THE MOBILE HORNET … for those who get turned on by mobile devices

The Nintendo Wii game console gives gaming a whole new experience. Here comes Sony Ericsson’s Motion Gaming F305 and S302 Snapshot which can even make you “bowl”.

The F305 quad-band GSM/EDGE slider depends upon a motion-sensing accelerometer (see the guy bowling), dedicated gaming controls, and stereo speakers to create the gaming experience.  The screen does not do justice to enjoy this experience because of its small 2.0-inch, 176 x 220 display. It comes with a standard 8-hour battery with an optional CPP-100 backup battery pack to extend play. You will also get quad-band GSM/EDGE, 2 megapixel sensor, photo light, video recording, and PhotoFix software. On top of that you can also shoot video, with the 20MB of built-in storage, and Memory Stick Micro expansion. Both phones come with A2DP  

Expect to see this in Q4 2008.

THE SONY XPERIA X1 IS TOP NOTCH!

WMEXPERTS has a very interesting review of the Sony Xperial X at their site.  Here are extracts of their information:

Here are the specs:

• HSDPA/HSUPA (Quad Band, too)
• WiFi and Bluetooth
• aGPS
• 3.2 Megapixel Camera
• 110 x 53 x 16.7 mm
• 145 grams
• 1500 mAH Battery
• Qualcomm’s MSM7200A CPU, 528Mhz (confirmed)
• 800×480 resolution Touchscreen (flush)
• MicroSD for expansion
• MiniUSB for data and chargin
• 3.5mm headset jack for music

Some questions and answers:

When is it shipping and to which countries.

They can’t and won’t say. Ditto price.

They’re not going to rule it out, but signs point to no.

How do you like the keyboard? It looks really nice from the pics I’ve seen.

I like it about as well as I like any slider keyboard. It is remarkably wide (since the X1 is such a tall device to accommodate 800 pixels of height on the screen), which I’m not fond of. Key travel and feel was decent, though I do wonder if people might have to develop callouses to type on metal keys all day.

How smoothly does that arc slider move back and forth?

Like butter.

Did you get to watch any videos on it? I read that it’s supposed to have DVD quality video. Thanks!

Sadly, no. However the high resolution and graphical acceleration gives me hope.

Will it ship with WM6.1, how good is the camera with photos and videos, is it finger friendly when using the Windows Mobile Part of the device.

Yes. I’m sorry, I don’t know, but it’s 3.2 megapixels. Meh. The touch mouse is cool, but the device would really benefit from TouchFLO-style scrolling.

What type of chipset–its rumored to be MSM-7xxx(a), which is a 63nm variant.

Qualcomm’s MSM7200A CPU, 528Mhz (confirmed and utilizing graphic acceleration drivers)

My main thing is how much do they think its going to cost (full retail price).

They ain’t saying.

I want to know if it have Video performance issues, like his twin brother, the Toshiba G900 or his father, the HTC TYTNII (At&tTilt)

It doesn’t appear to. Now the Panels interface, as I mentioned, was still Beta and therefore slow. Windows Mobile 6.1 was very snappy, though.

It was an error  that the Xperia X1 will be launched only on 10 Feb 2009.  Lets put the record straight:

 A statement from Sony Ericsson stating..

“We will be launching the X1 product in 2nd Half of 2008, as per our announcement of 10th February that we made in Barcelona”

The Wii did it again.

In January the Nintendo Wii sold 3-to-1 against Sony PS.  But in February the Wii narrows the gap with a sale of 331,627 units against Sony PS 89,131, which means the Wii is leading with a ratio of 4-to-1.

At this rate, the PS can be history in the very near future unless Sony come out with something more innovative to compete with the Wii.

I reported earlier that the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 will run on WINDOWS MOBILE 6.5 and I still believe it will when they put the device in the market.  However, it was posted in Terminal.hu website that it is running on Windows Mobile 6.1. Probably this is only on the pre-production units. 

Here are the images showing the operating system and the processor:

HTC will continue to maintain its pole position as the LEADING Pocket PC device manufacturer by also being the manufacturer for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. 

DIGITIMES REPORTED:

“High Tech Computer (HTC) has landed an ODM order from Sony Ericsson to manufacture the company’s Windows Mobile-based Xperia X1 handset, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report. This is the first ODM order from a top-tier handset vendor for HTC, the paper claimed.

Sony Ericsson is currently showcasing the Xperia X1 at the 2008 GSMA Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona, Spain from February 11-14, with the handset to be available in the second half of 2008, the EDN said.”

With the arrival of the Sony Ericsson’s Windows Mobile device, the XPERIA X1, the market will see further development of Windows Mobile devices.  I am sure it will lead to very healthy competition especially in the area of design and user interface.

In the MsMobiles site, I came across their opinion of what they think of the current crop of mobile devices where they have classified the Samsung i780 as kind-of MERCEDES and the HTC/GIGABYTE/ETEN as kind-of VOLKSWAGEN while the new Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 as kind-of PORSCHE !  I do not quite understand the nature of this classification. Was it based on the size, the style or the performance? What do you think of this comment?

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 – At a Glance

Camera

• Auto focus
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Photo light
• Video recording

Music

• Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
• Media player
• Music tones
• PlayNow™
• Windows Media Player Mobile
• 3D games
• FM radio
• Java
• Video streaming
• Video viewing

Internet

• Internet Explorer® Mobile
• RSS feeds

Communication and Messaging

• Polyphonic ringtones
• Speakerphone
• Vibrating alert
• Video calling
• Email
• Picture messaging (MMS)
• Predictive text input
• Text messaging (SMS)

Design

• XPERIA™ panels
• Optical joystick navigation
• Navigation key
• Picture wallpaper
• Touch navigation

Organiser

• Alarm clock
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Document editors
• Document readers
• Flight mode
• Handwriting recognition
• Notes
• Phone book
• Tasks
• Touchscreen

Connectivity

• aGPS
• Bluetooth™ technology
• Modem
• Synchronization
• USB support
• WLAN

Windows® Mobile® Operating System

• Microsoft® Outlook Mobile: email, contacts, calendar, tasks
• Microsoft® Office Mobile: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Internet Explorer® Mobile
• Windows Media™ Player Mobile
• Windows Live™
• Exchange ActiveSync®
• Voice control
• Utility Applications: file explorer, calculator, pictures & video, notes

Facts and Figures

• Size: 110 x 53 x 16.7 mm
• Weight: 145 grams

Available colours

• Black
• Silver
• Main screen: 65,536 color TFT
• Resolution: 800 X 480 pixels
• Size: 3 inches

Memory                                               

• Phone memory: up to 400 MB
• microSD™ memory card support   

Availability and versions
Networks

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
• UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
• UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850/1700/1900/2100 MHz

Magnus Andersson from Sony Ericsson demonstrated the XPERIA X1 in this video clip from MsMobiles and MyTreo:

I reported earlier that Nokia may introduce Windows Mobile OS into their phones.  This may happen or it may not because I believe that if ever Nokia wanted a secondary OS, it will more likely be the Android, not Windows Mobile.

Ok, Nokia is 50-50 but Sony Ericsson has confirmed using the Windows Mobile OS.

Below is the press release from Sony Ericsson on their announcement of the Windows Mobile XPERIA X1:

” The world of our consumers and customers is changing. To meet the growing need for mobile Web communication and multimedia entertainment, Sony Ericsson introduces XPERIA™. With this new brand, Sony Ericsson will position itself at the forefront of mobile convergence. “

Barcelona, Spain – 10th February 2008 –Today marked the launch of XPERIA™  and a new era in mobile communications with the announcement of the XPERIA™ X1, a stand-out, arc slider phone from Sony Ericsson designed to address the growing need for a premium, converged mobile experience.

The XPERIATM X1 combines a 3-inch clear wide VGA display and a full QWERTY keyboard within a quality metal-finish body. With Windows Mobile® inside, the XPERIA™ X1 lets you choose from a dynamic range of activities at anytime and anywhere; from enjoying your favourite entertainment content to working efficiently on-the-move.  Access a world of experiences simply by touching the XPERIA™ panel on the screen.

“XPERIA™ represents the first brand that is truly borne from within Sony Ericsson. It represents our vision for a premium, energised communication experience,” said Dee Dutta, Head of Marketing, Sony Ericsson. “This launch, and the announcement of the X1, further strengthens the overall Sony Ericsson brand and places us at the forefront of mobile convergence.”

“Our vision for the XPERIA™ X1 is to deliver a seamless blend of mobile Web communication and multimedia entertainment within a distinctive design,” said Rikko Sakaguchi, Head of Portfolio and Propositions, Sony Ericsson. “XPERIA™ is our promise to think foremost of user experience and to deliver the premium experience – anytime, anywhere, anything, with anyone.”

Sony Ericsson XPERIATM X1 – energised communication, the premium experience.

• Convergence of multimedia entertainment and mobile Web communication
• Unique arc slider with wide pitch easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard
• XPERIA™ panels  - arrange as you want for easy access
• Enjoy multimedia entertainment on bright wide VGA display
• Windows Mobile® capabilities

XPERIA™ panel interface – experiences just the way you want them
Enjoy access to different experiences – Web, multimedia, applications – from your desktop. Navigate with the tip of your finger. Configure and have your XPERIA™ panels just the way you want them.

Multiple navigation – the choice is yours
XPERIA™ X1 lets you interact with your
phone in different ways. Touch, full QWERTY keyboard, 4-way key and optical joystick  navigation. Switch seamlessly between operation modes.

Arc slider design – makes it stand out
The arc design gives a distinct and unique feel. Slide the screen upwards to reveal the wide pitch QWERTY keyboard. Ample distance between keys makes writing fast and easy.

Ultimate mobile experience – performance on the move
With Windows Mobile®, the highest data transfer rate (HSDPA/HSUPA) and WiFi™ support, you can enjoy your favourite entertainment and work efficiently on the move. Mobile access to everything that is important to you. aGPS gives you the freedom to explore the world.  XPERIA™ X1 is a premium mobile experience.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA™ X1 will be available in selected markets from the second half of 2008.

This is Sony’s version of the Uber Amazing PMP with Internet browsing and Messaging abilities,

Lets hope the MYLO 2 is what we expect.  Have a look at the specs:

• 3.5” Touchscreen LCD (800×480)
• 1.3Mpix Camera
• 1GB of internal memory
• Support Mpeg-4, WMA, MP3, AAC, ATRAC files
• Flash based video
• Has Skype, Netfront, AIM, Gtlak, Yahoom IM, RSS…
• You can access Google, Youtube, Facebook and so on and so one.

Sony is coming in strong with their range of products unveiled at CES 2008: