Press Releases

The official excuse from Sony Ericssson on the X10 software upgrade

The below is a statement released by Sony Ericsson regarding when the X10 will be eligible for an upgrade to Android 2.1

“Thanks for your patience concerning more information about software upgrades.
UXP (UX platform) is the strategic framework for the core of Sony Ericsson’s portfolio. The XperiaT X10 family of phones (XperiaT X10, XperiaT X10 mini and XperiaT X10 mini pro) are the first products to deliver this unique user interface layer to the market. UXP builds on top of the Android OS and brings together a rich graphical user interface, unrivalled service plug-ins and content from external partners to deliver unique consumer propositions such as Sony Ericsson’s signature applications Mediascape and TimescapeT. Through UXP consumers get the best of two worlds, leveraging Sony Ericsson heritage as a leader in communication entertainment and the benefits that the generic Android OS delivers. With UXP Sony Ericsson gives consumers additional value in comparison to generic Android handsets. Sony Ericsson’s strategy is to continue to enrich the UXP layer through software updates.

Some examples of user benefits that will be included in the UXP upgrade for XperiaT X10 in Q4 2010 are:
– Upgrade to Android OS version 2.1
– HD video recording as per the same execution as Sony Ericsson VivazT
– Wireless home connectivity via DLNA
– Improvements to signature applications TimescapeT and Mediascape to make them even smarter and richer

The upgrade will be made available to consumers through the update service at www.sonyericsson.com

I do appreciate that the timing for the upgrade above might not meet some of your expectations and that you will have further detailed questions. I will take them onboard reading your comments and address questions as soon as it is possible for me to share further details.

I would also like to emphasise that there will be an additional smaller software update, already in the next couple of weeks aiming to enhance the usability and performance of XperiaT X10. In the next post, I will share more details and precise timings for when this update will be released.

We can also confirm that the XperiaT X10 mini and XperiaT X10 mini pro will be upgraded to Android version 2.1, during Q4 2010.

More details with regards to the specific components of the UXP upgrade will be shared over time through official Sony Ericsson channels including this blog.

Please use our forum to vent your frustration!!!

Posted by: James

Ovi Maps in your Own Voice

Nokia today announces the launch of Own Voice for Ovi Maps, a free app from Ovi store, which allows people to personalise the voice that gives them turn-by-turn instructions when using Ovi Maps drive navigation.

The Own Voice app lets you create a new voice pack, taking you through each step of the process. Find a quiet space to record, then let the app take you through each of the 53 required commands including the penultimate "You have reached your destination". When you’re done recording, you simply add your name, save and the voice pack is uploaded to the Own Voice website meaning that others can also choose your voice to direct them en route.

With 10 million downloads of Ovi Maps already on devices, there’s sure to be no shortage of voices to choose from. The app lets you browse new voice packs by popularity and by recommendation. Own Voice also lets people share voice packs by Facebook and Twitter and if you find one you really like (or hate) then you can rate it.

Rupert Englander, Head of Services, Nokia UK, commented: “Nokia continues to redefine the mobile navigation market by bringing free walk and drive navigation to millions of people around the world. Many of us have a love-hate relationship with our sat nav and being able to record or choose a voice that you love is a great way to make Ovi Maps fun to use.

Own Voice is available as a free download from the Ovi Store http://store.ovi.com/content/34132
Own Voice for Ovi Maps is available only in English and is compatible with all Nokia devices which support the new version of Ovi Maps (3.03) including Nokia 5800, Nokia X6, Nokia E72, Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini and all upcoming GPS-enabled smartphones.

Walk and drive navigation is free on Nokia smartphones as part of a new version of Ovi Maps, available for download at www.nokia.com/maps. Nokia’s mapping and navigation software has been specifically designed for mobile use and is based on unique hybrid technology. The new version of Ovi Maps includes all essential car and pedestrian navigation features, such as turn-by-turn voice guidance for 74 countries in 46 languages, and traffic information for over 10 countries, as well as detailed maps for over 180 countries.

More information on “Own Voice for Ovi Maps” can be found from www.ovi.com/ownvoice

Posted by: James

T-Mobile USA announces the myTouch 3G Slide

Here’s another device made for T-Mobile by HTC, the myTouch 3G Slide. I can’t confirm at this moment in time if this new 2.1 Android device will grace our shores over here in the UK but in the mean time we can just look on and envy.  

Designed by HTC exclusively for T-Mobile, the myTouch 3G Slide features a 3.4-inch HVGA touch- screen display with virtual keyboard as well as a roomy, slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Less than 15mm thick, the elegant design slides easily into your pocket proving that Android brains don’t have to come in a sci-fi box. The myTouch 3G Slide also features a 5-megapixel camera, a music player with a pre-installed 8GB microSD memory card, and enhanced video capabilities to make it easy for users to record and share pictures and videos, whether via e-mail, MMS or one-click upload to sites such as YouTubeTM and PicasaTM.

Specs are pretty sweet. Read the full T-Mobile press release after the break.

Android-Powered Vodafone 845 Coming Soon To Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK is already offering some of the hottest Android-powered smartphones of the year, and customers will soon have even more choice available with the launch of the Vodafone 845.

The Vodafone 845, demonstrated here by Vodafone UK’s eForum team, is the first Vodafone-branded handset to be based on Google’s Android platform and will offer an outstanding experience and great value on the UK’s best network.

The high spec, low cost Vodafone 845 runs on Éclair, the latest version of the Android platform, and will give users access to thousands of free apps on the Android Marketplace. It will also be pre-loaded with Vodafone 360 apps, giving users access to unique services such as Vodafone Music and MyWeb.

The device itself has a 2.8″ screen, offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and 3G/HSDPA connectivity, and features a 3.2MP camera and 500MB of memory as standard.

The Vodafone 845 is the latest addition to an extensive range of Android-based devices already available through Vodafone, which includes the HTC Desire, Sony Ericsson X10 and the HTC Legend, which is available exclusively through Vodafone in the UK. With the Google Nexus One just around the corner, Vodafone UK will be able to offer an Android device to suit everybody.

For more information and to register for updates, visit: http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobile-phone/vodafone-845

Posted by: James

WORLD’S LEADING SMARTPHONE MANUFACTURER LAUNCHES NEW SYMBIAN 3 DEVICE

The Nokia N8 is the First Device Based on Symbian’s Innovative New Platform.

SAN FRANCISCO AND LONDON – 27 APRIL, 2010: Symbian today announced that Nokia Corporation, the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer, has chosen the Symbian^3 (S^3) platform to power its new Nokia N8 device.  Nokia is the first device manufacturer to showcase S^3, Symbian’s first platform release following the ground-breaking transition to fully open source in February this year.

The Nokia N8 takes full advantage of the S^3 platform, offering major advances including: multiple, personalized home screens, usability enhancements, including single tap and multi-touch gesture support, a faster and more responsive user interface with smooth transitions and improved look-and-feel, and more efficient memory management, enabling even faster multi-tasking on the device.

RIM Introduces the New BlackBerry Pearl 3G Smartphone

26^th April 2010: Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the new BlackBerry® PearlT 3G, the smallest BlackBerry® smartphone yet. Despite its impressively compact and elegant design, this stylish new handset is a powerful 3G BlackBerry smartphone with uncompromising performance and top-of-the-line features, including all the industry-leading BlackBerry® email, messaging and social networking capabilities that so many people love.

“The BlackBerry Pearl 3G is unlike any other smartphone in the world and we expect a broad range of new and existing customers will be drawn to its powerful features and compact design,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “Considering the fast growing consumer interest in smartphones and the fact that more than three-quarters of the people in the global mobile phone market are still buying handsets with a traditional alphanumeric keypad, we think the new BlackBerry Pearl 3G addresses a substantial market opportunity. It allows consumers to upgrade their traditional mobile phone to a full-featured, easy-to-use and fashionable 3G BlackBerry smartphone that supports BlackBerry Messenger and many other apps while maintaining a handset design and layout that is familiar and comfortable.“

Best Buy goes green

With Best Buy opening its first store at Thurrock on Monday they are also launching the green tech selection.

Best Buy is re-defining consumer electronics retailing in the UK by today revealing its new area in-store dedicated to energy saving and green, energy efficient technology. This “GreenTech” area will showcase everything from energy management products to solar chargers and even electric vehicles – a first for any UK consumer electronics retailer.

mykindofphone from Microsoft – Exclusive!

Today Microsoft will launch a new website called mykindofphone.com

The new site is all about how people are injecting their personality into their mobile phones to make it uniquely their own.

My kind of phone is all about sharing and celebrating the inspiring ways people are personalising their phones, especially in the areas of mobile photography, gaming and music.  On the site you’ll find photos, videos and stories that we find interesting, quirky and cool, from phone cases, photography and screen layouts, to music, photography and gaming. We’ll be scouring the web daily for the most interesting and unique ways people make their phone ‘my kind of phone’.

Readers will be able to connect to my kind of phone by following 8 social media sites: Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Posterous, Windows Live, Delicious, Upcoming and Facebook.

Microsoft are also asking for tips or ideas on what readers want to see featured on the site, so readers can send their tips to [email protected] and we’ll be featuring the best entries.

This news is hot off the press and we are the first to announce it so I am heading off to My kind of phone is all about sharing and celebrating the inspiring ways people are personalising their phones, especially in the areas of mobile photography, gaming and music. On the site you’ll find photos, videos and stories that we find interesting, quirky and cool, from phone cases, photography and screen layouts, to music, photography and gaming. We’ll be scouring the web daily for the most interesting and unique ways people make their phone ‘my kind of phone’. mykindofphone.com right now to check it out. I will let you know what I think on the forum. Meet me there!

Posted by: James

Orange HTC Desire Update

We published a post about the HTC Desire on Orange a little while ago but unfortunately no details have appeared on the Orange website yet. 

Due to high demand for the Desire there has been very limited stock available in Orange stores, through Telesales and through Upgrades. If you got one you are lucky! I am reliably informed that the HTC Desire should appear on the Orange website either at the weekend or by early next week .

The official word from Orange is as follow:

"Due to an unprecedented high demand for the HTC Desire on Orange, we are experiencing some delays in delivering the handset across all our channels. We are currently working to fix this as a matter of priority and expect the Desire to be available across all channels shortly. Orange would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience this has caused."

This device has been so popular but pretty much every network and supplier has had some sort of delay over the past few weeks.

Remember Orange have the black version coming soon too. We will let you know when.

Posted by: James

Two New Sony Ericsson Walkman Phones

Sony Ericsson’s next generation of WalkmanT phones, offer an affordable entry point into Sony Ericsson’s Communication Entertainment portfolio

April 13, 2010 – London – Sony Ericsson today announces a new duo which continues the iconic award-winning* Sony Ericsson Walkman phone legacy. With more than 130 million Walkman phones sold worldwide, Sony Ericsson now adds two affordable Walkman phones to its portfolio – without compromising on features.

Sony Ericsson Zylo and Sony Ericsson Spiro provide consumers with the best music experience they have come to expect from Walkman phones but go one step further and marry music with social networking. From Twitter to Facebook, consumers can catch up with friends at just a touch of a button while still listening to their favourite music on the Walkman player. Another key function available on both phones is TrackID – which allows consumers to access the name and artist of a track they hear playing wherever they are. This function has proved popular with music lovers world-wide with 129 million TrackID lookups in 2009 alone.