Apple started to tight its control over the App store even more than before, by announcing Sony that they can't sell content - such as ebooks - in it. Apple wants their users to only be able to buy content from their own company, so rejected Sony's application which would have allowed Sony Reader Store ebooks to be bought by Apple users.

Though an iPad user does not need a Kindle to read Kindle ebooks bought from Amazon, this move might affect Amazon.com too. If Apple will continue tightening its control over the App Store, Kindle ebooks might be rejected from selling too. This changes lots of things on the market, because Apple seemed to offer more support to other companies, but it might just have been for a short period. 

What's sure is that Apple rejected Sony's Reader and, from now on, more companies might have to stop selling their content in the App Store.

The popular instant messaging soft, Skype, was announced to be available for Sony Ericsson Symbian devices (Satio and Vivaz) in Luxembourg, on 15th June. Now the application can be used over Wi-Fi or mobile data connection (3G, GPRS and EDGE). If you have one of those two smartphones and want free calls to your Skype friends, then access skype.com/m or visit this link, which will be available soon.

Skype for Symbian will run on any Ericsson which uses the new operating system that is Symbian ^1. Some of the features that Vivaz and Satio owners can have now are free Skype-to-Skype calling, cheaper SMS prices when sending messages abroad, instant messaging (similar to Yahoo! Messenger or MSN Messenger), file sharing (videos, pictures and other files) and many others. The full list can be found here.

Skype is a well-known software that aenables instant messaging, used by millions of persons and businesses to make free video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files. Skype also enable low-cost calling, especially over the border.

Via MobileCrunch

We talk everytime about Android, iOS, smartphones and high-waited new specs of different devices. Well, there are not only users interested in those. Some people just need the phone for what it's been made: calling, texting and maybe listeting to some music now and then. Well, Sony Ericsson has not forgot about them and announces a brand new Walkman-phone, called Yendo. This is the first full-touch Walkman from Ericsson.

The phone has a 2.6 inch display, a 2.0MP camera, 3.5mm headset jack, but nothing known about the storage. The phone will come in different colors, such as yellow, black, white, pink, blue, orange, grey, green and others, so there are plenty to choose form. There's not any price range available, but the phone will probably not be so expensive. It will be launched soon, because the launch date is the third quarter of this year.

Via MobileCrunch

Today is Sony Ericsson's day for sure. After announcing the brand new full-touch-Walkman called Yendo, the Sweden-based phone producer announced the new Xperia X8 too, and some Android 2.1 updates for X10. The new X8 will be like a smaller brother for the X10, and as expected will be cheaper too.

The X8 will be powered up by a 600MHz processor, will pack a 3.0 inch (320x480) screen, a 3.2MP camera, 3.5mm headset jack, 2GB included microSD card, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. We don't know for sure if it will run Android 1.6 or 2.1, but if it will run the first one, there is probably going to be an update to 2.1 soon after the release. No price is yet available, and the only thing known about the release date is that the phone will come in the third quarter of 2010.

Speaking of Android updates. Besides announcing the new X8, Sony Ericsson also announced an Android 2.1 update for the X10 line, which will also come in the Q3 of 2010. For the original X10 (foto) this will also bring HD video recording capabilities.

Via MobileCrunch

We already know Sony Experia X10 Mini will be available soon to different carriers, but besides Vodafone and the fact that it might already be available in Sweden, we do not know for sure which carriers will sell the phone. Now we know about another carrier, namely O2, which will release Xperia X10 Mini next week, on 2nd of June. Though, the X10 Mini Pro will be available a little bit later, in the end of the month, on 24th June. This "Pro" version has a slide out keyboard.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini is a smartphone running Android 1.6 (!), with a 4.0 inch screen (16 million colours), 8.1 MP camera with AutoFocus, powered up by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, packing 384 MB RAM and 1GB NAND flash storage capacity. Xperia X10 Mini is a touch-screen phone, with vibration as default ringing tone, works on 2G only, offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and can connect with any microUSB 2.0. It also includes a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Regarding the old version of Android used, pundits suggest the whole X10 range will get an update for Android 2.1 in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Via

Do you remember the walkman? No, not the music device 20 years ago. I mean Sony Ericsson's series of mobile phones called Walkman, which was a very popular set back when it was released. Unfortunately, after lots of smartphones hitting the market, not many people were interested in Sony Ericsson Walkman anymore. The Sweden-born company thought of giving "Walkman" another chance by improving its features. And how will they do this? By running Android on him, one of the most popular operating systems around.

According to an unofficial Sony Ericsson blog, the new "Walkman" will get the same features as Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini, but without the LED Flash packed in the camera. Though the camera will be weaker, the phone will run Android as an operating system.

Sure, there's not any official information yet, take it with a pinch of salt. We don't even know if there is going to be Android 1.6 or 2.1, but it really does not matter. Sony Ericsson lost ground comparing to smartphones and featuring Android may be in their advantage.

Source: SEMC Blog

Each day there's a leak out there, on the mobile phones market. There's one today too, as usual. The same day HTC Evo 4G became available at Sprint, there were found some informations about a new Android phone on a Chinese forum. The rumors talk about a 5-inch qwerty Sony Ericsson.

The phone seems to be in the bottom-driven testing, according to the source. The screen is a 5-inch, which means it's similar to Xperia's display. A second source declares the screen is actually 5.5 inch and the phone will be released this fall. It seems the smartphone is running Android 2.1, but it will probably get a Froyo update around the release date. Happy times, must we say!

I am excited about the prototype, because before hundreds of smartphones were out on the market I was a 100% Sony Ericsson fan, and I can't wait to see if they are ready to go successfuly on the Android market with a qwerty as now expected. 

Source: Engadget

Let's imagine you want a Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, but don't have enough money to spend on it, or you are not willing to. The 8.1MP camera, 1GHz Snapdragon processor and the 384 MB RAM tempts you so much that now you really want to put your hands on it. But, again, not enough money available. It seems Sony Ericsson thought of this problema dn decided to create another mobile phone that suits your needs.

It's known the Sweden-based company uses to release low-cost alternative to many other top phones, and now it's the same case. The new 'Shakira' is just like the HTC Legend to HTC Desire. The only thing we know it's that the new device will run Android 1.6 or 2.1 we're not sure about the version. We don't have enough knowledge on any other spec details.

The only thing I am not capable of liking is the name. Why would you call a mobile phone that want to be a bit less than the X10 Shakira? Is this name giving you the idea of a nice, cheap, worth-having mobile phone? Because it's not giving it to me. The name 'Shakira' only gives me a feeling of sickness, and I can't see myself answering 'Shakira" when being asked what mobile phone I have.

Via Engadget

The FCC approved Sony Ericsson Vivaz in February, and back then pundits suggested the phone will hit USA via ATT for the first time (and maybe last too). Those things are confirmed right now, because we know for sure Vivaz is going to be released together with AT&T plans. In its user guide there are also references to AT&T Navigator, AT&T Maps and AT&T FamilyMap, so this fact is now more than confirmed.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz is running Symbian S60 5th Edition (Symbian ^1), comes with a great 8.1MP camera with autofocus and HD recording capabilities (720p). The screen is a 360x640 touchscreen display, scratch-resistant, and other specs include Wi-Fi, DLNA, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, social media integration (Twitter, Facebook), 8GB memory installed and is powered up by a 720MHz processor. 

There is still nothing known about the release date, but is expected the phone will be released soon.

Via Unwired View

Just before 2010 ended, a new Sony Ericsson leak showed us a future mobile phone which is going to join the Sony collection as soon as possible. The device looks like Vivaz and seems to be similar to it, but only in form and design, because the Neo will feature Android and not Symbian.

Right now no one really know the name of the future device, as its been codenamed as Sony Ericsson Hallon/Halon and coded as MT15, but sources suggest that Xperia Neo will be the name of the new handset.

The mobile phone will have an 8.1 MP camera similar to the one in the Xperia Arc and the handheld will feature an 854 x 480 display. As said earlier, the phone will feature Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Source: Unwired View