Sony Mobile

Official Sony Xperia X Performance Launch Video

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 29, 2016 | 0 comments

Sony has already debuted the Xperia X and Xperia XA launch video and in honor of fairness, we’re sharing the official Sony Xperia X Performance video with you as well. Taking many cues from the Xperia X, the Xperia X Performance is as the name suggests, a performance iteration with better camera technology, faster processor, and better connectivity speeds. You can read all about the Xperia X Performance here. From Sony:

Introducing the official preview video for Xperia X Performance: the super-fast curved smartphone which enriches every experience with predictive auto-focus, quicker launch and incredible power.

With quicker response times, more intelligent focus and a new highly adaptive shutter speed, the new Xperia X Performance gets you clearer shots in the toughest situations. And as we’ve taken specs other smartphones have in their main camera and placed them upfront, you can now take super selfies at the first time, every time.

While our classic form is as striking in its simplicity as ever, the curved display and edges make for an even more comfortable grip. From swiping through your favourite hi-res audio tracks, to playing for hours with PS4™ Remote Play – it makes everything you do feel so much more intuitive.

The official Sony Xperia X Performance launch video is after the jump. Not only is it worth a watch, but it will help explain the above video.

Poll: Will Your Next Smartphone Be From the Xperia X Family?

by Allegra Osati | Feb 26, 2016 | 4 comments

With MWC 2016 now behind us, Sony is left with an entirely new family of phones that promises to take the throne of the Xperia Z5. Will you be buying one of the new Xperia X phones? Let us know in our poll after the jump!

Your Sony Xperia Phone Likely Not Encrypted

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 26, 2016 | 2 comments

You’re probably tired of me saying this, but if you’re not aware of the battle that’s taking place between the US Government (FBI) and the tech industry (Apple), it’s worth reading this piece before moving on to truly understand what’s at stake. For those already in tune, here is some chilling information. First, the headline that sets the tone:

The FBI, currently engaged in a privacy battle with Apple over a terrorist’s iPhone, would have an easier time breaking into the average Android smartphone.

That’s a bit damning but headlines are often click bait right? Absolutely – but not this one.

The whole reason the FBI is having a hard time entering San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook’s locked iPhone 5C is because Apple’s smartphones are encrypted by default.

But only a fraction of Android devices are encrypted.

Despite Google introducing encryption in Android all the way back in 2011, very few users have enabled it due to the setting being buried many layers in. Finally in 2014, Android began to ask users if they wanted to encrypt their phones during setup, but seeing how a majority of Android users are running on fairly outdated systems, it’s likely that they’ve never even seen the prompt. But it gets worse.

Although 97% of Android phones have encryption as an option, less than 35% of them actually got prompted to turn it on when they first activated the phone. Even then, not everybody chooses that extra layer of security.

And things aren’t improving. More after the jump.

Official Sony Xperia Ear Video

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 25, 2016 | 0 comments

Alongside the new Xperia X family, Sony also unveiled a few new extension pieces at MWC 2016. They include the Sony Xperia Agent, an Amazon Echo competitor, the Xperia Projector with touch gestures, Xperia Eye, a lifelog camera, and the Xperia Ear. Think of it as having a virtual assistant like Siri in your ear.

Introducing the official preview video for Xperia™ Ear – Next generation wireless ear-piece from Sony that lets you listen to weather alerts, send and receive messages, check your schedule and more. All without picking up your phone.

Xperia™ Ear lets you carry on communicating while enjoying the world around you – reading out everything that’s important to you so you don’t miss a thing. But it also puts you in total control. Simply tell it to make a call or dictate a quick message – activating your phone with voice commands is easy.

With a super-comfortable ear-fit and a sleek, stylish look, you won’t think twice about wearing it all day. It even comes with a stylish case that doubles as a charger, so if you’re out and about and running low on battery, you can easily power it back up.

The official Sony Xperia Ear video after the jump.

Official Sony Xperia XA Launch Video

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 25, 2016 | 1 comment

I’ve already given you a preview of the Sony Xperia XA, including the specs you’ll find in this mid-range smartphone. After the jump, something a little more visual from Sony that gives you an overview of their latest. As Sony put it:

Introducing the official preview video for Xperia XA: The stunning 5” curved smartphone with super-fast camera and 2-day battery life* – designed to go hand in hand with however you live your life.

Bringing together a stunning full-width display and a smooth, curved form, Xperia XA has a completely new look and feel that’s as pleasing on the eye as it is in the hand. But we know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which is why it comes in four striking colours for you to choose from.

Life is full of fleeting moments, and with a fast-launch camera button that gets you up and running in 0.5s, you can rest assured you’ll get the shots that best reflect your memories. The 0.25s Hybrid Autofocus also helps you capture the action in bright, blur-free shots.

Because it has highly-responsive sensors on both the front and back cameras, it’s the selfie phone you can’t do without. And with up to two days of battery life* from just one charge, you can snap happy all weekend long.

Video after the jump.

Meet the New Flagship Sony Xperia X Performance

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 24, 2016 | 16 comments

Earlier this week, Sony announced the Xperia X and Xperia XA at MWC 2016. Both phones boast some noteworthy specs but the third phone announced, the Xperia X Performance is where the real power lies in the company’s new lineup of smartphones with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Everything you can expect from the Xperia X Performance lies in the name. Though boasting a near identical finish to the Xperia X, Sony’s performance phone has a faster processor and LTE connections, a bigger battery, and a better camera system. As Sony put it:

Discover your creative capabilities and ignite your passion

Let’s talk more in depth after the jump.

Official: Sony Xperia Z Series Ends with Xperia Z5

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 24, 2016 | 12 comments

Ever since the Xperia X family, which consists of the Xperia X, Xperia X Performance, and Xperia XA, was unveiled at MWC 2016, there’s been chatter about the demise of the Xperia Z5. Today, Sony has confirmed what many had thought – that the Xperia Z5 line will be no more. Sony will continue to ship the Xperia Z5 till summer but after that, expect inventory to trickle to a stop as the Z series, the moniker for Sony’s flagship phones, reaches the end of line.

A statement from Sony after the jump.

Official Sony Xperia X Launch Video

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 23, 2016 | 4 comments

The Sony Xperia X was unveiled at MWC 2016. Reaction so far from the community has been mixed, mostly due to them not knowing if the Xperia X is here to replace the Z5 and act as what would have been the Z6 or not. Emotions aside, the Xperia X has a lot going for it, including a new Snapdragon 650 processor, Hi-Res Audio, and a powerful 23-megapixel rear-facing and 13-megapixel front-facing cameras. From Sony:

Introducing the official preview video for Xperia X: the latest curved smartphone from Sony that helps you share, capture, and daydream more than ever.

For those unexpectedly beautiful moments, we’ve made our flagship camera faster and more intelligent – with Smart Capture technology and 0.06s Hybrid Autofocus. Plus, with 13MP and Sony’s renowned low-light sensors, the front-facing camera will take your selfie game to the next level.

It’s not just the photos you take that look amazing – it’s the handset itself. And with a curved display and seamless metal back, it fits like a glove.

The unrivalled battery of Xperia X brings you up to two days* of power from every charge, you can do what you love for longer – like go explore all weekend long, play the latest games on PS4™ Remote Play for hours, or listen to the hottest hi-res audio tracks for longer than ever.

After the jump, you’ll find the official Sony Xperia X launch video.

Sony Xperia XA Color Options and Photo Gallery

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 23, 2016 | 5 comments

With its plastic finish, the Sony Xperia XA boasts a vibrant set of colors when it arrives some time this summer. Those colors include

White
Graphite Black
Lime Gold
Rose Gold

The white and graphic black are the most basics of colors (but damn if that black doesn’t look nice). However, unsurprisingly, much like when iPhone 6s, it’s the rose gold that steals the show. Surely that’s a color that will demand attention towards your shiny new phone. After the jump, a photo gallery from the Xperia XA color options.

Sony Xperia XA Specs

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 23, 2016 | 3 comments

Just yesterday, Sony unveiled their mid-range Xperia XA and more upscale Xperia X. We’ve already looked at the Xperia X specs which include quite a few premium features like a fingerprint sensor and 13-megapixel front-facing camera. As for the Xperia XA, though on a lower tier, Sony isn’t turning over a slouch to us either. Some highlights are:

13-megapixel camera with Hybrid Autofocus
8-megapixel front camera for low-light selfies
64-bit Octa-core
microSD card support (up to 200GB)

After the jump, the full Sony Xperia XA specs await you.

Sony Xperia X, Xperia X Performance & Xperia XA Price Revealed?

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 22, 2016 | 0 comments

Do you live in Europe and are wondering what the newly revealed Sony Xperia X and Xperia XA will cost you? Wonder no more as the prices for the more high-end and mid-range smartphones which were just announced by Sony (though won’t be coming to market till summer). Sony has already confirmed that we’ll be seeing the Xperia X arrive in US so these prices should give you some sort of indication at what pricing will be like in the States.

After the jump, the Sony Xperia X, Xperia X Performance, and Xperia XA price structure.

Meet the Mid-range Sony Xperia XA

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 22, 2016 | 0 comments

Alongside the Xperia X, Sony also unveiled the Xperia XA at MWC 2016. Sitting as a mid-range phone in their new lineup, the Xperia XA lacks a lot of the higher-end specs the Xperia X holds but by no means is it a slouch. In terms of design, the XA isn’t too far off from the Xperia X though the metal finish is instead swapped out for plastic. From Sony:

Your smartphone follows you everywhere. That’s why Xperia XA has been designed with a new look and feel to truly harmonise with your life. Bringing together a stunning full-width display, a smooth, curved form and a size that’s not-too-big and not-too-small. It’s just right.

After the jump, let’s talk more details and specs.

Sony Xperia X Family Includes Breakthrough Qnovo Battery Tech

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 22, 2016 | 2 comments

Antony Leather for Forbes on Qnovo:

Today, the company has revealed Sony as one of its partners and investors and its next-gen Xperia smartphones will boast reduced charge times and increased battery lifetimes that are doubled compared to the current Xperia range. You can usually expect to see battery capacity drop off after a year or so, or around 300-500 charge cycles. Qnovo claims the new Xperias drastically increase battery lifetime to around 800 charge cycles before they start to lose capacity.

Considering that many people don’t tend to update their phone once a year (unlike yours truly), such a feature would go a long way towards ensuring optimal performance and experience once year one ticks by. But there is more:

The benefits of Qnovo’s technology are that it could improve all aspects of battery performance, including a longer lifespan, more daily use, faster charging without degrading the battery and allow for thinner devices.

Robert Nalesnik, VP Marketing of Qnovo on the subject of Sony

from a commercial standpoint, Sony’s Xperia smartphones announced this week at MWC will be the first devices that are available to use our technology.

A lot more information about Qnovo battery tech after the jump.

Sony Xperia Projector With Touch & Voice Gestures Revealed

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 22, 2016 | 0 comments

For those playing at home, the Sony Xperia Projector is the third concept product revealed at MWC 2016, behind the Xperia Agent, and Xperia Eye. According to Sony:

the Xperia Projector concept will enrich, empower and stimulate creative family communication using a natural and interactive interface projection on any clear surface. It will respond to touch, voice and gestures just as you would interact with your smartphone screen.

Some thoughts after the jump.

Sony Xperia Agent, an Amazon Echo Competitor

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 22, 2016 | 2 comments

Sony isn’t kidding about its IoT ambitions. Having already purchased Altair Semiconductor for $200 million to beef up their home automation initiatives, Sony is ready to release their first concept product for the home that’s designed to take on the Amazon Echo. From Sony:

The Xperia Agent concept is a vision for a personalised assistant. It will enhance everyday life by responding to voice and gestures – providing you with useful information, communication assistance and home appliance controls. It is also powered by Sony’s voice technology and will respond to a number of commands

Perhaps the coolest part about this product can be found after the jump.