Sony spent a lot of time and effort refining the user experience with their post-Sony Ericsson handset lineup, the newest additions of which we came into contact with at IFA in Berlin just last week. We even met with some of the lead designers to find out what it takes to design a Sony smartphone, from the external form to the nuances of the UI and they were very proud of the work they’ve put into the new Xperia T, Xperia J and Xperia Tablet S as devices.
One of the new additions to the Sony Mobile experience takes the form of their latest media apps, the Walkman app (for music), the Album app (for photos and videos) and the Movies app (for movies, naturally). As Xperia Blog points out, the focus of these apps is more than just content consumption, but rather a social focus with the ability to recommend, share and discover new media via each application.
A post on Sony Mobile’s blog earlier today aimed to clear up any confusion surrounding the developments at IFA, including the fact that none of Sony’s 2011 Xperia handsets will be able to receive the new feature-laden media apps, most likely as a means of differentiation and as a way to help promote their new device’s superiority. What’s more they rounded their announcement off by promising ICS for the Sony Xperia U in “the next few weeks”.
September 5, 2012
Sony has announced a host of devices at IFA in Berlin this year, the smartphone lineup has been fleshed out with the addition of a new flagship, the Sony Xperia T and a new ‘affordable premium’ Android handset, the Sony Xperia J.
Alongside the smartphone releases, we’ve also been introduced to some of the new tablets which Sony has been working on. Word of bringing the Xperia name to its tablet lineup had been bandied about for some time, but we’ve now been granted access to the Sony Xperia Tablet S.
What is the Sony Xperia Tablet S?
The new Android tab from Sony and successor to last year’s Sony Tablet S, the Xperia Tablet S not only unites the Android tablets and smartphones under one brand, but also stands as the natural evolution to last year’s tablet.
Running Ice Cream Sandwich, the design has changed notably, with a more conservative take on the ‘folded’ design, the top rim of the tab still curves over but sits parallel on the back with a shorter line into the rest of the tablets lower-back. The sides house the majority of the controls and ports on each side, but feel is inherently different, with a more aggressive edging (click the photos below to get a closer look).
The display is vibrant and offers excellent viewing angles, similar to it’s predecessor’s 9.4-inch panel.
Sony has bumped up the processor and the Nvidia Tegra 3 doesn’t necessarily eliminate lag but noticeably subdues it over the 2011 Tablet S.
What are its main features?
- Screen: 9.4-inch WXGA (1280×800) display with Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine enhancements
- Processor: 1.3GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor
- Memory: 1GB of RAM
- Storage: 16/32/64GB storage options plus microSD support up to 32GB
- Camera 8-megapixel auto-focus rear camera with 1080p HD video recording at 30fps, 1-megapixel front-facing camera with 720p HD video recording at 30fps
- Connectivity: WiFi b,g,n, Bluetooth 2.1, microUSB 2.0
- Resilience: IPX-4 certified waterproofing
When will the Sony Xperia Tablet S launch?
Sony are yet to set a date for the launch of the Xperia Tablet S, but based on the Sony Tablet S, we’re expecting the Xperia Tablet S to hit stores next month.
How much will the Sony Xperia Tablet S cost?
It looks as if our suspicions were not unfounded as Carphone Warehouse look set to offer the new Sony Xperia Tablet S from £329, with the WiFi/3G variant costing £429. As such we now have pricing for the tablet but no availability and the opposite with regards to the Xperia T and Xperia J, set to arrive at the mobile retailer come September 5th.
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