Sony has done something quite remarkable by releasing an Android Open Source Project (AOSP) build of Android Jelly Bean 4.2 for the Xperia Z flagship.
That means a totally stock Android experience on the Xperia Z’s fantastic 5-inch 1080p Full HD display with the Mobile Bravia Engine 2 and powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core chip.
The move isn’t entirely without precedent, previously Sony became closely involved with Google’s AOSP via its Xperia S smartphone, but at the time the Xperia S wasn’t the company’s flagship.
- Sony Xperia range to shed Timescape for stock Android
- Sony now leading Android Open Source Project for Xperia S
We’ve talked at length before about how we’d like more manufacturers to offer an ‘opt-out’ option to avoid UI overlays and run stock Android on their phones and Sony’s work with the Xperia S did hint that it might do this. For us, this is quite a big deal.
We don’t dislike the new Sony UI and it is an improvement on earlier iterations, but the stock Android interface is far more preferable to us and to get it on such a capable device as the Xperia Z is pretty neat.
Allegedly the majority of the Xperia Z’s capabilities are currently covered by the software update, including support for microSD cards, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and the various sensors built into the handset.
The camera is also said to be operational and working very well indeed, but this is still an area Sony is working on improving. Sony is apparently also trying to get NFC working for a subsequent patch.
Kudos to Johan Redestig and Björn Andersson, the two senior Sony software engineers steering the project.
If you’ve got an Xperia Z and want to give it a go head to Sony’s page and follow the instructions under ‘About the project’.
There’s also this video showcasing the software in action:
by pbriden via Featured Articles
Reviewed by Ossama Hashim
on
April 24, 2013
Rating:
Posts
No comments: