Sony announced two waterproof smartphones on Wednesday. They both run
dual-core processors, but one of the new handsets will ship with an
outdated version of Google’s Android operating system.
The Xperia Go and the Xperia Arco S are both set for release in the
third quarter of this year, though Sony officials haven’t yet said how
much the phones will sell for when they launch. The Xperia Go, which
will be called the Xperia Advance in the U.S., will ship running Android
2.3 (Gingerbread), though an upgrade to Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
is promised.
The Xperia Arco S will ship with Sony’s skinned version of Android 4.
The latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, debuted last
November on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus
and six months later, top phone makers such as Motorola, HTC, LG and
Sony are still struggling to offer software updates to consumers. The
Xperia Go’s use of Gingerbread is simply the latest example of this.
The Go is aimed decidedly at the low-end of the smartphone market,
with a 3.5-inch touchscreen sporting a 480×320 resolution. Inside, the
Go will house a 1GHz dual-core processor and a 5MP rear camera. The Go
will be sold in either black, white or yellow.
The Arco S is aimed toward the high-end, with a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU,
NFC connectivity, a 12MP rear camera and a 4.3-inch 720p display. The
Arco S will be offered in black, white and pink. Both the Go and the
Arco S feature scratch resistant screens and, impressively, the ability
to track finger input even when covered in water — something most
waterproof gadgets can’t do.