Download the Sony Xperia Z3+ wallpapers here now

Sony announced a kind of new device recently in the Sony Xperia Z3+. I say “kind of” because for all intents and purposes, this smartphone is exactly the same as the Sony Xperia Z4 that Sony announced for Japan-only a few weeks back – ironically, Xperia Z3+ is a much more pertinent name once you take a look at the specifications and the exterior of the device compared to its predecessor. Despite this, we’re always interested in checking out the wallpapers of new devices, so we’ve got all the Sony Xperia Z3+ wallpapers available below for you to look at and download – check them out:

Showing the “flow” theme that Sony has made their own over the last few device generations, these wallpapers are on the minimal, simplistic side, which is perfect if you’re looking for something along those lines while still using vibrant colours. All the images have a resolution of 2160×1920 which makes them perfect for anyone using a 1080p device – Sony appears to be pretty adamant about not moving to Quad HD resolution. Yet.

What do you think about the Sony Xperia Z3+ wallpapers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: XperiaBlog

The post Download the Sony Xperia Z3+ wallpapers here now appeared first on AndroidSPIN.

Sony launches Xperia Z3+: same as Japan’s Xperia Z4, almost the same as Xperia Z3

Sony’s Xperia Z4 may make a lot of sense for Japan, but the company received a ton of flak over the questionable decision to release a new generation of the Xperia series with just token upgrades compared to the Z3. Some suggested Sony should have pulled an Apple and kept the Z3 name a bit longer, and that’s exactly what the Japanese company is doing with the new Xperia Z3+.

Launched today without fanfare, and set for a June release, the Xperia Z3+ is, put simply, the Xperia Z4 by another name. A more modest name, in line with the minimal changes that the device brings compared to the Xperia Z3.

The Xperia Z3+ is smaller than the previous gen, with a 6.9 millimeter profile, though the slimdown comes at the cost of reduced battery capacity, from 3,100 to 2,900 mAh. The hit in battery life may be offset by the Snapdragon 810 processor, which is, in theory, less thirsty than the Snapdragon 801 powering the Z3.

The screen remains the same great 5.2-inch Full HD LCD, while Sony relocated the USB port down to the bottom of the device and did away with the magnetic charging pins. That should make for a cleaner design, thanks to the absence of the plastic flap, though the Z3+ preserves the IP65/68-rated water and dust resistance.

The camera remains the same great 20.7MP we loved on the Xperia Z3, but the front shooter was upgraded to 5MP, in line with what the selfie-loving crowd demands from current smartphones.

The Xperia Z3+ runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, a version that should be familiar to Xperia Z series device owners who have been receiving the same update over the last couple of months.

The Xperia Z3+ is coming this summer, but we don’t have an official price tag yet. We’d be very surprised if there was any difference compared to the Z3.

There you have it: with the Xperia Z3+, Sony appears to be trying to placate critics and fans upset disappointed by the Xperia Z4. It’s not clear if Sony chose the Z3+ moniker after the Z4’s chilly reception, though we wouldn’t be surprised.

There’s nothing new or exciting about the new Xperia Z3+, and that amps up the expectation for the next generation of the series. Hopefully, the Xperia Z3+ is just a stopgap meant to keep the Xperia line in the spotlight while Sony works on the real upgrade coming – we hope – this autumn. Thoughts?

Video: here’s Android 5.1.1 running on the Sony Xperia Z3

Sony has already updated many of its smartphones to Android 5.0 Lollipop, but now we’re looking forward to the jump to 5.1 and a new video shows us what to expect.

The video from Chilean website Wayerless (via Xperia Blog) is a brief walk through the updated interface of what appears to be the Sony Xperia Z3 (D6603). Among the changes that we can spot are some new animations, flatter icons in the settings menu, the name change of the Walkman app to simply Music, and of course, the improved quick settings tiles that let you connect through WiFi or Bluetooth without going through the settings.

Sony began rolling out Lollipop to its devices in March, starting with the Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Like with Samsung and HTC devices, the Android 5.1 update (released by Google on March 9) is expected to hit Sony devices this summer – in August, according to some reports.

Will the Xperia Z4 be rebranded as the Z3+ for international markets?

Could this device be released as the Xperia Z3+ when and if it sees international release?

When Sony announced the Xperia Z4 last week, it was met with disdain from almost everyone, some of our staff included. While the device arguably makes perfect sense for the Japanese market it’s intended for, the international community has been in a heightened state of agitation. The Z4, as it stands now, has some minor internal updates over its predecessor (namely the Snapdragon 810) but uses the exact same camera sensor as the Z3 along with a design that many feel is rehashed despite (admittedly subtle) changes.

Sony has yet to announce the Z4 for an international release yet, and if a new leak proves to be accurate, it seemingly won’t be for some time yet. Take a look:

Xperia Blog

The above picture allegedly comes from one of the packaging inserts contained with an official accessory for the Z4, the SCR30 Style Cover Window. As can be seen at the top, an “Xperia Z3+” is listed. Provided this leak is accurate, it would suggest that Sony is planning to rebrand the Z4 when it hits international markets.

The name change actually makes perfect sense, as fans have been hearing that the company is planning to make a major move with its next mainstay flagship, as well as reduce the release cycle to an annual basis. Just last week, we took a look at what such a “premium” flagship might look like when we asked readers to design it themselves.

Still, many will be quick to argue that this new naming nomenclature will create confusion within the company and its home country: what happens if the “real” Z4 releases in a few weeks or months? The solution is quite simple, really: All Sony has to do is rebrand the product in Japan. It could be called the “Xperia Z Neo” or “Xperia Z DX” and, assuming it’s the radically redesigned product so many are hoping for, the new name might be the perfect way to distance itself from the “Z” of old. The reverse might also be true: perhaps there will be no Z4 at all overseas and the new product will have a totally new name.

While many Sony fans are no doubt still a bit sour with the latest and greatest, assuming the name change is the real deal, would it reduce some of the resentment?