Bob Lin Photography services
Real Estate Photography services
It can be easy to ignore the more affordable smartphones that are launched by manufacturers because there is always some intrigue involving the next iPhone or Google`s latest Nexus handset to distract you. However, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active, which was launched with little fanfare in recent weeks, shows that there are some very interesting things occurring in the middle of the market as well as at its peak.
The Xperia Active is definitely a quirky phone to examine with the naked eye. It has a three inch screen, which is small by modern standards, but this comes encased in a chassis which is chunky in a friendly kind of way and finished to a high standard, with a rubberised rear, metallic screen surround and orange detailing on the side. A small loop built into the bottom of the phone looks strange at first but should make it easy to attach the phone to a cord if you want to hang it around your neck or suspend it from a tent pole.
The purpose for these odd visual choices becomes clear when you consider that the Xperia Active is intended for those who value durability above all else in their smartphones. This Sony Ericsson handset certainly delivers, giving users a dustproof, water resistant design with a tough glass display. These features combine to help it survive situations that would cause other models to give up the ghost. Whether you are hiking in the hills or playing football on the beach, this is the mobile you will not mind getting out in the thick of things.
Some outdoor-friendly models are a little anaemic when it comes to capabilities but the Xperia Active breaks from this trend thanks to its 1GHz processor and cleverly customised Android 2.3 operating system. If you have come into contact with Sony Ericsson`s other small mobiles like the Xperia Mini then you will recognise the four-corner approach to the homescreen which is employed by the Xperia Active. Because there is limited space onscreen, Sony Ericsson assigns useful features to tabs in each corner, letting you make the most of Android without straining your eyes.
Snapping photos of your active life is easy using the Xperia Active`s five megapixel camera complete with LED flash. In fact Sony Ericsson gives special significance to this feature thanks to the inclusion of a dedicated physical shutter button on the side of the phone, something you will not find on many other Android devices. The processor`s grunt lets you shot video in 720p, another welcome feature that you might not automatically expect to find on such a durable device.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active manages to look about as different from an i Phone as it is possible for a mobile phone to do without actually shedding any of the features you would associate with range-topping models based on either Android or iOS. It combines the focused performance of a feature phone with the flexibility of a true smartphone, which is welcome in today`s market.
