We’ve just been pinged a link to this bizarre little novelty, a listing on Amazon Japan for a lovely-looking coffee table book all about Sony Ericsson’s Xperia range. Is it a book, or is it simply one enormous glossy advert for for Sony’s smartphones?
Fortunately, someone’s popped up an English-language review on the site explaining all. And no, it’s not much use by the sound of it. Here are a few chunks from the DAMNING review:
“I did NOT feel that the book adds any significant value other than listing up the features. For me its not show casing enough what the phone can actually do. There were no WOW moments when I read the brochure. It didnt feel like an experience I am likely to remember.
“As such its more a sales brochure. There are some background reports interviews, etc, but not much that help you actually using it. I found it much easier to try the phone itself in the docomo shop.
“I can imagine that technical shy people (women in general) might like the book as a gentle introduction, but are they willing to pay 1200 yen for it ?
Ignore that “women in general” reference. He’s probably being ironic. Hopefully. Behold, a brand in magazine form:
And here’s a URL-shortened version of that Amazon link, in case the one up there didn’t work. It looks like the sort of alternate-character-filled link that’s not going to work.
Motorola’s latest flagship dual-core Android monster is a massive, original powerhouse, that’s a big improvement on previous MOTOBLUR mobiles – but still isn’t a total winner.
A slim and glamorous phone from Sony Ericsson, with the sharpest display around. It’s no powerhouse and the screen’s not the biggest out there, but we don’t mind. Because it’s cute.
LG’s first glasses-free 3D phone is a heavy, fat monster, with a clever 3D effect that works rather well. As a smartphone, though, it’s heavy and underwhelming.
A very shiny thing from Sony Ericsson, with a 3.7″ screen and Android 2.3.3 inside. But is it exciting enough to win fans in today’s spec-obsessed market? Can man live on one core alone?
INQ’s Android phone is an interesting “boutique” piece of hardware, packed with unique interface customisations that go far beyond the headline Facebook integration. We like it a lot.
Janne
/ April 18, 2010It’s a Mook (Magazine + book), and every high-profile consumer gadget gets one, and sometimes several. Not only new stuff either; there’s a steady trickle of mooks covering Leica film cameras for instance. You can also find mooks covering travel destinations (like a magazine-format travel guide), car maintenance and many, many other subjects. The normal mook aims to be, well, useful – they try to improve on the manual, add extra information and how-to’s, interviews and background and so on. They vary from near-useless to excellent.
There’s a couple of publishing houses doing nothing but publishing these. There’s a fair bit of speed competition among the publishers, so the first mooks for a new product tend to not be all that good since they aim for speed over thoroughness. And it’s certainly the case with this one; I saw it in the bookstore today and it really doesn’t contain much you can’t easily figure out yourself.
Gary C
/ April 18, 2010Thanks for that bit of ‘local colour’ Janne!
I think we have Mooks too. I saw one entirely about Cheryl Cole a few weeks back. Didn’t buy it. Would’ve got in trouble at home.