Sadly I wasn’t able to take a photo. I was in the middle of a meeting when a friend pulled out a Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1, SE’s latest Windows Mobile enabled device. The phone was smaller than I had anticipated, although heavier than my Nokia N82. It is perhaps the most elegant Windows Mobile devices I’ve ever held, with the slight sexy curve that tilts the screen and keyboard for easier viewing.
The XPERIA X1 is a matured device in the sense that it runs on one of the most popular operating systems (Windows Mobile 6) and yes, it does have a good camera. I got the shock of my life. Perhaps Sony did lend it’s imaging technology to make Windows Mobile imaging a better place.
What I found a little off was the usability of the menu system that was haphazadly inspired by the iPhone and HTC Touch. The menus would move around in a cascade or column but the truth is, I found this to be eye candy than utility, because I’d always end up on the Windows Mobile “Start” screen if I wanted to find something.
The XPERIA X1 is a conversation piece because of its elegant looks. It is also expensive, at above the P40,000 price range, which is typical for the higher end devices powered by Windows Mobile. If you’ve been meaning to upgrade your WM6 smartphone to something more elegant, this may be the device for you. Nice camera too.