T-Mobile G1

The Android smartphone is here, but can it topple the competition?

ALTHOUGH IT SUFFERS from a few hardware flaws, the first smartphone to use Google's Android platform, the T-Mobile G1, outshines much of the competition thanks to a fun-yet-smart OS and a unique set of features. Aggressively priced at $179 (with a two-year contract), it merits the top spot among T-Mobile's high-end offerings. The G1 also showcases Android as a capable mobile platform.

Manufactured by HTC, the thick, 5.6-ounce G1 lacks style when compared to other new smartphones. That said, it does have a smooth finish with rounded corners. The big 3.2-inch display doubles as a touch screen, and it has a 320x480 resolution. Below the display is the G1's "chin," a part of the phone's front that juts out slightly, and that's where you'll find tactile navigation controls including a clickable trackball and dedicated Call, Home, Menu, Back, and End Call buttons.

Much of the phone's girth is due to the G1's sliding screen, which kicks out to reveal a full QWERTY keypad. The keys, which closely resemble the T-Mobile Sidekick's, are square-shaped and sufficiently spaced to prevent accidental spokes. The
keypad also has a backlight, which is great
for dark or low-light environments. Because the buttons are flush with the phone's surface, however, they're not always responsive. Furthermore, the G1's
chin makes it painfully awkward to type messages while holding the phone horizontally.

The phone has a loud mono speaker on the
back, along with a 3.2-megapixel camera. Video capture isn't supported, and the camera has no flash, which is a shame, considering its impressive resolution.

After a brief star tup, the G1 boots up to a clean, configurable home screen. The home screen is a three-page panorama. and you can flick between pages with a swipe of your finger, much like you do on Apple's iPhone 3G. By default, the center page features an analog clock with a preconfigured number of application shortcuts. Google Search is displayed on the right page, and the left page is intentionally left blank for adding other app shortcuts. Overall, the G1's interface is on par with the iPhone's and proved to be clean, fun, and very intuitive.

Android is based on an open platform, which means any software publisher can design programs for it, and this is where the G1 really shines.The Android Marketplace, Google's answer to Apple's App Store, houses numerous apps that take advantage of the GM features. Compare Everywhere, for instance,
takes advantage of the G1's camera by letting
you scan barcodes and comparison-shop on the
fly. Amazon.com also takes advantage of the phone's media capabilities and lets you download DRM-free songs directly from its MP3
Store.The G1 doesn't currently offer as many apps as the iPhone, but its initial offeting is nonetheless impressive.

As expected, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Calendar are tightly integrated with the G1's OS. The G1 remains synced with Google's Webbased services from the moment you power it on, requiring you to sign in with a new or existing Google account. Through cloud computing. Android eliminates the need to manually sync your phone directly with your PC. And as with all things Google, don't expect native support for Microsoft Exchange.

Although call quality on the Gl was superb, our 3G support was spotty throughout New York City and parts of New Jersey. Likewise, the G1's GPS signal wasn't always clear. Web browsing was relatively quick with the G1's
snappy Chrome-like browser. NYTimes.com, CNN.com, and our own ComputerShopper.com sites each loaded in just under 30 seconds via 3G. Besides 3G, the phone supports the slower EDGE network and faster Wi-Fi networks. Bluetooth also comes built in.

In out testing, the G1's battery lasted 12 hours and 30 minutes (with Wi-Fi off) in moderate 3G and Internet use. Using the G1's GPS for extensive periods drains the battery, but otherwise, battery life is stellar for sending/receiving calls, Internet use, and running applications.



Unfortunately, the Gl has some minor first-generation shortfalls. For instance, there's no 3.5mm headphone jack for use with most headphones on the market, and there's
no way to sync your contacts and calendar with your PC directly—you must rely on cloud computing. (MP3s and photos can be synced between the phone and a PC or Mac via drag-and-drop.) Despite the few complaints and first-generation glitches, however, Android is a promising platform that we're excited to see on other handsets in the future, and the Gl itself should be on top of every T-Mobilevcustomer's list.—Louis Ramirez

www.tmobile.com

Computer Shopper January 2009

Read More ..

HTC Touch Diamond

In general, Windows Mobile doesn't do a very good job at letting its control our smartphones with our fingers. Sure, we can use a stylus or even our fingernail, but for the most part, WM isn't designed to be controlled by the pads of our fingers. However, HTC changes this with TouchFLO 3D, which adds touch controls to WM's interface.

TouchFLO 3D lets you use flick gestures to scroll through lists. It also lets you zoom in and out of documents, pictures, and Web pages using clockwise and counterclockwise finger movements. The touchscreen and interface were very responsive to flicks with both the pad of my finger and my fingernail. Zooming on the scroll wheel was smooth and easy, as well. TouchFLO 3D brings a scrollable menu to the home screen that provides access to some of the most commonly
used applications: People,Messages, Mail, Photos and Videos, Internet, and Weather.

HTC includes the powerful Opera Web browser along with EVDO Rev. A and Wi-Fi 802 1 l big on the Touch Diamond. Overall, the Opera browser was easy to use, and I was pleased with its speed and rendering capabilities. In addition, Opera works well with the phone's Motion G-Sensor, so when you rotate the phone, the display changes orientation. The Touch Diamond also supports Sprint Music and
Sprint TV for portable entertainment.

The Touch Diamond lacks a standard headphone jack, which means you'll have to use the included USB headphones or the adapter dangle that has a 3.5mm headphone jack. the Touch Diamond omits a memory card expansion slot and instead provides 4GB of internal memory.
The Touch Diamond's glossy screen also tends to show smudges after use. These things aside, the Touch Diamond is a great phone with a lot of functionality and a fun user interface.

by Jennifer Johnson




Touch Diamond
$549.99
HTC & Sprint
www.sprint.com

Computer Power User January 2009

Read More ..

NOKIA N78

A Slim, So-So Smartphone

Nokia's diverse line of multimedia-focused smartphones is the midrange N78, a stylish, minimal phone with hidden talents. It forgoes all the extra controls but includes Assisted GPS (A-GPS) for fsater position locating, image geotagging, and a robust music player. It's also 3G and Wi-Fi capable.

At 4.5 by 1.9 by 0.6 inches (HWD) and 3.9 ounches the N78 features a slick, glossy-black face and a chocolate-brown back. The display is a standard-issue 2.4-inch, QVGA 240-by-320-pixel LCD, oriented vertically. There's also an ambient light sensor on board to adjust screen brightness. The keypad lights up whenever the phone is activated, but typing is difficult. There's no touch screen, QWERTY keypad, or SureType-style setup, but the N78 does include the navi wheel, a square version of an iPod's click wheel.

In testing, N78 turnet out to be solid voice phone, with calls sounding clear in both directions. Its speakerphone sounded well balanced but was loud enough only for indoor use. The N78 is an unlocked GSM phone that works with either AT&T or T-Mobile SIm cards; it's also the first U.S. model to include the Symbian Series 60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2. The N78 is great for playing music, but its 3.2-megapixel camera was a bit disappointing. Overall, this phone is a decent option. But at this price, you should also look at the $500 N82 with its far-better camera.-Jamie Lendino

PC Magazine November 2008

Read More ..

T-MOBILE SIDEKICK 2008

Customization over Quality?




The Sidekick 2008 is a fashion item and an expression of identify, not a geeky toy. Its choice of customizable, interchangeable skins is its best feature. The designs are panted directly onto the Sidekick's body, an effect that looks classier, feels smoother, and is much more durable than a sticker.

At 4.7 by 2.3 by 0.6 inches (HWD) and 53 ounces, this Sidekick is a slimmer version of the Sidekick LX. The 2008 version retains the signatures swiveling screen, now a bright 240-by-400-pixel color panel. The trackball, on the right, pulses in multiple colors, and the backlit keyboard is an absolute joy, with firm, nicely spaced keys.

The Sidekick is a terrifict gadget for texting, picture messaging, and IM. The IM client supports AIM, Microsoft Live, and Yahoo! Messenger. E-mail performance is a mixed bag. The Sidekick does push messages from its own TMail account and can check up to three accounts, but it stores only a paltry 6MB of e-mail and 100 text messages. Web browsing is mediocre, but the elegant music player supports a good selection of formats. The photos from its 2-megapixel camera were lackluster, and video was shaky.

As a quad-band EDGE world phone, the Sidekick 2008 has decent all quality, but reception was so-so. If you're set on Sidekick, this is the one to get. But consider whether presonalized skins make up for the tiny mailboxes.-Sascha Segan

PC Magazine November 2008

Read More ..

Samsung Instinct SPH-M800

Samsung Instinct SPH-M800
Ever since the first-generation iPhone came out just over a year ago, it has been generating quite the buzz in the cell phone industry. In response, many cell phone manufacturers and features in hopes of competing with Apple's popular multimedua phone. One such phone is the Samsung Instinct, which is available exclusively through Sprint.
The Samsung Instinct incorporates some of the cool touch functions reminicent of the iPhone's controls, including finger scrolling and sliding buttons. In addition, the phone has haptic feedback, which means the phone vibrates when you press a button or tap on icon on screen with either your fingernail or the pad of your finger. This is nice-the soft buttons feel more like hardware buttons.
You'll also find a full HTML Web browser on the phone. When opened, the Web browser will change the phone's display orientation to landscape. Various views and controls within the browser make it very usable. For example, you can zoom in and out of a page or view a n overbiew of the page. You can also toggle between a standard view and mobile view for a single-column rendition of the page.
Call quality on the Instinct was good, even when using a Bluetooth car kit. The Instinct also incorporates its own version of visual voicemail, making it easy to see and check messages. For data access, the Instinct supports EVDO Rev. A speeds where available.
Unlike the high price of iPhone, the price of the Instinct drops to a mere $129.99 with a contract and other discounts. To take advantage of all the phone's features, you'll need a Simply Everything plan, which starts at $69.99 for 450 anytime minutes, unlimited mobile Internet, messaging, and more.
Which is better? The iPhone or the Instinct? At the end of the day, it really comes down to personal preference, choice of network, and budget. Bottom line: Unless you're an Apple freak, the Instinct is definitely worth a look.
by Jennifer Johnson

Specs: 4.6 x 2.2 x 0.5 inches (HxWxD); 4.5 ounches; up to 5.75 hours talk time; GPS navigation; 2MP camera with video; Bluetooth; 2GB microSD memory card included; two standard lithium-ion batteries; 3.5mm stereo headset jack; personal organizer.

www.samsung.com

Read More ..

Apple iPhone 3G

Apple iPhone 3G
Improved cell phone features faster Web browsing, built-in GPS

THE FIRST APPLE IPHONE revolutionized the cell phone industry when it was released lsat year, forcing manufacturers to design handsets that imitate its look and, more importantly, its feel (including its touch-screen interface).
With its follow-up, Apple has reduced the price of the phone (ghough its exclusive carried AT&T has raised its rates for the device) as well as addressed the iPhone's biggest limitation:its use of AT&T slow EDGE wireless network. As its name suggests, the iPhone 3G has rectified this problem, letting users surf the Internet with AT&T's much fsater 3G network.
Apple has also addressed a few other compaints about the first-generation iPhone, including poor call quality. It may still not be the loudest phone on the market, but the 3G is now certainly usable for everyday calling. The new phone also supports built-in GPS, which lets the included Google Maps app show you real time traffic conditions and allow you to track your progress when you're following directions. One feature you won't currently find, however, is turn-by-turn voice directions.
The 3G now supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSynch, which allows the phone to securely send and receive Microsoft Outlook mail, create calendar entries in Outlook, and add contacts to your Outlook address book, automatically syncing with your desktop version of Outlook. In order to use these features, you'll need to have an enterprise rate plan, and your company's IT department will also need to support the iPhone 3G.
Another great new feature is the iTunes App Store, where you can download third-party programs (some free, some not) to extend your iPhone's functionality. Owners of the original iPhone and iPod Touch can also use these programs. At press time, these apps could not run in the background, though Apple has promised to rectify this probels with an upgrade in September.
For all the new and improved features the iPhone 3G offers, the device still has some niggling oversights. The camera remains a crippled 2-megapixel unit without zoom or video-recording capabilities. The phone still can't send Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) messages, and Adobe's Flash is still not supported while you're browsing the Web.
WIth its lower price, 3G suport, and other improvements, however, the iPhone 3G should thrill most users with that it offers-and what it can provide down the line as developers roll out more apps that tap into its full potentials-Sean Portney
source: Computer Shopper September 2008

www.apple.com

Read More ..