Best SE Blog

Sony Ericsson’s Android handset is already out in the Far East and online retailer Play.com is offering the device ready for shipping, SIM free across the Globe. While this early offer might sound tempting, waiting for the device to get shipped over to the UK will certainly take a few days of waiting time (unless you go get an express mail courier service that will certainly bump up your bill) and in the end, you might as well wait for the phone to be offered by many UK based retailers or mobile network operators.

Anyway, the phone is priced at a hefty £540 so you might want to consider whether this is one Android phone that you would really want to invest in or not.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 was first announced last year under the name SE Rachael. The device was later confirmed to be an Android handset but failed to live up to the rumors and hype that it would be pack with the then upcoming Android 2.0. The phone was labeled as XPERIA X10 to signify its departure from the original series of the XPERIA devices (the X1 and X2 are WinMo phones).

The phone comes with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor which means that running Android applications and features will be fast and seamless and the 8 mega pixel camera ensures that you will get high resolution photos and high quality video recordings every time. The snapper also comes with LED flash, auto focus, Sony’s smile and face detection as well as geo-tagging.

New to the X10 is Sony Ericsson’s Timescape and Mediascape applications; Mediascape is a simple tool for organizing and browsing through the media content on your mobile phone. Timescape on the other hand, provides an easy to use comprehensive listing of your contacts and message archives.

Read more about the HK release of the XPERIA X10 at Know Your Mobile.

Sony Ericsson had quite the lineup of android mobile phones last month at the Mobile World Congress. The Japanese Swedish joint venture showed off a familiar handset and a couple of new ones that we certainly did not expect. All of the SE phones are expected to be on store shelves by mid 2010.

Vodafone UK and Orange Mobile UK have both confirmed that they will be offering the XPERIA X10 to their customers when the device launches next April. The phone is SE’s very first attempt at the Android platform and they have put in some pretty high end hardware to make the phone all the more enticing.

The 1GHz Snapdragon processor promises a fast and smooth phone operation with little to no slowdowns. The 4 inch capacitive touch screen delivers high quality images with its 480 x 854 pixels of resolution and the 8 mega pixel camera comes with LED flash, autofocus, geo-tagging, face and smile detection as well as WVGA video recording at 30FPS. Orange Mobile will be offering an exclusive white version of the phone.

The X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro are coming to online retailer eXpansys by May 24. No word yet if eXpansys will be getting an exclusive hold of the phones but so far, they are the only ones to confirm. Prices for the devices are as follows: £300 for the Mini and £340 for the Mini Pro.

The Mini and the Mini pro both share the same specs –Qualcomm MSM7227 600MHZ processors, 5 MP cameras and 2.55 inch capacitive touch screens. The Mini Pro comes with a physical slide out keyboard.

Aside from these phones, SE will also be releasing two Symbian devices –the Vivaz and the Vivaz Pro as well as a Greenheart WinMo device, the SE Aspen.

Get to know more about the white exclusive X10 on Orange at Softpedia.

It is pretty odd to know that Sony Ericsson turned down the offer to make the very first Google branded phone. According to Bert Nordberg, CEO of SE, they refused to make the device since they want to focus only on making their own branded devices and that they would not be a subcontractor for another mobile phone.

It is odd because it is pretty pointless to know that fact now.

The info comes from Bert’s interview from a Swedish magazine. Right now, we are all already aware that SE suffered some major setbacks last 2009 and that they could have used some better publicity like what HTC got when it was confirmed that they would be manufacturing the Nexus One.

SE on the hand spent much of 2009 closing offices and facilities and getting the Satio fixed up after it got pulled out of shelves from Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U. Between that, they were announcing delays for mobile devices. At least their Greenheart phone series was doing pretty well.  On that note, the decision to pass up the Nexus was a pretty bad choice.

Meanwhile, we do know that the Nexus One only sold 20,000 units during its first week and that the devices come with an error when it comes to connecting properly with 3G networks (and a few other bugs). Google has already released an update that fixes the problem. In this case, it is a tactical decision for SE not to make a mobile phone that would be a competitor to there is XPERIA X10.

Was Bert simply showing off? Unlikely, chances are, the decision to announce the turning down of Google’s invitation was done to reinforce the belief the despite the reported problems, SE is still on track as one of the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturers.

Read more about the interview at Engadget.

Looks like plenty of new mobile phones got a quick debut at the Mobile World Congress last Sunday in Barcelona, Spain. The big telecommunications tech event was practically a gadget fest of the newest and latest in mobile technology.

Of course, it was the perfect opportunity for many wonderful surprises. In the mobile industry where leaks are as common as news, Sony Ericsson has decided to give everyone some interesting news in the form of totally new phones that nobody expected.

Well, not entirely unexpected. The Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro has already been reported earlier under the name of the SE Kanna. While it has yet to be confirmed that the two phones are one and the same, it is unlikely that SE would release another version of the Vivaz with a keyboard simply to have an 8 mega pixel camera; the only difference between the Vivaz and the Vivaz Pro (aside from the keyboard) is that the Pro only has a 5 mega pixel camera as compared to the 8 mega pixel cam on the original Vivaz.

The Vivaz and the Vivaz Pro both use the Symbian 5.0 operating system. In terms of form, the two devices are pretty much alike. Face up, the two are identical –without sliding out the keyboard that is.

Aside from the unveiling of the Vivaz Pro, Sony Ericsson also showed off the X10 Mini and the X10 Mini Pro. The X10 Mini was originally announced as the SE Robyn, and following the pattern of the Vivaz Pro, the Mini Pro also comes with a full QWERTY keyboard.

The new Sony Ericsson devices are expected to be launched sometime around Q2 of 2010. No word yet if any UK operators will be offering the device.  GP

For more details and information about the new Vivaz Pro, go to Tech Radar.

The XPERIA X2 almost had its time, but the high end device was simply too buggy and unstable in the very end. The device was supposed to be launched last December but got pushed to January –a bad move which got it pulled out of Vodafone UK’s 2010 lineup. Despite that fact that this WinMo phone has been sent to tech oblivion, SE has another business model device, and from the initial specs, it looks very promising.

The biggest news is that Sony Ericsson’s new WinMo phone is a Greenheart device. It comes as to no surprise as the company has been working hard in order to meet their CO2 emissions reductions goal (something that many other electronics companies should be doing). In fact, Greenpeace has tagged Sony Ericsson as the company as the second highest green electronics manufacturer in the world next to Nokia in their Guide to Greener Electronics.

Anyway, the new Sony Ericsson Aspen is very business-like in terms of appearance. There’s a hint of BlackBerry in its overall form, but that distinct Sony style is present in the deep cut lines and solid form of the device. The 2.4 inch touch screen serves nicely as a display while the portrait oriented physical QWERTY keyboard will help typing long emails and messages a breeze.

The OS version of WinMo to be used in this device is reported to be 6.5.3 Maldives –making this a candidate for announcement at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain where it is expected that the new WinMo OS will be presented.

Sony’s current lineup of mobile phones is very promising, and considering the fact that the Swedish-Japanese joint venture is losing money each year, they certainly need to generate some serious profit this 2010.

For more details on the SE Aspen, go to the source.

Ever since the first photographs were leaked onto the internet a few months ago, people have been wondering what the phone will contain, and what features it will come with. Sony Ericsson had decided to keep the details a secret, and only recently released the exact capabilities of the phone. We can safely say this phone will go down very well, and could be the must have phone of 2010. The Xperia X2 features revolutionary new technology to help everyone keep in touch with each other. The phone is designed to be as multimedia as possible, and this is openly shown by the amazing 8 megapixel camera that comes with it. Many top of the range digital cameras are 8-10 megapixels, and for a phone to have such a high one is virtually unheard off.

The Xperia X2 also features WVGA video recording technology, allowing you to take short videos or any moment you please, whether it be a sport event, a music concert or anything else that you fancy snapping. The phone uses a slide out keyboard instead of a normal smaller phone keypad, so sending emails and writing documents has never been easier. The large keyboard saves you time, as each letter has its own individual key.

Designed for social and business use, this phone is ideal for anyone wishing to keep in touch and have unlimited capabilities at their fingertips. Stay tuned for the official release dates and check the Sony Ericsson website from time to time to see any updates that are posted.We will let you know of all the fantastic Xperia X2 deals as they become available.

In this day and age, where we are constantly being told that we are killing our planet, it is sometimes hard to know how we can actually help and make a difference. Many people assume you have to pay a lot of money to redo your house, such as insulating and changing heating systems etc. Who would have ever thought that by buying the new Sony Ericsson Elm you could be greatly helping the environment?

The new Sony Ericsson phone is made mostly from recycled household plastic, which has been recycled from around the world, from such things like milk bottles, plastic containers and any other domestic plastic device. The phone uses more Eco efficient factories as well, and this all helps the environment.

Aside from the environmental benefit, the Elm is also a great phone. Featuring a neat 5 megapixel camera, you will get excellent quality from all your photos, wherever they may be taken. Many domestic digital cameras average around 5 megapixels, so for the price of a phone you are getting two in one.

The Sony Ericsson Elm comes with a special navigation program which is designed to help you find you way to destinations you may be unfamiliar with. With every road marked out, you will be guided straight to your desired destination, and even warned of things such as turnings and a potential hazard. With a widget display designed to link you straight to your favorite applications, launching MySpace and Facebook is only a click away, great for keeping friends and family up to date with what you are up to. These phones looks great, and knowing Sony Ericsson’s reputation for making good phones, they are sure to be up to scratch physically as well.

O2 Mobile UK is the mobile network operator who got dibs on the XPERIA X10. Though no word has been given about any form of exclusivity to the company (which we believe is quite unlikely, given Sony Ericsson’s financial state, giving the device limited market access is not a good idea).

It is expected that the phone will be made available at about the same time as its expected launch this coming March. The phone will also be launching alongside the Sony Ericsson Vivaz (previously the SE Kurara) though O2 has not mentioned if they will also offer the Symbian 720p HD video phone to their customers

Speaking of Sony Ericsson’s financial state, the company lost over 800 million Euros last year. Despite having good sales during the holiday season, having devices such as the XPERIA X2 delayed certainly contributed to the low sales. This leaves SE with plenty to catch up with for this year. SE President Bert Nordberg is confident in the company’s 2010 line up; with the XPERIA X10 leading the charge, all focus is on the Snapdragon powered Android phone’s performance.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 is powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon processor –the current industry standard for high end phones. The screen on the device is a capacitive TFT touch screen with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels and a color display capacity of 65 thousand colors so expect to see high quality images on screen. The screen rotates thanks to the accelerometer and also comes with a proximity sensor.

As to be expected, the camera on the X10 is jam packed with features. The 8 mega pixel snapper comes with auto focus and LED flash. It also has touch focus, image stabilization, geo tagging (supports AGPS), and SE’s face and smile detection software.

Read the rest of the XPERIA X10 on O2 UK at the source.

Sony Ericsson is finally entering the Android Smartphone market. The Sony Ericsson Xperia 10 is the company’s first try at an Android handset. The phone’s specs are incredible and it looks like they are trying to make a big impression their first time around. I’m sure that if it is a success, the public will see more Sony Ericsson phones utilizing Android operation systems.

As stated above, the Xperia X10 is on the Android 1.6 operating system. It comes standard with a very impressive 8.1 megapixel camera that is loaded with great features. Individuals will be able to stabilize images and videos. The camera has auto-focus, LED flash, smile detection, facial recognition, geo-tagging support and digital zoom.

The phone’s memory capacity is already large at 1GB. Individuals can add a lot more, up to 16 GB, with the handsets microSDHC. The 135 g phone has the following dimensions, 63mm x 12mmx 119mm. The phone runs on the Quad-band GSM/GPRS? EDGE, tri-band UMTS with HSPA. It utilizes a 1500 mAh battery, has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and A-GPS. The Wi-Fi makes it possible for individuals to connect to the internet wirelessly. Wherever there is Wi-Fi, the phone will be able to access the internet. Bluetooth enables individuals to use their phones without their hands. In some states, it is require that individual use some sort of technology that allows them to use their phones without their hands. GPS will help drivers ensure that they get from one place to the next without getting loss.

The Xperia X10 has very robust features. It is Sony Ericsson’s first try at an Android OS smartphone. The company has done a great job designing it. It includes most of the specs that smartphone fans have come to expect and love. Most people will be able to purchase the Xperia 10 by the first quarter of 2010.

With the Copenhagen conference on climate change underway it is becoming increasingly apparent to most of us that we all need to be doing our part in helping the environment. Whether it is by turning off your TV at night, recycling your household waste or choosing to walk rather than drive to your local shop, every little gesture makes a difference. Sony Ericsson is now trying to play its part with its two new GreenHeart phones.

The GreenHeart line of phones hopes to make a difference by lowering the levels of CO2 emitted during production, using as much recycled materials as possible and also minimising the amount of packaging that the phones are retailed in. The new Elm and Hazel phones are not the first GreenHeart handsets but are a noticeable improvement on the earlier Naite and C901.

The two phones come with an e-manual which is loaded onto the handsets themselves, saving paper, a low intensity battery charger and the WalkMate application which encourages you to walk rather than drive. Both phone feature a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and video recording; TrackID, SensMe and PlayNow features for the media player; as well as Wi-Fi, USB, GPS and threaded SMS.

While the two phones are remarkably similar in specifications there are noticeable differences. The Hazel features a larger 2.6″ screen with 16 million colours compared to the Elm’s 2.2″ 256k colour display. While they both feature an ergonomic design to be more easily held, the Hazel comes in a sliding form and the Elm is a standard candybar design.

Both phones are set for release in early 2010 although the Elm will be released first. If you want to do your part for the environment then make sure you take a good look at the Sony Ericsson Elm deals and Sony Ericsson Hazel deals as they become available.