Sony CMD-J5

Sony's CMD-Z5 (reviewed issue 71, p182) received a Recommended award for its innovative design and excellent features. Hoping to follow suit is the CMD-J5, boasting similar features and design as well as a few modernised added extras for the slightly more hip executive.

Unlike the sleek flip design of the CMD-Z5, Sony has opted for a larger, subtly curved handset for the CMD-J5. The innovative Jog Dial system is retained, although we were disappointed that only the standard implementation is installed rather than the CMD-Z5's excellent three-dimensional Advanced Jog Dial system.

WAP users will be pleased to see Microsoft's Mobile Explorer, providing access to WAP 1.1 services and HTML content. This is skillfully displayed on the CMD-J5's superb 96 x 92 dots high-resolution, four-greyscale screen, which is slightly larger than on the CMD-Z5. This high-resolution screen, plus the large 25 x 26mm (W x H) display, provides a plentiful viewing pane.

Even with the standard Jog Dial system, menu navigation is smooth and simple. Menu functions are similar to the CMD-Z5's and menu folders are graphically represented, making it easy to find the options you need. Among the more superfluous options are four games and 20 ring tones, which you can supplement with additional tones from Sony's Web site by using the USB or serial adaptor kits. Far more useful is the ability to synchronise with the Microsoft Outlook contacts database, a feature sorely lacking on the CMD-Z5. As well as adding convenience, the synchronisation function also makes far better use of the phone's capacious 500-store memory.

Also novel is the built-in microphone, plus a speaker capable of producing a wider range of tones, which makes the ringer sound more like a Nintendo Game Boy. However, coupled with the microphone this does offer the useful ability to conference a call, although the practicality of this is questionable. If you get fed up with the gimmicky ring tones you can record your own, a very silly option in our opinion. There's also a vibrating alert, which we consider essential. However, the CMD-J5's gentle rumbling is unlikely to grab your attention very quickly.

Configuring WAP services is simple, and getting connected to the mobile Internet should present no problems. POP3 and SMTP email services are also supported. Text entry is simplified thanks to Tegic's T9 predictive text-entry system, although you can choose standard text-entry methods too.

Battery life is disappointing, lasting less than 60 hours under very moderate usage. This is in stark contrast to Sony's claims of 150 hours' maximum standby time and 135 minutes' maximum talk time, which both rise with an extended battery pack.

The CMD-J5 is a worthy addition to Sony's range - perhaps not as desirable as the CMD-Z5, but more modern in terms of look and features. Menu navigation is typically Sony (intuitive and stylish) and the PC synchronisation ability is a bonus. If you can cope with the tacky ring tones and in-your-face cutesyness then the CMD-J5 is worth consideration.

Author: Gareth Ogden