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May 25 2012

Update on Ice Cream Sandwich rollout for Xperia™ smartphones

May 25, 2012 - 4:24 PM
952 comments

Hello everyone. We’d like to bring you up to speed with recent developments in our Android 4.0 software rollout. 

First up, the rollout plans for the Xperia NXT series (Xperia S, Xperia P and Xperia U) are progressing as planned. The first smartphone to be upgraded will be Xperia S, starting from the end of June. Then Xperia P will follow, whilst Xperia U will receive it a little later in Q3. As always we will keep you in the loop with the latest info as soon as we can.

For our 2011 range, as you know, we began our Ice Cream Sandwich software upgrade with Xperia arc S, Xperia ray and Xperia neo V last month.

Now, we are happy to confirm that the remaining 2011 smartphones; Xperia arc, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman will start to receive their updates starting from next week.*

This software upgrade will be Android version 4.0.4 and the good news is that this latest version will also be made available for Xperia arc S, Xperia ray and Xperia neo V users, who received Android 4.0.3 the first time around.

In regards to Xperia PLAY, after extensive in house testing with our developer teams and working with our partners, we have concluded that a consistent and stable experience, particularly with gaming, cannot be guaranteed for this smartphone on Ice Cream Sandwich – therefore, we will not make the Android 4.0 upgrade available for Xperia PLAY.

This decision was also verified when we received similar feedback from the developer community; both experienced developers and advanced users, along with game content providers following our ICS beta ROM for unlocked Xperia PLAY smartphones.

Our priority has and always will be, to provide the best possible user experience on Xperia smartphones. In this instance the ICS upgrade would have compromised stability, where we look to ensure a quality gaming experience with games optimized and developed for Xperia PLAY.

As always, feel free to drop us a comment or question below.

For more information, check out these links:

*The availability and scheduling of this software upgrade and specific models upgradeable to Android 4.0 will vary by market and carrier requirements

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  • By Roland Mack

    Thanks a lot Sony, this is really good stated and also real good news. As I already updated to ICS with my ray, I am only missing one point,

    When will the first wave of 2011 smartphones receive android 4.0.4?

    Regards Roland

    • By Vijay Bansal

      sony sadly shall be SORY for being disloyal to sony own promises and and showing lack of sensitivity and customer care … HANDSETS come and go every year .. we had our first SONY HANDSET 20YRS AGO –we still have it as momento ..

      PITY ! XPERIA PLAY let down amounting to technical ??EXCUSES !!!

      PITY ALSO SONY OFFERED NO SYMPATHY AT ALL for upset disappointed xperiaplay customers ….

      SONY –WORLDS MAJOR CORP .. HOW CAN YOU BE SO UNCARING ABOUT LOYAL CUSTOMERS FEELINGS AND SHOW SUCH UNACCEPTABLE I INSENSITIVITY .. ISSUE IS NOT ICS OR NOT FOR XPERIA PLAY .. ISSUE IS YOUR -SONY- HANDLING OF THE ISSUE 111 SUPPOSE I CAN NOW EXPECT TO BE IN SONY BADBOOKS BUT BETTER HONEST FEEDBACK TO SONY .. SONY HAS LET DOWN ITSELF AND CUSTOMERS .. PITY .. WE HAVE BEEN SONY CUSTOMERS FOR LAST 30YRS ON MANY PRODUCTS ..

      • By Filip Marić

        ”In regards to Xperia PLAY, after extensive in house testing with our developer teams and working with our partners, we have concluded that a consistent and stable experience, particularly with gaming, cannot be guaranteed for this smartphone on Ice Cream Sandwich ” -read before start talking too much….do you want to have an awesome phone with unique playstation games…working like a charm…or to have ICS running phone, without the previous exelence that GingerBread was providing for your PLAY….???

        • By Justin Foster

          The whole thing about the update is that many developers on XDA have came up with ROMS that are extremely stable, not to mention far more customizable than Sony stock firmware. Android is all about choices, and when you take away the choice of the consumer, you shouldn’t claim to be offering “the best” because you’re offering your worst possible decision ever. There are some games which don’t work of course, but how many of those games have been optimized for Android 4.0? Regardless, the choice is up to the consumer and you have taken away that choice. You claimed to be offering a choice to keep GB or goto ICS. The consumer should be warned of the consequences of both and given the choice. Sony, you are moving into a very forceful type position. You’re not going to get much further by closing up the road ahead of you to only allow one traffic lane– the lane you want everyone else to drive in.

      • By ALLIF FIRDAUS

        so when the update 4.0 for XPERIA PLAY will available??its like discrimination..we just used 2.3.4 only but we still on sony family member..

      • By Brian Armenta Quezada

        I am a very disapointed Xperia Play owner. recently i was thinking on buyin an xperia s, but now as i see, Sony mobile is uloyal to their customer im not sureif i should buy Sony mobile products anymore, they dont even let the hope of a future update for xperya play and i been waiting since they first anounced the ISC update…

    • By Алексей Дулатов

      why you upgrade xperia neo v, not neo? I buy my neo on release date in Russia, pay for him 616$ xperia neo v on release day cost 500$ ?????? I think buy xperia s or Samsung galaxy s III, I love Sony, but developers not work!!!!

    • By fee feel

      Good news,you can update your XPERIA PLAY to ICS Android 4.0,because it is most expensive phone ,but without warranty,because it is too expensive.

      I will destroy my XPERIA PLAY and delete sony from my memory.

    • By Don Alain Soriano

      I’m also have Live with Walkman and everyday looking for upcoming ICS update since this post are posted, and now it almost two weeks. im still waiting for update here in Philippines. I just want to say ” I Getting Bored”.

      • By Harold Orozco

        Sony obviously cannot please everyone, I also sympathize for the Experia Play users that are not going to have their ICS upgrade… But the question here is: Would you like a crappy ICS upgrade which has full of bugs OR no upgrade at all but a device running smoothly?

        • By Prasoon Gupta Gangulian

          Hey I would be using an Android phone Xperia S for the first time. So I have a query regarding this. Like -would the handsets after ICS upgrade is released would be available in market with ICS only and secondly would there be any difference in upgrading Gingerbread to ICS at my end and factory upgraded models??

          Thanking you in anticipation. please reply ASAP as I am dying to buy me Xperia S.

    • By Shazeb Saleem

      Hello I have a xperia ray in the UK but when I go to sony pc companion it says my phone is upto date but it is still gingerbread what am I supposed to do to get it to Ice scream sandwich and I don’t want to root it?

    • By Andre Ocasio

      Sony sucks say they gonna do one thing and do somthing else if Sony products are good then all the phones that where gonna get the ics update should have Samsung is a real company that take care of there customer I had the xperia PLAY and when I heard about it not gettin ics I went and git the galaxy note and Its way better then any xperia phone dont let Sony get anymore money if the cant do the job

  • From Anonymous

    [...] [...]

  • By Michael Fish Sadler

    I love my eperia ray, only one thing that bugs me is the calendar, would love the Sony Ericsson c902 calendar because u have the option of using colour to mark holiday dates, so u lot have gone backward on that improvement :-(

  • By Prateek Arora

    WOW ! Thanks a lot SONY for your Efforts . Just two questions :

    1) Is the kernel also updated or is it still 2.6.32.9 ??
    2) Next week means monday rite ? coz i m eagerly waiting … checking every sony and developer site every second…

    And once again thanks alot for your efforts and not forgetting older devices :)

      • By Aman Rawat

        hiii
        today is 25th June there no any update for xperia mini st15i sony tell there customer when update is available for xperia mini in india…. we are waiting form end may.. this is not fair

  • By Adrian Stoian

    Sony i have a question why you update the Xperia S so late ???? thank you!!! and the update for Italy when will arrive??? July ????

    • By anthony

      Hey Adrian – thanks for your comment,

      Due to demand for the first Sony branded smartphones we made the decision to prioritise getting Xperia NXT series out to market before we had Ice Cream Sandwich ready – hence we launched on Gingerbread.

      We’ll start rolling ICS out for Xperia S users from the end of June!

      I hope that’s useful,

      Ant.

  • By Juan José Peralta

    No ICS for Xperia PLAY?! I feel cheated! All this waiting for nothing! And everybody else’s updating! I thought the PLAY was one of Sony’s flagship phones! And I thought Sony was starting to do things right! Now I have an outdated phone and my contrsct hasn’t ended! >:(

    • By anthony

      Hey Juan, Tan, Matthew, Amer,

      Thanks for stopping by.

      We’re sorry you guys are disappointed – from internal testing and feedback from the developer community, we have seen a significant decline in user experience when running high performance games, as they are more demanding on the hardware.

      As gaming content is what PLAY is all about, we can’t advise you to upgrade.

      I hope that explains our decision,

      Ant.

      • By brandon ng

        enough with the excuses and just give us the update.you can take out all the bloatware if you say the ram usage is high.dont break on your promise sony.

      • By Brian Peaston

        Ant,
        Sorry, but no, your response does not explain Sony’s decision on this matter:
        1) The PLAY is NOT all about gaming content. It is a mobile phone. It’s platform is Android. Everything else is inherently secondary.
        2) A “significant decline in user experience when running high performance games” alone is not a good reason to halt the ICS upgrade as this describes a lesser use case compared to the multiple other primary use cases of the device (which would benefit greatly from ICS).
        3) Sony promised the ICS upgrade (a key reason many people, including myself, choose to invest in the PLAY). The U turn decision now being explained as a technical incompatibility issue is untenable. This suggests that Sony have a different and hidden agenda. You have a duty to make this work and knew that was the nature of the promise – to work to resolve any risks that might arise e.g. from your “testing” .
        4) Your customers bought this device on an understanding – Sony’s promise to upgrade the PLAY to ICS. You broke a contract with people. Sony CHOSE to break their promise. Sony also CHOSE not to clearly and openly inform these customers of their decision. Your customers do not deserve to be treated like this. Our expectations have been at best been let down very badly and at worst mislead.
        Since I found out about this over turned promise I’ve continued to feel anger and that I am overdue a better response from Sony. I now really expect some form of compensation would be fair.
        Brian.

    • By Harry Skelton

      I did a lot of research for phones that would have ICS updates and settled on the Xperia Play for this option (primarily) and for the added benefit of gaming. In the process I purchased two of the Xperia Play’s. Now, they say ICS is not available.

      Actually that is incorrect: ICS is available in its original Google form, but not modified for the specifics of the PLAY (translation: not built for gaming or the game pad). I actually got this from someone who works at Sony. Sad to say, he said they would not release this because “what’s the use of having the Play if you cannot play games?”

      I explained that most of the games do not require the game pad anyway – so why not run ICS and have a dead keypad?

      Long story short: I will refuse to purchase *ANY* Sony product until ICS is released for the Play, nor will I recommend any of my clients to purchase Sony products.

      Something this key and critical to the user base and to have a company like Sony to tell me “just buy another phone” is not only grossly irresponsible, it is totally unacceptable.

      You can expect to see my name added to the Class Action Suite against Sony over this issue.

  • By Tan Dat TRUONG

    Your reason for not providing the update for the xperia play is understandable, however it has been said all over ths blog that it would get the update. You just can’t do that to the customers. Why didn’t you make just like for the other handsets such as the xperia arc by making the update available only by pc companion /bridge, with a warning.
    I think all of xperia play owners ( as gamers) do knows the compatibility with the games on ics as stated on the post via XDA so in my opinion it is up to the customer.
    I hope to see a new post from Sony remaking up your decision about this.

  • By Reza Moradinezhad

    I really cant understand why you dont release the update for Xperia play!!!
    This is not fair.you promised!!!!
    My friends have Xperia neo and Xperia pro and they’ll get the update but I dont!
    you were working much time to optimize the update for phones and now if the ROM doesnt work properly in Xplay this is your fault,not your users who trusted in you
    You are Sony.I loved Sony since I was a little baby,but this decision harms sony credit so much.
    please dont do that with yourself and the people trusted you

      • By anthony

        Hey Netsphere,

        Because ICS is a more resource intensive OS, we saw a significant decline in user experience when running high performance games, as they are more demanding on the hardware. As gaming is what Xperia PLAY is all about, we could’t recommend an upgrade to you guys.

        Our intention is to always provide the best possible experience on Xperia smartphones for our users.

        I hope that helps,

        Ant.

        • By Brian Peaston

          Ant,
          So the PLAY was doomed to be a short lived idea??? It was predictable and obvious that the PLAY would need to continue to work smoothly on Android. Android was clearly going to release ICS and so on to continuously enhance the platform on a rapid schedule.
          This decision smells more like SONY mobile is letting PS on Android die off, and before it ever really got going.
          Brian.

    • By anthony

      Hey Reza – thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment,

      Because ICS is a more resource intensive OS, we found a decline in user experience when running high performance games, as they are more demanding on the hardware. So, as Xperia PLAY is the ultimate gaming smartphone, we couldn’t encourage an upgrade.

      Our commitment will always be to provide optimum experiences for you guys on Xperia smartphones.

      I hope that explains our decision.

      Ant.

      • By Nocturnus Disillusion

        Your decision doesn’t help the fact that you have advertised your devise with false information and many have bought Xperia Play – an almost dated device – just on the premise that it will receive ICS. Even though I would prefer the gamepad, I wouldn’t have bought the Play if I knew ICS will not be available. Your excuse is pathetic and nearly laughable. MANY phone with the same or even worse hardware spec have handled ICS quite well. There are many videos out there that shows the Play running quite a lot of games on the ICS – on you BETA rom. Meaning if you have worked on you beta, things would have turned out much improved by now. Do you guys even acknowledge what Alpha/Beta stages are?
        There are a lot of issues with Xperia Play even on Gingerbread. You should consider that people are willing to stay up to date with their OS by compromising some old games. Not everyone wants to compromise the OS the other way round. Lets face it, ICS was the only thing that would spark a little bit of life in this dated device. I want my Play to have ICS like the rest of the xperia family. Once its out there – there will be fixes. But if you abandon development it means its over. And if such is the case, then I’m sorry Sony – I respected your company and still love the products. But your irrational and -dare I say – fraudulent decisions have gotten the better of you.

      • By Harry Skelton

        Anthony-
        What you fail to realize (and Sony at large) is the main reason many purchased this cell phone is because it was on the list for ICS. Regardless if the games will work or not. If the game has a problem with ICS, the list it as being a problem game for ICS. Let the user decide if they want to run it or not. Isn’t that why Google has the “this will work on your….” button? Just don’t list the game for this device.
        Loosing the games off the Play would free up much needed space for the OS and for additional programs the users may want to load onto the device. Even now I am bumpting into the “internal space low” messages all the time. I would love to rid myself of the preloaded games and stick with what *I* choose, and not what Sony wants to bloat on the device.
        Release ICS. I know Sony has a copy sans gaming mods. From the reports from the folks in Sony it works wonderfully. Why not release it with usual fanfare and legaleze disclaimers?
        Until I get my ROI on this PLAY and see ICS loaded on it, I will never buy a SONY product again, and recommend my clients to do the same.

      • By Brian Peaston

        Ant, you said “Our commitment will always be to provide optimum experiences for you guys on Xperia smartphones.”

        I think the point is that the optimum experience on Xperia smartphones is on ICS !
        The PLAY smartphone was meant to have moved to ICS ages ago (…according to … Sony) !
        Fix this quick Sony.
        Brian.

    • By anthony

      Hey Scott, good to see you again.

      This week, we’re starting to make Android 4.0.4 available and will be continuing the rollout over the next few weeks. The reason that our timescales vary, is because we work to different market and carrier requirements.

      I hope that helps!

      Ant.

  • From Sony: Ice Cream Sandwich On Xperia Play? Denied!

    [...] on this update, or to read the word on the Play directly from the source, head over to the Xperia product blog. Tags:Ice Cream Sandwich. icsplaysonyxperia play Cameron Summerson Cameron is a self-made geek [...]

  • By Jordan White

    Good bye, The only aspect of The Sony product line I actively use is the PS3, I’ve ordered a Galaxy Nexus, Really disappointed you say this now and not weeks ago, off course my Galaxy Nexus will get Jelly Bean or whatever Android 5.0 and thats good enough for me, Got a few days left with this device and then good bye with the late updates and out dated buid, This isn’t no grudge, I’m just expressing yet another crappy lie and how bad Sony’s support is.

  • From Sony: Update-Pläne mitgeteilt, Xperia Play erhält kein ICS

    [...] doch noch Ende März eine Beta-Version von ICS für das Xperia Play zur Verfügung gestellt? Im Sony Xperia Product Blog wird auf die die Gründe eingegangen (Übersetzung von uns): Nach langen Tests durch unsere [...]

  • By Amer Khawwam

    Well it is quiet disappointing that Sony is being lazy not even trying to make the ICS for xperia play better, instead of aborting the whole process make it better cause there are a lot of people who just got disappointed and that gives a bad example of Sony. In addition, it will really not be fair for those who are waiting the ICS version to buy the Xperia Play upgraded. So please Sony, put a little more effort like you are doing in the other phones and make an ICS for Xperia Play

    • By anthony

      Hey RÃ3bert,

      The good news is that the 4.0.4 rollout kicks-off this week!

      Cool, would you have a link to your blog? :-)

      Ant.

  • By Chris Jacksparrow White

    was in my local o2 shop today and they had a sony rep there and he confirmed no ICS for xperia play =/ kinda made me hate sony… why not give advanced users the chance to use it who dont care about the gaming aspect as much?

    i brought this phone for the specific purpose that it would get ICS as it was promiced around time of release ….

    i have officialy lost all faith in sony and will be moving onto a htc or a samsung when i get my upgrade in the next coming months looks like you guys are going to be losing alot of money from very angry customers

    just another excuse to make us pay out another £400-500 for your “latest” phone to get a new OS…

    Sorry to say but thats just crap customer service

    Signed – a very angry supernoodles!

    • By Christiaan Albers

      Sorry to say but a big part your comment is just rubbish imo.

      You bought the Play for only his update to 4.0? That is just stupid. Cause back then the Arc was also available and that one wasnt as heavy and thick as the Play so its just stupid that you’re ranting about that. Besides that is 4.0 not that big of an upgrade because it will only slow down your phone versus a couple more options.

      I do share the feeling of disappointment in Sony. They didn’t spent any interest in the Play and neglected it in my opinion that while it has so many potential. It could have been THE breakthrough in mobile phone gaming but the wasted because they did care more about selling stats than creating a brilliant new market.

      To bad they didn’t promised it when i bought the Phone else we had a Case ;)

      Signed – A disappointed Play Owner

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