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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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)
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.
Flagship android device announcement
No more rumours, fibs and lies – Sony Ericsson release the real facts about the phone due to hit market sometime in the first half of 2010.
Shipping with android 1.6 and SE’s own branded UX (user experience) veneer on top of the the android platform.
They call it a phone but I really struggle – look at the size of that thing. Is this a return to belt clips and holsters?
Like to know more? press release here
