CES 2012 is under way in Las Vegas, and Sony has taken the opportunity to introduce their first Smartphone to be marketed solely under the Sony brand, the Sony Xperia S.

As with other Xperia devices, the Xperia S runs on the Android operating system, and is the first device in the new Xperia NXT series, the next generation of Sony smartphones.

The Sony Xperia S delivers a high quality 12.0 Megapixel camera, which can take pictures in just 1.5 seconds from standby mode, with a large, 4.3 inch high resolution display with Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine. The camera supports 1080p HD video recording, and there is a 1.3 Megapixel front facing camera, which as well as offering support for video calls can also record 720p HD video.

The Xperia S offers a wide variety of connection options, including support for DLNA and HDMI ports, plus high speed data transfer via WiFi and HSPA. The handset includes NFC, which is still a blossoming technology, promising easy cash payments and data transfer to other NFC enabled devices and data terminals.

With the Sony Xperia S, users will be able to share content across the Sony Entertainment Network, including songs from the Music Unlimited service, as well as movies and TV shows from Sony's Video Unlimited. The Xperia S is also a Playstation certified device, which means it can play games designed for mobile which can be accessed via the Playstation Store.

Powered by a Dual Core 1.5 GHz processor, the Xperia S will launch running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with plans to update the device to Android 4.0 during Q2 2012.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Sony Xperia X is expected to launch in March 2012, and is already confirmed for both O2 and Three.

The first major event for phone manufacturers this year will be the Consumer Electronics Show, to be held in Las Vegas next week.

It is at CES that Sony Ericsson may reveal a major device, according to a teaser posted on the manufacturer's Google+ page.

The teaser states: “Something big is coming! Stay tuned for more exciting news next week.” There have been a few rumours surrounding forthcoming Sony Ericsson devices, with the Xperia Arc HD and Xperia Ion both 'leaked' in recent weeks.

According to the leaks, the Xperia Ion will boast a 13.0 Megapixel camera and a huge 4.55 inch display, whilst the Xperia Arc HD will offer a 12.0 Megapixel camera and be powered by a dual core 1.5 GHz processor.

It could be one of these, both of these or even something that Sony Ericsson have managed to keep under wraps until now. All shall be revealed on the 10th January, at the Sony Ericsson press conference.

Good news for all Sony Ericsson Xperia Play owners, as OnLive, the streaming gaming service, now supports usage of the Xperia Play gaming pad, giving you the best gaming experience possible.

The OnLive service is compatible with a range of tablets and mobile devices, and is available for Android devices running Android OS 2.3 and above. However, it is the addition of support for the Xperia Play and the device's bespoke gaming buttons that really sets the service apart.

CEO of OnLive, Steve Perlman, said in a statement: “From the moment we launched our OnLive Android app, gamers have been asking about Sony Ericsson Xperia Play game control support. We listened and delivered. Now Xperia Play gamers in the US and UK can play almost all of OnLive's 200 premium titles like Saints Row: The Third and Assassin's Creed: Revelations on their Xperia Play smartphones with a full console-class experience, including multiplayer and social features.”

OnLive is a cloud based service, so you don't need to install large game files to your device to be able to enjoy some of the latest titles on your mobile phone. Some of the leading titles available to play via OnLive include Super Street Fighter IV, Batman: Arkham City, DiRT 3, Battle: Los Angeles, NBA 2K11, Lord of the Rings, Tomb Raider and More. Check out the OnLive website for more details.

For those who don't have an Xperia Play, and want better controls for games than the onscreen buttons, then there is an option to buy an OnLive Wireless Controller, for around £40.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The OnLive app for Android is available to download for free from the Android Market – Click the button below for more:

Sony Ericsson has given further details to their plans to bring the Ice Cream Sandwich Android update to their range of Xperia Smartphones.

The first devices to receive Android 4.0, known as Ice Cream Sandwich, will be the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo V and Xperia Ray, starting in late March or early April next year.

The next handsets scheduled for the update will be the Xperia Arc, Xperia Play, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro and the Xperia Neo, with the update scheduled to begin rolling out during May 2012.

The updates are set to be phased out over several weeks, and the updates can be done OTA or by using a PC. Not all handsets will get the update at the same time, which means some batches of a particular model will get the update before others.

It is one of the frustrations for owners of Android handsets, that updates to newly released firmware versions seem to take so long. To help users understand the complicated process, Sony Ericsson has given detail of what needs to happen to get a new version of Android from Google to your device.

Firstly, the manufacturer receives access to the new Android release from Google. Then, the developers work on combining the existing Xperia software with the new Android version, and then it goes through a series of quality testing, to ensure everything works as expected by the end user. The software versions then need to be approved by various partners, such as mobile networks, who can delay things further if the firmware doesn't perform to their specification, or if they require further features to be included. Only after that can the new software start to be rolled out to consumers.

Via

Sony Ericsson has released an Alpha version of the Android 4.0 ROM to the developer community, which is compatible with the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo V and the Xperia Ray.

The ROM can be installed on unlocked, unbranded devices, but beware, this is an early release version, that lacks some of the poplar Android services such as Gmail and Google Maps, as well as having no working WiFi or Bluetooth.

Additionally, if you do install this ROM on your device, the SIM card won't be recognised, so you won't be able to actually use your device for outgoing calls and so on.

Clearly, the ROM is not for use by the general public, but if you are one of the large number of the Android community that likes to get inside the Android OS, then this is definitely for you.

What you do get with this Alpha ROM is the new Roboto font and Holo theme, as well as music player controls from the lock screen, swipe to dismiss notifications and a new interface in the settings menu and browser.

It is interesting to get a glimpse of what Sony Ericsson have in store for the owners of Xperia handsets. If you wish to try the new ROM, and you have the required developer skills, then follow the instructions at this link; plus check the video below from the Sony Ericsson Developers:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Following on from the news that Sony are buying out Ericsson in their joint venture, it has now been let known that the Ericsson name is set to be dropped from branding by mid-2012, with future handset releases coming solely under the Sony name.

Additionally, Sony will concentrate their efforts on producing top end smartphone devices, as a development of their four screen strategy of smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions.

The Sony Ericsson joint venture was started in 2001, but after a bright start the company produced a range of disappointing devices that failed to capture the imagination of the phone buying public. It was pretty much the emergence of Android which helped Sony Ericsson regain an element of recognition as a producer of classy, reliable devices, which had been for a long time missing from their product portfolio.

Now Sony are looking to build on that initial success, with a range of smartphones set to be released under the Sony name.

Sony Ericsson Executive Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing, Kristian Tear, said in an interview with the Times of India: “A lot of planning goes into getting the branding right but we will be done by the middle of next year. It will also mean that the marketing and advertising investments will go up. We haven't been as fierce as we were a few years aback but we will step it up, refocus and invest more in brand-building in select markets, and India is one of those markets.”

There will be a range of devices from Sony Ericsson showcased at the forthcoming Mobile World Congress, which could turn out to be the last devices to come to market under that name.

Today sees the exclusive launch of FIFA 12 for the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY giving users the chance to experience the leading football simulation game wherever they are.

FIFA 12 has been fully optimised for the Xperia PLAY, taking full advantage of the devices unique gamepad control system. Additionally, the title will also be rolled out to other Xperia devices, such as the Xperia Arc S, Xperia Arc, Xperia Ray, Xperia Neo and Xperia Pro smartphones.

The game, which is exclusive to the Xperia line-up until February next year, allows users to control their favourite teams, as they participate in a host of tournaments, leagues and knockout cups.

Developed for Android by EA Mobile, FIFA 12 gives fans improved gameplay, authentic commentary, updated teams from all the world's top leagues, and an all new replay system and stadium designs.

FIFA 12 joins a range of other EA Titles available for the Xperia PLAY, including Battlefield and Need for Speed. Some of these titles are available to download for free, as part of Sony Ericsson's 'Get In The Game' limited-time Xperia PLAY promotion. More details of this promotion can be found here.

Tim Harrison, Head of Content & Strategy at Sony Ericsson, said: “This year, we have partnered with EA to bring some of its best titles to Xperia PLAY for an unmatched mobile gaming experience. FIFA is a huge franchise that appeals to football fans around the world and a real highlight in a successful autumn season of bringing great content to Xperia PLAY.”

FIFA 12 for Xperia PLAY can be downloaded from the Games widget on the handset.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Check out the latest offers on the Xperia PLAY at the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY deals page.

Online storage service Box has announced a deal with LG, that allows owners of LG Android smartphones to get 50GB of free cloud storage. The deal is also going to be expanded out to owners of the Sony Ericsson Xperia range, too.

The deal is nothing new for Box, who ran a similar promotion for iPhone users a while back, which is still currently active until tomorrow. In either case, you download the Box app from the appropriate store, and login to your account or sign up to a new account from the handset. Although the promotion is for a limited time on these devices, the 50GB storage is a lifetime deal.

For LG users, you need to have a device running at least Android OS 2.1 or above; if that applies to your device, simply download Box from the Android Market, and access an existing account or set up a new account from your phone before March 31st, 2012. The free 50GB storage will be available for the lifetime of that account.

The deal will also be available to users of Sony Ericsson Xperia devices, but the final arrangements are not quite in place, however it is expected to be offered on a similar basis as above, giving Xperia users a 50GB lifetime account if accessed by a certain date.

The guys at Box have added a few tweaks to the Android app recently, so it is now possible to download files from your Box account to your Android device, rather than just viewing them remotely on the phone, and these downloaded files can be accessed even if you are offline and not with an active internet connection on the phone. There is also a new bulk upload capability added, making it quicker to upload multiple files, videos or photos, and the app has also been given an updated UI, making it easier to navigate, giving faster access to your files.

To download Box for Android, click the link for the Android Market or scan the QR code below:

There are many music recognition apps available for smartphones, and one of the earliest that came about, Sony Ericsson's TrackID, is making the move from exclusively Sony Ericsson handsets, and is now available to download from the Android Market.

TrackID helps you to identify a song instantly, by simply launching the app and holding the device up to a speaker, and recording a snippet of music. This is uploaded to the web, where TrackID analyses the clip and returns details of the track back to the phone, detailing the artist, track name and album, along with a link to go online and download the song to your phone or add it to your Spotify playlist.

Social networking elements are built in to TrackID, allowing you to 'Like' the track, so your Facebook friends can see what new music you have discovered and are downloading.

The app enters in to a crowded marketplace, with Shazam and SoundHound leading the pack, so there is no guarantee that the app will be as successful as it may have been had Sony Ericsson thought to release it earlier. But even so it is good to see SE giving others the chance to take advantage of trying out TrackID if they wish.

To use TrackID, you need to be using an Android device running Android OS 2.2 and above. Click on the link below for the Android Market:

Sony has bought out Ericsson's half of the join Sony Ericsson venture, and will integrate the handset division into the main Sony brand.

The buyout, worth around €1bn will see the Sony Ericsson brand disappear from the marketplace, after ten years as an industry name. The deal gives Sony the opportunity to integrate the range of Sony Ericsson smartphones with its other consumer electrical devices, such as tablets, computers and televisions.

The move has been rumoured for a while now, with industry analysts suggesting that Sony Ericsson has a more competitive edge under the Sony name.

Sony and Ericsson combined forces in 2001, and enjoyed success with handsets marketed under the Sony Walkman and Cybershot brands. However, their early range of smartphones, which ran on UIQ, were less successful. The company started producing smartphones running on the Android platform in 2008 and now have a healthy portfolio of Xperia devices running Android. Xperia devices account for 80% of all Sony Ericsson handset sales.

Sir Howard Stringer, CEO of Sony said the deal was the 'last piece of the puzzle' for Sony's portfolio of products, and admitted the deal was partly motivated by tough conditions within the smartphone market. “This acquisition makes sense for Sony and Ericsson, and it will make the difference for consumers, who want to connect with content wherever they are, whenever they want. With a vibrant smartphone business and by gaining access to important strategic IP, notably a broad cross license agreement, our four screen strategy is in place. We can more rapidly and more widely offer consumers smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions that seamlessly connect with one another and open up new worlds of online entertainment.”

As for Ericsson, they will now focus on the global wireless market as a whole, and how wireless connectivity can be utilised to benefit businesses and society beyond just phones. Ericsson and Sony will also set up a wireless connectivity initiative aimed at driving market adoption of connectivity across multiple platforms.