It's a little difficult to delay a device that hasn't gotten a more specific release window than "the second half of 2008" (from official sources, at least), but Sony Ericsson is doing its darnedest. The scuttlebutt at IFA is that the
XPERIA X1 has been delayed to the end of the year, and a Sony rep confirmed to us that it's looking like December 2008 or January 2009. To blame is the software, specifically
Windows Mobile 6.1 (or perhaps SE's implementation of it), which appeared to be actively destroying the display units Sony has on display at IFA -- of the three devices, one had some green status lights, one didn't work at all, and one turned on briefly, only to crash hard and never return again... a pretty poor showing for day one of the show. Some hands-on shots are below, glaringly void of actual device usage.
posted Aug 29th 2008 8:19AM
Sigh..
But still, I'll be waiting..
Aw, there's lots of people who want this phone, NOW! 8)
Sounds like you don't really want it now, unless you are into frustration.
the problem obviously isn't windows mobile, fanboys. might be evidenced by my 4 year old pda running winmo2k3 that snaps to every command, touchscreen too.
sony ericcson is driving themselves right out of the phone business. didn't they just finish reporting 98% profit loss or something? now a delay with such catastrophic errors in their public displays? pathetic.
They might as well put in Windows Mobile 7.0 by the time this thing gets out
First?
First fail. Congratulations.
Windows Jokes may now comence
That boot screen with the wait cursor is a fitting image~
Tho I see a lot less of that cursor on WM6 compared to WM2k3SE, which is a good thing :)
Isn't that the same time mobile 7 is coming out? Is it possible they are delaying it so that it can ship with 7?
My same thought. Releasing a WM6.1 device just around the time WM7 leaks are all over the web. Excellent timing.
They had to ruin their first decent thing.
Im sure they will allow some sort of update to WM7. Most of the phone with WM5 got a update to 6.0. So it doesn't seem unlikely it will happen to this phone.
Not likely. WM7 will utilize newer technologies like visual gesture recognition, new graphics accelerator. WM7 devices will probably be driven by nVidia's Tegra processor a.k.a. APX 2500.
nVidia already said it was committed to windows mobile.
winmo 7 has a minimum hardware spec of 256megabytes of RAM too, so unless the Xperia gets and upgrade from it's 128megs...no winmo 7 for it.
According to gsmarena.com, the phone has:
- 400 MB internal memory
- 256MB RAM, 512MB storage memory
- Qualcomm MSM7200 528MHz processor
So that would make it eligible for wm7
Wow, oh how lame the excuse that the problem is "specifically WIndows Mobile 6.1". So Sony can't or doesn't know how to make a phone work with an O.S (not even to DEMO), something that gazillions of other phones use and use well, and the problem lies with the O.S.....i call ectoplasmic bull crap.
Maybe they should borrow/rent/commision...i don't know Palm/Htc/HP/Samsung/Motorola who all have devices with Win Mobile and have never complained like lil beeches about their inability to have working demos.
What in the hell is "ectoplasmic" bullcrap? I'm guessing your referring that crap that a bull would expel after having been abducted and genetically modified by an alien.
I happen to be quite the Apple fanboy, and as much as I'd like to do some Microsoft bashing, this guys right. If everyone else can use WinMo 6.1 without a hitch, why can't SE? That just seems like passing the buck to me, so why don't we just forget the X1 and all buy iPhones?
(now i'm just starting trouble!)
*cough* touch pro * cough*
"....they should borrow/rent/commision...i don't know Palm/Htc/HP/Samsung/Motorola ..."
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/10/no-wonder-sony-ericssons-xperia-x1-is-so-good-htc-makes-it/
theyv'e already done it!
I guess its one of those things, when its an awesome device its HTC, when theres delays and problems its Sony Ericsson.....
The HTC motto is : "good hardware/ bad software", specially the "no video drivers" affair.
On one picture it says "Hauptakku sehr schwach" as important message... if that's the unit that crashed hard and didnt switch on again, then it is because it said "Main battery almost empty"
hahahaha
you'd think they'd switch the language to english... for an english speaking trade show...
i guess sony ericsson really is gonna die out :-( i loved their products of mid 2000s some of them (K750, S710, T616 etc) were pure brilliant devices and with not too much device saturation it was always nice little brand. i chose them over nokia and sammy so many times, also because their OS was just plain better then. I guess it wasn't meant to be... if they didn't have such horrible PR and project managers maybe they'd survive past 2010.
so here's to you! Sony Ericsson. It was a fun few years, but ultimately you figured out that people like smartphones way to late...and then you were crushed and throttled and manhandled by the likes of the Touch Pro, iPhone, Treo Pro(!), and various other little smartphone minions.
They've lost my custom - I can't be bothered to wait even longer when other companies using Winmo don't have a problem with 6.1 (hell, it even runs perfectly on older phones/pdas).
HTC Touch Pro it is then.
Same thoughts, except change "Touch Pro" to "Dream" for me
Nice. But no front camara for video conferencing.
Whats the config. RAM / ROM - 3G / HSDPA / HSUPA ?
SE are clueless and haven't made a decent smartphone since the P910.
No doubt the X1 will be terrible even when it is released.
I can't believe it was delayed. I mean having 9 simultaneously running, active, start-up screens for Windows Mobile sounds very plausible.
I haven't seen a preview/hands-on that said the "Panels" UI was either incomplete or sluggish.
Well if you decide to stop waiting, you can get this:
http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=754
@GON:
thanks for that dude!
i'm all over it now.
if the Xperia doesn't pan out, and SOON, then i'm waiting for an "android" based device, or maybe a Qualcomm "snapdragon" device like the reference one they showed recently:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdMww-LFPik
Something ain't right here. HTC is making these for SE, and they were able to get the Touch Pro (with fairly similar specs) from announcement to shelves in under 3 months.
And this is how a company like HTC builds a reputation. Next time SE announces a device at WMC, you'll see the appropriate response.
Touch Pro was leaked when, early June? That's a good 4 months after WMC where SE had the Xperia X1 all over the place.
Yeah SE, this is why you're not HTC.
I think they are perfecting their software that's why there is a delay. The Touch flow isnt that nice, IMO, hopefully sony will release something better.
@ Total Fixation: The touch Flo isn't that nice?! dude where's your brain at ? have you even used it before claiming such nonsense?
no offense man really, but I used it, and I think its one hell of a nice interface, it surely adds a special feel to HTC devices, other than the WinMo.
Well Mo, before the ROM updates, TouchFlo3D was really slow and sluggish. Now it's not sluggish and is a lot faster. Yet STILL, you need to perform an action (e.g. swipe finger) and then wait for Kinetic rendering (photo moves upwards). Unlike the iPhone and Android (SDK) where the screen moves under your finger as if they were glued i.e. no lag between cause and effect. Everyone knows it's WM6's fault.
Isn't that the same time that Android comes out as well? WinMo 7 maybe vapored and pushed back repeatedly. The level of catchup and then testing they need to do isn't even funny.
The Anroid phone (HTC Dream, or G1) is *rumored* to be released in October
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/15/t-mobile-to-sell-first-android-phone-in-october/
It's a pity though regarding this magnificent VGA widescreen.... I had high hopes for the HTC Dream (G1)'s display, but looks like it will have the iPhone's HVGA screen.
:(
There was a hickup with the shop system.... Its back to October!
Still to late for me.... HTC Touch Pro is mine.... mmmmmyyyyyy preeeeeciioouusssssssssssssssssssss.... :)
Windows Mobile is useless and why Sony who are experts in making usable sexy compact devices (SE K800i etc) would even consider a complicated OS lacking in consistency like WM, it beyond me. A direct contrast to my amazing Nokia E71, the flawed but usable iPhone and hopefully, Google's Android. Sony should drop WM immediately and install Symbian, Android or their own "only Sony could do this" proprietary but standards compliant OS.
Somehow Xperia is beginning to look ugly. Especially those "x" buttons.
Yeah very cheesy.
I love the hardware specs of this phone, but that's mainly due to a good job by HTC, not Sony. Hopefully they can fix any issues with the software, I'll wait for it until WM7 if need be. Not that WM is a deal breaker, I'm really hoping it'll be able to run android.
"Isn't that the same time mobile 7 is coming out?"
why the hell does windows bother with mobile....it's sluggish stupid and useless, KTHANKSBYE
try again windows, or hey ericsson you can make a better OS than windows.
this delay might officially push me into the loving embrace of the iphone. i upgraded my htc star trek to a cooked windows 6.1 just so i could get an extra couple months out of my phone but i dont think i can wait till january.
Why not the Touch Pro since you already have an HTC... obviously you don't have much against them
i dont want to pay that much for a cellphone. if i could get it for $200-300 (even with a 2-year contract) i probably would but if i remember correctly the pro wont be avaliable on att for cheap enough (and thats without 8gb or 16gb memory). i've been a loyal wm user for 3 years now (i flirted with a e62 for a month but went back) but i think i'm sick and tired of waiting for something to come out at a cost effective price-point. my sister has the tilt and its nice and all, but a little fat for my taste.
It'll probably be about the same on contract. The hardware is very similar anyway
Who cares!!!!
The BB Storm will be hitting Verizon next month. Comes with a 8G card as well. Plus you can use it to tether. And it most likely will not be plagued with all the issues the iPhone has.
Yeah right! blame the windows Mobile instead of blaming what's really wrong with it.
honestly, I never had high expectations for the X1 since I saw it's demo, that device is slow like shit, and whenever you ask someone the miracle comment shows up!! : "it's a demo device!".
well demo my ass, being a demo device somewhat does not justify it taking a whole 7 seconds to just open the X panels, it takes even longer opening the start menu, WTF ?!
I find it weird that Chinese manufacturers that make fake Windows Mobile 6.1 devices can get it to work properly without bricking the unit and a company as huge as SE can't get it down right.
1) not that many of them are actually Windows Mobile, never mind 6.x, and those that are usually aren't licensed anyway
Agreed, it is pretty funny. On another note, the Asus P535 has worked for at least 2 years for me. I've updated it to Win Mo 6.0/6.1 still no probs.
Thank you and Fuck you Sony. I was hoping that this device was going to be out to compare with the Storm, Bold and Android but since you are delaying it for later, I will probably pick one of the other three.
Someone will probably hack your phone next year and put a real OS on there like Android ;)
Lol, I doubt you've actually had a chance to use Android yet. I'm all for Android, I can't wait, but you don't know what it's going to be like.
..and, with a name like, "haX0r", I'm sure you'll be the one to hack the phone I see?
I don't recall saying I did in my post. I think you should re-read it. I said I wanted to compare the three before I buy.
I'd be surprised if this thing shows up before April. I'm serious.
This is untrue, I can tell you from reliable sources. The Xperia is on its way en will arrive at Engadget in a few weeks, i've heard. And oh yes, it should have been delayed if this was true, for the introduction is planned in october: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftweakers.net%2Fnieuws%2F55164%2Fsony-ericssons-xperia-komt-half-oktober-naar-nederland.html&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&sl=auto&tl=en However, you guys can't read Dutch I guess, so you've never seen this posting....
A few comments
IFA is not necessarily an English language show - IFA means internationale Funkausstellung (international radio exhibition)
Here's the website: http:\\www.ifa-berlin.de
I have a SE P900 whose battery is now dying (8 years old original!). I wanted to replace it with a SE Xperia but see my P900 will die long before the Xperia comes out. I just ordered an HTC Touch Pro. It's the same OS, same hardware manufacturer, a bit smaller, smaller screen so better battery life, similar features for business. The videos I've seen show GREAT usabilty. And I can synch it with my PC.
My emergency keep-you-connected stopgap is a Moto V3 Razr. Good cellphone electronics, worst software I've ever seen.
Its PC synch software just updated itself so that the phone I have is NO LONGER SUPPORTED! How dumb is that?!
Lovely. Was 95% sure this to happen.
I guess as most of Engadget readers are from USA they dont know SE's past with these "killer" phones. Just one example being P990i that was ment to give some ass kicking for Nokia...delayed more than 1/2 a year and the phone was shadow of it's self when it finally arrived.
History seems to be repeating it self if Nokia can release those 2 TS flagships as rumoured in January-February.
X1 seems like a good device even if i cant stand WM, but the price must go down if they are planning to sell it good amount(that is if it really gets delayed).
Doesn't Sony use Symbian for the rest of their smartphones? Why go to WM for this one?
I figure they went with something their target audience would be comfortable with. I know Symbian and I've used a couple of their phones. But when it comes to supposed "power users" and business clients (the two target demographics) I see more people with either a BB or something Windows Mobile powered. I won't argue which is better, but as far as the name recognition/prestige I would say that Windows still wins. Add to that the ease of getting push-e-mail and interoperability with Windows desktop OS and it does make some sense for SE to throw WinMob on this line of premium devices (they can't throw RIM's BB OS on it now, can they?).
Also, the Xperia is a line of products and the X1 is only the first in a series. Provided they don't = teh fail and kill the line off. So if winmob doesn't work, perhaps they will go to Symbian anyway? We'll just have to wait and see...
Given that I've managed to get the ROM from a pre-release X1 to run on my Prophet (that came with WM5), Sony really are crap at this :D
Although, since HTC are actually making it for them, my guess is Sony aren't paying them enough, or are complete idiots when it comes to Panels, and telling HTC what to do...
I call BS.....
Why is it that there are no problems with the phone is this review?
http://smape.com/en/reviews//Sony_Ericsson_XPERIA_X1-prev.html
http://www.se-store.co.uk/index.cfm?objectid=FED6335A-3005-8DAD-19B78C0E964DF956
'll have to agree with most of the comments here. 6.1 runs flawlessly on dozen of devices new and old, just look at the XDA-Developer forums, anything from MDA's, Wizards and Axim's to Wing's, Touch's, Q's and Dashes. PPC or Smartphone, most phones will run it without a hitch! Fail Ericsson... Hard Fail!!!
so yes, I can understand the delay affecting SE's bottom line, and frustrating SE's core power user groups. But ultimately this delay is due in a large part to HTC. Se is not developing any of the winmo SW, so I hardly see how SW conflicts/sluggish UI/delayed launch directly contributed to SE. Why HTC is having so many problems developing the UI in a timely matter I have no the slightest. There is a conflict of interest on HTC's part, but there should have been contracts to cover all this.
dude you obviously haven't been keeping up and thus are flaming ugh SE is dealing with the fuggin software htc is dealing with the hardware wtf what forums have you been going to htc has nothing to do with the se software integration or the panels wtf that's why the touch pro and x-speria are similar in specs htc has been in the game for a long itme and thus knows what specs u need to make winmo a good experience sony did the rest.
You know, SE lost a lifetime fan in me for the iPhone. and it was this device that piqued my interest in them again, only to be disgusted in the WM6. Yea, yea. "WinMo is great, you gotta try it!"
It is the WORST phone OS I've ever layed hands to. Clunky, not at all user-friendly, and just downright sucky.
If SE were to go back to Symbian with this device. I would seriously consider it.
This is SE's death bell. First we find out that SE is basically on the brink of disaster ( http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/sony-ericsson-sees-net-profits-fall-97-looks-to-cut-2-000-jobs/ ),
and now they are missing the 2008 holiday season? That is undeniably devastating for them. I'm surprised nobody has noted that yet. SE will be lucky to move 10% of stock before Spring '09.
What a shocker! If SE releases one of their feature phones within 9 months of announcement, I'll be amazed!
SE - I am afraid - is dead when it comes to premium phones.
is that the Subaru logo? Dare I ask?
Over on coolsmartphone.com, they said that the device was possibly delayed (today), and updated that post that it was in fact still slated to debut in October. http://coolsmartphone.com/news4233.html
They're based in Europe, but still, if it's coming out there in October, shouldn't be too long until we get it here in the states.
Wow. Really glad I bit the bullet and got an iPhone. No way I could have made it to January waiting for this thing.
dude we're talking about ppc's here capable devices that are backed up by hordes of users, that are capable of flash web browsing through apps like skyfire, that let you do futuristic things such as use your actual computer on your phone while miles away from it. Phones that are so customizable that most of them look nothing like each other when it comes to interfaces.
not piece of crap at&t phones tied and slaved to itunes, long lines gimmicks and a new one popping out 6 months later along with hordes of dropped calls terrible at&t customer support of which you almsot always get someone with an accent. the i phone is just an i pod with a phone integrated into it and omg "WOW!!!" an app store... wtf WINDOWS MOBILE AND SYMBIAN HAVE FULL COMPANIES AND SITES ALL OVER THE WEB GIVING US MILLIONS OF APPLICATIONS!!! dedicated to our phones... people who actually use the devices on an everyday basis and thus build things to make it better hmph don't believe me... than just go to smartphonejunkie.com or ppcgeeks.com than you'll believe.
bought a iphone? haha
please dont try to make laughs!
iphone with that junk qvga 480x320 compare to x1 with 800x480!
i bet u still love to watch analog TV? haha
I think SE is deservedly getting called out for this - they have really and truely effed it up good. My guess is that for this thing to sell anywhere near the numbers their hoping for they are going to have to take a serious hit on the MSRP and swallow their pride.
I find it interesting that this is coming just days after Howie Stringy was publicly musing that it might be time for S and E to divorce. My guess it there are ducks being lined up in a row.
In the next 18-24 months I fully expect to see PS and Vaio branded mobiles from S not SE.
I think Howie understands the concept of "It's the software and user experience" and that it's the SW that's messing this good.
Disclaimer: Sony fanboy who's in no hurry to replace an 810 with anything else SE
The Touch Pro is coming out in CDMA & GSM flavors with a proven WinMo interface. Who cares about the X1 anymore? Die a much-deserved death SE.
Well I'm soo glad I didn't keep my tilt until this thing came out, I was going to actually hold out with that thing for oh, let's see, 9 months more! With no gpu acceleration, the phone was horrible. So what did I get instead?
I got the iphone 3g. And if this experia is as good as it looks on paper, then maybe I will buy one, it depends on the price. But otherwise, it looks like a sweet phone.
As soon as I saw that it runs Windows Mobile I said to myself what a waste of good hardware.. No Sale here..
What a terrible operating system..
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I've been stalking this phone for months - I can't wait for it. I've put off buying a new phone for awhile.
Sign... I guess I'll keep waiting.
We love our iPhones.
people,check out this link.
http://www.se-store.co.uk/index.cfm?objectid=FED6335A-3005-8DAD-19B78C0E964DF956
Time for the android, i cant wait another 4months my fone is dead now htc dream here i come...