Sony Ericsson K660i internet phone
Designed for surfing
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
Review It may not be as eye-catching as a Walkman music mobile or a Cyber-shot cameraphone, the K660i's web-focused features may grab another type of user in a similar way, Sony Ericsson hopes.
The candybar K660i is SE's first mid-tier handset to be marketed specifically for its online-friendliness, and it features a set of illuminated browser shortcut keys that become active when surfing, 3G HSDPA for mobile broadband connectivity, and a browser with landscape mode as the default setting.
Sony Ericsson's K660i: the internet in your pocket, apparently
The K660i’s other features are typical of a mid-range 3G mobile. The display is standard-sized for a Sony Ericsson mid-ranger: a 2in, 240 x 320, 262,000-colour job. Video calling is facilitated by a camera on the front, with a two-megapixel camera doing the main shooting duties on the back. There are music and video players on board, but there’s no Wi-Fi connectivity on this phone. The K660i has also been loaded with a Google Maps, and an on-screen RSS ticker is included too.
But while web optimisation may be the main selling point, in reality there’s no new ‘super browser’ experience – virtually all of the web functionality built into the K660i has been seen before on other recent 3G phones, such as the Walkman W890i - reviewed here. Instead, the differentiator is the emphasis placed on user-friendliness.
The illuminated browser shortcut buttons are a first here. They echo Sony Ericsson’s recent Cyber-shot camera control shortcut keys. Lined up alongside the 3, 6, 9 and # keys, four miniature icons light up when you launch the browser. Holding the phone in landscape orientation, you can take the browser shortcuts by tapping the relevant number buttons below them.
COMMENTS
I *don't* want an all-in-one
Sure, being able to take quick snapshots is fine with a camera phone, but if I want to take quality pics, I'll use a real camera. If you want to regularly take decentish shots, the super-duper Cybershot makes sense, but I don't run around constantly taking arty pics.
I don't want to play music on my phone. The sound reproduction isn't that fantastic (the Walkman phones are ok, but nothing to write home about), and the file support is standard MP3/AAC- I'll stick to my 24GB (with SDHC) iAudio D2 with OGG and FLAC, thanks.
What I do want is an ok browsing experience (I don't mind downloading Opera mobile if the Java is good), good sync capability with whatever PIM I'm using, *good* battery life (I don't care if I run out the battery on my music device - my phone is another matter), Bluetooth, the ability to install my own apps, and I agree that wireless would be handy. But I don't want to pay for features I'm not going to use much.
I like the look of the K770, and I think that'll be my next one.
My advice:
the K770 does pretty much everything that this does. And more, as it has a 3.2mp camera with autofocus, flash plus very nifty sliding cover.
The only "feature" the K660 introduces is a few different presets and the slimline form factor compared with SE phones from 1 or 2 years ago.
The K770 is a tidy and good-looking slimline. Top phone in it's range (i.e. mid-market: free w/ £15-20pm contract), if you ask me. I got it on '3' for £22.50pm with unlimited data plenty o mins and txts. Only thing missing is WiFi (as per most new mid-range phones coming out). An upgrade from the K770 would take you into N95 territory (and it's associated costs).
STILL no WIFI?
Goddamit!
Seemed like my dream come true... but no WiFi?! A phone for the Internet, but still no WiFi?!
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