Test of Sony Ericsson W880i

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Introduction

Sony Ericsson W880i, new model top-of-the-range walkman, comes to position between W850i and W950i in the range of the manufacturer.

This mobile was officially announced on January 8, 2007 (presented on February 6), and arrived in the shops towards the beginning of March. Sony Ericsson was thus very nice with the people awaiting it impatiently.

After having launched out in the fashion of the “slide” with his W850i, the manufacturer innovates once again compared to his old models by proposing its first fine ultra telephone to us. The concept is certainly not new (see Motorola V3, L7,… and ultra range of Samsung), but it is one of the first so complete telephones for this size.

• W850i
• A battery BST-33 (same as for K800i and W850i, very good point!)
• A cable USB 2.0 (which acts also as charger via the PC)
• Instructions
• CD PC-Continuation
• The kit stereo auricle (with several models of support for the ears) HPM-70 black
• The charger
• A chart Memory Stick m2 of 1Go

Small disappointment all the same: no the remote control in the box, whereas it was previously delivered with Sony Ericsson W900i. The same gap had been raised in the test of W850i. It will thus be necessary to pass by again with the case in order to have such an accessory. That is a pity all the more which W880i is directed top-of-the-range…

Small note:: a model without wire of Walkman remote control exists in the manufacturer, for a price of approximately 100€. On the other hand good point concerning the presence of a memory board 1Go in the pack of origin, even if the charts 2Go are from now on available.

Design:

A thing is certain: W880i does not leave clearly indifferent! All the people having seen it of close generally found very pretty, and especially very fine. The people not following close the telephone topicality even thought that it was about a iPod Nano or another reader MP3 considering his smoothness.

As usual with the manufacturer, the quality of manufacture is exemplary. One will note moreover the return of the aluminium, which we missed since T610 (and K700i). That makes W880i really pretty, far from the plastics used by competition. The face postpones way gum is it also finished very well.

On the level of the obstruction, it is simply incomparable with the telephones of the mark having left until now (with share perhaps T600). There is certainly as well, to see even finer, but the mobiles are then much broader (will one arrive soon at A4 sheets? 0,1mm of thickness but 20 cm of width?) and are clearly less advanced on the level of the specifications.

On the front face of W880i, we find the directional pad, the buttons of short cuts as well as the screen and the second photo objective located beside the high speaker for the communications.

Small change compared to the recent models of the mark: the powering (and not under tension) is not done any more via the support on a dedicated button located on the top of the mobile, but via a support prolonged on the key “C”.

The left section comprises the button of short cut towards the audio reader, the connector industry (USB + charger + audio) as well as the slot for charts m2.

Right side we find the adjustment of volume as well as the button of short cut towards the camera.

The connector industry of W880i is, of course, the same one as on the other recent models of the mark. No the concern for the compatibility of your accessories thus. Nevertheless the stations of synchronization will pose some problems considering which it will be necessary to deposit W880i on its section.

To finish, we find the principal photo objective (not protected, damage, even if it would have been complicated to place a removable mask in such a restricted space) as well as the loudspeaker on the back of the telephone.

The opening of the hiding place battery is really traditional, is not especially compared with the other models of the mark. However the access to the battery and site SIM is easy all the same. After the placement of your chart SIM and battery, a support prolonged on your key “C” gives life to this small jewel of miniaturization. Is the animation of starting the special version “Walkman�? , compared with the traditional animation of the other SE.

As on the other recent models of the mark, W880i asks to you whether you want to pass in plane mode to each starting. This menu can of course be decontaminated in the adjustments.

Starting:

During the first starting, as on the majority of the recent SE, an assistant helps us to parameterize the telephone. The assessment is rather positive for the screen. The colors are very pretty as on K800i, and posting is very luminous. We would have liked a screen QVGA as on W850i and K800i, but considering space available and the quality of the screen used, it is clearly not a negative point.

Contrary to W850i, not of sensor of luminosity integrated.

After finishhaving finished some with this assistant of configuration, one finds oneself on the mode takes care. The organization of the infos on the screen is identical to that of the other models of the mark, i.e.: all in top on the left the network, with the small blue triangle like all Sony Ericsson since T68i for network GPRS, in top on the right the level of the battery, the hour and the date all in bottom on the right. The posting of the hour in great east of course available. The funds of animated screens, founded with K700i, are of course still present.

Considering the absence of button of powering dedicated, there is no more direct access to the various modes.

A short support on the key volume of the telephone will lead you to “the state of the mobile”, i.e. the memory still available, the date, the profile, the model of telephone, and the remaining percentage of battery.

The 3G availability is indicated by an icon dedicated in the bar top.

Navigation in the menus is done using the directional pad. This last is not very large, but there remains usable without wrong movements.

It should be noted that the joystick can be parameterized to act as short cut (left-low-right-hand side-high) since the mode takes care, as on the last models of the mark and Nokia Series 40 for example.

One reaches the principal menu via a support on the central button of the pad or the key of right selection. The menu is presented under 12 different icons. The speed of navigation in the menus is rather fast.

W880i is delivered with new topics, like W850i, of which some completely transform the menus of your telephone.

Decomposition of the menus:

Playnow:

This function connects you to the WAP. It is in fact a kind of ultratop of ringings MP3 to download. This service is, of course, paying.

Service Internet:

This is navigator WAP 2.0/HTML of W880i. The banner page comprises short cuts towards site WAP of SE. This banner page of Sony Ericsson recently left same as that.

Innovation arrived with W900i, navigator WAP also makes it possible to visit the traditional Web sites. Mini Opera will remain advised all the same if you usually wish surfer with your mobile.

Leisures:

This section is divided into 8 sub-menus:

• : this part contains the small operator of your chart SIM, and its name depends on the latter.
• Plays: 1 only play installed of origin, quadrapop. Famous play of the mark, present since W800i. For recall, it is a kind of Tetris given to the style of the day. It is compared little with other models, but one can add the plays of his choice without no problem.
• Video reader: Not large-thing to be noted of this with dimensions Ci, except that the reading of vidéos in 176*220 in full screen does not pose any problem.
• Video DJ: Small software allowing to improve vidéos. You can gather vidéos with images and text in order to make you a small film without claims.
• Photo DJ: Modify the images being in your W880i. You can apply effects (dyed, negative, comic strip, frosted glass, contrast, painting, luminosity), to add cliparts,…

• Music DJ: Address yourself to the amateurs music. This small software is present on the SE since T610. It allows in fact to create ringings MIDDAY by superimposing small ends of music which you will lay out according to your inspiration of the moment. GarageBand minis (the Mac users will include/understand) to some extent.
• Operate by remote control: Present since the K700/S700, this application enables you to control your PC/MAC (presentations Power Point, reader Windows Media,…) since your W880i via Bluetooth technology.

Plug-in are also available for Front Row, iTunes, VLC, EyeTV,… for the Mac users.

• To record sound: It is the tape recorder of W880i. The duration of the memo seems to be limited only by the memory still available in the telephone.
• Presentation: It is a video with the format full screen, showing you the various strong points of your mobile.

Camera

This part of the telephone is far from being the best. Indeed, not of autofocus, flash, macro mode, nor even of mask of protection for the lens of the camera.

Like S700i/K750i/W800i/W550i and well of others, W880i takes again the interface of the APN Cybershot of Sony.

Several effects (normal, black and white, negative, sepia, solarization and frameworks) are available, as well as a foultitude of adjustments.

You can carry out photographs in mode normal, panoramic, by frameworks or in gust.

The flash is part, with the mode harms, the retarder, the balance of the white,… You can choose to post the hour and the date on the photograph, here also, as on a true APN.

The numerical X4 zoom is available via the key volume.

The result is obviously not exceptional, especially when one compares with the results of old the hit of the range walkman, W800i.

But one will relativize by remembering the size of this mobile, and especially of his smoothness! It would have been very complicated (or impossible?) to place a better optics with more options in a site if reduced.

Transport:

Here it is the traditional one. One finds the interface of the other recent telephones of the mark. W880i is compatible SMS/MMS/EMS/Email. The messages Nokia image are also supported.

To note that this menu contains reader RSS of the mobile.

Some note:

The smiley in the messages are always a good point for SE (they are there since T68i). Some new models made their appearance besides.

As one sends sms, W880i will retain which words are generally used and thus will post them in first choice in T9. That thus makes the writing of messages much more convivial and fast. In the same way for the recipients, the people to whom you send the most messages are just posted in lower part “to enter n° of such” and “to seek contact”. Still a small detail which makes the difference in my opinion (although Nokia integrated the same function since the 8800).

As on the SE since T610, the photocall is also functional for the SMS, and this on 70% of the screen. Small quite pleasant compared with the competitors.

Concerning the keyboard of W880i: The sight of the first photographs, I wondered how it would be possible to use of so small keys. But after a few hours of use one made there finally. The keys are perhaps small, but they are spaced enough, and bad handling is thus not too numerous. I prefer even almost the keyboard of W880i to that of K800i.

Walkman

Us here vis-a-vis the principal attraction of W880i: the new musical reader, founded by W850i.

The access to this function is done either via the menu, or directly via the key “Walkman”.

The manner of sailing in your musical library was slightly re-examined compared to the old version of the reader, and the jackets of you musical titles from now on are supported (in condition of having placed them in the tags of your MP3).

This menu is completely exclusive in MusicPhones of the mark. Navigation in your media library is done with the manner of a iPod, and is thus really very intuitive and pleasant. You of course have the possibility of creating your lists of reading and of managing them.

With listening, the sound returned by the ear-phones is very good and powerful.

The low ones are quite present, and the sound is very faithful to the original.

In any case if of origin you do not like the ear-phones, you can always connect of them others without any problem known kit HPM-70.

The loudspeaker is present as well sure, but it saturates rather quickly taking into account its reduced size.

You can activate the random reading and the repetition if the heart you of known as. You have also the choice between several equalizers (of which a handbook): normal, low registers, megabass, voice, to accentuate acute,…

You can of course reduce this reader (via key of right selection, then to reduce, or while pressing on the Walkman key) and thus to write a sms, take photographs,… while listening to your favorite songs.

Small innovation however, which I had not noticed on W850i: you can change topic in reader MP3: white, orange, or decontaminated.

For recall, W880i is provided with a memory board 1go, what to store a few hundreds of songs (that will depend on the bitrate used).

Manager of files:

It is in this menu that you will be able to manage your images, ringings, MP3, topics,… It is the equivalent of the “gallery” at Nokia to some extent. The topics, images, sounds, vidéos and bookmarks WAP can be sent by: MMS, e-mail, infra-red or Bluetooth.

I did not have any problem during the transfers (sending or reception) in Bluetooth, as well worms of other mobiles as worms of the PC/MAC.

For information, the speed of transfer is at the neighbourhoods of 50Ko/sec.

For the images, you can choose to post the miniatures by 4 or 9. The diaporama mode is also present. Other options of visualization are available: by list and miniature list.

The images are visible vertically or horizontally (and thus in full screen), and a zoom is available to visualize the photographs via the key volume/zoom. The file management is very complete: you can create, remove files, move or copy files from the internal or external storage as good seems to you.

The topics push personalization at a new top. Indeed, the provided topics of origin transform the menus literally.

Nothing again compared to W850i of this with dimensions-Ci

Contacts:

Not great innovation on this side either. The memory is of 1000 contacts. One of the large positive points of SE compared to competition is the possibility of sending all the contacts of only one blow. This was already available on the old models of the mark, but it is one of only to offer this possibility.

You can assign a number by defect with a contact if this last has several of them. Another small detail, you can go to seek a n° in your repertory when you want to add a number to a contact. Here fields available for a contact: Name, 5 N° of telephone (mobile, residence, work, fax, other), Email, ID presence, addresses WEB, image, ringing, orders vocal, title, company, street, locality, state, postal code, country, infos and birthday.

Like the majority of the telephones of the mark (except M600i, P990i and W950i…), synchronization with a PC via PC continuation or Mac via iSync does not pose a problem, in condition of finding one plug-in for this last all the same (already available on the fabric).

Track ID:

This program enables you to record a sound, which will be sent on a waiter via connection Data (GSM, GPRS or UMTS) from your mobile. Information (artist, name,…) you will be then transmitted. It's a pity that it loses a little its interest considering W880i does not have an integrated radio.

Calls:

This menu indexes your last received/emitted calls or in absence, here it is really traditional.

Organisor:

Y are present:

• Alarms: one can choose the hour of alarm there, like his repetition.
• Applications: they are the JAVA applications of W880i.
• Video call: It is here that you will regulate your options for your calls vidéos.
• Diary: here it is traditional too. Posting is possible either per month or per weeks.
• Tasks
• Note: in the past “notes”, these are small textual files where you will register that you want. You can then either send them, or to publish them on the screen of day before (it posts yourselves then on your bottom of screen, so that you see it as soon as you have your mobile in hand.) or to safeguard them.
• Synchronization: To synchronize your W880i with a distant waiter.
• Timer: it is a countdown
• Stop watch
• Computer: the latter is traditional with the majority of the mobiles.
• Memorandum: using a password (code), you can write there your numbers of codes or others, in order not to forget them.

Adjustments:

It is here that you will parameterize your mobile. All is personnalisable or almost. Ringings, funds of screen, mode takes care or not, language of the telephone, accounts GPRS, luminosity, connectivity, vocal control,…

The telephony part

No defect concerning the quality of reception, even if the latter is a little worse than on K800i.

The quality of listening is on the other hand always also excellent.

The loudspeaker is accessible in conversation while pressing on the “different” key then “to activate HP”. It is also activable, before the correspondent does not take down, by a support on the left key of selection.

With regard to autonomy, with the bluetooth lit permanently, some calls and sms per day, connectivity 3G activated (but not of video calls), and little use of reader MP3, W880i one week without refill held! It is certain that with a thorough use of the 3G and reader MP3, autonomy will be very strongly reduced. Nevertheless it is about a record for a telephone of this smoothness!! Samsung could take seed of it! A large positive point for this W880i thus.

Conclusion

Posting pushed enough characteristics, especially taking into account its dimensions, and a design seducer (question of tastes of course), W880i is far from being a bad telephone.

The quality of manufacture is excellent, it is a real pleasure of handling it the every day.

The screen is very pleasant, and audio quality with the top of considerable dedicated readers MP3.

Sony Ericsson would have done one without fault by putting the photo sensor of K750i/W800i instead of selected sensor. And also by proposing a radio operator FM. Considering W880i is a top-of-the-range musical telephone, I do not understand that Sony Ericsson did not propose it.

For information, the price of W850i is between 450 and 500€ including all taxes.

Some will criticize that it is extremely high for a telephone with functions less thorough than W850i, but when one looks at Samsung and his P310, W880i is hardly more expensive for functionalities and an autonomy which do not have strictly anything to see.

I thus recommend very clearly this W880i to the people wishing a very small telephone, without giving up the thorough functions and having to charge his mobile every evening.