Sony opened its MWC press conference by announcing its new Xperia Z tablet.
Kunimasa Suzuki Sony Mobile’s CEO used the conference to boast about Sony’s unique convergence advantages, and told the packed room that 2013 is to be Sony’s “breakthrough year”, on the anniversary of the company’s Sony Ericsson takeover (it became known as Sony Mobile Communications).
The Xperia Z tablet is just 6.9mm thick and weighs less than 500g Suzuki said, making it the “thinnest, lightest tablet in the world.”
Like the Xperia Z smartphone, it is water and dust resistant, making it perfect to “email and browse the web, even on the beach,” Suzuki said. It has the highest levels of water resistance ever delivered in a tablet, Sony claims.
Sony Corporation CEO Kaz Hirai also took to the stage to lay out the company’s overall brief for 2013, most of which was aspirational speak concerning the melding of hardware and services as “only sony can deliver.”
Hirai said that mobile has now become the heart of the entire Sony business, and the Xperia range of smartphones and tablets will be central to the company’s successes in 2013.
Software wise, the Xperia Z smartphone and tablet will be getting a round of new apps – especially Walkman which Sony now claims will have some 18 million tracks to choose from. Staff also showed off some new photosharing apps, all of which will launch with the Xperia Z tablet.
TV Sideview is a second screen TV app that also allows you to watch live TV, follow tweets on a show, and use your tablet or smartphone as a remote – these applications are being implemented on rival devices however.
Suzuki told attendees that the Xperia Z is already the number 1 selling smartphone in Japan, and is selling out worldwide according to ‘reports’ – it is due to be launched in 60 countries shortly.
Given the annouincement of the Playstation 4 last week, the integration of Playstation to the Xperia devices was expected to be discussed – especially given the nature of Sony’s convergence plans, but little was given away other than to say that second screen interactivity would be incorporated.
