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 Android powered PSP handset
Technology news website Engadget has reported Sony Ericsson is developing a Sony PlayStation mobile phone, which will run the Google Android mobile OS and will be capable of playing handheld console games.
The news has come from a trusted source inside of the company, who has informed the website that Android ‘Gingerbread’ 3.0 will be the platform of choice for the device. The hardware will be based around the 1Ghz Qualcomm chipset, with a 3.7-inch screen or higher and graphics in line with their existing portable gaming consoles.
The device itself is noted to include a Sony PSP style d-pad as a way of controlling the games, with a long touch pad as the replacement for an actual keyboard along with other traditional PlayStation buttons.
Sony Ericsson’s PlayStation mobile phone in the Xperia range could be released as early as October this year according to rumours, just in time for the Christmas present buying rush to get under way.
As a bigger picture, this could very well mean that PSP games could be ported across to higher-end handsets running Android and therefore add another string to the mobile operating systems already very versatile bow.
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3 mobile phones from 3
Mobile phone network Three has unveiled a trio of new handsets on their new One Plan tariff, the Sony Ericsson Zylo, Nokia E63 and Nokia 5230.
These new smartphones are all free on Three’s £25 a month One Plan tariff, which allows for 2,000 minutes a month to any network, a further 5,000 minutes to any other Three mobile phone number, 5,000 texts and 1GB data allowance - which is one of the most competitive deals around today.
The Sony Ericsson Zylo is their recent 2.6-inch screen Walkman phone, with a slide out T9 keypad along with a 3.2 megapixel camera and memory that can be expanded to 16GB from a microSD card. The phone’s form factor has a human curvature design which makes it comfortable to hold, and SE has even brought in the FLAC music codec for the first time in a Walkman mobile on the Zylo.
Nokia’s E63 builds on the success of the E71 BlackBerry-esque handset, only bringing this more affordable phone to a wider audience with its more budgeted materials. The E63 still has the large Qwerty keyboard, which is accompanied by a 2.4-inch display and a 2 megapixel camera - where there’s also free 6 months Spotify premium account access.
The Nokia 5230 is their large touch screen music orientated mobile phone, which runs their Symbian platform and has access to the Ovi store and is also accompanied by free 6 months access to premium Spotifyaccount
With both phones being cut down versions of flagship models
UK mobile phone network Three has announced two new handsets are now available through them, the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro and the HTC Wildfire in exclusive colours. Both these handsets are now purchasable through Three’s One Plan tariff, which was unveiled last week with a six month free premium Spotify account.
Effectively, the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro is the same model as the Xperia X10 Mini, only with a slide-out physical Qwerty keyboard where that phone is just a cut down version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10. The Mini Pro only has a 2.6-inch touch screen, where its larger counterpart arrives with a 4-inch display although both run version 1.6 of Android at this time, with their own overlay the OS.
The HTC Wildfire could also be seen as a lite version of another handset, where this time it’s the HTC Desire phone. The Wildfire has a less powerful processor with a 3.2-inch screen, as compared to the 3.7-inch display of the Desire although both arrive with the more recent 2.1 version of Android plus the HTC Sense overlay to that very OS.
Three have these handsets in exclusive colours to them, which is a black case to the Mini Pro and metal mocha on the Wildfire. The two mobile phones are available free on a £30 a month contract, which includes 2000 minutes to any network, 5000 minutes to any Three phone numbers, 5000 texts and 1GB data in addition to free Skye, Twitter, Windows Live Messenger.
The handsets are also purchasable on a pay as you go contracts, with the HTC Wildfire coming in at £199 and the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro costing £249.
Phones, Phones, Phones
Valentine’s day saw the first phone launches announced at Mobile World Congress 2010, well at press launches held in nightclubs around the event venue.
 Samsung’s first Bada OS phone has arrived, the touchscreen Wave or S8500. Featuring a 1GHz processor and a striking 3.3” super-AMOLED screen, technology to make the display brighter, and clearer in sunlight. The phone carries a new version of the very usable Samsung TouchWiz interface and is the first phone to ship with Bluetooth 3.0 onboard.
   Sony Ericsson meanwhile are exhibiting three new phones, all mini-me versions of existing products. The Xperia X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro are both 1GHz and Android powered and the Vivaz Pro is a Symbian phone, running at 720MHz and capable of taking HD video. The Pro part here means that a slide out QWERTY keyboard has been added, increasing the Vivaz’s width by only 2mm.
(Pictures courtesy of GSM Arena)
 The Satio is Sony Ericsson’s high end nomination as a multimedia powerhouse. Touchscreen and with minimal manual buttons it features the highest res camera available on any mobile at present, packing a mighty 12.1 Megapixels.
Constructed in solid plastic with chromes accents, it feels good in the hand, but not snug. Powering up takes 30+ seconds, but it’s worth it for the widescreen format 3.5 inch resistive touchscreen, displaying 360×640. Powered by Symbian S60, the interface has been tweaked to be similar to Android and provides 5 configurable panes; contacts, web links, home screen, gallery and finally, application shortcuts.
GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and all the features you’d expect are here, but the triumph is the camera with xenon flash, autofocus and face detection. The rear shutter has a pleasing action and the button design is the most comfortable and sensible I’ve used on any camera phone. Video capture at 30 frames/sec can be toggled, but the resolution for this is much lower.
My gripe with the Satio is the resistive touchscreen. After many frustrating taps and attempts to slide, my fingertip control was defeated and I had to revert to the stylus. It was accurate, but felt unnatural after so many better experiences with capacitive screen rivals. My almost mystical ability to lose detachable parts doesn’t help here.
In summary, raw camera power gives the Satio an undeniable desirability, matched only by Samsung’s Pixon 12. The screen was a bugbear for me, but anyone happy with a stylus won’t share my prejudice. Both phones need a bump with a MicroSD card to save any worthwhile data.
Eco phones
 Environmental stories are big news this week as the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen draws to an end. Sony Ericsson boosts its GreenHeart portfolio by announcing the Hazel and Elm models, due to arrive in the new year.
SE GreenHeart phones include features designed to minimise carbon footprint in production, travel and use. Made with at least 50% recycled plastic, water-based paint and reduced packaging, they also come with reduced energy chargers that remind users to unplug them from the socket after use.
The Hazel slider and Elm candy bar both have pedometers, 5 MP cameras, GPS with geotagging and improved sound filters for outdoor use. They also feature the recycled look and feel of pretty much every other Sony Ericsson.
Update R1CA037 should address issues
 Sony Ericsson have updated the Satio with a new version of the firmware. The patch is rolling out now, but hasn’t yet reached retailers Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U. The patch should address reported issues such as sudden freezing, battery problems, ringtone faults and software crashes. Sony Ericsson have the Satio on sale and network branded versions of the 12MP device don’t seem to have had the same problems.
Compact Slider in the Cybershot range.
 The C903 is robust and solid, all glossy plastic that sparkles but shouts fingerprint magnet. Styled like the T-Series and more compact that the high-end C905, the slide mechanism has comfortable resistance and the shutter looks good, running the length of the rear panel.
The 2.4-inch screen auto rotates and displays 240 x 320 resolution. The keypad is basic, but functional with strong backlighting, although the D-Pad key feels a bit flimsy. No real differences from the standard SE user interface and menu, so it’s intuitive and easy to understand.
Primarily a camera phone, the C903 takes pleasing shots at 5 MP with a dual LED flash and autofocus. The 16x digital zoom is a gem and the phone has enhanced face recognition called smile shutter to help you catch the special moment, when conditions are right.
A tad more memory for your pics than similar models, just over 100MB of storage can be expanded with M2 memory sticks, which slot under the battery. Having no 3.5mm jack is irksome, and the lack of Wi-Fi doesn’t help. Good to have GPS though, which works well with the Java version of Google Maps. Expect three to five days battery life, unless you become addicted to the featured YouTube client.
The camera and zoom are nice, everything else says entry level 3G phone in a market that has plenty already. The money is going on the Cybershot branding.
WinMo 6.5 QWERTY slider
With the 1GHz power X10 on the way for February, the rest of Xperia range need a push to stay in focus. Take a look at the Windows Mobile 6.5-powered Xperia X2, thanks to PhoneArena.
Side-slide QWERTY format is my favourite style, but I’m a little disconcerted by the reversion to a stylus. Fingertip sweeps work for some commands, but a stylus is preferred for the WinMo / resistive touchscreen combo used here.
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