14 DAY TRIAL // All of the Xperia smartphones that Sony Ericsson brought to the market during the ongoing year are set to receive a software update to the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread platform flavor, and the roll-out has already started, the leading mobile phone maker just announced. Currently, the new OS flavor is being pushed to Sony Ericsson smartphones like the Xperia arc, Xperia neo, Xperia ray and Xperia PLAY in the Nordic countries, and should arrive on all devices soon.
The handset vendor said that the new software update will be deployed on handsets during October, and should end in early November.
There are a wide range of enhancements that users will enjoy following the update, starting with the inclusion of Google Talk with Video Chat that will put the front-facing camera on Xperia models to good use.
The release notes for the new Android 2.3.4 update for Sony Ericsson's 2011 Xperia lineup include (the OS upgrade is being detailed in the video below as well):
- Google Talk with Video Chat for smartphones with front-facing cameras
- Updated Facebook inside Xperia functionality for enhanced like, share and discover abilities. We have talked about Facebook inside Xperia on previous posts.
- Xperia smartphones introducing world’s first 3D Sweep Panorama functionality powered by Sony.
- The software upgrade will enable consumers to turn their Xperia smartphone into a mini-mobile PC by connecting USB peripherals (mouse, keyboard or game controller) to Sony Ericsson LiveDock multimedia station. Connect the smartphone to a TV via HDMI to get a big screen experience.
- Gesture input – text input by swiping the finger from one letter to the next
- Screen capture – allows the user to share a screen grab from anywhere in the phone
The new update will be pushed to all unlocked 2011 Xperia models out there, as well as to a series of devices that arrived on shelves on the airwaves of specific wireless carriers.
However, the vendor notes that there might be local variants that will not receive it when everyone else does. Additional details on this will be offered after the update begins its global deployment.