A cell phone with rhythm

It’s ironic how an electronic device can compel you to adopt a more active lifestyle. Most people would immediately blame the rise of technology for their sedentary lifestyles. We have forgotten the beauty of long walks because we have discovered the comfort of driving around. We no longer experience competition through playing sports, but through watching reality shows. Yes, we can do more with technology, but there are definitely a lot of things we no longer do because of it. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the Sony Ericsson W710i was more than just a Walkman phone, but a fitness phone as well. Hmmm… a fitness phone. This definitely piqued my interest.

One feature is the step counter, which records the number of steps you take every day. I don’t even have to go jogging or walking. Whether it’s in my hand, my pocket or my bag, my phone will count my steps. It automatically displays it on the screen, so every time you glance at your phone, you see how many steps you’ve taken so far. Every time I check for messages or check the time, I also get to check if I’ve been lazy today. You’ll be able to compare today’s number of steps with your daily average, so you can make up if you’re lagging behind. There’s also a "Results" feature, where you can see your distance and number of steps taken for each day of the week. So far, I’ve discovered that Sundays are my laziest days. I know, it’s the "day of rest," but it’s horribly embarrassing, and knowing now how sluggish my Sundays are pushes me to do a little extra work during the rest of the week. You can even choose to show how many calories you’ve burned, by entering your personal data (height, weight, age and gender) to give you a more accurate number.

My cell phone is supposed to be a constant companion, but I usually leave my phone behind when I go jogging or to the gym because it’s such a bother. I never know where to put it, and when I do, it always distracts me from my workout. The W710i is the first phone that I can actually bring along. Besides the step counter, it can also work as a treadmill. You can see how long and how far you’ve been running, and at what speed. You can even chart your time and distance for each lap if you’re running around a track. The phone also comes with an armband and a belt clip, so you can keep it with you.

At first, I was totally amused by the phone’s unique fitness applications. I would walk around with the phone just to see my number of steps increase, and that would put a goofy smile on my face. After a while, though, I was really inspired to start working out more. This phone always reminds me that I have to get myself off the couch. Other phones are eye-catching (like the Sony Ericsson Z610i — it’s so gorgeous), but this phone looks… sporty. The white texture of the front cover reminds me of Dri-Fit fabric often used in sportswear. Like most rubber shoes and board shorts, it has two colors, clean lines and a trim design. What’s unique is that it has a rubber graphite finish, which makes it more durable if you plan to do a cartwheel with it strapped to your arm. If phones were body types, the W710i would be the athletic type (and the Z610i would be the perfect "to die for" body!). I don’t feel like I have to cradle the phone or hold it with all the caution in the world. I can walk, run, jump, skip, even dance with it.

And of course, it’s a Walkman phone, which makes it even more fun to work out with. I love how music removes the work from the workout. It gives you a beat to move to and a soundtrack to push you harder — and further! With the W710 strapped to your arm and your stereo headset on, there’s no telling how far you can go. I love how I can take my music with me wherever I go, minus the extra bulk. It doesn’t just play music; I can make my own playlists and categorize songs by artist. Plus it comes with Disc2Phone software in the CD included, which allows you to transfer songs from your favorite CDs to your phone by just dragging and dropping. It is definitely one of the coolest features of any phone I know. I can even play music without headphones, and the sound is crisp and clear through the speakers. Of course, the phone is equipped with FM radio, which I love. I love Magic 89.9 (especially Mo Twister and Mojo Jojo, and Joey and Miles), and I used to hate it whenever I had to get out of the car in the middle of their shows. Now I can tune in whenever!

The screen is quite small, though, so I don’t get to enjoy the shots from the 2-megapixel camera that much. I also have to lower the resolution of the camera if I want to zoom it — not that I use zoom often. Anyway, I can easily transfer my photos to my computer and admire them there. I also love the gorgeous and unique themes, so I get to admire the phone just by fiddling with it.

All in all, the W710i is quite a unique and versatile phone. More than simply keeping up with us, the phone allows us to experience our lifestyles better. From checking our daily pace to infusing music in our activities, it’s all about awakening the rhythm in life.