Alongside the other two ‘hardware’ additions to the Sony Xperia Smart Extras range, Sony have also announced the arrival of exciting new product – Xperia SmartTags into the Smart Extras family.

SmartTags are basically tags that use NFC (near field communication) technology to communicate with any Android smartphone capable of using NFC. The Xperia SmartTags can be configured to change the profile on a mobile handset when the phone touches the tag. As an example, you could take one tag and configure it so that when you swipe it with your phone, the tag changes the phone profile to turn on WiFi, turn the phone onto silent, open an app and so on.

More new products from Sony have been announced, in the form of three ‘smart’ accessories that will not only be compatible with the new Xperia NXT range of handsets but, with any Android smartphone with bluetooth or NFC support enabled.

First up in the Smart Extras range is the SmartWatch which is basically a wireless display which can mount onto the provided ‘watch strap’ and allows the display of calls, messages and social networking updates in a similar (but better) way to the Live View accessory that Sony Ericsson brought out. Next is the rather exciting Smart Wireless Headset Pro, a bluetooth stereo headset that can also be used as a standalone MP3 player and FM radio or can connect to your phone and will also display call information, text messages and Facebook or Twitter updates. Thirdly, Sony have released a new Smart Extension SDK which will allow developers access to create exciting new applications to enhance and customise both the SmartWatch and the Smart Wireless Headset Pro.

A few months ago Sega announced that they would be releasing Sonic CD onto home consoles, the Xbox 360 and PS3. They also revealed that they would release the game onto the Android Market, along with iTunes at a later date. One thing that many queried at the time was whether the game would make use of Sony Ericsson Xperia Play’s gamepad. At the time, Sega said it wouldn’t at launch but, may get Xperia Play gamepad support in the future.

A couple of days ago, Sega released Sonic CD on the 360, with the PS3 to follow and a mobile release to come in early 2012. Sega have however, gifted us early with the game being released already. Not only have they released the Sonic game earlier than expected, it also features support for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play’s gamepad. Check out the video below to see how the game plays on the Playstation certified Xperia Play.

Sony Ericsson have declared themselves as the first mobile phone manufacturer to include support for WebGL technology on their handsets. WebGL is a technology that allows 3D graphic rendering to be viewed on browsers without the need for additional plugins and although the technology has been around for a little while now, Sony Ericsson have jumped in with open arms to integrate WebGL support into it’s range of 2011 Xperia handsets.

WebGL support was added to the newer Xperia range via the recent Android 2.3.4 update, although when the update was released Sony Ericsson kept this new feature quiet, choosing to release the information in a press release seperately. The WebGL technology does need the higher specifications found in the latest, more powerful Xperia handsets, to run as from Sony Ericsson explains:

Currently, if you wish to purchase one of the great titles from Gameloft such as BackStab, you have to buy the game directly through the Gameloft website from the browser on your Xperia Play. In the future however, Gameloft titles that are Xperia Play optimized will be added to the Android Market.

This gives two advantages. Firstly, you will now be able to pay for the games through Google as you do for other apps and games. This also means your apps and games are more unified. Secondly however and perhaps more importantly, when you need to re-download a game for whatever reason, it will be much easier to do. Currently users often have to contact Gameloft to re-download the games and provide transaction information. With the inclusion of Gameloft games in the Android market, whether you restore your phone or receive a replacement handset, re-downloading these games will no longer be a problem.