The European Imaging and Sound Association knows what the true score is and looking at the recent awardees for best mobile phones, then we all should know too.
There is no doubt that the Samsung GT i9000 Galaxy S smart phone deserves to be called the best smart phone in the field. It really is, in terms of style, innovation, functionality, hardware and of course, software capabilities, this handset works like a dream. Naturally, the Android operating system used in the OS is a definite reason why it is such a great smart phone; the OS has all the necessary features for the handset.
The Galaxy S also packs a 5 mega pixel camera with 720p HD video recording, a 1GHz CPU that gives it plenty of processing power for handling most apps and features and of course, the 4 inch super AMOLED capacitive touch screen display that gives it a visual quality that surpasses all other mobile phones including the retina technology used by Apple.
In terms of looks and style, there is no denying that Samsung’s Galaxy S is a definite classic. Putting aside the fact that the handset looks a lot like the Apple iPhone from certain angles, it is pretty easy to see why this phone is attracting plenty of attention with its smooth lines and sleek form.
Of course, Sony Ericsson took the big win of the day, with the XPERIA X10 Mini smart phone taking away the best mobile phone award and fully deserving it. Though it can be said that this phone is nothing but a watered down version of the original X10 that is where the success of the device is. Not everyone needs a high end smart phone with the specs of the XPERIA X10 or even the Galaxy S, but the X10 Mini is a great fit for many people –making this handset the perfect winner.
Posts Tagged ‘Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-X10-Mini’
EISA’s Big Winners: Sony Ericsson and Samsung
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro: Now in Gold and Pink
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
Well, not exactly now, but it has been confirmed that gold and pink color variations for the successful Android smart phones from Sony Ericsson will be coming out by September.
Recent reports show a gold chrome finish for the X10 Mini and Mini Pro that gives the handset that stylish factor usually associated with brushed metal finishing on jewelry and accessories. Thankfully, the gold shade they used was a little darker than the usual bright yellow finish –giving the phone a touch of elegance, as opposed to looking like it would look great as a bling.
The pink version adds in a deep tone of red and blue making it look a little closer to lavender –avoiding that childish pink color usually associated with Barbie. The overall effect is interesting though it is hard to see if the hue that was chosen would actually go well with most ensembles.
The two color additions for the Android smart phone will be added by the time September rolls around and both the X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro.
Speaking of the two handsets, it has been announced that the next update to their firmware (currently the Android 1.6 Donut) will be arriving by September. This means that the XPERIA X10, X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro will be getting updated at the same time –hopefully, the update to 2.2 Froyo will not be too far behind. Currently, Sony Ericsson’s devices are on the end of the race for most of the newer Android devices (most are already on 2.1 Éclair).
The X10 Mini series of smart phones is actually a smaller sized version of the more powerful XPERIA X10. The two phones are smaller, have less hardware power but are also cheaper. The X10 Mini Pro also has the advantage of having a slide out QWERTY keyboard.
Understanding Mobile Platforms
Friday, June 25th, 2010
It is a commonly accepted fact that operating systems are part of what makes or breaks a smart phone, and more often than not, gear heads would put aside the hardware issues as long as they get the right operating system.
This is because a good operating system will have an average phone performing well. Whereas a badly designed OS would make even a high powered handset seem clumsy and jerky to use. Take the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2, this smart phone has plenty of good hardware features, but the Windows Mobile operating system tends to slow it down a lot, and the fact that it relies on a resistive touch screen display means that it requires a stylus to be operated properly.
At the same time, the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini is a very mid range smart phone in terms of today’s hardware standards, but the Android 1.6 Donut OS 
makes it a very well rounded device. Speaking of the Android OS, the HTC Desire and the Dell Streak push the limits in terms of both hardware with their high speed 1GHz CPUs and software (with the newer Android 2.1 Éclair).
Some manufacturers rely heavily on proprietary operating systems. Take the Palm WebOS, RIM BlackBerry OS and the Apple iPhone OS. Since the devices that make use of these platforms are specifically designed to maximize the capabilities of the OS, the user experience is not only uniform, but the all of a phone’s features are also fully utilized.
This is why it is important for buyers to know what kind of operating systems they want before they decide to purchase a mobile phone. Even if the hardware seems like a good fit, if the OS is not compatible with a user’s needs then choosing a different device would be the wiser option.
Why Sony Needs to Speed Up the Android Updates
Friday, June 25th, 2010
There is no denying that the Android operating system is one of the largest in the mobile phone industry and that many people want Android smart phones. The Google developed Os infamous for its stand as the counter-culture for the Apple iPhone series and at the same time, many tech fans love the open source approach and the fact that developers can simply do much more with this handset than anything else.
The fact that Google is also the first to be getting the Adobe Flash Player version 10.1 is also a serious consideration as it places the handset a notch above all else. However, Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10 is far from the impressive Android handset that it should be, and it is mostly due to the fact that the OS in the device is outdated.
Simply put, the new XPERIA X10, as well as the X10 Mini smart phones still uses the older 1.6 Donut version of the Android OS. So far, no announcements have been made regarding a 2.2 Froyo update and that the only thing Sony Ericsson owners can look forward to is an update to version 2.1 Éclair by the third quarter of 2010. It has also been hinted by Google that near that time period, they would already be working on version 3.0, and if that new version launches before the end of the year, SE’s Android devices will be at the bottom of the list.
By that time, most existing Éclair handsets might have already been updated to Froyo which would leave the SE devices far behind. This would leave SE’s Android owners wanting to switch to other phones and is certainly discouraging for anyone hoping to pick up an Android handset from the manufacturer.
With the X10 Mini, XPERIA X8 and a rumored, still unnamed 5.5 inch touch screen Android device set to hit store shelves this year, Sony Ericsson needs to change the way to make updates for their smart phones available.
Up Close and Personal: the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X8
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
Just recently, a new video demonstration of the XPERIA X8 was shown off by Sony. The device, previously known as the SE XPERIA Shakira is a cross between the very high end XPERIA X10 and its lite sized counterpart, the X10 Mini.
It did not take much thinking for Sony Ericsson to come up with this smart phone, but it was certainly a great decision. The X8 is the perfect match for anyone hoping for a decent Sony branded Android handset that was not as excessive as the high end X10, nor as small as the budget priced X10 Mini.
In terms of specs, the X8 is a very modest Android handset. With a 3 inch TFT capacitive touch screen, none of the Android smart phone experience is lost to users. With a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, you can view images, videos and web content with little trouble. The accelerometer allows users to view the screen in any orientation they want and scratch resistant surface provides an adequate degree of protection. Taking a cue from the XPERIA X10, the X8 also features the Timescape user interface which allows users to instantly see the latest posts and updates on their social network.
With only 128 MB of internal memory, users will X8 owners will certainly have to rely on the micro SD card slot. It supports up to 16GB and it is also hot swappable, which means that changing content is only limited by the number of cards one can bring.
The device also packs a 3.2 mega pixel camera equipped with video recording support and geo-tagging. No details has been given if users can upload content directly to the web, but the presence of an App for Facebook as well as other Google provided functions are expected to make the process easier.
More Details on Leaked Sony Ericsson Handsets Revealed
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
Just a few days ago, several images of new Sony Ericsson mobile phones were leaked to the public. And despite conflicting reports about the operating systems and specs of the devices, as well as other unconfirmed details, there have been several bits of news coming straight from Sony Ericsson that gives us a clearer idea about these new devices.
The Sony Ericson Cedar is the new Greenheart mobile phone. Those who have been keeping an eye on the news may remember this handset as the “Hong”, but SE has given the device a new which allows it to fit in with other standard Greenheart mobile devices –the Elm and Hazel. This candy bar phone will be the perfect device for anyone who actually cares about taking care of the environment.
As with all Greenheart devices, users will be getting a handset that is made of over 50% recycled plastic, minimal packaging and no printed manual -the manual will be installed in the phone in electronic format.
The Sony Ericsson Yendo is the newest Walkman handset to come from the Swedish Japanese joint venture. It has been a while since the last W-series device came out and there was plenty of false hope that this handset would actually be an Android smart phone.
The fact that it looks a lot like the X10 Mini smart phone is mostly to blame for that assumption. Also, the device was originally named as the W150 TeaCake –which many believe is a far better name than Yendo.
The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X8 is not only the latest addition to the now impressive XPERIA series (mostly because of the X10) and will be a mid range Android handset smack right between the older and high spec XPERIA X10 and the X10 Mini budget Android smart phone.
Double Android Offer: X10 Mini and Wildfire on Vodafone
Friday, June 11th, 2010
Vodafone UK seems to have one of the most extensive and impressive lineup of mobile phone offerings this year. The mobile network operator has already confirmed that they will be offering the iPhone 4 when it comes out on June 24, in the meanwhile, smart phone fans will get to choose between a wide range of Android handsets, including these two new devices from HTC and Sony Ericsson.
The HTC Wildfire is pretty much a surprise smart phone from the Taiwanese manufacturer. With all the focus on HTC’s Desire and Legend handsets, no one expected that they had a third device waiting on the wings and unlike the two other devices, the Wildfire is actually a low to mid range handset.
With its 3.2 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display, 5 mega pixel camera, and 528 MHz CPU, the Wildfire is pretty much the quintessential mid range Android handset. As one would expect, this phone will be making use of the Android 2.2 Éclair OS as well as HTC’s SENSE user interface. A new feature of their phone is how it heavily incorporates social networking features. Users will be able to access their Facebook and Twitter accounts with integrated apps which also allow for easy sharing and uploading of media.
The Sony Ericsson X10 Mini smart phone is basically bite-sized version of the more impressive XPERIA X10. Doing away with all the big heavy specs and the large touch screen, the X10 Mini is basically what a bare-bones Android handset should be –minimal hardware packed to the brim with features.
Sony Ericsson will also be releasing a second version of this Android handset soon. The X10 Mini Pro is pretty much the same Android smart phone as the original device, but with the addition of a slide out QWERTY keyboard.
Corby i5500 Brings Android on a Budget
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
With all the latest headlines filled with the upcoming Apple iPhone 4 (which will be arriving in almost all network operators, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U this June 24), as well as the announcement of many high end Android handsets (Motorola Shadow, a new 5 inch touch screen handset from Sony Ericsson, the Samsung Galaxy Tab) and the upcoming Windows Phone 7 handsets (HTC Mondrian, LG Panther), it is not surprising that the average handset user has very little choice to put in their list.
Simply put, as impressive as all of these devices are, what the majority of mobile phone users really want are affordable mid to low range handsets. Thankfully, it seems that the number of available choices in this range is increasing once again. HTC has brought out the Wildfire, Sony Ericsson has the X10 Mini (and the upcoming Mini Pro) and now, Samsung has finally unveiled the new i5500 Corby handset.
This snazzy little Android is still awaiting a UK release date, but with Italy launch already set for the handset, it is likely that the unit will be available locally in a matter of weeks.
The phone comes with a very nice 2.8 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display, a 600MHz CPU and of course, the new Android 2.1 Éclair operating system -no word yet on whether the device will be getting an update for version 2.2 Froyo.
The 2 mega pixel camera may be a little low end for some user’s tastes, but for basic, geo-tagged photo uploads it already delivers a pretty good resolution. As expected, the handset supports 3G and WiFi for internet connectivity. Overall, this new Corby is a decent Android handset. While not as stylish looking as the X10 Mini, it does have an updated version of the Android OS (the Mini only has version 1.6 Donut).
X10 Mini Now Available on Carphone Warehouse
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010Fans of the Google Android operating system are getting a new handset in the form of the X10 Mini from Sony Ericsson.
The Japanese Swedish join venture’s newly released handset is actually a mini version of the original XPERIA X10 smart phone that was released just a few weeks ago (along with the Google Nexus One and the HTC Desire). While the X10 Mini may not have the hardware superiority to compete with the other Android smart phones, it is actually a much cheaper alternative –a major bonus for any mid range handsets.
So what’s special about the X10 Mini? First important factor is the size, even with its really shrunken down dimensions (it is about half the original XPERIA X10), it still manages to squeeze in plenty of hardware. In terms of performance speeds, the that MSM7227 600MHz CPU from Qualcomm does a pretty fair job of handling apps, but it will not be able to handle the level of processing that the original XPERIA handset can do –which runs on a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU.
The camera is also downgraded, but fares pretty well for its purpose. Even at 5 mega pixels, this is still a pretty impressive camera when compared to other handsets in the mid range of smart phones.
As one might expect, Sony Ericsson’s panels and Timescape also makes an appearance on this device, though it is not exactly the same tools available on the larger X10. Instead, the X10 Mini features a downsized version of the new panels UI and the Timescape social tool.
For those who are waiting for a good Android smart phone with a keyboard, then the X10 Mini Pro might be the device for you. Specs wise, the Pro has nothing different from the original X10, but it does have a slide out QWERTY keyboard which plenty will certainly love.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro Review
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Announced in Barcelona on February 14th along with the Xperia X10 Mini and Vivaz Pro as one of the newest additions to Sony Ericsson‘s “communication entertainment” phones, the X10 Mini Pro is expected to be available sometime during the first half of 2010. Some estimates say it will be available before the end of June with a price tag exceeding £300 before taxes and subsidies, but no official numbers have been released yet. Nevertheless we are expecting some fantastic Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro deals on its release. Intended to be the beginning of a new standard in high-quality compact phones with an impressive set of features and no-nonsense specifications, loaded with stunning features, the X10 Mini Pro is largely like its cousin, the X10 Mini, with a few tweaks.
Also modelled around the design of the Xperia X10, the X10 Mini Pro features an additional slide-out QWERTY keyboard for added convenience. Similar in size to the X10 Mini, the Mini Pro weighs about 120 grams and measures a slightly-larger 9 x 5.2 x 1.7 cm—don’t let its size fool you though; the X10 Mini Pro offers a significant amount of features with a 600 MHz processor for fairly robust performance and smooth interaction that lends itself to easy use. Along those lines, the X10 Mini Pro runs on the same updated version of Sony Ericsson’s UX platform that the X10 Mini uses, with the four-corner touch screen. Drag and drop your favourite applications onto your homescreen, and they’ll always be within thumb’s reach for quick and easy access. With the Android 1.6 OS, the Mini Pro also has access to unlimited customisability and a huge selection of applications, as well as the ability to make your own. The X10 Mini is expected to be available in fewer colours than its cousin; have your choice between Pearl White, Black, and Red.
For the most part, the X10 Mini Pro is the same as its tinier counterpart. The same “four-corner” touch screen interface with auto-rotate capability and the slide-out QWERTY keyboard accent the simple design and offer a smooth, unfettered environment in which you can access a great set of entertainment features. The clever “Infinite” button also makes an appearance on the Mini Pro, allowing you to access information at the touch a fingertip. Get info about contacts, check on social networks, find what track you’re listening to, or search for a video on YouTube with the press of a button, depending on what you’re up to. The same vivid 240×320 pixel (QVGA) TFT display used by the Mini X10, capable of displaying more than 16.7 million colours, is used in the Mini Pro, serving as a stunning viewport to all of your media in such a small package.
If you’re in need of something to look at on the luminous screen, the Mini Pro offers a 5-megapixel camera capable of capturing images or video, along with convenient auto-focus, a bright photo flash and continuous video lighting, and support for geo tagging to allow you to tell everyone where you’re at in all your photos. You can quickly upload all of your handy camera work to share with friends and family using the integrated Facebook application. Customise your homescreen with picture wallpapers to make it yours. You can even arrange the convenient four-corner interface to allow you to get to all of your favourite hotspots with easy-to-access shortcuts in the corners of your screen.
All of this is powered by a moderately powerful 600 MHz processor that keeps things running smoothly, though not necessarily at breakneck speeds. As an added bonus of running on Android, the Mini Pro is preloaded with the Google application suite and there are always plenty of other applications available on the Android Market to fit whatever desires you might have in hundreds of different categories. If you still can’t find exactly what you’re looking for and you’re feeling industrious, you can even develop your own app and share it with the Android community. Being open-source, the Android allows for nearly unlimited customisation suited to your desires; change everything yourself or find changes packaged by other Android users to fit your needs. Mini Pro also has aGPS support and access to Google Maps to help you stay on track, and, the Wisepilot turn-by-turn navigation gives you live voice instructions will steer you in the right direction wherever you choose to go.
One of the major selling points of the X10 series, Sony Ericsson Timescape gathers all of your social networking communication and threads it through a single stream to bring all the latest messages and updates from your friends to a single application with an easy to use interface. Timescape offers the ability to check on Facebook and Twitter updates, send and compose text messages, or even check your call logs for any calls you might have missed. The Webkit web browser, 3G+ HSPA and Wi-Fi connectivity provide web access on the move so you can visit any of your favourite sites. Bookmark support is also offered, making it a snap to go through your web-surfing routine, checking all of your habitual stops along the way. With support for 16 GB of microSD storage as well as 128MB of internal memory, you can store plenty of music, videos, pictures, applications, and games. To help you keep track of all this data, you can synchronise your mobile device with your computer via USB connection, or use Bluetooth from up to 10 yards away to wirelessly interface with other devices.
Like a pocket-sized entertainment centre, the X10 Mini pro gives you immediate access to streaming video, with built-in support for YouTube streaming as well as a solid offering of some of your favourite FM radio stations to listen to on the move. Sony Ericsson Music player is a proper app for music playback and organization. Album art support gives you a quick visual of all your music as you browse your library, and you can easily turn your MP3 and AAC music files into a musical ring tone to create your own unique mobile experience. The “Infinite” button also makes it easy to check out new music, instantly gathering music information from the PlayNow music store and YouTube to help you find what you’re looking for. Likewise, using Sony Ericsson’s amazing TrackID software, you can get album, artist and song info in mere moments—just record a few seconds of a song you want to check out, let TrackID look it up for you, then have the information sent to your phone immediately. With quick access to the PlayNow network of music, applications, and games, you can easily buy the song you just heard and add it to your library. A 3.5mm headphone jack or Bluetooth stereo can be used to listen to all of your new-found music picks in high quality.
In keeping up with the “communication” end of Sony Ericsson’s philosophy, the Mini Pro features text messaging with a conversation layout for easy reading, the ability to sync with a Microsoft Exchange server using ActiveSync to get push updates on your business e-mails as you get them, general e-mail support for multiple accounts, instant messaging, and predictive text input along with the slide-out QWERTY keyboard to make keeping in touch a breeze. When it is released in the coming months we will bring you more Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro reviews to help you get a good feel for this phone that should prove to be one of the top phones of the summer months.