Sony releases Android 5.1 binaries for the Xperia Z series, E3, M2, T2 Ultra and T3
Sony has released Android 5.1 Lollipop binaries for a host of smartphones and tablets, including the entire Xperia Z series. The Xperia E3, M2, T2 Ultra and T3 handsets are also included in the list.
Binaries are used by Sony, or third parties, to make sure that AOSP will run on specific pieces of hardware. This release doesn’t allow Sony handset owners to run Sony’s official Android 5.1 on their smartphones just yet, but it does show that development in under way for all of these devices.
XDA forum member cheep5k8 has already taken the files and implemented an early alpha AOSP 5.1 build for the Xperia Z2. Most of the features already work, except the camera and a few sound glitches, but you’ll need to know what you’re doing with .img files if you want to test it out. Perhaps waiting for a more polished build would be wise.
Previously, Sony’s Twitter account had responded that Android 5.0 Lollipop would only be heading to Xperia Z branded devices. Either Sony was being cheeky and knew that it would be skipping 5.0 straight to 5.1 for some of its other devices, or, more likely, there was some miscommunication between Sony engineers and its social media team.
Hopefully we will hear official news from Sony regarding Android 5.1 updates for all of these handsets in the near future.
The VAIO Phone launches in Japan for $420 off-contract
Many of us are familiar with the VAIO brand name from the time that it was part of Sony. Those days are gone however, and now VAIO is mostly owned by Japan Industrial Partners. As such, VAIO is now creating its own designs and competing against Sony in its home market, Japan. VAIO has just launched its first smartphone, the imaginatively named VAIO Phone in collaboration with the Japanese carrier, b-mobile.
As you can see from the images, the VAIO Phone is not pushing smartphone design to new heights. Possibly the best thing you can say about it is that it seems inoffensive. One good thing is that the handset runs Android 5.0 Lollipop at launch and is said to be a mostly stock experience. The VAIO Phone will cost around 4,000 Yen ($33) per month over a two-year contract from b-mobile that snags you unlimited data. The off-contract price is 51,000 yen which equates to around $420.
Specifications:
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- 5-Inch IPS display with 720 x 1280 resolution
- Quad-Core Processor clocked at 1.2GHz
- 2GB RAM
- 16GB Internal Storage
- MicroSD card support (up to 64GB)
- 13MP Rear-facing camera
- 5MP Front-facing camera
- Supports 3G bands 2100/800 MHz & LTE 2000/1800/800MHz
- 2,500mAh battery
- Dimensions: 71.3 x 141.5 x 7.95mm
- Weight: 130 grams
Source: b-mobile
Come comment on this article: The VAIO Phone launches in Japan for $420 off-contract
Several Sony Xperia Z devices seeing Lollipop update in India
Sony is only planning on rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update to its Xperia Z line of smartphones, which isn’t great news if you own a different class of Xperia device. If you do have an Xperia Z phone, though, you’re in luck, as the company is beginning its rollout of the software in India.
Sony’s Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, and Xperia Z3 Compact are all seeing the Android upgrade going live, and it’s likely going to follow suit in other markets as well. Carrier versions might have to wait a little longer, but rest assured, Sony’s working on it. Hopefully 5.1 won’t be too far off.
source: GSM Arena
Come comment on this article: Several Sony Xperia Z devices seeing Lollipop update in India
JXE Streams: Sex, violence and ‘DmC: Devil May Cry’ on PS4
Devil May Cry, in addition to sounding like a scrubbed Pablo Neruda poem, was an evolutionary leap from the clunky 3D action games of the ’90s when it hit the PS2 back in 2001. Capcom’s game delivered a heady blend of The Evil Dead and anime flash, while redefining how free-flowing action felt in a video game. Oh, and it looked cool as hell. When it was announced that 2013’s DmC: Devil May Cry would both reboot the series and come from the drastically different creative culture of the UK rather than Japan, fans balked. How could it possibly live up to the legacy? Now DmC is getting another shot with a PS4 and Xbox One definitive edition which we’re playing on JXE Streams.
Starting at 3PM ET on Engadget.com/gaming, Twitch.tv/Joystiq, and right here in this post, we’re playing a solid two hours of DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition on PlayStation 4. Dig on the improved visuals, faster speed, and the wholly bad ass brawling and platforming that made the game great the first time around. Most of the JXE Streams crew will be hanging out as well so come by and ask questions!
Enjoy the streams? Follow us on Twitch to know whenever we go live and bookmark Engadget.com/gaming to check out our upcoming schedule.
[We’re playing a digital copy of DmC: Devil May Cry on PlayStation 4 streamed through an Elgato Capture HD via OBS at 720p.]
Sony could start rolling out Lollipop from next week, according to Sony Indonesia
The much anticipated Lollipop update for Sony Xperia devices could arrive from next week, according to a posting on Sony’s official Indonesian Facebook page.
Back in January, Sony hinted it would begin rolling out Lollipop from February, but as we’re approaching mid-March, we’re yet to hear anything solid. Unofficially, we’ve been hearing that Sony is leaving phones other than the Xperia Z series behind and we’ve got a glance at what Lollipop may look like thanks to a couple of leaked screenshots.
Now we may finally get to see that promised update. Sony Indonesia says the Lollipop OTA is scheduled for week 12, which is next week. Of course, this is only valid for Indonesia, as Sony will probably opt for a staged roll out, and there’s no information on which devices will actually get their Lollipop serving. There is, however, a partial changelog mentioned in the posting, which includes:
- A “bold new user interface” inspired by Google’s Lollipop and Sony’s “expertise”
- Improved lock screen with notification cards
- Multi-user support
- Ability to move apps to microSD
The OTA file will be about 1.2GB in size, according to the post, and take about 20 minutes to install.
Again, we shouldn’t read too much into this, even if it comes from an official channel – things can change last minute, and even if Sony does begin to push out Lollipop in Indonesia next week, you may have to wait a lot more, depending on your market and carrier.
Lollipop spotted on Sony Xperia C3, but that doesn’t mean consumers will get it
Over the weekend we reported on Sony’s apparent plans to release the Android Lollipop update to their Xperia Z series line of devices and only the Z series. This conclusion was based on the responses users on Twitter have been receiving from Sony’s support reps. Sony’s position seems to have taken a curious turn since then as some screenshots have popped up that appear to show Android Lollipop running on a Sony Xperia C3.
A few possibilities exist for what looks like contradictory information coming from Sony. The first, and probably preferable one for owners of Sony devices, is that the social media support reps for Sony are simply mistaken about the company’s plans for Lollipop on their devices. The reps may have been provided information about Lollipop on the Z series and somehow the communication was interpreted as the Z series were going to be the only set of devices to get the update. If that were the case though, it seems someone higher up in the Sony organization could have issued a statement to clarify things.
Another possibility is that Sony is still testing Lollipop on other devices in their portfolio and has not made a decision about an actual release. Sony could have tested Lollipop already and determined it would not roll out the update to the mid-tier and lower-tier devices they sold. The screenshots that were revealed could have been remnants from that testing process.
For now, owners of non-Z series Sony devices will have to continue to play a waiting game to see if they may eventually get an official Lollipop update on their devices.
source: IT168
via: Xperia Blog
Come comment on this article: Lollipop spotted on Sony Xperia C3, but that doesn’t mean consumers will get it
Sony to bring Android 5.0 Lollipop only to Xperia Z branded devices
We know Android 5.0 Lollipop is a very powerful version of Android. It is also one that requires very little hardware in order run. With manufacturers like Motorola stuffing it inside lower end devices like the Moto E, it would only make sense to assume that other manufacturers might be looking to do the same, […]
The post Sony to bring Android 5.0 Lollipop only to Xperia Z branded devices appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Only Sony’s Xperia Z series will get Android 5.0 Lollipop
We have disappointing news for owners of Sony devices that do not belong to the Xperia Z series. Over the last few days, the company has responded to customers on Twitter wondering if their devices would be receiving the Android 5.0 software update. Sony will not be pushing Lollipop to devices other than its flagship series for some reason.
This was the most consistent response:
Hi. We can advise that the Android 5.0 Lollipop update is going to be released for the entire Xperia Z series only, we do apologise.
As Xperia Blog notes, there are many devices that Sony will be leaving out. Devices such as the Xperia C3, E1, E3, M2, M2 Aqua, T2 Ultra, and T3 are all among the devices from Sony to not get Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Sony should really start reevaluating its position in the mobile industry.
Via: Xperia Blog
Come comment on this article: Only Sony’s Xperia Z series will get Android 5.0 Lollipop
Alleged Sony Xperia Z4 chassis gets compared to Xperia Z3
At MWC 2015, there was some belief that Sony would announce its next flagship phone. The Xperia Z4 was never unveiled in Barcelona and, instead, the company introduced the Xperia Z4 Tablet. It is strange that Sony separated the phone’s announcement from the tablet, but it seems like we should learn about the Xperia Z4 soon because of alleged images of its chassis. The images show parts of Xperia Z4 compared to the preceding Xperia Z3.
Here are some notes regarding the leaked chassis:
- Both handsets’ length and widths are pretty much the same, the Xperia Z4 is slightly thinner
- Microphone hole moved away from the headphone jack
- No microSD card slot on the right side
- SIM card slot moved to the left side
- No cover on the charging port
Source: Future Supplier
Via: Phone Arena
Come comment on this article: Alleged Sony Xperia Z4 chassis gets compared to Xperia Z3
Report: No Lollipop for non Z-branded Xperia products. Really Sony?
The few. The proud. The furious. In the past few weeks Sony has inspired more than a few doom-and-gloom reports, though the latest bit of news, if true, would be a much more hot-headed affair. The beleaguered Japanese giant has finally clarified its Lollipop update plans (we knew it would be coming to Z-devices in the near future) and they are sure not going to please those who don’t have cash to burn.
@roi_rdzdal Hi Roi. The Android 5.0 Lollipop update is only going to be available for the Xperia Z series, we do apologise.
— Sony Xperia (@sonyxperia) March 6, 2015
While it’s true that one should never say never, this tumultuous Tweet has basically confirmed Lollipop won’t be appearing on any non-Z device. To make matters worse, there are actually a couple more reports with the same message (one even from the 4th) that eliminate the potential of misspeaking. Considering that Sony has just announced one such “standard affair” offering, it’s sure to make some people very angry, as it will cast a cloud over the potential [tech-savvy crowd’s] uptake of said product. Casual consumers as well, should they be aware, probably won’t be too thrilled with the “pledge” to drop support either.
Given that Sony’s mobile division isn’t exactly doing well, the absolute last thing it should be doing is angering potential or existing consumers. Still, given the fact that money is so tight, and the products in question aren’t exactly genre defying, spec-blazing miracles, the decision to drop Android update support isn’t hard to understand.
AIVAnet 