Sony has introduced an AOSP project for the company’s Xperia Z smartphone. AOSP stands for Android Open Source Project, and basically what this means is that you can run Google’s stock version of Android on Sony’s phone if you’d prefer not to use the Sony-customized version of the software.
Unfortunately at this point you’ll have to do without a modem or camera, which kind of limits the functionality.
While hackers have managed to use AOSP code to build custom ROMs for dozens, possibly hundred of phones and tablets, Sony is one of the few companies to actually get in on the action itself. Sony makes it easy to install proprietary binaries needed to make sure AOSP runs on its phones, for instance.
The Sony Xperia Z is the second handset to get the ASOP treatment from Sony. The first was the Sony Xperia S.
The Xperia Z features a 5 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel display which is resistant to water, dust, and scratches. Other specs include a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 13MP camera.
Sony introduced the phone just a few months ago, and while we’re starting to see phones with faster Snapdragon 600 chips hit  the streets, the Xperia Z is one of the most powerful phones released in the first half of 2013 so far. It’s basically what you’d get if you took the guts of a Google Nexus 4 and added a larger, higher resolution display.
At this point the AOSP code for the Xperia Z is still a work in progress. The modem and camera require proprietary binaries that Sony cannot yet release, but the company has released code supporting the WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, SD card, LED light, and other basic functions.
Sony is also accepting contributions from community members interested in helping out with the project.
via TechCrunch
WOW !!! Is this the first sign of shift in thiniking of Sony menagers about being more open???
I would like to see Sony Vegas ported to Linux.
Linux – Android – help not to bancrupt Sony-Ericsson mobile franchise. SONY didn’t accept lesson that investing only in Windows (biggest competitor fo Playstation and enertainment business of SONY) may help them to bancrupt. Investing in “Windows” also makes their biggest reval (Microsoft) stronger.for competition with SONY. It’s interesting what Kaz Hirai will tell shareholders when they fail with PS4 compared to X720. It can be something like that :”We failed with our biggest franchise PS4, but we see grow with Windows VAIO laptops. Thanks to Ms$ we get to 2% more market share 🙂 “
What you said dosent make sense, Sony makes money for every Laptop and device they sell except for the game consoles but the business is to make it up with game sales and in time make money off the consoles. Windows only get a small percent from sony because they get money from other OEMs so no Sony wont go bankrupt silling there computers with Windows it will actually give them more money as they are selling devices. The PS4 will only fail if it dosent sell consoles and games but makes no difference if it was from Computer sales affecting it because Microsoft go more powerful and used psychic powers to defeat Sony.
Lets hope they do the same for other devices. I’m liking the sound of the Xperia SP as a kind-of successor to the Xperia S.