Sony today announced that it is launching its high-end Android 4.1-powered Xperia ZL smartphone to the United States.
The 5″ smartphone can now be pre-ordered from Sony’s online store for $759.99 (unlocked, LTE model) or $719.99 (unlocked, HSPA+ model).
The Xperia ZL features a 5-inch, 1920x1080p display with Mobile Bravia Engine 2 technology, a 13-megapixel camera with Exmor RS sensor, a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM.
Sony says its premium smartphone will be available through other online retailers shortly.
Nvidia unveils Tegra 4-powered “Project Shield” gaming portable with Google Play and Steam Big Picture
Nvidia has taken the wraps off “Project Shield”, a handheld gaming device powered by its new Tegra 4 processor capable of powering 4K video and streaming PC games.
Shield features a 5-inch, 1,280 x 720 multitouch display. It will be the first Tegra 4 device and offer 38 watt hours of batteries for up to 24 hours of high definition video. Nvidia touted a console-grade controller on the device. The Shield is designed to be as small as possible, so it’s roughly the size of standalone controllers.
It’s a pure Android device with no skin on top of it, but pressing a “shield” button drops it into a game environment. It doesn’t have any proprietary interfaces, with HDMI, micro-USB, microSD slot, 3.5mm audio jack.
Nvidia CEO Jen-sun Huang also called the device a set-top box, as he demonstrated the multimedia capabilities. He showed off what he believes is the first 4K video coming off a mobile device. He also demonstrated multiplayer functionality between devices.
Project Shield will also be able to stream games from PCs with GeForce GTX GPUs, though the on-stage demo had some trouble showing off the feature. The feature uses the GeForce GPU to stream the game to the handheld, and it is also integrated with Steam Big Picture .
Shield is slated for a Q2 release , according to Nvidia. It’s based on Android Jelly Bean and current development units are Wi-Fi only.
Nvidia announced the Tegra 4 processor just minutes before unveiling the Shield handheld. The Tegra 4 has 72 GPU cores and 4 A15 CPU cores. The company is billing it as the “world’s fastest mobile processor.”
The company also accidentally teased another upcoming project. During the keynote, Huang slipped up and mentioned a “Project Thor”. He provided no indication of what the project entails, but our interest has been piqued.
Header image credit: Ben Wood , h /t Anandtech for the live feed
Hands on with the Nokia Lumia 620 – a cheap and cheerful Windows Phone 8 device for non-geeks
As we reported earlier , Nokia announced a new Windows Phone 8 handset, the Lumia 620 , at LeWeb in Paris today. I’ve had some hands-on time with it now and my initial verdict is that while it’s probably not a device for the average The Next Web reader, it feels like a perfect fit for the key audience that Microsoft’s mobile OS targets – people who don’t necessarily consider themselves ‘smartphone users’ per se.
In the hand, it feels similar to an iPhone 3G and is definitely behind the curve when it comes to smartphone design trends with its chubby profile and rounded rear. Lumia 620 owners will get a choice of covers in a variety of colors with both matte and glossy finishes. Wearing the glossy variety of cover, the phone feels particularly ‘cheap’ and unsubstantial. Compared to the Lumia 920, Windows Phone 8 interface feels noticeably more laggy – understandable given that it sports a 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor compared to the 920’s 1.5GHz variety.
That’s all only light criticism though, as this isn’t a device for people who demand a sleek and powerful smartphone. This is for those who just want to manage their life on the go without worrying about the bells, whistles and bragging rights that come with a high-end device.
As one other person trying out the device said to me, “This would be perfect for my kids.” With that in mind, the $249 price point feels just about right.
For specs, release details and price, see our earlier coverage .
(The number on the device’s base here was just a sticker to identify it on Nokia’s stand).
The Nokia Lumia 620, compared with the Lumia 920.