Sony Mobile to Cut 1,000 Jobs

Reuters has reported that Sony will be cutting roughly 1,000 jobs from its mobile phone unit, Sony Mobile. This follows the Japanese company’s slashed 2012-2013 operating profit forecast.

Sony took over the struggling Sony Ericsson mobile phone unit earlier this year for roughly $1.3 billion, thus renaming it Sony Mobile.

Over half of the cuts will affect its Lund mobile plant in Sweden, which will now be used to focus on software and application development. Sony plans on moving its corporate headquarters from Lund to Toyko this October.

Source: Reuters

Sony LT29i Smartphone Gets Hands-On Treatment

You all remember that sleek Sony LT29i “Hayabusa” smartphone we told you about? Well, there are more details beginning to leak out for the mysterious smartphone. The gang at ePrice got hold of an engineering prototype of the LT29i and shared some detailed photos which highlight some of the smartphone’s features. For starters, you’ll note it’s somewhat similar in design to Sony’s also elusive LT30p smartphone— though the LT29i has more rounded corners. In addition, we have a better idea of the LT29i’s 720p display and solid viewing angles that are certainly comparable to other premium smartphones like the HTC One X. Among other items featured are an illuminated Xperia logo and the smartphone’s NFC chip

Now that we have a better idea of how the smartphone looks like and operates, it shouldn’t be too long before it’s finally released. All Sony needs to do now is change up the dated Sony Ericsson logo on the front and we’ll be in business. Hit the break and source link for additional shots of the smartphone.

source: Xperia Blog

More Leaked Photos of the Xperia J (ST26i) Surface

Back in May we reported some leaked photos of the Sony Xperia J (ST26i) and as you saw back then, the green Sony Ericsson liquid energy ball was missing from the back. Well more photos have surfaced and confirm the green orb is still gone plus there are some fancy new colors (pink and white)

The Sony Xperia J is rumored to have a 4-inch (480×854) display, 1Ghz single-core processor (MSM7627A) and will launch with Android Ice Cream Sandwhich 4.0.4. The camera on the other hand will more then likely be a 5MP sensor with LED flash. Not very impressive I know, but at least there are some cool colors! I suggest this device will be somewhat of an entry level device. Hit the break to see more. 

source: xperiablog

Sony LT29i ‘Hayabusa’ Pictures Leaked, Looks Like Xperia GX

By now we all know that the Sony Xperia GX (SO-04D), that is getting ready to release in Japan very soon, will be making an international release under the Sony LT29i model number and is codenamed, “Hayabusa”. The phone looks almost identical to the Sony Xperia GX with only a few signs that the device is different. It does look like an early production model as it’s still carrying the Sony Ericcson logo on the top of the device. Since both phones are very similar to each other, I would almost expect to see a new design from Sony.

For starters, the Xpeira GX has the NTT DoCoMo logo on top and the Sony logo on the bottom of the device. This “Hayabusa” has the Sony logo (Sony Ericsson for now) on the top of the device and the Xperia logo on the bottom that will presumably light up. The Hayabusa does not have the FeliCa logo under the LED flash like the Xperia GX has. The “About” screen of the phone also shows the device as the LT29i running Android 4.0.4 and firmware version 7.0.A.1.155. I hope this leak means we will be seeing an official announcement of the phone in the near future.

More pictures after the break.

source: Xperia Blog

The IDAPT i4 charging station will charge up to 4 devices simultaneously [Hands on Video]

If you’re anything like me, you have at least two smartphones in your house, a tablet, a couple of bluetooth headsets, and plenty of other devices that all need to be charged on a regular basis. The future is inductive charging for sure, but it’s going to be a while till it gets widely adopted. If you’re looking for something now that will clean up some of your wires, then I have the perfect thing for you. The IDAPT i4 charging station will charge 3 devices wire-free and a 4th device via a USB cable. My wife loved it the minute I opened the box. We each have a Galaxy Nexus so we can charge both of those, a bluetooth headset, and the ASUS Transformer all at the same time. The best part is that each device charges as fast as if they were plugged into separate wall outlets.

There is one other unqiue item that makes the IDAPT i4 so special, and it’s the fact that the tips are interchangeable. You can swap them out for whatever particular devices you want to charge. IDAPT includes 6 basic tips in the box, micro USB, mini USB, Sony Ericsson 2, Samsung 4, iPod/iPhone, and Nokia 2. You can look at their website for compatibilities, but as far as the Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and Nokia tips, they mostly cover feature phones. They do have the option of ordering your i4 with 4 tips of your choosing. So it’s $59.99 for the i4 with the standard 6 tips mentioned above or the same $59.99 with any 4 tips that you want instead. They have 21 tips to choose from that cover thousands of devices.

Unless you have old feature phones laying around, I would recommend selecting your own 4 tips. The majority of the time, I’m using it with 3 micro USB tips, but I have also used the mini USB and AA/AAA battery tip, which is also very convenient. If you need more than four, you can also buy any of the tips separately for approxmiately $9.99 each.

If there is one negative, I would say that as certain devices are sitting on the i4 and charging, they kind of feel delicate. What I mean is that you almost fear that if you remove the device the wrong way, you could damage the tip. I’ve been using the i4 for a couple of weeks, and I haven’t had any issues though.

Check out my short hands on video and make sure to hit the link below to get your order in.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to find out more and/or to order

Mystery Sony device benchmarked, Ice Cream Sandwich and Tegra 3 onboard

So what does the freshly energized Sony have up its sleeve for Android fans in 2012, well the Sony V150 for starters but just what exactly is it? Android GPU benchmarking tool, NenaMark has an interesting benchmark result on its website that’s sure to get the tech world talking. The table key tells us that the V150 is a 1.4GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 device with a 1280 x 752 display and Android Ice Cream Sandwich on board. Even more interesting is the impressive 59.70 score which positions the V150 well ahead of the 42.89 score achieved by the Tablet S.

Sony Ericsson made a stuttering start to its Android push with mixed fortunes, the Xperia range of devices never really hit the same sales or critical acclaim as rival products from Samsung, HTC and Motorola in particular. With the buyout of Sony Ericsson complete and the birth of Sony Mobile Communications confirmed, the new setup is really pushing to ensure a turnaround in performance and perception on its Android devices. We certainly wouldn’t want to read too much into a single benchmark but the early signs are promising.

Check out the benchmark results below and let us know your thoughts on Sony’s bright new future in the comments.

source : NenaMark

Sony Ericsson Xperia NX Officially Launched In Japan On NTT DoCoMo Network

The very high-profile Sony Xperia S smartphone has officially launched, well in Japan at least. We certainly hope you’ve had your wallets prepared for this moment, the Xperia S— known as the Sony Ericsson Xperia NX in Japan has arrived and will operate on NTT DoCoMo’s mobile network. As we previously highlighted before, this phone is branded under Sony Ericsson and not Sony. This is unusual because the other variants of the Xperia S (including the Xperia Ion) will be under the Sony brand.

All curiousity aside, if you live in Japan and are ready to get one of the hottest phones of the year, go grab that phone today. If you do get it, let us know what you think in the Comments section below.

source: NTT DoCoMo

Sony Xperia S Unboxing Vids and Leaked Promo [Videos]

Sony has completed the Sony Ericsson buyout, and with that, changes are coming to the new Sony Mobile Communications. For example, new devices like the Xperia Ion and the Xperia S, will no longer carry the Ericsson name. The Xperia S is not supposed to be available until sometime in March, but new unboxing videos, and a leaked promo video, have surfaced for those of you waiting. The first thing you will notice is the change in packaging style, which is now wider and thinner than before.

There is still some Sony Ericsson branding found inside the box, with the cables, chargers, and paperwork, but it makes sense that Sony is simply using up their old inventory.

Also from these videos, we get to see glimpses of what the Sony user interface looks like. They’re calling their custom skin UXP NXT, which I presume is supposed to stand for “User eXPerience NeXT”, alluding that this is the next evolution of their UI. Noticeable changes include the gallery, media player, and overall feel of the user interface.

The Xperia S, which features an anti-stain coating and fast charging, will also include an interesting feature called Fast Capture, which you can see in the second video below. By holding the physical camera button down while the phone is asleep, the camera app is launched and a photo is taken in under two seconds. Pretty nice.

So if you’re waiting for the launch of Sony’s first Android phone without the Ericsson name, watch the videos below to get your fix. March is not very far away!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

source: androidandme

Sony Ericsson Joins Billabong to Introduce the Xperia Active Billabong Edition

All the sport enthusiasts out there should keep their eyes peeled for the Xperia Active Billabong Edition.  Sony Ericsson has partnered with Billabong, a sportswear and casual clothing manufacturer based out of Australia, to present the ultra hip branding you see in the picture above.  The Billabong Edition will also have some exclusive screensavers, videos, and the Billabong LIVE app to track surfing events.  When you’re not hitting the waves, you can play the preloaded game Billabong Surf Trip.

In our unboxing and review of the Xperia Active, we noted that it runs Android 2.3.4, has a 1GHz single-core processor, and a 5MP rear camera.  It’s dustproof, waterproof, scratch resistant and can withstand any tough workouts.  SE is putting the Billabong Edition into the hands of snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing athletes around the world to demonstrate just how tough the phone is.

It’s available now in select markets.  Check out the full press release after the break.

Press Release

 

Sony Ericsson Drops into Extreme Action Sports with Billabong

Global partnership promises entertainment and access to exclusive experiences for consumers and fans

Xperia^TM active Billabong Edition now available in select markets

London, UK – February 3 , 2012 – Sony Ericsson today announced an expanded global strategic alliance with Billabong,  a brand that promotes an authentic lifestyle and the true values of core boardsports (surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding and  wakeboarding),  which connects the Xperia smartphone brand to a new and highly influential consumer audience and extends to a retail offering for smartphone users. At the center of the partnership is the XperiaTM active Billabong Edition smartphones designed with extreme sports enthusiasts in mind.

“Billabong brings a new, enthusiastic and engaging audience who are early technology adopters and influencers in the areas of sports and technology,”said Stephan Croix, VP Head of Global Marketing Creation for Sony Ericsson. “This partnership is a perfect fit with our brand and the XperiaTM range of smartphones.”

The XperiaTM active Billabong edition is an  ideal smartphone for extreme sports enthusiasts who can capture all of the excitement up close and personal.  This tough, scratch-resistant smartphone is packed with technologies such as wet finger tracking and has received some of the highest marks in dustproof and water resistance categories (IP67).  Click here for more information on the Xperia active.

“The partnership is an expansion of our long term relationship with Sony and an extention of an Asia Pacific alliance developed with Sony Ericsson in 2011,” said Scott Wallace, Billabong’s International VP of Strategic Partnerships & New Media. “Our customers are very tech savvy and their top interests include music, photography, social media and, of course, action sports. Each of these interests can be captured or experienced through the XperiaTM active and we are working on some exciting apps and accessories that should add to the user’s experience. The first to benefit will be the athletes at our major international events who will be testing the XperiaTM active device in conditions as diverse as the snowfields in Austria, surfing the big waves of Tahiti and even skateboarding in Singapore.”

The partnership extends beyond the XperiaTM active as Sony Ericsson and Billabong have also co-created exclusive content for additional XperiaTM devices. The XperiaTM active Billabong Edition will feature preloaded Billabong screenscavers, videos and Billabong LIVE, a mobile app now available in the Sony Ericsson channel in Android Market, and the Xperia TM PLAY will boast an exclusive surf game, Billabong Surf Trip.

Sony Ericsson XperiaTM smartphones will be featured in major Billabong events worldwide. In addition, Sony Ericsson has more to offer its retailer and operator partners with this unique alliance which gives way to an amplified retail strategy with assets, such as merchandise and event access, which will be used in retail promotions.

Sony Ericsson is no more, It’s Sony all the way

There’s been some talk of this happening and over the past week it has. As of January 26th, the company, Sony Ericsson, is solely owned by Sony. Their former partner Ericsson sold their stake for $1.47 billion. Sony Ericsson had a rough year, clsoing out 2011 with a $318 million dollar loss in the 4th quarter of 2011. Moving forward the company’s aim is to update their device line to ICS  in hopes that consumers will pick up their devices on confidence of updates. Of course, they also have some exciting new devices slated including the Xperia Ion and Xperia S. Here’s hoping Sony makes good of their acquisition.