When Sony Ericsson launched the Xperia X1 globally as well as in India, it has created a lot of hype in the telecom industry, however, it could not keep up to the hype.
Keeping past things in the past, the company came out with a new Walkman series phone- W705- and launched in Indian market few days back.
Packing the latest Walkman gadgetry, including gimmicky Shake Control, the W705 is also boxed with a 4GB Memory Stick Micro card, and better than average in-ear earphones (though again, there's no 3.5mm socket on the bodywork). 3G HSPA provides high-speed mobile online connectivity, for fast uploading as well as downloading where networks are enabled, while there's a video call camera upfront, plus a 3.2-megapixel camera with flash.
Design and handling
Sharply styled with brushed aluminium on the front and sides, subtle gold trim, plus a rubber-feel back panel, the W705 has distinct design echoes of the W880i about it. A 2.4-inch QVGA display dominates the front, giving a bright, clear and reasonably large platform for its multimedia goings-on. Its bodywork is an acceptable 95(h) x 48(w) x 14.3(d)mm, and its 98g weight reflects the solid feel of the bodywork.
Buttonry below the screen is conventional Sony Ericsson, with the navigation D-pad and control keys laid out in an attractive circular array that's grooved and raised in the right places for finger-tapping accuracy. Similarly, the menu system is familiar Sony Ericsson territory, based around a grid of icons in the main menu and sub-menus, with tabbed sections for various lists of options. The main menu view can be changed if you prefer a more carousel or scrolling style of function selection.
Wi-Fi can be switched on or off quickly by accessing the Activity Menu shortcuts using a hotkey on the control panel. It's useful for fast-tracking to other useful functions too, like Bluetooth, Google Maps, TrackID or the phone's browser. Wi-Fi is a real no-hassle experience, activating without fuss, and able to auto connect seamlessly when you're in range of your selected hotspot.
The slider mechanism is smooth and feels robust, while the numberpad is neatly engineered - with a contoured surface and marker dots helping to differentiate numbers on the panel.
Music player
This Walkman phone leaves main music player control duties to the navigation pad - although there's also a tiny Walkman key on the top of the phone, for activating the player and initiating its Shake Control operation. This motion-operated gadgetry utilises the built in accelerometer that also auto-rotates the display in certain functions.
Holding the Walkman button down in music player mode and shaking the phone in certain ways can forward or rewind tracks, adjust volume and switch into shuffle mode. Of course, this is pretty gimmicky, as you can do most of this much more easily, accurately, and just as quickly, by pressing the normal controls.
The Walkman player user interface is very intuitive, with a familiar collection of track categories - including the SensMe option that can be used to select tracks by mood and tempo data (provided they've had this added via Sony Ericsson's Media Manager PC software before copying to the phone).
The music player performs up to the high standard we've come to expect of the Walkman collection, the packaged high-grade in-ear earphones producing a lovely responsive sound with plenty of depth.
That there's no 3.5mm headphone socket on a specialist music mobile is a regular source of irritation when we're looking at Walkman phones, particularly when the alternative is a lumpy proprietary multi-connector awkwardly positioned on the side (for maximum in-pocket snagging).
Sony Ericsson at least includes a 3.5mm adaptor on the two-part headset lead, so you can plug in your own higher quality ear-wear to further boost performance. Stereo Bluetooth wireless headphones are also supported. Through the loudspeaker, tunes sound OK but not exceptionally good.
Although the onboard memory totals 120MB, the 4GB in-box memory card is a decent enough amount of in-box storage for loading tunes. This can be done in the usual ways, using the USB cable and Media Manager software, drag-and-dropping in Mass Storage mode, or Bluetoothing over.
Over the air downloads - using Wi-Fi or 3G - are speedy, if you want to use an online or mobile operator service, or try Sony Ericsson's embedded PlayNow offering.
Camera action
The camera on the W705 takes a back seat to the music player, in typical Walkman phone fashion. It has a similar, if less sophisticated, user interface as its Cyber-shot brethren, and automatically switches to landscape camera mode, but the 3.2-megapixel camera here lacks the all-round shooting ability of Sony Ericsson's photo-centric handsets.
It has a fixed focus lens rather than using an autofocus system, and results are average for this sort of shooter. Image detail is limited, and although shots can look reasonable in good lighting conditions, images can look soft with lower light. In darker environments, there's plenty of grain apparent, and the LED flash has limited effect over more than a short distance.
Standard settings adjustments are included, plus image tweaking options. Uploading images and video online is also possible, with Sony Ericsson supplementing its standard Blogger upload option with others for MySpace and Picasa, plus a further option to tap in settings for any other services you prefer.
While video shooting quality is run-of-the-mill QVGA at 15fps, you can show off your clips via YouTube using a pre-loaded app. You can also browse the site, view content and manage your online account from the phone.
Shots can be geo-tagged with metadata so you can record where images were taken. Unfortunately there's no GPS receiver on this device, so positional info is approximate using cellsite triangulation. Lack of GPS is a downer with this model as more and more mobile phones being launched in Indian market these days features GPS.
Location and online apps
Even without GPS, Google Maps can be a useful app to have in your phone app armoury, enabling you to find your way around in unfamiliar surroundings, search for locations, businesses and services, and get routes planned over the air. It ain't Sat Nav, but it's still handy.
The online activity includes a typical NetFront browser that's speedy and serviceable to use. There are plenty of other useful, fun and frivolous features under the W705's bonnet, from a Walk Mate motion-activated pedometer for tracking your daily steps and an AccuWeather.com weather updater to a Music Quiz based on your tracks and an odd Rock Bobblehead motion controlled animation.
Among the five games included are motion-activated bowling and 3D driving games. The usual solid toolbox of organiser apps and functions are present and correct too, including calendar, calculator, tasks and notes, world clocks, timer, stopwatch, voice recorder, and code memo apps.
Email, IM and other phone messaging facilities are available, while Sony Ericsson has implemented a Conversations facility to view threads of messages from your phonebook contacts.
Performance
Battery performance is adequate, with the W705 delivering over two days of action with normal usage levels and Wi-Fi active. Sony Ericsson quotes best-case figures of up to 4 hours talktime on 3G or 10 hours in GSM coverage, or 350 hours standby for 3G and 400 hours on GSM networks. Calling quality was first rate in a variety of environments, and overall we found the phone responsive and reliable.
Summary
If you're after all the latest high-end gadgetry with your music phone, the Sony Ericsson W705 won't deliver it all. It doesn't do GPS, touchscreen and smartphone cleverness, and its camera performance isn't one of Sony Ericsson's best efforts. Still, the classy-looking W705 has a strikingly stylish design, and its typically decent set of mid-range features are bolstered by a terrific music player performance and Wi-Fi connectivity. Another Walkman handset that ticks the requisite mid-range boxes.
Sony Ericsson W705 Info
Recommended price: Rs 16,786
Pros:
Stylish brushed aluminium design
Wi-Fi connectivity
HSPA 3G
Walkman music player
4GB Memory Stick Micro card supplied
Decent earphones in-box
User-friendly interface
Quality sliderphone feel
YouTube supported
Google Maps software
Cons:
No GPS
Average quality 3.2-megapixel camera
Average video capture
No smartphone OS
No 3.5mm headphone socket on casing
Verdict: Sony Ericsson upgrades its Walkman phone lineup with a decently featured, Wi-Fi-packing, head-turner of a sliderphone
Rating: 
More info: Sony Ericsson India website
Smallest 3G/Wi-Fi combo I've ever seen.
Specifically for people who want to share a 3G connection with other devices; if you don't need that, get a regular card for your laptop.
We rate Sprint's network slightly faster, and that device is coming out later in the year. Although the Sprint's metallic case may (I am only guessing) have worse reception than the plastic case.
