Just to be clear, Sony Ericsson’s upcoming kitchen-sink phone is codenamed “Rachael”, not “Rachel”. So far all info on this phone found online is still unofficial, remaining rumors until made official by Sony Ericsson. That includes the UI demo video below:

What do you think of the rumored interface? It looks too flashy for its own good, taking too much time to animate elements unnecessarily. No doubt the eye candy is sweet, but as our source says, it will probably grow old quickly. Maybe there will be an option to disable the more complicated UI animations? In any case, word on the virtual streets is that the Sony Ericsson “Rachael” will:

• Be part of the Sony Ericsson Xperia family, joining the Xperia X1
• Run on a modified Android OS interface
• Use the Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon platform. The processor-chipset setup promises speeds of up to 1 GHz, and is apparently capable of 3D graphics
• Support HSPA
• Feature an 8 megapixel camera with auto-focus
• Boast a 4″ touchscreen with WVGA (800 x 480) resolution
• Make use of a 3.5mm standard earphone jack and a miniUSB port

Updates to follow as they become available, so stay tuned!

Motorola’s newer models have really not caught any significant attention, which is probably why agents of the company decided to spam this blog. Looks like the manufacturer’s higher-ups have started to pin hopes on the Android OS, seeking to ride on a potentially “strong developer community and application ecosystem”.

That’s just part of a three-fold plan:

• Android will be the major platform for Motorola phones. Goodbye Symbian!
• The P2K platform will power low-end models.
• Production of Windows Mobile devices may be outsourced.

Nokia should watch what happens closely. If Motorola’s Android gambit proves successful, it may push other developers relying on Symbian (LG for one) to start taking the mobile platform more seriously. The Unwired View speculates on further ramifications.

While Wired Magazine perpetuates the myth of the iPhone’s overwhelming superiority, it still has a good point; Google’s Android OS may be too raw for customers to play around with—or even pay for in the first place. That’s the worry surrounding the FCC’s recent approval of the first Android-powered mobile (manufactured by HTC).

Thanks to its status as a Google product, Android is a mobile OS that enjoyed a lot of attention when it was first announced November last year. Especially since Google touted it as an open-source alternative to the closed systems dominating mobile phones, and promised to make the source-code freely available. Read more