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Review GSM/UMTS phone Sony Ericsson Z1010

Part I>>>

That happened so the review of K700 appeared earlier than Z1010 on our resource. Since the younger model K700 is based on the elder one a number of function descriptions from the K700 review will be present here but there are some differences that will be told about.

The main menu is presented by four rows of icons, three in each row. The icons are nice and well drawn. Most likely this is due to the higher screen's resolution. In main menu manufacturers didn't add animation unlike K700 and thus it looks plainer. You can use shortcut number navigation in case you want to, this way road to the required menu item will take only 1-2-3 seconds. Input confort remained the same and thus heving pressed # button you call a list of available languages and may easily switch between them while input.

The manufacturer decided to take care of additional horizontal theme bookmarks besides traditional vertical items. This means that now when you are in the call list menu, which is called by pressing the Call button, you will see not only the last dialed numbers but gain the ability to switch between bookmarks with last missed/received calls (horizontal joystick presses). In the phone's menu such navigation is used in all possible places, it strongly simplifies usage of phone; menu's ergonomics in this model is extremely high. I'd like to point out that similar horizontal panels present in the phone book, settings menu and several other menu items as well.

Cameras. Since there are two cameras in the device let's describe them in order and we'll start with a standard external one. The device allows taking photos nly in an opened mode and that's logical because the camera is on the back panel near the mirror.

From the pluses of K700 like interface the presence of bookmarks can be considered an advantage. They allow quickly moving from one picture taking mode to another, as well as video capture. And at the same time shooting process is done in a natural position, you don't need to turn the device.

The phone can record video clips in 3GP format, sound will be recorded as well. The clips themselves look nicely on the screen, most likely due to the screen's superb quality. At the same time this is the screen charcteristics but not the clip quality, the same video looks not well on a PC. Clip time is not limited and you may record as long as you are allowed by free memory.

Video sample 1 (216 KB, 3 GP )

Video sample 2 (71 KB, 3 GP )

Video sample 3 (51 KB, 3 GP )

Video sample played on the phoen screen ( MOV, 4,4 Mb )

The phone supports three picture resolutions, best of them is VGA, there are also few quality modes, picture compression (standard JPEG files). The phone has various effects and the ability to use night mode. There is no a panoramic shooting and other effects are rather plain. The frames possible to have for the photos are better to use in a picture editor after taking the photos but not before. In this case you always have an original photo and that is a plus.

Received pictures can be used as wallpapers, it can be easily sent to any device with the help of IrDA or Bluetooth. They can be sent via MMS as well, either with the help of built-in e-mail client.

Picture viewing process can be made from Album, they are displayed as thumbnails, and everything is pretty common.

Picture sample, another one, as well as this one, and the last one.

Все фотографии в одном арxиве ( ZIP , 473 Kb)

The second camera is under the internal screen and it serves for transmitting your movements while video conversations in 3G networks. We didn't manage to test the function due to the absence of such functions in Russia. The manufacturer nevertheless integrated a demo mode, which shows a dog speaking to you and your picture is displayed in the lower corner. The possibilities of the second camera are not as rich; you may inver the image in horizontal line.

Video sample with a videocall function (a camera instead of a face) – ( MOV , 2,3 Mb )

And let me show the device playing a preset clip (the original and a shooting from the screen MOV 4,3 MB).

File manager, amount of memory. The phone has 32 Mb of memory on board, a user can use about 28 Mb of free space, on which his data, files (pictures, video clips, applications) can be stored. Remaining memory is occupied with pre-installed applications, which you cannot delete. Part of phone's memory is used as phonebook, call list etc.

Considering the presence of a Memory Stick Duo expansion connector you won't have any other quastions concerning the internal memory. The maininfromation may be kept on the memory card and thus the device may eb used as an mp3 player.

The phone also gained simple file manager, with its help you can sort files into various folders, create directories in the phone's memory and store files in them. Using internal memory for file storage is impossible; the phone declined storing files with unknown extensions. But if you rename the file (its extension) it will be easily stored in the phone's memory. Meanwhile when we tried to view it, it lead to error; however the phone did not freeze and continued working. In future you will be able to send files via IrDA and Bluetooth in near future. Basically we face the fact that the phone can be used as file storage for very important files.

Using standard software you may easily write any files on a memory card and carry them to a PC.

Presence of file manager makes the life significantly easier, with its help you can sort out loads of pictures, prepare them for transferring process to PC. The phone still has the same problems like T610 and T630 had - pictures are taking up twice as much memory as they do when they are already on your PC. Most likely this is due to the peculiarities of file system's organization. Curious fact that when you are viewing properties for the picture, you will see correct information about picture's size, but if you look at the free memory amount, it will be decreased twice as much after taking the picture. Since there is a lot of free memory to use this problem is not actual.

Player. The phone has built-in mp3 file player, as well as 3GP. At the same time player is actually a nice tool for listening to mp3 files, the phone can be used for file carrying, you can carry songs in very good quality if you have a card of a big capacity.

Equalizer setup is present among the other settings (Bass, Voice, Tremble etc), as well as the ability of creating your own settings. Depending on these settings the sound will actually change, this is noticeable.

Phone book. Functional possibilities of the phonebook remind ones for Sony Ericsson T610, but the interface was redone. For example, one entry can be associated with several phone numbers, e-mail address, other contact information. In settings you can choose the required fields, as well as sorting by various fields including name, surname, but the input field remains single. Such sorting is important only while transferring data from PC, for phone's entries it's actually useless. For separate names you can setup custom ring tones and own picture, while the incoming call you will hear the custom ring tone, as well as chosen image.

While information input you are free to scroll between bookmarks, on the first one phone number entering and their sorting according to types. Actually this organization reminds Outlook for some reason, it is convenient. Ability to add voice dialing to separate numbers stored under one name was introduced as well, there can be up to 40 of them in total. If you remember, earlier on voice dialing was supported only for 1 name, and you had to make additional voice dialing bookmarks for other phones stored under the same contact.

While viewing the phone book you can scroll the numbers by the horizontal joystick's keypress, as well as watching other information. Of course the default number will be bind by you.

Traditionally the company believes that SIM-card and its memory will be used only in emergency situations, and not for storing information continuously. Viewing the entries on the SIM-card is possible from the separate menu item, they are not displayed in the common entry list.

The difference of Z1010 is that there is an item Videocall in the phone book menu and that is the most important innovation.

Messages. All functions are basic for messages; templates and ability to create your own ones are present. For messages storing phone's memory as well as SIM-card's is used. Chat function is supported, on the whole I can say that the features are pretty common for any other phone. Appeared emoticons should be mentioned as well, they are made on a new quality level.

MMS realization deserves to be mentioned as well, you can actually create clips, there are a lot of settings and it is not hard to use them, a truly unique quality that other phones lack.

E-Mail client supports sending and receiving messages; all possible encodings are supported including all Russian ones (depends on a language package, the majority of the devices don't support).

In this menu Instant Messaging is present as well, sort of ICQ analogue, this technology becomes popular really fast and by the time K700 will be released it will be demanded by a number of users.

Call lists. In common list you will see up to 30 entries with date and time assigned to each. Near each of them an icon will explain to what type of call it refers (missed, received, dialed). Besides this in common list additional icons are present, they show if the phone number is present in the phone's memory, or SIM-card's. The list of missed calls can be viewed separately, it can store up to 10 entries. In the same menu item information about cost and length of last, all calls can be viewed. Moving through the separate lists can be made with the help of bookmarks; this actually saves your time greatly.

Entertainment. This menu item contains access to picture album, list of music files. Function MuiscDJ is interesting, although it is rather niche and will not be in demand around most of users. In this editor you can create your own ring tones and edit up to 4 tracks.

In case you are creative person you can use graphical editor, in it you can draw simple pictures. Sometimes with its help time flies, but in most cases this function is useless.

There are two games in the phone. In the first one you jump on stones marking them and the second one requires painting a game field. Both the games are made with some 3D quality and are quite interesting.

Organizer. In organizer menu a lot of functions are stored at once, first of all - let's review the calendar. There are three types of event view, monthly, weekly and daily. In last case you see the list of all things to do and reminders, in two other modes you will notice the highlighted time with events or the day. Fast transfer to the required year, day and month is present. Everything is pretty simple and traditional, as well as schedule entry. Basically you get the chance to choose one of the 6 icons assigned to the action type, specify the place where it will occur, length and setup reminder (beforehand or in the entered time). I was unable find a way to setup reoccurrence rate, in my samples this feature was not present at all. From the editing menu for separate events you can choose another time and date, and that's it. Reminders work even if the phone is turned off, in case you turn on this function in the settings menu. Pleasant peculiarity of this model is that you can turn on/off automatic switch of profiles after the event had occurred, as well as return to the earlier set profile after the event is over. Basically we get analogue of Time Profile function in Nokia's phones.

To do list of rather ascetic, only two modes of events, call or reminder. On the other hand this is pretty enough, simplicity has its own advantages as well.

The phone has fully-functional search, which is organized for calendar, you just enter the words (or a part of it) and after few seconds see all events which suit for the searched words. Function works very fast even if there are more than 100 entries, fast teleportation to the event is supported as well.

The phone has normal support of sending files to different devices (like always - IrDA, Bluetooth). You just choose the required interval (day, week, or month) and send all entries. I'd like to point out the fact that receiving device must support PIM function in order to receive and display these data files correctly. When we tried to send our own schedule to TV-set it was successful, although it could not be displayed (via IrDA). Same thing can be sent from your office or desktop PC without any additional software for synchronization.

Notes. The phone supports recording short text notes, in common list first word from each is displayed. This is not always convenient since you have to enter every note with "marker word"., in order to understand what it is all about.

Alarm clocks. The phone has single as well as reoccurring alarm clock, which can be setup by the defined days of week. The alarm clocks will work even if the phone is turned off.

Countdown timer. Everything is pretty simple here, although same thing can be said about the stopwatch, it supports intervals. The phone has code storage, which was loved by many; working with calculator became more convenient.

Connectivity. From here you can setup all communication settings of the phone starting with WAP, GPRS and ending with Bluetooth as well as synchronization. The standard usage will not be mentioned, it is pretty obvious, everything works. The stability of Bluetooth should be mentioned though, no problems were encountered, and synchronization with devices runs smoothly, all profiles are supported. The manufacturer integrated bluetooth class 1 with a workignn distance of 100 m into the device. Having taken a corresponding adapter for a notebook with the same working distance I tried to connect the devices. Effective distances of 25 m in a room (four walls and one of them main) and about 50 m in the street were revealed experimentally. That's quite possible the results might have been different fi another adapter was used but we didn't manage to test it. Energy consumption rises in this working mode especially when the distance is maximum, the battery starts getting warmer. We can also say that little people may need such a distance and that's hard to think out a real way to apply the adapter.

The very same menu allows setting up local and external synchronization; everything is pretty common as well.

WAP. The browser was given separate menu item's sport, its version is 2.0 and it supports secured transfers, which is important for electronic transactions. With the help of browser you can download new wallpapers, themes, ring tones, everything is available on the original web-site.

Settings. Basically all settings related to the work with the phone are stored here, partly with the appearance of screens. I will not describe this menu item, since everything is way too common. The presence of updated themes should be mentioned though, they actually differ the appearance nicely.

Java. The phone supports Java (MIDP 2.0). I'd like to repeat the games are interesting and run relatively fast.

Impressions

The device works both in GSM (900/1800) and UMTS networks. The quality of connection rouses no cavils and everything is on a high level. The volume of a loudspeaker is enough always but the speakerphone is average in realization and works well in the room but not in the street. The polyphonic call signal sounds well and a possibility to set an mp3 file as a signal really gladdens. The power of a vibra is average.

I won't repeat myself and tell about the capabilities of the device, I'll only say it's worth buying if you plan to use it in UMTS networks. Then you shoud have a look at Z1010, Motorola A835, Nec e606. Z1010 is not bad as a 3G phone and the dimensions don't play any negative role. It will be actual for 6 month not longer. The model is not as interesting as a usual GSM phone. Even in summer similar phones with less size and richer functionality will be available. As for Z1010 it is a niche solution that was interesting for the launch moment and now is not as actual. The basic target group is represented by those who try to distinguish with an unordinary device, some kind of an exclusive model but are not bothered with big size and poor ergonomics. Big overpricing is not a restriction in this case. Z1010 should be considered as a forerunner of new models that will soon appear, and first it will be a GSM analog with a smaller body but full functionality of Z1010.

Eldar Murtazin ([email protected])
Translated by Maria Mitina ([email protected])

Published (Russian version) — 27 April 2004
Published (Russian version) — 04 January 2005

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