Impressions of the Sony Ericsson X1
John Chan | Feb 11, 2008
Updated with live pictures!
The folks at Sony Ericsson were pretty strict about letting us try out the interface of the new XPERIA X1, but we were still able to get close enough to have a few good impressions.
Sony Ericsson has always been pretty hot when it comes to handset design, and the X1 is no exception. Looking at it, you forget that this is a Windows Mobile PDA-phone because, very often, the products in that category are pretty clunky. The keypad slides out at an angle and the keys look pretty well spaced-out for typing.
While the Today screen on its WVGA (800 x 480) display looks like the regular Windows Mobile Professional one, a button press will bring up a cool nine-panel interface. These look like shortcuts to other applications and are very attractive, though it looks like users still won't be able to fully avoid the regular WM6 interface when using the X1.
One of the most surprising things is the connectors. Along one side of the device, you can see there's a 3.5mm audio connector. This isn't common for Windows Mobile PDA-phones (2.5mm ones are the norm). More significantly, this isn't even seen on any of the company's Walkman phones, devices that are supposed to target music lovers. Along another edge, the X1 has a mini-USB connector. That's good news because you don't have to rely on the proprietary cables usually packaged with Sony Ericsson devices.
With a truckload of features including HSDPA/HSUPA, GPS and Wi-Fi, the X1 is poised to do battle with established names in this arena like HTC and HP. One worry is that the release date is set for the second-half of 2008, which is a long time from now. That gives competitors quite a bit of lead time to come up with even better-looking products. Let's just hope market availability is closer to the middle of the year than the end.
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Talkback
sylclh says...
SE really surprise me with its latest X1 gem..lost for words..a sub 17mm for an qwerty slider..
Feb 11, 2008 11:48
SE really surprise me with its latest X1 gem..lost for words..a sub 17mm for an qwerty slider..
Feb 11, 2008 11:48
edvarcl says...
oh no! why late half of 2008?
Psst! John. Can you swipe one for me? ;p
Feb 11, 2008 12:09
oh no! why late half of 2008?
Psst! John. Can you swipe one for me? ;p
Feb 11, 2008 12:09
javachan says...
Microsoft World domination begins now! Next, Nokia!
Feb 11, 2008 15:56
Microsoft World domination begins now! Next, Nokia!
Feb 11, 2008 15:56
tamvok says...
cant wait that long for it to come out
Feb 12, 2008 16:28
cant wait that long for it to come out
Feb 12, 2008 16:28
guynax says...
ay inside on when it will be out in SG? some overseas website mentioned May 2008, taiwan end 2008. hopefully SG not too late.
Feb 14, 2008 01:15
ay inside on when it will be out in SG? some overseas website mentioned May 2008, taiwan end 2008. hopefully SG not too late.
Feb 14, 2008 01:15
dash7869 says...
@Guynax, when did you get the May 2008?
You are making me all excited! :-)
Can post the link? TIA!
I will survive!
(will get the i780 as buffer first!)
Feb 14, 2008 12:26
@Guynax, when did you get the May 2008?
You are making me all excited! :-)
Can post the link? TIA!
I will survive!
(will get the i780 as buffer first!)
Feb 14, 2008 12:26
dash7869 says...
By the way, am I being wrong in thinking it looks like the slimer slider from Sharp-Willcom? It's not exactly the same, of course, but the solid finishing and color scheme really reminds me of it!
www.sharp.co.jp...
Feb 14, 2008 12:28
By the way, am I being wrong in thinking it looks like the slimer slider from Sharp-Willcom? It's not exactly the same, of course, but the solid finishing and color scheme really reminds me of it!
www.sharp.co.jp...
Feb 14, 2008 12:28
sylclh says...
hope SE will launch it during the 2nd q....prolong this thingy will have disastrous consequences considering what the 2 from Kimchi land had up in their sleeves......
LAUNCH it ...SE...
Feb 15, 2008 11:06
hope SE will launch it during the 2nd q....prolong this thingy will have disastrous consequences considering what the 2 from Kimchi land had up in their sleeves......
LAUNCH it ...SE...
Feb 15, 2008 11:06
FiReWoLf says...
Love this phone, but have to wait too long for it to release. In the meanwhile, just have to stick with my E90i
Feb 15, 2008 11:18
Love this phone, but have to wait too long for it to release. In the meanwhile, just have to stick with my E90i
Feb 15, 2008 11:18
Fil says...
Me want one too!
Aargh! The wait is too long...
Feb 17, 2008 12:57
Me want one too!
Aargh! The wait is too long...
Feb 17, 2008 12:57
ceevee369 says...
The biggest debate is the expected performance of the SE- X1.
Where it is known (though not public yet) that HTC does the ODM for SE, the question pops up "and how will the (video) performance be"
SE did not confirm yet what will be finally inside the rendering package.
Wait and see.. (and CNET, with your first "hands on" please test the performace vs. the Tytn II. A lot of us "might" upgrade to SEX1 (I guess we launched a funny acronym here ;-)
Feb 19, 2008 21:17
The biggest debate is the expected performance of the SE- X1.
Where it is known (though not public yet) that HTC does the ODM for SE, the question pops up "and how will the (video) performance be"
SE did not confirm yet what will be finally inside the rendering package.
Wait and see.. (and CNET, with your first "hands on" please test the performace vs. the Tytn II. A lot of us "might" upgrade to SEX1 (I guess we launched a funny acronym here ;-)
Feb 19, 2008 21:17
isaac976 says...
gorgeous,, absolutely a winner for year 2008, looks like HTC got to buck up as I am changing from HTC to this baby here, but then again ... will wait for the soft launch .. this is definitely my MUST buy for this year, looks like my Touch and D810 got to go, any takers ?
Feb 27, 2008 01:22
gorgeous,, absolutely a winner for year 2008, looks like HTC got to buck up as I am changing from HTC to this baby here, but then again ... will wait for the soft launch .. this is definitely my MUST buy for this year, looks like my Touch and D810 got to go, any takers ?
Feb 27, 2008 01:22
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rigelstuff
Very, very sexy ;-)
This blows my Kaiser out of the water!
Love the design... that 3" screen... keyboard... 3.5mm jack/miniUSB(way to go SE!!!)
Yes, let's just hope SE also finds out a way to tweak the standard WM UI, even beyond what HTC have done with the Touch UI...
I want one! =D
Feb 11, 2008 11:44
rigelstuff
...forgot to mention the 3Mp cam and FM radio... very cool
Feb 11, 2008 11:48