for real. Under it all is Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

[via Android Community]

The decision also applies to the XPERIA X10 mini and the X10 mini pro, meaning they too will be stuck with Android 2.1. Sony Ericsson says it’s an issue that won’t affect future Android devices, such as the XPERIA Arc, because they’ve uncoupled the Timescape and Mediascape modifications from the underlying OS, and that faster upgrades are a priority for 2011.

Update: Sony Ericsson has given us the following statement:

“We believe that the current Xperia range on Android 2.1 coupled with Sony Ericsson’s proprietary upgrades and unique hardware delivers a user experience that is on par with, and in many cases better than, a vanilla installation of Android 2.2.

We’re planning another upgrade to bring new features (such as for example multi-touch for Xperia X10) to the current family of Xperia™ smartphones in Q1 2011.

Our priority right now is to keep enhancing the user experience of the existing products through coming updates and to deliver a fantastic range of smartphones in 2011 that are all on the latest possible version of Android – that is a target we are determined to hit.”

The hardware consists of a 4.3-inch 854 x 480 display with native multitouch support, a 12-megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording (non-functional on this particular device) and HDMI connectivity, with everything being powered by the 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7230 chipset seen on the T-Mobile G2/HTC Desire Z. Currently the X12 is running Android 2.1 Eclair, though there’s still no telling what Sony Ericsson will load when the smartphone finally launches.

Therein lies the rub: the XPERIA X12 launch isn’t expected until March 2011, and while the specs may stand up today, by then they’re likely to be well outclassed by rivals. Add in Sony Ericsson’s less than class-leading software modifications and you get an idea of why Mobile-Review aren’t too impressed.

[via Android Community]

The delay – which Sony Ericsson claim gives them the chance “to spend some additional time on the software to really makes sure we roll-out with the right quality and user experience” – is the latest blow to XPERIA owners, who have been stuck using Android 1.6 since the X10′s release.

Xperia X10:

• HD video recording with continuous auto-focus for high quality videos
• Upgrade of the Android platform to Android 2.1
• New back up and restore application, with extended content back up
• 5 homescreens for apps, widgets, shortcuts and folders
• Social phonebook which automatically syncs contact pictures from Facebook and shows when your friends are online

Xperia X10 mini and X10 mini pro:

• Improved Bluetooth functionality with support for sending and receiving pictures, contacts and more
• New backup and restore application with extended content back up
• Automatic synchronization of your contact pictures between Facebook and your phone book
• Improved ways of handling pictures, audio, text and numbers in your messages
• Upgrade of the Android platform to Android platform 2.1

[via Android Community]

We reviewed the XPERIA X10 all the way back in March 2010, concluding that the hardware strengths of the handset would only be worth buying into if Sony Ericsson delivered on their software promises.  So far we’re still waiting on an Android 2.x update, which isn’t expected to debut until later in 2010.

Update: AT&T will be selling the XPERIA X10 direct for $149.99 with a new, two-year agreement.

Press Release:

AT&T and Sony Ericsson Announce the Xperia™ X10

Smart meets entertaining – Sony Ericsson’s flagship Android smartphone offers an open and integrated world of communication, entertainment and social media
DALLAS and ATLANTA, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AT&T* and Sony Ericsson today announced a dynamic multimedia experience with the Android™ based Xperia™ X10, available August 15. The Xperia™ X10 introduces Sony Ericsson’s unique and entertainment-driven Xperia™ platform to U.S. customers in a cutting-edge, beautiful and fun package.
The Xperia™ X10 comes fully loaded with a 4-inch crystal clear touch display, superfast 1GHz Snapdragon processor and aGPS. The smartphone also features an 8.1 megapixel camera with smile detection, face recognition, autofocus and LED flash. The device comes with 8 GB of on-board memory and a 2 GB in-box memory card, with expandable memory up to 32 GB.
Sony Ericsson’s custom user experience is great for the intersection of communications and entertainment. Two signature applications, Mediascape and Timescape™, build on the Android platform to enhance the experience for users.
Mediascape on the Xperia ™ X10 gathers music, photos, videos and content from your phone’s memory card and online, letting you browse, search, listen and share your media from one unified view. For example, view photos taken on the device as well as your Facebook® and Picasa™ web albums. Or, when listening to a favorite song on your phone, press Sony Ericsson’s infinite button to access related content about the artist pulled from the phone’s memory as well as albums, songs and video content from YouTube™ and search results from Google.
Timescape™ is a unique communication application that automatically organizes social interactions in chronological order, leaving users free to concentrate on keeping in touch on-the-go. From Facebook® and Twitter® updates to photos, emails and text messages, a scrolling menu offers easy viewing and organization of all communications. Additionally, tap the Timescape™ infinite button to bring up and view all communications from a single person in a single place.

“Sony Ericsson has created a unique choice for our smartphone customers looking for a fun and smart device,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.
“Sony Ericsson is raising the bar for entertainment-rich phones with the launch of the Xperia ™ X10,” said Paul Hamnett, senior vice president, Sony Ericsson North America. “With the convergence of our user experience platform and the Android OS, we are bringing consumers a smartphone experience that is not only exciting, but also very refined. Following the successful global launch of the Xperia™ X10, we are pleased to partner with AT&T to launch this phone in the U.S. market.”
Pricing and Availability
The Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 smartphone will be available in black at AT&T stores, authorized retailers and www.wireless.att.com on August 15 for $149.99 after a two-year service agreement and minimum smartphone data plan.
For the complete lineup of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
Viewable screen display area is measured diagonally.
A portion of memory is used for data management purposes.
Data charges apply for content and updates transferred through the mobile Web.

Still, jerpelea reckons this is the first step on the way to just such a universal tool, and there are already a few custom X10 ROMs being cooked up.  One deletes Sony Ericsson’s Mediascape and Timescape A/V and social networking tools, which are otherwise hard-baked into the XPERIA X10′s OS.  The hope is that, with a rooting solution that has broader availability, X10 owners will be able to bypass Sony Ericsson’s own Android firmware update schedule and install their own, newer builds of the open-source platform.

[via xperiax10.net and via Android Community]

Those tweaks will include the introduction of DLNA wireless home media streaming support together with updates to Sony Ericsson’s Timescape and Mediascape apps which the company promises will make them “even smarter and richer”.  The Android 2.1 update will be proceeded by a smaller, more incremental bug fix in the next couple of weeks, which should improve the XPERIA X10′s “usability and performance”.

It seems the X10 mini and X10 mini pro will only get the Android 2.1 update rather than the other changes, though they’ll also have to wait until Q4 2010.  Sony Ericsson say they realise that the timing “might not meet” owners expectations, but we guess a confirmed update is better than the uncertainty of before.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 demo:

Most striking was the difference in size between the iPad and the Mini 5, the former having a 9.7-inch display and the latter 5-inches.  It’s certainly noticeable in-person, and while the browsing experience on the iPad benefits from all those extra inches, the Mini 5 gets its own back thanks to Android’s native multitasking support.

Finally, just for a little scale, we threw in HTC’s HD2 and HD mini, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 and Google’s Nexus One.  Thanks to Richard and Andy for bringing along their gadget-models!

“I don’t have any technical details around the screen to share, sorry! – However I have now gotten confirmation on the question of multi touch. As said earlier there’s no multitouch in X10 – and I also can confirm that it’s not only related to SW but also to HW. Despite this, for future updates of X10 we are of course working on other solutions for e.g. zooming, which has been requested frequently on this blog, such has the solution demoed on X10 mini” Rikard Skogberg, Sony Ericsson

The specific hardware issues which render the XPERIA X10 unsuitable for multitouch are not revealed, but the most obvious issue is likely one of the touchscreen panel the company have used, or the controller it is hooked up to.  As for the software, well, as we’ve seen on the Google Nexus One, a firmware can easily be pushed out to add in new functionality like gesture support; if the technology can’t handle that, though, it’s no use whatsoever.

To be fair, multitouch isn’t necessarily the best way to control zooming, and Sony Ericsson’s own implementation – which uses a hold-and-drag system – actually works pretty well.  Still, it’s become a must-have feature when it comes to spec sheet bingo, and we can imagine some users will automatically discount the X10 because it lacks something the iPhone had from day one.

It’s a testament to Sony Ericsson’s ambitions that the XPERIA X10′s hardware specifications still feel current despite the gap between announcement and launch. Based on the same 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor as the Nexus One and HTC Desire, the X10 has a 4-inch 854 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, quadband GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA (800/850/1900 in the US, which means AT&T support but not T-Mobile USA; 1900/2100 elsewhere) connectivity, along with WiFi b/g, Bluetooth and aGPS. In some areas the X10 still stands out significantly: as well as that capacious display, the 8.1-megapixel camera certainly offers more pixels than the Android competition. Ports include a microUSB – hidden under an annoying little flap – and a 3.5mm headphones jack.

While the inside might be up to date, the exterior design of the XPERIA X10 feels a little old-hat in comparison to the high-end smartphones of today. Sony Ericsson have used a highly glossy plastic front panel and a soft-touch plastic rear, and while they’re both of reasonable quality, lined up next to a Nexus One or a unibody HTC Legend the metal-clad rivals stand shoulders above when it comes to premium feel. To be fair, when Sony Ericsson announced the X10 the Teflon-coated HTC Hero was the height of Android sophistication, it’s just that in the meantime the market has moved on.

Still, despite the scale of the display the X10 manages to be reasonably compact. Screen bezels are narrow, and the whole phone measures 4.7 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches and weighs 4.8 oz (the Nexus One, in comparison, is 4.6 x 2.3 x 0.4 inches and 4.5 oz). There’s a microSD card slot – supporting up to 16GB, though there’s an 8GB card in the box – and 1GB of onboard storage. Curiously there’s no dedicated Search key, as you’ll find on other Android devices, with only Menu, Home and Back on the front panel while a camera shortcut and volume rocker/zoom control are on the side.

If Sony Ericsson undermined them by announcing the XPERIA X10 so far ahead of the smartphone’s launch, they did themselves no favors with their first demonstrations either. The company’s main differentiator beyond the regular Android crowd was their “Rachel” UI with its Timescape and Mediascape apps; choosing to demonstrate those apps on unoptimized hardware meant the first viewing many had of the X10 was of it stuttering and crashing through what should’ve been its moment to shine.

Happily, later demo models – such as those we tried at MWC 2010 last month – had been suitable optimized, and the experience is far better. We’ve grown to have a love/hate relationship with OEM-specific UI customizations on Android; while they generally improve the standard OS in both appearance and functionality, they can also slow down the rollout of OS updates. It’s an issue we’ve seen affecting both HTC (with HTC Sense) and Motorola (with MOTOBLUR), and it looks to have had a similar impact on Sony Ericsson. The XPERIA X10 runs Android 1.6, a far cry from the Android 2.1 you’ll find on both the Nexus One and HTC’s imminent Legend and Desire, and while Sony Ericsson have repeatedly said that an update to a newer version is on the cards, they’ve also repeatedly declined to give any sort of timescale for its release. It’s also worth noting that our review unit is running pre-release software, and will see at least one more update (though not in terms of the underlying OS, of course) before the phone goes on sale.

So, given you’ll potentially be living with the stock X10 experience, how does it hold up? Aesthetically there’s plenty to like, with various fluid transitions between menus, but the core offerings are Timescape and Mediascape. Timescape, like HTC “Friend Stream” and Motorola “Happenings”, attempts to pull in all of your social life into one, chronologically ordered timeline; however where its rivals draw the line at online networks, Sony Ericsson have also included SMS, MMS and email messages, phone calls and other interactions. These are all presented in a cascade of cards which can be flicked up and down; tapping a card – say, a phone call from a friend – pulls up the full details (time of call, length, etc.) as well as the ability to view to that contact’s full information including the full history of your contact with them.

Mediascape, meanwhile, tries to do a similar aggregation with audio, video and image content. Each category is split over a different page, and each page is divided between local content and online content. Sony Ericsson have used an infinity icon throughout the UI – it’s the same symbol you tap in Timescape to pull up a contact’s address book record – and hitting it in Mediascape pulls up related content. So, listening to an MP3 track and then hitting the infinity icon brings up the album from which the song came (assuming you have that locally stored); however Sony Ericsson have also added automatic online searching, so as well as other local music you’ll also see links to YouTube videos of that band performing, say, or online streams of similar music. In Europe, where Sony Ericsson’s PlayNow music store is operational, you’ll also be able to buy new tracks directly from the phone.

Of the two, while Timescape is perhaps more visually arresting, it’s Mediascape that works better in day-to-day use. Like MOTOBLUR, we can’t help feeling that Timescape was designed with only moderate social networkers in mind. Subscribe to more than a few people in Twitter or friend more than a handful on Facebook, and your update stream quickly becomes saturated; there’s also no way to prioritize, say, seeing updates from certain key contacts. If Timescape learnt from our continued use, eventually bubbling up particular alerts from those individuals it knew we were consistently interested in, there’d be more incentive to stick with it, but there are standalone Twitter apps (and apps for other social networks) which do a better job of handling the update fire hose. It can also be a little laggy at times, though that’s generally when pulling in updates; we’re guessing that’s a side effect of the connection, rather than the Snapdragon chipset, since when everything has been cached the timeline whips up and down smoothly.

Unfortunately that isn’t the most frustrating issue we’ve encountered; while we can cope with data stutters, missed screen taps – especially when using the on-screen keyboard – are far more annoying. Sony Ericsson’s slightly modified QWERTY ‘board lacks the layout finesse and intelligent auto-correction/prediction of HTC’s version, too, and we quickly replaced it with one of the various alternatives available through the Android Market. Even so, we still experienced a few missed taps. We’re hoping that it’s a flaw in the pre-release software, and something that will be addressed prior to handsets reaching actual buyers.

While it may seem that in many ways the XPERIA X10 is playing catch-up with rivals, when it comes to photography it still holds the megapixel crown. It’s not just the 8.1-megapixels that mark it out: the X10′s camera has digital image stabilization, a 16x digital zoom, autofocus and GPS geotagging, together with less commonly found cameraphone functionality such as smile detection and face recognition. The latter features you’d usually have to reach for a dedicated point-and-shoot or above to acquire, with smile detection automatically triggering the shutter when the subject cracks a grin. As for face recognition, that’s been cleverly integrated with the X10′s contacts app: link a face with a contact and the smartphone will automatically pull out any photos it spots that person in, listing them on another tab in their contacts record. It’ll only track up to five people per shot, and we found it took a few manual connections before the system started getting accurate in its identification, but considering face recognition is more commonly found on desktop photo management apps it’s a neat addition.

As for image quality itself, that’s a pleasant improvement on what we’re generally used to from Android devices. Shots have a decent amount of detail and contrast, with rich colors and surprising low-light ability; while there’s an LED next to the camera lens it’s not actually pretending to be a flash, instead working as a photo light (in both still and video capture modes). That actually makes it a little easier to take low-light photos, since you can better gauge the lighting sweet spot that we’ve found regular LED flashes so often demonstrate. Framing shots on the reworked camera UI is straightforward, thanks to the huge display, and the end results look pretty decent too.

Voice quality is decent, and while the XPERIA X10 lacks the active noise cancellation of the Nexus One, there’s little background hiss during calls. We did find ourselves wishing for a little extra volume from the earpiece, however, though the speakerphone – the grill for which is on the side rather than the back of the phone – is suitably loud. Sony Ericsson rates the X10′s battery as good for up to 8hrs 3G-talktime or 425hrs standby (alternatively 10hrs GSM talktime or 415hrs standby), though regular network hammering by Timescape obviously takes its toll. As with most other recent smartphones you’re looking at a daily recharge, though just as you can slow down email updates it’s possible to reduce the frequency at which Timescape refreshes.

There was a sense, back in November 2009, that had Sony Ericsson released the XPERIA X10 shortly after its announcement then it could have captured the Android market, for a time at least. In the intervening months, however, rivals have sliced away at the X10′s potential lead; there are devices with screens almost as large (the Samsung Galaxy S, arriving sometime this year, has a 4-inch AMOLED, and of course the HTC EVO 4G has a 4.3-inch display and will drop over the summer) and social networking aggregation that, while graphically different, is functionally pretty much the same. It’s also moved Android 1.6 further away from the most current OS release. Nonetheless, the XPERIA X10 remains a strong competitor.

Camera performance bests anything we’ve seen on other Android smartphones, and with 4-inch displays teetering on the limits of what many users want to carry, you could argue a bigger panel would be overkill. Meanwhile the 1GHz processor is swift and there’s no shortage of connectivity. We’ll believe Sony Ericsson’s promises to update Android when we see the update itself, but a more modest update to address data lags in Timescape and – more urgently, perhaps – patchy touchscreen response (which could well come in the final production build) seems a more realistic expectation. We’re used to seeing new hardware arrive with teething pains, and it’s up to Sony Ericsson to prove just how responsive they can be in tackling them.

It’s taken a while to arrive, but at least the XPERIA X10 is here; that’s more than you can say about some other Sony Ericsson smartphones. US and European availability is predicted over the next few weeks. It may not be the conclusive alternative to the Google Nexus One, but the XPERIA X10 is a strong addition to the growing Android line-up. If Sony Ericsson can demonstrate their commitment to ongoing support then the X10 slots into the top-tier of smartphones; that’s not bad for the company’s first attempt at Android.

The XPERIA X10 mini is expected to be €300 ($410) while the X10 mini pro comes in at €330 ($450).  The latter adds a slide-out QWERTY keyboard but otherwise functionally the two are identical: 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and geotagging, 3G connectivity and Sony Ericsson’s own Mediascape and Timescape apps with their “Rachel” UI.

All well and good, but we were expecting budget price-tags when we first caught sight of the two new Android devices, and these numbers just don’t quite add up to us.  Our preference still lies with the X10 mini pro – check our hands-on report from MWC 2010 to find out exactly why – out of the two, but frankly there are other smartphones we’d go to first with our money.

[via SlashPhone]

Now that the code has been optimized, the different Timescape streams flick past smoothly and quickly.  The app pulls in SMS, MMS, email and calls, together with Facebook and Twitter messages, and can be viewed as a single, combined feed or individually.  Meanwhile tapping on the infinity icon pulls up all recent activity from that one contact.

As for Mediascape, that does a similar aggregating thing only for – as the name suggests – images, music and video.  Tap into photos, for instance, and not only will the XPERIA X10 show locally stored images but pull in those from online galleries you’ve entered login credentials for; tap into videos, and you’ll see local and online content.  Hitting the infinity icon in any one piece of content will pull up similar local and online examples, such as YouTube videos.  Everything rendered snappily, and there was none of the lag that plagued the initial pre-production prototypes.

It adds up to a convincing smartphone, and while right now it’s running Android 1.6 Sony Ericsson insist that a 2.x update is in the pipeline.  No timescale for that, however.  Interestingly, one of the things we predicted would likely happen – a rival would bring a similar system to market in the intervening period between Sony Ericsson announcing the X10 and it going on sale – has, to some extent happened, with HTC’s new Friend Stream feature in HTC Sense.  We’ll have to wait until we can test out both handsets before we can decide which works the best; until then, enjoy the new demo video!

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 demo:

Sony Ericsson’s Timescape and Mediascape apps lose some of their impressiveness on the 2.55-inch touchscreen, but the displays are capacitive and key controls – like the Infinity button which pulls up full contact records in Timescape or track/artist information in Mediascape – seem to have been enlarged slightly to make them easier to hit.  Meanwhile there are four contextual corner buttons rather than soft-keys.  The X10 mini pro’s keyboard is certainly compact, but Sony Ericsson have sensibly avoided cluttering it up with extraneous button rows and so it’s actually pretty reasonable for thumbing out text messages and emails.

Text entry on the keyboardless X10 mini is a little less slick, with Sony Ericsson’s concession to display size being a T9-style layout rather than a full on-screen QWERTY.  To be honest we’d accept the slight size increase on the X10 mini pro – it’s a little bigger in all directions, but only by a matter of millimetres – for the hardware ‘board.

Build quality – on what seemed to be pre-production devices – err’d on the plastic side, but we’re expecting budget price-tags too.  Both handsets will arrive in Q2 2010.

Each has Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support along with A-GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and a 3.5mm headphone socket.  The X10 mini measures up at 83 x 50 x 16 mm while the X10 mini pro is a little thicker at 90 x 52 x 17 mm; each gets a 5-megapixel camera with geotagging, autofocus and an LED flash.

Both smartphones will be available in Q2 2010, with the XPERIA X10 mini arriving in pearl white, black, pink, lime, red and silver, and the XPERIA X10 mini pro in the more staid black and red.  No word on pricing as yet.

Press Release:

Sony Ericsson grows its family of Communication Entertainment phones with compact versions of Xperia™ X10 for the first half of 2010
Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro define a new user experience – ultra-compact – whilst still offering best-in-class communication entertainment performance
Smaller than a credit card, smart and unique with Sony Ericsson Timescape™ application and an intuitive 4 corner touch screen user interface
February 14, 2010 – Barcelona – Today sees the announcement of Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro, compact versions of Xperia™ X10, which will deliver powerful and application packed mobile phones into the industry. By introducing mobile phones that are both compact and clever, Sony Ericsson is challenging the norm and defining a brand new offering that combines high specification features with a version of Sony Ericsson’s powerful UX platform specifically designed for smaller devices.

Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro with slide out QWERTY keyboard offer an open and intuitive communication entertainment experience and build on the human curvature design philosophy debuted by the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10. Combining the Android platform with signature applications and a customisable UX platform, communication truly becomes entertainment with these new mobile phones. To enhance the experience, pick and choose from a multitude of applications at Android Market™ and co-create a mobile phone experience that is entirely unique. Users can go one step further and customise the home screen’s four corners and widgets to access the most needed applications for limitless possibilities.

The two sister mobile phones incorporate the signature application Sony Ericsson Timescape™ which brings all communication together in one place so users can see at a glance text messages, missed calls, and Facebook™ and Twitter updates, without having to open lots of different applications. The interactive music player also uses the “infinite button” to pull together all music content from the music store and YouTube™ – a smart way to search for new tracks from a favourite artist.

“There has been an enormous buzz around Xperia™ X10 so it is really exciting to be already unveiling compact versions of this powerful proposition.” Said Rikko Sakaguchi, EVP and Chief Creation Officer, Sony Ericsson. “With the X10 mini and X10 mini pro we have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with smaller devices and are giving consumers exactly what they want; two high performance mobile phones with a fully customisable user experience platform and a stunning ultra-compact design.”

Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro

Sony Ericsson Timescape™ – brings together all communication in one place
Four corner control – applications, calls, web, the consumer decides. Four customisable icons for ultimate control
5 megapixel camera and video – share creations via the web
Music player links to music stores and YouTube™ – access the world of music
Android platform – with Google™ services and Android Market™
QWERTY keyboard – slide and text for quick and easy messaging (Xperia™ X10 mini pro only)
X10 mini and X10 mini pro supports HSPA 900/2100 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, HSPA 850/1900/2100 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900.

The X10 mini will be available in selected markets from Q2 in the colours Pearl White, Black, Pink, Lime, Red and Silver

The X10 mini pro will be available in selected markets from Q2 in the colours Black and Red.

Sony Ericsson is also introducing the Portable Stereo Speakers MS450, to deliver rich on-the-go sound and the Hi-Fi Headset MH810 with remote with superior audio and remote media and call handling.

Log on to The Sony Ericsson Product Blog for more information: http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products

Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro

Camera

5 megapixel camera
Auto focus
Geo tagging
Photo and video light
Sony Ericsson Album application
Video recording
Music

Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Music player
PlayNow™
TrackID™
Web

Bookmarks
Pan and zoom
WebKit web browser
Communication

Sony Ericsson Timescape™ with…
Facebook™ status updates, friend’s photo, inbox messages and friend requests
tweets, replies and direct messages from people you follow on Twitter™
incoming text and picture messages
missed calls
Messaging

Email
Instant messaging
Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®
Picture messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Text messaging (SMS)
Design

Auto rotate
Full slide out keyboard (X10 mini pro only)
Picture wallpaper
Touchscreen
Entertainment

Infinite button
Quadrapop game
Sony Ericsson FM radio
Video player
Video streaming
Organiser

Calendar
Flight mode
Phone book with dialer
Sony Ericsson Home with widget
Tasks
Location-based services

A-GPS
Google Maps™
Wisepilot™ turn-by-turn navigation* (free trial version)
Connectivity

3.5 mm audio jack
Bluetooth™ technology
Micro USB connector
NeoReader® barcode scanning app
Sony Ericsson Sync
USB mass storage support
USB support
Wi-Fi™
Google™ Services

Android Market™
Gmail™
Google Maps™ with Street View
Google Search Widget
Google Talk™
Google Voice Search™**
YouTube™
** The Google Voice Search service is not available in all markets
Screen

16,777,216 colour TFT touchscreen
2.55 inches
240 x 320 pixels (QVGA)
Scratch-resistant
Accessories

In-Box:
Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 mini/ Xperia™ X10 mini pro with battery
Micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer
Stereo portable handsfree
2GB microSD™ memory card
User documentation
Optional:
Portable Stereo Speakers MS450
Hi-Fi Headset with Remote MH810
Facts 1)2)

Xperia™ X10 mini:
Size: 83 x 50 x 16 mm
Weight: 88 grams
Phone memory: Up to 128MB
Memory card support: SanDisk microSD™, up to 16 GB
Memory card included: 2GB
Operating system: Google™ Android 1.6
Processor: 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 4 hours
Standby time: GSM/GPRS: Up to 285hrs
Talk time UMTS: Up to 3.5 hours
Standby time: UMTS: Up to 360 hrs
Xperia™ X10 mini pro:
Size: 90 x 52 x 17 mm
Weight: 120 grams
Phone memory: Up to 128MB
Memory card support: SanDisk microSD™, up to 16 GB
Memory card included: 2GB
Operating system: Google™ Android 1.6
Processor: 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 4 hours
Standby time: GSM/GPRS: Up to 285hrs
Talk time UMTS: Up to 3.5 hours
Standby time: UMTS: Up to 360 hrs
Availability and versions

Networks
UMTS HSPA 900/2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
UMTS HSPA 850/1900/2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
Available in selected markets in Q2 2010
Colour

Xperia™ X10 mini:
Black
Pearl White
Lime
Pink
Red
Silver
Xperia™ X10 mini pro:
Black
Red
Legal
1) Facts and features may vary depending on local variant. 2) Operational times are affected by network
preferences, type of SIM card, connected accessories and various activities e.g. playing games. Kit contents and colour options may differ from market to market. The full range of accessories may not be available in every market.

There’s apparently been a fair bit of customization to get it all up and running with the X1′s hardware, but the touchscreen works and it’s not as sluggish as some hacks we’ve seen.  So far everything bar the Bluetooth, camera, GPS and LCD auto-brightness function, but it’s still a work in progress.

[via Android Community]

Beyond that we’re guessing this is targeted at a more mid- or entry-level market than the XPERIA X10, with a lower resolution camera than that flagship’s 8.1-megapixel autofocus snapper.  Still, HSPA, WiFi and Bluetooth should all make an appearance, and we’d assume both Timescape and Mediascape will do too.

Sony Ericsson made no bones about the fact that the XPERIA X10 would be the first in a range of new Android devices, targeting various price and usability points.  We’ll not take this Robyn information at face value quite yet, but assuming they can bring it to market sooner rather than later we’ll never argue with more choice in Android devices.