Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands-on
By Vladislav Savov 
posted Nov 2nd 2009 11:00PM
posted Nov 2nd 2009 11:00PM
We have to start off by noting that Sony Ericsson is calling its modified Android version the UX for now -- meaning User eXperience -- although we suspect it will revert to the more familiar Rachael naming scheme as soon as the lawyers have cleared a few hurdles and cashed a few checks. Part of a big "open OS" push by the company, this new interface will make appearances on a number of future handsets, both of the Android and Symbian persuasion, though Windows Mobile support sounded like something SE might consider only if there's much public demand for it (so much for a proper X2 successor, eh?). You'll find the full PR and exhaustive spec sheet in the gallery below.
Android the Sony Ericsson way
There are three central modifications that Sony Ericsson has made to the default Android 1.6 installation, beyond the obvious visual overhaul. Taking the lead is Timescape, a spiritual sibling to the MOTOBLUR, which aggregates all of your communications on the phone, whether they be Tweets by your favorite NASA astronaut, missed and placed calls, received text messages, or Facebook status updates. It's all there, in one big gorgeous integrated pileup. Naturally, all that can be filtered by source or by person, making for a seamless environment for interacting with your friends over the otherwise quite fragmented social networking space. Mediascape does the same for the media on your phone, presenting what you have available locally or online, and making track suggestions on the basis of the song you're listening to or stuff it has discovered your friends like via their communications with you. Finally, there's face recognition, which automates photo tagging by recognizing your friends after the first time you tag them, and also allows you to call someone by simply tapping on their face when viewing a picture.
All this sounds very swish, and as you can glean from the video above, the prepackaged presentation was all strawberries, cream and smooth swiping, but we've already seen equally sharp and impressive videos leak online and what we really wanted to know was how the whole thing ran on a real device. Unfortunately, there was only a solitary X10 on show, and that bad boy had such an early build of the software that it really doesn't merit talking about. Calling the present interface "laggy" would be paying it an unearned compliment. We got the gist of what SE was trying to do here, but there's absolutely no way to evaluate whether the company has succeeded when usability was this low. With its Donut not even half baked, SE faces quite a challenge in trying to deliver its promised release in the first quarter of 2010, but there were a couple of fully cooked items that we can discuss.
Browsing and Google Maps
The two apps that were already optimized, Google Maps and the WebKit-based default Android browser, showed us a happy glimpse of what the X10 is capable of. The 3G connection was lightning fast, and webpages were rendered quickly and accurately, with a satisfyingly smooth scrolling action that reminded us of Motorola's DROID. Similarly, Google Maps was responsive and relatively snappy, and showed off a little of what the Snapdragon under the hood can do.
XPERIA X10 hardware
Another thing that Snapdragon can do, apparently, is eat through your phone's battery. Again, we are dealing with a pre-production model here, but the number of power issues and the near-permanent attachment to the charger of the one device on show did not bode well for this phone's endurance. It sports the same 1,500mAh battery as the X2, so make of that what you will. Input duties are handled by the standard Android on-screen keyboard, and the minimalist trio of hard buttons do their jobs with relatively little fuss. We say jobs because the Options and Back keys change functions according to the context of what you are doing. Further testing would be required to tell if that's a boon or a hindrance. Multitouch capabilities like image rotation and zooming, which we expect to see as standard on touchscreen-dominated devices, are important and inexcusable omissions here.
The handset itself is pretty much what you might expect of a high end device -- it's full of appealing curves and slopes, which do nothing for usability (a physical keyboard might've helped), but give it a clean, uncomplicated, and relatively durable look. In our limited time handling it, we found the X10 comfortable enough, though you could tell you were holding a 4-inch device rather than something more compact like the original X1. Touring the outside reveals a MicroUSB charger / connector port, 8.1 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, and an 8GB MicroSD card will be made part of the standard retail package.
Wrap-up
There's not much we haven't noted already. If Sony Ericsson delivers its halcyonic vision of an ultra-integrated device that intuits your intentions and makes a highly connected life easier, we'll all be up in arms and rejoicing. Alas, the state of play today reveals a handset that has a phobia toward the untethered life and a software platform that is plagued by lag and unresponsiveness. We give kudos to SE for stepping outside of its featurephone comfort zone, and eagerly await the final results of this unquestionably ambitious project.
NOO! Where's the physical keyboard??
It's a nice looking phone, but without a keyboard it makes my reserved Droid all the sweeter. ;)
I'm glad it has no keyboard, not everyone needs that excess size and mass.
That is not what she said.... Sadly
They'll ultimately be putting in their two-level depth-adjusting screen that will really make the 'on-screen' keyboard a real keyboard as long as it can give quickly when you touch each key. it'll be great.
You gotta love this crap. For this first time in god knows how long (if ever), verizon is delivering an actually good phone, with hardware that can compete with the current champs, etc. etc. and already AT&T (knowing where SE will end up) is making it (at least the hardware) obsolete three days before the damn thing launches. There's this, the acer liquid, and it seems like a whole brewing list of snapdragon/equivalent android phones rumored to release soon.
All this hype for the Droid has at least managed to hide the other news but it looks like it will be "the phone" for like a week, IF its not already out-paced before it even comes out. Its funny, it seems as if people talk about the droid being the fastest running, highest res, etc., all around best android phone as if it were out already; when, spec wise (which is what people have been tooting about), it will never even have that title since this comes out first. Its sad because if motorola had just thrown in an omap3640 or snapdragon, it could have been considered a next gen phone and at least remained competitive going into the new year, but now it will definitely be decently obsolete (possibly on all networks) with a month or two; seeing as it runs hardware that only competes/makes par with the iphone, pre, and so on which have been out for months now, meanwhile a whole round of really "new" phones are due out at the same time. It is really only surviving on the shit load of hype verizon managed to get it. If not for that, tons of more people (than those who have) would already have looked past it towards the other up and coming phones.
I apologize for this rant but I have been a loyal verizon customer for 7+ years (my entire cellphone history) and I'm sick and tired of verizon having the bottom dwellers' selection of phones while all the other networks get prime pick. And I can't even just shut up and move to the other networks since the service is such crap. The Droid is looking decent at best now. Let's be serious, the reviews were nothing spectacular and its clear there will be enough competition to make the olympics jealous in a matter of weeks.
Personally, I'm hoping the Passion can live up to what verizon really needs. HTC knows their shit, so there may be hope. I'll be waiting at least until black friday now to see what guns are brought to the table.
I think I said something about this coming out first (before the Droid) which I didn't mean. Rather, I meant that the Droid is holding these "pre-emptive" titles while other phones are already holding better "pre-emptive" titles. This might be an early 2010 release but the presence of "engadget hands-on" capable hardware means its officially in the running, not to mention the other various very similar phones slated for 09 launch. Overall, I'm just very cranky about the whole thing. We'll see if any of those 15 phones verizon is supposed to release can change that, because it seems like the Droid really is just a king of 2009, forgetting that it is coming out at a time for competing for the 2010 title.
Jedidove, you talk of pure nonsense. While the x10 may have a better processor than the droid, the droid still has a kick ass processor, amongst the best available today in any mobile phone in the US.
No, what's pathetic is all these other Android phones using the processor of yesteryear, the ARM11. Now that is a pile of crap but is still a very common processor in a lot of phones these days. As far as I know, every Android phone released so far has this processor, and it makes Android look bad because it's slow as hell.
The droid is the first Android phone to have a GOOD processor, and that's a huge deal. Sure, better phones will come along, but the droid has a lot going for it and it's going to be a huge success. The x10 sounds intriguing but it's at least 3-6 months away. I'm not willing to wait that long, and personally I'm not a huge fan of the interface Sony has built. It looks unique and interesting in a lot of ways, but I also really like the plain interfaace of vanilla Android. Not only that, but having this insane interface on top of Android will surely be a big drag on battery life. I'll take vanilla any day.
If you don't like the droid, don't get it - that's fine. It's not for everyone. However, I am very excited for it, and have mine reserved for November 6!
@RoroCo
Droid says hi.
Uhhh jedi.... dove
this thing has android 1.6
Droid has 2.0 with free google maps nav and a crap load of exchange/super contact integration
who knows how long it will take this skin to upgrade? HOW can you say it's gonna already trump the Droid when it comes out months AFTER with months EARLIER software???? Not weird?
"With-Google" phones may be boring, but they do work
it's not all hardware. remember the X1? that looked pretty on paper, and in the display box
Yep, although Rachael UI looks great....no keyboard...no sale.
4" display would be fantastic though.
doesn't seem to have hurt iphone sales.
I also want a 4" display with a physical keyboard. Is that really too much to ask?
My point is not about this phone in particular. Its about this class of new android phones, many of which are slated to come out much earlier than this one in particular. Sure the processor is "good" by the standard of technology from 6 months ago. And sure anything is good compared to the armv11 shit. But here's the point: its not enough for android just to "catch up" to the current technology, the next gen is starting to arrive this year, and that will just leave them a pace behind as usual (though notably not quite as far back as that arm11 crap). The problem is that the Droid is being created to compete (not beat) phones that are old news, meanwhile acer, htc, se, etc. are preparing to release a new round of phones. As for the SE UI, it is definitely an improvement at least in the media department, and hey if you don't like it or 1.6, that's the point of an open os, root it and just install whatever you want.
Trust me I like the droid but I can't bring myself to buy a phone when many sources are claiming better phones to drop within the next month and a half. For those that are still in the dark: http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/11/02/verizon-to-aim-for-the-smartphone-crown/ is just one example of such claims (for vzw that is). Honestly though I think people have become blinded by the droid, I was when I saw it too. Based on the reviews (including engadget's own) it seems like it is a "good" phone but not a whole lot more. Now granted on vzw that means a lot, but the droid is coming into the game very late now. Hell, I nearly reserved it the other day, but people keep talking big about thanksgiving time and honestly what is it to wait two weeks? Furthermore, its probably better to wait a good week or two to see the retail consumers opinions; phone releases are not without their share of faults.
Don't confuse me for some Droid hater. Believe me when I say I'm on your side. I'm just being very careful not to sit in some dream world that the Droid is absolutely positively going to be the best phone that releases this year, that its amazing, etc. I'm not accusing anyone of doing that, but I feel like its very easy to start to fall into the trap with all the hype. I've been sitting with a launch day voyager now for god knows how long, the screen is dead, and so on. The Droid comes out on my birthday, so don't think I'm not itching to just reserve it and lose myself in joy to it. I hope I'm dead wrong and the Droid ends up as some miracle phone, but I'm going to wait two weeks and see what news breaks. Then I'll buy whatever it is that seems best. And if its the Droid at that time, at least my 30day return will nearly overlap with the end of the year in case anything decides to pop up.
Rachel does what droid don't.
I gotta agree with the want for a physical keyboard. I was getting amped for this phone, but in the end, this hands on and the lack of the keyboard disappoint a bit. The Droid is looking pretty darn good right now!
However, can we stop using the canned "Droid says hi." comment already. The "[insert name] says hi" bit is so damn tired. It just screams that you cant formulate reasoning for what you like/don't like.
Jedidove, that's a fair enough response. Yeah, lots of new phones are coming out in the next couple of months, and if you have the patience, definitely wait and see what the best one is - not bad a strategy :)
However, I am sick of waiting for a good Android phone. A couple of people I know have the G1 and I have the Hero and so have a lot of experience with Android. I love it, but one thing is clear - the current phones suck because they're slow. Droid may be trumped in a month or two but I still think it will be perfectly acceptable for at least a year, so I can't wait to get it. Plus, it's the only device with Android 2.0 which looks awesome - that's a huge plus too. None of the other phones that are coming out any time soon (that are announced anyways) have Android 2.0, at least that I know of. The x10 is still 3-6 months away and even it is not going to come with Android 2.0! That's pretty lame, IMHO.
Anyways, like I said, if you have the patience, waiting to see what happens from now til Xmas is a good strategy. I just don't have the patience anymore though :)
A respectable stance, no doubt. If Thanksgiving comes around and things just flop, you can bet that I'll eat my words and be walking around with a Droid for the next year too! However it pans out, I just want to see verizon on top in the choice department.
First time to see Sony-ericcson all "balls-deep" on a new smartphone in particular an android phone? We agree, that Xperia has a bitter history on older models. Hopefully, this X10 release will turned out to be a happy-ending. But still, this phone has a far way to go on competing the iPhone kind or the Killer-Droid.
Who needs keyboard with big-4incher LCD screen like that? One must realize that the targeted users of this phone are not for geeks and techno enthusiast, base from the video it seems it has an inclination to be used for snazzy/saucy persons. For sure, this phone don't have an X-factor but speaking of glamour and luster this gadget is very "appealing"
detailed preview + official vid from Head of Xperia X10: http://bit.ly/xperia-x10-best-or-worst-android-phone
Kudus, to the "classy" promotional vid
I just laugh at the people who demand a physical keyboard with a 4" screen. Do you realize how humongous of a machine that would be? It would almost be like carrying an internet tablet around in your pocket. There are tradeoffs to everything and you can't have it all. Want it to be thin and sleek? Then you can't have a physical keyboard! Want it to be thin AND have a physical keyboard? Then you end up with a totally flat, awkward keyboard like on the droid that no reviewer has given a positive review. You can cram as many features as you want in a phone, but at the end of the day, it's still a phone and it still needs to fit comfortably in your pocket.
Physical keyboards on smartphones are on their way out. Some smartphones will always have them, but those users will certainly be in the minority in a couple of years. I hope RIM always keeps a line of smartphones with physical keyboards. It's sort of their trademark and will provide users with a choice.
I'm glad the XPERIA X10 doesn't have a physical keyboard. The screen is large enough for a good virtual keyboard and keeps the overall bulk and complexity to a minimum.
I agree. I would never buy a smar-phone without a physical keyboard. I can type twice as fast on my G1 as my boss can on his iPhone's screen-based keyboard.
Who needs keyboard with big-4incher LCD screen like that? One must realize that the targeted users of this phone are not for geeks and techno enthusiast, base from the video it seems it has an inclination to be used for snazzy/saucy persons. For sure, this phone don't have an X-factor but speaking of glamour and luster this gadget is very "appealing"
detailed preview + official vid from Head of Xperia X10: http://bit.ly/xperia-x10-best-or-worst-android-phone
Kudus, to the "classy" promotional vid
What is wrong with you people?
@ Jedidove
Haven't you ever heard of buying a phone "unlocked"? If you're going to complain about Verizon's phone offerings so much why not take their poor choices of phones out of the equation? Go online buy a phone that isn't chained to a carrier, you'll find that it is more expensive but you're going to have so many more options available on the phone. Verizon purposely hamstrings their phones, keeping you from doing simple things like adding a tone from your computer because they want you to buy it through their lame over priced system. That's why they wouldn't work with the apple on their phone.
Do yourself a favor spend the extra money to buy a phone unlocked, you'll thank me. The features they have will make you wonder why you'd bother with the carrier's phones in the first place.
Hey there gorgeous!
Nice, but UI always looks so much better on Pre-Production models
It's hilarious how on EVERY SINGLE company model, EVERY contact has a beautiful, crystal clear headshot photo
With a white background
Like people just exchange digital headshots for their cell phone contact lists
Welcome back to my heart, Sony Ericsson. It's been so long, and I was worried you weren't coming to the party for a while there. But that's all behind us now, and I can have you just the way I want you: amazing looks, amazing features, glorious camera, and an open OS. THANK YOU SE
I just yelled at the 'slide to unlock' bar on my iPhone for not being as well designed as the X10. It just sat there...
I think ale is actually onto something there. I get my contact pics off Facebook, but that doesn't work for everyone.
No one has yet addressed a fundamental issue - it still takes a while to read (and remember, for some people) your number to other people and for them to type your first and last name into the address book. With smartphones finally taking over, someone needs to design a quick, wireless standard of sending digital business cards between cell phones, complete with profile pic, number, name and whatever details you want to put on it. No fiddling, no errors.
I didn't even think of that....
but I like it. It's like a corporate version of facebook even though facebook is turning a little corporate (linked in kinda sucks)
that automatically syncs with mobile contact lists
and encourages users to provide a photo of them...
I'll get right on it
@ Ypoknons
you mean like a Vcard for example...?
Finally a SE phone that actually looks nice.
This one will be OVER 599 US DOLLARS!
So is almost every other high-end smartphone available. What's your point?
THE iPHONE IS $800!!!!
Not that that's not A LOT of money... just sayin'.
and it'll deserve every penny, but i need to see it fully developed... call me when they have the final build.
Yes all the other smart phones are $599 too but they always have a subsidized option available with a carrier or two. SE has yet to have a subsidized smart phone in the US and thats why it sucks that this phone will cost $599. Im not broke but I will not spend $599 on a phone. Sorry. Please dont let me down again SE.
I will gladly pay that amount for this phone as long as they iron out all the kinks with the laggy apps. I have confidence they will.
@NoelSM
It won't be SE letting you down, it will be the carrier. They decide if the product can launch with them months before real develpment on the project has even begun. The US mobile phone system sucks. Contracts are NOT the best way for consumers.
Obviously we've all forgotten E3 2006.
Snapdragon eats through battery? DUH? Slow interface? Even with Snapdragon? Impossible!
Why do you think they underclocked the Passion to 728mhz?
People should stop being so obsessed about clock speeds and worry about other more important areas of the processor.
It's true. This UI is un-usably laggy, END OF STORY.
Too ambitious when it comes to the eye candy. Not that this processor is NECESSARILY incapable of slick 3d animations. Sony seems to have a janky implementation here more than a poor choice in processor.
@Crawdad
Did you NOT read AND hear them say this is not the final build? Or was you just off into space?
Its not final. Most of that stuff looks like its being downloaded from 3g every time, which is dumb. They'll have old messages cached so pics and contact info load up right away.
htc pulled it off with Leo, i say lets wait for the final build, until then hold all judgments. i think the UI is design that way, its not lagging... some things required long taps, u can see that in the video.
android is laggy on any phone
@ Alex,
My preordered Droid is NOT AMUSED!!!
Finally... the wait is over. I hate anticipation >.< Only two phones I want, this and the HD2. Now it's down to performance in general between the two as I don't really have a preference for either WM or Android at this point.
ugly teal splash screen. very windows 95-esque