Sony Ericsson C702 Cyber-shot

...usual arrangement of buttons on Sony Ericsson phones. I do find the buttons quite small and it takes a while to get used to this. The colour scheme is quite nice, with SE opting for a simple black and silver combination.

Camera

As it is a Cybershot phone with a 3.2 Megapixel sensor, I had high hopes for the quality of this phones' images. With several indicative settings on the camera menu and an auto camera application ...
...you have ever had a Sony Ericsson before you will know that the menu layout is very simple consisting of 12 icons which will take you wherever you wish to go on the phone. In this case they are Vodafone Sat Nav, Vodafone Live! (Internet Browser), Entertainment (Music, Games etc), CyberShot (Camera), Messaging, Media, Location Services (Tracker, Google Maps etc), Contacts, Radio, Calls, Organiser and Settings.

Software.

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OK I've owned this phone for about a year now which allows me to pass good judgement on its up and downsides over a long period of ownership. Clearly you are not going to be purchasing this phone as an all singing all dancing multi-gadget as there are much better pieces of kit on the market for not much more money. However, this phone does have it's good sides. I will list the things I think are most important when purchasing a phone in this range, and comment on how well this phone performs in the category.

This phone is very good if you like GPS. It has several software applications that make good use of it's GPS capabilities, such has Tracker which is good for tracing jogging/cycling routes and storing your best times on. It also features an excellent Google maps application which I have used lots for finding my way to places from train stations. You can just type the postcode in and it will usually trace your current position fairly accurately, although as with all such mobile applications this does depend on your location at the time.

The build quality of this phone is very good indeed. I judge that by the fact that I have dropped this phone on hard surfaces what seems like several hundred times. The only damage my clutz hands have managed to inflict on it is a scratched screen, and that isn't bad at all for me. The shape is a traditional candy bar with the usual arrangement of buttons on Sony Ericsson phones. I do find the buttons quite small and it takes a while to get used to this. The colour scheme is quite nice, with SE opting for a simple black and silver combination.

As it is a Cybershot phone with a 3.2 Megapixel sensor, I had high hopes for the quality of this phones' images. With several indicative settings on the camera menu and an auto camera application when the lens cover is slid open, the actual process of taking pictures is very simple. Daylight images are of an excellent quality, easily comparable to mid-range digital cameras. Night time photography is the same story as with most mobile phone cameras however; the lens is simply not big enough to pick up sufficient light. I have to say the flash is very bad, and if you want to be able to take reasonable night time photos on a regular basis, I recommend buying one of the new Nokias instead.

As I don't very often use any functions other than text and phone, the battery lasts around 5 days from a full charge cycle. On occasions where I have used the phone on a more regular basis and with more functions, it will last 2-3 days. I think these figures are fairly average for the modern mid-range phone, and it hasn't frustrated me too much as with some Motorola's which deteriorate badly.

The speaker is nothing special when it comes to phone conversation clarity, but it does the job in hand. I do find I have to have the volume on full to hear the other person clearly though. Speaker phone is quite crackly, but I've yet to see a phone have a very clear speaker phone function.

Works quite well considering the size of the screen. As most popular sites have mobile versions now, you shouldn't have too many problems. Most of the sites I regularly visit were displayed clearly and the majority of the function was not compromised.

If you have ever had a Sony Ericsson before you will know that the menu layout is very simple consisting of 12 icons which will take you wherever you wish to go on the phone. In this case they are Vodafone Sat Nav, Vodafone Live! (Internet Browser), Entertainment (Music, Games etc), CyberShot (Camera), Messaging, Media, Location Services (Tracker, Google Maps etc), Contacts, Radio, Calls, Organiser and Settings.

The software provided with the phone is absolutely terrible. It simply doesn't work!! Enough said about that.

I did have a couple of problems with the phone. When I first tried to open the back of the phone it was very difficult indeed and required some serious force! Also I'd recommend getting the latest software update on the phone before you set it up, as mine went through a phase of cutting out at random times, sometimes when I was on the phone to someone! This was incredibly annoying so I suggest you ask your provider about any updates and how to get them installed.

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