Convergence is the buzzword and the Cyber-shot Walkman affair-turned-marriage is busy producing offspring. And hey, the young Sony Ericsson W995 sure makes the first-born W902 look like a helpless orphan.
Easily the best equipped feature phone of the house, Sony Ericsson W995, still more popular as Hikaru, packs in all there is to find at the top of the company portfolio. The full set of connectivity options, the biggest screen on a Sony Ericsson feature phone to date, GPS, Wi-Fi and the great user interface make a sweet enough package on their own.
But in the case of W995 they're just the perfect background for the unprecedented blend of music and imaging. The Cyber-shot line is graciously lending its 8 megapixel triumph, while the music dowry includes the latest Walkman 4.0 player, with all the bare Walkman necessities such as Shake control and SensMe. And there's more to make it even sweeter. We called it a marriage and Sony Ericsson have taken due care of the wedding presents. We don't know what else to call the kickstand and the on-board 3.5 mm audio jack.
So Sony Ericsson W995 has it all, doesn't it? Now let's see if it gives it all.
Sony Ericsson W995 official photos
Key Features:
Brushed metal body parts
Quad-band GSM, dual-band HSDPA
2.6" 256K-color TFT display of QVGA resolution
8.1 megapixel camera with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, face detection
WQVGA video recording at 30fps
Built-in GPS with A-GPS functionality
Wi-Fi with DLNA support
Bluetooth (with A2DP) and USB v2.0
Accelerometer sensor
118MB of internal memory and M2 memory expansion (8GB card included)
Stereo speakers
3.5 mm audio jack
Kickstand
Walkman 4.0 music player with Shake control and SensMe
FM radio with RDS
Multi-tasking support
Smart dialing
Comfortable keypad, nice sliding mechanism
Main disadvantages:
Video recording limited to WQVGA
No lens protection
No DivX/XviD video support (though it's touted as a video-centric phone)
Kickstand construction could've been more reliable
No office document viewer
Sony Ericsson W995 at ours
Since the phone is expected to hit the market by Q2 2009 (which is just around the corner) and Sony Ericsson didn't mention any price, we can only guess how much it will sell for. It's fair to expect a price tag around the same as the similarly equipped Nokia N86 8MP, which will start shipping at the same time at an estimated 375 euro (before taxes and subsidies).
As we said, the Nokia N86 8MP offers almost the same features. Almost. The camera is 8.1-megapixel and sports autofocus, but it also comes with Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash (W995 has a single-LED) and the exciting wide-angle lens and variable aperture.
The N86's screen is also 2.6" but it's based on AMOLED technology (not TFT) and shines with 16M colors (not just 256K). Both devices have kickstands but the one on the N86 seems more reliable based on what we saw at the MWC.
And last but not least, let's not forget that the N86 8MP is a Symbian smartphone with all the possibilities for expansion this entails. It's in the best interests of the W995 that we don't extend this comparison any further!
Nokia N86 8MP
Another competitor of the SE W995 is the smart Samsung i8510 INNOV8, which packs all the Sony Ericsson W995 does, but adds some extra features on top which are well worth checking out. Follow the link to our in-depth review of the INNOV8.
Samsung i8510 INNOV8
It seems that the Sony Ericsson W995 has some pretty strong competition so the decision about which to choose ain't gonna be easy.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Sony Ericsson C903 review: Slider-shot
Inspired by the Sony T-series point-and-shoot digcams with an elegant lens cover, the Sony Ericsson C903 is a compact and attractive cameraphone. The C903 is packed with features you'd expect of a high-end phone and it behaves like one as well. A GPS-enabled 5 MP slider with a nice large display, nifty feature-phone interface and friendly size is a welcome addition to the company portfolio. And yes, we think the Glamour Red version will be a favorite with the ladies.
The C903 official announcement served the humble purpose of warming the crowd up for the Sony Ericsson deployment at this year's MWC. Obviously no match for the Idou and Hikaru, the C903 simply completes the Cyber-shot lineup of the house featuring some welcome upgrades over the C902 like screen size and GPS. There's a distinctive design highlight too and the Sony T-series digicam back styling may as well be a strong selling point.
Sony Ericsson C903 Lacquer Black and Glamour Red
Key features:
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and dual-band HSDPA/ tri-band HSDPA in US version
5 MP AF camera with dual LED flash, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, active lens cover
Built-in GPS with A-GPS support, Wayfinder Navigator software, geotagging
Dedicated camera mode switch and gallery keys
Scratch resistant 2.4" 256K-color TFT display
Backlit D-pad shortcuts in camera mode
Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate
Bluetooth (with A2DP), USB v2.0
FM radio with RDS and enhanced TrackID, YouTube client
Threaded conversations in messaging
Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:
Video recording limited to QVGA resolution at 30fps
M2 card slot under the battery cover
Camera key has almost no feedback at full press
The glossy surface is a fingerprint nightmare
No cover for the USB port
No office document viewer
No video-call camera
Sony Ericsson C903 has its candybar counterpart in the face of the C901. Presented in a joint launch last month, the two handsets are trying to meet a diverse mix of cameraphone demand in the higher-midrange.
Form factor aside, the major differences boil down to GPS and the camera flash solution. We can't help but note that xenon could've been more at home in the T-series-inspired C903. But no sir, Sony Ericsson C903 is GPS-enabled instead while the more conservative C901 bar flaunts the better camera flash.
The lengthy spec sheet of the C903 only omits Wi-Fi support, while everything else is on board: GPS with Wayfinder 7 software, 5 megapixel AF camera with dedicated setup keys, a large 2.4" display and accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate.
Sony Ericsson C903 at ours
Now then, we're all set for a closer look at the C903, so buckle up and hit the jump.
The C903 official announcement served the humble purpose of warming the crowd up for the Sony Ericsson deployment at this year's MWC. Obviously no match for the Idou and Hikaru, the C903 simply completes the Cyber-shot lineup of the house featuring some welcome upgrades over the C902 like screen size and GPS. There's a distinctive design highlight too and the Sony T-series digicam back styling may as well be a strong selling point.
Sony Ericsson C903 Lacquer Black and Glamour Red
Key features:
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and dual-band HSDPA/ tri-band HSDPA in US version
5 MP AF camera with dual LED flash, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, active lens cover
Built-in GPS with A-GPS support, Wayfinder Navigator software, geotagging
Dedicated camera mode switch and gallery keys
Scratch resistant 2.4" 256K-color TFT display
Backlit D-pad shortcuts in camera mode
Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate
Bluetooth (with A2DP), USB v2.0
FM radio with RDS and enhanced TrackID, YouTube client
Threaded conversations in messaging
Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:
Video recording limited to QVGA resolution at 30fps
M2 card slot under the battery cover
Camera key has almost no feedback at full press
The glossy surface is a fingerprint nightmare
No cover for the USB port
No office document viewer
No video-call camera
Sony Ericsson C903 has its candybar counterpart in the face of the C901. Presented in a joint launch last month, the two handsets are trying to meet a diverse mix of cameraphone demand in the higher-midrange.
Form factor aside, the major differences boil down to GPS and the camera flash solution. We can't help but note that xenon could've been more at home in the T-series-inspired C903. But no sir, Sony Ericsson C903 is GPS-enabled instead while the more conservative C901 bar flaunts the better camera flash.
The lengthy spec sheet of the C903 only omits Wi-Fi support, while everything else is on board: GPS with Wayfinder 7 software, 5 megapixel AF camera with dedicated setup keys, a large 2.4" display and accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate.
Sony Ericsson C903 at ours
Now then, we're all set for a closer look at the C903, so buckle up and hit the jump.
Samsung S5600 preview: First look
Samsung have quite wisely decided to make the complacent LG Cookie smile go away. And they have released not one, but two devices to compete with it. The Samsung S5600 is one of them and luckily we have the opportunity to play with it for a while with the Samsung S5230 soon to follow.
Attacking the midrange market the Samsung S5600 is a member of the new affordable touchscreen gang. Quite reminiscent of the HTC Touch with its size, shape and display, the Samsung S5600 is actually not a smartphone. It run on the proprietary Samsung TouchWiz user interface, and while it's not a high-end phone, it still has some decent equipment.
Samsung S5600 official photo
Samsung S5600 at a glance:
General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/2100 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Form factor: Touchscreen bar, no keypad
Dimensions: 102.8 x 54.8 x 12.9 mm
Display: 2.8-inch TFT, QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels)
Memory: 80MB, Non-hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
Camera: 3 megapixel fixed focus camera with LED flash and smile detection
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS
Misc: Accelerometer sensor, FM radio with RDS, Find Music recognition service, DNSe, gesture lock
Battery: 1000 mAh battery
Samsung S5600 was first spotted at MWC 2009, but no details were released by that time. In fact, it was so conspicuously displayed, that we even missed including it in our detailed coverage of the event.
The Samsung S5600 in our studio
The Samsung S5600 is not a ground-breaking device and probably won't create much hype, but still it's one of those devices that sell… and these devices sell in quite some volumes.
Join us on the next page for a walkthrough of the Samsung S5600 exterior and ergonomics. Just bear in mind to take it easy on us and the S5600 - it's still a rather early pre-production unit and changes are possible (and highly likely) at all hardware and software levels.
Attacking the midrange market the Samsung S5600 is a member of the new affordable touchscreen gang. Quite reminiscent of the HTC Touch with its size, shape and display, the Samsung S5600 is actually not a smartphone. It run on the proprietary Samsung TouchWiz user interface, and while it's not a high-end phone, it still has some decent equipment.
Samsung S5600 official photo
Samsung S5600 at a glance:
General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/2100 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Form factor: Touchscreen bar, no keypad
Dimensions: 102.8 x 54.8 x 12.9 mm
Display: 2.8-inch TFT, QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels)
Memory: 80MB, Non-hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
Camera: 3 megapixel fixed focus camera with LED flash and smile detection
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS
Misc: Accelerometer sensor, FM radio with RDS, Find Music recognition service, DNSe, gesture lock
Battery: 1000 mAh battery
Samsung S5600 was first spotted at MWC 2009, but no details were released by that time. In fact, it was so conspicuously displayed, that we even missed including it in our detailed coverage of the event.
The Samsung S5600 in our studio
The Samsung S5600 is not a ground-breaking device and probably won't create much hype, but still it's one of those devices that sell… and these devices sell in quite some volumes.
Join us on the next page for a walkthrough of the Samsung S5600 exterior and ergonomics. Just bear in mind to take it easy on us and the S5600 - it's still a rather early pre-production unit and changes are possible (and highly likely) at all hardware and software levels.
BlackBerry Storm 9500 review: Berry-go-round
It's not everyday that you see a BlackBerry review on our homepage but it's not like RIM routinely churn out devices like the Storm either. Messaging is still the legendary name but… well… touchscreen is the game. Keeping the business appeal of its siblings, the 9500 Storm sure stands out in the Berry crowd. But it also tries to set itself apart from the other touchscreens by promising a whole new touch experience.
BlackBerry Storm official photos
The Canadian manufacturer RIM is walking an unbeaten path by adding unique clickability to the fluid precision of the capacitive touchscreen technology. The award-winning SurePress screen may not be everyone's cup of coffee but we're not talking teacup either, just yet.
Key features:
3.25" 65K-color capacitive touchscreen of 360 x 480 pixel resolution
A new touchscreen experience thanks to SurePress screen
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 2100 MHz 3G with HSDPA support
3.15 MP autofocus camera, LED flash
BlackBerry OS 4.7
624 MHz CPU, 128 MB RAM
Built-in GPS and BlackBerry maps preloaded
1 GB internal storage
Hot-swappable microSD card slot, ships with an 8GB card
Landscape virtual QWERTY keyboard goes as close to hardware keys as we have seen
Great build quality
Solid looks
3.5mm standard audio jack
Bluetooth and USB v2.0
Really nice web browser
Document editor
Excellent audio quality
Main disadvantages:
No Wi-fi
No email support without BlackBerry Internet Service account
Interface not as quick as competitors
Chubbier than most touchscreen phones
Mediocre camera
No FM radio
No Flash support
Fingerprint-prone front panel
No video-call camera
Now, this isn't one of those all-about-email BlackBerry reviews where the 9500 Storm gets only compared to its own kind, for the lack of meaningful competition. We are more than confident that the Storm does its BlackBerry thing just fine, so instead of focusing on it we'll try to give a different view of the device. Our objective is to see how it fares against all those other "regular" touchscreens that have the crowd's attention: Apples, Renoirs, Omnias, Diamonds and the likes.
BlackBerry Storm 9500 views
Well, our approach may seem like comparing apples to oranges but only at first sight. The first thing about the Storm 9500 is the attempt to reach beyond the core group of diehard BlackBerry users. We're talking stealing some market here, so if Blackberry are playing to win, they should well be ready to take some hard beating too. First-rate email is nice and all, but the Storm will only be as good as its user interface and multimedia. For the rest (which means WLAN too) there's Curve and Bold.
The BlackBerry Storm 9500 next to the Samsung i900 Omnia and Apple iPhone 3G
BlackBerry Storm official photos
The Canadian manufacturer RIM is walking an unbeaten path by adding unique clickability to the fluid precision of the capacitive touchscreen technology. The award-winning SurePress screen may not be everyone's cup of coffee but we're not talking teacup either, just yet.
Key features:
3.25" 65K-color capacitive touchscreen of 360 x 480 pixel resolution
A new touchscreen experience thanks to SurePress screen
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 2100 MHz 3G with HSDPA support
3.15 MP autofocus camera, LED flash
BlackBerry OS 4.7
624 MHz CPU, 128 MB RAM
Built-in GPS and BlackBerry maps preloaded
1 GB internal storage
Hot-swappable microSD card slot, ships with an 8GB card
Landscape virtual QWERTY keyboard goes as close to hardware keys as we have seen
Great build quality
Solid looks
3.5mm standard audio jack
Bluetooth and USB v2.0
Really nice web browser
Document editor
Excellent audio quality
Main disadvantages:
No Wi-fi
No email support without BlackBerry Internet Service account
Interface not as quick as competitors
Chubbier than most touchscreen phones
Mediocre camera
No FM radio
No Flash support
Fingerprint-prone front panel
No video-call camera
Now, this isn't one of those all-about-email BlackBerry reviews where the 9500 Storm gets only compared to its own kind, for the lack of meaningful competition. We are more than confident that the Storm does its BlackBerry thing just fine, so instead of focusing on it we'll try to give a different view of the device. Our objective is to see how it fares against all those other "regular" touchscreens that have the crowd's attention: Apples, Renoirs, Omnias, Diamonds and the likes.
BlackBerry Storm 9500 views
Well, our approach may seem like comparing apples to oranges but only at first sight. The first thing about the Storm 9500 is the attempt to reach beyond the core group of diehard BlackBerry users. We're talking stealing some market here, so if Blackberry are playing to win, they should well be ready to take some hard beating too. First-rate email is nice and all, but the Storm will only be as good as its user interface and multimedia. For the rest (which means WLAN too) there's Curve and Bold.
The BlackBerry Storm 9500 next to the Samsung i900 Omnia and Apple iPhone 3G
Sony Ericsson Media Go review: First look
Introduction
Now, what's with the software review on the GSM Arena homepage, you might ask. Well, last week you could have said that for Blackberry as well. We guess it's time for another first. Today however we're getting a closer look at Sony Ericsson's Media Go desktop multimedia management software.
Back in February Sony Ericsson promised to revolutionize the way users transfer and consume video on the company's feature phones. The newly announced Media Go multimedia manager not only keeps your music in order, but it also crunches every multimedia file you throw at it to a format that's easily digestible by a regular mobile phone.
Media Go did cause a lot of commotion in the comments section of our recently published Sony Ericsson W995 review. It's the first phone to come bundled with Media Go and some users felt that we didn't stress enough on the potentially overwhelming capabilities of this new software.
Well, truth be told, we didn't really think such software is the kind of feat to write home about, so we just didn't share that enthusiasm. But guess what what we did as soon as we acquired a working beta copy of Media Go. That's right, we went writing about it.
Getting started with Media Go
Our first surprise with the new piece of software is that it's actually branded by Sony, and not Sony Ericsson. Perhaps, this will only be true for the beta version of the software, we are not really sure yet.
On first launch Media Go surely felt like a Sony commercial product. Much like the other Sony commercial products we've seen, you have to enter the supplied serial number and register with the Sony, in order to use the application.
Once that we were beyond the registration process, the software loaded up and was ready to roll. We connected our Sony Ericsson W995 and we were presented by the last surprise for the day.
Media Go cannot connect to the phone straight out-of-the-box. As it turns out, Media Go won't be substituting the regular Sony Ericsson PC Suite despite our expectations. Instead, both applications should be installed on your desktop computer, as PC Suite is the application that actually takes care of the needed USB drivers, etc.
After we sorted that out as well, it was time to finally take a deeper look at the new Media Go application and the way it's put to use by Sony Ericsson phones.
Now, what's with the software review on the GSM Arena homepage, you might ask. Well, last week you could have said that for Blackberry as well. We guess it's time for another first. Today however we're getting a closer look at Sony Ericsson's Media Go desktop multimedia management software.
Back in February Sony Ericsson promised to revolutionize the way users transfer and consume video on the company's feature phones. The newly announced Media Go multimedia manager not only keeps your music in order, but it also crunches every multimedia file you throw at it to a format that's easily digestible by a regular mobile phone.
Media Go did cause a lot of commotion in the comments section of our recently published Sony Ericsson W995 review. It's the first phone to come bundled with Media Go and some users felt that we didn't stress enough on the potentially overwhelming capabilities of this new software.
Well, truth be told, we didn't really think such software is the kind of feat to write home about, so we just didn't share that enthusiasm. But guess what what we did as soon as we acquired a working beta copy of Media Go. That's right, we went writing about it.
Getting started with Media Go
Our first surprise with the new piece of software is that it's actually branded by Sony, and not Sony Ericsson. Perhaps, this will only be true for the beta version of the software, we are not really sure yet.
On first launch Media Go surely felt like a Sony commercial product. Much like the other Sony commercial products we've seen, you have to enter the supplied serial number and register with the Sony, in order to use the application.
Once that we were beyond the registration process, the software loaded up and was ready to roll. We connected our Sony Ericsson W995 and we were presented by the last surprise for the day.
Media Go cannot connect to the phone straight out-of-the-box. As it turns out, Media Go won't be substituting the regular Sony Ericsson PC Suite despite our expectations. Instead, both applications should be installed on your desktop computer, as PC Suite is the application that actually takes care of the needed USB drivers, etc.
After we sorted that out as well, it was time to finally take a deeper look at the new Media Go application and the way it's put to use by Sony Ericsson phones.
Samsung S5230 preview: First look
Samsung decided to compete with the popular LG Cookie not in one, but in two ways. We already gave you S5600 and now it's time to direct the limelight to Samsung S5230. Join us as we take a short stroll with the 3-incher S5230 and see what what it has to offer to the mainstream segment.
Samsung S5230 is obviously a no-nonsense phones design to appeal to the masses with both its price tag as well its looks, which remind of some the company's top mobiles. Targeting the midrange market Samsung S5230 joins the ranks of cheap touch phones and one thing's for sure. It's not thrown into the fight unprepared.
S5230 is stylish, runs on TouchWiz and can read your written words. Besides it's a casual snapshot taker with even the oh-so-popular Smile Shot mode and it can easily make your portable music player redundant. That seems enough for us - let's see with what weapons Samsung are planning to take on the midrange touch wars.
Samsung S5230 official photo
Samsung S5230 at a glance:
General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12
Form factor: Touchscreen bar, no keypad
Dimensions: 104.0 x 53.0 x 11.9 mm, 93.5 gr.
Display: 3-inch resistive TFT touchscreen, WQVGA resolution (240 x 400 pixels)
Memory: 87MB, Non-hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
Camera: 3 megapixel fixed focus camera with smile detection
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB v.2.0
Misc: Accelerometer sensor, FM radio with RDS, Find Music recognition service, DNSe, Gesture lock
Battery: 1000 mAh battery
Samsung S5230 at our office
The new Samsung S5230 is not something revolutionary; it even cannot be described as evolutionary. It's just the right kind of feature mix targeted at the midrange market with surgical precision. It seems an even more direct competitor to the already available LG Cookie than the Samsung S5600, but the real head-to-head will take place only when the phone gets out there and starts doing some actual sales. And it's almost destined to sell well, thanks to its expected low price and the helpful nifty little things that make it special.
Samsung S5230 compared to iPhone 3G and Samsung S5600
Join us on the next page for a walkthrough of the Samsung S5230 exterior and ergonomics. Just bear in mind that it's still a rather early pre-production unit and changes before the actual product is out are quite possible.
Samsung S5230 is obviously a no-nonsense phones design to appeal to the masses with both its price tag as well its looks, which remind of some the company's top mobiles. Targeting the midrange market Samsung S5230 joins the ranks of cheap touch phones and one thing's for sure. It's not thrown into the fight unprepared.
S5230 is stylish, runs on TouchWiz and can read your written words. Besides it's a casual snapshot taker with even the oh-so-popular Smile Shot mode and it can easily make your portable music player redundant. That seems enough for us - let's see with what weapons Samsung are planning to take on the midrange touch wars.
Samsung S5230 official photo
Samsung S5230 at a glance:
General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12
Form factor: Touchscreen bar, no keypad
Dimensions: 104.0 x 53.0 x 11.9 mm, 93.5 gr.
Display: 3-inch resistive TFT touchscreen, WQVGA resolution (240 x 400 pixels)
Memory: 87MB, Non-hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
Camera: 3 megapixel fixed focus camera with smile detection
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB v.2.0
Misc: Accelerometer sensor, FM radio with RDS, Find Music recognition service, DNSe, Gesture lock
Battery: 1000 mAh battery
Samsung S5230 at our office
The new Samsung S5230 is not something revolutionary; it even cannot be described as evolutionary. It's just the right kind of feature mix targeted at the midrange market with surgical precision. It seems an even more direct competitor to the already available LG Cookie than the Samsung S5600, but the real head-to-head will take place only when the phone gets out there and starts doing some actual sales. And it's almost destined to sell well, thanks to its expected low price and the helpful nifty little things that make it special.
Samsung S5230 compared to iPhone 3G and Samsung S5600
Join us on the next page for a walkthrough of the Samsung S5230 exterior and ergonomics. Just bear in mind that it's still a rather early pre-production unit and changes before the actual product is out are quite possible.
BlackBerry Curve 8900 review: Curved right
The sharp and compact BlackBerry Curve 8900 spells business and oozes with class. Easily the hottest looker in the Curve lineup - and possibly portfolio-wide - earns much respect as a massive functionality upgrade over its predecessors.
The distinct insider kind of charm of the BlackBerry handsets phases out into history as RIM are trying to take on the world and competitors with a new design language. OK, baptizing new converts was the Storm's job while the Curve 8900 seems the right stuff to inspire upgraders. Either way, we're happy to extend our BlackBerry streak and put the latest Curve through its paces.
BlackBerry Curve 8900 official photos
Key features:
2.4" 65K-color TFT landscape display with a resolution of 480 x 360 pixels
Comfortable four-row full QWERTY keyboard
Quad-band GSM support
Wi-Fi
BlackBerry OS v4.6
Trackball navigation
Built-in GPS and BlackBerry maps preloaded
3.15 MP autofocus camera, LED flash
512 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM
Hot-swappable microSD card slot
Good build quality
DivX and XviD video support
Compact body
Good web browser
3.5 mm audio jack
Nice audio quality
Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:
No 3G
No email support without BlackBerry Internet Service account
Mediocre camera
No FM radio
BlackBerry 8900 Curve doesn't pack the groundbreaking punch of its Storm sibling. Despite the fact that it upgrades the older generation of Curves quite painstakingly the whole user experience implies evolution rather than revolution. But then, that might just be the right approach from an upgrader's point of view.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 at ours
To begin with, there's both Wi-Fi and GPS, which was until now impossible to have in a single BlackBerry Curve 83xx handset. The screen resolution is also more than doubled and the device has become quite slimmer and so much prettier. Now that sounds like a pretty solid foundation for success but still doesn't mean the Curve can afford to be complacent.
User-friendliness and performance matter the most in reality and we know better than judging a phone before we have tested it.
The distinct insider kind of charm of the BlackBerry handsets phases out into history as RIM are trying to take on the world and competitors with a new design language. OK, baptizing new converts was the Storm's job while the Curve 8900 seems the right stuff to inspire upgraders. Either way, we're happy to extend our BlackBerry streak and put the latest Curve through its paces.
BlackBerry Curve 8900 official photos
Key features:
2.4" 65K-color TFT landscape display with a resolution of 480 x 360 pixels
Comfortable four-row full QWERTY keyboard
Quad-band GSM support
Wi-Fi
BlackBerry OS v4.6
Trackball navigation
Built-in GPS and BlackBerry maps preloaded
3.15 MP autofocus camera, LED flash
512 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM
Hot-swappable microSD card slot
Good build quality
DivX and XviD video support
Compact body
Good web browser
3.5 mm audio jack
Nice audio quality
Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:
No 3G
No email support without BlackBerry Internet Service account
Mediocre camera
No FM radio
BlackBerry 8900 Curve doesn't pack the groundbreaking punch of its Storm sibling. Despite the fact that it upgrades the older generation of Curves quite painstakingly the whole user experience implies evolution rather than revolution. But then, that might just be the right approach from an upgrader's point of view.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 at ours
To begin with, there's both Wi-Fi and GPS, which was until now impossible to have in a single BlackBerry Curve 83xx handset. The screen resolution is also more than doubled and the device has become quite slimmer and so much prettier. Now that sounds like a pretty solid foundation for success but still doesn't mean the Curve can afford to be complacent.
User-friendliness and performance matter the most in reality and we know better than judging a phone before we have tested it.
T-Mobile G1 review: The whole cagoogle
The T-Mobile G1 is the Googlephone. Did we really need to say that? Well, there's more Google in this story than there is phone, so we guess we did. We've got a new contender on the race track but we're talking no rookie here. If you thought Apple made the phone game breathtaking, think of where it's all heading with Google keen to play along. Unlike the iPhone Mac OS X, the Android is the joint effort of the whole Open Handset Alliance, which brings together makers that sure know the drill. So much for the rookie, as long as Google is siding with Asus, HTC, LG, Garmin, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba.
But well, that's the bigger story. We have the first chapter right here, and it's called the T-Mobile G1 or HTC Dream if you prefer. The first impression sure is important. So, there we go.
T-Mobile G1 official photos
T-Mobile G1 or to be also released as HTC Dream might not have the specs to make a geek's heart melt but we guess the Android OS was still gonna draw drool even if it came tossed in a plastic bag or wrapped in newspaper. So, forget about the peculiar form factor, the full QWERTY keyboard, the large and crisp touchscreen and the anti-utopian design. Android's inside and google is the limit.
Key features:
Android OS
3.2" capacitive touchscreen display of HVGA resolution
Slide-out five-row full QWERTY keyboard
Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528 MHz CPU, 192 MB RAM
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
3G with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
3.15 megapixel autofocus camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
GPS
Trackball
Accelerometer sensor
Digital compass
Main disadvantages:
Quite unassuming looks
Pretty bulky and heavy
The slider mechanism rattles
No video-call camera
No video recording
No flash support in the web browser
No file transfers or A2DP over Bluetooth
No FM radio
No screen auto rotation
No smart dialing
G1 does look like a rather wary and conservative approach to introducing a new OS to the mobile world. While the T-Mobile G1 isn't by any means low-end it kind of deliberately falls short of what the current multimedia monsters have to offer, both in terms of styling and mind-boggling high-tech feats. This gives the G1 two quite important advantages. Firstly the main focus of the device remains on the OS, though this doesn't exactly relieve the pressure. Secondly, keeping a low profile allows the G1 to get away with its juvenile weaknesses more easily.
T-Mobile G1 all over
Another seemingly smart move by Google is to debut in a rather vacant segment where the G1 will face less competition. While there certainly are a few slide-out QWERTY touchscreens, only a couple of them have achieved a fair degree of success recently.
HTC Touch Pro and Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 are both manufactured by HTC and are basking in the spotlight. However, the WinMo Professional isn't everyone's cup of tea even with all the custom plug-ins there are. So why not freshen things up by bringing something completely new - the G1.
The result they achieved is controversial - the G1 sells pretty decently but still hasn't matched the iPhone kind of hype. Part of the explanation is of course the iPhone itself, which raised the bar rather high for any newcomers. But we doubt that any personal failure of the G1 - if any - is not likely to spell doom for the Android platform. So, in a way that sounds pretty safe and reassuring for this here Google-phone.
But well, that's the bigger story. We have the first chapter right here, and it's called the T-Mobile G1 or HTC Dream if you prefer. The first impression sure is important. So, there we go.
T-Mobile G1 official photos
T-Mobile G1 or to be also released as HTC Dream might not have the specs to make a geek's heart melt but we guess the Android OS was still gonna draw drool even if it came tossed in a plastic bag or wrapped in newspaper. So, forget about the peculiar form factor, the full QWERTY keyboard, the large and crisp touchscreen and the anti-utopian design. Android's inside and google is the limit.
Key features:
Android OS
3.2" capacitive touchscreen display of HVGA resolution
Slide-out five-row full QWERTY keyboard
Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528 MHz CPU, 192 MB RAM
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
3G with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
3.15 megapixel autofocus camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
GPS
Trackball
Accelerometer sensor
Digital compass
Main disadvantages:
Quite unassuming looks
Pretty bulky and heavy
The slider mechanism rattles
No video-call camera
No video recording
No flash support in the web browser
No file transfers or A2DP over Bluetooth
No FM radio
No screen auto rotation
No smart dialing
G1 does look like a rather wary and conservative approach to introducing a new OS to the mobile world. While the T-Mobile G1 isn't by any means low-end it kind of deliberately falls short of what the current multimedia monsters have to offer, both in terms of styling and mind-boggling high-tech feats. This gives the G1 two quite important advantages. Firstly the main focus of the device remains on the OS, though this doesn't exactly relieve the pressure. Secondly, keeping a low profile allows the G1 to get away with its juvenile weaknesses more easily.
T-Mobile G1 all over
Another seemingly smart move by Google is to debut in a rather vacant segment where the G1 will face less competition. While there certainly are a few slide-out QWERTY touchscreens, only a couple of them have achieved a fair degree of success recently.
HTC Touch Pro and Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 are both manufactured by HTC and are basking in the spotlight. However, the WinMo Professional isn't everyone's cup of tea even with all the custom plug-ins there are. So why not freshen things up by bringing something completely new - the G1.
The result they achieved is controversial - the G1 sells pretty decently but still hasn't matched the iPhone kind of hype. Part of the explanation is of course the iPhone itself, which raised the bar rather high for any newcomers. But we doubt that any personal failure of the G1 - if any - is not likely to spell doom for the Android platform. So, in a way that sounds pretty safe and reassuring for this here Google-phone.
LG KM900 Arena preview: First look
The LG Arena is getting set to storm its way across Europe but not before a proper courtesy call. Yes sir, one of the Barcelona Mobile World Congress headliners is feeling right at home at the arena. And the pleasure is ours too.
The well-rounded feature set - which could've been a major asset in any reputable handset - is easily eclipsed by the interface that boasts some of the best looks and handling in quite a while. S-class is a not a name to misuse so let's hope the Arena lives up to the expectations.
LG KM900 Arena official photos
Our LG namesake is the first ever handset to run the new touch UI of the Korean company. In addition, you get a state of the art connectivity package and a nicely sounding 5 megapixel shooter. Well, obviously it's not a top of the line imaging monster like the Renoir but the target audience is different here.
Having made a great first impression with its brilliant screen and inspiring UI, the LG KM900 Arena is now to face a more serious test. It's a quick little preview we've got for you here but hopefully the Arena will have no secrets left.
For starters let's have a look at the LG KM900 Arena main specs.
LG KM900 Arena at a glance
General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 2100 or 850/1900 MHz, EDGE class 10, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Dimensions: 105.9 x 55.3 x 12 mm, 105 g
Display: 3" 16M-color capacitive TFT touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
Memory: 8GB flash storage, microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
User interface: S-Class Touch UI
Still camera: 5 megapixel autofocus camera, Schneider-Kreuznach optics, autofocus, LED flash
Video recording: 3GP D1 (720x480)@30fps, QVGA@120fps high-speed recording, QVGA time lapse recording
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm audio jack, TV-out, microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS
Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate, Multi-touch input, 3D hardware accelerator, DivX support, Dolby for Mobile audio enhancement, FM radio, FM transmitter, office document viewer
Battery: Li-Ion 1000 mAh, Talk time: 3 h 50 min, Standby: 300 h, Music playback: 30 h
Retail price: 400 euro (540 US dollars)
LG KM900 Arena at ours
There are several things to note on the KM900 Arena specs sheet. To begin with, the screen is a giant leap for LG. No, WVGA is not unheard of but the company sure was stuck at WQVGA far too long. The all-round functionality isn't unprecedented either but this here package is quite well balanced. Save for omitting an 8MP shooter the LG Arena hardly has anything else missing.
However, the more important test for the Arena is usability and user experience. If the S-Class manages to reinforce the first impression we may certainly have a winner here.
LG Arena finally in our hands
The well-rounded feature set - which could've been a major asset in any reputable handset - is easily eclipsed by the interface that boasts some of the best looks and handling in quite a while. S-class is a not a name to misuse so let's hope the Arena lives up to the expectations.
LG KM900 Arena official photos
Our LG namesake is the first ever handset to run the new touch UI of the Korean company. In addition, you get a state of the art connectivity package and a nicely sounding 5 megapixel shooter. Well, obviously it's not a top of the line imaging monster like the Renoir but the target audience is different here.
Having made a great first impression with its brilliant screen and inspiring UI, the LG KM900 Arena is now to face a more serious test. It's a quick little preview we've got for you here but hopefully the Arena will have no secrets left.
For starters let's have a look at the LG KM900 Arena main specs.
LG KM900 Arena at a glance
General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 2100 or 850/1900 MHz, EDGE class 10, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Dimensions: 105.9 x 55.3 x 12 mm, 105 g
Display: 3" 16M-color capacitive TFT touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
Memory: 8GB flash storage, microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
User interface: S-Class Touch UI
Still camera: 5 megapixel autofocus camera, Schneider-Kreuznach optics, autofocus, LED flash
Video recording: 3GP D1 (720x480)@30fps, QVGA@120fps high-speed recording, QVGA time lapse recording
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm audio jack, TV-out, microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS
Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate, Multi-touch input, 3D hardware accelerator, DivX support, Dolby for Mobile audio enhancement, FM radio, FM transmitter, office document viewer
Battery: Li-Ion 1000 mAh, Talk time: 3 h 50 min, Standby: 300 h, Music playback: 30 h
Retail price: 400 euro (540 US dollars)
LG KM900 Arena at ours
There are several things to note on the KM900 Arena specs sheet. To begin with, the screen is a giant leap for LG. No, WVGA is not unheard of but the company sure was stuck at WQVGA far too long. The all-round functionality isn't unprecedented either but this here package is quite well balanced. Save for omitting an 8MP shooter the LG Arena hardly has anything else missing.
However, the more important test for the Arena is usability and user experience. If the S-Class manages to reinforce the first impression we may certainly have a winner here.
LG Arena finally in our hands
Sony Ericsson T707 review: Off it glows
Sony Ericsson T707 is a new addition to the T-series but it's nothing like the T-series as you know them. Not only is it the first flip in the bunch, it also has a different brief than virtually any other T-series handset. Codenamed Elle, Sony Ericsson T707 will be trying to please the ladies but maybe it's not as simple as just sticking that less-a-gadget, more-an-accessory label.
As one of the product designers claims, the Sony Ericsson T707 was inspired by rainbows and the array of paintjobs it will be released in will make sure it won't go unnoticed. The light effects, the stealthy external screen and the ripple-and-circle patterns inside give this otherwise modest mid-ranger a distinct personality and visual appeal.
Sony Ericsson T707 official shots
Key features:
Quad-band GSM and 3G with HSDPA support
3.15 megapixel camera with Cell-ID geotagging
2.2" 256K-color TFT display with 240 x 320 pixels resolution
Secondary monochrome external display (36 x 128 pixels)
Scratch-resistant surface for both displays
Bluetooth with A2DP
Hot-swappable M2 card slot (up to 16 GB)
FM radio with RDS
Basic multi-tasking support
Gesture control
Light effects with 5 colors, assignable to contacts
Smart dialing
Threaded messaging
Main disadvantages
Camera doesn’t have auto focus or LED flash
Low-res video recording (QVGA@15fps)
External display not legible in sunlight
Keyboard lacks adequate typing feedback (might be changed in final product)
The light effects are too dim (might be changed in final product)
No document viewer
No video-call camera (W508 has one)
No accelerometer sensor (W508 has one)
Sony Ericsson have put quite some effort into advertizing the T707 as an all-around stylish package that's even fit for the tennis star Maria Sharapova as seen from the numerous photo ads.
Sony Ericsson T707 in the hands of Maria Sharapova
The front of the Sony Ericsson T707 is where rainbows are made - the exterior is surely an eye catcher. The light effects it offers are a way to add a bit of individuality integrated with practical functionality - the two circular elements on the front panel can be backlit in a choice of five different colors and these colors are in fact assignable to individual contacts..
Sony Ericsson T707
As one of the product designers claims, the Sony Ericsson T707 was inspired by rainbows and the array of paintjobs it will be released in will make sure it won't go unnoticed. The light effects, the stealthy external screen and the ripple-and-circle patterns inside give this otherwise modest mid-ranger a distinct personality and visual appeal.
Sony Ericsson T707 official shots
Key features:
Quad-band GSM and 3G with HSDPA support
3.15 megapixel camera with Cell-ID geotagging
2.2" 256K-color TFT display with 240 x 320 pixels resolution
Secondary monochrome external display (36 x 128 pixels)
Scratch-resistant surface for both displays
Bluetooth with A2DP
Hot-swappable M2 card slot (up to 16 GB)
FM radio with RDS
Basic multi-tasking support
Gesture control
Light effects with 5 colors, assignable to contacts
Smart dialing
Threaded messaging
Main disadvantages
Camera doesn’t have auto focus or LED flash
Low-res video recording (QVGA@15fps)
External display not legible in sunlight
Keyboard lacks adequate typing feedback (might be changed in final product)
The light effects are too dim (might be changed in final product)
No document viewer
No video-call camera (W508 has one)
No accelerometer sensor (W508 has one)
Sony Ericsson have put quite some effort into advertizing the T707 as an all-around stylish package that's even fit for the tennis star Maria Sharapova as seen from the numerous photo ads.
Sony Ericsson T707 in the hands of Maria Sharapova
The front of the Sony Ericsson T707 is where rainbows are made - the exterior is surely an eye catcher. The light effects it offers are a way to add a bit of individuality integrated with practical functionality - the two circular elements on the front panel can be backlit in a choice of five different colors and these colors are in fact assignable to individual contacts..
Sony Ericsson T707
BlackBerry Bold 9000 review: Berry with guts
There we go folks, it's a BlackBerry grand slam at the arena and we're set for another ride with RIM's finest. We guess this here Berry is neither Curve-hot nor Storm-inventive but it's Bold enough to say little and do much. Even without being the latest or greatest of RIM devices, the Bold 9000 is clearly the pinnacle of what BlackBerry stands for.
BlackBerry Bold 9000 official photos
Moreover, the Bold 9000 is hardly a groundbreaking device outside the BlackBerry world but to Berry buffs it may be about as good as a mobile phone gets. Sporting flawless connectivity, a magnificent screen and one of the most comfortable QWERTY keyboards we have seen, the Bold 9000 is at the very least a great business gadget. Well then, it's business as usual on our end too so the BlackBerry Bold better get ready for one of our out-and-out reviews.
Key features:
2.6" 65K-color TFT landscape display with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels
Comfortable four-row full QWERTY keyboard
Quad-band GSM support and tri-band 3G with HSDPA
Wi-Fi and built-in GPS and BlackBerry maps preloaded
2 megapixel camera, LED flash
624 MHz CPU, 128 MB RAM
BlackBerry OS v4.6
Responsive trackball navigation
Hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 8GB)
Excellent build quality
DivX and XviD video support
Good web browser
Office document editor
3.5 mm audio jack
Nice audio quality
Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:
No email support without BlackBerry Internet Service account
Mediocre camera
No FM radio
The web browser is unstable when browsing through Wi-Fi
No video-call camera
As we mentioned, the BlackBerry Bold 9000 doesn't pack ridiculously high-end multimedia or other fancy gimmicks to make a big splash outside the BlackBerry realm. Yet it does combine all the features that the brand loyals were dreaming to see on a RIM handset for quite a while.
The BlackBerry Bold 9000 at ours
GPS and Wi-Fi rarely coexist on BlackBerry handsets but the Bold is not the first ever anyway. The screen is not the greatest feat in terms of resolution either but it sure is a sight to savor. That Berries have always been among the standard-setters in QWERTY keyboards goes without saying. So, is it all about having both 3G and WLAN on a single BlackBerry phone?
BlackBerry Bold 9000 official photos
Moreover, the Bold 9000 is hardly a groundbreaking device outside the BlackBerry world but to Berry buffs it may be about as good as a mobile phone gets. Sporting flawless connectivity, a magnificent screen and one of the most comfortable QWERTY keyboards we have seen, the Bold 9000 is at the very least a great business gadget. Well then, it's business as usual on our end too so the BlackBerry Bold better get ready for one of our out-and-out reviews.
Key features:
2.6" 65K-color TFT landscape display with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels
Comfortable four-row full QWERTY keyboard
Quad-band GSM support and tri-band 3G with HSDPA
Wi-Fi and built-in GPS and BlackBerry maps preloaded
2 megapixel camera, LED flash
624 MHz CPU, 128 MB RAM
BlackBerry OS v4.6
Responsive trackball navigation
Hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 8GB)
Excellent build quality
DivX and XviD video support
Good web browser
Office document editor
3.5 mm audio jack
Nice audio quality
Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:
No email support without BlackBerry Internet Service account
Mediocre camera
No FM radio
The web browser is unstable when browsing through Wi-Fi
No video-call camera
As we mentioned, the BlackBerry Bold 9000 doesn't pack ridiculously high-end multimedia or other fancy gimmicks to make a big splash outside the BlackBerry realm. Yet it does combine all the features that the brand loyals were dreaming to see on a RIM handset for quite a while.
The BlackBerry Bold 9000 at ours
GPS and Wi-Fi rarely coexist on BlackBerry handsets but the Bold is not the first ever anyway. The screen is not the greatest feat in terms of resolution either but it sure is a sight to savor. That Berries have always been among the standard-setters in QWERTY keyboards goes without saying. So, is it all about having both 3G and WLAN on a single BlackBerry phone?
Sony Ericsson W508 review: Above the fold
The Sony Ericsson W508 walks and talks midrange though by no means does it keep a low profile. What we have here is the full Walkman package at a bargain price and the rest of the W508 specs may as well be irrelevant if music is the first thing on your list.
A true Walkman at heart, the W508 takes after the Sony Ericsson W980 in many ways and even adds a dash of color to the Walkman experience - in fact, the StyleUp covers make it a regular chameleon.
There are eight StyleUp covers to choose from and the W508 always ships with a spare one in the box. And in case you wonder what's with all those paintjobs, let's not forget the W508 is in a twin predicament and has an identity to assert against the T707. That one we just reviewed, so we're sort of in for a sequel, though in Walkman flavor this time.
Sony Ericsson W508 official photos
Key features:
Quad-band GSM and 3G with HSDPA support
3.15 megapixel camera
2.2" 256K-color TFT display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution
Secondary monochrome OLED external display
Scratch-resistant surface for both displays
Touch sensitive external music control keys
Hot-swappable M2 card slot (up to 16 GB), 1 GB included
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
Walkman music player with Shake control and SensMe
FM radio with RDS
Gesture control
Accelerometer for screen rotation
Basic multi-tasking support
Smart dialing
Threaded messaging
Exchangeable StyleUp covers
Main disadvantages
Camera doesn't have auto focus or LED flash
Low-grade video recording (QVGA@15fps)
No web browser screen auto rotate
No document viewer
The Sony Ericsson W508 is a friendly phone that has many ways to interact with you - TrackID to find the track you've just overheard at the caf?, SensMe so you can pick songs based on your mood, Shake control to change tracks at the flick of the wrist plus touch-sensitive music buttons and even Gesture control to mute calls with a wave of your hand.
Sony Ericsson W508 at ours
The proprietary audio jack and the single, lonely loudspeaker are points against W508 but support for 16 GB M2 cards and FM radio with RDS are guaranteed to keep you rocking from dusk till dawn.
3G goodies like video calls and HSDPA for high-speed browsing are here, complemented with the nice web browser. The lack of document viewer is a bit of a letdown but not really a feature a Walkman can't do without.
A true Walkman at heart, the W508 takes after the Sony Ericsson W980 in many ways and even adds a dash of color to the Walkman experience - in fact, the StyleUp covers make it a regular chameleon.
There are eight StyleUp covers to choose from and the W508 always ships with a spare one in the box. And in case you wonder what's with all those paintjobs, let's not forget the W508 is in a twin predicament and has an identity to assert against the T707. That one we just reviewed, so we're sort of in for a sequel, though in Walkman flavor this time.
Sony Ericsson W508 official photos
Key features:
Quad-band GSM and 3G with HSDPA support
3.15 megapixel camera
2.2" 256K-color TFT display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution
Secondary monochrome OLED external display
Scratch-resistant surface for both displays
Touch sensitive external music control keys
Hot-swappable M2 card slot (up to 16 GB), 1 GB included
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
Walkman music player with Shake control and SensMe
FM radio with RDS
Gesture control
Accelerometer for screen rotation
Basic multi-tasking support
Smart dialing
Threaded messaging
Exchangeable StyleUp covers
Main disadvantages
Camera doesn't have auto focus or LED flash
Low-grade video recording (QVGA@15fps)
No web browser screen auto rotate
No document viewer
The Sony Ericsson W508 is a friendly phone that has many ways to interact with you - TrackID to find the track you've just overheard at the caf?, SensMe so you can pick songs based on your mood, Shake control to change tracks at the flick of the wrist plus touch-sensitive music buttons and even Gesture control to mute calls with a wave of your hand.
Sony Ericsson W508 at ours
The proprietary audio jack and the single, lonely loudspeaker are points against W508 but support for 16 GB M2 cards and FM radio with RDS are guaranteed to keep you rocking from dusk till dawn.
3G goodies like video calls and HSDPA for high-speed browsing are here, complemented with the nice web browser. The lack of document viewer is a bit of a letdown but not really a feature a Walkman can't do without.
Nokia E75 review: Business on the slide
If we can think of one reason to take being told "to mind your own business" with a smile it would be the Nokia Eseries. A household name for enterprise users, it's hardly a surprise that each E-series update is greeted with plenty of excitement. The Nokia E75 is no exception, even if it doesn't really put anything new on the table.
Nokia E75 official photos
The side-sliding QWERTY form factor lands on Symbian turf following a reasonably successful spell on the WinMo side of the yard.
The major novelty of the Nokia E75 is the form factor and we're about to see if this is enough for it to carve a niche out for itself in a crowded market.
Nokia E75 lifestyle photos
There's no denying that if a side-sliding QWERTY is good enough for a teenage-targeted music phone (the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic), it must be more than at home in a full-featured business phone. Welcome to the Nokia E75.
Key features
2.4" 16M-color TFT display of QVGA resolution
Four-row side-slide QWERTY keyboard
Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G (with HSDPA) support
Symbian OS with S60 3.2 UI
369 MHz ARM11 CPU
3.5mm standard audio jack
microSD card slot, 4GB microSD card prebundled
3.2 megapixel auto focus camera with a dedicated shutter key, geotagging and VGA@30fps video recording
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with UPnP technology
Built-in GPS receiver and Nokia Maps with 3 months of free voice-assisted navigation
USB and stereo Bluetooth (A2DP) connectivity
Steel battery cover
FM radio with RDS
Remote Wipe functionality
Carrier-independent VoIP support
Office document editor
User-friendly Mode Switch for toggling two homescreen setups
Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:
Rather expensive at this point (more than 350 euro)
Controls around the D-pad are too tiny
Mediocre camera performance
Fingerprint-prone cheap-looking front
Wiggling cheapo camera key
Limited battery life (in comparison to the E71)
Even if we leave aside the scores of competing business handsets, the Nokia E75 still faces quite stiff competition from within the E-series range itself. It's unreasonably close to the E90 as far as pricing is concerned and is quite uncomfortably cloning most of Nokia E71 functionality. The side-sliding QWERTY keyboard and FP2 are pretty much all the E75 has over the E71.
The Nokia E75 in the comfort of our office
It's more like an alternative we're talking here rather than a substantial upgrade. Truth be told, we were pretty impressed with the Nokia E71 and if the E75 matches its performance then there will be no reason to grumble.
Nokia E75 side by side to Nokia E63
So, if the Nokia E75 is sitting on a fence, then so are we until we've taken it down for a test ride and seen what it can do. Let the unboxing begin after the jump.
Nokia E75 official photos
The side-sliding QWERTY form factor lands on Symbian turf following a reasonably successful spell on the WinMo side of the yard.
The major novelty of the Nokia E75 is the form factor and we're about to see if this is enough for it to carve a niche out for itself in a crowded market.
Nokia E75 lifestyle photos
There's no denying that if a side-sliding QWERTY is good enough for a teenage-targeted music phone (the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic), it must be more than at home in a full-featured business phone. Welcome to the Nokia E75.
Key features
2.4" 16M-color TFT display of QVGA resolution
Four-row side-slide QWERTY keyboard
Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G (with HSDPA) support
Symbian OS with S60 3.2 UI
369 MHz ARM11 CPU
3.5mm standard audio jack
microSD card slot, 4GB microSD card prebundled
3.2 megapixel auto focus camera with a dedicated shutter key, geotagging and VGA@30fps video recording
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with UPnP technology
Built-in GPS receiver and Nokia Maps with 3 months of free voice-assisted navigation
USB and stereo Bluetooth (A2DP) connectivity
Steel battery cover
FM radio with RDS
Remote Wipe functionality
Carrier-independent VoIP support
Office document editor
User-friendly Mode Switch for toggling two homescreen setups
Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:
Rather expensive at this point (more than 350 euro)
Controls around the D-pad are too tiny
Mediocre camera performance
Fingerprint-prone cheap-looking front
Wiggling cheapo camera key
Limited battery life (in comparison to the E71)
Even if we leave aside the scores of competing business handsets, the Nokia E75 still faces quite stiff competition from within the E-series range itself. It's unreasonably close to the E90 as far as pricing is concerned and is quite uncomfortably cloning most of Nokia E71 functionality. The side-sliding QWERTY keyboard and FP2 are pretty much all the E75 has over the E71.
The Nokia E75 in the comfort of our office
It's more like an alternative we're talking here rather than a substantial upgrade. Truth be told, we were pretty impressed with the Nokia E71 and if the E75 matches its performance then there will be no reason to grumble.
Nokia E75 side by side to Nokia E63
So, if the Nokia E75 is sitting on a fence, then so are we until we've taken it down for a test ride and seen what it can do. Let the unboxing begin after the jump.
Nokia 8800 Gold Arte: Born with a silver spoon
How many phones can you name that would have made sense centuries back? Here's one: the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte. No, we're not talking medieval calling and texting, we're talking gold and leather.
Okay, it may not be solid gold, but it's the next best thing - the Arte is gold plated alright, but it sure looks - better yet, glitters - the part. Gold does not react with air and moisture so even after thousands of years gold artifacts do not loose their luster. Well, that's one thing you get for your dime - everlasting shine.
It's like choosing the interior of a ridiculously expensive car - creme leather, mahogany, you get the picture. Same with Nokia's Arte series - Sapphire, Carbon fiber and now leather and gold.
The color of gold depends on relativistic effects acting on the electrons… nah, no matter how you twist it an 8800 phone will not interest geeks. It is all about exclusive materials, high build quality and most importantly - making you look good.
In terms of technology, it's forged in the same crucible as the Nokia Carbon Arte - OLED screen, 3G, 3 megapixel autofocus camera, 4GB of inbuilt memory and Series 40.
Nokia 8800 Gold Arte official photos
Key features
18 carat gold-plated body
Genuine white leather padding
2" 16M-color OLED display of QVGA resolution
3G support
3 megapixel autofocus camera
Full-house retail package with a Bluetooth headset and desk stand
Decent battery life
Turn-to-mute
Tap-for-time
4GB internal memory
Main disadvantages
Smallish display with poor sunlight legibility
Tri-band only
No memory expansion
Costs an arm and a leg
Below-par camera performance
No video calls
No Smart dialing
No office document viewer
No Java multi-tasking
Talking value for money with the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte, or any of its siblings, will make as much sense as attaching an enjoy responsibly message to the Vertu Concierge service. Though the Arte Gold doesn't go as far as the Vertu, exuberance is its very name and the materials and looks certainly hold their own against the luxury models.
Nokia 8800 Gold Arte views
That is not to say it's cheap - save for the Motorola Aura, the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte is the most expensive phone you can buy from a mainstream manufacturer. For the same price, you could buy the Carbon Arte plus a Nokia E71 and still have a little cash left to play with. But then, it is gold-plated and that's very much where your money's going.
Nokia 8800 Arte • Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte • Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte
Upgrading a phone from the 8-series is obviously not about enhancing the capabilities - it's about using even more exclusive materials and denying common sense. After all, previous 8-series owners are unlikely to suddenly jump to Symbian or E-series unless they start gold-plating those as well.
By the way, the Gold Arte is probably targeting all of those Luna and Sirocco users who decided to… um… save their cash and skip the Sapphire and Carbon generation and jump at the next big thing. The Gold Arte will also most probably be quite popular among the ladies as well.
Now, Carbon Arte owners will probably want to wait for Diamond Arte or Wooden Arte or whatever comes next (they've already done Titanium).
The sole purpose of the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte is to send subliminal (though not very subtle) messages to everyone around you, not quite in keeping with the Connecting People spirit.
Now, we're about to take a closer look at another Arte handset. Right after this short jump, we'll ooh and ahh over the hardware - for the lack of a better word.
Okay, it may not be solid gold, but it's the next best thing - the Arte is gold plated alright, but it sure looks - better yet, glitters - the part. Gold does not react with air and moisture so even after thousands of years gold artifacts do not loose their luster. Well, that's one thing you get for your dime - everlasting shine.
It's like choosing the interior of a ridiculously expensive car - creme leather, mahogany, you get the picture. Same with Nokia's Arte series - Sapphire, Carbon fiber and now leather and gold.
The color of gold depends on relativistic effects acting on the electrons… nah, no matter how you twist it an 8800 phone will not interest geeks. It is all about exclusive materials, high build quality and most importantly - making you look good.
In terms of technology, it's forged in the same crucible as the Nokia Carbon Arte - OLED screen, 3G, 3 megapixel autofocus camera, 4GB of inbuilt memory and Series 40.
Nokia 8800 Gold Arte official photos
Key features
18 carat gold-plated body
Genuine white leather padding
2" 16M-color OLED display of QVGA resolution
3G support
3 megapixel autofocus camera
Full-house retail package with a Bluetooth headset and desk stand
Decent battery life
Turn-to-mute
Tap-for-time
4GB internal memory
Main disadvantages
Smallish display with poor sunlight legibility
Tri-band only
No memory expansion
Costs an arm and a leg
Below-par camera performance
No video calls
No Smart dialing
No office document viewer
No Java multi-tasking
Talking value for money with the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte, or any of its siblings, will make as much sense as attaching an enjoy responsibly message to the Vertu Concierge service. Though the Arte Gold doesn't go as far as the Vertu, exuberance is its very name and the materials and looks certainly hold their own against the luxury models.
Nokia 8800 Gold Arte views
That is not to say it's cheap - save for the Motorola Aura, the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte is the most expensive phone you can buy from a mainstream manufacturer. For the same price, you could buy the Carbon Arte plus a Nokia E71 and still have a little cash left to play with. But then, it is gold-plated and that's very much where your money's going.
Nokia 8800 Arte • Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte • Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte
Upgrading a phone from the 8-series is obviously not about enhancing the capabilities - it's about using even more exclusive materials and denying common sense. After all, previous 8-series owners are unlikely to suddenly jump to Symbian or E-series unless they start gold-plating those as well.
By the way, the Gold Arte is probably targeting all of those Luna and Sirocco users who decided to… um… save their cash and skip the Sapphire and Carbon generation and jump at the next big thing. The Gold Arte will also most probably be quite popular among the ladies as well.
Now, Carbon Arte owners will probably want to wait for Diamond Arte or Wooden Arte or whatever comes next (they've already done Titanium).
The sole purpose of the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte is to send subliminal (though not very subtle) messages to everyone around you, not quite in keeping with the Connecting People spirit.
Now, we're about to take a closer look at another Arte handset. Right after this short jump, we'll ooh and ahh over the hardware - for the lack of a better word.
Nokia 5130 XpressMusic: Reporting for duty
At a certain point everyone finds themselves in the situation where all they need is a no-nonsense phone that looks good and doesn't cost a fortune. The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic is exactly the kind - one of the sleekest, most affordable handsets by the Finnish manufacturer that has ever set foot in our door.
With a distinctly youthful charm, the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic certainly won't replace your laptop but will give you all a mobile phone should. Offering the bare minimum might not be what your average geek expects from a phone but it is exactly what the market wants. The fact that the Nokia 5310 sold more than 13 million units is clear enough evidence of this.
After all, not everyone can afford an N97 nor does everyone need it. What everyone does need however is good performance from their handset, even more so if reliability can be offered at a low price point. So we felt a thorough review of the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic was in order to check out this theory.
Nokia 5130 XpressMusic official photos
Key features:
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
2" 262K color TFT display of QVGA resolution
Sleek body design and nice hoice of materials
Ambient light sensor
Hot-swappable microSD card slot up to 16GB (1GB card included)
Music features:
Top notch audio quality
Dedicated music keys with backlighting
Music light effects
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Up to 21 h of dedicated music playback
Main disadvantages:
Mediocre camera with no flash or auto focus, sluggish
QCIF video recording (only good for MMS)
No 3G
No stereo loudspeakers
No smart dialing
No Java multi-tasking
No office document viewer
No Flight mode and no Active stand-by
The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic might be a mass-market handset but it most certainly doesn't look run of the mill. On the contrary, it's one of those unassuming little gadgets that actually cash in big for the company. With such expectations on its shoulder, it is little wonder we are so curious to find out what this handset has to offer.
Nokia 5130 XpressMusic is in for a review
Join us on the next page to find out more about the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic hardware and design features.
With a distinctly youthful charm, the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic certainly won't replace your laptop but will give you all a mobile phone should. Offering the bare minimum might not be what your average geek expects from a phone but it is exactly what the market wants. The fact that the Nokia 5310 sold more than 13 million units is clear enough evidence of this.
After all, not everyone can afford an N97 nor does everyone need it. What everyone does need however is good performance from their handset, even more so if reliability can be offered at a low price point. So we felt a thorough review of the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic was in order to check out this theory.
Nokia 5130 XpressMusic official photos
Key features:
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
2" 262K color TFT display of QVGA resolution
Sleek body design and nice hoice of materials
Ambient light sensor
Hot-swappable microSD card slot up to 16GB (1GB card included)
Music features:
Top notch audio quality
Dedicated music keys with backlighting
Music light effects
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Up to 21 h of dedicated music playback
Main disadvantages:
Mediocre camera with no flash or auto focus, sluggish
QCIF video recording (only good for MMS)
No 3G
No stereo loudspeakers
No smart dialing
No Java multi-tasking
No office document viewer
No Flight mode and no Active stand-by
The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic might be a mass-market handset but it most certainly doesn't look run of the mill. On the contrary, it's one of those unassuming little gadgets that actually cash in big for the company. With such expectations on its shoulder, it is little wonder we are so curious to find out what this handset has to offer.
Nokia 5130 XpressMusic is in for a review
Join us on the next page to find out more about the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic hardware and design features.
HTC Touch Diamond2: Director’s cut
HTC Touch Diamond2 is next on our roll call of MWC debuts but this time it's less about the brand spanking novelty and more about balanced and sensible upgrades. People tend to have second thoughts about sequels but this one here is signed by HTC and may as well be the director's cut of a blockbuster.
It is only recently that Windows Mobile fans are receiving the treatment they deserve after years of undeserved exile. The WinMo devices are no longer stigmatized as ugly bricks with awkward handling and HTC are one of the main agents of this change. The HTC Touch Diamond was one of the most complete devices and its stand-out styling earned it well deserved popularity.
HTC Touch Diamond2 official photos
We now welcome its successor, somewhat insipidly named HTC Touch Diamond2. Improving the functionality of the original Diamond, the Diamond2 comes with rather different design that is certain to raise some degree of discussion. But it's the performance that will make the difference between a mere Number 2 and a real gem.
Key features:
3.2" 65K-color WVGA display
Latest TouchFLO 3D
Qualcomm MSM7200A 528 Mhz CPU and 288 MB RAM
Dedicated graphics chip (64MB RAM reserved for graphics)
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
Wi-Fi and built-in GPS receiver
Stereo FM radio with RDS
5 MP auto focus camera with excellent image quality
microSD card slot
Touch-sensitive zoom bar
MS Office Mobile document editor
Opera 9.5 web browser
Standard miniUSB slot and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Teeter game
Great audio quality
YouTube client
Excellent video playback
Main disadvantages:
Fingerprint nightmare
Average sunlight legibility
Questionable build quality
No TV out port
No standard 3.5mm audio jack
No magnetic stylus
The HTC Touch Diamond2 outdoes its predecessor with a larger and higher-res screen, a vastly superior camera and more RAM. The TouchFLO 3D UI has also been improved and now covers the underlying Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional OS from tip to toe. Sounds like a decent update with a keen eye on the competition too, which is getting stiffer by the day.
HTC Touch Diamond2 views
While the original Diamond had only the Samsung i900 Omnia to tackle, the HTC Touch Diamond2 faces a tougher battle. With a few new arrivals on the touchscreen market (Symbian S60, Android and BlackBerry OS have all jumped in) the Diamond2 will need spotless performance to match its predecessor's success.
It is only recently that Windows Mobile fans are receiving the treatment they deserve after years of undeserved exile. The WinMo devices are no longer stigmatized as ugly bricks with awkward handling and HTC are one of the main agents of this change. The HTC Touch Diamond was one of the most complete devices and its stand-out styling earned it well deserved popularity.
HTC Touch Diamond2 official photos
We now welcome its successor, somewhat insipidly named HTC Touch Diamond2. Improving the functionality of the original Diamond, the Diamond2 comes with rather different design that is certain to raise some degree of discussion. But it's the performance that will make the difference between a mere Number 2 and a real gem.
Key features:
3.2" 65K-color WVGA display
Latest TouchFLO 3D
Qualcomm MSM7200A 528 Mhz CPU and 288 MB RAM
Dedicated graphics chip (64MB RAM reserved for graphics)
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
Wi-Fi and built-in GPS receiver
Stereo FM radio with RDS
5 MP auto focus camera with excellent image quality
microSD card slot
Touch-sensitive zoom bar
MS Office Mobile document editor
Opera 9.5 web browser
Standard miniUSB slot and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Teeter game
Great audio quality
YouTube client
Excellent video playback
Main disadvantages:
Fingerprint nightmare
Average sunlight legibility
Questionable build quality
No TV out port
No standard 3.5mm audio jack
No magnetic stylus
The HTC Touch Diamond2 outdoes its predecessor with a larger and higher-res screen, a vastly superior camera and more RAM. The TouchFLO 3D UI has also been improved and now covers the underlying Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional OS from tip to toe. Sounds like a decent update with a keen eye on the competition too, which is getting stiffer by the day.
HTC Touch Diamond2 views
While the original Diamond had only the Samsung i900 Omnia to tackle, the HTC Touch Diamond2 faces a tougher battle. With a few new arrivals on the touchscreen market (Symbian S60, Android and BlackBerry OS have all jumped in) the Diamond2 will need spotless performance to match its predecessor's success.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
