The first thing you’ll notice about Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus is that they stand out from other smartphones due to their 21:9 Wide display. Standing tall with a beautiful, sleek and borderless design enclosed in a perfect hand-fit.

There are subtle differences between the two handsets. The Xperia 10 has a 6.0” display, while the Xperia 10 Plus is slightly larger at 6.5”, and each device has an exclusive colour alongside their three shared colours (more on that below!).

We wanted to delve a little bit deeper in what makes these handsets so appealing when it comes to their design, so we chatted to the brains behind their look and feel, Kazuhiro Ishida.

Can you talk us through the inspiration behind the colour options?

The design theme at the centre of the Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus was the “brilliance of light”, which you can see from the metallic finish with a rich depth of light and shadow with subtle glass and pearl pigments.

We also ensured a luxurious, premium feel to the devices by brightening the metal details of the transitional edge of the camera ring and the side fingerprint sensor.

Both the Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus are available in a delicate black, a dark silver that conveys a sense of metallic brightness and hardness, and a rich, deep navy that resembles a mineral stone. The Xperia 10 is exclusively available in a cool, neutral pink.

The Xperia 10 Plus, meanwhile, is available in an elegant, light gold for those who are looking for a subtle pop of colour in their everyday lives.

What cultural and design references influenced you in designing the phone?

We take inspiration from our everyday lives. Smartphones are such a big part of our lives that it’s important to create devices that are both stylish and innovative.

We know the Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus will be used for a multitude of different things – from consuming content to taking incredible imagery – so it’s important to cater to as many of these needs as possible.

The 21:9 Wide display was designed to enhance both the smartphones’ entertainment offering and its users’ productivity.

The phones sit beautifully in the hand. Why was this so important?

Creating the perfect hand-fit and pursing a bigger display were at the heart of our design process. The tall, slim frames of the new devices fit perfectly within your grasp and their borderless 21:9 Wide Full HD+ displays give users the ability to multi-task between apps on two windows, which is great for those who want stream a video and text at the same time!

The 21:9 display on each device makes the Xperia 10 and 10 Plus unique in the smartphone market. Were you looking to create a device that stands out from the rest?

Consumers are constantly seeking something new and exciting. We always challenge our own creativity to satisfy their needs. The 21:9 design offers ample useable screen space, whether you’re looking to increase your productivity by running two apps at once with the multi-window feature, or relaxing by watching content on your smartphone. Many modern blockbusters – as well as Netflix Originals – are filmed in the 21:9 ratio, meaning the Xperia 10 and 10 Plus are perfectly suited for the most popular films and box sets out there. The display also offers a deeper, unrestricted view of gameplay, giving gamers who use these new handsets to see more.

The post Meet the Makers: The team behind the sleek and slender design of the Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus appeared first on Sony Mobile Blog.

Source: Sony Mobile Blog
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Before buying a new smartphone, you’ll want to know all about its specs! After all, it’s not just the look of the phone that’s important, but what’s under the hood too. Luckily, alongside beauty, the new Xperia 1 brings a host of professional-grade technologies and impressive world-firsts.

If you want to know how the Xperia 1’s SteadyShot benefits your videos or when Fast Multi-Window Access will prove most useful, you’re in the right place.

Our alphabetical glossary will answer all your burning questions. Keep on reading to find out more…

Adaptive Charging
A long-lasting battery is vital for any smartphone user. Sony has developed Xperia Adaptive Charging to monitor your battery’s health whether it’s plugged in or charging. By adjusting to make sure the battery is never overworked, you won’t have to worry about never being out of power again.

Beautiful Design
The Xperia 1’s sleek, borderless appearance has been carefully thought through, encasing all of the incredible hardware within the device in a tough, robust frame. The 6.5” body is perfectly designed to fit comfortably in your hand and comes in four stunning colours: Black, White, Grey and Purple.

CineAlta
Digital motion picture camera professionals at CineAlta (whose cameras are currently being used to capture James Cameron’s Avatar sequels) helped power two of Xperia 1’s leading features. Creator Mode, which means colours are reproduced as their creators intended when watching content, and Cinema Pro, which allows you to record movies with the same parameters and settings as the professionals.

CinemaWide
For the ultimate picture-house style viewing, users can now get even more immersed in film, TV and games with the astounding 21:9 CinemaWide display (the same ratio that many blockbuster films are recorded in). The 4K HDR OLED display (a world’s first in smartphones*) delivers colours with striking accuracy and depth, giving users a true movie experience in the palm of their hand.

Dolby Atmos®
Dolby Atmos helps to create an impressive audio experience, amplifying your films, games and music to give multi-dimensional sound that flows around you in a similar fashion to a surround sound set-up.

Eye AF
The Xperia 1 boasts the new BIONZ X for mobile image-processing engine, which brings Sony’s Alpha technologies to the new smartphone. One of the benefits this offers is Eye AF** – a smartphone world-first. The triple camera not only identifies the eye, but establishes focus and holds the eye as the smartphone and subject move. This is a great feature for anyone who likes to take portrait photography. 

Fast Multi Window Access
With the Xperia 1, multi-tasking has never been easier. Users can launch two apps at the same time in Multi-window with Side sense – ideal for those who want to scan their emails and scroll through social media at the same time, or those who want to watch a video while chatting with friends.

Game Enhancer
Game Enhancer allows Xperia 1 users to share their favourite games with friends, as well as letting you talk while you play. Don’t miss out on pulling up the handy tips and tricks for those trickier levels you may come across, appearing on the screen while you play the game.   

High Dynamic Range (HDR)
The smartphone’s X1^TM engine offers BRAVIA 4K upscaling and remasters imagery to High Dynamic Range (HDR), offering exceptional contrast and crystal-clear clarity for an incredible content-watching experience. What’s more, the Xperia 1’s 10-bit equivalent tonal gradation (8 bit with 2 bit smoothing) means it can deliver myriad colours without banding, while professional-grade display standards means it offers deeper blacks, natural tones and a wide spectrum of colours with BT2020*** colour space.

IP65/68 Water Resistance
Never fear, with IP65/68 Water Resistant rating guards, users can relax knowing their Xperia 1 is protected against the elements****. Whether you need to clear dirt from your screen or need to give it a quick rinse under the tap, your device has got you covered.

Japanese Engineering
No different from other Sony devices, the Xperia 1 proudly incorporates award winning technologies, such as BRAVIA® TV technology. This design philosophy, steeped in heritage, has a celebrated track record of producing high quality electricals.

LOOK
Sony’s Digital motion picture camera engineers worked with Xperia to create the LOOK colour settings present in Cinema Pro. Whether you’re making your own movies or taking cinematic 21:9 imagery, you can choose from eight different settings to tailor the mood of your environment to the content you’re creating.

Master Monitor Colour Reproduction
Xperia 1 keeps colour consistent and true to the creator’s intent. By using Master Monitor colour reproduction – a technology used by filmmakers at major studios such as Sony Pictures Entertainment – the image on-screen is reproduced with exceptional contrast and clarity.

OLED Display
The Xperia 1’s OLED display is truly stunning. To find out more about why OLED screens pack such a punch, check out our handy guide here.

Qualcomm® Snapdragon SM8150
The Qualcomm Snapdragon SM8150 Mobile Platform brings super-fast performance and improved power efficiency, meaning you can now handle big tasks and multiple apps at once without any lag.

RAW Noise Reduction
Stemming from technologies found in Sony’s Alpha cameras, RAW noise reduction cuts unwanted noise in photos before it is encoded in JPEG format – making the final image smoother and clearer.

SteadyShot
The unique hybrid stabilisation system running Optical SteadyShot will help you capture shake-free, smooth videos, even when recording on the move. A great feature for capturing a group of friends, wildlife or even when you’re on moving transport.

Triple Camera
The Xperia 1’s triple camera will help you to upgrade your social feed. With its 16mm super wide lens, 26 mm lens and 52mm lens, image capturing has never been simpler. Whether you’re a landscape photographer or getting up close for portrait shots, you can now capture images knowing that your device will deliver professional-quality photos.

Source: Sony Mobile Blog
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If you’ve already got your hands on the Xperia 10 Plus, you’ll know its 12MP + 8MP dual camera system and its ability to capture imagery in the 21:9 aspect ratio make it a great device for taking creative photography.

We’ve shown you how to create amazing food photography using the Xperia 10 Plus, how to snap the great outdoors using the smartphone’s 2x optical zoom feature, as well as how to take Instagram-worthy city-break shots.

While the Xperia 10 Plus is perfect for capturing the spontaneous moments that happen all around you, it’s also more than capable when it comes to shots that require craft, set-up and careful planning. Here, we’ve used the device to breathe life into toy figurines, using forced perspectives to make them seem larger, adding emotional depth to the shots.

If you have an afternoon to yourself, you needn’t scroll through your smartphone… use it to get creative instead! Here are our ‘top tips’ for shooting toys and small figures using your Xperia 10 Plus.

It’s all a matter of perspective

If possible, you’ll need to get down to the same level as the figures, even lying down on the ground if you need to. It’s probably a good idea to wear something that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty.

Waterproofs can be useful, especially when you are shooting in streams.  If it isn’t possible to get down that low, then you can set the shot higher up at eye level; on a tree branch or wall, for example.

Creating another world

You can use old tree stumps and mossy areas outdoors as a ready-made set, creating an instant scenario for your figures. A puddle could become a lake, and a stream could become a river for your character to wander. A rock or a pile of stones could be a resting place or lookout for your miniature traveller.

Imagine that they are doing something, like running or walking, or looking as if they’ve just heard something or seen someone, and try to pose them that way instead of just propping them up.

If you can think of a back story for your figures it will help them to come alive. Think of them out on their adventures, or the relationships between them. Focus on their eyes, and imagine that you are the same size as them. This will give the impression that they are interacting with you as though you are right there in the scene with them.

Setting the scene

Next, you’ll need to think about the background. Other items in the shot (such as leaves, stray branches, and twigs) may disrupt the scale. You can edit your surroundings by taking these out of the shot. If this isn’t possible, shoot in Bokeh mode to blur out the distracting details and help the subject to ‘pop’ out of the shot. The Bokeh feature of the Xperia 10 Plus helps to separate the subject from the background, taking the toy out of the ‘real’ world and into their own world.

Let there be light

Make use of the different kinds of natural light outdoors. If you shoot during the ‘golden hour’ (just after dawn or just before sunset) you can make the most of the softer, warmer colours it brings. A cloudy day is often ideal as the clouds diffuse the light and give you soft, even lighting across the scene.

If you end up shooting on a bright, sunny day, try and find some shade, as the bright midday sun can create harsh shadows and blown-out highlights. Nevertheless, hard light streaming through trees on a bright day can also serve to highlight the figure within the scene, creating a dramatic effect.

Use the Xperia 10 Plus to its full potential

The Xperia 10 Plus’s 6.5” 21:9 Wide display offers the perfect canvas for creative photography, as you can see everything you’ve set up in the image right there on the screen. You can even check and adjust your still life with one hand while altering the position of the phone with the other.

What’s more, if you’ve got a tricky scenario where you can’t get the angle you require, the 2x optical zoom feature enables you to get closer to your subject. What’s more, shooting in the 21:9 ratio can make your shots look beautifully cinematic. If you want to take your photography skills to a higher level, you may also learn what is HDR photography and how an HDR image captures more colors than a single exposure ever could.

Finally, don’t be afraid to shoot in manual mode; you will see the effects of your adjustments right there on the screen. Play around with the shutter speed and ISO until you get the combination of effects just right, and adjust the white balance to alter the colour temperature and, in turn, change the overall ‘feel’ of the shot.

We’d love to see you recreate some forced perspective shots on your Xperia! Make sure you tag #Xperia so we can see your creations.

The post How to take amazing forced perspective toy photography with your Xperia smartphone appeared first on Sony Mobile Blog.

Source: Sony Mobile Blog
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When you’re going on a city break, taking an incredible picture that captures the essence of the place is something that’s always on the wish list.

But when so many people have visited that same city before, it’s tough to capture shots that feel unique, or haven’t been replicated hundreds of times over by keen Instagrammers before you.

So when we took the newly launched Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus to Barcelona, we wanted to show you how to take amazing pictures that stand out from the crowd.

With the 13MP and 5MP dual camera system on the Xperia 10, and the 12MP + 8MP setup on the Xperia 10 Plus, taking high quality images is made easy. Try using the Bokeh effect and 2X optical zoom features* to get an artistic effect, or get closer to the subject of your image without moving your own position.

To get the most out of your Xperia smartphone when you’re taking city photography, we’ve compiled a list of top tips.

1 – Capture shots in 21:9
One of the biggest advantages of the Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus is that you can capture imagery in 21:9 aspect ratio. What’s more, as you take the photo, you’ll see everything you’re capturing right there on the screen. Shots in the 21:9 ratio quite simply fit more in, ideal for a gorgeous panoramic-style effect as shown in the cityscape shot above. There’s plenty of room for the swing in the foreground, as though you’re soaring over the buildings below.

2 – Play with the light
There’s a lot to be said for golden hour, when the light turns redder and softer just before sunset, bathing everything it touches in a warm, summery glow. But even in daylight, you can take brilliant photographs by using clouds, skies and reflections of light as your own personal props.

3 – Use Manual Mode
If you want to make your photos stand out from the crowd, head to manual mode. This is where you can alter the settings to achieve the exact look you want (and it’s always better to alter the settings before you take the image rather than using filters afterwards). Adjust the white balance to account for the lighting in your shot, while if you’re shooting at night, you may need to up the ISO setting to let more light into the lens.

4 – Get up close
If you’re at Parc Guell, standing a few metres back from Gaudi’s famous lizard and snapping away to your heart’s content, you’re going to be producing an image everyone has seen before. Instead, look for unusual angles by moving the phone into different positions.

5 – Look for patterns and small details
Strong, clean patterns can produce striking images, even when the subject is part of the city’s everyday landscape. Above, an image of bicycles-for-hire is rendered interesting by the position of the phone, with the bikes seeming to repeat endlessly against a similarly staggered segment of palm trees.

What are your photography hacks when you take your Xperia out and about? Let us know in the comments below.

*2X optical zoom is exclusive to the Xperia 10 Plus

The post How to make your city break pictures more fiesta than siesta appeared first on Sony Mobile Blog.

Source: Sony Mobile Blog
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Whether it’s the precipitous drop from hand to floor as you dance along to your favourite artists, or the ever-present mud threatening to get your phone dirty, festivals offer a world full of danger for the humble smartphone – and that’s aside from worrying about saving your battery!

To put your mind at ease this upcoming festival season, we’ve created this handy guide to make the experience a happy one for you and your Xperia handset, whether you’re grooving to Ariana Grande at Coachella or The Cure and The Killers at Glastonbury.

Luckily for owners of the new Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus, handy in-built features mean these phones are perfect for taking to a festival (and not just to take incredible smartphone photography in 21:9).

Both handsets are protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5, providing excellent resistance to accidental drops and bumps. This means your Xperia 10 and 10 Plus are durable without being bulky or taking away from the slender hand-fit design.

Of course, if you’ve opted for the Xperia 10, it’s also a good idea to invest in the Style Cover Solid. With its military-grade testing*, its impact absorption structure helps to reduce the impact of sudden drops, and its elevated edge offers an extra level of protection for your screen.

When it comes to battery, both the Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus pack a powerful punch – ideal for when you want to record your favourite acts playing, stay in contact with your friends AND post to Instagram without running out of juice!

The Xperia 10 features a Qualcomm® Snapdragon 630 Mobile Platform which is designed to offer that vital long-lasting battery life, with an impressive 2870mAh battery.

The Xperia 10 Plus, meanwhile, boasts the Qualcomm® Snapdragon 636 Mobile Platform with a substantial 3000mAh battery. Both phones come with Sony’s Smart Stamina built in, predicting how long your power will last and adapting your energy usage to make sure your battery lasts as long as possible.

Now, let’s suppose the unthinkable happens: you’re watching a band, and you want to record a quick video. You reach into your pocket… but your smartphone isn’t there.

If you have a Google account, my Xperia, Sony’s remote security function, will help you locate and secure your Xperia smartphone.

Before you go to the festival, go into settings and tap ‘Lock screen & security’. Make sure ‘Find My Device’ is on.

If you lose your phone, use a friend’s smartphone and your Google ID to sign in to myxperia.sonymobile.com and access the central interface**.

With my Xperia you can:

1 – Locate your device on a map
2 – Sound an alert to get someone’s attention, even if the device is in silent mode
3 – Remotely lock the device and display your contact information to anyone who finds it
4 – As a last resort, remotely erase all internal and external memory/data on the device

How do you festival-proof your Xperia? Please leave any helpful tips in the comments below!

And most importantly, if you’re going to a festival this year, have a great time! Make sure you tag your festival pictures with #Xperia so we can take a look!

*US MIL-STD-810G-516.7 tested. Actual results may vary depending on usage and conditions. No guarantee made as to phone damage.
**The my Xperia service may not be available in all countries/regions.

The post How to festival-proof your Xperia smartphone appeared first on Sony Mobile Blog.

Source: Sony Mobile Blog
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As you’ll no doubt already know, Sony recently launched incredible new smartphones with extended 21:9 displays that allow for more immersive gaming and content watching: the Xperia 1, coming soon, as well as the Xperia 10 and 10 Plus, both available now.

We’ve already shown you the best ways to multi-task on your new Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus, and selected some great films to watch in 21:9.

But when it comes to finding content that fills the screen and shows off the display to its full extent, we want you to be able to find the games, films and TV shows that suit your tastes.

Luckily, it’s very simple! Blockbuster films and television shows are often filmed in 21:9, so when you’ve got your hands on a new Xperia, you’ll be able to watch in 21:9 Full HD+.

In addition to the impressive quality of the screen, the new Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus are packed with Sony’s High-Resolution Audio and LDAC technology, ensuring top sound quality that puts you right in the middle of the action.

Here are some of the best places to find eye-popping 21:9 content:

Netflix*
A whopping 67% of Netflix’s original movies and shows are filmed in 21:9**, meaning that you can stream in widescreen to your heart’s content! Fancy a scare? Birdbox, starring Sandra Bullock as Malorie in a world gone topsy-turvy, is the perfect film to give you the shivers. For more family-friendly fare, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle renders Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel The Jungle Book in glorious rainforest colours.

Amazon Prime* 
For those who subscribe to Amazon Prime, there’s a wealth of 21:9 content on offer. Among the most popular films available now are Venom, the box office smash from Sony Pictures, which sees Tom Hardy take the titular role as a superhero-cum-villain in a film that’s full of madcap entertainment. Arrival, the sci-fi epic starring Amy Adams, also looks brilliant in full 21:9 on the Xperia’s Wide display. The best part of Amazon Prime is that you can easily get further discounts by visiting websites like Raise, that offer great coupon codes.

Google Play
Pre-installed when you get your new Xperia 10 or Xperia 10 Plus, Google Play offers a range of the latest films, TV shows and more to buy or rent. Black Panther, acclaimed by critics and Marvel fans alike, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the latest instalment in the dinosaur franchise, are both available to stream in 21:9.

If you’re more of a gamer, then there’s good news for you too! Tencent Games’ Arena of Valor is supported in 21:9 for the ultimate immersive gaming experience.

For those who love a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena), Arena of Valor is a stellar 21:9 choice. Choose your character from a massive roster of assassins, mages and warriors and gather your teammates for this riveting game with intuitive controls. The edge-to-edge 21:9 extended screen on the Xperia 10 (6.0-inch) and Xperia 10 Plus (6.5-inch) will show you more of the battle arena so you can focus on your strategy to become the battle champion.

What’s your favourite content to watch – or game to play – on the 21:9 display? Let us know in the comments below.

*Streaming membership required.
**Netflix content varies by region.

The post From Arena of Valor to Amazon Prime, where to find content in 21:9 appeared first on Sony Mobile Blog.

Source: Sony Mobile Blog
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One of the biggest advantages of owning an Xperia smartphone is that wherever you go, you have an incredible camera to snap enviable, swoon-worthy imagery on the go.

With its 12MP + 8MP camera and many of Sony’s premium technologies, the newly launched Xperia 10 Plus is one such device, allowing you to take stunning photos in any situation – including in the 21:9 ratio.

We’ve already shown you how to capture perfect food photography on the new smartphone, but for more spontaneous shots, you’ll want to take inspiration from the world around you.

We used the Xperia 10 Plus to capture some of the world’s most interesting plants and flowers, using the 2x optical zoom feature on the 8MP camera to get closer to the action in eye-popping, natural detail.

When it comes to capturing intricate details, many people believe the best option is to zoom in – despite this often resulting in a blurry image. However, with 2x optical zoom, you can get closer to your subject without sacrificing quality.

When using 2x zoom it really helps to bring the subject closer to the camera. This is particularly useful when you want to remove unwanted items from the frame. In the photograph of the tower above, we ‘cropped’ the less attractive ground area from the photo without moving our position.

The image of the blossom tree above looks – at first glance – as though it is at the water’s edge. But look more closely. Here, we used a friend’s smartphone, laying it flat to create a reflective surface. We brought the lens of the camera close to the screen to see a mirrored reflection.

Mirrors, glass, sunglasses and the screen of another phone or tablet are all great surfaces that will work for reflection photography.

When using the 2x optical zoom, look for patterns, symmetry and lines of light or shadow. This gives you a very clean looking image. Luckily, nature provides delights like the cactuses below in abundance – you just have to look out for them!

And if you’re out and about, don’t just look down! We captured this shot by standing underneath a blossom tree, with the airplane trails adding an extra dimension and perspective to the shot.

Ponds and other sources of water can also provide a rich setting for your imagery. In the image at the very top of this post, a small ripple created an interesting effect among the almost golden flora atop the surface. Even when your scene is crowded with plantlife, as seen in the below image, you can capture interesting patterns and shapes.

One advantage of using the Xperia 10 Plus (and indeed the Xperia 10) is that you can shoot in 21:9. Once you’ve tried, you won’t go back, especially as vibrant, hypnotic colours fill the screen so you can truly capture what you see.

In this shot, we got down low to convey a sense of the forest from the ground up – looking through a sea of bluebells to the trees above.

Have you captured stunning nature photography on your Xperia? Make sure you show us by uploading to social media with #Xperia.

The post Optical Bloom: how we captured incredible flowers and plants using the Xperia 10 Plus appeared first on Sony Mobile Blog.

Source: Sony Mobile Blog
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