Sony Mobile has announced its two new flagship smartphones, Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact, are available now in New Zealand and Australia.

Built around the concept of bringing Kiwis the most immersive entertainment experiences yet – both models provide world-first advancements in mobile camera, display and audio technology, as well as a beautiful new design to fit perfectly in your hand.

New research from Sony Mobile Communications, which surveyed 1,109 consumers on their habits and perceptions toward entertainment, reveals close to two thirds of consumers already choose technologies that give them more immersive entertainment experiences where they can see, hear and feel content more deeply. The new Xperia XZ2 puts that ability in your pocket, with world-class technology that captivates your senses: The extended 5.7” HDR Full HD+ display; Sony’s BRAVIA TV technology, X-reality for mobile, which up-converts content to near HDR; a new Dynamic Vibration System (DVS) with haptic vibrations that let you feel the action of games, movies and videos; and powerful front-facing stereo speakers featuring S-Force Surround Sound for cinema-quality audio.

Xperia XZ2

“The immersive entertainment features available in the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are inspired by a significant shift in consumer behaviour,” explained Sony Mobile’s Managing Director of Oceania, John Featherstone.

“According to our new consumer researchii, 40 per cent of millennial consumers consider their smartphone their primary source for creating and consuming entertainment content. Because of this, there is a growing desire for mobile technology that elevates the emotional and sensory experience of consuming content on the go.”

“With camera, screen and sound technology that is world-first for a smartphone, we’re excited the Xperia XZ2 will make mobile immersive entertainment a reality for consumers to both create and consume,” added John.

Sony Mobile Communications research also confirmed that a quarter (25%) of consumers hope to capture and share 3D images, and one in five (21%) hope smartphone cameras will rival professional camera equipment so they can share the best quality content with their social followers.

The Xperia XZ2 gives consumers these capabilities, thanks to Sony Mobile’s Motion Eye camera with the world’s first 4K HDR video recording capabilities in a smartphone, as well as Full HD 960FPS Super slow motion capture.

In addition, with Sony Mobile’s world-first native 3D creation feature on a smartphone – 3D Creator – you can now create 3D scans of yourself using the front camera, bringing to life your selfie in 3D and giving you endless opportunities in the 3D avatar world.  Post-processing and direct posting to Facebook are also now available to achieve greater quality, shareable 3D scans.

Xperia XZ2 Compact

These entertainment experiences are encased in a new design expression, with a fluid 3D glass surface creating a seamless form that fits comfortably in your hand. The elegant design is contrasted by its tough exterior, built with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and a metal frame to add extra durability and a beautiful premium feel.  The finish offers a reflection and shine from every angle, thanks to the beautiful glass and flow of light. Certified IP65/IP68, XZ2 is also designed to withstand splashes and spills so you don’t have to think twice about answering your phone in the rain.

Powered by the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform with X20 LTE, XZ2 will also provide immersive user experiences at lightning-fast connection speeds (up to 1.2Gbps) with the second generation Gigabit LTE solution. For example, users can get an episode of a TV series in just 20 seconds with super-fast downloading. A large 3180mAh battery and the most power efficient control ever thanks to its 845 Mobile Platform, XZ2 offers worry-free, all-day usage. Xperia’s smart battery features are also included, such as Smart Stamina, STAMINA mode, Battery Care, and Qnovo Adaptive Charging technology which help the battery stay healthy to give you a longer battery lifespan.

Xperia XZ2 Compact

The world’s most compact 5” smartphone, XZ2 Compact packs the same entertainment punch as its older sister, thanks to its 5” HDR Full HD+ extended display, powerful stereo speakers, all of the same Motion Eye 2018 upgrades as the XZ2 including 3D Creator with Selfie Mode and Full HD Super slow-motion, as well as Sony’s audio enhancing technologies such as Hi-Res Audio and front facing stereo speakers for your ultimate entertainment. This small but mighty smartphone is powered by the latest, fastest ever, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform and features the same design philosophy as XZ2 with its beautiful curved body yet tough exterior with a smooth frosted finish.

 A range of other supporting accessories for the new devices will be available after launch in late July 2018, including the new Style Cover Touch and Style Cover Stand in black for both models; a Wireless Charging Dock (WCH20) for fast effortless charging; and Quick Charger UCH12W for hours of battery time by plugging in for just a few minutes.

Xperia XZ2 is priced from RRP $1249 NZD, and available in Liquid Black at Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, 2degrees, Sony Stores and online. Xperia XZ2 Compact is priced from RRP $1049 NZD, and available in Black exclusively at Noel Leeming and at Sony Stores.

The post New flagship Handsets – Xperia XZ2 & Xperia XZ2 Compact appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Sony’s Xperia mobile phones are classy devices and the Xperia XA2 is no exception. It’s not the best Xperia, and it is a bit chunky compared to its Samsung brethren, but it’s feature packed and feels, well, nice in the hand.

I swear by my Xperia XZ Premium, without a doubt, the best mobile phone I’ve ever had. And, as a gamer, the Sony phone’s integration with its PlayStation ecosystem- enabling the XZ to stream PlayStation 4 games and use a PS4 Dualshock. Sadly, the XA2 omits this feature.

Sony’s Xperia XA2 wears its status as a mid-range phone on it’s sleeve.

So, what do you get for your AUD $550? For starters you get a choice of colours. Silver, black, blue or pink. The review unit the Sony sent to us is the black model, which looks very cool with the shiny Corning Gorilla Glass 4 touchscreen contrasted nicely by the matte, metallic-looking rear. Don’t think you’ve escaped finger-prints on the back, as the matte finish shows up all your greasy marks.

Being an Android phone, currently running Android 8, you have access to the Google store. There’s also a few pre-installed apps like Xperia Assist and Xperia Lounge.

As well as the twenty-three mega-pixel rear-facing camera, the back of the phone also has a circular finger-print reader. That camera can also shoot Full HD at 60fps and 4K at 30fps. Bizarrely, unlike the Xperia XZ Premium where it’s a proper camera setting, the XA2 tucks the 4K option away in one of the creative modes, alongside the AR effects and panorama option.

Selfie fans will have a lot of fun with the 8MP front camera. The 120° super wide-angle lens allows you to get more in your selfies than ever before.

The virtually borderless 5.2” screen allows the phone to sit nicely in the hand and, with a full HD 1080p display, has enough pixels to give a crisp display. The slightly curved edgeless screen looks stylish, even if it will make fitting a screen protector a bit of a chore. On the whole, it’s a nice-looking phone.

The real selling point for me the Xperia XA2’s ability to use two Nano SIMs. The issue of carrying two phones, one for work and one for personal is over. Similarly, drug dealers around the globe, who also lament at having to carry two phones, will be well pleased.

The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 with an Octa-core ARM Cortex-A53, clocked at 2200mhz, and an Adreno 508 GPU pushing pixels. In real terms, you should have no problems playing PUBG or Fortnite (when we get it on Android).

The Sony Xperia XA2 a sensibly-sized and sensibly-featured phone for someone that wants a nice-looking device that does the job well and for a reasonable price.

The post Sony Xperia XA2 Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Sony Mobile Communications (Sony Mobile) today announced its new addition to the popular super mid-range line, the Xperia XA2, is officially available in Australia.

The dual SIM variant of the device is priced at RRP $549 AUD, now available online from JB Hi-Fi, and available at JB Hi-Fi stores and Sony Kiosks and online from the 17th of April 2018.

“We’re excited to bring such a strong mid-range product to the market that is packed with Sony Mobile’s exceptional Xperia camera technology and impressive performance features, housed in a sleek, intuitive design,” said John Featherstone, Managing Director, Sony Mobile Communications Oceania.

“This is just the first of several incredible devices joining the Xperia portfolio this year, and we can’t wait for Australians to experience it.”

The sleek new device boasts the latest Sony camera technology, including a powerful 23MP rear camera with Sony’s large 1/2.3” Exmor RS for mobile image sensor, an ISO 12800 sensitivity for clear low-light photography, 4K video recording, and 120fps slow-motion video capture. It also features the ultimate selfie-hack – a 120° super wide-angle 8MP front camera to capture more of your friends or beautiful surroundings in the frame.

The Xperia XA2’s beautiful, borderless design encases a 5.2” Full HD display of Corning Gorilla Glass, and features a one-touch rear fingerprint sensor in the smooth, metallic-back panel. The device is composed of anodised aluminium on the sides and diamond-cut finish on the top and bottom, an evolution of the recognisable Xperia “loop surface” form.

As expected of Sony Mobile’s super mid-range, the Xperia XA2 also packs a powerful performance thanks to its Android 8.0 Oreo software, 3,300 mAh battery, Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 Mobile Platform, and Sony smart-charging technologies, including Smart Stamina for extended usage, and Battery Care and Qnovo Adaptive Charging for prolonged battery health. Quick charging capability also gives hours of power with just minutes of charging (requires Quick Charger UCH12W).

The new leather-look Style Cover Stand launches alongside Xperia XA2 and matches form with function. Adjustable to stand independently for video playback it will automatically pause or sleep the device when closed. The Style Cover Stand will be available from 17 April in black and silver through Sony Kiosks and online for RRP $53 AUD.

Power up in no time with the Sony Quick Charger UCH12W. Using Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 and MediaTek Pump Express Plus 2.0 technology you can plug in for a few minutes and get hours of phone use. The Quick Charger comes with easy-plug USB Type-C™1 and Micro-B cables, available now through Sony Kiosks and online for RRP $49 AUD.

Xperia XA2 is available now in dual SIM online at JB Hi-Fi in black, and available at JB Hi-Fi stores in black 17 April. Xperia XA2 in dual SIM will also be available at Sony Kiosks and online on the 17th of April 2018 in silver, black, blue and pink.

The post The Ultimate Selfie Smartphone – Sony Xperia XA2 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Marking a unique evolution in Xperia’s engineering and design, Sony Mobile Communications (Sony Mobile) have announced two new smartphones to headline its flagship range, Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact.

Built around the concept of bringing you the most immersive entertainment experiences yet – both models provide huge advancements in camera, display and audio technology, as well as a beautiful new design to fit perfectly in your hand.

“If entertainment is your priority, then our new Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are your smartphones,” said John Featherstone, Managing Director of Oceania, Sony Mobile Communications.

“We have pushed Sony Mobile’s boundaries even further with these new products, for everything from video recording and viewing movies, to listening to music. Featuring world-class technology and a new sleek, sophisticated design, these smartphones are everything you need and probably a lot more – offering entertainment to the extreme.”

Xperia XZ2

Pushing your viewing experience to the extreme, our flagship Xperia XZ2 has an extended 5.7” HDR Full HD+ 18:9 display so you can immerse yourself in your favourite movies and content in exceptional colour and contrast. Not only can you watch existing HDR content, but using Sony’s BRAVIA TV technology, X-reality for mobile will up-convert content to near High Dynamic Range (HDR), so even when you’re streaming videos you get better quality playback that feels like a movie experience.

Tuned for the ultimate and unique entertainment experience, XZ2 incorporates a new haptic experience, adding the perceptual sense of touch so you can actually feel your viewing experience. It uses Sony’s brand new Dynamic Vibration System to analyse audio data and let you feel the action in your hands, bringing your movies, games and videos to life. You can also share your favourite videos with your friends thanks to the XZ2’s powerful front-facing stereo speakers. Featuring S-Force Front Surround, they’re our loudest Xperia speakers ever.

Sony’s audio expertise delivers high-quality sound with the truly authentic Hi-Resolution Audio together with DSEE HX technology for upscaling. Quality is also guaranteed when connecting to wireless speakers or headphones thanks to the enhanced Bluetooth technology LDAC, which offers near High-Resolution Audio.

Motion Eye camera is pushed to the extreme and gets a ground-breaking upgrade with the world’s first 4K HDR movie recording in a smartphone. You can now capture reality with incredible contrast, detail, and real-life colour, and share or upload to a compatible HDR TV or YouTube channel to view your content back with lifelike realism.

Super slow-motion video recording is also upgraded, with 960fps now possible in Full HD to make your ‘wow’ moments even more fascinating. Motion Eye camera also continues to bring all the great still photography features you expect from Xperia through its intelligent control features, such as Predictive Capture with motion and smile detection, Autofocus burst, and Predictive Autofocus. Thanks to these superior features, plus our Quick Launch and Capture, you’ll never miss the moment.

For a truly unique and exciting way to capture memories, the world’s first native 3D creation feature on a smartphone – 3D Creator – is now available with even greater flexibility for 3D scanning. Not only can you create 3D scans of objects or friend’s faces in less than a minute using the main camera, you can also now create 3D scans of yourself using the front camera – bringing to life your selfie in 3D and giving you endless opportunities in the 3D avatar world.  Post-processing is also now available to achieve an even greater quality of 3D scans. Once you’ve finished your 3D scan or selfie, you can also now post directly to your Facebook timeline within 3D Creator.

All of these great experiences are encased in a new design expression, with a fluid 3D glass surface creating a seamless form that fits comfortably in your hand. The elegant design is contrasted by its tough exterior, built with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and a metal frame to add extra durability and a beautiful premium feel.  Its four different colour finishes offer a reflection and shine from every angle, thanks to the beautiful glass and flow of light. The device will be available in Liquid Silver, Liquid Black, Deep Green and Ash Pink. Certified IP65/IP68, XZ2 is also designed to withstand splashes and spills so you don’t have to think twice about answering your phone in the rain.

Powered by the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform with X20 LTE, XZ2 will provide immersive user experiences at lightning-fast connection speeds (up to 1.2Gbps) with the second generation Gigabit LTE solution, so users can enjoy a modern lifestyle whilst working or having fun. For example, users can get an episode of a TV series in just 20 seconds with super-fast downloading.

With all the ability for speed and performance, the battery still won’t let you down. With a large 3180mAh battery and the most power efficient control ever thanks to its 845 Mobile Platform, XZ2 offers worry-free, all-day usage. Xperia’s smart battery features are also included, such as Smart Stamina, STAMINA mode, Battery Care, and Qnovo Adaptive Charging technology which help the battery stay healthy to give you a longer battery lifespan. For effortless charging, you can also use the wireless charging dock (WCH20), and other compatible Qi chargers, by simply placing your XZ2 on the dock to power up without the need to plug in.

Xperia XZ2 Compact

A firm favourite in the Xperia flagship line-up, the premium compact smartphone takes on even greater things with XZ2 Compact. It delivers big screen entertainment in the palm of your hand with its 5” HDR Full HD+ extended display, making it the world’s most compact 5” smartphone. With its large screen and powerful stereo speakers, it’s designed to be the ultimate compact entertainment device.

It also has a multitude of premium updates found in its big brother XZ2, such as all of the Motion Eye 2018 upgrades including 3D Creator with Selfie Mode and Full HD Super slow motion, as well as its’ premium still-image capture. It’s also packed with Sony’s audio enhancing technologies such as Hi-Res Audio and front facing stereo speakers for your ultimate entertainment. This small but mighty smartphone is all powered by the latest, fastest ever, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform.

Crafted to perfection, XZ2 Compact has the same design philosophy as XZ2 with its beautiful curved body that gives you the best comfort in your hand. Durability is ensured with a tough exterior including Corning Gorilla Glass 5, anti-scratch hard-grade polycarbonate, IP65/IP68 and metal frame. It is finished in four beautiful colours with a smooth frosted finish: White Silver, Black, Moss Green and Coral Pink.

Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact will ship with Android 8.0 Oreo. XZ2 will be available in the Australian and New Zealand market in both single and dual SIM variants.  Availability of the XZ2 Compact is still being determined.

All details regarding ranging partners, colour availability and pricing will be confirmed closer to launch.

The post Flagship Xperia takes Smartphone Entertainment to Extremes appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Sony do it all, and they do it exceedingly well.

From video gaming (as we all well know), through to home entertainment, personal computing and mobile.

Their Xperia series of Android smartphones may not be the first kiosk or stand that you see when you walk into your local phone store, but their smartphones should not be overlooked.

Last year I was privileged to review the Xperia XZ, basically the first iteration of the high end XZ series.

Having chewed through a few phones throughout 2016, the XZ was one of my personal top devices for the year.

Now, poised for release is the XZ Premium Creator Edition.

One of the first handsets to take on Android 8.0 (Oreo) and with this new OS, Sony upgraded the functionality to get your 3D Creator juices going.

The XZ Creator Edition includes 3D scanning software, which allows you to scan any object with the rear 19MP Motion Eye camera lens, including a face, in real time, then save the scan to be used in the Sony AR app, or share to Social Media.

With 3D Printers having been affordable to the general public for some years now you can directly print, wirelessly (if the 3D Printer supports wireless) your 3D scanned model.

Whatsmore the XZ Premium has also retained the AR Games, as experienced in 2016’s XZ. Sony have always been at the forefront on affordable AR, the PS Vita championed AR Gaming aswell as the PS2 , PS3 EyeToy.

Placing the 3D awesomeness aside, as a smartphone the XZ Premium will not disappoint.

Super powerful  with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB RAM ensures that the phone does not stutter, especially when scanning.

While other phone manufacturers are opting for an almost invisible bezel or no bezel at all around their large screens the XZ Premium has a prominent frame surrounding the devices’ 5.5 inch 4K resolution screen.

The Chrome cased XZ Premium that I was sent by Sony to review is stunning with it’s brilliant mirror finish and indented power button on the right side which also doubles as the finger print scanner to unlock the phone.

The front camera will see you right for selfies with 13MP and the XZ will record video in 4K. There is also a super slow-mo option built in, Steadyshot (which Sony pioneered back in the day on their camcorders) and a super low light for both photo and video.

The XZ Premium boasts it’s very own dedicated image processor called BIONZ. A proprietary engine that relieves some of the image processing task weight from the Snapdragon phone processor, and keeps both the handset and all pics optimal.

The Xperia XZ Premium is dual sim, although one slot also makes way for the optional microSD card.

Internal storage is 64GB.

Audio strength was a sore point though.

I always think back to the Walkman days. Sony had the cassette and CD portability market. They owned it. Sounds on the go was their signature.

The Xperia XZ (2016) impressed me with their audio overhaul. The XZ Premium seems to have gone back to the earlier days of Xperia.

While clarity and detail can be experienced with your playlists and media watching via headphones with the dedicated Qualcomm aptX HD audio chipset and built in DSEE HX and Noise Cancelling filters, the internal speakers are a mere whisper.

At home, this is fine, but if you are on public transport, in a cafe or any other outside noise filled area, you’re not going to hear the media playing.

If you’re a PlayStation 4 gamer, then owning one of these XZ Premium bad boys is a must, with the PS4 Remote Play, which works exceedingly well.

The device never heated up while 3D scanning or with Remote Play, which I think is a testament to the XZ‘s technical architecture and battery life made this phone one of the more reliable devices I’ve experienced this year, with a whopping 3 to 4 days charge from full to empty on moderate use.

The Xperia XZ Premium Creator Edition is alot of fun. I still REALLY love the AR Effect App. Adding the 3D scanner functionality in to that makes it all the more satisfying.

Xperia phones have always trumped on their cameras, and while the XZ Premium is still a single lens device, the quality, detail and macro of the rear camera compensates for the lack of a dual lens.

Priced at just under $1K in New Zealand, the Xperia XZ Premium Creator Edition is a superb handset to own with future proofed tech built in and at the ready.

The post Xperia XZ Premium (Creator Edition) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Sony Mobile announced yesterday at IFA 2017 its stunning new Xperia XZ1. The latest addition the Xperia X series family, the Xperia XZ1 incorporates the latest Motion Eye camera for capturing details beyond human eye capability, new ground-breaking 3D scanning technology for smartphone, class-leading HDR display technologies for beautiful on-screen images, and a premium audio experience with Hi-Resolution Audio. The Xperia XZ1 also combines advanced processing power with super-fast download speeds, all wrapped up in a timeless premium design.

“Xperia XZ1 combines Sony’s latest technologies and we are thrilled to introduce our latest cutting-edge device to our New Zealand market,” said John Featherstone, Managing Director of Sony Mobile Oceania.

“Our 3D Creator feature is a real breakthrough in smartphone technology. Thanks to our innovative in-house algorithm, the Xperia XZ1 helps unleash creativity, making 3D scanning an easily accessible process so our customers can enjoy everyday life in a truly interactive and futuristic way.

Not to mention the ground-breaking Motion Eye camera technology that allows Super slow motion video playback and new Predictive capture. The Xperia XZ1 is no doubt a compact device with so much to offer for our New Zealand supporters.”

Xperia XZ1 incorporates the latest Motion Eye camera built using know-how from Sony’s ‘α’ and Cyber-shot camera ranges, for capturing life in ways no other smartphone can.  Its memory-stacked Exmor RS image sensor pushes motion capture to the next level and produces exceptional image quality. You can create sensational videos from your everyday moments by recording in 960 frames per second, providing stunning Super slow motion video playback. In addition, new Predictive Capture stays one step ahead and automatically starts buffering images when it detects action or even a smile, before you press the shutter button. So you can find a moment you may have missed from a selection of up to four shots. Its new Autofocus burst intelligently follows your subject, adjusting the focus to make sure your action shots stay sharp. Rounding off the premium camera experience is the first-class 13-megapixel front camera with a 1/3” sensor and a display flash so you will get outstanding selfies in any light.

Showing a breakthrough in mobile creativity, 3D Creator is Sony’s unique, innovative in-house algorithm for fast and easy scanning of 3D objects, offering a new world of creative possibilities. For the first time ever in a smartphone, you can capture high quality 3D scans of objects in just one minute using the four scan modes; head scan, face scan, food scan, and freeform scan. Each mode has its own custom guides for ease of use and after finishing your object scan there are various playful options. Either share with your friends on messenger apps using 3D stickers or upload to the 3D community such as Sketchfab, make your scan come to life by creating an avatar to use in the camera’s AR effects options, third party apps or as a live wallpaper.

You can even send your scan to a 3D printer to make it into a memorable keepsake. Within the 3D Creator app you can also choose the ‘Find More’ button which offers you more creative possibilities available through Google Play, so you can explore a wider and ever growing 3D ecosystem.

Harnessing unique Sony technologies is what gives the Xperia range its immersive entertainment capabilities. Using Sony’s BRAVIA TV technology, Xperia XZ1 brings more colour and contrast to immerse yourself in your favourite shows and movies in stunning realism, by incorporating HDR (High Dynamic Range) in its 5.2” Full HD display. Further technologies, including TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile, X-Reality™ for mobile and Dynamic Contrast Enhancer work together to give razor-sharp, detailed, and brighter images in the palm of your hand.

Sony incorporates its expertise in premium audio experience with the Xperia XZ1, which allows you to immerse yourself in the truly authentic sound of Hi-Resolution Audio, enabling you to enjoy every nuance and detail in a track as if you were listening live with the artist. Thanks to Sony’s DSEE HX you can also enjoy more of your music in near Hi-Resolution with its upscaling capability. Enjoy your music and movies with or without headphones using the evolved stereo speakers with S-Force Front Surround, bringing you 50% more sound pressure than previous Xperia models. Plus the built in Digital Noise Cancelling (DNC) technology reduces exterior noise by up to 98% when paired with DNC headphones for undisturbed listening.

Every aspect of the Xperia XZ1 is unified to you and encased in a timeless design built with Sony’s craftsmanship. The exterior has Sony’s signature flagship loop surface with a seamless metal body for a premium, understated look, and refined feel in your hand. It’s designed with active usage in mind, and has been constructed with a full body joint structure that is strong against any twist and bend. Equally tough against outside elements, Xperia XZ1 is water resistant, dust-proof, and reinforced with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the display so it’s tough enough to take on your everyday. For a personalised touch, the integrated fingerprint sensor recognises you intuitively, giving you a unique and secure assurance. To enhance your lifestyle choices, Sony’s new h.ear (pronounced ‘hear’) headphones (h.ear on 2 Mini Wireless, h.ear on 2 Wireless NC and h.ear in 2 Wireless) will also be available in harmonised colours to complement your Xperia.

Xperia XZ1 is powered by the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform with X16 LTE, designed to provide blazing fast Gigabit LTE downloads speeds (up to 1Gbps) and performance to enjoy a modern and efficient lifestyle. The Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform is engineered to support stunning graphics, smooth performance, and enhanced battery efficiency. Perfect for smooth, responsive gameplay of your favourite PlayStation 4 games using PS4 Remote Play.  File transfers are also super-charged thanks to the USB 3.1 connection which is 10 times quicker than USB 2.0 with a transfer speed of up to 5Gbps. Keeping your XZ1 powered with all day reliable battery, offering plenty of power on a full charge. But on days when you’re using extra energy, Smart Stamina works ahead of time to keep you powered up by estimating how long your current battery will last based on how you normally use your phone. And if it thinks you’re going to run out, it will prompt you to activate Stamina mode which cuts energy consumption so your battery lasts longer. Its charging technologies, Battery Care and Qnovo Adaptive Charging, help the battery stay healthy to give you a longer battery lifespan.

A range of supporting accessories will be available including the Style Cover Touch and Style Cover Stand, in addition to Quick Charger UCH12W which provides hours of battery time by plugging in for just a few minutes.

New Zealand availability and product options will will be released in a few months time. For more info on the XZ1 and for the full specifications of the Xperia XZ1, visit the Official Site here.

The post Harnessing the power of Sony appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Designed to be harmonious from any angle, the exquisite glass loop surface which when turned over reveals a luxurious mirrored effect on the back with seamless flowing lines and intuitive finger-print sensor power button.

The post Xperia XZ Premium Releases Downunder appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Since Sony’s inception into the smart phone market they have created a strong fan base among Android users. Their phones have gone for a flat edged look that has appealed to many, splitting their line into the premium and compact phones. Playing with their latest compact, the Xperia X Compact, there was certainly immense eagerness to see how it improved on the Z5 compact.

There was a bit of curiosity and surprise taking the phone out of the box. Sony has gone for an interesting design choice with the X Compact, that even two weeks after first using, it is hard to be sold on it. Looking straight on, it has the normal square shape, but the left and right edges are curved, which gives a one surface feel to it. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it is a very odd design choice which may not appeal to everyone.

The next noticeable thing is the phones interesting surface texture which feels very plastic, giving the feeling that it has a case on it. This feeling is reinforced by the back of the phone which has the camera and flash in an indented area that looks identical to the holes in a case.

Strangely, outside of the screen, on the black version of the phone, the surface has a slightly greyish black, which when the phones screen isn’t active it becomes apparent that the colour is different.  This was annoying to no end, but will be negated if you get a non-black one. These design choices would be perfect for people who prefer the look of a phone case, but without the practicality of a phone case.

When it comes to using the phone the X Compact is surprisingly comfortable in the hand, and certainly more comfortable to use than the previous compacts, but that’s about the only noticeable improvement. Battery and power wise there have been no significant upgrades from the Z5 Compact. Honestly when it came to using the phone it could have been the older phone in a new case.

Fortunately, they have kept the power button and fingerprint scanner combo. It’s helpful being able to activate the phone, and unlock it at the same time with daily use. Unfortunately, the waterproofing has been dropped again and that’s disappointing. One of the Xperia hallmarks has been their waterproofing, and to see it dropped is a major mark against the phone.

Ultimately the Xperia X Compact is a decent mid-range smart phone. It has some design choices that didn’t click so well, and has lost its waterproofing, but if you need a cheap way into the Sony ecosystem it’s a decent little phone.

The post Xperia X Compact Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Xperia Touch is an interactive projector that turns any flat surface into a 23” HD touchscreen, with either horizontal or vertical ultrashort-throw projection. The interface is fast, fluid and responsiveto physical touch – it’s built using Sony’s SXRD projection display technology, and touch is made possible through a combination of Infrared light and real-time detection via its built-in camera, at a rate of 60 frames-per-second.

Xperia Touch enables family and friends to gather around a table, kitchen island, or flat wall to enjoy games, stream videos and communicate using messaging apps and social networks.

The elegant home screen skin is engineered specifically for touch – designed to be both minimalistic and accessible in brightly lit or dark conditions. It provides real-time weather information, a memo board for doodles or video notes, calendar access and a Skype portal for video chat with colleagues or loved ones.

Not only is Xperia Touch compatible with PlayStation 4 Remote Play, it will run any app or game downloaded from the Google Play Store, setting a new precedent for the way hundreds of thousands of application experiences can now be enjoyed. And, the unique projection, touch capability and sensor architecture will provide developers with an entirely new platform on which to build and create.

An official release date for the Xperia Touch is yet to be determined.

Following on from the Xperia touch, more innovations; introducing the Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT” is based on ‘open-ear’ audio technology developed within Sony’s Future Lab Program, an incubator that enables consumers to trial and shape prototypes from Sony’s R&D division.

It utilises Sony’s acoustics research and leadership to deliver wireless ‘open-ear’ stereo headphones, so you can listen to music and receive notifications, whilst simultaneously hearing sounds from the world around you. Whether you are listening to music during a workout or commute, it is an unparalleled ambient experience.

Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT” is built to completely reimagine everyday listening and communications – its two highly powerful spatial acoustic conductors and driver units work together to transmit sounds directly to the ear canal.

And just as with Xperia Ear, Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT” will be powered by Sony Agent Technology – a personal assistant that uses conversational voice interaction and head gestures to help you get things done, access information and communicate.

Sony Mobile will continue to develop new features to further increase the in-ear assistant capability. An example of this is ‘Anytime Talk’ – a new voice-chat service that will allow users to instantaneously start a group conversation in real-time without searching through contacts or needing to dial, with a simple single button press or head movement. The beta version will roll out for the first-generation Xperia Ear over the coming months.  More details will be available soon.

The post Concept to Commercial: Xperia Touch & Xperia Ear appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Sony Mobile also unveiled two stunning super mid-range models in its refreshed “X” series, Xperia XA1, and its 6” screen big brother Xperia XA1 Ultra. Building on the success of last year’s XA models, the XA1 and XA1 Ultra feature a beautiful borderless design to make the most of the edge-to-edge screen, cameras that are worthy of a high-end premium status and octa-core processors.

Camera expertise is taken from Sony’s digital camera division to deliver a leading rear camera for both XA1 and XA1 Ultra that offers 23MP high resolution with a large 1/2.3” ExmorRS for mobile sensor, bright F2.0 lens and superior lowlight capability. Users are guaranteed a superfast journey from launch to capture in 0.6s and incredibly fast and accurate Hybrid Autofocus, so even the most spontaneous moments are always in focus.

Front cameras are the backbone of the selfie world and the 8MP, 23mm wide-angle lens on Xperia XA1 will let you capture all the action even in a group selfie without missing anyone out. The XA1 Ultra features a 16MP front camera with Optical Image Stabiliser to eliminate the effects of handshake and improve low-light selfies, plus a smart selfie flash to naturally illuminate your face.  Both models allow you to capture the perfect selfie easily with just a wave via the ‘Hand Shutter’ camera feature.

The beautiful borderless design introduced in 2016 has been refined to create the illusion of a seamlessly never-ending surface whose curvature aids the perfect fit in your hand.The edge-to-edge HD (720p) 5” screen on XA1 and Full HD (1080p) 6” screen on XA1 Ultra is supported by display technologies to deliver a crisp, sharp viewing experience.

Sony craftsmanship is clear to see with the diamond cut-like finish on top and bottom, along with the choice of materials such as the aluminium sides which create a luxurious feel in the hand.

With their power-efficientMediaTekhelio P20 octa-core processors you get a quick and smooth experience, whether you browse the web, watch a video or play your favourite game.

Both XA1 and XA1 Ultra are designed to ensure a longer lasting performance over the smartphone’s lifetime. Qnovo Adapt Charging monitors the battery’s health and adjusts charging current accordingly to avoid damage and maximise lifespan; while Stamina Mode keeps your battery going for longer when you really need it the most by disabling some of the functions and extending its lifetime.

Sony’s Smart Cleaner cleverly manages the performance and memory of your device by clearing the cache and unused apps automatically in order to attain the best speed and performance without degradation over time. Additionally, both models support quick charging to give you hours of power in just a few minutes.

The post Picture Perfect: Sony’s new Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra bring Superior Camera Quality appeared first on Shane the Gamer.