Leaked Android 4.0 ICS ROM hits Xperia PLAY [Video]

by XB on January 9, 2012

in Android,Firmware,News,Videos,Xperia PLAY

The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY already has an Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich alpha ROM by ICX, however a newer and more complete ROM has become available to PLAY owners. The ROM, which is based on Android 4.0.3, was apparently leaked anonymously and therefore it is more fully-featured than the previous ICX ROM. Users have DooMLoRD from xda-developers to thank for turning the leaked ROM into something usable for end-users.

It’s not all perfect though as the camera is not working and the stock launcher does not allow anyone to add widgets to the homescreen. However, you can use the Trebuchet launcher to get round the latter issue. This ROM is pre-rooted and includes the ICS boot animation. See a couple of preview videos of this in action below.






Via xda-developers.
Thanks Guddu!

Picture of Sony Ericsson’s new Gingerbread UXP

by XB on December 12, 2011

in Featured Content,Firmware,News,Rumours

We were sent a screen capture of Sony Ericsson’s new Gingerbread UXP (the UX platform is the strategic framework for the core of Sony Ericsson’s portfolio) over the weekend. Interestingly the picture has a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, the same as the rumoured Sony Ericsson Nozomi – further evidence that this 2012 flagship will launch with Android Gingerbread.


The single image itself doesn’t give too much away. It shows the Android home screen using a new font for the clock widget. The small rectangles at the top of the screen on current firmware, showing which of the five home screens you are on, have been replaced by circles. Also the border around the four sticky icons at the bottom has been removed. The UI also matches that seen on the leaked Nozomi images from earlier today.



It is therefore looking more and more likely that Sony Ericsson has redesigned some elements of its Android Gingerbread firmware and that this will launch prior to the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update in H1 2012. We reported on new eDream6 firmware over the weekend. At the time we were wondering what had happened to eDream5, so maybe this is it? Given the date on the image below, could this new firmware be rolling out as soon as early January (along with a Nozomi release)? It shouldn’t be as farfetched as it sounds given all of the recent evidence.

Thanks X-Leaker!

CyanogenMod 9 Alpha for Xperia arc pegged for next week

by XB on December 9, 2011

in Android,Firmware,News,Xperia arc

The FreeXperia developer team are working round the clock on CyanogenMod 9 (based on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich). They have confirmed that the first Alpha release should hit at some point next week. The alpha ROM will be available on the Xperia arc only at this stage and is still under heavy development according to FreeXperia developer FXP.

There are three major bugs that the devs are trying to iron out including GSM Data, Camera and Mass Storage. If they can get the ROM stable, they will release the alpha to the public during week 50 (i.e. next week). Not too long to wait for those who love tinkering with new ROMs. We’ve attached the latest screenshots of the CM9 ROM after the break.

Sony Ericsson talks through the steps taken to bring Android 4.0 ICS update

by XB on December 7, 2011

in Android,Firmware,News

Sony Ericsson has a very detailed explanation on the steps it is taking to get the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) update onto Xperia handsets. If you remember, SE has confirmed that all 2011 Xperia models will be receiving the ICS update, with rumours pointing to a March 2012 release.


Whilst some may be impatient about such a drawn out date, there is clearly a lot of work going on behind the scenes. Remember, Sony Ericsson only started work on ICS once the source code was released on 14 November. It is a very interesting and detailed article that we won’t repeat verbatim here, however for anyone interested in the process it is definitely worth a read here.

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.