Sony Ericsson K800i

[MiG-]

So i needed a new phone, i needed something good, something that can be worth me staying on a 18 month contract for..

It was either this or the Nokia N80, but reviews all over the net said it was one of the buggiest phones in existance and the battery life was a day maximum...

So i got this, and how pleased am i.

First Things first... The Camera

Now this is supposed to be the main selling point of the phone, and by looking at mobile review.com i accepted that the image quality was good, but fook me the quality of the pictures i've been getting are just well and truely magic...

Some camera Shots:

No Zoom out of my Bedroom Window:

50% Zoom:

Full Zoom: :(

Now overall, the camera on this rivals many digital cameras, and the size of the lens on the camera is a lot bigger than your usual camera phone.. So now i just take this for my quick snapshots..

The only gripe i have with the phone camera, is that the button really and i mean really needs to be pushed iin for it to take a picutre, slightly more than i like, espeically at nite when im a bit ****ed trying 2 have a quick snap shot.

There is also that new feature named BestPic™, which in essence takes 9 pictures at once, and then you can select the best ones, save em or discard em.. but Zoom is disabled in this mode..

The Flash on this phone is well and truely a flash, no if's and's or but's about it, a proper camera flash, although there is a stupid red light come on before the flash, and i really have no idea what that is, and it makes people look at it funny lol...

Video Capabilities

Very Very Disappointed with the video on this phone, even thought its good, does the standard 176 x 144 resolution, i wanted more...

With the new N series Nokia's recording at 320 x 240 and higher, with the range topping N93 recording video at 640 x 480, i wanted this phone to be able to do the same, which i know it is capable of doing, just SE wont and dont allow it...

Video quality is fine, but since it does run at the native resolution of the phone it lacks sharpness, or maybe im spoilt from coming from a SPV C550 that could Play DivX at 320 x 240, with MP3 Audio.. :pinch:

General Comments

The Phone has a very very nice feel to it, being a brushed black metal colour, it looks truely amazing, sleek and worth every penny i paid for it (free) :D..

The Phone takes the new Sony M2 Memory Cards, which are tiny, but they could have just included MS Duo, its 10x Better, Cheaper, and more widely available, so as of the minute i only have 256mb of memory, (not Included :huh: ), which can soon get eaten up with snaps..

The phone is on Vodafone, meaning that is branded full of there crap, with a voda logo on the front, and the phone covered in there icons, which are soon to be removed when the DaVinci Team supports my phone, so i can de-brand it.

Connectivity

All the bells and whistles, Bluetooth, IR, supports giving Internet Access Via Bluetooth and all the trimings, but no Wifi, which i wish someone would start implementing, because only a few smartphones have it, and i reckon it would just be a nice finish to an awesome phone...

The phone comes with a USB lead, and the usual Sony PC Suite, which allows the phone to go either in Phone Mode, or File transfer Mode, The Latter Being Faster, but disabling all the phones functions, so its no good to me...

File Transfer Mode is cool as it Registers the Phone Memory as one Removeable Drive, and the Mem Stick as Another, Naming them conviently as well, which is a nice Touch.

Gripes with the Phone

• The Front Camera is Useless, cant be used unless video calling.. :/
  
• Wouldnt have paid the ?130 they originally wanted for it on a ?25 Plan
  
• M2 Memory Cards..
  
• The Joystick, it will break, like every SE phone i've had, good job a have insurance
  
• The UI is slightly slow.. just a tad
  
• The Phone Call Buttons are the smallest things ever, and are nearly impossible to press
  

Overall i love this phone, and i would take pictures of it, but i dont have my Digi Camera, so i'm going to show you some posted over at Mobile Review..

MiG™

Edited July 6, 2006 by MiG-

[Elliot B.]

I currently have a K750i with Orange and my contract runs out at the beginning of October, when I intend to sell it for ?150. That money is then either going to pay for the first few months of my K800 contract (if I get the phone for free) or pay for one of the new Nokia models (which aren't free, they cost ?100/?150). The K800 is just so damn ugly; I played with one in the O2 shop. Also, as you said, no Wi-Fi and good video quality/size.

[MiG-]

I currently have a K750i with Orange and my contract runs out at the beginning of October, when I intend to sell it for ?150. That money is then either going to pay for the first few months of my K800 contract (if I get the phone for free) or pay for one of the new Nokia models (which aren't free, they cost ?100/?150). The K800 is just so damn ugly; I played with one in the O2 shop. Also, as you said, no Wi-Fi and good video quality/size.

Damn Ugly ? Really :blink:nk: i dont think so, at all..

Wi-Fi would leave the battery Flat in a Matter of minutes, and the Video Quality is an issue that every phone has unless u step up to the N80 That will be needed to be charged every day, or not even last a full day whilst using its feautes.

i'd rather have a killer 3.2mega pixel camera that a phone that will be dead in a day.. but hey, its all down to personal preference..

[Amnesia]

dont forget to compare deals out there.

[oldaccount1]

Excellent look and design. Now if only I had the money... ;)

[crazzyyfool]

I'm debating about whether to get this phone. The only thing I dont like is the huge bulge on its backside for the camera housing. I'm not too bothered about the 3MP camera either. I have a proper digital cam for stuff like that. What I do like is the updated GUI which is much nice than the K750i. I'll be upgrading from a K750i and have also been looking at the K610i which is a damn sexier phone.

Note sure what to go for now. :rolleyes: :unsure:

[MiG-]

I'm debating about whether to get this phone. The only thing I dont like is the huge bulge on its backside for the camera housing. I'm not too bothered about the 3MP camera either. I have a proper digital cam for stuff like that. What I do like is the updated GUI which is much nice than the K750i. I'll be upgrading from a K750i and have also been looking at the K610i which is a damn sexier phone.

Note sure what to go for now. :rolleyes: :unsure:

i'd go with the k800i, it just looks like its worth money, well at least to me anyway..

i've just found out that it DOES play QVGA video, and will be posting how to encode video for this little puppy..

The 3MP camera is one of the best on the market, probably second to the Nokia N93, but hey this phone is so much sexier, and the flash startles a few people as well. :D

[Quillz]

Very nice review! The K800 sounds like a great successor the K750. Personally, I'm waiting for the K790a so I can take advantage of EDGE and the 850 MHz band.

[MiG-]

How to encode QVGA(320 x 240) For Playback on this Device:

Using Quicktime Pro

Open up your video, then goto File --> Export:

Then Click Options as shown:

Video Settings -

Audio Settings -

Thats that done, Apply those settings and click Ok, you now have a QVGA Video the K800 will play. :)

Using FFMpeg

ffmpeg -i Adriana\ Lima\ -\ Fashion\ Tv.mpeg -ar 8000 -ac 1 -acodec amr_nb -vcodec mpeg4 -s 320x240 -r 24 -b 350 -ab 12 AdrianaLima-FashionTv_320x240_350bps.mp4

job Done.

MiG

[Elliot B.]

How to encode QVGA(320 x 240) For Playback on this Device:

Using Quicktime Pro

Open up your video, then goto File --> Export:

<snip>

Then Click Options as shown:

Video Settings -

<snip>

Audio Settings -

<snip>

Thats that done, Apply those settings and click Ok, you now have a QVGA Video the K800 will play. :)

Using FFMpeg

ffmpeg -i Adriana\ Lima\ -\ Fashion\ Tv.mpeg -ar 8000 -ac 1 -acodec amr_nb -vcodec mpeg4 -s 320x240 -r 24 -b 350 -ab 12 AdrianaLima-FashionTv_320x240_350bps.mp4

job Done.

MiG

Nice (Y)

[ElectricDemon]

The red light that comes on first is a red-eye reduction light. It's supposed to make your subject's pupils close slightly to prevent the flash from reflecting back off their retinas (and giving them red-coloured eyes).

Looks like a nice phone, the only thing I dont like is how far the camera extrudes from the back of the phone. It's bad enough with the k750i, being all too-easy to accidentally open the lens cover when taking out/putting the phone back in my pocket.

[ienhz]

I currently have a K750i with Orange and my contract runs out at the beginning of October, when I intend to sell it for ?150. That money is then either going to pay for the first few months of my K800 contract (if I get the phone for free) or pay for one of the new Nokia models (which aren't free, they cost ?100/?150). The K800 is just so damn ugly; I played with one in the O2 shop. Also, as you said, no Wi-Fi and good video quality/size.

Wha? The K800 is wayyyy better looking than the K750. It's really one of the few sleek phones that wouldn't look out of place in an office or out at the mall. Much much better design than any Nokia bar phone.

[ElectricDemon]

I caved, my contract is up today and I didnt even know, apart from o2 trying to call me about 8 times. I'll be getting the K800i on monday when they have them in stock.

[obd]

I bet Firmware Upgrades wont be allowed via the USB cable, and i'll need a Dock.. realmad.gif

Im pretty sure you will be able to do firmware updates with the bundled USB-cable and also do "over the air" updates, check under settings for Update service

Congratulations on the new phone :)

[Ajapi]

The phone looks sleek, but sure as hell doesn't feel sleek. The camera lid in the back isn't like the K750's, this one is far bulkier. Probably my only gripe with an otherwise perfect phone. One quick question, though: how is the mp3 player software? I know it's not a Walkman phone, but for the price, I'd expect a decend Media Player.

[Quillz]

Actually, the K800 does feature the Walkman player, sans the branding. Newer W series phones, like the W850, will feature "v2" of the Walkman, though.

[Super8 and Tab]

anyone knows K790's release date ?

[Rahul]

well it sure is a cool phone to have , but i dunno if it tops teh Nokia 80

[chanvw]

This phone looks pretty nice - too bad I've just started a 24 month contract on a K750i :( . Does anyone know when this'll be available on contract with a major network in Australia? If it's around the ~20 month mark I'll be sure to get it then :laugh:

[MiG-]

well it sure is a cool phone to have , but i dunno if it tops teh Nokia 80

by the time u've shown me your Wifi Features, Ure battery will need charging.. :whistle:

First Post Updated..

[ElectricDemon]

Gripes with the Phone

• I bet Firmware Upgrades wont be allowed via the USB cable, and i'll need a Dock.. :angry:
  

I think the Firmware will be updatable via the USB cable, providing it's still the DCU-60 cable that's supplied. I won't know until Monday, when mine should arrive.

Also, the phone supports OTA (Over The Air) firmware updates, I've seen this mentioned on esato quite a lot. I know this has been supported on the K750i (and possibly a few earlier models). I know this is present on the w810 and w900 handsets.

I think some firmware flashing sites already have a 'debranding service', which basically allows you to flash a generic firmware via the cable. One of the most reputable sites by the 'davinci team' haven't as yet, but that could change shortly.

SEUS II will undoubtedly be available for the k800i later on, since it would reduce SE's costs to allow their users to update at home.

Man, I can't wait for mine to arrive!! :D

Edited July 6, 2006 by ElectricDemon

[MiG-]

I think the Firmware will be updatable via the USB cable, providing it's still the DCU-60 cable that's supplied. I won't know until Monday, when mine should arrive.

Also, the phone supports OTA (Over The Air) firmware updates, I've seen this mentioned on esato quite a lot. I know this has been supported on the K750i (and possibly a few earlier models). I know this is present on the w810 and w900 handsets.

I think some firmware flashing sites already have a 'debranding service', which basically allows you to flash a generic firmware via the cable. The most reputable site by the 'davinci team' haven't as yet, but that could change shortly.

SEUS II will undoubtedly be available for the k800i later on, since it would reduce SE's costs to allow their users to update at home.

Man, I can't wait for mine to arrive!! :D

I've took it out of the review now :blush: , but i only put this because the last SE i had, k700i, needed the dock. :huh:

[yayaba]

Anyone know when this'll be released out in the US? (along with which carrier will be releasing it)

[Quillz]

Anyone know when this'll be released out in the US? (along with which carrier will be releasing it)

It's not known when the K790a will be released, but seeing as the phone is either tri-band (850/1800/1900) or quad-band (as the prototype models were), it seems likely that both Cingular and T-Mobile would carry the phone.

[McLaren_F1]

Waiting For the Quad Band K790

Rumour, it might be Released on July 13, 2006

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=948659&page=5