The kernel source for the Sony Xperia Z has been released nearly a month before the actual device is speculated to launch. This is great news for the open source developer community and it earns Sony some brownie points in the eyes of Android users. Sony has an impressive track record of releasing source code for its developers immediately upon the release of its devices.

Sony one-ups most manufacturers, like Samsung, by releasing kernel sources that are complete, compilable, and actually working. There’s not much you can do with the Sony Xperia Z kernel at the moment, but you can see what the device will be like when it launches. Sony is setting a good example of what what an OEM should do, and hopefully other companies will follow its lead.

The Sony Xperia Z is Sony’s 2013 flagship phone, and it’s hoping that their device will make them just as much of a competitor as Samsung in the Android marketplace. The Sony Xperia Z has a 5-inch Full HD display, 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 16GB built-in memory with a microSD card slot for expandable storage, 2GB of RAM, 13MP rear-facing camera, 2.2MP front-facing camera, 2,330 mAh battery, and will be running on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The Xperia Z received a lot of hype at CES for its beautiful form factor, great specs, and ability to survive in water. The device is rumored to be released by the end of this month in UK, and to the rest of the world sometime in March. It will be available in black, white, and purple.

[via XDA-Developers]