The X1 becomes a cover story.
(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)Since I can read United Airline's in-flight magazine only so many times on a 10-hour flight between San Francisco and Frankfurt, Germany, I took a few minutes to leaf through the ubiquitous Skymall catalog as well.
Normally, for every one thing I would consider buying in Skymall, I find 20 completely useless things (seriously...who really wants to make a bulletin board out of wine corks?). But this issue of the catalog had the fancy Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 on its cover.
As you may recall, the touch-screen smartphone debuted at the 2008 GSMA World Congress. And even as the Idou grabbed most of the headlines in Barcelona this year, the X1 continued to be a top draw at Sony Ericsson's booth.
As my colleague Bonnie Cha said in her Xperia X1 review, the handset offers a full range of features and a unique panel-based interface. Yet because no U.S. carrier offers the X1, it's not readily available stateside. An appearance in Skymall might just help make the ordering process easier, but the first-class price of $799 for the unlocked model remains. No, we don't think it's worth it either.
More panels for the Xperia X1.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)A year after it launched its Xperia X1, Sony Ericsson used the 2009 GSMA World Congress here in Barcelona to launch launch new panels for the high-end smartphone. All panels will be available for download from Sony Ericsson in mid-March.
The Skype panel will offer quick access to the calling service. You'll be able to tell which of your friends are online, browse contacts, and call and instant message your friends. The evening, daylight, and event-based effects will let you customize your handset at will.
The CNN panel will constantly update with the latest news, sports, and weather, all of which can be tailored to your location. You'll also be able to access CNN's "i-Report" citizen journalism tool.
If you're ready for gaming, you can use the Mytopia panel to play bingo and poker with other users around the world and collect virtual coins.
Finally, the On the Road panel brings drivers' call-handling features and quick access to music and navigation tools. The interface will feature large icons and a simple design.
Nokia N97
(Credit: Nokia)Twenty-four hours after teasing us with news of a major product announcement, Nokia officially took the wraps off its mystery smartphone on Tuesday at the Nokia World 2008 conference in Barcelona, Spain. And despite some close guesses, no one got it quite right, so without further ado, let us introduce you to the Nokia N97.
Part of the company's high-end N series of multimedia computers, the N97 trumps all previous models with a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard and a tilting 3.5-inch touch screen (anyone else reminded of the AT&T Tilt or Sony Ericsson Xperia X1?). Yes, there's the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet, but the N97 includes phone capabilities and is designed for the "needs of Internet-savvy consumers."
For example, the smartphone provides easy access to a number of social-networking sites, and the Web browser supports streaming Flash videos. The N97 also introduces something Nokia calls "social location," which uses the capabilities of the integrated A-GPS sensors and electronic compass to automatically update users' social networks, or let them share their location via photos or videos with friends.
The Home screen can be personalized with widgets of favorite Web and social-networking sites. Finally, the N97 is fully compatible with Nokia's Ovi Internet services, which include the Nokia Music Store, Nokia Maps, and the N-Gage gaming platform--though these services have yet to fully launch in the United States.
The Symbian-based smartphone also features a music and video player, a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, and a whopping 32GB of onboard memory that can be expanded with a 16GB microSD card.
The quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) world phone is HSDPA-capable handset, but it currently supports only the 900/1900/2100MHz bands (AT&T's 3G network runs on 850/1900MHz, while T-Mobile runs on 1700/2100MHz). There is integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, however.
... Read moreOn Sale Now: $540.57 - $599.99
View the latest prices for Nokia N97 - silver (unlocked)
Sony Ericsson Xperia X1
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)You're hearing it here first, folks: The long-awaited Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 will be available in the United States on November 28 for an unlocked price of $799.99 through Sony Style stores. Go ahead, we'll give you a second to catch your breath from the sticker shock.
Yes, these are the official details as given to us by Sony Ericsson on Tuesday. The highly anticipated Windows Mobile smartphone, which was first announced at GSMA 2008 in February, won't be coming to a U.S. carrier for now, but it will be available for preorder starting November 13 through the Sony Style Web site and will be available in Sony Style stores and at Sony authorized retailers on November 28.
I know many of you are probably disappointed by the lack of carrier backing and the expense alone might be enough to stop you in your tracks, but price aside, what does the Xperia X1 offer and how does it perform? Could it possibly be worth the $800? After all, it was quite the showstopper at GSMA with its sleek design, innovative panel interface, and long laundry list of features.
Well, we've actually had the smartphone for a couple of weeks now and have a few thoughts about it. So before you start saving your pennies or start looking for an alternative, read our full review of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 for all the details and check out our hands-on photo gallery.
(Credit:
Sony Ericsson )
Why? Why must you tease, Sony Ericsson? On Wednesday, the cell phone manufacturer announced an official launch date for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1, but only for certain markets. Naturally, North America is not one of the lucky ones. No, only the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden will be able to get their hands on the hot Xperia X1 come September 30, while the rest of us admire from afar and continue to wait it out.
Sony Ericsson did say that the Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone will make its way to other markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America throughout Q4. You can check out a full list of countries on Sony Ericsson's press site. As for North America, China, and Russia, well, all the company could reveal was that the launch dates will be announced by local markets in the "coming months." Lovely; how vague. I suppose the one bright side is that we know the product is in final form and ready to ship. I know, little consolation but it's something, right?
As part of CTIA Fall 2008, Sony Ericsson also hosted a breakfast/panel discussion Wednesday morning here in San Francisco to discuss the SDK for the Xperia X1, as well as try to explain how the X1 will rise above the competition. Check back soon and I'll have more details about what was discussed at the session.
It's not exactly the announcement we were looking for, but we'll take it as a sign that the launch of the highly anticipated Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 is that much closer. On Wednesday, Sony Ericsson released its Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows Mobile 6.1 that will allow developers to create Web and native panels for the Xperia X1 smartphone.
Sony Ericsson's SDK will let developers create Web and native panels for the Xperia X1.
(Credit: Sony Ericsson)If you'll remember, the Xperia X1, which was first introduced in February at GSMA, features a interactive panel interface that allows user to customize their Today screen. Given that capability, the SDK is an opportunity for content makers to develop such panels for various apps, such as videos, e-mail, games, and music.
The SDK is available as a free download from Sony Ericsson's developer site, and the kit includes such things as Microsoft Visual Studio templates, developer guidelines, sample code, and an Xperia X1 emulator. In addition, developers can submit their applications and panels for the Sony Ericsson Content Awards, where there will be a category dedicated to the Xperia X1. When ready, Sony Ericsson will offer a download service that will showcase all the available panels from partners and developers, and allow you to download them directly to the smartphone.
To learn more, check out this video by Sony Ericsson's Ramanath Bhat, who is in charge of application and product planning for the Xperia X1.
By default, all Windows Mobile PDA/phones come with Internet Explorer Mobile. Of late, some manufacturers have worked with Norway-based company Opera to bundle its Opera Mobile 9.5 with their handhelds. Some examples are the HTC Touch Diamond and Samsung Omnia, and now we can add another to that list--the upcoming Sony Ericsson Xperia X1.
(Credit:
Crave Asia)
Opera Mobile 9.5 is currently in public beta, so anyone with a Windows Mobile PDA/phone can install a copy onto their device. But the versions that come pre-installed with devices aren't in beta. They have in fact been tested by the hardware manufacturer for compatibility--important if the handheld in question has unique specifications. That's good news because the X1 has a resolution of 800x480, which isn't exactly common for this class of devices.
We tried out the X1 briefly with the browser and the higher screen resolution is quite a boon for Web surfing. It does make text incredibly small though, which is why the easy zoom-in feature on Opera Mobile 9.5 is so important. According to Sony Ericsson, the X1 is still on track for an "early Q4" launch. Let's hope nothing disrupts that plan.
(Via Crave Asia)
Samsung Omnia
(Credit: Samsung)iPhone, schmiPhone. Now wait, don't go calling me an iPhone hater because I'm not. I'm just saying that there are a lot of other hot smartphones out there that deserve as much attention as Apple's starlet, and I've rounded up five of the hottest models.
Whether you're into the BlackBerry Bold or the Samsung Omnia, this group represents some of the most popular and highly anticipated smartphones this year.
I get a lot of reader e-mail wondering about their availability date, pricing, and so on, so I thought I'd try to kill five birds with one stone and answer your questions in one place. Unfortunately, I don't have as much information as you might want. The manufacturers aren't saying much other than what's already out there, but here's what I do know and I've provided my educated guess on when or if we might see these hot numbers here in the States. It's all here at Down the line: Smartphones.
CORRECTION July 9 at 10:48 a.m. PDT: This article misstated the BlackBerry Bold's display type. It does not have a touch screen. The story has been updated to reflect this change.
Apple's iPhone 3G hits store shelves on Friday, but if you haven't been struck with iPhone fever, don't fret. There are plenty of alternatives that offer similar style and features. And they may even be easier on your wallet in the long run.
To some Apple fans, phones such as the Samsung Instinct or the HTC Diamond are simply iPhone wannabes. But to others they are cool phones in their own right with unique features and capabilities. Below I've compiled a cheat-sheet that highlights key features and points out short-comings of seven possible iPhone alternatives. I've also thrown in pricing information, not only for the phone, but also for the service plans that go with them.
But before I dive deeply into these iPhone alternatives, let's take a look at what the new iPhone 3G offers and what it's still missing.
The biggest change to the iPhone in the new version is speed. As the name implies, the iPhone 3G will operate over AT&T's HSDPA 3G network. Today, that network can theoretically deliver download speeds of about 3.6Mbps. But in the real world, speeds are closer to 400Kbps to 700Kbps. Recently, AT&T's wireless chief said the network is being upgraded and will soon offer theoretical download speeds of 20Mbps and actual download speeds of between 4Mbps and 6.6Mbps.
Apple also added GPS to the iPhone 3G, allowing the device to take advantage of location-based applications and services. The company also opened up the device to third-party developers and will soon launch an Apps Store for new iPhone applications. The new iPhone will also support Microsoft Exchange server, which means subscribers will be able to get their work e-mail on the iPhone 3G. And finally the company has greatly improved the battery life of the device stating that it should get a solid five hours of 3G talk time.
But there are also plenty of features that Apple left out of the iPhone 3G, including support for multimedia messaging or MMS. This means users can't send or receive pictures taken on cell phones via the MMS messaging platform. The device also lacks video recording and voice command. And it only supports Bluetooth for headset voice calls, which means it won't allow Bluetooth file transfers to and from the iPhone.
These missing features could help give some phone manufacturers an edge with consumers looking for the perfect multimedia smartphone. But features aren't the only thing that consumers consider when buying a new phone. They also consider price. And even though AT&T is selling the 8GB model for the subsidized price of $200, the carrier still charges more than any other mobile phone operator for its bundle of services, making the iPhone 3G one of the most expensive to own phones on the market. For 450 minutes of talk time a month, unlimited data, which includes Web surfing and email, and text messaging, AT&T charges about $90 a month. Add unlimited voice and the price shoots up to $150.
Below is a list of seven alternatives to the iPhone 3G. Most of these phones have a touch-screen. All are 3G capable. All offer MMS messaging, which the iPhone doesn't offer. And all come with a full HTML browser. Some offer Wi-Fi, which even the original iPhone offers, and some have embedded GPS just like the iPhone 3G.
LG Voyager - $199
LG Voyager
Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Carrier service plan pricing: Verizon's premium smartphone service with all you-can-eat data and messaging starts at $79.99 per month for 450 minutes a month of talk time. Add unlimited voice, and the price is $139 per month.
What makes it cool? The LG Voyager, which has been on the market for nearly a year, supports Verizon's VCast Video service, which offers a slew of TV channels, including CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, and NBC 2Go. It also offers VCast Music, which allows users to purchase music directly over the cell phone network. By contrast, the iPhone plays movies and TV shows purchased from its iTunes media store and doesn't allow for over-the-air music downloads. The Voyager also flips up to expose a full QWERTY keypad.
What are its shortcomings? The phone doesn't offer Wi-Fi, which means it can't access the Internet when not in cell phone range. The lack of Wi-Fi also means that users can't Web surf at super fast speeds when in a Wi-Fi hotspot. And lastly, it's not integrated with Microsoft Outlook, which means subscribers can't access work email. They can only get Web email.
LG Dare - $250
LG Dare
Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Carrier service plan pricing: Verizon's premium smartphone service with all you-can-eat data and messaging starts at $79.99 per month for 450 minutes a month of talk time. Add unlimited voice, and the price is $139 per month.
What makes it cool? The LG Dare has a touch screen that allows icons to be dragged and dropped so that it can be customized for shortcuts on the home screen. It offers a sketch pad that allows users to draw pictures that can be sent via MMS to friends. It also has a 3.2 megapixel camera with face detection, panorama photo stitching, and SmartPic technology designed for taking photos in low light. It offers an embedded camcorder. And like the Voyager, it can be used with Verizon's VCast Music and Video services.
What are its shortcomings? The Web browser and media player is not as good as the iPhone, according to CNET Reviews editor Nicole Lee. There's no Wi-Fi. And also no integration with Microsoft Outlook to access work email.
Samsung Instinct - $129.00
Samsung Instinct
Carrier: Sprint Nextel
Carrier service plan pricing: Sprint's "Simply Everything" plan with 450 minutes of talk-time and unlimited messaging, data services that include email and Web surfing costs $69.99 per month. Add unlimited voice, and the service costs $99 a month.
What makes it cool? This is the "first cell phone we've seen that throws some direct competition Apple's way," CNET editor Kent German wrote in his review of this phone, which just hit the market last month. Physically, the Instinct looks a lot like the iPhone. It also has integrated GPS and works with Microsoft Outlook to allow people to get work email on the phone. But it also offers some unique features. Unlike the iPhone 3G, the Instinct offers Sprint's mobile TV service and has a built-in camcorder.
What are its shortcomings? The screen lacks multi-touch functionality. This means you can't pinch a page and blow it up like you can on the iPhone. It also offers much less memory than the iPhone. It doesn't support Wi-Fi or instant messaging. And German said he wasn't impressed with the email interface. And its call quality wasn't up to snuff to boot.
LG Vu -- $299
LG Vu
Carrier: AT&T
Carrier Plan pricing: Subscribers can get 450 minutes of talk time, unlimited mobile Web, texting, and live broadcast TV for $105 per month. Add unlimited voice, and the service is $165 per month.
What makes it cool? The coolest thing about the LG Vu is that it offers live broadcast TV. AT&T uses the MediaFlo network to deliver the service, which is operating in more than 55 markets in the U.S.
What are its shortcomings? The device lacks GPS and doesn't support Wi-Fi. The MediaFlo TV service isn't available everywhere yet. And the monthly charge for the live TV service along with the data and messaging service charges, makes this an expensive phone to own.
BlackBerry Bold: $300 (estimated price)
BlackBerry Bold
Carrier: AT&T (expected later this summer.)
Carrier plan pricing: This phone hasn't officially launched on AT&T's network. But judging from AT&T's current BlackBerry service plans, subscribers can expect to pay $90 a month for 450 minutes of talk time, unlimited data and unlimited texting. With unlimited voice, that price jumps to $150 a month.
What makes it cool? This device doesn't have a touch screen. Instead, it sports a full QWERTY keypad. But it does have Wi-Fi, and it features an improved Web browser that allows the option of viewing pages in a full desktop HTML style or a mobile version. The phone also comes with an embedded camcorder and GPS for location-based services. Research in Motion is also working on something called the Blackberry Media Sync, which will allow BlackBerry devices to sync with Apple iTunes, so that BlackBerry users can listen to music from their iTunes library.
What are its shortcomings? The BlackBerry Bold doesn't have a touch screen. And it's not available yet. It is expected to hit AT&T stores later this summer and will likely be added to the other carriers' line-ups later in the year.
RIM is also rumored to be readying a new phone called the BlackBerry Thunder that will be the company's first touch screen device. The phone hasn't been announced yet, so this is all rumor. But it's expected to be released on Verizon Wireless and Vodafone networks in the third quarter of 2008, according to the blog The Boy Genius Report. It will likely be launched on other networks after that.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 -pricing not yet available
Sony Ericsson Experia X1
Carrier: This phone will be released mid-September. And a U.S. carrier hasn't been announced yet.
Carrier service plan pricing: Not available.
What makes it cool? This is the first Sony Ericsson phone to use Windows Mobile from Microsoft. It also has a very cool arc slider design. The phone has a touch screen on top and a full QWERTY keypad underneath. It has Wi-Fi and comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera, assisted-GPS, a multimedia player, 400MB of internal memory, and a microSD expansion slot.
What are its shortcomings?
It won't be available until mid-September and even then it could take a while before any U.S. operators pick it up.Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 CNET Review
HTC Diamond --$700 for an unlocked phone without a subsidy
HTC Touch Diamond
U.S. Carrier:Not announced yet.
Carrier service plan pricing: Not available.
What makes it cool? The HTC Touch Diamond has a cool 3D interface and what CNET reviewer Bonnie Cha calls, "a beautiful touch screen." It uses Windows Mobile 6.1 and offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. It also offers voice recognition for dialing and a pre-loaded YouTube application for viewing videos.
What are its shortcomings? The Touch Diamond won't be available in the U.S. for months. And the current version isn't optimized for the U.S. market. Cha also described it as sluggish and said the call quality is subpar." There's also no expansion slot for more memory.
(Credit:
Engadget Mobile)
Let the Xperia hysteria begin. Thanks to loose-lipped mobile content provider Handango, we may now know the general launch date of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. According to a newsletter Handango sent out to its partners, the highly anticipated Windows Mobile smartphone will launch in "mid-September 2008" with the Handango InHand service onboard. The company also noted that if partners want their software to be considered for the catalog, it must support "International English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish," so presumably, the smartphone will be available in appropriate markets. Now, we're not taking this as definitive word, but at least it's a little more encouraging than Sony Ericsson's more generic "second half of the year" response.
[Source: Engadget Mobile]
