Sony Ericsson Live Walkman
Since it is branded as a Walkman, this phone is specifically designed for music lovers and has features that are not common on most other phones.
The Walkman phone is back in a new avatar. This time it is cool white, has a 3.2 inch WVGA screen, its Home button is in the centre, and it runs onAndroid 2.3. Though it is powered by a single core 1 GHz processor, it is still very responsive. The rear camera can do 5 megapixels—and 3D panorama and HD video (720p only) at 30 frames per second. There is also a 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video calls.
In this new avatar, the dedicated Walkman key is located on top, where you typically find the lock key on Android phones. As a result, I was hitting this instead of the lock key a lot. The headphones that Sony bundled with the phone earlier were not very good. The phone is now bundled with a Benetton set of headphones. It is slightly better, but to really enjoy this phone you will still need to upgrade the headset.
Since it is branded as a Walkman, this phone is specifically designed for music lovers and has features that are not common on most other phones. There is a 10 setting graphic equaliser to customise your music. Its built-in xLoud loudness enhancement engine improves the sound quality. There is also direct integration to help you look for song videos on YouTube, search for artiste information on Wikipedia, look for lyrics on Google, and also pick out karaoke videos of that song on YouTube.
On the hardware front, its GPS is pretty accurate and locks on to the appropiate satellites without much delay. A few of the GPS applications did tend to hang up when there was an incoming call. But this could be an application-specific bug.
The user interface is also clever and lets you access messages, media, your phone and phonebook quickly.
While Sony says the battery runs for 14 hours, I got a little over 10 hours. I was using 3G services and also did a couple of hours of GPS. But 10 hours on this phone is good enough. On the downside, there is no HDMI to connect the phone to your TV. You have 3D panorama, but it’s a painful experience. The 2D panorama works perfectly fine, though.
An app store just for India – Airtel’s Application Store Review
Apple changed the way people looked at the phone with the first captive application store. Peers were quick to launch competition for the iTunes store, and the Ovi Market Place for Nokia phones, the Android Market Place for Android phones, and then a Microsoft Market Place were up and running within months. Now, Airtel has taken the plunge by launching its own app store for Indian customers.
So why did Airtel have to open an app store when all smartphone users have their company stores to download applications? I didn’t take long for me to realise that the store make sense for people with phones that can run Java applications but don’t have credit cards to charge the apps on.
The Airtel store has about 1,400 applications split into multiple categories. Though the store is useless for iPhone, most of the applications are tested to work with BlackBerrys, Symbians and Windows Mobiles. Some even work on Android phones.
There are some good free apps like Snaptu which allows users to use Facebook, Flickr and Twitter, look at the weather reports and read RSS news feeds. You don’t pay anything for downloading the application over GPRS, but data transfers are billed to you. These apps can only be used on GPRS, so even if your phone has Wi-Fi you will still have to log on through the slower Net connection.
But that is the least of your problems as the service is also limited to Airtel customers. Then, you can’t transfer the downloaded applications to another phone. Some of the applications are really bad and there is no way you can do a trial before you buy it; there are also no screenshot available on the Internet. You can only use the maps on Airtel GPRS network, so if you are on roaming or the Airtel signal is weak, you can’t use the application. Plus, these are early days and no one knows if the Airtel App store is here to stay.
Anyway, I think it is a great step forward, especially with the many cheap Chinese smartphone available in the market. Here’s hoping the apps become better.
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The above review appeared in the Indian Express, on Sunday March 07, 2010
Apps for the Heart – 5 Great iPhone Apps, to Celebrate Love
Here are five great apps from the Apple iTunes app store that keep the spirit of Valentine’s Day burning bright.
Iflirt, $0.99
In case you are still single, I suggest you get an iFlirt for your iPod. It cost $ 0.99, but is worth every cent. With an entirely user driven database of pickup lines, flirting and dating tips, you can think beyond those cheesy lines that everyone has heard before. But in case you want something cocky, go ahead and try something like “I am doing a poll and all I need is your name, your number and the directions to your apartment”. The application features separate sections for men and women and even a random idea generator. So if you are still trying get yourself a valentine, give this app a try; just make sure you are not peering into your iPod when you say the lines.
Valentine Radio, Free
If you do manage to pick up a date, then make sure you have the right music to play on special occasions. Love songs can bring out the mushy side of anyone, but sadly radio stations in India think there is no world beyond the latest Bollywood tracks. The free Valentine Radio app brings your favourite love songs from around the world under one button. The application features a line-up of 40 romantic channels and a stylish design that works with all versions of the Apple iPod software. All you need is a good wireless connection to stream the radio and enjoy your evening with your special one.
Absolut Drinkspiration, Free
So, we have a valentine and some great music, now for some drinks. Since none of us are masters behind the bar, just download Drinkspiration and let it come up with suggestions. The app can even tell you what is hot across the globe and suggest a drink by taste. You can also search for drinks that use the ingredients you have at home or something without any alcohol. So toast to a great night.
SpongeBob Jelly Fish Jam, Free
A few drinks down, you can check your agility by catching a few falling hearts. Play this Nickelodeon game right and you can have Sponge Bob dance for you. The sequence starts out easy, but this sure is no child’s play. There are even variants like the Bikini Bottom World to test your music skills. Give it a shot, and see which one of you can get Mr Square Pants to shake a leg.
The Story of Valentine’s Day, Free
Well, we all buy roses on February 14, but how many of us know about St Valentine. This app tells you his story in the most interactive way, backed by great visuals and easy-to-read text. The app tells how the third century saint got couples married off and how his death anniversary started being celebrated as the Day of the St Valentines.
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The above review appeared in the Indian Express, on Sunday 14 Feb, 2010, Yes the Valentines Day