Sony-Ericsson's collaborations in camera phones didn't quite invent the category with their original CyberShot designs, but they were one of the first innovators in the market segment. That tendency for innovation, a synergistic blend of two different design aesthetics. Ericsson, of course, is known for practical designs, and Sony is renowned for defining digital media experiences in small packages, dating back to the original Walkman tape cassette player.
The 3.2 megapixel camera is slightly beyond middle of the pack for camera phones; the Nokia N95 has a 5 megapixel one, and like all camera phones, the lack of dedicated optics keep it from being a true photographer's camera. On the other hand, picture quality is quite good, and the color and saturation levels are more than good enough for the usual use for a camera mobile. It has some rudimentary picture editing capabilities in the device, and Sony Ericsson has done a good job of integrating camera viewing, file management, and sending pictures by the phone itself.
The picture viewing application is good, but not jawdroppingly so. The real virgin mobile prize here is that it's a solid combination of camera, Sony Ericsson phone and music player that's small enough to be shoved into a jeans pocket and run with.
The K770i is an evolutionary modification of their earlier CyberShot product line; rather than a revolutionary one. It doesn't add anything as amazing as, say, an iPhone's user interface, but then, it's not meant to. It's a solid "candy bar" format phone, only 14 mm thick; its buttons are large and well placed, and it has a 240x320 pixel screen that's bright and good enough for showing off snapshots.
Sony Ericsson, virgin mobile
