Adrenaline Shot: The Aston Martin DB9 Special

James Bond started it with the DB5. Let us take an inside look at the latest iteration of the DB series, the DB9.

Showing posts with label Sony. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sony. Show all posts

What's James Bond's smartphone of choice?

If you have been paying attention to some of the gadgets James Bond has used in films past, you'll notice the use of Sony Ericsson phones beginning with Die Another Day in 2002. Times have changed, and with the advent of smartphones, the world's most famous spy also has to roll with the times. So what is his weapon of choice in the upcoming Skyfall? It is a Sony Xperia T of course!

Sony Ericsson first partnered with Bond for Die Another Day starring Pierce Brosnan in 2002, using both the T68i and P800 in the film. Sony Ericsson phones have since featured in all Bond films, with the K800i and M600i making their debuts in Casino Royale, and the C902 bringing limited edition glamour to Quantum of Solace.

Xperia T will be part of a new range of smartphones available upon the film’s release later this year. It features everything you’d expect from a Sony smartphone – stylish design, state-of-the-art specs, easy connectivity and access to premium entertainment experiences anywhere, anytime. The T provides Sony’s best HD smartphone screen, camera and one-touch connectivity enabled by NFC, with key features including:
  1. 4.6” HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile Bravia Engine for razor sharp clarity
  2. 13MP fast capture camera that goes from sleep mode to snap in just over a second
  3. Full 1080p HD video recording capabilities and a 720p HD front camera for the highest quality content
  4. PlayStation Certified
  5. Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra sharp graphics
  6. MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger
So now this got us thinking... how would he use the phone to fight off the baddies in this installment in the Bond franchise? He used it as a remote control for the BMW 7 series and as a stun gun in the past... what do you think?

Source: SonyMobile

Analyzed: Sony Xperia sola

Continuing with our reviews of Sony's Xperia line-up, we took a look at the sola. We would put the sola in the middle of the Xperia pack considering its not so top end features. It is bigger than the Xperia Ray we tested and smaller than the Xperia S. From a looks perspective it is a mini version of the Xperia S minus the see through strip with the navigation buttons that light up when you touch them. It is about the size of the iPhone 4S albeit not as streamlined. Here are some of the specs on the sola:
  1. 3.7" display at a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels
  2. 1GHz dual core processor
  3. 512MB RAM
  4. 8GB storage with support up to 32GB via microSD
  5. 5MP rear camera with LED flash
  6. 720P HD video recording with 16x digital zoom
  7. Operating system: Android Version 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  8. Weight: 107g
  9. Battery capacity: 1320mAh
The phone is also equipped with NFC capability. You know, in case you like bumping your phone against someone else's to transfer data. You get all the cool features that are included with ICS including facial recognition and the built in power saver to name a couple. Usage is quite simple and isn't unlike other Android powered smartphones in the market. Instead of shortcuts (you still have them), Sony has included something called SmartTag to manage profiles. You can touch your home SmartTag to turn on Wi-Fi, launch news or the  weather app, turn the phone sound on or off. It is customizable. 

The display is pretty much like other Xperia models with Sony's mobile BRAVIA engine which makes viewing images and videos a joy to watch. Sony displays have always had that oomph in them and this has been translated in their smartphones as well. It isn't as good as the display we saw in the Samsung Galaxy S III, but it is quite good nonetheless. The camera is very fast, in starting up, taking pictures and recovering for the next shot. All this can be done in about a second. It could have used a better camera, like the 8.1MP included in the Xperia Ray or the Xperia S, but it isn't the top of the line phone so it looks like Sony settled. The battery life could also use some work since we were able to pull less than 6 hours on a complete charge (which by the way happens to be the magic figure for most Android powered phones especially during heavy usage). The life can be extended using ICS' built in power saver feature or a 3rd party app like Juice Defender, but not by much. Still, the Sony Xperia sola is a decently packaged phone for a not so hefty price. And you can get it in Black, White and Red colors!

Our Rating: 

The Sony Xperia sola is currently on sale in India for about Rs. 19,500 (~$360).

Analyzed: Sony Xperia Ray

We've all heard the saying all good things come in small packages. It definitely holds true in the case of the Sony Xperia Ray. It is smaller than most of the other smartphones in the market but it packs all the features of the bigger phones. It is lighter than comparable phones and can also support Android's latest operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich. Here are some of the specs of the Xperia Ray:
  1. 3.3" display at a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels
  2. 1GHz single core processor
  3. 512MB RAM
  4. 300MB storage expandable to 32GB via microSD
  5. 8.1MP rear camera with 16x digital zoom and 0.3MP front facing camera
  6. 720P HD video recording at 30 frames per second
  7. Operating system: Android Gingerbread Version 2.3.7
  8. Weight: 100g
  9. Battery capacity: 1500mAh
We enjoyed playing around with the Xperia Ray. The combination of a slim package that has a very good display for those photos and videos made it very enticing for us. It is equipped with the mobile BRAVIA engine and has very good pixel density (295PPI) which adds to the experience. Playing games is ok and at times we did feel the display might be a little too small for some games but it isn't something that turned us off to it. The speaker is also very good considering how small the phone is. Don't expect deep bass like the Beats audio equipped HTCs but it is good enough. The 8.1MP camera works well, as long as you don't try to take photos in low light. The camera app itself could use some more work (additional features) but it is possible this will be addressed in an update in the future. Battery life is much better than other smartphones due to the capacity and not so powerful components in the phone itself. Another plus is that should be able to upgrade the phone to ICS. At an affordable price, the Sony Xperia Ray makes itself quite a surprising and well equipped catch the in the market. Frankly we are surprised we haven't seen much marketing from Sony to promote this phone but one would think Sony needs to do a little soul searching considering the number of phones in its product line around the same price (Xperia Sola, Xperia U).

Our Rating: 

The Sony Xperia Ray is currently on sale in India for about Rs. 19,000 (~$360).


Earth to Sony. Earth to Sony.

Quite recently we reviewed Sony's Vaio Z and we absolutely loved it. We also said how we love Sony because of products such as these. And now they go and pull a (excuse the language) dumb shit move. What's the move you say? Introducing the T11 and T13 ultrabooks in their current form. They are being slated for release in the European markets first before heading West but one has to really question this move by Sony. Here is the reason why. Let's take a look at the specs of said ultrabooks:
  1. 11.6" or 13.3" display at a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels
  2. Intel Core i3 processor (the Sandy Bridge version which is going to be out of date in a couple of months now that Ivy Bridge is out)
  3. 512GB SSD or 500GB regular hard drive
  4. Integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 card
  5. 1.3MP webcam
  6. 4GB RAM expandable to 8GB
  7. 2 USB ports, 1 HDMI port, VGA port, memory stick/SD card slot
Ok, on paper the specs look good. So what's the problem? Well, for one, the T11 and T13 are going to be out of date within days of the launch because the next generation processors (Ivy Bridge) from Intel are already out in the market. And they are a lot better than the existing ones. Second, Sony already makes the Vaio Z laptop... which is LIGHTER than the T series. And it's not even an ultrabook! The T series weighs in at 1.6kgs (~3.5lbs) while the Vaio Z weighs a paltry 2.5lbs! Granted it is expensive, but it shows Sony has the expertise to build good quality and compact structures. So why not use that expertise when you are introducing a new product in the market? Third, it is being offered with Intel's i3 processor when other brands have versions with either the i5 or i7 processors. It seems to us Sony released these products just so they can say, look we have ultrabooks too. Not a good move. Don't be too surprised if this turns out to be a flop. What would have been smarter move would have been for Sony to delay the launch, update the specs and design and then release a greatest hits version if you will, to the masses. We know they can do it.

So Sony, what gives?

Analyzed: Sony Vaio Z

Products like the Vaio Z are the reason we love Sony. If they really put their mind to it, they have the ability to blow your mind with a package that will make you beg for more. We got our hands on the Vaio Z227 for a few days and we are sad that we have to give it back. All good things come to an end...

This laptop is a no frills, no nonsense product that is packed with goodies to the hilt. The model we tested came equipped with the Intel i7 2.8GHz processor (able to boost to 3.5GHz), 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 13.1" screen, 1.3MP webcam, blu-ray disc drive and AMD Radeon 1GB graphics card (included in the bundled port replicator/docking station). The display on this 13.1" machine is an astounding 1920 x 1080 pixels (full HD) and is the best we have seen on a laptop of this size. With the available RAM and dedicated video memory, you will be able to play almost any game at the highest resolution and highest frame rate without any issues. Watching movies is also a fantastic experience on the full HD display and we did not notice the pixel graining that you notice on other laptops when the images start flying around the screen. 

The Vaio Z is fantastically quick thanks to the 8GB RAM (which can be expanded by the way) and the 256GB solid state drive. It is also quite light at 2.5lbs and with the brushed carbon black exterior it feels rugged despite being a very thin laptop. You also get 2 USB ports, 3D compatible HDMI out, Memory stick and SD card slot within this compact case. And for added security you also get a fingerprint scanner (although from what we have seen in the past, over time, the sensor sensitivity goes away). The speakers could be a little better but with a decent pair of earphones, you probably won't be complaining too much. Battery life is fairly decent at around 6 hours on a single charge. Thankfully Sony has reduced the number of garbage pre-installed software (which gets very annoying) to the bare essentials. Other manufacturers *ahem* Acer/HP, should really reconsider their pre-installed software before shipping their products.

All this goodness comes at a price. And a very steep price at that. The model we tested is on sale in India for Rs. 1,59,900 (~$3,198)! That's the top of the line Alienware or the MacBook Pro type money. In the US, it starts off at about $2,100. Still not cheap. We don't expect many people to go rushing to the Sony store to pick the Vaio Z up. But then again, the Vaio series has never been the kind where you go and pick up on a whim. It is usually reserved for the user who has some deep pockets and doesn't mind spending a little extra to get among the best products in the market. Looking for an alternative? Check out HP's Envy series.



Analyzed: Sony Xperia S

It looks like all the big guns from the CES and Mobile World Congress 2012 are finally starting to make their way into the market. With upgraded processors, higher resolution displays and cameras, the next batch of smartphones has a lot of people drooling already. We tested Sony's newest offering, the Xperia S and here are our impressions.

Let's start with the looks. Nothing about this phone screams attention. We tested the flat black version and the phone looked like a mini-remote control more than a smartphone with its clean lines and an almost matte finish. If you click on the image, you will notice a little strip at the bottom of the phone. This little feature we liked (even though we got a little confused at first). Right above the strip are the Home, Back and App List buttons. And when you click on these buttons, the strip actually lights up. Very handy in the dark and a nice touch we might add.

The display is 4.3" with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. This makes watching videos and photos very pleasing to the eye. There is a caveat here though: despite the high resolution screen, we must admit, the best smartphone displays currently in the market belong to the Samsung Galaxy Note and the iPhone 4S. Bar none. Still, it isn't as though the display on the Xperia S is bad. The phone also comes equipped with a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Dual Core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB of storage and get this... a 12MP camera with an LED flash and 16 x digital zoom (and you can record HD videos in 1080P). That's a first for smartphones on the market. Sony has also been touting that a single key press would take you from sleep to snap in just over a second. We tried this (there is a dedicated camera button on the side of the phone) and were pleased with the results. They also say taking photos back to back doesn't take much time (i.e. take a photo, wait for processing and then take the next photo) and it doesn't, but this isn't exactly a ground breaking feature and has been around in other phones for some time now. Still, it is a quick phone.

The Xperia S is a next generation PlayStation Certified smartphone from Sony. What this means is in addition to watching movies, listening to music etc. you can play games on the phone and also use the phone as a joystick and play games on your big screen TV. THAT, is a cool feature. A pity we haven't seen or heard much marketing on this feature. No other smartphone can boast having that capability. Another thing that we were surprised about is that the Xperia S is being shipped with Android's Gingerbread operating system. The phone we tested had Gingerbread Version 2.3.7, but with Ice Cream Sandwich already making its rounds, it seems almost criminal to release this phone with an older operating system especially considering the top of the line hardware specs that are included in the phone. An upgrade to Android Version 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich has been planned in Quarter 2 2012 Sony says... aren't we already in Quarter 2?

You also get all the capabilities that come with an Android based smartphone in addition to the ability seamlessly stream videos, music, photos and games to your big screen TV. It is a very nicely packaged phone this, and we think Sony should be making some real noise when it comes to marketing this phone considering the bad press they have received lately. Maybe finally a good product coupled with some great marketing might keep the Sony naysayers at bay... at least for a little while.

The Sony Xperia S is currently on sale in India for Rs. 32,549 (~$650) but we have already seen deals online and at retail stores like Croma for Rs. 31,599 (~$630).

Check out Sony's Xperia S introduction video below.

Analyzed: Sony Tablet S

Sony is a company that has been known for its innovation. Over the past few years it seems they have lost their mojo and are sailing rudderless. They do have a track record of putting out products that revolutionize the industry. We take a look at the Sony Tablet S to see if that is the case.

We tested the 16GB Wi-Fi version (without 3G) which came with Android's Honeycomb Version 3.2. (The operating system will be upgraded to the latest Android Version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich next month). As with all Sony products (TVs, monitors etc.), the 9.4" display on the Tablet is beautiful. Colors are bright and vivid, the blacks were really black and watching films or playing games are quite the experience. We also liked the ergonomic design, you won't find this design in any of the other tablets out there. It just felt comfortable in our grasp and when you set it down on a table, it almost feels like a raised flat keyboard. In case you are interested, you can also get a cradle and keyboard as separate accessories for the tablet. Controlling all your other devices is simple with the built in features of the tablet. You can get rid of your universal controller and use this instead! You can also stream your pictures, music and videos on other devices.

The Tablet S also comes with two cameras, a 5MP one in the back and a 0.3MP in the front. We haven't really seen too much use of the camera other than to video chat, but it is definitely a nice to have. The 1 GHz dual core processor along with 1 GB RAM allows you to multitask without much lag. The touch screen was also very smooth and we did not notice too much lag while trying to scroll around. And since it comes with the Android operating system, you also get access to Google Play and the numerous apps that can be downloaded. What we really liked in the Tablet S is the PS3 type controls while playing games. In fact we feel the Tablet S is the easiest and best tablet to play games in. If you are used to playing games using a controller, you will love the layout in the tablet. Granted you don't get your L1, L2, R1 and R2 but it does well without them. We just wish the selection of games was better than what comes pre-installed, especially with the graphical capabilities of the Tablet S. Hopefully there will be updates in the future where this will change.

The Tablet S is currently sold in India for Rs. 22,990 (for the non-3G version) and Rs. 29,990 for the 3G version. This puts it in the middle of the pack compared to other tablets that are currently in the market. That's a good deal in our books.