Sony May Be Testing Android Lollipop For The Xperia C3

Monday, March 9, 2015

Sony May Be Testing Android Lollipop For The Xperia C3

Sony recently reported that the Xperia Z devices are receiving Android 5.0 Lollipop because the software is currently undergoing final testing. We’ve a leak today that appears to show the Xperia C3 running an official release of Android Lollipop. The device is running Sony firmware version 19.3.A.0.222, which compares with the current Kit Kat version of 19.2.1.A.0.72. What is not clear is of the C3 will receive the update or not. We’ve the Sony Media Communications team say that Sony’s lower and mid-range Xperia line of Android devices will not receive the update, instead this is essentially reserved for the Z range. These leaked screen images may be associated with internal testing of the software: perhaps Sony is still considering the update and this software build is a part of this process?

In terms of hardware specification, the C3 certainly appears variable of running Android Lollipop. It was released at the end of Summer 2014 so it has only been out by seven to eight months. The smartphone is based around a 5.5-inch, 720p IPS LCD incorporating Sony’s Mobile Bravia 2 image processing engine and a Triluminos display. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, which is a 32-bit, quad-core, 1.2 GHz processor used in a number of other devices. There’s 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage (which has about 5 GB of space available for the user) plus a MicroSD card slot to add another 32 GB of storage. Around the back, there’s a 8MP camera and a 5MP front-facing unit. The C3 is kept powered up by an internal 2,500 mAh rechargeable battery. The core processor, screen and memory specification is similar to other devices already running Android Lollipop, such as the Moto G, although these handsets do not have Sony’s Xperia user interface.

Going back to Android Lollipop, Sony have included a number of Google’s revisions to the newer version including the task switcher view, the notification screen and the drop down settings screens, all of which look close to the stock interface. The firmware also appears to include Sony’s bundled entertainment applications such as the Walkman, Video Unlimited, plus the customizable Small Apps running at the bottom of the task switcher. Android Lollipop also includes two important changes under the skin – the operating system has moved to the Android RunTime away from the Dalvik RunTime, which means applications take longer to install but are much quicker to launch and require fewer device resources. Another change is the inclusion of a network scheduler, which aims to collate all application network requests and defer them until as many as possible may be fulfilled at the one time, which helps keep the device asleep rather than allowing applications to constantly wake the device. The network scheduler could be integrated into Sony’s STAMINA technology, which is designed to reduce battery consumption by disabling certain aspects of the device and stopping certain applications from connecting to the Internet.

Do you have the Xperia C3? If so, is today’s leak encouraging? Do you want to see Android Lollipop on you device? Or are you happy with things as they are? Let us know in the comments below. Meanwhile, if we hear anything official from Sony, we’ll let you know.