Sony Ericsson W760i review

Sony Ericsson's W760i is the first handset from the company to bring satellite navigation to a walkman music handset. It comes pre-loaded with applications and software that can utilise the built-in A-GPS location technology.

Even with SatNav added, music still takes priority on the W980i sliderphone. The latest version of Sony Ericsson's Walkman Player software includes motion sensing Shake control gadgetry, and SensMe tune selection, a bit of kit that decides on what you should listen to based on your mood, as well as the usual player options. The W760i also comes with a 3.2-megapixel camera – a high number for a Walkman-centric phone.

That isn’t all. You get high-speed HSDPA mobile broadband 3G data connectivity, enabling fast downloads of music and video clips, plus a speedy internet experience. Sadly, Wi-Fi is not included.

But music aside, the main attraction of this phone is its internal GPS satellite receiver, complemented by Google Maps and a trial version of Wayfinder Navigator software for location finding, route navigation and place searches. Sat Nav is appearing on a fast-growing number of handsets from the big mobile makers, with Sony Ericsson starting to introduce navigation and location search facilities in more of its handsets.

Google Maps has become a regular fixture on Sony Ericsson's mid-range phones this year, using cellsite-based location finding technology rather than GPS satellite positioning to get a fix on your rough position to within a few hundred metres. But the addition of A-GPS (Assisted Global Positioning System) in the W760i means precise, spot-on location information rather than approximate area positioning. And A-GPS, using both satellite and cellsite technology for fast and accurate location tacking, facilitates full in-car-style voice guided directions, too, which users can enjoy with the Wayfinder Navigator app.

Design and handling
The W760i has plenty in its features locker, with the standard mid-tier rundown of music and video player options, including FM radio and TrackID software, a full web browser and push email support, plus a selection of motion sensor-aided games and apps that use the handset's movement for no-button control. The motion sensor inside also automatically switches the screen orientation between landscape and portrait as the phone's being moved when viewing items in the media gallery - music, videos, images, RSS feeds - and using the phone's web browser.

One usual 3G function that's surprisingly absent is face-to-face video calling, as there's no secondary camera above the display - although most mobile user are unlikely to miss this minority-interest feature. The display itself is a decent 2.2-inch display, a 262K-colour QVGA (320x240 pixels) array that's detailed enough for viewing Sat Nav instuctions and routing information, as well as for looking at other video and web-based content. Naturally, it's not the size of a standalone in-car navigation system, but it does the job perfectly adequately.

The W760i doesn't have the super-slim design traits of some recent Walkman models, such as the W910i sliderphone or W890i candybar; it has a more mid-sized feel, measuring 103(h) x 48(w) x15(d)mm and weighing 103g compared to the W910i's trimmer 86g and 12mm thin bodywork. Its rounded build feels comfortable in the hand or pocket, with a dimpled back panel giving a good handling grip.

The control system is standard Sony Ericsson - an easy to use, intuitive menu system based around grid icons, with a navigation D-pad and conventional softkeys taking care of most control functionality, plus prominent regular call and end buttons on a well-spaced control panel. As usual, three shortcuts can be programmed into the navi-pad (there's a fourth dedicated to location services), with an additional Activity menu button providing handy fast access to lists of key features, apps and information. The slide-out numberpad is sturdily built and has nice and large keys, neatly arranged and responsive enough for speedy texting.

Music player
Walkman player controls are etched into the D-pad, for when the music player is in use, and there's a fast access Walkman player button on the side. As well as being used to fire up the music player, it also brings into play the motion sensor-activated Shake control music controls; when your tunes are playing, you can hold the Walkman button in and with a shake left or right shift forward or back. A quick shake both ways switches on the Walkman's shuffle control, while up or down movements can be used for adjusting volume level.

Of course, all these options can be carried out with less fuss, more accurately and with less risk of sending your phone flyng by using the standard physical buttons and volume rocker - but then the Shake control option does have decidedly more gimmick factor, if that's what shakes your tambourine.

The Walkman player puts in the sort of high quality audio performance you'd expect from the Sony Ericsson music range. The supplied earphones plug into a side connector rather than on top or bottom, which makes pocketing the phone while listening to music more awkward than it should be. Sony Ericsson has, as usual, boxed a two-piece set headset, with a 3.5mm adapter socket so you can plug in your own headphones to maximise sound quality. The in-box earphones produce a pretty good performance - much better than average mobile far, with decent bass - but if you swap to better quality ear-wear, you'll get the most out the software. Our reference Sennheiser headphones got top notch sound from the phone.

The Walkman user interface is a familiar user-friendly set-up; you have the usual tune categories - artists, albums, tracks, playlists, genre - plus podcasts, audio books, year. Added to this, there's Sony Ericsson's SensMe option - a feature that can help you create playlists by mood and tempo of particular songs.

In order to use this mode - which may appeal to some as a way of accompanying fitness routines - you need to sort tracks before copying from a PC using Sony Ericsson's supplied Media Manager software. A USB cable is provided too, and you can drag and drop tracks and other media files too using the phone as a mass storage device.

Sony Ericsson supplies the W760i with a 1GB Memory Stick Micro card - there's a handy to access slot on top of the phone - complementing 40MB of internal user storage.

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