Verizon announces Xperia Tablet Z2 for July 17
Verizon on Wednesday announced the upcoming availability of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2. Arriving on July 17, the tablet is exclusive to Verizon and will carry a $599 price tag. For a limited time customers can pick up the new device for $499.99 with a two-year service agreement. Those who pre-order the Xperia Tablet Z2 will receive a Sony Digital Noise Cancelling Headset for no extra cost.
Powered by Android 4.4.2, the 10.1-inch device is a waterproof and dust proof tablet capable of Verizon’s XLTE data services. Additional specifications include an 8.1-megapixel rear camera, front-facing 2.2 megapixel camera, 32GB internal storage, and a 6000mAh battery.
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Pre-orders for the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet with Verizon starts Tomorrow
We have heard rumors that the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet would be making its way to Verizon. All rumors and leaks can now be tossed aside as Verizon has announced that they will offer up pre-orders for the new water-resistant behemoth starting tomorrow, July 10th.
There is a lot to love about this monster. The 1920 x 1200 resolution display with Sony’s TRILUMINOS and X-Reality engine is a pretty great place to start. Toss in a quad-core 2.3 GHZ Qualcomm processor, 3GB of RAM, 32 GB internal storage, micro SD card support and a 6000 mAh battery just to name a few. We can’t forget to mention that it is also IP55 and IP58 rated. Which means it is water-resistant and dust-proof. Yes, that means you can safely watch movies in the tub, pool side or even in the shower if you do so desire. The Xperia Z2 Tablet also has a 8.1MP rear camera and a 2.23MP front shooter.
As a bonus, if you order one you also get 90 days of free streaming music though Sony’s Music Unlimited service, 6 pre-selected movie download through Sony’s Video Unlimited and an exclusive early access pass to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 when it becomes available for digital download.
Hold on to your britches though, all of this will cost you a pretty penny, as one would expect. Verizon will be officially selling the tablet for $599.99. Ouch. However, for a limited time you can get it for $499.99 with a new two-year contract. If you pre-order it then Verizon will also through in a Digital Noise Cancelling Headset, the MDRNC31EM, for free. (while supplies last). If you want to hold off until it is in stores, then you will have to wait until July 17th.
Anyone considering this bad boy?
Via Verizon
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Sony’s waterproof Xperia Z2 Tablet coming to Verizon for $600
We already knew Sony would eventually release an LTE version of its super-thin, waterproof Xperia Z2 Tablet; we just had no idea which network it would work on. Turns out, the lucky winner is Verizon. That’s right, the Z2 Tablet is going to be a Big Red exclusive here in the states, at least for now. That’s something of a departure for Sony: the last-gen Tablet Z was compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile. In any case, regardless of whether you’re already a Verizon customer, you can pre-order one tomorrow for $600, sans contract (shipments are expected to start next week, on July 17th). If you place your pre-order early enough, Verizon will also throw in a free noise canceling headset, while supplies last. For a limited time, too, you can buy the tablet for $500 with a new two-year agreement, but let’s be real: Smart shoppers don’t lock themselves into new service contracts just to get a 4G tablet.
Sony’s Xperia Z1 Compact finally comes to the US
When we reviewed Sony’s Xperia Z1 Compact, we concluded that it’s exactly what a miniature flagship should be: big features in a small package. But despite the handset’s many merits, Sony hasn’t so far managed to offer it through any carriers in the US. Instead, starting today, it’s selling the Z1 Compact direct from its own webiste, for a price of $550. The device is unlocked, of course, so at least you get the choice of whichever GSM carrier takes your fancy — although its LTE bands don’t make it especially friendly with AT&T.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sony
Via: Android and Me
Source: Sony
Vodafone Germany memo seems to confirm Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact by end of September
The disparity between the announcement date and actual release date of smartphones can sometimes be frustrating, but it’s always welcome when devices are available soon after their official announcements. It appears this might be the case for the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact which Vodafone Germany has suggested in an internal memo to its employees. The memo describes an initiative that challenges employees to sell phones and accrue points for each phone sold, and the initiative runs from July 1st to September 30th; this presumably implies that the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact are going to be available before the end of September and after their announcement at IFA 2014.
There’s not much else to go on besides that information, but it’s interesting that selling Samsung phones only gives 1 point, presumably due to the higher demand of their devices, whereas the memo says that the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact are worth 1.5 points each. Here’s to hoping that the Sony Xperia Z3, and particularly the Z3 Compact, are available in more places by the end of September than the hardly available Z1 Compact.
What do you think about the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact being available so soon after the announcement? Are you excited about these devices? Let us know your opinion.
Source: Caschys Blog via Xperia Blog
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Sony Xperia C3 gets announced as “The World’s Best Selfie Smartphone”
Sony did a little teasing for an upcoming smartphone that had a good amount of focus on taking selfies. Let’s face it, that is a pretty big ‘thing’ apparently. Today Sony has officially announced the new device with its name simply being the Xperia C3.
The Xperia C3 offers plenty of the traditional specs that we have grown accustomed too in today’s mid-ranged smartphones. It packs in a Qualcomm MSM8926 1.2GHz quad-core snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage and a 8MP rear facing camera. The screen is a 5.5 inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720. Power wise the Sony Xperia C3 offers up a 2500 mAh battery with supposed 11 hours talk time. None of that is the real focus of the device though. The Xperia C3′s wide-angle front facing 5MP camera and flash is the key component to the selfie phone. Along with the real-time editing view and various hats/masks and other goofy things for your face.
I can’t say that I am all that surprised that a device like this has been created. While I am not much of a selfie taker, I do know that you don’t always get the best shots with the usual 2MP or so front facing cameras on most devices and any thought of a low light or night shots is pretty pointless. I bet we start to see other manufacturers start to up their front facing camera game pretty soon, even if they only start out with mid-ranged devices to test the market. It is a bit more useful than a Facebook phone.
Sony didn’t offer up any pricing details just yet though. They do mention that the selfie phone will be going global starting in China. They will have three color options at launch, the traditional black and white versions as well as a mint offering.
Source: Sony Xperia Twitter | GSMArena | 9to5Google
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Sony introduces Xperia C3, the “selfie” phone
Selfie. I’m gonna let that sink in for a bit… OK, now we can kick this off. Sony is apparently trying to get market share any way they can so they came up with an idea to create a selfie-centered smartphone. Yeah, you might see even more people smiling at their smartphone in the most ridiculous locations. Let us be honest though, every one of us has taken at least one selfie, but most of us more than that. If you honestly haven’t, hats off to you Sir.
Anyhow, let us get down to it. This phone is called Sony Xperia C3, that very same device that was teased yesterday. We’ll start from the probably the most important part for people who’ll buy this thing. The device has a 5MP camera on the front, which makes it one of the few out on the market today sporting such a big sensor on the front. This camera has an 80-degree field of view, which is impressive for a front-facing shooter, although this is to be expected considering this phone is meant to be used to take selfies. Next to the camera you’ll find a soft LED flash, so you can shoot away in low light areas as well.
On the back, C3 sports an 8MP Exmor RS sensor shooter with a pulsed LED flash next to it. Sony included a few extra features in this phone. For example, other than pressing on hardware or software button in order to take a selfie, you can double tap on the back of the phone and it will activate the “Smile Shutter” feature and take a shot.
As far as specifications go, this is a mid-range offering. Let us check it out:
- 5.5″ 720p Trilumionus display (267ppi)
- Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz chip
- 1GB of RAM
- Dual-SIM
- 2500mAh battery
- Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS
- 8GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card up to 32GB)
- Colors: black, white and mint
Sony says the device will launch in China this August. They mention that will be the first launch market, which means they’ll launch it elsewhere as well. So if you (or someone you know) really wants a device like this they’ll probably be able to get it.
Source: Sony
Via: PhoneArena
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Sony’s first ‘curved sensor’ photo may herald better images, cheaper lenses
We’ve seen plenty of curved screens, but Sony has just revealed the first picture taken with a curved image sensor that may one day bring cheaper, smaller lenses and higher photo quality. Regular, flat camera sensors have a rather large problem called “Petval field curvature.” That results when light rays passing through the edge of a lens fall in front of the sensor’s focal plane, rather than on it. As a result, optical designers must add costly elements to lenses, which also makes them heavier and more complex. The shot above flaunted by Sony is just a test and there’s no high-resolution samples available yet; in fact Sony has indicated that high-megapixel sensors may be a ways off. However, it does mark the first image shown from Sony’s curved CMOS sensor and a possible new direction for its digital camera division.
A sensor with the edges bent towards the lens takes care of many optical sins. Sony built its prototype curved sensor flat, bent it into a shape known as a “Petzval surface” and reinforced it with a ceramic backplate. That geometry permits shorter, lighter lenses with larger apertures that let more light in. In addition, such a design also reduces light falloff at the edges of a typical flat CMOS sensor, and the process of bending a sensor introduces strain in the photodiodes that actually benefits them by reducing noise. Finally, Sony added that its sensors work the same way as the human eye to fix optical issues, and even have a similar level of curvature.
As such, Sony has constructed a 2/3-inch prototype sensor typically seen in compact cameras, along with a full-frame version. As it happens, the latter sensor would work very nicely in an RX1-type camera. When such sensors arrive commercially, they’re likely to be used in fixed lens and not mirrorless or DSLR models to start with, since they wouldn’t work with any existing lenses on the market. In fact, there’s a rumor that a possible RX2 will be announced in September at Photokina 2014 — we’re not holding our breath for a curved sensor on it, but you never know.
Via: DPReview
Source: Nikkei (Japanese)
Sony belatedly gets in on the selfie trend with the Xperia C3
Selfies are so popular that not only is the President getting in on the action, but ABC’s even named its newest TV show after the trend. Not to be outdone, Sony is debuting the Xperia C3, a mid-range smartphone whose most notable feature is the 5-megapixel wide-angle lens and LED flash for self portraits. Beyond the snapper itself, the company is also boasting about the software enhancements like retouching, auto-scene modes and quick sharing to ensure your Instagram friends will be, you know, totes jel. There’s a 5.5-inch 720p IPS display up, shielding a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, with support for 64GB microSD cards and a 2,500mAh battery. Other features include dual SIM-card slots, NFC, Blueototh 4.0 and Android 4.4.2. The handset will begin its world tour in China from August, presumably meandering over to Western shores shortly after.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sony
Source: Sony
Sony may announce selfie-centered smartphone on July 8
Sony could announce its latest smartphone on July 8, according to clues presented by the company’s Twitter account. It’s not certain what model we might get out of Sony, however it’s likely to feature a great front-facing camera.
See your #selfies in a whole new light pic.twitter.com/UQJQIa44sI
— Sony Xperia (@sonyxperia) July 7, 2014
It sounds as if the smartphone could offer a front-facing flash or special sensor. As to other specifications in the device, recently leaked photos suggest a 2500mAh battery is in order. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait long to find out what’s going on here.
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