Sony Ericsson Satio review: Shooter by vocation

Introduction

Sony Ericsson have long ago shown that they are not afraid of any challenge, producing handsets that have claimed a top spot on the market. There are still plenty of fans from those good old days that would love to see another market-leading device thrown their way.

A look at what's between the XPERIA X1 and the Satio is enough to tell you what Sony Ericsson have been up to for the past year. A top-dog Cybershot (C905) and an all-round Walkman (W995) were both compelling enough but none would be trusted to top the portfolio of a company that used to call the shots at the forefront of mobile technology.

So, Sony Ericsson might have been busy cutting costs, fueling the hype behind their new wave gadgets (Satio, Aino and Rachael) or experimenting with Symbian and Android. But there's little doubt about their full-time job. The Satio is a lot more than its mouthwatering features, full touchscreen debuting Symbian S60 or its 12 megapixel camera. It may be too much to say that all the company's hopes lie with the Satio but the burden on its shoulders is disproportionate compared to any other flagship device we can think of.

Sony Ericsson Satio official photos

This review, by the way, is coming after a massive spoiler. But the good thing is we know the Satio is all geared and ready to face some serious challenges. An industry leading cameraphone, or top-of-the-line smartphone, the Satio has a clear view of its goal. But you can be certain that its path forward will not be covered in rose petals. Sony Ericsson are in dire need of fresh devices (and cash) and the Satio should not be anything but a bestseller. When you're trying to turn your fortunes around, you have very little room for error.

Key features

3.5" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of 640 x 360 pixel resolution
12 megapixel state-of-the-art autofocus camera
LED and xenon flash, active lens cover
VGA@30fps video recording
Symbian OS 9.4 with S60 5th edition UI, spiced up with a home-brewed homescreen and media menu
ARM Cortex-A8 600 MHz CPU, PowerVR SGX dedicated graphics accelerator and 256 MB of RAM
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 3.6 Mbps support
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
Built-in accelerometer
TV out
Stereo FM Radio
USB and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
Web browser has full Flash support
Preinstalled Wisepilot navigation software
Office document viewer

Main disadvantages

Xenon flash is not adequately powerful
The S60 5th edition UI isn't to the best in class standards
No 3.5mm audio jack or a standard USB port
No DivX or XviD support out-of-the-box
No smart or voice dialing
Playing flash videos in the browser easily depletes the available RAM
No office document editing (without a paid upgrade)
No stereo speakers
No digital compass (magnetometer)

There's very little to complain about looking at the list above, but the difference between a moderately successful handset and a blockbuster depends on all the performance you can squeeze out of those features. And with the Symbian S60 touch reincarnation hardly the most heralded OS on the market, the job gets even more complicated.

Sony Ericsson Satio at ours

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 review: Larger than life
Introduction
Sony Ericsson have been working on the X10 for quite a long time, taking the utmost care to make sure its software offers the best user experience possible. They wanted their first droid to be perfect and perfection requires time. That’s right – the XPERIA X10 is the first Android to roll off the Sony Ericsson assembly line, hard as it might be to believe. But it certainly is not the kind of the phone to quietly disappear in the crowd of first-generation droids.
Androids just keep coming and a look at our front page will tell you any newcomer will need big ideas to make a splash. The popularity of Google’s mobile OS is reaching unprecedented levels and the handsets adopting Android grow in number every day. And while Microsoft will try to unify their Windows Phone 7 and limit customization, Google favor the opposite approach.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 official photos
Sony Ericsson immediately took on board the possibilities offered by customization and really ran with it. Their blue-themed interpretation breathes new life into the familiar Android OS and tries to give the user a whole new experience. But they didn’t stop there. The unique Timescape and Mediascape interfaces are supposed to give the XPERIA X10 a much-needed edge in the high-end class. Trying to compete with the HTC Sense is a tough job, but Sony Ericsson have managed to offer something completely different – giving media and communications a central place in their UI.
XPERIA X10 comes with top-notch hardware to meet its software demands. Here is the impressive specs sheet along with some potential drawbacks.
Key features
Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G support
7.2 Mbps HSDPA and 2 Mbps HSUPA support
4" capacitive touchscreen of WVGA (480 x 854 pixel) resolution and scratch-resistant surface
16M-color ready (65K effective colors under Android OS v1.6)
Android OS v1.6 with complete Sony Ericsson UI customization
Timescape and Mediascape UI
Excellent social networking integration
Excellent build quality
Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon 1 GHz CPU, OpenGL ES 2.0 support; 384 MB of RAM
8 MP autofocus camera with LED flash, touch focus, image stabilization, geotagging, face and smile detection
WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) video recording @ 30fps
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
1GB storage, microSD slot, bundled with an 8GB card
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
Document viewer
Li-Po 1500 mAh (BST-41) battery
Great audio quality
Main disadvantages
No DivX and XviD video playback
No smart dialing
Limited storage available to the user on the system partition (you are left with only 512 MB for installing apps)
No secondary video-call camera (or videocalling whatsoever)
No free GPS navigation solution
No Flash support for the web browser
No FM radio
An extra xenon flash would’ve made the very good camera perfect
Feeble loudspeaker
Most of the XPERIA weaknesses are hardly deal breakers and most people could live with them. Sony Ericsson have done enough though to reassure everyone that the XPERIA X10 will be on a par with its Android rivals at the time of release. Don’t underestimate the amount of hard work put into the X10 during the long manufacturing process. The delay was definitely worth it.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 at ours
Sony Ericsson have also promised that Android 2.1 will at some point be available for the XPERIA X10 enabling the full use of the 16M color-ready display. Despite the capacitive technology, the X10 display won't be getting multi-touch support even with the latest OS. As it turns out, there are hardware obstacles to enabling multi-touch, so Android 2.1 can't help here.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz review: Viv A-to-Z
Introduction
Sony Ericsson is an alliance of two tech giants and with phones like the Vivaz it shows. It’s a gadget all the way, one that will galvanize geeks and charm the regular user.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz official photos
A whole bunch of point-and-shoot cameras today boast 720p video recording, but are they not an endangered species feeling enormous pressure on both sides? For one, there are compact video recording DSLRs pushing down with competitive price tags, and then cameraphones are eating into compact camera territory with comparable still image resolution and video capture.
Eight megapixel still images and 720p video with continuous auto focus make the Sony Ericsson Vivaz a predator of point-and-shoot cameras. The Vivaz is not just a cameraphone though, it’s a smartphone as well – a tricked out Symbian running on a 720MHz CPU with a 3.2” nHD display to show it all off. That’s all in a package more compact than any combination of a stand-alone camera and a phone you can think of.
High-end smartphones have a long history of trading compact size for cramming in one feature more than the competition. The Sony Ericsson Vivaz strikes a perfect balance between being compact and feature-full – great news for anyone who doesn’t appreciate the recent craze of smartphones the size of a table… umm… tablet.
Key features
3.2" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of 640 x 360 pixel resolution
8 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, face and smile detection, geotagging and touch focus
HD 720p video recording @ 24fps with continuous auto focus
Symbian OS 9.4 S60 5th, topped with a custom-brewed homescreen and media menu
720 MHz CPU, PowerVR SGX dedicated graphics accelerator
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 10.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps support
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
microSD card slot (up to 16GB, 8GB card in the box)
Built-in accelerometer
Turn-to-mute
TV out
Stereo FM Radio
microUSB and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
Web browser has full Flash support
Preinstalled Wisepilot navigation software
Office document viewer
Decent audio quality
Main disadvantages
No camera lens protection
No auto mode for the flash/video light
LED flash not powerful enough
The S60 5th edition UI isn't to the best in class standards
No proximity sensor sensor to lock the screen during a call
No DivX or XviD support out-of-the-box
No smart or voice dialing
No office document editing (without a paid upgrade)
No stereo speakers
No digital compass (magnetometer)
Videocalling uses only the main camera (no secondary one)
The feature list leaves very little to complain about, so is it time retire your old compact camera and make the jump the Vivaz? That’s what we’ll try to find out. As for its performance as a smartphone the list of key features suggests smooth sailing most of the way.

How the Sony Ericsson Vivaz stacks up against he competition

Sony Ericsson Aspen review: Tree-hugging business
Introduction
The Aspen may well be the phone you’re least likely to expect from Sony Ericsson. To begin with, it’s a PocketPC but shuns comparison to the XPERIA line. On a second thought though – it’s a concept that can be traced way back in the Sony Ericsson portfolio. The mythical P series were at one point the place to look for the ultimate smartphone. Symbian UIQ even extended to include the G series and the M series. Those of you paying attention might as well remember a couple of touchscreen Walkman phones too.
But this is no time for a crash course in Sony Ericsson history. The Aspen is about to hit the shelves and we guess you are busy doing your homework.
Touchscreen, D-pad and a full QWERTY keyboard – the Sony Ericsson Aspen is a gadget designed to put you in control. But where some will see endless possibilities of interacting with the device, others will be right to question the usability of the whole thing. Too many buttons leave little room for the display – a small and low-res touchscreen is one compromise Aspen’s users will have to be prepared to consider.

Sony Ericsson Aspen official photos
On the other hand though, the Sony Ericsson Aspen runs the latest WinMo Pro version and has a fair degree of UI customization to try and offer the best user experience. The phone brings a complete set of business features and even attempts to deliver above-average media. Not least, the GreenHeart logo will perhaps serve as extra motivation for users to give the Aspen a try.
Key features
Four-row QWERTY keyboard, D-pad navigation
2.4" 65K-color resistive touchscreen of 320 x 240 pixel resolution
Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional with XPERIA panels
256MB RAM, 265MB ROM, 100MB user storage
Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps support
Wi-Fi b/g
GPS with A-GPS support
DivX, XviD video support
microSD card slot (up to 16GB, 8GB card in the box)
3.15 megapixel fixed-focus camera, geotagging, VGA video recording @ 15fps
Office document viewer
Web browser has Flash support
Stereo FM Radio with RDS; TrackID
microUSB and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
3.5mm audio jack
Made of recycled materials, comes with waterborne paint
Main disadvantages
Small and low-res touchscreen display
Fairly customized but inconsistent UI
No proximity sensor for in-call screen auto locking
No secondary video-call camera
Memory card slot under the battery cover
Poor still imaging and video, no flash
Video playing limited to QVGA
Poor task switching
The Aspen may not be most people’s first choice of a PocketPC but it fits the bill for business. Not least because of its fairly compact size and messenger form factor. It enters a market dominated by Nokia’s Eseries and BlackBerry but seems to have enough character to set itself apart.

Sony Ericsson Aspen live shots
It also looks likely to be cheaper than the average BlackBerry and Nokia enterprise handsets. It adds touchscreen to a standard QWERTY keyboard. While this isn’t that much of an advantage in this form factor, users are at least given an extra degree of functionality. The eco-friendly vibe and the human curvature styling are some extra points in its favor.
Among other things, the Aspen is perhaps helping Sony Ericsson stay focused while waiting for WinMo 7. It also does well to bring an extra dimension to their GreenHeart lineup. So, it may repay in more ways than one but – as usual – the question we’re asking is what it offers users. Follow us on the next page as we start exploring the Sony Ericsson Aspen. The first thing on our checklist is exterior and handling.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini review: Shrink to fit
Introduction
It took a while before mobile phones became portable not only in name. At one point, small size alone made a phone something special. Calling and texting were all there was and twelve buttons were nonnegotiable.
Those times seem prehistoric now that a contemporary smartphone is expected to do all but the dishes. There we are – 3.7” touch screens are now the norm. It sounds like pushing the limits of portability but most people won’t mind as long as there’re virtually no limits on functionality. With nearly desktop-like browsing, video and TV – displays are only supposed to get better, crisper… and bigger. Who would want it the other way? Small touchscreen doesn’t make sense.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini official shots
Now, everyone’s entitled to an opinion. And Sony Ericsson are keen to disagree. Small touchscreen may be against the simple logic, but just don’t rush to judgment yet. Not till you’ve seen the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini. It has more smartphone powers than most users will ever need. It’s a little sweetie, and it’s cool and gadgety too. Just don’t let the size fool you.
Key features
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
3G with HSPA
Customized Android OS v1.6 with Timescape UI
Ultra compact body
2.55" capacitive touchscreen of QVGA resolution
Qualcomm MSM7227 600 MHz CPU
5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and VGA video recording
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Built-in GPS receiver and digital compass
Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate and turn-to-mute
Standard miniUSB port for charging and data
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
microSD card slot with support for up to 8GB cards (2GB card included)
3.5mm-compatible audio jack
Direct access to the official Android repository
Main disadvantages
QVGA resolution doesn’t do Android graphics justice and limits the number of compatible apps
Battery not user replaceable
Limited Android homescreen functionality
No smart dialing
Typing long messages is very hard on the small screen
No Bluetooth file transfers from the gallery
No Flash support for the web browser
Very basic camera interface
So, long story short, crowds probably won’t be flocking to the shops to replace their full-sized XPERIA X10 units for the mini version. The X10 mini doesn’t have it all and isn’t the ultimate smartphone, but all is not what everyone needs.
The X10 mini is easy on your pocket – and we don’t just mean size. The phone uses less expensive hardware – low-res screen, a midrange CPU. But if you think of it, it’s not just blatant cost-cutting.

The XPERIA X10 mini at ours
It looks like they made the right choices and in the end you don’t have to pay for something you cannot use anyway. Anything higher than QVGA wouldn’t have made much difference on a 2.55” screen (which is the most you can fit in a phone this small really). Anything faster than the 600 MHz Qualcomm CPU is simply unnecessary given the low pixel count.