Showing posts with label Xperia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Xperia. Show all posts

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on redux: benchmark and camera preview

Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on redux: benchmark and camera preview data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 322};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20640092' !== '') ? 'bsd:20640092' : ''; var postID = '20640092'; var modalMNo = '93312529', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"richard-lai", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-13f",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93312529", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store Hands On More Betterer HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93312530", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on redux: benchmark and camera preview MobileBypostedJul 2nd, 2013 at 12:46 PM 0

Sony Xperia Z Ultra handson redux previewing its camera and benchmark performance

You may have already read our Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on last week, but since then we've also been able to spend a tiny bit more time with a pre-production unit (with firmware build 14.1.B.1.277). Instead of going over again how hilariously large this 6.4-inch, pen-friendly phone is, this time we'll focus on some early benchmark results, camera performance and Sony's very own UX features.

As you'll see after the break, many of the benchmark scores aren't too far off from what we saw on the MDP phone with the same Snapdragon 800 SoC, and the final units should be optimized with higher numbers. While we didn't manage to get CF-Bench and Quadrant running on the phone, the higher-than-before 3DMark score did cheer us up, meaning either Sony or Qualcomm's managed to fine tune the latter's new Adreno 330 GPU. Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on redux: benchmark and camera preview See all photos 22 Photos

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Sony Xperia Z UltraS800 MDP phone (MSM8974)S4 Pro MDP tablet (APQ8064)Samsung Galaxy S 4 (Exynos 5 Octa)Quadrant 2.0N/A22,0227,69813,326Vellamo 2.02,7842,9142,5381,977AnTuTu 3.x33,39933,82813,82628,167SunSpider 1.0 (ms)835.4674N/AN/AGLBenchmark Egypt 2.5 Offscreen (fps)5968N/A41CF-BenchN/A33,87618,21920,8003DMark (Ice Storm)17,08414,371N/A10,179SunSpider: lower scores are better

Sadly, it appears that there's much work to be done on the camera side. As our very own Mat Smith pointed out in his earlier hands-on, photos taken in darker environments are surprisingly noisy; and the lack of LED flash here only rubs salt into the wound. The exposure and white balance are not ideal, either; but again, we expect these to be fixed by the time this waterproof phone reaches the stores. Remember: this is still work-in-development, after all.Sony Xperia Z Ultra pre-production sample photos See all photos 21 Photos

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On the bright side, we're pleased to see the plethora of handy software features included on this slate. The camera app, for instance, comes with many scenes, filters and modes that are already seen on the smaller Xperia Z; though we're not sure if the app's UI will be updated to the recently leaked Honami version. Then there's also the set of Sony's handy UX tweaks, including the usual app tray sorting modes, power saving modes, sound effects and PlayStation DualShock 3 controller connectivity.

One of Sony's most underrated weapons is its signature Smart Connect app, which comes preinstalled on the Xperia Z Ultra. This lets the user set automatic actions at a specified time and device-aware event (via headphone jack, NFC, USB or MHL). For example, you can set the phone so that when it's plugged into the charger from 10pm to 7am, it loads up the clock app and switches to silent mode. Or it can be as simple as setting the phone to run a specified music app when your headphones are plugged in.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra handson redux benchmark and camera preview

Sony Xperia Z Ultra screenshots See all photos 25 Photos

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We could go on and on, but for now, we'll wrap up with one new feature tailored to single-hand usage on the 6.4-inch screen: the one-handed keyboard. Like on the Huawei Ascend Mate, you can toggle a narrower keyboard that can stick to either the left or right side, depending on which hand you prefer using; or you can switch back to the full-size keyboard as well. As a bonus, you can also change the keyboard skin, but we'd rather Sony focus on delivering more single-hand features -- like the Vivo Xplay's "Free Touch" mini window.

Alas, we didn't have enough time with the phone to properly benchmark its battery life. But hey, that's what reviews are for, right? So stay tuned on Engadget for more.

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Posted by Chris Holman at 1:33 PM 0 comments
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Friday, October 18, 2013

Sony's Jun Katsunuma on the inspiration for Xperia Z Ultra's design

Sony's Jun Katsunuma on the inspiration for Xperia Z Ultra's design data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 320};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20634257' !== '') ? 'bsd:20634257' : ''; var postID = '20634257'; var modalMNo = '93312529', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"richard-lai", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-13f",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93312529", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93312530", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Sony's Jun Katsunuma on the inspiration for Xperia Z Ultra's design MobileBypostedJun 25th, 2013 at 11:15 PM 0

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After the Xperia Z Ultra's launch event in both London and Shanghai, we had a brief chance to talk to Sony's Product Design Director, Jun Katsunuma, who was present in the latter city. Jun's been responsible for Sony's mobile devices since the Xperia S days, so the transition to the Xperia Z's double-glass design was also under his watch. That said, the newer Xperia Z Ultra isn't simply just an enlarged version of its smaller sibling, as we found out straight from the horse's mouth.

"The frame [on the Xperia Z] is made of plastic, then we picked a PMMA (a transparent thermoplastic) for the plate," Jun reminded us while holding both devices. "But this time we use aluminum in the side plates, which means it's totally different, then we could realize this super thinness [on the Xperia Z Ultra]."

On a similar note, Jun pointed out that the Xperia Tablet Z is more like the Xperia Z, except for the former's reinforced fiber back. Even then, the tablet is thicker than the Xperia Z Ultra by 0.4mm, courtesy of the latter's aluminum contruction.

Here's another subtle difference that Jun shared with us. While the 6.5mm-thick Xperia Z Ultra has the same black, white and purple options as the thicker Xperia Z, the designer intentionally chose not to give the new phone the same glittery purple paint. The reason being a solid purple apparently just looks better under the larger piece of glass. And it's not Gorilla Glass here, by the way, but Jun and his colleagues assured us that the glass on the new phone is just as strong -- especially since the super responsive touchscreen (our guess is that this is Atmel's solution) supports pen and pencil input.

Sony's Jun Katsunuma on the inspiration for Xperia Z Ultra's design

Without naming the elephant in the room, Sony Mobile's Marketing Programme Manager Benoit Obadia acknowledged that there's indeed a stronger request for bigger displays on phones these days. But as to why his team specifically chose a 6.4-inch screen size, Jun said it was simply a matter of finding the largest panel that he could fit into the width plus a similar thickness of a passport -- something that travelers are used to carrying around all the time, especially in their coat pocket. Similarly, seasoned travelers are also likely to be carrying a pen, which can be used for scribbling on the Xperia Z Ultra. That way they won't have to carry a dedicated stylus.

"The point of this Xperia Z Ultra is how we could let the users bring this one into their travel and daily life," said Jun. "That's why we chose aluminium to realize our product's proposition."

Lastly, we pointed out the potential fatigue over the all-too-familiar design ID of the latest Xperia-branded devices, but Jun and Obadia implied that at the moment they're not too concerned due to the positive response. Still, the designer realizes there needs to be a balance, and his team solves this problem by implementing some subtle but practical differentiation.

"At Sony, we need to bring some of that message with consistency," said Jun. "The Xperia Z, the Xperia Tablet Z and the Xperia Z Ultra are very strong in consistency, but of course, they have different propositions. So that's how we decide to use some different materials, different pigmentation and sometimes construction. Based on this product and based on our one design language, we really do some differentiation but with high consistency.

"The use case of the smartphone is changing, so we need to consider how we can express the differentiation in any use case in any product. So we create our designs based on this high-level concept."

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Posted by Chris Holman at 2:06 AM 0 comments
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Sony Xperia Z Ultra official with 6.4-inch 1080p screen and 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 chip, global launch in Q3 2013

The new Xperia™ Z Ultra: The world's slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display

6.4" Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by X-Reality™ for mobile engine for the ultimate big screen entertainment experience

Ultra slim, waterproof** and dust-resistant (IP55/IP58) durable design

Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs and 4G LTE for fast performance

Write and sketch with any pencil and selected stylus or pen ? Full accessory ecosystem for premium entertainment and one-touch connectivity

Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life

25th June 2013, Mobile Asia Expo, Shanghai – Sony Mobile Communications ("Sony Mobile") today introduces the next revolution in premium large-screen Android smartphone entertainment. The new Xperia Z Ultra is waterproof**, ultra-slim with a lightweight design so you can enjoy it anytime, anywhere. It's the first smartphone ever to incorporate a Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by Sony's latest X-Reality™ for mobile picture engine to deliver the most immersive viewing experience imaginable. Additionally, the Xperia Z Ultra will also feature the fully integrated Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs, 4GLTE and HD voice to provide a seamless connected entertainment experience, industry-leading battery performance and amazing speed.

"The Xperia Z Ultra is the most exciting revolution in large-screen smartphone entertainment devices with both the slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display* in the world that is second to none." said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications. "We're already bringing the best of Sony technology and design across a range of premium smartphones and tablets, and now we are bringing this same premium offering to the large-screen smartphone segment, setting a new standard for others to follow." The world's largest Full HD smartphone display* Xperia Z Ultra features a 6.4" touchscreen Full HD display with Sony's unique TRILUMINOS® Display for mobile, creating a wider palette of rich natural colours thanks to Sony's BRAVIA TV expertise. The breakthrough technology includes X-Reality™ for mobile - Sony's intelligent super resolution display technology which analyzes each image and reproduces lacking pixels to optimize quality for the sharpest videos. It analyses elements depending on the scene and adjusts them based on pattern, outline and colour composition. It also strengthens subtle patterns and accurately portrays their detailed feel, as well as reinforcing bold outlines. The large Full HD display has been optimised to experience at least 60%*** more of the screen than most other smartphones.

The world's slimmest Full HD smartphone*

Xperia Z Ultra is supremely slim and lightweight with a beautifully crafted 6.5mm body and weighing just 212 grams for ultimate portability. Sony craftsmanship in design and attention to detail comes to the fore with clean lines and premium materials – the front and back are made of tempered glass, creating a seamless surface with the OptiContrast™ panel housed in an innovative solid metal frame which looks stunning from any angle. It features the same acclaimed OmniBalance design as Xperia Z and Tablet Z. The Xperia Z Ultra is available in a choice of black, white or purple colour finishes.

The only waterproof Full HD smartphone**

Xperia Z Ultra is both elegant and durable. With an impressive rating of IP55 and IP58, this smartphone isn't only resistant to dust, but is waterproof** too – giving you the freedom to enjoy it anywhere. You can even film in Full HD underwater, taking your large-screen smartphone experience to a new level. The camera features "Exmor RS for mobile", HDR for both photos and film, and Superior Auto mode automatically activates HDR and noise reduction when needed, so you'll get stunning imagery even in challenging light conditions.Ultimate entertainment experience The Xperia Z Ultra is uniquely positioned to offer the ultimate big screen phone entertainment experience for watching movies, playing games, reading books and browsing the web.

Sony's "WALKMAN", Album and Movies media applications enable discovery of online and offline content through a single access point with new ways to enjoy and share that content.

The "WALKMAN" application leverages Sony's audio engine and Facebook integration for sharing and discovering new music and is unique in that it provides seamlessly integrated access to all your downloaded music as well as access to a global library of over 20 million songs from Sony's cloud-based subscription music service, Music Unlimited.

The Movies application brings new intuitive ways to discover, manage and play movie content, together with easy access to an extensive library of blockbuster movies and the latest TV episodes from the Video Unlimited2 service.

The Album application provides seamless integration with the PlayMemories Online2 service, letting you access all your photos and albums from within the Album app instantly and easily, wherever you are. You can even set an automatic upload of your photos to the PlayMemories Online service to access and enjoy from any your favourite Sony devices.

The Sony Reader app2 provides seamless Reader store2 access so you can download and enjoy the latest bestsellers – it even lets you sync purchased books in popular formats and continue reading from same page.

Xperia Z Ultra will include an exclusive free entertainment content offer, including a free trial of the Music Unlimited2 service (subject to availability).

Ultimate performance with the world's fastest smartphone processor****The Xperia Z Ultra features the world's fastest smartphone processor**** - the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with HD voice, that together with Sony´s audio Sony's ClearAudio+ mode and Xloud loudness enhancement, delivers not just exceptional speed and performance, but also unsurpassed voice and audio quality.

Battery STAMINA Mode significantly improves the standby time of your smartphone by four times or more1

as it recognises when you're not using your display and automatically turns off the functions you don't need, while keeping the notifications you want. As soon as you press the power button to wake up your screen, everything is up and running again.

Built for business

The Xperia Z Ultra is the ideal business partner thanks to the super responsive screen with handwriting recognition which is compatible with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm). You can even write notes or sketches during calls so you'll always be ready capture your ideas as they happen. The easy-toggle keyboard makes it ideal for one-handed input and multi-tasking, with small apps to help you improve productivity so you don't lose time browsing between windows.

The robust security architecture safeguards both your corporate and personal data, with support for multiple accounts that are quick and simple to set up.

Further business oriented applications will be made available in future as software updates, ensuring you get the best smartphone experience - whether for work or play.

Ultra connectivity

With one-touch functions you can instantly and easily share music, photos and videos from your smartphone to a wide range of NFC-enabled Sony devices, including speakers, SmartWatch, wireless headsets and TVs. There are several new and innovative accessories joining the range of popular connected devices.

The SBH52 is a dynamic Smart Bluetooth™ Handset that provides easy hands-free call handling with a single press, while leaving your smartphone conveniently in your bag. The OLED display conveniently lets you browse your call log, view text messages, and see who's calling you. Use it as a quality stereo music headset to listen to your tracks or to the built-in standalone FM radio with RDS.

Pairing and connecting is done simply by touching it to your Xperia Z Ultra or other NFC-enabled device. And it's sleek, minimal design is splash-proof, meaning you can now use it anywhere, in any weather.

The latest generation of SmartWatch, the SmartWatch 2 SW2, helps you keep track of everything without taking your smartphone out of your pocket or bag. The SmartWatch 2 is a truly multifunctional digital watch and phone remote that lets you receive notifications, control your music, and connect with one-touch NFC to your Bluetooth™ headset for easy call handling. The water-resistant design makes it more versatile to use than ever and can be personalised with any standard watch strap. Use it as a standalone watch or with your smartphone. There are over 200 apps available for our first generation and with an open API we expect new applications will be developed quickly and easily for SmartWatch 2.

The Magnetic Charging Dock DK30 has an innovative magnetic pin that lets you to place your Xperia Z Ultra snugly in the dock using one hand, either with or without the phone cover on. While your phone is charging, it stands at a comfortable viewing angle easily allowing you to keep watching your favourite movies even while charging.

Xperia Z Ultra features

6.4" Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by X-Reality™ for mobile engine for the ultimate viewing experience ? Ultra slim, waterproof** and dust resistant (IP55/IP58) durable design ? Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs and 4G LTE for fast performance

Write and sketch with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm) ? 8 megapixel camera with "Exmor RS for mobile" sensor and HDR for videos and photos

Full accessory ecosystem for premium entertainment and connectivity ? Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery lifeThe Xperia Z Ultra will launch globally from Q3 2013 (exact timing of availability will vary by market).


View the original article here

Posted by Chris Holman at 6:56 PM 0 comments
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Sony starts upgrading Xperia Z to Android 4.2.2

Sony starts upgrading Xperia Z to Android 4.2.2 data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20633543' !== '') ? 'bsd:20633543' : ''; var postID = '20633543'; var modalMNo = '93312529', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"jon-fingas", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-13f",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93312529", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93312530", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Sony starts upgrading Xperia Z to Android 4.2.2 MobileBypostedJun 25th, 2013 at 8:35 AM 0

Xperia Z review

We dinged Sony for shipping the Xperia Z with an old version of Android, but the company is catching up today by posting an upgrade to Android 4.2.2. Most owners receiving the update are carrying unbranded HSPA+ and LTE models at this stage, although there are reports of at least a few carrier-specific phone variants getting the refresh. As with the Xperia ZL update, most of the user-facing changes are minor. The biggest addition is support for lock screen widgets; there's also slight (if noticeable) tweaks to the interface look and feel. If those revisions are still meaningful enough for you, we'd suggest a quick upgrade check through the usual desktop and OTA channels.

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Posted by Chris Holman at 8:22 AM 0 comments
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Sony Xperia C S39h is company's first MediaTek device, does the dual-SIM trick

Sony Xperia C S39h is company's first MediaTek device, does the dual-SIM trick data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20633344' !== '') ? 'bsd:20633344' : ''; var postID = '20633344'; var modalMNo = '93312529', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"richard-lai", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-13f",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93312529", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93312530", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Sony Xperia C S39h is company's first MediaTek device, does the dual-SIM trick MobileBypostedJun 25th, 2013 at 4:58 AM 0

Sony Xperia C S39h is company's first MediaTek device, does the dualSIM trick

There's no denying that MediaTek is becoming mainstream these days, to the point that even Sony finally decided to join the party. The manufacturer's first attempt in this space is the Xperia C (S39h), a 5-inch qHD phone with dual-SIM capability (WCDMA and GSM) destined for China Unicom, and it'll come in either black, white or purple. Like many flagship devices from Chinese brands these days, the device packs a quad-core MediaTek MT6589 SoC, along with an 8-megapixel camera -- Exmor R, specifically -- with voice shutter function. On top of the hardware, users in China will also have access to 3 million tracks from local music content provider Duomi. There's no price or date just yet, so we'll be keeping an eye out for further announcements.

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Posted by Chris Holman at 1:19 AM 0 comments
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Sunday, October 13, 2013

Sony Xperia Z Ultra: hands-on with a 6.4-inch Android phone (update: video)

Sony Xperia Z Ultra: hands-on with a 6.4-inch Android phone (update: video) data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20633334' !== '') ? 'bsd:20633334' : ''; var postID = '20633334'; var modalMNo = '93312529', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"mat-smith", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-13f",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93312529", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93312530", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Sony Xperia Z Ultra: hands-on with a 6.4-inch Android phone (update: video) MobileBypostedJun 25th, 2013 at 5:15 AM 0

Sony Xperia Z Ultra handson with a 64inch Android phone update video

Sony's been explaining the design story behind its new Xperia range at a UK briefing, how it's trying to balance both the dematerialization of tech (touchscreens, gesture interfaces) and a design that's both desirable and beautiful -- and Sony's certainly got the latter down on its new smartphone. The Xperia Z Ultra follows the lines of the rest of the Z-series. It has the same "OmniBalance" plane, uniform screen surface, but this time it measures in at 6.4 inches across, but still running at 1080p resolution. Yep, it does feel substantially bigger than the original Xperia Z -- check out our comparison gallery, the new Ultra model dwarfs it. You're looking at a screen width almost identical to a passport and that 6.5mm profile helped fit it into pockets. We managed to cram it into our trouser pockets without an issue. It's certainly a bigger device than the likes of LG's Optimus G Pro or Samsung's Galaxy Note II and you're going to have to test it out for yourself to see if you'd be willing to talk into this Xperia like phone -- it's going to catch the eye.

There's also Qualcomm's notable Snapdragon 800 powering the device on a relatively large 3,000mAh battery, while Sony's simplified the design dropping a few of those much-maligned protective flaps, at least on the headphone socket. There's more impressions and a hands-on video after the break! Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on See all photos 23 Photos

when.eng("eng.galleries.init") Sony Xperia Z Ultra vs. Xperia Z... fight! See all photos 13 Photos

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The screen has been tweaked to enable input not only through capacitive styluses but also typical graphite pencils, with a new handwriting recognition keyboard available for scribbling notes on the go. In practice, it worked well, with Sony's own windowed mini-apps ensuring we had space to scribble regardless of whichever app we were running. It did add a few inadvertent spaces here and there, but nothing that some software tweaking couldn't solve ahead of its Q3 launch. There's been some less-favorable changes since the Xperia Z too, however, there's no flash for that rear-facing camera and a drop in resolution to 8-megapixels rather than the 13-megapixel sensor of Sony's last flagship. Our early camera tests offered up images that were pretty crisp in well-lit conditions, but the noise started to creep in on shadows -- something that a flash would have solved to some degree.

Unsurprisingly, the Snapdragon 800 was as brutally productive as our early benchmarks hinted at. On this early model, we got a Sunspider score of 835.4ms -- and that's before optimization. The huge screen lent itself well to web-browsing and touch games, and while Sony's shrunk the keyboard for single handed use, we typically went for the full-sized keyboard, which was responsive and a joy to tap away on.

That 1080p display is sharp and bright, although we're not sure if it stands up against our current IPS, Super AMOLED and Super LCD3 favorites: there's still a dull haze at wider viewing angles. Obviously the pixels are spread a little thinner than on the 5-inch Xperia Z, but it wasn't all that noticeable on gallery viewing and web browsing -- text was still pin-sharp. There's a single speaker on the bottom edge, unfortunately placed where your hand will hold the device, but aside from that misfire, the design is a step ahead of other big-screen smartphones, like the Galaxy Note II. Sony has dropped the reflective panelled edges, preferring a brush-finish plastic surface that we found easier to grip.

We're intrigued as to whether that 3,000mAh battery will go the distance with such a big screen, but we'll have to wait for the full review to test it out. For now, the Xperia Z Ultra looks like a confident third flagship for Sony and some free media in-the-box (and gratis Music Unlimited trial) might help the company showcase its music and movie offering -- something that it's desperate to do.

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Posted by Chris Holman at 4:55 PM 0 comments
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Thursday, October 3, 2013

This week on gdgt: MOGA Pro, Xbox One, Xperia Tablet Z

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Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their most recent picks. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.

This week on gdgt

MOGA Pro

Power A MOGA Pro

The original MOGA controller suffered from a lack of games, but with the MOGA Pro the library of compatible titles has come a long way, making this the controller to get for your Android gaming experience.
Buy from $49
Read reviews and more

Xperia Tablet Z

Sony Xperia Tablet Z

After some missteps in the past, Sony has finally produced a unit worthy of competing with the best Android tablets on the market. Sony has long left behind the folding design of the Tablet P in favor of a more standard form factor, and has thrown in some unique features including waterproofing that should make it your first choice as a poolside side companion.
Buy from $499
Read reviews and more

Xbox One

Should it be called the Xbox 180?

In this week's featured discussion, we ask whether Microsoft's flip-flop on some of the Xbox One's controversial features changes your opinion about the console. Will you consider buying one?
Discuss it here

hp chromebook

HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook

HP joins Acer and Samsung in the budget Chromebook family by going with a 14-inch display instead of 11 inches. It sells for $80 more than Samsung's current model, offering the same resolution on a larger display, which results in an overall less impressive display. It also has inferior battery life, making it unacceptable for those who need a mobile device on a budget.
Buy from $329
Read reviews and more

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Posted by Chris Holman at 12:18 PM 0 comments
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