Happy New Year

SEMC Blog has put up a prediction for 2009. I like the part about more Cybershots. A QWERTY, Blackberry form factor, Xenon Flash, 3G Cybershot would be a great.

SEMC Blog wants to wish you a Happy New Year! And let the new 2009 bring you only pleasant surprises! Sony Ericsson also prepared some pleasant surprises for us. Some of them will be released very soon - in February, others will be released later. Cyber-shot portfolio will be significantly increased. Cyber-shot portfolio got new form-factors, touch-screens, 12-Megapixel cameras and optical zoom! Walkman portfolio also got some updates. I would like to highlight a new Walkman 4.0. It will be real surprise. I would say, that new Walkman 4.0 supported themes. Yeah! This feature has Walkman 2.0, but in version 3.0 it was removed. At the beginning of the year will be released Brittany - W380’s successor with small external screen and special music keys. Other sub-brands also got updates: S302 will have a successor in Snapshot portfolio. F305 will have a gaming-successor. Z555 also will have a successor: stylish emotional clamshell with small external screen. This clamshell will be next phone of Maria Sharapova. But there are also two bad sides of 2009 year. First bad side is, that Sony Ericsson already cancelled some phones for 2009. About them we will talk later. Second bad side is well-known copy-paste strategy. In 2009 Sony Ericsson will announced two special-versions of F305: one music version and one imaging version. I hope, that 2009 year will be a good year for Sony Ericsson company. Happy New Year!

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SE 2009

Here is some info about SE 2009

Here is list of new phones from Sony Ericsson for 2009 year:

Yao:

• Walkman branded phone named W305
• Entry slider phone
• Walkman-version of F305
• Release date: the end of Q1

Yue:

• Cyber-shot branded
• Compact stick phone
• 3.2-Mp camera
• One of the K550’s successors
• Release date: the end of Q1

Frances:

• Cyber-shot branded
• Slider design
• GPS (!)
• Active lens cover
• PhotoFix, Face Detection, Smile Shutter
• Looks very pretty

Athena:

• Snapshot branded
• Mid-range stick phone
• Can be successor of S302
• Release date: Q1, 2009

Filippa:

• Cyber-shot branded stick phone
• HSUPA
• 140 Mb of memory
• SnapFish
• BestPic, PhotoFix, Face Detection, Smile Shutter
• Colours: Noble Black, Precious Peach, Sincere Silver

Kate:

• Cyber-shot branded stick phone
• Active lens cover
• 3.2-Mp camera with AF
• EDGE 900/1800/1900 and HSDPA 2100
• 120 Mb of memory
• PhotoFix, Face Detection, Smile Shutter, SnapFish
• Available in 2 different colours

Rika:

• Named W705
• Walkman-version of G705
• Wi-Fi with GPS (!)
• In the box: 4 Gb M2 and HPM-77
• Available in 3 colours (!)

Thanks to http://cellphonesail.net/! Some info by Maximys.

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Also here is some info from Santa_Claus from Esato

What to expect in 2009

1. UIQ X labeled touch screen; 8MP; H2 2009
2. W900 like form factor; 8MP or more; H2 2009
3. Xperia X?; Google Android; 5MP; Q3 2009
4. Xperia X?; WinMob 7; Q4 2009
5. W9XX, Walkman 4; Q2 2009

According to my info next Xperia will have 5mp. However, that touchscreen UIQX labeled smartphone is very interesting. Also Walkman 4 is coming very soon. In addition, I am glad that W900 form factor will come back. And yes, there will be no P series anymore, acording to my sources. Xperia will represent SE smartphone line: UIQ,WinMob,Android. Maybe there will be 3 or 4 Xperia’s released 2009. I know for sure about 2 of them.

Hikaru project is in status quo. Although they have tasted on TI, and Qualcomm processors but it is not sure if the new UIQ mobile will be Hicaru. Next UIQ is in testing phase and it is showing very good results. Even the interface is very responsive and eye candy they are struggling to put something innovative. Fingerprint lock is not big deal and time will show how effective will be if they agree to implement it. The Xperia device that is testing the new WinMob 7 is running on Qualcomm QSD8250 processor. UIQX device is running on TI OMAP3430. Android testing device has the same processor as G1, well for now.

It is very interesting to see all touchscreen walkman coming. But don't expect it too soon.