Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1 gets handled, photographed

The lucky chaps over at Boy Genius Report have managed to get their hands all over Sony Ericsson's latest and greatest -- the hotly anticipated Xperia X1. Early word is that the 800 x 480 screen, optical joystick, and speedy HSDPA data are all very welcome, but the keyboard (which looks like it would be a joy to type on) leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, the OS should come as no surprise, and they don't seem to have any shots of Sony's "panel interface," so for now you'll have to make do with some nice looks at the exteriors of the device. Hit the read link and check it out yourself.

[Blaine Oliver @ Jun 16th 2008 1:42PM]

Give me a normal numpad with soft keys instead of flat hard keys like that, Also, its a rectangle? Those points nodoubtedly will dig into your hands as you type..

[Nastro @ Jun 16th 2008 1:44PM]

Back in black...please god!

[spass @ Jun 16th 2008 1:51PM]

Black! that was my main complain with their current P1, that I returned to the store after a few days of use. I hope the xperia has better built quality.

[dzhiurgis @ Jun 16th 2008 2:11PM]

Ahhh, Windows Mobile with its full uglynes...

[Niki @ Jun 16th 2008 1:44PM]

omfg...
I want I want I want I want...
I've wanted this phone since it's been leaked...
Price? Price? Anyone a price?

[L:I:A:F @ Jun 16th 2008 1:53PM]

$1 OBO

[Niki @ Jun 16th 2008 1:59PM]

do I hear $1.50?

[From my Cube @ Jun 16th 2008 2:22PM]

clearly you dont know how OBO works...

[Niki @ Jun 16th 2008 2:24PM]

mmhm...
$1.50...
My best offer.
=]

[spass @ Jun 16th 2008 2:29PM]

$4.99, but only if they put the [RED] label on it and donate $5.00 to charity.

[ECG @ Jun 16th 2008 2:52PM]

I've heard rumors of $199, but that may have been in my dreams.

[Nomi @ Jun 16th 2008 3:36PM]

The problem with this phone is that theres nothing innovative about it. Its just another Windows Mobile phone with updated specs. Once its released, they will up the specs once more and people will start salivating over that.

This is pretty much why I like HTC as they aren't just upping the specs, they are also innovating on the UI. Also, from the looks of it the panels stuff isn't much more than a window manager. May look cool, but doesn't bring about a lot in ease of use and functionality.

[palehorse @ Jun 16th 2008 5:52PM]

@Nomi

1) This phone was, in fact, designed by HTC.
2) The UI Sony plans to use is, in fact, a custom "panel UI" not seen in the pics above; but it has been seen in other leaked shots, and it looks pretty slick!

Just what exactly would you consider "innovation"?

[Shinigami @ Jun 16th 2008 6:31PM]

Expect $1000+ :)

[Namarrgon @ Jun 17th 2008 5:31AM]

Scott: There's hundreds of 3D games for WinMo. Many are free, and many can be trivially installed by installing the cab file over the air. Try googling:

http://handheld.softpedia.com/catList/112,0,1,1,1.html
http://www.handango.com/SoftwareCatalog.jsp?Ntt=3d%20games&jid=CCXA1BF2CE7159566E3375AFD85CEB56&Ntk=All&siteId=1&osId=1149&Ns=Price|0&N=4294911021&Nty=1
http://www.handmatrix.com/game/mobile.html

just to pick 3 sites at random, but there's dozens more sites.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 16th 2008 1:45PM]

Now *THIS* is a phone.

Spec for spec it walks circles around that *other* device, and with a software library of over 20,000 commercial titles and thousands of independent apps that can be acquired by any one of a hundred different means, there is really no substitute for those wanting the absolute best smart phone.

Well, this and the upcoming HTC Touch Pro will both be vying for that illustrious title, but nevertheless, kudos to Sony.

[Nicky Smith @ Jun 16th 2008 1:55PM]

Actually, this phone is designed and built by HTC.
So give your kudos to them.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 16th 2008 2:09PM]

Yes of course Nicky, you're right.

Kudos to the both of them,

HTC for designing it and Sony for having the sense to turn to them for their new product line.

There were even rumors circulating a while back that Sony was interested in acquiring HTC, and if those pan out, then we could be seeing HTC having access to global resources (shipping, marketing, manufacturing, even production) that they havent had at that level before.

Would be interesting to see how things play out with that rumor, but nevertheless, great phone.

[KarlW @ Jun 16th 2008 2:41PM]

The iPhone's apps looks like they'll be quality. Most WinMo apps I've used are rubbish. It's like Microsoft don't have a mobile strategy - and just try to do everything. They try to make a laptop out of a phone, whilst Apple know where the line is and stick to the phone side of it. The result is a better experience and more quality applications. Microsoft monopolised the smartphone market for years, and in 6 software versions, never generated the excitement and mass-appeal, or money, that Apple did with version 1.

I don't mean to be funny or anything, but WinMo is what's keeping me from buying an X1. I'd happily take one over the iPhone if the software experience was half as good.

[gooftroop @ Jun 16th 2008 3:01PM]

its only built by HTC, Sony designed and spec'd this phone...

[jakem @ Jun 16th 2008 3:06PM]

Actually, I think this was designed by SE and built by HTC. SE are also responsible for the software so hopefully that means good quality drivers.

In regards to application support, MIcrosoft have an excellent strategy. WinMo uses the .Net framework so anyone familiar with Windows programming can write apps for their phones using just about any language they're familiar with. Out of the 20,000 apps available you're obviously going to get your fare share of crap but there are some excellent applications available on this platform. At the end of the day, the quality of third party apps is down to the companies designing them, not Apple or Microsoft. I'm sure once Apple's app store opens you'll pass over a number of crap apps for the iPhone as well.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 16th 2008 3:43PM]

KarlW

That's hilarious and a bit telling at the same time.

I can list for you application after application after application, ad infinitum that's available on WM that would never see the light of day on the very limited iPhone and its respectively limited platform.

There are over 20,000 apps available for WM, and you are only fooling yourself if you believe that of that number, one can not find top-notch, A-grade, titles in any category.

Every single category you can think of including:
Calculators
Contacts
Education
Emulators
Entertainment
Finance
GPS
Health/Medical
Input
Imaging
Internet
Network Utilities
Media
Languages
Office
Productivity
Programming
Scheduling
Travel
Weather
etc.

There is at least 2-3 killer apps for in each respective category above for WM.

For Apple's iPhone on the other hand, it is missing categories altogether, let alone killer apps in those categories.

Only fools blinded by their antipathy for MS and their bias towards Apple would fail to realize this.

Unlike you, I can back up my claims.
Name me a category, and I will name you a killer app for it on WM.

On the other hand, I can name you at least half a dozen categories where Apple is missing entire lines of software in.

Be realistic:
20,000+ THOUSAND titles available for WM

Like what, a mere handful available for the iPhone from 3rd parties.

[David @ Jun 16th 2008 4:11PM]

Made by HTC - most certainly true, at least partly. Designed by HTC? Hardly.

And it's not Sony, it's Sony Ericsson, which is way more Ericsson than Sony, though owned 50/50 by both.

[Zak @ Jun 16th 2008 4:16PM]

hamidxa - What are you comparing to, exactly? The 2.0 software update for the iPhone isn't out yet, so if you're trying to say there aren't very many 3rd party apps on the iPhone right now - well DUH.

If you're making a guess at how many or which apps will or won't be on the iPhone after the 2.0 update, that's pretty brave considering over 25,000 developers have apped for Apple's iPhone developer program. If you don't think that will lead to over 20,000 apps, then you're bad at math.

[philos.bonacci @ Jun 16th 2008 4:24PM]

I would much rather have an HTC Touch Pro with Google Android... but thats me...

[De @ Jun 16th 2008 4:27PM]

@ zak over 250000 applied only about 6200 were accepted

[Zak @ Jun 16th 2008 4:33PM]

De - to the beta program, yes. Do you really think there won't be any more developers after the update goes live?

[Hamidxa @ Jun 16th 2008 4:40PM]

Zak

What you are throwing around are merely numbers of developers (in MOST cases not large development houses, but individuals) who have signed on to receive SDK's from Apple and targetted the platform for commercial use.

I mean, by that very same token, there are easily HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of independent developers toying around with app development/support for WM as well, myself being one of them -- thus easily dwarfing the Apple community.

It's akin to Windows XP/Vista support versus OSX support, in that there are way way way more independents working on MS's platform.

[Zak @ Jun 16th 2008 4:58PM]

Um... so are you suggesting individuals are not capable of developing iPhone apps? And seriously, if you didn't get this before, maybe you'll get it this time - what exactly are you comparing the WM developing community to? The iPhone 2.0 software isn't out yet and the current number of developers are in a beta program, not the real thing.

Do you honestly believe this number isn't going to greatly expand after 2.0 actually comes out? Do you honestly believe there won't be good apps for the iPhone in every category you listed above? I mean you even listed health/medical - seriously? There are ALREADY health/medical apps for the iPhone, from developers in the beta. Yes, more than one of them.

What you've seen on the iPhone so far is only the smallest hint of what's coming. Don't fool yourself, whether you like the iPhone or not, it is arguably the most popular/visible platform on the market today, and everybody and their fat grandmother wants to get in on it. 25,000 developers wanting to program for it before it's even OUT.

A variety of good apps is not going to be an issue on the iPhone, regardless of whether you hate it or not.

[7on @ Jun 16th 2008 4:59PM]

The only thing I hated about WinMo's app is that the 2-3 good ones in the category were $20-$40 dollars. Buy a handful of apps and you've already spent more for the software than you did for the device.

If Super Monkey Ball came out on a WinMo device, it would be $40 or more.

[Scott @ Jun 16th 2008 5:31PM]

Hamidixa,

Super Monkey Ball with 110 levels will be $10 in the App Store. What 3D game can you get for WM for $10 or less? And it needs to be easily installable by any Joe Blow, over the air.

This isn't a snarky reply, I'd like to see a link. Maybe I'll be surprised.

[John @ Jun 16th 2008 5:31PM]

.NET applications for WM is where its at...

[John @ Jun 16th 2008 5:37PM]

One more thing.. im running an Application on my Sprint Mogul, (WM 6.1) that is used for tracking of time, billing, and invoicing of work i do on my job. Cost of 1 license? $200. Was half the price of the phone for this 1 app i use. Cost varies by specialty, possible market saturation, and needs of the developers.

I have found many useful WM apps that i have paid for, and are worth every penny. They arent junk, in fact, far from it. And seeing as i have the option to trial 99% of software before buying it, I can decide if it suits my needs exactly before buying. I can also download them over the air and install them on my phone.

[Chris @ Jun 16th 2008 9:32PM]

"I'm seeing an excitement among mobile developers that I've never seen before," said Sam Altman, chief executive and co-founder of Mountain View-based Loopt, a location-based social networking service. "People who said they'd never start a mobile (applications) company because they didn't want to rely on the carriers are now starting companies focused only on the iPhone." http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_9599971

[Namarrgon @ Jun 17th 2008 5:33AM]

Scott: There's hundreds of 3D games for WinMo. Many are free, and many can be trivially installed by installing the cab file over the air. Try googling:

http://handheld.softpedia.com/catList/112,0,1,1,1.html
http://www.handango.com/SoftwareCatalog.jsp?Ntt=3d%20games&jid=CCXA1BF2CE7159566E3375AFD85CEB56&Ntk=All&siteId=1&osId=1149&Ns=Price|0&N=4294911021&Nty=1
http://www.handmatrix.com/game/mobile.html

just to pick 3 sites at random, but there's dozens more sites.

[Reality Check @ Jun 16th 2008 1:46PM]

The X1 might be alright if it were running Android, but Windows Mobile 6, no thanks.

I'll hold my nose and look away until Windows Mobile 7 or Android, whichever comes first.

[Cornelius @ Jun 16th 2008 1:57PM]

Seconded. If I could wipe the X1's memory of WM6, and install Android in its place, I'd be more excited.

Windows mobile is the most bloated, clunky mobile OS I've seen. Not to mention awful java support- my WM6-powered Blackjack II (which runs on the same processor as a Nokia N95 btw) can barely run many of my J2ME apps that my 3-year-old (free) phone ran perfectly. And video playback is atrocious.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 16th 2008 2:12PM]

Everything runs great here on WM 6.1 on my HTC Mogul.

No complaints whatsoever in terms of processing speed or running apps.

The only shortcoming of the Mogul (only one really, everything else is top-notch) is the shortage of RAM.

Aside from that, HTC Mogul + EVDO-Rev A from Sprint + WM 6.1 cooked ROM = a superior experience to most any other device out there, especially the iPhones.

[Al @ Jun 16th 2008 6:08PM]

exactly, I have a Samsung i760 and it runs very well. Also had a Palm 700w and beside the fact it was low on ram it was also a speedy device.

[natels @ Jun 16th 2008 1:49PM]

I am not a fan of the keypad myself.. Space bar is too big and the enter bar is as well. They should just mimic the Tytn's.. works fine for me.

[Dan @ Jun 16th 2008 4:07PM]

Agreed, I'm quite a fan of HTC's keyboards.

[Dyranios @ Jun 16th 2008 1:49PM]

I just want to say I appreciate your commitment to your non-legit signature you got going on.

[Fernando @ Jun 16th 2008 1:49PM]

Windows Mobile is crap so that would make this........ Crap!

[Lein @ Jun 16th 2008 1:53PM]

Spell check more often: you forgot to replace "Windows" with "iPhone."

[JJ @ Jun 16th 2008 1:56PM]

Since when did Sony jump over to the dark side of Windows Mobile?

[T H @ Jun 16th 2008 1:59PM]

Seriously.. that is probably my *only* problem with this phone.

But it is a big one nonetheless..

[Cornelius @ Jun 16th 2008 2:00PM]

Once they started having other companies make their phones for them. The X1 is an HTC phone.

(Hopefully it'll include proper video drivers!)

[Quikboy @ Jun 16th 2008 4:27PM]

@JJ : If you haven't noticed, 2 of the top 3 most anticipated phones run WinMo 6.1. If WinMo is really the "dark side", then why the heck would Sony start moving towards WinMo, as well as HTC lining up almost all their phones with their own version of WinMo?

Hmm. Maybe because WinMo is seriously not that bad? One you install some of the apps. there are for WinMo, it's a great phone. It's fine on it's own, but the apps. really make it good. I don't know why people keep coming to every post with WinMo in it, and tossing garbage around.

[rip @ Jun 16th 2008 5:02PM]

@ quikboy:

Why use winmo? Because, of the 5 smartphone os available, 2 are exclusive. Only Palm, Symbian and winmo are easily licensed.

Palm sadly is a lame duck.

Which would leave winmo and symbian. And I'm sure Microsoft offered to throw in a free country if Sony licensed winmo.

The thing is, there are lots of factors involved, like pricing and support and features. Quality and usability probably ranked pretty low on Sony's criteria.

As for HTC, you do know they are practically the in-house handset developer for Microsoft, right? HTC has a partnership with Microsoft and is the biggest Winmo device maker in the world...

[Mycroft @ Jun 16th 2008 2:00PM]

Has anyone used winmo 6.1? Which is what this phone will come with. The question then becomes will it be upgradeable to winmo 7?