Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 may share Panel interface with other Windows Mobile sets
By Sean Cooper 
posted Sep 10th 2008 6:15PM
posted Sep 10th 2008 6:15PM
We've not even had a chance to get all over Sony Ericsson's panel interface for its Windows Mobile powered XPERIA X1 and now there's talk of opening it up. Sony Ericsson's Ramanath Bhat hinted at the possibility of not only opening up the Panel interface for developers -- which we'd heard about -- but releasing the entire UI for other Windows Mobile phones. For those not in the loop, panel is Sony Ericsson's layer on top of Windows Mobile 6.1 which gives a desktop window into online info and dynamic content. So unlike HTC's TouchFLO 3D, which seems destined to stay on its devices, we may start to see panel ported all over. Bottom line, this is sharing, and we think sharing is good.
I hope there is an option to turn that panel OFF in X1 because it's the most useless interface I've ever seen in Windows Mobile!
If they want to finally get Windows Mobile on a level playing field with the iPhone [which seems to be SE's game plan], they need developers for Panel.
As such, they need it on more than one device.
I only hope there is a QVGA version, because I think that Panels look nice!
Would look ultra hot on my KS20.
i'd say it's flawed, but not useless. It's basically another widget engine built as a Today screen plugin. Widget engines are only as useful as the widgets available for them. Hopefully the panels concept takes off and we see a number of different useful widgets. TouchFlo 3D seems to be more complete and usable than the panels concept so far, but AFAIK HTC hasn't released an SDK for third party development whereas Sony has. If you really hate Panels, you should be able to revert to the standard Today screen. The only thing i really don't like about what i've seen in the interface is the stupid wobble animation when you switch between Panels. i hope that's optional.
Now if you want useless, take a look at the fish panel. i understand the concept, but it's just not that useful or intuitive.
Shoot, give it 2 weeks out of the gate, and itll be ripped of the Xperia, and availible for the WinMo community anyways!