GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

1.5m
109k
RSS

EV

Merch

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • Deals
  • MerchNew
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS
GSMArena team, 04 August 2006

A coveted smartphone


Sony Ericsson P990 review

  • Comments (141)
  • User reviews
  • P990

4. UIQ 3.0 interface
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Design and construction
  3. 3. Keypad & keyboard, display, telephony
  4. 4. UIQ 3.0 interface
  5. 5. Phonebook, call management, messaging
  6. 6. File Manager, music and video player, FM radio
  7. 7. 2 megapixel camera, video calls
  8. 8. Connectivity, web browser, organizer
  9. 9. Office applications, games, final words
  10. 10. Picture gallery
  11.  
  12. Sony Ericsson P990 specification
  13. User opinions and reviews
  14. Review comments (141)

Sony Ericsson Symbian UIQ

UIQ interface inside out

The phone's interface is UIQ 3.0 which is a customizable pen-based user interface for media-rich mobile phones that is based on the Symbian OS 9.1 OS. The previous UIQ 2.0 and 2.1 versions supported flip-open mode only. UIQ 3.0 provides a user interface for flip-closed use as while still supporting flip-open input. The flip-open UI and the new flip-closed alternative are built on the same code base.

So the smartphone's interface essentially works in two modes - one when the flip closed and another one with the flip opened. The flip-closed mode actually gives you limited access to the device's functions. Not all menus are available and basically you are limited to using the handset as a general mobile phone only. With the flip-closed the touchcreen functionality of the display disappears. But opening the flip magically transforms it into full-function communication machine. This is the reason why all of our screenshots would picture the flip-opened mode. There are only few exceptions and they are used mainly to underline the difference between the two versions.

A nice thing is that the smartphone has a dedicated Flight mode which can be turned on seamlessly without even turning the phone off. Even if you have to turn it off for some reason, there is an option that the phone asks you whether you want to start it directly into Flight mode. An added feature is that in Flight mode you can turn the Wi-Fi functionality on and make use of an airplane onboard hot-spot if there is one.

The standby screen of course has two views. In the flip-closed mode you can use the navigation D-pad in order to invoke user-preset shortcuts. Of course, the flip-opened mode is much more interesting. In this mode a shortcuts bar appears in the bottom of the screen. The items can be selected both with the stylus and your finger since the graphic icons are large enough. The shortcuts bar allows access to the events/shortcuts menu, the main menu, the phone application and the recent calls log.

Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990
Flip-closed main screen • flip-opened main screen • Activity menu • Shortcuts menu

An interesting addition to the standby screen in flip-opened mode is the menu we like to call the Start menu because it has a rather similar position as the START button on Windows. It gives you access to the most important items or actions you may need or like to do - like for example turn on connectivity options such as Bluetooth, Infrared, WLAN, or it allows you to make a new call, add a new contact or put down some appointments and notes. Further more it gives you access to the dual time zone clock and allows you to control the volume level for different events centrally. We are very pleased with this menu since allows quick access to the most vital functions of a smartphone.

Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990
The so-called Start menu with its options

When setting up a wallpaper in order to freshen up your main screen you have to bear in mind that there are two different wallpapers for the two interface modes. So you should pick up two different wallpapers to match the resolution of the screen according to the flip state. A nice thing though is that there are numerous wallpapers that come preinstalled with the phone which in fact have two versions - one for the flip-opened mode and one for the flip-closed mode. It's a very nice thing to see form Sony Ericsson. Not only the wallpapers are very nice, but what is more you can always be sure that you would have that wallpaper that caught your eye on both your display modes.

Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990
Choosing a wallpaper for different states • the two display modes

The main menu of the Sony Ericsson P990 again has dual view according to the flip mode you are working in. Further more, it allows you several different views such as icons grid with or without text as well as a list view.

Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990
Main menu in flip-closed mode • main menu in flip-opened mode: icons view and list view

The smartphone interface can be customized through various graphic themes. Several of them come preinstalled while many more should be available online once the phone becomes publicly available.

Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990 Sony Ericsson P990
Some of the preinstalled graphic themes

Next Page » 5. Phonebook, call management, messaging
4. UIQ 3.0 interface
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Design and construction
  3. 3. Keypad & keyboard, display, telephony
  4. 4. UIQ 3.0 interface
  5. 5. Phonebook, call management, messaging
  6. 6. File Manager, music and video player, FM radio
  7. 7. 2 megapixel camera, video calls
  8. 8. Connectivity, web browser, organizer
  9. 9. Office applications, games, final words
  10. 10. Picture gallery
  11.  
  12. Sony Ericsson P990 specification
  13. User opinions and reviews
  14. Review comments (141)

Reviews Page 4
  • Comments (141)
  • User reviews
  • P990

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • TCL
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • Doogee
  • Blackview
  • BLU
  • Panasonic
  • Plum

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Related articles

  • Flashback: Sony Ericsson P910 used an odd flavor of touch Symbian and wanted to do it all
  • Flashback video: the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 and how it bet on the wrong OS
  • Flashback: Sony Ericsson Satio and a look at how far camera phones have come in the last decade
  • Flashback: the Sony Ericsson K800 was as versatile as James Bond and the first Cyber-shot phone
ADVERTISEMENTS

Popular reviews

Apple iOS 14 review

Apple iOS 14 review
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

2023 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter coming to the US first Europe later 2023 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter coming to the US first Europe later Electric Porsche Boxster spotted charging at IonityFaraday Future to start FF91 production in March after securing funds
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2023 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Tools Contact us Merch store Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data