Analysis - Xperia X8 review

[HEXUS]

We take a look at Sony Ericsson’s attempt to make a mass-market Android phone.

Read more.

[MadduckUK]

The front of the phone features three silver hard keys for ‘menu', ‘home' and ‘back' - no hard ‘search'key, which is a very questionable decision in a Google phone.

does holding down the menu key not do anything?

[Scott B]

does holding down the menu key not do anything?

Yes, it brings up a menu.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

yes, it brings up a menu.

[billybear]

I don't think this is marketed as a contact handset. Operators are usually frigid with contract pricing and offers, so buying a low end handset isn't going to be value for money. O2 are selling it for £100 on pay-as-you-go which is an excellent deal IMO and worth more than the 2/5 score you gave.

[jimbouk]

Search key? I've got a X10 mini pro and can't say I've ever had need for it...

Wouldn't get another SE smart phone though, they really need a kicking to get updates on time and they really need to not lock down the phones to customisation too much if they can't do a decent job themselves!

[MadduckUK]

not a daft question, its usually where android phones without a search button keep the function - tap to menu, hold to search.

SE not including it is far more than just not having a button

[crossy]

SE takes much longer than everyone else to release Android updates.

Totally agree there - worse still they seem to be of the opinion that because the delivered a 2.1 upgrade, that this is the job done. No sign of anything 2.2 or later.

no hard ‘search' key, which is a very questionable decision in a Google phone

Never needed (nor missed) such an item on my X10. Tend to use the search in the apps themselves, or just add GestureSearch for the in-phone searches.

Also you can't seem to activate the camera via the hard button - you need to open the app.

Weird, that works fine on the X10 - although you do need to hold the button down for 2-3 seconds.

But I was surprised that there didn't appear to be any social networking photo sharing functionality pre-installed on the phone.

Assuming that the X8 is the same as the X10, you can share a photo by clicking the "mail" icon and then you can share to Facebook. Or, as the article quite rightly points out, you can add a (free?) Twitter app, and then share to that via the mail icon too.

while you have to sign up to at least £40 per month if you want a full X10 without shelling out anything up-front.

News to me - I got my X10 on Three for £30pm all in, with 1GB of data/month. Current pricing seems to be £33-35 depending on what deal you take.

[Scott B]

News to me - I got my X10 on Three for £30pm all in, with 1GB of data/month. Current pricing seems to be £33-35 depending on what deal you take.

I'm clearly not aware of all the X10 deals out there, I think that must have been O2. Thanks for the correction.

Incidentally Virgin has shown O2 how to deliver a budget Android tariff: http://channel.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=28140

Is it just me, or does O2 seem to be missing the mark a bit with some of its tariffs?

[tickedon]

Is it just me, or does O2 seem to be missing the mark a bit with some of its tariffs?

Not just you I was looking for a new phone recently and had a few "head scratching" moments...!

[RedFlames]

Is it just me, or does O2 seem to be missing the mark a bit with some of its tariffs?

When I was looking at the X10 Mini Pro it worked out cheaper getting it on pay and go than contract [based on having/running it for 18 months which was the shortest contract i could get]

[baius]

... not a daft question, its usually where android phones without...

It's it's (short for it is).

hides

[razer121]

Can i just point out my GF has this phone and holding the camera button DOES switch the camera on......come on guys!