You would think Sony have run out of ideas and just want an array of new devices in the market with just the ‘SONY’ brand name on them. But you would be wrong.

Similarities

Both devices will be part of the Xperia NXT series, the new connected experience. This will enable easy connectivity so you can enjoy and share content on whatever screen suits you best.

Both devices will feature the same design including the transparent element, Which encircles the base and integrates the invisible antenna. This will also act as visual notification for texts, calls, emails etc etc. The user interface will be very similiar but of course with Android, you can make it look like however you want!

Both will be powered by 1 GHZ dual-core processors with displays powered by Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for razor-sharp quality.

As with the S, you will be able to connect to Sony Entertainment Network for music and Movies.

They will both be launched with Android 2.3, with an expected upgrade to ICS during Q2 of 2012.

So what are the differences??

Xperia P

If you want the viewing experience.

• 4” Reality Display with WhiteMagic technology
• 8MP camera with fast capture and HD recording
• 16GB flash storage
• NFC enabled with HDMI and DLNA connectivity

The P will debut WhiteMAgic display technology for the first time on a smartphone. WhiteMagic adds a 4th white sub-pixel – traditional LCD screens have three; red, green and blue – to the Reality Display. This will give it an ultra-bright screen and great power efficiency. Power efficient because WhiteMagic automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen to surrounding light – when the light is not so strong, Xperia P users less battery power.

A SmartDock will also be exclusivly available for the P, offering simple connectivity to multiple screens. You will be able to use a wireless keyboard and mouse with the dock to write emails, post of social networks and watch YouTube videos on your TV.

Xperia U

For extra personalisation.

• 3.5” Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine
• 5MP camera with fast capture and HD recording
• xLoud and 3D surround sound audio technology

The more compact design that can be personalised inside and out, with exchangeable caps and themes to refelect your current mood.

It will also be a perfect music player with xLoud and Sony 3D surround sound audio technology built in.

The transparent element in the U will illuminate to match the colour of photos viewed in gallery or the album art of music tracks currently being played.

Which would you go for?

It will better showcase top apps and games, have an improved UI and provide a quicker way to download or purchase products.

Developers will have more opportunities for their products to be merchandised and sold.

The home page will be tiled (a bit like windows?) and will be full of colourful graphics to provide instant access to top apps and games.

The details pages are also getting a fresh look. The app name and price have been moved to a compact action bar on the top. A purchase can be completed in two clicks from the details page.

The update is been rolled out to phones running Android 2.2 and higher and should reach all users in the next few weeks.

Check out the video for an early look!

UPDATE

Of course, if like me you can’t be bothered with waiting for the update to roll out, why not install the new Market now, simply download the apk by clicking on the link below and then install it on your phone.

New Market

Binatone have released the first Android powered landline phone and they have called it the iHome Phone! It has built in Wi-Fi, microSD card slot and a 2.8-inch, 320 x 240, touchscreen display.

Despite sounding like something made by Apple, it will be running Android OS 1.6 and come pre installed with a YouTube app, a contacts manager, an email client, a picture viewer, an MP3 player and a personal organiser. It also functions as an internet radio and has an RSS feed reader. Unfortunately there will be no Market to download any more Apps.

Available from Argos now, priced at £99

Full Specs

• Black.
• Auto-screen rotation between portrait and landscape orientation.
• Can access Micro SD card.
• Internet browser, contact manager and email client.
• MP3 music player, Picture viewer, calendar and internet radio.
• Widgets for RSS, news, weather and stock.
• Running at Android OS 1.6 with 256MB built-in memory.

Telephone features:

• 300 name and number memories.
• Ringer volume control.
• Speaker volume control.
• Hands-free speakerphone.
• 20 ringtones.
• Up to 8 hours talktime.
• Up to 60 hours standby time.
• Up to 50m indoor range and up to 300m outdoor range.
• Up to 30m WiFi connectivity.
• 100 call log.
• Caller ID.
• Call transfer.
• Call waiting (dependent on service provider specifications).
• Call timer.
• Caller display.
• Last number redial.
• Mute function.
• Large 2.8in digital TFT touch screen display.
• Keypad lock on handset.
• Alarm.
• Clock.
• DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) radio technology.

Answer machine features:

• 1 pre-recorded message.
• 15 mins recording time.
• Message playback from base and handset.
• Personalised recording facility.

General information:

• Batteries required 1 x rechargeable (included)

Google have rolled out a new website to showcase  Android devices available on the market.

You can now easily compare phones side by side and view technical specifications and features.

You can also filter phones by country, manufacturer, and network providers.

At the moment it seems that Google are only encouraging people to buy HTC and Samsung phones, as there are no mention of any devices from other manufactures such as Sony Ericsson on the UK pages.

Click here to visit the UK pages

HTC is really challenging Apples MobileME offering by announcing its own “cloud service” dubbed HTCSense.com, want to know more? Read on.

Now if you accidentally leave your phone out in the cold somewhere,  you can locate it, lock it, tell it to forward all calls, leave a text message for the nice person who finds it (and hopefully will return it) or even erase all the data on phone – all from the comfort of sitting in front of your pc/laptop.

Best of all unlike Apples MobileMe, HTC has promised to offer most of these services free of charge to Desire HD and Z owners.

The App poses as a media player, but once installed starts sending premium rate text messages.

Kaspersky said that the virus – Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a – is being spread by text message. The message prompts users to install an application, 13KB in size, which purports to be a media player.

Although the risk to Android users is believed to be low, you should always exercise caution when installing apps outside of Android Market and only install apps you trust.

It took about half an hour from the time it started downloading the update, then installing it and to finally loading up the sense UI, After switching on and off a good few times (got me kind of worried).

All new icons make the screens look so much clear and the new pinch to see thumbs of the home screens is pretty cool.

All my Apps are still in one piece! Which is amazing because after all other just small rom updates, the phone used to go back to complete factory settings.

First Thoughts
So would this update make me want to hold on to my Hero for a little longer? ermm maybe yes.. I’ll repost once I have used it properly for a few days.

Before I continue I should tell you that I am a complete noob at programming and my knowledge of java ermm doesn’t really exist! But the best way to learn is through practice! I done the “hello Android (world)” and it worked! (< c pic)

Ever wondered why there are so many notepad Apps available on the market? Well because there is a tutorial on how to build one on the Android developer site which I will be following.

Part 1, will describe how to set up the  Android developing environment on your PC.

You Will Need

1. To start developing your own applications you will need the Android SDK (Software development kit) and an IDE (Integrated development environment) software. Android SDK can be downloaded from http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html.
   I ll be using Android 2.2, although it isn’t backward compatible!




2. Any IDE can be used but Android recommends ‘eclipse’ – which looks as good as something like DreamWeaver but costs nothing! Download here There are several versions of eclipse – you need to choose one for Java (either of the first 2 on the site will do)Unzip both the SDK and IDE on to your desktop for easy access.




3. To join both the SDK and IDE together, you need to install the ADT(Android development tool) plugin for eclipse.
   Follow the instructions on http://developer.android.com/sdk/eclipse-adt.html




4. You may also need to download (if you have never used java on your PC before) the JDK (Java Development Kit)http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp




5. Finally follow the “hello, World” tutorial to learn how to set up an AVD (Android Virtual Device) and how to start a new project.
   http://developer.android.com/resources/tutorials/hello-world.html

The image above shows my desktop running eclipse and an AVD

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Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) today announced an alliance to provide a range of new and rich entertainment experiences that combine Google’s open-source Android OS platform with Sony’s expertise in technology and product design. The two companies are exploring the joint development of compelling new Android-based hardware products for the home, mobile and personal product categories

The alliance will enable Google to draw on Sony’s cutting-edge technologies, renowned engineering quality, groundbreaking design and diverse product and content portfolio to gain a comprehensive platform from which to drive the adoption of its Android OS across the CE industry.

“The combination of Sony’s industry-leading product design, engineering and development expertise with the flexibility and growth potential of Google’s innovative, open-source Android platform will provide consumers with a world of new and exciting Internet user experiences.  Through this alliance, Sony will deliver new levels of connectivity and Internet integration across our range of assets and product categories,” said Howard Stringer, Chairman, President and CEO, Sony Corporation.

“We believe that open systems lead to more innovation, value and choice for consumers, which is why we are so proud to work with Sony to bring the power of the Android platform to more consumers around the world,” said Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO, Google Inc.

As the first step in this collaboration, Sony will introduce “Sony Internet TV,” the world’s first TV to incorporate the “Google TV” platform. Through an easy-to-use interface, consumers will be able to search and access content from their TVs and across the Internet – a rich Internet experience on consumers’ TVs.  “Sony Internet TV” is scheduled to first launch in the U.S. the Fall of 2010 with the lineup featuring both a standalone TV model and set top box-type unit incorporating a Blu-ray Disc drive.