While we all continue to twiddle our thumbs in anticipation of the
X10's general availability, Dutch site
Tweakers took some time out with Sony Ericsson's
Jacob Sten Harold de Kort to get a few pressing questions from the community answered. It's quite a test -- de Kort fielded over 80 questions in all -- and there were a few big takeaways that should be of interest to anyone who's got even glancing interest in putting this thing in their pocket in the next few months. First off, it's still scheduled to launch with Android 1.6 Donut, but his words along with a post over on SE's official Product Blog give us hope that we'll be seeing 2.0, 2.1, or something even fresher down the road (to quote the post's headline, the phone "will be upgradeable"). 1.6 doesn't support multitouch in the framework, and indeed, de Kort confirms that the X10 will be a unitouch device, though it's not clear whether that could change with a newer firmware or if there's a hardware issue involved. As for pricing, we can expect this to launch for €599 (about $817) -- in Holland, anyhow, where it's on track to hit shelves before the end of the quarter. The subsidized pricing should hopefully be a tad less heart-stopping.
[Thanks, Len B. and Moody]
Update: The questions were actually fielded by Harold de Kort, marketing manager for Sony Ericsson in the Netherlands, not Jacob Sten. Thanks, domipost!
posted February 6th 2010 7:11AM
for majority of the people out there the android version doesn't matter. that must be the target audience for SE. They would just buy the phone for its lust.
The phone is not nearly as smooth as you would expect it to be. I know Timescape and mediascape might be a heavy app but....
check out this video of a x 10 in action
http://mobilesyrup.com/2010/01/27/rogers-sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-video-demo/
android 1.6, no multitouch.. doesn't seem so compelling
@ongadget
That's old news. Everyone knows they have to fix this or else the phone is useless and it's probably the main reason why the phone is taking so long to come out.
I do agree with you though that they don't care that it's not 2.0. They're going more for the "look" and "user experience" and feel they market it to people who fell in love with the iphone strictly because of looks. If SE doesn't improve this.. buying this phone will strictly be for form over function... to some extent. I enjoy SE's media capabilities, and the 4 inch screen is wonderful, but it does need more.
All they need is 2.0, 720p recording... and ps3 functionality (remote streaming?)
c'mon SE, release it with android 2.0 or better. NO ONE and i mean NO ONE wants to pay almost a $1000 for ANY DEVICE with last years OS.
and if i do, i want something EXTRA!
Just don't buy this phone or any phone with less then the current build of Android. I am getting sick of Samsung, Sony and others putting 1.5 and 1.6 on phones and selling them for $500 plus. Telling us Android 2.x will be coming at some magical date in the future that keeps getting pushed back. It's a free open source OS. Every new Android device should have the current build. No exceptions!
This is the best phone on the market, no contest IMO
except for this ROM 1.6 business.
Saying it is upgradeable or that 2.1 is coming is, erm, of no worth at all.
Xmas 2050 is coming too.
I had a good idea: release the phone, then worry about the OS!
This phone is badass. http://www.x10android.com