Keepin' it real fake, part CXLII: Sony Ericsson's T700 gets a twin (sans Ericsson)

We've always wondered when we'd see a KIRF that was actually more desirable than the original, and while this ripped T700 isn't quite as succulent at SE's own T700, it's closer than most... on the outside. This touchscreen-based cellphone (which is obviously masquerading as a camera) supposedly sports a Carl Zeiss lens, a 5x optical zoom (seriously?), 8-megapixel sensor, a microSD slot and easily one of the nastiest user interfaces we've ever had the displeasure of laying eyes on. Hit the read link if you're into that type of sick stuff , and jump on past the break for a front side shot.

XPERIA X1 gets demoed in Sony Ericsson webcast

Those following the XPERIA X1's every move no doubt caught this as it happened earlier today, but for those that missed it, the Inexperia website has now posted most of Sony Ericsson's latest webcast, in which the X1's interface gets shown off to a far greater extent than we've seen previously. That includes a look at the phone's much talked about panel system and a glimpse of its video-playing abilities, plus some expected gushing about the phone's design, which is described as feeling like a well-tailored suit. Head on past the break for the video courtesy of Inexperia, and look for the whole thing to be available direct from Sony Ericsson on September 17th.

FCC approval ensures American Sony Ericsson X1 users aren't bandits

Now that Sony Ericsson's mighty X1 has earned the FCC's love and affection, you won't be an outlaw for using one in the States -- but unfortunately, you won't be a speed demon everywhere, either. The version that just nabbed approval here is the X1i, and anyone familiar with Sony Ericsson's naming scheme can tell you that an "i" means a phone's not really meant for North American consumption; in this case, we're lucky to squeak by with UMTS Band II support, which means we'll theoretically be able to pick up some of AT&T's 1900MHz signal. On 850, though, you'll be stuck with EDGE. Of course, a true global launch has been in the cards for the X1 from day one, and we're not worried that we won't see a more 3G-rife model getting torn down by the feds -- this just ain't it.

T-Mobile G1 and Sony Ericsson X1 seen side-by-side, molten lava hangs head in shame

There's really no denying it -- T-Mobile's G1 and Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 are two of the hottest mobiles around right now, and as predicted, all sorts of sparks flew when the two sat down for a side-by-side photo session. In a Dutch comparison of the two handsets, reviewers pointed out that the G1 was "significantly larger" than the SE counterpart, and while it's completely subjective, they also asserted that the X1 was a "true piece of art in comparison to the dusty look of the G1 [nice one, Google Translator]." Do yourself a favor and check out the whole thing in the read link.

Sony Ericsson's Walkman Xmini for Japan is awesome, but not for the usual reasons

In most parts of the world, the cute little device you're looking at here would pass as a perfectly acceptable Walkman. In Japan, though, it's more than just a Walkman -- it's a Walkman phone, people. The Sony Ericsson Xmini has been added to KDDI au's CDMA-based lineup, measuring just 75 x 44 x 18mm and tossing aside the usual barrage of 8-megapixel cameras and wide VGA displays for a mere 320 x 240 screen and 4GB of on-board memory. When closed, its colorful chin reveals music controls; opened, the whole thing morphs into a tiny handset -- and a refreshing change of pace from the giant clamshells those poor souls on KDDI are usually subject to, may we add.

Sony Ericsson's 8-megapixel C905 makes sweet love to the FCC

So what do you think they take pictures of in an FCC lab when they've got an 8-megapixel cameraphone handy? Oh, come on -- you know the technicians lucky enough to fiddle with fresh gadget after delicious, fresh gadget as they burn through specific absorption rate paperwork engage in a little extracurricular activity from time to time. Our guess, honestly, is that they probably snap that scary apparatus that looks like a human head made out of gelatin and MMS it to their daughter with a message like "look what I found in the ditch, honey!" Of course, that prank only works once before little Julie figures out what daddy's up to, then all hell breaks loose as she tips off the gadget blogs that there's an unannounced Sony Ericsson on the way. Yeah, the C905. Thanks, Julie.

Sony Ericsson posts XPERIA X1 user guide for your perusal

We won't embarrass you by asking when the last time you read a book was, but we know good and well you'll be fixated on this here PDF. As the run-up to the long-awaited release of Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 continues, the outfit has been kind enough to post up the official 26-page user guide for all to see. Granted, you pretty much know everything that's in there, but if you're looking to hone your battery changing skills before taking possession of one, the appropriate documentation is just a click away.

Sony Ericsson's new ad shows off the C905's camera and absolutely nothing else

An ad campaign shot entirely on a mobile phone camera? Well, Sony Ericsson -- claiming to be the first -- has done it, using the C905, ostensibly to prove what an awesome (8.1-megapixel) camera it boasts. The results can be found exclusively in December's issue of FHM, and are what Sony Ericsson Marketing Director David Hilton calls an "amazing opportunity" to "show off the capabilities" of the Cyber-shot. So let's just get this straight: your ad uses a professional model, a fashion photographer, professional lighting, and makeup, not to mention all that retouching, and we're supposed to be impressed with the camera? Okay, we'll admit it: we're pretty impressed.

Manufacturing delays said to be slowing XPERIA X1 sales

As you might have noticed, there's already plenty of Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1s out in the wild by this point, but there's apparently not quite as many as SE would like, and it's laying the blame on some slightly mysterious manufacturing delays. According to IDG News, Sweden, Germany and the U.K. have been hardest hit by the delays, but Sony Ericsson isn't about to get much more specific than that about the matter, saying simply that a lack of "certain materials" is causing the shortages. The company has said, however, that more phones should be shipping into Sweden in the next few days, with the U.K. and Germany set to get additional shipments in the next few weeks. It also says that planned launches in other countries like Switzerland, France, and Singapore, to name a few, won't be affected by the delays, and that the phone is still on track to be released in the US sometime in November.

Sony Ericsson's W705 Walkman and MBS-900 Bluetooth speaker slide onto the scene

Hey, hey, just as expected out pops Sony Ericsson's latest Walkman from the rumor mill. The quad-band W705 (aka RIKA, the G705 clone) with UMTS/HSPA 900/2100 support shares the same Clear Bass / Clear Stereo audio quality found in the W980 Walkman while packing DLNA-certified WiFi, shake control and SensMe music manipulation, a "large" (uh, hardly by today's standards) 2.4-inch display, 4GB of bundled memory card storage, an FM radio, 3.2 megapixel camera, Google Maps, and an accelerometer for what's quickly becoming a ubiquitous auto-rotating display feature on cellphones. It also packs Bluetooth, allowing it to stream audio out to the newly announced MBS-900 Bluetooth 2.1 channel speaker with integrated FM radio. You know, if you're a fan of compressed audio and short battery life. Just sayin's all. Both will be available in select markets as of Q1 of the new year.

Sony Ericsson's X1A surfaces in Best Buy's inventory

It looks like the long, slow road to a domestic street date for the XPERIA X1 could be coming to an end with the phone's recent entry into the inventory system over at Best Buy. Of course, we're taking all of this with the proverbial grain of salt, but looks like the X1A (as it's known in North America) might actually hit the shelves on December 7 of this year, with a retail price of $799.99. There is no word on a possible contract price yet, and with all of the other options out there (Touch Pro and G1 come to mind) SE might have a tough time selling this one to consumers whenever it does see the light of day. We'll have to wait and see.

Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1a prodded by the FCC

If you've read through our thorough review of Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1, by now you're probably champing at any number of bits to get your hands on the device. Well, thanks to the FCC, you can rest easier knowing you're one step closer to actually touching, holding, and hugging the phone (the US-destined X1a, that is). Amongst other things, the documents seem to disclose -- we'll stop short of saying confirm -- that a black version will be in play when it arrives in the States, though we feel that page 46 of the 114 page test report was more revealing in many ways. Don't believe us? Hit the read link and take a look for yourself.

Keepin' it real fake, part CLXVI: the Sany Ericssan X1 with Wyndowz Mobil

Strategic advantages Sany Ericssan holds over Sony Ericsson:

• A quarterly sales volume measured in the hundreds is considered a rousing success.
• Neither Sany nor Ericssan have any intention of pulling out of the joint venture.
• "Outsourcing" of industrial design saves time, money, and staff.
• None of those pesky Windows Mobile licensing fees to worry about.
• GPRS data speed isn't a problem -- it's a way of life.

Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1a available for pre-order at Best Buy

As one astute tipster's pointed out, the XPERIA X1a is now available for pre-order on the Best Buy site. Now that the phone's really, finally, almost here are you totally psyched? Or have you been too busy playing with your G1 to notice? Like we saw last week, the phone will retail for $799.99 in its unlocked form, and there's no word yet on pricing with a plan. Order now and they claim you'll receive the phone as soon as November 28th. So... what are you waiting for?

Microsoft launches Phone Data Manager Beta

Microsoft has launched a new beta of an application for synchronizing data from cellphones with your computer. There are at least two things which set the new Phone Data Manager apart from earlier synchronization applications like ActiveSync and Windows Mobile Device Manager:

1. Phone Data Manager Beta works with non-Windows Mobile devices. There's a fairly lengthy list of supported devices including a number of Sony ericsson, Nokia, and Motorola devices.
2. The new utility syncs your data with Windows Live Services. That means your contacts, music, videos, and photos will be accessible online from any computer with a web browser.

You can sync your phone by connecting it to your Windows XP or Vista computer via a Bluetooth or USB connection.