A note from a Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) exec through Facebook has revealed that, at least in Italy, the upcoming X2 will be priced at around 590 to 600 Euros (or between $US 865 and 880). Even for the upper crust of smartphones, that’s a pretty steep price tag, outdoing even the Touch Pro 2, but when you compare the specs, the X2 really only has bragging rights with the 8.1 megapixel camera. If money’s no object, the announcement said we can expect the X2 to hit store shelves in early fourth quarter.
Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) is going to announce something on Monday, September 21 at 10:00 GMT. The URL for the webcast is http://www.sonyericsson.com/putyourearsincontrol/ so I’m assuming this is some new mobile phone that ships with a pair of Bluetooth headphones. I could be wrong, any guesses?
Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) seems to be experimenting with unlimited music download service in the Netherlands. Along with the local branch of T-Mobile (NYSE: DT), the Swedish-Japanese handset manufacturer has launched PlayNow Plus, a buffet service which users can get for 9.95 EUR a month when paired with some data plan (starting at 9.95 EUR, as well). Sony Ericsson’s sexy W995 Walkman slider is picked as a testing device, and along with a purchase, you get 6 months to trial PlayNow Plus. The question what happens with your music collection after your subscription ends remains in the air, as well as whether you can transfer the songs downloaded over the air to your computer and elsewhere…
Some manufacturers are plum excited about the new version of Windows Mobile coming out in early October, but those dwindling numbers are apparently deterring others. According to the trusted head of Mobile-review, due to the projections for Windows Mobile, the X2 may very well be the last Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) smartphone to use Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)’s mobile OS. SE’s interest in Android is palpable, given the X3 XPERIA (a.k.a. Rachael), and the Satio is powered by S60, so there’s no shortage of alternatives. As for what will happen with the UI, it’s hard to believe the video of Rachael, since an SDK for the established Panels was just released, so who knows how future devices will be skinned. WinMo’s not dead yet, in any case – we have no hard and fast evidence of the move, and at very least 6.5 will be finding its way to the original XPERIA.
Windows Mobile 6.5 is looming for an early October release, alongside a slew ofnew devices to kick off the update, but older hardware will also be able to pick up the new operating system. itje, an active member on xda-developers, has claimed that he got his hands on an official Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM for the original Xperia X1, which hosts some drivers from the X2, as well as OEM drivers, “new XIP (real x1 nk), and new netcf 3.7 (final)”. What sets this apart from the ROMs that have been cooked up in the past with available Windows Mobile 6.5 assets by third parties, is that this one is fully official and will be publicly available shortly. Apparently the 2D rendering is spectacular on the new software – if you’ve got a mind for that sort of thing, check out the benchmark results, or these ones with Spb, just keep in mind that the numbers don’t always tell the whole story. There aren’t any new panels to be found in this particular software, but it might be made available prior to a release from Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) – we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled.
While most handset makers are in a rush to shove as many features as possible inside their devices just to add a few more bulletin points to their specification sheets, Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) is trying something new and making a phone that literally is good for nothing except calling and texting people. Some think this is madness. I think this is brilliance. While Sony Ericsson may not have announced the price of this device, it is attached to the XPERIA portfolio of devices so expect to chop off your right arm and slaughter your first born. For more pictures of the Pureness, make sure to check out Will’s blog post from last week.
We thought Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE)’s XPERIA lineup of mobile phones was going to be reserved for the highest-end handsets packed with the best features Sony Ericsson has to offer. And, with good reason – Sony Ericsson said as much at Mobile World Congress 2008. Nevertheless, Sony Ericsson is apparently using their XPERIA brand to push flagship devices from every corner of their handset portfolio, including fashion-phones. Sony Ericsson has just unveiled the XPERIA Pureness as the company’s new flagship high-style device. The XPERIA Pureness doesn’t sport smartphones features like the XPERIA X2, instead, it focuses its sleek industrial design on “talk, text, time.” The idea is to give customers “a holiday from technology.”
The XPERIA Pureness features a transparent monochrome display that exudes a lower-tech-higher-style philosophy. The complete feature-set isn’t known, but we do know that the Pureness will support quad-band GSM/EDGE networks and supports Bluetooth. A camera module is also expected to be offered as an add-on attachment.
Expect to see the high-style XPERIA Pureness hitting select retail channels in key cities around the world sometime in November 2009.
In somewhat of an odd collaboration, Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) and Ed Hardy have joined magnificent forces to produce the Sony Ericsson W595 ‘Ed Hardy’ Edition. There’s nothing real new here on this W595 (still packs the 3.2MP camera, QVGA display, etc.), the only difference being the Ed Hardy livery gracing the outer case.
If you’re into this kinda thing, cool. The W595 Ed Hardy is currently on pre-order at the Carphone Warehouse division of mobiles.co.uk. I’ll keep an eye out for an official launch for you… But I have a feeling it should arrive real soon.
Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) Aino, the multimedia device that was announced alongside two other SE phones – Satio (Idou) and Yari, has been approved by the FCC. Best of all, we’re talking about the version of the handset with all the right bands to sing along AT&T (NYSE: T)’s 3G network. Needless to say, the same version will work on Rogers (NYSE: RCI) Wireless’ network in Canada, as well.
Aside from 3G connectivity, Aino also prides itself with a large 3-inch 240×432 pixels touchscreen, WiFi, GPS, and an 8-megapixel camera. In that sense, it’s quite a capable device and we’ve no doubts, if priced correctly, it will sell like hot cupcakes. That’s in case AT&T picks it up, of course, and we hope they will.
With the unveiling of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2, the Swedish-Japanese handset maker has launched the Panel SDK to encourage developers to do what they do best for Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE)’s Panel UI. Using the Panel SDK, which includes a tool called “Panelizer,” developers can turn their mobile app into homescreen panel’s for the XPERIA X2 at the click of a button.
Panelizer allows devs to turn “Flash, Java and Windows Mobile applications into” the homescreen panels that we’ve come to love on the XPERIA X1 and now on the X2. There’s also a “a native software development kit which allows developers to be the first to create panels for the Windows Mobile 6.5 platform.”
Apps that get accepted as panels will find a new home in Sony Ericsson’s app market, dubbed the PlayNow Arena. That will allow devs to get their wares out to Sony Ericsson’s global customer-base.
Interested? Here’s how you submit your app to become a Sony Ericsson Panel:
Developers can submit their applications by following these simple steps:
Go to Sony Ericsson’s Developer World website http://developer.sonyericsson.com
Download the Panel SDK and follow the short Panel SDK tutorial
Go to http://submit.sonyericsson.com and upload ‘Panelized’ applications
Within 30 days the submission approval process will be complete. Successful applications are automatically available for wider usage on PlayNow™ arena.
A note from a Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) exec through Facebook has revealed that, at least in Italy, the upcoming X2 will be priced at around 590 to 600 Euros (or between $US 865 and 880). Even for the upper crust of smartphones, that’s a pretty steep price tag, outdoing even the Touch Pro 2, but when you compare the specs, the X2 really only has bragging rights with the 8.1 megapixel camera. If money’s no object, the announcement said we can expect the X2 to hit store shelves in early fourth quarter.
Some manufacturers are 
Windows Mobile 6.5 is looming for an 
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