Sony Ericsson Vivaz

Sony Ericsson may have recently entered the Android battleground with its Xperia X10 smartphone, but that doesn’t mean that the company has entirely turned its back on so-called “dumbphones”.

The Vivaz is proof of this: instead of focusing on multi-tasking and functionality, this curvy number is all about dazzling the user with its flashy media credentials.

It’s the first mobile phone capable of capturing video in high definition and boasts a brilliant 8.1 megapixel snapper. The quality of both of these aspects is fantastic and the Vivaz produces vibrant and detailed footage as well as taking lively photos.

Dedicated movie and photo buttons make accessing these features quick and painless. SE’s expertise in this field also ensures that you have plenty of options available. You can even upload the results to various sites - including the incredibly popular YouTube – using the built-in software.

However, while the Vivaz is unquestionably excellent at snapping memorable moments or recording your relatives making fools of themselves at pin-sharp resolution, it’s not quite as adept at other tasks.

For starters the Symbian-powered interface is a confusing mess: elements of SE’s usual menu system creep in but new introductions – such as the homescreen menu bar – only serve to complicate matters.

There are simply too many screens to navigate through half the time, and the different elements of the software clash rather than complement each other.

The fact that the Vivaz is packing a resistive touchscreen also causes headaches. It’s certainly a step up from its rivals and doesn’t require much pressure to register a touch, but compared to a capacitive version it feels inaccurate and inconsistent.

The bundled stylus makes interaction easier but the iPhone has proven that people want finger-to-screen contact rather than relying on fiddly peripherals.

The overall design of the phone pleases and disappoints in equal measure. The curved back and clean lines make the Vivaz visually alluring, but as soon as you pick the handset up that impression is diminished.

The casing feels cheap and the phone lacks any real weight: it gives the impression of being some kind of child’s toy rather than a cutting-edge piece of electronics. The abundance of glossy texture also makes gripping the handset more difficult than it should be.

Thankfully for pocket gamers, the Vivaz is a little more successful as a gaming device. It boasts the usual raft of accelerometer-powered games and is capable of displaying impressive 3D visuals, largely due to the powerful 750 MHz processor beating under that plastic exterior.

The bundled games – which include Rally Masters and SSX 3 – run smoothly and showcase delicious high-resolution graphics.

However, since the Vivaz isn't backed by an App Store, like the the iPhone or Android handsets, gaming on the device is likely to be limited in the long run.

But the unique selling point of the Vivaz is definitely the ability to record HD video, and in this regard the phone is a complete success. We were genuinely overawed by the quality of the footage and when you consider how slim the design is, it could become an indispensable recording tool for when you wish to capture those important, unexpected moments in life.

However, if you’re in the market for an iPhone-beater or a smartphone which allows you to multitask and maintain control over your hectic life then the Vivaz probably isn’t going to fit the bill. It’s more concerned with the pleasures of life than those more prosaic moments.