Android Open Source Project targets Sony Xperia S, wants to get experimental

Android Open Source Project targets Sony Xperia S, wants to get experimental

The Android Open Source Project has typically (and understandably) been a very Nexus-focused affair -- until now that is. Technical Lead for the AOSP, Jean-Baptiste Queru, announced this week that for a "new challenge" he'd like to target new hardware -- and Sony's Xperia S is the lucky benefactor. The choice of hardware is said to be due to it being a powerful, current device with an unlockable bootloader, with Queru noting that Sony has always been kind to the project. There's not a lot in the git project right now, but Queru appears keen to rally support from developers to get the ball rolling. Wondering how this might differ from CyanogenMod's device targets? Where CM might have a focus on stability, Queru believes that AOSP will head in a more experimental "bleeding edge" direction. Sound like something you can get behind? Head on over to the source for more info.

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Android Open Source Project targets Sony Xperia S, wants to get experimental originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 11:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Xperia S gets a Dark Silver wardrobe, no release date

Sony Xperia S gets a Dark Silver wardrobe, no release date

If you're the media-hungry type sold on Sony's first smartphone in the post-Ericsson era but felt the standard black or white color choices didn't quite fit your style, how about something in between? Sony's outed a new color for its Xperia S, "Dark Silver" -- although we'd say it's closer to grey than the precious metal moniker suggests. There are no changes to anything but the plastic here, so you'll still be getting the same Ice Cream Sandwich device with an impressive display. If you're planning an upgrade soon and the Dark Silver edition is floating your boat, we're sorry to say availability info is absent from Sony's reveal, but we would expect the option to find its way to retailers before too long.

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Sony Xperia S gets a Dark Silver wardrobe, no release date originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget’s first UK Giveaway: win one of three Sony Xperia S phones!

Engadget's first UK Giveaway win one of three Sony Xperia S'

You asked, you pined and here it is -- welcome to our first (but certainly not last) UK competition. To kick off proceedings, we have three of Sony's latest flagship, the Xperia S, to offer up to our readers on the eastern side of the Atlantic. As it's our first competition for Britons, we advise that you read up on the rules after the break, then just leave a comment below to enter.

Unfortunately, the adorable robot isn't up for grabs in our giveaway (we asked), but if you manage to track down a similar automaton around the UK, Sony's running a separate contest where you can net a free Xperia U in exchange -- visit the more coverage links for hints. Good luck!

Continue reading Engadget's first UK Giveaway: win one of three Sony Xperia S phones!

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Engadget's first UK Giveaway: win one of three Sony Xperia S phones! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Xperia NXT series available now unlocked for US tastes

Sony Xperia NXT series available now unlocked for US tastes

The waiting is the hardest part -- just ask stateside fans of the Xperia NXT series. But in a welcome change of fortune, Sony's breaking down international borders and making its Android trio available unlocked for American mitts. Interested parties can hit up Sony stores or visit the usual online mega retailers now to snag the 12-megapixel-toting Xperia S, WhiteMagic-y P and wee U for $560, $480 and $300, respectively. You'll have to hitch your wireless ride to AT&T to take full advantage of the goods and there's no 4G LTE service to speak of, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Hit up the source link below to get'em while they're hot.

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Sony Xperia NXT series available now unlocked for US tastes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refresh Roundup: week of June 25th, 2012

Refresh Roundup week of June 25th, 2012

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of June 25th, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of June 25th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Xperia S (finally) gets its own Android 4.0 update (video)

Sony Xperia S gets Android 40 update

Sony's new flagship smartphone has finally caught up with its predecessors. Android Ice Cream Sandwich is now available on the Xperia S starting today. New features include the ability to display visuals during music playback, an updated calendar overview and notifications drop-down menu from the lock screen. The settings screen has been redesigned for a stronger stock Android feel, alongside Face Unlock and the camera lock screen shortcut we saw on the Galaxy Nexus. A new streaming movies app is also thrown into the update to make the most of that high-definition screen, while a new album app will offer an Ice Cream Sandwich-tinged interface for all your photos, videos and Facebook albums. Take a tour of the refresh after the break and check the source link more details -- Sony says the 200MB update will start rolling out today, but it will differ depending on carriers.

Continue reading Sony Xperia S (finally) gets its own Android 4.0 update (video)

Sony Xperia S (finally) gets its own Android 4.0 update (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 07:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s NXT trio sees the light, gets transparent bar notifications via third-party app

Sony's NXT trio sees the light, gets transparent bar notifications via thirdparty app

If there's one thing Sony got right with its NXT line, it's that design-distinctive, transparent element. Problem is, aside from color matching with your photo collection, that incognito antenna doesn't do much -- well, not with the company's official blessing anyway. Users that take a quick trip to the Google Play store can download a third-party app dubbed, rather self-evidently, Illumination Bar Notification. And it does just what it claims to do, letting Xperia U users set myriad notification hues (P and S owners will have to make do with white only) and blinking speeds for texts and calls. It's free to download, so if you're looking to make that handset sit and look even prettier, you'd be well advised to hit up the source below.

Sony's NXT trio sees the light, gets transparent bar notifications via third-party app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony intros Pulse Wireless Stereo Headset Elite Edition, lets your non-PlayStation gear feel the bass (video)

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Sony's PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset made a splash when it landed last year, but there were two inescapable quirks: a lack of bass and a lack of any wired fallback for your other devices. The brand-new Pulse Wireless Stereo Headset Elite Edition should solve both. Its earcups now carry a new trick, BassImpact, that reportedly delivers the headset's eponymous pulses and just that bit more punch at low frequencies. We also can't help but appreciate having a 3.5mm headphone jack (and cable) to plug in an Xperia S or, if you're daring, a device that goes without Sony's logo. The noise-cancelling microphones and the overall headset are considerably subtler as part of the remake, to boot. Gamers will have to go without the Pulse-upgraded headset until the fall -- not to mention pay a higher price, at $150 -- but they can get a video overview after the break to bide their time.

Continue reading Sony intros Pulse Wireless Stereo Headset Elite Edition, lets your non-PlayStation gear feel the bass (video)

Sony intros Pulse Wireless Stereo Headset Elite Edition, lets your non-PlayStation gear feel the bass (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony pushing ICS to more devices next week, confirms Xperia Play won’t be upgraded

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Owners of the Xperia Play, it's time to curl up with a teddy bear and your favorite ice cream -- just as long as it's not in sandwich form. After the sudden and unexplained disappearance of the "PlayStation Phone" from the Android 4.0 upgrade list yesterday, Sony has followed it up with a full confirmation accompanied by the usual explanation. As you may have already guessed, the manufacturer tells us that after extensive testing, it was determined that "a consistent and stable experience, particularly with gaming, cannot be guaranteed for this smartphone on Ice Cream Sandwich... in this instance the ICS upgrade would have compromised stability." Sony went on to discuss that it received similar feedback from the developer community after releasing a beta ROM. Still, after being told repeatedly that the entire 2011 smartphone lineup would receive the update, we can't help but be a bit heartbroken by the news.

In the same breath, however, Sony also updated its timeline for the rest of the lineup that is still on schedule to receive upgrades to Ice Cream Sandwich: the Xperia arc, neo, mini, mini pro, pro, active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman will begin receiving their refreshes next week. The Xperia S is still on track for an end of June rollout, with the Xperia P closely following it and the Xperia U sometime in the third quarter. It's just unfortunate that the good tidings must be balanced out by equally horrible news, depending on which device you own.

Sony pushing ICS to more devices next week, confirms Xperia Play won't be upgraded originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 12:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refresh Roundup: week of May 14th, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of May 14th, 2012

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of May 14th, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of May 14th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 May 2012 18:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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