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< Esato Forum Index > Sony Ericsson / Sony > General > Back with Sony Ericsson (K800i. Wow, so many changes! Some suggestions for improvements Bookmark topic

After being a long time Sony Ericsson user (see my signature) I went for a Motorola V3i, last year, followed with a iPaq PDA for more demanding data stuff. The main reason being that I was tired waiting for the P990i, and at the time of my upgrade, the latest SE phone on T-Mobile UK was the W800i (quite dated at the time).

Despite being a slim sleek phone, and had some innovative features of its own, It frustrated me on some basic things. I am now back in the SE fold, with the K800i.

Wow, I have only been "gone" for a few months, and already massive progress has been made! Especially the technical improvements. I am sure people have raved about the Camera side of this phone, but very little focus has been made of its other technical capabilities.

This phone has got some technologies that are more likely to be found on a smartphone, than a normal phone.

Push IMAP is supported, which is amazing, and actually works! The phone remains connected to the IMAP server on GPRS/3G and when a new email arrives on the server, the server sends a message to the phone, and it instantly bleeps, similar to a blackberry, but uses just the standard IMAP signalling. Even my iPaq cannot do this (it has to poll the server instead)

Bluetooth Network Access Point, this is by far the most amazing feature. I hate using Bluetooth Dial-up for connecting to GPRS/3g as it can be flakey at best, and only allows one device to connect at a time. Whilst the PDA is connected via Bluetooth dial-up, the phone cannot check its email, and nor can any other device. The Bluetooth Network Access Point, is like a Bluetooth based Wireless Router, The phone initiates and maintains a connection, and other devices connect to it using networking. I have had my phone, PDA and my laptop all connected to the internet through the single connection. Very handy.

Plenty of useful features, and a lot of toys (the Video DJ is pretty cool).

I am going to write a bit about some of the features that where on the V3i, that would make the K800 and other SE phones even better. Don't get me wrong, the K800 is far superior in most aspects to the V3i.

Coming from a V3i, there were a few features that I found interesting on the V3i, that are missing on SE. First a Vibrate before ring mode as well as Vibrate AND ring (this is different to the increasing ring). Reminder alerts, where if you a missed call, or text message, the phone can be set to bleep periodically. Very useful if you leave your phone and have to wonder around, and you get either a text, or a call, the phone bleeps every 4 mins. until you list the call, or whatever. SE does not have any similar feature (there is a software which can be downloaded for the Symbian phones which provides a similar feature for Text Messages)

Although I hated the V3i's messaging capability, and predictive entry, as a whole, especially it's difficulty in remembering common. it had some redeeming features. Most notable was its handling of delivery reports, especially with Multiple recipients. Firstly, it simultaneously provides Delivery reports in BOTH the Nokia style (message in Inbox), and the SE style (status on message in the Outbox). This means it gets delivery reports via the Nokia style, when sent via a computer. Secondly it handles Multiple recipients (SE disables delivery reports when there are multiple recipients). This was helpful during the new year, when i sent Multiple messages to friends. The phone handled the busy network very well, by retrying to any recipient that it failed to send to, rather than just aborting the partly sent message altogether. The message in the outbox has individual status for each recipient, allowing you to see at a glance which recipients had failed, allowing you to individually resend for the recipients that failed (the phone only automatically retires for a set number of times). The delivery reports are also matched with the individual recipients (as well as the reports in the Inbox) so at a glance you can see the "sent time" as well as the Delivered time for each recipient.

The V3i used a standard USB Mini B socket for its data/charging port, which was ultimately useful. No more purchasing proprietary cables for work/home. Since my Data tank, and Bluetooth headset also uses the same USB connector for charging, i was able to take just one charger, to charge THREE devices when i went on holiday.

The V3i's USB Mass Storage (File access) mode did not require the phone to be shut down during use. Although slower than the SE implementation, it simply worked in a plug and play mode, just connect, and start charging, with no need for drivers, and without impairing its ability to make and receive calls, text, etc. The K800i requires the phone to be in modem mode, and have the drivers installed before it begins to charge. This was very useful for my dad (who also has a V3i), as he cannot install drivers on his work computer, he just switches his phone to USB Mass Storage mode, and plugs his phone to his computer, to charge it at work.

Bluetooth Class 1 support. The V3i was a class 1 device, so it had a range of 100m when linking to another Class 1 device, such as the in built bluetooth headset on my car, giving a superior connection. This coupled with the fact my car stereo can play MP3's from a USB Drive, means that I can simply plug the phoen to the car stereo USB port, for it to play the songs on its memory card, whilst charging the phone (freeing the lighter socket), and it will take and make calls through the Bluetooth hands free. Pure plug and play joy!

These are the main points of comparisons where the V3i faired better, and these are genuine features that are very useful. however, it is not to say that the V3i is better overall! Trust me the list where the K800 is better is much bigger!

Hope this post was not too long, and hope someone from Ericsson sees this, and thinks about my suggestions.
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Posted: 2007-01-24 15:01:05
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Great report, thanks a lot! Regarding this:
Quote:First a Vibrate before ring mode as well as Vibrate AND ring (this is different to the increasing ring).There is a "vibrate always on" option for the profiles. The "vibrate first" would be very nice - I solved the problem by creating my own MP3 Ringtone, that is silent for the first 5 seconds and switched "vibrate always on".

The other points are really handy. Some will never come: SE has a tendency to use proprietary connectors and storage media. I don't think that will change...
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Posted: 2007-01-24 15:34:34
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I Vote moto for
-beep periodicaly (incomim message)
-password on inbox & file manager
-40,20,10 second choice of backlit period (my wish since along time ago on se that never be fulfìlled)

i think if :es just improve its UI with this minor changes, it will be a perfect UI

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Posted: 2007-01-24 16:19:00
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Thanks for that. I like the idea of the Bluetooth network access point and the push imap support is interesting.
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Posted: 2007-01-24 16:33:32
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Quote:
On 2007-01-24 15:01:05, janahan wrote:
The V3i used a standard USB Mini B socket for its data/charging port, which was ultimately useful.

Forget about this. Sony loves proprietary system. And although USB mini socket is great but certainly not welcome now as SE just change to fastport a year ago. Changing it to another format will be suicide for them. My point is if SE use USB mini when they decide to change connector then it is even better. But now with fastport, I'd rather they don't change anything for the next decade.

Quote:
The V3i's USB Mass Storage (File access) mode did not require the phone to be shut down during use.

Yeah this is usefull. It need driver but after you install the driver, it is quite OK. I use My Phone Explorer and it allows us to browse phone and M2 just like you are using a file manager in Phone mode. Does not allows drag and drop with win Explorer though with Phone Mode.

Quote:
Bluetooth Class 1 support.

While I am sure Class1 will provide more stable connection, but I think it will drain batt more as well. I am quite satisfied with SE class2 (ver2 and support stereo) bluetooth because I only uses it for transfer and headset communication. Also I got Class1 2.0USB dongle and my connection is still solid even though I went to another room and close the door.
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Posted: 2007-01-24 16:43:55
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agree some of the little things moto has can be nice.. i'm a big fan of voice signal or obeymoto (se voice implementation sucks)

the k790/800 shouldn't need any drivers to be a mass storage device..

plug the phone in while it's off (or press c can't remember) and it'll auto detect the memory card as a removable drive.. (works on win 2k and xp)
you'll get driver errors but if you look in the my computer you'll see the removable drive there
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Posted: 2007-01-24 16:58:14
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Quote:the k790/800 shouldn't need any drivers to be a mass storage device..

plug the phone in while it's off (or press c can't remember) and it'll auto detect the memory card as a removable drive.. (works on win 2k and xp)
you'll get driver errors but if you look in the my computer you'll see the removable drive there

Yes the K800 also supports the USB mass storage device too...

BUT.... and a BIG but at that...

You cannot use the k800i during UMS (Usb Mass Storage) mode. Even if the phone is on, and you plug the USB cable in, you get a pop up on the phone asking if you wish to use File mode or Dial-up. IF you choose File Mode, the phone shuts down into a inactive state, until you disconnect the cable. (PS, i didn't get any driver errors, this way)

With the V3i, the the phone does not shut down, though you will not be able to use the Memory card from within the phone whilst connected.

On the downside, it's UMS mode is actually implemented using the phone's "software" (it doesn't use a hardware chip on the phone). As such it is rather slow.
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Posted: 2007-01-24 17:29:07
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Quote:
On 2007-01-24 17:29:07, janahan wrote:
Quote:the k790/800 shouldn't need any drivers to be a mass storage device..

plug the phone in while it's off (or press c can't remember) and it'll auto detect the memory card as a removable drive.. (works on win 2k and xp)
you'll get driver errors but if you look in the my computer you'll see the removable drive there

Yes the K800 also supports the USB mass storage device too...

BUT.... and a BIG but at that...

You cannot use the k800i during UMS (Usb Mass Storage) mode. Even if the phone is on, and you plug the USB cable in, you get a pop up on the phone asking if you wish to use File mode or Dial-up. IF you choose File Mode, the phone shuts down into a inactive state, until you disconnect the cable. (PS, i didn't get any driver errors, this way)

With the V3i, the the phone does not shut down, though you will not be able to use the Memory card from within the phone whilst connected.

On the downside, it's UMS mode is actually implemented using the phone's "software" (it doesn't use a hardware chip on the phone). As such it is rather slow.



gotcha... most phones... even nokia's go into an offline state... i think it's to increase speeds and stability.
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Posted: 2007-01-24 20:25:56
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this is a good phone
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Posted: 2007-01-24 21:50:53
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And the camera is of the Cyber-shot technology with 3.2 mpx resolution, auto focus and amazing Xenon Flash. These features are more than enough for the majority of users, but not with professionals. With the right setting, it overlaps most average stand-alone digital camera in the market. I uploaded to Flickr, printed some and people said' Wow, what a picture'..it's a matter of setting up the camera only..without Photoshop or Noiseware, a K800i shot is still the best. It's lack of Optical zoom, which will be there in the next K850 or K900..
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Posted: 2007-01-25 00:10:00
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