Sony Ericsson : Android 2.3.4 Update "Gesture Input"

As most of us know, Sony Ericsson released the Gingerbread 2.3.4 update way later than other manufacturers. The update will be available for all unlocked phones and most operator variants but there will be local deviations.  There are also some deviations on feature upgrade depending on phone model. Google Talk video chat will only be available for phones with front facing camera. Xperia™ PLAY will not get 3D panorama sweep but it will get HD video recording and the other goodies below. Most phones released this year comes with Android 2.3.4 out of the box.

Among the highlights of the update are:

• Google Talk with Video Chat for smartphones with front-facing cameras
• Updated Facebook inside Xperia™ functionality for enhanced like, share and discover abilities.
• Xperia™ smartphones introducing world’s first 3D Sweep Panorama functionality powered by Sony.
• 16x video zoom
• The software upgrade will enable consumers to turn their Xperia™  smartphone into a mini-mobile PC by connecting USB peripherals (mouse, keyboard or game controller) to Sony Ericsson LiveDock™ multimedia station. Connect the smartphone to a TV via HDMI to get a big screen experience.
• Gesture input – text input by swiping the finger from one letter to the next
• WiFi DLNA
• Screen capture – allows the user to share a screen grab from anywhere in the phone.

Does the highlighted feature ring a bell? Sounds like Swype right? You can judge for yourself after the break.

Nokia 600: Axed before Birth

Remember that there was a third Symbian Belle smartphone that was announced along with the Nokia 700 and 701?  Nokia obviously cancelled the Nokia 600 and is determined to pretending that it never happened.

Nokia 600 was announced in August and was expected to hit the shelves before Q3 ended, but that obviously never happened. We got no official comment from Nokia about the delay and now it appears that the phone has been cancelled.

All pages dedicated to the Belle-running Nokia 600 are now gone from the Nokia servers and even the Nokia developer website has no mention of it. Videos, featuring the Nokia 600 have been removed from the Nokia YouTube channels and if we hadn't actually seen the announcement we'd really be inclined to believe that the phone never existed.

It could be that there were some issues with its mass production or that the Finns want to focus more of your attention to their WP-running Lumia smartphones. Could also be so that it will not compete with the Nokia 500. Either way, if you had your sight set on the Nokia 600 you'll need to move along and find another device that suits your needs.

More pictures of this not-to-be phone after the break.