Contents of delivery:
- Telephone
- Battery
- Charger
- USB cable
- Wired stereo headset
- Additional socket
- Special case
- Headphone holders
- Hand strap
- Warranty card and user manual
Positioning
Company Sony ericsson released an original smartphone for lovers of an active lifestyle. Hence the name of the device "Active", which in translation from English means "active", "energetic" or "alive". Key features This model is equipped with a dust- and moisture-resistant housing and a scratch-resistant display covered with mineral glass.
As it was stated in the "Delivery set", a large number of accessories are included with the phone. From the pre-installed software - special applications for sports: "WalkMate" (step counter) and "iMapMyFITNESS +" (tracks the path on the map, records the distance and speed of your movement). The rest is a typical Sony Ericsson 2011 Android: single-core gigahertz processor, 512 MB random access memory, a camera with the ability to record HD-clips.
Design, dimensions, controls
Sony Smartphone Ericsson Xperia The Active is small (92 x 55 x 16.5 mm), comparable to the Xperia Mini (88 x 52 x 16 mm). The weight is 110 grams, i.e. 11 grams more than the ST15i. The edging around the perimeter is made of metal (aluminum), the side edges are made of orange-colored plastic, the back surface (depending on the removable panel) can be black (soft-touch) or white (porous, matte plastic).
The degree of protection of this device is IP67, which means:
- Complete dust protection.
- With a short-term immersion up to 1 meter, water does not enter in quantities that disrupt the operation of the device. Continuous immersion operation is not expected.
To prevent moisture and dust from getting inside the phone, there is another cover with rubberized edges, which is hermetically inserted into the grooves, under the back panel. The connectors are also protected, on which the plugs located on the cover are tightly fitted. After removing the USB cable or headphones from the connectors, a warning message will appear on the screen: "To ensure water resistance, close the outer connector caps." Therefore, if suddenly, as an experiment, you decide to "drown" the Xperia Active, then before doing this, you must close them.
In general, the case looks sturdy, but you should not get carried away with crash tests, in particular, dropping the device: it has no impact resistance classification.
Thanks to its streamlined shape, the device fits well in the hand and fits easily into a shirt or jeans pocket. On the lower edge there is a large bow for attaching a strap.
There is a speaker on the front panel. Its volume is high, there is a margin, and the intelligibility is not bad. Nearby - a light and proximity sensor, as well as a very tiny LED indicator. It flashes blue during an incoming call, but does not indicate a missed call in any way. But when the SMS is skipped, it flashes green, when connected to a PC or the battery is charged, it is constantly lit in red. Below are three touch buttons: call the context menu, exit to main screen and back. They are backlit with white LEDs. The brightness is weak, but in the evening it does not blind the eyes, and during the day it is quite noticeable. Just below the back key is the main microphone.
On the left side there is an on / off button practically recessed into the body; it also acts as a lock for the display. Its stroke is large, pressing is soft. On the right is the volume rocker and camera activation. The stroke is small, but the pressure is soft. There are no connectors on the top, and microUSB and 3.5 mm audio-out (under the caps) on the bottom.
The second microphone, speaker, LED flash and camera peephole are located on the back of the surface.
Under the protective cover at the bottom is the slot where the memory card is inserted.
Appearance of SE Xperia active (left), Samsung Wave Y, Samsung Wave M, HTC Mozart, HTC Radar, SE Play (right):
Display
It has exactly the same parameters as the Xperia Mini: diagonal - 3 ″ (physical size 64x43 mm), resolution 320x480 pixels (192 pixels per inch), the matrix is made using TFT-LCD technology with backlighting, displays 16.7 million color shades, touch layer - capacitive, with support for up to four simultaneous touches. The sensitivity is high.
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There is also a proprietary software image processing - Mobile Bravia Engine, borrowed from Sony TVs. The viewing angles are good, but the brightness drops slightly under slopes. There is a proximity sensor. Reacts quickly, no complaints. The brightness of the display backlight is controlled by the light sensor, and you can manually set its upper threshold. It practically does not fade in the sun. Xperia active has built-in accelerometer, compass, linear acceleration sensor and G-sensor.
Below is a comparison of the screens of Sony Ericsson ST17i and Samsung Wave Y (as the most similar diagonal sizes):
Battery
The "Active" uses a lithium-polymer (Li-Polymer) battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh, 3.7V, 4.5 W * h. Model - EP500 (fits from Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, X8, Vivaz and Vivaz Pro). According to the manufacturer, a full charge of the battery should be enough for almost 5 hours of talk time and up to 350 hours (15 days) of standby time.
During testing, the following figures were obtained: in standby mode, the smartphone worked for about a week, up to 15 hours when playing music at maximum volume (with headphones) and up to four hours when playing HD video with automatic backlight brightness.
On average, with 15-20 minutes of talking a day, one hour of shooting photos and videos, the same amount of listening to music, four hours of Wi-Fi (Twitter, Skype, surfing the Internet) and two hours of watching movies, the battery was discharged in 11-12 hours. The Xperia Mini also lives about the same number of times.
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The battery is charged from USB in two hours, from the mains adapter - in an hour.
Communication capabilities
The smartphone works in 2G (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) and 3G networks (HSDPA 900/2100; 1900/800). GPRS speed - up to 86 Kbps, EDGE - up to 237 Kbps, HSDPA and HSUPA - up to 7.2 Mbps and 5.8 Mbps, respectively.
There is Wi-Fi standard 802.11 b / g / n. To distribute the Internet, it can be used as an access point. Supported by DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) - a standard that allows compatible devices transmit and receive by home network various media content (image, music, video), as well as display it in real time.
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Memory, memory card
As with the entire Xperia lineup, the SE Active comes with 512MB of RAM. For most tasks, this volume is more than enough. Internal memory- about 320 MB, and 270 MB free. The set comes with a 2 GB card, so if you wish, all applications can be "dropped" on it.
The speed of USB 2.0 when writing to a complete memory card is about 10 MB / s, reading - up to 21 MB / s.
The maximum supported microSD card size is up to 32GB.
Camera
The Xperia active has a 5-megapixel camera module with autofocus and LED-backlight (single section, LED). The maximum photo resolution is 2592x1944 pixels, videos are recorded in a resolution of 1280x720 pixels at 30 frames per second. The flash shines about 1.5 - 2 meters.
The quality of the photos is significantly worse than on the Xperia Mini: the color reproduction is not very good, the clarity is mediocre. Possible reason- low quality safety glass... Videos also do not look the best, but the stereo base is excellent (you can clearly hear where is the left channel and where is the right). Front-camera the ST17i smartphone is missing.
To activate the camera, you need to press the button on the side of the device. It has two positions: focus (press halfway) and get a frame (press). There is also a touch focus.
Photo mode interface: on the left - image capture mode (normal, condition recognition, smile detection), resolution (2MP, 3MP and 5MP), touch focus (on or off), shooting conditions (portrait, landscape, sports, etc.) and flash; on the right - gallery, and in the center - switching from photo to video mode.
Photo mode settings:
- Timer, stabilizer (on / off)
- Focus mode (single, multi, macro, face detection, infinity, touch focus)
- White balance
- Geotags
- Shutter sound
- Measurement (center, middle level, point).
Video mode interface: on the left - shooting conditions (portrait, night mode, sports, landscape, etc.), video size (MMS, QVGA, VGA, FWVGA, HD720p), exposure, focus mode (single, face detection, infinity), backlight ( on off.).
Video mode settings:
- Exposition
- White balance
- Measurement (center, middle level, point)
- Timer
- Stabilizer (on / off)
- Microphone
- Shutter sound
Gallery:
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Video file characteristic:
- Format: MP4
- Video: AVC, 6000 Kbps
- Resolution: 1280 x 720, 30 fps
- Audio: AAC, 128 kbps
- Channels: 2 channels, 48.0 kHz
Sample photos:
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Performance
The Xperia Active features the same Snapdragon chipset and Qualcomm MSM8255 (Scorpion) processor with clock frequency 1000 MHz, like on Sony Ericsson Arc, Ray, Mini Pro. Codename - Snapdragon S2, architecture - ARMv7, CMOS technology, process technology - 45 nm. Responsible for the graphics part is Adreno 205 with support for OpenGL ES 2.0, OpenGL ES 1.1, OpenVG 1.1, EGL 1.3, Direct3D Mobile, SVGT 1.2, Direct Draw and GDI.
During the testing of the device, I did not have any serious questions about performance: it works quickly, there were no glitches or slowdowns. It is understandable, since its “brothers” with the same processor have a higher screen resolution.
Technical specifications:
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Below are the performance tests Active (left), Mini, Ray (right):
Quadrant Standart
Performance test Active (top), Mini, Ray (bottom):
Active performance test:
Software platform
Xperia smartphone ST17i runs an operating system Google android version 2.3.4. At the moment it is relevant. The long-awaited update for the Xperia lineup will be available in the coming weeks. Namely for the following models: Xperia arc, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro and Xperia Active, Xperia pro, Xperia ray, Xperia neo V, Xperia arc S and for Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman. The update can be done both using a PC and over the air.
Navigation
The Snapdragon S2 chipset includes a GPS module based on gpsOne Gen8. The cold start time is up to one minute, the hot start time is less than 10 seconds. "Maps" are used for navigation.
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Shell and menu
To unlock the screen, you need to press the power button or "home" and then slide your finger from left to right over the square with the lock pattern. The home screen is represented by the already familiar Xperia line interface "four corners": each of them can be placed up to four shortcuts. They are dragged from the menu or desktop. To remove a specific shortcut, drag it to the trash can. There are 5 virtual desktops in total. Cannot be expanded.
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The menu is represented by 12 shortcuts on one screen with a 4x3 grid. At the bottom right there is a button, when you click on it, the shortcuts start to "float". In this mode, they can be moved from one place to another, or by clicking on the cross, you can delete the application. The rest of the interface is similar to the previous models. Sorting is carried out: alphabetically, by frequently used programs, by recently installed or at your own discretion.
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Challenges
By clicking on the "phone" icon, the dialer is called. It is large, convenient, but when entering a number, the saved contacts with these numbers are not displayed. At incoming call the photo and name of the subscriber are displayed on the screen. During a call, you can turn on the speakerphone. It is easy to switch from "dialer" to "contacts". To add a new contact, you need to click on the icon on the top right. The following information applies to each subscriber:
- Surname
- Telephone
- Call signal
- Other
In the "Calls" section, the subscriber's name, phone number, date and type of call (incoming, outgoing, missed) are displayed.
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Posts
To enter text, a standard Android keyboard is used, which in this model is called "international". There are also two types of keyboards available: full-size and standard (telephone). However, the user has the right to install any other from the Market.
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Applications
There is a standard set of programs for most SE smartphones:
Alarm.
Calendar.
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Cards.
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Google talk.
Navigation.
Addresses.
Locator.
Calculator.
TrackID... Determination of the artist and the title of the song by its small excerpt.
Youtube.
News and weather.
Adobe reader.
Quadrapop... A game in the style of "Tetris".
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Tracking data... The program controls the data transfer between the phone and the GPRS / 3G network.
3D camera... A new application that appeared in the Android 2.3.4 firmware. Photos can only be viewed at Sony TV Bravia with 3D technology.
Xperia Hot Shots... A special application that tracks the game of six famous tennis players who will later become heroines of a reality show.
Connected devices... This application plays photo or video content on BRAVIA TVs or Sony PlayStation 3.
Watch.
Wisepilot... Navigation app.
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3D Album.
NeoReader... Is an universal scanner application barcode, which turns the camera on your mobile phone into a barcode scanner and allows you to access mobile content on the web.
Music and video... Allows you to access music and video compositions of your Facebook friends.
WalkMate... The program is a step counter. The easy-to-use Walk Mate app stays active throughout the day. It keeps track of the number of steps you take and the steps left to reach your daily health requirement.
OfficeSuite... It is a document viewer application for Android. Allows you to open DOC, DOCX, TXT, XLS, XLSX, CSV, PPT, PPTX, PPS, PPSX and PDF files.
UEFA... The official application for following the main football tournament in Europe.
Update center... Software update application.
games and applications.
Flash... The app allows you to turn on the LED flash or screen. They may flash depending on the option selected.
Liveware Manager... Allows you to launch any application when a headset, headphones or power cable is connected.
Compass.
iMapMyFITNESS... The app tracks your route, speed and duration, and heart rate thanks to ANT + technology.
Web browser
A standard browser is installed. Works fast, supports flash-animation (Flash 11) and multitouch. However on small screen at a low resolution, surfing is inconvenient.
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Multimedia
Music player
After launch, the screen displays: a large album cover, three player control keys ("forward", "backward" and "play / pause"), go to the list of songs. There are 10 equalizer presets in the settings (normal sound, classical, dance music, flat sound, folk, heavy metal, hip-hip, jazz, pop and rock).
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The speaker volume is high (in fact, as in all the last Sony models Ericsson), the sound is very clear and pleasant. V general settings sound parameter xLOUD is present. It allows you to increase the volume up to 20-30%. After "bathing" the device in water, the speaker may wheeze a little. However, after drying, everything becomes normal.
The sound quality in the headphones is excellent, but the high frequencies are slightly raised, and the low ones are not very much. Complete "ears" are not as hopeless as it might seem: music lovers, of course, will replace them with others, but I do not recommend the rest. On the headset, the call answer button can be used to switch tracks or pause them.
FM radio
Operates in the 85 - 108 MHz range. Supports RDS. From the settings - only the output of music to the speaker and the search for radio stations. The sensitivity of the receiver is good, the volume in the headphones is high, as well as in the output to the loudspeaker.
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Video player
By default, the player can play MP4 and 3GP files. When installing, for example, a Dice-player, a number of supported codecs and file types are expanded to MKV and AVI recorded in H264, DivX and XViD. The maximum resolution is up to 720p.
Impressions
The call quality is of a high standard and is comparable to other phones in the Xperia line. The vibrating alert is average in strength, but feels good in a jacket or jacket pocket.
The direct competitor to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is the Xperia mini. The difference in cost is almost 4,000 rubles. This is an overpayment for a dust and waterproof case and a richer set of accessories.
For about 12,000 - 13,000 rubles, you can try to find last year's Motorola model Defy. She has bigger screen and resolution, but the processor frequency is weaker, and it does not know how to write video in HD. The rest of the parameters are identical. Despite the fact that Motorola's mobile division does not work in Russia, the company guarantees service of already sold phones. Defy + was released at the end of September, but it is sold only in Europe and Latin America for $ 350.
Another similar smartphone is Samsung Galaxy Xcover. Unlike the SE ST17i, it has a large 3.65 ″ screen. The camera is only 3 megapixels, and the processor frequency is 800 MHz. The cost is not known exactly, and when it will appear is also unclear.
So it turns out that at the moment Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is the most affordable "google phone" with a case protected from dust and moisture.
Specifications:
- Class: Smartphone
- Form factor: candy bar
- Body materials: plastic, screen coating - mineral glass, protection class IP67
- Operating system: Google Android 2.3.4
- Network: GSM / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS / HSDPA 900/2100
- Processor: single core, 1000 MHz, Qualcomm MSM8255
- RAM: 512 MB
- Storage memory: 320 MB and 2 GB memory card
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b / g / n /), Bluetooth 2.1 (A2DP), microUSB (USB 2.0) connector for charge / synchronization, 3.5 mm for a headset
- Screen: capacitive, TFT-LCD 3 ″ with a resolution of 320x480 pixels
- Camera: 5 MP with autofocus, video is recorded at 720p, LED flash
- Navigation: GPS (gpsOne Gen8)
- Optional: accelerometer, proximity sensor, FM radio
- Battery: removable 1200 mAh Li-Polymer
- Dimensions: 92 x 55 x 16.5 mm
- Weight: 110 grams
Roman Belykh (
Classic candy bar with original design. Differs in high quality workmanship. Can be used with careful handling for a long period of time. When creating, high-quality plastic with a solid margin of safety is used. Today, the best value for money. Mobile phone Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i) The best option for lovers of an active lifestyle. The device is compact and lightweight. It can be used without a second hand. A thin metal edging runs along the perimeter of the device.The mobile phone case provides effective protection against dust particles. Able to submerge in water to a depth of 1 meter. His performance does not suffer. Waterproof and dustproof touch phone Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i) has under back cover protective case. It covers the elements that are important for its work. All connectors in the model are reliably protected by special plugs. The case is solid and looks one hundred percent.
On the front panel, you can see a speaker responsible for sound output. Next to it is a proximity and light sensor. They are closely related to the operation of the display of a mobile touch phone. Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i)... On the left side of the model, you can see the on and off button. On the right side there is a volume control key for a mobile device. Next to it you can see the camera activation key. At the bottom of the phone there is a connector for connecting usb and a headphone output. All of them are closed with sturdy plugs.On the back of the mobile phone there is a second microphone, speaker, flash and camera peephole. Under the cover that covers the battery, you can find a slot for inserting a memory card. The screen of the device has a diagonal of 3 inches. The resolution is 320 by 480 pixels. The matrix can display 16.7 million colors. The screen is touch-sensitive and can support up to 4 simultaneous clicks. Its sensitivity is high. It is very convenient to use.
On a mobile device Sony Erickson Xperia Active St17i a lithium polymer battery is used. It can hold a charge for about 2-3 days with an average intensity of use of the device. The phone takes about two hours to charge on average. The mobile device uses memory cards. Due to them, you can significantly increase its functionality. The gadget menu is easy to learn and does not require any special knowledge. You can figure it out very quickly.
Buy Sony phone Ericsson Xperia active (St17i) at a low price is available on our website.
Battery capacity: 1200 mAh Battery type: Li-Ion Talk time: 4.9 h Standby time: 351 h Music listening time: 25 hAdditional Information
Features: waterproof and dustproof housing (IP67 protection standard) Date of announcement: 2011-06-22 Package contents: phone, battery, stereo headset, case, strap, microSD memory card 2 GB, replaceable panel, Charger, micro USB charging cable, documentationGeneral characteristics
Type: smartphone Weight: 110 g Case material: plastic Construction: waterproof Operating system: Android 2.3 Case type: classic Number of SIM cards: 1 Dimensions (WxHxT): 55x92x17 mm SIM card type: regular SAR level: 0.86Screen
Screen type: color TFT, 16.78 million colors, touch type touch screen: multitouch, capacitive Diagonal: 3 inches. Image size: 480x320 The number of pixels per inch (PPI): 192 Automatic screen rotation: yesMultimedia capabilities
Camera: 5 million pixels, 2592x1944, LED flash Camera functions: autofocus, digital Zoom 8x Video recording: yes (MPEG4) Max. video resolution: 1280x720 Audio: MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, FM radio Headphone jack: 3.5 mm Recognition: faces, smiles Geo Tagging: yesConnection
Interfaces: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, ANT + Standard: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G DLNA support: yes Satellite navigation: GPS A-GPS system: yes Use as a USB storage: yesMemory and processor
Processor: Qualcomm MSM 8255, 1000 MHz Number of processor cores: 1 Built-in memory: 1 GB RAM: 512 MB Support for memory cards: microSD (TransFlash), up to 32 GB Video processor: Adreno 205 Amount of memory available to the user: 320 MB Slot for memory cards: yes, up to 32 GBOther functions
Control: voice dialing, voice control Sensors: light, proximity, compass Handsfree (built-in speaker): yes Flight mode: yes Profile A2DP: yesThe appearance of Sony Ericsson Xperia Active has created a new segment on the communicator market in Russia - the segment of moisture-resistant and dust-proof devices. The IP67 protection class, to which the new product belongs, until recently had only one model with a modern OS on board - Motorola Defy, but it was not officially delivered or delivered to Russia, moreover, it has completely different characteristics.
Segment of phones with increased protection against adverse external influences has never been extensive at all. Of the popular models of the past, only the line of devices of the M series from Siemens comes to mind. Unfortunately, they are already irrevocably outdated, although, undoubtedly, many of them still regularly serve their owners.
Taking into account the low popularity and narrow specialization of "protected" models of smartphones, it is not surprising that few of the current manufacturers of mobile computers wanted to spend efforts on the release of such devices. One of them was Sony Ericsson, which, while developing its line of communicators with the Android system, apparently decided to fill all the niches on the market. We have already seen this company, scaled-down versions of "standard" models, scaled-down variants with a keyboard and even a hybrid communicator - a handheld game console. It's time to get acquainted with the off-road communicator.
Scope of delivery and characteristics
There is little information on the device itself on the packaging. But the additional accessories are listed in detail and their images are shown, including: a case with an arm mount, a rubber safety strap, a wired stereo headset, a USB cable, a charger, a rechargeable battery, interchangeable black and white back panels, spare ear tips, documentation ... The package bundle of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is decent - there is practically everything for an active life with a communicator.
The characteristics of the communicator Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) are as follows.
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- Scorpion 1 GHz processor, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset with Adreno 205 video core;
- Operating system Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread);
- TFT-display, diagonal 3 inches, 320 × 480 pixels, capacitive, with multitouch, Sony Mobile Bravia Engine;
- 512 MB RAM, 1 GB Flash (320 MB available);
- Communication GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS / EDGE;
- Communication 3G UMTS 900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 7.2 MB / s; HSUPA, 5.76 MB / s;
- Bluetooth v2.1;
- WiFi 802.11b / g / n, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot;
- GPS, AGPS;
- Slot for microSDHC cards;
- FM radio;
- USB host;
- Position sensor in space;
- Light sensor;
- Magnetometer;
- 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, 720p video recording;
- Lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh;
- Dimensions 92 × 55 × 16.5 mm;
- Weight 110.8 g.
The hardware platform is identical to its 2011 Xperia Mini siblings, such as the recently tested Xperia Mini Pro. The communicator has everything you need to work: making calls, messaging, going online.
- Protection degree IP67;
- Double cover;
- Anti-scratch mineral glass;
- Capacitive display that recognizes the touch of wet fingers.
Degree of protection IP67 means that if handled correctly, the communicator is protected from dust penetration, and if immersed in one meter of water, the ingress of liquid will not harm the mobile computer for 30 minutes.
The communicator display is designed to be operated with wet fingers. This function will undoubtedly be appreciated by many who tried to use modern communicators, whose capacitive screens got wet in the rain.
Design and appearance
The novelty is a monoblock communicator with a very unusual exterior. The gaze, first of all, stops at the large metal eyelet, which is used to attach the strap. None of the previously tested communicators has this passive safety element such outstanding dimensions. The mount practically does not interfere with the work with the communicator if you hold the device in your right hand. Lefties will have a harder time, but they will also be able to find a comfortable position for a mobile computer.
Like the Xperia Mini Pro, which was previously in the edition, the novelty is notable for its small dimensions in length and width, but the thickness is beyond the fashion trend of thinning communicators. While the Xperia Mini Pro's fatness was due to the slide-out keyboard, the reason for the Xperia Active's thickness is its moisture and dust resistant casing. The volume of the communicator does not cause any difficulties when working, only outwardly it seems large and angular, but you quickly get used to it.
All the edges of the novelty's case are rounded, sharp corners are absent - their presence would be dangerous both for the most "active" owner and for the device. The most vulnerable part of the communicator - the display - is enclosed in an edging made of durable metal: either aluminum or an alloy based on it. The only pity is that the screen is flush with the metal rim, it would be better if it was deepened. By sacrificing some of the convenience and aesthetics, it would have been possible to achieve greater safety when the communicator falls flat on the display. Among other security elements of the screen, it is worth noting the presence of a factory protective film.
The plastic case of the communicator is attached to the metal rim. Its upper outer part is made of orange material - the bright color attracts attention and is convenient when searching for the device on the ground. He also distinguishes the device among its fellows - it is not often possible to find such a flashy shade in the design of a communicator.
The inner case is made of durable black plastic, the battery compartment cover is attached to it, over which the outer protective casing is put on. The cover fits snugly against the body and is pressed by the casing. The latter comes in different colors, the set includes black and white options: black has a soft-touch coating and feels like rubber to the touch.
Disassembling a communicator is a simple task. To detach the outer casing, there is a large nail gap on the lanyard eyelet. With a little effort, the cover is removed from the latches, then the internal protection is detached without any problems. You can change the microSD card without disconnecting the battery.
Because the various structural elements of your device must have access to the environment, the Xperia Active has various protections to protect them. The camera and flash are protected by plastic covers in the battery cover. It also carries the protection of an additional microphone and something resembling a pressure valve. On its inner side there are contacts of various antennas, which, in turn, are placed on the outer side of the plastic part. The outer casing carries protection for the main speaker and rubber plug-valves for external connectors: microUSB and 3.5 mm audio jack for a headset. The phone speaker and microphone are on the front, and nothing definite can be said about their protection, since only small holes in the glass are provided for them, but, apparently, they are also protected by membranes.
In addition to the display, on the front panel of the communicator there are three touch buttons, ambient light and proximity sensors, as well as an LED that informs about the state of the device.
On the left side of the device there is a power control key. On the right: volume and camera control buttons. When examining them, gaps between the surrounding case and the keys are noticeable, but there is definitely additional protection under them - otherwise, moisture and dust would fall straight to the board and the display.
The lower end of the communicator case, as already mentioned, is used to accommodate the connectors and fasten the lanyard, while the upper end is not equipped with anything.
There are only two complaints about the design of the novelty: the first is a large eyelet that could be made from above and then it would not interfere when working with the communicator; the second is the display, which is not recessed inside the case. Otherwise, the Xperia Active is a well-built mobile computer with adequate and convenient layout of controls. You can get used to the unusual appearance and thickness of the device, as well as count on working in all declared extreme modes.
Software and settings
The communicator runs on Android 2.3.4 operating system. For future owners of this mobile computer, like others Sony devices Ericsson, released in 2011, the good news is the announcement from the company that it will prepare firmware updates for all of these devices running Android 4.0. Now it's worth looking at what software the current firmware has.
As branded shell installed on top of the system, the standard for Sony Ericsson devices is used - Timescape UI. Despite the fact that it does not shine with special effects, like the HTC Sense, it is ideal for communicators with a small display diagonal. In this shell, the most frequently used applications can be placed in four areas at the corners of the screen, which significantly speeds up the work with the communicator and takes up quite a bit of precious display area.
In addition to standard programs, such as: phone calls, address book, messages, - in one of the corners of the screen are grouped several applications related to the active life of the owner of the communicator: iMapMyFITNESS + and WalkMate. The first program takes into account the owner's movements on foot, jogging or cycling using a GPS receiver, records tracks and counts the calories burned. The second is a pedometer; steps are counted using an acceleration sensor built into the communicator.
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Travelers will also find the digital compass useful - it can be found among preinstalled apps... Of course, it is easier and easier to use one of the satellite navigation programs, but the GPS signal, as well as the cellular network, may disappear - then the old navigation device will come in handy. Flashlight - this is the simple name of another program, which, without exaggeration, will be useful both to active owners of the communicator and to all other users. The light source can be either the camera's LED flash or the main display.
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From additional software the Xperia Active is worth noting: an app for accessing social Facebook network, Adobe Reader - viewing PDF files, Office Suite - working with Microsoft documents Office, NeoReader - reading various barcodes. In addition, there are programs for downloading games and other applications, several reference applications, a traffic counting utility, media players and other standard programs.
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Camera
The communicator is equipped with a 5 megapixel photosensitive matrix. The camera has an autofocus system, LED flash, and can recognize faces.
The camera is controlled using a separate key on the right side of the communicator body. As with the Xperia Mini Pro, the camera control interface is organized in a two-panel fashion. Lists of settings and thumbnails of images are located on the left and right of the display, they can be minimized and free up additional space for cropping. All settings are always at hand - to change them you do not need to climb into the jungle of the menu.
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The quality of the images is decent, their maximum resolution is 2592 × 1944 pixels. Video is recorded in MPEG-4 / H.264 format with 720p resolution. You can see examples of videos and photos.
In addition to normal shooting, you can take stereo photos with the Xperia Active. To do this, the communicator must be moved horizontally during shooting, and very carefully, maintaining a constant speed and direction. As a result, the resulting image will be saved in MPO format and can be viewed on a device that supports stereo mode. On the device itself, the photo will look like a long panoramic shot.
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Wireless interfaces, communications and GPS
Sony Ericsson Xperia Active will provide its owner with a full range of modern services for information exchange. In addition to phone calls, the communicator, for example, will be able to transfer photos received using the built-in camera to a user's page on a social network. In a comfortable environment - with the help Wi-Fi networks, in the field - using one of the data transmission technologies in cellular networks: HSPA or EDGE / GPRS.
Technologies supported by Xperia Active include USB host and DLNA. The USB host allows you to connect various equipment to the communicator: mouse, keyboard, external drives and USB flash drives. DLNA allows you to exchange media content with other devices, such as computers or TVs, that are connected to the same network.
The built-in receiver of the satellite signal of the GPS network will provide the owner of the communicator with accurate positioning anywhere in the world, while the approximate location will help to determine the AGPS technology.
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Athletes will be interested in ANT + technology, which is supported by the Xperia Active. Built-in chip of the same name allows you to connect to a mobile computer various sensors measurements of speed, distance, accelerations. They can be equipped with various items of equipment, vehicles. Supported devices also include heart rate monitors and medical equipment.
All wireless communication modules remain operational even under water, in support of which an experiment was carried out with the immersion of the communicator to a depth of several tens of centimeters.
Display and sound
The basic parameters of the Xperia Active display are standard for the mainstream Xperia communicators in 2011. The resolution of 320 × 480 pixels is optimal for a 3-inch TFT matrix. The capacitive touch display is sensitive even to the touch of wet fingers, multi-touch is supported. The backlight brightness is sufficient for most tasks and is automatically adjusted. The screen dims noticeably only in strong ambient light.
The speaker located on the back of the communicator body reproduces sounds even when under water. Of course, the water column muffles the power of sound waves, but if you drop the device into a small body of water, you can determine its location simply by calling.
The volume of all speakers is more than sufficient for comfortable work with the device. Two microphones provide high quality communication with the interlocutor. The power of the whole sound system adjustable with two keys.
The Xperia Active also has proprietary Sony technology Ericsson to improve display and speaker performance: Sony Mobile Bravia Engine and xLoud, respectively.
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The communicator comes with a standard Sony wired headset. The control module is equipped with a button and a microphone; headphones cannot be disconnected from it. The sound quality of the headset is good; the kit includes replaceable earpieces of various sizes.
When a headset is connected to the communicator, the FM radio becomes available. The receiver control interface is laconic and convenient, the program itself searches for radio stations and adds them to the list. RDS technology is supported, the signal reception quality is excellent.
Battery life and performance
During the short time that the communicator was in the editorial office, it was possible to carry out only basic tests for autonomy. Accumulator battery the Xperia Active has a capacity of 1200 mAh, a processor frequency of 1 GHz, a screen diagonal of 3 inches. Taken together, this leads to the fact that when reading an e-book with 50% backlight level, the communicator worked for 16.5 hours, music playback with the display turned off lasted for 20 hours, the minimum operating time of the device was 4 hours. It was achieved by setting the maximum backlighting, turning on all wireless communication modules, and launching a movie to play.
Overall, the Xperia Active's battery life is good. Setting the backlight to an acceptable level and turning off unnecessary communication modules can significantly extend the life of the device in mobile operation.
The summary table shows the results of testing the performance of the hero of the review and other communicators that have been in the editorial office.
| Sony ericsson Xperia Active 1 GHz (Android 2.3) | Sony ericsson Xperia mini pro 1 GHz (Android 2.3) | Samsung Galaxy S II 2 × 1.2 GHz (Android 2.3) | Htc Sensation 2 × 1.2 GHz (Android 2.3) | Sony ericsson Xperia Arc 1 GHz (Android 2.3) | Samsung Galaxy S 1 GHz (Android 2.3) | Samsung Galaxy S 1 GHz (Android 2.1) |
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| Graphics | |||||||
| Total graphics score | 420.2186 | 487.65515 | 34.054173 | 63.32414 | 26.784534 | 30.028656 | 30.482296 |
| Draw opacity bitmap (MPixels / sec) | 139.31973 | 181.23894 | 11.17294 | 22.188517 | 8.943233 | 8.854302 | 9.3687105 |
| Draw transparent bitmap (MPixels / sec) | 117.70115 | 117.02857 | 9.655823 | 16.542812 | 7.4391575 | 9.512309 | 9.275363 |
| CPU Whetstone | |||||||
| Total CPU score | 2178.7073 | 2258.528 | 3261.4143 | 2500.6213 | 2228.1846 | 1571.6143 | 771.9937 |
| MWIPS DP | 145.13788 | 149.25372 | 181.4882 | 162.86644 | 145.56041 | 97.84736 | 57.636887 |
| MWIPS SP | 167.78525 | 175.4386 | 296.7359 | 190.4762 | 174.52007 | 108.813934 | 60.79027 |
| MFLOPS DP | 12.365972 | 13.428502 | 12.005697 | 26.03444 | 12.867661 | 6.510691 | 7.3144784 |
| MFLOPS SP | 15.663344 | 17.23695 | 34.02756 | 34.39461 | 17.652456 | 14.372471 | 8.3832655 |
| VAX MIPS DP | 130.0208 | 134.85927 | 156.00337 | 143.94771 | 132.27618 | 111.43894 | 39.92782 |
| VAX MIPS SP | 134.3838 | 137.31831 | 225.92809 | 137.0819 | 136.2276 | 97.69196 | 40.446907 |
| Memory | |||||||
| Total memory score | 625.6395 | 645.8333 | 782.7169 | 792.86743 | 702.7458 | 647.3529 | 600.7096 |
| Copy memory (Mb / sec) | 568.5048 | 586.85443 | 711.23755 | 720.4611 | 638.5696 | 588.2353 | 545.8515 |
| Filesystem | |||||||
| Total file system score | 194.14053 | 167.95865 | 325.3547 | 213.823 | 227.13245 | 74.25825 | 143.54076 |
| Creating 1000 empty files (sec) | 3.559 | 2.963 | 0.256 | 1.342 | 4.456 | 13.402 | 41.504 |
| Deleting 1000 empty files (sec) | 2.088 | 1.391 | 0.13 | 0.408 | 2.875 | 25.047 | 27.346 |
| Write 1M into file (M / sec) | 5.966587 | 4.5745654 | 99.0099 | 13.513514 | 2.4113817 | 37.037037 | 3.068426 |
| Read 1M from file (M / sec) | 384.6154 | 333.33334 | 555.55554 | 416.66666 | 454.54544 | 112.35955 | 285.7143 |
| SD card perfomance | |||||||
| Creating 250 empty files (sec) | 13.288 | 18.224 | 9.34 | 8.588 | 6.348 | 3.444 | 11.908 |
| Deleting 250 empty files (sec) | 43.392 | 56.308 | 12.42 | 4.772 | 5.904 | 3.0 | 13.684 |
| Write 1M into file (M / sec) | 32.258064 | 34.129692 | 23.364487 | 26.88172 | 44.052864 | 16.10306 | 20.833334 |
| Read 1M from file (M / sec) | 384.6154 | 400.0 | 312.5 | 357.14285 | 454.54544 | 344.82758 | 303.0303 |
Comparing the Xperia Active with the Xperia Mini Pro, you can see that the hero of the review performed worse than his brother in the product line. Considering the identical hardware stuffing of both devices, the discrepancy in the tests can be attributed, perhaps, only to different Android version: 2.3.3 in Xperia Mini Pro and 2.3.4 in Xperia Active.
Both devices demonstrate exorbitant results in the tests of the graphics subsystem, which, however, are easily explained by the small resolution of the communicators' displays. More expensive and more powerful devices spend more time calculating the image of their multipixel sensors. This fact is confirmed by the Quadrant Standard test, in which the Xperia Active scored 1483 points.
In other respects, the Xperia Active, like the Xperia Mini Pro, lags behind top-end devices such as and. The similar processor frequency determines the coincidence of the results in the processor performance tests for all Sony Ericsson devices presented in the table. The same applies to operations with the memory of communicators.
conclusions
With the advent of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active, those buyers who need an “all-weather” and “protected” communicator have a choice. Although the range of devices is not very wide: Xperia Active and Motorola Defy are better than nothing. Despite the fact that the latter is not officially supplied to Russia, it can be easily purchased at one of the online stores.
The Xperia Active has its advantages in the form of a productive hardware filling, a fresh version of the OS and a convenient shell, and a good battery life. The negative aspects of the novelty can be attributed only to the non-standard design.
Compared to "regular" communicators, such as the Xperia Mini, the Xperia Active looks decent, which is not surprising given their identical hardware. There is a suspicion that Sony Ericsson specifically gave the new product such an extravagant appearance so that it does not create serious competition for its other devices.
It is unlikely that the Xperia Active will be the everyday phone of an office worker or anyone else who spends most of their time in comfortable conditions. However, it will become an indispensable assistant to anyone who is in direct contact with the environment for a long time, especially such a changeable one as in Russia, and must be constantly in touch. The Xperia Active could also be the perfect second communicator for all hobbyists active rest, tourism and extreme entertainment. In the end, even if something happens to the communicator, its price will cause less worries than the demise of a much more expensive mobile computer.
2 years ago
compact, waterproof, fell on the asphalt a couple of times - strong!
2 years ago
Size -Convenience of use -Price and quality
2 years ago
Water resistance (two protective back panels) - Impact resistance - The set includes a wonderful strong film (already glued on), which prevents my phone screen from breaking or scratching for 4 years already :) - Compact, comfortable to hold in hand - Excellent camera (however, there is no front camera)
2 years ago
really unkillable !! I dropped it from the third floor onto concrete (not special, of course) and dived in the Red Sea to a depth of 10 meters - it takes pictures perfectly, BUT the video does not write under water, apparently because of the warm sea there the sensor thinks that it is turned off ... and the screen is blocked ( (a pity, I wanted to take pictures of the underwater beauty.
2 years ago
security (not checked yet, pleases its presence), powerful loop on the case, small size, fits comfortably in the hand
2 years ago
small. quick. beautiful. waterproof. shockproof.
2 years ago
not afraid of anything, dropped it, drowned it involuntarily, I am both a fisherman and a hunter. and a hiker, he went through everything with me, the verdict, you won’t kill! the operating system is very nimble, it flies on the internet, the camera is normal, the SENSOR is VERY AND VERY GOOD, does not dull , brings only joy.
2 years ago
1) Rich equipment; 2) Android OS on board; 3) Excellent speed of work; 4) Bright design and soft-touch materials. In general, I am satisfied with the phone. The striking, individual design makes it stand out from the crowd and draws attention to itself. Good protective properties will help you not to get upset if the phone falls into a puddle on the street. Sufficiently convenient Internet access and work with applications now make it possible to turn on the desktop PC less often than usual (access to social networks and lj for reading and commenting). It still remains to try it out in sports, and with a successful result, the favorable impression will be complete.
2 years ago
Everything is as indicated in the kit on the manufacturer's website. Bag, conveniently attaches to your hand. The rubber strap, in my opinion, is completely useless. The headphones are ordinary. It is pleasant to hold the phone in the hand, it seems rubberized, although in reality it is ordinary plastic. 2 back panels - white and black. The assembly, without a doubt, is of high quality - the presence of water resistance obliges. I dived in the bathroom - the phone turned out to be a good fellow)). Tomorrow I will arrange a swim in the pool, although the instructions say not to use in the ocean (nothing is said about the sea) water and in the pool ... but you need to check it)). Android looks a little different than in my former X8 - nicer and faster. A bunch of some applications I don't need. Fotik adequate for 5 pixels, flash is present. Pleased with the presence of a flashlight
2 years ago
in fact, it is not afraid of water tested by accidentally forgetting the phone in the pocket of a sports jacket, the jacket was successfully washed in the washing machine in daily mode (30 minutes) -the phone remained in working condition, I will not repeat the experiment anymore)))) with the battery time began to suffice for 2-3 days with average use (Wi-Fi is always on, GPS is off)
2 years ago
1 is constantly cutting off the connection during a conversation !!!
2 battery
2 years ago
It has been 3 years since I have been using this phone, and I would not have changed it if the applications did not weigh so much now! There is not enough memory for anything!
2 years ago
There are jams since the time of purchase
- Low performance
- Protective caps for USB and headphone jack came off and were lost on both original and replacement back covers.
2 years ago
it does not hold much with active use, GPS + Internet, + autocad (this program is constantly used for work) + conversations .. for daylight hours, in fact, is enough.
2 years ago
phantom vibrations before rebooting, slows down even on CM10
2 years ago
the battery needs to be pumped, then 3-4 days will be enough
There is only one minus, the microphone is not in the center and from the front, you have to talk to the right and not leaning the microphone to your cheek.
2 years ago
the battery runs out quickly. that's all the disadvantages
2 years ago
1) Weak battery.
2 years ago
I won't say anything about the hardware, in other models (Mini and Mini Pro) it is similar. Android 2.3.4, so do not indulge yourself in vain hoping for a newer version.
2 years ago
this model has already been discontinued with all the consequences ...
