Sony Ericsson need to produce some amazing handsets during 2010, because truth be told, over the last few years the handsets delivered under the Sony Ericsson name have usually been one of two things, either uninspiring or unreliable! Which is a shame, because handsets like the Sony Ericsson Satio deserve to be premium products with a loyal fanbase, and quite frankly the market needs Sony Ericsson, inspiring and pushing the competition, the same way the market needs the rejuvenated Motorola to do well, keeping the likes of Nokia and HTC, LG and Samsung on their toes. The end result will be we the consumer benefit.
One of the new range of handsets coming in 2010 from Sony Ericsson is the Vivaz. This is another handset running on the S60 v5 platform, similar to the Satio. The main focus of the Vivaz is enabling the easy production and sharing of user generated content, high quality images and video, which can be shared via messaging and the web with family, friends, and anyone else that happens to pass by in Cyberspace. The Vivaz will be available in a range of striking colours, including Silver Moon, Cosmic Black, Galaxy Blue and Venus Ruby. The handset has a large, 3.2 inch TFT touchscreen, supporting up to 16 million colours and with a pixel resolution of 360 x 640. The device itself isn’t overly large, measuring 107 x 52 x 12.5mm, and weighing in at 97g. This compares well with the Satio, which was a rather large device. The Vivaz is shorter, narrower, slightly slimmer and almost 30g lighter, making it much easier on a trouser or jacket pocket.
The device is equipped with an 8.0 Megapixel camera, supporting autofocus, with touch focus, face and smile detection and geotagging. There is a flash, but it is only an LED flash, not Xenon. Past experience with Sony Ericsson devices suggests that the image quality should be optimal, but imaging is only half the story with the Vivaz. For a while now manufacturers have been pushing the still imaging functionality of their phones, and it is about time the same emphasis was put on video capture. To this end the Vivaz will offer the option to capture video clips in HD quality, with a resolution of 1280 x 720, and the video recorder supports continuous auto focus for the perfect video clip every time.
The connectivity options on the Vivaz leave nothing to be desired, as everything you could want in a modern mobile device is included. The device is a quad band GSM phone for complete roaming coverage in all GSM countries and for data the Vivaz utilises HSPA, with uploads at up to 2Mbps and downloads at up to 10.2Mbps supported on the phone. Class 10 GPRS and EDGE support backs this up when outside 3G coverage, and the handset also includes WiFi 802.11 b/g with support for DLNA which should mean integrating your device into an already existing WLAN should be a simple process. For local connectivity the Vivaz supports Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, and there is, almost uniquely for a Sony Ericsson device, a MicroUSB port for connecting to a PC.
Of course, all of this connectivity serves to enable the easy sharing of content with all the main social networking and imaging sites, so expect full support for Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Bebo, YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, and so on. The Vivaz has a full messaging suite on the phone, allowing you to access push email on the device, with support for multiple accounts. Very often these days email is the forgotten communication option on a phone, with the focus so much on social networking sites, but devices like the Vivaz utilise a simple email setup so within minutes you can record video or take a picture and be emailing it to friends and family in an instant.
As much as it is a functional tool, the Vivaz is also a pocket entertainment device. Naturally full web access is available on the phone, so you can browse your favourite websites on the move, plus the Vivaz boasts a complete media package to make the hours pass quicker on long journeys. The music player on the handset has support for multiple audio formats, and visually presents well on the large screen with support for album art. There is ample storage available for music, as well as video and captured content, with the Vivaz using MicroSD memory cards, and supporting up to 16GB, with an 8GB card included in the final retail package (network operator differences may apply) The video player is also well featured, supporting many video codecs, the only real disappointment here is the lack of support for DivX and XviD files.
Being a S60 handset, all the benefits of that operating system are included, allowing you to add additional features to the device by installing third party software, such as the excellent Opera browser or Google maps. The Vivaz includes a GPS receiver, and supports aGPS for location based services, and the device ships with Wisepilot SatNav software, offering a free trial to the full package for a selected period.
So the Sony Ericsson Vivaz stacks up to be a really excellent device, utilising all the best that is available in mobile technology, and pushing forward with excellent HD video capture. But so many times in the past we have come to expect so much from Sony Ericsson devices, which only ends in disappointment with poor software, and embarrassing moments when networks and retailers remove devices from sale. I truly hope that Sony Ericsson has learnt from past mistakes and that the Vivaz is able to deliver on what it promises, because what it promises is very appealing indeed.
Related Sony Ericsson Vivaz Links
- Compare the latest Sony Ericsson Vivaz deals
- Compare Sony Ericsson Vivaz pay as you go prices
- Read user Sony Ericsson Vivaz reviews
- Full list of Sony Ericsson Vivaz specs
- View gallery of Sony Ericsson Vivaz pictures
- Watch latest Sony Ericsson Vivaz video
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6:17 pm
Hi there,
Saw your link on our Facebook page.
Thanks for the honest review and opinions!
-Jeff
Sony Ericsson Answers Team
3:09 pm
This phone is absolutely xxxx! im actually looking at it now, esp. if you get it on an o2 contract, its so not worth it! Im paying £30 a month! and im student! please listen to me, don't get this phone, i wish I had read reviews before getting this phone, and dnt feel pressurised by the phone company people to buy it! its crap! honestly! one of the wrst decisions of my life!! grrr!
1:12 am
Well, this is the first Sony Ericsson phone I have ever had. I picked it due to the 8mp photos and HD videos.
Always had Nokia, and then I moved on to Samsung.
GOODTIMES
Upgrade was on offer and I read about the Vivaz, read-ups looked good so I decided to go for it.
BADTIMES
Within the first week I returned the Vivaz as the battery lift did NOT last even a day, they changed it for me, GREAT SERVICE.
This second phone now does the following:
1.reboots or freezes when I answer a call,
2.reboots or freezes when I try to take a picture or video,
3.reboots or freezes on trying to change any settings,
4.Alarm does not go off when the time says it will do so,
5.Disconnects from bluetooth earpiece when answering a call,
6.Tells me I can only make emergency calls most of the time,
7.Bad signal reception,
8.Have to search for signal on manual,
9.reboots or freezes when I try to look a pictures or videos.
Contacted support and was told to update the software, did this, but still the same.
Now told to send it back to be checked out, and this could take 5 to 10 days.
WHY SHOULD I have to go without a phone when it is not my fault, WHY cant I just go back and get it changed from my place of purchase. So far I can say THIS WILL be my first and last SE phone I will buy. I am on the look out for a Nokia or Samsung that can deliver the same features.
DONT think I will be recommending Sony Ericsson phones to my friends in the future.
When I complained about the battery life, it took less than 24 hours. When I complained about ALL the problems I was having, it took over a week for a reply.
SE customer service............. NOT.
UN-HAPPY (first time) CUSTOMER
Mick
3:39 pm
Hi, was due a upgrade so I went for the Vivaz, bad mistake I received it yesterday since then it has froze, lost all info twice, internet is so slow. The picture quality is fab but other than that it is rubbish. The battery died before the end of the day and I only sent a few messages. Sound is rubbish really struggled to hear calls. I am getting a new up-grade on monday but at a charge of £25 as I opened the box. Go for the HTC Legend, it is fab and will kick ass out of the iPhone.
11:43 am
I am currently being sent my 4th replacement Vivaz. I like the phone when it works but the battery is rubbish and does not hold charge at all. 4th phone, 4 batteries and 3 chargers but am not allowed a different phone.
1:38 pm
Hi love the phone. I came back to using Sony Ericsson after trying other mobiles. The only thing I'm finding a bit of a pain and cant figure it out is- how do i switch off the answer machine. It doesnt ring long enough before the machine kicks in and its driving me mad. Especially when it goes on forever when i have a txt. I would be grateful if someone would help me with this, thanks to all who will help with this little niggle.
7:21 am
I bought my phone a month ago. After I give the mobile to SE center for updating software, after the update it just keep saying emergency call only and there is no signal.
4:00 pm
please if someone knows how to activate the push email on Sony Ericsson Vivaz? thank you in advance
9:45 pm
Of course when the Vivaz arrives in it's packaging; beautiful, slick and shiny, you immediately fall for its hi-tech and lightweight design, equipped with an 8 megapixel camera that records in HD and a plethora of other features.
However, a few months later, some problems became apparent. The screen would periodically freeze whilst i was typing text messages, only to respond half a minute or so later. Foolishly I didn't take much notice of this but it became worse and worse...The freezing became progressively worse. Sometimes it would freeze for so long, I'd have to take the battery out and restart the phone. It also began to turn itself off at random times and when I turned it back on, it would take longer than normal to load up.
Wait, there's more! Soon more problems began to develop, this time on the USB/charger socket. The phone didn't charge properly upon placing the USB cable in the socket whether it was via the mains or a computer. Often I'd have to nudge it slightly and twiddle it a little, to stimulate it into charging. And if it began charging after that, a little movement or disturbance on the USB cable would cause it to stop charging.
Then the worst came. The screen was becoming increasingly unresponsive; so much so that it began to take on a mind of its own. My phone would automatically dial contacts unless I locked the keypad (and not when it's in my pocket but when it's sitting on the table or kitchen counter without anyone even touching it). It was as if the green button on the bottom left of the phone was being continuously pressed by an invisible force. By now I had realised that it is time to bin this plastic piece of garbage and get a new phone that actually works. Do not allow yourself to be fooled by the wonderful array of choice colours or the outward look because inside, it is a ticking time-bomb waiting to suddenly stop functioning.
7:54 pm
Hey! 3 different Phones, 2 very apparent issues. Vivaz = epic fail.
The screen freezes, turns off, shuts itself down. The battery does not charge. I have to make a phone call plugged into the wall. What is 'mobile' about that? Three times I have had it replaced and for the first 2 weeks I'm sucked into the idea that 'This one will work....'
WRONG!!
It does not.... I am, however, promised another phone (different model, make and brand) by orange the next time I have a issue with the Vivaz... Im predicting; about 2 weeks.
If your looking for reviews and trying to work out if the Vivaz is the phone for you. Don't get excited. It's not worth the hassle.
Buy some tin cans and string them together. Much more reliable
10:41 am
This is a perfect mobile phone to give as a present to someone with high blood pressure if you want to see them have a heart attack trying to get it repaired or one that will actually work.