The PlayStation Phone (Xperia)

[averybluemonkey]

I don't think Japan really crosses over with anywhere else when it comes to mobile phones, everything seems to be different over there. Is Android really a viable platform over there at the moment?

It's pretty much all LIMO and Symbian over there as far as I'm aware. The network operators commision phone manufacturers to make carrier branded models, not the other way around. I'd be surprised if someone like NTT Docomo picked this up, maybe a smaller operator though?

[Neon Ignition]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/288717/news/playstation-phone-youll-have-to-re-buy-old-psn-content/

Genius, basically, fancy catching up with that copy of Final Fantasy VII you bought off the PS Store last year when you pick this up? Sure, but you'll have to pay ?7.99 to buy it again as PSN content is non-transferable.

[Dogg Thang]

Well that just sucks and would be a major turn-off.

[Darwock]

It's pretty much all LIMO and Symbian over there as far as I'm aware. The network operators commision phone manufacturers to make carrier branded models, not the other way around. I'd be surprised if someone like NTT Docomo picked this up, maybe a smaller operator though?

Japan is being completely blitzed by Android and iPhones. AU are providing Android phones and Softbank are championing the iPhone.

I don't follow phone fads at all but these devices are everywhere in Japan.

[averybluemonkey]

Japan is being completely blitzed by Android and iPhones. AU are providing Android phones and Softbank are championing the iPhone.

I don't follow phone fads at all but these devices are everywhere in Japan.

Visual perception can be quite different to the real sales figures though, things may have changed drastically in the last 8 months which was the last time I saw any detailed reports on the region but people tend to notice certain brands and not others. For the first couple of years for example the iPhone was doing far less business than the other handsets in Japan but that didn't stop the press touting things like 1 million sales being a success, which when compared to the total market sales of this volume, it wasn't.

Softbank only sold out to the iPhone in the first place because they were lagging so far behind NTT Docomo that they had to try and do something. I've never heard of AU myself but they aren't in the top 3 carriers so their market share can't be that high. Seems I was slightly wrong on the NTT Docomo front though as they started carrying Xperia last year, have they stopped shipping MOAP(L) phones now then or is it mixed with Android?

[kernow]

The hardware looks unfinished to me, the grey panel on the bottom needs something in the middle.

[Darwock]

I've never heard of AU myself but they aren't in the top 3 carriers so their market share can't be that high. Seems I was slightly wrong on the NTT Docomo front though as they started carrying Xperia last year, have they stopped shipping MOAP(L) phones now then or is it mixed with Android?

AU is one of the largest phone providers in Japan! They may even be number one. The parent company is KDDI. And iPhones are literally everywhere, it's practically all I see on the trains. Japan is so hive minded I'd be amazed if they are under-performing. I can't answer your other questions as I don't follow phones.

[averybluemonkey]

Ah I know who KDDI are as they're the third of the big three.

[EvilBoris]

Sniff sniff smells like n-gage

[JP]

Probably doesn't deserve its own thread at the moment but the first details are out on Sony's long rumoured PlayStation Suite Honeycomb powered tablet.

There are far more details on Engadget including an early concept design.

We have a couple of tablets we'd like to tell you about, starting with a 9.4-inch honeypot of an Android 3.0 tablet. Details of which have been confirmed by two highly trusted and independent sources. Known by its "S1" codename internally, Sony is busy customizing Matias Duarte's Honeycomb interface to its own specification. Although, we're skeptical of Sony's software capabilities, we've been assured that Sony's work is cutting edge stuff created by a talented engineering team spanning Sony's VAIO, Reader, PlayStation, and Sony Ericsson product groups. The team is lead by the VAIO organization but will probably launch as a Sony product without VAIO branding, according to one source. Sony's custom-built transitions and UI elements have created a user experience that rivals and at times improves upon the iPad's renowned experience. The tablet itself, we're told, is 100 percent focused on Qriocity, Sony's music, games, ebooks, and videos on demand service that's just been launched in Europe. It comes preloaded with Sony PS One games, a Bravia Media Remote, and yes, PlayStation integration -- though it's unclear if that'll be limited to Remote Play or if the Android tablet will be PlayStation Suite certified. One source speculates that it could very well get the PlayStation gaming seal of approval by the time it ships -- but that's just an educated guess.

Update: We now have confirmation that the S1 is indeed PlayStation Certified making this a full-blown gaming tablet. We've also revised the image above to make the top less pronounced.

Here's a video of Matias Duarte discussing details of Google's Honeycomb.

[Neon Ignition]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/289398/news/playstation-phone-price-pound420/

Phone valued at ?420

[25.05.2005]

I'll admit, I'm really excited about this.

I've been crying out for a a phone with gaming controls.

Even better that is on Android and has Sony backing.

I have had a PSP and DS now for ages, but they have been put away in favour of the Iphone. Not because the Iphone is better for gaming, far from it...just that most people like to carry a single device around, and with the Iphone being a phone as well, it takes priority over the true handheld gaming devices.

Seems it is on PLAY now:

http://www.play.com/Mobiles/Mobile/4-/18728103/Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-PLAY-Android-Sim-Free-Unlocked-Mobile-Phone-Black/Product.html?searchstring=XPERIA+PLAY&searchtype=allproducts&searchsource=0&urlrefer=search

Too much for me at the moment. Will wait till I can get one for much less, but I do want!

[JP]

Wouldn't you prefer to go on a contract to avoid the one off charge. Places like O2, Vodafone, etc have also started listing them as coming soon but don't list the package prices yet.

[JP]

First shots of thee white version which is exclusive to O2 subscribers in the UK.




I don't often like white hardware but I think this looks a lot nicer than the black version.

[Dogg Thang]

Yeah, that's remarkably pretty. Looks lovely.