Big Disappointment Or No Biggie: Xperia X10 Launching With Android 1.6

Rob Jackson
15 years ago

xperia-x10 When the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 launches, likely in April, it will come packing Android 1.6. We all know that the most current Android Phones will be running Android 2.1 or beyond. So it should be no surprise that Sony Ericsson reps are feeling the heat when they demo the product, with people claiming the phone is already outdated.

Not so says Sumit from SE’s corporate blog. He provides an interesting narrative that downplays the importance of OS version number while promising the X10 will get a 2.1 update anyways:

The OS versions are somewhat becoming a reference point for people I feel. Similar to processor speed in computers and megapixels in camera phones. I as consumer of course evaluate the same things, buying equipment on my own. However when you start evaluating usage, there are more factors to consider than just the specs.

He goes on to explain that the look and feel of the phone in your hand help you sum up immediate positive feelings. The OS is dismissed as “outdated” but if you consider the custom elements of the X10 like Timescape and Mediascape, than even with Android 1.6 the phone competes very well against others with 2.1.

I wouldn’t argue and he makes a pretty good point. Just because the X10 isn’t the MOST up to date software isn’t a reason to dismiss it completely. First of all, what are the features from 1.6 to 2.1 that make the X10 a phone you simply couldn’t purchase on launch day? Second of all, the X10 will be updated to 2.1+ sometime after launch… OTA’s FTW!

Then I introduce the signature applications; Sony Ericsson Timescape^TM and Mediascape and the focus of the discussion shifts from talking about this layer on top of Android, that I refer to as the Sony Ericsson User Experience platform. I now find myself discussing the total experience rather the OS version in isolation with a great appreciation about what we are bringing to the table. Then the interest of the User Experience platform future roadmap gets to be the talking point instead. What I hope to get across to you all, is that there will be a software update for Xperia X10 that will upgrade the complete Sony Ericsson User Experience Platform based on newer version of the Android OS.

My favorite part of the blog post is this:

I am both confident and humble at the same time

Claiming that you’re humble seems to be a bit of an oxymoron, but whatever, we get the point. He even admits that there are obvious upgrades in Android 2.1 but he is simply downplaying the NECESSITY for it and explains how with the Sony Ericsson User Experience Platform for Android integrated, the X10 is much more than just a regular Android 1.6 phone.

What do you think:

Would a phone launching with Android 1.6 prevent you from purchasing it, even if you know it would one day get a 2.1+ update?
What features in Android 2.1+ do you consider necessary or highly desired that a 1.6 phone DOESN’T have and thus, causing you to not consider it as a purcahse option?