Shootouts

Getting the Right Touch - A Touch Screen Phone Feature

By Seow Tein Hee - 3 May 2009

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 - Xtra Goodies Together

Sony Ericsson has entered a brave new world with the introduction of its first Windows Mobile device, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1.

So how does the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 fit into the equation? When Sony Ericsson introduced its first Windows Mobile device, there were words of skepticism of its capabilities. Will they be able to pull it off? How will the touch screen model fare with the use of Microsoft's latest Windows Mobile 6.1 OS? We got these questions and more answered in our earlier review but for the sake of reminiscing, let's have a quick summary of the device's main points to assess.


User Interface

Sony Ericsson definitely hit a gold mine on the user interface. The phone's Xperia Panel came about to redefine how one views a mobile device's user interface. Ditching the dreary stock interface from Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS, the Xperia Panel gives users a variety of user interfaces to choose from. Ranging from the business-centric panel that reveals your calendar, to the entertainment focused Media Xperience Panel.


Multimedia

Once again, the Xperial Panel brings out the best in the Xperia X1, this time with its multimedia delivery. Sporting the familiar interface that's common amongst all Sony Ericsson and Sony products, the Media Xperience Panel can be said to be on par with the Apple's CoverFlow interface on the iPhone 3G. Going for the full multimedia experience, the Xperia X1 definitely had all the bases covered with audio, video and even still image presentation within this multimedia interface.

A 3.5mm audio jack. This was a feature that used to be elusive on Windows Mobile devices. And that's where the Xperia X1 capitalized on, by bringing a full-fledged mobile entertainment device to the masses. Add this with an adequately-sized 3-inch screen for movie playback, and the Xperia X1 fulfills the needs of even the most ardent multimedia junkie on the move.


Productivity

What one might get out of the Xperia X1 experience is the work-play balance that's very much in need by many. We did highlight the entertainment value of the Xperia X1, but there's more to it than meets the eye. For you see, like the HTC Dream, the X1 also comes with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. See where we're heading with this? The thing with the Xperia X1's keyboard, is the ease of usage that comes with it. Email, text messaging and even documentation editing, you name it and the Xperia X1 does handles it with grace. Speaking of which, since the Xperia X1 is based on the Windows Mobile platform, you will get the full suite of editing tools from the Microsoft Office Mobile applications such as Word Mobile, Excel Mobile and the usual works. While slide-out keyboard is a boon for this, take note that the keys are a bit stiff and would require more effort on your part - the only major downside of the productivity side of things.


Connectivity

Like we've said, it's a fair assessment to say that high-end devices have been designed to go with the technological trends. With the advent of HSDPA data networks in the region, most devices (case in point: the Xperia X1) are now 3.5G enabled on top of its existing Wi-Fi capabilities. Throw in GPS connectivity for on-the-road navigation, and you get the full experience with the Xperia X1. Getting connected onto the internet is one thing, but the surfing experience is another. While the 3-inch screen is great to display web pages, one should be aware that the web browser is still the most important factor to consider.


Performance

Windows Mobile devices have either been a hit or a miss. This is mostly dependant on a few mitigating factors, such as the hardware limitations of the device. The Xperia X1 packs quite a punch with its 528MHz Qualcomm processor, and couple it with a 512MB ROM and 256MB RAM, and it seems like the device is quite juiced up. However, our earlier tests have shown otherwise, as we did experience a slight lag in performance and application handling. Invoking the term, "Jack of all trades, but master of none", the Xperia X1 does fulfill that term.

While it doesn't offer as smooth an experience as other devices running on an alternate OS, all bets are off when it comes to battery life. Its 1500mAh battery is what makes the device ticking and going for your audio and video needs over an extended period of time. This was ascertained further with our battery tests and also a mileage of almost two days in our daily usage.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 Ratings
User interface:
Multimedia:
 Productivity
Connectivity:
Performance:

 

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