Hands-on with the P800
Just been in Sverige again, and got my hands on Sony Ericsson's new 'un. My pull seems to have diminished and don't have my own (boohoo).
They freeze the hardware THIS WEEK. Yup it's behind. Reasons being the late introduction of Memory Stick which has screwed up a thing or two and some other knotty bugs ... all of it software.
It's nice and big and round, fatter then a slim Palm but smaller and WAY sexier then an iPaq ... the front is nothing but screen and speaker. The back is branding and a camera (you don't need me to describe it, look at the photos on their site). The side has buttons all over it ... press the "Cam" button and the screen shows what's in front of the camera. Press it again and it makes a Command-Shift-4 noise. Captures in 16bit 640x480, displays in 12bit. Stylus is a groovy translucent green thing, flat in profile, under which you find the Memory Stick input (WHY BOTHER with removal storage on a removable (mobile) device?).
It takes a minute to boot. A MINUTE. I'm told that's because they're not finished (umm debug code anyone?) but I ain't so sure. Afterwards the GUI is fast, controlled by the "joydial" you had on Sony phones. Data otherwise goes in via the same (world beating, sorry Apfel) HR as on R380. Or a tiny virtual keyboard which sucks.
It's got a little bowling game on it.
The browser deals with EVERYTHING from WML, CHTML aka iMode, HTML, YoMomML ... in theory. We browsed WAP but it borked on a website. I suspect the operator's gateway was at fault.
The bloody thing plays WAV ringtones or MIDI files. Ossom.
What else? Errr it rules. I can *CONFIRM* it supports drip-feed update of calendar info via GPRS (change something at work up it comes on your gizmo).
Oh yes ... "HomeFlash" ... they've noticed that people have been flash updating Palms / iPods for donkeys years ... a new serial cable will be offerred. I hope therefore the sucker works on my iBook.
They freeze the hardware THIS WEEK. Yup it's behind. Reasons being the late introduction of Memory Stick which has screwed up a thing or two and some other knotty bugs ... all of it software.
It's nice and big and round, fatter then a slim Palm but smaller and WAY sexier then an iPaq ... the front is nothing but screen and speaker. The back is branding and a camera (you don't need me to describe it, look at the photos on their site). The side has buttons all over it ... press the "Cam" button and the screen shows what's in front of the camera. Press it again and it makes a Command-Shift-4 noise. Captures in 16bit 640x480, displays in 12bit. Stylus is a groovy translucent green thing, flat in profile, under which you find the Memory Stick input (WHY BOTHER with removal storage on a removable (mobile) device?).
It takes a minute to boot. A MINUTE. I'm told that's because they're not finished (umm debug code anyone?) but I ain't so sure. Afterwards the GUI is fast, controlled by the "joydial" you had on Sony phones. Data otherwise goes in via the same (world beating, sorry Apfel) HR as on R380. Or a tiny virtual keyboard which sucks.
It's got a little bowling game on it.
The browser deals with EVERYTHING from WML, CHTML aka iMode, HTML, YoMomML ... in theory. We browsed WAP but it borked on a website. I suspect the operator's gateway was at fault.
The bloody thing plays WAV ringtones or MIDI files. Ossom.
What else? Errr it rules. I can *CONFIRM* it supports drip-feed update of calendar info via GPRS (change something at work up it comes on your gizmo).
Oh yes ... "HomeFlash" ... they've noticed that people have been flash updating Palms / iPods for donkeys years ... a new serial cable will be offerred. I hope therefore the sucker works on my iBook.
Comments
I'd always thought that as soon as this sucker came out, I'd be on it. But this won't fit in my breast pocket and my T68 has a calendar in it already ...
... what am I talking about?
I've been looking for a way to have my pictures viewable in a mobile way, but Steve's dead right when he says people won't want to carry two devices. Hence iPac? Naaaah. My mobile is my mobile. Until iPod has a colour screen this is the best way I've seen to do it, and it's not THAT big. And it will run java applications.
And, well, it's the latest and greatest innit!?
I don't think it's going to replace my little phone permanently is the truth and it actually makes me have strange thoughts about the product position ...
[ 10-03-2002: Message edited by: Harald ]</p>
[ 10-03-2002: Message edited by: New ]</p>
Tell you what though, people looking to buy a T68 but a bit low on moolah should chill for literally a week unless they like Bluetooth.
T300 cometh.
The "flip" is like the R380, as in it just pushes through to the touch screen. What's different is that you can take it off and the thing works in a "flipless" mode that looks cool as HELL.
I heard all about the next generation 'phone too ... heh ...
The next generation? Are we talking 3G here?
Yes, I know you can't answer... hehe...
<strong>T300 cometh...
The "flip" is like the R380, as in it just pushes through to the touch screen. What's different is that you can take it off and the thing works in a "flipless" mode that looks cool as HELL.</strong><hr></blockquote>
So the T300 is going to replace the R380 and the T68i? Is the bigger screen going to improve the T300's calendaring functionality (versus the T68i)? Were you implying that the T300 will not have Bluetooth by saying that those who care about BT should wait?
[quote]<strong>I heard all about the next generation 'phone too ... heh ...</strong><hr></blockquote>
Feel free to speak up, Harald. Ich bin ganz Ohr.
Escher
1) P800, Nokia killer, with a fück-off colour touchscreen, yummy interface, camera in the back, does all your iPaq does only without the Microsoft. Has a flip / doesn't have a flip, out in November if they can make it work. Replaces R380 and just about anything else you may have.
2) T300, dirt cheap (like less then ?150), which is a T68i minus the Bluetooth but with polyphonic ringtones ...
So if you don't fancy Bluetooth and fancy spending WAY less money then the T68x, then T300 is your baby. Out next week.
Leia? Codename for the next SE device in the communicator category.
Escher
<strong>So is it Compatible with iSync???
Both devices are SyncML friendly, so yes, they'll work out-the-box with iSync. T300 however, will have to be synced OTA (over the air).
Isn't there a cable that could be used?
(there also is IR ofcourse, but that would require an adapter)
<strong>"over the air"? via a call, you mean?
Isn't there a cable that could be used?
(there also is IR ofcourse, but that would require an adapter)</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, it's still got GPRS, so no, technically not a call. Just the drips and drabs of changes that may be made to your iCal ...
GPRS is "always on." Let's say someone puts a change in your diary at work.
You're 250 kilometres away.
Without doing anything, iCal publishes the change to .Mac which feeds your phone at almost invisible cost, by dripping through just the new event. I acknowledge .Mac cannot do this today, but I promise you it will tomorrow.
There are loads of other things this is going to be good for, which is why I've been crapping on about how .Mac is going to suddenly seem like good value in a couple of threads.
I'm not sure people realise the significance of what SyncML + iApps + GPRS + .Mac could be.
Now if only Telenor (my mobile provider) cut cut the cost of GPRS to below hispeed GSM...