We’ve seen the enhanced Sony Ericsson Panels page. We’ve heard about the update to the XPERIA Windows Mobile 6.1 SDK. We’ve heard about Spb creating a Panel version of their app. Put them all together and it seems like the recent XPERIA news has been all about Panels and developers.

Well, more good news to developers. You might want to start sharpening your Panels development skills since rumor has it that come November 14, Sony Ericsson is launching a Panels developer competition. According to David Cushman:

Now Sony-Ericsson’s X1 is entering the fray with a competition for individual developers - and it’s one that’ll showcase your work and land the winner an X1 of their own (worth a fare chunk of cash in itself). If you’re one such, here’s an early heads-up. The site hosting the competition doesn’t go live until November 14. But take it from me, it’s coming (I know, because the company I work for is building it right now!).

This is actually great news for everyone. While developers slug it out to create the best Panels, consumers will have more Panels to choose from.

Sony Ericsson has chosen Spb to create an XPERIA Panel version of their popular Spb Mobile Shell app.

Spb Mobile Shell improves the user interface of standard Windows Mobile apps displaying multiple information on one customizable screen such as missed calls, unread messages, weather, calendar, date and time, and contacts. The XPERIA Panel version is expected to make use of the XPERIA X1’s 3D acceleration as well as present new opportunities for the developer community.

Here’s the best news — expect it to be a free download when it is launched.

Watch Spb Mobile Shell in action and view all the portrait and landscape sample screenshots after the jump.

Read More…

Good news to developers. Sony Ericsson just announced an update to their Windows Mobile 6.1 SDK (now v1.0.4). It now adds development compatibility to Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and to Microsoft Vista.

The Sony Ericsson Beta SDK for Windows Mobile 6.1 includes:

• Xperia X1 Emulator
  Including key mapping support; run, test, and debug your Xperia Panels locally on your PC using the Xperia X1 Device Emulator
• API Reference
  API reference documentation related to the specifics of developing Xperia Panels
• Microsoft Visual Studio Templates
  Use predefined Xperia Native and Web (HTML) Panel templates to create the basic project containers and a preliminary set of items for your Xperia Panels
• Tutorials
  Tutorials give you a “hands-on” introduction to the SDK and the tools you use to build applications on it
• Developers’ Guidelines
  The Getting Started documentation includes overviews, system requirements, set-up information, and walkthroughs that help you learn about the Sony Ericsson Beta SDK for Windows Mobile 6.1
• Sample Code
  The Sony Ericsson Beta SDK for Windows Mobile 6.1 ships with several sample projects to help you start your own development projects

Download the SDK now.

[Thanks boomdijk!]

Folks from XDA-Developers have found a way to run a hacked version of HTC’s TouchFLO UI (codenamed 2d Manila) on the XPERIA X1. It’s not for the faint of heart so install with caution.

If anyone has manged to install it, do share your experience.

Checkout the full instructions.

Sony has updated their X1 product page with a new page. It doesn’t tell us anything new, but it’s worth checking it out.

It seems as if SE wants as many people possible to develop new panels, because they are even promoting the panel SDK on the new page…

I know there are a lot of XPERIA X1 demos already out there. Here’s the latest one from Xperiancers, showing Panels, Skype, customized focusing on the camera, Google apps using a-GPS, Sbp Mobile, buit-in radio, media player, slideshow, and the goldfish app.

Good news for developers, the Sony Ericsson SDK for Windows Mobile 6.1 has been officially announced. The SDK focuses on an ecosystem of Panels, letting developers and partners create different panels ranging from widgets, applications, to online services. Sony Ericsson aims to deliver multimedia Panels where as other partners such as Google and Handango will deliver Panels based on different Panel categories.

Here’s a video featuring Ramanath Bhat, Sr. Manager XPERIA X1 Application and Product Planning, talking about the Panels SDK:

Download the SDK.

Great news! Folks from Mobiholics found the following at the Handango Partner Newsletter:

It seems like mid-September is the target XPERIA X1 release, in time for the holidays!

The XPERIA X1 will also have the Handango InHand service when it launches:

Handango InHand offers free and convenient access to mobile content directly from your smartphone. InHand simplifies the process of finding, installing and purchasing the content you want.

[Thanks Jeremy!]

Geek.com just released an article on ideas on how to iPhone-ify a Windows Mobile device. I do think that the three apps mentioned, Vito Technology’s Communication Suite ($39.95), PointUI (free), and SPB Mobile Shell ($29.95), will be great add-ons to the XPERIA X1 (if they support the X1 screen resolution).

Below are some app screenshots from the article:

Vito Technology’s Communication Suite

PointUI

SPB Mobile Shell

What other apps do you all think will enhance the XPERIA experience?

Read the full article.

Sony Ericssion just released the official XPERIA X1 White Paper. While we know most of its features already, there are a lot of items in the document that are have been described in more detail. Below are some selected X1 details:

1. Pre-loaded XPERIA panels:

• Sony Ericsson Panel - news weather, finance, worl clock, weather, and app shortcuts
• Media Experience Panel - multimedia consumption and navigation
• Slideshow Panel - slideshow of recent videos and pics
• microsoft Today Panel - standard Windows Mobile Today screen
• 3D Fish Panel - Aquarium with 3D fishes
• Custom Panels - user customized

2. Media Sharing - allows media sharing (DLNA compatible) via ActiveSync or WiFi

Read More…