They have continued this with the Xperia Z for T-mobile.  Now I actually got a hands-on of this device for review .   It is a gorgeous color(this particular case), style and form.  I will run through the points below.

(picture from hardwarezone.com.sg)

Build quality:

Now, Far as I’m concerned, Sony is tops at this right now.  The phone is of a poly amide(composite) frame work with scratch-resistant tempered glass on both front and back panels.  The panels covered with a factory installed “skin” or screen protector, but Sony themselves have said it is merely for shatter resistance and NOT for scratch proof.  They recommend installing your own preferred protector of sorts.  The factory installed ones are removable but it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to leave them on.  Removing them apparently, voids your warranty – so just leave it alone and don’t fiddle with it.

The Xperia Z feels very solid in the hand and feels very premium.  I’m used to the Galaxy line of phones so, holding this one was quite a change, and a rather pleasant one at that.  Be mindful though, since the phone has a glass front and back it can be very slick to hold.  Best advice would be at very minimum, to get a clear back skin to offer a little bit more grip and still show off the phone or maybe a bumper case.

Specs: (I’m just going to summarize)

• 5″ 1080p HD Reality Display (1920*1080)- Sony’s mobile Bravia engine 2
• 443 ppi  -  16million colors  Opti-contrast panel
• 13 MP rear camera full 1080p recording–Exmor RS sensor     2.2 MP front facing camera with full HD ability and Exmor R sesnor
• 16GB storage expandable to 64GB via micro-sd card slot
• 1.5 GHz quad core processor ( Snapdragon S4 Pro)
• Android Jellybean 4.1.2 (upgradable to 4.2.2 in near future)
• 2330 mAh enclosed battery(non-removable)dust proof/water resistant (IP55/IP57)

Now if you’re looking for a full fledged review– head over to check out my video, this write up is just to point out my personal views on the phone itself.

Now, there are plenty of things I love about this phone, it’s solid build, sturdiness in the hand, picture quality is actually very good ( despite what rumors you may have heard), color of the unit I reviewed was purple – yes I know it’s not very manly but it looks FANTASTIC on the phone.  It’s the same shade of purple that was used for Eva unit -01 from Neon Genesis for you anime fans – will give you some context to what I mean.  I love the pronounced shape of the power button and how it’s strategically placed for either right or left handed use.  Screen is beautiful, not overly saturated like some companies can be with their screens.

Some things I don’t like:….  The frame of the phone is very angular, and while I do like it for it’s rigidity– the sheer shape of it caused minor discomfort to me, interior ring-finger of both hands; whilst I was playing any games for extended period of time or watching a movie.  Phone doesn’t have a dedicated shutter button for pictures.  Everything is done on screen, which can lead to awkward angles trying to capture movies or stills.  The screen stays black when you get a notification.  Now when I say stays black, it doesn’t turn on for a second or two for a quick message preview.  It just lights up the LED in the top right corner of the phone.

Despite the smallish battery, I was still able to get around 10-12 hours of usage with about 1.5-2 hours of screen time while using it fairly heavy with a few games such as Angry Birds, Asphalt 8: Airborne .

The UI of the Xperia is very fluid and smooth, no over abundance of bloatware from Sony or T-Mobile.  A few apps here and there such as: Walkman, PSM, Civil Alerts, T-Mobile my account, T-Mobile TV and so on.

All in all this is a great phone, blazing processor, gorgeous screen, durable, solid and sturdy build (a must for anyone with children ages 2-5) dust-proof and water resistance; all add up to make this one hell of a phone, pity it’s only for one carrier, but not like that’s very hard to do anyways…..

The post The Gorgeous Sony Xperia Z appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Android 4.4 KitKat is just around the corner which can be judged by the number of leaks we have had in the last few days. Well rumors have already started floating about Android 4.4 KitKat updates for flagship phones. The latest in the list is the Sony Xperia Z1, as per rumors the Xperia Z1 will get Android 4.4 in November, in fact the rumor has a date of November 7th to be more specific. Skipping Android 4.3 and jumping to Android 4.4 is an applaudable move from Sony and a lot of Z1 owners would be more than happy with the decision.

Once the Xperia Z1 gets Android 4.4 Sony will later roll out Android 4.4 for the Xperia Z and Xperia Z Ultra.

Source:-gsmareana

The post Rumor:Sony Xperia Z1 Getting Android 4.4 KitKat in November appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Today morning, Sony Mobile through its twitter account confirmed the list of devices that will be getting Android 4.2 JellyBean. The list includes previous flagship smartphone Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia XR and Xperia Tab Z.

As per Sony Mobile. this update will be rolled out in phased probably based on region and carrier and brings display, camera, battery fixes & multiple performance tweaks. There is no word on exact time frame yet and though there is no full changelog s you can expect below features/enhancements.

Lock screen widgets
Extended quick settings
Android Daydream feature
My Xperia application
New customisable navigation bar with quick settings
Increased battery life and camera functionality

Source : Sony Mobile Tweet

The post Android JellyBean 4.2 update confirmed for XperiaZ, ZL, ZR & Tab Z appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Sony Xperia Z users can now enjoy CyanogenMod 10.2 builds, thanks to the FreeXperia team. Unofficial CyanogenMod 10.2 builds are now available for Sony Xperia Z users.

For detailed installation instructions and download links head over the original thread at xda.

The post UnOfficial CyanogenMod 10.2 Available For Sony Xperia Z appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Build Quality

HTC One (left) and Sony Xperia Z Ultra (right)

There is no downplaying your first impression when picking up the Ultra, it is a BIG device. Compared to the Note 2, Pro, DNA, Xperia Z or Oppo it is significantly more substantial. It is extremely thin and flat, ie wide and tall. Sony has done an incredible job with the materials and build quality. It exudes high end much more than the devices listed above. With an expansive front LCD (6.4”) and rear glass it feels very rigid, no creaking or twisting due to a removable battery cover like others.

It has extremely square corners and feels like a small high end tablet. Not a bad thing but it does not lend to pocketability. Overall I am very impressed with the device from a hardware perspective.

Display/Speakers

In previous reviews I lumped the rating for the display and speakers together. For the Ultra it is necessary to rate them independently given the importance of the former. The HD display on the Ultra is stunning. As one of the largest display available on a phone it is truly a work of art. The colors are extremely bright/vivid and the blacks are fairly dark. Fonts and pictures are very sharp with no jagged edges even though the PPI is not as high as the other 1080P phones out there. Sony has improved the off axis viewing which was disappointing in the Xperia Z.

“The HD display on the Ultra is stunning.”

Having a display this large is wonderful. Viewing webpages especially in landscape mode truly gives you a desktop feel. The phone feels like it was made for watching Netflix or YouTube videos. Also having many more emails, settings or information in portrait mode are the reasons someone chooses to put a device of this magnitude in their pocket. It is very reminiscent of the feeling I had when I first obtained the Dell Streak with it’s 5” LCD compared to the 3”-4” phones during it’s time.

As much as I can praise the display, the sound is basically average. Earpiece volume is fine if you ever decide to hold this book against your head and the external speaker is adequate. Sound only comes out of small opening in the bottom corner similar to the Z. Cannot compare with HTC’s Boom sound and two front facing speakers. The Ultra pairs easily with a Jawbone headset or SoundFreaq which deliver better audio.

Software

The Sony ships with 4.2.2 and should receive 4.3 soon. Their UI is very light and does not impact the performance of Android or try to do too much like others out there. Navigation and daily use was buttery smooth with no lags. The light UI and 800 Snapdragon processor helped keep everything running quickly. I have long been a fan of their UI which is very professional, has nice transitions and seems much cleaner than TouchWiz or Sense and not as cartoonish as LG.

One thing worth noting is their implementation of multi-tasking. Instead of splitting the screen ala Samsung they have created little applets that hover on the top of your screen. These seem to work very well but there are only limited applications (browser, calculator, notes, recorder and timer) available at this time.

Camera

The 8MP camera takes nice pictures especially when there is an abundance of light. In slightly low light environments the camera also did a good job. There is very very little shutter lag. However similar to the Z there is no hardware shutter button. Unfortunately the lack of a flash and the awkwardness of holding a device this big (think tourist using iPads) for pictures hurts the rating.

Gallery

Wrap Up

So the big question, “Is this device TOO BIG?”. There is not an easy answer to this question. For someone who carries their phone everywhere and is out in the field, most likely, however for an individual who works in an office environment and uses a small tablet at home this could be perfect for them.

I will most likely continue using the Ultra since I love the big screen, do not talk on the phone much and prefer picking this up for use at home. Is 5.99” a better size? Only time will tell. After a couple more weeks, I will provide a refreshed view and may possibly test using a pen or pencil on the screen.

Thank you for reading my opinion.

The post Review – Sony Xperia Z Ultra – The Big Phablet appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Unofficial CyanogenMod 10.2 builds (using Android 4.3 as base) are now available for Xperia line of devices. The devices included are Xperia Z C6603, Xperia ZL and Xperia Tablet Z (Wi-fi only version). Hit up the below links for more details:-

Unofficial CyanogenMod 10.2 for Xperia Z C6603

Unofficial CyanogenMod 10.2 for Xperia ZL

Unofficial CyanogenMod 10.2 for Xperia Tablet Z (Wi-fi only version) SGP311 & SGP312

The post Unofficial CyanogenMod 10.2 Builds Available for Sony Xperia Z,ZL & Tablet Z appeared first on Android Fan Network.

In a news release yesterday, T-Mobile USA announced the details on launch date & pricing of  Sony Xperia Z ( C6606 ).  It will be available for pre-order on T-Mobile USA’s website starting this July 17th for $99.99 upfront and $20 per month for 24 months. There is no difference between the Xperia Z internal version other than support for T-Mobile bands and branding on the back of the device.

T-Mobile bands compatible Sony Xperia Z (C6606) unlocked version is also available available from Sony US Website for $579.99. You can also buy them at Sony Mobile Store locations. You can get a free Sony Bluetooth Wireless Speaker if you buy through Sony (both stores & online).

Sony Xperia Z will be available in Black and Purple color variants. Hit the below links to buy devices on t-mobile site. At this point of time you can see – ‘coming soon’ and pricing not available but you can enter your email id to get yourself notified when they become available.

t-mobile Sony-Xperia Z Black

t-mobile Sony-Xperia Z Purple

Source : Xperia Blog

The post Xperia Z is available on T-Mobile USA from 17 July appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Few days back system dump of new smartphone from Sony Mobile – Xperia Honami leaked revealing new UI & various other enhancements.

Now krabappel2548  -  recognized developer at XDA  ported Xperia Honami camera app to other other Android smartphones from Sony mobile like Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL.  You should be on stock Deodexed ROM to get this new camera app working on your Xperia Z/ZL.

Camera app include new functions like

- AR effects
- Superior Auto
- Time Shift
- Photo Effect
- Manual Capture Mode
- Info-Eye
- Sweep Panorama

 Hit the below link from XDA Xperia ZL forum for instructions on download and installation of this camera app.

Source : Xperia ZL forum at xda-developers

The post Xperia Honami Camera app ported to Xperia Z & ZL appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Android 4.2.2 build 10.3.A.0.423 is rolling out for the Sony Xperia Z. The build is available for models C6603 & C6602. You may wanna use Sony’s PC Companion for Windows or Bridge for Mac to grab the update if you haven’t received it over the air.

If you want the ftf file head over to this thread at xda and follow the instructions.

Source:-androidcentral

The post Android 4.2.2 Rolling Out for the Sony Xperia Z appeared first on Android Fan Network.

You need to have usb drivers installed, usb debugging and unknown sources enabled. Once usb drivers are installed connect phone to pc and double click the bat file. For more details and download links head over to the original thread at xda.

The post One Click Root for Sony Xperia SP appeared first on Android Fan Network.