Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini X10
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You thought the Samsung Wave 2 was the successor to the Wave, didn't you? Us too - but it's not, the Samsung S8530 Wave II is the real deal. The screen has grown to 3.7-inches and all the great features have been preserved. And we thought only Nokia's naming scheme was a mess.
The Samsung S8500 Wave was an impressive phone - the first SuperAMOLED we had seen had quite an impression on us and the other features were very high too. The next two Bada phones were aiming for a wider market with mid-range features, so understandably they didn't live up to their predecessor.
The Samsung S8530 Wave II brings Bada OS back to the high-end - a 3.7" screen WVGA screen, but Samsung made the switch to "Super Clear LCD".
Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini X10 offers the full functionality of an Android phone in a very portable sleek design. Entering a whole new level of portability, Xperia Mini X10 introduces functionality that belies its size. Although some might find the ultra-small design doubtful when it comes to its promised performance, it proves itself a worthy contender compared to full-sized Android Phones.
Specifications
Size: 83 x 50 x 16 mm
Phone memory: Up to 128MB
Processor: 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 4 hours
Standby time: GSM/GPRS: Up to 285hrs
Talk time UMTS: Up to 3.5 hours
Standby time: UMTS: Up to 360 hrs
The Samsung S8500 Wave was an impressive phone - the first SuperAMOLED we had seen had quite an impression on us and the other features were very high too. The next two Bada phones were aiming for a wider market with mid-range features, so understandably they didn't live up to their predecessor.
The Samsung S8530 Wave II brings Bada OS back to the high-end - a 3.7" screen WVGA screen, but Samsung made the switch to "Super Clear LCD".
Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini X10 offers the full functionality of an Android phone in a very portable sleek design. Entering a whole new level of portability, Xperia Mini X10 introduces functionality that belies its size. Although some might find the ultra-small design doubtful when it comes to its promised performance, it proves itself a worthy contender compared to full-sized Android Phones.
Specifications
Size: 83 x 50 x 16 mm
Phone memory: Up to 128MB
Processor: 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 4 hours
Standby time: GSM/GPRS: Up to 285hrs
Talk time UMTS: Up to 3.5 hours
Standby time: UMTS: Up to 360 hrs
Design
The Xperia Mini X10’s is simplicity personified. Three buttons grace its face: menu, home and back. The power button that doubles as the lock key sits on the top edge. There are also quick-access buttons on its right side for the volume and camera controls. The glossy finish contrasts with the buttons, making it easy to find. At the bottom edge lies the USB connector port for charging and computer syncing. It is covered by a tiny rubber flap that serves as protection against dust build-up and unnecessary wear or damage to the port. Right beside it is the 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Like its predecessor, the Xperia Mini X10 kept the curved design of the back plate. This enables the Android phone to sit naturally in the palm of your hand. Surprisingly though, unlike any other Android phone, the battery cannot be taken out. It is designed to be fixed on the board. The only thing that can be taken out when you open the back cover is your SIM card. Replacing it would warrant an expertise on tinkering with the phone itself. OR if you’re not that confident, you will have to take it to a technician if the battery fails.
At first, you may miss the heft of a regular Android phone. But the 16 mm-thick Xperia Mini X10’s dainty appearance shouldn’t fool you. It may feel a bit delicate in an average male’s hand but it fully makes up for it in killer after killer of features. The offered vivacious colors of black, pearl, white, lime, pink, red and silver add more gives it more energy and feistiness.
Although just like a credit card in size, it can’t fit in your wallet. However, the smallest wardrobe pocket can accommodate this spritely gadget. Although owing it a spot in your not so secure pocket can prove to be a mistake especially if you forget that it’s supposed to be in there somewhere. Even the bulkier iPad and iPhone gets lost if not secured properly.
Like its predecessor, the Xperia Mini X10 kept the curved design of the back plate. This enables the Android phone to sit naturally in the palm of your hand. Surprisingly though, unlike any other Android phone, the battery cannot be taken out. It is designed to be fixed on the board. The only thing that can be taken out when you open the back cover is your SIM card. Replacing it would warrant an expertise on tinkering with the phone itself. OR if you’re not that confident, you will have to take it to a technician if the battery fails.
At first, you may miss the heft of a regular Android phone. But the 16 mm-thick Xperia Mini X10’s dainty appearance shouldn’t fool you. It may feel a bit delicate in an average male’s hand but it fully makes up for it in killer after killer of features. The offered vivacious colors of black, pearl, white, lime, pink, red and silver add more gives it more energy and feistiness.
Although just like a credit card in size, it can’t fit in your wallet. However, the smallest wardrobe pocket can accommodate this spritely gadget. Although owing it a spot in your not so secure pocket can prove to be a mistake especially if you forget that it’s supposed to be in there somewhere. Even the bulkier iPad and iPhone gets lost if not secured properly.
Interface
Although inspired by its bigger relative, the Xperia X10, the Xperia Mini gets a revamped home screen. There are now scrollable and customizable widgets in its home screen. It can accommodate up to twenty widgets at the same time. Users can now personalize favorite shortcuts at each edge of the 2.5 screen. If that still limits you in some way, pushing the Home button or scrolling down while on the widget screen displays more shortcuts.With Android 2.2 (Froyo) already out in the market, Xperia Mini leaves some doubt with its utilizing of only the Android 1.6 version. Clearly a later version, don’t let that put a damper on your Android experience. As an Android platform, it still can accommodate installable applications from the Android Market. Just the same as the updated one, albeit running on a much lesser version of the platform. You can customize it all you want.
The multi-delete option comes with a thumbnail view and you can tick items as you go. This not so tedious feature allows you to select and manage your phone content in a not so tedious manner. Knowing exactly what you might be deleting or moving is a feature worthy of applause.
The multi-touch screen also comes with auto-rotate allowing you to easily shift from landscape to portrait mode breezily. Left-handed people might have to re-orient and take a little time with getting the hang of a right-handed person’s device.
Communication
Just like any other smartphone of today, the Xperia Mini X10 comes with the usual features like SMS, MMS and Email capabilities. What is worth noting is the Infinite Button. Users can now choose to follow their contact’s Twitter and Facebook messages with just a click of a button. The built-in Timescape application manages all incoming messages. Navigating through that barrage of information might get a bit confusing at first, though. More so if you have subscribed to multiple tweets from your contacts.
Sadly, you might have to download another email client. Only one email account is allowed with the default email manager. Those who have multiple accounts have to go through the rigors of setting up one account at a time and accessing them. With another email client, you might be able to manage them simultaneously.
Anyway, the Xperia Mini X10 cannot be said to be designed for lengthy emails. It does not come with a full QWERTY keyboard. Instead it uses a T9 keyboard. So you have to tap and tap away on the touchscreen to compose your messages. But that must be the most logical approach to that. After all, using a full QWERTY keyboard on the 2.55 screen will surely be a challenge for those who don’t have small hands.
Entertainment
It comes with a 2GB microSD card that can be upgraded to 16 GB. Enough storage to house the various media you can accumulate while using the built-in 5.0 megapixel camera and more than enough for your music player and video player.
Sadly, you might have to download another email client. Only one email account is allowed with the default email manager. Those who have multiple accounts have to go through the rigors of setting up one account at a time and accessing them. With another email client, you might be able to manage them simultaneously.
Anyway, the Xperia Mini X10 cannot be said to be designed for lengthy emails. It does not come with a full QWERTY keyboard. Instead it uses a T9 keyboard. So you have to tap and tap away on the touchscreen to compose your messages. But that must be the most logical approach to that. After all, using a full QWERTY keyboard on the 2.55 screen will surely be a challenge for those who don’t have small hands.
Entertainment
It comes with a 2GB microSD card that can be upgraded to 16 GB. Enough storage to house the various media you can accumulate while using the built-in 5.0 megapixel camera and more than enough for your music player and video player.