Sony Xperia Tablet Z : Priced at Rs 46,990, Sony unveils the most expensive and the slimmest Premium Tablet in India

NEW DELHI: Sony on Wednesday unveiled Xperia Tablet Z  for Indian buyers.
Priced at Rs 46,990, it is being claimed as the most expensive and the  slimmest Premium Tablet. Despite its price being on the higher end, the company believes that its thin size, water and rust proof design and other premium specifications with the best of Sony technology, entertainment, design and connectivity, will help it compete with other Android tablets and Apple's iPad.

Earlier, on February 25^th 2013, at Mobile World Congress, BARCELONA , Sony Mobile, had announced that Xperia Tablet Z – the slimmest* 10” tablet available – will be  launched globally in May 2013.

Key features for Xperia Tablet Z

•     10.1” HD 1920x1200p WUXGA Display with Mobile BRAVIA (Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture) Engine 2
•     S-Force Front Surround 3D
•     The world's thinnest design at 6.9 mm and lightweight at 495g for 10.1” water resistant tablet
•     Dust and water resistant (IP55 & IP57) with a durable glass front display
•     Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 1.5GHz asynchronous quad CPUs and 2GB RAM
•     Xperia Tablet Z is load with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and is upgradable to 4.2 after launch    for the latest Android user experience.
•     Internal storage of 16GB with a memory card slot expandable up to 64GB
•     One-touch connectivity with Near Field Communication (NFC)
•     A unique OmniBalance design with subtly rounded edges and smooth reflective surfaces
•     8 MP rear camera featuring “Exmor R for mobile” and Superior Auto plus 2MP HD front camera
•     Battery STAMINA mode further improves the standby time.
•     The tablet packs in a 6000 mAh battery.
•     Connectivity options onboard include Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and 3G.
•      IR sensor, which would allow users to control their television with it

Premium Tablet Design

Xperia Tablet Z is the most premium, high performance 10.1” LTE Android tablet available. Built from quality materials and featuring the same stunning OmniBalance design as its smartphone sibling, Xperia Tablet Z is also incredibly slim and lightweight at 6.9mm and 495g. Available in black or white and in LTE and WiFi versions, it is the first tablet to run on Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S4 Pro asynchronous quad core processor and has the highest levels of water resistance (IP55 & IP57) ever delivered in a tablet, making it immune to accidental spills and splashes.**

”Xperia Tablet Z sets new standards in entertainment by matching premium specifications and Sony technology with cross-device connectivity and a consistent user-experience,” said Kaz Tajima, Corporate Vice President, Head of UX Creative Design and Planning, at Sony Mobile Communications. “Xperia Tablet Z reinforces our intention to be a leading player in the premium Android device market, by building on the principles established by Xperia Z and perfectly optimising them for the tablet form factor.”

Integrated Sony Technology

Xperia Tablet Z includes the very best of Sony technology. With a 10.1” HD WUXGA Display, powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2, it delivers enhanced colour reproduction for a brilliant TV-like viewing experience. It also draws upon Sony’s camera expertise with an 8MP rear camera featuring “Exmor R for mobile” as well as a 2MP HD front-facing camera for capturing the best images in any condition. Sony’s S-Force Front Surround 3D, guarantees soul-shaking audio performance alongside Sony’s Clear Audio+ mode and the innovative use of two in-built speakers with four ‘speaker halls’ on the left and right corners delivers amazing sound no matter how it is held. Xperia Tablet Z also includes Battery STAMINA mode, Sony’s unique battery management technology that can significantly improve standby time. The WiFi variant also offers up to 64GB of storage with an optional mircoSD card.

Seamless One-touch Connectivity

Xperia Tablet Z includes more connectivity options than any other tablet. It also includes Sony’s One-Touch functions that let users transfer content seamlessly from HD tablet to TV, tablet to speaker or phone to tablet just by touching them together. One-touch functions are a key component of Sony’s device range this year and no other consumer electronics company is bringing as many NFC-enabled products to market. The tablet’s Universal IR Remote allows users to control the TV and other Sony devices - as well as products from other manufacturers - directly from the tablet placing the device at the heart of the home. TV SideView is a new application that gives users an entirely new way to interact with the TV.***

Sony’s media applications

Sony’s signature media applications - “WALKMAN”, Movies and Album - allow users to enjoy, control and view content regardless of their device. The Sony Entertainment Network can also be accessed from these applications and includes Music Unlimited with more than 18 million songs and Facebook social integration as well as Video Unlimited with access to over 100,000 movies and TV series.****



Xperia Tablet Z Accessories

Xperia Tablet Z comes with a number of accessories including a charging cradle, an LCD Screen Protector and Leather Carrying Cover that comes in Black, White or Red. These will be available from Sony stores or registered retailers.

According to Sony's officials, company is not going after the numbers with Xperia Tablet Z. "It is a premium product and we hope to attract customers who value great design and unique features like water resistance," he said. "We also feel that people who like their Xperia Z phone will love this tablet."

ICD-SX1000 and ICD-SX733 : Hear every detail: sound your best with the new digital voice recorders from Sony

• ICD-SX1000 and ICD-SX733 recorders for live musicians and business professionals
• High-resolution 96.1kHz/24-bit recording and S-Master Full Digital Amplifier for concert hall quality (ICD-SX1000)
• Capture sounds near or far with 3 directional S-Microphone System and switchable zoom/stereo

From rehearsal room to boardroom – two new digital voice recorders by Sony ensure that each note and every word are heard with CD quality.

Slipping easily into a pocket or bag, the slim, light ICD-SX1000 and ICD-SX733 are perfect recording partners when inspiration strikes.

Both models feature a new 3 way S-Microphone System that picks up music, meetings and memos with pinpoint precision. ‘Stereo’ mode ensures smoothly-balanced, hi-fi quality recording of instruments and voices – great for band rehearsals and song-writing sessions. Or switch to ‘Zoom’ and focus precisely on interview subjects located on the other side of the room.

The range-topping ICD-SX1000 is capable of high-resolution recordings at 96.1kHz/24-bit, capturing solo instruments, ensembles or voices with exceptional clarity.

The SX1000 also adds Sony’s S-Master Full Digital Amplifier that reproduces the subtlest nuance of every performance. Originally developed by Sony for hi-fi and home cinema products, S-Master technology has been optimised for mobile devices, reducing digital distortion for smoothly detailed studio-quality sound.

A choice of eight Scene Select modes on both recorders ensures optimum clarity, whatever you’re recording. Pick ‘Music’ for a wide, balanced frequency response with every instrument heard clearly. Select ‘Voice Memo’, ‘Meeting’ or ‘Interview’ for clearly-intelligible speech without annoying low-frequency booms, pops and rumbles.

A generous 16GB of on-board storage (ICD-SX1000) gives space for almost a week’s worth of non-stop recording (159 hours at MP3 192 kbps). Need more time? Slipping in an optional microSD or Memory Stick Micro (M2) card expands recording time further to ensure you’re never lost for words. The inbuilt lithium battery offers plenty of stamina for those lengthy jamming sessions, recording non-stop for up to 19 hours between charges (Linear PCM 44.1kHz, 16 bit).

Both recorders also double as handy music players, replaying files in MP3, AAC, WMA and WAV formats. Just load up with your favourite tracks and enjoy through the supplied stereo earphones or on-board speaker.

Sound Organiser PC software comes as standard and simplifies transferring, editing, managing or burning your files to CD.

The new ICD-SX1000 and ICD-SX733 digital voice recorders by Sony are available in Europe from May 2013.

ICD-SX1000/SX733 digital voice recorders: key features & specifications

	ICD-SX733	ICD-SX1000
Built-in Memory	4GB	16GB
PC Connectivity	Yes
Built-in Microphone	3 Directional Microphone (Zoom/Stereo)
Recording Format	Linear PCM/MP3
Playback Format	MP3/AAC/WMA/WAV
Speaker power output	150mW
Battery Type	Built-In Lithium
Dimensions (w/h/d)	39.6 x 108.6 x 14.9 mm	39.6 x 110.8 x 14.6 mm
Weight (including batteries)	81g	82g
Headphone Jack	Yes
Microphone In	Yes
USB port	Yes (Direct)
Memory Card Slot	M2/ microSD
Max Recording time
MP3 48kbps ( monaural )	159 Hrs 0 Min	636 Hrs 0 Min
MP3 128kbps	59 Hrs 35 Min	238 Hrs 0 Min
MP3 192kbps	39 Hrs 45 Min	159 Hrs 0 Min
MP3 320kbps	23 Hrs 50 Min	95 Hrs 25 Min
LPCM 44.1kHz, 16bit	5Hrs 20 Min	21 Hrs 35 Min
LPCM 96.1kHz, 24bit	-	6 Hrs 35 Min
Recording features
Scene Select	Yes
Manual Recording level adjustment	Yes
Low-cut Filter	Yes
Pre-Recording function	Yes
VOR	Yes
Frequency response
MP3 48kbps (monaural)	40 - 14,000 Hz	40 - 14,000 Hz
MP3 128kbps	40 - 16,000 Hz	40 - 16,000 Hz
MP3 192kbps	40 - 18,000 Hz	40 - 18,000 Hz
MP3 320kbps	40 - 20,000 Hz	40 - 20,000 Hz
LPCM 44.1kHz, 16bit	40 - 20,000 Hz	40 - 20,000 Hz
LPCM 96.1kHz, 24bit	-	40 - 40,000 Hz
Playback features
S-Master Full Digital Amplifier	No	Yes
Intelligent Noise Cut	Yes

Galaxy Mega, priced at Rs 31,490 and Rs 25,100, Samsung launches two models of its biggest Phablet

Samsung, launched its biggest phablet, Galaxy Mega, on Tuesday, which is stated to be a hybrid variant with smartphone and tablet capabilities . Galaxy Mega,  available in two sizes 5.8 inches and 6.3 inches  weighs 182 grams and  199 grams respectively. Two models of Galaxy Mega phablet are priced at Rs 25,100 and Rs 31,490 respectively. Both the variant are fairly light for their sizes. Samsung claims Mega will a good fit for most pockets and is aimed at users who relish watching videos on their phones. Galaxy Mega has an 8 Mega Pixel rear camera with a 1.9-Mega Pixel front camera. Loaded with Story Album app Galaxy Mega offers its users a great help in organising their albums. It has others applications also such as  S Memo for taking notes, Group Play for easy sharing of data and S Translator etc.

“Consumers in India prefer large displays in their smartphones owing to the time they spend in extensive multimedia viewing and more. To meet the varying lifestyles of our consumers, we are very pleased to offer the GALAXY Mega which further enriches the product portfolio of our award-winning GALAXY series” Vineet Taneja, Country Head, Samsung Mobile and Digital Imaging Business said at the launch.


 Both variants of Galaxy Mega , are powered with Dual Core Processor and loaded with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It  has 16 GB internal memory and a microSD card slot for supporting an extended memory upto 64 GB.  According to Samsung officials, the the battery life of Galaxy Mega is around 12 hours on 3G. Samsung has bundled launch of Galaxy Mega with two data offers, which are operator-specific. Cusotmers from Reliance will be entitled for 2 GB data p.m. free for 3 months and unlimited access to WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and BigFlix movies, where as Vodafone subscribers may enjoy 2 GB 3G data p.m. free for two months.

HTC One - Priced at Rs 42,900, a smartphone with MultiMedia Power House capability,

All waiting for the launch of much touted and anticipated smartphone from HTC , will be over today as HTC One is being unveiled in Mumbai, today. The HTC One was stated to be launched earlier, last month, on 8th April, with a price tag of Rs 42,900. Somehow HTC missed the mark, by not keeping with the launch schedule of last month, as stated earlier and Indian stores were left bereft with presence of HTC One. According to industry reports, due to some real problems in supply chain, being faced by the HTC, one of the crucial shipments for the launch got delayed.


All said and done, in every likelyhood, the smartphone is all set to grace the mobile stores and shop counters, today. HTC One comes Equipped with Quad-core 1.7 GHz CPU, 32/64 GB Internal Memory, 2GB of RAM, and 4.7 inch Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen display screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixel. It has an Ultrapixels 4 MP, 2688 x 1520 pixels camera, As the size of the imaging sensor is 1/3 inches, which senses the pixels in the size of 2µm pixel, which is much larger, resulting in much clear and sharp focus images. Dual Stereo Speakers on the front with Beats Audio sound enhancement may add some quality to its sound.
Although, HTC One is loaded with with Android 4.2, still it has a user friendly over-layer of HTC’s Sense user interface to enhance the overall user experience.


 Here are few and the first reactions of some users posted across the web :

"The HTC One is the BEST phone I have ever used. I've had numerous smartphones since I first got one. The camera is the best camera I have ever seen in a phone. The pictures it takes in low light are great and the ones taken with proper lighting...

"HTC One (m7) 1st Impression - Landed in my lap 12 hrs ago, few short calls with absolute clarity, Listening few tracks through on board speakers, again clarity is excellent, played Temple Run 2 for 4 levels with no lag ... in summary HQ Phone with JB..."


"U see,HTC one is made by aluminium body,it means that the heat feature is more than other plastic body's.but it's ok.no problem with that. Go for one. U will like it.it's the best phone ever."

General	2G Network 3G Network 4G Network SIM Announced Status	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 LTE (market dependent) Micro-SIM 2013, February Available. Released 2013, March
Body	Dimensions Weight	137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm (5.41 x 2.69 x 0.37 in) 143 g (5.04 oz)
Display	Type Size Multitouch Protection	Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors 1080 x 1920 pixels, 4.7 inches (~469 ppi pixel density) Yes - Beats Audio sound enhancement
Sound	Alert types Loudspeaker 3.5mm jack	Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones Yes, with stereo speakers, built-in amplifiers Yes - Beats Audio sound enhancement
Memory	Card Slot Internal	No 32/64 GB, 2 GB RAM
Data	GPRS EDGE SPEED WLAN Bluetooth NFC Infrared Port USB	Yes Yes HSPA+; LTE, Cat3, 50 Mbps UL, 100 Mbps DL Wi-Fi 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot Yes, v4.0 with A2DP Yes (Market dependent) Yes Yes, microUSB v2.0 (MHL)
Camera	Primary Features Video Secondary	4 MP, 2688 x 1520 pixels, autofocus, LED flash 1/3'' sensor size, 2µm pixel size, simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, optical image stabilization Yes, 1080p@30fps, 720p@60fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., video stabilization, Yes, 2.1 MP, 1080p@30fps, HDR
Features	OS Chipset CPU GPU Sensor Messaging Browser Radio GPS Java Colors	Android OS, v4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 Quad-core 1.7 GHz Krait 300 Adreno 320 Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email HTML5 Stereo FM radio with RDS Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS Yes, via Java MIDP emulator Black, Silver, Red
	Others	- SNS integration - Dropbox (25 GB storage) - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - TV-out (via MHL A/V link) - DivX/XviD/MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV player - MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV/FLAC player - Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk - Organizer - Document viewer/editor - Photo viewer/editor - Voice memo/dial/commands - Predictive text input
Battery	-------- Stand-by Talk-time	Non-removable Li-Po 2300 mAh battery No official data No official data
Misc	SAR US SAR EU	1.26 W/kg (head)     0.69 W/kg (body)     0.86 W/kg (head)     0.36 W/kg (body)
Tests	Display Loudspeaker Audio Quality Camera Battery Life	Contrast ratio: 1541:1 (nominal) / 2.504:1 (sunlight) Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB Noise -82.7dB / Crosstalk -80.9dB Photo / Video Endurance rating 48h

With packs of dedicated amplifiers, for each the two BoomSound frontal speakers of the smartphone, HTC is claiming an over all sound volume of 93 dB . In real, result may be or may not be as promising and the sound may not be the loudest around, still it may turn out a good performer, keeping in line with HTC pitching  for this smartphone as "one of the best sound experiences as far as smartphones go"

Overall, going by the key features and performance,   HTC One can be good buy for those multimedia buffs, who relish taking great camera shots, who are keen to enjoy both audio and video  supported with improved sound quality. Clearly a  MultiMedia Power House for Multimedia buffs

Sony confirms prices and on-sale dates for new BRAVIA X9 4K TV

4K Ultra HD TV X9 series BRAVIA from Sony

• Pre-order BRAVIA X9 4K Ultra HD LED TV online from 15th May
• In-store from mid-June
• Confirmed European pricing: €4,500 (55”) / €7,000 (65”)

Treat yourself to the detail and excitement of 4K by Sony with the new BRAVIA X9 4K Ultra HD TV. Available to pre-order online today (15th May), BRAVIA X9 blends stunning pictures, soul-stirring sound and breath-taking styling in a unique sensory experience.

In European stores from mid-June, BRAVIA X9 brings you TV pictures like you’ve never seen before. Offered in living room-friendly 55” and 65” screen sizes, it immerses you in the most natural, real images with four times the detail of Full HD.

Any content in 4K
With more films being produced and distributed in the format, 4K is this year’s biggest entertainment story. BRAVIA X9 upscales all your current content to 4K – including Blu-ray Disc™ films, TV shows and even low-resolution web videos – for a thrilling world of lifelike cinematic viewing.

Whatever you’re watching, the latest 4K X-Reality PRO engine ensures best-ever picture quality, from movies to smartphone clips.

Best picture and sound quality
Unique to Sony, TRILUMINOS Display enriches your viewing with a wider palette of richly realistic colours, from shimmering seascapes and skies to flowers and faces.

Fabulous pictures are teamed with sumptuous sound, powered by cutting-edge Magnetic Fluid Speaker technology for crisp dialogue and music.

BRAVIA X9 even connects wirelessly with your NFC-compatible Xperia smartphone or tablet at a touch. ‘Mirror’ your device wirelessly and enjoy photos, videos, games and apps on the big screen with rich colour and detail. Browse schedules, record shows and explore related content with TV SideView, the intuitive app for your Android or iOS device.

Sensational pictures and sound are complemented by an arresting new twist on ‘Sense of Quartz’ styling that makes a luxurious statement in any living space.

The new BRAVIA X9 4K LED Ultra HD TV is available in a choice of 55” (€4,500) or 65” (€7,000) screen sizes.