Sony Ericsson has officially announced its new XPERIA X8 smartphone, a 3-inch Android handset slotting in-between the current X10 and X10 mini models, together with the Sony Ericsson Yendo with Walkman handset, using the same XPERIA UI, and a new “Greenheart” phone, the Sony Ericsson Cedar, which the company reckons is more earth-friendly than other devices. Of interest to existing XPERIA X10, X10 mini and X10 mini proowners is the news that Sony Ericsson plan to offer an Android 2.1 upgrade “from Q3 onwards in selected markets” and that the X10 will get additional features in Q4 too.
Those additional X10 features will include the ability to wirelessly connect the phone to your TV so as to display content stored on the handset, together with tweaks to the Sony Ericsson Timescape and Mediascape apps. In the Q3 Android 2.1 update, the X10 will also get HD video recording abilities.
As for the new Sony Ericsson XPERIA X8, that runs Android 1.6 with the company’s distinctive UI and Timescape/Mediascape apps, has a 3-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen, UMTS (either 900/2100 or 800/1900/2100), WiFi and A-GPS, along with a 600MHz processor and a 3.2-megapixel camera. It has all the usual Google Android apps, and will arrive in Q3 2010 in a choice of colors: White, Dark Blue/ White, Aqua Blue/ White, Pink/ White, or Silver/ White.
Meanwhile, the Sony Ericsson Yendo with Walkman has a 2.6-inch display and the same XPERIA UI, though doesn’t actually appear to run Android underneath. It has a basic 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and a 3.5mm headphone jack, and maximum EDGE data. The Yendo with Walkman will also drop in Q3 2010, in black, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, silver, white or yellow.
Finally, the Sony Ericsson Cedar promises a decent mobile social networking experience, with Facebook, Twitter and MySpace integration, 3G, a 2-megapixel camera (capable of 30fps VGA video recording), ActiveSync support and a 2.2-inch display. It, too, will drop in Q3 2010, in a choice of black/silver or black/red.
Over at GSMHelpDesk they’ve got hands-on with the X8, the Yendo and the Cedar; they’ve also been told that the X8 will retail for €259 ($319) and the Yendo for €99 ($121).