We've seen it out and about, but at last we got a chance to actually play with Sony Ericsson's tribute to impractical style: the
Pureness. As it turns out, using the device is just about as pointless as it seems. You can always
just barely make out what's happening on the semi-translucent monochrome screen, and we found ourselves constantly shifting our angle and backdrop to improve readability. The capabilities of the phone should come as no surprise to anyone who's used a Sony Ericsson Java-happy dumbphone in the past, and the handset also has that wild variety of face buttons that are typical on a SE handset. Up top, with the d-pad flush on the face, things start to get crowded, but overall the phone is pretty usable tactile-wise. The meaty numeric pad should be a boon to a T9 afficianado, and we even managed to play a game of Pacman on the handset. Overall the materials used are nice and XPERIA-ey, but the most overt luxury item here is the block of glass that serves as the screen. In the US the phone will be sold unlocked at the Saks online store -- obviously courting the fashion-conscious consumer it's built for -- but there's still no word on a US pricetag. Check out some video after the break.
posted November 20th 2009 9:52AM
What is this crap? Bring back the old site
@9600baud Seriously? I like change.
Cool, I like how trolls disappear now. Fading to grey was kind of lame.
Sure it's cool but kinda uselelss if you can hardly see or do anything with it. Im sure 99% of the people would want a fast android phone instead which would probarbly be cheaper as well.
@MoonWalkerCTE I'm with you. It feels so gimmicky to me.
@MoonWalkerCTE
Sony already went on saying this phone isn't meant for the general populous more for the fashion centric that have money to blow.
I agree, and it's also what I think at new Windows Aero GUIs. Cool transparency effect, but distracting and annoying after some use. It makes it harder to see the precise limits of windows and focus on what you're doing. Imagine the pile of papers on your desk were all transparent.
I can see threw my phons screen....
What can you do?
This new website look is too busy, my eyes hurt.
@OneLove Also, embedded Viddler files, still aren't compatible with Adblock Plus. So ridiculous...
@revolution
Umm... are you sure about that ? cause i just blocked viddler via adblock plus...
@OneLove
And it seems to be doing stupid things on my mobile phone! Grrr
I have to agree.. and it cuts off part of the last line of comments, the search box, and a couple of other things. the redesign is a step in the right direction, but yeah, a little too busy.
@%UsernameHTML%
honestly i thought i was the only one that didnt really care for the new look :-/ i know i dont like change but there is alot going on now. i wish we had a choice to make it look the old way
@%UsernameHTML% LOL. Engadget must have had a lot of headaches with all of us whining.
I just don't like the san serif font, that's all, engadget. This is such easy thing to fix, what's holding you?
I don't think the site is quite a step backwards, but I do agree that the previous design was cleaner.
The biggest improvement IMO is the fact that I don't need to log in constantly to comment. But I find the fact that the new comment system automatically hides replies is pretty annoying. I think the comment fonts should be larger because they are a little too small.
Lastly, I really hate the serif'ified font that they use for the posts. I mean really, it looks like Times New Roman and serifs aren't very easy on the eyes IMO.
@%UsernameHTML% It also totally screwed up i.engadget.com. Grrr
@Michael Jacob lol I meant the serif font.
@OneLove Maybe a contributing factor is too much Marijuana
I personally can't stand having to click to see replies
And I liked seeing really low ranked comments
I'm all for change, but the old site had a great simplicity
@OneLove
personally, i would've kept the old look and just added the new functionality.
SonyEcricsson have been in the shitter lately, losing money etc, so why are they designing new phones with barely visible screens?
Imagine trying to text and drive with that thing, at least you would be able to see in front of you.
I dunno guys, I was at that Pepcom event last night as well... My impression of this device was very different from yours. You're looking at it from the wrong perspective, IMO.
A smartphone user or someone who wants a slick display for games and media is better suited to the X10 demoing right next to it, which you can actually hear the rep talking about in the background of this (or the Aino).
You didn't show how the display works as a PHONE. I found the display very compelling when dialing or checking the time. Not really for gadget nerds like us, tho.
Wow what a completely shit phone :) I mean if your in the market to pay for Sony Ericssons Losses then go on up and get yo self one of these suka phones
PLESHHHHHHHHHHHHH
@%UsernameHTML%
The phone was mean to be a "fashion phone". And the price tag will justify that statement. I've heard that it'll be upwards of $700 - 800.
This is the same as an unwareable 6000$ dress. Pure fashion.
I will never think of buying it but I'd love talking with a model wearing it.
The simple fact that the term 'Fashion Phone' exists is a direct and brutal condemnation of our society as a whole. I mean seriously...
Hello Engadget!
HD2 review?
2 weeks ago it was promised "in short hand".
yeah. right.
@hq Seriously, I'm sick of waiting for this. They keep doing these hands-on's and whatnot for these garbage phones but the one EVERYBODY is waiting for is taking forever. If I see one more Xperia X10 Article before this HD2 review, I will flip. :P
Pacman FTW!
is not as expensive as i thought $299
Also the new site design is awesome (on ff 3.5.5). Much better than the puke tastic mess we had before. Although would be nice if the entire article didnt reload when navigating comment pages...
I'm sorry but this is a horrible piece of equipment. wors looking phone in many years
Religions that do not permit pre-marital sex should promote this phone. It'll make sure no guy gets laid until he throws this in the garbage.
No offense to any religion!
Sad thing is that there are Executives and R&D people at SE wondering why their numbers are in the toilet and they are closing locations. Non subsidized smart phones and BS like this. Who hires these people?
this is the ugliest thing i have ever seen before.
what's sony ericsson thinkin?????
Outside of promoting self-prestige and snobbery, this product can eventually promote technologies which relies on augmented reality technology. Imagine the day (many many years from now) when a car comes standard with a windshield with GPS augmented reality. Let's hope that this windshield does not increase incidence of motor vehicle mortality and replacement does not cost a fortune (which it will for a while).
the phone itself may not be as useful, given the kind of position adjustments that were required to make sense of whats on the screen but I am sure, it will pave way for whole lot of other technological possibilities.
Imagine a day when you look out of your home window and the normally crystal clear window pane, pulls up the data about the weather outside. Like someone commented above, the possibilities of Augment Reality, GPS and other data integrated into your Car's wind shield.
Sony Executives and R&D team sure has put a lot of thought into this product. They also know that there are phones out there which offer so much more. Consider this to be teaser may be, from SONY.
Ok so let me get this right ...
Here we got SE a company with big lay offs and not so great sales of their latest handsets around the globe..
Am just saying NOT SO GREAT ... ok ?
And here they are spending god knows what amount on R&D to get this Douche of a Handset out into the world ..
And this is suppose to sell bucket loads ?
Am not buyin it .. (no pun intended)
I like the idea. And that's all.
At least this is much more original than what we are used to see from SE :)