Sony Ericsson is set to release a non-operating system related upgrade for its Xperia Arc and Xperia Play devices that focuses mainly on improving the user experience and device’s usability in various aspects.

According to a latest post on the support website of Sony Ericsson, Xperia Arc will soon be getting this update whereas there have been reports that the same update will also work for the Xperia Play devices as well.

With the update, the Xperia devices will get a couple of improvements including ‘xloud’ music playback setting that will increase the volume of music when it is played through the speaker. The devices will also get digital home which will allow devices to play multimedia content on other DLNA certified devices while using the existing Wi-Fi network.

In terms of performance upgrade, the update will allow devices to record stereo sound alongside while recording video, which earlier used to be in a monaural mode. Along with that the home screen now gets a landscape mode and a couple of new visual themes.

Users of the Xperia devices can update their devices directly by connecting their devices to a computer running PC companion software only. Sony Ericsson has not issues a confirmed date as to when and where this update will be coming to, so the users need to check the PC companion software often and they will be updated as soon as the software upgrade will be made available.

The next update for Nokia phones after the Anna, which is set to be released this month, would bring a lot of improvements to the Symbian handsets.

This was revealed by the DailyMobile Forum User Dannycanrock who published a video of Nokia N8 running Symbian Belle update.

In the video, certain basic improvements are clearly visible, for instance the stack of widgets which can be added to the home screen. In Symbian Anna running devices, one can have up to three tabs open in the mobile web browser. That limit might continue to exist with Symbian Belle update as well unless Nokia thinks otherwise. Besides that, there’s pinch-to-zoom feature which already exists with Symbian Anna update.

Most important feature is the Notifications Tray with the four major shortcut buttons &#151 Mobile Data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Silent – pretty similar to the one found in Samsung handsets running Android. Also there’s a Search option just like the one in iPhone, iPod touch and iPad for getting details about any App installed or details on the phone.

Besides that, there are some changes in the user experience with the native music player while scrolling through the tracks in a landscape mode. Most of all it allows the user to change the position of the icons on the home screen and of course, a revamped Ovi Store look.

Nokia has promised to release the Symbian Anna update for select Symbian^3 handsets such as &#151 N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 handsets this month. Meanwhile the recently announced Nokia E6 already comes with Anna update pre-loaded on it. The Symbian Anna is yet to be made available and we suppose the Symbian Belle will come out for newer devices by the end of this year.

The increase in the number of applications that have come up on the Android marketplace has opened up newer avenues for developers to ear and present content to the Android community. But the dark side of the fact is that the rise in the number of applications has also opened up opportunities for cyber criminals to invent newer ways to catch hold of confidential user data.

According to the newest security threat that has been identified for Android users, the Trojan or a malicious program disguised as an application has found out to be recording conversations that users do using their smartphones.

There are a couple of developers who try to fool people with their applications that claim to provide seamless messenger connectivity between devices such as iPhones and BlackBerrys. Many people fall for this as the application sounds promising and fulfils the need for connectivity with friends handing different devices.

The CA security advisor research blog found out a similar application infected with a Trojan. Upon testing, it was found out that once the application is installed on the device, the Trojan activates itself and records ever conversation that takes place on the device in a low quality audio format so that the user does not even have a clue about it.

After the call is complete the Trojan then can easily send the file through an email to any email address as an attachment, making your private conversation open.

Android as an operating system is secure in itself as it asks or prompts the user every time an application is being installed on the device. But as a practice many users do not see the permissions that the application asks for and allows it to install on the device.

So if you are an Android user, make it a regular practice to carefully go through the permissions or access conditions that application is seeking for. And if anything seems suspicious the user should avoid installing the application.

Research In Motion, the Canadian handset maker, has added three new smartphones to its line up including its first 4G network supporting device – BlackBerry Torch 9810. Two other devices that were announced by the company are the BlackBerry Torch 9850 and Torch 9860.

The new BlackBerry Torch 9810, announced for the USA, is a massive improvement in terms of hardware as well as software over the existing BlackBerry Torch 9800. The company hasn’t announced the price and availability of the device but we can expect the details at the CTIA Wireless meet in October.

The all new BlackBerry Torch 9810, or Torch 2 as we may call it, comes with same external chassis and display screen size as that of the Torch 9800. The new Torch 9810 comes with same 3.2 inch capacitive touchscreen display with 480×640 pixel Resolution that presents crisper text with better looking images and video.

RIM has packed a 1.2Ghz Processor to power the new Torch 9810 while the existing Torch 9800 comes with slow 624Mhz Marvel PXA90 processor. The Torch 9810 has 768MB RAM with 8GB onboard storage that is good enough to store loads of images and videos. At the back lies a 5 Megapixel camera that can record high quality images and also capable of HD video recording. Those looking for video chat using the front facing camera will have to be disappointed though.

For connectivity, RIM offers Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, Near Field Communication chip, GPS, and of course the 4G network support. The BlackBerry Torch 9810 comes with the next generation BlackBerry 7 operating system which brings in new Liquid Graphics, faster web browser, system-wide multi-touch support and a revamped user interface.

Pre-loaded with the Docs-To-Go premium version, BlackBerry Torch 9810 users can read and edit the Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and others on the go.

Packing a 1300mAh battery, the new Torch 9810 promises about 6.5 hours of battery life on GSM and 5.9 hours of battery life on UMTS networks. Despite of better hardware and OS update, there is just marginal benefit when it comes to battery life. Get more details about the new BlackBerry Torch 9810 here.

We expect this handset to be launched and made available by the end of this year or early next year in India.

BlackBerry Torch 9850 and Torch 9860

Looked upon as the BlackBerry Storm handset successors, the new pair of BlackBerry Torch devices will come preloaded with BlackBerry 7 OS and the Near Field Communication chip. We reported about the leaked images of this BlackBerry Torch handset last week.

Out of the two, the BlackBerry Torch 9860 is a GSM model while the Torch 9850 is a CDMA network supporting model. The company hasn’t announced the price and availability of the devices but we can expect the details at the CTIA Wireless in October.

The Torch 9850 and 9860 are powered with 1.2Ghz Qualcomm MSM 8655 processor with 768 MB RAM and 4 GB ROM on board. Of course you can add up to 32 GB Memory card for additional storage.

RIM has added a 5 megapixel camera with Flash and continuous autofocus. The camera is also capable of recording 720p HD video as well. Looking very curvaceous at the edges, the Torch 9850-9860 has Optical Trackpad with dedicated Menu, Send and End keys.

For connectivity, the new Torch 9850 and 9860 handsets offer WiFi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, Near Field Communication chip, GPS, digital compass and accelerometer.

Both devices come with 1230mAh lithium-ion battery. However at the product features page states the BlackBerry 9860 offers 4.7 hours of battery life on GSM (2G) networks. We believe appears to be an error and actually may be 7.4 hours because the same device offers 6.8 hours of battery life on 3G Networks. Get more details about the new BlackBerry Torch 9850 and Torch 9860 here.

We expect this handset to be launched and made available by the end of this year or early next year in India.