Posted by jcwhite_uk
Available in Havana Gold as part of the wider "Havana" collection, or "Quick Black", the new Sony Ericsson V640i is a new handset, exclusive to Vodafone.
A media and music offering, with fast HSDPA connectivity, the phone supports Memory Stick Micros up to 4GB - which will work out as around 3600 songs in your pocket.
Although not part of the Walkman-branded range, this too boasts a dedicated music key and - thanks to the HSDPA - in the right conditions, with a prevailing wind, etc, you could download a full music track in 14 seconds.
The V640i comes complete with new Media Manager software that Sony Ericsson says lets you easily move your favourite music, photos, videos and more between your PC and your phone by auto-converting them into phone-friendly formats.
The V640i boasts another music-themed trick - the in-built "TrackID" feature lets you record a 5 second music clip – either by tagging it from the phone's FM Radio or from a nearby stereo – and then within seconds receive notification back of the song title, the artist and the album name - with a link to buy it.
Video playback can handle H.264 and comes in at 15fps on a 2-inch screen and it is pre-loaded Google Maps, eBay and also supports RSS feeds. Other features include a 2-megapixel camera, A2DP Bluetooth, support for push email and a flight mode.
No price point confirmed, the V640i will be available on Vodafone this autumn.
Posted by Aware
Umm........it's a rebuilt K530, just like V630i was a rebuilt K610......
Posted by jcwhite_uk
Posted by Arne Anka
On 2007-09-14 14:14:33, Aware wrote:
Umm........it's a rebuilt K530, just like V630i was a rebuilt K610.....
perhaps, but K530 did not support HSDPA I believe.
[ This Message was edited by: Arne Anka on 2007-09-14 13:33 ]
Posted by Aware
You're quite right! Video call camera is also on the wrong side, comparing the two together......hmmm......
Posted by gola
i'm guessing this phone has vodafone firmware...When will they ever stop? ? ?
Posted by xell
On 2007-09-14 14:46:30, gola wrote:
i'm guessing this phone has vodafone firmware...When will they ever stop? ? ?
For Vodafone-exclusive phones? Let me guess... hrm... never?
Posted by Sammy_boy
Was just going to say the same Gola! I bet Voda's ruined the phone by putting all their nasty firmware and branding on it!
Looks nice externally though - although the featureset is nothing to write home about. Then again I guess it's not trying to be a high-end handset!
Posted by tranced
can i just simply
?
Posted by *Jojo*
I really like this fone: design, contour and all ! Looks like it was made out of - wood !
Posted by Supa_Fly
On 2007-09-15 05:32:25, *Jojo* wrote:
I really like this fone: design, contour and all ! Looks like it was made out of - wood !
Although Voda have been branding Dedicated Call buttons on SE phones since the T610 days; I've notice that the activity menu is STILL present. Also with HSDPA this will make SE's 3rd phone to support this. Does this mean the chipset is based like that of of the Z750i & K850i ??
Hmm.
Posted by SE4NICK
I thought this was a photo shop image lol. My reasons for this are:
-K300 numerical keys
-back and c keys look very similar to those of K610 design
-The SE logo on the screen is from another phone (cant quite remember, maybe K500)
-d-pad is not very original (If u know what i mean)
Posted by seland
It also has a '4' in the model name.
Any ways, why do Voda always create their own versions of crappy 3G phones, not good ones like the K800, K810 and W900? The K800, K810 and W900 are the only good 3G phones that SE has ever produced.
Posted by carkitter
I have a V630i and I can tell you it isn't crappy. Heaps of people I know are jealous of my phone.
I have other Vodafone handsets, a Nokia 6234 and a Samsung Z400v and they're not crappy either.
_________________
SE and Vodafone sponsor Motorsport in OZ
If a man speaks in the woods and there's no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2007-09-16 03:40 ]
Posted by Alexandra
On 2007-09-15 05:53:41, Prom1 wrote:
On 2007-09-15 05:32:25, *Jojo* wrote:
I really like this fone: design, contour and all ! Looks like it was made out of - wood !
Although Voda have been branding Dedicated Call buttons on SE phones since the T610 days; I've notice that the activity menu is STILL present.
But not where you need it, on its own button. The activity menu is on the main softkey only, making multitasking useless.
Posted by carkitter
On 2007-09-16 04:41:36, Alexandra wrote:
On 2007-09-15 05:53:41, Prom1 wrote:
On 2007-09-15 05:32:25, *Jojo* wrote:
I really like this fone: design, contour and all ! Looks like it was made out of - wood !
Although Voda have been branding Dedicated Call buttons on SE phones since the T610 days; I've notice that the activity menu is STILL present.
But not where you need it, on its own button. The activity menu is on the main softkey only, making multitasking useless.
So, by your own admission the Activity menu is on it's own key, just not the key you want. Perhaps you could send Vodafone a list of your personal requirements for future phones?
Posted by Alexandra
Why? It's just that it defeats the purpose of having an activity menu if it is on the home screen.
Posted by zaxan
Look similar don't they...
The V640i would win my vote over the 6500 classic anyday though - better looking, video call camera, HSDPA, just overall a better phone.
[ This Message was edited by: zaxan on 2007-09-16 09:15 ]
Posted by JC08
Whats the screen resolution like, and does the cam have af?
Posted by Alexandra
It is 176x220, and the camera sucks.
Posted by JC08
How sure are you, have you even used the phone?
Posted by Alexandra
It's the same cam as the K610, and I used to own that (but sold it 'cause I was jealous of my cousin's W810). Trust me, the camera sucks.
Posted by carkitter
I have a V640i now, and it is a superb phone. I liked my V630i but this 200% better. Screen resoultion is 176 x 220, camera is good, similar to V630i with no A/F but good non-the-less. Video is 240x320 resolution and good quality too for QCIF 15fps, shows up well on Quicktime. Camera settings and features are copied straight out of my wife's Cybershot DSC H3 8.1Mp digicam! I'll elaborate more when I post my full review. Media player is a massive improvement over the V630i, radio and Track ID is added along with HSDPA, and for those Voda haters the toolbar button now goes direct to the shortcuts tab not the Vodafone Live! tab
Well done
and Vodafone. Another top effort.
I've have V800, V630 and now V640 and all are great!
_________________
I
V8 Supercars
"Innovation in styling comes from innovation in packaging" - Gordon Murray
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2008-03-24 15:44 ]
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Nice carkitter. I've had similar phones and like you, I can say the Vodafone stuff ain't so bad. I'd prefer not to have it as the original SE stuff is better, but it doesn't detract from the phones functionality.
Interestingly, I found the other day that the V630i, V640i and W910i that we had/have all use the exact same camera hardware, so considering that SE wouldn't change the drivers much between the phones, all three should have very similar quality! And I'm definitely not complaining, my V630i took some great shots and even won me a competition!
Looking forward to a good read of your review.
Posted by carkitter
Review is up now - here
Always wanted to post unboxing photos
Enjoy!
Posted by Lunion
very very good review carkitter
Posted by xell
I'd like to see some interface pics, afaik it's the only A200 176px phone till now? Interested how grainy it is. Very good review, like it.
Posted by carkitter
I have some but as you can see, the flash interfered with them so they're not in the review. I'll take some better pics to put in the review
just wanted to get it up as its taken quite some time to write (I type slow).
Posted by xell
Thanks, looks good for 176. On par with my K610, I guess. I don't like the font they put in W380 (the old K750 one).
Posted by goosebuffz
since having a k750i running voda firmware
am never going to touch any phones with voda branding
you get it on the case and then the red menus
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Awesome review carkitter! Very detailed and informative. Hopefully it will encourage more V640i/K630i owners in the future. It seems like you're very happy with it, and it sounds like an excellent phone!
Posted by carkitter
@M-O
Thanks!
I'm quite staggered by how big a step up the V640i is.
On 2008-03-24 23:38:39, goosebuffz wrote:
since having a k750i running voda firmware
am never going to touch any phones with voda branding
you get it on the case and then the red menus
@goose
I fail to see how Vodafone has offended you. If you don't like the red menus then download one of the 22,000+ K750i themes on Zedge.net or Esato and they'll disappear.
So you get a Vodafone symbol on the case, so what? Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher don't seem to mind Vodafone branding and I'll bet they see alot more of it than you.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
I agree with carkitter. While both he and I will happily admit that an unbranded handset is better than a branded one, I cant see why it offends people so much that Vodafone have put their logo on a phone.
You can take away the red menus simply by changing the theme, and the rest of it doesn't detract much. The Vodafone menu icons are improving too and are now a lot more colourful than they used to be!
Also, my Vodafone branded W910i has absolutely no branding on the casing, and the flash themes can completely disguise it (that is, no Vodafone style red menus or Vodafone icons), apart from the left softkey being a Vodafone live link, which isn't too bad as I use it occasionally for games.
Speaking of themes, carkitter. Does your V640i come with any flash themes which change the menu icons?
Posted by carkitter
Actually, yes it does!
Thanks, I didn't know until I went looking in response to tour question!
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Awesome! If you can, post some shots of those up with your UI shots. That'd be cool!
Posted by carkitter
Done.
On 2008-03-24 18:53:45, NightBlade wrote:
Great review! Phone looks gorgeous.
BTW, how are the speakers?
It has only one speaker and its on the back. I'm not a fan of speakers on the back surface, I'd rather see stereo speakers on the sides but as
are yet to do this in thier mainstream models I decided not to go there in the review. The speaker sound quality is average but is VERY LOUD!. For ringtones you won't need the 8 setting (full volume), I found 6 too loud and currently use 4 (half volume) + vibrate. Music/Radio volume is not that loud though. I listen to the radio outdoors alot and often use settings 5.5 - 6, with 7 - 8 for personal favourite tracks (8 is maximum).
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Nice one carkitter, looks like you scored some nice flash themes.
Yeah the V630i was extremely loud too. I thought the W910i was loud, but I compared the two earlier tonight and the V630i just blew the W910i away! And review sites say the W910i is supposed to be loud! If the V640i is similar to the V630i, then its a very very loud phone!
Posted by xell
I may join the V640 club on monday. Got an contract proposal:
9,95€ per month, 1€ for the device, plus I get 175€ cash!
That's only 65€ fixed cost for the phone!
[ This Message was edited by: Xellar on 2008-03-29 22:41 ]
Posted by carkitter
Xcellent!
I've added some more indoor/outdoor pictures, and will finalise the review over the next few days. I may soon have access to a V630i and if so, I'll do a major overhaul on the review turning it into a direct comparison.
Posted by croatia
friend of my change voda v640 menu for k630 s.e. normal menu and he is really happy now personaly i dont like voda too icons menu together sms and mms stuff etc s.e. should be s.e.
Posted by xell
"Nearest" K630 firmware I could get is Central Europe. Though I have no problem with English language the only one I could read from the selection, I would prefer German a choice.
Posted by xell
Got it.
Next thing I get is K630 firmware.
I want the Netfront browser!
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Does the V640i not have the Netfront browser?
Posted by xell
It always wants to open the VF Live! portal. I don't want this as I have no data plan on the contract.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Yeah but if you go into the Vodafone Live! menu option in the desktop menu, it should come up with some options such as "Homepage" and "Games". But you should also notice it has "Enter Web Address" and "Bookmarks". So there is absolutely no need to go into the Vodafone Live! portal. Just set up where you want to visit as bookmarks and go from there!
Posted by xell
Erm... can't.
If I go to Vodafone Live! on desktop, it wants to connect. I also can't edit the homepage in Connections. Or I'm just blind.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
I mean the Vodafone Live! icon on the 12 icon desktop. It should be here:
x - x
x x x
x x x
x x x
Posted by xell
Yep. I click - it wants to connect.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Reeeally? They must have changed it, and not for the better! That sucks man. Definitely go with the K630i firmware then!
It used to be like how you said when I had a Z600, so you had to go onto Vodafone Live! before you could navigate away to other pages. While this didn't cost anything as browsing Vodafone Live! is free, its just an unnecessary step to have to take, and a huge inconvenience.
It was changed on my last few phones (V630i and W910i) so that you could go straight to your bookmarks or enter an address, which is heaps better. I don't know why they have downgraded it for the V640i which is a NEWER model!
Posted by xell
On free firmware now, K630i R1EA030. Worth the 12€... but now no flash themes for me.