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Test

2007-08-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

bla bla bla bla bla testing 1, 2 Gbox Music Downloads: Universal Partners With Google To Rival iTunes - Gizmodo

Internet Shopping 101

2007-07-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

How to E-Shop Wisely

Internet Shopping 101

So you’re looking for a new phone. Or maybe even an MP3 player. And you’ve been hearing stories about people who got great deals from online merchants who sell their products through the internet. Being constantly on the lookout for the best value for your money, you venture straight into the e-market (electronic market) only to find that there aren’t just ten, not just twenty, but three hundred different merchants trying to offer you the same item. So how exactly do you go about picking the one you will actually buy from? Let me provide you with a few points to ponder. These won’t necessarily ensure that you will get the best deals but keeping these points in mind will help you get the most out of your shopping experience.

Prepare a shopping list before going online. For some of us, shopping at the local grocery store without a shopping list in hand can be quite disastrous. It’s like going to war without any kind of battle plan. As a result, you might end up buying too much of one item, too few of another, or forget to buy one particular product altogether. The same could be true for online marketplaces. Although it is more likely that you will only be looking for one particular product while shopping in the internet, you will still find it useful if you kept some kind of list in your mind. For example, let’s say you’re looking for a new digital camera. You know from the experience of your friends that one good brand to check out for digicams would be Sony. So you go online and find out that Sony’s line of digital cameras is called Cybershot. If you’re thinking you can go ahead and add anything with a Sony Cybershot branding on it to your cart, you’re wrong. When buying something (or anything, for that matter) remember the complete name of the particular product that you want to buy and some of its key features or descriptions to make sure you get exactly what you want. In the case above, it will prevent the prospective buyer from getting a Cybershot phone instead of the intended Cybershot digicam. Also, knowing exactly what you need and keeping it in mind will be helpful when you find yourself torn between two items.

Make it personal. Have you ever heard the saying, “Don’t talk to strangers.”? Many moms make it a golden rule for their children and yes, it applies to internet shopping too. One of the advantages of online markets is that it lets you interact directly with the sellers/ merchants. Most of the time, they’ll let you feel free to ask anything and just about everything you want to ask about your possible transaction(s). It’s your right to be informed anyway, so don’t just use it, abuse it. Make it a point to establish a connection with the merchants you find to increase your chances of getting the best deal. Introduce yourself properly and ask him/her to do the same. When your transaction reaches a personal level, there will be a greater possibility that you might even get a discount.

Sell your own stuff. Finally, be a merchant yourself. Try to find some old stuff of yours that you don’t need or use anymore. Not only will this give you a start with your shopping budget (imagine generating enough sales for your next purchase), this will help you gain a clearer picture of how the merchant feels when they’re on the spot. Especially as you attract your own customers, you will begin to understand the do’s and don’ts and the how-tos of the industry. It’s like the old saying, you see. “It takes one to know one.”

Apple iPhone

2007-07-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

Apple iPhone

Say hello to The One

$500 (4GB)/ $600 (8GB)

PHONE Quadband GSM phone with built-in Wi-fi. Runs with Mac OS X. Supports widgets. Effortless sync with Mac or PC. Multi-touch input method.

CAM 2.0 megapixel camera. iTunes compatible.

MUSIC iTunes compatible. Integrated digital music player for MP3/AAC (similar to previous iPods).

CONNECTIVITY SMS and e-mail support. Text-input via virtual QWERTY keyboard. EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-fi (802.11 b/g). New - Visual voice mail. Web browsing with Safari web browser.

MEMORY Built-in 4GB or 8GB hard drive.

MISC 3.5-inch finger-friendly touch screen with 328 x 480 pixel resoution and 160 ppi. Automatic screen orientation for landscape or portrait mode. New - proximity sensor. New - cover flow (music interface for viewing music/movies by album). Comes with standard set of white iPod earbuds with built-in mic. Up to 5 hrs. talk time / 16 hrs. music playback - claimed.

The US version of the iPhone was released as a quadband GSM phone and not surprisingly, without 3G. This might be due to the fact that there aren't many 3G networks set up in the US yet. Data transfer is handled with EDGE, which can't compare to 3G, but is faster than GPRS. It comes with built-in 802.11 b/g wi-fi which couples with the Safari web browser for a superb online experience. It doesn't let down as a phone either. I've once read of a research somewhere which found that call quality with the iPhone was excellent. And speaking of excellent, it's the best iPod ever. With its 3.5-inch touchscreen and virtual controls, its the long-awaited iPod video brought to life. It effortless syncs with your PC/ Mac and you can manage your media files easily with iTunes. If only it had more than 8GB of memory and ran for more than 5 hours while playing movies then it would be the best PMP to carry around. But as a phone, it was built for communications, and there it shines. SMS and e-mail feature are handled via the virtual QWERTY keyboard. And as a bonus, it also comes equipped with a now standard 2-megapixel camera for fun shots.

For more about the iPhone click here

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Nokia 6280

2007-07-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

Nokia 6280
Slide into the 3G world
P11,000

PHONE UMTS/ Triband GSM phone. Nokia Series 40 User Interface. Active standby feature.
CAM 2.0 megapixel main camera with flash and 8x digital zoom. Second camera: VGA resolution.
MUSIC Stereo FM radio and MP3 player. Support for MP3, AAC, video ringing tones and 64-polyphonic ring tones.
CONNECTIVITY Bluetooth, Infrared and USB pop-port. Pictbridge compatible (for express photo printing). Push-to-talk technology.
MEMORY 10 mb built-in memory plus 64 mb miniSD card. Supports up to 2GB.
MISC Dedicated zoom/ volume and camera shutter keys for camera application. Big and bright 320 x 240 pixel resolution with up to 262K colors. Xpress Audio messaging features. 3G capability.

The Nokia 6280 is a joy to use and with a vivid, bright and clear display. The key features include a MP3 player, PTT (Push To Talk), dual integrated cameras with video calling and email with attachment support. The 6280 includes a 64MB miniSD card in the package and this should be enough storage. The phone provides an ideal platform for 3G services such as real time video sharing and two way video calling. The phone creates a natural, user friendly conventional camera experience by operating the photography function in a horizontal landscape mode.

Pictures and videos taken with Nokia 6280 can be viewed directly on the screen and then shared with others via MMS or email. The 2 megapixel camera of Nokia 6280 snaps stills of good quality in daylight and adequate quality in darker environments. More features are Bluetooth dial-up networking, MP3 ringtones, 6 MB of onboard memory, miniSD memory card expansion, 64 MB card bundled, headset and printing support, USB 2.0 connectivity with PictBridge support, Tri-band GSM with EDGE support, Stereo FM radio. When it comes to adding extra software, Java is supported and if you want to synchronise with a PC, you get both the software and a cable that allows you to get good sound output both from the radio and the music player.

The Nokia 6280 mobile phone has a classic feel to it. The solid built frame only weighs 115g, lighter than other 3G phones from Nokia. The phone runs on WCDMA and tri band GSM, supporting video calls at a high speed of 384kbps. The push to talk (PTT) technology allows you to instantly talk to other people owing a PTT phone on the same network just by the push of a button.

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Nokia 5500

2007-07-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Nokia 5500
A phone for Pacquiao
P13,000

PHONE Triband GSM phone. Enhanced Series 60 User Interface - phone, music & sport UI accessible via dedicated keys.
CAM 2.0 megapixel camera.
MUSIC Integrated digital music player for MP3, WAV, AAC, eAAC+ music formats. FM radio.
CONNECTIVITY Speaker-independent dialing. Bluetooth, Infrared and USB connectivity.
MEMORY Free 512 mb in-box memory.
MISC Large display with 208 x 208 pixels and 262K colors. One-key access to music/ phone/ sports modes. Durability and splash proofness thru added mechanical protection. Sports tracking with accelerometer. Activity trackin, exercise diary & fitness coach application for support in sports activities.

Latest mobile phones come in different forms and designs. From the exquisite L'Amour collection to business phones, users have different options to choose. To have a totally different experience, Nokia has introduced a sporty phone, the Nokia 5500, that brings the passion and the spirit of sports whenever you hold the phone in your hand. With a multitude of sports and multimedia features – the Nokia 5500 is a real pleasure.

The phone with dedicated buttons are used to activate three different modes, which include a phone mode, music mode and sports mode. So with the touch of a phone button, you can switch to different modes easily. Start talking with friends or family, play your favourite music tracks while jogging and your phone will keep track of the miles you cover. The Nokia 5500 also features text-to-speech technoogy – enabling you to simply tap the phone and the message is read out automatically.

In addition to such a unique sport and mesaging services – the phone is also loaded with music features. With an integrated music player that supports several music file formats such as MP3 and AAC – you can download your favourite songs either from the internet or a PC. And with an expandable memory support of up to 1GB – allows more rooms to save music tracks.

The Nokia 5500 is a complete phone and bears all the latest features that one can expect in a phone. The sporty phone also offers a 2.0 mega-pixel camera with a self timer – now you can include youself in a photo album while capturing the moment. You can also record video clips in different modes including H263 and MPEG4.

The sporty phone also comes with a an integrated pedometer – allows you to calculate the distance as well as the calories burnt during the work out. In addition, the stainless steel casing and the rubber grip of the phone provide extra durability. Revitalize your body and mind with the Nokia 5500.

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Nokia 6233

2007-07-16T08:29:00.001-07:00

Nokia 6233
This should've been in the Nseries
P10,000

PHONE Quadband/3G phone. Nokia Series 40 graphical user interface (GUI) with M-Java 2 CLDC support. Flight-mode for offline use.
CAM 2.0 megapixel camera with flash and 8x zoom. Landscape viewfinder and pocket camcorder(MP4/3GP).
MUSIC Digital music player for all music file formats. 5-band graphic equalizer. FM radio with 20 presets.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS & E-mail support. Mobile surfing via xHTML, WWW or SIM toolkits. Pop-port connector to PC via USB. Infrared and Bluetooth 1.2.
MEMORY 10 mb dynamic device memory. 64 mb microSD card included in box (supports up to 2GB).
MISC ITU-T keymat + 5-way navigation key & 2 (L & R) selection keys. Monoblock intenna with real metal cover details. 2.4-inch QVGA screen with 320 x 240 pixels and 262K colors. Built-in stereo speakers with audio widening. Dedicate shutter and volume keys. Video ring tones.

Cellular czar Nokia adds another feather to its cap with the launch of Nokia 6233. It’s Nokia’s smallest 3G phone till date, with sophisticated and sleek stainless steel finish and a soft-matte backing. However, Nokia describes the design of the phone to be in sync with the corporate life, yet its outstanding multimedia features make it an eye candy for all. The phone weighs 110g and is slightly heavier than most other phones. But for a 3G phone, it’s a chinless wonder!

The phone has an inbuilt 2 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom. In terms of connectivity, Bluetooth and infrared adorn this sleek gadget to make it compatible with wireless headsets, Bluetooth car-kits, and other phones as well. But sadly, it doesn’t fit into old hardwired car-kit cradle and so it’s recommended to get the new CR-56 mobile holder.

To ask for more, the phone is adorned by latest messaging, browsing, music and video standards. The Nokia 6233 has a brilliant 320 x 240 QVGA display, 262k colour TFT LCD, WCDMA 2100 MHz, GSM 900/1800/1900, downloadable games, videos, MP3 or AAC ringtones and microSD memory card support of upto 2 GB. The advantage of 'Active Standby Mode' gives you quick access to the frequently used applications.

The phone shoots excellent quality VGA video and quality still pictures. The phone also has flight mode, a recent addition to Nokia mobile phones, which facilitates you to use all the non call-related features whilst on a flight. Keeping in mind the size, this phone offers excellent 3G compatibility. But sadly unlike all other 3G phones, it lacks video calling feature.

The phone is available in two colours, black and silver. Overall, the performance is good. You may get the best deals on Nokia 6233 from malls nationwide.

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Nokia 7610

2007-07-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Nokia 7610
One-of-a-kind one-megapixel camera phone
P8,900

PHONE Triband GSM phone. Nokia Series 60 User Interface. Symbian 7 OS with MIDP Java 2 support.
CAM Built-in 1-megapixel camera with 4x zoom. Video clip recording capability up to 10 minutes with selectable screen size.
MUSIC Ringtone support for MP3, WAV, AAC, polyphonic and true tones. Integrated music player (RealOne player). Mobile music streaming.
CONNECTIVITY Syncs with MS Outlook. SMS, MMS, and E-mail support. PC connectivity via USB cable and/or Bluetooth.
MEMORY 8 mb phone memory. Expandable via hot-swap RS-MMC card slot.
MISC 2.1-inch active matrix, TFT screen with 176 x 208 pixels and 65K colors. Built-in handsfree loudspeaker. Video editing with Movie Director application. Mobile video streaming.

FULL REVIEW COMING SOON!

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Nokia 5700

2007-07-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Nokia 5700

The modern twist - again!
P15,500

PHONE Quadband GSM, Dual-mode/ 3G phone. Nokia Series 60 UI. Offline mode & simless operation.
CAM Dedicated imaging mode and camera keys. 2-megapixel camera with integrated LED flash and up to 4x digital zoom.
MUSIC Dedicated music player mode and music keys. Digital music player for MP3, M4A, AAC, eAAC+ and WMA. Hi-fi sound quality with audio effects (5-band graphic equalizer, stereo widening, loudness and balance). Loud music playback with stereo speakers.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS, SMS reader and high quality text-to-speech feature. Audio messaging, IM and push e-mail client with attachments. Mobile browsing, 3G video calls and video sharing. Bluetooth, infrared and mini-USB connector.
MEMORY Up to 35 mb built-in user memory. 512 mb microSD card included in the box. Expandable up to 2GB.
MISC Smart twist form factor. 2.2-inch QVGA display with 240 x 320 pixels and up to 16 million colors. Image/ video editors and Movie Director & Video Toolbox. Mobile video streaming. Panorama mode.

Nokia offers something for everyone and this is the reason why, it has become the world leader in mobile communications. This time, Nokia has geared up to offer something special to music lovers. The Nokia 5700 is a superb music phone, which has been duly empowered by various desired features. It does look good, as it comes in a vibrant red color and also finished up by neat ergonomics to let you feel the music - the way you want.

As being a member of Nokia's highly acclaimed Xpress music phone series, the Nokia 5700 is right there on the top to give a tough competition to other music phones. Besides music, the Nokia 5700 also takes a very good care of your other requirements. The most fascinating thing about the Nokia 5700 is its enticing twist mechanism – which surely grabs your attention. All you have to do is to twist this master gadget and you get access to all the major features – music, camera, smartphone functionalities and video calling.

Though, the Nokia 5700 is purely dedicated to music, but it does perform other tasks simultaneously. Hence, it works as your compatible performer in all the departments. It has been empowered by the 3G technology and further loaded with various contemporary features – hence, you have it all with the Nokia 5700. You get swift access to your music with its dedicated music buttons. Its music player is too good and it can support music files in various popular formats such as MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+ and WMA among others. There are other assisting music features with album art, play lists, audio visualizations and a five-band equalizer. You can also customize and edit your tracks – to get an enthralling music experience.

Furthermore, you can enhance phone's memory up to 2GB by using a memory card to treasure all your favorite stuff. The Nokia 5700 is also endowed with a Bluetooth headset, a 3.5mm headphones with an headset adapter and inbuilt stereo loudspeakers – your music pals. Furthermore, you can select your kind of music from a range of various Internet music stores. If that is not enough, then have some fun with its 2 mega pixels camera, which allows you grab all those special moments to treasure them as memories. So, if you are an ardent music lover and want a reliable music pal, then the Nokia 5700 can be your right choice.

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Apple iPod (5th generation)

2007-07-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

Apple iPod (5th generation)
The King

MUSIC Support for MP3, AAC, Apple lossless, AIFF, WAV and Audible formats.
MEMORY 30GB and 80GB models available.
BATTERY Up to 14 hours of music playback/ 4 hours of slideshows with music/ 3 hours of video playback (30 GB models); Up to 20 hours of music playback/ 6 hours of slideshows with music/ 6.5 hours of video playback (80 GB models).
MISC 2.5-inch QVGA transflective color screen with 320 x 240 pixels. Can store and display photos saved in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG file formats. Dock connector for USB 2.0 interface and standard stereo headphone jack. Available in two colors: white and black (both models).

Known as the fifth generation iPod, the Apple iPod video was introduced in the late 2005. Taking portable video entertainment to a different level than it ever has been, it features a color screen and video playback capabilities. A stunning and slimmer design than the iPod photo, this latest iPod development has support for up to 150 hours of music videos and a 2.5 inch color display. With up to 20 hours of battery life, it shows an increase of five hours than the previous iPod. Under half an inch thin, the 30GB takes 45% less room than the original larger iPod, with the 60GB model at 10% thinner than the fourth generation 20GB iPod. What this all means is that the newest iPod has more in it with less space, while appearing to look fragile - yet not.

People who would benefit from iPod video are those who want to watch videos, TV shows, store photos, and view photos - in addition to having a very large music collection. To make things easier, the iPod is navigated by the Apple Click Wheel, a trademark of Apple. The click wheel has been the navigation wheel of the fourth and fifth generation iPod, along with the iPod mini and nano. The wheel's navigation buttons consist of "menu", "previous", "next", "play/pause", while the select button is in the center of the wheel. The set-up is fairly simple on the iPod video, with the wheel on the front, the dock connector on the bottom, while the headphones jack and hold switch are both on top. The feel of the wheel on the iPod video is smoother, yet raised, while the wheel of the nano is rough.

All of this combined with the ability of the people at iPod to present a user-friendly product makes this a buy that almost makes the $299 on up, price tag look do-able. The idea of storing your entire music collection in one place was mind-blowing enough, but the ability to do the same with video is simply unbelievable. The iPod video uses a hard drive, unlike the flash memory of the iPod nano and shuffle, which makes it slightly more sensitive to damage than the flash players. The iPod runs on both PCs and Macs. The PC needs to have a USB port on Windows 2000 SP4 or Windows XP SP2, while the Macintosh also needs a USB port, running the Mac OS X 10.39. What accessories come with the iPod Video is a software disc and Apple stickers, a USB dock connector cable, a universal dock adapter, headphones, headphone covers, and a thin iPod case. What is NOT included are the AV cables if the user is interested in video output. But other accessories which may need to be purchased are the dock, remote, and wall charger.

The biggest complaint is front and center with the iPod Video - the repair cost. Though all electronics break, the lasting electronic devices are the ones that are easily repaired (computer, radio, etc.). Apple charges through the nose to repair a faulty iPod product, almost as much as the original, so purchase at your own risk. And for some reason, the metal casing always gets scratched up from the minute a person begins using it, in addition to the face and screen of the 60GB. Review after review has said this and so far, nothing has changed.

Apple iPod Nano

2007-07-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

Apple iPod Nano
The MVP in MP3

MUSIC Support for MP3, AAC, Apple lossless, AIFF, WAV and Audible formats.
MEMORY 2GB/ 4GB/ 8GB models available.
BATTERY Up to 24 hours continuous music playback/ 5 hours of slideshows with music. About 3 hours charge time (1.5-hour fast charge up to 80% capacity).
MISC 1.5-inch color display with 176 x 132 pixel resolution. Can store and display photos saved in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG file formats. Dock connector for USB 2.0 interface and standard stereo headphone jack. Available in different colors as follows: silver - 2GB/ 4GB models; pink, green, and blue - 4GB models; and black - 8GB model.

I had seen the adverts on TV on how small the nano was but it wasn’t until I held one in my hands that I fully understood how small and how impressive these MP3 players are.

Weighing only 42grams and a mere 90m by 40m and only 6.9m thick (or thin) these little units are not going to fill your suitcase when you go on holiday. Ideal for putting in your pocket, wallet or purse you can take them anywhere, except the pool of course as they are not waterproof. The small size does create concerns for me with my children though. They can easily get lost if not looked after and outside of the home could be easy prey to pickpockets or thieves so beware.

They come in two colours white and black and two memory sizes 2gb and 4gb, theses can hold 500 and 1000 songs respectively. For me this is more than enough songs but for those of you with large CD collections, who want to put their whole collection in one place, you may want to go for one the larger iPods.

The colour screen looks excellent and shows easy navigation throughout, you can download your tunes into files, albums, types of music etc. My only concern with the screen was, I felt it may scratch easily and some of the cases that you can buy for the nano still leave the screen exposed. My concern is when you put your nano into your pocket or bag and catches something metal. I had heard on the news there had been issues with the early nanos , I still feel this could be an issue.

The main control in the centre of the unit was more touch sensitive than I expected, I use my thumb to scroll the menu, but it wasn’t long before it was easy as pie, if fact working really well with the gel case I had bought to protect it.

The sound is excellent, I can’t tell the difference between CDs and MP3s and I often think those who say they can, can’t either. You can download your music from iTunes, a legal way of owning music. They are impressive boxed also where you open the box like a book and see your nano inside. However you do not get any form of charging your nano except for the computer leads that come with it. This means if you wish to take your nano away from your computer for a period of time you will need to buy a separate mains charger. Which of course is larger than the unit itself.

My final conclusion is that this little unit is a fantastic move forward in the music player industry. I was impressed by the larger iPods that my friends had, but it wasn’t until the appearance of the nano that I was suitably impressed to put my hand in pocket to make a purchase. And I haven’t been let down.

Apple iPod Shuffle

2007-07-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

Apple iPod Shuffle

1 GB in a matchbox

P4,200

MUSIC Support for MP3, AAC, Apple lossless audio, AIFF, WAV and Audible formats

MEMORY 1 GB/ up to 240 songs encoded at 192 kbps or higher.

BATTERY Up to 12 hours continuous music playback. About 4 hours charge time (2-hour fast charge up to 80% capacity).

MISC 3.5 mm stereo headphone port and USB 2.0 interface through minijack. Gapless playback. Comes in 5 colors: pink, green, orange, blue, and silver. iTunes compatible.

FULL REVIEW COMING SOON!

2007-07-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

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Brand New Phones

Nokia Phones

3230 P7,950

6151 P7,450

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6300 P10,300

3110 P6,900

5700 P14,500

6233 P9,400

6630 P7,000 (2nd hand) >> Read review

N70 P12,600 >> Read review

N73 P16,700 >>Read review

N73 Music Edition P18,800 >>Read review

N80 P17,550 >>Read review

N91 No Price Available >>Read review

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N95 P32,200 >> Read review

iPhone Mania

2007-07-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

A week after its much awaited US release, the iPhone's hype seems to be very very far from fading. Sure, many other companies out there have been manufacturing mobile phones probably even before Apple thought they could take a shot at it. Big companies like Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Motorola have been in the cellphone business for quite some time now. And all of the aforementioned are major players in the mobile industry. So what chance does Apple have against these old timers? Almost everything that can be done with a cellphone has already been done before, but still, Apple gives it a shot. And of course, as they finally got to doing it, as with everything they do, they do it in style.

Not so long ago, a little invention called the iPod killed the Walkman. Now will the iPhone kill the cellphone as we know it? God only knows. But one thing I know is that the present iPhone isn't tweaked to its maximum yet, as with all version 1.0 products. After just a few months, expect a new and improved version to roll out in stores. And then expect another one. Maybe even another one. The point remains, impressive as it is right now, Apple has yep to deliver the true-blue fantasy phone that is going to be the future iPhone. That doesn't stop die-hard Mac fans and tech-heads across the globe from being enticed and purchasing Apple's newest family member, though. So as expected, Apple laughs all the way to the bank. Again.

But what is it exactly about the iPhone that makes it deserve all this glory? Moreover, what is it with Steve Jobs and all the ground-breaking concepts he cooks up in his mind? The Steve Jobs thing is another story, but the iPhone's is fairly simple. Here are a few things worth mentioning about the iPhone:

(1) It has a big screen. 3.5 inches to be exact. And this is largely due to the fact that(2) It doesn't have a keyboard/ keypad. Instead it uses a simple multi-touch input system on the screen itself where you can access the menu, the virtual keyboard, and all the saved songs, photos and movies you have imported from iTunes. (3) Remember the stock white earbuds that come with an iPod? The iPhone ships with the same. Albeit one little difference. It has a built-in mic.(4) It's a smartphone and it runs with Mac OS X. It's a well-known fact that OS X is better than Windows or anything else. If not for the lack of supported applications, OS X would be untouchable. And lastly,(5) It's from Apple. That's all you needed to hear.

But hold your horses, Richie Rich. Given its excellent feature set, there are also some limitations posed by the great old iPhone. These include a mediocre battery (only lasts 20 something hours for music), incompatibility with other networks (locked with a line subscription to AT&T), lack of 3G (only has EDGE), dependence on iTunes (needs iTunes for activation and importing of files), not to mention its hefty price tag ($500 - 4GB; $600 - 8GB --excluding monthly bill). Reaching for your credit card has never been such a delicate choice. I sugges you think it over. Over and over until the time Apple releases an upgraded version of the iPhone or at least reduces prices. Now that would be something nice now, wouldn't it?

Nokia 5300

2007-07-13T03:10:00.000-07:00

Nokia 5300
Little party in your pocket
P9,000

PHONE HSCSD/ CSD, GPRS, EGPRS support. Enhanced Nokia Series 40 UI. Offline use. Compact slider.
CAM 1.3-megapixel camera with up to 8x digital zoom. Landscape camcorder and video player. Dedicated camera keys with preloaded fun frames and programmable white balance.
MUSIC Music player supporting all file formats. Dedicated music keys. High quality loudspeaker and in-box headset.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS 1.2, e-mail. Surf the web with EDGE/ GPRS. MiniUSB interface with USB 2.0. Infrared and Bluetooth.
MEMORY Up to 7 MB user data expandable with MicroSD card up to 2GB.
MISC Rubber grip for better ergonomics. Large 320 x 240 pixel, 262K color QVGA TFT display. 256 MB memory in-box.

The Nokia 5300 belongs to the Xpress Music line and is geared towards being a mobile music player. This is immediately noticed upon first glance at its form, with dedicated keys for the music application. It also has a 1.3-megapixel camera that shoots pretty decent pictures in well-lit conditions. Although the phone didn't quite become the hit that it should've been, you could still consider buying one even if just for the bright red highlights and hip form factor.

Obviously, it's a phone for the kids. Or the younger market, for that matter. But this may very well do for anyone who is young at heart. The Nokia 5300 runs with the Nokia Series 40 User Interface, which kills most of the possibilities for 3rd party applications. Still, you can stick with its built-in apps which aren't that bad anyway. For example, the music interface isn't exactly an enhanced one in the Nokia 5300, but it's a different thing from other phones. And sometimes, being different is all that matters.

It can be a bit hard to navigate through the phone for first-time users because the menu and selection keys don't require much pressing due to being touch-sensitive. Once you get over this, though it'll be smooth sailing ahead. If you want a loud-mouth music phone that will compliment you as you express yourself, the Nokia 5300 will not let down.
Overall, it's not the best phone out there, nor is it better than most of what's available in its price range. But if you're looking for something different, trying this one won't hurt you. Because in a world full of depressingly gray/ black monoblocks, a white sliding phone with an emphasis on being young and energetic isn't anything but sweet relief.

Apple's latest patent

2007-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

The pictures shown here are taken from Apple's latest patent application for what could possibly be its follow-up to the iPhone. It features a slightly bigger-than-standard click-wheel and a screen, and is rumored to be the design for a lower-tech, cheaper version of the iPhone.

Ladies and gentlemen we just might be looking at plans for a budget-friendly iPhone that will cater to the masses (that's us!). So cross your fingers and hope for the best - or better yet, pray that Santa Steve Jobs will get to deliver this little gadget to our stinky Christmas stockings come 2008!

Let's face it, most of us will never get to own the $600 iPod/cellphone hybrid that Apple let loose this 2007. Though you can always scoot over to the nearest Apple Mac Center just to get the look and feel of the unit, the iPhone isn't available anywhere except in the United States as of now. And with and Asian release date of 2008, it looks to be a very very long wait for us here in the RP. But even if it finally does hit our shores (no doubt it will, in due time), it will hardly be any cheaper. If anything, it will be more expensive (as if it wasn't expensive enough). The iPhone is clearly this year's must-have gadget. But with a higher-end price point, not everyone can get a taste of it.

This same problem came up way back when prohibitively priced 5th generation video iPods came out with as much as 80 GB capacity. The solution? Cheaper 5th-G iPods with a lower hard drive capacity. 30 GB to be exact. For those who still couldn't afford the less expensive 30-gig models, Apple came out with even cheaper flash-drive based players (the Shuffle, Mini and Nano) with anywhere from 512 mb to 8 GB of memory. And as we all know, it is with these budget iPods that Apple began to dominate. So it shouldn't come as a surprise if Apple rolls out budget iPhones that will cater to the tech-hungry, music-loving, shirtless masses. I'm sure few people will complain about a product that's just a cellphone with integrated full-blown iPod capabilities. Plus it will be cheaper, and therefore can be afforded by a bigger market.

The downgraded iPhone has not yet been confirmed, though. But it's pretty obvious that Apple would do well to look into the said concept.

Click to enlarge

Nokia 6630

2007-06-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

Nokia 6630
Demonstrating the power of 3G
P 8,000

PHONE Quadband/ 3G phone. Nokia Series 60 v 2.6 GUI, Symbian 8 OS with MIDP Java 2 support. Flight mode, offline use.
CAM 1.3 Megapixel camera with 6x variable digital zoom & sequence mode. Optional camera flash adapter (PD-2). Up to 1 hour video recording capability.
MUSIC MP3/AAC Digital music player with stereo output.
CONNECTIVITY Text, MMS, E-mail support. Web surfing. usb cable (pop-port), Bluetooth.
MEMORY 10 MB phone memory. Expandable via RS-MMC (hot-swappable).
MISC 5-way navigation key with customizable shortcuts. Active matrix, TFT screen(176x208 pixels, 65K colors) with automatic backlight adjustment. Built-in handsfree loudspeaker & vibra. Pre-loaded print utilities, MS office viewers and photo/video editors.

Used Nokia 6630 units have just recently started to take the market by storm due to the advent of successful BB5 phone unlocking. About 3 months ago, nobody in the world could unlock (open-line) Nokia Nseries phones or just about any Nokia 3G phone. These include the Nokia 6630. This has proven to be a hassle, since phones like these are sometimes locked to a certain operator (like Vodafone) from another country (like Japan) and are not compatible with your home-network operators. But once the unlocking software was developed, it spread like wildfire across the globe thru the internet. And that gave BB5 phones a new leash on life. Suddenly, almost every online store on the 'net has some 'almost new' Nokia 6630 units out and up for sale or auction. And since they aren't new, they come relatively cheap. But before you click that 'Add to Cart' button on your browser, here are a few things worth knowing about the Nokia 6630.

It was Nokia's very first 3G handset. But it doesn't have a second camera up-front for video calling. Still, you can use the 3G capability for faster data transfer rates and high-speed mobile web browsing. It only shows web pages in simplified text versions though, because it doesn't have an integrated MiniMap Series 60 web browser like its bigger siblings.

The built-in camera at the back of the unit can take 1.3 megapixel snapshots of your pimples and you can print them directly with any compatible photo printer via USB, Bluetooth or MMC. Its music player will play all kinds, and you can save as many songs as your free memory can handle. You can also shoot videos for up to an hour in length or if you like, you might store your precious scandals on the phone and view them full screen with RealPlayer.

Having Symbian for an operating system makes it a very versatile multimedia device. Making it your mobile office in one second and turning it into a Gameboy emulator the next is fairly easy. You have a mountain of applications to choose from.

If you're from the RP, you can check out the nearest phone surplus shops or tiangges in either Greenhills, Divisoria or Recto for this phone. But my advice to you is to look it up in your favorite online stores as well just to see if you can get a better deal. If you're from another country though, try searching for this phone in eBay or Amazon, those are the leading sites to shop from. Check out the Nokia 6680 too.

If you're looking for a second phone, that won't let you down when your primary handset runs out of juice, the Nokia 6630 may very well do.

Nokia N80

2007-06-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

Nokia N80
Nokia's multimedia computer. Enough said.
P 17,500

PHONE Quadband/ WCDMA/ 3G phone. Nokia Series 60 v 3.0 GUI, Symbian 9 OS.
CAM 3.0 Megapixel camera with flash and 20x zoom. Macro mode, landscape view and various shooting modes. Secondary VGA camera for video calls.
MUSIC Digital music player for MP3/ WMA/ AAC files. 5-band graphic equalizer. FM tuner with visual radio support.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS, & E-mail support. Mobile surfing via EGPRS, 3G or Wi-Fi(802.11b/g). Universal Plug N Play support. USB 2.0 and Bluetooth.
MEMORY 40 MB device memory. Expandable via MiniSD memory card.
MISC SLide up display. 2.1-inch screen with 320x420 pixels and 262K colors. Preloaded office viewers and image editors. High-speed mobile broadband via 2.75G, 3G or Wi-Fi. Built-in handsfree loudspeaker & Vibra alert. Offline mode and simless operation.

Representing the mid of the highly rated Nseries family, the Nokia N80 is a master in everything it does. This multimedia powerhouse from Nokia is a stunner. Exceptional functionality is equally matched by its stunning looks. The slider designing is same as Nokia 6111 and Nokia 6280. Being a 3G smart phone, the Nokia N80 can easily be described as compact. At 134 grams, the Nokia N80 is on the lighter side of smart phones. The Nokia N80 is based on S60 (third edition) platform and works on Symbian Operating system. Therefore, other than the built in programs, you can even run third party softwares on the Nokia N80. UPnP technology, Push to Talk, PIM including calender, Java MIDP 2.0 are only a few from the vast feature list of the Nokia N80.

Perhaps the most popular feature of the Nokia N80 is its integrated camera. The primary camera module embedded in this smart phone from Nokia is 3.0 mega pixel. Armed with 20x digital zoom and Integrated LED flash with red eye correction, the Nokia is nothing less than a true camera completed with Landscape view and dedicated camera key. High quality video recording capabilities in MP4 and 3GP formats of the Nokia N80 will comes in very handy in immortalizing special moments and occasions. The Nokia N80 has pre-installed 'Nokia Lifeblog' – so that you can upload your pictures and videos to the web.

The Nokia N80 supports quad-band GSM networks across all continents. The handset can also take part in 3G video calls across WCDMA 2100 MHz. A secondary VGA camera is included over the TFT display solely for that purpose. The mobile phone supports GPRS, EDGE as well as WiFi. Searching for any web content on its built in web browser is very easy. The Handset also includes a media player and a FM radio so that you don't have to carry anything else for music on the go.

Nokia N91

2007-06-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

Nokia N91
Monster hard-drive multimedia computer
P xx,xxx

PHONE Triband/ 3G phone. Series 60 GUI, Symbian OS v 9.1. Offline mode. Simless operation.
CAM 2.0 Megapixels with 6x digital zoom.
MUSIC Dedicated music player keys. FM radio. Built-in 3.5mm audio jack compatible with any standard set of earphones.
CONNECTIVITY GPRS, EDGE, 3G, USB, Bluetooth. WLAN(Wi-Fi).
MEMORY 4GB(Microdrive). Additional 30MB for contacts, calendar, SMS. No memory expansion slots.
MISC 262K color TFT display with 176x208 pixel screen resolution. Up to 4 hours talk time, 6 days stand-by time.

Once upon a great hit in the market, the Nokia N91 has taken a little backseat off late. The handset is a little expensive as compared to its competitors and has been taken over by many other model. Yet, one things about Nokia N91 remains the same, that this handset still features some functionalities that makes it desired by the customers. Its highlights being integrated 4GB hard drive, a music player, a 2-mega pixel camera, and PIM capabilities. In terms of design, the Nokia N91 looks a little bulky and flashy. The sliver shine sure makes it eye catchy, but at 4.4 by 2.2 by 0.9 inches and 5.8 ounces, the slider phone is on the larger and heftier side.

Even if we were to gauge the slider as a music phone, our opinion would be still the same. But this solid construction also have a positive side. It enables the user to get a stronger grip of the device. The Nokia N91 features a 2.2-inch-diagonal screen that displays 262,000 colours. Below the display are two customizable soft keys, the Talk and End buttons, and a five-way navigation toggle. On closed position, the device also displays music control keys. To access the numeric keypad, the Nokia N91 needs to be slid. Though the keypad seems a little cramped. On the left spine are a volume rocker, a speaker, and a mini USB port, while on right spine are a menu shortcut key and a button to release the back cover.

The Nokia N series thrives on multimedia prowess. And while the N80 and N90 ensure photography fun, the Nokia N91 is all about music. It has a competent music player and can hold up to 3000 songs. Further , it also has the advantage of Windows Media DRM-protected files. To enhance the sound, there's an equalizer with seven options (default, acoustic, bass booster, hip-hop, pop, R&B, and rock) and an audio settings menu where you can tweak the balance, stereo widening, and loudness.Other features of Nokia N91 are triband (GSM 900/1800/1900; EDGE), integrated Bluetooth 1.2 and Wi-Fi, speakerphone, speed dial, voice dialing and commands, text and multimedia messaging, a vibrate mode, and many lifestyle features.

Nokia N73

2007-06-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

Nokia N73
The unofficial upgrade to the Nokia N70
P 15,800 (Classic)/ P 17,300 (Music Edition)

PHONE Quadband/ UMTS/ 3G phone. Nokia Series 60 v 3.0 GUI, Symbian 9 OS with M-Java CLDC support. Offline mode.
CAM 3.2 Megapixel Carl Zeiss-Vario Tessar auto-focus lens with flash. 20x digital zoom. MP4 video recording(15 frames-per-second). Secondary VGA camera for video calls.
MUSIC Digital music player for MP3, AAC, eAAC, AAC+, WMA or M4A files. Album art display, stereo speakers, and FM radio with Visual Radio support.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS, Email support. Video calling/ video sharing. Web browsing via xHTML, WWW, EDGE or 3G. Infrared, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 1.2.
MEMORY 40 MB on-device memory. Expandable with MiniSD card(hot-swappable).
MISC Active camera lens slider. Dedicated music access keys, shutter, zoom-volume, menu and gallery keys. 2.4-inch screen (320x240 pixels, 262K colors). Preloaded office and Adobe tools. Built-in image/video editors. Memory support up to 2GB. Nokia MiniMap Browser.

If you're looking for an upgrade to a 3G phone but something like a V3X or maybe even an N70 just won't do, then the Nokia N73 would be a sure hit for you. It's a Nokia smartphone and it belongs to the Nseries. Isn't that enough to convince you already?

Even if you're not such a big fan of all-in-one devices, you'll find that the N73 delivers quite well. Having this in your pocket negates the need for a few other gadgets, namely: (1) a camera (it's main attraction is a 3.2 megapixel Carl Zeiss auto-focus lens with flash. You can use the 20x digital zoom for taking stills and there's also up to 8x zoom video stabilization for video clips.), (2) a music player (the integrated digital music player will play all music file formats - mp3, aac, wma, & m4a - and the essential FM radio is present with Visual Radio support.), (3) a movie player (an integrated movie player is present to take care of 3gp/ mp4 movie playback and a 2.4-inch, 320x240 pixel, 262K color screen ensures your movie viewing satisfaction) and finally, (4) a smartphone - well, almost (preloaded PDA features, as well as Office and Adobe viewers, make up for your mobile office needs). It also supports email messaging and net surfing at the speed of 3G. So why think twice about buying an N73? Yes, there are trade-offs, and one is the weak battery unit. But considering the savings you get from the gadgets it replaces, an extra battery (or two) will seem very cheap.

Merely mentioning its key features make it seem like a multimedia powerhouse. And its looks don't deceive you. It's really a great phone. So don't hold your breath and just buy the N73. I'm sure you can afford it.

Nokia N70

2007-06-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

Nokia N70
No wonder it's a best-seller
P 12,500

PHONE Triband/ WCDMA/ Dual-mode/ 3G phone. Nokia Series 60 v 2.8 GUI, Symbian 8 OS with Java 2 Support. Offline mode and simless operation.
CAM 2.0 Megapixel camera with built-in flash. 20x digital zoom, advanced image settings and 5 shooting modes. Mp4 or 3gp video recording. Secondary VGA camera for video calls.
MUSIC Digital music player for MP3/ AAC/ WMA file formats. Album art display. Stereo with Visual Radio support.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS, E-mail support. Video calling/ video sharing. Mobile browsing via xHTML, WWW, & SIM toolkits. USB 2.0. Bluetooth 1.2.
MEMORY 20 MB on-device memory. Expandable with DV-RS-MMC(hot-swap).
MISC Active sliding main camera lens cover. 2.1-inch TFT screen(176x208 pixels, 262K colors). Pre-loaded print utilities and MS office document viewers. Built-in image and video editors. Memory support up to 2GB.

Premiered in silver, this dual-mode/ 3G handset from Nokia is easily the best-selling unit out of all the amazing Nseries phones. No matter where you are in the Philippines right now, you are sure to spot at least two or three people with an N70 in their hand. But this shouldn't make you wonder though. When compared with other Nseries phone models based on looks, you'd easily mistake the N70 for a higher-end one due to its flashy silver finish and fancy camera lens slider. Maybe that's the reason why this old mobile-wonder is still so "now" and has even outlived the higher-end N73 in terms of obsolescence (Nokia has already phased-out the N73 and now only the Music Edition of it is being mass-produced).

The N70 is just your average Nokia Nseries phone. Which means it has highly advanced multimedia and entertainment features (3gp/mp4 recording and playback on the 2.1-inch, 262K color screen; mp3/ aac/ eaac+ playback in the integrated music player; tons of multimedia and other useful software applications that are tailor-made for its Symbian OS; and high data transfer speeds with the use of the 3G network. But of course, it's stongest selling points are the dual cameras that are placed on it's front and back. The front VGA camera is useful for live video calls while the main 2-megapixel camera gives you print-worthy photos, even in low-light. In daylight or bright light, however, it can be a worthy replacement for smaller digital cameras. That, coupled with its nice music player makes it dangerously close to becoming an all-in-one. If only it had a better battery pack.

Overall, the N70 is a very reliable handset. Despite the mediocre battery life and slightly bulky feel when you hold it in one hand (especially if it has crystal casing), the N70 won't let you down features-wise. If you're looking for an upgrade to a 3G phone, look no further than this classic, living legend.

Nokia N95

2007-06-28T23:34:00.000-07:00

Nokia N95
The King-and-Queen of the royal NSeries bloodline
P 35,000

PHONE Quadband/ WCDMA/ HSDPA(3.5G) phone. Nokia Series 60 v 3.1, Symbian OS. Offline mode and simless operation.
CAM 5.0 Megapixel Carl Zeiss-Vario Tessar auto-focus lens with flash. Video stabilisation and VGA resolution up to 30 frames-per-second for DVD-grade video recording. Secondary camera for video calling.
MUSIC DIgital music player for all music file formats. Dedicated media access keys. FM radio with visual radio support.
CONNECTIVITY WLAN 802.11 b/g. USB 2.0. Infrared. Bluetooth with A2DP. 3.5mm stereo headphone plug and TV-out support(PAL/NTSC).
MEMORY Up to 160 MB internal memory. Expandable with MicroSD card(hot-swap).
MISC Dual slide motion. Dedicated music keys, shutter and lens cover mechanism. 2.6-inch QVGA display with 240x320 pixels and up to 16 million colors. Integrated Nokia MiniMap Web Browser. Built-in GPS maps.

Nokia N95. 2.6-inch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, built-in GPS mapping system, and a 5-MP camera sensor with a Carl Zeiss lens and flash mechanism. No, I'm not reading the future of mobile phones on a crystal ball. I'm describing the key features of the present-day N95.

One look at the Nokia N95 is all it takes to be impressed. And for its heavyweight feature set, it's surprisingly light on the hand. Suddenly the previously much-loved N93 with its very bulky frame seems like one great big mistake.

Actually there's nothing more to say but just BUY IT. If you have the cash, you won't be spending in vain with this one. Once you have this in your pocket, you will truly have it all.

Nokia N93

2007-06-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

Nokia N93

Movie-making rocket in your pocket

P28,000

PHONE Triband, Dual-mode/ 3G handset. Nokia Series 60 v3.0 GUI, Symbian 9 OS with M-Java 2 CLDC support. Offline mode and simless operation.

CAM 3.2-megapixel Carl Zeiss auto-focus optics with 3x optical zoom and flash. 20x digital zoom for stills and 8x digital zoom for videos. Dedicated zoom ring, shutter, flash, and camera keys with on-screen active palette for dynamic scene, exposure and white balance. Video capture at 30 frames-per-second. Secondary camera with 2x step zoom for video calls.

MUSIC Digital music player supporting all music formats. FM stereo with Visual Radio support.

CONNECTIVITY USB 2.0, WLAN (wi-fi 802.11 b/g), Bluetooth 1.2 and Infrared.

MEMORY 40 mb on device memory with hot-swap MiniSD card slot for expansion (up to 2GB).

MISC 2.4-inch main display with 320 x 240 pixel resolution and 262K colors. Outer display screen with 128 x 36 pixels & 65K colors. Xpress sharing of photos/ movies with TV-out, DVD burning, e-mail or blogging. Preloaded Office and Adobe viewers, video and image editors, and integrated Series 60 web browser with MiniMap.

The Nokia N93 is a great convergent device. It is one of the very rare cellphone/ camera/ media player hybrids that does not compromise when it comes to features. It gives new meaning to the term 'jack of all trades' because it certainly is able to handle whatever is demanded from it. But one question always comes to the top of my head whenever I see one. Yes, it's a beautiful rendition of an all-in-one, but I always end up asking myself, 'Who would want one?' OK, maybe tech-heads and cam-geeks would want one. Big shot politicians or businessmen and anybody with a Swiss bank account might get a hold of it too. But just one look at the Nokia N93 tells you that it's just too big for its own damn good. Yes, it's just too big, but I figure they had to make room for its mammoth features. So, now that the only gripe has been mentioned, time to discuss this superphone's powers!

You can use the Nokia N93 for your regular mobile phone activities (SMS/ MMS messaging and making/ taking calls) and it also supports e-mail messaging. But if checking your e-mail fro Yahoo! or Google just isn't enough, you can also go online and surf the websites themselves via a 3G connection or a Wi-Fi hotspot. So what useful thing can you do exactly while surfing the web from your phone? You can check out the latest news, browse your favorite sites, or even upload your camera snaps directly to a blog. Speaking of the camera, the Nokia N93 has one of the best (and not to mention the biggest) imaging peripherals around and the Carl Zeiss lens assembly is actually what contributes the most to the phone's overall bulk. Like the previous N90, it seems they've built the phone around the 3.2-megapixel sensor. Dedicated zoom and camera keys partnered with a big and bright, flip-twist LCD screen make for easier camera operations. Preloaded smartphone features (Office/ Adobe viewers) and vast options for connectivity (Bluetooth, USB, and Infrared) try to persuade that it's the only gadget you'll ever need. It almost succeeds.

At the end of the day, it brings the best of worlds closer. Imaging, music, connectivity, what else could you need? What? Something much better? Well, you can always check out the N95, if that's your thing. Still, this phone is a worthy alternative.

Nokia 6260

2007-06-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

Nokia 6260
Big-boned twisting clam

P 5,000

PHONE Triband GSM phone. Symbian 7 OS, Series 60 User Interface

CAM VGA resolution camera (480 x 640 pixels)

MUSIC Bundled Real Player for MP3, WAV, AAC, and Real Audio formats. FM radio. Video support for 3GPP, Mp4 and Real Video formats. FM radio with 20 presets.

CONNECTIVITY SMS and MMS messaging, support for POP3/ IMAP4 e-mail. Bluetooth, Infrared and USB connectivity.

MEMORY About 6 MB on-board memory. Expandable via Dual-Voltage Reduced-Size Memory Card (DV-RS-MMC)

MISC Color screen with 176 x 208 pixel resolution and 65K colors. Built-in handsfree speaker. Wallet application. Preloaded Office (Word and Powerpoint) viewers. IM.

The Nokia 6260 is a great phone in its own right, but it is easily overshadowed by more flashy and glittery mobile phones. One of the reasons for this could be its hefty clam-type form. It's too big for one-handed use and when open, it's almost as big as two phones put together. Also, the design is as plain as it can get. It's ugly and it's big on everything; except on features. But it garners extra points for style and innovation, though. Let me show you how the Nokia 6260 can potentially turn the tables and become the next item in your shopping list.

The form of the Nokia 6260 is that of a classic clamshell, but - you gotta hear this - there's a twist. Quite literally, you can twist the screen of the half-open clam to access the camera application and take pictures with its VGA camera. It has and MP3 player and FM radio, too. It's almost like a prototype for the future N90 and N93. But of course, it's not on the same level as those super phones. It runs with the same OS, though, and the Symbian platform does a pretty neat job at trying to save the Nokia 6260's sinking ship.

It has some pretty cool applications built-in, such as the chat application, position tracking system and it also supports Push-to-talk technology. Unfortunately, these features are not supported in most countries except in Europe. So what else can you do with a Nokia 6260? Well, a lot, actually, with the of the right applications for its OS.

One of the few major drawbacks, though, is its noticeable slugishness. Even just turning the unit on after it has been turned off will have you waiting for a while or for upwards of 1 minute. If you can overcome this, you won't be disappointed with the Nokia 6260. But if you still feel you're better off with something better, or something smarter, there are always other choices. I'm just saying this might be a good one.