Tag: Sony Ericsson

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For the Geeks

So I Bought Two Sony Ericsson Xperia arc

You smart readers out there.  Looking at the photo above, which wireless phone do you think is mine and which one is Cynthia’s?  I’ll tell you in just a bit.

After I have seen the phone at one of the blogger events, I was sold.  After I have brought Cynthia to preview the phone at one of Sony Ericsson’s concept stores, she was sold.  On the day this phone was launched, we have visited the SingTel hello! store.  I did some bargaining over the phone prior to our visit and was happy with the the final deal.  We even receive four complimentary tickets to watch Jolin Tsai live in Singapore. I hardly know her music.  I reckon I will by May 7.

Xperia arc is slim and beautiful.  It feels light, yet has a generous 4.2 inches touchscreen that is pure black in color when on standby.  When Cynthia brought the new phone to work, it mesmerized her colleagues a great deal.  I will not repeat in detail what the phone does.  You can read it from my previous entry.  My initial observation remains.  On top of that, now that I have used the phone for a couple of days, here are my additional observations to share.

If you have not used Android platform before, you ought to give it a try.  It is the fastest growing platform today, supported by a good number of manufacturers.  Healthy competition is good.  I have observed the hardware and operating system improvement in the past year.  Android phones simply get better and better pushing the limits on camera specification, screen size, memory and processor power, and user friendliness.

Why Sony Ericsson?  I have been shopping for an Android phone for quite some time (by the way, it took me about 5 years to decide on which flat panel television to buy).  I value multimedia offering, form factor, and branding.  This phone seems to fit the bill.  Xperia arc is powered by the latest Android operating system for smartphones (version 2.3).  Sony Ericsson’s implementation includes the infinity button on the music player that does a quick YouTube video search on the artist you are listening to.  I use this often, especially this phone is powered by Sony’s BRAVIA technology, those vibrant videos are a joy to watch.  In this version, I find the standard email application useful to access my Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo! Mail.  It may not have the bells and whistles of, say, K9.  However when possible, I prefer to use out-of-the-box applications.  Xperia arc, like the previous Android models, also comes with their TrackID application.  TrackID listens to part of the song played in the surrounding and attempts to identify the song.  I also use that often and am pleasantly surprised that even as I have switched to a new Sony Ericsson phone, my historical search results follow me.

I am not an “app man”.  Unlike Cynthia, who is into surfing the Android Market regularly for new and exciting apps.  I use Whatsapp for messaging, Facebook app, TweetDeck, Advanced Task Killer, and Album Art Grabber.  Of course, some of you may remember that I am not a big fan of virtual keyboard.  I use Graffiti Pro to bypass this little handicap of mine.  I am from the Palm Pilot era.  Graffiti suits me perfectly.

On battery life, I am a heavy Internet and phone user.  Xperia arc can last about 9 hours, which meets my expectation.  Cynthia has a lighter usage pattern.  And hers can last for the entire day and more.  As a phone, like the previous Sony Ericsson models, the voice sounds crisp.  The dial pad can be pulled out with a touch of a “button” on the home screen.  Phone volumes can be adjusted even when the screen is locked.  The moment you pull out the headphone, the music player stops automatically.  Sony Ericsson must have done some improvement to their music player because now, the music sounds fuller, with more power.  Powerful enough for my car stereo.  Notification light is placed on the side and it works for incoming SMS, Internet chat message, and etc.  Swiping the screen from left to right unlock the screen.  Swiping from right to left toggles between normal and silence mode.  Folders on the home screen can be created to hold as many applications as you want.  There are progressive tool tips to show you the tricks to personalize the phone.  OK, I could go on and on.  Let’s not do that.  You can find out more yourself.  Now, back to the answer to the question at the beginning of the entry, the phone on the left with the animated falling sakura petals belongs to me while on the right, Cynthia’s.

Surprised?

Categories
For the Geeks

Upcoming Sony Ericsson Xperia arc, neo, and PLAY

Xperia arc

This blogger event could not have come in a better timing.  Cynthia took over my Xperia X8 because she has ‘accidentally’ soaked her old phone that I bought for her with water, inside her gym bag.  X8 is good as an entry level Android phone but we are looking for something with a more executive outlook.  When the folks from Sony Ericsson unveiled the upcoming Xperia arc (together with two other new models), I was instantly in love.

Xperia arc features a pure black screen, noticeably striking when on standby.  It makes the rest of the smartphones that have a dark grey screen looks less appealing and somewhat dated.  Xperia arc is slim.  At its thinnest, the phone measures at  8.7 mm.  The screen size is 4.2 inches, which I believe is one of the largest in the smartphone category.  Xperia arc scores very high on the form factor.  But what about the multimedia offering?

During the video playback demo session, arc was put side-by-side with Sony Ericsson’s current high end model, X10.  Because arc employs Sony’s BRAVIA technology, looking at the same video, arc produces more crystal clear picture and the image looks vibrant and brilliant.  In terms of image and video capturing capability, with an Sony’s Exmor R technology as well as an aperture of 2.4 (quite possibly one of the lowest I have seen), this phone supposes to shine under low light condition.  I have tested the evening shots on top of Esplanade and I am pleased with what I have seen.  Perhaps I can share some live images with you once I get hold of one.  Xperia arc has a 8.1 megapixel camera that comes with HD video recording capability.  Not the highest I have seen.  But not too low either.  I suspect Exmor R technology should be able to boost the image quality.  Sony, after all, makes cameras as well.  This phone has a HDMI output.  I don’t see much use to it.  But if you need it, it is there.

Xperia arc will be launched with the latest Android for smartphone version 2.3.  Although I am not fanatic towards the version of the operating system (I still yet to see that huge different between 1.6 and 2.1 besides that animated screen, it is certainly not like an upgrade from Vista to Win 7), it is good to see that Sony Ericsson has fixed the perception issue.  Now, I am keen to see if they can keep up the platform update for their existing Android models.

Quite honestly, the moment I plugged my personal earphone onto Xperia arc was the moment when I said to myself, “Woah, this is the one”.  I am much impressed by the music playback quality.  It is a class on its own.  You have got to hear it for yourself.

Xperia arc will be available in Singapore in Q1 this year (which is just days away!) in two colors: Midnight Blue and Misty Silver.

Xperia neo

Xperia neo is very much similar to Xperia arc, in terms of technical spec.  Hence, I would not repeat here.  Xperia neo is more compact.  It has a screen size of 3.7 inches instead of arc’s 4.2 inches.  And it also has an unique design, equally ergonomic in a different way compares to arc.  At launch, neo will have two colors – Blue Gradient and Red – and is going to be available in Singapore Q2 this year.  It should be priced below Xperia arc.  By how much?  We have to wait and see.

Xperia PLAY

For the avid gamers, the above image would mean something dear to your heart.  I have heard the rumor of such release a while ago.  I was trying to get a confirmation from the PR company that handled Sony Ericsson’s account.  But you know how marketing team works.  It is all hush hush.

Xperia PLAY combines both PlayStation gaming experience with the latest Android platform.  PLAY is the first PlayStation certified device.  It does not come with the BRAVIA technology (color vibrancy is less of an issue as far as gaming is concerned because video games by default are designed with vibrant colors).  But it has a better graphic processing system.  On paper, it delivers a 60 frames per second gaming experience with minimal power consumption.  I have tried out a racing game on the 4 inches screen.  Pretty good experience.  I was hoping to try out some fantasy role playing games but did not have a chance (not sure if there is one).  At launch, PLAY will be preloaded with: Sim 3,  FIFA 10, Madden NFL 11, Star Battalion, Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior, and Crash Bandicoot.  On top of that, more than 50 game titles will be available – for purchase I suppose.  I have seen the list of games.  It looks diverse.  Surprisingly, I do not see Final Fantasy, or any fighting games that I can recognize.

When will PLAY be out?  Q2 this year, in Singapore.  In black, and in white.

Got a question?  Drop me a comment!

Categories
For the Geeks

Extended Hands-on With Sony Ericsson Xperia X8

Previously, I did an article for Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro.  This time, they sent me their latest Xperia X8 wireless phone for review.  I don’t envy the wireless phone manufacturers.  To satisfy the mass market requirements – which at times contradicting to one another – must be hard.  I have my preferences.  Who doesn’t?  But as a candid reviewer, it is my job to ask around and understand the alternative perspectives and present the phone as it is.  For instance, some friends of mine prefer virtual keyboard to a physical QWERTY one.  They claim it is faster to type a message although I have my reservation.  For instance, some pick a phone based on how big the application icons appear.  And for instance, I would prefer to be able to set an alarm clock in the evening, switch off the phone, and my phone would ring in the next morning.  But some think it is not necessary and they’d rather leave the phone switched on the whole night.  One thinks it is a deal breaker if the phone does what I prefer.  To him, a phone switched off is a phone switched off.  No alarm, nothing.

After experiencing Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 for a couple of weeks, I have written an article for sharing.  For those who are looking for a one- or two-liner of what I think, Xperia X8 is a fun entry level Android smartphone with an appealingly light and small form factor.  Its decent battery life is convenience for those who are constantly on the go.

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Categories
For the Geeks

Hands-on With Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro

After attending the Sony Ericsson blogger event, the devices that left the most impression were the Xperia series.  Mainly because of my curiosity to the Google Android operating system.  When contacted if I am interested to get hold of a test unit for review, my initial reaction was to wait out for the new firmware update.  But since I was told that it would not make too much of a difference to the mini version, I shall try out the X10 Mini Pro first and the X10 later.

X10 Mini Pro is tiny.  Some asked how tiny it is.  Well, a picture speaks a thousand words.  As you can see in the picture above, in today’s world whereby phones are getting bigger and bigger, I am delighted to see some phones do get smaller.  X10 Mini Pro is still quite thick.  Mainly because of the full QWERTY keyboard.  But that is the trade-off.  I have tried phones with virtual full keyboard.  Thanks but no thanks.  Nothing beats a real keyboard.  For this phone, the keys are sturdy.  My only comment is that there are gaps between the keys.  I am used to keys that are closer to one another.  But that is a personal preference.

It is my first experience with the Android operating system (version 1.6) on a touchscreen phone.  It is responsive to my touch (via fingertip, not fingernail).  Indeed, I am satisfied with the sensitivity.  Because the screen size is tiny, at times some icons seemed to get in the way when I tried to navigate.  It is a matter of getting used to, I think.  There are four shortcuts at the four corners of the desktop: message, phone, music, and address book.  The phone supports multiple desktops that are available for customization.  At the bottom of the phone, there are three physical buttons.  Leftmost is the menu button that has different set of functions for different applications and scenarios.  Middle one is the quick access to desktop and applications.  Holding the middle one brings out the active application menu for you to toggle between running applications.  Rightmost button is to go back to previous menu or acts as a cancel command.  Overall, the design is intuitive.  In no time, I was acquainted with how the phone works.

The test unit comes with several key applications.  Facebook application works within my expectation.  So do the Google applications such as Gmail, GTalk, and Maps.  Additional applications can be downloaded from the Market app.  I have tried out the MSN Droid.  It is OK.  I have also tried out the SMS function.  Messages are organized into conversations.  In rare occasions, the virtual keypad may block the view of the newest message while replying a SMS.  Besides that, it is working as intended.

The browser is a real surprise.  Some of my friends are skeptical on web browsing using this tiny phone.  Surprise, surprise, the experience is positive.  First, the browser is responsive.  Second, there is a mechanism to easily zoom out to page view and zoom back into the web page’s location you want to read.  Effectively, you can jump to anywhere in the web page without scrolling left and right, up and down.

I am a music lover and have mixed feeling on the X10 Mini Pro music player.  The interface is basic.  Most of the operations are needed to perform in the computer linked to the phone – such as creating playlists or managing tracks.  I don’t seem to be able to find the repeat track function.  While the quality of the external speaker is a real good surprise (quite possibly the best compare to other phone models), the sound quality coming out from the headphones is basic.  It is not as dynamic as I would prefer and there is a constant background noise that you probably wouldn’t notice when music is played.  That noise appears to be more obvious in between tracks.

Continue with the music player, there is an Infinity icon (same goes to personal contact) that upon clicking, relevant videos are retrieved from YouTube within the player and it is pretty cool to be able to view the videos directly without the need to open up YouTube and search for the artist.

If you need a tiny phone with a touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard that fits well onto your palm, Xperia X10 Mini Pro is a good option.  Personally, I am much impressed by what a tiny Android phone can do.  Cynthia thought that it would be even cooler if the X10 Mini Pro swings out 90 degrees (just like the TV series Gossip Girl) instead of sideways.  As for me, I am happy that some phones do get smaller.

Categories
For the Geeks

Sony Ericsson Backstage Event

Last week I have attended a Sony Ericsson blogger event and got a chance to ‘speed date’ some of their recent and upcoming devices.  I must say, the last time I owned a Ericsson phone was more than a decade ago.  Back then, seemed like everyone around me was either holding a Ericsson 688 or that banana-Matrix phone.  Back then, battery packs were easily changeable.  Even the antennas.  Look how far wireless phones have evolved.  It never ceases to amaze me whenever I stop and ponder upon it.

Forward to 2010, the five Sony Ericsson phones I have had brief moments with are the Google Andriod powered Xperia X10 mini pro, Xperia X10 mini, Xperia X10 and the Vivaz and Vivaz pro (picture above from left to right).  I suppose if you are into Google Andriod, Xperia series may be your cup of tea.  For those who are familiar with the Symbian OS, you may feel at home with the Vivaz series that is able to capture media in HD format.  Sony Ericsson Vivaz comes with a 8.1 megapixel camera while the pro version comes with 5.1 megapixel.  I guess with a QWERTY keyboard, there are some trade-offs users have to make.  But still, 5.1 megapixel is pretty decent, in the context of wireless phones.

During the blogger event, quite a few of us fell in love with the Xperia mini and its little brother “pro” that comes with a keypad.  The pro version does remind me those cute little phones that were used in the TV series Gossip Girl, as one good friend of mine has pointed out.  The colorful mini series is designed with simplicity in mind, easily operable with one hand.  At the four corners are the shortcuts for popular functions.  As for me, I prefer larger screen – like the Xperia X10.  4 inches large with a resolution of 480×854.  That is pretty impressive.  I have yet to fully understand how do the Timescape and Mediascape work in real life.  There is this “infinite button” – a magic button that helps you organize your contact communications and favorite friends and artists related contents within and beyond your phone.

So tell me, are you a Sony Ericsson fan?  How do you like your Sony Ericsson phone?