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Mar 13 2012

Introducing our magical Xperia™ sola

March 13, 2012 - 10:35 AM
57 comments

What better way to kick off the week by announcing our latest Sony Smartphone, Xperia sola – if you’re a sucker for groundbreaking tech like me, I think this might just get you a little excited…

Now before I get to the spec, let me just tell you about my favourite feature. This smartphone is magical, and no I don’t mean ‘rabbit-out-of the hat’, ‘cards across the table’ like frolics – it includes the amazing “floating touch”, allowing you to magically search and navigate the web.

Making its smartphone debut exclusively on Xperia Sola, floating touch technology lets you browse the web without actually touching the screen! All you have to do is hover your finger above the screen, as if a moving cursor. Once positioned over the intended link or selection, it becomes highlighted and all you have to do is tap to select!

We’ll be evolving this technology and functionality over the coming months, so I’ll be bringing you more on that as it happens and we will look at it in a little more depth in a separate post!

Xperia sola is also NFC enabled, and will ship with two Xperia SmartTags in the box – these will be handily configured for the living room and bedroom, but can be customized to activate up to 10 different commands.

As you’d expect from any Sony Smartphone, Xperia sola gives you access to a world of entertainment experiences anywhere, anytime through its 3.7″ Reality Display powered by Mobile Bravia Engine, all running on a powerful 1GHz dual-core processor. You’ll be able to capture images with the 5MP fast capture camera, going from sleep to snap in just over a second, with the single press of a key.

It also comes with Music Unlimited and Movies Unlimited pre-installed, meaning you can enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters and millions of tunes, with its xLoud and 3D surround sound technology!

So, check out the other key features:

  • Launching globally quarter 2, and available in either black, white or red
  • Floating touch navigation for an effortless web browsing experience
  • NFC enabled and Xperia SmartTags in the box to enable quick app loading and easy content sharing
  • 3.7” Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine, with scratch-resistant glass gives razor sharp clarity
  • Single-swipe connectivity via DNLA, syncing content across TV, smartphone and tablet
  • xLOUD and 3D surround sound audio technology for crisp and loud listening
  • Direct access to Sony Entertainment Network with pre-installed Video and Music Unlimited apps
  • Powered by a 1GHz Dual Core Processor for super fast browsing
  • Launches on Google Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgrade to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) in summer 2012

For all the killer info, check in at our press center and official Facebook page.

Don’t forget to keep checking the blog, as we’ll be getting hands-on (well, maybe not so literally) with floating touch over the next few weeks – if there’s any questions you’d like us to put to the guys about this tech, or Xperia sola, just drop them in the comments below :)

 

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  • By Preben Borg

    I wonder….

    Now when Sony-Ericsson has gone to be a true SONY product will I the be able to use the SONY Mobile Phone with my SONY Bravia 46″ LCD TV and my SONY A55 DSLR Camera?

    If I was SONY – that would have been an obvious choise – but how good are you at SONY? Do I really have to turn to Apple to get fully integrated products?

    Br. The-Best-Borg
    (Fighting for Obviously Intelligent usage of Electronic Products)

    • By anthony

      Hey Preben,

      Thanks for the comment – you’ll be able to sync an Xperia NXT series smartphone with any product supporting the latest Bluetooth, WiFi, DNLA and connectivity industry standards. For example, Xperia S will connect via HDMI to any HD TV, and the interface can then be controlled by most remotes, not just Sony.

      Hope that helps :-)

      Ant.

    • By Gurnam Singh Deol

      I JUST WANA KNOW REALLY “WHEN DID SONY ERICSSON XPERIA SOLA, SONY ERICSSON XPERIA U & SONY ERICSSON XPERIA P” ARE GOING TO RELEASE IN INDIA {ANY EXACT DATE OR MONTH}- I LOVE THESE SETS – AND WANT TO BUY ONE OF IT — MY SONY ERICSSON XPERIA RAY IS GOT STOLEN, AND NOW I DON’T HAVE ANY PHONE SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW PLEASE — WHEN I CAN BUY IT— HOW LONG I HAVE TO WAIT……………PLEASE

      • By anthony

        Hey Gurnam,

        Thanks for your comment and glad to hear you’re looking forward to them!

        All of those will be with you in Q2 – please check with your local operators for their exact dates :)

        Ant.

  • By Justin Jacob

    Thank You Sony.
    You’ve heard our critics against the intern storage without the possibility and now You’ll give us a phone with every thing we wanted,
    But one Question do I have, the Xperia Sola isn’t a part of Sony’s Xperia NXT-Series, ist it?

  • By Michael Bromley

    The floating touch sounds interesting but I wonder how much difference it makes in practical use. OK so a link is highlighted by a finger in close proximity before actually touching the screen but then it’s selected upon touch just the same as before….so is it really adding anything other than a cool demonstration of tech?

    • By anthony

      Hey Michael,

      Call me biased, but I think it’s some cool stuff!

      Every one of our Xperia smartphones offers something different and unique to suit individuality and creativity – floating touch makes browsing the web seamless, easy and well… more fun IMO!

      Also, sometimes I find my screen getting slightly dirty or marked up, and floating touch will take some of that pain away :-)

      Ant.

    • By anthony

      Hey Kjetil – thanks for stopping by again.

      As it stands now, Xperia S and ion support ANT+, but Xperia P, U and sola do not.

      Ant.

  • By Bob Held

    I hope the new Sony phones continue to include the wrist strap attach capability that Sony Ericsson phones always had in the past.

    Thanks!

    • By anthony

      Thanks for your comment Bob – I saw you on the G+ chat!

      To clarify here – Xperia S and Xperia P do not have attach points for wrist straps, but Xperia U has this capability.

      Ant.

  • By Anthony Kelly

    It looks great, but there’s a couple of things holding me back from buying this one. Firstly, I already have a 2011 Xperia with an 8MP camera, and there’s no way I’m downgrading.

    Secondly, upgrading to ICS in “Summer” isn’t specific at all. You guys did great last year with Gingerbread updates, but ICS seems to be so slow in becoming available.

    I love Xperia phones, but there isn’t a single phone really good enough to make me choose Sony so far this year.

    Sorry guys, I’m still watching this blog waiting for a must-have device.

    • By anthony

      Hey Anthony (nice name),

      Is photography your thing; with a good camera giving a smartphone ‘must have’ status? If so, Xperia S has a 12MP camera, allowing you to shoot and watch in HD – it’s shipping globally as we speak!

      We’ll have more details on ICS with you early next week :)

      Ant.

  • By Eric Hancock

    Yet another handset announced with a vague, “second quarter” availability date. Real manufacturers ship. Get the phones into the channel, then announce it.

    By the time these phones are actually available, I will have bought something else.

    • By anthony

      Hey, sorry you feel that way.

      We consider it important to keep people up-to-date on our product development and timelines, so they can choose the most appropriate handset for them and their lifestyle.

      We will announce firm dates the moment we can.

      Ant.

  • By Ruslan Pakhomov

    Anthony, hi… I have seen in the Sole tech description that the battery capacity is just 1350mAh. Is it enough for 3.7″ screen / 1GHz smartphone? You know, that battery is very inportant for any android phones, it hardly last for one day.

    BR, thanks

    • By anthony

      Hey Ruslan,

      Thanks for your comment.

      I agree battery life is crucial for Android phones, and Xperia sola is a very powerful smartphone. With its battery you can expect – up to 6 hours talk time, up to 475 hours standby time, up to 40 hours music listening time and video playback time up to 6 hours.

      Hope that helps :)

      Ant.

  • By Anonymous

    HELLO SONY!

    People say that SONY isn’t going to tail Android Ice Cream op. system for Xperia Arc smatphones.

    So, If there is no Ice Cream Sandwich for Xperia Arc, then will be no more SONY device in my house.

  • By Saugat Deb

    Xperia Arc is a part of 2011 series line for Sony Ericsson (now SONY) & all the 2011 series will have the ICS upgrade.

  • By Gurnam Singh Deol

    Which Phone Is Better Accordingly to their Specification Till date (Don’t Include Their Screen Size):-

    1. Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray.
    2. Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V.
    3. Sony Ericsson Xperia Sola
    4. Sony Ericsson Xperia U.
    :-) Plz Reply as Soon as Possible :-)

    • By Vivễk Chawla

      i would like to ask 1 question why does sony xperia u and p does not have expandable memory ?
      i think this is a wrong move by sony as its a big disadvantage please do reply 4 GB storage for xperia u is it right ?? as mentioned in gsmarena and that also non expandable is very bad move by sony mobile and plus u have downgraded the battery from 1500 mah which was in ray arc and neo and neov to 1320mah in all new phones which is wrong as the new phones are having dual core processor and they need at lest 1500mah battery like neo v please do reply as i am a big sony fan and want sony 2 go to on top

    • By anthony

      Hi Gurnam,

      They’re all awesome smartphones in their own right ;)

      It really depends what you want from your device, and how you feel it’ll enhance your lifestyle or life experiences. You can compare and see detailed specs for all our smartphones in the phone gallery on our Developer Portal (http://developer.sonymobile.com) – let me know how you get on :)
      Ant.

  • By Gustavo Costa Picorelli

    Hi, this phone looks pretty good.

    So when you say ‘launching globally’, do you mean that it will be available directly from Sony Stores for outright purchases or via plans from mobile operators?

    I am in Australia and am looking forward to this one.

  • By Amit Shah

    which is d better mobile to go for …xperia sola or xperia neo v ?? or neo ?? pls suggest me….i was literaly waiting for dis phone to launch bt it came wid sm disappointments of frnt camera…nw i think once again…weathr i sud go fr it or else…

  • By Alex Sim

    Recently purchased xperia sola after my iPhone spoilt. Been pretty happy with it so far but am unhappy with the screen. It says scratch resistant, but when I put it in my pocket and took it out I had small scratches all over the screen. I had nothing more than a few coins inside.. Pretty disappointed seeing it is mentioned scratch resistant. Especially since I only had it for 2 weeks.

  • By Deepak Saravanan

    Hello Anthony,
    When can I get ice cream sandwich update for my xperia sola… Pl tell me a date…. Or will I get? In your blog for ics update you’ve said that it will be available for NXT series phones and sola is not a part of dat series.. Pl clarify…

    • By anthony

      Hey Deepak, thanks for your question,

      Xperia sola will receive ICS later in the coming months – as usual, we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest info right here on the blog!

      I hope that helps,

      Ant.

  • By Amlan Rath

    Hii There!!
    i just wanna know that is the Xperia sola MHL enabled?
    can i used a samsung MHL (designed for the SII) on my xperia sola to mirror my cell’s display on my sony bravia HDTV?
    thanks!

  • By Imran Shahzad

    Hey,I have purchased it recently from an online portal in Pakistan.On first boot it started well and i updated 10 apps after that when i wnted to power off it hanged,i gave it 5 mins and after that it was able to do so.But the next time I have tried countless times but have not been able to restart.Pls help as it was my wedding gift to my wife.

  • By Mohammed Al Sayegh

    I like my new Sony Xperia Sola. But the only thing that annoying me that the back camera 5MP has high noise.

    I am waiting for Sony update that fix the noise because even with good light condition photo capture with high noise (ISO sit auto).

    I can live with android 2.3 with good camera but I can not live with android 4.0 with bad camera.

  • By Floyd Erickson Socorro

    Good day sir…

    i recently upgraded my sola to ICS, but i’m having some bit of problems.

    1. multi-focus mode on camera takes too long to focus.
    2. have atleast 1-2 secong delay when opening the messaging, phone, calendar, settings, etc.

    is Sony still planning to fix this? a lot is still complaining and i don’t want to start thinking that Sony doesn’t care for their buyers. is there a plan for a better upgrade like 4.0.x (5,6,7)?

  • By Mark Robin Donarber

    i upgrade my xperia sola to 4.0.4 all features is nice but my mobile net working is not working i cant access my mobile network help me :(

  • By Dvir Klein

    i have an xperia sola and Version is 4.0.4 and idont really no how to screen capture (in the older Versions there where Option of screen capture when i prees the left uper botton caan u help me pls)

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