mobile reviews,news,updates about mobile phones

2010-04-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

How to Upgrade or Update iPod Touch to OS 3.0 Firmware For Free

1.Download and install iTunes 8.2 or higher version.

2.Download iPod Touch 2G OS firmware 3.0 Apple Device Software Update IPSW file, iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw or iPod Touch 1G OS firmware 3.0 Apple Device Software Update IPSW file, iPod1,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw via the iPhone OS 3.0 software update direct download links.
Note: If the downloaded file is in ZIP format (iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.zip) , then rename the extension from .zip to .ipsw. If the file name is been appended with .zip extension, such as iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw.zip, just remove the .zip off the filename.

If you encounter “an error occurred while processing your request” error message when attempting to download iPod Touch firmware, download the IPSW files from here (for 1st generation iPod Touch) or here (for 2nd generation iPod Touch).

3.Plug in and connect the iPod Touch to computer.

4.Run iTunes 8.2 or higher.

5.Select the iPod Touch from Devices list.

6.Optional but recommended, take a backup of the iPod in case of accidental file lost.

7.Now there are two ways to update iPod Touch. For user who want to clean and fresh upgrade the iPod Touch, without retaining any existing songs, musics, videos, movies, apps and other media or data files on iPod Touch (mean you will be losing all files stored on iPod Touch), follows these steps:

1.In Windows environment, press and hold Shift key and left click Restore.
In Mac OS X system, press and hold Option key and left click Restore.

For user who want to retain and save everything that has been uploaded and stored on iPod Touch or ensure that the media is untouched (not losing any files), follow these steps instead:

1.On the iTunes main screen, there should be 2 options: “Check for update” and “Restore”. Click on Check for update.

2.A web page showing the iPod Touch OS firmware 3.0 features and offering option to buy for $9.99 will be loaded and shown. Click on Cancel.

3.iTunes will return to the previous iPod Touch main page. However, the “Check for update” option has now been change to “Update.

4.In Windows environment, press and hold Shift key and left click Update.
In Mac OS X system, press and hold Option key and left click Update.

8.Locate and select iPod Touch OS 3.0 Apple Device Software Update IPSW file downloaded in step above.

9.The update process will start. iPod may reboot a few times. Do not disconnect iPod Touch until iTunes has completed updating iPod Touch.

10.Once upgrading is done, the iPod Touch will be on OS firmware 3.0, for free without any cent been paid.

11.Optionally, if you have choose to restore iPod Tunes to firmware OS software 3.0 at factory default, iTunes will offer option to either create a new iPod or restore it from backup. For user already created a backup of iPod, just restore the date files to upgraded iPod Touch.
Note: If there is an error when iTunes attempts to recognize iPod Touch, just unplug and plug the iPod back in again.

Nokia 6760 slide review: Compact messaging

2010-03-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

Introduction

One of a kind would be a massive overstatement but there's something about the Nokia 6760 slide that's clearly against the usual run of things. Full QWERTY keyboards are an increasingly common sight on Symbian smartphones so this can't be it. However, the Nokia 6760 slide is a generic messenger - noting to do with Nseries, Eseries or even XpressMusic.

Secondly, the 6760 slide was first seen and used in the US as Nokia Surge. It usually takes quite a while for Nokia handsets to cross the pond and that makes the 6760 / Surge concept interesting enough. Whether it was custom made for AT&T and then given a go at home is irrelevant. Nokia now have a smart messenger ready to roll in the lower midrange.

Official photos of Nokia 6760 slide

The new 6760 slide (we'll use its European name from now on) is ultra compact and the full-QWERTY keyboard is backed by no numpad on top. The Internet and Messaging shortcuts up front are quite handy though and make perfect sense in both portrait and landscape hand hold. The neat messenger is trying to balance features, looks and ergonomics to offer all-round experience within budget. The absence of Wi-Fi support is a letdown, but the rest of the features are from the top drawer.

Key features

Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA
2.4" 16M-color TFT display of 320 x 240 pixel resolution
Full QWERTY keyboard
Very compact, friendly weight and shape
Fast and responsive interface
Built-in accelerometer, UI auto-rotate, turn-to-mute
3 megapixel fixed focus camera, QVGA video recording @ 15fps
Symbian 9.3, S60 FP2
GPS with A-GPS support
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, microUSB
microSD card slot with microSDHC support
Stereo FM Radio with RDS
Balanced audio output quality
Large capacity Li-Ion 1500 mAh (BP-4L) battery

Main disadvantages

Clattering slide hinge, loose battery cover
No Wi-Fi
No alphanumeric keypad: impossible to dial with the keyboard closed
Basic fixed focus camera, no extra features (not even geotagging)
No USB charging
No smart dial (3rd party solutions are available)

The Symbian-driven Nokia 6760 slide has a responsive and fast user interface and offers various social networking integration. The good web browser and robust messaging should be welcomed by users with a solid data plan.

We called it a generic messenger and there's nothing really impressive about the idea behind this device - unless you've never seen or heard of E75 or 5730 XpressMusic. Not to mention the N97 mini.

Still, an ultra compact Symbian smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard seems to make sense. The 6760 slide certainly misses on some features but it does well to position itself as a typical carrier's handset. Fast data, solid messaging and friendly size will perhaps convince enough users they can live without WLAN. Plus, the 6760 slide styling seems to be trying to find middle ground between the too executive Eseries and too juvenile XpressMusic.

Nokia 6760 slide live shots

We called it ultra compact too and we mean it. It's hard to believe the 6760 slide is a Symbian smartphone to begin with. A formidable PocketPC like the Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO makes it look almost toy-like.

Friendly size is one of the Nokia 6760 slide key assets

If you find yourself interested in the new kid on the block, go ahead and take our guided tour of the Nokia 6760 slide. Symbian has little to no surprises perhaps but let's see how this little messenger handles and what it can do for you.

Nokia N97 mini review: Less is more

2010-03-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

Introduction

The Nokia army of touchscreen smartphones gets larger by the hour and the Nokia N97 mini is surely one of the most interesting new recruits. The Finnish company has obviously reconsidered its priories and now focuses on optimization, rather than expansion with its flagships.

Nokia N97 mini official photos

The original Nokia N97 was the first sign of that as it hardly offered any ground-breaking features, instead relaying on the good all-round performance. However the first high-end S60 touchscreen handset left enough room for another similar handset in the portfolio and Nokia feel that its downsized version is enough to fill the gap.

Key features

Slide-n-tilt 3.2" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of 640 x 360 pixel resolution
5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash and VGA@30fps video recording
Symbian OS 9.4 with S60 5th edition UI with kinetic scrolling
Slide-out three-row full QWERTY keyboard
ARM 11 434MHz CPU and 128 MB of RAM
Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G with 3.6Mbps HSDPA support
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
Digital compass
8GB onboard storage
microSD card slot with microSDHC support
Built-in accelerometer
3.5 mm audio jack and TV-out
Stereo FM Radio with RDS
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
Web browser has full Flash and Java support
Nice audio reproduction quality
Office document viewer

Main disadvantages

The S60 touch UI is still inconsistent
Outdated camera interface and features
No DivX or XviD video support out-of-the-box
No smart dialing
No office document editing (without a paid upgrade)
No camera lens protection
No FM transmitter (though that may be stretching it too far)

Nokia N97 mini vs Nokia N97

More compact (113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm, 75 cc vs 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm, 88 cc)
Lighter (138g vs 150g)
Smaller display (3.2" vs 3.5")
Less internal memory (8GB vs 32GB)
Smaller battery (1200 mAh vs 1500 mAh)
No lens cover
No FM transmitter
Arrow keys vs D-pad

The N97 mini has quite a task on its hands, constantly being compared to the moe high ranking Nokia N97 even though it comes later to the market. As usually happens in such cases, the price difference that would have been present if both handsets were launched simultaneously is reduced and the balance of powers has shifted.

Nokia N97 mini at ours

Still the reduced display (and mostly body size) is a welcome change for many users, who used to find the Nokia N97 intolerably bulky. We certainly hope it's got a few tricks up its sleeves so it can put up the original N97 a good fight and differentiate enough beyond size and pricing. Well, we're about to check that and much more in one of our trademark reviews, starting with the unboxing on the next page.

Nokia N900 preview: First look

2010-03-03T16:55:00.002-08:00

Introduction

Usually when Nokia makes an Nseries announcement the geek world trembles with excitement, expecting to see the next master of the multimedia realm. Nokia N900 didn't make any exception to this rule though it was pitched for its web browsing prowess more than anything else (at least multimedia-wise).

Nokia N900 official photos

Or at least so it seemed in the beginning, before anyone actually knew how far Nokia has gone with the user experience on the Maemo 5 platform. Soon after it was first demoed, the N900 was quickly deemed a serious peril to most smartphones out there. It even went as far as threatening Nokia's own Symbian platform.

The Nokia N900 has been so universally positive up so far that it easily turned up high on the wishlist of the tech-inclined. Expectations quickly rose quite high matching its top place in the company portfolio lineup.

Now we've got one and while we're working on a full-featured review as we usually do, we decided to post this quick preview covering Nokia N900 key features. And speaking of those, here's a brief recap of what's under its hood.

Nokia N900 at a glance

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/1700/2100 MHz, HSDPA 10 Mbps, HSUPA 2Mbps
Form factor: Full touch device with a side-sliding hardware QWERTY keyboard
Dimensions: 110.9 x 59.8 x 18 mm, 113 cc; 181 g
Display: 3.5" 16M-color TFT resistive touchscreen, 800 x 480 pixels WVGA
CPU: ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz, PowerVR SGX graphics
OS: Maemo 5
Memory: 32 GB storage, 256 MB RAM, microSD card slot
Camera: 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with dual-LED flash; WVGA(848 x 480)@25fps video recording
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB v2.0 with microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio, FM transmitter, Infrared port
Battery: 1,320 mAh Li-Ion battery
Misc: Built-in accelerometer and ambient light sensors, proximity sensor, IR output port for remote control
Software: Ovi Maps (voice-guided navigation purchased separately), Mozilla-based browser with Adobe Flash 9.4 support, Facebook and Twitter integration

The chubby Nokia N900 certainly isn't a handset to answer mainstream tastes but then again all those features rarely come in much smaller packages. The geeks know that and are willing to live with it if the performance is worth it. So now that we have a final version of the handsets on our hands we can check that out.

All rise or the honorable Nokia N900

We are giving you a short preview now, to keep you warm until we are done with the full-fledged review. We will try to cover all aspects of the devices performance there but feel free to drop us a line in the comments if there's anything specific you want to know about it. We aren't making any promises, but will do our best to provide the answers to all questions.

So cutting to the chase we begin examining the Nokia N900 ergonomics on the next page.

Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO review: Pro toolbox

2010-03-03T16:55:00.001-08:00

Introduction

Now that we have the B7610 OmniaPRO running on the much-awaited Windows Mobile 6.5, we're finally up to speed. Omnia smartphones have a pretty wide reach already and they are known for their WinMo customizations and feature-rich specs sheets. The B7610 OmniaPRO however was the first family member to sport a full hardware keyboard and by the looks of it, Samsung have done a great job.

Side-sliding or not, the B7610 OmniaPRO is definitely a capable device in both hardware and software equipment. The QWERTY keyboard however is a convenience tool usually reserved for the competition's high-end offerings, so you can bet the OmniaPRO will have to tackle some really capable contenders. But you can easily tell, it a tough nut to crack as well.

Samsung B7610 Omnia Pro official photos

Key features:

Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA
3.5" 16M-color (65K effective) AMOLED display of 800 x 480 pixel resolution
Work & Life mode switch key
Full side sliding QWERTY keyboard
800 MHz processor with dedicated graphics accelerator
5 megapixel auto-focus camera with dual-LED flash and D1 video recording at 30 fps
Windows Mobile 6.5 fully skinned with TouchWiz UI
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, standard microUSB port
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
2GB built-in storage, 256 MB RAM, microSD (up to 32GB), 8GB card included
Wi-Fi with DLNA
GPS receiver with A-GPS
Built-in accelerometer for UI auto-rotate and turn-to-mute
TV out functionality
Nice audio output quality
Large capacity Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery

Main disadvantages:

Bulky and heavy
65K color limitation of display has color gradients banding
Poor sunlight legibility
Comes with OmniaLITE-grade HSDPA speed, and no HSUPA support
microSD card slot under the battery cover
The display and back pannel are finger print magnets
Performance under WinMo 6.5 not a good as it was under 6.1
No preinstalled SatNav software
No voice dialing
No web Flash support
No stereo speakers

Samung B7610 OmniaPRO at ours

Who is the OmniaPRO is a multiple choice question. And there is more than one correct answer. The original Omnia has produced such an offspring choosing names became a problem. They even had to name one of the kids after the uncle. If you've been keeping track, you'd know the OmniaPRO has an Armani-branded alter-ego - the B7620. But well, Giorgio was lucky. The B7610 OmniaPRO less so.

Now, there's nothing wrong with the name except that there are another couple of Pros in the family. And perhaps too many of them in other houses.

We've never had a doubt about the quality of the Omnia genes but such a strong and versatile lineup perhaps exceeds the most optimistic scenarios. Samsung are obviously not only trying to update their portfolio but confront their key market rivals by matching competing devices spec for spec.

The B7610 OmniaPRO will be engaging the enemy on the high end of the performance and pricing scale. And that's where even the smallest details count. The B7610 doesn't have a unique defining feature like the Omnia HD to give it an edge against some unforgiving rivals. So, it will have to squeeze every bit of performance out of its system. It can count though on Samsung's solid record in multimedia and interface customization.

Speaking of which, the custom-made TouchWiz looks and feels better than ever. So much that it's worth the spoiler. And the mode switch for toggling Work and Leisure is keen to make a point that this here Pro knows good fun too.

So, the B7610 OmniaPRO will be trying to make its mark. And so will be Windows Mobile yet again. Because the OmniaPRO is certainly not running against PocketPCs only - the competition's finest will stand on its way. That's Symbian, and Android, and Maemo.

Nokia N900 review: A new hope

2010-03-03T16:54:00.001-08:00

Introduction

It's crystal clear by now that the Nokia N900 has almost nothing to do with the traditional Nseries values. The full QWERTY side-slider may look similar to its double-digit mates but the Maemo experience is completely different. However, the N900 is not there for the mere sake of difference - a tablet and a phone, it tries to get the best of both worlds. These are worlds though where Nokia feels at home.

Nokia N900 official photos

The internet tablet genes are strong in the Nokia N900 so connectivity and web-browsing are its greatest virtues. The large high-res display and great typing skills are the right kind of backup but we've seen plenty of similar packages already. We told you though - the N900 is different. It's a Maemo-powered phone with Mozilla browsing and all-you-can-eat connectivity. Call it good news, call it a good start or just call it good. Let's see if it calls back.

Key features

3.5" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) resolution
Maemo 5 OS
State-of-the-art Mozilla-based web browser with Adobe Flash 9.4 support
Slide-out three-row full QWERTY keyboard
ARM Cortex A8 600MHz CPU, PowerVR SGX graphics accelerator; 256 MB of RAM
Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G support
5 MP autofocus camera with dual-LED flash and active camera lens cover
WVGA (848 x 480 pixels) video recording @ 24fps
10 Mbps HSDPA and 2 Mbps HSUPA support
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
32GB onboard storage
DivX and XviD video playback
Foldable kickstand
microSD card slot with microSDHC support
Built-in accelerometer
Proximity sensor
3.5 mm audio jack and TV-out
FM Radio receiver, FM transmitter
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
Solid audio quality
Kinetic scrolling
Contacts integration of Skype, Google Talk and other VoIP services
Great build quality

Main disadvantages

Large and heavy
UI only works in landscape mode (for now)
No smart and voice dialing
Outdated camera interface and features
No preinstalled voice-guided SatNav application
No voice recorder, no MMS, and no handwriting recognition
No FM radio application (despite that the hardware's there)
Limited third-party software availabilty
Limited 3G support in the US (no AT&T)

In our preview we saw the Nokia N900 as a lean and mean browsing machine. This price range though has little to no room for one-trick ponies. The chubby phone/tablet will have to play its best and that's where Nseries come in. Of course, the Maemo has still to catch up with Symbian in terms of system expandability but the N900 is an Nseries handset and all-round service is implied.

Nokia N900 studio shots

One thing to definitely note about the Nokia N900 is the 16M-color WVGA screen, which is virtually unmatched by other smartphones - platform limitations are hard to get around. There is of course the Vodafone 360 H1 produced by Samsung and running LiMo but it's very much a niche device. Now add the QWERTY keyboard, which turned out pretty comfortable despite the three-row layout, and things are starting to get there.

So, it's time we checked what the Nokia N900 can do for you and where it can possibly fail. A new OS (new to phones anyway) should be able to at least come close to the current crop of smartphone platforms and show a high enough development potential. For what we saw in our preview, the Maemo and the N900 may as well be even more ambitious. But if you take nothing for granted you've come to the right place. Join us on the next page as we power up the N900 and the review unfolds.

Nokia E72 review: The business of messaging

2010-03-03T16:53:00.000-08:00

Introduction

Nokia E72 is one of those handsets everybody is talking about long before their release. There may be nothing much to talk about - after all everyone knows what to expect of the Eseries and they have never let us down. But still, savoring the next batch of Eseries steel is always a pleasure.

The Finns keep feeding business ammo to the market and there's nothing out of the usual at first sight. We already tasted the new Eseries generation and the E52 and E55 were the usual good healthy meals. The E72 though needs to be nothing short of delicious.

Nokia E72 official photos

There's no need to tell you the Nokia E72 walks and talks business. The big one though has greater responsibility to carry. We guess the E72 will not fear being judged against the best messengers in its class. But it will certainly look back to a haunting shadow within its own family. The Nokia E72 can certainly go where the E71 would not venture. But it's not only the equipment (of which the E72 has aplenty) that makes a winner.

Key features:

Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 10.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
Landscape 2.36" 16M-color display of QVGA resolution
Comfortable full QWERTY keypad
Optical trackpad on the D-pad
Symbian 9.3 OS, S60 UI with FP2
600 MHz ARM 11 CPU and 128 MB of SDRAM
5 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology, DLNA support
Built-in GPS receiver, A-GPS support, digital compass
Accelerometer for turn-to-mute
250 MB of internal memory, microSD expansion, ships with a 4GB card
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP support and microUSB v2.0
FM radio with RDS
Remote Wipe
Great battery life
Office document editor (including MS Office 2007)
User-friendly Mode Switch for swapping two homescreen setups
Smart dialing
Full Flash support
Great audio output quality
Lifetime Nokia Messaging subscription

Main disadvantages:

Optical trackpad is not as handy as we'd like
Limited camera features, no geotagging, video recording maxes out at VGA@15fps
No DivX or XviD support (can be enabled, possibly requiring a purchase)
No TV-out functionality
No dedicated camera key (trackpad compensates for that)
Poor loudspeaker performance

Eseries are always trying to get more skills on their resume. But the one that's supposed to be the next big thing in its class is really pushing it. Nokia didn't have to try and experiment with the E72. Build muscle on the E71 was their main objective. And by the looks of it they did more than well. The E72 promises richer experience and superior skill. But it will still be expected to deliver more than the sum of its parts if it wants to prove anything to the standard-setting E71.

Nokia E72 in our office

The Eseries spirit is all there - and we guess in-house competition is always in the picture. The E72 is bold and impressive, but manages to keep its cool too, as befits a conservative business handset. Armed and dangerous or polite and elaborate - the E72 will be whatever you want it to be. So, make up your mind, and take the jump. We're unboxing and feeling the cold Eseries steel in our hands.

Samsung S7070 Diva preview: First look

2010-03-03T16:52:00.000-08:00

Introduction

The Samsung S7070 Diva is a style-conscious phone with a fairly standard front but with a very distinct 3D quilted pattern shape on the back panel. It marks the start of a new product family of female oriented style-driven phones in Samsung portfolio. The signature back pattern is complemented by the diamond back key dead center below the display.

The phone has been obviously designed with young women in mind and offers Facebook and MySpace integration and other social network applications. Other features such as the stereo FM radio and a 3 MP fixed-focus camera with smile shot and up to ISO 800 sensitivity will keep active young people entertained all day long.

Samsung S7070 Diva official photos

Samsung S7070 Diva at a glance

General: GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12
Form factor: Touchscreen bar, no keypad
Dimensions: 101.0 x 54.8 x 13.4 mm, 94 g
Display: 2.8-inch resistive TFT touchscreen, QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels)
Platform: Latest TouchWiz UI
Memory: 40MB, Non-hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 8GB)
Camera: 3 megapixel fixed focus camera with Smile shot, face detection, blink detection, Beauty Effect and Lomo Effect
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB v.2.0
Misc: Accelerometer sensor for turn to mute, FM radio with RDS and broadcast recording, DNSe sound effect, Gesture lock, Pop-up SNS for Facebook, MySpace and Twitter integration, Wish list
Battery: 960 mAh battery

The Samsung S7070 is certainly not your ordinary handset. The pearly white paint job and the 3D quilted back are two things that do a lot to set it apart - not to mention the gem-inspired Back key below the screen. It's certainly a treat for the ladies - an attempt to liven up things in the lower range of the touchscreen market.

Samsung S7070 Diva all over

Now we did have a sneak peek of the Samsung S7070 some 10 days ago before it was even announced but now that Samsung officially unveiled it, it's time for a proper introduction. Join us on the next page for a full body inspection of this sizzling hot babe.

LG BL20 New Chocolate review: Bittersweet Noir

2010-03-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Introduction

The Chocolate revival is no news and the LG BL20 New Chocolate is not a headliner in the sense of the unique and inspired BL40. But we're still about to have another sugar-coated meeting with an extraordinary handset, fresh off the LG design board.

The BL20 New Chocolate may not have the splendor of the BL40 but is definitely the spiritual successor to the original Chocolate series. Sequels are all over the place but the Chocolate series are somewhat different. LG have been so involved in touchscreen we're just realizing it's been more than a year since we last reviewed a regular phone of theirs. Anyway, the Chocolate series are back and we're about to see if the good old-fashioned recipe still works.

Official photos

The latest BL20 Chocolate comes with a lively screen and handy touchpad navigation to add to the sliding keypad, meaning it nods to both traditional design and the new trend towards touch functionality. Other improvements include a better camera and fast 3G connectivity. But first and foremost it's a fashion phone, so this here Chocolate is about the icing, not the filling.

Key features:

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support, dual-band UMTS with 3.6 Mbps HSDPA
2.4" 262K-color QVGA display
Touch-sensitive navigation pad
5 megapixel autofocus camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics, AF-assist light and LED flash
Standard microUSB port
Bluetooth (with A2DP)
Hot-swap microSD card slot (up to 16 GB)
Stealthy touchpad and classic chocolate looks
FM radio
Comfortable keypad

Main disadvantages:

Way too tall and big for its fashionable status
No accelerometer (hence no auto screen rotation)
Volume rocker and camera key have absolutely no press feedback
Piano black surface is a fingerprint nightmare
Memory card slot under the battery cover
Poor video recording
Slow scrolling in the image gallery
No document viewer
No sign of any social networking integration

OK, we may have a wee bit longer list of disadvantages here, but that's just because LG have spoiled us lately. They've been churning out better equipped handsets for quite some time and we didn't quite expect that minimalistic approach to a their latest fashionable handset. But then again, the BL20 is not an expensive all-in-one so in a sense, you get what you pay for.

If fashion and the wow factor are your key buying considerations, the extra features are not the most important thing perhaps. It's the unique design, looks and colors that will have people looking at your hands when you are on the phone.

LG BL20 New Chocolate live shots

Let's not waste any more time and get on with seeing how sweet the new Chocolate is. Follow us on to the next page and you're welcome to share the first bite.

Nokia 5230 review: Foot soldiers get smarter

2010-03-03T16:50:00.000-08:00

Introduction

When touchscreen handsets start to take over the lower segments of the market you know the rules of the game have changed. The Nokia 5230 is a smartphone but it doesn’t mind rubbing shoulders with the common run of handsets. So, it’s free to explore grounds where few smartphones have ever gone, let alone full touchscreen gadgets.

Nokia 5230 official photos

The land of affordability was the last territory for touchscreen phones to settle in and not quite the place smartphones would call home. So it was, but Nokia just won’t wait for a special invitation when a niche is wide open. And they’ve got quite a fleet already of low key touchscreen smartphones that’s certain to make an impact. The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic had a great bang for the buck and the 5230 is welcome to try and beat the bargain.

Cheap is nice but free is even better – and we guess the 5230 will be available both ways through retail stores and carriers. But let’s see what it has and what’s been left out.

Key features:

3.2" 16M-color TFT LCD 16:9 touchscreen display (360 x 640 pixels)
Symbian S60 5th edition
ARM 11 434 MHz CPU, 128MB RAM memory
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 3.6Mbps support
Built-in GPS receiver with A-GPS support; Ovi maps
2 megapixel fixed focus camera with and VGA@30fps video
microSD card memory expansion
FM radio with RDS
Bluetooth with A2DP and USB v2.0
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Accelerometer sensor for automatic UI rotation, motion-based gaming and turn-to-mute
Ovi integration (direct image and video uploads, Ovi Contacts)
Landscape on-screen virtual QWERTY keyboard
Excellent audio quality
Price tag on the cheap side
Changeable color battery covers (two extra ones available in-box)
Plectrum dongle available in the retail package

Main disadvantages:

No Wi-Fi support
Display has poor sunlight legibility
Default font size is a bit small due to the smallish but high-res screen
3rd party software is still somewhat limited
Extremely limited camera
Doesn't charge off its microUSB port
No smart dialing
No DivX/XviD video support out of the box
No TV-out functionality
No data-cable or memory card in retail package
No office document viewer
Below par speaker volume

It’s pretty obvious where Nokia are heading with the 5230. In this price range it is impossible to give users every available feature, so the Finns are at least giving them a choice.

There is Nokia 5230, 5530 XpressMusic,and that basically means you can choose between Wi-Fi and 3G with GPS. You can have them all in a single device too, but for a price premium (5800 XpressMusic). Custom made phones to completely match one’s taste and needs are not yet an option. You don’t get to choose the level of equipment like you would when buying a car. So, until that becomes available – if ever – we cannot see a better dealing with the problem than Nokia’s approach.

Nokia 5230 at ours

The R&D costs to release three similar models are probably low enough and there may be plenty of users to find the given choice absolutely adequate. What’s left to see is if there are any differences in performance or is it just the level of equipment that sets those three handsets apart.

The review begins on the next page, and all of you bargain-hunters are welcome to unboxing and hardware check up.

Samsung S5560 preview: First look

2010-03-03T16:49:00.000-08:00

Ah, the futuristic appeal of touchscreens - consumers can't get enough of them. Enter the Samsung S5560. With a 5MP camera and Wi-Fi, it's two widgets ahead of the competition. The rest mostly follows the recipe for success from the S5230 Star cookbook, with a few tweaks to bring it up to speed.

Samsung S5560 official photos

The Samsung S5560 lacks 3G connectivity but comes with Wi-Fi connectivity. It's hardly the solution that most carriers opt for (and carriers ARE the biggest cellphone contractors), but we guess Samsung have gone for pleasing the end client this time. In an effort to keep the price down, trading 3G for Wi-Fi is a compromise many users would make.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, check out the rundown of the Samsung S5560 features:

Samsung S5560 (a.k.a Marvel) at a glance:

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Form factor: Touchscreen bar
Dimensions: 107.5 x 52 x 13.2 mm, 95g
Display: 3.0 inch WQVGA TFT resistive touchscreen, 240 x 400 pixels
Platform: Latest TouchWiz 2.0 UI, Smart Unlock
Memory: 78MB integrated memory, hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash, image stabilization, WDR, face detection, Smile Shot, blink detection and QVGA video recording at 15 fps
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, 3.5mm audio jack
Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate and turn-to-mute, FM radio with RDS
Battery: 960 mAh battery

Samsung S5560 in our office

This phone is clearly a Samsung Jet wannabe - the styling, the camera, the Wi-Fi connectivity all make it a cheaper alternative to the Jet. Sure, tradeoffs have been made for the sake of a lower price, but if you've never owned a touch phone before, the S5560 makes a great introduction.

The timer on non-touch operated phones seems to be running down - touch phones seem to get the best features and the most hype. This makes it harder and harder to say no, especially now that their price is no longer prohibitive.

On the next page we do our Sherlock Holmes impersonation and take a close look at the exterior of the Samsung S5560.

Palm Pre review: A pebble in your hand

2010-03-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

Introduction

It's not like we didn't tell you. And hey, it's not like we're on time either. But we guess better late than sorry goes both ways. Once a popular (mostly stateside) PDA and smartphone maker, Palm were going full blast from safe to sorry. So, did they try to put the brakes? Negative. They hit the U turn.

Many must've doubted Palm ever getting out of the twilight of their dwindling smartphone line. But we're not gonna give you all that crap about second chances. It won't be fair to the Palm Pre. It couldn't have been bleaker for the company but the Palm Pre is not the kind to walk around a with "Will work for food" sign on its neck. No sir. It's looking to elbow its way through a crowd of apples, androids and PocketPCs.

Palm Pre official photos

Are we talking the mother of all comebacks here? We honestly don't know. But it looks like a debut of the same magnitude as the iPhone OS, Android and Maemo. The Palm Pre seems to have all the things that made the iPhone so special: multi-touch display, an Application Store, fluid and creative UI and a good web browser. But Palm didn't stop there - the webOS is all about multitasking - to an extent that gives quite a point to those who wouldn't call the iPhone a proper smartphone.

The webOS and all the touchscreen gadgetry will sure keep us busy enough. It's the interface and the handling that will earn the Palm Pre its deserved share of admirers. But before we power up this multitasking monster and start navigating its new and unique system, let's look at the package itself.

Key features:

3.1" 16M-color TFT display of 320 x 480 pixel resolution and excellent sunlight legibility
3 megapixel fixed focus camera, LED flash
Quad-band GSM support
Tri-band UMTS support with HSDPA
ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz, PowerVR SGX graphics chip
256 MB RAM
Sliding-out full QWERTY keyboard
Palm webOS is an innovative multi-touch user interface, heavy on multitasking
Touch-enabled Gesture Area
Built-in GPS receiver
Wi-Fi
8 GB of onboard storage
Accelerometer, proximity sensor
3.5 mm audio jack
Bluetooth with A2DP support
Application Store for direct apps download and installation
Office document viewer

Main disadvantages:

No video calls over the 3G network
No memory card slot
Glossy plastics look cheap, love fingerprints
Camera has no auto focus… nor any settings at all, disappointing image quality
No video recording unless hacked
Web browser lacks Flash support, but it's on its way
No DivX/XviD video playback support
No Bluetooth file transfers
App Catalog available in a limited number of countries
Small and fiddly QWERTY keyboard keys
No onscreen keyboard, portrait typing only
No smart dialing

The specs ring the iPhone bell and you may think the Pre is just another copycat - you'll be wrong. The Palm Pre is pushing a brand new OS and doesn't keep a stiff upper lip like some other smartphones - that goes to you Symbian and WinMo.

Palm Pre in our hands

But so much for the resemblance to iPhone. It's a completely different form factor, there are some novel navigation solutions and there's a QWERTY keyboard and multi-tasking. The Palm Pre is a fresh and exciting addition to the world of smartphones.

The webOS may have learned a lot from the iPhone OS, but it certainly is trying to do things its own way. The Pre is obviously limited much like the first iPhone and earliest Android handsets.

It's not the list of do's and don'ts that makes this phone though. It's not the capacitive, multi-touch-enabled touchscreen, it's not the QWERTY keyboard. The Pre hopes to be a symbol of a company's rebirth and promises an exciting time for touchscreen. And it's got a darn good reason to be hopeful: the webOS.

We'll get there but let's take this one step at a time. The Palm Pre gets unboxed, handled and described right after the jump.

BlackBerry Curve 8520 review: BlackBerry Lite

2010-03-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

Introduction

With the Bold almost reaching perfection in the BlackBerry arts, new horizons need to be explored to keep the spark alive. The tall task to pioneer new territories (in BlackBerry terms anyway) falls on to the Curve 8520.

BlackBerry Curve 8520 official photo

The new Curve has a price tag that's easier on the wallet and - coming from a BlackBerry - that's a welcome change of game plan already. But what makes this here Berry a shocker is… wait for it… music keys. Last time we checked features like that were teen geek stuff and we don't know many teens are walking around with a BlackBerry in their pocket. Well, it's certainly going to be interesting to see how BlackBerry's attempt to woo this new demographic will turn out.

Key features

2.46" 65K-color TFT landscape display of QVGA resolution
Comfortable four-row full QWERTY keyboard
Quad-band GSM support, Wi-Fi connectivity
2 megapixel camera with fixed focus
512MHz CPU
BlackBerry OS v4.6 with responsive trackpad navigation
Hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
3.5 mm audio jack
Decent audio quality
Nice web browser
Office document editor
Smart dialing
Dedicated music keys
DivX and XviD video support

Main disadvantages

Many features are unusable without a BlackBerry Internet Service account (plan)
BlackBerry OS offers basic text-only submenus
Mediocre camera performance and features
No FM radio
No 3G support
No TV-out functionality
Music keys are stiff and unresponsive
No built-in GPS receiver
Back panel is a fingerprint magnet

Most of the software-related shortfalls in the list above are shared by all other BlackBerries out there. The hardware disadvantages boil down to features that the 8520 needed to skip to fit budget. After all, the fancy stuff is in the more expensive 8900 Curve and 9700 Bold. So if you're already ok with the 8520 Curve specs and you want to go for a BlackBerry device and service, you won't find anything substantial to complain about here.

Obviously it took a few sacrifices for the Curve 8520 to keep that price tag within limits. The magnificent screen was ruthlessly trimmed down to the run-of-the-mill QVGA resolution. On a second thought though, that only puts it on a par with the screens on the Nokia E71 and E72 and we don't see anyone complaining about them.

BlackBerry Curve 8520 studio shots

But how Blackberry and other makers define cheap are completely different things, so a commitment-free 8520 Curve fetches nearly the same as a Nokia E71. Now, that can't be too good for the BlackBerry, right - especially now that Nokia are offering their paid Push Messaging service in quite a lot of countries.

As we see it, the only way for the Curve 8520 to escape constant comparisons to its Nokia counterparts is to find some way to appeal to a wider market.

But frankly, we're a little skeptical whether one handset can convince the masses that BlackBerries are now as much about pleasure as they are about business. RIM have built a reputation on churning out no-nonsense corporate phones and it will take several more generations (and frankly, optimizations) for people to start seeing the company differently.

Sony Ericsson Hazel preview: First look

2010-03-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

Introduction

The Sony Ericsson GreenHeart series have been keeping us busy this holiday season, haven't they? We called the Elm red hot and there goes the Hazel, which is simply … red. Now, no offense is meant here - the Hazel just doesn't look as unusual as its sibling. But that's not necessarily a bad thing - another ultimate and classic Sony Ericsson slider can hope for a warm reception by brand-loyal users.

You won't see "green" written all over the phones in the GreenHeart lineup but Sony Ericsson are taking eco-friendliness seriously. The Sony Ericsson Hazel is made of recycled plastics and the user manual is stored in the phone's memory instead printed on paper.

In the small, shipping-optimized retail package you'll also find a low power consumption charger. But what we know already from our Elm preview is that having a GreenHeart is not necessarily a compromise with functionality.

Sony Ericsson Hazel official photos

The Sony Ericsson Hazel packs a great 2.6" mineral-glass-covered scratch-resistant display, a promising 5-megapixel sharpshooter and all-you-can-eat connectivity. The Hazel is almost identically equipped as the Elm, which we previewed quite recently.

Sony Ericsson Hazel at a glance:

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/2100, GPRS/EDGE class 10, HSDPA 7.2Mbps, HSUPA 2Mbps
Form factor: Slider
Dimensions: 102 x 49.5 x 16 mm, 120 g
Display: 2.6-inch 16M color TFT display, 240 x 320 pixel resolution, covered with scratch-resistant mineral glass
Memory: 319MB integrated memory, hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
UI: Proprietary Flash-based UI
Still camera: 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, geo-tagging, face detection, smile detection, VGA video recording @ 30 fps
Connectivity: Wi-Fi with DLNA, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, GPS receiver with A-GPS
Misc: Splash-resistant body, accelerometer sensor for screen auto rotation, SensMe, Noise Shield, Clear Voice and Intelligent Volume Adaptation, social networking integration with homescreen Widget Manager, HD Voice Ready
Battery: 1000 mAh BST-43 Li-Po battery

Besides fast network data (up to 7.2 mbps download speed), the Hazel sports Wi-Fi and an inbuilt GPS receiver complete with A-GPS support and Wisepilot navigation.

The real news would've been the homescreen widget system with enhanced social networking integration but both GreenHeart handsets we got are early testing samples, so social networking will have to wait until a full review.

The Sony Ericsson Hazel has the curved shape of the Elm but is the more standard looking phone in the pair

You're probably keen to know more about the next Sony Ericsson all-in-one feature phone that comes to inherit marvelous performers like the W995 and C905. Jump to the next page for a chance to see the Hazel from some new angles.

Motorola MILESTONE preview: First look

2010-03-03T16:45:00.002-08:00

Introduction

Motorola must have enjoyed the feel of ropes against their back. There's no other explanation for the MILESTONE. They obviously needed to be pushed against the ropes to remember what made them the world's largest manufacturer. It's been a long road for them, with plenty of milestones. But that last one marks the end of a particularly steep downhill stretch.

Motorola MILESTONE official photos

We haven't seen an Android phone generate so much hype since... the first one, the T-Mobile G1. The Motorola MILESTONE seems to be the powerhouse that the Android family needed and obviously many customers were looking forward to.

Here's what we mean.

Motorola MILESTONE at a glance:

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 10.2Mbps; HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
Form factor: Full QWERTY side-slider
Dimensions: 115.8 x 60 x 13.7 mm, 165g
Display: 3.7" 16M color capacitive TFT LCD touchscreen of WVGA resolution (854 x 480 pixels)
OS: Android 2.0
Memory: 133 MB internal memory, 256 MB RAM, microSD card slot (up to 16GB) , 8GB microSD card included in the retail package
CPU: ARM Cortex A8 550 MHz processor with dedicated graphics accelerator
Camera: 5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual LED flash and D1 video recording at 30 fps
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm standard audio jack
Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate, Motonav navigation software, digital compass, Proximity sensor for auto turn-off, Multi-touch input and pinch-zooming gestures
Battery: 1400mAh Li-Ion battery

The first Android 2.0 handset oozes with power. It's a milestone for Motorola, but perhaps for Android too: we're certainly looking at the most complete all-round device to ever do the droid walk. Given the huge potential of the platform, it's no wonder Motorola and the MILESTONE are enjoying this kind of interest.

Motorola MILESTONE at ours

Yet, there are quite a few new droids waiting around the corner so being the best is one thing but staying the best takes quite a push. There is little evidence to suggest that Motorola will come up with a successor any time soon, so the MILESTONE better open a gap on competitors or it won't be in the same league as the handsets to come in the first half of next year. The company's future is more or less hinging on the MILESTONE and it's as simple a case of make or break as it gets. And the handset's first weeks of sales bode well.

We are already working on a detailed review of the Motorola MILESTONE, but until it is ready we will give you a short preview to keep you warm through the holidays. It might be useful if you are considering getting one any moment now.

Prepare to meet the Motorola MILESTONE in its full might right after the break.

LG GW300 review: No-frills messaging

2010-03-03T16:45:00.001-08:00

Introduction

The LG GW300 is quite a rare bird: it packs a full QWERTY keyboard and looks like a BlackBerry handset, but has a completely different line of business. Even if it was designed with teens and tweens in mind, we wouldn't be surprised if their moms fell for it too.

Social networking services are all the rage these days and mobile phone makers have duly noticed that. The LG KS360 was among the first devices of the mobile social networking breed targeted specifically at the younger ones among us.

The LG GW300 walks in its shoes and though it isn't unique in terms of design, the idea behind it helps it stand out in the crowd. Teenagers enjoy texting and social networks are just a more elaborate and more integrated way of staying in touch with friends. So, LG are continuously exploring a market, which doesn't exactly brim with competing devices.

LG GW300 official photos

The specific form factor of the GW300 makes it look much more promising than it actually is. In fact, it only does what it was meant to do. It gives access to Facebook and has a comfy keyboard for fast typing and that's pretty much your lot. When it comes to the other goodies you may expect from a modern phone - music, camera, etc - you get a pretty limited feature pack.

Key features:

Quad-band GSM support
2.4" 256K-color TFT display of 320 x 240 pixel resolution
Four-row QWERTY keyboard
2 megapixel fixed focus camera
Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
15 MB internal memory
Hot-swappable microSD card slot (supporting up to 16GB)
Standard microUSB port and Mass Storage mode
FM radio
Live Square communication manager
Facebook integration
Multi-tasking with a proper task manager
Smart dialing
Affordable and easy to use QWERTY messenger

Main disadvantages:

No 3G or Wi-Fi
Camera has no auto focus or flash
Video recording no good at QCIF resolution
No DivX/Xvid video support
No office document viewer
Facebook is the only available social networking app

None of the LG GW300's drawbacks is a real deal breaker since the price is so low no one could've expected anything more.

LG GW300 live views

Things would've looked better for the GW300 if it came with 3G support and a better camera (2 megapixel fixed focus is a real blast from the past). Wi-Fi would've been an even better cure for the data-thirsty Facebook application, which needs almost constant access to the Internet.

And even the single noteworthy application on the GW300 - the Facebook one - is underdeveloped lacking real push support. You have to manually update the Facebook feed instead of getting news the moment they happen. We guess if Push was enabled, the data traffic generated would have scared the life out of the bill payer. And let's face it, that's more than likely going to be a parent of a user rather than the user themselves, so maybe this was a wise decision.

As you can see, you sometimes have to see things from a different angle before drawing any conclusions. And with that in mind, let's get on with the LG GW300 and see if this is the right phone for you (or for you kid).

BlackBerry Storm2 9520 review: Back in Black... Berry

2010-03-03T16:44:00.001-08:00

RIM are a company with style and simply hopping on the touchscreen bandwagon with another iPhone wannabe just wouldn't suit them. They certainly realized the importance of having a full-touch device in their portfolio but wanted a clear and legible BlackBerry imprint on it.

BlackBerry Storm2 official photo

The BlackBerry Storm 9500 was a truly intriguing device but never really managed to find its place in the new market it was built for. Too bold and unusual for the BlackBerry-loyals and yet too conservative for the rest of the world, it didn't quite get the results it was hoping for. But the successor might use the publicity the first Storm generated for its own good.

Key features

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 2100 MHz 3G with HSPA support
3.25" 65K-color capacitive touchscreen of 360 x 480 pixel resolution
Improved touchscreen experience with piezo-electric touch feedback system
3.15 MP autofocus camera, LED flash
BlackBerry OS 5
Wi-Fi and built-in GPS with BlackBerry maps preloaded
2 GB internal storage and a hot-swappable microSD card slot
Landscape on-screen keyboard is as close to hardware keys as we have seen on a touch phone
Nice looks and great build quality
3.5mm standard audio jack
Accelerometer sensor for screen auto-rotate
Bluetooth v2.1 and USB v2.0
Document editor
Good audio quality

Main disadvantages:

No email support without BlackBerry Internet Service account
Interface not as quick as competitors'
Chubbier than most touchscreen phones with similarly-sized displays
Mediocre camera
No FM radio
No web browser Flash support
No dedicated video-call camera

The good news is RIM decided to honor the Storm2 with a few upgrades over the original. However, none of them seems to be absolutely crucial so the greatest responsibility falls on the brand new piezo-electric touchscreen. The missing link between touchscreen and a hardware keypad is what many keen texters must have been waiting for. Or at least that's what RIM believe.

The BlackBerry Storm2 9520 views

Now, the SurePress screen didn't work out particularly well on the first Storm and a second failure might herald the demise of the entire series. So the BlackBerry Storm2 knows it needs to impress the audience or it might take a spot in history for all the wrong reasons.

But first thing first, let's check out what you get when you buy a shiny new Storm2. Unboxing follows after the break.

Samsung M5650 Lindy review: Corby's significant other

2010-03-03T16:43:00.000-08:00

Introduction

You just couldn't have missed the Samsung Corby. Dirty cheap phone with replaceable rear covers and more clones than features. That's the one. Newsflash: the outbreak of cheap as chips touchscreen handsets continues now that we have the Lindy - fresh off Corby's rib.

Here's the deal. Samsung want to put a touchscreen in every pocket but the Lindy is also trying to give fast data and WLAN to the masses. It's all Corby on the surface - to the extent that you will want to put some of Corby's fashion jackets on the Lindy. They won't fit but that's not the point. The point is the Lindy is a plain and friendly touchscreen that puts a bargain price on all-round functionality.

Someone at Samsung must be in love with the Corby concept since the family is getting bigger by the day. The number of Corby sequels is beyond belief: the QWERTY packing CorbyPRO and CorbyTXT were followed by the Wi-Fi enabled, but still rumored S3650W and - finally - out came the M5650 Lindy. Not to mention the several handsets that don't exactly follow the same design outline but have the same naming in certain regions - Samsung B3313 Corby Mate, Samsung CorbyPlus B3410 and Samsung C3510 Corby Pop.

Samsung M5650 Lindy official photos

The Samsung Lindy however inherits all the traditions of the original - neat and friendly plasticky design, rich social integration, modern interface with the optional cartoonish graphics on top and the most important thing - a capacitive touchscreen with an affordable price. But like all the other new members of the family, the Lindy tries to break out of the clone syndrome by offering its own special powers. Wi-Fi connectivity, 3.5 mm audio jack and dedicated music keys put it well above the basic Corby.

Key features

Quad-band GSM/EDGE, UMTS 900/2100, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
2.8" capacitive TFT touchscreen of QVGA resolution, 256K colors
50 MB onboard storage, microSD card slot (up to 8GB)
3 megapixel camera with smile detection, QVGA video @ 15fps
Secondary video-call camera
Dedicated music controls on the front panel
Wi-Fi connectivity
Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB v.2.0
microUSB slot
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
DNSe and SRS sound effect
Excellent audio reproduction
FM radio with RDS
Find Music recognition service
TouchWiz and Cartoon UI
Office document viewer
Smart unlock
Social networking integration with direct file uploads
Quite reasonably priced for a full touch Wi-Fi enabled phone (around 160 euro)

Main disadvantages

No accelerometer for screen auto rotation
No on-screen QWERTY keyboard
No smart dialing
microSD slot under the battery cover
Music controls only work on the homescreen

The Corby need not feel threatened: the intended markets are poles apart. The new features raise the M5650 above the rank and file and straight into the mid-range, while the Corby is very much an entry-level kiddie phone. Wi-Fi is welcome, but this is not the only upgrade that the Lindy offers over the Corby. It loves music and has dedicated media controls right up front, DNSe and SRS surround enhancements and the 3.5 mm audio jack of course. We nearly forgot the fast network data speeds. And then all of a sudden, the Lindy costs the same as the S3650 Corby did at launch.

Samsung M5650 live shots

So, we have to admit that Samsung have flooded the market with similar handsets. There's the Star, Star Wi-Fi, Star TV, the Corby bunch, the Diva and the Marvel. The Lindy looks set to lead in both features and design, but it's not like we haven't seen all this before. Will it succeed to stand out among so many siblings? And more importantly, can it stand up to the competition? The journey begins with design and ergonomics.

Nokia X6 review: Going up the ladder

2010-03-03T16:42:00.001-08:00

Introduction

In the world of Nokia it's all about evolution, rather than revolution. So don't expect the specs on the X6 to blow your mind. The handset is the next step for the market leader scrambling to make up for a late start in touch- screens. To be honest, the Symbian S60 touch edition has been struggling to catch up with the standard setters in terms of user experience. And the X6 claims to have the answer: the responsiveness only a capacitive screen can bring.

Nokia X6 official photos

The Nokia X6 is also the first XpressMusic handset to head straight for the high-end. Midrange is the highest the music Finns have gone so we are interested to see how this change of approach works. Nokia have always had a strong appeal to the masses, but pleasing the selected few is undoubtedly harder.

Key features:

Quad-band GSM support
Tri-band 3G with HSDPA support
3.2" 16M-color TFT LCD 16:9 capacitive touchscreen (360 x 640 pixels)
Symbian S60 5th edition UI
ARM 11 434 MHz CPU, 128 MB of RAM memory
5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash
VGA video recording at 30fps
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology
Built-in GPS receiver
32GB built-in storage
FM radio with RDS
Bluetooth and USB (standard microUSB connector) v2.0
3.5mm standard audio jack
Very good audio quality
Proximity sensor for screen auto turn-off
Accelerometer sensor for automatic UI rotation and motion-based gaming
Stereo speakers
TV out
"Comes with music" edition gives you a year of all-you-can-eat music subscription
Landscape on-screen virtual QWERTY keyboard
Ovi Maps 3.0 Touch
Further Ovi and MySpace service integration (direct image and video uploads)
Most regional retail packages include a set of the great Nokia WH-500 headphones

Main disadvantages:

X6 is still quite pricey (around 500 euro at the time of writing)
UI is still immature with somewhat inconsistent user experience
Touch web browser not quite polished and with dodgy Flash support
No voice-guided navigation license
No office document viewer preinstalled
Doesn't charge off microUSB
Very poor sunlight legibility
Slow image gallery
No DivX/XviD support for the video player
No microSD card slot (as a connectivity solution)

As you can see in the two lists above there is almost nothing new in the software package, so it all falls on the hardware to justify the high asking price. The well-stuffed retail package is a great place to start but does the capacitive screen improve usability enough to be worth the extra money over, say, the 5800 XpressMusic? And the difference in price is by no means trivial.

Nokia X6 at ours

In the increasingly competitive touchscreen market manufacturers don't have much room for error. The unpolished S60 UI is enough of a burden already, so Nokia X6 has to be near perfect in every other respect. A tall task indeed, but let's see how they've tackled it.

Samsung B5310 CorbyPRO review: Type and go

2010-03-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

Introduction

The S3650 Corby was just the beginning of a lineup that appears to have no visible end. There is a Corby for the touchscreen addicts, a Corby for the music buffs, Corby for the heavy texters, Corby for the young, and one for their parents. That’s pretty much everyone, don’t you think? We guess there should even be a Corby for the bored-with-the-Corby.

The founding member of the Corby wasn’t announced so long ago, but so much has been changed. Well, if you put the S3650 Corby and the recently announced B5310 CorbyPRO side by side you'll notice one thing that hasn't changed at all: design. But on the inside they are very different, indeed.

Samsung B5310 CorbyPRO official photos

The Samsung CorbyPRO is meant for a different range of users altogether. It combines great texting and the intuitive touchscreen control tops that up with a nice connectivity package (such as HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS and a 3.5mm audio jack) and all that is delivered at a bargain price.

Key features

Quad-band GSM/EDGE
Dual-band UMTS support with HSDPA
2.8" resistive TFT touchscreen of QVGA resolution
Four-row side-slide QWERTY keyboard
150 MB onboard storage, microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
3.15 megapixel fixed-focus camera with smile detection, QVGA video @ 15fps
FM radio with RDS
Find Music recognition service
TouchWiz and Cartoon UI
Social networking integration with direct file uploads
GPS with A-GPS support
Wi-Fi and GPS
3.5mm audio jack
Accelerometer sensor for screen auto rotation
Office document viewer
Excellent web browser
Push email
Smart unlock
Replaceable rear covers (Fashion Jackets)

Main disadvantages

Disappointing sunlight legibility
The camera has no autofocus or flash
Video recording maxes out at QVGA@15fps
All preinstalled games are trial versions only
Google Maps is the only GPS navigation app
microSD slot is under the battery cover

The original Corby was all about design, about touchscreen, about budget. The CorbyPRO, on the other hand, has managed to keep all that but goes much further by adding some killer features that are well above the S3650 league.

For instance, now you get UMTS support with HSDPA which will dramatically boost web browsing. But the really big news here is Wi-Fi support. It is a great addition to the comfy QWERTY keyboard and the numerous social networking services that the phone gives you access to.

Samsung B5310 live shots

Strangely, the latest of the Corbies also has an integrated GPS receiver. You can use it for image geotagging as well as for navigation. Unfortunately, if you decide to use your CorbyPRO into a GPS nav device you'll have to solely rely on the preloaded Google Maps app or on a third-party Java alternative.

And when it comes to the Corby basics, we shouldn't forget to mention the 2.8" touchscreen. Well, it turned out to be resistive this time around but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The colorful UI is also aboard and, unfortunately, so is the fixed-focus camera (3-megapixel this time).

The time gap between the S3650 and the B5310 is rather small but it was enough for the competition to release some good CorbyPRO rivals that offer a similar feature pack at nearly the same price. But before we come to that, there’s planty of Corby to cover here. Starting with the looks and feel of this Pro on the next page.

Motorola MILESTONE review: Hello Droid

2010-03-03T16:39:00.000-08:00

Android devices come from all walks of life but rarely do they carry as much baggage as the MILESTONE. Motorola seem to be betting the farm with the MILESTONE and the warm reception it’s getting must leave them breathing a sigh of relief. Catching the Android wave may’ve seemed like the last available move but a device like the MILESTONE makes turning the tide much more likely.

Motorola MILESTONE official photos

So, Motorola are back with a bang and the MILESTONE is one of the best spec’d phones to ever run Android. The Google Nexus One is supposed to instill fear in nearly every touchscreen device out there but the Moto Droid must be positioned well enough by now to withstand the attack.

Key features

Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
10.2 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA support
3.7" 16M-color capacitive touchscreen of WVGA (480x 854 pixel) resolution
Android OS v2.0 with kinetic scrolling and pinch zooming
Slimmest side slider with full QWERTY keyboard yet
Great build quality
ARM Cortex A8 600MHz CPU, PowerVR SGX graphics accelerator; 256 MB of RAM
5 MP autofocus camera with dual-LED flash and geo-tagging
D1 (720 x 480 pixels) video recording @ 24fps
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
133MB storage, microSD slot, bundled 8GB card
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1

Main disadvantages

No DivX and XviD video playback
No smart and voice dialing
Somewhat clumsy camera interface and limited camera features
No free GPS navigation solution
No Flash support for the web browser
No FM radio

There’s hardly anything missing on the Motorola MILESTONE spec sheet so we should be ready for an exciting ride. The test-drive got us impressed: at the end of our preview we felt positive about the MILESTONE prospects. So now, the Moto DROID has a full review ahead to build on that good impression.

Considering the rate of its sales, the handset is doing well from a user point of view too. Yet, a short-lived success is just not good enough for Motorola: the company doesn’t have the resources to come up with an equally talented successor as quick as some of the competitors. So, the MILESTONE needs to stick around the top of the sales charts for at least a few months to give Motorola some breathing space.

Motorola MILESTONE views

The Motorola DEXT by the way did reasonably well in scouting out the territory but it now falls upon the MILESTONE to carry the offensive through. Proper backup is still to come so it will have to fight all by itself.

We’ll follow in its footsteps and – as the tradition goes – we continue with the hardware and ergonomics right after the jump.

Nokia 2730 classic review: Starting small

2010-03-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

Introduction

The Nokia 2730 classic is part of a trio of dirty-cheap phones headed to emerging markets. It’s an economy pack that tries to provide value for money. The Nokia 2730 classic boasts the most advanced features of the bunch of cheap handsets (some of which dip down to 25 euro a piece). The 2730 classic is actually trying to stay a cut above the typical low-end phone, with a QVGA screen, 3G data speeds and a 1GB microSD card in the box.

Nokia 2730 classic official photos

Key features

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
Dual-band 3G
2.0" 262K-color QVGA display
2 megapixel fixed-focus camera
S40 user interface, 5th edition
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Bluetooth (with A2DP) and microUSB port
Hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 2GB cards supported, 1GB card included)
Ovi Store, Nokia Maps for S40 and Ovi Share

Main disadvantages:

Smallish display with poor viewing angles and poor sunlight legibility
S40 interface feels clunky and out of date
Stiff clicking controls and keypad
Questionable build quality
No smart dialing
No document viewer

Nokia 2730 classic at our office

The 2730 classic is an entry-level offer, which is likely to enjoy robust demand. This handset seems the right thing to get us to try out a new format of reviews – crisp and short, all on one page. So, let’s not waste any more time and space and head straight to unboxing.

360 degree spin and unboxing

The Nokia 2730 classic comes in a tiny box and it actually has all the essentials – a BL-5C Li-Ion battery (1020mAh), a charger, one-piece headset and a microUSB cable. There’s a complimentary 1GB microSD card in the box and the handset supports up to 2GB.

A small box has it all

Design and construction

The Nokia 2730 classic is obviously modeled after the Nokia 6700 classic, which is one of our favorite phones for looks and feel. That’s an out-and-out compliment to the 2730 classic, but upon close inspection, you’ll spot the inevitable differences.

The 2730 classic screen is a QVGA two-incher. That sounds reasonable given the pricetag, but in reality the viewing angles are surprisingly limited and the sunlight legibility is quite poor.

The Nokia 2730 has a classic button layout • The display is not the best we’ve seen

The flatbed keypad is made from one piece of faux brushed metal. Keys are somewhat hard to press and give a pretty loud click. Spacing is OK though but touch orientation on the individual rows is appalling.

The stiff keypad is not too comfortable

The sides of the Nokia 2730 classic are pretty plain – the top side is the busiest with a charger plug and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the left, there’s the microSD card slot (readily accessible upon lifting the cap). On the right there's the microUSB port, covered with a plastic flap. The bottom holds just the mouthpiece.

Audio jack and charger plug

The back of the phone is made out of matt plastic that does a pretty good job of hiding fingerprints. The 2 megapixel camera lens is centrally placed at the top. The loudspeaker grill is at the bottom.

The back houses a 2MP camera and a loudspeaker grill • SIM compartment under the battery

As for the build quality – the Nokia 2730 classic is quite solid but it still seems hastily put together. The black plastic of the soft keys looks like it’s been glued on top of the keypad, which leaves an unattractive edge between the keypad and softkeys and worse still – it looks like it might come off. There’s a noticeable crevice between the display and the soft keys too.

The Nokia 2730 classic has rounded corners and feels very light in the hand. It’s a bit on the thick side though at 14.4mm.

Nokia 2730 classic in the hand

Nokia Phones With Wi-fi Connectivety

2010-03-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

Coming Soon Nokia Phones

2010-03-02T06:23:00.000-08:00

All Nokia Mpbile Phones

2010-03-02T06:10:00.000-08:00