Messaging

The W300i offers a standard messaging package including text messaging, multimedia messaging, and third-party messaging. Standard text messages (SMS messages) may include, in addition to text, simple graphics and animations, as well as some simple sound files. In order to send more complicated media files, such as images, video, and sound recordings, users must use the multimedia messaging system (MMS).

Standard text messages may be linked together to create longer messages. Various set phrases are available for quick insertion into a message, including such handy sentences as "Okay, I got it," "Please call me back," and "This song rocks!"

Users may connect to various third-party instant messenger services via the W300i, including AIM, Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger. Access to third-party email clients, such as AOL Mail, Yahoo! Mail, and MSN Hotmail, is available through Mobile Email. As with media downloads, messaging may require additional fees, so users should make sure to read the fine print before rushing into a mailing frenzy.

With text, media, email, and instant messaging available, the W300i offers a complete package that should satisfy most users' messaging needs. Users should be reminded, however, that all internet-based services and MMS messaging require a special data subscription.

Entertainment

The W300i is a very media-oriented phone, so much so that its "entertainment" possibilities seem endless. In addition to music download and playback mentioned above, the phone also offers video streaming. The "Entertainment" menu includes such options as FM Radio, Games, VideoDJ, PhotoDJ, MusicDJ, and Sound Record. As if this package weren't enough to keep the average user busy during spontaneous downtime, even more applications and media files are available for download.

Several Java game demos come pre-installed, including Bowling 3D, Midnight Pool, Platinum Solitaire, Block Breakers, Jewel Quest, Neopets, Tetris, and Wheel of Fortune. The full versions of these games as well as others are available for download for a fee. Gameplay is similar to that on other phones, although the W300i's small 5-way navigation button may create some game control problems. Otherwise, the W300i's gaming experience should be familiar to those who have played Java games on other mid-range phones in the past.

The VideoDJ, PhotoDJ, and MusicDJ programs provide a more unique entertainment experience, and, as opposed to most games and video files, they come free with the phone. The former two programs are used to edit video clips and photos, while the latter is used to create and save custom-made ringtones from pre-recorded music loops.

VideoDJ allows the user to edit video captured by the W300i's video recorder. Editing tools allow users to trim footage, superimpose text over the video, and insert pictures and / or additional video footage into a given video clip. For added fun, users may add a soundtrack via music clips and sound recordings. Again, the W300i's camera is not going to offer professional quality video, but amateurs out to make movies of their friends being silly should be more than satisfied.

PhotoDJ works similarly to the generic "Paint" program often found on PCs. As with Paint, users edit images using text, pen, line, ellipse and rectangle tools, all of which may be adjusted via color palette and pen size options. The program even features a Color Picker, which changes the ink color to match that of a selected area of the image. Images may also be rotated, and a zoom feature allows editing at the pixel level. These "paint" features are impressive, but users may have difficulty using them with the phone's controls. In addition to these features, the program offers Clip-Art and Frames, plus the ability to add special effects after the photo has been taken. This "Add Effect" option includes Tint, Negative, Cartoon, Frosted Glass, Contrast, Painting, and Brightness effects, some of which help improve image quality, and some of which are just for fun. With its Paint-like program, special effects, and Clip-Art, PhotoDJ offers users all the editing tools they will likely need to liven up fun phone pictures.

MusicDJ, described by Sony Ericsson as a "polyphonic ringtone maker" is a whole lot of fun. This program features mix-and-match beats for the drum, bass, keyboard, and horn, which even the most musically untalented of users can arrange in various combinations to create homemade ringtones. After only a minute or so of subtle background-arranging and catchy melody-splicing, users may find themselves dancing to a homemade slice of funky jams. The tunes are saved as MIDI files to the phone's memory or to a separate memory stick, and may be used for all of the phone's customizable sounds. Additional music loops are available online from Sony Ericsson. MusicDJ is a fun, unique addition to the W300i's entertainment package.

Original files created by these three programs, once saved, may be sent to friends and family via the phone's Media Mail option, although very large files (such as the video recorded under the higher-quality option) may be too big to send, and instead must be saved to the memory stick or transferred via USB / Bluetooth.

Of course, the W300i offers more practical applications in addition to entertainment options, featuring the standard organizational tools - schedule, alarm clock, and calculator, among others. Further applications are available for download (as always, for a fee). Most of the phone's practical applications are found under the "Organizer" folder on the main menu.

Within this folder, is found both a one-time and recurrent alarm clock. Users may choose either saved sound files or the phone's FM radio as alarm signals. This FM radio alarm option is a nice touch - a big help to users who get "ringtone fatigue" from hearing the same old looping sound insistently disturb their blissful slumber on a daily basis.

Next on the list is the Calendar, which works just like similar Schedule / Calendar programs on other phones. A simple press of the side Walkman controller when the phone is closed provides the user with a list of the day's scheduled events on the external screen. Similarly, a "Task" application pops up previously entered notes and reminders at a scheduled time. A Notepad function is also available for spontaneous information-recording needs.

A Timer, Stopwatch, and Calculator provide further practical aid. All three features are rather standard. Between the Alarm Clock, Calendar, Task List, and Notepad applications, the W300i will keep its user in the right place at the right time. The Timer, Stopwatch, and Calculator tools provide even more help for tasks that the brain can't (or prefers not to) handle on its own.

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