The Rundown

The P1 is an iPod/iPhone dock. You put in your iPod, it'll back it up with speakers (2x 4" honeycomb woofers and 2x 1" silk dome tweeters, to be exact). Plus there's a Bongiovi Acoustics Digital Power Station (a glowing B button) that promises to be the "first 100% active digital signal processor on a consumer electronic product." Huh. OK then.

The Performance

How does it all sound? I'm torn. Sometimes I'm impressed (like by some respectable mids and occasionally tight/brilliant lows), and others I'm completely underwhelmed (like by perpetually thin drums and an over-emphasis on re-verb that oft-creates an artificial echo.)
And as for that glowing B button, my opinion changed by the song—but I'm guessing that's more because it artificially tweaked the balance than did anything spectacular to the audio quality. Standard pop music sometimes projects better from the speakers, but Sgt Pepper, for instance, becomes a murky mess when you hit that tempting blue button.

Overall the iP1 sounds fine—like a $300 iPod dock—though I wouldn't fist pump the purchase on sound quality alone, unless I was also smitten with the P1's design-forward, smoked acrylic frame. If you like how the iP1 looks and desire an iPod dock, then by all means, go for it. But, and I don't claim to have listened to every competitor's current-gen systems, I trust that manufacturers like JBL, Logitech and Altec Lansing can more than compete in this price range. Because their last gen models certainly did.
My bigger point is that in 2009 (a phrase we will inevitably laugh at in 2010 and beyond, I know), I'm looking for late bloomers like iHome to work a little harder for my love and loyalty (and oh yeah, MONEY).

The Bitching

So why can't the P1...

• Mic/Amplify/Work In Any Way With speakerphone calls?
• Connect to the iPhone through a custom app (EQ display, etc)?
• Dial a number through its oversized remote?
• Output video through HDMI instead of component?
• Support A2DP audio streams (no dock needed)?
• Floor me with sound quality?

The iP1 is just one of countless premium iPod docks, so it's a bit unfair to single it out...but why doesn't it do more? Even the $100-cheaper iHome iP47 supports a third of the stuff on the list above.

I don't want 1000 functions that I don't need, and I'm not asking it to decode the human genome. I want practical, invisible, attainable utility that I can appreciate on a daily basis.

You know, for $300, in grand old 2009.


Unique design

Respectable sound quality

Bongiovi DPS is nothing particularly special

Barebones functionality—cheaper iHome products have more features

Even though the P1 isn't fantastic, with points knocked off for so-so reception and mediocre battery life, it has good outgoing sound, high volume and quite a sexy design. The whole package together was good enough to earn an 8.5 from phoneArena, which leads us to say that prospective buyers who are familiar with the Sony Ericsson smartphone line will love it, but previous users of Windows Mobile or Palm OS will have some getting used to. [PhoneArena]

The FCC just approved the smartphone in a session—in our imaginations—that was filled with wigs, gavel banging and annoyed harrumphing. – Jason Chen

Sony Ericsson P1 Receives FCC Approval [Wireless Info]

Even with the combined-keys on the QWERTY, Jack from Experience Mobility says he could enter in text faster than he could on his Treo within 5 minutes. Extra video after the jump.

Experience Mobility [via Mobility Site via Mobile Mentalism]

The most important surface change is probably the fact that it doesn't have the flip-open keyboard like the P990, but that's something you'll have to play with yourself to see if you prefer. Otherwise, it seems like Sony's got a great upgrade here with the P1. And yes, they've answered everyone's question about what they'd do when the numbers get to 999—wrap around again back to 1.

Bigger shots after the jump.

– Jason Chen

Press Release [Sony Ericsson]

Overall, it looks like a good product that just needs a HI expert's touch. The UI was clearly designed by someone on the fly and the resulting mess ruins the experience.

Yukyung Technologies Viliv P1 (30GB, red) [CNET.com]

The N70 is like the PMP's in-car buddy. It's basically a GPS unit with media functions and has the same bulbous/laquered design. As someone mentioned in one of the comments before, "Is innovation now just industrial design?" I'm going to have to say "Yes." If it doesn't work well and look great, it won't sell. Anyone can OEM a flash drive. But can anyone make one we'd like to buy?

The P1 has a 4-inch screen, FM tuner, audio recording, video and audio out and lasts 6 hours on one charge. This sexy PMP will be available online on March 1 through Episodic Media. Dare we wait that long?

Hot viliv P1 30GB Portable Media Player Coming to the United States [i4u]