Somebody over at Sony Ericsson headquarters must have had a tad too much beer last night - the company has just announced one of its best products yet: the LiveView, which is essentially a Bluetooth remote control for your Android device. The catch? It requires Android 2.0 or above, which is something SE's own Xperia X10 family of phones don't currently have.

Regardless, the square little OLED-packing device does look pretty nice, with functionality that is said to make it a "micro display that mirrors the phone," although it is not yet clear how a 4.3 or even 5-inch 800x480 display will be mirrored on a tiny 1.3" device with a physical resolution of 128x128. According to the press release (which you can read below in its entirety), it also allows users to control music on the go, accept incoming calls and see who they're coming from, get their instant notifications, and read texts, tweets, and Facebook updates. Best of all, the LiveView is an open platform, much like Android itself. The LiveView is definitely a welcome addition to Sony Ericsson's rather dry line of products, but if one thing's for sure, it's that the company really needs to push out a software upgrade for the Xperia X10 and its Mini cousins sometime soon... if not FroYo, then at least Eclair. Please?

via Engadget

Your window to your world with Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM)
Sweden, Sep 28, 2010 (Thomson Reuters ONE via COMTEX) -- - Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) micro display with remote control functionality mirrors the activities of your mobile phone
London, September 28th 2010 - Today sees the announcement of the Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM). This innovative accessory is another step in Sony Ericsson's commitment to help consumers get the very best mobile phone experience through the open Android platform. The Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) is part of the Sony Ericsson Extras portfolio - a division which offers a total product experience and enhanced mobile possibilities.
The Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) uses Bluetooth(TM) connectivity to wirelessly pair up to a compatible handset and allows consumers to control the phone without taking it out of their pocket or handbag. Read text messages, see incoming calls and keep up to date with the latest news on Facebook(TM) and Twitter(TM).
The Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) allows the user to control the Sony Ericsson music features of the handset from the micro display, selecting tracks and controlling volume. The product also serves as a calendar reminder, displaying calendar events and other phone applications.
Whether on the go, in a meeting or out for dinner, the convenient Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) can be clipped anywhere. Attached in a watch strap, on a keychain or clipped to a laptop, the micro display allows the user to incorporate the product into their lifestyle and always stay connected.
Mikael Henriksson, Head of creation and offering planning at Sony Ericsson Extras, said: "It is our ambition to be THE Communication Entertainment brand and this includes being the most open mobile phone brand on the market. We believe in openness and offering consumers a wide range of applications to choose from. We will continue to develop accessories to ensure we play a major and groundbreaking role in the market and design innovative and exciting accessories for all platforms, including Android."
Mikael Henriksson continued: "The Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) is the first Sony Ericsson accessory to be compatible with the open Android(TM) platform which gives developers an opportunity to be creative and develop the next must-have innovative application."
Your window to your world with Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM)
- Micro display device that mirrors the phone
- Tunes on the go - control music
- Don't miss out - Get instant notification and readtexts, Tweets and Facebook(TM) updates
- Incoming calls - see who is calling
- Make it mine - open platform for developers to add to the large collection of applications for a unique experience
To find Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) enabled applications, Sony Ericsson has developed the Sony Ericsson LiveWare(TM) Manager application. It will scan Android(TM) Market for Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) enabled applications and present them to the user. The Sony Ericsson LiveWare(TM) manager will be available from Android(TM) Market, or come preinstalled in phone bundles.
The Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) will be available in stores from Q4, 2010.
The Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) is also available in one of the Sony Ericsson Experience Packs. An 'Experience Pack' is a package of several related components that together create a great user experience in a certain area. The packages include mobile phone applications, accessories, services and much more. The "Sony Ericsson Fitness Pack" is aimed at sports and fitness enthusiasts. It contains a sport application for the Sony Ericsson LiveView(TM) - The SportyPal(TM) Pro - and a carrying case for your mobile phone - ideal for exercising.
The first 'Sony Ericsson Experience Pack" will be available in selected markets in Q4.
To see more about Sony Ericsson Extras visit: www.sonyericsson.com/LiveView