Sony Ericsson W580
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Regardless of the technological advancements mobile phones have given us over the years the fact remains that if you want a piece of consumer electronics to be truly desirable, you have to make it catch the eye of the consumer.

Sony Ericsson has obviously taken heed of these words with the W580; in its standard 'closed' position the handset is an attractive if somewhat uninspiring proposition, but when you engage the slider mechanism the sides of the W580 light up alluringly, practically begging you to fall hopelessly in love with this new Walkman-branded device.

The LED lights flicker in different colours, depending on the activity the user is indulging in, and while we're not weak-willed enough to completely fall for this unashamedly low-brow attempt to make the W580 appear more attention-grabbing than it actually is, we have to admit that we caught ourselves appreciating the pleasingly-futuristic effect afforded by this otherwise rudimentary light-show.

Thankfully this isn't the only trick up the sleeve of the W580. Another innovative feature that succeeded in impressing us is the Fitness mode. Basically comprising a stopwatch and pedometer, this facet of the phone seems incongruous at first but quickly proves its worth. Being able to track your steps is handy if you're keen on exercise; traditional pedometers are all too easy to leave behind at home but you're a lot less likely to forget your mobile phone when you vacate the house for that morning stroll.

Pleasing gimmicks aside, elsewhere the W580 is just what you'd expect to find in a mid-range handset; the technology is robust but not cutting edge and the overall feel is one of competence rather than extravagance. Although it bears more than a passing resemblance to its stablemates the W910 and W760, it's not quite in the same league when it comes to sheer cachet.

For starters the design is underwhelming, exuding an unsettling impression of tawdriness. The phone is lightweight but feels like a toy; the slider mechanism is weak; the keypad gives the impression that it might not last too long before something breaks and the 2 megapixel camera lacks auto focus and flash capability. Matters aren't helped by the 2 inch screen, which looks disappointingly petite when you consider the overall dimensions of the phone itself - although this issue is mitigated slightly by the display's sharp resolution and overall brightness.

However, one aspect of the phone that undoubtedly gives a sense of strength and security is the battery compartment. Let it been known that over the years we've opened up many a mobile phone here at Pocket Gamer, but never before have we come across a handset that is so hard to penetrate. Removing the battery cover on the W580 is akin to getting into Fort Knox with nothing but a potato peeler; it took us nearly ten minutes of huffing and puffing before we finally prised the damn thing open.

In terms of sound the W580 is quite surprising – the speaker is bizarrely located underneath the D-pad. We're not sure if this is a brave design choice or total folly; as you might expect when you're navigating menus with your thumb, the sound is often muffled because you're essentially covering the source. However, the overall quality is decent and packs plenty of punch, even when you're outdoors with lots of background noise.

Speaking of aural delights, the W580 comes packed with Sony's omnipresent Walkman media player - although it must be noted that it's not the latest version of the software, as seen in the W910 and W760. As is the case with many phones these days the on-board memory is insignificant so it's fortunate that a 512MB Memory Stick Micro (M2) is included in the box. Thanks to yet another design quirk the memory card slot is located at the top of the phone.

The unorthodox nature of the D-pad might lead you to suspect that the W580 is a tad on the hopeless side when it comes to mobile gaming, but you'd be wide of the mark with that hasty assumption. Although the lip of plastic that surrounds the D-pad is probably a little too high for our liking, generally the interface is respectable, offering a good degree of control and responsiveness.

The games included with the phone are Lumines and The Sims 2 – two evergreen titles that we've already seen pre-loaded on numerous other SE handsets. Neither of these games show off the considerable 3D capabilities of the W580, which is a shame, but this problem can naturally be rectified by downloading a few classic titles under your own steam.

Positive gaming credentials notwithstanding, the W580 is put firmly in its place by its more illustrious relatives in the SE range. However, it's not aimed at the same sector of the market so such a comparison is ultimately pointless; this phone is a mid-range affair and in that respect it's a decent enough proposition. The throwaway gimmicks it possesses are likely to raise a smile for a short time, but elsewhere the slightly outdated feature set and clunky design are sure to limit its appeal.

Sony Ericsson W580

It may put on an impressive light show but the W580 isn't going to blow you away with what it has under the bonnet. Still, as a middle-of-the-table product, it's certainly worth considering, and caters well for portable gaming addicts
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Damien  McFerran
Damien McFerran
Damien's mum hoped he would grow out of playing silly video games and gain respectable employment. Perhaps become a teacher or a scientist, that kind of thing. Needless to say she now weeps openly whenever anyone asks how her son's getting on these days.