Now here's a phone that's had me all excited ever since it was firstannounced at the Mobile World Congress back in February. The SonyEricsson XPERIA X1 is a smartphone set to challenge the mighty NokiaE90. If looks are anything to go by, the XPERIA wins hands down, but aswith any smartphone, it's not the looks that matter, it's the featuresand how easy they are to use.
Sony Ericsson are keeping tight lipped about the applications onoffer with the XPERIA X1 for the moment, but they have released a setof specifications for the phone, if it's incomplete.
Full spec of the XPERIA X1 after the jump.
The first thing to note is that the XPERIA X1 is absed on WidowsMobile 6.1, which marks a departure for Sony Ericsson phones as they'venever used Windows Mobile before. This brings greater synchronizationwith the desktop (at least if you have a Windows-based PC, anyway), butat the cost of the dreadful Mobile Internet Explorer.
Sony Ericsson have also been shouting loudly about the new UserInterface of the XPERIA X1, which they see as capable fo taking on theiPhone. The X1's UI is controllable trough a 3" VGA touchscreen thatcan support 65,536 colours. The UI uses what Sony Ericsson call Panels,which are distinct blocks of functionality that the user can movearound the screen at will.
According to Rikko Sakaguchi, Sony Ericsson's Head of Portfolio andPropositions, "No two individuals have the same tastes and desires.Sony Ericsson's XPERIAâ„¢ X1 has been developed to ensure that mobile webcommunication and multimedia entertainment can be tailored, putting theindividual at the heart of the mobile experience in a uniquely personalway."
Applications can be built around panel technology, and SonyEricsson will be working with both operators and application developersto create nifty new panels once the XPERIA X1 has been launched.
Speaking of which, despite rumours that it wouldn't be releaseduntil 2009, Sony Ericsson have said that the XPERIA X1 release datewill be the second half of 2008. Which is just as well, really, asapart from its flashy interface, the X1 is competing feature forfeature with the Nokia E90, and that's been out for over six monthsnow. By the time the X1 is released, there should be a new E90 about tobe released, so Sony Ericsson need to get a move on if the X1 is tocompete effectively.
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 Specification
And so what of the X1's specs then? Welll, they're not fullyfleshed out yet, but here are what Sony Ericsson are aiming to craminto the X1:
Camera
* Camera - 3.2 megapixel
* Video recording
* Photo light
* Digital zoom - 3x
* Auto focus
Entertainment
* 3D games
* Video viewing
* Video streaming
* Java
* Radio - FM radio RDS
Communication
* Video calling
* Vibrating Alert
* Speakerphone
* Polyphonic ringtones
Music
* Bluetoothâ„¢ stereo (A2DP)
* Windows Media® Player Mobile
* PlayNowâ„¢
* Music tones
* Media Player
Connectivity
* aGPS
* WLAN
* USB support
* USB mass storage
* Synchronisation
* Modem
* Bluetoothâ„¢ technology
Design
* XPERIAâ„¢ panels
* Optical joystick navigation
* Picture wallpaper
* Navigation key
Internet
* Internet Explorer® Mobile
* RSS feeds
Messaging
* Exchange ActiveSync®
* Text messaging (SMS)
* Predictive text input
* Picture messaging (MMS)
Organiser
* Touch-screen
* Tasks
* Phone book
* Notes
* Handwriting recognition
* Flight mode
* Document readers
* Document editors
* Calendar
* Calculator
* Alarm clock
The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 is looking good. It's got all thefeatures you'd want, and looks great, too. Can't wait to see it in theflesh!