Nook copied Alex? Xperia X10 Announced!

Barnes & Noble sued by Spring Design

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Did Barnes & Nobles steal Spring Design's idea? Was the Nook a copy of the Alex? According to Spring Design, it's all true.

"Since the beginning of 2009 Spring and Barnes & Noble worked within a non-disclosure agreement, including many meetings, emails and conference calls with executives ranging up to the president of BarnesandNoble.com, discussing confidential information regarding the features, functionality and capabilities of Alex," Spring Design said in a statement. "Throughout, Barnes & Noble's marketing and technical executives extolled Alex's 'innovative' features, never mentioning their use of those features until the public disclosure of the Nook."

According to the article, Barnes & Noble have yet to reply to these charges. Nevertheless, it's expected that they will deny any copying or stealing ideas and rather resort to saying that it was just a coincidence that they were creating an eBook Reader at the time that Spring Design contacted them.

Sony Ericsson's first Android announced!

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Sony Ericsson has finally announced that the previously leaked, Android powered Xperia X10 (previously known as the Xperia X3) with its Rachael Interface.

With all it's leaked specs and features, would you still want to buy it? What does this particular phone over its other Android sisters and brothers? Just as we mentioned it's interface sure is a lot of eyecandy. It also has some cool Facebook and Twitter integration that has just started to creep up on mobile phones.

"The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is certainly feature packed, and all the leaked rumours over the phone's overlay turn out to have given good reason for excitement, as the UX platform (which is a name that thankfully isn't sticking around) offers something totally different for Android."

We'll see this phone become a reality on 2010.

BN vs. SD source
Sony Ericsson's Xperia 10 source

Sony Ericsson Equinox: Old Phone, New Cover?

Sony Ericsson's been in quite of a low lately as the iPhone and Android powered phones seems to have caught the people's attention. Although there are rumors of an Android phone in the works, we'll see it when there's a formal announcement. Until then, they will be rolling out some tried and tested phones but with a more glossy and better designed form: Sony Ericsson Equinox

"The Equinox(TM) phone is truly an interactive 3G(1) phone equipped with enhanced design features and built-in GPS. With eye-catching night effects, you can give your five favorite people their own, unique pulsating light effect and when a call comes in, you'll know who it is in a flash. The custom light features come in Amber, Sapphire, Beryl, Diamond, and Amethyst. The Equinox(TM) phone has an array of changing wall paper themes that will ensure you're always color coordinated.

The Equinox(TM) phone has a 3.2 megapixel camera and is loaded with great multimedia features, including an integrated application that lets you shoot amazing video and easily upload(2) it directly to the YouTube(TM) application. The Equinox(TM) phone also has an integrated FM radio and Stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology, and boasts gesture control that lets users reject incoming calls or silence an alarm with the wave of a hand."

Yup same features as previous Sony Ericsson mobile phone models but with different covers, alright. I guess their target market are those who's not really into the whole iPhone, techy phones but rather would go with how their phone looks like.

Me, I'd rather wait for the SE Android phone instead.

Press Release
Picture Source

First Hand Look at Sony Ericsson Satio

Well with the looks of it you might think it would be another Iphone killer but the guys at Sony Ericsson have another thing in their mind. They have created another hybrid jammed packed with cool features with the new Sony Ericsson Satio. The Idou is fully equipped with touchscreen from top to bottom.

Rivaled with the Samsung Omnia HD and Samsung Pixon the Sony Ericsson Satio does have a few tricks on its sleeves. The Saito sure has an exciting package in its arsenal.

The Satio is quite comfortable when you hold it. With its current dimension at 112 x 55 x 13mm this guys a crazy whooper. It sports a 3.5 – inch touchscreen handset without the extra girth and not to mention the behemoth 12 megapixel camera hidden underneath the cover.

The left side part has the screen lock slider, the proprietary all in one connectivity port the same as the one used with the PSP GO, and the MicroSD card slot as well. The memory card slot is covered with plastic so dust and debris won’t be much of a trouble here. You might be wondering why they aren’t using the M2? Well, Satio is the recent ones of those models to give away with that idea.

The Satio is packed with cool interesting features that would keep boredom at bay. The neat Media center is an exact replica on what you can find in the company’s feature phones. It’s stylish, attractive and easy for you to navigate media in and out in your phone. It has all the unique features that would make us drooling for more. It has video player, the Walkman player and also a neat image gallery where you can do almost everything with your pictures.

The new Sony Ericsson Satio is an all in one vibrant phone with lots of cool features.

Sony Ericsson MH907: Motion Activated Earphones

When I commute to the office I usually slip on my earphones and listen to my mp3s. However, I find it a pain to take out my phone to pause it or to receive a call, this is made even worse when the bus or the train is packed and couldn't get my hands to slip into my pocket or bag. Good thing then that Sony Ericsson decided to create earphones that makes pausing, playing, and receiving calls on the fly really easy without needing to pick up the mobile phone. Presenting the MH907 headphones!

Sony Ericsson today unveils the world’s first ever motion activated headphones that sense the user. The clever MH907 headphones mean users simply plug in two earphones to start listening to music and pause by removing one earbud. To start listening again simply plug it back in. Do exactly the same to answer and end calls – simple as 1,2,3!

To further clarify how this works, SE created a video about it:



Some people may be concerned whether putting the earphones in the pockets will turn it on. Worry not as according to Engadget, it will only turn on when you put in your ears:

What's cool is that the headphones seem to use your body as an electrical conduit (a Body Area Network) based on this quote from the webinar:
"Requires conductive surface to activate the controls - i.e. your ears, hence it won't turn things on in your pocket by just squeezing the ear buds"

Can't wait to try this on! Available for €39.

Press
Source

SE Xperia X3: Out by January 2010?

Android OS powered mobile phones are slowly crawling out of the woodwork and it seems everyone from HTC, Motorola to LG are getting in on the fun; you might as well possibly include Sony Ericsson to the mix thanks to rumors of the existence of the Xperia X3.  We said "possibly" because even premier tech blog Mobile Crunch is unsure:

Go ahead – grab your bag of salt. Pull a grain out, and have it at the ready. While we’re still digging for independent confirmation of this, we just got it on good word that Sony Ericsson’s first big jump into Android, the XPERIA X3, is tentatively set for a launch in January.

Yep January 2010 is a date most SE and Android fans will be looking forward to. Until then will have to contend ourselves with supposedly leaked screenshots, specs (which we reported almost a month ago) and a video of how it's going to look like:

Sony Ericsson's Foray Into Android?


With the Xperia X2 coming out on the same month next year, it would be a big risk for SE to send out both the X2 and X3 at the same time. Wouldn't it be a bit uneasy when both the Windows Mobile and Android guys are on the same stage and presenting their gadgets after each other? On the other hand, it would be an opportunity for SE to gauge the taste of its users and focus on the OS that most of them will agree on.

Source
Screenshot source

Leaked: Motorola on Android and Experia X3

There's been a lot of leaks lately and like our friends from New Consumers, we're really doubting whether this is a new marketing strategy by the makers rather than a secret document secretly emailed to the tech bloggers. Nevertheless, it's good for the makers.

Motorola going Android confirmed!

Motorola has been in the dumps lately and they need to overhaul their OS. It was then rumored that they seem to be taking on Android as a possible substitution, but all of it were just heresay--until now:

Until this fine morn, rumors that Motorola's hazily-leaked Morrison handset would run Android were just that: Rumors. A second set of shots now gives us a clearer view of the kid-colored piece, including a clear confirmation of its alleged Google-ness.

Yes, it's now been confirmed that it will run on android and will be going up against the likes of HTC and the lot. Bad or good thing? If it's more affordable than HTC, I think this just may win.

Experia X3 leaked on retailer site

As was reported in New Consumers, the Sony Ericsson Experia X3 has been spotted, not in the wild nor in the hands of tech bloggers, but on an online retail site. Yes, Expansys: the one who were supposed to sell the as of yet unreleased mobile phone, was the one who "accidentally" leaked it.

Leak sources can come from everywhere within the process, one of them is through the retailers. In this case, online retailer Expansys seems to have not gotten the memo not to show the specs for the new Sony Ericsson XPERIA X3 Android. Not only did it show the pictures, but also specs

Display:

• 800 x 400 pixels/4″
• Touch Sensitive

Network:

• 2G 850/900/1800/1900 (Quad-Band)
• 3G: 900/2100 (Dual-Band)
• HSDPA (10Mbps)
• HSUPA (2Mbps)

Camera:

• 8 mega-pixels (auto-focus)
• 8 x Digital Zoom
• LED Flash
• Image Stabilization
• Smile Shutter
• Face Detection

Video:

• VGA Video Recording

Music:

• Supported formats: MP3, AAC, eAAC+

Ringtones:

• Monophonic
• Polyphonic (64)
• MP3
• AAC

Messaging:

• SMS
• MMS (with video)
• E-mail (POP3, SMTP, IMAP4, MS Exchange)

Memory:

• Phone Book
• Dialled Calls
• Missed Calls
• Received Calls
• microSDHC (external)

Call Features:

• Hands Free
• Caller ID
• Voice Dialling

Connectivity:

• miniUSB
• 3.5mm AV connector
• Bluetooth (2.1)
• Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11g)

Navigation:

• AGPS

Source for Motorola on Android

Source for Experia X3 leak