• Standard: GSM 900/1800/1900, EDGE (K790i) UMTS (K800i);
• Dimensions: 105×47×22 mm;
• Weight: 115 g;
• Screen: 2″, 240×320, 262144 colors, TFT
• Battery: Li-Poly, BST-33, 900 mAh;
• Memory: 64 MB + support for Sony MemoryStick Micro (M2) cards;
• Camera: 3.2 MP (resolution up to 2048×1536), with autofocus and xenon flash;
• Ring tones: 72-voice polyphony, MP3 support
• FM receiver with RDS support;
• MP3 player;
• Support for RSS feeds;
• Standard organizer features.

Preface

In this article we are testing the Sony Ericsson K800i model, but all the data is also relevant for the K790i: the first differs only in support of third generation networks (UMTS), instead of EDGE in the K790i, and, therefore, the presence of an additional camera in the speaker grille for making video calls.

Appearance and ergonomics

Compared to previous models (in particular, the K750i), the phone has become somewhat larger. The company cannot be accused of unjustifiably inflating the model, because the main reason for the change in dimensions is the display, which now has a QVGA resolution (240x320 pixels). Using a display of a lower resolution and size would be a mistake, because it will be very useful not only when using modern functions (say, for browsing websites or modern games), but also when using the phone as a camera - a compromise is impossible here, since the company is positioning this phone exactly like a camera phone, and for the viewfinder and viewing captured images you need as high a resolution as possible.

The design of the model has changed slightly compared to the K750i. All shapes have become more rectangular, which, together with the iron speaker, the edging around the display and along the contour of the phone, as well as metallic soft keys, creates the impression of a more serious and collected device, which certainly inspires confidence. The phone has become more masculine, so it is unlikely to suit the fair sex.

It’s worth mentioning separately about the control keys. They, together with the joystick, are grouped into a single block (and not scattered, as in the K750), tightly adjacent to the display and matching its color, which looks quite stylish and harmonious. This grouping made it possible to add, in addition to traditional keys, another one - for accessing the Internet. This arrangement did not have a negative impact on usability - the keys are well felt and the percentage of misses and errors is minimal.

The digital keys are located at a slight angle, which, after a short period of getting used to, makes them quite comfortable to use. It's nice that Sony Ericsson decided to abandon the QuickShare label located at the bottom of the K700i and K750i models. It took up quite a lot of space, which in a candy bar form factor can be considered an unaffordable luxury. An additional factor that prompted the company to take this step is the different positioning of the phone: after all, now the most important thing in it is the camera capabilities, and therefore focusing on the CyberShot function is a higher priority than indicating QuickShare.

There are some very interesting buttons to the right and left of the speaker. They double as guards, protecting the display from scratches when you place it face down, so you can use the phone for quite a while before you try to press one of them (they don't activate any unique features, though, so that's In this case, you will lose very little). A very interesting solution.

On the left side of the phone there is a key for playing a song from the media player. If headphones are not connected, the phone will ask if you want to use the speaker. Moreover, the device will not switch to the player itself, but will simply start playing the song you stopped at last time. In this case, for a few seconds a bar will appear at the top of the screen displaying the name of the song and its artist, and then the player will work in the background. Pressing this key again stops playback.

Next to the media player button there is a slot for a flash card. Traditionally, Sony promotes own formats memory cards, but the phone, despite its larger dimensions than the K750, uses miniature memory cards - MemoryStick Micro (M2) instead of MemoryStick Duo and Pro Duo. It is difficult to judge the justification of such a transition, and it is unlikely to definitely please end consumers - naturally, the cards are more expensive than their larger predecessors, and there is an abundance of media different formats doesn't make life much easier. Although the situation is not entirely pessimistic - 1 GB cards can already be found on sale, and many products come with a special M2 adapter, which is externally identical to a full-size memory card into which a micro is inserted.

On the right side of the phone there are the now traditional volume keys, which also perform the functions of moving through the menu and zooming in shooting mode. As in previous models, when you press them in standby mode, the screen displays status information about the current profile, phone model (probably in case you forgot it), the amount of available memory, battery status (charge level in percentage, without forecast of work duration), as well as the availability of alarm clocks.

Below (especially for pressing with the index finger of the right hand when shooting) there is a shutter key. It has two stages of pressing and is used to switch to the shooting mode (when pressed fully from any state of the phone, even with the lens closed), as well as to take pictures (as in most cameras, a partial press focuses, and a full press takes a picture). At the very bottom is the IR port.

At the bottom there is a microphone and a connection port charger and a data cable, the same as in the K750i. If you are planning to upgrade to this device from older Sony Ericsson models (K700i and earlier), do not forget that charging has changed, so your car accessories and additional charging in the office will need to be updated.

On the back of the phone there is a speaker (the volume is normal, you can’t call it high - you may not hear some ringtones on the road), a xenon flash (we’ll talk about its advantages and disadvantages later) and a sliding camera lens cover. The lens is located on a certain protrusion (apparently, the lens itself has become quite bulky) and, together with the cover, noticeably adds thickness to the device.

When working with the phone, it fits very well in the hand, but during a conversation, because of this bulge, holding it is not very convenient - there is nothing for your fingers to rest against, you have to hold the phone quite low, by the battery compartment cover, and there is a chance that the phone It will just jump out of your hands.

However, the convexity adds a small plus to the phone (undoubtedly less significant than the minus): as you can see in the photographs, when the phone is lying “on its back”, its upper part is slightly raised, that is, the phone seems to have its display facing you.

When you move the lens shutter, the shooting mode is activated, even if the phone's keyboard was locked (in this case, when you close the lens, the keyboard will return to the locked position). That is, you can switch to camera mode through the menu, using the shutter key and sliding the curtain. The curtain itself looks quite stylish, but it cannot be said that it is very convenient to use: due to its rather slippery surface, it is not always possible to quickly open the lens, over time it becomes noticeably looser, and often you can open it when not necessary (for example , taking the phone out of his jeans pocket). Finally, it is worth noting that the surface of the curtain becomes noticeably scratched over time.

The battery compartment cover opens quite simply - by pressing at the top on both sides. The phone uses a BST-33 lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 900 mAh; this battery is installed in some of the company's modern phones: W850i, W950i, M600i, W900c, W900i, V800. Of the minuses, we can say that both the battery mount and the SIM card holder put too much pressure on their holders: as you can see in the photographs, the inscriptions on the battery were erased, and the paint on the SIM card wore off after the first time.

Menu and functions

The menu is traditional for Sony Ericsson - four rows with three items each. The company is actively promoting its Internet services and is a little upset by the fact that in the main menu the entire first section is devoted to the PlayNow service, which allows you to download ringtones and other content from a special website - this service could be included, say, in the “Internet” item, and make the first position of the main menu much more useful.

Otherwise, all menu sections are quite logical - Internet, entertainment, Cyber-shot (camera), messages, player, file manager, contacts, video call, blasts, organizer and settings. Let's get acquainted with the menu structure, while simultaneously analyzing functionality apparatus.

Internet

You can get to the browser in the usual way by pressing the corresponding key on the left or select the desired bookmark from the quick access menu (via the corresponding key). It was made quite competently, no serious disadvantages could be found. You can view the site in both book and landscape orientation(Moreover, in the second case, unnecessary panels will be removed and you will be able to use the entire screen resolution - 320x240 pixels). There are options to save the page, disable images and cookies, as well as set the required scale. The Smart-Fit feature eliminates horizontal scrolling.

Of course, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to view most modern sites crammed with graphics and animation comfortably, but with sites optimized for PDAs, of which there are quite a lot now, problems are unlikely to arise - everything will be displayed correctly and conveniently.

To demonstrate the capabilities of the browser, we can give the following example: we were able to quite quickly top up the phone account using a secure connection from the browser itself through the PDA version of the Yandex.Money website (). The ability to manage your account from your phone opens up some pretty interesting prospects.

Entertainment

Here you have access to the radio, games, video player, three programs: VideoDJ, PhotoDJ, MusicDJ, the purpose of which is clear from the name, remote control of the computer, sound recording, as well as a short demo video telling about the capabilities of the phone.

The radio has not undergone any major changes compared to earlier models: the same work in the background, RDS support, installation of presets and the ability to play radio through a loudspeaker. As usual, the headset acts as an antenna, so the radio will not function without it.

The phone has three pre-installed games: Foto Quest Fishing (a very beautiful two-dimensional game of photographing fish - please note, you don’t need to eat or catch, just take pictures - very humane and positive), Mini Golf: Castles (three-dimensional and quite interesting golf) , WTA S.R.Tennis (famous three-dimensional tennis, installed in many phones of the company).

Of the set of VideoDJ, PhotoDJ and MusicDJ, I liked the second one the most: it offers quite a lot of possibilities for processing photos, but the rest are unlikely to be used by users often.

The most interesting thing about audio recording is the ability to record a conversation. When a large percentage of communication takes place on a mobile phone, the ability to replay the conversation can be not only useful for personal use(for example, if you need to remember the same house number), but it can also serve as significant evidence of the dialogue that took place (“Are you saying that you didn’t promise me money? Let’s listen...”). In most phones, this possibility is practically not implemented: either you can record a short excerpt of a conversation, or only one side (yourself or the interlocutor), or the interlocutor will hear a characteristic signal warning him about the recording (legislation in some countries prohibits recording without the knowledge of the interlocutor), or all of this together. In the Sony Ericsson K800i, the function is implemented well - recording is not limited in time, two-way and without notification to the interlocutor. Two things are missing from complete perfection: the automatic recording function (so that during a conversation you don’t have to go to the menu. However, you can move this menu item for quick access to “My Links” and activate it before picking up the phone) and the ability to rewrite these sound files to your computer (this limitation is circumvented by transferring the recorded file to the “Call Tones” folder).

Messages

Here you can view and send SMS, EMS, MMS, E-mail messages, as well as view RSS feeds.

Email It works quite correctly both for receiving and sending, there were practically no problems with encodings. It supports working with multiple accounts, POP3, IMAP, SMTP protocols, it is possible to work over a secure connection, and you can also change port numbers. Mail can be checked automatically at specified intervals.

Especially worth noting is the RSS support. It is extremely relevant due to the wide distribution of relevant channels on the Internet (today almost every regularly updated website and blog has RSS support), as well as the minimal amount of transmitted traffic (after all, as a rule, only headers and text are transmitted). At current GPRS rates, downloading a dozen RSS feeds will cost literally a few cents, which is good news.

Navigation through RSS feeds is made quite clear (first you select a channel, then you can expand the content of the heading you are interested in), using this opportunity is a pleasure: there are no problems with the Russian language, the fonts are well chosen, the function is supported automatic update channels (if new information appears in a channel, a corresponding icon will appear in the top panel).

Player

The mp3 player is made quite well; it is possible to play sound both through a headset and through the phone speaker. A simple equalizer, the ability to create playlists - in a word, it will be enough for unpretentious users. I liked the fact that when starting songs, a smooth increase in volume is used, fade in (when stopping playback - fade out) - very useful when using both a speaker and headphones (you won’t have to shock either others or your ears).

And, of course, if you are going to use the phone to listen to music, immediately purchase an additional memory card - 64 MB is unlikely to satisfy even the most unpretentious users.

Camera

Below are the raw photos, taken by phone with automatic settings (the first four), in document shooting mode (5 and 6) and macro (7 and 8).

As already noted, in order to get into camera mode, you can use the menu, the shutter button, or simply move the camera curtain. The phone has a very clear settings menu, and the most frequently used functions (image size, focus, flash mode and some others) are duplicated in the numeric keypad, that is, they can be changed by pressing the corresponding number, rather than moving through the menu, which greatly simplifies work in conditions where you don’t want to spend a lot of time on a photo.

Now let's take a look at the shooting settings options in the same order in which they are located on the phone.

• Shooting mode
  • Ordinary
  • BestPic. Unlike panoramas and frames, this is extremely useful feature, which will surely appeal to many users. By pressing the shutter once, the phone takes a series of nine photos in a second, after which you can mark the ones you want to keep (from zero to nine). BestPic will be very relevant in almost all cases: when taking pictures of moving objects, when shooting portraits (so as not to redo the frame if the person blinked), and also in low light (so that the picture does not turn out blurry due to a trembling hand).
  • Panorama. In panorama mode, you take three pictures sequentially from left to right, which are “stitched” into a single frame. The function is interesting, but not very useful: for truly spectacular panoramas you need professional equipment and a tripod, and the phone is unlikely to produce high-quality photographs - it is almost impossible to avoid noticeable joints between frames.
  • Framework. Overlaying various hand-drawn pictures as a background. After playing with a feature a few times, you will most likely forget about it.
• Shooting conditions
  • Automatically
  • Landscape at dusk
  • Portrait at dusk
  • Landscape orientation
  • Portrait orientation
  • Beach/snow
  • Sport
  • Document
• Image Size
  • 3 MP. Using lower resolutions, of course, only makes sense if you save space.
• Focusing
  • Automatically
  • Macro
  • Infinity
• Photoflash
  • Disabled
  • Automatically
  • Reduced red-eye effect. Dual flash is used.
• Auto timer
• Effects
  • Disable
  • Black and white
  • Negative
  • Sepia
  • Overexposure
• White balance
  • Automatically
  • Cloudy
  • Fluorescent lamps
  • Incandescent lamps
• Measurement mode
  • Ordinary
  • Center
• Image quality
  • Normal
  • High
• Shutter sound (4 options)
• Time and date on the photo
• File counter
• Save location

The ability to record videos is poorly implemented - with this positioning of the phone and a three-megapixel camera, the resolution of 176x144 pixels, 10 fps is simply no good. If there had been a decent video recording capability, the device would have received an additional and very significant competitive advantage.

I'm especially pleased with the preservation of the sequence of images after deletion. That is, if you took a hundred frames, copied them to your computer and deleted them from your phone, the next pictures will start with number 101, and not with the first one. Very convenient for active use.

Unfortunately, the K800i, unlike the K750i, does not have a flashlight. Users will react differently to the absence of this simple feature - some don’t need it at all, but for others it can be a serious disadvantage. This is explained not by the whim of the company, but by the design of the flash - unlike the K750i, it is xenon (which is used in conventional cameras) and is designed for pulsed light.

File Manager

Navigating through files is quite comfortable, it is possible, without switching to other programs, to play melodies and mp3s, and also, which is very important, to open text files, including in Russian, as shown in the photo.

Directly from the dispatcher you can send necessary files in a convenient way(via MMS, E-mail, Bluetooth and infrared). Sorting by name, date, file type and size is supported.

Video call

We will skip the capabilities of this menu item, since in our latitudes it is completely irrelevant.

Challenges

The call list is traditionally divided into categories: all, received, outgoing and missed. Nothing new was implemented, everything was as usual.

Organizer

Here you can access alarm clocks, applications, calendar, tasks, notes, synchronization, timer, stopwatch, calculator and code memo. In short, the standard set of a modern functional phone. The alarm clocks are especially pleasing: now there are five of them, they can be configured to go off once or repeatedly, and any melody or mp3 can be used as a signal.

Options

All phone settings are located here, they are grouped into five categories: general, sounds and signals, display, calls and communications. There is no point in going through each setting item - they are all obvious and understandable.

Results and prices

During work, I encountered an annoying bug - sometimes the phone did not automatically connect to the Internet: for example, you press a button to send and receive mail, the phone shows that it is busy searching for a server, but the image of the globe does not appear in the top panel, so the phone takes a long time and tries to complete the task to no avail. This can only be fixed by rebooting. We also encountered the usual freezes - the phone stopped responding to any actions, we had to remove and reinsert the battery. Let's hope this is a shortcoming of this particular test model; it is not intended for commercial use.

In general, the phone turned out to be decent and harmonious - the capabilities are at a very good level, there are practically no shortcomings, the design is quite stylish and at the same time classic - most users will certainly like it. In general, the prospects for this model are very good.

You can hardly expect a quick reduction in the price of the phone, because this is a top model in its segment that will definitely find its buyer, and the company’s portfolio has a sufficient selection of devices for the mass consumer.

Surely many readers are interested in the question of choosing between the K750i and K790i/K800i: which phone to buy and whether K750i owners should buy a more expensive model. By and large, the new product does not have any revolutionary differences from its predecessor. Yes, it is more attractive (of course, this is a subjective point of view), has an improved camera, a higher-resolution display, some new features (in particular, an RSS reader), in a word, it is improved in almost all respects. But some kind of giant leap that could open up fundamentally new horizons for using the phone (which happened, for example, when phones with built-in cameras appeared, or when they crossed the megapixel line) did not happen. At the same time, at the time of publication of this article, the K790i/K800i is approximately twice as expensive as the K750i.

So if the price of a phone plays an important role in your choice, and functionality is fundamentally important, and not the fact of having the top model, it’s worth purchasing the K750i. If a model that is twice as expensive does not scare you away, then you will get a device that is improved in many respects, but not revolutionary.

It is worth carefully choosing between the K790i and K800i models. Despite almost equal prices, it may seem that it is better to purchase the K800i, since the model has a higher index and supports third-generation networks. However, we should not forget that in our country the possibilities of working in UMTS are unlikely to be useful in the near future, but EDGE, present only in the K790i, has been working in the capital for quite a long time. So, if you often access the Internet via your mobile phone, you should opt for the K790i.

The phone was provided for testing
by Sony Ericsson

One of the most successful models in the company's line of mobile phones. A successful model that broke sales records and was enthusiastically received by fans of the brand. The business style of the Sony Ericsson K790i mobile phone is aimed at business people who value high-quality gadgets. To create the retro phone Sony Ericsson K790i, high-quality and durable black plastic with separate brown inserts is used. Thanks to its compact size, the device fits comfortably in your hand and does not take up much space. The build quality of the phone model is very high and there are no creaks when using it. The plastic of the gadget is resistant to mechanical stress. Even after prolonged use, there are no visual abrasions or scratches on the case.

On the left side of the Sony Ericsson K790 mobile phone there is a button to activate the radio and player for listening to music. The bottom left side of the phone contains a layer for installing an M2 memory card. To protect the slot, a special rubber plug is used, which is fixed to the device body. On the right side of the model there is a volume button, a special two-level button for activating the camera and the infrared port. It is very convenient to use for a person with any hand size. At the top end of the device there is a button to turn the gadget on and off. At the bottom there is an interface for connecting the charger cable and other headsets. Here you can find the strap mount. It can be purchased separately.The numeric keypad unit in the Sony Ericsson K790 retro phone includes elastic and responsive buttons. The keys are backlit, allowing them to be used in low light conditions. Using the buttons you can quickly dial a phone number or write a text message. Pressing the digital keypad buttons does not produce any extraneous sounds. On the back side there is a peephole for the phone's camera, hidden by a stylish plastic curtain. It moves with a slight movement of the fingers. Nearby there is a flash and speaker of the gadget. There is a small mirror under the camera eye for easy selfies.

Mobile phone screen Sony Ericsson K790 supports TFT technology and is capable of transmitting rich and clear images at any lighting level. The display dimensions are 2 inches. It is quite enough for surfing the Internet or reading text messages. The device screen has high viewing angles. The strong point of the phone is the camera. It allows you to take clear and high-quality photographs. Has many custom adjustment options. The battery holds a charge for 3 days with average use.

You can buy a Sony Ericsson K790i phone at a low price on our website.

The model is notable for its powerful camera: 3.2 megapixels, autofocus, xenon flash, protective cover similar to that of CyberShot cameras, as well as a wide range of settings and excellent thoughtfulness. In addition, this new product is a real hi-end in its class, being equipped with a memory card slot, an MP3 player, a magnificent display, EDGE support, a built-in Bluetooth module, an infrared port and other delights of our time. Potential hit sales...

The K750i is the undisputed bestseller in model range Sony Ericsson. The model turned out to be so successful that even now, more than a year after the start of sales, this device is one of the absolute hits of the market. Of course, the popularity of Motorola's RAZR is still a long way off, but the K750i has a different segment. This flagship from Sony Ericsson has become the best-in-class tool for the mobile photographer. Even Nokia at one time could not shake the position of the Swedish-Japanese alliance. But if the Finnish manufacturer SE hasn’t removed it from its pedestal, it has definitely gotten closer (remember the solutions with Carl Zeiss optics).

Competition in the mobile phone market has resulted in a new life for the good old Sony brand – CyberShot. Now the logo, well known to photographers, will also appear on Sony Ericsson phones, and quite justifiably - the same sequel to the super-popular K750i is the best camera phone in its class. The K790i model is about to hit the market, but is already being predicted as a potential hit.

It is this top-end business solution that will become the new flagship of the SE line of camera phones; it is also the first CyberShot phone. The experiment of the Swedish-Japanese alliance in this case is not as risky as it was with the Walkman last year, but there are many pitfalls here too...

Specifications

Standard: GSM 900/1800/1900
Dimensions, mm: 105x47x22
Weight, g: 115

Nutrition:
Li-Ion, 900 mAh
Talk time, min.: 420
Standby time, hours: 350

Display:
TFT, 262,144 colors (262 k), 320 x 240 pixels

Camera, MP: 3.2
Memory, MB: 64

Memory card:
Memory Stick M2
Supports storage media up to 2 GB

JAVA: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Polyphony, number of voices: 72
MP3/FM: Yes/Yes
SMS/MMS/E-Mail: Yes/Yes/Yes
Phone book, number of cells: 1000
WAP/GPRS: Yes/Yes
EDGE: Yes
IR port: Yes
Voice dialing: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Alarm: Yes
Organizer: Yes
Voice recorder: Yes
Calculator: Yes
Currency converter: Yes
Estimated price, $: 500

The main advantage of the new product is, without a doubt, the camera. There is 3.2 megapixels, autofocus, a xenon flash, and a protective cover similar to that of CyberShot cameras, as well as a wide range of settings and excellent thoughtfulness for this use of the phone. However, this is not the only element that makes the K790i remarkable. The model is a real hi-end in its class, being equipped with a memory card slot, an MP3 player, a magnificent display, EDGE support, a built-in Bluetooth module, an infrared port and other delights of our time. However, this is all in theory, but in practice this is...

Modifications

To avoid confusion, let's look at the next modifications of the platform on which our today's hero is built:

• K800i – UMTS (2100MHz)/GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz (GPRS only supported), for Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa.


• K800c – UMTS (2100MHz)/GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz (GPRS only supported), for mainland China.


• K790i – GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz (both GPRS and EDGE supported), for Europe, Asia-Pacific, North and South America.


• K790a – GSM 850/1800/1900 MHz (both GPRS and EDGE supported), for North and South America.


• K790c – GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz (both GPRS and EDGE supported), for mainland China.

As we can see, the K790i is the most interesting for Russia. There will also be deliveries of K800i, but the UMTS service is not yet supported by any of the domestic operators: according to the most optimistic forecasts, 3G networks will come to us only next year. The difference in price, of course, is not in favor of the K800i. That is why we decided to consider the K790i as a more pressing option for the Russian market.

Outside

The design of the Sony Ericsson K790i is designed in a business style, which emphasizes the positioning of the model as a business solution. The body is only slightly smoothed in the corners, the color scheme is conservative – black with gray inserts. Such solidity is appropriate, remember the indignation of many users about the appearance of the W800i - the frivolity and focus on a youth audience clearly did not correspond to market realities. It is not surprising that changing the case to a strict “casing” from the K750i was literally put on stream and was in a certain demand. In the case of the K790i, the design exactly matches the price of the device, and the potential audience will clearly be satisfied.

The only thing that can confuse the K790i in appearance is its form factor, because the new product, despite its significant cost, is made as a candy bar. Fans of Samsung and LG are unlikely to be happy, but Korean brands have their own policies regarding the appearance of models. For Nokia and SE, conservatism in terms of form factor is common (the Finns only recently presented their first slider - Nokia 6111, and the Swedish-Japanese alliance has not yet resorted to it at all; the attitude towards clamshells from both vendors is also not very warm - their number is in model range of each is minimal). In addition, given the popularity of the previous model, it would be wrong to talk about the simple form factor as a disadvantage.

The ergonomics of the model are not as clear as in the case of the K750i: as for the software, the sequel turned out to be just as thoughtful and logical, but the dimensions and weight have increased significantly. It is wrong to consider the device as something beyond the bounds of reason, but the massiveness of smartphones has clearly become closer.

The build quality and materials are excellent, traditional for SE. There is no play, the body does not creak, and the coating leaves the most positive impression - there is no feeling that it will peel off after a month of use.

Now let's turn to the set of elements. On the left there is a key to call up the shell of the FM tuner or MP3 player, and it can also be assigned to the last used of these two. This solution is similar to what we already saw in the recently reviewed W300i, so the K790i is not a pioneer here at all.

At the bottom of the left side there is a slot for a Memory Stick M2 memory card. In this respect, the model is also similar to the W300i, and therefore our regular readers are already familiar with the new format. We'll look at it in more detail below, when describing the K790i's hardware. Structurally, the connector is notable for the plug attached to the body, as well as the possibility of “hot” media change.

On the right is a volume rocker, a two-stage button (this is an important nuance, the same LG P7200 was equipped with a regular button) for the camera and an IR port “window”. This “geography” is common for SE camera phones; it is explained by the horizontal orientation of the body when shooting. This does not cause any inconvenience; on the contrary, it promotes ergonomics. But placing the IR port on the right side, and not on the top, is a controversial step; when communicating with other devices, this can cause unnecessary discomfort. However, nothing critical, habit will eliminate the problem.

On the top edge of the case there is an on/off button - small but convenient; its accidental pressing is unlikely.

The interface connector for the charger and synchronization cable, as well as the headset, is traditionally located at the bottom. The format, of course, is proprietary (only Motorola regularly equips the middle and upper class of its products with miniUSB), but the headset cable (HPM-70) has the usual 3.5 mm jack. There is also a lanyard attachment for wearing on the wrist; it is not included in the kit.

The K790i's keyboard unit is conservative in design, matching the body - it itself is a slightly rounded rectangle, and each key that makes it up is also a rectangle. The composition looks simple, but in practice it is quite convenient; even typing a quick SMS does not cause discomfort. The button travel is average, but clear; they are located close to each other, but the sufficient size of each smoothes out this nuance; The backlight is unusual - purple, very pleasant and effective, which makes the phone convenient to use in the dark, and others around you will appreciate it. It cannot be said that the K790i is ideal in terms of keyboard, especially within the SE model range (for example, the same K750i), but the model is definitely above average in this regard.

So, let's summarize the external inspection. Sony Ericsson K790i is a discreet and conservative, but stylish phone for serious people. This is exactly the impression one gets from the model’s appearance. The device is not at all tiny, and its weight is quite significant, but for a potential audience this is unlikely to be a deterrent. In general, in terms of exterior, the K790i has absolutely no serious mistakes. Even the workmanship is traditionally at a high level for SE. Let's see what's inside...

Inside

The K790i's hardware is notable primarily for its camera. As already mentioned, in this regard, the model can compete with many competitors, and is even a leader in its class.

The design of the Sony Ericsson K790i CMOS camera is static, but it has the entire set of a mobile photographer - a mirror for self-portrait photography, a flash, and even a shutter with an auto-closer mechanism. The second one is especially noteworthy. Unlike most modern phones The K790i has a xenon flash rather than an LED flash. This allows you to position yourself closer to the subject you are shooting. In addition, the use of close to natural xenon light does not require color correction. In addition, xenon flashes “charge” faster (one second versus five for LED flashes). The advantage, although insignificant, is pleasant.

Notable are the photo functions, unusual for most camera phones, which SE places special emphasis on. For example, BestPic will help you choose the best frame: four pictures are taken before pressing the shutter key, and four more after. The user can only select the best and delete the rest. Red-eye reduction is also possible, and the stabilization function compensates for minor hand movements when shooting. The results can be immediately sent via Bluetooth and MMS, as well as uploaded to a web log. The page is created the first time you upload it to the web log, after which a text message will be sent with the address and login information. You can see an example of how the function works. In addition, there are mini-keys on each side of the screen that simplify the use of the K790i, and the model's photo communications are also notable for supporting the PictBridge standard for printing. It is quite possible to connect your phone directly to a compatible printer using a USB cable and print photos without using a computer (tested on a Lexmark P450, the connection worked quite correctly). Finally, the K790i also has support for DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), a function for pre-ordering frames for subsequent printing (activated from the photo browser). When you insert a memory card into the printer slot, the selected frames are printed automatically in the required quantity with or without a date.

The camera settings are not satisfactory - everything you need is there, even more, given the above-mentioned functionality. There are four image resolution options available, from 640x480 pixels to 2048x1536 pixels. We especially note the variety of shooting modes (in addition to the standard one - the aforementioned BestPic, panorama, frames and series). But there are few effects - monochrome, negative, sepia and solarization. The flash cannot work as a flashlight, autofocus is not forcibly disabled. Regarding the latter, however, we note that the “Infinity” function blocks autofocus, and it is quite difficult to imagine other reasons for turning it off; in addition, there is a “Macro” mode. It is also noteworthy that the K790i has an autofocus illuminator. There are seven creative modes in which all the necessary settings are pre-set: “landscape at twilight”, “portrait at twilight”, “snow”, etc. switched in one touch using a special key above the display - and this is better than a simple “manual” mode. There's even spot exposure metering. The zoom is digital, very powerful – 16x.

The camera shoots in horizontal mode; this solution is traditional for SE and is very convenient in practice. A hitch can be caused by adjusting the zoom, which is done using the volume rocker - this element is quite small and tight, which is why fluctuations are inevitable when increasing/decreasing the frame during video shooting. But the protective curtain on the ergonomics side is smooth and clear, it opens easily and immediately activates the camera application.

The results are as follows (maximum quality settings):

Sony Ericsson K790i camera zoom operation

The photos we received can be described as very high quality. In good lighting, the Sony Ericsson K790i can compete with similar point-and-shoot cameras. The results of this camera model are suitable not only for MMS and phone book illustration, but also for electronic storage on a computer, as well as for printing on a 10 x 15 cm printer - tested with the Lexmark P450. Our photo expert took a closer look at the new product:

Photo expert's opinion(Alexey Goncharov, [email protected]):

In the camera phone market, Sony Ericsson is a recognized leader. The company's approach to selling its mobile cameras is reasonable: it does not rely on the number of megapixels (a magic indicator for the average user), but on the quality of the finished images - a very reasonable strategy for creating a positive image among consumers. Many consider the cameras in SE phones to be the best on the market, not unreasonably and quite deservedly - since the time of the S700i photo module, which was unprecedented in quality. Ultimately, this title was won by the K750i solution, which was very intelligently implemented in all of the company’s “top” models over the past year. Many fans of “mobilography” have been looking forward to the release of a new generation of Swedish-Japanese cameras for several months now - no one doubts that this will be a real breakthrough in the industry. The K790i phone is the first representative of the CyberShot phone.

Let's start, as always, with the physical characteristics of the image taken by the new product. So, we have a jpeg file measuring 2048 x 1536 pixels (3.2 MP) with a resolution of 72 dpi. Let’s “pull up” the last parameter to 300 dpi and get a picture with linear dimensions of 13 x 17 cm. Well, it’s worthy - just right for those who like to collect mobile photo albums. What about quality? Let's start with the bad: SE engineers couldn't do anything about noise when shooting in artificial light - it is still present in the images. The number of them, however, is minimal, but sufficient for the characteristic picture of “photography with a telephone.” It is worth noting, however, the effective noise reduction algorithms: without clogging the picture with excessive “sharpening”, they adequately cope with their task. The xenon flash also copes with its tasks much better than the traditional LED flash. It’s practically useless to shoot on the street at night - there’s no revolution here. But when it comes to daytime photography, everything is just great: there’s definitely something to see here. The color balance is determined correctly, the photos are clear over the entire area of ​​the frame, bright, saturated, practically without geometric distortions, artifacts and aberrations. With the naked eye, it will probably not be possible to distinguish a photo taken by the SE K790i from a photo with an “adult camera” - the Swedish-Japanese phone shows excellent results. If you find fault, you can note that the camera phone’s light-sensitive matrix is ​​not the widest - on high-contrast plans in bright sunlight you can notice the “whitening” of some parts of the picture. The “bleached” fragments, however, do not look like bright spots with sharp edges: in the SE version they look like a kind of intelligent shadow in the background and even add expressiveness to the photo. Autofocus performs at a strong five points: significant improvements are noticeable here even compared to the previous model. The device is perfect for macro photography - you can see for yourself.

Verdict? Sony Ericsson has met all the expectations of users. The best mobile camera in the mid-price range is the real CyberShot.

Now the video. Here the maximum for shooting is 176 x 144 pixels. Format – MPEG4 (15 fps). You can configure the recorder with parameters similar to those of the camera. The quality is low for such an advanced product:

The screen is a definite plus of the K790i. It is made using TFT technology, displays 262,144 colors (262 k) and has a size of 2 inches, but its main advantage is its high resolution, it is 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA), which makes the image very clear. In addition, I was pleased with the quality of the picture. The display of the model is bright, contrasty, rich, has excellent viewing angles and good response times. Not Motorola ROKR E2 yet, but not Samsung or Nokia either. Particularly noteworthy is the high level of brightness, in this regard the K790i looks just great, one of the best in its price category. In the sun the display remains clearly readable.

The phone's memory is built-in 64 MB. If you plan to actively use an MP3 player, and even think about often shooting with the built-in camera, then you can’t do without a card. Fortunately, there is a slot for it, but the format is specific - M2. This is a compact variation of the Memory Stick, a kind of response to the miniature micro and mini of the SD specification.

Initially it was reported that the K790i would be equipped with a 64 MB card, but at the time of testing a final decision on this matter had not been made by SE. Perhaps the volume will be more significant. In any case, the shortage of carriers of the new standard at first can be considered a disadvantage. By the start of sales of the model (June-July), this nuance is unlikely to be a significant disadvantage, except that the pricing policy of the Russian market often differs significantly from the official one. Judging by the latter, by the way, the cost of M2 will be approximately equal to the cost of Memory Stick Pro Duo.

M2 is four times smaller in size than Memory Stick Pro Duo - the thickness is only about 1.2 mm. Because the Cell phones work with a voltage of 1.8 volts, when creating the M2, support for two values ​​was provided - both 1.8 volts and 3.3 volts, which is used by products compatible with a standard Memory Stick. An adapter for Memory Stick Pro is included with the card, similar to mobile formats of the SD specification. It is expected that delivery of M2 with a capacity of 256 and 512 MB will begin in April (previously the release was planned for March), 1 GB - in May 2006. The K790i supports media with a capacity of up to 2 GB, which allows you to fully use the model for both photo and video shooting, and for storing music and other data.

Wireless connectivity of the K790i is represented by an infrared port and a Bluetooth module. It’s gratifying that the manufacturer remained true to itself, leaving the “infrared” in the model. Most manufacturers today do things differently, depriving buyers of versatility. Regarding Bluetooth, we note the support for stereo headsets, which also makes the new product a very good music background - it’s strange that SE did not want to leave this nuance exclusively for Walkman, but for the K790i this is only a plus. EDGE support is still there. In terms of communication skills, the model is redundant; even experienced pros will be satisfied.

The software part of the new product under consideration is remarkable - there are a lot of interesting functions here, and ordinary capabilities have been expanded. This part of SE phones is traditionally the strongest, even in comparison with Nokia. The K790i uses a new version of the software platform. Its most important difference is that it is now quite possible to run two Java applications simultaneously, and with the ability to switch between them. Of course, the background operation of an MP3 player allows you to do the same on other phones, but the K790i is unique in that the second application can be not only the player, but any user software. Unfortunately, it was not possible to test this SE promise in practice; there was no such feature in the test sample. Otherwise, the innovations are not so significant - the alarm clock and organizer have been improved, context menus and clues, as well as a number of other evolutionary changes.

The phone book of the model is designed for 1000 contacts. For each, you can save up to 6 phone numbers, as well as a lot of additional information, even record your birthday date. In the presence of groups, you can assign a photo and a melody to contacts, including MP3.

The organizer includes a calendar (up to 300 events) and a to-do list (up to 80 events). Alarm clocks (five profiles available) have two modes - normal and daily repeats. There is a timer, stopwatch, calculator, voice recorder, melodies editor and much more - the set is truly redundant.

I would especially like to note the pre-installed toys - an interesting variation on the theme of sea photography, as well as golf. The latter is a continuation of the fun already familiar from earlier models (for example, T300 and T310), but now completely in 3D:

Both softies are well made and are quite addictive. A high level of pre-installed games for SE is the norm; let’s remember the excellent variation on the “The Sims” theme in the Z520i. Returning to the serious part of the K790i's software essence, we also note that the phone contains a full-fledged file manager, which will undoubtedly be useful for advanced users.

Although this is not a Walkman, the player in this model is still implemented at the highest level - similar to the W810i. It is notable for its very good functionality and ability to run in the background. Convenience is also excellent, and the performance of the soft is not satisfactory. The K790i player boasts an equalizer, playlists and other delights of the genre. I was pleased with the thoughtfulness of this part. So, for example, when playing a JAVA toy, you can use the volume rocker to change radio frequencies or scroll through the player’s songs. We don’t even mention replying to SMS without interrupting playback – the K790i can do such little things as easily as possible. The best part is that, with all its functionality, the new product didn’t even think about being capricious - everything worked like a clock.

Among the interesting features of the K790i, we also note a web browser with HTML support and correct display of both pages and Cyrillic alphabet on them. You can also mention horizontal display, the SmartFit function for auto-scaling, as well as launching basic functions and settings using hardware keys in one click.

In stock and mail client, which boasts Push E-mail support. It turns the K790i into a complete work tool for business people.

Among the entertainment…

... there are also such as a good photo editor ...

... and software for remote control.

Serious applications are also available in abundance, but we cannot single out any; the set, although exhaustive, is without any “highlights”:

RSS support is noteworthy - a rare opportunity, but relevant. We have already mentioned it in the W300i review.

As for the phone settings, everything here is logical and thought out. Fans of the brand will appreciate it; third-party users will quickly get used to it.

Sony Ericsson K790i is powered by a 900 mAh battery - a good solution by today's standards. The manufacturer itself promises up to 7 hours of talk time and up to 350 hours of standby time. During our tests, the mobile phone functioned for almost four days with intensive use (15-20 minutes of calls, 5-10 camera pictures, 5-10 minutes of GPRS-WAP, 15-20 minutes of games, 10-15 SMS, 2-3 MMS per day ). In continuous MP3 playback mode at maximum volume through the headset, the K790i lasted 20 hours and 39 minutes. The indicator is simply excellent.

Finally, let's focus on the subjective. The Sony Ericsson K790i has very good call signal quality and volume; when using MP3, polyphony sounds excellent. The vibration alert power is sufficient in most cases. The sensitivity of the device did not cause any complaints - the signal reception of the K790i is at the price level of analogues from other manufacturers.

Your opinions on the prospects of the model specifically for Ferra. ru were expressed by some of the largest players in the Russian market:

Expert assessment of market prospects for Sony Ericsson K790i:

Tatyana Moskaleva, head of public relations service (DIXIS, www.dixis.ru)

According to our forecasts, this model will be very popular, and there are a number of reasons for this. The K790i is a continuation of the best-selling K750i, supplemented with important bonuses: the device is equipped with a built-in 3.2 megapixel digital camera with autofocus and xenon flash, the model has integrated support for blogs and search engine Google, there is technology for direct photo printing (bypassing a PC), as well as the BestPic function, which allows you to take 9 full frames (with a resolution of 3.2 megapixels) and more with one keystroke. In fact, this is a full-fledged competitor to camera cameras. It is no coincidence that the name of the model includes “Cyber ​​Shot” - the product implements many technologies of the parent company Sony, widely known throughout the world for its achievements in the field of digital photography. In principle, Sony Ericsson has traditionally been strong in the segment of camera phones with developed business functions, and previous products of this level have enjoyed considerable popularity. Considering this, as well as the advanced capabilities of the new product and the attractive design, we predict significant success for this model.

Roman Malyshev, head of technical department (Svyaznoy, www.svyaznoy.ru)

Modern camera phones are looking more and more like digital cameras, and the K790i is one of the brightest representatives of such hybrids. Today, this camera phone has one of the best cameras. If we add to this the successful design inherited from the super popular K750i and a rich set of functions, then the new model has every chance of becoming a sales leader. Significant disadvantages of the phone include the new type of memory card MS M2 - the prevalence of media of this format is still very low, and therefore you can only trust the manufacturer’s promises to improve the situation. Otherwise, literally everything about the model contributes to its hit-ness – from its reasonable price to its recognizable brand. One of the potential favorites of our range.

Summarizing the testing of the hardware, we note that the SE turned out to be an excellent mobile phone - balanced and of high quality. The specific slot for a memory card and the low quality of video recording are somewhat confusing, but these are non-critical nuances, especially since everything else is pure advantages. We were especially pleased with the K790i's battery life, which is traditionally excellent for SE phones, and its excellent camera.

Alternative

The Sony Ericsson K790i had no direct competitors at the time of testing, and there won’t be any in the near future. At the beginning of sales, provided that the price tag is inflated to the “$1000” level, indirect opponents of the new product will be the 5-megapixel camera phone LG KG920, as well as Nokia smartphones with Carl Zeiss optics (for example, N90).

In this case, indirect competitors act precisely as an alternative; they cannot be considered as rivals to the K790i. The devices at the beginning of K790i sales will be comparable in price, and they will include powerful cameras. However, these are still devices of a different level than our hero.

Closer to the Samsung D870 in question – new flagship from Korea, which is also expected on our market this summer. Although it is made in a “slider” form factor, it is very close to the K790i in terms of characteristics: 3-megapixel camera, QVGA display, card slot microSD memory etc. An important advantage of the D870 is the small thickness of the case (only 13 mm), which makes the model a true fashion solution. In addition, there is a video output and a built-in ability to view “office” files. The K790i has a better camera and music component, as well as better communication capabilities. The prices for these new products are comparable (the expected cost of the D870 is about $550-600), which makes them, if not direct, then at least their closest competitors.

Verdict

Sony Ericsson K790i is one of the best camera phones today, especially considering its small size and light weight for such a high-quality solution. Off camera, the model also looks decent, although not as impressive. Considering the hit nature of its predecessor, the new flagship is sure to be in good demand. K750i connoisseurs will be delighted. And other users will probably find a lot of interesting things in the new product. Undoubtedly, a very successful model and one of the potential bestsellers of this summer.

Summary

pros

• Wonderful camera


• Reasonable price


• Good ergonomics


• Great functionality


• Impressive battery life


• Solid design and high-quality execution


• Nice display

Minuses

• Controversial form factor


• Poor video recording quality


• Specific memory card format


• Lack of built-in ability to view “office” documents


• Lack of hardware 3D graphics accelerator

The Sony Ericsson K790i is a solid camera phone with excellent functionality, good portability and a reasonable price. Most of all, the model is suitable for a demanding male audience and those for whom a camera is especially important in their phone.

Note Ferra.ru
We commend the phone for its balanced combination of functionality, mobility, ergonomics and price

Appearance

The back of the case is made of a material that is pleasant to the touch, thanks to which the phone is protected from scratches - no defects have appeared over the entire period of operation, there are no abrasions or any other external damage, despite the active use of the device.

One of the most controversial design elements of the K790i is the camera shutter. On the one hand, this element bears a stylistic resemblance to Sony cameras, on the other hand, the camera lens is reliably protected from scratches and dust. This is where the positive characteristics of this design element end; then a few words about the disadvantages.

The curtain is made of a material that quickly becomes covered with scratches: they appeared just a couple of weeks after purchase. There are no deep scratches, but soon you simply stop paying attention to small ones. In general, it would be possible to make a curtain from a material similar to that from which the front part of the body is made; this is some kind of metal alloy that is resistant to aggressive environmental influences. But, alas, that is, that is, the curtain, in my opinion, is one of the weakest elements of the design; in addition, the opening and closing mechanism quickly becomes loose, and a noticeable backlash appears. Over time, it does not increase, which is good news.

In general, for me, the ideal design of the curtain is the one used in the Sony Ericsson W800i/700i (this also includes the design of the K500, K600, W550, P990) - the curtain is compact and does not stick out. Again, it is almost impossible to open it when you take the phone out of your jeans pocket, and in the case of the K790i this is not uncommon; often the phone is taken out into the light with the curtain half-open.

The camera shutter button located on the right side of the phone has also lost its former luster - the key has scuffs.

I really liked the phone's screen: thanks to the mirror backing, it remains readable in sunny weather (the predecessors of the S700i and W900i were no different in this), in addition, the display has become brighter. I would also like to make a positive note about the screen coating: it is resistant to scratches, there has been no damage so far. Of course, I would like a screen larger than the current one (S700i had a size of 2.2 inches, W900i - 2.1 inches, K790i - already 2 inches), again, there is also free space. We can only hope for a future flagship, since the phone is no longer only a means of communication, but also a device for surfing the Internet, watching movies, and reading books. And a large screen is vital for these purposes.

Now a few words about the joystick, which has become the talk of the town.

Problems with the joystick have been known since the days of the T610 (I won’t list the entire model range, but I had problems with the joystick in the mentioned T610, and in the K700i, and in the W800i, and currently in the K790i). In my device, glitches (by which we mean inappropriate behavior of the joystick when I press to the right, but instead it works as an “enter”) appeared a couple of months after the purchase. I clean the joystick periodically; some say that the problem is in the software, others in the mechanics, but this doesn’t make it any easier for me: sometimes it becomes very inconvenient to type text. For example, in a word being typed, after the letter “m” comes “n”, in order to type the text faster and not have to wait the few seconds that pass when selecting the letter that needs to be entered into the text, I press the joystick to the right, but instead it works as “Continue” ” and offers to send a message. Naturally, you can wait, but there are situations when you need, for example, to make a quick call, and the joystick also acts inadequately and, instead of scrolling down the list of subscribers in the phone book, it can work as “Call,” which is very, very inconvenient.

Since we're talking about typing, we can't help but talk about the keyboard. In my opinion, it is quite convenient, although some note that the key block is understated. Who cares, it’s a matter of habit. I recently noticed that the coating is peeling off the “3” and “6” keys... so far everything is fine with the rest, it’s not clear what caused this - it’s not clear if the paint peeled off evenly, but here it’s only on two selected ones.

Separately, it is worth noting the block of soft keys, as well as the Internet browser and Activity menu buttons. The auxiliary buttons are small in size, but there are no complaints about this part, everything is convenient. We can also note the fact that people who have not previously encountered Sony Ericsson products are somewhat perplexed when they do not see a green button for calling and a red button for hanging up. It's a matter of habit.

Another point related to text, or more precisely, SMS. The K790i, as you know, is made on a new platform, one of the features of which is the ability to store in the phone’s memory not 200 messages, as before, but 1000. Everything would be fine, but when the memory is full, the phone begins to slow down, the list of messages scrolls more slowly, of course, you can erase messages more often, but the problem seems to be with phones with QVGA screens (240x320 pixels), I tried to reset messages to the maximum on the K610 (there were almost 1000 SMS in memory) - everything worked very quickly, without the slightest delay.

Multimedia

Although the phone does not belong to the Walkman family, which is focused on high-quality music playback, it is nevertheless quite good in this regard. The built-in player does not have a lot of settings (there are only four of them, you can adjust the sound to personal preferences), but, in general, the player is good. The phone uses a proprietary headset HPM-70 (black), which has a 3.5 mm jack that allows you to attach your own headphones. The phone cannot boast of anything special in terms of music playback; comparing it with the same W850 is pointless in this regard, the player is there new version, and the sound already claims to be something, with the K790i everything is somewhat simpler in this regard. The sound is quite loud; in the subway you can listen to music at about 80 percent volume.

Speaking about the player, I can’t help but mention the HBH DS-970 stereo Bluetooth headset. It worked fine with the phone. Auto-connection is supported (convenient - just turn on Bluetooth on your phone, and the working headset connects to it itself). The sound of the headset, according to subjective sensations, is similar to the HPM-70. The only disadvantage I can include is the impossibility of auto-answering; this, of course, is inconvenient; every time you have to either press the headset button or reach for the phone. There is also no way to broadcast the melody assigned to the subscriber; every time there is an incoming call, a standard trill is heard - it also doesn’t turn out very interesting, the company has something to work on. Among the design features of the accessory, it should be noted that there is no fastening; a clothespin could be provided. When walking fast (it is generally impossible to run with it, it sways from side to side), the headset begins to dangle back and forth, you have to hide it under your jacket, but then it is no longer possible to remotely switch songs and answer calls without taking out the phone. In addition, during operation in the autumn-winter period (by the way, there was no particular cold), the braid on the headset burst. Again, the operating time will suit only those who don’t listen to music very much - the headset worked for up to 4-5 hours, which is not enough. But overall, I liked the device.

Many people complain that the phone does not read Russian tags. The problem can be solved simply: for example, we take iTunes and change the encoding in it - voila, here we have Russian letters instead of krakozyabr.

Among the design features, we can note the presence of a Play-pause key on the left side. Thanks to this button, you can listen to songs without opening the player - just press this key and the music will start playing. There is also a customization option: we either continue listening to the last song, or the phone turns on the radio or player, depending on what we listened to last time. Another nice thing: when the player is minimized, the current song is displayed on the phone screen as a creeping line if you switch a track or start playing it (switching between songs is done using the volume keys).

I can’t say anything about the radio, I don’t use it. There is RDS, it catches normally. Oh, yes, with a headset connected, the radio can be set as an alarm clock.

When talking about the role of a phone as a player, we cannot fail to mention memory cards. The phone began to use a new card format – Memory stick micro (M2). I won’t go into technical details; for the average consumer, changing formats means, first of all, that when switching, for example, from K750 to K790i, he is forced to change the memory card. There is enough built-in memory (about 80 MB), but living without a card is not very fun. If you use your phone as a multimedia device, you will have to buy a card urgently: a picture in maximum resolution “weighs” about 700-800 KB. Ultimately, I reached a volume of 2 GB (there were 512 MB and 1 GB), there were no problems with the cards, the first two were made by Sony, the last one by Sandisk. I liked the fact that the kit comes with an adapter not for a regular Memory Stick, but for a Memory stick duo, so the card can be used in both older types of phones and photographic equipment.

So far, the cost of the cards is quite high, the difference in price between the old and new generation cards is significant (the original Sony Memory Stick 1 Gb costs about 900 rubles, M2 - 1500, “regular” 2 GB - 1700, M2 - 2600). The difference is obvious.

You can also watch movies using your phone. Of course, the screen is not the most suitable for these purposes, it is too small, but from the technical side there are no complaints: the phone shows 240x320 30 fps movies without any “brakes”. The only issue is some “thoughtfulness” when entering the video player menu. When there are several dozen videos on a card, the phone may take some time to process them.

The current firmware is R1GB001, which has the ability to preview video files in the Gallery when the selected object starts playing. I have never seen this on devices from other manufacturers.

The phone turned out to be quite durable; on average, it lasts a couple of days on one charge: 5-20 minutes of calls, 30-60 SMS, an hour or two of players, plus Internet and ICQ. I conducted an experiment: in Jimm the phone worked for about 14 hours until it was completely discharged - a very good result. The speaker is weak, you have to talk at maximum volume. I would also like the ringer to be louder.

Photography

Key Feature This device is its camera. The manufacturer offers the K790i as a “double-sided classic phone,” that is, on one side there is a phone, on the other there is a camera.

One of the factors in purchasing this phone was the camera. You can debate for a long time whether a phone needs a camera or whether it’s evil, but I made a choice for myself: it’s better to have a phone with a good camera than without one at all. Even Nokia, which started releasing the “orthodox” Eseries, devoid of cameras (the E70 had a camera, but in general the line was promoted as an office tool, where the camera was an unnecessary attribute; the lack of photos did not particularly affect the price), is now rebuilding its line.

Over the entire period, about 3,000 photos were taken from the phone; on the computer, the number of photos saved takes up about 800 MB. Several dozen photographs were printed, their quality is quite comparable to an inexpensive camera, pictures are especially good in sunny weather, macro photography is traditionally good, and it turns out to be very good at photographing flowers. In student life, and even in the harsh everyday life of the office, photographing documents has come to the rescue more than once. The pictures come out excellent, the text is easily recognized by the appropriate programs and converted into Word format. There is an interesting option to send a recent photo to your blog directly from your phone, but after sending a few pictures, I abandoned this idea.

Separately, it is worth noting the xenon flash. Thanks to it, the quality of shooting in the dark has significantly improved. Previously, a proprietary accessory MXE-60 could be used for these purposes - a flash attached to the phone via a standard connector. All characteristics and capabilities of the camera were described in the corresponding review; there is nothing to add here.

I would also like to say about the quality of the video recording: it is very bad. For budget phones, nothing yet, but the flagship, even if it is not offered as a phone for video recording, like the Nokia N93, could be equipped with higher characteristics: still, video recording at the level of the K700i three years ago will not at all please the owner who often uses this function. There is still no competition in the model range: the W900i has long been discontinued, and the P990i is aimed at a different sector of the market.

Applications and programs

The main tool used is the wonderful program My Phone Explorer, the current version is 1.5.9. Thanks to it, it is possible to fully synchronize your phone with your computer: contacts, SMS, notes, reminders, call history, as well as other data can be saved in it. It is possible to work with the phone's memory and memory card, and downloading applications to the phone is supported. Even the phone's charge level and signal reception are displayed! Again, communication with the phone is possible both through the cable that comes with the phone and via Bluetooth.

To convert video files, I use the Winavimp4 converter program, a simple utility that converts videos for both iPod and PSP. There are a lot of 240x320 videos on the Internet, but in avi smartphone format, so you just need to download the video file you like and with the help of this small program in a few minutes we have a ready-made file for viewing on a regular phone

For those who love creativity, there is the Sony Ericsson Themes Creator program ( latest version– 3.10), with its help you can make your own theme for any Sony Ericsson phone, you just need to select the model. The program has the ability to preview themes, as well as image sizes for each model.

Among the applications installed on the phone, it should be noted Opera mini, which has more than once come to the rescue when there is no computer and Jimm (0.5.2) at hand. In general, life can be divided into 2 stages: before the appearance of these applications and after. Previously, it was impossible to imagine that a telephone would replace a computer; I have been using these two applications for two years now, and thanks to the multitasking of the K790i, I can simultaneously chat via ICQ and surf the Internet.

You can use the built-in Photo DJ program to edit photos, but I prefer full-fledged Photoshop on the computer if I really need to correct something from the footage.

The new SE now has the ability to flash firmware via GPRS: now, to update the software, you don’t have to go to a service center or use SEUS (Sony Ericsson Update Service) on your computer, the phone can independently search for new software every month, and if it is found, it will offer the owner to update the firmware; convenient feature.

Conclusion

What can I say finally? The model turned out to be very successful, to some extent its popularity was influenced by the next Bond series released at the end of last year, I often hear: “Oh, this is James Bond’s phone!” – although mine is black, not silver, as in the story. The device combines everything you need: an excellent camera, a good player, multitasking. The model is liked by both schoolchildren and adults, everyone who loves technology and new technologies.

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