Hasta La Gadget!

We’re just getting into our seats for Sony Ericsson’s MWC press event, but it looks like the partnership’s newest Symbian offering has leaked a little early. Called the Idou, it sports a 16:9 touchscreen, a 12.1 megapixel camera with a xenon flash, and an official web site that doesn’t seem to be active yet. We’ll hopefully be finding out more in just minutes, we’ll let you know!

Update: Our tipster says the above model might be a concept, but a similar device will be released sometime around the second half of 2009 — we’ll keep you posted as we get more info.

Update 2: Nope — it’s real.

[Thanks, aleksandarkazi]

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson Idou revealed a little early originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite some nasty financial losses and a rumored smackdown of a PSP phone proposal, the Sony Ericsson joint venture is apparently as strong as ever. That’s what Senior Marketing Manager Richard Dorman is saying, denying any talks of a split. He also noted that both companies had been losing money in their respective handset division prior to the assimilation, and the partnership is “full steam ahead.” That’s great, now how about showing us some more Hikaru, hm?

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson exec dismisses rumors of a schism originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson leaked another stellar looking phone today in the form of the slider pictured above, apparently codenamed Hikaru. As with all these early treats, specs are thin, but we do know if has an 8 megapixel camera, 2.6-inch screen, WiFi, AGPS, some type of kickstand — a la Nokia N96 — and a 3.5mm headphone jack! Yeah, really, a first in a Walkman set. What else can we tell ya? Nothing, though, we should all know soon enough if this pans out as real and is indeed set for release at Mobile World Congress next week.

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson set to launch Hikaru at MWC? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve seen plenty of swollen and exploding batteries ’round here, but this is the first Li-Polymer battery (a technology generally assumed to be more stable and less prone to swelling and fire than Li-Ion) that we can recall ballooning into such a possible danger. Reader Christian sent us these pics of what’s normally a 4-mm thick battery (pictured right) inside his W880i handset now swollen to a full 7-mm. The BST-33 sits at the heart of a long list of SE phones, a list we’ve included after the break along with one more picture. Do let us know if you’re seeing similar issues.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson’s BST-33 Li-Polymer batteries swelling into a lawsuit?

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson’s BST-33 Li-Polymer batteries swelling into a lawsuit? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been following PSP Phone rumors since 2006, forever on a tech timeline. A plausible device given the natural evolution of mobile gaming and Sony’s proven desire to cross-license its Bravia and Cyber-shot brands for use on other Sony Ericsson phones. Not so fast buster. Mobile Today (citing “several sources close to the matter”) is reporting that Sony Ericsson has been refused the use of the PlayStation brand by Sony Corp. after pitching the business case in December. A spokesperson for Sony Ericsson wouldn’t comment directly on the matter but did say, “In the past, we have been keen that our product proposition lives up to brand promise, and we feel at the moment the technical specs are not high enough to put such a prestigious brand on a phone.” With Sony Ericsson posting a massive $346 million dollar loss today compared to the $95 million expected, well, maybe Sony’s wisdom shouldn’t be questioned. Then again, Sony’s not doing much better.

[Thanks, Matthew A.]

Read — Sony refuses to license PlayStation brand
Read — Sony Ericsson slips into the red

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming

Sony refuses PlayStation brand for PSP Phone? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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