Sony gets into genetic analysis with aim of helping docs pick better treatments
We tend to forget that many companies celebrated for their shiny things also have significant interest in health care; everyone gets sick, after all. Sony is one of this gang, producing medical-grade equipment and the like under its own name, as well as buying up and investing in outfits that have other, specific expertise. Starting February 2014, Sony will also become part owner of P5, a new venture that’ll provide human genome analysis in Japan, which just happens to be one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical/biotechnology markets. With help from M3, which Sony’s invested in, and DNA specialists Illumina, P5′s quest is also to marry genetic data with other info, like medical histories, to make headway in the area of personalized medicine (where therapies are selected for the individual, not just the affliction). We doubt Kaz Hirai will be heavily involved, aside from his efforts to find the “Xbox fanboy gene” and any way to silence it, of course.
Dan Cooper sought out the totally legit image used in this report.
Source: Sony
Sony Xperia Z1s Available in T-Mobile Stores Today for $0 Down
Today is the day that I am sure some of you have been waiting for. The Sony Xperia Z1s is now officially available in T-Mobile retail store locations across the country. If you qualify for it, then you can head into the store and put NOTHING down and walk out with a T-Mobile exclusive device. Of course that would attach $22 a month to your statement to pay it off, but that is just cutting back your Dutch Bros trips by 1 a week.
As with any launch announcement for a new device, there is usually some extra goodies that tag along. To sweeten the pot on the offer, anyone who picks up the new Xperia Z1s will also get 6 movies to download for FREE and 10 preselected Playstation Mobile games. Oh, can’t forget the 60 day trial to Sony Music Unlimited. Check out the down and dirty spec sheet as a refresher about the Xperia Z1s:
KEY FEATURES:
- · Waterproof1, rated IP55/58
- · Sony G Lens, 1/2.3” 20.7 MP Exmor RS™ for mobile image sensor and BIONZ™ for mobile image processing engine
- · Preloaded Xperia camera apps including: Info-eye™, Timeshift burst, AR effect, Social live, and Background defocus
- · 5-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile with X-Reality™ for mobile2 picture engine
- · PlayStation® App – Connect to your PS4™ system and PSN friends, use your smartphone as a second screen and manage your game downloads
- · Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 800 quad-core 2.2 Ghz processor, 3000 mAh battery, 4G LTE
The world’s best camera in a waterproof smartphone1
Whether it’s braving the rain to get front row shots of your favorite band or taking the “selfie” to a whole new underwater level, Xperia Z1s makes fear of using your phone around water a thing of the past. Further developing the water-resistant capabilities of Xperia Z, the Xperia Z1s can be completely submerged in freshwater up to 4.9 feet for 30 minutes, making it waterproof1 (as per IP58 rating) and with its physical camera key, you can even use the device to shoot photos and videos underwater. It also incorporates wet finger tracking technology, to ensure the phone works perfectly when either the screen or your fingers are wet.Whether above or below water, Xperia Z1ˢ leverages Sony’s best digital imaging technology to capture compact digital camera quality 20.7 MP photos and Full HD videos. For the first time in a U.S. flagship smartphone, Sony has added its BIONZ™ for mobile image processing engine – the ‘brain’ of the camera, which together with the sensor, produces images with less noise or blurring, better auto-focus and white balance, and clear image 3x zoom. Sony’s camera expertise also extends to the lens, with Sony’s award-winning G Lens (F2.0), which incorporates the brand’s unique optical design technology and quality control.
More than just photos and video
Innovating on what’s expected of smartphone camera capabilities and overall experience, the Xperia Z1s comes preloaded with a unique suite of applications called Xperia Camera Apps. Making their debut on a U.S. flagship smartphone, these applications include Info-eye™, Timeshift burst, AR effects, Social live, and as an exclusive to Xperia Z1s, Background defocus.Info-eye™: Perform a visual search that provides related information on items like wine, books, and landmarks, simply by capturing them with the camera
Timeshift burst: Capture 61 images within two seconds – a second before and after pressing the shutter – so you can scroll back and forth to find the perfect image.
AR effect: Overlay a selection of fun, customizable animations to create pictures with playful touch using the “SmartAR” augmented reality technology developed by Sony. The animations include dinosaurs, ocean-life and more.
Social live: Broadcast memories in the making to friends and family on Facebook™, live from your Xperia Z1ˢ. Moments such as your best friend’s wedding to your child’s very first recital, are not only shared while you record, but are also made interactive as you receive your friends’ responses right on your screen to keep the conversation going in real-time.
Background defocus: Adjust the blur in the background for more artistic, professional-looking photos, once only achieved by using top of the line D-SLR cameras or specific lenses, with this exclusive camera app for your Xperia Z1ˢ.
A gamer’s handheld companion
The Xperia Z1s brings an entertainment experience that only Sony can offer including free content as well as integration of Sony media apps with Sony entertainment services, including the new PlayStation®App for the connected gamer.
Anyone heading down to the T-Mobile store today to take a closer look and possibly pick on up? Maybe this is your Break Up Letter device to pull the trigger on divorcing your current carrier. Let us know what happens.
More details can be found at T-Mobile.com, SonyMobile and PRNewsWire
Sony’s Xperia Z Ultra gets WiFi-only ‘tablet’ option, launches in Japan this week
Dropping its radios for cell service and turning itself into a tablet… The 6.4-inch Xperia Z Ultra may be big enough to pull it off, but are you willing to pay just under $500 (52,000 yen) for the pleasure? Sony hopes you will. It’s a Japan-only deal for now (neatly tying in with KDDI’s own 4G-capable Z Ultra, also announced today), but we could imagine it filling tablets shelves at your nearest electronics store. If Sony tells us anything more, we’ll let you know.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Sony
Source: Sony Japan
Sony could launch its Xperia Z Ultra phone as a WiFi only ‘tablet’
We’ve seen many a tablet turn into a road warrior — or even a huge phone — with the addition of a SIM card. A phone becoming a tablet is a much scarcer transformation, but if any device can make that switch, it’s Sony’s nearly iPad Mini-sized 6.44-inch, 1080p Xperia Z Ultra handset. A variation of that model (the SGP412) has appeared at the FCC packing a Snapdragon 800 MSM8074 SoC processor sans mobile baseband radio, normally used in WiFi-only tablet variants. New application photos of a half-submerged test model show it to be just as dunkable as before, while still packing 2GB of RAM, 32GB of memory, a microSD slot, 3,000mAh battery and an 8-megapixel camera. There’s no official word about the device, let alone pricing and a launch date, but when it does come it’ll likely need to beat the Mini’s $399 sticker — nearly half the Xperia Z Ultra’s off-contract price.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Sony
Via: Xperia Guide
Source: FCC
Leaked software suggests Sony’s next flagship phone will record 4K video
With shots of a new Sony smartphone surfacing ahead of a possible reveal at next month’s Mobile World Congress, we guessed it wouldn’t be long until we laid eyes on the software powering it. XperiaBlog got its hands on an Android 4.4.2 KitKat build for the Xperia D6503 (rumored codename Sirius), providing us with an overview of the new UI and a list of possible features coming to Sony’s next Android flagship. The most headline-grabbing tweaks include options to record 4K and high frame-rate video, utilize Smart backlight controls (similar to Samsung’s Smart stay feature), two home launchers for better accessibility, advanced call handling options and a new built-in answering machine. Head over to XperiaBlog for the complete lowdown on the KitKat-centric features expected to make their debut in Sony’s Z1 successor and possibly other high-end handsets in the Xperia range.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Sony
Source: XperiaBlog
Sony Website may have Confirmed a WiFi-Only Xperia Z Ultra
The Sony Xperia Z Ultra plans on pushing the boundaries of phone and tablet. The 6.44 inch phablet is turning heads, but do you really need a phone that big? Maybe a WiFi-only variant is just what we need. Well it seems that Sony added two drivers to the Ultra Z, for two different model numbers. Looks like they pretty much confirmed the WiFi-only version right there.
The first variant that got the driver was model number SGP412. Now this could very well be the regular Z Ultra, but they also posted another driver for another variant. Model number SOL24 got the second driver, and it seems to be a variant for a Japanese carrier network. Maybe we will see something happen at this year’s Mobile World Congress. In my opinion, a WiFi-only 6.44 phablet would be the better way to go, because I don’t really want to hold that monstrosity to my face. Let us know your thoughts.
Sony Going Black Box, Blocking Benchmarking apps on Prototypes
Say it ain’t so Sony! How are we supposed to get all excited for an upcoming phone that hasn’t been announced, that we know nothing about, unless we get unintentionally leaked benchmark scores? NOOOO! Ok, now that that is out of the way, lets move on. It seems a tipster has graciously provided a screen shot that depicts how far Sony is willing to go to keep the wraps on their next flagship, or any other device, is.
This instance was blocking AnTuTu. Not like benchmarks haven’t been faked and devices set up to “accidentally” be big performers. Even though that has been supposedly solved. On the other end of the spectrum though, the information that can also be acquired from these benchmarks also gives us a rundown of the internal specs of a device.
Don’t fret, we are sure there will still be plenty of leaks of Xperia devices to keep you all full of intrigue for the next big flagship milestone device.
On a side note, I like that battery meter in the notification area on this device.
Screenshots from possible Xperia Z2 reveal hardware and software features
The rumor mill is constantly turning, and this time Sony is in the spotlight. The Xperia Z1 deserves a refresh sometime soon, and there may be some info regarding Sony’s next handset.
The D6503, codenamed the Sirius, is most likely the next Z1 model. Some pictures of the handset were leaked last week, and now we have screenshots regarding the new hardware and software. The leak suggests that it will carry 3GB of RAM, a 20.7MP rear-facing camera, and a 2.1MP front-facing camera. It will have a 1080p, 5.2-inch display, and will run Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat out of the box.
This screenshot is from a leak back from November 2013, but still from the same device, running Jelly Bean. The UI shouldn’t change too much from what we’re already used to, but Sony might surprise us this time around.
Sony makes great phones, so these leaks are seeming pretty accurate with what we’d like to see out of their new handset. Are these upgrades sufficient enough for this phone to be a homerun? What are your thoughts on a refreshed Z1? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Xperia Blog
The post Screenshots from possible Xperia Z2 reveal hardware and software features appeared first on AndroidGuys.
[LEAK] The Sony D6503 “Sirius” gets a few more leaked Details
A few days ago, we were treated to some candid photos of a device simply known as the Sony D6503, code named “Sirius”. While it wasn’t clear whether this device is going to be a refresh of the Sony Xperia Z1 or a completely new flagship i.e. the Sony Xperia Z2, what was clear was that the device was based on the Z1′s hardware with a few key tweaks (check out the photos here). XperiaBlog has gotten the next scoop on this Sony D6503, apparently getting a hold of new information about the device’s hardware specs.
According to the leak, the “Sirius” will have a Qualcomm MSM8974AB chipset clocked at 2.3GHz (and for those that don’t speak the lingo, that’s a Snapdragon 800 processor), as well as a 5-inch screen with 1080p resolution, 3GB RAM, a 20.7 megapixel camera and a 2.1 megapixel front camera. Overall, these specs are only a minor upgrade over the Z1 (slightly faster processor, a bit more RAM and a slightly better front camera), so if this leak is to be believed, it looks like the Sony D6503 is more likely a refreshed model of the Xperia Z1, probably to be released at MWC 2014.
One more leak about this device will probably make those of you bummed that the Z1 ships with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean a little happier; XperiaBlog has revealed that this device will mostly likely launch with Android 4.4 KitKat, which should but it in a good position to do battle with its other Snapdragon 800 toting competitors.
What do you think about the Sony D6503? Do you think its a refreshed Xperia Z1 or the Xperia Z2? Give us your opinion in the comments below.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.
Source: XperiaBlog
Sony’s Smart Tennis Sensor hits Japan in May, offers topspin advice for $175
Sony’s theme for its CES press event was “Play” and part of the fun was a smart tennis sensor that adds vibrational and gyro detection to your racket, linking up with your smartphone through Bluetooth to offer up improvement suggestions and surprisingly deep information on your racket game. While we got in a few serves and forehands right after the event, the announcement, like its incoming Core life-logging / wearable sensor, was a broad one. A spokesperson told us back in Vegas that Sony hadn’t yet decided on a concrete name, let alone a price or release date. Well, Sony had plenty of answers at today’s press event, announcing at a tennis club near its Shinagawa HQ that the sensor will launch (in Japan only, for now) this May, priced at 18,000 yen (around $175).
We’ll admit, we had some suspicions that Sony’s Smart Tennis Sensor might never arrive in the real world (the demonstration area wasn’t that far away from a row of conceptual smart glasses), but it seems that Sony’s taking this new possible market pretty seriously. The sensor will launch compatible with around six Yonex EZone and VCore tennis rackets, with more models promised after launch. At the moment, you’ll need a dedicated sensor for each player: if your buddy uses your racket, their data will be folded into yours, but the team added that this is something that they’ll be working on in the future.
Sony has also readied a companion app on both iOS and Android to launch alongside the sensor hardware when it arrives in late May. The app, alongside displaying stats and heat maps of where the ball hits the racket, will also be able to record a video of your earth-shattering serve and replay it alongside the metrics captured by the sensor. Maybe that ace wasn’t quite so earth-shattering. We’ve added Engadget editor Michael Gorman’s attempts right after the break.
AIVAnet 