Yesterday I wrote a story about rumors that the Sony Ericsson Xperia 'Shakira' was to be labeled the X8, and today we have official word from the Sony Ericsson Product Blog as such. Additionally, they mentioned in the blog post that the timetable for the Android 2.1 update for the Xperia X10 and X8 family from Q4 is moving up to "the latter part of Q3 and onwards".

Here is the spec list for the Xperia X8 that Android Central brought together:

• Android 1.6 (possibly)
• 3" 320 x 480 touchscreen
• 600MHz processor
• 3.2MP camera
• aGPS, Wi-Fi
• Quad-band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900), dual (900/2100) or quad-band (800/850/1900/2100) HSPA

Other great news is that the phone should go for "under 200 Euro Retail" which is sure to interest people who have never before owned an Android device.

The Sony Ericsson Product Blog mentions the new Android 2.1 update timetable for the Xperia X10, X10 mini, and the X10 mini pro:

We are today happy to confirm that all of these phones will now get the update to Android 2.1 from the latter part of Q3 and onwards (timing will vary from market to market, some will be in Q4...Today we are also introducing a brand new member to the 2010 Xperia line-up, Xperia X8. This phone takes the best from Xperia X10 and the mini products into a new price point (under 200 Euro Retail)...As the improved timing for Android 2.1 availability now coincides with the launch window for Xperia X8, we are currently discussing with our customers the most appropriate way to bring the product to market for each operator in each country...XperiaTM X8 will either launch on Android 1.6 with a subsequent upgrade to Android 2.1 a few weeks later or will launch on Android 2.1. The final decision will be taken on a market-by-market basis.

Androinica wrote about some special aspects of Sony Ericsson's Android 2.1 update:

the Xperia X10 will also be getting HD video recording which will come as a part of that previously mentioned update. Plus the X10 will also be getting a second update, which is said to be coming in Q4 2010 and offering the ability to “connect and display wirelessly content on your television and enhance the Timescape and Mediascape applications.”

As for other Android OS updates, EuroDroid mentions that Xperia X10 users have reason to be happy, as long as they "don’t mention Android 2.2. Sony Ericsson seems to be pretending that doesn’t exist at this moment in time."

Other Sources: AndroidCentral, Androinica, EuroDroid

Image from AndroidCentral