Originally rumored for an announcement as early as tomorrow, icaka over on Esato's forums is now reporting that Sony Ericsson's new be-all, end-all superphone -- the so-called P5i -- has been sent back to the shop for retooling and won't make a public debut until May or June of next year. While it could be argued that the
P1i is hot (or at least warm) off the factory line, a top-5 phone manufacturer certainly can't rest on its laurels -- and if the listed specs here are even close to accurate, they're staying up on their game: think 2.8 inch VGA display, integrated GPS, WiFi, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, HSUPA (yes, UPA, not DPA), and 128MB of RAM on board. Even better, it'll all be packed into a slim, light slider form factor that allegedly looks something like this concept art. Sounds just a smidge too good to be true, we know. Then again, by the time mid 2008 rolls around, is there any line item here that shouldn't be standard fare on a high end handset? Here's hoping!
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted Nov 14th 2007 8:27PM
"HSUPA (yes, UPA, not DPA)"
Uh... Well, no, that would be both HSUPA *and* HSDPA. HSUPA is the HSPA upload protocol, while HSDPA is the download protocol.
Think of it as the equivalent of EVDO Rev. A in the CDMA world -- 3G in both directions, instead of only 3G down and 2.5G up as seen in EVDO Rev. 0.
Mark, you're absolutely right. I was referring to the maximum data capability of the handset, which I do frequently; perhaps it's a bad habit, but when I say HSUPA, it's assumed that a phone also supports HSDPA. Obviously, the opposite is not true.
Chris
Yeah, I figured as much; it's just how you said "(yes, UPA, not DPA)" that threw me.
I've been staring at that thread everyday now. If P5i is not announced this year I will go mad. It really is the savior-phone all SE-Fanboys have been waiting for.
And let's not give icaka all the credit here... I'm pretty sure all he did was open the "official" thread. All info and photoshops have been contributed by other various esato members.
The one question I have is battery life. Sony is known for its innovative devices but they usually lack enough battery life to last for a whole day. I know this device won't show up at any carrier in the US making this device in the $800+ range. In the end, its not worth it IMHO. I do hope that other companies try to match this device and that a US carrier does pick it up. I do like that Sony is upping their standards. Shows everyone where technology is really at.
JAmerican, I have had a bunch of different SE phones and the battery life has always been excellent for me. I do admit with a power-hungry device like this you need a good battery but I don't have complaints on SE's battery life in general.
Unfortunately it's quite sad that you're correct and this will [probably] not make it to any US carriers.
I guess there really is a difference between Sony Ericsson and Sony. I agree that my SE T610 had amazing battery life. But, my Sony CLIE UX50 and my brother Sony PSP had terrible battery life.
JAmerican
I'm still using my T610, even though I'm an enthusiast, because my perfect phone hasn't come out yet. The battery life is incredible. The battery still lasts over a week with some use. I went for a ten week trip with a less than full charge and came back and there was still battery left (it was off, but any other device would be thoroughly depleted). Incredible.
iPhone what?
Dropping my iPhone like its hot for this.. cant wait to see 2008 phones
Yeah, like I plan on giving up my 8 GB Unix iPhone for a Sony with 128MB of RAM. This isnt 2002.
Dax, come visit this site again when you learn the difference between ROM and RAM.
Tell me again how this is a super phone?
I can careless what you think. The iPhone is mostly a phone to show off, it works well because of its browser functions and its 'unix' whoopie. Are you using command line, no. With phones that create competition among the manufacturers, the consumer receives a better product. Lets see what time brings with the 3G phones, and AndroidOS.
Biggest turn off on the iPhone is not being 3G
@Dax How much /RAM/ does your 8GB Unix iPhone have?
To be completely honest, I am unsure the exact amount of RAM the iPhone has v. ROM. I will say that OSX is just um..slightly larger and more complex than UIQ/Symbian. Maybe this Sony will not crash every five minutes with that much RAM, as UIQ is absolutely terrible at memory handling.
Well, for one I'll be able to run blackbery connect and have push email (the iphone can suck it)
2. its got a 5MP camera with a flash (the iphone can suck it)
3. its got stereo bluetooth (the iphone can suck it)
4. By the time it comes out it will be able to hold 16 or 32 GB of music/video(maybe more depening on M2 advances) (The iphone can suck it)
5. It will have an actual keyboard and handwriting recognition (the iphone can suck it)
6. It has 3rd party software (the iphone can suck it for now)
7. If you own one you're not a toolish douche like the rest of the iphone sheep.
8. It has a browser that might actually work over GPRS, let alone 3G (the iphone can suck it)
DAX to be sure: you are unsure about a lot.
Wait, I am confused about #8, what do you mean?
Also, it's entirely likely that, like other iterations of the Sony Ericsson P-series, that it's probably a Europe: in such a case, the US can suck it, which I prefer not to.
BTW, you can say what you want about the iPhone, but you cannot knock it's browser. Having toyed with the iPhone and many other phones (including Nokia n-series' awesome browswer), Safari absolutely kicks ass.
Not to mention,
9. GPS module (iPhone can suck it)
10. 520mhz CPU speed (iPhone and all other phones can suck it)
11. Not only an existing capability to record video (iPhone can suck it), but the capability to record video at QVGA resolution or higher (hard)
12. Like all other Sony Ericsson's, capability to wirelessly transfer any file without any restrictions (iPhone and Zune can suck it)
13. Can play ringtones from any mp3 you have or create, without having to buy it again (iPhone can suck it)
14. VGA-resolution screen (iPhone's QVGA cans suck it)
15. No need to hack, comes unlocked standard (iPhone can suck it)
shall I continue?
Super Phone !!!! funniest term ever for a phone .
just look at the tech specs: 2.8 inch screen, 5mpix with autofocus , HSUPA , 128 mb RAM ,integrated GPS, wi-fi, Slider, symbian , ..... looks like a copy of N95 8gb. yes n95 dont have VGA screen,HSDPA(not UPA but who cares ?) but it has VGA capturing & most *capable* web browser & most importantly it is not already available for quite a while.
& wait for S60 touch to come out in mid 2008. SE will suck then.
AND admit that iPhone has best UI , it is not about features but its all about user experience , and in that department it trumps all other phone in the market .... even N95.
@ drsilverworm
You do realize that the iphone has a 640mhz so processor, so you can suck it
OH i wonder do they sell the iPhone unlocked in France?? hmm oh yeah now i remember, they do. So thats another thing you can suck at.
And just because they don't market it in the States, doesn't mean you can't buy one and use it here. I'm the only one in my firm without blackberry hardware, and damn right I feel special using my p990i running blackberry connect.
P.S. Have you tried loading a real web page on safari when not in a wifi zone on the iphone? It takes so long it often isn't worth it. Opera is superior in that way (but certainly inferior in a wifi zone).