Sony Xperia Z to launch mid-March
We got a brief walkthrough with the new Sony Xperia Z and its One Touch capabilities at Sony NZ headquarters in Auckland and we then got a sample to take back to our offices, where we unboxed it.
Zara Baxter | Thursday, February 28 2013 | 1 CommentWe got a brief walkthrough with the new Sony Xperia Z and its One Touch capabilities at Sony NZ headquarters in Auckland.
The Xperia Z will launch in New Zealand in mid-March, through both Vodafone and Telecom, with a retail price of $999. On Vodafone, the LTE-capable phone will be able to connect to the 4G network at launch in Auckland and Christchurch. From Telecom, Xperia Z will be $999 or free on a Smartphone $139 plan with a 24 month contract.
Our tour of the Xperia Z began in a dramatic fashion - the phone was presented in a tub of water, showing off its IP55/57-rated dustproofing and waterproofing. It can be dunked in fresh water for up to 30 minutes without problem. We wouldn't recommend you leave it uderwater, but it'll save you heartache if you drop it into the sink or toilet accidentally - not to mention drink spills.
But there's more to the Xperia Z than gimmickry, as a glance at its specs soon shows. With a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 5-inch full HD 1080p screen (1920 x 1080 pixels) and 2GB RAM, all backed by a 2,330mAh battery, it packs a lot of grunt. the screen is coated with shatterproof, scratch-resistant, tempered glass, which also coats the rear of the device.
There's 16GB of onboard storage, or add a microSD card for up to 32GB additional storage. The phone runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but there are additional Sony features, such as the Walkman app and Music Unlimited. Telecom says it will upgrade Xperia Z handsets on its network to Android 4.2 after launch.
There's a 13-megapixel camera with an Exmor RS sensor, with full 'intelligent auto' setting for photography. Want a sports shot? It'll adjust to fast movement. Going indoors? No problem. The camera also has unlimited burst mode - so you can keep taking shot after shot until the memory card fills or battery empties.
Sony hopes that the killer app for the phone will be its One Touch functionality. From April, dozens of Sony products will have One Touch incorporated, and the idea is that you press the phone to a device to share with it. It's essentially bluetooth pairing, but simplified using NFC. With a set of headphones and portable speakers, you can just touch the phone to them to share music. Next year's Bravia range - we saw a pre-production TV sample - will allow one touch mirroring via the TV remote - just touch the phone to the remote and your phone screen is displayed on the TV.
One Touch is an open standard, so there will be non-Sony products also with One Touch, though we have no information about what other brands may be releasing One Touch products at this stage.
Sony also told PC World that there are two other handsets launching in the near future, exclusively through Telecom: The Xperia Acro S, available mid-March will retail for $599 or free on an $89 plan (24 month contract), and the Xperia Go will be $399 or free on a $59 plan (24 month contract).
Images: Harley Ogier
Windows vs. iOS vs. Android:How to choose the best tablet for you
101 great websites:
You haven't heard of yet
DIY desktops:
We ask the pros for building tips
Hot Products || PC World editors iPhone 4S launch pics and unboxing
The iPhone 4S launched at midnight through both Vodafone and Telecom. ... READ MORE
Tux Love || Geoff Palmer Google : Starting to be evil?
Google recently deleted AdBlock Plus from its Android Play Store. This is ... READ MORE
Tech Guy || Juha Saarinen Small balls of solder
The idea that desktops might change forever is enough to send geeks into a ... READ MORE
In a Nutshell || Zara Baxter Logging, not login
At an event in Singapore yesterday, Seamus Byrne, the editor of CNet ... READ MORE
Harley O'Gyver || Harley Ogier Pay for internet by-device? Not on my watch.
So as those of you who follow my twitterstream will know, I'm currently in ... READ MORE
The Arcade || PC World editors New Year, new games
You'er going to laugh. Or at the very least, you're going to scoff and ... READ MORE
Dumb Terminal Live! || PC World editors New Zealand memes: We think we're real funny
We New Zealanders love the internet, and we have a pretty good sense of ... READ MORE
Posted by prachi at 22:42:49 on February 28, 2013
Flag abuse