The Xperia P and Xperia U join the Xperia S in the Xperia NXT series of multimedia smartphones from Sony.
BARCELONA, Spain Sony Mobile
Communications unveiled the latest additions to its Xperia NXT series of
smartphones, the Xperia P and Xperia U. In addition, Xperia S, a
high-definition smartphone, is now shipping to markets across the globe, with
first sales in the Sony Style store in Barcelona during the Mobile World
Congress. The Xperia P and Xperia U will be available to consumers globally in
the second quarter of this year.
The smartphones have new
design features, including the "transparent element," a band that
encircles the base of the phone and also integrates invisible antenna
components. The transparent element illuminates when receiving calls, texts and
notifications. The new user interface (UI) follows the same design principles
and is aimed at enhancing the Android experience. A new album, video player and
music player delivers an upgraded entertainment experience, and the new UI
design also allows consumers to access the application directly from the
lock-screen.
The Xperia P and Xperia U
boast Reality Display powered by Mobile Bravia Engine for enhanced clarity,
along with fast capture to take the camera from sleep to snap in a little more
than a second with a single key press. Both smartphones come with 1GHz
dual-core processors.
As with Xperia S, Xperia P
and Xperia U connect consumers to entertainment experiences with access to the
Sony Entertainment Network. Consumers can watch movies on Video Unlimited or
listen to songs through Music Unlimited.
With a full aluminium unibody
design, Xperia P debuts WhiteMagic display technology from Sony for the first
time on a smartphone. WhiteMagic technology delivers a brighter viewing
experience; smart power efficiency automatically adjusts the brightness of the
screen to the surroundings to conserve battery life. The new SmartDock, for
Xperia P, offers connectivity to multiple screens, turning the smartphone into
an entertainment hub. Using a TV remote control, consumers can navigate their
smartphones' media content to watch HD videos and other content on a TV screen.
With USB support in the SmartDock, users can also employ a wireless keyboard
and mouse to write emails, browse and post on social media networks or watch
videos from YouTube on their TV.
Key features for Xperia P
include an 8MP camera with fast capture, HD recording and Sony technology to
capture 2D and 3D panoramic images, and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) connectivity to share content on any
screen. The Xperia P is also near-field communication-enabled to access a range
of NFC applications and services as well as Xperia SmartTags. Buyers have a choice of silver,
black or red, each with an aluminum unibody.
The Xperia P launches on
Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread), with an upgrade to Android platform 4.0
(Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter of 2012.
The Xperia U combines Sony
entertainment in a compact design that consumers can personalize inside and
out. With xLoud and Sony 3D surround sound audio technology integrated into the
music player, users can also stream music from their Xperia U to wireless
speakers using DLNA. For the Xperia U, the transparent element illuminates to
match the color of photos viewed in the gallery or the album art of music
tracks currently playing. The Xperia U can also be personalized with
exchangeable caps and themes.
Users listening to music on
their Xperia U can also enjoy improved sound quality with the new Smart Headset
for Android smartphones, which features SmartKey, a dedicated application
launch key that consumers press once to launch a favorite app. The smartphone
also features a 5MP camera with fast capture and HD recording, is available in
a choice of white or black, with pink and yellow exchangeable caps for the base
of the smartphone in the box, and launches on Android platform 2.3
(Gingerbread), upgrade to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the
second quarter of 2012.
Nathan Eddy is Associate Editor, Midmarket, at eWEEK.com. Before joining eWEEK.com, Nate was a writer with ChannelWeb and he served as an editor at FierceMarkets. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
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