If you’re using a Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S, Xperia ray or Xperia neo V in Malaysia, be on a look out for software updates. We’ve gotten confirmation from some Malaysian users that their Xperia arc S has finally been updated to the latest Android 4.0.3.

The roll out began last week, starting from the Nordic countries and it is done by phases according to your SI code. To find out if you’re device is in the current update roll out, hit the source link below.

For other models such as the original Xperia arc, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active & Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman, the update will coming in the next 1-2 months time.

Thanks to @AsahiColdBeer and @AzharBinIsmail for the alert!

[ SOURCE, VIA ]

Just as promised, Sony has started rolling out Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for Sony Xperia models launched in 2011. Currently the roll out has commenced with Xperia owners in the Nordic region.

Xperia Blog has posted a brief first impression of the update on the Xperia arc S. So far, according to them, their Xperia arc S doesn’t feel any faster or slower after the update.

Among the changes are quick dial, new recent apps viewer, quick response for incoming calls, improved email app and better monitoring & control over mobile data. To maintain an optimal user experience, they have included a Performance Assistant which lets you disable certain apps from running for better performance.

There’s the Cosmic Flow wallpaper that we’ve seen from the Xperia S but it isn’t the live version. To screen capture, it is no longer accessible with the power button. Instead it is now activated by pressing the power and volume down button together. Overall, while it brings up the version up a notch to 4.0.3, some features have to be disabled or watered down for a decent user experience. Obviously there’s no Face Unlock since the arc S lacks a front facing camera.

The next question is when will this roll out to the rest of the world and how long will it take for it to reach the latest Sony NXT Series line up.

[ SOURCE, 2 ]

If you’re using a 2011 Sony Ericsson Xperia smart phone, heads up as Sony is expected to roll out Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade in mid-April, which is just 2-3 weeks from now.

For the first wave, the update will roll out to Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V and Xperia ray and the entire exercise could take approximately 4-6 weeks.

The next wave will start around end May or early June and this will include Xperia arc, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active & Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman.

So far no mentions of the latest Xperia S and Xperia Blog expects it sometime after June 2012. Just a week ago, Sony had announced its first ever Ice Cream Sandwich device – Sony Xperia neo L in China.

[ SOURCE, VIA ]

Sony has just released the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Beta ROM for its range of Xperia smartphones. Check out the video to see what you can expect to get when ICS is available for your Xperia device.

The Beta release has passed some certifications such as Modem type approval. In addition, important functions like FM radio and GSM are now turned on making it possible for you to use a device with the Beta ROM installed to make phone calls and surf the web. Though Sony says that there are still more certifications required before ICS can be released to Xperia users as an official upgrade. Sony assures that the official ICS update is still scheduled to commence from late March onwards.

The Beta brings a number of things are updated functions and features added on from the previous ICS Alpha release including:

Updated UI: An updated UI that incorporates some new features already introduced in the Xperia S

Lockscreen and Face Unlock: There is now a shortcut to the camera directly from the lockscreen. Also, when you’re listening to music you can control the music player without unlocking the phone by using the music control icons on the lockscreen. In the coming final ICS update, Sony will also include Google’s Face Unlock.

Connectivity Enabled: Where the Alpha released lacked any connectivity function, the Beta release enables GSM modem and FM radio functions allowing you to use your device as a phone – if you choose to install the ROM.

Updated email client: The email UI has been updated adding simplified email management.
Quick dial: The Beta release adds a quick and easy way for you to make phone calls as well. Check out the video demo for details.

Because this is a Beta release (meaning its not final), some functionalities like Gmail, Google Maps, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity are still missing. So consider this a warning.

If you’re keen to try out ICS on your Xperia, you can. The Beta ROM is available for download here. Sony cautions that even though a lot of the basic functionality of this ICS Beta ROM is working, you should only download and install the Beta version if you are an advanced user. This is not the final software, and the stability of the software may not be ideal as it has not been fully tested and bugfixed. As long as you’re ok with that then install away!

BTW the Beta only supports the following devices at the moment: Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V and Xperia ray. Good luck!

[source, via]

After the jump are a few sample shots comparing the camera performance of the Xperia S and the Xperia arc S. The 12MP Xperia S has to, at the very least, match what the 8MP Xperia arc S can muster but in this comparison, it looks like the Xperia arc S is taking the better pictures.

Having said that, just two samples from each camera are not enough for us to draw a conclusion (though the low light performance on the Xperia S looks better here) and once again, it’s very possible that the Xperia S used here is a pre-production unit. Await the final production version of the Xperia S we shall.

Sample One

Sample One 100% Crop

Link to full resolution images (Sample One):
Sony Xperia S
Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S

Sample Two

Sample Two 100%

Link to full resolution images (Sample Two):
Sony Xperia S
Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S

[sample pictures from, via]

Sony Ericsson is also doing a promo for this coming Chinese New Year. Not only the official outright price for selected devices are reduced but they are throwing extra goodies such LiveView, Bluetooth headset and some Android merchandises.

Here’s the list of devices on offer:
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S – RM1499
Sony Ericsson Xperia ray – RM1099
Sony Ericsson Xperia play – RM1099
Sony Ericsson Xperia pro – RM1299
Sony Ericsson Xperia active – RM899
Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V – RM899
Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman – RM899
Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro – RM788
Sony Ericsson Xperia mini – RM699

The LiveView worth RM288, which is a 2nd remote screen for your phone is offered free with Xperia arc S, Xperia pro, Xperia ray, Xperia play & Xperia active.

In addition, they are also giving out their VH110 bluetooth headset worth RM108 with purchase of Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia neo V and Xperia active.

This promo runs from 7th January till 21st January 2012. Head after the break for the promo leaflet.

[ SOURCE ]

Ahead of its March 2012 target Ice Cream Sandwich update release, Sony Ericsson has made available to EVERYONE (that means you) an alpha ROM of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) for unlocked Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V and Xperia ray. This is the first time the company has ever done this.

But before you click that download button, Sony Ericsson says that the ROM is strictly for “advanced developers” and do note that this Alpha release has very, very, very – and we mean very – limited functionality. Installing the ROM would effectively make your Xperia practically useless as a smartphone because the following features will not work. On the other hand, if you’re a developer and have a free Sony Ericsson Xperia lying around, by all means give this a try, provided of course you know what you’re doing.

Features that won’t work with the Alpha ROM:
Google Mobile Services (GMS) apps are not included (for example, Gmail, Google Maps, etc.).
Modem is turned off and SIM card will therefore not be recognised (this also means you can’t make any phone calls).
Bluetooth™ is turned off.
Wi-Fi® is turned off.
ANT+ is turned off.
FM-radio is turned off.

However, this alpha ROM includes a number of new features:
New “Roboto” font.
New “Holo” theme is supported (you are able to test apps written to make use of the Holo theme).
Music player control from lock screen.
Updated UI in the Settings menu.
Updated UI in the web browser.
Updated UI and interaction with the new messaging action bar.
Updated UI for improved multitasking.
Swipe to dismiss notifications, tasks and browser tabs in the Notification menu.

Check out the video to see some of these new features in action.

For full details on how to install the Alpha ROM head on over to the Sony Ericsson developer site here.

Thanks for the tip @xiaohang89

Sony Ericsson has announced its global roll out of their Android 2.3.4 update. The update is offered the following Xperia models:

• Xperia arc
• Xperia PLAY
• Xperia neo
• Xperia mini
• Xperia mini pro
• Xperia pro
• Xperia ray
• Xperia active
• Xperia neo V
• Xperia arc S
• Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman

Thanks @fizie76 for the heads up!

[ SOURCE, VIA ]

Sony Ericsson Malaysia has announced the official pricing for two of its latest devices the Xperia arc S and the Xperia active.

Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S
The Xperia arc S brings all the goodness of the Xperia arc but with the addition of a faster 1.4GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8255 processor as opposed to the 1GHz unit in the Xperia arc.

According to Sony Ericsson, the extra 400MHz offers 25% faster camera start-up and 20% faster web page rendering over its original arc model. Also new to the arc S is a 3D Sweep Panorama feature that converts 2D images to 3D that you can view on a 3D TV.

The Xperia arc S runs on the latest Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread OS and is available now for RM1,899 in three colours – Pure White, Gloss Black and Pink. The Xperia arc S comes bundled with the following accessories worth RM429:

• MW600 Hi-Fi Wireless Headset with FM radio
• IM820 HDMI Cable
• ET912 Screen Protector
• AN401 Car charger + EC 450 USB cable

Sony Ericsson Xperia active
The Xperia active is Sony Ericsson’s first robust Android smartphone. The IP67-rated Xperia Active is water and dust resistant (in fresh water up to a depth of 1 metre, immersed for 30minutes) and comes with a technology Sony Ericsson calls wet finger tracking, allowing the screen to recognise finger gestures even if your digits are wet.

The Xperia active also packs a barometer, pedometer and pulse meter. The 3-inch 320×480 Reality Display on the Xperia active is enhanced with Sony’s Bravia Mobile Engine and is strengthened with Dragontrail — a product similar Corning’s Gorilla Glass. You also get a 5MP camera that shoots 720p HD videos and a 1200mAh battery.

The Xperia active retails for RM1,159 which is not far off from our earlier estimate of RM1,216 based on the earlier Singapore launch. The device comes in two colour schemes – Orange band with black back cover and white band with black back cover. Both colour schemes come with an extra white cover. At the moment Sony Ericsson is bundling the Xperia active with the Sony Ericsson LiveView Bluetooth display worth RM288. That’s a pretty good deal

The Sony Ericsson Xperia arc has given a refresh with its latest Xperia arc S. Compared to its single core 1GHz predecessor, the Xperia arc S comes with a extra boost thanks to its single core 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 processor.

According to Sony Ericsson, the extra 400MHz offers 25% faster camera start up and 20% faster web page rendering over its original arc model. The rest of the phone hardware remains unchanged and you’ll still get the same 8.1MP camera with Exmor R sensor which worked surprisingly well under low light conditions.

Also new to the arc S is a 3D Sweep Panorama feature which can be viewed on a 3D TV. This is merely a software based conversion from 2D to 3D and it doesn’t take native 3D shots like the dual camera HTC Evo 3D or LG Optimus 3D.

Other additions include Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited which is a content channel that’s subject to availability by region. The Xperia arc S runs on the latest Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread OS and will be available in 5 colours – Pure White, Gloss Black, Misty Silver, Midnight Blue and Sakura Pink.

For more information, head to Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S page here.

More pics after the break