Today we hit up Sony Ericsson’s shindig in NYC for some one-on-one time with its XPERIA X10, and so far (it’s a non-retail prototype) it looks like SE has a decent device on its hands. Of course, we all know the X10 is running Android 1.6, but SE has created its own UI, or UX as it prefers to say (short for User Experience), called Nexus. Like other UI overlays for Android, Nexus focuses on social media integration, entertainment and simplifying contact info by aggregating user information. Two very unique applications that SE has integrated into Nexus are Timescape and Mediascape. Timescape is much like viewing your contact information on HTC’s Sense UI and Motorola’s MOTOBLUR: you can view your contact’s email, SMS, Facebook and Twitter updates all in one place. Mediascape allows you to access photos, video and music from your phone as well as YouTube and PlayNow, SE’s music store. The great thing about Timescape and Mediascape is that they recognize connections between your contacts (like facial recognition), music and media and it makes suggestions on how you can communicate or get a guide to new media. Now that we’ve got the software aspect out of the way, hit the jump to see not only what think of the device itself, but quite a few pretty pics and a video overview!

Our initial impression of the XPERIA X10 is mixed. The screen is a vivid and crisp 4″ capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 854 while the device itself is both light and thin. It also packs smartphone basics like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS, 3.5mm headset jack and a rather impressive 8.1 megapixel camera. The device feels nice in the hand, although those with small hands might think it’s rather large. Still, it’s not cumbersome by any means. When running through the screens, we did experience a bit of lag even though the X10 is running the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. And while SE has added its own UI over Android 1.6, it still feels like a bare-bones Android device. The UI is very functional and it gets the job done, but it’s not as attractive as HTC’s Sense UI. We’re not quite sure what it is about the XPERIA X10, but we’re just not feeling that “wow” we got with the Droid, for example.

SE says it’s working with U.S. carriers to get the XPERIA X10 subsidized in the States, but in the even that doesn’t happen it could be another expensive device that might be overlooked in the Americas – we’ve got our fingers crossed that AT&T or T-Mobile will pick this up. There’s no word on when this will be released, but with all the press and fanfare we’re thinking it shouldn’t be much longer.

A year ago Sony Ericsson’s prominence was dropping faster than Kirstie Alley could pound back Quarter Pounders, but its most recent offerings have been successful in generating buzz in a way that the Japanese-Swedish phone maker hasn’t experienced in quite some time. Fast forward to today where pictures of the companies second Symbian S60 device have leaked out by way of Russia and again we have some buzz, this time about how its 8.1 megapixel camera might be able to record videos at resolutions up to 720p. It’s codenamed Kurara and is said to have a 3.5″ AMOLED display, but other than that we really don’t know anything about it, other than it’s likely to come sometime within the next 6 months. More pictures are available after the break.

Thanks to everyone that send this in!

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Rumor has it that the Sony Ericsson Xperia 2 will be made official next week at a yet-to-be announced Sony Ericsson press event. The QWERTY side slider is expected to debut with Windows Mobile 6.5 under its hood along with an 8.1 megapixel camera with auto focus, 3.5-inch WVGA OLED display, aGPS, 512MB RAM, 3.5 mm headphone jack and an accelerometer. With the HTC Touch Pro2 making the rounds, the Samsung Omnia II arriving soon and now the Xperia X2 likely getting official, it looks like Windows Mobile fans will have a smorgasbord of phones to lust after in the weeks and months to come.

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Gotta love Expansys. The shameless online retailer known for posting pre-order availability of handsets well before any official announcement has struck again. This time around, Expansys has revealed that the oh-so-sexy Android-rocking Sony Ericsson Rachael will apparently be launched under the Xperia brand as the Xperia X3. Xperia X2? What Xperia X2? Hit the jump for the full specs as listed by Expansys:

• Display:
  • 4-inches, 800 x 400 pixels
  • Touch Sensitive
• Network:
  • 2G 850/900/1800/1900 (Quad-Band)
  • 3G: 900/2100 (Dual-Band)
  • HSDPA (10Mbps)
  • HSUPA (2Mbps)
• Camera:
  • 8.1 megapixels (auto-focus)
  • 8 x Digital Zoom
  • LED Flash
  • Image Stabilization
  • Smile Shutter
  • Face Detection
• Video:
  • VGA Video Recording
• Music:
  • Supported formats: MP3, AAC, eAAC+
• Ringtones:
  • Monophonic
  • Polyphonic (64)
  • MP3
  • AAC
• Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS (with video)
  • E-mail (POP3, SMTP, IMAP4, MS Exchange)
• Memory:
  • Phone Book
  • Dialled Calls
  • Missed Calls
  • Received Calls
  • microSDHC (external)
• Call Features:
  • Hands Free
  • Caller ID
  • Voice Dialing
• Connectivity:
  • miniUSB
  • 3.5mm AV connector
  • Bluetooth (2.1)
  • Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11g)
• Navigation:
  • AGPS

All we have to say is this, Sony Ericsson: If you don’t drop a version with US 3G along side this Euro version, you’re officially dead to us. Officially.

[Via All About Phones]

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Well boys and girls, call this one confirmed. We scooped it last week and now Sony Ericsson has made AT&T’s C905a official. July 19th is indeed the date you can get your mitts on the 8.1 megapixel beast and as far as pricing goes, you’re looking at 179.99 after rebate on a 2-year contract. A quick recap of the spec highlights:

• 8.1 megapixel camera with a xenon flash, auto-focus and video capture
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, dual-band HSDPA
• On-device image editing
• Scratch-resistant mineral glass display
• GPS
• FM Radio
• Bluetooth
• Memory Stick Micro (M2) support up to 16GB

Ok photogs, stop drooling on your keyboards. It’s definitely no “Rachael” but its also a hell of a lot more exciting than the W205/W205a SE (re)announced this morning. Anyone planning to check this puppy out this Sunday? Hit the jump for more shots.

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This rumor is for everyone out there who nearly went insane from all of yesterday’s WWDC coverage. Word is that what you’re looking at above is Samsung’s upcoming GT-i8000 aka Omnia II. Assuming the picture is the real deal and the specs are right, we’re hearing that the Omnia II will come with a 3.7-inch AMOLED WVGA resistive touchscreen display, 8.1 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash and VGA video recording at 30 fps, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and HSDPA connectivity, miniUSB, 150MB of internal memory and a 1500 mAh battery. There is also a rumor that the Omnia II will run custom take on TouchWiz above Windows Mobile 6.1, which while not as polished as TouchFLO 3D is still remarkably better than the standard WinMo fare. But then, what isn’t? And yes, we too noticed that this resembles the mysterious x-ray of a device Samsung plans to spill the beans on next Monday.

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Having long since been given the green light for sale in the US by the FCC, Sony Ericsson announced today that the unlocked W995a Walkman will go on sale July 6th at Sony Style locations across the US. Identical to the W995 Walkman in every way save for the inclusion of a tri-band UMTS/HSPA (850/1800/1900MHz) radio, the W995a is the type of device that we’d like to see SE continue to push out alongside smartphones like the Satio. Here’s why: a 2.6-inch QVGA display, 8.1 megapixel camera with auto focus, image stabilization and face detection, video calling, Wi-Fi, aGPS, FM radio with RDS, Media Go, Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support and a 3.5mm headphone jack can all be yours, unlocked, for around $600. Pretty appealing, is it not?

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It sure seems as if T-Mobile really loves high-resolution camera phones because in addition to launching the Samsung Memoir, they’re going to be rocking out with the Sony Ericsson CS8 come September. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 8.1 megapixel camera, UMTS — what’s not to love? The price for one. It’ll run you around $148 with a two year agreement straight from Wally World.

Sure the Samsung Memoir might have been the first 8 megapixel to be carried by T-Mobile, but considering what we thought of it we’re really counting on the Sony Ericsson CS8 to restore our faith in simple phones with beefy cameras. So take it as a good sign that the Cyber-shot branded CS8 just passed through the FCC — now you’re one step closer to having it accompany you to the beach on a hot Summer day as you take photos of bikini-clad girls while cowering behind an ice cream stand. Other than the aforementioned camera that weighs in at 8.1 megapixels, the CS8 is kitted out with GPS, Wi-Fi sans UMA, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio and the all too sparse tag-team combo of 1700/2100MHz UMTS/HSDPA. Just in case you’re wondering, yes, this is basically the T-Mobile version of the C905 and while nothing is confirmed as of yet, it is rumored to be dropping on June 24th.

[Via Cell Phone Signal]

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Yeah, and you thought the current bumper crop of 5-megapixel camera phones was impressive. According to the Unoffical Sony Ericsson Blog, SE is getting ready to unleash this 8.1 megapixel beast on an unsuspecting public. The C905 is a Cybershot camera phone with a pretty impressive “trick” up its sleeve. In addition to the Herculean megapixel count, the new flagship SE Cybershot phone sports GPS, HSDPA, ActiveSync Exchange support, Wi-Fi, an accelerometer, 2.4″ QVGA screen, and much more. No word on pricing, but expect this bad boy to be announced on the 17th of June, alongside a host of other upcoming SE phones.

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