Cell phones used to be anathematic to me, devices misused by fools who force their inane conversations on others. Either that, or mobile telephony was reduced to utility alone as a mechanism to reach help in an emergency.
It held no sex appeal or cachet, but all that changed about a year ago when it came to this writer's attention that phones now feature the amazing capacity to double as cameras and multimedia platforms. That seemed like the advent of a new era: a bona fide efficient solution to pockets puffed from carrying several devices like phone, camera, music player and so forth.
Almost overnight, people spending entire paychecks on cell phones were no longer ridiculous buffoons. It was time to join them.
The Arrival
It wasn't until over twelve moons later that an irresistible proposition came along, promoted by amalgamated Sony-Ericsson. The K800i was being touted on TV as the world's first cyber-shot camera phone, and the undeniable desire to get my hands on one of these new fangled wonders of technology was born.
The logic was simple: a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and all the other necessities, slick but hefty design, 3G, tri-band reception and everything else you ever thought a phone should have, for a price that, although not nearly economical, was still within reach. So I went and bought one, purposefully opting for the charcoal Allure color-scheme, the one not shown as often in commercials.
Here follow my impressions after a full month of use.
A Package Unto Itself
Let it be known right off the bat that the K800i delivers on its promise of technological marvels. It packs into just over 110 grams more applications and whiz-bang value than previously thought possible in a non-PDA device. This isn't a Blackberry, of course, so do not purchase one thinking it'll take care of all your office needs. The K800i focuses on entertainment and multimedia functionality, and gets that quite nearly on the money.
In addition to every essential function associated with contemporary wireless phones, K800i brings to the fore a host of highly desirable options. There's the camera, or actually two of them. The 3.2 mega pixel on the back has a metal shutter to keep the lens clean and safe, the best flash you'll find on a phone right now, digital zoom and as many camera options as were normative maybe two years ago in a stand-alone camera. The fabled Cyber Shot mode entails the phone automatically saves nine images per button press, allowing users to pick which one they think best looking.
The front deploys an extra camera for video phone calls, although it is very low-res, and therefore most probably of little utility to most users.
Then, there's the snazzy extras of having the phone double as a portable storage device, accepting Sony-standard Smartcards (the phone itself packs only 64MB), radio tuner (every AM/FM station in a given locality can be picked up with the handsfree), and media player. Since you can hook it up directly to a PC or Mac via the included USB connection or optional blue-tooth wireless, the K800i acts as another drive, so transferring files back and forth, including music files for ringtones or MP3 performance, is a breeze. Ditto for graphics should custom wallpapers, themes or animations be required.
The K800i, thanks to its bright colors relatively high-res display (for a phone, naturally, don't get too many hopes up) can also transform into a potent handheld gaming device. I've downloaded several games, and found them to be on a par for graphics and gameplay with products of the 16-bit age, i.e. Sega Genesis and Commodore Amiga. That's pretty good for a cell phone, particularly since the price point for one isn't really determined on strength in gaming. But count on K800i to be more than a bus ride distraction, as some of the games available will have even seasoned gamers hooked in no time.
Put to the Test
Immediately I took to snapping away with K800i's built-in main camera, playing around with the options a bit but finding most of them to make moderate difference at most. Overall, the quality averages at what a full, 1.3-2.0 mega pixel camera would provide, which isn't bad considering K800i has scaled-down optics and processing capabilities. The flash works well, too, and so images captured at night come out nice. There's a self-timer even for those special occasions, a tiny flash pseudo-mirror next to the lens so you can even aim backwards, and a variety of other very considerate features.
Sony-Ericsson obviously took their time designing K800i and weren't cheap about it either, keeping end-users in mind and providing ample features and neat touches.
Generally, a month later I feel this device does indeed double as a real camera, assuming you're not too picky and are willing to take a quality compromise for convenience's sake.
Reception has proven of the fluctuating variety, but never dipping too low, and K800i has yet to drop a call on me, unlike my previous LG phone. For use, it feels better than any phone I've ever operated with regards to shape and weight. Blocky and of heft, K800i holds great in the palm and has solid keys. There's something just satisfying about using it, and construction quality appears respectable so far.
There's one exception there: Sony-Ericsson have retained the middle-plate joystick present in previous K models, relying on it for most navigation and gaming. It isn't of the sturdiest disposition, and I've already replaced it on Sony's dime at a service center. This was a confidence-tester but time will tell how much abuse this solution can take before shattering again. However, even when fully-functional, the stick performs sluggishly, requiring a lot of getting used to and perseverance. Higher response resolution in future models would be greatly appreciated, as more than rarely this encumbrance results in wrong menu or game moves, and those can be irritating.
The software is a complete operating system and runs smooth with no noticeable delays or freezes, with big, bright icons and logical mapping. It's a bit slow at times but easy to learn and memorize, although not much the same can be said of composing SMS's. The latter can be a task and for some unknown reason are the only aspect of the operating system I've encountered as unresponsive. More than once I selected the wrong recipient for a text message as a consequence, and was forced to restart the whole process since there's no easy way of changing only the addressed.
The 3G connection is fast and genuinely useful, depending on provider. K800i can function as a broadband device, no problem there, so long as you can afford the data charges. But a persistent issue that will continue plaguing wireless devices for viewing any multimedia content is of course screen size. Although clear and crisp, K800i still challenges eyesights and may be a strain for many engaged in prolonged sessions.
The crystalline screen cover also attracts dust and smudges like nothing I've seen before, so you may want to consider getting after market protection for that.
Other niggling issues are the metallic lens cover, which tends to shift and open accidentally if you keep the phone in tight spaces like pockets, and a somewhat underpowered speaker, perhaps because manufacturers are beginning to address noise complaints. Both are minor and do not get in the way.
K800i can indeed act as a spare hard drive, with getting data off and on easy, fast and painless. That means all those obscure soundbites on your PC can finally get the ringtone play they deserved all along. Together with the cool radio function and excellent handsfree sound quality, the device portends great potential as a music player.
Conclusion
For this writer, K800i is the first cell phone, or wireless device, to convincingly deliver the promise of a new age in mobile communications and multimedia. It is definitely a well-rounded package offering many versatile capabilities, and lives up to most of its promises, albeit not in the glorious fashion some of Sony's commercials hint at. The are compromises in many regards, but those are to be expected at any rate.
The camera function, arguably K800i's strongest suit, carries a lot of utility, and users truly need not ever miss a shot again, as the corporate tagline espouses. However, taking the shot doesn't denote at which quality, and as long as users don't expect pixel-for-pixel comparisons with standard digital cameras, they should be fine.
Some K800i functions lag, for instance its video playback, which is rather low res. The main control mechanism, the joystick, is likewise a disappointment, and certain menus can be slow to respond or awkward to control, although the operating system has proven very stable.
What counts more than anything else with this device is the promise of exciting applications and the move towards better integrated, multi-faceted technology to fit and go everywhere. K800i offers an excellent combination of useful tools and is in no uncertain terms much more than a gadget. This device will change the way you use cell phones should you happened to be like me, a previously strict utilitarian.
It frees users from the hassle of carrying several devices, performs solidly and should therefore be high on your list.
And if you consider it a shame that in a year's time K800i will have fallen behind the times, think again, for those will be good, exhilarating times well worth the wait.
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