XPERIA PLAY : ANDROID BUMPY CONSOLE WITH FLAIR

Sony Ericsson Playstation Phone is weakening in display and offer you a console like experience.

Large, higher-resolution displays, more powerful graphics processors and have the last year’s more complex and detailed Smartphone Games. But between a mobile games console such as Sony’s PSP or Nintendo 3DS and a cell phone, where you can also play gapes still a gap. Sony Ericsson has tried this trench with the Xperia Play, the firstPlaystation certified Android smartphone.

The Xperia is Sony Ericsson's first Playstation certified Android smartphone. With the PSP go from the known, slid Gamepad shorten the gap between mobile and console.

Console feeling

Sony Ericsson Xperia has been copied for the play from their own PSP go (which the company ceases, however, lack of success). With both devices, a gamepad is behind the display, which is pushed to the Games. Sorry, does the plastic housing of the Xperia’s somewhat cheap and the sliding mechanism of the gamepad felt the test device in the closed state of not very stable. The gaming device in itself is well implemented and is the classic Playstation controller. On the gamepad are – as familiar PlayStation game – a four-way directional pad, four Playstation buttons, Start and Select buttons, two shoulder buttons and two touch pads for finer control with the thumb.

The dark side of the gamepad

The two shoulder buttons are located on the upper edge of the gamepad, which is in open position behind the screen – for those with big hands, they are placed very unfavorable.The control of the touchpad respond to something sensible.Playstation newcomers need to apply at ease a bit until they come with the gamepad buttons cope. Sometimes is also not always logical when a match is controlled by the gamepad using the touch screen and when can, for example, when pre-installed The Sims 3.

Compromise on housing

On the Xperia's Android 3.2 Ginger Bread runs with a custom interface from Sony Ericsson.

Through the gamepad, the Xperia’s in comparison to other smartphones far less elegant and handy. With dimensions of 119 x 62 x 16 millimeters and 175 grams you realize pretty quickly, where this was the compromise made to equip a smartphone with a full-fledged gaming device. As already mentioned, does the housing process is not very high, which above all is when you remove the very thin and flexible spine coverage significantly. At least, let SIM card and microSD card switch without removing the battery is must.

Single-core engine

As the “engine” processor is a Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon fitted with, but these are not a dual-core chip, as with many new Android models of competition. Is supported by the main processor, an embedded Adreno-205 graphics processor.When memory is the company MB of 512th According to the App Android system info storage, however, only 399 MB maximum available. Compared to Engadget , Sony Ericsson confirmed that model actually has the 512 MB ​​of RAM, but of which only 399 MB (or 400 MB, according to the bloggers) can be utilized by applications. As a stand-in memory according to the manufacturer “to” 400 MB is available, the card can be expanded through microSD. Android System Info provides something different information, therefore, the model has 380 MB internal memory. Whether 400 or 380 MB – for apps that do not card can be swapped out to SD, memory is at least not just rich. Sony Ericsson is supplying 8GB microSD card with one unit.

Rapid Games

The “guts” yet allow fast-paced gameplay with no lag or dropouts, what stands out about racing games positively. In view of the good game performance, it is surprising that the device when switching between the Home screens partially increased. Ericsson Why do against a dual core chip, Sony has decided that all current high-end models use them. The Galaxy S II by Samsung does not provide its own control games, but because of better hardware and bigger, better displays for games is the better choice.

Dark Screen

Through the gamepad, the Xperia's in comparison to other smartphones far less elegant and handy. With dimensions of 119 x 62 x 16 millimeters and 175 grams of notes, where the compromise was made to equip a smartphone with a full-fledged gaming device

Mixed feelings were also in the test for the screen. Had the first hands-on display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona still highly luminous and rich in contrast, had the extended test now but some deficiencies are identified. The 4-inch TFT touchscreen, while an ordinary resolution of 480 x 854 pixels, but overall the screen is quite dark. The highest brightness level is sufficient for use in rooms, but you have to play to say goodbye to the idea in the open. Although this is the case in many smartphones, but especially with an approach based on mobile gaming device that is set up not just in the lowest price category, one would have expected more. The built-in stereo speakers turn up a good sound for smartphones.

Camera

Pros and Cons are also on the camera to list it. The 5.1-megapixel camera provides decent lighting conditions at the snapshots, but Sony Ericsson has waived the option to record to HD video. Operate either on video recording settings for white balance, color effects, and camera light is available.The best possible quality for videos, however, is 800 x 480 pixels at 30 frames per second. You can choose between four quality: high, low, MMS and YouTube optimized.

Root-friendly

Sony Ericsson, however, has a very open access to the root of its Android phones and is on their website even a guide how the boot loader Xperia several models can be unlocked. This allows alternative firmware to play. Prerequisite for this device is a version without a SIM lock. As the warning notice: by the root of a device you might lose your warranty.

Games

A new widget is Pocket Playstation, with which you have from the home screen for quick access to install the games. This offers us all to access recently added and recently played games. Additional games can be retrieved on the application’s Xperia, and it is here, the app is neither a clear structure or a search function. Instead, you get a few games from different sources (the Market and Gameloft online shop) presented in a scroll bar. The device is shipped with the games Crash Bandicoot (an old PS One titles), Tetris, Star Battalion, FIFA 2010, Bruce Lee and The Sims 3. According to Sony Ericsson will also asphalt 6 are included, the test unit was missing, however. About the Android Store Android, of course, all games are installed. More Playstation titles are not yet available. But the company plans to launch its own Playstation Store. At the E3 early June Sony will announce more.

Conclusion

The combination of the Android mobile phone and console Sony Ericsson with the Xperia’s did succeed in principle. The controls on the gamepad, however, is the only thing that distinguishes the device currently other Android smartphones.And here we must accept as a compromise in a bulky housing purchase. The still lean range of exclusive game titles should be extended to the E3 in June. Who is a high-end smartphone on the state of the art searches, which is also suitable for gaming, you can quite grasp the Galaxy S II in the eye. However, one should wait and see what the company is still present at E3.