In the old days SONY
has invented a copyright music trademark for it’s company called WALKMAN. They
have rolled from cassette, CD players, Mini Disc player and also other portable
device from SONY. They design this trademark to let the consumer have the small
and portable device to listen the music and songs whenever they are. Now Sony
Ericsson have merged together and they are thinking mobile phones should have
also designed for music, pictures and telecommunications. Consequently, they
have implemented the first WALKMAN phone, the Sony Ericsson W800. Basically this phone
have an identical or similar image with the sister phone which is Sony Ericsson
K750i, just with some minor hardware and software modification. In this package
will have
1) The W800i phone
2) The Battery BST-37 3.6V 900mAh
3)
PC suite CD
4)
Manuals
5)
HPM-70 ear phones
6)
512MB Sandisk Memory Stick Pro Duo disk
7)
Memory Stick Duo Adaptor 
USB cable
9)
Charger
user shall have the box package something like that. All is WALKMAN branded
box retail.
Software At My Phone : R1L002 Europe version
Physical Aspects - The Body
In this phone
packaging, its my first time to see they pack the phone like selling the
products on a music store. Just like selling batteries in the local shop. It’s
really suite the matter of the phone market as being named with WALKMAN. After
taking out the phone from the packaging, the color is so sharp from the first
look. It has the white color rubber feeling material with some orange shinning
coated just arouind the phone. Obviously it has a Walkman logo on the middle of
the bottoms so it’s easy for users to listen the music in just a button rather
have to select from the Menu. there are also some buttons around the phone like
the Play/Pause button, Volume -/+ Buttons for giving user have easier access to
lower or upper the volume or pause the track when the users would like to have a
stop. On top of the phone is the infra red connection and power button, right
section will have the volume change and the camera button, left section will
have the play pause button & the memory duo slot. At the moment it is support up
to 2GB of memory pro duo but its possible to have 4GB of memory, which treat as
a Mini Ipod or Ipod nano. THe bottom section is the new type of connector called
the fast port. Sony Ericsson have designed to make the consumer a new image
rather to use the old ericsson charger and headset port connector. It is quite
nice to see the changes as the port is easily to plug in and remove. Just the
backlight will be in Orange color, would suit with the phone with white. Totally
awesome.
The phone is quite
small, not very heavy and easy to fit on the pocket.
User Interface & Display
In
this phone system, it has a 176×220 display, with the screen which is quite similiar with the K750i. The theme are having better animation & small pixels.
This is why with small screen and the user can see the pictures in very nice
format. The themes can be edit and it just like can change the design everything
except the menu icons, standby clock and small minor text. If the phone has a
very nice theme and it won’t disappointed with the display image.
When the phone start, it will ask either Phone or Flight
mode. after pressing the Phone mode, user will delight with the Walkman Welcome
screen and the standby screen is with the WALKMAN orange brand theme. Quite cool
actually..
Start from the Top left Menu will have Play Now, Internet Service,
Entertainment, Camera, Messaging, WALKMAN, File Manager, Contacts, Radio, Calls,
Organizer & Settings. The key locks procedure is different from it’s predecessor
of K700i. Normally the user need to click the right selection key followed by
the asterisk (*) key. Now Sony Ericsson just make it differently which is
pressing asterisk key then follow the Right Selection key. All functions are
similar with Z800i which i have posted before. This time the User Interface is
the most smooth I ever seen since from the predecessor from T610 and K700i. Sony
Ericsson really giving better and better feedback to the consumer.
The Whole Menu User Interface :
Play Now, Internet Service, Entertainment, Camera, Messaging,
WALKMAN, File Manager, Contacts, Radio, Calls, Organizer & Settings
Different Theme gives different style. The theme are
awesome and very neat!!
Beside that,
this is the first phone that includes the flight mode condition. When the user
press the power button, it can be select either in Phone mode or Flight Mode. If
not mistaken this Flight Mode is only available on Sony Ericsson Symbian PDA
phone such as P900 etc. The Flight mode is used when user would like to listen
the mp3 songs or watching videos. This is a plus if the user planning to use in
Hospital or Air plane which is prohibited on Radio Frequency transmission.
Moreover using Flight Mode gives more battery power usage as the phone doesn’t
need to find the radio signal… means just like a substitution of mp3 player.
Many K750i users is tempting to get the W800i firmware to have this advantages.
In
messaging, there are new feature which is the customized message tone. This time
we can change to the tones that we wan to set such as mp3 tones which is a big
advantages. Nomally consumer has those louzy boring message tones and it’s set
to about 5 tones or 6 tones. Now in this phone there is a section which user can
select the mp3 tones that inserted in the memory stick or in the phone. As a
result the user will have their favourite message tones when the sms comes. Big
Plus.
In the menu functions, I would like to stress more on
Organizer Part, which have extra features compare with Z800i or K700i. Other are
quite the same. In organizer section, there will be Alarms, Applications,
Calendar, Tasks, Notes, Synchronization, Timer, Stop watch , Calculator and Code
Memo which are quite familiar. The special part is the Lights mode. There are
four options which is
On for 1 mintes
On
Off
SOS.
So, SOS function really seem quite special.. and quite
useful actually. Just some flash lights on the back of the phone. really really
cool !! Good for calling help for other people. Greatly in the sea lost and
pretend you are Napoleon ..
Check the Walkman word. Cool..
Calls Register
As
for normal usage, the phone really deliver a good battery life. I manage to hold
about 3 days for normal chatting and playing mp3 songs. The battery usage is
also determine whether the user using the Bluetooth connection, more playback
and other usage as well. The charging is takes about 2 hours flat for a 95% or
full battery charge. Unlike Nokia 8800, this is really a battery saver phone.
The keys are easy to press but I do like to prefer to have K750i keypad rather
the W800i keypad because of the white color.
The front part with Power button and Infra red port
connector. On the right side will have Camera Shutter Button and Volume +/-
Control
Connectivity
As a high level phone status, this phone really does gives a
lot of data connection from wired to wireless. In this package will have a USB
cable which is wired. User can use this for transferring mp3, pictures and
themes from the phone to the computer and vise versa. If user prefer to do it in
Wireless, then it is possible to use the Infra Red port of using Bluetooth
connection. These two connections will be a bit slow compared with the
connection with USB cable but still giving other option as well. User also can
took out the memory stick pro duo from the phone and use the memory stick do
adaptor and plug into the computer card slot for transferring files in very easy
method. It is consider quite a very convenient ways to transferring the files
from Videos to music. Furthermore, the USB cable also provided Charging facility
for the phone, that’s also a good news if you are traveling and just bring the
cable and charge it from the notebook. How cool is that?
The fast port connector is located on the
bottom of the phone. They change from the Ericsson standard Charger and Earphone
ports to this simple and nice !!
Music / Radio
With the sales packaging provided on 512MB memory pro duo card, it is possible
to insert quite a numbers of songs inside the phone and listen. User can use the
Walkman button to directly into the music section to listen the songs that
inserted from the memory stick. The music can be listen through the loudspeakers
or through the hand free provided. If user would like to listen radio channel,
user will need to plug in the hand free ( HPM-70 fast port ear phone connector )
in order to get better radio reception. At that moment it is possible to listen
the radio station either in ear phones or loudspeakers.
User is possible to play the songs by pressing the Play / Pause buttons from the
left top corner of the phone. The right top corner is providing volume control.
If the user would like to jump to another songs rather went into the menu, it is
just simple as user need to press longer on the volume +/- buttons. This is
really make a useful and simple technique to listen the songs from the phone. By
pressing the Play / Pause button from the standby screen, the songs will be
displayed on top of the screen rather going into the WALKMAN menu mode.
One advantages having W800i packages is the HPM-70 connector which is possible
to have a 3.5mm mini jack plug. So some user would like to use their favorite
headphones and just plug into the socket provided. A great plus in this such
great accessory as this is possible to make as a very good mp3 players which can
insert to Car Audio player where support the Audio In connection or in a Hi-Fi
system. I manage to test on a 2.1 computer speakers and it delivers a very good
sounds. The WALKMAN product is very familiar with the MEGABASS extra functions.
This deliver more bass and I am very happy about the music produce from the
phone itself. It won’t lost with other competitors such as Creative mp3 players
and so on.
The HPM-70 Audio Connector, noted that user can select
the own headphone to listen the music
Camera
Same as the sister of K750i, W800i also having a 2.0 Mega pixel CMOS Auto Focus
camera lens. I could say beside the Nokia N90 which deliver 2.0 Carl Lens CCD
image, this is one of the top camera phones at the moment and I am impress with
the image taken from this phone. The Auto Focus features really makes the
pictures really get into the sharp and clear image. It works like a normal
digital camera and I think I would not need to bring a digital camera for
capturing the image. Just use this phone and it works like a charm. User have to
switch open the camera cover and the phone itself turn automatically into camera
mode and just need to press the camera button and start saying “ Cheeze!! ”.
Beside capturing pictures, it is possible to capture video as well. User will
need more memory pro duo card in order to capture more videos only. The screen
will gives some information when snapping the pictures such as how many photos
is available to snap in the memory stick, the size of the pictures, macro mode
and so on.
Some camera features in this phone are :
Shoot Mode :
Normal
Panorama
Frames
Burst
Pictures Size :
Large 1632×1224 (2.0 Megaoixel)
Medium 640×480
Small 160×120
Macro mode
Night mode
Light mode
Self-timer mode
Effects:
Off
Black & White
Negative
Sepia
Solarize
White balance:
Auto
Daylight
Cloudy
Florescent
Incandescent
Picture Quality:
Normal
Fine
Date Stamp
Reset File No.
Save to:
Memory Stick
Phone Memory
These are the sample photos snap from W800i. See the
pictures are better than the old phones. Thanks for the Auto Focus!!
There are some short cuts numeric keys rather go into the settings menu.
Pressing key 4 for macro mode
Pressing key 7 for night mode
Pressing key * for LED light ON/OFF
Pressing key 1 for settings again
Pressing menu control up/down ( when in camera mode ) gives brightness control.
Pressing menu control left/right switching Pictures or Video capturing mode.
Pressing Volume +/- button controls zooming picture. 4X digital zoom on 2.0 Mega
Pixel capture.
Problems
encountered
On
the top there are so many good points. But sadly there are also a few downsides.
First of all is the build quality. This is because the phone is in white color
and it get dirty easily. If user watching newspapers and suddenly the phone
rings, the user will get the black fingerprints all over the phone. The solution
needs an eraser to rub all the dirty fingerprints or user need to clean the
hands before touching the phone. The photo lock buttons is easily to be touch.
For example if a consumer is wearing a jeans, then when u wan to put it into the
pocket, he or she can accidentally switch on or off the camera lens. That’s not
a good idea for the camera switch. The battery cover is quite easily for me to
open, but if user want to remove the battery to change sim card, then it need
some technique or some time to remove. Many users complain about this both in
this phone and K750i. So if any users wan to use switch sim cards, think of
getting the dual sim card holder. The memory card rubber holder is quite hard to
open from the start. User have to note that it is rubber and scare that it is
possible to break it. I do prefer the memory slot cover should be the same
design as the SE PDA phone for example P900 or P910i which is easy to peel out.
In
connection especially the fast port design, in old days ericsson is providing a
headset connector and the power connector. Now by using fast port connector it
is not possible to charge the phone using the power adaptor and listen the music
using the headset connector provided. There is a solution which is purchasing
the desk stand designed for fast port connection where possible to provide a
headset connector and power connector. But this is an accessory and need to
purchase and not included from the package. The USB cable also provided charging
and exchanging the data from the computer as well. I do hope there is an option
to stop charging the phone from the USB cable because it is quite harmful to the
battery cycle life if the user would like just to transferring files between the
computer and the phone not to charge the phone together.
Comparison between W800i and Z800i - seem Z800i is lot
bigger
In music
section will be the HPM-70 ear phones. User have to aware that this specialize
earphone are really good for music, but they cover off all the environment
sounds as well. This earphone is acting like the noise cancellation for outside
environment or background sounds. When I try to use the earphones, I cannot hear
the background sounds and just the music. This is a good for listening music but
it is very dangerous when using around the road. So for driving or walking, I
suggest not to use this ear phones only used when it is indoor environment like
a room, library and so on. User would like to use the normal earphone as well
for normal occasions. For example if user is wearing the provided ear phone in
this W800i package, just keep listening in the underground tube or LRT train and
is hardly to hear the ladies announcement the arrival of the station. As a
result the consumer could miss the station!!
For camera,
maybe it’s my phone unit but the camera shutter button seems not very
responsive. Normally the digital camera will have the shutter sound and user can
feel the button is pressed firmly and a click. But this does not in this W800i
phone. The camera capability should be have in CCD not in CMOS mode as this
phone is classify as a high entry functions phone. Users have paid a lot in
order to get the technology and features in this advance phone. CCD camera lens
provided better capturing but some user maybe CMOS is quite fine. The LED lights
does not provided good light background for capturing dark area but it is
possible to amend this problem by purchasing a camera flash light from the
accessory department. The display screen in this phone is quite small. maybe
it’s the phone but still compare with other phone, seem very small for viewing
the pictures.
W800i when in the dark. Awesome Orange Color.
hehe
Summary
Overall, this
is a really good phone and could probably my recommended overall phone in year
2005. In term of functionality, connectivity and build design, it does deliver
the status and really didn’t disappoint my “appetite”. It is really a good phone
I would like to recommend to everyone if you have extra "cash" or upgrading a
phone contract.
The features are quite similar with the sister of K750i but still this depends
on the consumer whether choosing the phone. There aren’t major different on
these phones but still it the choice on design and the budget. Just think the
phone that desired the needs and the importance.
Pros
Small phone, Design are excellent
Great User Interface, Smooth Menu graphics
2.0 Mega pixel Auto Focus, Radio, Bluetooth
512MB memory stick pro duo provided
HPM-70 Earphone, good background noise cancellation
MEGABASS sounds!!Lightweight
compare to Nokia 8800
Cons
Display is so small
Camera Shutter button is hard to feel it’s being press
down
White Color - Easy to get dirty
Camera lens switch is easy to open.
Camera shot - bit slow to processing after the shot.
Battery compartment, hard to remove out the battery
HPM-70 Earphone, really have to be careful while driving
or walking outside the street.
Fast Port connection - could not charge and listen songs
at the same time
Bluetooth - didn’t support Audio on Bluetooth Stereo profile yet.
Price - 300 - 330 Pounds in High Street Shop ( UK )
RM 2100 in Normal hand phone shop ( Sungai Wang KL, Malaysia )
More Photos are available in
Here. Thanks for viewing !! Hope everyone enjoys
the review.
©® All Rights reserved @ CJ Tan 2005
