Overview:
The SX1 is a real beauty. It looks like a gadget from the Star Wars and Star Trek universe. It is, however, contemporary enough to readily blend with existing mobile phones in the market.
In fact, it shares some design elements with the Nokia
6600, an affinity that is more than skin-deep. The SX1 and the 6600 handsets, both based on the open-source Symbian mobile operating system, tend to have similar menus of features and capabilities. They seem like cousins.
 |
| Siemens SX1
next to Nokia 6600, they only big difference really is the
keyboard layout. |
A rare combination of beauty and strength, the SX1 reminds me of the character played by Linda Hamilton in the first two editions of the “Terminator” movie. Undeniably pretty, its lithe frame, nevertheless, contains several well-defined, capable features. The SX1 comes with a built-in video player, camcorder, MP3 player and FM radio. It also has a voice recorder coming with voice dialing and voice control. Like other Series 60-based mobiles it supports J2ME applications and games.
Featuring unique keypad choreography, its alphanumeric keys surround a 65,000-color display. Below this high-resolution screen are found the main navigation keys including a five-way joystick designed for easy and fast accessing of menu features.
Connectivity features include SMS, EMS, MMS and e-mail. Featuring USB connectivity, the SX1 also possesses infrared and Bluetooth capabilities, WAP 2.0 browser with support for xHTML and packet-based Internet link-up provided by a Class 10 GPRS module.
The phones's FM radio is among its best features. Its sound and reception qualities are comparable with that of the Sony Walkman I had back in the 90s. Its loudspeaker is robust enough to be heard from some meters away.
The SX1 is not all fun, however. It also has some hard-nosed, uncompromising features designed to satisfy the needs of the most demanding business executive. It has several personal information management applications that include Calendar, Contacts and Notes.
Equipped with an MMC card expansion slot for additional data storage, the SX1 can synchronize information remotely via SyncML and locally using Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes.
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On the other hand, the SX1 is not perfect. But before I go yakking about its imperfections, a full and fair disclosure first. It is not designed, configured or calibrated for the Philippine market. Having said that, let us now proceed with the business in hand.
First, its keypad might be efficient (hey, it was designed by German engineers, what do you expect?), but it comes with an extremely high learning curve. Second, there is a noticeable delay in software reaction to keypad moves. I counted a five-second delay when opening SMS messages, for example. Its power management needs some improvement, too. After charging the unit for some two to three hours, I only got some 48-plus hours of standby power. Worse, it hanged at least four times.
As a whole, the SX1 is a well-designed and capable phone. It has an extensive line up of impressive and well thought of features. Sure it does have some kinks, but these may be on account of the unit I used being designed for a foreign market.
Besides, its owner could be forgiven for glossing over these minor imperfections once he or she notices the way that other people look at the SX1.
 |
| Art holding
the Siemens SX1 and the Nokia 6600. |
Siemens SX1 Specification:
| Network |
 |
|
| Network frequency |
|
Triple Band EGSM, GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900 |
| Voice encoding |
|
AMR, FR, EFR, HR |
| SIM card |
|
plug-in 3V |
| SIM Application Toolkit |
|
class 3 |
Technical Specifications |
|
|
| Antenna |
|
integrated |
| Weight |
|
116grams |
| Volume |
|
110 ccm |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) |
|
109 x 56 x 19 mm |
| Colour variant (availability may vary by country) |
|
Ice blue |
| Improved water, shock & dust resistance |
|
no |
Battery |
|
|
| Standard battery |
|
Li-Ion 1000 mAh |
| Stand-by time 2) (with standard battery) |
|
up to 200 h |
| Talk time 2) (with standard battery) |
|
up to 240 min |
| Charging time |
|
less than 3 h |
| 2) subject to local and
network conditions |
|
|
Display |
|
|
| Display |
|
65K color |
| Date and time in display |
|
yes |
Standard Features |
|
|
| Reminder list |
|
yes |
| Alarm function |
|
yes |
| Currency converter |
|
yes |
| Calculator |
|
yes |
| SMS (Short Message Service) |
|
yes |
| Intelligent Typing (T9) |
|
yes |
| Picture Messaging |
|
yes |
| Redial list |
|
yes |
| List of calls received / missed |
|
yes |
| Date and time stamp for missed calls |
|
yes |
| User profiles |
|
5 |
| Softkey programmable |
|
yes |
| Call wait / call hold |
|
yes |
| Conference call |
|
yes |
| Call forward |
|
yes |
| Display call timer and cost |
|
yes |
| Keypad lock |
|
yes |
| Silent Alert (vibration) |
|
yes |
| Calling Line Identification (CLI) |
|
yes |
| Call filter |
|
yes |
Special Features |
|
|
| Bluetooth |
|
yes |
| Multi Media Messaging |
|
yes |
| Camera |
|
yes |
| Hands free talking |
|
yes |
| Calling Faces |
|
yes |
| Calling Symbols |
|
yes |
| Java™ applications |
|
yes |
| Screensaver |
|
yes |
Camera Features |
|
|
| Technology |
|
VGA |
| Sensitivity |
|
> 30 Lux |
| Viewfinder |
|
yes |
| Snapshot format |
|
JPG |
| Resolutions |
|
480 x 640 and 120 x 160 |
| Picture shooting sound |
|
yes |
| Picture key |
|
dedicated |
Video/Audio playback |
|
|
| Video supported formats |
|
H.263, Real Video |
| Audio supported formats |
|
MP3, Real Audio, AMR |
Camcorder |
|
|
| Supported formats |
|
H.263 |
| Resolution |
|
176 x 144 (QCIF) |
| Frames |
|
15 FPS |
Integrated Software |
|
|
| Mobile Internet Access |
|
WAP 2.0, xHTML-Browser |
| Address book |
|
yes |
| Telephone book in the phone |
|
yes |
| Digital voice recording |
|
yes |
| Organizer |
|
Complete PIM
(Calendar, Adressbook, Notes, Tasks) |
| E-mail client |
|
POP3, IMAP4, SMTP |
| Microsoft Outlook™ synchronization |
|
yes (97,98,2000) |
Data |
|
|
| Built-in data and fax modem |
|
yes (class 2) |
| High Speed Data Transfer |
|
GPRS class 10 |
| Data exchange with PC |
|
Bluetooth, IrDa, USB, SyncML |
| Infrared interface (IrDA) |
|
yes |
Fun and Function |
|
|
| Ringing tones / ringer melodies |
|
Polyphonic melodies |
| Games |
|
yes |
| MP3 player |
|
yes |
| MultiMediaCard™ slot |
|
yes |
|
