Floating touch technology on Sony Xperia Sola

Sony Mobile Communications release a new Android handset, the Xperia Sola. The touch screen on the smartphone is claimed to have a magical element, which can be operated without touching the screen. Sony calls the technology "floating touch". This technology can not be used in all functions, but only in the web browser menu.

Users can browse web pages without actually touching the screen. All you need to do is cast a hand on the screen, like moving the cursor. Once it has been positioned on the desired link, simply touch to select it.

The Xperia Sola features a 3.7-inch display, 1-GHz dual-core processor, and Android 2.3. Sony promised to upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich this summer. Other features include a 5-megapixel HD camera and 3D surround sound audio technology.


The device will come with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, and ship with two NFC-enabled SmartTags, which allow users to quickly load apps and change their device's settings. Touching one of the tags with an NFC-enabled Android smartphone will launch a pre-configured profile on the device. The SmartTags included with the Xperia Sola can be personalized to activate up to 10 different commands.

"Out of the box they are ready for the living room to turn on Wi-Fi and launches Google news and weather apps, or for the bedroom, which turns on the alarm and switches to silent mode," Sony said in a statement.

Sony did not provide a specific release date, but said the Xperia Sola will launch globally in the second quarter. It will be available in black, white, or red.

U.S. consumers shouldn't get their hopes up about the Xperia Sola too soon, however. PCMag's lead analyst for mobile, Sascha Segan, said the phone may not be coming to the states. As announced, the phone is compatible with AT&T's 3G network, but the carrier hasn't made any announcements yet.

"While Sony could certainly bring it to the U.S. unlocked — something they've done several times before through their Sony Style store — a vanishingly small number of phones are sold unlocked here because they're much more expensive than carrier-subsidized phones," Segan said.

Video:

Sony released Xperia P and Xperia U for phone line

Sony is now a standalone cell phone company to add ammunition to the smart phone, after launching the new Xperia S. Japanese vendors that have been split with Ericsson, has showcased Xperia P and Xperia U, at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in 2012.

The Xperia P has a four-inch display and an aluminum body. It has a 1GHz dual-core processor, 16 GB flash storage and an 8 megapixel camera. It's the first phone to include WhiteMagic, a technology developed by Sony to automatically adjust the display brightness when users are viewing the phone in bright sunlight.

Users of the phone will also be able to buy a SmartDock which will let them easily connect the phone to a Sony TV to watch videos loaded onto the phone or browse the web on the TV from the phone.

The Xperia P also features a new technology called SmartTags that uses the NFC chip in the phone. Users will be able to program a tag to activate applications on the phone. In one example, a user might hang the tag near the front door of their house. Before going out for a run, the user can swipe the phone against the tag to automatically activate GPS, turn on the Bluetooth, and launch a running application.

The slightly lower-end Xperia U has a 1GHz dual-core processor, a 3.5 inch screen and a 5 megapixel camera. It features a thin strip across the bottom of the phone that changes color to indicate incoming calls.

Sony also announced that the Xperia S, the first phone in the NXT series which was introduced in January, will go on sale first in Barcelona this week.

Sony used its press conference to highlight its plans since it completed its purchase of Sony Ericsson. The deal closed on Feb. 15.

"Tonight is different," said Bert Nordberg, president and CEO of Sony Mobile Communications. Even though Sony Ericsson has had a presence at the Mobile World Congress for ten years, he said "Here, we are 100 percent Sony. Today we are kicking off a new chapter for our company."

The company emphasized services that it plans to offer across all of its products, including phones, TVs and tablets. Users will be able to download videos including movies and TV programs from Sony Entertainment to their phones and watch them on their Sony TV, for instance. Users of Sony phones will be able to download games from the online PlayStation store. Phone users will also be able to stream from Sony's Unlimited music streaming service.