Sony has started rolling out firmware update for the Xperia Z, ZL and ZR smartphones. This update is based upon Android 4.3 and brings with it several improvements to Bluetooth connectivity, battery, YouTube app and other software.
firmware rolling for #Xperia Z, ZL & ZR (Tablet Z eta next week) – brings BT connectivity, battery, YouTube app improvements & more— Sony Xperia News (@SonyMobileNews) February 7, 2014
The update will soon be available for the Xperia Tablet Z as well, with the ETA to be announced some time next week.
Source
Smartphone cameras have been improving at a rapid pace, and while the field owes credit to many, it is Nokia, and as of late -- Sony -- that are at the helm. Every year, we're treated to larger sensors, more and bigger pixels, larger apertures, OIS, and more features than we can count. But one thing has been missing for a long while now, and that's proper zoom. After all, many a situation necessitate that you either get closer, or miss the shot, and in those cases you're pretty much done for if you have to rely on the traditional digital zoom. Sure, the objects do appear closer, but the price is often a prohibitive loss of detail, as the images are upscaled to the desired resolution with no regard to the actual resolution. Well, thanks to the giant sensors on the Nokia Lumia 1020 and Sony Xperia Z1/Z1 Compact, zoom is no longer a problem. But instead of opting for bulky and noisy zoom lens (Galaxy S4 Zoom), they both rely on their massive resolution in order to get what we call 'lossless' zoom.
So what's lossless zoom, then? In simple terms, it means that zooming into a scene will only result in a negligible loss in quality. Think of it this way: if your camera shoots a picture in a RAW format, the resulting file will contain all the available information for the photo. But the file will be larger, which is why formats, such as JPEG are common -- they reduce the size of the file, but also the quality of the picture. JPEG is irreversibly 'lossy'. On the other hand, a format like PNG is considered 'lossless' -- information about your photo won't be sacrificed at the alter. Digital to lossless zoom is what JPEG is to PNG. Sort of. But how does it work in practice?
Starting with the Nokia 808 PureView, the fabled Finnish manufacturer has been increasing its lead in the camera department ever since. Equipped with a humongous 41-megapixel sensor, the 808 PV is still a beast to this date. As you can guess, much of the underlying tech behind the newer, Lumia 1020, was inherited from the 808. Lossless zoom is one of them. Some of you probably don't know this, but despite its massive sensor, the Lumia 1020 typically snaps 5-megapixel photos. Those are not comparable to your everyday 5-megapixel shooter, though, as they have been 'oversampled', meaning that you get 5 million 'super pixels'. These are created by combining information from neighboring pixels, and melding it into one, high-definition pixel. In result, stills are less blurry and noisy, and they're not as prone to artifacts.
But back to zoom -- it's only lossless because there is such an abundance of pixels, as we said -- 34MP/38MP in 16:9/4:3 aspect ratios, respectively. So, instead of upscaling when the level of zoom exceeds the set resolution, the Lumia 1020 can zoom up to x4 in Full HD, without any considerable loss in clarity. As there are less and less extra pixels available as you crank up the zoom, the level of oversampling goes down as you zoom farther and farther, until it reaches zero at x6 zoom in 720p, for example. No further lossless zooming is possible at that point, as the level of zoom will go beyond the capabilities of the sensor, and it'll have to upscale the shots, sacrificing detail. Best of all, since only the central part of the optics is being used during zooming, optical and geometric distortions, and vignetting, are all minimal.
We've talked quite a bit about Nokia, but that's only because the Sony Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact and their 20.7-megapixel G Sensor go for much the same approach. And while the Z1 snaps 8-megapixel shots by default, the massive resolution still allows it crank up the zoom up to x1.8 times, without any significant loss in clarity. So not as impressive, nor as potent, but still a noteworthy feature.
At the end of the day, while it's good to have the technical side of this down (especially if you're a self-proclaimed photography buff), all you really need to remember is that these two cameraphones will let you zoom into your chosen scene without any considerable drops in performance.
reference: Nokia [1], [2], Sony
As we told you earlier this year, Sony is the only FIFA 2014 World Cup official partner that manufactures phones. Its collaboration with FIFA allowed it to put the 2014 World Cup logo on the retail box of the newXperia Z1 Compact. But Sony also makes smartwatches, among other things, and that’s why it will launch a SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition soon.
The Sony SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition comes with a wrist band that features the colors of the Brazilian flag. As you probably already know, Brazil is where FIFA 2014 World Cup will take place starting June. Other than the yellow-green wrist band, the SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition seems to be similar to the original version.
It looks like the Sony SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition will be launched in the UK starting March. Alongside it, a Silver metal edition will also be available (obviously featuring a silver metal wrist band). Retailer Clove will sell both new SmartWatch 2 models for $215 (£132) each.
Like most of Sony’s latest smartphones, the SmartWatch 2 is water resistant (IP57). It offers a 1.6-inch transflective LCD screen with 220 x 176 pixels, NFC, Bluetooth 3.0, and a battery that should provide up to 3-4 days of "normal usage."
source: Clove via Xperia Blog
As we told you earlier this year, Sony is the only FIFA 2014 World Cup official partner that manufactures phones. Its collaboration with FIFA allowed it to put the 2014 World Cup logo on the retail box of the newXperia Z1 Compact. But Sony also makes smartwatches, among other things, and that’s why it will launch a SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition soon.
The Sony SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition comes with a wrist band that features the colors of the Brazilian flag. As you probably already know, Brazil is where FIFA 2014 World Cup will take place starting June. Other than the yellow-green wrist band, the SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition seems to be similar to the original version.
It looks like the Sony SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition will be launched in the UK starting March. Alongside it, a Silver metal edition will also be available (obviously featuring a silver metal wrist band). Retailer Clove will sell both new SmartWatch 2 models for $215 (£132) each.
Like most of Sony’s latest smartphones, the SmartWatch 2 is water resistant (IP57). It offers a 1.6-inch transflective LCD screen with 220 x 176 pixels, NFC, Bluetooth 3.0, and a battery that should provide up to 3-4 days of "normal usage."
source: Clove via Xperia Blog
As we told you earlier this year, Sony is the only FIFA 2014 World Cup official partner that manufactures phones. Its collaboration with FIFA allowed it to put the 2014 World Cup logo on the retail box of the newXperia Z1 Compact. But Sony also makes smartwatches, among other things, and that’s why it will launch a SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition soon.
The Sony SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition comes with a wrist band that features the colors of the Brazilian flag. As you probably already know, Brazil is where FIFA 2014 World Cup will take place starting June. Other than the yellow-green wrist band, the SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition seems to be similar to the original version.
It looks like the Sony SmartWatch 2 FIFA edition will be launched in the UK starting March. Alongside it, a Silver metal edition will also be available (obviously featuring a silver metal wrist band). Retailer Clove will sell both new SmartWatch 2 models for $215 (£132) each.
Like most of Sony’s latest smartphones, the SmartWatch 2 is water resistant (IP57). It offers a 1.6-inch transflective LCD screen with 220 x 176 pixels, NFC, Bluetooth 3.0, and a battery that should provide up to 3-4 days of "normal usage."
source: Clove via Xperia Blog
Shutterbugs who shunned traditional point-and-shoots in favor of Sony's QX10and QX100 lens cameras can now take even better images and videos. Thanks to a firmware upgrade, both smartphone lens attachments are now capable of recording clips with a higher resolution (1,920 x 1,080) than before (1,440 x 1,080). It also cranks up the clip-ons' max ISO settings from 1,600 to 3,200 on the QX10 and from 3,200 to 12,800 on the QX100, which is bound to please those especially fond of nighttime photography. Other than these two feature boosts, folks with the more expensive QX100 get an extra shutter speed mode for their devices. Unfortunately, users can't upgrade over their phones and will have to download the firmware on a Windows (XP/Vista/7/8) or a Mac computer.
SOURCE: Sony (for Mac), Sony (for Win XP/Vista/7/8)
According to Vodafone Australia, Sony’s Xperia M smartphone could be updated to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean in the (near?) future. The carrier posted a list of upcoming updates for some of the smartphones that it’s selling, saying that the Xperia M should receive Android 4.3, as testing for this OS build has been already "scheduled."
Vodafone Australia’s Xperia M is the C190x model - the single SIM version of the handset, which at the moment runs Android 4.1.2. The dual SIM model, C200x, is already running Android 4.2, and we’re assuming that it, too, will get 4.3 at some point.
Vodafone also seems to confirm that 4.3 Jelly Bean updates for the Sony Xperia SP and TX are coming soon - just as we reported not long ago.
The Xperia M is currently widely available around the world. You can even buy it in the US, via the official Sony Store, where it costs $229.99 (unlocked, available in four color versions: black, white, purple and yellow).
source: Vodafone Australia via Xperia Blog
Whether you like it or not, tablet photography is here to stay -- it's only fair that slate owners get a fair chance at taking nice pictures. Sony certainly thinks so, since it has unveiled a new mount, the SPA-TA1, that attaches its QX lens camerasto tablets. The peripheral isn't just for small devices, either; it includes six adjustable arms that accommodate larger hardware, like the Xperia Tablet Z andVAIO Tap 11. Sony ships the camera accessory to Japan this April for a suggested price of ¥3,675 ($36). There's no word of a US release, but we wouldn't rule out an eventual stateside launc
Sony launched an official camera attachment case for its Xperia Z1 f in Japan. Called SPA-ACX4, the case costs about $29, and allows users to attach any of the QX10 or QX100 lens-style cameras to the handset. The Xperia Z1 f is the Japanese version of the water-resistant Xperia Z1 Compact, having the same size and specs, so we’re expecting the Compact to get the SPA-ACX4 case as well.
Announced by Sony in September, the QX10 and QX100 lens-style cameras are especially made to be paired with smartphones (they even work with Apple’s iPhone), turning them into more advanced cameras. The QX10 costs $248, featuring 10x optical zoom, while the QX100 costs $498, offering a very large 1-inch 20.2 MP Exmor R sensor with Carl Zeiss f/1.8 lens and 3.6x optical zoom - these are DSLR-like features.
As for the Xperia Z1 Compact itself, this should be released around the world starting early February, costing around $500 unlocked. Our Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review shows that the Japanese company really nailed it with this handset. It seems to be the best mini smartphone released until now - and it’s no wonder, since it’s as powerful as the larger, critically-acclaimed Xperia Z1.
Sony SPA-ACX4 for the Xperia Z1 f / Xperia Z1 CompactFullscreen
From the first time we heard about the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, it was seen as a device that was clearly pushing the boundaries of the term "phablet". Most phablets haven't attempted to go much higher than 6-inches, but the Xperia Z Ultra features a 6.4-inch display and its footprint looks closer to a 7-inch tablet than a 6-inch phablet. Now, the device has officially gone over to the tablet world.
There had been rumors about Sony prepping a Wi-Fi only version of the Xperia Z Ultra, and it has become a reality. The Wi-Fi only model of the device will officially go on sale in Japan this Friday, January 24th. The device will sell for ¥52,000 (~$499), and it won't be alone on shelves. Sony has also launched an LTE-enabled version of the device on Japanese carrier KDDI.
The tablet version of the Xperia Z Ultra features all of the specs that you'd expect, including the noted 6.4-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 800 chipset, 2GB of RAM, and an 8MP rear camera. Of course, one thing that made the device feel more like a tablet than a phablet was that alongside that 8MP camera, there is no flash on the device, which is something of a disappointment.
source: Sony Japan via GSMArena
Sony D6503 Sirius details are leaking as if we are very close to unveiling, which leads us to the thought we might indeed see it appear at the MWC expo next month, just as rumored. We saw it earlier next to the Xperia Z1, and now we get screenshots of its Timescape interface, sitting on top of Android 4.4.2 KitKat.
The screens reveal that new features are in store with Sony's upcoming flagship refresh - 4K video recording from the 20 MP camera gets confirmed, as was rumored before, as well as a Glove mode for the screen, meaning you can operate it out on the ski lift, like any self-respecting Lumia these days. In the Storage settings we are also seeing that the phone will sport 16 GB of internal memory, plus a microSD slot for expansion, just as expected.
There are numerous other tweaks like another homescreen option for visually impaired, smart backlight control, USB DAC control, notification and quick settings tabs in the status bar, as well as a whole lot of transparencies and full-screen wallpapers, brought along by KitKat.
The USB amp option should be a hint that Sony has some plans for the Sirius to be a music-oriented handset, not only a cameraphone, and looking at the leaked pics of the actual device below, we are seeing two front speakers, not one, which are most likely stereo, like the HTC One pieces. One sits just above the LED notification light, the other is at the bottom, over what looks sophisticated noise-canceling mic setup at the bottom of the phone. Plenty to look forward to in Sony D6503 Sirius, it seems, and it might even be worthy of being called the Z2, if all these rumors pan out, especially if it arrives with a QHD panel.
Sony’s unannounced D6503 appeared in some leaked photos over the weekend, this suggesting that the Japanese company may officially unveil the smartphone soon.
Today, XperiaBlog reportedly confirmed some of the features of the upcoming handset, also noting that this is the same device previously rumored to be codenamed Xperia Sirius. According to the blog, it’s been confirmed that the D6503 / Sirius features: a 5.2-inch display with 1080 x 1920 pixels, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 MSM-8974-AB processor (which may also be included in HTC’s rumored One+ / M8), Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB of RAM, a 20.7MP rear camera, and a 2.1MP camera on the front.
We still don’t know if the D6503 / Sirius will be called Xperia Z2. Sony might announce the new handset at MWC next month, possibly alongside the 5-inch Xperia Canopus.
Some screenshots allegedly presenting the UI of the D6503 were posted by XperiaBlog, as well as in a thread at the XDA Developers forum. It’s said that the screenshots date from November 2013 - that’s why they show Android 4.3 Jelly Bean running on the device. But the handset should run Android 4.4.2 KitKat at launch, so the UI will be different. You can see the screenshots below.
Sony D6503 / Sirius UI screenshotsFullscreen
Sony has just announced at CES 2014 the Xperia Z1S and Xperia Z1 Compact, both based on the company's flagship smartphone. Now it seems that a new model, currently called the Sony D6503, is on the way and also bears some resemblance to the Xperia Z1, with a few minor alterations.
The Sony Xperia Z1 represents the electronics manufacturer's current highest standards for a smartphone, not only in terms of hardware and software but also in design. And it seems to work quite well for consumers so it is no wonder that Sony would want to play around with that a little bit longer. The Xperia Z1S is practically the same Xperia Z1, with a new name and marketed exclusively to T-Mobile subscribers in the US. The Xperia Z1 Compact, on the other hand, is pretty much a miniature Xperia Z1.
Much of this rumored Sony D6503 is still a mystery but, based on this set of leaked photos, it seems to continue the tradition of using the Xperia Z1 design. You even have the dedicated camera shutter button that Sony has revived in its flagship. There are, however, a few key differences, particularly on the location of some of the slots on the sides.
On the left side of the device are the SIM card slot and USB port. Both openings are covered by a single magnetic flap. On the right side one will have access to the microSD card slot, also covered by a magnetic flap. In contrast, the Xperia Z1's SIM card is located on the right side alone, while the left side houses the USB port and the microSD card slot, each possessing its own flap cover. Whether this new arrangement makes sense remains to be seen.
Another key difference is that the Sony D6503 is said to have a larger 5.2-inch display, but the pixel resolution is still unknown at this time. It is also believed to have the same 20.7 megapixel rear camera also found on the Xperia Z1. The Sony D6503 is expected to also be thinner than the 8.5 mm of the Xperia Z1, though we'll have to wait for an actual device to verify that claim.
Sony's theme for its CES press event was "Play" and part of the fun was a smart tennis sensor that adds vibrational and gyro detection to your racket, linking up with your smartphone through Bluetooth to offer up improvement suggestions and surprisingly deep information on your racket game. While we got in a few serves and forehands right after the event, the announcement, like its incomingCore life-logging / wearable sensor, was a broad one. A spokesperson told us back in Vegas that Sony hadn't yet decided on a concrete name, let alone a price or release date. Well, Sony had plenty of answers at today's press event, announcing at a tennis club near its Shinagawa HQ that the sensor would launch (at least, in Japan) this May, priced at 18,000 yen ($175).
We'll admit, we had some suspicions that Sony's Smart Tennis Sensor might never arrive in the real world (the demonstration area wasn't that far away from a row of conceptual smart glasses), but it seems that Sony's taking this new possible market pretty seriously. The sensor will launch compatible with around six Yonex EZone and VCore tennis rackets, with more models promised after launch. At the moment, you'll need a dedicated sensor for each player: if your buddy uses your racket, their data will be folded into yours, but the team added that this is something that they'll be working on in the future.
Sony has also readied a companion app on both iOS and Android to launch alongside the sensor hardware when it arrives in late May. The app, alongside displaying stats and heat maps of where the ball hits the racket, will also be able to record a video of your earth-shattering serve and replay it alongside the metrics captured by the sensor. Maybe that ace wasn't quite so earth-shattering. We've added Engadget editor Michael Gorman's attempts right after the break.
At CES, Sony announced a special version of the international Xperia Z1, called the Xperia Z1S for T-Mobile in US. While on surface, the two phones seem nearly identical, except for minor differences such as 32GB of storage space instead of 16GB, turns out there is one more important change under the hood that you won't see on a spec sheet.
According to various sources, the Xperia Z1S comes with a locked bootloader. While that itself is not a big deal, the bootloader on the Z1S cannot be unlocked. The international Z1, on the other hand, lets you unlock the bootloader in a few simple steps. The request to make the bootloader unlockable was apparently at T-Mobile's request.
This is rather unfortunate as it will make flashing custom ROMs rather difficult. If that's something you want, you should consider getting your hands on the international model.
A lot of products come out each week — we don't highlight all of them, but all of them make it into The Verge Database. In Spec Sheet, a weekly series, we survey the latest product entries to keep track of the state of the art.Sony may have put out an exciting new Xperia smartphone just last week, but it seems that wasn't enough for it. This week it came back with a new pair of devices, the Xperia E1 and the Xperia T2 Ultra, two stylish smartphones aimed at emerging markets. But Sony isn't the only manufacturer that's been releasing lower-cost phones recently. Lenovo and Archos both unveiled a series of devices headed to various locations across the globe, all offering quite a bit at bargain prices. We're taking a look across this group of recent phones to see which manufacturer has the best offering at each size.
Click above for full available specs on all six phones
LTE HAS BECOME A DEFINING FACTOR AMONG LOWER-COST PHONES
Both Sony and Lenovo are releasing large phones with 6-inch displays — Sony the Xperia T2 Ultra, and Lenovo the S930. The devices are fairly comparable on paper, with 1GB of RAM, 720p displays, and quad-core processors running at 1.4 and 1.3GHz respectively. Those processors set them a bit further apart than numbers suggest though. Sony is using a Snapdragon 400 series processor — an older line, but one known for fine performance — while Lenovo is using a processor from MediaTek, which are generally only found in lower-end phones.
There's another big difference between the two phones thanks to those processors: the Xperia T2 Ultra supports LTE, while the S930 does just 3G. Above all else, that gives Sony's phone a distinct edge here — though since Sony hasn't released exact pricing, it's hard to say how clear cut any decision between the two would be. There's a good chance that Sony's phone will be more expensive though. Sony suggests that the T2 Ultra will be priced for the mid-range, rather than than low end, and at $319, Lenovo's S930 lands on the more affordable side of the fence.
While Sony skipped the 5-inch size in its announcement this week, Lenovo and Archos both addressed it recently. Unfortunately for Lenovo, it falls into the same trap here. Archos' 50 Helium is using the same Qualcomm processor that Sony's Xperia T2 Ultra uses, so it's able to support LTE even while costing just $249.99. That puts Lenovo's 5-inch A859 in the very same spot that its larger phone is against Sony: having fairly comparable specs, bearing a slightly lower price, but falling far short due to its lack of LTE.
The final pair of devices puts Archos' 4.5-inch 45 Helium against Sony's 4-inch Xperia E1. Unfortunately, Sony isn't giving this small phone quite as much power as the other device it announced this week, leaving the Xperia E1 with a still-unspecified 1.2GHz processor and without LTE. It has half as much RAM as the 45 Helium too, though their near-identical screen resolutions gives Sony's phone a slight edge when it comes to pixel density. Otherwise, the 45 Helium likely has a lot more going for it. It includes LTE, and is selling for $199.99, while Sony is again planning to price its phone for the mid-range.
Even if these phones aren't at the pinnacle of their field, they're far from being made up of years-old scraps. It's clear that low-cost phones are becoming more and more attractive as LTE works its way down in cost — and this year, that's likely to make its way into a whole lot more phones.
Zoom has launched a new camcorder targeted at musicians wanting their audio to be just as good as their video, the Q4, complete with a flip-up X/Y microphone that records up to 24-bit/96k stereo along with 1080/60p footage. Running for around 2-3 hours on a full charge, the Q4 has a detachable color LCD and easily-accessed physical controls for gain level, switchable low-cut filter, and headphone levels.
Up front is an f/2.8, 22mm wide-angle, 130-degree lens, with the sensor having three modes - auto, concert, and night - depending on the shooting environment. Storage is courtesy of an SDXC memory card slot - up to 128GB - and audio can be switched between uncompressed WAV or AAC for extending the capacity at the cost of quality.
Connectivity includes a mini-HDMI output, miniUSB, external stereo microphone input, and a headphone jack. The Q4 can also be used as a USB camera for live-streaming or even Skype, or indeed as a USB microphone, including direct into Apple's iPad if you have the Camera Connection Kit.
It's not too far removed from what we saw in Sony's Music Video Recorder, itself a palm-sized camcorder promising high-quality audio to go with Full HD video recording. The main differences are in the screen - the Zoom's is removable, and folds out - and the arrangement of the microphone, which on the Q4 pops up at the back, while on the Sony it's slung underneath the lens in a protective cage.
The Zoom Q4 is on sale now, priced at $299.99; in the box you get a hairy windscreen for the microphone. Optional extras include a guitar head mount, mic stand mount, and a water-resistant jacket.
A report out of China, published on Friday, shows an image that purportedly reveals the back cover for the Sony Xperia Z2, code named Sirius. The source of the photograph is said to be someone working in Sony's R&D department. The picture was accompanied by a short list of specs. According to the Sony insider, the phone will feature a 5.3 inch screen, be equipped with a 23MP rear-facing camera, and is expected to be offered in 5 colors.
The picture, if legitimate, reveals that Sony is moving away from the glass backs that it has been using on its high end models. Instead, it would appear that the Japanese OEM is using a metallic or carbon fiber material for the rear panel. The rumor also comes with a possible launch date, which is listed as next month. That would seem to indicate that we will see the Sony Xperia Z2 in February at MWC.
Picture allegedly reveals images of the Sony Xperia Z2 back cover
Thanks, Anonymous Tipster!
source: Digi-wo (translated) via gforgames
Even though Sony didn't shed any light on the pricing and availability of the newly announced affordable Xperia E1 and mid-range phablet Xperia T2 Ultra, some information on their UK arrival became available.
According to a UK retailer's inside source, the Xperia E1 will be hitting the shelves across Britain in March. Sony Xperia E1 is already available for pre-order in Germany and it should go for €139 for the single-SIM model, and €149 for the dual-SIM version. This means the UK price should be around £120 or less.
The Sony Xperia T2 Ultra hasn't popped up yet on any retailer for pre-order, but rumor has it that the phablet won't cost more than €400 (about £330). According to the same inside source, the Xperia T2 Ultra will hit the UK in April.
So, the premieres of both gadgets are upon us, though we hope Sony comes up with better pricing for the Xperia T2 Ultra phablet. The already available, better equipped Xperia Z Ultra costs about €470 which isn't far off Xperia T2 Ultra's projected price tag.
