2. Software

Sendo X uses the older version of the Symbian OS - v6.1s - and also the older version of the Series 60 platform - 1.2s, both known from earlier Nokia Series 60 phones like e.g. the 3650 and also from the Siemens SX1. However, Sendo did their best to implement most of the UI enhancements provided by newer versions of the Series 60 platform like e.g. support for Themes.

The most unique and extremely useful part of the Sendo X system software is its Sendo Now! screen. Sendo Now! screen is the default view - it replaces the "standby screen" known from other Series 60 phones. The Now! screen consists of a series of "panes" - users can modify existing panes, their names and their order as well as create own panes. The default pane (called "My pane") is a "Today"-like screen showing information about current Anniversaries, Appointments and To-do's, last calls and received messages and providing quick access to email account, SIM services etc. Other panes contain a list of favourites, history of actions/applications and bookmarks.

Each pane can be modified/customized to a high degree (unless your network operator locks some features). Users can change pane name, its wallpaper and text color, pane order, set default pane, assignment of the right selection key and choose its contents from a list of plug-ins and content links.

If that's not enough, the Now! screen also supports XML which gives virtually endless possibilities: headlines from web portals, latest news, current results of your favourite sport team, weather forecast or traffic conditions shown on the main screen of your phone and dynamically updated via GPRS, subscription based multimedia services, or maybe self-refreshing pictures from your home camera or some remote webcam... You may expect a lot more and also being able to create your own plug-ins with the Sendo Now! screen SDK to be released soon.

Another unique feature of the Sendo X is its extensive support for voice recognition powered by Voice Signal technology. VSuite application lets you create and assign voice tags to your contacts and applications and set sensitivity, speed and accuracy of the voice recognition. Voice messages (like "Please, say a command", "Please, repeat the command", "Command not recognized" etc.) instruct you what to do and inform about success or failure of recognition of your command.

Sendo X supports MP3 playback via its MP3 application. One can use and create own playlists.

Access to digital camera is provided by two applications: Camera and Camcorder. Camera application supports still pictures. You can choose between three picture sizes: large, medium and small, three quality levels: basic, normal and high, you can enable flash, red-eye reduction and set the number of pre-flashes. Camcorder application supports two resolutions: 176x144 and 128x96, three quality levels: low, medium and high, two frame rate settings: high and low, file size settings (percent of disk space, time, size in kB or unlimited) and 1, 2 or 4x digital zoom.

ImageEdit allows editing existing pictures and creating new ones. You can insert text, icons, frames and other images and add several effects (like mosaic blur or distort).

Web browser supports Small Screen Rendering - all content is reformatted to fit Sendo X screen. It supports HTML 4.01, Javascript 1.5, XHTML, CSS and SSL 3/TLS 1.0. There is also a separate WAP browser providing support for WAP 2.0. Users can also take advantage of the built-in Chat application.

DocView is a document viewer with support for a wide range of formats, including but not limited to MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe Acrobat PDF, ZIP archives and more. Additional viewers are available on the CD-ROM. These include graphics formats, Visio, Outlook messages and more.

Sendo X comes with two preinstalled games: Sendo Pinball and Funny Farmer.

Besides the above mentioned applications, the Sendo X also includes the following software and functions: Messaging (SMS/MMS/email), Calendar, RealOne Player, Tasks, Photo Album, Call Log, Notes, Converter, Calculator, Voice Recorder, Clock, Memory (Memory card manager) and Help. They look and word similiarily to other Series 60 phones.

Sendo X supports profiles. There are five profiles and it is not possible to create new ones but existing profiles are fully customizable. One can choose ringing tone and its loudness, type of incoming call alert (ringing, ascending, ring once, beep, silent), message alert tone, vibrating alarm, keypad tones and warning tones, screen brightness and time-out and screen brightness for movie mode.

3. Summary

Sendo X is a very interesting device offering several unique features. Besides stereo sound and MP3 playback the phone offers good quality camera with innovative flash and smooth 4x digital zoom. The Now! screen, very powerful and useful in its standard form, will get even better when additional plug-ins and operator services become available. Large internal storage memory, high quality screen, convenient keypad, support for GPRS, USB, IR and Bluetooth connectivity and highly customized user interface make this phone one of the best Series 60 devices currently available.