Sony Ericsson's Satio and Aino get handled, Remote Play makes the Aino PSP-like -- minus the games

Folks are already starting to get a look at production versions (well, closer to production than at MWC, anyhow) of the Sony Ericsson Satio and its baby sister, the Aino -- and even if you're not a fan of the joint venture's wares, it's hard not to appreciate what it's brought to the table here. The Satio looks identical to its Idou doppelganger -- albeit now in three colors instead of two -- but the real news here is inside, where we're finally getting a look at Sony Ericsson's interpretation of Symbian^1 with a unique UI. Overall, it's looking "chunky" (and we mean that in a good way) with an entirely finger-friendly presentation -- a sharp, healthy departure from the UIQ platform that it just threw in the dumpster a few months back.

Though the Satio's higher end, it's actually the Aino that intrigues us more; in a way, this is the closest thing to a "PSP phone" that Sony Ericsson has ever produced, largely on account of its support for Sony Remote Play which funnels PlayStation 3-stored media content down over WiFi or your cellular connection. Sadly though, "media content" doesn't include games; Sony Ericsson is billing the phone strictly as a multimedia-heavy non-gaming phone, so calling it a PSP phone in practice would be a huge frickin' misnomer. The phone includes a dock that syncs media wirelessly to your PC when connected -- hot -- and from a distance, it seems to be just about the sexiest phone Sony Ericsson's ever made. It's not clear what carriers will be offering either of these, but as usual, we've got to bet against the North Americans.

Read - Satio hands-on
Read - Aino hands-on

[DR House @ May 28th 2009 6:04PM]

Idou, Do me please, 12MP+XENON FLASH

[PerfectC @ May 28th 2009 6:27PM]

I know right! I can't wait to try it out.

[bob @ May 28th 2009 10:05PM]

I think its Saito like the Japanese General from WWII.

[Darren Burns @ May 28th 2009 6:53PM]

In the header you called it the Saito but in the text its the Satio.. =]

Cool stuff anyway

[zephead @ May 28th 2009 6:09PM]

Kinda confused here, is it "Saito" or "Satio"?

[vdex34 @ May 28th 2009 10:06PM]

I would guess its sa-chi-o phonetically.

[vdex34 @ May 28th 2009 10:08PM]

lol, nevermind i just figured out about the header

[Justin Ried @ May 28th 2009 6:13PM]

From the press release:

"Aino supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSPA 850/1900/2100."

That's a very pleasant surprise, and this may be my first Symbian phone in years. Nice going, SE.

[emuneee @ May 28th 2009 6:35PM]

The Aino is not a Symbian phone.

[Justin Ried @ May 28th 2009 9:57PM]

Thanks emuneee, I was confusing the Aino and Satio specs. Still, it's great to see SE rolling out Quad-band GSM and tri-band HSPA.

[Templarian @ May 28th 2009 6:13PM]

If you look up at the top photo's icons. It looks like the guy got headshot over a time lapse.

Looks pretty nice though.

[Richard Glitter @ May 28th 2009 10:54PM]

hahahaha would never have caught that

[B3astofthe3ast @ May 28th 2009 6:15PM]

So PS1 games inside the PS3 can't be played remotely like the PSP can?

[Kspraydad @ May 28th 2009 7:08PM]

Correct.

[Ordeith @ May 28th 2009 6:15PM]

Isn't remote streaming of videos/music and scheduling of tv shows better suited for something like Windows Home Server?

In that scheme of things, the PS3/X360 is just another connected device. For this content why would you want to stream through another streamer?

[Kspraydad @ May 28th 2009 7:09PM]

You are streaming the content that is ON the PS3 (though your could stream a stream in Remote Play too). Especially with the PlayTV functionality your content is on the PS3 (as it is acting as a DVR).

For instance I have 200 movies on my PS3 right now and can watch them at any hotspot with my PSP.

[Samo @ May 28th 2009 6:32PM]

DING DING DING DING! We have a winner! I think this'll be my next phone, as it's got lovely included accessories, lovely large TS, nice 8MP cam, and an interesting (if a little unused for me) remoteplay feature.

[Mark Richards @ May 28th 2009 7:07PM]

By God Satio has an amazing stunning interface. IMO it's by far THE best of the Nokia N97 and Samsung Omnia HD! They have really done a fantastic job.
I think this will be my next phone, it has a camera good enough to replace a compact. Well done.

I can't wait for a shoot out of the Satio, N97 and Omnia HD!!

[Kspraydad @ May 28th 2009 7:10PM]

Neat little note...it is using Micro SD instead of Mem Stick Micro.

[simon @ May 28th 2009 7:13PM]

out of curiousiy, what was SE's first phone to use micsoSD and when did it come out?

[Kspraydad @ May 28th 2009 7:21PM]

According to Wiki it was Oct 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K850i

[seamonkey420 @ May 28th 2009 9:05PM]

yup, K850i cuz i got one just for the microSD factor!

however sold it to a co-worker, miss it too. was a great camera/video recorder.

but i am def thinking of ditching my first gen iPhone for one of these babies. but i really want to hold out for the idou (given its under $700 )

[Danny @ May 28th 2009 7:55PM]

The ultimate phone. Now this ought to be a top story.

[greenlight @ May 28th 2009 8:54PM]

Some more video (audio is swedish) http://tv.mediaprovider.se/sony_ericsson_yari_aino_och_satio_1243551303801.html

[Mehul @ May 28th 2009 9:17PM]

Satio looks hot! I love the brushed steel effect on the back

[Johnsies @ May 28th 2009 9:23PM]

They should tell us how to pronounce the Aino.

Is it eye-no or anal?

[Andre @ May 29th 2009 4:16AM]

Sadly though, "media content" doesn't include games; Sony Ericsson is billing the phone strictly as a multimedia-heavy non-gaming phone, so calling it a PSP phone in practice would be a huge frickin' misnomer

Seems like its more like the PSP than the article claims. Not like that brick shit has many games either.

[Kspraydad @ May 29th 2009 8:12AM]

Wrong side of the bed today?

[Godsfaith @ May 28th 2009 11:32PM]

Those are not the real camera specs are they!?!

[Godsfaith @ May 28th 2009 11:35PM]

I have k800i like the m2 card personally.

[Stan-O @ May 29th 2009 1:11AM]

Any word on the built-in SIP support on the Symbian phone?

[ddub @ May 29th 2009 1:36AM]

when does the Xperia come out? oh wait. Nevermind. At least they have playstation doing well...shit...i meant Blura...fuck it.

[Paul @ May 29th 2009 7:52AM]

Finally a xenon flash but No 3.5mm phone jack, no sale.

Is it running Symbina s60 V5 (no flick scrolling) or better Symbian Foundation??

[bigdavegriff @ Jun 8th 2009 10:05PM]

:-(

I'm now officially not happy!

I really like the Satio with its 12.1mp camera with Xenon flash as I take alot of pictures out at the weekends in dark places so this would be great for pictures.

The problem?

Well I have a ps3 with play tv and am now really exited at the prospect of using remote play to access my content using the Aino?

With my contract up for renewal around end of sept I just cant decide which one I will get?

Please Sony Ericsson add Remote play to Satio before release and make this the perfect phone for me!!!