W600i is the latest Sony Ericsson device to encapsulate music and mobility, leveraging the heritage of its parent companies to demonstrate their combined vision. Branding the W-series devices as "Walkman Phones," the W600i delivers an open-standard-based digital music player for the mass market.
Through the packaged Sony CONNECT software, downloaded songs and music copied from CD can be directly transferred to the W600i. Able to handle multiple file formats including MP3 and AAC, the W600i includes Disc2Phone PC software for convenient music transfer.
The Sony Ericsson W600i combines multimedia and functionality with mobility, allowing users to take calls while listening to music, capture high-quality 1.3-megapixel images and video, experience 3D gaming, and access the Internet and email, all while on the move.
Design
Using an innovative 360-degree swivel form factor, the W600i focuses on digital imaging and audio. Coming in three colors, Vibrant Orange, Universe Blue, and Orchid White, the W600i measures 93 x 47 x 23 mm and weighs 120 g; not small by any means, but not overly bulky considering the features included.Taking expertise from Sony's imaging and audio divisions, Sony Ericsson incorporated a cell phone with true multimedia style. Exhibiting a unique swivel action design to allow a wide range of operating choices, the W600i's rotating operation allows consumers to use Browsing, Imaging, and Communication Styles depending on what the situation demands.
In Browsing Style, with the W600i closed, users can talk on the go. Drawing upon the prominently displayed 262K-color TFT screen, users can quickly glance at basic date and time information or view messages without having to open the phone.
Specially designed thumb buttons complement the full-color screen, enhancing the W600i's gaming experience. Two dedicated buttons above the LCD allow gamers to play horizontally as if on a console controller. Meanwhile, the 5-way navigation keypad is flanked by Right / Left Selection, Back, Clear, Internet, and Walkman keys to provide shortcuts to commonplace tools.
A Power On / Off button is situated on the top edge, while the Stereo Headset and Charger Connector is located on the bottom. Controls on the left allow listeners to Play / Pause the music, while Camera features along both sides contain Lock Switch, Turn Light On / Off, and Picture Zoom buttons. An Infrared Port, and oddly Volume keys, are located on the right. An amazing three External Speakers are also included on the left, right, and back sides.
The Imaging Style is accessed by swiveling the LCD closed, positioning the display opposite the camera lens located on the back to become the viewfinder. Designed to allow horizontal camera-like functionality, the back cover features an additional Mirror and Photo Light.
While the W600i can swivel any number of positions, fully open and in the Communication Style, consumers can speedily text message with T9 predictive text.
Out of the box, the Sony Ericsson W600i comes with a standard 900 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Home Charger, Stereo Headset, USB cable, Blue and Orange Faceplate and Back Covers, Application Software, and User Manual.
Basic Features
Released for Cingular Wireless, the Sony Ericsson W600i features GSM quad-band (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) technology, allowing consumers to use the device on compatible GSM networks in North America, Europe, and Asia, provided the W600i is unlocked.
Using the familiar Sony Ericsson 3 x 4 grid, the consumer focused menu is better than most user interfaces on the market. Sony Ericsson devices tend to focus on functionality rather than having an online-store-focused layout like many other devices.
Visually more appealing as well, consumers can not only customize wallpapers and ringtones, but also design headers and change colors through themes.
Sony Ericsson rated the W600i's 900 mAh Li-Ion battery at an incredible 8.5 and 400 hours (16.7 days) of talk and standby times respectively. However, those are under optimal conditions. Handset manufacturers and carriers often list talk-time and standby-time ratings with disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times.
Audio
Stepping into a new era of music integration, the Sony Ericsson W600i Walkman Phone offers a great mobile music experience. Using the included Disc2Phone PC software, users can transfer music from CDs or a computer. Music files are transferred in an automatic Artist-Album-Title order, but they can be sorted within playlists by any heading.
Through the digital music player, consumers can instantly access (or minimize with the music playing) their favorite tracks with just one press of the Walkman Key. Controlling the music through the navigational keypad and dedicated Play / Pause Key on the left side, the W600i provides convenient multitasking during application use, allowing listening without having to move between menus.MP3s up to 192 kbps can be stored for local playback. Even an Equalizer is included for adjustments to Bass and Treble levels. Amplified with Stereo Widening and Mega Bass audio effects, the W600i has two built-in external speakers (on the right and back sides) for a surround sound open-air music listening experience. For private listening, a Sony Ericsson HPM-70 stereo portable handsfree headset is included in the box, attached through the Connection Port on the bottom.
In addition to MP3s, the W600i supports MP4, 3GP, AAC, AMR, MIDI, IMY, EMY, and WAV (up to 16 kHz) formats.
Should users tire of their MP3 playlists, the W600i also includes an FM radio with eight preset channels to set their favorite radio stations.
Going above and beyond a typical mobile device, consumers can also get nonstop access to music, news, weather and other information through RDS (Radio Data Support) feeds. As digital text feeds sent out by the currently tuned radio station, information appears directly on the FM radio screen on the W600i.
Radio transmitters and receivers can be deactivated in Music Mode to allow music playback in airplanes, hospitals, and other situations where mobile devices may not be allowed. The W600i will play music for up to 15 hours with the phone on, or 30 hours with the phone in Music Mode.Similar to Motorola ROKR (with iTunes), consumers can purchase music through Sony Connect via the Internet from a PC for transfer to the W600i. However, the W600i goes above and beyond what the crippled ROKR (capped at 100 songs) could provide. Limited only by the amount of available memory (256 MB), the W600i can store up to ten full length CDs or between 80 and 120 songs depending on bit rate.
While comparable to the ROKR in storage, the addition of the FM radio adds to the versatility of the W600i. With functions such as the built-in Equalizer, Stereo Widening and Mega Bass effects, and preinstalled audio software such as MusicDJ, the W600i music phone truly live up to its Walkman label and provides the musical experience the ROKR should have.Entertainment
Common applications are included on the W600i including Alarm Clock, Business Card Exchange, Calculator, Calendar, Code Memo, Contacts, Email (POP3 / IMAP4 with attachment support), Notes, Picture Gallery, Sound Recorder, Speakerphone, Stopwatch, Tasks, and Timer. Additionally, MusicDJ, PhotoDJ, and VideoDJ allow users to perform basic editing on music, photo, and video clips.
Allowing users to create and transmit PowerPoint-like presentations on mobile devices, the W600i contains SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language), an advanced XML-based protocol. Through the media editor, multimedia presentations can be made by combining text, audio, images, and video clips.
The W600i is a formidable gaming device as well. Rendering real-time objects through the W600i's Mascot Capsule Java 3D gaming engine, advanced APIs are integrated for more detailed graphics. Dependant upon the carrier, three games come with the W600i: Extreme Air Snowboard challenges gamers to do tricks down the slopes in a unique 3D perspective, Worms Fort 3D is the classic teamplay game where worms hurl deadly weapons s at each other, and Gauntlet is the Atari classic where players fight hordes of rabid monsters.Allowing gamers play vertically, closed and sideways, or opened 90-degrees (vertical screen and horizontal keypad), the two mysterious keys above the screen suddenly become apparent. Used as action keys during gameplay, the W600i's more natural horizontal layout gives users a controller-like feel not found on other devices.
Additional games can be downloaded and installed through the J2ME (Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition) platform. Supported by leading mobile vendors, numerous programs in a wide variety of genres are available to choose from.Connectivity
The W600i supports Bluetooth 2.0 wireless technology, allowing consumers to pair with headsets, car equipment, computers PDAs, and other devices within a 10 meter radius.
Able to transfer and offload multimedia to and from a PC (also through infrared or USB cable), the W600i can also be used as a wireless modem with a laptop. Allowing fast synchronization with Calendar, Notes, and the PhoneBook, users can take their work with them.
Additionally including Bluetooth HID (Human Interface Devices) profiles, the W600i can be turned into a remote control. When connected to a PC through Bluetooth, the W600i simulates a combined keyboard and mouse. By assigning specific combinations of computer keyboard key presses to each key on the W600i's keypad, users can control computer applications from across the room.
Configuration files are needed for keypad controls of individual computer application. The W600i comes with a few preloaded files to navigate on a computer desktop, control presentations, and media players. Consisting of an XML file for the keypad and an image for the display, consumers can modify the files themselves on their computers.
Sony Ericsson W600i Features
* GSM quad-band technology for communication around the globe
* Integrated Walkman player converts the W600i into a portable MP3, MPEG-4, and H.263 player with full functionality or with all transmitters turned off, preventing disturbance of sensitive equipment
* FM radio offers convenient listening via portable handsfree accessory (Stereo Headset) or internal speaker
* Transfer playlists and albums from a PC through included Disc2Phone 1.1 software
* Built-in 1.3-megapixel camera with 4x zoom and video recording capabilities including easy photo sharing through Sony Ericsson's QuickShare solution
* 40-chord polyphonic sound engine
* Conference calling and integrated hands-free speaker
* Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) for sending pictures, animations, wallpaper, icons and ring tones
* J2ME MIDP 2.0 support for application, ringer, wallpaper, graphic and game downloads including 3D gaming through Mascot Capsule 3D engine
* Convenient PC synchronization for through Bluetooth, infrared, and SyncML
