Sony Xperia Z4 specs review

The Sony Xperia Z4 has arrived! Or wait, isn’t this the Sony Xperia Z3? They seem to look practically the same. 
You can’t argue that while there are some subtle differences, the Xperia Z4 is for the most part a look-alike, a copy of last year’s Z3. Then, the Z3 was a copy of the Sony Xperia Z2, which was a bolder, but still very gradual evolution over the original Xperia Z.

And if those of you who found it disappointing that HTC is not evolving the looks of its One series quick enough with a third consecutive phone retaining largely the same design, then you probably won’t be too inspired by this fourth consecutive Xperia flagship with unchanged design.

Under the hood, though, the Xperia Z4 is a brand new monster, packing the latest system chip and a nifty improvement to the cameras. It also runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop, skinned with Sony’s light custom user interface. With all this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the detailed specs.

Design: same old, but thinner and lighter

The design approach in the Xperia Z4 as a whole has not changed: the overall rectangular form of the phone with rounded edges remains, and so do the materials (glass on the back and front, sandwiched between a sturdy, metal frame). The dreamy rumors about a fingerprint scanner embedded in the side positioned lock screen have turned out to be nothing more than a false alarm.

THE XPERIA Z4 IS SLIMMER AND LIGHTER THAN THE Z3

Some slight improvements have been introduced, though: the Z4 is thinner and lighter. Sony has trimmed down the device to merely 6.9mm in thickness (on par with the iPhone 6, and 0.4mm less than the 7.3mm Xperia Z3), and weight is reduced to 5.08 oz (144 grams), down from 5.36 oz (152 grams) on the Z3. The new Xperia Z4 will be available in four colors: white, black, copper, and aqua green.

It’s also interesting to notice that the matte aluminum frame on the Xperia Z3 is replaced by a glossy-looking, much more reflective side on the Z4. Also, gone is the magnetic port used to dock the phone into stands, and the SIM card and microSD card slot are housed behind a single protective flap. All the rest remains the same, and we’re also happy to see the dedicated two-way camera shutter key on the Z4.

Good news is that this conservative approach to design means that the Xperia Z4 remains water-proof with IP68 certification. Given that Samsung has dropped the water protection in its Galaxy S6, the Z4 remains the only flagship phone with protection from the elements. While in earlier Xperia Z flagship phones, Sony has always used a flap to protect the microUSB port from water damage, in the Xperia Z4 the company has now moved to a fully protected port without a flap, which is a nice little touch.

Display: 5.2" with a 1080 x 1920-pixel resolution

We don't have a lot of details about the screen used in the Xperia Z4 except for the very basic ones: it will be a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. We've examined the difference between a Quad HD and 1080p panel in depth in a separate article, where we conclude that at regular viewing distances, that differences is practically impossible to notice, so we are not hugely disappointed by the fact that Sony has not adopted the trendy new Quad HD resolution.

What's more important is the actual color representation. The Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z3 made some progress towards a better display (the Xperia Z3 even allows for control over the R/G/B channels, so that you can calibrate your screen), but none were perfect, so we hope that Sony made good use of that room for improvement in the Z4.

Under the hood: Snapdragon 810

What’s ticking under the hood of the Xperia Z4 is the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 system chip, an octa-core solution with four high-performance Cortex A57 cores running at up to 2GHz, and four Cortex A53 battery-savvy cores clocked at up to 1.5GHz.

This is effectively the same setup used on flagships like the HTC One M9, but we’re yet to see how Sony has managed to do with the excessive heat that the Snapdragon 810 system chip seems to radiate, especially given the thinner dimensions of the phone.

The RAM memory is 3GB, and good news is that we now have 32GB of internal storage in the base model, with an option to expand on that via microSD cards of up to 128GB.

In terms of connectivity, the handset features a Category 6 4G LTE modem with support for local, Japanese carriers, where it can reach a maximum of 225Mbps download speeds (using carrier aggregation).

Cameras: 20-megapixel main shooter, 5-megapixel selfie cam with optical stabilization

The main camera on the Xperia Z4 is a 20-megapixel Exmor RS one and the phone uses a large, 1/2.3” camera sensor, the biggest on Android phones so far.

What’s particularly interesting is that there’s also a 5-megapixel selfie cam that features optical image stabilization (OIS). This should allow for sharper photos in low light. Additionally, the 25mm wide-angle lens on top of the sensor allows for more people to fit in one frame, which is nice when there’s a whole group of you trying to take a selfie (usie?).

Battery life

Going for a slimmer design, Sony was obviously forced to use a lower-capacity battery in the Xperia Z4, which features a 2930mAh cell, while its predecessor sported a slightly larger, 3100mAh battery. We’re yet to see how this translates on the actual battery longevity of the phone, but one thing to keep in mind is that the Xperia Z3 was a great starting point: it scored at the very top of our battery life test, so even if we see slightly degraded battery life on the Z4, we can still expect it to outlast the competition.

Conclusion: price, availability and release date

Sony has not announced an official price for the Xperia Z4, but we can safely bet that it will be priced right in the $650 off-contract ($200 on a 2-year contract) industry tradition. Availability will be limited to Japan for the initial launch, while a very similar model is expected to get unveiled later on for the rest of the world.

The release date is again not set in stone, but chances are that we will see the Z4 on store shelves in early summer, around the end of May/beginning of June.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sony-Xperia-Z4-specs-review_id68428

Source: Phonearena

Sony Xperia Z4, Z4 Compact and Sony Z4 Ultra

New Year's Eve is right around the corner, and we're already taking our little peeks at upcoming smartphones that will kick-start 2015 into being another awesome year for mobile technology. The biggest blip on our phonedar right now is Sony's upcoming Xperia Z4 lineup - which is led by the Xperia Z4 smartphone and followed by the smaller Xperia Z4 Compact, the huge Z4 Ultra, and quite possibly, the Z4 Tablet - which we won't be taking a look at here.

These glorious beasts could be announced as early as January at CES 2015 - and, therefore, they're leaking like there's no tomorrow! So, we figured it's about time we rounded up all the rumors that sprouted over the past month and a half. Looking at how much we know or heard about the Xperia Z4 family, it's safe to say Sony won't stand a chance at catching us - or you - off-guard! But there's always room for surprises, so be sure to take all the information presented here with a precautionary grain of salt!

Design
For better or worse, the Sony Xperia Z4, Z4 Compact, and Z4 Ultra are yet to leak in credible pictures. What we we have to entertain our imagination with are two convincing concept renders, and the Xperia Z3 devices, of course, whose design DNA will surely carry over. We can safely assume Sony has found ways to make its best smartphones slimmer and lighter, while reducing the "empty space" around the display by minimizing the top, bottom, and side bezels. The build materials will most probably be metal and tempered glass - a high-end combination Sony has a proven ability to handle. Thus, expect metal power and volume buttons thrusting out of a finely sculpted metal frame.

Of course, a Xperia smartphone is not worthy of the "flagship" moniker if it isn't water and dust-proof as well, so let's put that in the bag too. Another likely addition is front-facing stereo speakers, a feature Sony has no reason to remove from its premium offerings.

Display
1440p or 1080p resolution? The rumors are as unsure as ever, but we'll be getting one of the two in the Sony Xperia Z4's Triluminos display for certain. The display size is debatable as well. A leaked internal presentation, along with a few other tips, has put it at 5.2 inches by diagonal, while previous rumors have pointed towards 5.4 or 5.5 inches - take your pick!

Given the Sony Xperia Z3 has a 5.2-inch diagonal, and Sony's strategy is one of improving its designs without changing them significantly, we're keen to bet on 5.2 inches. If that's the case, then the Xperia Z4 screen's pixel density will stand tall in both the 1080p (423ppi) and 1440p (565ppi) scenarios.

On the lesser side of things, the Xperia Z4 Compact is shaping up with the familiar 4.7-inch diagonal, 1080p resolution configuration, while the Xperia Z4 Ultra's broad 6.44-inch display could have its resolution set at Quad HD (1440x2560). Thus, at least on paper, both screens will have their pixel densities through the roof at 468ppi for the Z4 Compact's and 456ppi for the Z4 Ultra's.

Performance
When it comes to the Sony Xperia Z4's processor, the rumor mill is torn between the 32-bit Snapdragon 805 processor and the 64-bit Snapdragon 810 SoC, both by Qualcomm. The former is sufficiently powerful and readily available to Sony, but it lacks the future proofing of the latter - which won't make it to manufacturers until the second quarter of 2015. Knowing this, and that Sony might be introducing the Xperia Z4 device lineup at CES 2015 (Jan 6-9), we're placing our bets on the Snapdragon 805.

Besides, Sony has no reason to rush, as it will get the chance to outfit the Xperia Z5 with premium 64-bit silicon six months later. The amount of RAM should remain 3GB, which is more than enough for the Android devices of today. The Xperia Z4 Compact and Ultra, however, are in a different ballpark. Their rumored release timeframe is the second quarter of 2015, which means they can enter the scene Snapdragon 810 processors blazing! Both will have 3GB of RAM on board, too.

Interface
Sony's Xperia Z4 lineup will run on Android 5.0 Lollipop topped off with the fit Xperia UI. Sony's vision for it is about delivering entertainment and productivity in a simple package, so it's safe to say it will spare the feature bloat. Instead, there are many smaller nuggets of useful functionality. Double tap to wake; an options panel, which can be revealed at any time by doing a swipe gesture from the left edge of the screen; Sony's Small Apps multitasking suite, which pins windowed calculator, browser, notes and other apps on top of anything else; built-in screen recording functionality, and more goodies. In addition, the pleasant and understated design is consistent and melds with the user experience of recent Sony smart devices you may have in your household - such as the PS VITA, the PS4, or a TV set.

Camera
With its Xperia smartphones, Sony is in the awkward position of peddling the industry's best-selling Exmor RS camera sensor to its direct competitors, while inexplicably failing to make it stand out in its own products. Don't get us wrong, Sony smartphones take decent photos, but you won't see the Xperia Z3 in our selection of 2014's best cameraphones - even though it should have qualified for it with its potent 20.7-megapixel CMOS sensor and extensive camera app. The Xperia Z4 lineup is Sony's next chance to redeem itself, and for that, the company has prepared a new camera sensor.

The Exmor RS IMX230 is a 1/2.4", 21MP sensor that advances mobile photography with image plane phase detection autofocus and 192 AF points. These additions should enable blur-free tracking and snapping of fast moving objects, along with real-time HDR images. Sony plans to make a 16MP version too, but whether we'll have any of the two inside the Xperia Z4 devices is up in the air, as the IMX230 will be put in mass production as late as April 2015. So don't be surprised if the Xperia Z4 shows up at CES rocking its predecessor's 20.7 MP 1/2.3” Exmor RS sensor with 1.12 micron pixels - which won't be a bad thing at all!

Storage and connectivity
We don't expect Sony to pull any surprises or surprise punches here. We can count on either 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and why not 128GB of built-in storage in the Xperia Z4, Z4 Compact, and Z4 Ultra's different models. LTE, fast Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and popular standards for connecting phone and Smart TV or monitor together are a given.

Battery life
We measure battery life by running a custom web-script, designed to replicate the power consumption of typical real-life usage. All devices that go through the test have their displays set at 200-nit brightness.

If the Sony Xperia Z4 ends up anywhere around the Xperia Z3's size, it would be logical to assume it has roughly the same battery. A 3100mAh unit (or, hopefully more) will have plenty of juice to power even the purported QHD display variant, but we're not sure whether the smartphone will stand a chance to ace our battery test like its predecessor did if it has such a power-hungry display. Then again, the mighty Samsung Galaxy Note 4 achieved an excellent result with only a 3220mAh unit to make do with, so either way, we're optimistic about the outcome. Same for the Z4 Compact, which is rumored to have wireless charging. Finally, the Rubenesque Xperia Z4 Ultra will find itself with an appropriately sized battery unit of a 3500mAh to 4000mAh capacity. Check out the test results above to get an idea of how the Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact, Z Ultra, and Galaxy Note 4 perform in this important regard.

Release date, price, and carriers
As mentioned above, we expect Sony to unveil the Sony Xperia Z4 (and possibly, the Z4 Tablet) at CES 2015 in early January. The Xperia Z4 Compact and Z4 Ultra will follow later, almost certainly in the second quarter of the year. However, pricing and carrier availability in the USA are totally different questions. If you don't plan on buying unlocked, maybe you could look for the Xperia Z4 at Verizon and T-Mobile - the only US carriers that sold the Xperia Z3 on a contract. Meanwhile, the Z3 Compact and the original Xperia Z Ultra were never sold with a plan - you have to get them at stores. Whether the Z4 Compact and Z4 Ultra will face the same fate, or not, it remains to be seen.

Price, you asked? Well, Sony's high-end smartphones don't come cheap! We expect Sony will charge anywhere between $600-$800 for the Xperia Z4 unlocked, between $500-$700 for the Z4 Compact, and $700 for the Xperia Z4 Ultra. But this is only some educated speculation on our part.

Source: Phonearena

Sony Xperia Z3 hands-on

To no surprise, Sony announced its newest flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z3, at its IFA 2014 press conference. The phone was leaked extensively over the past few weeks, which is why we knew what to expect seeing at the event. Now, however, we're given the opportunity to spend some personal time with Sony's new gadget. Yup, it is hands-on time with the Sony Xperia Z3!

Design
We have zero doubt that looks and feel have been top priorities for Sony's team of product designers. And they've once again done their job well – the Sony Xperia Z3 looks outstanding, as any premium phone should. Sony's new flagship follows in the footsteps of its predecessors by adopting a number of their staple design traits, including the metal-made frame and that awesome-looking glass back. The result is a gorgeous phone that's neither too similar to, nor too different from the previous Sony high-ends. And don't be worried about fingerprints ruining the look of that glass back we just mentioned. The surface's coating ensures that little to no finger smudge stays on the phone's surface.

Oh, and did we highlight that the Sony Xperia Z3 is just 7.3 millimeters (0.28 inches) thick? Yup, and this makes it the thinnest Android flagship ever produced by the company. Adding the extra-rounded corners to the mix produces a phone that's quite comfortable to grasp. It's also a bit smaller and lighter than the Z2, and its dimensions now sit at 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm (5.74 x 2.83 x 0.28) and the device weighs 152 grams (5.36 ounces). At the same time, making the Z3 smaller, thinner, and lighter, hasn't negatively impacted Sony's ability to put a generous battery inside it. The Z3 packs a 3100mAh battery, which is only about 3% smaller than the Z2's 3200mAh cell.

As is now typical for Sony's high-end models, the Xperia Z3 is resistant to dust and water damage – a notable perk that few other phones can brag with. It carries an IP65/68 rating, to be more specific, which means that it can withstand being submerged in fresh water at up to 1.5 meters and for up to 30 minutes, and also withstand low-pressure jets of water shot at it. Another feature making the Z3 stand out ahead of its competitors is the set of front-facing stereo speakers. They are a valuable asset, there's no denying that, but their openings seem to somewhat spoil the look of the phone's front side, and we weren't told if any improvements have taken place over the implementation in the Z2.

Around the sides of the Sony Xperia Z3 we have the usual set of buttons – a well-exposed power key resides on the right side, along with a volume rocker and a 2-stage camera shutter. The microUSB port is on the left, together with Sony's proprietary docking port. Flaps protect the phone's microSD and SIM card slots, ensuring that no water or dust reaches any of the circuitry inside. A 3.5-millimeter headphone jack is placed on the handset's top edge.

Lastly, Sony is finally changing things up in terms of color – the usual palette of just black and white now also includes copper and silver green. A purple-colored Z3 is nowhere to be found, however.

Display
Like it or not, things here have been pretty much left unchanged. The Sony Xperia Z3 comes with a screen that's very similar to the one on the Z2, with the same diagonal size of about 5.2 inches and identical resolution of 1080 by 1920 pixels for a pixel-per-inch figure of 424 PPI. Also, the screen is still of the IPS LCD variety and features the usual set of Sony's proprietary technologies, including TRILUMINOS and the X-Reality display engine. These are supposed to improve color representation and help the screen produce sharper, clearer images, but we won't know until we have a chance to test the screen properly. Still, there's one thing that has been improved – the screen's brightness output. Sony claims that the panel is its brightest TRILUMINOS display for mobile, so we're expecting to see a sizable improvement in this area. To the naked eye, the screen looks bright and vivid even under the powerful projectors installed in the hall, but again, our measurements will show how bright the panel can really get.

Interface
The latest Android 4.4.4 KitKat update – that's what the Xperia Z3 is loaded with. Obviously, Sony's proprietary Xperia theme is loaded on top of it, and it is as light and simple as ever.

Indeed, Sony is among the last-standing manufacturers to keep to a mostly stock-looking and feeling layout, meaning that there's no excess of extra features and little clutter. Oh, and no interface lag – you'd think we've moved on from having to mention this, but that's not really the case with all flagships just yet. The list of goodies includes a number of different-colored themes, STAMINA mode (prolongs battery life), and xLOUD and ClearPhase tweaks for better loudspeaker and in-call quality.

Lastly, and to answer a question that is likely on your mind – we don't yet know when Sony will update the Xperia Z3 to Android L, but we're plenty sure the update will make it to Sony's new hardest-hitter.

Processor and memory
The Sony Xperia Z2 was already a beast when it came to hardware specs, but there was still a little bit of room left for improvement. The gap has been filled now with a faster SoC, namely Qualcomm's Snapdragon 801, model MSM8974-AC. The chip packs a quad-core Krait 400 CPU with a 2.5GHz maximum clock speed and an Adreno 330 graphics processor. On a side note, the very same SoC powers a number of other high-end phones, including the LG G3, the Samsung Galaxy S5, and the HTC One (E8).

Now, you should keep in mind that while the Z3 will be one of the most powerful smartphones around thanks to its Snapdragon 801 SoC, it won't be the top performer of them all. Handsets, like the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, featuring the even faster Snapdragon 805 are already on their way to consumers. Should you care? Not really. The Z3's hardware specification is still top-notch and should stay relevant for at least of couple of years from now on.

The amount of RAM you get with the Sony Xperia Z3 is 3GB, just like the case was with the Z2. Again, that's plenty of memory – enough to handle some serious multitasking. And as far as storage goes, you'll get a choice of two models – one with 16GB and one with 32GB, both with the option to add extra gigs (up to 128) by sliding in a microSD card.

Camera
A 20.7MP auto-focus camera with a single LED flash – that's what you get with the Sony Xperia Z3. And yes, this is the same 1/2.3'' Exmor RS sensor that we know from the Z2 and the Z1 flagships, but the camera is not at all without improvement. For example, Sony's proprietary G Lens are now wider at 25 mm (vs 27 mm in the Z2). This would allow you to fit more in a single frame without having to step back. All in all, knowing how capable Sony's 20.7MP snapper already is, we're excited to see what the new combo can do, and not at all complaining.

Besides, the software is no less important in determining whether a photo would turn out good or not, Sony has obviously done some work in that regard. For example, the company's SteadyShot tech that compensates for hand shake during video capture has been apparently improved, and the company has also added a number of new features. Those include Multi-camera and Face in (shoot video/take a picture with front and back camera simultaneously), AR Fun (draw over images), and Sound Photo (photos with... sound). Plus, Sony brags that its snapper can now reach ISO of 12800, which is impressive, we must say, but only real-life images will confirm whether or not such high sensitivity would produce usable results.

Price, release date, expectations
So there you have it! The Sony Xperia Z3 is here and it rocks even though it is but a minor upgrade over the Xperia Z2. But when is it coming, and how much would you have to pay, and is it going to be worth it?

Well, in typical Sony fashion, specifics are essentially non-existent. Sony limited itself to just vaguely pointing out that we should expect a global roll out in autumn, though that's not much to go on. As for price, Son was again mum, but we're fairly sure the Z3 will follow the pricing model of the Z2 – between €599 and €699 in Europe without a contract, and, if it ever gets to the States, around $750 contract-free. But, hey, who knows? Perhaps Sony will surprise us all, and finally work a deal with US carriers.

As for whether you should be excited about the Xperia Z3 if you're in the market for a flagship, we see no reason not to. Sure, if you already own the Xperia Z2, it would be hard to justify a new purchase, but if you don't – the Z3 is certainly looking amazing and is likely one of the best picks right now, especially if Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 does nothing for you.

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Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact hands-on

Design

Being a proud member of Sony's newest Xperia lineup, the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact flaunts the same design language as its smartphone peers. Then again, it's an 8-inch slate, so it's a lot bigger than the aforementioned devices, but as a whole, its design and exterior hardware features are the same. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is, in fact, on par with the Xperia Z2 Tablet in terms of thickness – 6.4mm, which makes them both the slimmest slates at the moment. Apart from being abnormally slim, the Z3 Tablet Compact is also 213.4 mm high and 123.6 mm wide.

Sony's new 8” slate has a matte back cover, similar to the one of the Xperia Z3, which makes it somewhat unexciting, but at least it's smudge-proof – touch it all you want, you'd hardly see a fingerprint on the back of the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.

The whole shebang is also surprisingly light – with 270 gr, it's among the lightest tablets in the 8-inch display segment. Fortunately, the extremely compact overall dimensions of the tablet have not prevented Sony from putting a 4,500mAh battery under the hood. Similar to the Xperia Z3 and the Xperia Z3 Compact, Sony's new compact tablet is also endowed with dust- and water-proof capabilities, courtesy of the IP65/68 certification aboard. This means that it will survive a submarine drop for up to 30 minutes in up to 1.5 meters of water and live to tell the tale. As a whole, Sony deserves credit for making such an extremely slim device that waterproof.

Display
Sony did not change the horses in the middle of the stream in the display department of the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - it's coming with an 8-inch Triluminos display with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, which is similar to the one of the Xperia Z3. The bigger display and the same resolution have, however, resulted in a pixel density of 283ppi. Sony's 8-inch slate has an extremely bright display and has excellent color reproduction, but we have hardly doubted Sony's capabilities in this department section. At first sight, the viewing angles are excellent, too. However, we would not jump to conclusions until we can put its display to the test.

Interface
Unsurprisingly, the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is coming with the latest build of Google's OS - Android 4.4.4 KitKat - aboard, with Sony's own user interface running on top of it. As usual with Sony, the interface does not stray much away from stock Android - don't expect to see a hodgepodge of often-unnecessary features and clutter in the interface section. On the contrary, the on-board features are similar to the ones of the Xperia Z3 - we have Stamina Mode, xLOUD, ClearPhase. That said, we keep our hopes high that Android L will eventually make its way to the compelling Sony 8-incher.

Processor and memory
We have the highest breed of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 on board of the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - the quad-core MSM8974-AC, which flies at no more or less than 2.5GHz. This is more than enough to pave the way for a lagless, hassle-free user experience with the device. Then again, there is no Snapdragon 805 inside, but frankly said, it doesn't feel like the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact needs a more powerful tablet. In addition, the more-than-generous amount of 3GB of RAM will surely provide a great multi-tasking experience. The device comes with 16GB of on-board storage, which is expandable via a microSD card (up to 128GB ones are supported, mind you).

Camera
The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact comes with a 8.1 MP camera with an Exmor RS sensors, while a 2.2 MP front-facing cam paves the way for adequate selfies. We will have to test the camera goodness of the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact before we can give a verdict, but from the looks of it, the slate probably won't disappoint. The camera interface is also endowed with some new features and functionalities, which, along with Sony's new media-centric apps, make sure that the Z3 Tablet Compact has something something to woo you with in this department.

Expectations
Well, that's it! The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is already official, after a plethora of rumors and speculations. Sony already revealed that the device that will be available from this autumn, and will surely give the most compact tablets of Sony's rivals a run for their money. If you are looking for a compact, yet decently-powerful and premium-looking tablet, then you should be keeping tabs on the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. It seems like it will be priced at €379 or £329 (before taxes and subsidies, of course). Watch out, Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and LG G Pad 8.0!

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Sony Xperia Z3 Compact hands-on

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is a smaller device than a flagship, but this does not mean that it is less powerful than one. In fact, it has almost the same zippy internals as its flagship sibling, the 5.2-inch Xperia Z3.

So what is the difference? Mainly, in size: the Xperia Z3 Compact is a 4.6-inch smartphone with a 720 x 1280-pixel (720p HD) display. For all else, it’s got the same outstanding design. It’s made out of glass and the edges are nicely rounded. But the most impressive design feat seems to be that the 4.6-inch Xperia Z3 Compact fits in nearly the same dimensions as last year’s 4.3-inch Sony Xperia Z Compact. This makes it a perfect device for single-handed use, and that’s something that many will appreciate. In addition to that, we’re seeing some bold colors: along with the traditional black and white, there is orange and green as well.

Display
We are impressed with the 4.6-inch display of the Xperia Z3 Compact. It has great looking colors (at least to our trained eye, we’re yet to run benchmarks) - vivid and rich, but maybe just a tad short of perfect. The 720 x 1280-pixel resolution might not seem extremely high as nowadays we get phones with Quad HD panels, that is with four times more pixels, but it feels sufficient to not notice individual pixels. Pixel density comes in at 319ppi, close to the level of the current iPhone 5s, if we had to compare it to anything.

Interface
The Z3 Compact runs on Android 4.4 KitKat with Sony’s Timescape user interface on top. It’s a fast-running interface with nice, modern icons and swift transitions with almost none of the slowdown we’re so often seeing in other devices.

Processor and Memory
Under the hood, the Xperia Z3 Compact features the Snapdragon 801 system chip. It features the quad-core Krait 400 processor that can run at up to 2.5GHz, and along with 2GB of RAM. Internal storage starts at 16GB, but you can easily expand on that via microSD cards of up to 128 gigs.

Camera
Apart from its excellent performance, the other huge advantage of the Xperia Z3 Compact is its large-sensor camera. With the Xperia Z3, the Z3 Compact shares the same 20.7-megapixel 1/2.3” Sony sensor. This is the largest sensor out there on Android, and that gives it many advantages, especially in lower-lit environments. The handset is also capable of recording 4K video and we did not notice any of the issues that the earlier Xperia Z2 had with overheating.

Battery
The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact features a 2600mAh battery. This might not sound like a heck lot for a flagship, but we should not forget that we’re talking about a device with only a 4.6-inch display with a not hugely challenging, 720p resolution. The end result seems like a winner: the 2600mAh juicer should theoretically be able to easily carry you through a day, and why not even two. We’re yet to test the juicer with our exhausting battery tests, but we do expect some nice scores.

Expectations
Don’t be misled by the ‘Compact’ in the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. This is not a ‘mini’ phone with shrunken down specs: it’s a full on compact flagship. And that’s great: after all, not everyone would want the huge 5.2-inch display of the Xperia Z3. With a great display, zippy processor, and impressive camera, the Z3 Compact has all it takes to succeed.

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Stand out from the crowd with the stylish and slim Xperia T3 smartphone from Sony

Xperia T3 is a light, exquisite smartphone designed from premium materials including stainless steel that stands out
Industry-leading Sony technology is packed into the world’s slimmest 5.3’’ smartphone
Featuring an impressive HD TRILUMINOS™ display for mobile with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2, the Xperia T3 is ideal for enjoying your photos and videos
Xperia T3 features an impressive camera with pre-loaded Xperia apps for optimised social sharing
Sony has collaborated with renowned photographer Benjamin Kaufmann to produce a series of breath-taking photographs inspired by Xperia T3

3rd June 2014, London – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today introducesXperia T3, the stunning new smartphone created exclusively for those looking to stand out from the crowd. Beautifully crafted in a stainless steel frame, the Xperia T3 is a light and ultra-slim sensation that’s just as pleasing to hold, as it is to look at.

“Xperia T3 has been crafted with attention to detail for those who know how to appreciate distinctive design in their everyday life. The T3 is packed with the latest beautiful technology from Sony – including leading digital imaging expertise and a vivid HD display – all within a stylish, stainless steel frame. The combination of this beautiful technology and the premium design ensures the T3 immediately stands apart from the competition,” says Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications.

Designed with attention to every detail



Despite being crafted with high-end materials, the super-slim Xperia T3 remains light at a mere 148 grams, offering freedom and ease for life on the go. The gorgeous, stainless steel frame ‘mirrors’ the world around you. T3 comes in three stylish colours making it a real eye-catcher: white, black and purple.

The steel used in the frame ensures its slim design feels sturdy and durable, while at the same time functioning as an antenna, combining form with function. The back cover is designed with matte material, which helps Xperia T3 feel slim and light in your hand, despite its robust build.

Enjoy every shade of colour

Built with Sony’s BRAVIA technologies, the Xperia T3 has an impressive screen with a high-resolution 5.3″ HD TRILUMINOS display for mobile with Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2. The result is a viewing experience that offers redder reds and bluer blues, and an IPS display that you can enjoy from any angle – perfect for creating a superior entertainment experience on the go.

Sony camera expertise, at your service

The Xperia T3 is packed with Cyber-shot leading camera expertise and comes with an 8MP camera featuring Exmor RS™ for mobile, allowing you to take exceptional pictures even in challenging lighting conditions. And HDR for video means you can shoot beautiful films, even when backlit. Thanks to SteadyShot™, all your photos will come out smooth and distortion-free.

Super-fast speed for superior surfing

Xperia T3 supports super-fast 4G networks, allowing you to share every highlight of your day, anytime and anywhere. With its Quad-core CPU with 1.4 GHz processor, Xperia T3 comes with ultra-fast performance and breath-taking graphics, ideal for entertainment on the go. In addition to its long-lasting 2500 mAh battery, the Battery STAMINA Mode also helps you enjoy your entertainment experience for longer.

The combination of its powerful processor, super-fast4G networks, and extensive battery life, shows the Xperia T3 truly combines style with power – allowing you to consume the latest entertainment through the Sony Entertainment Network, browse the internet or share pictures and videos instantaneously.

Impressive apps that your social world will enjoy

The Xperia T3 features camera apps designed to enhance the way we create and share images socially.
Social live – lets you broadcast every precious moment as it happens live via Facebook and lets you see and share comments in real time on the phone’s screen
AR effect – switch your camera to AR effect mode to add new sound effects and fun animations to your photos and videos. Ranging from dinosaurs to ocean-life, these fully customisable themes can be easily edited as you go.
Timeshift burst – if you’re afraid you’re going to be too late on the shutter, don’t be. Timeshift burst takes 31 frames within just two seconds. Starting even before you press the shutter, Timeshift burst can make sure you capture the perfect picture.
Creative effects – to give your pictures an artistic edge apply a wide selection of looks to your photos and videos with creative effects; change colours, add image trails or apply mirror effects. Available in real-time for video, these adjustment enhance your clips and open up a world of possibilities.
Portrait Retouch - style your close-ups. Portrait Retouch makes sure you’re always captured looking your best with features including real-time makeup, deco frame and other options. You can also see changes in real time, before capturing the shot to ensure a photogenic finish.

Sony has committed to continuously improve its selection of camera apps, with more apps constantly available to download and new ones continuously released.

Easy transfer
Xperia™ Transfer is an ultra-easy, safe and simple app that’ll help you move your contacts, photos, bookmarks, apps, music, messages and much more from your old Android or iOS device to your new Xperia T3. Furthermore, Xperia Transfer Mobile2 makes the switch even easier – no need to use your PC or Mac, you can transfer directly from phone to phone. Moving from an iOS or Android phone to Xperia has never been easier or faster.

The perfect companion for style conscious consumers looking for a phone that doesn’t compromise on design or technology – the new Xperia T3 will launch globally from the end of July 2014.

Source

PlayStation 4 review

A great game console for early adopters
The Good The PlayStation 4 serves up dazzling graphics, runs on a simplified and logical interface, and boasts a fantastic controller. It's $100 cheaper than rival Xbox One and has the upper hand on indie and digital-only games. It also doubles as a great Blu-ray player and has plenty of streaming entertainment apps.
The Bad There are few must-buy triple-A titles in these early days, and existing PS3 games aren't compatible. The PS4 lacks the robust DLNA compatibility or media playback support which made its predecessor such a great all-around content player. And the promising PlayStation Now and streaming TV services won't be available until later this year.
The Bottom Line The PlayStation 4's beautiful graphics, blazing interface, near-perfect controller, and lower price give it a slight edge on the Xbox One -- for now.

Now that we're more than two months out from the mid-November release date of the PS4 and Xbox One, it's a good time to take a second look at both consoles with fresh eyes.

And right now, the PS4 is looking pretty good.

The Sony console has the edge on value -- it delivers a better value. And some recently announced gaming and entertainment features due later this year have the potential to make the investment in a PS4 pay off in 2015 and beyond.

The affordability appeal is twofold. The PS4 is available for $100 less than the Xbox One -- $399 versus $499 for the Microsoft console -- so you're saving money right off the bat. But the Xbox One also requires one to maintain an Xbox Live Gold account to do nearly anything interesting, right down to watching Netflix. By contrast, Sony's PlayStation Plus online service ($50/year) is required only to play online multiplayer games -- and that membership includes access to several downloadable digital games, available at no extra charge.

Meanwhile, Sony announced two big PlayStation initiatives in January: PlayStation Now and a Sony online TV service, both due before the end of year. PlayStation Now aims to deliver real-time game streaming to the the PS4 and other Sony game consoles. Details are more vague on the online TV service, but it looks to be a cable-like video streaming app -- think Netflix or Hulu, but with live TV channels.

To be sure, game lineups on the PS4 and Xbox One are both still small, but they'll continue to expand as months and years progress. And if there's a must-have title on your list that's exclusive to one platform or the other -- well, that pretty much makes the decision easy.

We're not ready to count the Xbox One out by a longshot -- it's still an ambitious console with a lot to offer. As always, a software update or two could totally shift the balance of power. (And the Xbox has two such updates on deck for February and March.)

And -- to be clear -- there's still no urgency to purchase a new game console, especially if you're happy with the PS3 or Xbox 360 you probably already own.

But if you feel compelled to make the jump into next-gen gaming right now, the PlayStation 4 is a solid choice.

Here's why.

What's in the box
Included inside every PlayStation 4 box is the console, power cord, a 6-foot HDMI cable (finally!), a DualShock 4 controller, a Micro-USB cable (to charge the DualShock 4), and a monoaural earbud for online chat. (The earbud plugs directly into the DualShock controller; you can alternately use any pair of headphones with a standard 3.5mm plug.)

Unlike the PlayStation 3, the PS4 won't be sold in multiple configurations: There's only one version, a 500GB model that retails for $400. This is $100 less than an Xbox One, though the latter ships with its camera and voice/motion-sensing peripheral, Kinect, in the box. It'll cost you $60 extra to pick up thePlayStation Camera for the PS4 -- which I'll get to a little later. That model provides some of the same features as the Kinect, but it's less sophisticated than Microsoft's, and isn't as tightly integrated into the system.

For early adopters, Sony is also throwing in a free month of PlayStation Network Plus and a free month of the Sony Music Unlimited music-streaming service, as well as a $10 credit for the PlayStation Store. Current free PS4 downloadable games for PlayStation Plus include Resogun and Contrast -- though the list of included games continues to grow each month. (Owners of some PS3 titles can upgrade to the PS4 version for just $10 each, for a limited time.)

The hardware
Despite its smallish size -- at least compared with an Xbox One -- the PS4 packs a lot of power under the hood. The box is 2 inches high by 11 inches wide by 12 inches deep, weighs about 9 pounds, and packs in 8GB of DDR5 RAM. The CPU is a low-power x86-64 "Jaguar" eight-core chip, and the graphics are powered by a 1.84 TFLOP AMD Radeon "next engine." The fine print may not impress the layperson, but suffice it to say, the PS4's innards are in line with a mid- to high-end gaming PC.

Like previous PlayStations before it, the PS4's 500GB hard-disk drive is user replaceable (a standard SATA laptop hard drive or SSD will work), something I'm thrilled Sony has decided to keep intact. That 500GB may seem like more than enough storage, but with game sizes beginning to flirt with 50GB apiece, that might not cut it a few years down the road.

The PS4 boasts a striking angular design with a modestly low profile. The front end angles toward the user, sleekly hiding two USB 3.0 slots to the right and a slot-loading 6x Blu-ray drive to the left. Between these two ports are touch-sensitive power and eject buttons that give off familiar PS3 beeps when activated.

Around back on the PS4 are four simple interfaces in addition to a standard power connector -- the same size plug each PlayStation in the past has adorned. From left to right there's an optical audio, HDMI, Ethernet, and auxiliary port, which is used for the optional PlayStation Camera.

Note that the PS4 must be connected to an HDTV with an HDMI input; there are no analog (composite or component) outputs for this PlayStation.

The PS4 is equipped with wireless 802.11 b/g/n protocols (but not dual-band 5GHz nor the new 802.11ac standard) and also supports Bluetooth 2.1. That said, very few Bluetooth peripherals are actually currently compatible with the PS4 -- for now, just the DualShock 4 controller, the older PlayStation Movemotion controller (if and when there's a PS4 game that's designed to work with it), and some Bluetooth keyboards. In other words, do not expect the PS4 to work with mice, Bluetooth headsets, and older DualShock 3 PS3 controllers -- unless and until Sony decides to widen support with a future firmware upgrade.

The PS4 has two power-off modes when not in use. It can be turned completely off or it can be put into standby mode. It's worth noting that the PS4 must be on or in standby mode to receive automatic updates or be woken up remotely. While PS4 can download updates while in standby mode, you'll need to manually accept the terms for it to install.

The top surface of the PS4 is one-third glossy and two-thirds matte black. Between these finishes is a slick multicolor LED that glows amber in standby, white while powered on, and blue when booting up.

Unlike the Xbox One, which must rest horizontally, the PS4 can be used vertically as well. Sony recommends using a dedicated stand for vertical operation (available for around $20), but the PS4 seems to sit on its side just fine by itself.

Not included: PlayStation Camera

Not included with the PS4, the aforementioned PlayStation Camera is a $60 accessory that allows you to control your PS4 with your voice. It'll also recognize your face and log you in should you set it up that way. Its functionality is quite similar to the Xbox One's Kinect, though it doesn't feature any IR blasting support. In fact, there's no IR port on the PS4 hardware, either, so you're stuck using the DualShock 4 controller when watching movies or streaming video. (Sony says a special Bluetooth remote is in the works, but didn't supply an ETA.)

Built into the PS4's operating system is interactive software called The Playroom that creatively demonstrates the PlayStation Camera's place in the PS4 environment. If you don't have the camera, The Playroom falls flat.

Gameplay
So what does playing a PlayStation 4 feel like? Quite honestly, it's a lot like the PlayStation 3. There's a noticeable bump in graphics, of course, but it's logical to assume the real heavy hitters won't have their day until we're deeper into the system's life cycle. Like I mentioned earlier, the jump in visuals is not as dramatic as it was going from SD to HD a generation ago. Also, PC gamers with the luxury of a souped-up machine probably won't be much impressed at all. It's also worth mentioning that some cross-platform games like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag don't look nearly as good as PS4-exclusive games like Killzone: Shadow Fall. That said, some multiplatform games do tend to perform better on the PS4.

Not all of the PS4's launch software received the next-gen "port" treatment. A lot of the sports games (FIFA 14, Madden 25, and NBA 2K14) are reworked from the ground up and run on next-gen engines to take better advantage of the new hardware. Of course, these next-gen games are generally available for the Xbox One as well.

In terms of gameplay, the PS4 experience is greatly improved thanks to the fantastic DualShock 4 controller. Nearly every genre I tested seems to benefit from the redesign.

During any gameplay session you can suspend the action and back out into the Dynamic Menu. Double-tapping the Home button will bring you back to the game or you can manually select it from the menu. However, if you put the system in standby mode or turn it off, you'll lose your gameplay session.

Sony has been very vocal about the PS4's support for independent game development and plans on offering a healthy selection of titles at launch and soon after. These titles can only be accessed through the PlayStation Store exclusively.

Game saves are synced in the cloud (and backed up locally as well) and can be accessed on any PS4 you log in to as long as there's an Internet connection -- though you'll need to be a PlayStation Plus member to make use of this. I'll dive deeper into account management later on.

The PS3's answer to Xbox 360 Achievements, known as Trophies, continues on the PS4 and will merge both PS3 and PS4 trophies together. The PS4 introduces a dynamic trophy system where developers can program new trophies as well as classifying the rarity of items based on the performance of other players.

PlayStation Now: Coming later in 2014
Of course we can't overlook backward compatibility. For all intents and purposes, there is no disc-based backward compatibility at all on the PS4 -- none of your PS3 games will work on this machine. (Xbox 360 games are similarly incompatible on the Xbox One.)

Instead, Sony is banking on its upcoming game-streaming service, known as PlayStation Now. Subscribers will be able to stream PS3, PS2, and original PlayStation games not just to a PS4 but also a PS3 and other devices. PlayStation Now will enter beta soon and go live in the summer of 2014. The service looked promising during our initial hands-on, but keep in mind that it will require a wicked-fast high-speed Internet connection and -- probably -- the repurchasing of the titles you want to play (or at least a subscription to Sony's PSN Plus service).

The DualShock 4 controller
While the Xbox 360's controller was the seemingly perfect evolution of the original Xbox's pad, the DualShock 4 is just as, if not more of an impressive realization. It felt absolutely wonderful and addresses nearly all of the shortcomings of the DualShock 3 (the predecessor controller that shipped with the PlayStation 3). Unlike the slippery dome coverings of the DualShock 3's sticks, the two analog sticks on the new controller have smaller embossed faces that make for much easier control. The DualShock 4's sticks flank the familiar PlayStation Home button and audio speaker that is built into the controller. (Don't worry -- audio from the controller can be turned off.) Below the PS Home button is the headset jack (for online chat and game audio) and an "EXT" port for use with something else down the line. Sending PS4 game audio through the controller will only give you stereo sound, but just having the option to do is a small revelation. If you want to send chat and game audio through the headphone jack, the audio being sent through the HDMI port will cut out. You'll need a mic-equipped pair of headphones (like one you might use with your smartphone) to have game audio and chat in one shot.



The DualShock 4 is wider than the DualShock 3, perhaps to fit the controller's clickable touch pad that sits between the Share and Options buttons. The touch pad works just like a laptop touch pad and feels equally as responsive. The Share and Options buttons replace Start and Select. Though they occasionally function like their predecessors, they are also used to activate game DVR footage and sharing.

The L1, L2, R1, and R2 buttons have all received redesigns as well, but no button on the pad seems to have benefited more than the L2 and R2 triggers. These now extend out and feel much more comfortable to pull. The DualShock 4 also has two rumble motors so developers can localize the vibration feedback contextually within a game.

Like the DS3, the DS4 has a six-axis motion-sensing system, which encompasses a three-axis gyroscope and a three-axis accelerometer. A fun little note here: you can click the right stick during text entry to get a tiltable keyboard that's slightly quicker than entering letters manually.

You'll likely notice the glowing light emanating from the DS4's back. It's designed to work with the PlayStation Camera accessory and will change colors if there's more than one controller connected to the system. Below it sits a Micro-USB port for charging the controller's built-in rechargeable battery.

Additional DualShock 4 controllers will cost you $60 each. The console supports up to four.

The interface
Both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have made substantial efforts in streamlining the user interface. The PlayStation 3's cross-media-bar has evolved into the PlayStation 4's "Dynamic Menu" that casts a blanket of simplicity throughout the operating system, logically grouping like-minded items together.

It basically consists of two horizontal rows, the top filled with icons for various functionalities like Friends, Trophies, and Settings, and a thumbnail lower row that is populated by recent activities like the last game you've played, shared game DVR clips, downloaded titles, Web access, other media, and more.

When you highlight an item in the Dynamic Menu, "live" items from the PlayStation Network (PSN) will populate with relevant content for you to browse. (For the first wave on PS4s that were sold in late 2013, signing up on the PlayStation Network for the first time required a 323MB day 1 download that unlocked most of the console's connected features. Consoles purchased after launch will likely have these updates already baked in.)

Those who own a PlayStation Vita can connect the portable to the PS4 to activate remote play. Setup is fairly simple and it actually works well, but performance all depends on the strength of your home network. The concept is similar to what Wii U owners can do with that console's GamePad controller except for the fact that PS4 remote play uses your home. It's a godsend when your PS4 TV is being used up, but it's not a bulletproof work around because of its reliance on an ever-changing connection speed. While it's entirely possible down the line, you won't be able to play your PS4 outside of your home network.

Entertainment options
Streaming-media: The PS4 currently offers major streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Vudu, Redbox Instant and Crackle. (We've compiled a full list of apps, directly compared with the Xbox One's, if you're interested.) It's a decent collection of apps, but it's not quite as robust as the offerings on Xbox One. Among the major omissions are YouTube (which, curiously, is on the PS3) and HBO Go -- though Sony has already pledged that HBO will be coming soon.

The PS4 also supports Sony's own streaming-media platforms, Sony Music Unlimited (a $5-10/month Spotify-like service), and Sony Video Unlimited (rent or buy movies and TV shows for viewing on the PS4 and elsewhere). Those services are more front-and-center than ever before. The main PS4 interface will be regularly recommending movies and music from Sony's stores, based on what you've streamed in the past and what's popular. One change from the PS3 is that movies and TV shows from Sony will be stream-only, with no option to download. Sony says that's to ensure you don't fill up your hard drive with large HD video files, but those with less reliable broadband connections may miss the option to fully download a title before watching.

Perhaps the neatest feature is the ability to play Sony Music Unlimited tracks in the background while playing a game, but you'll need to be a Music Unlimited subscriber to take advantage of it. Conversely, the Xbox One can play nearly any app in the background using its "snap" feature, although at launch the audio between the two sources will be mixed together, so you'll always hear both at the same time. The PS4 lets you pick (or mix) which audio stream you'd like to listen to.

No live TV integration now -- but a streaming TV service on the way: At first glance, the PS4 falls short of the ambitious TV integration of the Xbox One, which lets you view your cable or satellite box through the Microsoft console, complete with limited voice control, an on-screen program guide, and the ability to watch TV and play games at the same time via a picture-in-picture window. That said, the Xbox experience can be buggy and leaves a lot to be desired, including no integrated support for DVR control.

Instead of integrating your existing TV service, Sony is opting to give you an alternative. The company announced it will be offering a streaming TV service on the PS4 and other Sony products before the end of 2014. Few details were announced, but we expect an app-based service that will offer a collection of existing TV channels -- for an additional fee, of course.

Disc player: In addition to PS4 games, the PS4's disc drive is capable of playing back Blu-ray and DVD discs, but it can't play audio CDs or SACDs. It's hard to believe that the PS4 can't play a CD, but if you stick one in the drive you'll get a message that says "disc unsupported." In a sense, the PS4 is a step back from the "plays everything" nature of the PS3, although that could change with a future firmware update.

Digital media player: If you're willing to give the PS4 a pass by not supporting the 30-year-old compact-disc format, it's harder to explain away the fact that it's not DLNA-compliant and can't play MP3s. Again, that may just be a launch-day limitation, with more features added in a future firmware update, but at least for now, the PS4 isn't nearly as capable as the PS3 is on the digital media side.

No compatibility with infrared remotes: Furthermore, unlike the Xbox One, the PS4 can't control the rest of your home theater equipment, nor can it be controlled via a typical IR-based universal remote. And it doesn't have Kinect's extensive voice control capabilities, although the optional PlayStation camera, as mentioned above, does support a surprising amount of voice control.

PlayStation Network, PlayStation Plus, and social PlayStation Network provides a huge portion of the PlayStation 4's functionality. You'll need to be logged in to an account to activate almost all of the PS4's extra features.

PlayStation Plus subscriptions ($50 for a year) can carry over from the PS3 to PS4 and are now required for online multiplayer gaming. (Notably, unlike Xbox consoles, you do not need a PS Plus membership for using the media apps.) PS Plus members will also get automated game updates (the PS4 can download updates by itself while in standby mode) so you won't need to wait when starting a game just to find out it needs updating. For system firmware updates, both PS Plus and non-PS Plus members will receive automatic downloads for updates.

PlayStation Plus members have access to 1GB of cloud game saves, free and discounted games across all Sony platforms, automatic game updates, access to game demos, online multiplayer and some beta invites. To be clear, "free" comes with a catch. Everything you download for free is accessible only while you still have a PS+ account. If your membership expires or you cancel, you'll lose those titles.

A PSN member must make one PS4 their "primary" console, but once that's situated up to 16 people can log in to it. That primary account holder can also log in to any PS4 and have access to games and saves. Again, it's important to note PS+ is required for cloud game saves.

The PlayStation Store is doing away with downloaded content. Starting with the PS4, everything will now be streamed directly through the Sony Entertainment Network service or content portal of your choice.

That said, you will need to download games directly to the PS4's hard drive. All "large file" games will support play-as-you-download capabilities, and some titles -- if the developer wishes to do so -- can support downloading of a certain part of a game and not the other. For example, downloading Call of Duty: Ghosts on the PS4 gives you the option to only install the campaign or multiplayer component separately.

Since a PS4 in standby mode can now be remotely turned on, a purchase made through the Sony Entertainment Network site can be downloaded to a PS4 without having to be in front of the physical console. Essentially you could make a purchase at work and have it ready to play by the time you get home.

The PSN experience and store is deeply woven into the fabric of the Dynamic Menu. Live items are built in everywhere you look, and social features are present at every corner, especially when it comes to your friends list. Your account can be tied to your Facebook and Twitter profiles and have the option of posting on your behalf depending on your settings. Your friends list will actually be made up of your friends' real names if they approve your friend request.

The PS4 has a game DVR feature that's constantly recording so that you won't miss any sequence you'd like to share. With the touch of a button, you can stream to Twitch or Ustream and send a link to social networks, though recorded video sharing will only be offered on Facebook to start. You can also view a live feed of a friend's gameplay directly from the PS4, and you can add comments, too. Screenshots can be uploaded to Facebook and Twitter as well.

Built into the Dynamic Menu is a section called "Live from PlayStation" that gives you access to watch various video streams. From here you can watch Twitch and Ustream live broadcasts, search for specific feeds and comment on content as well. If you own a game that you're watching, you can start the game from the video screen or even get linked out to the PS Store to buy it.

Facebook integration appears to be more closely interwoven into the PS4 experience, whereas Twitter only seems to crossover for screenshot uploads. In fact, when you run the initial PS4 setup you'll have the chance to connect your Facebook account and even use your profile photo on PSN.

The PlayStation App on iOS and Android complements the PS4 experience with games that support second-screen functionality. It can also act as a navigational screen for the PS4 as well act as a keyboard when a text entry box pops up. Connecting the app to my PS4 was very easy (as long as they're on the same network) and the keyboard option comes in very handy when entering codes, tweeting screenshots, or commenting on videos.

PS4 vs. Xbox One
The Xbox One and the PS4 were released just days apart, leading gaming fans to the torturous question: "Which one should I get?" Unfortunately the answer isn't that simple. While both consoles offer next-generation visuals and gameplay, they each have some relative strengths and weaknesses.

The PS4's first big advantage is cost: it's $100 cheaper than the Xbox One. Yes, that's partially because it omits a camera accessory, charging $60 for it as an add-on. But while the PlayStation Camera experience is certainly stitched into the PS4's operating system, it isn't vital to the console's functionality -- you can absolutely get by without it. On the other hand, the Xbox One's Kinect is included in the box and is more baked in to that system's experience. While Microsoft has indicated that Kinect can be deactivated, it will be needed to take full advantage of the Xbox's voice and gesture controls.

But compare the add-on services -- PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold -- and PS4 comes out ahead again. Both cost about $50 annually, but Xbox Live Gold is all but required to do nearly anything on the Xbox One, including things as mundane as watching Netflix or using the built-in channel guide. PlayStation Plus, meanwhile, is only required for online multiplayer gaming on the PS4 -- and it offers members a growing library of "free" games with that subscription across all Sony consoles on the account. Advantage: PS4.

Both consoles offer a good amount of content-streaming services, but neither has yet reached the full number of media apps their predecessors (PS3 and Xbox 360) currently offer. Xbox One has a slight edge here for now, but the fact you need the aforementioned Xbox Live Gold account to access those services makes it something of a wash.

On the social front, from what I've seen early on, it appears that the PS4 has a better integration of Facebook and Twitter, though of course all of that is subject to change. In this time of constant firmware tweaking, it's almost guaranteed.

Placing media functionality and social to the side, a lot of the decision-making about next-generation console purchases is tethered to exclusive games. The PS3 has had a wonderful few years of exclusive games, and for the most part that trend will continue into the next generation. Right now (early 2014), the Xbox One may have a bit of an edge, with Forza Motorsport 5, Dead Rising 3, and Ryse: Son of Rome, compared with the PS4's Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack -- though PS4 also has a good range of digital-only titles. Over the next few months, game lineups continue to be competitive, with the Xbox One getting Titanfall (also available on PC and Xbox 360), and the PS4 getting inFamous: Second Son. But taste in games is always somewhat subjective; either those games will appeal to you, or they won't.

You might read about the PS4's specs trumping that of the Xbox One's, but it's important to keep in mind how that translates into actual results. You'll remember that the PS3 was originally poised to be a massive powerhouse that would leap passed the Xbox 360, but in reality didn't perform much better. You could even make the argument that most multiplatform games played smoother and looked better on the Xbox 360. That said, at the time of this writing (and having considered all the multiplatform games currently available), the PS4 does seem to perform slightly better than Xbox One.

Conclusion

2014 is looking good for the PlayStation 4. The combination of the newly announced PlayStation Now game streaming service, and the forthcoming Sony streaming TV app -- both due by the end of the year -- bode well. Now we just need Sony and its partners to begin to deliver on a list of must-have games. Thankfully, Sony seems to have a promising road map worked out. inFamous: Second Son is the first big PS4 exclusive (due in March), and the PS4 will likely eventually see Sony franchise staples like God of War, and games from the Naughty Dog team (Uncharted, The Last of Us), among others. Expect more details at the E3 show in June.

It's still early days, but -- for now, at least -- the PS4 is a strong contender to be your one and only game console for the next generation.

Source: Cnet