News: Sony brings Android ICS to three more smartphones

After bringing the frozen mobile operating system (OS) delicacy known as Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) to the Xperia S and a few more devices in August, Sony now announces the start of the ICS rollout for the Xperia go, Xperia U and Xperia sola.

Besides Android ICS, this update also entails new functionality such as Glove Mode (video posted below), an exclusive feature for the Xperia sola that allows the handset to be used even whilst you are wearing gloves.

This feature is an extension of the Japanese smartphone, gaming console and ultrabook maker’s new floating touch technology, which enables users to navigate a website by hovering their finger just above the smartphone’s display, allowing their finger to function as a moving cursor.

Within Glove Mode, a cursor ring is displayed onscreen where the user presses on the screen with their glove. In order to turn this mode off, you simply lock the screen, take your gloves off and then unlock the device using your bare finger.

Other new features

Sony also enhanced the multimedia experience available on these smartphones with improved media applications for the Walkman, Album and Movies apps. An extended standby mode has been introduced, enabling users to boost their device’s standby time by up to four times according to Sony, based on their user-profile and mobile data consumption patterns.

Additionally, Sony also made changes to the smartphone lock screen; included new resizable widgets for improved personalisation; added better mobile data consumption control; as well as adding a Recent Apps button.

Sony stated that the rollout will continue over the next few weeks in markets around the globe, but that the availability as well as the scheduling of this software upgrade will vary by market and carrier requirements. No details surrounding the local availability of this update is available yet.

In related news, Sony also recently unveiled three new Xperia smartphones in the Xperia V, Xperia J, as well as James Bond’s smartphone of choice in the upcoming Skyfall movie, the Xperia T.

Sony brings Android ICS to three more smartphones

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