Xperia S introduction

[Markus1]

So - new phone, new community and sub-community. I'll kick this off with some easy facts.

• 4.3 inch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine with HD resolution screen (1280 x 720), as well as front (720p) and back (1080p) cameras for HD recording.
• 1.5GHz dual-core processor for fast browsing and content download, which can be stored on the internal 32GB flash storage.
• 12MP back camera with Sony Exmor R™ for mobile along with Fastest Capture to take shots in just 1.5 seconds directly from standby mode.  Front-facing camera with 1.3 MP.
• NFC (Near Field Communications) enabled to access growing range of NFC applications and services as well as Xperia SmartTags.
• With HD sharing through DLNA, HDMI and using BRAVIA Sync for controlling your Xperia S with your TV remote control when connected to the TV, Xperia™  S delivers a full HD experience on TV.
• PlayStation™ Certified, that guarantees a high quality smartphone gaming experience and access to the PlayStation® Store.

More info:
http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/2012/01/10/presenting-the-new-xperia-s/

[Uliwooly]

I agree, but remember if done properly more cores means less power consumption

[Markus1]

Well written, I personally agree with you. I will make sure your comment won't drown amongst the thousands of comments here on the forum. Well composed feedback, thanks for that!

Comment forwarded.

[#4]

I completely agree with your point that the smartphones should be more 'phones' first and then behave 'smartly'. But the reason why I made that point is as Uliwooly suggested. I own an Xperia Ray and am very much satisfied with the phone, despite its quite dated specs, when compared to the current standards.

But as technology is rapidly progressing, today's thing will become passe in another few months. When it comes to smartphones, what is needed is a collective improvement in all areas: the user experience, the ability to multi-task efficiently without being crippled by resource constraints or any slowness, minimising power usage (as mentioned by uliwooly) among many others, but still able to function well as a phone. If this can be achieved by increasing the number of processor cores, then so be it. What I quite dislike is the delay in coming up with products encompassing the latest technologies. For instance, when Samsung Galaxy S2 boasted of MHL, NFC etc, the 2011 Xperia series had none of these. NFC makes it debut in the 2012 lineup. This gap is what I am not liking. And to top it all, no body would like to invest in a high end smartphone that becomes quickly outdated (especially in India where high-ends phones are very pricey). Again, I am afraid, I will have to take the example of Galaxy S2.

SE already caters to devices in mutliple price ranges, what I would like to see is a phone that will clearly challenge other OEMS. By that I mean, again as a wholesome experience.

[Uliwooly]

Well said, when you said to challenge other OEMS I'm certain you are referring technological, design wise as well as price correct?

[#6]

yeah, considering all the aspects!

[#7]

Hi Ray, First of all I want to clarify that I am not a technophobe or anything like that. On the contrary I love technology and advancement, especially when it is for the consumer's benefit. I am just trying to play the "devil's advocate" here, so that our voices will become more directional on this forum and not like the chaos of a busy airport.

The advancement of mobile hardware technology has been remarkable the past couple of years, no doubt there, but I see a lag on the software development. A big fragmentation/miscommunication between companies, developers and customer assistance reps. The role of a forum moderator has become a nightmare (I suppose) and that is a sign of our times. Imagine if Uli (and countless others in this forum, I am sorry I dont remember their names), havent been donating their time to help us with fixes and workarounds. The 2-3 moderators here they would have quit a long time ago.

What I want to say with all this, is, that there is no reason for a $400 phone not be able to make a crystal clear phone call (in my case), or to be able to listen to a skip free music (also my case) or to have to spend countless hours to try new beta ROMs just to make the phone run faster and smoother. I am sorry I have to use the "i" word but those iphones are hardware junk if you compare them to our phones but really smooth, with "global updates", immediate fixes, no questions asked. And the funny thing is that there is virtually nothing original on those phones. Mostly copies from NOKIA, Ericsson and a few from Samsung. So what is their secret for having the most satisfied customers? Solid (inferior) OS and good customer support = they listen.

To sum up (and get off my soap box), Ericsson and NOKIA depend on loyal customers and a huge fan base that slowly leaks to other companies. There is no time left in my opinion to release faulty products anymore and charge an arm and a leg. 2 cores and a gigabyte  is enough for any mobile OS to thrive and show its teeth. What I wait for is to fix those bugs, get some good antennas, better plastics and a wider highway of communication with the customer support teams that handle the forums. Greedy marketing and short term profits can take a company only that far. That is not how Ericsson got that far.

Have a nice day!

[Uliwooly]

I agree the software hasn't been fully optimized by Sony Ericsson that's why there's a long list and growing of issues that aren't working that should be working and/or were promised/advertised; such as facebook inside xperia, face recognition, integrated phonebook that works a homescreen that truly works, etc. but instead, we got a flashy UIX to hide this issues, so instead of a working homescreen we got some widgets that only work with this homescreen that doesn't quite work :smileysilly:.

I still don't understand a valid reason as to why sony ericsson's phones are as expensive or more than the competitors, if

1) they don't have the latest technology (they are usually a year behind)

2) the software isn't fully customized

3) it's filled with bugs

4) now the design its like any other company w/ a glowing strip

I don't mind helping, if I have the time I help, if I can't well, sorry :smileysilly:. Its ironic that I can help others but I can't help myself, my Arc is dying :smileysad:, that happen when you lend your phone to clumsy friends

[#9]

I am sorry about your ARC, I am sure you are going to figure it out. And I hope you feel better. I believe the reason for the ridiculous SONY Ericsson prices is just the "label" since as you said they are way behind in the game.

The major reason for my frustration today though is a *^#@! article I read with a (fake?) SONY phone loaded with WP OS. I am not saying that SONY should stay strictly Android for ever but a Harmattan-like OS wouldnt be a wrong turn in my opinion. WP on the other hand would definitely turn me off. But above all... they have to fix/optimize GB and/or ICS. I think we deserve better Xperience, smoother OS and better drivers that s all (kind of).

[Uliwooly]

there's not much to do with the phone anymore

and yes I agree Sony Ericsson should stay with Android, none of the WinMo, who would buy a winmo now a days? I don't see how microsoft will boost sales with that product, unless they buy RIM

[#11]

Well... NOKIA did it... although they alienated a huge part of their fun base, they got a couple of good looking phones out there that are selling well. Symbian and Andoid are OSs that I can relate to. WP gives me a headache!