Sony Ericsson Aino Preview

Interface and Multimedia:

Given the Sony Ericsson Aino does not have an entirely touch sensitive screen, there is no need for it to utilize new software as well. There are several icons with changed appearance, the settings menu is not divided into separate tabs and the phone comes with new themes that seem to have been inspired by mainstream pop culture and we don’t like them at all. The preloaded internet browser is pretty good for a feature phone and you connect to the global network via 3G or Wi-Fi. Still, we would have liked it much better if the phone could be controlled through the screen. Alas, the manufacturer doesn’t provide such an option here.




The multimedia menu comes in two different varieties. There is nothing impressive or new in the interface when screen is not in touch sensitive mode other than the different visual styles of the audio player. It can show like a cassette, record-player etc. These do not offer added functionality, but are varied and amusing.



The touch sensitive mode is only available when the phone slider is closed. It features shortcuts to the camera, gallery, audio and video player and the FM radio. As a whole, all icons are large enough to press with your fingers, although they provide access to rather simplified functions only, say, browsing files or starting them and you do not have the opportunity to fiddle with equalizer or sound settings for an instance. Given the huge display, we hope device provides proper video playback, although this is something that Sony Ericsson is hardly famous for.



The Sony Ericson Aino sports 8.1-megapixel camera with autofocus and built-in flash. You operate it done via the touch sensitive screen and its interface offers different presets, can change the focusing mode, gives control over the flash, self-portrait function, snapshot resolution and geotagging via the built-in GPS receiver. Keep in mind the camera interface looks unfinished and will probably go through substantial changes until the retail units hit the shelves.


Expectations:

We do not like the concept of this device. On one hand you have this large screen and on the other it cannot be used for proper phone navigation. Like we said, we have already seen this on the LG Secret and KS360 (Neon). The thing is their displays are really small and wouldn’t be comfortable for use with your bare fingers anyway. In our opinion, the Sony Ericsson Aino should have been something similar to the LG KF700 – device that features a fully functional touch sensitive screen with the keypad being just an alternative option for people who doesn’t like pressing the screen or would rather type away without using it. Honestly, the phone looks like based on an ill-conceived concept at the moment.

Sony Ericsson Aino Video Preview: