Read the full Sony Ericsson C905 review

At a glitzy launch in London's Mayfair this week, Sony Ericsson's PR custodians covered the walls of a posh art gallery with scores of photographs ranging in size from postcards to massive A3 posters.

The subjects were a motley bunch - a clutch of sports celebrities such as Lewis Hamilton, Ian Botham and David Gower - combined with apparent holiday snaps of landscapes and tourist resorts. The aim was to show the development of mobile phone cameras from the first sub-megapixel efforts to the latest state-of-the-art Cyber-shot: the 8.2 megapixel Sony Ericsson C905.

When you arrived at the massive A3 photos taken by the C905 you couldn't help but be impressed. The fine detail, even on these poster-sized blow-ups, is breathtaking - there's no sign of JPEG 'mosquitoes' (or compression artefacts) even when leafy trees are contrasted against a bright blue sky - which usually brings out the mozzies in swarms. And the colours are dazzling and still lifelike - especially in the daytime shots (and it was noticeable that 90% of these pictures were daylight exteriors).

So we've seen what the Sony Ericsson C905 is capable of in terms of its photographic output - images that bear comparison to a high-end compact digital camera, or indeed a low-end DSLR. But what about the handset itself? Well we had 20 minutes to play with it at the launch event and our first impressions are very favourable.

First, when you hold the handset in your hands it gives a weighty feeling of durability and quality - it does clock in at a substantial 136g. The casing is a mix of high-impact plastic and metal which feels much more expensive and less 'plasticky' than the previous top-end Cyber-shot, the Sony Ericsson K850i. As is the fashion these days, the back of the case is slightly tapered on the edges and fills out in the centre to accomodate the battery.

This is the first Cyber-shot slider phone and the handset slips open and shut with a satisfying chunk with very little 'wobble' in the vertical axis. The move to a slider form factor means that Sony Ericsson can ditch the unpopular raised rocker switch of the K850i in favour of a more standard - if squarer - controller. The pointless touch sensitive screen keys of the K850i are also jetissoned - yay! - in favour of proper menu keys that form the top of two rows of three keys on either side of the controller.

But best of all is the fact that Sony Ericsson's design department have stopped reinventing the wheel and provided the C905 with a proper keypad at last. Yes, we have four rows of three large sized, rectangular keys with the numbers and letters printed clearly on top. No metallic grains of rice like the W880i or tiny, misaligned plastic chipolatas as found on the K850i. The keys felt solid and responsive and we're pretty sure that texting and dialling will be effortless with this new arrangement.

The C905 is the first Cyber-shot to be equipped with assisted GPS and though we couldn't test this (we were indoors and it requires a SIM card to work) we were assured that it would be more responsive than the lugubrious GPS on the first Nokia N95 and the Sony Ericsson W760i. Like the upcoming iPhone 3G, the Sony Ericsson C905 will also support the geo-tagging of photos out of the box.

As you would expect, the camera features of the C905 are second to none. Not only is there autofocus but there's also the gimmicky, if entertaining, face detection functionality which locks onto your bonce for supposedly better results. Other standard Cyber-shot features - xenon flash, digital 16x zoom, image stabilizer, BestPic - are all present and correct. Normally we take digital zoom with a piece of salt but when you have 8.1 megapixels - or about 3250 x 2500 pixels - to start with, cropping or zooming onto bits of interest can now deliver decent images, especially when combined with image stabilization and autofocus.

The only slightly less-than-impressive feature of the Sony Ericsson C905 was its display. Yes it's reasonably sized at 2.4 inches and delivers the standard 240 by 320 resolution but it didn't seem particularly bright indoors and when viewed alongside the 12-month old Apple iPhone looked very anaemic indeed. Still this is a pre-production model but it will definitely something we'll being close attention to in our full review of the C905.

The C905 has a Wi-Fi antenna and Sony is also bigging up its ability to automatically network with other components - such as a PlayStation 3, Bravia TV or Vaio laptop - using the DLNA standard. DLNA - or Digital Living Network Alliance - is a set of interoperability protocols designed to ensure various electronic devices can easily network with each other without complicated setting up or servers. Its backers include consumer electronics giants such as Sony, Philips and Toshiba as well as mobile phone companies like Nokia, LG, Motorola and - obviously- Sony Ericsson.

We saw the system demonstrated with a Sony Playstation 3 where, with the minimum of fuss, we could browse the music, videos and photos on the Sony Ericsson C905 on a high definition TV using the Playstation controller.

It's an impressive feat - and certainly heralds the future of device networking - but unless you have a PS3 or one of the very latest HDTVs it probably won't be a selling point this year. But it's nice to know that the C905 is prepared for the time the future finally plonks itself down in our living rooms.

Overall then, the Sony Ericsson C905 is a very impressive looking mobile phone. Sony Ericsson has addressed most of the issues with the K850i and come up with a phone that feels good in the hand and does all the standard phone things well, but also boasts the highest specced camera on the market.

We'll give you the full review of the C905 as soon as we can get our hands on one for a proper test, but the early signs are very promising indeed. Perhaps the Apple iPhone isn't going to have the whole market to itself after all.

If you haven't heard of him, Dexter is a serial killer with a conscience. He only kills killers and criminals, not the innocent. He's also the star of one of the hottest TV shows around.

This theme features wallpapers to completely customise your phone, plus a ringtone of the TV show's theme tune. Want to give your phone a killer revamp? Give this theme a download.

You can easily download this set of wallpapers onto your Sony Ericsson C905.

If you're not aware of Dexter yet, you're missing out. He's one of TV's top new heroes, despite being a serial killer. Yep, the Dexter TV show has a strange premise.

To install the Dexter theme on your Sony Ericsson C905, follow these instructions:

1. Download the dexter_c905.thm file onto your PC
2. Transfer the file to your C905 using the bundled cable or Bluetooth
3. When prompted, click to save
4. To install, click 'yes' when it asks if you want to install the theme

Download the Dexter theme for the Sony Ericsson C905

Spongebob's back and this time he wants free reign over your mobile. This Spongebob Squarepants theme will give your Sony Ericsson C905 a complete makeover, with new backgrounds and a new ringtone and text message alert.

This Spongebob theme features several images of the character, all tailored to the interfave of your phone. Infect your phone with Spongebob's slightly unhinged brand of jollity with this fantasically yellow theme for the Sony Ericsson C905.

To install the Spongebob Squarepants theme on your Sony Ericsson C902, follow these instructions:

1. Download the spongebob_c905.thm file onto your PC
2. Transfer the file to your C905 using the bundled cable or Bluetooth
3. When prompted, click to save
4. To install, click 'yes' when it asks if you want to install the theme

Download the Spongebob Squarepants theme for the Sony Ericsson C905

The console wars are always hard fought, but Sony has upped its game with a new lower-priced PS3 Slim console - and it's just as pretty as its slick predecessor.

We've made a phone theme for your Sony Ericsson that takes the style of the Sony games console and brings it to your mobile. It's got new backgrounds, new menu visuals and all the best bits from that sleek Playstation style.

Best of all, it's free - which is more than be said for Sony's premium games console, price drop and all.

To install the Sony PS3 theme on your Sony Ericsson C905, follow these instructions:

1. Download the ps3_c905.thm file onto your PC
2. Transfer the file to your C905 using the bundled cable or Bluetooth
3. When prompted, click to save
4. To install, click 'yes' when it asks if you want to install the theme

Download the Sony PS3 theme for the Sony Ericsson C905

There's a group of shows that make cartoon watching acceptable for adults. Right up there with the best of them is Futurama. It's a sci-fi flavoured comedy with a cast you can't help but love. Excuse us while we well up a little.

This free Futurama theme for the Sony Ericsson C905 features both a full visual makeover for your phone plus a few audio treats to enrich your mobile too. It's got the show's theme tune as a ringtone plus a classic quote from Bender as the text message alert.

The Futurama theme for the Sony Ericsson C905 is simple to install on your handset. Just follow the instructions below.

1. Download the file futurama_c905.thm to your PC or Mac by clicking on the link below
2. Then use the supplied USB cable or set up a Bluetooth connection to transfer the theme file across to your Sony Ericsson C905 handset
3. You will then be prompted that a new theme has been received. Click on Set to install the theme
4. If you want to change the theme back simply go to the main menu, click on Settings then Display and then Themes and select the theme you want to change back to

Download the Futurama theme for Sony Ericsson C905

You can give your phone an overhaul by changing its theme, but sometimes the ones included with your phone just aren't enough to satisfy.  We've gathered together ten of our favourite animated themes for the Sony Ericsson C905 to give your phone a bit of a boost.

To install these themes, just download them using the links below and then transfer them to your phone using bluetooth. If your computer can't find your phone, make sure the bluetooth function is turned on from within the 'settings' menu option, and that your phone is set to 'visible' from within the bluetooth connectivity options.

Note: all these themes are free to download although some sites require registration.

1. Citybeat
   An animated cityscape that looks like musical waveforms, Citybeat has fantastic visuals that'll give you phone a real air of sophistication. Nice.
   Download City Beat theme



2. The Matrix
   Almost 10 years after the sci-fi blockbuster was released and still those neon green falling bits and bytes maintain their power to thrill. Who cares if they used Nokias in the movie?
   Download The Matrix theme




3. Purple Sky
   A tasteful abstract theme, Purple Sky is a cracker - and we bet Prince would love it too.
   Download Purple Sky theme



4. Musaic
   Musaic takes the look of the Sony Ericsson walkman player and makes it into a theme for the rest of your mobile. Handy.
   Download Musaic theme


5. Light Flow
   A simple blue flame on a dark background. Subtle but strangely mesmeric.
   Download Light Flow theme


6. Aurora
   Similar to the above but with a nice North Pole and Aurora Borealis animated standby screen.
   Download Aurora theme


7. Walkman Animated
   Another cracking animated Flash Lite theme cooked up by the Sony Ericsson boffins.
   Download Walkman Animated


8. Spooky Skull
   Not very sophisticated but we liked the idea of Death giving us the finger.
   Download Spooky Skull theme


9. Orange Walkman
   Another Walkman brand-focused theme - this one brings in the orange hues witha nice animated water effect on the standby screen.
   Download Orange Walkman theme


10. The Eye of Sauron
    This theme has a Lord of the Rings flavour with The Eye of Sauron flickering and smouldering away in this animated wallpaper.
    Download Eye of Sauron theme

     

Last Christmas was a real treat for Wallace and Gromit fans since we got to see the new feature A Matter of Loaf and Death. It's the latest in a long 20-year line of lovingly hand-crafted animations by Nick Park and Aardman Productions.

Wallace and Gromit are two of the most popular animated characters around. Full of personality, what better duo could you find to put on your Sony Ericsson C905?

This theme includes several images of the pair, plus an MP3 ringtone of the Wallace and Gromit theme tune.

The Wallace and Gromit theme for the Sony Ericsson C905 is simple to install on your handset. Just follow the instructions below.

1. Download the file wallace_c905.thm to your PC or Mac by clicking on the link below
2. Then use the supplied USB cable or set up a Bluetooth connection to transfer the theme file across to your Sony Ericsson C905 handset
3. You will then be prompted that a new theme has been received. Click on Set to install the theme
4. If you want to change the theme back simply go to the main menu, click on Settings then Display and then Themes and select the theme you want to change back to

Download the Wallace and Gromit theme for Sony Ericsson C905

Yes, the series is back, but Arnie is nowhere to be seen. Terminator Salvation represents a reboot of the classic sci fi action series, headed up by Christian Bale, who was partly responsible for bringing Batman back into cinemagoers’ good books.

The story of Terminator Salvation is quite removed from the style of its predecessors though. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, after the Skynet Corporation has decimated a large proportion of the world’s population, John Connor leads the final assault into the heart of Skynet itself. It’s humanity’s last chance for salvation, and is sure to be an action-packed thrill fest.

This theme features several promotional posters from the film, plus shots of the mechanised terrors, the terminator footsoldiers, and a shot of Christian Bale doing his bit for mankind- putting a bullet in a terminator, obviously. All images have been fully tailored for your LG Renoir’s screen.

The Terminator Salvation theme for the Sony Ericsson C905 is simple to install on your handset. Just follow the instructions below.

1. Download the file terminator_c905.thm to your PC or Mac by clicking on the link below
2. Then use the supplied USB cable or set up a Bluetooth connection to transfer the theme file across to your Sony Ericsson C905 handset
3. You will then be prompted that a new theme has been received. Click on Set to install the theme
4. If you want to change the theme back simply go to the main menu, click on Settings then Display and then Themes and select the theme you want to change back to

Download the Terminator Salvation theme for Sony Ericsson C905 (1MB)

Celebrities, whether you love them or hate them, you just can't escape them, so why bother.

Indulge in your thirst for paparazzi and download these sweet themes for your Sony Ericsson C905.

Featuring the delights of film stars new and old now are available for you to download.

Drew Barrymore
Child star of the 1980s has all grown up, and gracing the 6300.
Download Drew Barrymore theme for Sony Ericsson C905

Marilyn Monroe
Classic film-star legend now making a small screen appearance in this theme.
Download Marilyn Monroe theme for Sony Ericsson C905

Lindsay Lohan
Pop Princess dealing with the groupies now on your phone.
Download Lindsay Lohan theme for Sony Ericsson C905

Kylie
Still going strong and still as good looking as when she started, Kylie makes a great theme.
Download Kylie theme for Sony Ericsson C905

John Barrowman
Torchwood and Broadway star John Barrowman strutting his stuff, a must download.
Download John Barrowman theme for Sony Ericsson C905

James Masters
Great slideshow of pictures, showing the Buffy star has one hot body.
Download James Masters theme for Sony Ericsson C905

Angelina Jolie
Sassy and Sexy, Angelina is so hot she'll set your phone on fire!
Download Angelina Jolie theme for Sony Ericsson C905

Keira Knightley
More scintillating celebrity pics in the form of Keira Knightley.
Download Keira Knightley theme for Sony Ericsson C905

Madonna
Over 50 and still going strong, celebrate her expansive career with this theme.
Download theme for Madonna Sony Ericsson C905

Katy Perry
Certainly hot, and definitely not cold, rounding up our top ten is Katy
Perry.
Download Katy Perry theme for Sony Ericsson C905

The Sony Ericsson C905 is geared up with a full roster of mobile messaging applications, with support for email and instant messaging included.

Like most current mobiles, you can send and receive email from your regular email account on your C905. Files received as attachments can be viewed, and you can add your own attachments from content on your phone. And it's very easy to set up, with no complicated settings required.

Whether you want to occasionally check emails when you're out and about, or want to keep in touch constantly, mobile email can be extremely useful.

As well as the basics of composing, sending and receiving, you can forward email and adjust your account settings to suit how you use email on the phone.

The C905 can be configured to work with your regular POP3 or IMAP email account or multiple accounts, so you can use web-based email or email accounts from internet service providers. If in doubt, check with your email provider. Also, if you want to use your corporate email, you may have to ask your IT deparment for POP3 settings.

Email set up made easy
The C905 has a wizard to help you set up your email automatically, simply by entering basic details such as your email address, username and password. It interrorgates its database for the setiings and automatically sets up your email accounts quickly and easily.

Sony Ericsson's UK Vodafone exclusive version also has account settings embedded for certain services. If one of these is for your email provider, you could edit details to set up your account without going through the set-up procedure outlined below.

You're not restricted to one email account. You can set up several accounts for different email addresses, following the same procedure outlined below for each. You can then switch between accounts as you need to.

In addition, Sony Ericsson has downloadable over the air settings for some internet email providers and mobile operators at its website at www.sonyericsson.com/support. Here, though, we show you how to set up email straight from the phone.

Setting up - first steps
Details you need to automatically set up your emall on the Sony Ericsson C905:

Email address - Your full email address.

Username – This is usually the part before the ‘@’ in your email address, although it does vary between providers; check the settings page of your email account or ask your provider if you’re unsure.

Password - Your usual email password

Once you have these to hand, follow these instructions to set up email...

1. From standby, press Menu (Figure 1).
2. Highlight Email. Press Select (Figure 2).
3. Scroll down to highlight Accounts. Press Select (Figure 3).
4. Highlight New account. Press Add (Figure 4).
5. In the 'Your name' panel, type in your name (in this example we've used 'Know Your Mobile') (Figure 5).
6. Click down a line to the 'Email address' panel. Type in the full email address you want to access. Press Continue (Figure 6).
7. In the 'Username' panel, type in your username - usually the bit of your email address before the '@'. Check and edit it appropriately if your full email address is shown in this box (Figure 7).
8. Click down to the 'Password' panel. Enter your password carefully - it will be shown as a row of asterisks once you've selected a character (Figure 8). Press Continue.
9. A pop-up message will appear onscreen to ask if you'd like to connect to the internet to check for email settings. Press Yes (Figure 9). This will take several seconds while the phone connects and interrogates the remote settings database.
10. A message will appear when settings have been found: Email setup completed. Update inbox? Press Yes (Figure 10).
11. The phone will now connect to the remote email server to download any emails waiting in that account. It will show how many messages have been received. Press OK to see your inbox (Figure 11).

If there are any downloaded messages in your email inbox, you can see them listed (Figure 12).

• To view emails in full, scroll down the list of message headers in your inbox, and press View to get the full email onscreen (Figure 13).
• If there is an attachment or message bigger than the automatic size limit, you can download it to view. Press Options, highlight Download, and press Select.

Accessing your email account to send and receive emails
You should now be set up and ready to send and receive emails on your phone.

1. From standby, press Menu (Figure 1).
2. Scroll to highlight Email (Figure 2). Press Select.
3. Here you can see a familiar set of email options (Figure 14). You can click on Create new to compose and send a message (Figure 15), or Inbox to look at received emails.
4. To get new emails, if your Inbox is empty, simply click on Check mail. Alternatively, in the Inbox press Options, highlight Check new email and press Select (Figure 16). The phone will connect with your remote email server and download new emails.

Getting automatic email updates and push email
You can set the C905 to receive email at regular intervals - from every 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, 12 hours or every 24 hours.

• To set this, go into the Email application as above.
• Scroll down to highlight Settings. Press Select (Figure 17)
• Scroll down to Check interval. Press Select (Figure 18).
• Scroll down to highlight the interval you want for checking email. Press Select (Figure 19). This will now be set.

If your network supports it, you may also be able to set up push email, so you can receive messages automatically as they're received. The push email option is in the same menu list as the the Check interval settings (Figure 17).

To be taken to our Internet Settings page click here