Xperia sola Android Smartphone from Sony has the Magic Touch

Today in London Sony announced the Xperia sola smartphone which is powered by Android version 2.3. That may cause your eyes to glaze over in boredom, but keep reading because they’ve added some “magic” to what might otherwise be just another Android smartphone.

The sola’s key features include:

NFC enabled and Xperia SmartTags in the box to enable quick app loading and easy content sharing
3.7” Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine gives razor sharp clarity
Powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor for super fast browsing
xLOUD and 3D surround sound audio technology for crisp and loud listening
Direct access to Sony Entertainment Network with pre-installed Video and Music Unlimited apps
Launches on Android platform 2.3, upgrade to Android 4.0 during summer 2012

Besides the NFC feature, there’s no real magic in that feature list. The magic is in the new touch technology:

A floating touch of magic
Making its smartphone debut exclusively on Xperia sola, Sony’s unique floating touch lets consumers
navigate the web by hovering their finger above the screen so it acts like a moving curser, without
actually having to touch thescreen. Once the desired link is found it can be highlighted and a simple tap
will load the page. Floating touch will evolve with new user functionality and applications through software
updates and engagement with developers.

Calum MacDougall, Head of XperiaMarketing for Sony Mobile Communications, commented; “Xperia sola
comes with the power of Sony and a sense of magic with floating touch, giving consumers a fun new way
to browse the web and latest technology to show off. With Xperia SmartTags out of the box and access
to the latest content through Sony Entertainment Network, Xperia sola is perfect for consumers looking for
ease of use and the best in entertainment in a smart and innovative smartphone.”

I’m not convinced that browsing the web by hovering my finger over my phone’s display will be the next wave in mobile surfing, but you have to admit that it sounds cool. And in this time where all Android phones seem to be blending together in a blur of sameness, it’s nice to see some innovation. The sola will be available in Q2. The full press release that includes more info about the NFC SmartTag feature after the jump.

A floating touch of magic

Making its smartphone debut exclusively on Xperia sola, Sony’s unique floating touch lets consumers navigate the web by hovering their finger above the screen so it acts like a moving curser, without actually having to touch the screen. Once the desired link is found it can be highlighted and a simple tap will load the page. Floating touch will evolve with new user functionality and applications through software updates and engagement with developers.

Calum MacDougall, Head of Xperia Marketing for Sony Mobile Communications, commented; “Xperia sola comes with the power of Sony and a sense of magic with floating touch, giving consumers a fun new way to browse the web and latest technology to show off. With Xperia SmartTags out of the box and access to the latest content through Sony Entertainment Network, Xperia sola is perfect for consumers looking for ease of use and the best in entertainment in a smart and innovative smartphone.”

Simplify the everyday with SmartTags

Xperia sola is NFC enabled and comes with two NFC Xperia SmartTags in the box as standard to simplify consumers’ everyday smartphone experiences. By touching an NFC Android smartphone on a SmartTag, a pre-configured profile in the smartphone will launch. The two SmartTags included with Xperia sola can be personalized with up to 10 commands. Out of the box they are ready for the living room to turn on Wi-Fi™ and launches Google™ news and weather apps, or for the bedroom, which turns on the alarm and switches to silent mode. Xperia sola supports NFC pairing, allowing consumers to enjoy great connectivity with other NFC smartphones, applications and services by tapping their smartphones together.

Powerful entertainment anytime, anywhere

Xperia sola boasts razor sharp clarity with Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA® Engine, xLOUD™ and 3D surround sound audio technology delivering crisp and loud sound, and a 1GHz dual-core processor for super fast performance. Xperia sola also comes with fast capture to take the camera from sleep to snap in a little over a second with a single key press.

Consumers can also access premium entertainment experiences with Sony Entertainment Network**, where they can watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters on Video Unlimited or listen to millions of songs*** through Music Unlimited.