RSS is another web feature now becoming standard issue. This offers a useful way of getting updates from favourite websites and blogs without having to fire up the browser each time. You can also have it as a standby screen news ticker, with latest update frames running up the side of the screen.
The K660i ticks all the requisite boxes for organiser functionality, with PC synchronisation of contacts, appointments, bookmarks, tasks and notes possible using the PC Suite software provided. Naturally, messaging options include email with support for attachments and push email.
The candybar design is comfortable to hold and doesn't take up much pocket space
Battery life for the quad-band K660i is quoted by as up to nine hours of talktime connected to a GSM network or 4.5 hours chatting away on 3G. Standby is said to be up to 330 hours between charges. This is around the average you’d expect from a mid-range handset, and in real-life usage, our phone use gave us between two and three days' running time. You can expect lower than two days if you use the browser intensively, or keep your music playing.
Voice calling was generally very good quality, clear and reliable – just the sort of no-nonsense performance you want from your mobile, in fact.
Verdict
The camera is one of the K660i's more average elements that could disappoint the web-savvy younger target audience. The music player could benefit from a better set of earphones - or an easier headphone upgrade option - while some users may find the numberpad buttons too small for their liking.
The K660i’s illuminated web browsing shortcut buttons do differentiate it from others in Sony Ericsson’s well-stocked mid-range - but its browser set-up doesn’t really offer anything unique enough to be a star attraction. And if you were a web-savvy mobile buyer, you might be looking elsewhere for something sporting a larger display, possibly with a smartphone OS, keyboard or Wi-Fi.
Sony Ericsson K660i internet phone
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?!
Get a grip.
If you want and all in one phone Sony Ericsson does have one. Its called the P1i. Oh yeah it does Wifi too!
k750i
So the k750i is 2G, and probably a slower processor, but it's pretty much the same layout and probably has the same screen. After 3 years I still get about a week of battery life and the 750i's camera has autofocus (even if the camera button doesn't work right and the joystick is temperamental).
I don't really see the improvement.
