The Aino - Sony Ericsson Satio’s little sibling announced Options

[Mizzle]

Sony Ericsson's Entertainment Unlimited family just got a little bit bigger. The touch-screened Aino has been announced. Unlike the Satio, this little bugger (speaking figuratively and rather contradictory to the truth) is not a smartphone. It runs on a modified version of Sony Ericsson's feature phone OS. But despite that, it still manages to pack quite a punch. It's got an 8 megapixel camera with photo flash, Touch focus, Face and Smile detection, Smart contrast, Geo-tagging, BestPic and other software niceties.

The front, apparently, is dominated by a large 3 inch display, capable of showing up to 16 million colours and with the odd 240:432 resolution. Sony Ericsson have also done their best to spice up the interface, by providing a brand new auto-rotate-enabled Media menu and new interface graphics. The touchscreen only works in the Media and Camera menu for now though.

Speaking of media, the Aino has Sony's Clear Bass and Clear Stereo Sound enhancement technologies. Audio quality shouldn't be a problem this way. The mood-recognition-based SensMe filter is also in the music player of the phone. Naturally, A2DP Bluetooth is included as well, so that you can listen to your music via a wireless headset. The stereo speakers are also a very welcome feature. FM radio is there too.

Of course, The Aino also supports Java apps and 3D games (it even has a YouTube, Walkmate, Tracker, Facebook and a Hyves application on-board), but what's really interesting here is that it also supports a feature, familiar to PSP owners- namely Remote play. This allows the user to connect to his PS3 from anywhere around the globe, as long as he has a connection to the Interenet that can handle the data traffic. Al lthe content on your PS3 at your fingertips - anywhere. Customers from Italy, France, Spain, Germany and Great Britain can also use the PlayTV option, which allows them to play, pause and record TV using their Aino. pretty neat, huh?

Amidst the relatively bulky dimensions of the phone - 104x50x15.5 mm - we find another unusual feature - and alphanumeric keypad hidden beneath the surface. And yes, it slides vertically. Kind of awkward, I know. Oh, it's also a tad heavy - 134 grams. But they had fo fit all these features somewhere.

On the connectivity side, the Aino supports quad-band GPRS/EDGE and tri-band HSDPA. Wi-Fi and GPS are there as well. Expectedly, Google maps ships with the phone too.

The Aino should ship the beginning of the fourth quarter this year in the colours Obsidian Black and Luminous White.

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Press release:

Keep up to date with the latest videos and music on Aino. Media Go™ helps you transfer, play and organise all your music, photos, videos and podcasts from your PC simply and effortlessly to enjoy directly on Aino via Wi-Fi™. No more wires, no more searching – always the latest fun.

London, UK – May 28, 2009 – Sony Ericsson today showcases Aino.  Get the best of two worlds with the keypad combined with an intuitive touch UI in media mode.  An intuitive media browser gives users a clear overview and one touch direct access to their content.

Control your PLAYSTATION®3 and access its media content on your Aino anywhere, anytime using Remote Play with PLAYSTATION®3.  Remote Play with PLAYSTATION®3, initially developed for PSP, enables users to control and access media content on PLAYSTATION®3 from their phone.  This can be done via a local network between PLAYSTATION®3 and Aino in your home or via the internet from anywhere in the world.  For TV lovers in Italy, France, Spain, Germany and in the UK users can also enjoy the PlayTV™ service on PLAYSTATION®3 via the Aino.  Watch, pause and record live TV from a huge range of free channels via Aino on the go.

Aino also introduces Media Home, an application that pulls media content from Media Go™ on your PC over Wi-Fi™ to your phone automatically.  Users just insert their Aino into its charging stand and it automatically synchronizes with all the latest media content on their PC.  You are always ready to go with the latest content on your phone.

“Sony Ericsson has established itself as THE Communication Entertainment brand and Aino highlights our commitment to bringing the latest communication technology to the market in fun and innovative ways for consumers to enjoy,” said Alexandre Cardon, Market Business Manager at Sony Ericsson. “Media Home and Remote Play with PLAYSTATION®3 are key steps in broadening the entertainment experiences users can enjoy on their Sony Ericsson phone and gives a taste of our vision of the future.”

Watch movies on the crystal clear 3 inch screen and listen to music in superb quality and with increased freedom - thanks to the stylish Wireless Stereo Headphone MH100 and matching Charging Stand EC100 included with Aino.  This powerful phone offers a full range of exciting features to support the entertainment experiences on the phones such as; an 8.1 megapixel camera, Photo flash and Clear audio experience.

Aino
Sound and vision set free

• The best of both worlds: traditional keypad and touch UI in media mode


• Media Home and Media Go™ - simple to take your content with you


• Remote Play with PLAYSTATION®3 – control and access your PLAYSTATION®3  media content from your mobile phone


• 3 inch 16 million colour screen – surf the web in widescreen


• Clear audio experience – listen to music in superb quality


• Design matched Wireless Stereo Headphone MH100 and Charging Stand EC100

Aino supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSPA 850/1900/2100. Aino will be available in selected markets from early Q4 in the colours Obsidian Black and Luminous White.

From the USEB:
http://blog.se-nse.net/sony-ericsson-aino-introduced/.

This post has been edited by NightBlade: 2009-05-28 19:53

[hks_911]

at last a feature fone with touch screen
that is just superb
BTW if its a touch screen whats the need of a key pad?
i think it will b a li'll bulky

[isashach]

DLNA Enabled? I might get a DLNA TV soon, so I worry !
Huh, I hope they don't mess up on the pricing of the Entertainment Unlimited phones !
This one would probably suit me best!

[hks_911]

Huh, I hope they don't mess up on the pricing of the Entertainment Unlimited phones !
This one would probably suit me best!

i dont expect anything from se only in this case pricing of se fones r always very high and i dont think it will change
but i wish the other way

[isashach]

Same here, I hope it won't be an iPhone beater... in price.

[motvikt]

Same here, I hope it won't be an iPhone beater... in price.

recommended price 3500sek, aka 350 euro

edit. hmm maybe not, mobil.se must be lying since engadget says the "game phone" will cost 400 euro... it cant cost less than that one...

This post has been edited by motvikt: 2009-05-28 19:22

[Kaosblade]

Sony PS3 owners must be jumping around partying.

[Mr.Phear]

Wow. This is amazing! Awesome phone! I thought it would be like a side slider (like the X1) with a QWERTY when i first saw it but either way, it's so cool!

[MWEB1]

Aino doubt about it, this is nice

[alexlovesonyeric...]

This does look like a pretty good phone. But what's happening to Sony Ericsson and their normal naming system??? I don't mind the changes in naming styles, but I prefer the old ones.

Anyways, planning to get a new phone soon, possibly a Blackberry and a Sony Ericsson, but I have no idea which Sony Ericsson to get. Planning on the C905, but the new ones just tempt me into not getting the C905.

[RockHell]

I'm loving the look of this one

[Corman]

Really like this one . As its big brother is probably too expensive for me, I might consider this one

[RockHell]

As its big brother is probably too expensive for me, I might consider this one

I have to agree corman

[Ly]

That very first picture is really appealling to me for once!

[RockHell]

[Ly]

Those icons


Eye candy

[hks_911]

semi touchscreen???
hmmmm its a capacitive touchscreen but the the touch is supported only in the media menu and the camera!!!!!
WTF is this????

[Corman]

I really like the menu

[photographer]

16.000.000 colors! WHOOO!

[hamed1297]

I can`t digest what is this limited touch function?
is it because of lack in OS or s.thing else?

we can use it in camera & multimedia menu but nowhere else?????

This post has been edited by hamed1297: 2009-05-29 12:21