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How Sony can regain its cool factor in smartphones

LAS VEGAS -- Sony hopes its Xperia smartphone brand will ultimately reach the same heights as its vaunted Trinitron and Walkman lines.

It'll be lucky if it can get a consumer to even remember the Xperia name.

"Sony needs people to know that we make phones," said Calum MacDougal, director of Xperia marketing for the company.

That's the uphill climb that Sony faces in the ultra-competitive smartphone business. The truth is the company is so far behind -- particularly in the U.S. -- that it will take a monumental leap this year just to get … Read more

Sony aims to make a splash with waterproof Xperia Z

Sony hopes its Xperia Z smartphone goes under water. Literally.

The Xperia Z has all of the standard bells and whistles of a high-end smartphone: 5-inch high-definition display with 443 pixels per inch, a 13-megapixel camera, a high-end quad-core Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, ability to pair with devices via near-field communication. Also, it's waterproof.

More to the point, Sony aims to brand its new phone -- and its smaller brother, the Xperia ZL -- as its first true attempt at marshaling the company's considerable resources in ways it's never managed to pull off before. To that end, … Read more

Sony launches its delectibly stylish Xperia Z (hands-on)

Editors' Note: Our partner site CNET UK has recently reviewed the global version of the Sony Xperia Z. Read their full review here.

LAS VEGAS--Sony has just stepped up its smartphone game with the new Xperia Z. The flagship handset boasts a number of high-end features including quad-core processing, a large 5-inch screen, and a 13-megapixel camera.

Design Encased in an all-black chassis, though Sony plans to offer the phone in a selection of multiple color options, the Xperia Z is a real looker. The device's body is crafted in premium metallics with a back panel made from smooth … Read more

More Sony Xperia Z, ZL details emerge

New details have surfaced for the Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL just days ahead of an assumed CES announcement.

A chief difference between the two models is that the Xperia ZL will be a dual-SIM variant of the Xperia Z, reports Android Authority.

While this wouldn't be Sony's first smartphone to offer dual-SIM capabilities, it is the first time we've seen this rumor tied to the upcoming handsets. Interestingly enough, there are also rumors that the dual-SIM Xperia ZL will be less expensive than its counterpart. This latter bit of news dovetails with earlier whispers of … Read more

Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZL pop up on Web site ahead of CES

Sony's Xperia Z and Xperia ZL have been found hiding on Sony's Web site, hinting at things to come for next week's CES show.

Known in other circles as the Yuga and Odin, these two Sony devices have been tied to numerous rumors over the last few months.

The Sony Xperia Z (Yuga) is the larger of the two smartphones however, the Xperia ZL may possess similar internal hardware specifications. Reportedly, the Xperia Z will possess a quad-core 1.5GHz processor, a 5-inch 1080p HD display, 2GB RAM, and a 13-megapixel camera.

Both are expected to offer … Read more

Sony details Android 4.1 updates for Xperia smartphones

As expected, Sony has now detailed which of its Xperia smartphones will pick up Jelly Bean and which won't.

In a nutshell, the newer and more powerful models will move forward, while a select few will be left behind on Ice Cream Sandwich.

First out of the gate, the Xperia T, Xperia TX, and Xperia V will receive its update starting in February and March. Once completed, Sony plans to deploy Android 4.1 to the Xperia J, Xperia P, and Xperia Go in late March.

The weeks following should see the Xperia S, SL, Xperia Acro S, and … Read more

Sony launches new entertainment app for Xperia users

Sony is launching an app aimed at Xperia smartphone users that grants access to additional music, film, and sports content.

Sony Mobile Communications, a subsidiary of Japanese electronics maker Sony, announced today that a new app, called the Xperia Lounge, has been released in beta. Available on Google's Android operating system, Xperia Lounge contains "backstage" content based around music, film, gaming, and sports.

Touted as a "VIP" experience, the free app is launching with content from band Coldplay and a competition to win tickets to see Swedish House Mafia. It will later include a chance … Read more

Sony queues entry-level Xperia E for Q1 2013

Sony today announced a new, entry-level Android handset that is expected to ship in the first quarter of the coming year.

Dubbed the Sony Xperia E, the company's latest should make for a decent first smartphone experience. Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the device features a 1GHz processor, and comes loaded with Sony's custom software touches.

The Xperia E will be offered in a single SIM model as well as a dual-SIM edition, the Xperia E dual. Aside from this difference, both are identical in every other facet. Details include a 3.5-inch (320x480) display, a 3.… Read more

The five secrets to smartphone success

Building a smartphone isn't easy. Building one that's a blockbuster success is an even more Herculean task.

The latest company with big smartphone dreams, Sony, is reportedly putting together a flagship device to rival Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S III and Apple's iPhone 5, one that could debut as early as the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

But the smartphone business is a brutally competitive one, with only Apple and Samsung generating any success of note. Customers now fawn over the iPhone and Galaxy S phones, but little else. Fortunately, CNET is here and willing to unload a … Read more