Global roll out of new software

In late September we announced the rollout of Android 2.3.4 in the Nordic Countries. Today, we’re happy to share the news that the upgrade is starting to roll out all over the rest of the world. Since the Nordic release we have made some additional changes which means that this update is actually new also for the Nordic consumers.

The phones that will get the software update are: Xperia™ arc, Xperia™ PLAY, Xperia™ neo, Xperia™ mini, Xperia™ mini pro, Xperia™  pro, Xperia™ ray, Xperia™ active, Xperia™ neo V, Xperia™ arc S and the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™. The update will be available for all unlocked phones and most operator variants but there will be local deviations.  There are also some deviations on feature upgrade depending on phone model. Google Talk video chat will only be available for phones with front facing camera. Xperia™ PLAY will not get 3D panorama sweep but it will get HD video recording and the other goodies below.

The highlights of the update are:

• Google Talk with Video Chat for smartphones with front-facing cameras
• Updated Facebook inside Xperia™ functionality for enhanced like, share and discover abilities. We have talked about Facebook  inside Xperia™ on previous posts.
• Xperia™ smartphones introducing world’s first 3D Sweep Panorama functionality powered by Sony.
• 16x video zoom
• The software upgrade will enable consumers to turn their Xperia™  smartphone into a mini-mobile PC by connecting USB peripherals (mouse, keyboard or game controller) to Sony Ericsson LiveDock™ multimedia station. Connect the smartphone to a TV via HDMI to get a big screen experience.
• Gesture input – text input by swiping the finger from one letter to the next
• WiFi DLNA
• Screen capture – allows the user to share a screen grab from anywhere in the phone.

It’s quite a lot to grasp all at once. That’s why we are making next week an Update Marathon, going through one of the features more in depth every day. Stay tuned:-) Meanwhile, you can check out the video from the guys at Developer World.



By Martina Johansson

Trying out the Xperia pro.

So, one of the best phones I have tried out this year is the Xperia pro.
Announced at Mobile World Congress, the Xperia pro is launching worldwide now in October.

The slide out QWERTY keyboard on the Xperia pro is really comfortable and the usability is great. Actually,  the Xperia pro’s keyboard is so good, the phone scored 1^st place in fastest and most accurate typing tests done by an independent test house. 

The Xperia pro also comes with a 3.7″  touch screen, so whenever you use the slide out keyboard, you have the whole screen free to read and preview emails, comments or chat messages.

The pro has another great function: Smart Keyboard. It actually predicts what you want to do in many situations.  For example, sliding out the keyboard while reading an email triggers the phone to asks me if I want to reply, reply all or forward the email (Please note that this function does not work in Gmail).

Another thing I loved on the pro  is the Type & Send widget: you can start typing and then send a message directly from your home screen to wherever you want, email, social networks, SMS, etc. Here is a video that explains the function.

Other things that I really liked about the pro were:

• Camera quality: 8.1 MP, Exmor R sensor, HD video recording, 3D Sweep Panorama.
• Business readiness: Great phone for work, it has McAffe Mobile Security installed and excellent synchronization possibilities using Microsoft(R) Exchange ActiveSync, Gmail and other email services. Not only for your email but for contacts, calendars too. Further, with the preinstalled full version of Office Suite Pro you can create, read and edit office documents anywhere.
• HDMI output, you can use your phone not only to show off your videos and photos, but as as a tool to share presentations or play games from your phone on a HDMI enabled TV or projector.
• ANT+ technology
• It’s got a green conscience: Greenheart credentials!

 What do you think of the Xperia pro!


By Cristina Porter

3.0.1.A.0.138 firmware will bring Android 2.3.3 to new Xperia handsets

The latest firmware that is certified on the PTCRB site for the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc is 3.0.1.A.0.138. This particular firmware was certified on 3 May, although as usual we are left to guess what may be included in this update compared to the current firmware (3.0.A.2.184).

However, judging by the screenshot below, it looks like that one thing it will bring will be Android 2.3.3, itself just a minor update over the current 2.3.2 that is on the Xperia arc and PLAY. Soon after we may even see SE release the latest Android version (2.3.4), which brings video calling and other bug fixes.