Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro news

Sony Ericsson Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade dates offically unveiled

By TechRadar, published 22-12-2011

Sony Ericsson has confirmed its Android 4.0 update schedule - and it's pleasingly early on in 2012.Over on its product blog, the soon-to-be-just-Sony brand has stated that the Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo V and Xperia Ray will all be first up to get a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich, starting in late March or early April.Hot on their heels will be the original Arc, the Xperia Play original Neo and the Xperia Mini and Mini Pro duo - plus the Xperia Active and Live with Walkman too. This bunch will be upgraded to the next level of Android by early May 2012.Rolling out the futureAccording to Sony Ericsson this will be a "phased roll out over several weeks and all kits for a specific phone model will not get the upgrade at the same time" but has published a summary of what's needed to get a ph...

Sony Ericsson to become simply Sony by mid-2012

By GSMArena, published 12-06-2011

If you thought saying Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini pro was a mouthful then you will be happy to know that at least one word out of that enormous name will be dropped by next year. As we already know, Sony had announced their intent to acquire the Ericsson's stake in Sony Ericsson back in October. The transaction was said to complete sometime in January, 2012. Now, however, we know that the...

Review: Updated: Sony Ericsson Xperia Active

By TechRadar, published 28-11-2011

Overview, design and feelThe Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is one of those odd phones that can survive underwater, help you lose weight and update your social networks, all in one go. But is it actually a decent mobile too?Sony Ericsson's released a boat load of different Android smartphones this year. We've had two versions of its huge 4.2-inch Xperia Arc flagship, mid-range options such as the excellent Xperia Ray and Neo, plus the smaller Xperia Mini and Mini Pro for those on a tight pocket-space budget.The Xperia Active sits somewhere at the lower end of that lot. You get a 3-inch capacitive Bravia Engine touchscreen running at 320 x 480 resolution, along with a 5MP camera with LED flash and the ability to record video at 720p resolution.It's all stuffed in a dust and water-resistant cas...

Review: Updated: Sony Ericsson Xperia Active

By TechRadar, published 28-11-2011

Overview, design and feelThe Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is one of those odd phones that can survive underwater, help you lose weight and update your social networks, all in one go. But is it actually a decent mobile too?Sony Ericsson's released a boat load of different Android smartphones this year. We've had two versions of its huge 4.2-inch Xperia Arc flagship, mid-range options such as the excellent Xperia Ray and Neo, plus the smaller Xperia Mini and Mini Pro for those on a tight pocket-space budget.The Xperia Active sits somewhere at the lower end of that lot. You get a 3-inch capacitive Bravia Engine touchscreen running at 320 x 480 resolution, along with a 5MP camera with LED flash and the ability to record video at 720p resolution.It's all stuffed in a dust and water-resistant cas...

Hands on: PlayStation Vita review

By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011

OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...

Hands on: PlayStation Vita review

By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011

OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...

Hands on: PlayStation Vita review

By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011

OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...

Hands on: PlayStation Vita review

By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011

OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...

Hands on: PlayStation Vita review

By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011

OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThis week we've reviewed the humungous HTC Sensation XL as well as the long awaited Amazon Kindle Fire. And it doesn't stop there - we've looked at the new Sony Alpha A77 DSLR, complete with an immense 24.3MP APS-C format CMOS sensor.We've also checked out the 11-inch Acer Zenbook UX21 too. Read on for all our reviews from what's been a bumper week on the site. HTC Sensation XL reviewThe HTC Sensation XL is the third in HTC's new Android range, and offers a larger screen than the original Sensation, but with a 1.5GHz single-core processor, 16GB of built-in memory, and Beats Audio (like the XE). However, despite the screen being larger it's actually a lot less sharp - what we've got here is a 480 x 800 display, compared to the 540 x 960 qHD screen in ...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThis week we've reviewed the humungous HTC Sensation XL as well as the long awaited Amazon Kindle Fire. And it doesn't stop there - we've looked at the new Sony Alpha A77 DSLR, complete with an immense 24.3MP APS-C format CMOS sensor.We've also checked out the 11-inch Acer Zenbook UX21 too. Read on for all our reviews from what's been a bumper week on the site. HTC Sensation XL reviewThe HTC Sensation XL is the third in HTC's new Android range, and offers a larger screen than the original Sensation, but with a 1.5GHz single-core processor, 16GB of built-in memory, and Beats Audio (like the XE). However, despite the screen being larger it's actually a lot less sharp - what we've got here is a 480 x 800 display, compared to the 540 x 960 qHD screen in ...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThis week we've reviewed the humungous HTC Sensation XL as well as the long awaited Amazon Kindle Fire. And it doesn't stop there - we've looked at the new Sony Alpha A77 DSLR, complete with an immense 24.3MP APS-C format CMOS sensor.We've also checked out the 11-inch Acer Zenbook UX21 too. Read on for all our reviews from what's been a bumper week on the site. HTC Sensation XL reviewThe HTC Sensation XL is the third in HTC's new Android range, and offers a larger screen than the original Sensation, but with a 1.5GHz single-core processor, 16GB of built-in memory, and Beats Audio (like the XE). However, despite the screen being larger it's actually a lot less sharp - what we've got here is a 480 x 800 display, compared to the 540 x 960 qHD screen in ...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThis week we've reviewed the humungous HTC Sensation XL as well as the long awaited Amazon Kindle Fire. And it doesn't stop there - we've looked at the new Sony Alpha A77 DSLR, complete with an immense 24.3MP APS-C format CMOS sensor.We've also checked out the 11-inch Acer Zenbook UX21 too. Read on for all our reviews from what's been a bumper week on the site. HTC Sensation XL reviewThe HTC Sensation XL is the third in HTC's new Android range, and offers a larger screen than the original Sensation, but with a 1.5GHz single-core processor, 16GB of built-in memory, and Beats Audio (like the XE). However, despite the screen being larger it's actually a lot less sharp - what we've got here is a 480 x 800 display, compared to the 540 x 960 qHD screen in ...

Review: Alcatel One Touch 990

By TechRadar, published 31-10-2011

Overview, design and feelSome phones are all about power; others affordability. Alcatel's One Touch 990 (or OT-990) falls firmly into the latter category, as you'd expect given the company's reputation as a purveyor of budget phones. So the question we're asking here isn't what exciting tech helps this rival Samsung's Galaxy S2, HTC's Sensation, Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc, or any of the other powerhouses in our 20 best mobile phones list.Rather we're concerned with whether it's money well spent. Especially when the world contains the likes of Orange's budget titan, the San Francisco. If you read our review of it, you'll know we lost our heart to that phone because of its amazing competence given its paltry cost. Other rivals worth bearing in mind are the INQ Cloud Touch, which excels at so...

SE begins global rollout of Android 2.3.4 upgrade for Xperia devices

By Thinkdigit, published 31-10-2011

Sony Ericsson is now rolling out Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread OS updates for its Xperia-series of smartphones globally. Earlier, the update was only restricted to Nordic countries such as Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. But the latest update is available for more countries which includes India as well. [RELATED_ARTICLE] The Xperia smartphones to sport Android 2.3.4 OS include Xperia Arc, Xperia Play, Xperia Neo, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, Xperia Pro, Xperia Ray, Xperia Active, Xperia Neo [...] Read the entire article

Updated: 20 best mobile phones in the world today

By TechRadar, published 28-10-2011

Best mobile phone: OverviewWhat's the best mobile phone? Our verdict on the best smartphone / best phones - constantly updated We've all got at least one mobile phone each, right? The trouble is, how do you decide which is the best one for you?If you've read our list of the hottest pre-release new mobile phones and are still stumped, well, this is where we make it easy. Because here we have our continually-updated comparison of the top 20 best smartphones you can get in the UK.The last update saw the Samsung Galaxy S2 nabbing the top spot - the combo of Android 2.3 and a beautiful screen in a tightly packaged body saw it head straight to the top of the pile.But now Apple has finally brought out another version of the iPhone (if you want a sneaky peek, you can read our iPhone 4S review) so ...

Sony coy over Windows Phone and webOS

By TechRadar, published 27-10-2011

Sony has refused to rule itself out of a move to alternative smartphone operating systems.Speaking at the press conference to announce that it is buying Ericsson's share of the Sony Ericsson smartphone venture, CEO Sir Howard Stringer refused to be drawn on whether the company is looking at an alternative smartphone OS.When quizzed about the possibility of joining the Windows Phone ecosystem, like many other of Sony Ericsson's rivals already have and the company itself has previously hinted at, Stringer refused to shut the door on such an opportunity but stated that the company was happy with its relationship with Google:"We never say never to anything; we have to be adaptable in this industry, but obviously we're great Google customers."Alternative optionsWhen asked about acquirin...

Review: iPhone 4S

By TechRadar, published 17-10-2011

Overview, design and feelThe iPhone 4S caught many by surprise, with Apple expected to release the iPhone 5 - but instead we got an iPhone 4 with overhauled innards.While the masses were initially disappointed, the iPhone 4S features a glut of top-end tech that is designed to put it on a par with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S2 - but does it manage to do that?The changes to the iPhone 4S are easy to document - the camera has been upgraded to 8MP (with an improved aperture ratio), the CPU is now the same dual-core A5 processor as seen in the iPad 2, and a seven time increase in graphical processing power.Check out our video of the iPhone 4S in action - is it the phone for you?brightcove : 1200452098001Also we've got Siri, Apple's voice recognition service - will this be a game changer fo...

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini - Updated, to sheer brilliance [Review]

By Thinkdigit, published 10-04-2011

When Sony Ericsson launched the Xperia Mini back in 2010, it really wasn’t the best smartphone around. And it really was the only tiny phone around, which is why it didn’t get beat there as well. However, developers at Sony Ericsson are certainly not the ones who go through the denial phase. Good thing, because that probably makes them more receptive to genuine feedback, rather than taking it as an ego issue. They went back to the drawing board, tweaked a few things, overhauled some [...] Read the entire article

Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray

By TechRadar, published 22-09-2011

Overview, design and feelIt's been a busy old year for Sony Ericsson. As it struggles to regain a foothold in the market it was once sucha major player in, it's been firing out more Android-based Xperia smartphones than long-lost relatives on an episode of Jeremy Kyle. And they're not half bad either.The Xperia Arc has been the flagship of 2011's bunch. Arriving in the spring, it became the skinny poster girl for the Swedish-Japanese hybrid, showing off its amazing screen presence with the help of the Sony Reality Display (the bit that reproduces colour on the screen and makes it look great) but in the Xperia Ray, Sony Ericsson has gone for a smaller model.Before we go any further, there is one point we have to make clear: this phone is small. And thin. Think smaller and thinner than you e...

Updated: 10 best touchscreen phones for 2011

By TechRadar, published 21-09-2011

10 best touchscreen phones for 2011Our best touchscreen phone article is constantly updated.Quite simply, touch screen technology is the innovation we now expect to see in some shape or form from every new smartphone that launches. Swapping a button-bashing existence for a softer sensing interface we can press, swipe, pinch and zoom, means we can now do a little bit more than simply stare into that pint-sized screen of ours.If the only QWERTY keyboard you want to see on a daily basis is the one nestled next to your office computer, here's our pick of the best touchscreen smartphones available right now in the UK.1. Samsung Galaxy S2The Galaxy brand has restored our faith in Samsung's ability to make great phones, and with Google's Android OS and some impressive touchscreen technology, the ...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 09-10-2011

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarHas the economy suddenly picked up? This week we got our hands on the fantastic 60-inch, 3D-capable and Smart TV-enabled UE60D8000 from Samsung, which doesn't come cheap at £4,300, and then the £1,000+ Asus MARS II Limited Edition graphics card landed on our desk.At the other end of the spectrum we were impressed with the Samsung PL120, which can be picked up for under £100 and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro, which is both small in price and size.Read on for this week's most popular reviews on TechRadar.Samsung UE60D8000 reviewWhen Samsung gave us exclusive access to its brand new flagship LCD TV, we were excited. It's hard not to be excited by these new Samsungs - just look at them. There's almost no bezel at all, which means the picture goes ...

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich coming to all '11 Xperia phones

By GSMArena, published 09-08-2011

Sony Ericsson is really doing well this year. All of its latest Xperia phones - arc, neo, PLAY, mini and mini pro turned out to be really great devices, with even more coming soon up - ray, active and arc S. All the latest Xperia are based on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and as we found out have quite good performance. Recently, Sony Ericsson announced it will update all of them with Android 2.3.4,...

Sony Ericsson XPERIA mini pro Review

By SlashGear, published 09-06-2011

Take a cursory glance at the smartphone market and you’d be forgiven for assuming bigger always means better. Android smartphones are already available with vast screens, rumors suggest the iPhone 5 will introduce a larger display, and Windows Phone has just seen its first uber-panel with the 4.7-inch HTC Titan. Not everyone wants to fill [...]

Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro

By TechRadar, published 09-05-2011

Overview, design and feelSo, just as Sony Ericsson accompanied its X10 Mini with the X10 Mini Pro in 2010, this year's excellent new Xperia Mini is now accompanied by a heavier, sturdier model of the same size, the Xperia Mini Pro. The new smartphone also has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for those of you still stubbornly refusing to go 100% touchscreen. The internal hardware has been updated from last year's X10 Mini Pro, with three fairly big specification upgrades. The Xperia Mini Pro now features a larger 3-inch screen, a 1GHz processor powering the mobile phone, plus the up-to-date Android 2.3 operating system. There's a small price premium for the QWERTY keyboard. While the Xperia Mini is currently selling SIM-free for around the £200 mark, the Xperia Mini Pro is on offer from £240. ...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 09-03-2011

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarIn case you haven't noticed this week has seen the IFA gadget and tech show taking place in Berlin and as such, we've been able to get our hands on a host of new tech toys.We've been playing with tablets, TVs, phones, cameras and more.Read on to discover the kit that's impressed us this week.Hands on: Sony Tablet S reviewSony has officially launched its new Tablet S at IFA 2011.The new 9.4-inch tab is powered by Nvidia's Tegra 2 processor and features the Android Honeycomb operating system. It's version 3.1 which will be upgradeable to 3.2.The Sony Tablet S UK release date is September. A Wi-Fi/3G version of the Tablet S has a UK release date of November 2011 - this will ship with Android 3.2 from the off.Hands on: Sony Tablet P reviewYes, it's an od...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 27-08-2011

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThis week has been a bumper week for kit on TechRadar - it's hardly been a slow week for news, either.We've got the pocket 3D camcorder, the Sony Bloggie 3D, the Panasonic DMC-FZ48 with a super 24x lens. Also from Panasonic is the 65-inch Panasonic's TX-P65VT30.And then there's the updated Sony Xperia Mini - a diminutive Android handset, HTC Evo 3D plus much more besides.Sony Bloggie 3D reviewThe Sony Bloggie 3D MHS-FS3 certainly isn't cheap, but then this is a distinctly premium point-and-shoot video recorder. The obvious draw is simple, hassle-free 3D recording and playback, with an easy way to trim and upload the footage. But it's not just a one-trick, three-dimensional pony; there's a good range of 2D recording options too, including 1080p, so So...

Sony Ericsson Xperia Android 2.3.4 update incoming

By TechRadar, published 25-08-2011

Sony Ericsson has announced that it is to give its Xperia 2011 range an Android spit and polish in October, with news that the handsets are to get an Android 2.3.4 update.The new Android update offers such niceties as improvements to video calling (with the integration of Google Talk) and a number of bug fixes to stop freezing and the like.New featuresSony Ericsson is also adding some of its own touches with new features such as 3D sweep panorama and better integration with Facebook announced.The new update will also allow you to connect PC peripherals to an Xperia phone, as long as you use the Sony Ericsson Live Dock multimedia station, and swipe text input and screen capture will also be added.As these features are coming to the 2011 Xperia line-up, the following handsets are set to get ...

Updated: Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V unveiled with Android 2.3.4

By TechRadar, published 25-08-2011

Sony Ericsson has unveiled the Xperia Neo V ahead of IFA 2011, following its moderately successful Xperia Neo handset that was released early this year. There's not much to report on the Neo V front; it's largely the same handset as the original Neo - same dimensions, same weight, same display, same innards. The one major change that we can see is that the Neo V comes rocking a 5MP camera, a step down from the 8MP affair that the older handset boasts. Considering the "photographic punch" was one of the things we praised in our Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo review, chopping this down may not have been Sony Ericsson's wisest ever move. DowngradeIt will be the first Xperia handset to ship with Android 2.3.4, the 3D-friendly software update that Sony Ericsson also announced today with a few Faceboo...

Sony Ericsson announces the Xperia neo V and Android updates

By GSMArena, published 25-08-2011

Sony Ericsson has just announced the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update for the 2011 Xperia lineup and the first phone that will run on 2.3.4 out of the box - the Xperia neo V. The Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update will hit the whole Xperia lineup from this year - PLAY, Arc, neo, pro, mini, mini pro, active and ray. It will bring along a few nice features: Sony 3D sweep panorama functionality...

Review: Updated: HTC Evo 3D

By TechRadar, published 24-08-2011

UPDATE: We've now re-reviewed this phone for the UK market, so check out our findings below.It seems like there are a bazillion Android phones on the market, which means any phone with a brand new feature seems like a colossal improvement. The latest of these big steps forward was the 'glasses-free' 3D screen on the LG Optimus 3D. Now splashing down is HTC's Evo 3D, with 3D features intended to be less alarming those on the Optimus 3D.We've got a cheeky little video of the HTC Evo 3D if you want to see the phone in action ahead of our full and in-depth review:In fact, at first glance, you might mistake the Evo 3D for any other slightly chunkier Android phone with a bright screen and HTC's Sense user interface. The problem is that the Android line-up has recently moved on to greener pasture...

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro review: No small affair

By GSMArena, published 24-08-2011

Sony Ericsson have always done a good job of putting big ideas in a small package. The original Xperia mini lineup wasn't ridiculously powerful but had plenty of personality. The pint-sized smartphones did well on the market and you...

Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman to be the next Android Walkman phone

By Thinkdigit, published 23-08-2011

While the Android-based Sony Ericsson W8 Walkman phone only just hit India (earlier this month with Reliance Communications), we’re now hearing announcements from the joint-venture that they will be launching another Android Walkman phone this year – the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman – which will come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread installed. Looking essentially the same as the new Xperia Mini and Mini Pro, the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman has a marginally larger screen [...] Read the entire article

Explained: How your phone betrays your location

By TechRadar, published 21-08-2011

"What's an azimuth?" my wife asked. For some reason, visions of naval battles came to mind. Cannons being aimed, orders shouted, shots fired, smoke and billowing sails. Other than that, I couldn't come up with much. There was nothing for it but to check Wikipedia, where I learned that it's a direction for a projection of an object (usually a star) in 3D space onto a reference plane. So, in summary, a direction. At this point, it's best to understand what my wife does for a living. She's a Deputy District Attorney, a prosecutor, in the Fourth Judicial District in Colorado. For a long while, she's headed up the Special Victims Unit (SVU, just like on the telly) in the office, prosecuting cases where the victims are the very young, very old, or those who need special help. I get involved as a...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 20-08-2011

We may be in the middle of summer (not that you'd know it, looking outside) but we've still got some great kit reviewed this week. First up is Sony's new Alpha 35 SLT camera which has plenty of innovative features for those who want a bit more from an upgrade.We've also got a review of the monstrous EVGA GeForce GTX 560 2Win - two full-spec Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 GPUs together on the same card - as well as the excellent new Xperia Mini. It's a new Android-toting miniature smartphone from Sony Ericsson. Read on to see what we thought of it as well as tens of other products reviewed this week on TechRadar. Sony Alpha 35 reviewThe Sony Alpha A35 is the latest launch to join the manufacturer's innovative Single Lens Translucent (SLT) camera line-up, debuting a number of new technologies that l...

Updated: Top 160 best Android apps 2011

By TechRadar, published 19-08-2011

While Android doesn't feature the same volume of apps in its Marketplace as iPhone users are used to, there are still loads of great Android apps to download.Whether you're after the best free Android apps or the best paid ones, we've rounded up the top Android apps for 2011 in the articles below.40 best free Android appsMost of the good stuff on Android is free, thanks to the work of developers who do it for love alone. These 40 free Android apps should be any Android owner's Day One installs...Read 40 best free Android apps40 best free Android gamesWe've worked our way through a whole load of Android games to reveal the ones you should download to your phone.Read 40 best free Android games10 best Android apps worth paying for Don't panic because we're mentioning money here - the average ...

Week in Tech: Google moves on Moto as patent war hots up

By TechRadar, published 19-08-2011

"Some will call it Googorola," Gary Marshall writes. "Others, Motogoogle, or perhaps Moogle. But whatever you call it, Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility is the biggest thing to happen in mobile since Nokia climbed into bed with Ballmer."Google is acquiring Motorola Mobility for a cool $12.5 billion, subject to regulatory approval. As Gareth Beavis put it: "They must REALLY like the Atrix."So what's going on? Marshall believes it's all about the patents. "Android has become something of a patent battleground - Eric Schmidt was getting annoyed about firms who "are not responding with innovation [but] with lawsuits" last month - and I'm wondering if the Motorola deal was what Schmidt meant when he said that "we will make sure they don't lose, then" when asked about HTC's patent battle...

Vodafone picks up Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray

By TechRadar, published 19-08-2011

Vodafone has added the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray to its coming soon page, promising that the small smartphone with the big processor will soon be available on pay monthly deals. Unfortunately the big red network hasn't seen fit to list an Xperia Ray UK release date or UK pricing just yet, but we'd expect to see it land on deals from around £25 a month. That money will nab you the pin-sharp resolution of the Ray's 3.3-inch display and the 1GHz processor, as well as Android 2.3 with Sony Ericsson's TimeScape overlay. Xperia Ray-mondWe were fairly impressed with Sony Ericsson's latest effort when we hung out with the phone for our hands on Xperia Ray review. Vodafone joins a hefty line up of networks gearing up to offer the bright spark handset including Three and O2, and a host of online ret...

Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini

By TechRadar, published 18-08-2011

Before the arrival of Sony's Ericsson's new Xperia Mini, the X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro were an odd little couple, launching in mid-2010 with Android 1.6 and a bespoke and heavily-customised user interface on top.They weren't amazingly powerful phones and their 2.55" screens were shockingly small - but Sony Ericsson did a good job of maximising the available space with its corner-based interface. The same system has returned in 2011's updates, albeit improved thanks to Sony Ericsson's developers having another year to fiddle with the interface and add more new layers of social integration. We've got some real-life footage of ACTUAL people using the phone - check it out if these grouped-together letters are too much:The new Xperia Mini is available SIM-free for just over the £200 mark, with...

Samsung's Ice Cream Sandwich phone detailed again

By TechRadar, published 18-08-2011

What looks to be Samsung's roadmap for the rest of 2011 has made its way on to the internet, including details of the GT-I9220, Samsung's first Ice Cream Sandwich handset. Alongside the much-anticipated Android upgrade, it comes rocking a massive 4.65-inch Super AMOLED screen with 1280x720 pixel resolution. Aside from the fact that it sports a 5MP camera, other details on this telecommunications behemoth are scarce, but we suspect it may well turn out to be the next flagship Android handset – Google Nexus Prime, anyone?Time will tellPrevious leaks and speculation have suggested the handset will come with a dualcore 1.5GHz or 1.2GHz processor, 1080p video recording and 1GB of RAM. There's no guarantee that the GT-I9220 model will be the next Nexus handset, of course, so take all this with...

In Depth: 10 best office apps for Android

By TechRadar, published 18-08-2011

We all know how versatile and powerful today's smartphones are, with numerous games and apps showing off their fun sides. But what about the boring stuff? What about when you really need to edit potentially libellous statements out of a Word document in a hurry? Android has a wealth of productivity tools at its disposal, ranging from free and simple text editors and "to do" lists up to impressively feature-packed and rather costly suites of document management apps that promise PowerPoint and Excel editing on your mobile.Official options are a little lacking, though. There's no proper version of Open Office on Android, for example, while rival smartphone maker Microsoft is obviously a little reluctant to launch any official MS Office apps on Android as well. Fortunately for business-minded...

Opinion: Did LG save Android before it began?

By TechRadar, published 18-08-2011

The name LG could have been as synonymous with Google's OS as HTC, according to an article on Android founder Andy Rubin.The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) has published a look at the rise of the operating system - and the most interesting fact claimed is that LG backed out of a deal to be the primary partner for Android in 2007.HTC brought the first three Android phones to market and now enjoys a status as one of the world's largest smartphone makers, whereas LG is struggling to make waves in the same industry.It's an interesting point of conjecture - did LG lose out, or did Google and Android really win big by not having the Korean firm as a primary partner? I'd have to go with the latter - we've seen LG's propensity to make sub-par phones when it comes to user interfaces (S...

Nokia: No more Symbian phones in US

By TechRadar, published 08-09-2011

Nokia has admitted that it will no longer release Symbian handsets in the US once it starts selling Windows Phone devices.In an interview with All Things D, Nokia's North American chief Chris Weber says that the company is putting all hope of a smartphone revival on the partnership with Microsoft's improving operating system."When we launch Windows Phones we will essentially be out of the Symbian business, the S40 business, etc.," he said. "It will be Windows Phone and the accessories around that."Last throwRather ominously, Weber hinted that the Windows Phone tie-in, and the heavy marketing investment Nokia is planning around the launch, was somewhat of a last throw of the dice."The reality is if we are not successful with Windows Phone, it doesn't matter what we do."The revelation that N...

Rumour: October release for Ice Cream Sandwich?

By TechRadar, published 08-09-2011

Google could be planning to launch the first Ice Cream Sandwich Android devices in October, if the latest anonymous source is to be believed. According to the tipster, the Android-owning search giant doesn't want potential Ice Cream Sandwich customers coming out of their contracts and being lured by the iPhone 5, which is also tipped to arrive in September or October, depending on who you talk to. Further new details are scant, but the Ice Cream Sandwich OS is likely to land on a new flagship Android device, be it a smartphone or a tablet. YummyAnnounced earlier this year, the new OS is intended to sit on both phones and slates. Google described it as its "most ambitious release to date", bringing the most delicious bits of both Honeycomb and Gingerbread to one salacious operating system. ...

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro released in the UK

By TechRadar, published 08-09-2011

The dinky Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro has finally been released in the UK, bringing its slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Android 2.3 with it.Available now from Carphone Warehouse, the Xperia Mini Pro can be yours for £20 a month on a 24-month plan on Orange. First unveiled back in May, the Xperia Mini Pro has a 3-inch screen which offers the same Sony Bravia technology that you'll find in its higher end brethren like the Xperia Play. Professional midgetIt's virtually the same phone as the X10 Mini, but for the addition of the slide-out QWERTY; so you'll get the same Android 2.3, the same HD video recording, the same 1GHz Snapdragon processor and the same Timescape UI that works with the touchscreen. We awarded a princely four stars in our official Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro review, desc...

Official BlackBerry blog taken down after hack

By TechRadar, published 08-09-2011

RIM's official BlackBerry blog was hacked this afternoon in retaliation against the company after it announced that it would cooperate with the police investigation into the London riots. The hackers calling themselves TeamPoison posted a statement on the blog, warning that RIM would "regret it" if it passes information on to the police. "If you do assist the police by giving them chat logs, gps locations, customer information & access to peoples BlackBerryMessengers you will regret it," the statement read. "We have access to your database which includes your employees information; e.g – Addresses, Names, Phone Numbers etc. – now if u assist the police, we _WILL_ make this information public and pass it onto rioters…. do you really want a bunch of angry youths on your employees doors...

Screenshots reveal iOS 5 speech-to-text feature

By TechRadar, published 08-09-2011

Screenshots of a speech-to-text feature that is said to be making its way to iOS 5 have surfaced. The Nuance-powered feature will require users only to tap the microphone icon next to the on-screen spacebar, and speak aloud leaving text to magically appear on screen. The microphone overlay (pictured below) appears once you've clicked the microphone and sticks around as long as you keep talking. Image credit: 9to5MacAccording to the source who sent the screengrabs to 9to5Mac, this feature is only coming to iPod touch and iPhone with iOS 5, and won't be making its way to the iPad. It's not entirely clear why Apple would withhold it from the tablet, but it has been known to keep certain features back in the past so isn't entirely outside of the realms of possibility. iOS 5, which was announce...

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro goes on sale in the UK

By phoneArena, published 08-08-2011

Good news to anyone in the UK looking for a cute and cuddly Android powered smartphone with a physical keyboard because the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro is now finally for sale. Obviously, affordability is something...

Xperia Mini Pro to hit retail shelves at Rs. 15,399, with Gingerbread and QWERTY

By Thinkdigit, published 08-02-2011

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro has still to be launched in many territories across the world, but will apparently be making its debut in the Indian market by the end of this week, priced at Rs. 15,399. Running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and bearing a full-fledged 1GHz processor (a wondrous inclusion looking at its size), the Xperia Mini Pro also features a full QWERTY slider keypad. Specifically, the Xperia Mini Pro has a 1GHz Scorpion processor with an Adreno 205 GPU, part of the Qualcomm S [...] Read the entire article

Hands on: Vodafone 555 Blue review

By TechRadar, published 28-07-2011

Vodafone sprung a demi-surprise in being the next brand to launch a Facebook phone in the shape of the Vodafone 555 Blue. But without the latest in connectivity, a relatively slow processor and a familiar shape, will the 555 be top of the pile or singing the Blues?The new phone, manufactured by Alcatel, has one key difference though: it's a non-smartphone, instead using a dedicated Java-based OS that Vodafone claims integrates Facebook more deeply than ever before on a mobile.The 555 Blue will be aimed at the 16-25 market in the UK, with its cheaper price tag of around £70 eschewing the need for a contract and offering social networking for not a lot of dollar.The design is a standard QWERTY keyboard design, taking a lot of cues from the BlackBerry range of old. Vodafone tells us that the...

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro hits the FCC

By phoneArena, published 15-07-2011

Yet another phone from Sony Ericsson has gone through the approval process of the FCC as the QWERTY keyboard packing Xperia Mini Pro has posed for the camera and appears ready for its future release…

Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo

By TechRadar, published 29-06-2011

Sitting pretty in the hand, the small Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo smartphone and its 8.1-megapixel camera offer photographic skills far beyond what you'd expect for its 125g weight. The 3.7-inch screen with multi-touch Reality display is nice and sharp, and benefits colour-wise from Mobile Bravia technology. However it fares poorly in direct sunlight, with us having to pull the ol' hand-as-a-sun-blocker move. The phone is small enough to use comfortably with one hand, so it's not a huge problem, but essentially, with smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S2 carrying AMOLED and the Apple iPhone 4 with its Retina display technology, should we really be having problems with direct sunlight any more?But, moving on, the (blue for us) semi-anodised finish, curved posterior and well-distributed wei...

Updated: Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray launches with Android 2.3

By TechRadar, published 22-06-2011

Over in Singapore, Sony Ericsson has unleashed a new Android 2.3 handset in the form of the Xperia Ray, toting a 1GHz processor. The 3.3-inch touchscreen phone is just 0.1mm thicker than the iPhone 4 and comes with Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine, last seen on the high-end Xperia handsets unveiled at Mobile World Congress, including the Xperia Arc. Sting like a sting ray "We expect Xperia Ray to appeal to consumers who are looking for a combination of beautiful design and a rich feature set," said global product marketing manager Daniel Sandblom. We'd question the beautiful design side of things, but the Ray isn't lacking in features. The 8.1MP camera offers the Exmor R sensor technology and HD video recording, and there's also a front-mounted camera for video-calling. As well as Sony Ericsson...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 06-11-2011

This week's top reviews start with an unexpected winner - the TomTom Start 20 packs in features while achieving an affordable price point. We've also looked at one of the most eagerly-awaited new compacts, the Canon IXUS 220 HS as well as a great new 37-inch 3D TV from Panasonic.Scroll down to browse through all of this week's reviews published on TechRadar. TomTom Start 20 reviewIf you own an Android phone, you most likely have access to Google's Navigation app. And providing your phone's GPS chip isn't awful, that means your phone can double as a decent sat nav device. There are also free sat nav apps available for the iPhone and iPad, and so it's not surprising that traditional sat nav manufacturers like TomTom are being given the squeeze. The TomTom Start 20 packs in the features while...

Updated: 10 best touchscreen phones for 2011

By TechRadar, published 06-10-2011

Our best touchscreen phone article is constantly updated.Quite simply, touch screen technology is the innovation we now expect to see in some shape or form from every new smartphone that launches. Swapping a button-bashing existence for a softer sensing interface we can press, swipe, pinch and zoom, means we can now do a little bit more than simply stare into that pint-sized screen of ours.If the only QWERTY keyboard you want to see on a daily basis is the one nestled next to your office computer, here's our pick of the best touchscreen smartphones available right now in the UK.1. Samsung Galaxy S2The Galaxy brand has restored our faith in Samsung's ability to make great phones, and with Google's Android OS and some impressive touchscreen technology, the S2 continues that trend.Housed with...

Review: Panasonic HX-WA10

By TechRadar, published 06-03-2011

The snappily titled HX-WA10 is one of Panasonic's first forays into pistol-style camcorders. These were once Sanyo's bread and butter as part of its Xacti line, but the company was bought by Panasonic several years ago, resulting in the HX-WA10 and its brothers, the HX-DC10 and HX-DC1.The WA10 is the top of the range, offering a 16-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor capable of recording 1080p footage, all in a waterproof exterior. The DC10 is identical save for its lack of waterproofing, while the DC1 has a 14MP non-backside-illuminated sensor.Backside-illuminated sensors are hot stuff at the moment thanks to their inclusion in the iPhone 4 and Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc. The reason the technology is so popular is that it should provide improved recording in low-light situations - especia...

Updated: Best Android phone - which should you buy?

By TechRadar, published 06-02-2011

Our verdict on the best Android phones - constantly updatedThere's one key way in which Android is massively different from its Apple-branded smartphone competition - the number of phones out there running Google's hot mobile OS. Samsung makes loads of them. Sony Ericsson makes a few. Then you've got Android-powered phones from Acer, LG, Huawei and many others, while HTC releases more in a month than all the rest added together manage in a year.The many variations in screen size, processor power, software features and design makes finding the best Android phone for you extremely tough.Do you physically and emotionally need a QWERTY keyboard? Are you the sort of oddball who prefers the rough pressing needed to make resistive touchscreens work? Do you actually like Orange widgets?To help fin...

Review: HTC Sensation

By TechRadar, published 28-05-2011

HTC has gone from being an unknown manufacturer for bigger brands to one spewing out leading Android smartphones. The Desire was a landmark phone in the fight against the iPhone, but now tech has moved up a level - can the HTC Sensation stay at the sharp end?With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S2, the Motorola Atrix and (to a degree) the LG Optimus 2X, dual-core phones have become the darling of the tech enthusiast.Our colleagues at T3.com grabbed some HTC Sensation video footage, so check out the phone in all its digital moving picture glory:And HTC has recognised that in bringing out a phone that ticks all the boxes for the most sought-after tech, bringing an 8MP camera, 1080p video recording, a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm chipset and a qHD resolution 4.3-inch screen.The design of the HT...

Android 2.3.3 for XPERIA Play and Arc released [Video]

By SlashGear, published 26-05-2011

Sony Ericsson’s latest firmware update for the XPERIA Arc and XPERIA Play has begun to roll out. The new software upgrades the smartphones to Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread, addressing various issues and bugfixes, as well as including the Facebook Inside XPERIA functionality that Sony Ericsson first showed on the XPERIA mini and mini pro. The Facebook [...]

Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play, Arc To Get Android 2.3.3 And Facebook Integration Next Week

By SlashGear, published 20-05-2011

There was quite a bit of Sony Ericsson news today with a couple new feature phones hinted at earlier today, and the official announcement for the XPERIA mini and mini pro earlier this month. And now there is confirmation that the XPERIA Play and Arc are set to get a firmware update next week. The [...]

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro to hit O2 UK this June

By GSMArena, published 18-05-2011

Sony Ericsson announced the Xperia mini and mini pro just recently and they were scheduled to hit the market in August. According to O2 UK though, the Xperia mini is going to launch this June in the UK...

Sony Ericsson CK15i and ST18i “Asuza” caught in wild

By SlashGear, published 14-05-2011

Sony Ericsson started the process of refreshing its mainstream Android smartphone range with the XPERIA mini and mini pro earlier this month; now it seems the company is looking to replace the XPERIA X8 with a new all-touch and touch/QWERTY duo. The Sony Ericsson ST18i “Asuza” and CK15i have leaked over at Esato, each appearing [...]

Review: Samsung Solid Immerse

By TechRadar, published 13-05-2011

We all know about Samsung and its phones, right? Samsung has just set the new high standard for a smartphone with its Galaxy S2 – an absolute stunner that garnered a much-coveted five stars from us. But the company does more than just set the standards in smartphones. It's had a rugged range for a while now. Anyone remember the Samsung Solid Extreme, or Samsung Bound, for example? The Solid Immerse is the latest in this established line. If you want a rugged Android smartphone then we recommend the Motorola Defy, but not everyone wants or needs smartphone fanciness. If candybar is more your thing, then Samsung has the pedigree. What you trade off, though, is specifications. Solid shell, yes. Mind-blowing specs, no. The Samsung Solid Immerse manages 3G but not HSDPA, has a 2-inch screen, ...

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play game sales disappoint

By TechRadar, published 05-12-2011

New figures suggest that PlayStation certified games on Android are not selling at quite the rate most expected.Currently it is only the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play that can access PlayStation certified games, which does limit how many can be sold, but a month after launch and some of the titles are selling in their hundreds or very low thousands.PlayStation Lifestyle has published sales figures for a variety of the games available in the store and they are as follows:Cool Boarders 2: 100-500Destruction Derby: 500-1,000Jumping Flash: 50-100MediEvil: 100-500Syphon Filter: 100-500Revolutionary deviceAll of these games are available through the Android Market, where the number of installs are shown, and they all have a price tag of £3.99 – which is quite pricey for Android.Sony Ericsson is p...

Exclusive: Samsung promises faster Android updates for Galaxy range

By TechRadar, published 05-10-2011

Samsung's UK and Ireland MD of the Mobile Division has told TechRadar that the company is working on improving its record of releasing the latest version of Android to its phones.The Korean firm has come under fire for taking so long to get the latest version of Android to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S, but Simon Stanford told us that this will be changing:"We recognise this is a real problem. We looked at all the online feedback, and the only stuff that we were seeing was bad feedback to do with the Froyo (Android 2.2) update."People see an update launched globally and think they would be getting it soon too, so there's two things we're going to do:"Making sure the phones are built so the process ist easier already, almost automatic to update, and working with our network partners [to...

New Sony Ericsson Mobiles: Xperia Mini 2 and Mini Pro 2

By DigitalVersus, published 05-09-2011

Sony Ericsson has unveiled official details of two new mobile phones for its Xperia Mini range that will go on sale at the end of the summer. At an event...

New Windows Phone 7 Mango features shown off

By TechRadar, published 05-09-2011

Two Windows Phone developers have revealed a host of new features coming to the OS's first major update, known as Mango or Windows Phone 7.5. Unsurprisingly, there are a few new Bing features on their way, including Bing Audio, a Shazam-alike Bing-powered service for identifying music. There's also Bing Vision, a visual search service which allows users to search using the camera by scanning barcodes, QR codes or actual books, CDs or DVDs. Fear of writingGraphophobics will welcome the inclusion of SMS dictation which is included as an option in the SMS application bar.The Maps app will also be getting a bit of love; turn-by-turn navigation, for example, as well as voice guidance so you can use your Windows Phone as a sat nav device while driving.The newly exposed features join what we alre...

Samsung Galaxy S2 reaches 3 million pre-orders

By TechRadar, published 05-09-2011

Samsung has announced that it has received over three million pre-orders for the new Galaxy S2.The latest Android smartphone from the Korean electronics giant has received rave reviews from around the web, including nabbing top spot in TechRadar's best mobile phones ranking.Samsung recently confirmed that it had received over 120,000 orders in South Korea, but it seems demand is equally high in other territories too, with the Galaxy S2 en route to over 120 countries.Big up the big screenWith the phone likely to shatter sales estimates - Samsung was reported to have been expecting sales of 10 million units for the handset - the rumours of an impending stock shortage are inevitable, especially given the previous supply problems from Samsung of its Super AMOLED technology (the advanced displa...

SlashGear Weekly Roundup Video – May 7, 2011

By SlashGear, published 05-09-2011

Once again, we attempt to bring you a roundup of the week’s tech news in under 6 minutes. The chaos of the Sony PlayStation Network breach continued into this past week. Apple unleashed an iOS update that addressed most of the location tracking concerns. Intel made their biggest announcement of the year with a new 22-nm 3D Tri-Gate transistor technology that really puts it ahead of the competition. Other major announcements came from the BlackBerry World conference as well as from a Samsung event. For the full list and video continue after the cut. Sony PlayStation Network Breach update and recap of the week’s developments: PlayStation Network and Qriocity back online from this week; Compensation detailed Sony Online Entertainment Offline During Hacker Inv...

SlashGear Week in Review – Week 19 2011

By SlashGear, published 05-08-2011

Welcome to this week’s edition of the SlashGear Week in Review. We had some interesting things going on in the tech world during the week. One of the interesting stories was the white iPhone and if it was thicker or not. Apple’s Phil Schiller insists that the white iPhone is no thicker than the black one, but it does use a different sensor and camera design. The biggest news in the world this week was the fact that Osama Bin Laden was killed. One man unknowingly tweeted about the raid when it was going on mentioning a helicopter hovering, which wasn’t usual. Apple whipped out a new version of the iMac AIO computer this week. The machine gained Thunderbolt, Intel Sandy Bridge processors and FaceTime HD video chatting among other things. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 tablet ...

Sony Ericsson Reveals Next Generation Xperia Minis

By HotHardware, published 05-07-2011

Sony Ericsson is adding to its smartphone lineup with the introduction of the new Xperia mini and the Xperia mini pro. Sony's goal with the Xperia family is to offer entertaining smartphones while still giving users a choice. To that end, the new Xperia mini and the Xperia mini pro offer many of the hottest multimedia features such as HD-video...

The Daily Slash: May 6, 2011

By SlashGear, published 05-07-2011

Behold a fine few days of wonder! This edition of The Daily Slash I’d like to take you on a journey of the more important (or otherwise featured) items we’ve had happen this week. There’s been an above-average amount of hands-on opportunities this week, and I want to make sure you don’t miss a single one of them. Then there’s the ongoing epic with Sony and their gaming network (hacks galore!) some fresh new earth-shattering games for Android, and oh my goodness, a whole new generation of iMac for your personal enjoyment. So very large! I want to begin by running down Chrome news of late – and the following goes back further than this past week, so beware: Google Launches Chrome 11, the beginning of the future with a whole new flattened icon. A couple o...

Hands on: Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini review

By TechRadar, published 05-06-2011

Sony Ericsson didn't have the best of years in 2010, but one of the few bright spots was the launch of the Xperia X10 Mini and its keyboarded sidekick, the Mini Pro.So it makes perfect sense that Sony Ericsson would choose to reboot the mini marvels this year, and it's done so to great effect.The Xperia Mini is essentially packed into the same size chassis as its predecessor, but with a three inch screen rather than the 2.55-inch version. The pixel count has been boosted to HVGA (320x480) which means it can now run a much higher percentage of applications from the Android Market.The increase in resolution really shows too - while we were big fans of the previous phone, the screen's sharpness was a little on the dull side. The Xperia Mini looked bright and crisp, further boosted in media te...

Samsung Galaxy S2 used to send world's highest tweet

By TechRadar, published 05-06-2011

Samsung has announced the 'world's highest tweet' has been sent from the summit of Mount Everest on a Samsung Galaxy S2. Using the summit's first ever 3G connection, Brit Kenton Cool posted a tweet just after 2AM GMT after reaching the peak for the ninth time, as well as, apparently, posting up a picture and updating his Facebook status. There's no news as to whether he checked out TechRadar, but we're assuming he did, possibly to check out the five star Samsung Galaxy S2 review.Up in Cloud 9?"Everest summit no 9! 1st tweet from the top of the world thanks to a weak 3G signal & the awesome Samsung Galaxy S2 handset!," tweeted Cool. Cool was handed the Galaxy S2 to unbox at basecamp, after Samsung picked up the sponsorship of his latest journey up the world's highest mountain. "I've climbed...

New generation of Xperia Mini and Mini Pro released by Sony Ericsson

By Thinkdigit, published 05-06-2011

Sony Ericsson has just announced a brand new pair of tiny Android based Xperia smartphones. The new Xperia Mini will run Android Gingerbread (2.3) on a 3-inch, multitouch, scratch-resistant display, which comes with Sony's proprietary Bravia Engine with Reality Display. There's a 1GHz processor inside with access to Android Market. A larger cell may result in a 30 percent improvement in battery life too. Sony Ericsson is also pretty excited about having the world's smallest smartphone capable of [...] Read the entire article

Exclusive: Sony Ericsson planning further Facebook integration

By TechRadar, published 05-05-2011

Sony Ericsson has told TechRadar that it is planning to update its latest crop of smartphones to include much deeper Facebook integration.The Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro both come with new Facebook features, including the ability to like songs and photos directly from the phone, as well as seeing galleries from the handset without opening the application.However, a Sony Ericsson spokesperson told us that in 'a couple of quarters' the Facebook functionality would be improved again, offering a deeper experience than ever before.Social API?While the spokesperson wouldn't elaborate on details, the likelihood is that this will include further use of the Social Graph API, which allows phone manufacturers to only show you information from the friends you interact with most - similar to...

Sony Ericsson introduces two new Android 2.3 models, the Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro

By phoneArena, published 05-05-2011

Sony Ericsson has introduced two new Android devices, each expected to launch with Android 2.3 installed and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor under the hood...

Sony Ericsson announces the Xperia mini and the Xperia pro

By GSMArena, published 05-05-2011

Sony Ericsson has just announced two new mini additions to the Xperia family - the Xperia mini and the Xperia mini pro, touting them as the smallest HD smartphones in the world. The two Mini devices...

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro revealed

By TechRadar, published 05-05-2011

Sony Ericsson has announced the arrival of two new smartphones which should satiate the budget crowd – the Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro.Both smartphones seemingly have Facebook engrained into their UI, with the phones offering "intuitive, faster and easier sharing, liking and commenting" and the "instant ability to share the songs you 'like' with friends".Both the Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro come brandishing Android Gingerbread 2.3, with the Xperia Mini having the boast of being the "world's smallest Android smartphone with HD video recording".The Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro have three-inch capacitive touchscreens (the Mini Pro also has a Reality Display), are powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and have the Sony Mobile Bravia Engine inside.When it comes to looks, the Mini ...

Sony Ericsson XPERIA mini and mini pro hands-on [Video] [Updated]

By SlashGear, published 05-05-2011

Sony Ericsson has just announced the XPERIA mini and mini pro Android smartphones, the latest in the company’s super-compact line, and we’ve stopped by for a sneaky hands-on play ahead of their planned release in August 2011. Just like their predecessors they’re built for those who don’t want a 4-inch or bigger display and prefer their smartphone to be discrete; unlike those predecessors, they’re not underpowered minnows. They’re obviously small – and that compact 3-inch fascia does leave them feeling on the plump side, too – but despite the plastic construction they don’t feel cheap. The XPERIA mini pro snicks open with a reassuring, spring-loaded click, and the keypad itself is nicely sprung and reasonably responsive. Sony Ericsson ...

Sony Ericsson XPERIA mini and mini pro get official

By SlashGear, published 05-05-2011

Sony Ericsson has announced the XPERIA mini and the mini pro, apparently the smallest HD smartphones in the world. The Android 2.3 Gingerbread handsets can shoot 720p HD video, and use Sony’s BRAVIA engine along with Sony Ericsson’s custom UI. The XPERIA mini is touch-only, but the mini pro has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Behind the 3-inch 320 x 480 scratch-resistant touchscreen there’s a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 320MB of storage and a microSD card slot (a 2GB card will be included). There’s also quadband GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, WiFi, AGPS, Bluetooth, an FM radio and a 3.5mm headphones socket. On the back is a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus, face-detection and an LED flash. A bigger, 1200mAh battery than the last-gen mini adds up to 30-percent longer ...

Vodafone begins rolling out HTC Desire HD Android 2.3 update

By TechRadar, published 05-05-2011

Vodafone has taken merely a day to get its HTC Desire HD Android 2.3 update to its customers, with the new update available now.Users should be getting an automatic notification that the new software version, which boosts the handset to the latest (ish) version of Android Gingerbread, is available to download.And even better news: the new update (version2.36.161.12 if you're into the numbers) is available over the air, so you don't need to connect up to a pesky PC to overhaul your handset.Vodafone is touting the upgrade as a pretty big deal, promising a number of 'fixes and improvements':Enhancements to the user interface (simpler and slicker)New Android Keyboard, with easy copy/paste featureImproved Power ManagementInternet Calling supportMultiple Camera Management (front and back)The mai...

Android 2.3.4 rolling out across the UK

By TechRadar, published 05-05-2011

The latest version of Gingerbread, Android 2.3.4, is now landing on handsets across the UK, bringing with it video chatting features as standard.Our Google Nexus S has finally pinged and informed us that the new 2.3.4 version of the software is ready for download - although we're still waiting to hear if the Vodafone version is getting the same treatment.The new Android 2.3.4 version offers mostly bug fixes - which could go some way to sorting the random freezing some users are reporting with their new Nexus S handsets.The other big improvement is video calling - Google has now integrated Google Talk into the phone's contacts and calling system in a similar way to Android 3.0 on tablets.Better than Apple?You'll be able to make the calls over 3G or Wi-Fi (in your FaceTime, Apple) and can co...

iOS 4.3.3 rolled out, location data logging changed

By TechRadar, published 05-05-2011

Apple has rolled out the iOS 4.3.3, with the latest update looking to address some of the controversy around the way in which your location information is used. The update not only limits the time period of the cache of location information to a week but also now stops the cache being backed up to your computer. Last but not least, the cache is now deleted when location services are turned off in settings on the device. ResponseThe three changes are in response to the huge controversy that sprang up when it came to light that Apple's key devices were logging location to a file which was backed up to the user's computer. Although the company defended the practise, the furore around information being gathered was enough to prompt changes and the update has been rolled out quickly. Indeed, it...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 30-04-2011

This week we got our hands on the hugely impressive Samsung Galaxy S2 and the eagerly awaited BlackBerry PlayBook.We also spent some time looking through the lens of the good-looking Leica X1 and tested more Sandy Bridge chips from Intel.Read on for the most popular reviews on TechRadar this week.Samsung Galaxy S2 reviewThe Samsung Galaxy S2 is the phone the Korean firm deems a worthy successor to its best smartphone so far - with a 1.2GHz processor, super-slim chassis and feather-light innards, it's easy to see why.The phone is almost impossibly thin when you pick it up – dimensions of 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5mm mean it's one of the thinnest smartphones on the market at the moment, rivalling the likes of the iPhone 4 and Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc for the title.BlackBerry PlayBook reviewWith a ...

Sony Teaser Video For S1 And S2 Android Tablets

By SlashGear, published 28-04-2011

Despite recent woes on the PlayStation Network front, Sony officially announced its first two contenders to enter the tablet battlefront. Codenamed S1 and S2, the two Android Honeycomb tablets will be powerful Tegra 2 dual-core devices geared for PlayStation gaming. Following Sony’s announcement, they unleashed a teaser video for the duo. Watch it after the cut. The Sony S1 is the bigger of the two, featuring a 9.4-inch touchscreen and a unique tablet shape reminiscent of an open magazine with the cover folded back. A leaked diagram of this form factor was revealed earlier this month. The S2 features a clamshell form factor with two 5.5-inch touchscreens that fold close for easier portability. It will have a custom book-style UI layout to take full advantage of the dual screens, w...

Buying Guide: 20 best mobile phones in the world today

By TechRadar, published 28-04-2011

Our verdict on the best mobile phones / best smartphones - constantly updated We've all got at least one mobile phone each, right? The trouble is, how do you decide which is the best mobile phone for you when you realise it's time to phone the network and trouble them for an upgrade?If you've read our list of the latest mobile phones, seen the hottest pre-release new mobile phones and are still stumped, well, this is where we make it easy. Because here we have our constantly-updated list of the top 20 best mobile phones you can get in the UK.And now, after a glut of top-end mobile phones steaming out from Mobile World Congress 2011, we've just brought you our biggest update ever to this definitive chart.The big surprise was the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc nabbing top spot - the combo of Andro...

Samsung Galaxy S II Review

By SlashGear, published 26-04-2011

Samsung has a lot riding on the Galaxy S II. When your displays, chips and memory are found in the flagship devices of OEMs around the world, you have to expect consumers will demand more from the hardware that bears your brand. The Galaxy S II (aka Galaxy S 2 or GSII) has even more to live up to: the original Galaxy S spawned several carrier variants that helped it become the best-selling Android smartphone in the US last year, and positioned Samsung as one of the key names to beat in the segment. So, with dual-core – and freshly overclocked – processor at the ready and a huge, Super AMOLED Plus display providing some eye-catching glitz, the Galaxy S II wades into the crowded smartphone market. New Android king or pretender to the throne? Check out the full SlashGear review af...

Sony Ericsson XPERIA Mini Pro II shows up in a full photoshoot

By GSMArena, published 25-04-2011

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini pro2 ran away from home and starred in an extensive photoshoot. The diminutive QWERTY droid was snapped from every angle and compared to its predecessor...

Buying Guide: 20 best mobile phones in the world today

By TechRadar, published 21-04-2011

Our verdict on the best mobile phones / best smartphones - constantly updated We've all got at least one mobile phone each, right? The trouble is, how do you decide which is the best mobile phone for you when you realise it's time to phone the network and trouble them for an upgrade?If you've read our list of the latest mobile phones, seen the hottest pre-release new mobile phones and are still stumped, well, this is where we make it easy. Because here we have our constantly-updated list of the top 20 best mobile phones you can get.And now, thanks to a glut of top-end mobile phones steaming out from Mobile World Congress 2011, we're bringing you our biggest update ever to our definitive chart.So what's changed? We've lost seven of the 20 from the previous ranking, the top ten has seen a hu...

More photos of the Sony Ericsson Xperia SK17i Mango in the wild, sized up with the Xperia pro

By phoneArena, published 20-04-2011

This time it appears in quality photos, and is sitting next to all of its keyboarded Android brethren in the Sony Ericsson stable, including the Xperia pro. The phone extends the miniature 2.55" display of the Xperia Mini Pro to 3", with 320x480 pixels of resolution...

Sony Ericsson XPERIA Mini Pro II leaks again, specs confirmed

By GSMArena, published 13-04-2011

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA Mini Pro II, codenamed Mango, has leaked again in a Chinese forum, accompanied by a slew of photos. The rumored Android 2.3 and 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU are all but confirmed...

Hands on: HTC Sensation review

By TechRadar, published 04-12-2011

In the three short years it's taken HTC to rise from an unknown manufacturer to market-leading company, we've seen a number of high-end handsets from the brand - and now the HTC Sensation adds dual-core functionality in a sleek package.What's impressive about the phone when you first pick it up is the size - it's a 4.3-inch screen but the footprint of the phone isn't much bigger than the HTC Incredible S.The screen is technically the same size as the Desire HD, in that it measures 4.3-inches diagonally, but in reality it's a little smaller thanks to packing in qHD (540x960) resolution, which basically means 16:9 movies will play without any black bars above and below.The unibody sculpting of the device is in keeping with a number of other handsets in the HTC range - it's most reminiscent o...

Hands on: HTC Sensation review

By TechRadar, published 04-12-2011

In the three short years it's taken HTC to rise from an unknown manufacturer to market-leading company, we've seen a number of high-end handsets from the brand - and now the HTC Sensation adds dual-core functionality in a sleek package.What's impressive about the phone when you first pick it up is the size - it's a 4.3-inch screen but the footprint of the phone isn't much bigger than the HTC Incredible S.The screen is technically the same size as the Desire HD, in that it measures 4.3-inches diagonally, but in reality it's a little smaller thanks to packing in qHD (540x960) resolution, which basically means 16:9 movies will play without any black bars above and below.The unibody sculpting of the device is in keeping with a number of other handsets in the HTC range - it's most reminiscent o...

Hands on: HTC Sensation review

By TechRadar, published 04-12-2011

In the three short years it's taken HTC to rise from an unknown manufacturer to market-leading company, we've seen a number of high-end handsets from the brand - and now the HTC Sensation adds dual-core functionality in a sleek package.What's impressive about the phone when you first pick it up is the size - it's a 4.3-inch screen but the footprint of the phone isn't much bigger than the HTC Incredible S.The screen is technically the same size as the Desire HD, in that it measures 4.3-inches diagonally, but in reality it's a little smaller thanks to packing in qHD (540x960) resolution, which basically means 16:9 movies will play without any black bars above and below.The unibody sculpting of the device is in keeping with a number of other handsets in the HTC range - it's most reminiscent o...

Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

By TechRadar, published 04-04-2011

Sony Ericsson's original Xperia X10 was a brave first go at an Android phone, offering a large screen, a collection of social media enhancements and a stylised version of Google's rapidly growing mobile operating system.However, the X10 was hindered by delays, held back by glitchy software and arrived running the already ageing Android 1.6 - and only received an update to 2.1 recently. It was, to put it mildly, a bit of a mess.The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc obliterates all of those awkward memories in a flash. It's running the very latest Android 2.3.2 version of the OS. It's arrived on time. It's fast, and it's very, very stylish indeed. And it's not that expensive for a single-core Android phone in 2011 at £430 SIM free or £30 per month on contract - can Sony Ericsson's Reality Display, ...

XPERIA X10 mini pro successor leaks again, codenamed Mango

By GSMArena, published 04-04-2011

The successor to the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini pro reminds us again of its existence through another leak. The diminutive QWERTY-side slider refreshes the specs of the original with new software, bigger....

Sony Ericsson Xperia SK17i Mango leaks out, to be the successor of X10 Mini Pro

By phoneArena, published 04-04-2011

The Sony Ericsson Xperia lineup got some shiny new additions at MWC just two months ago, but if you thought that was all SE had to offer, you'd be wrong. The Sony Ericsson Xperia SK17i codenamed Mango was leaked on Chinese forum IT168 and it seems to offer all that the X10 Mini Pro had…

Smartphone Screens: How Big is Too Big?

By SlashGear, published 04-03-2011

I head up the Consumer Devices group at Current Analysis, where we have two complementary products: data – we track product pricing, availability, and specs – and analysis – our assessment on how competitive various products and initiatives are. I recently had a client ask a question that crossed both: how many smartphones today have super-sized screens, and how big is too big? (I warned them that the answer would make a great SlashGear column.) The data answer is simple: 13% of the smartphones at the four national carriers in the U.S. have screens 4” or larger. The analytical answer is a bit more complicated. When discussing screen sizes, I don’t think you can ignore the elephant in the room – Apple – which limits its product line and does a lot of thinking and...

SlashGear Week in Review – Week 14 2011

By SlashGear, published 04-03-2011

Welcome to another edition of the SlashGear Week in Review! Let’s get right into it. Early in the week Amazon rolled out its Appstore test drive feature. The feature allows you to test out some of the apps available on the store on a virtual Android device for 30 minutes. A Montana Radio Shack store is offering a wild deal for people that sign up to have new service installed. The store will give a gift certificate for a 380 handgun or a shotgun to those that purchase service. Sony Ericsson announced that it was going to offer up a new Android bootloader unlock tool. The catch is that the tool will only be offered for certain handsets in its 2011 lineup. We went hands on with the Nokia C7 Astound for the T-Mobile network early in the week. The phone is small and for now all you get...