*The* smartphone for the smaller folk: Sony Xperia X10 Mini Pro

The Sony Xperia X10 is one big collection of hotness save for the abysmal fact that it’s going to ship with Android 1.6. Thankfully Sony has outlined plans to bring it up to snuff with 2.1. But that’s not the point of this article. Noooo sir (and mam). The real deal is the Sony Xperia X10 Mini Pro that made it’s debut last night at Sony’s MWC event. Essentially it’s just a shrunken X10 with a slide out keyboard. I don’t know about you, but the only thing stopping me from calling the X10 Mini Pro better than the full X10 version is the smaller screen and slower processor.

So how does it fare on paper? The specs:

• Network: UMTS HSPA 900/2100; GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900; UMTS HSPA 850/1900/2100; GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900

• WiFi/Bluetooth 2.1/aGPS

• 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor

• 2.5-inch QVGA (240×320) touchscreen

• Sony Ericsson’s custom “Timescape” interface (same as on the Xperia X10)

• 5mp camera w/ AF and geo-tagging

• Android 1.6 (updates to 2.0+ already confirmed)

Again, besides the slower processor and downright minuscule scree, the X10 Mini Pro is quite the little powerhouse. So much so I’d say that after it’s Android 2.0/2.1 upgrade that it would be one of the top Android handsets on the market.

Regarding the keyboard — after spending a good year away from physical keyboards on my iPhone and then returning to the physical world via the DROID, I can honestly say I missed the honest to goodness touch and feel action. The screen however is a different story. 2.5″ is simply too small to be of any real use anymore. The low resolution should help some, but overall I don’t think anyone who’s already had a taste of DROID-like resolution (or even lower-rez G1 quality) is going to be happy with the X10 Mini Pro.

Now if only they could take the sliding keyboard and slap that onto an “X10 Mini Pro”, well then, I’d snap one of those up in a heartbeat. Feeling stuck in the same mental game of tug-of-war?

AndroidCentral

Xperia X10 AT&T and T-Mobile bound?

Boy how I love a freshly leaked spec sheet for lusted after gadgets. Today’s gadget-o-love spec sheet pays homage to the Sony Xperia X10. While the hardware itself and overall skin of the UI are simply gorgeous, the Android 1.6 underpinnings aren’t exactly the first choice for most. Android 2.0 or even 2.1 would be much more deserving for such a gorgeous device. But I digress. Personal inhibitions aside, a spec sheet showing off everything that resides under the X10′s hood sheds light on some rather interesting notions. First, many though that the X10 would head to AT&T being such a high-end GSM device — as AT&T usually gets such devices first with T-Mo bringing up the rear at a later date. But take a closer look at that frequency support. That’s right! 1700MHz support baby meaning. So there’s going to be two X10 versions floating around…

Mind you, just because the X10 has support for 1700 MHz frequencies doesn’t exactly mean T-Mo is a sure thing. It could be for some other country. I like to remain hopeful however. At the very least, you could sell a child or two to pick up an unlocked X10 and take comfort in knowing you won’t be limited to archaic EDGE speeds. Mmmmm, 3G goodness via T-Mobile and the Sony Xperia X10. Who needs a drool cup…?

Ubergizmo > Android Guys

Xperia X10 delayed?

Can something be delayed if it hasn’t even been given an “official” release date? If you can manage to work yourself around that question, focus your attention on the Sony X10. While a February 2010 date was seen floating around the page above but a few days ago, today nothing but good ‘ol “TBA” finds itself front and center. Sadness? Or is this business as usual with Sony trying to cushion themselves from any self inflicted delays? I personally can’t wait to feel Rachel up so this so called delay is mildly disheartening…

Phandroid

At launch, Sony Xperia X10 will only support 65k colors. Android 1.6 to blame.

Oh the horror. Sony has been teasing us for days on end with Xperia 10 slideshows and videos of a UI that is simply gorgeous and now we come to find out that it’s only capable of 65k colors. Before you get too upset and cancel your date with Rachel, you must know that this is a limitation with Android 1.6 that is scheduled to ship on the device at launch — not the hardware itself. The OS simply can’t make use of all the hardware stuffed under the X10′s hood.

There is hope. Android 2.0 bumps up color support to 16m (Like the Droid) meaning happier, richer images. For now we don’t even have a release date for the X10 let alone any news on 2.0 updates. Thankfully we have some relief that Android 2.0 is in fact coming to the X10. At a recent Q&A meeting, Global Marketing Manager for the Xperia X10, Sumit Malhotra, said that the X10 will evolve to Android 2.0 over time. I sure do hope over time means they’re working on it now! I’d much rather wait a few extra weeks and even a month for Sony to cease development on 1.6 and start working on making the X10, Rachel, and 2.0 all get along in digital dreamland.

I know that the difference in colors isn’t exactly noticeable outright without something to compare it to. Still it saddens me just a tad that Sony is spinning their wheels working with outdated software on a piece of hardware that simply begs for more. Then again, we all know Verizon did strike an exclusive deal with Google to be the short term, exclusive provider of Android 2.0. Think that has anything to do with it?

Phandroid

Sony’s Rachel UI flaunts her goods for the video camera!

Ya, this is one of those times where I just need to keep words to a minimum and let the video do it’s thing. In case you can’t see the movie, in short: these leaked conceptual demos of Sony’s “Rachel” UI are stunning and give Android’s pathetic stock media capabilities a kick in the digital groin. So much so I would even compare these as good or better than the iPhone. I love the iPhone’s media capabilities and perhaps it could just be that I’m tired of seeing the same thing attempted on so man competitors and this new, unique UI has my captivated. Quite possible indeed. All I know is I want it — bad. Sony, don’t f this up. Please. Bring this to market and you will have a winner!

The layout Sony uses is very Zune-like. Personally, I like it a lot. The latest Zune has a stunning interface so a direct comparison is actually a good thing. The navigation is quickly discernible as vastly different than anything Apple. Every little part of Rachel shows that Sony has truly put in some wrench time. Even small things like transitions between pictures is well done. The fade out, move, fade in effect is a nice detour from Apple’s more common, simple swipe. I really could go on, but I said this would be short. So another movie is in order. Gaze on…

Gizmodo > SENse > SE-blog

Sony Xperia X3 X10 “Infinity” coming out party goes down November 3rd.

The Sony Xperia X3 is so far my favorite device leading into the end of the year. While the X1 and X2 were pretty sweet devices, the fact that it was running WinMo pretty much killed it for me. However, with Android and a tweaked UI dubbed “Rachel” coming on the X3, this latest Sony device has got my attention front and center. Hmm, now about that X3 moniker, well, not even a couple a days ago, the X3 became the X10. Why skip so many numbers? No idea. Not exactly sure what kool-aid Sony is sipping on. Whatever flavor it is, they really need to back off as the just renamed X10 has been giving yet another name to go by. Though this time, the name is actually somewhat presentable. Ladies and gents I introduce the Sony Xperia X3 X10 “Infinity”.

The new name is a big step up from the cryptic and stupid letter/number combo that so many manufacturers fall victim to. At the same time, the Sony Xperia Infinity isn’t a name that is so far “out there” as to draw criticism and become the butt of jokes. We could spend forever going over the few specs and pictures we’ve already seen, or we can wait until November 3rd for it all to go down. My vote is for some new hotness sometime mid-week next week. You?

Phandroid

Xperia X3 to pack the fastest version of Android yet?

Speed freaks looking forward to an Android device that can be used without lag from such simple things as swiping between homescreens, fresh rumors cropping up surrounding the upcoming Xperia X3 are quite the head turner. The monstrous 4-inch 852 x 480 touchscreen may be enough for some. Even the 8 megapixel camera will seal the deal for many more naysayers. But the real proof in the pudding is the reported usage of the highly sought after Snapdragon processor. Said processor is better than the rest of the Android devices with their measly ARM11 proc’s which are sadly stuck at 528MHz. Why so? Well, the Snapdragon units, if they are in fact Snapdragon powered will fly past their slower siblings packin’ 1GHz speed. Rounding out the things to lust after on this phone include the Rachel UI that was spied a couple months back. Rachel is yet another, classy rendition of Android’s visual presence which is pretty hot to say the least. Hopefully Sony develops and designs future hardware like the X3 as this one is looking to be quite a winner. Don’t you think?

By the way, don’t let the picture above trick you. Though this image shows an X3 running the already ‘outta my mind 1.6, it’s said that the final version will pack everything 2.0 has to offer. We can’t wait…

Gizmodo > Ubergizmo > Electronista > GSM Arena

“Rachel” bringing a speedy Android 2.0 to Sony Ericsson

While Sony hasn’t exactly had any whiz dingers in regards to knock-your-socks-off handsets as they fall short in either hardware or software, the leaked image and early specs of their code named device, “Rachel” will surely make any geek drool. The goods include an Android 2.0 release, the much sought after 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8 megapixel auto-focus camera, “great 3D/graphics capabilities”, and support for 7.2Mbps 3G speeds. These are but a few drops in the bucket compared to the full spec sheet which we’ll have to wait a tad longer for. Until then, the pictures and the few specs just mentioned will have to hold you over. Would a 1GHz packin’ Android running Sony be enough to win you over to their camp?

Source: Electronista, Mobile.nu