New smartphone enhances visual-aural pleasure

Sony Ericsson Philippines recently launched the Xperia Arc S and Xperia Neo V, two new handsets expected to help the mobile phone company in further establishing its Android leadership on the Philippine market.

“With the Xperia range of handsets, our proposition is that it is the most entertaining smartphone,” said Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson Philippines general manager. “It will set the platform for an even more exciting experience because Xperia Android handsets do more. The ‘Sony-ness’ of our phones sets us apart from the other manufacturers. ”

Manzano said it was their close collaboration with Sony that had allowed SE to be first-on-the-market in areas such as mobile imaging, gaming and entertainment.

He said they would continue to leverage on Sony technology to create unique smartphone experiences for their consumers.

The unique Sony touch applied onto every SE handset is all the more evident in the Xperia Arc S and Xperia Neo V, both powered by the latest Android version (Gingerbread 2.3.4).

Both devices bear Sony technological innovations such as Reality Display with Mobile Bravia Engine; Exmor R for mobile image sensor; 3D Sweep Panorama; and xLOUD.

Baguio snapshots

During a presentation to media at Baguio Country Club, Sony Ericsson Philippines product marketing manager Vince de la Cruz showed the capability of the Xperia Arc S.

“We have gone beyond the goal of having the brightest screen,” De la Cruz said. “Our Mobile Bravia Engine technology is all about giving consumers better picture with its noise-reduction capability; its ability to enhance the sharpness of the images and video; as well as give excellent contrast.”

Borrowing from the Sony Alpha cameras, SE has also fitted Exmor R sensors into their mobile-phone cameras. De la Cruz explained this enabled SE handsets to work well even in low-light situations due to the bigger aperture, thus, more light getting in.

For audiophiles, there is xLoud technology, which can be toggled on to enhance each handset’s already impressive speakers.

“We have one of the clearest and loudest speakers in mobile handsets,” De la Cruz said.

A new feature unique to the Xperia handsets is the 3D Sweep Panorama, which allows users to take a 180-degree sweep of his environment while the handset takes a continuous shot of images and stitches them together. The resulting image can then be viewed in 3D by connecting the phone to a 3D TV via HDMI.

Camera Phone of the Year

Another exclusive to all Xperia handsets is Facebook Inside, which integrates the social networking site right into the SE device.

“Most phones today have a Facebook app but we believe Sony Ericsson has better integration among other devices in terms of FB capability,” De la Cruz said.

“Most phones have a gallery of the shots taken using their phone. But in my gallery, I can see via WiFi connection all the new photo uploads from my friends and photos where I have been tagged, as well as videos and music that my friends have posted on their walls. These photos are not on my phone but on the Facebook server.”

An added value for all SE handset users is that all 2011 models will be upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest version of Android’s operating system.

“If you buy an SE handset this year, you are assured of having the latest technology in 2012,” De la Cruz said.

The Xperia Arc S was named European Camera Phone 2011-2012 by the European Imaging and Sound Association.

It boasts of a 1.4 GHz processor which allows the smartphone to convert media and start up its 8.1MP camera 25 percent faster. It also has a 20 percent faster webpage rendering.

The Neo V lets users optimize their video-call experience with apps such as Google Talk with Video Chat and Skype. It has a front-facing camera with HD video recording and a slew of other features, such as 3D games, SE music player and FM radio.

The Xperia Arc S is available for P23,990. The Neo V is priced at P15,490.