Xperia X10 Gingerbread update finalised, Facebook inside Xperia incoming

Sony Ericsson has issued the latest update on its progress to bring Google’s Gingerbread Android update to Xperia X10, announcing that the device will receive Facebook inside Xperia functionality, keep its camera user interface and other Sony Ericsson style tweaks.

This means that X10 owners will be able to connect their smartphones to Facebook and share the music they are playing, instantly upload images to Facebook and synchronise their Facebook contacts to their handset.

The update, posted Sony Ericsson Product Blog, reads:

First of all – we’ve seen your feedback about losing some of the camera features of the original Xperia^TM X10. Our developers have been working on it and I can now confirm that also the Gingerbread version of the X10 software will keep the original camera UI as in the Éclair version. I can also confirm that the new Facebook inside Xperia^TM functionality introduced in the 2011 Xperia^TM products will also be in the Xperia^TM X10. More info on what it is and what it does at: http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/services/facebook-inside/overview?cc=gb&lc=en.

As said in March most of the 2011 Xperia^TM software functionality from e.g. Xperia^TM arc will be included. The UI with the desktop layout and pinch-to-overview gesture will be similar and Gingerbread features like Wi-Fi & USB tethering, App storage on SD-card etc are included. Also the customizable horizontal app tray and the media experience widgets from the 2011 Xperia^TM Products are in, including an integrated equalizer in the music player. Of course also apps that require Android versions 2.2 or 2.3 will now be possible to download from Android Market, e.g. Adobe Flash.

The Xperia X10 will not receive support for DLNA as Sony Ericsson wasn’t able to get the approvals it needed to get the update out to its users on time. The Xperia X10 mini, mini pro and X8 will not receive the update as they all have less RAM memory than Xperia X10.

The upgrade is expected to roll out by the end of the next quarter and will be released to generic trade kits first. Some operators may decide to release the upgrade but some users will not be able to upgrade.