Interesting new stuff headed for Verizon? UPDATED 5/13/2015

From PhoneArena

Verizon is seemingly getting ready to release several interesting devices, including the Sony Xperia Z4, two unannounced tablets from Apple and LG, and a new Desire from HTC. According to Evan Blass (aka @evleaks), all these devices are "coming to Verizon", though there's no word on exactly when they'll be released. 

We don't know if the Xperia Z4 that's headed to Verizon is similar to the Japanese version of the handset. Sony is supposedly preparing a global variant of the Z4, so we assume that's the one that will be sold by Verizon. 

As for the upcoming Verizon tablets that we mentioned above, these are, reportedly, the Apple iPad mini 4, and the LG G Pad X 8.3. Since the iPad mini 3 was announced in October 2014, we're not expecting the iPad mini 4 to be unveiled before October this year. We don't know anything about the LG G Pad X 8.3, but this is likely the successor to the LG G Pad 8.3 from 2013 (which Verizon is currently selling for $129.99 on contract). 

Another Article found later: TechTimes  

"Serial leaker @evleaks took a break from his quiet life of retirement to announce that Verizon will be carrying four interesting new devices, two of which remain unannounced."

Sony at Work on 6 inch Smart Phone?

Start looking for leaks!

AndroidHeadlines

"DigiTimes is reporting that Taiwanese ODMs have already begun work on a 6-inch Android smartphone for Sony, and that it could very well launch later this year. While Sony releases flagships like the Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z3 just six months apart from each other, with the lesser known, less popular devices, Sony often leaves a year or so between releasing newer products. We saw this with the Xperia Z1 Compact which launched at the end of 2013 and theXperia Z3 Compact launched towards the end of last year. As such, this sort of timeframe looks fairly solid for a follow-up to the Xperia Z Ultra and larger devices prove popular in Asia, so it could help them take the premium market in China and surrounding nations."

Sony Mobile aims to ship 38 million smartphones in FY2015, say sources

Daniel Shen, Taipei; Steve Shen, DIGITIMES [Tuesday 31 March 2015]

Sony Mobile Communications aims to ship 38 million smartphones in fiscal 2015 (April 2015-March 2016), down slightly from 39.2 million units shipped in the previous fiscal year, according to sources at Taiwan's handset supply chain.

The lower shipment target comes as the Japan-based vendor is still overhauling its handset business and has also shifted its focus to the mid-range to high-end segment, said the sources.

Despite the absence of new orders from Sony Mobile since the fourth quarter of 2014, Taiwan's ODMs have begun shipping some new models to the Japan-based vendor recently, including the Xperia E4 from Arima Communications, Xperia E4g from Compal Electronics and Xperia M4 Aqua from Foxconn/FIH Mobile.

In order to strengthen its cooperation with these ODMs, Hidehiko Teshirogi, senior vice president for product development and management at Sony Mobile, is scheduled to visit Taiwan in April, the sources noted.

Taiwan's ODMs are likely to be required to move upward to focus more on mid-range models instead of the previous focus on entry-level to mid-range products to cope with the policy shift at Sony Mobile, commented the sources.

For example, these ODMs have begun developing 6-inch large-size smartphones for Sony Mobile, added the sources.

DigiTimes

James Bond

It took a while for me to decide to make this a post rather than a foot-note on the digging page. The more I think about this, the better I like it and the more sense it makes.

First, PicoP is a Bond-like technology. I chatted with a couple of friends about this, and they immediately launched - as I did, into the potential for this, and how cool it would look in a Bond movie. Conference call on the wall, discussing strategy with a projected map, showing pictures of targets or important people in a group. All would be a perfect application of PicoP technology -- and behold,  James Bond is a movie produced by Sony. 

A marketing home-run would be if a James Bond style science-fiction technology were actually released to the public when the movie is announced?

I have no idea if this is actually what is going on. It would be very exciting if it were -- it would mean that we as stockholders are holding a hot item though. 

NOTE -- Release dates of MAY and November... if you're getting impatient... it might not be long at all.

From PCAdvisorUK

"First, among the chaos of the recent hacked accounts at Sony Pictures, emails between CEO Michael Lynton and executive vice president of consumer marketing George Leon have allegedly been unearthed that leak details about the upcoming Xperia Z4. Not only is it rumoured that it will it be a product placement in the upcoming James Bond movie, but that James Bond actor Daniel Craig and director Sam Mendes will have some input on its design.

The emails mention phones rather than a single phone (backing up the theory that we shall also see Music and dual-SIM versions - see below), with release dates of not March, but May and November. It's also alleged that Daniel Craig could net $5m simply for posing with the Sony Xperia Z4. This is backed up by fansite Xperia blog which says Sony is planning a Summer release."

From Xperia Blog

"Then there is the fact that we have not seen any leaks of any kind for the Xperia Z4 so far (apart from the Bond product pitch, which doesn’t really count). We understand the recent model that passed through the FCC is likely to be a mid-range device. Whilst, SONY has tightened up on the leak front, we find it very hard to believe that we would not see anything given that MWC is just over a month away."

Sony Xperia Rumors are Ramping up -- Updated [1-30@9:45 PST]

Of course, we have NO IDEA what will happen with the SONY Xperia until SONY releases something. Some of the language in a couple of articles is getting interesting:

I have been of a mind that PicoP will NOT be in SONY phones (yet), but I could be as wrong this time as I have been in the past.

There have also been rumors both that Sony will end the Xperia line, and one now (more believable) that the Z4 is certified already. (which would interpret to mean the design process is complete.)

Xperia Z4 certified in Indonesia?
Sony vs Samsung vs HTC at MWC


ReleaseWire -- I'm aware this release is from a different company, I'm not sure what their strategy is -- two strong possibilities - they are trying to use Sony to gain attention for themselves, or perhaps they make components for SONY.

"With fewer devices, slower releases and new design", this is what consumers is yet to anticipate from Sony to shake things up for this year's latest gadget offering. Though the company firmly seals their lips about the upcoming Xperia Z4 and how it would set to dominate the world at the 2nd to 5th of March despite the issues of hack scandal, consumers have something to look forward to other than Sony as major mobile companies that produces android tablet is also set to undergo a lot of significant changes this year.


masterherald.com

"The device is expected to come in the first quarter of 2015, and it’s going to be a considerable step forward for the line."

"In the end, it’s also possible that the phone will have different specifications, as other rumors are pointing at another type of screen – 5.2 and 5.4 inches are getting mentioned quite often – as well as a different camera, although the Snapdragon 810 seems to be quite solid as far as rumors go. RAM size tends to vary from one rumor to another as well, although it’s probably safe to expect at least 2 GB from a device that’s more powerful than the average Android smartphone on the market in 2015, especially one in the Xperia line."