The NFC tags and floating touch technology of the Xperia sola are a bonus; too bad about the outdated OS though.
Sony's latest addition to its portfolio of Android-powered smartphones, the Xperia sola, comes with two NFC SmartTags touted to simplify the everyday experiences of smartphone users. The handset debuts Sony's floating touch technology, which allows users to navigate the Web without actually touching the screen.
According to Calum MacDougall, head of Xperia marketing for Sony Mobile Communications, the Xperia sola ?is perfect for consumers looking for ease-of-use and the best in entertainment in a smart and innovative smartphone?.
Look and feel
After about a minute of unsuccessful attempts to slide the screen of the Xperia sola, I learnt that the little step at the bottom of the handset is merely a design decision by the company. I asked friends for suggestions as to what the little step was intended for and the best suggestion I got what that it is a place to rest your fingers between writing messages. Hmm.
My confusion aside, one of my initial reactions to the Xperia sola was how light it is. At 107g, the plastic-bodied sola fits comfortably in the hand and is quite slim at 9.9mm. The sola is also the perfect size to pop into a pocket.
Interface and performance
The sola boasts a 3.7-inch display powered by Mobile Bravia Engine, which is perfect for Web browsing but gamers may find it a tad small. For some unfathomable reason, the Xperia sola, like the Xperia P, runs on the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) platform, with an update to the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system available later in 2012. Although intuitive, it's annoying that users have to buy a phone only to update it a few months later, especially with the introduction of Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) making even Ice Cream Sandwich borderline outdated.
The mid-range Android smartphone comes with standard Sony widgets that one can move around, depending on use preferences. Call quality is good but the volume level of the earpiece could be improved.
Features/multimedia
As has come to be expected from Sony, the camera on the Xperia sola does not disappoint; even in dim lighting, it produces good shots. The handset features a 5MP camera with 16x digital zoom. There are a few drawbacks, however. The Xperia sola lacks a front-facing camera and the two-stage camera shutter key on the side requires a little too much effort to push. Images taken with the sola can be stored on the 8GB internal memory or on a microSD card. The device is also capable of recording 720p HD video. The sola is DLNA compatible, and as a result, sharing of media such as music, photos and videos between consumer devices is easy.
The music player has a few interesting extras that allow users to search for music videos on YouTube and to look up lyrics or artist information straight from the player. With xLOUD and 3D surround sound audio technology, listening is a pleasure. But I must make mention of the preloaded music ? Brett5000's Globalization and Static Space by Erica Sunn ? nope, I've never heard of them either.
Floating touch technology
Floating touch technology allows users to highlight links while browsing without actually touching the display. Although it is nifty to use, to be honest, I found this feature a little counter-intuitive. To not touch the screen on a touch-screen smartphone seems odd. It also didn't always work as smoothly as I would have liked, but this may just take some getting used to.
At present, the functionality of floating touch is limited, but Sony is planning to create other uses for the feature in the future.
NFC SmartTags
Pushing its NFC technology, Sony has thrown in two SmartTags with the Xperia sola. Users can program each tag with various settings and then simply swipe the handset over the tag to apply the settings to the phone. The Bedroom SmartTag, for example, will activate the alarm and silent mode when tapped. This is a quick way to make the sola function according to location and need.
The sola is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, which performs well even when multitasking. The handset is 3G-, Bluetooth-, and WiFi-compatible.
Most of the preloaded apps, including all the basics that one would expect ? except Twitter ? add to the user experience. Free app and game downloads are available from Android Market.
Battery life
The Xperia sola is fitted with a 1.320mAh non-user-removable battery, which is below today's standards. Moderate users should be able to get through a day without charging, but heavy users will not be so lucky. The battery takes about two hours to charge, and when it is running low, a notification appears detailing exactly how much battery life is left and also offers a breakdown of how much of the battery is being used to do what.
In a nutshell
The NFC SmartTags and floating touch feature set the Xperia sola apart from similar mid-range smartphones. That said, if you have the extra money, I'd advise you spend a little more and get the Xperia P.
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Source: http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58260
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