Older Sony smartphones can now get a taste of newer Android software, thanks to Xperia Overlay, which just added more goodies.
It's generally a rule of thumb that newer software reaches newer hardware, but some tweaks and workarounds allow even older hardware to enjoy more recent treats. Xperia Overlay is dedicated to porting newer Xperia Z software to older Sony devices that launched a few years back.
The latest release from Xperia Overlay doesn't bring the new Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but it does give old Xperia handsets a taste of Android Lollipop. The new Xperia Overlay v3.1 is based on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop and is available for the Sony Xperia S, Xperia SL, Ion and Acro S.
Moreover, the folks over at Xperia Overlay also issued some fixes so the Ion gets a build of Cyanogenmod 12.
The team is working on extending the courtesy to more Sony devices next month, including the Xperia SP, U, P, Sola, T, TX, TK, M, V and L. A set of older devices such as the Xperia Arc, Neo, Arc S, Neo V, Neo L, Ray, Pro and Xperia Play will also be getting a treat, but to version 2.1 based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat.
In addition to the neat Xperia features, the updates also bring a slew of important fixes under the hood, including great optimizations for CPU and GPU management. Thanks to these optimizations, users of older Sony devices will be able to play newer games such as Asphalt 8 Airborne and others. The CPU management optimization also allows owners of supported devices to run multiple apps at the same time, surf the web with shorter loading times and stream videos seamlessly, without breaks.
Super Stamina Mode and Ultra Stamina Mode, meanwhile, will enable that older hardware to ensure better battery performance. Other improvements with the latest updates include Sony's Clear Audio technology which will mark a major improvement for old Sony devices. DLNA and Miracast are in the mix as well, as long as the hardware supports it.
Lastly, the backports add PlayStation compatibility, which means that owners of the aforementioned Sony devices will be able to enjoy PlayStation Certified titles and make purchases from the PlayStation Network (PSN).
While version 3.1 is available now, the Xperia Overlay v3.2 will launch on Nov. 15 for 2012 devices and will become available through the OTA update center, the company announced in a recent post on its Facebook page. Head over to the Xperia Overlay website for more information.
