Sony, HTC, Nokia, and LG release new mobile handsets
Tech experts say the one mistake of Nokia was not tying up with Android or bringing forward really high tech mobile phones. Instead the company contented itself with new models that appear almost the same and with similar features.
Now that the 14-year reign of Nokia has ended, and while Samsung is still feeling its way as the new world leader in the cell phone market, the rest of the mobile phone companies are looking to take advantage of this new opportunity by releasing several new and very tempting handsets.
Indeed, the “Game of Phones” has begun.
Sony Mobile’s four screen-screen strategy
After the split from Ericsson, Sony proves it is very serious about strengthening its mobile phone division as it unveiled four new phones that embody its four screen-screen strategy.
Sony Mobile debuted its flagship Xperia S, on April 18 at the Mind Musuem together with a preview of its three other models– the Xperia U, Xperia P and the Xperia Sola which will be released in the coming months.
The four new handsets offer users various ways to watch, share and enjoy their content through other electronic devices like the laptop, tablet or TV. Users can connect their phone to the TV via HDMI cable and navigate Bravia Sync, or watch movies stored on the smartphone on the TV or access content locally on the phone via tablet. Exciting content such as images, video, games, music and movies can easily be a shared experience.
Patrick Larraga, head of Sony’s new mobile division, said; “The mobile phone is essential in our four-screen strategy: TV, laptop, tablet and smartphone. With Sony Mobile being a 100 percent subsidiary of Sony Philippines, we are able to position mobile more easily among the products offered by Sony Philippines.”
“Our new Sony Xperia product range promises to bring unique user experiences to our consumers and you will find them outstanding in design, performance and entertainment,” Larraga stated. “But above microprocessors and memory chips, we’re bringing smartphones made of imagination. Xperia Smartphones are made of curiosity, of the belief that dreams can become reality. Forged with imagination to unlock imagination. And built with inspiration so that they inspire others,” he adds.
One of the unique new features is the Xperia SmartTags. These small tokens use NFC (near field communication) technology to switch smartphone settings with just a swipe. Users can prescribe tasks on the phone, such as switching on the alarm clock by the bed, muting the phone in time for a business meeting or even turning on the GPS app when entering the car. The user simply swipes the phone by the Xperia SmartTag and the prescribed actions are set, instead of having to go through each task and setting.
The new Xperia S, the flagship of the series, is a Playstation-certified smartphone with a 4.3-inch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine. It has an HD (1280 x 720) resolution screen, as well as front (720p) and back (1080p) cameras for HD recording. Its 12MP camera with Sony Exmor R can take pictures in just 1.5 seconds from standby mode.
The Xperia S ships with two Xperia SmartTags. This allows consumers to share content with each other as well as enjoying an increasing number of NFC applications and services.
With a full aluminum unibody design, Xperia P is the first to feature WhiteMagic display technology on a smartphone. WhiteMagic technology delivers the brightest viewing experience; even under direct sunlight. Smart power efficiency automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen to the surroundings to conserve battery life. The Xperia P has a 4-inch Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine. Its 8MP camera comes with unique fast capture, HD recording and Sony technology to capture 2D and 3D panoramic images.
The Xperia U on the other hand, boasts of its xLoud and Sony 3D surround sound audio technology integrated into the music player. This lets consumers enjoy a crisp and loud sound experience on the Xperia U. They can also stream music to wireless speakers with a touch using DLNA.
Aside from its two SmartTags the Xperia sola is the first to feature Sony’s innovative floating touch technology for web browsing. Users navigate the web by hovering their finger above the screen so it acts like a moving cursor, without actually having to touch the screen. Once the desired link is found it can be highlighted and a simple tap will load the page. The Xperia sola has a 3.7-inch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine, 5MP camera with HD video recording, and xLOUD and 3D surround sound audio technology.
“We have put the best of Sony into these smartphones in the hope they may bring out the best in those who use them,” Larraga stressed.
For more information: www.sonymobile.com
HTC has found the “One”
Filipinos love to take pictures—of just about anything. HTC hopes to entice all those budding paparazzi and camera hogs with its new HTC One smartphones.
“The best moments in life are captured with a photo or remembered by a song, so it was key for the HTC One series to improve these emotional experiences with an amazing camera and authentic sound experience,” said Lennard Hoornik, president of HTC South Asia Pacific in a statement. “We are very focused on creating a camera and audio experience Filipinos will love and use often and we believe the HTC One series delivers this in a way never seen on a phone before.
With HTC’s most premium experience, the HTC One series integrates Android 4.0 (ICS) with HTCSense 4, the new version of HTC’s branded user experience that is introducing HTC ImageSense. With ImageSense, HTC One rivals traditional digital cameras with improvements to every part of the camera, including the lens, the sensor, the software, and even integrating a new custom HTC ImageChip. These enhancements combine to deliver our fastest image capture, best image quality under adverse conditions, and easiest interface that enables quick access to capturing stills and videos with side-by-side photo and video capture buttons.
The HTC One X features a beautifully crafted polycarbonate unibody that has the ruggedness of metal but is super lightweight. With seamless construction, the unibody combines a unique high gloss ‘piano’ finish and a matte back. HTC One is blazing fast with the new NVIDIA Tegra 3 Mobile Processor for clear graphics, faster applications, and longer battery life. It includes 1.5GHz Super 4-PLUS-1 quad-core with an integrated fifth Battery Saver Core and a high-performance 12-Core NVIDIA GPU. The HTC One also has an amazing 4.7-inch, 720p HD screen with 3-D glass that is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass. HTC One X will also be available in a 1.5 GHz LTE Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor in 4G LTE markets.
Utilizing the classic, award-winning design of the HTC Legend, the HTC One V brings top-end design to a smartphone with broad appeal and a premium experience that delivers an amazing camera and authentic sound. It features a simple, iconic aluminum unibody design that exudes craftsmanship and quality.
For more information, please visit www.htc.com.
Lining up for the Lumia
Perhaps learning from its previous mistakes, the Nokia tries to recapture its leadership with the Lumia series. And instead of just holding a press conference, Nokia partnered with the top two telcos to hold two separate launch parties that were open to the public.
Globe was the first local telco to mount a launch event for the Lumia line with the unveiling of the Globe-exclusive Nokia Lumia 800. Hundreds of Nokia fanatics, celebrities, social butterflies and VIPs as well as media guests trooped to Beso Cucina Vinoteka, to witness everything that is cool about the Lumia 800.
The Lumia boasts of a floating 3.7-inch AMOLED display, one-piece body and a curved glass, an 8-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, Voice activated commands for calling, calendar, online search and text dictation, Office 365 featuring seamless access to your email, calendar, contacts, and documents, Access to Windows Phone Marketplace for apps, Nokia Drive and Maps software supported by GPS, A-GPS and Wi-Fi positioning.
“Globe is proud to be the exclusive partner of Nokia in launching the Nokia Lumia 800, the ultimate social media phone that integrates all your social networks’ features (contacts, messaging, calendars, and events) on your phonebook,” Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Peter Bithos told attendees. “With Globe, you get the most out of this ultimate social media phone because it will be available for free at Unlisurf Plan 1799, with unlimited surfing, P800 consumable and 3 freebies,” he adds.
To know more about the Globe Nokia Lumia 800, visit www.globe.com.ph/nokialumia.
LG goes Teen
While the other companies released phones geared toward a much older market segment, LG’s new Optimus L3 targets the teen market with its price, features and ambassadors– Coleen Garcia and UAAP Basketball star, Kiefer Ravena.
“We believe that their cool, confident personalities best represent what the Optimus L3 is all about.” said Faith Mijares, Product Marketing Manager for LG Mobile Philippines.
The LG Optimus L3 is an entry-level Android smartphone for those who lead multi-faceted and busy lifestyles that require more from their smartphones. Available in black, white, hot pink or midnight blue, the phone has a 3.2” LCD touch screen great for browsing websites and social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Its 3MP camera is perfect for taking quick photos of family and friends. It runs on a capable 800 MHz processor and a 1500MAH battery that promise a keen and intuitive user experience for just about any phone requirement. The best part of the Optimus L3? Its priced at just P5,990.