Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 QWERTY with Windows Mobile and HSUPA
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Feb 10th 2008 1:44PM
posted Feb 10th 2008 1:44PM
Update: We've got the first in the wild picture and video preview of that new panel interface. Sony Ericsson XPERIATM X1 – At a Glance
Camera
- Auto focus
- 3.2 megapixel camera
- Photo light
- Video recording
- Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
- Media player
- Music tones
- PlayNow™
- Windows Media Player Mobile
- 3D games
- FM radio
- Java
- Video streaming
- Video viewing
- Internet Explorer® Mobile
- RSS feeds
- Polyphonic ringtones
- Speakerphone
- Vibrating alert
- Video calling
- Picture messaging (MMS)
- Predictive text input
- Text messaging (SMS)
- XPERIA™ panels
- Optical joystick navigation
- Navigation key
- Picture wallpaper
- Touch navigation
- Alarm clock
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Document editors
- Document readers
- Flight mode
- Handwriting recognition
- Notes
- Phone book
- Tasks
- Touchscreen
- aGPS
- Bluetooth™ technology
- Modem
- Synchronization
- USB support
- WLAN
- 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
- Size: 110 x 53 x 16.7 mm
- Weight: 145 grams
- Black
- Silver
- Main screen: 65,536 color TFT
- Resolution: 800 X 480 pixels
- Size: 3 inches
- Phone memory: up to 400 MB
- microSD™ memory card support
- Availability and versions
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
- UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
- UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850/1700/1900/2100 MHz
Wow, 800x480 in a 3" screen? Geeze, looks like my wildest dreams are finally coming true!
Let's hope they add a HOLD option for music playback without any button-press interruption.
To anyone who says there is no difference (on a phone) between QVGA (320 x 240) and WVGA (800 x 480), I suggest they try out the web browser in real life. In a 3" QVGA phone, regular web pages are unreadable without being zoomed in. On a 3" WVGA display, you can actually read the text of most web pages from 18 inches away without having to zoom.
A typical QVGA display has only around 100 ppi (pixels per inch), Apple's phone with it's HVGA display is at 160 ppi. Now .. why is it that decent printers try to be at 1200 dpi and higher? It's because the eye can tell the difference.
First of all, 1200 DPI on ink-jet printers is a sham. Secondly, you can't compare screen vs print DPI. It's a completely different medium with different optical characteristics.
That said, on a 3-inch screen, I'm sure WVGA can easily be distinguishable from QVGA, although I'm not so sure about being able to read webpage text on a wide VGA 3" screen from 18 inches away. I find that hard to believe...
Regarding dpi, my Nokia 770 has the same WVGA resolution as the Xperia, and at 220 dpi. It is wonderfully sharp, no problem to surf regular webpages on with no zoom.
Why would sony be using a micro SD card? I'd imagine them using their m2 memory stick
It's awesome except for one thing, "Main screen: 65,536 color TFT"
WTF?! Did someone at Sony-Ericsson miss the memo that it's 2008, not 1998?
Display size: 2.57" × 1.54" (6.53cm × 3.92cm) @ 800*480 = 310.98 PPI . 311 PPI is amazing, should make for some very good readability. I would love to see one of these in action, I'm sure the high PPI will definitely be noticeable.
This sounds like an amazing device.
YES this is PERFECT! I'm getting rid of my T-mobile Shadow that day this phone comes out!
And the price is...
I'd like a smaller picture with less detail if possible.
haha
Lovely! I want to see how Sony will "touch" the Windows Mobile platform and give us goodness. Sony, please give us a solid UI with these solid features. :)
(I will chop off my d**k if no one in here says "iPhone" after this post)
Yeah, good one.
iPhone!
@ Dale: Hahahahaha. hahahaha. :p
That could have made a good shock video, Dale, way to ruin it.
@ Dale: oh and thank you, you saved me. ;)
1700/2100 UMTS T-Mobile USA here we come!!!!!
T-Mobile USA better pick this up!!!
yeah doubtful... almost all of se's american lineup is on at&t ;) no worries tho im sure u can unlock it (or i can if it does go t-mobile)
1700/2100 are T-mobile frequencies so it would have to come out on T-Mobile. at&t doesn't use those. Plus T-Mobs 3G launches 3-4Q when this phone does.........
This is AWESOME. My only question is, does it have the crappy browser of Windows Mobile 6 (instead of the upcoming 6.1?) ?
I don't want to have to install the skyfire browser or opera mobile 8.65 just to get a decent browsing experience.
You must be the only person on the internet who thinks Pocket IE is good
Pwned. I even hate browsing on my PSP, and it has a huge screen. Crippled browser though.
@AI: Err, he said the crappy browser of WM6, that kind of implies he doesn't like Pocket IE...
Any idea on cost yet?
Obviously expensive, i'm guessing over ₤400 sim free :(
This looks like a phone that could potentially get me to switch from my HTC Apache. I wonder what kind of processor it uses and if it has any graphics acceleration?
I'm wondering the same thing to finally replace my Axim x51v and painfully crap RAZR. I've sent a query to their press department, hopefully they'll answer!
"Unfortunately we are unable to assist with this query, as this phone has just been announced these are the only specs we have.Please keep checking our website for more updates We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."
natch.
it has a Qualcomm MSM7200 528MHz processor
This looks to be a killer. Lets hope the price does not spoil the fun.
Damn, now I regret getting my AT&T tilt, I wish I waited until my Verizon Contract ended (sometime this month) instead of jumping the gun and giving my brother my Verizon phone and contract. This has all of the features of the tilt, and it's got an FM radio (I already have a Zune, don't really need it), it's got a way better resolution and screen size, it's probably sleeker, not as heavy and has some decent graphics drivers!! The only thing is idk if it has 3g and it probably doesn't tilt like the tilt. And I want to see better pictures. This thing probably will be as much $$$ as the N95 though, so this probably wouldn't be in my reach anyways.
Damn, now I regret getting my AT&T tilt, I wish I waited until my Verizon Contract ended (sometime this month) instead of jumping the gun and giving my brother my Verizon phone and contract. This has all of the features of the tilt, and it's got an FM radio (I already have a Zune, don't really need it), it's got a way better resolution and screen size, it's probably sleeker, not as heavy and has some decent graphics drivers!! The only thing is idk if it has 3g and it probably doesn't tilt like the tilt. And I want to see better pictures. This thing probably will be as much $$$ as the N95 though, so this probably wouldn't be in my reach anyways.
I feel you. I'm actually kinda frustrated seeing as how I JUST bought my K850, which is a fantastic phone and all, but obviously nowhere near as awesome as this. *sigh*
Oh well, I probably couldn't afford it anyway...
I'm right there with you Sam. I reluctantly purchased the Tilt because there was nothing else around that came close to it in terms of features, and I completely regret having the Tilt because of the whole driver/slow response issue. Plus I've been a die hard fan of SE phones since the 90's. I cannot wait to get this XPERIA and toss my tilt down the toilet bowl...
Yes it does have 3G...in fact 3.5G. It operates on HSDPA and HSUPA.
I was kinda disappointed at all Sony Ericsson phones since the K750i. None of them were a breakthrough. This is first one after the K750 that has caught my attention. Price it around $500 and I'll buy one.
I really really doubt it will cost anything less than $800. That's the price of any high-end phone nowadays.
Well, I have to say I would gladly pay $800 for this phone.
s got a good GPU, the same amount of RAM, and a better/the same processor as the Tilt. Then, I would consider giving my brother my Tilt (once my Family switches to AT&T, sometime this month) and buying this. Idk, it sounds like an awesome phone though.
It *sounds* like the phone I've been waiting for, but it's hard to tell from that tiny picture and without trying the keyboard.
*jaw drops*
Wow, SE, this--this-- is why we love you. This phone seriously is perfect spec-wise, I cannot think of anything it's missing, it even has the 1700 band for those T-Mo people.
This is going to be hella expensive. Anyone in the market for a kidney?
OMG THAT PICTURE.
THIS IS PHONE PORN.
AND ON A SUNDAY.
*going to hell....but doesn't mind*
Damn! The new picture just made it worth $600 to me!
Pix here.
http://www.sonyericsson.com/x1/default.aspx?cc=GB&lc=en&lc=en&cc=US
Wow.. quite fascinating how so little tangible info is available in those images and the promotional video. I guess it just means they have quite a ways to go before everything is finalized.
ROLL OUT! ROLL OUT FOR THE MYSTERY TOUR!
God bless you, rkane007, god bless. You just made my day.
Now if only the UI is as snappy in real life as it is at the end of the video, I might have to get one of these instead of an iPhone 2 (whenever Jobsy decides to announce/release it).
Does anyone else think that looks like the XMB in some of the image gallery photos?? I awesomely hope so.
Is there something this babe doesn't have?
The bottom part in this new pic looks a little curved, and the screen looks a littke tilted upwards, so if this is well priced, and it has a headphone jack (plus all of the other stuff I commented about), then I definitely am getting one of these.
I want I want I want
http://tech.china.com/zh_cn/mobile/new/762/20080118/images/2008011813251030153000.jpg
http://tech.china.com/zh_cn/mobile/new/762/20080118/images/2008011813250875491800.jpg
Looks very nice...
http://images.enet.com.cn/2008/0118/17/6350533.jpg
BOOYA! iPhone PWNED !
The what phone?
YES! Finally Windows Mobile with a screen larger than 2.8". :) I hope T-Mobile USA picks it up for 3G :)
JAmerican
What's even more amazing is how it doesn't have microMS but it has microSD. :) Sony finally realizing that SD is too much of a cheap standard.
omg true, and it also has a mini-usb connector.
Not like my Z610i that uses a proprietary connector on the phone end to connect to the computer.
This thing looks awesome, the ad is nice, and congrats to Sony for making such an awesome phone! I want this thing so bad, it's going to kick the Iphone's Ass (Hopefully). As long as it will do everything my Tilt does (along with youtube) and with all of these features, all I'm wondering now is the price.
"it's going to kick the Iphone's Ass"
It's still using Windows Mobile...and this is coming from a former WM phone owner and current iPhone owner.
I like windows mobile (I use it) and the Iphone's just too limited. The Iphone's just a media and web phone, while windows mobile phones are media, web, gaming and business/applications phone. So it works for everyone.
Yes, a OTB iPhone is limited, however, a jailbroken iPhone is not. I can do so much more on it than I could ever dream of with my WM phone. Stream media with Telekinesis, listen to hundreds of streaming radio stations with iRadio, stay on my favorite IRC channel with colloQ, control my computer at home with vnsea, work with the file system with Term-vt100 (a BASH terminal) or mobile finder, read books, the list goes on.
I will point out a couple of things. These are great apps and they are for a still relatively new device. The SDK is coming soon and 3rd party development will likely skyrocket. Factor in the fact that these programs will work on both the iPhone (which is selling faster than WM devices now according to some reports) and the iPod Touch and you have a much larger and faster expanding base. When the iPod touch eventually takes the place of the classic models, the user base for these 3rd party apps is going to be HUGE. Think about that.
Yes, the Iphone Jailbroken can do much more than an OOB Iphone, but Apple doesn't support Jailbroken Iphones, and with every new Firmware update, Jailbreaking is blocked and you have to wait until an exploit is found. I wouldn't be interested in owning a phone that has applications that will be shut down for a few days or weeks because I upgraded my firmware.
When the SDK comes out, the applications will still have to go through Apple to be released for the Iphone, meaning that it will still be a closed-down system, so you probably won't be able to run game emulators, streaming radio applications or other applications when Apple knows they can make more money off of you with their own games or an FM-radio tuner add-on. Windows Mobile is open, which means you can develop anything you want for it, and the stuff you can get on a Jailbroken Iphone is almost always available as an alternative programm/app for Windows mobile and other open platforms.
The Ipod touch can run apps, fine, but that still doesn't make it a huge user base yet, there are more Windows Mobile phones out there than there are Iphones and Ipod Touches.
3G and I'm there, I wouldn't buy a VCR today if I knew DVD was coming out this year.
Yes, I'm repeating myself. But Sony Ericsson WILL make Windows Mobile usable. The same way ol' Sony expanded the little PalmOS with the Clié line.
@ Frank- What do you mean??? Do you mean if this phone has 3g you will get it or if the Iphone gets 3g you will get it? And if you meant the Iphone getting 3g, how does that make this the VCR when it has more features??
"the applications will still have to go through Apple to be released for the Iphone"
This is not known yet. Don't assume.
"but that still doesn't make it a huge user base yet"
The keyword here is yet. I spent a lot of time searching for 3rd party WM apps when I got my WM phone and the community was downright dormant in comparison the iPhone/iPod Touch community. The release of new apps has slowed a bit recently because many are waiting for the SDK to drop.
Actually I lied, I meant I would buy a Iphone today if it had 3g, but since it doesn't I won't buy a Iphone today, especially since there should be a 3g Iphone out later this year, but I was lying, I prefer being on the dark side (Microsoft) I owe the the evil Bill Gates for pretty much everything I own. It's so much easier to find a job being a storm-trooper, and the pay has always been really good. And the software is reasonably priced ;)
@Chris- Actually, we do know that this is how it's going to work for the applications, maybe you should re-watch this years macworld. (Even I watched it, and I'm not an Apple fan, nor do I own anything made by apple)
What do you mean "Downright Dormant"??? You just have to know where to look for your Apps. Here is a good site with plenty of new Apps all the time-
http://www.pocketpcfreeware.mobi/
And that's just one site, there are many more.
The VCR reference meant that if I bought the IPhone today (the VCR version), and the 3G one came out tomorrow (the DVD version), I essentially would have to throw away the old Iphone and buy the new one. and the non-3g one WILL probably be worth $25.
"Actually, we do know that this is how it's going to work for the applications, maybe you should re-watch this years macworld."
All that is known for sure is that iTunes will be the method for getting approved 3rd party apps onto the iPhone. What is not known is how strict they will be in the process or whether iTunes will be the only allowed method for getting 3rd party apps onto the iPhone/iPod. It is entirely possible that a model similar to podcasts will be used. Anyone can create and submit podcasts and there are few rules in getting them onto iTunes.
@Chris-
Do you really expect Apple to do something like that??? You know how closed of a company they like to be, and if they say these programs are going to be available through Itunes, then they probably won't be allowing them elsewhere. (How would that benefit them, it would only allow other people to earn revenue on the Apps and not Apple). Even if they do a model similar to Podcasts, it will still now allow you to do things like emulate games, or anything else Apple doesn't want you to do. With Windows Mobile, you can make and Run anything. And there was no waiting for an SDK.
"You know how closed of a company they like to be"
Apple is closed when it comes to allowing (some of) their software from running on other hardware. They are not so closed when it comes to allowing 3rd party software to run on their hardware. Examples: I can run just about any software I want on my MacBook Pro (including Windows and all of its compatible software). MP3's can be put onto iPods. That's what we are talking about here. 3rd party software running on their hardware. The have no reason to disallow a program like iRadio. Now it may turn into a commercial program but in many ways I would welcome that because it would likely have more development time put into it. After all, the best 3rd party software I had on my WM phone was not free (IE Papyrus). I highly doubt they will cut out free 3rd party software though. We'll know in a couple of weeks.
@ Chris..
I don't usually reply here. But here is my take.
I am a Mac user, and I WAS a heavy WM user. But your comparison of a MBP and iPhone is a little far reaching.
MBP is a computer, where everything down to the operating system are EXPECTED to be programmable due to the standard computer hardware platforms (from Intel) that they use. And if apple is smart, they would definitely want to open up the Mac platform for developers and not pull an iTune stunt like that because after all, Apple is still a Mac company though in the recent year they diversified a lot inter other markets.
Whereas an iPhone is a device, where everything up from the hardware up are customized by apple. And with the kind of popularity that it gets, Apple is sure going to milk their position. When something is designed from hardware up by Apple, expect them to be very tightly integrated and locked because that is their business model, integration with Apple's other products.
Meh, to me WM sucks. When the SDK comes out we will have 3rd party support. I came from a long line of owning WM devices ever since my Casio back in the day. On my phone, I want quick one handed access to everything. I don't want to mess around with waiting for apps to load, or drill through tons of menus. This is why WM sucks for me, aside from being buggy. Some day, Microsoft will realize that most people don't want to drill through menus, or want the complication of a computer in their phone. They will realize that we want simple, quick access to everything, and have big buttons we can press while on the move. Unless MS realizes this, they will always be behind an interface like iPhone.
The iPhone interface kills WM. The only thing WM has over iPhone is 3rd party support, which we will get very soon.
@numetheus
but with the Xperia panels it is possible to not go thru menus. it offers the 9 access that has been associated wit SE. so u get an iPhone(which started on the SE fones)experience with WM freedom. thats the beauty of this fone
That's a nice looking with fantastic specs. I really like phones with the keyboards *on* the phone, like my ancient Treo, though. I can imagine if you're a heavy data user, sliding out the qwerty all the time would maybe be a pain (though at the same time, you get a much bigger keyboard with the slideout....)
Finally! A HTC Falcon with 3G, bluetooth and WIFI! Now was that so DAMN hard that we had to wait 7 or 8 years to put this technology in a phone bigger than most others??? Of course the built in QWERTY is all bonus along with the camera and SWEET, SWEET WinMO, I might actually enjoy watching TV through ORB!!
if you want more pictures check here
http://www.sonyericsson.com/x1/default.aspx?cc=GB&lc=en&lc=en&cc=US
I am glad I have not spent my money on the 8925/n95/E90
If you have to ask...
You must be the only .. err oops.. i mean .. u must be one of the many on the internet who have trouble reading.
Since when Does SONYericsson use microSD memory. It would be nice if it did but I assume its a misprint and it actually uses Memory stick micros instead. If not then that's bigger story than the phone itself.
It's true. What's funny is that all of the other phones SE announced today still use memory sticks, but X1 uses microSD. It's been rumored for awhile now that SE was going to transition away from memory sticks ... thankfully it's coming true. Sadly, it's only happening on like 1/9th of their new devices so far.
Since the K850i.
Has dual slots for M2 and MicroSD
If I remember correctly the k850i uses microSD, and M2.
@matthew & nick:
right, right. forgot k850.
They have been using micro SD...they actually started on one phone using both SD and M2. I dont remember which phone. But yeah, they've started it before this phone
This could be sweet, but it's not going to ship until 2nd half of the year ... plenty of time for iPhone 2, Nokia S60 Touch devices, new HTC phones, and even Android or WiMax-compatible stuff. Curious to see the UI in action - SE generally makes really nice interfaces for their handsets, but it's pretty interesting that they've abandoned UIQ to launch their new premium line. Hoping that running the beast that is WM under the UI doesn't muck it all up. A lot depends on what hardware it's running. And I really hope is has a normal headphone jack, though I'm guessing it won't ... I gave up my k790a in part b/c I got tired of carrying an adapter in addition to my headphones. Well, that and WiFi, touchscreen, and Safari web browser ...
Noah, it seems like SE continues with the P series, and will have two high end lines: X with WM and P with UIQ. Rumours are we will see a new P product in the coming days.
Yeah, just saw that, David. Thanks. Looking forward to seeing what the P5i is, if it's in fact announced later this week ...
The Xperia does have a 3.5mm jack for normal headphones.
Ok, Dell, thanks for the high hopes, but we don't need you anymore. If you have been working on a phone, you can stop now, the boat has left. SOOOOooooooo LONG SPRINT!!!
Jesus Harrison Christ.
I just had a seizure.
That phone = SEX.
Best of all, either T-Mo USA will sell it, or I can buy it unlocked and it will still work, because it has all the right bands.
BTW, does WinMo not allow for higher than 65,536 color displays? I keep noticing WinMo devices don't go above that, while Symbian Nokias sometimes go to 16.7 million colors. Just wondering...
Yes, WM currently maxes out at 65k colors. Sadly.
Well, I am not saying that the color doesn't make a difference, but the screen's resolution makes much more of a difference.
---------
And I always wanted to know what the "H" in "Jesus H. Christ" stood for...today is quite the informative day.
The H stands for Herbert, and he is the father of our current president.
For those complaining about WM, as long as Sony skins most of the interaction of the phone with its interface, then im perfectly happy with having WM as the back-bone. IE mobile is replacable.
Do realize that companies use a manufactured OS along with their custom front-end because they don't want to take care of the hardware interaction. They just want to make a custom front end. This phone would take even longer to release had they had to design an entire OS.
And this phone is unbelievable. Touch screen with actually usable buttons and a keyboard and expandable memory. Awesome.
Yes! This is the device I will be replacing my HTC Artemis with.