We've been on pins and needles waiting for more info about the Snapdragon-powered
Sony Ericsson Rachael ever since we spotted those early images over the weekend, and while the latest pics are still just potentially fan-made renders, it's the accompanying UI video that we're freaking out over today. Just like HTC's layered the
Sense UI over Android on the
Hero, the Rachael looks to have a polished custom Sony Ericsson interface over its Android build, and we're definitely digging the vibe -- especially the unified messaging interface that displays Facebook, Twitter, email, SMS, and calls all from one screen. It's pretty slick stuff -- let's just hope it's real, and shipping soon. There's also a couple more renders of the funky rear-display
Kiki featurephone, but until we figure how SE intends for humans to actually use it, we're focused on Rachael. Renders and video after the break.
Read - Rachael and Kiki pics
Read - Rachael UI video
posted July 8th 2009 12:03PM
Which USA provider would get the new Xperia?
This looks really slick. I usually hate SE's UIs but this one looks classy, sleek, and functional. Hopefully they make the movements snappier though - I don't know if I like waiting THAT long for the keyboard/launcher to scoot up there.
Also, lol @ "Making Hot Pockets"
My thoughts on the new UI is that it's not as intuitive as iPhone's OSX. For instance, I wouldn't know that I should flick my finger when all those contact cards comes up. Yes, the UI look nice and shiny, but that's about it. When it comes to how intuitive and user-friendliness, Sony Ericsson definitely fails. I also doubt that it'll have the thousands of apps that the OSX has right now.
I could be worng, but I think you are. The IPhone's oporating system is not called OSX, thats strictly for their computers.
The last Rachael I knew would never let me touch her like that...
Off-topic, Is that Kate as in Lost Kate @0:52?
And yeah its still not an iPhone..
Looks very nice.
Anyone know if this will be ATT only or will verizon and Sprint get it as well?
That Rachael is one sexy girl!
Wow! Thats gorgeous!
I hope Sony Ericsson gives us a Windows Mobile phone with a sweet UI like this.
uhhhh are you serious lol... how insecure are you?
Listen kid: Stop showing your ignorance here. Apple products (especially the iPhone) are made for people who don't want to invest any time in learning to use technology. That's not a bad thing. It's certainly good for Apple and their customers. My wife loves her iPhone. She finds iFart hilarious.
The thing is that most of the people who read Engadget like to invest themselves in technology. That means having gadgets that take some learning to use. In return these "hard to use" gadgets pay off in flexibility. The things that might bother you in the Rachael handset UI can easily be changed to do exactly what I want them to do. I just have to spend 20 minutes to learn how to do it. Then I have exactly the UI I want. Apple doesn't give me the flexibility. In fact doing anything to get the iPhone changed from Apple's vision voids my warranty. Android gives me options. Sony gives me the hardware (if this Rachael stuff is real).
Now Sony is not perfect. The proprietary connector on most of their phones sucks. But this one doesn't have it. I'm holding out hope for this for one reason alone: The PS3. Sony not only wants its customers to open the PS3 up - they provide instructions. They give you instructions to give it a bigger hard drive. They show you how to install Linux on it! Let's see Apple do that.
In the end it comes down to the fact that some people like things simple (you), and some people like to invest in their technology to make things work the way they want. I could go on and on about all of the technology I have invested time in, but what would I have to show for my efforts? Oh, I forgot: a nice house, paid for cars, 30" monitors, a 2000 watt sound system (for my office computer alone), a CNC machine shop in my garage (you don't want to know about the sound system there), comfortable early retirement, happy kids and wife, etc.
To put it simply iKurt: Go somewhere else with your simplistic interpretations on technology. And take your iFriends with you.
Thanks
Sorry, I forgot to start my comment with @iKurt.
This new technology kills me.
You should get an iPhone, then.
I am pretty sure this is fake. And by fake I mean not a mockup, but simply that it won't work this well IRL. Just look at the promotional videos of the Omnia and Xperia X1 - they both look great, but both phones suck equally when actually used.
A lot of slow unnecessary eye-candy too, even though I must admit that I like the looks of it.
Reading through the comments, it's clear why phone makers are working harder for eye candy than they are for usability.
Screw you idiots.
it would be really nice if this came with 64gb ROM (+MicroSDHC) and 1gb of RAM, then all this nonsense about it may be slow would be allayed.
i can only hope they put the cap on with the internal storage i dont want the paltry sizes apple thinks i want.
who sells a 160gb ipod and then says hey have 1/10th of that in your iphone so you STILL need to own an ipod. fuck that, i want to be able to watch/record movies, listen to music without having to worry about the storage situation, 16gb is a joke when there are usb thumbdrives are dirt cheap and have 256gb of storage. i hope that we'd be able to port different flavors of android on the phone. lets wait and see.
Glass Screen/64gb/1gb.
for those of you who wouldnt switch cuz of an app store ... not every system is as locked down as apples, where you NEED an app store. but as far as ease of use i guess its pretty darn awesome, however you probably shouldnt be reading this site ... just wait for the next commercial to tell you what you want, like copy and paste on a third gen device.
i hope that the internals are a step above what HTC is supposed to be coming out with in the next few weeks. but the bloated nature of these 3d animations/transitions i hope are user editable, if it was HTC i wouldn't doubt it, but this is SE so lets hope they can make the right moves.
I am so Ross for this.
wow, absolutely gorgeous! I would drop my iphone for this, maybe.
Love the karl agathon reference!!
I am surely gonna ditch my iPhone for this sexy handset. its so cool.
to be frank i was about to buy HTC Touch HD, now that i have seen this one. i am now with my iPhone and will get this one as soon as its available. But i am sure it is going to be very very costly :(
looks good on the promo vid so far.
That UI looks pretty cumbersome to navigate, and relying on tons of high-quality photos is not a good idea either. I have 300+ contacts in my phone, about 2 of them have photos. What about you guys?
Hopefully, the Rachel model should perform as expected and it's "reasonably" priced or else SE will have an overpriced lemon on its hand!
Their quarterly reported, recently released, doesn't show a financially health company!
I'm hoping to get the Rachel but let's see what the reviewers says when it's officially released later this year!
It's the most beautiful smartphone I've ever seen.Well done SE!
This must be a great device.
ToddDiroberto
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/05/19/4186011.htm
http://www.prwebphotowire.com/releases2/imid1448864.htm?id=1448864&prid=2437704
http://www.docstoc.com/search/Degrassi-The-Next-Generation-Episodes-Online/
mmmmm....