Compare Sony Ericsson W595 Contract Mobile Phone Deals
An Attractive, Unique Music Phone
The Sony Ericsson W595 Sakura is an interesting phone with a variety of popular new features. Along with having an awesome music player, it features a speedy internet connection and even an average camera! Its lovely appearance and low price, combined with its flashy gadgets, will make it a popular phone.
Appearance:
The W595 is a unique phone in that it comes in a variety of different colours. Along with blue, black, white, and grey, you can also choose a “sakura” pattern, which features elegant pink sakura blossoms against a pearly white background. Colourful exteriors aside, the phone also possesses a 2.2 inch AVGA 262k colour screen that’s brightly lit and works beautifully when it comes to providing you with sharp, clear imagery. At 104g, it may be a bit larger than some may prefer, but it’s hardly bulky.
The phone also has a few other fashionable traits. For example, the backlight behind the number pad pulses quietly when you play music. Unfortunately, there have been a number of complaints about a lack of consistency when it comes to keeping the buttons lit—some will be brightly exposed, while others are dimmer. At 104g, some find the phone a little bulkier than they prefer. The exterior, while pretty, isn’t as sturdy as other phones, and the buttons are hard to press and feel a bit plasticy under your fingers. However, if you treat the phone carefully, these minor drawbacks shouldn’t be a problem.
When it comes to user interface, the W595 has more unexpected goodies. Perhaps the most fun is the “shake control”, which allows you to browse your playlists by actually shaking the phone. Shuffling can be accomplished by jiggling it, while flicking it to the left or to the right will let you browse in order. Its large screen makes navigating through the phone’s other icons and controls a breeze.
Sound:
The phone has an excellent sound system and lots of goodies to play with. Along with having a snazzy Walkman music player, you also have an FM and AM radio RDS and an A2DP Bluetooth stereo. It also comes with a variety of popular features such as TrackID, Mega Bass, and PlayNow. SensMe is another interesting little program that actually sorts your music according to “mood”: fast songs, sad songs, angry songs, you name it. Opinions vary on the accuracy of this little tool, but it’s a neat addition nonetheless.
The W959 has joined the trend of having Shake Control as well. This feature allows you to switch songs by flicking your phone to the left or right. Shaking it shuffles your playlist.
Our only complaint was that, unlike many other music phones, this one doesn’t have a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Camera:
Its camera isn’t the best you’ll ever find, but it’s good enough for snapping the occasional picture while out and about, as long as it’s sunny. At 3.2 megapixels, with no flash and no auto focus, this isn’t a camera that will work well in darker conditions. However, it’s 2.5 digital zoom and video recorder make up for this somewhat.
Should you want to print your pictures, the PictBridge program allows you to print directly from your camera.
Internet Connectivity:
The phone has a wide range of options to choose from when keeping connected. With 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth, USB, and EDGE, you should be able to browse fairly often. We would have liked to see a wi-fi connection as well. Its quad-band technology also ensures that you can use the phone almost anywhere.
When it comes to messaging, your options are pretty basic: users will enjoy SMS, MMS, IMs, and a quality email client. Exchange ActiveSync allows you to synchronise files without trouble.
Memory:
Its 40 megabytes of storage may not seem like a lot, but add the additional two gigabytes that come with the memory stick that comes along with the phone and you have more than enough space to store your music, games, and more. The phone is also capable of having up to eight gigabytes if this isn’t enough for you.
Charging often won’t be a problem with this phone either. With nine hours of talk time and 385 hours of standby, you will be able to use the phone’s features without worrying about them sucking away your battery life.
Additional Features:
The W595 comes with all of the usual handy features, including an organiser, phone book, alarm clock, and stopwatch to name a few. The Walk Mate Step Counter is a unique little program for those of you concerned with keeping in shape.
Verdict: Its lack of a 3.5 mm headphone jack causes it to fall somewhat short in comparison to other music phones. Its plastic feel and weird glitches with the lighting may turn off some as well. However, if one can ignore its small inconveniences, they can enjoy high quality sound, speedy internet, and a truly gorgeous exterior for an affordable price.
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