Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 Review

* Pros: 8.1MP camera. Microsoft Office Mobile preloaded. QWERTY keyboard
* Cons: Resistive touchscreen. Lack of internal storage. Questions over Windows Mobile OS

PREVIEW
There seems to be a new wave of love coming for Windows Mobile handsets, and leading the surge for business-types is the Sony Ericsson Xperia X2.


With the confirmation of its launch seemingly timed to rain on Nokia's parade, it will only be a light shower if the X2 can't address the clunky OS that blighted the X1.


Better camera
The X2 has lost none of the girth of its predecessor, and is still brick-like – even in the world of smartphones. To broaden its appeal, Sony Ericsson has ramped up the X1's run-of-the-mill 3.2MP camera to an impressive 8.1MP, complete with 'Photo light' for easy uploading to the internet and geotagging. Good news, considering the company’s reputation for optical excellence.

The bad news is that the stylus-friendly touchscreen is of the resistive variety, which means you'll probably have to get a little heavy-handed with it from time to time when navigating menus. The X2 is one of the first handsets to run the Windows 6.5 OS, which will hopefully improve the occasional instability of the X1.

Panel beater
Sony Ericsson has once again dressed the OS up in its finest 'Panels' attire, coming pre-loaded with 14 panels (twice as many as the X1) giving you touch access to a variety of features. While a fine idea, its implementation on the X1 could have been better, so we'll have to see if this incarnation can improve things.

Complementing the panels on the X2 is a new feature called SlideView, which should give even quicker access to frequently used apps like contacts, messages and media. This will hopefully minimise time spent in menus and add a much-needed intuitive air to the interface.


Talking of media, despite the boost in megapixels to the built-in camera, the X2 makes a rod for its own back by failing to include any onboard storage of great significance. If you want to store music, movies and photos, you'll be limited by the size of the microSD card you get. All of which proves this is a business beast at heart.

The X1 was a competent smartphone, but had a hard task to win over users with its clunky Windows-based operating system. If Windows 6.5 can smooth out some of those issues and Panels tidies up its edges, the X2 could fulfil more of that smartphone potential.

Reference: http://stuff.tv/review/Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-X2-preview/

Review of RIM's BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220

The BlackBerry Pearl was a breakout device for RIM. It was the first time the company took the more traditional form factor allowed by its SureType 20 key keypad and packaged it in a small, glossy, and consumer friendly device. In short, it was the break out device for RIM.
vibrant media


The Pearl Flip is set to be that same kind of device. It takes all of the good features of the BlackBerry Pearl line and stuffs them into the folder form factor that the North American market loves so dearly. The new form factor also allows the Pearl Flip to offer something no other BlackBerry has in the past: a secondary display. It all looks fantastic, but how does it actually work?

Physical Aspects

Considering that RIM has never built a folder phone before, it is no surprise that the Pearl Flip deviates a bit from the standard form factor. The Pearl Flip is designed like two flat slabs that are connected together by a wide bar shaped hinge where the slabs curve slightly. It is a very good looking design, but one not without downsides. For starters, the Pearl Flip is quite big at 101mm x 50mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.0" x 0.7"). By modern standards, that's approaching chunky. In its defense, the Pearl Flip weighs only 103.5g (3.6oz).


Another con associated with the Pearl's form factor is that, when opened, it doesn't conform to the shape of a person's face well like most clamshell phones do. Instead, it opens up effectively straight. Again, it looks quite cool, but it gives away some of the benefits of most folder style phones: close proximity of the microphone to the user's mouth. Lastly, in spite of its obvious girth, the hinge doesn't seem that sturdy. As you can see in the video below, there is a bit of play in the hinge that is a little disturbing.

The rest of the exterior of the device, however, is just drop dead gorgeous. The 8220's smooth curves, metal trim, and gloss front face and embedded display are just fantastic. I really can't get enough of looking at this phone. But there are more things to like than just its handsome design. On the left edge are two particularly handy features: a 3.5mm audio port and a micro-USB charger/data port. There are a pair of user configurable shortcut keys, one on each side, and a microSDHC(INFO) memory card slot that sits below the volume rocker control on the right edge.


Inside the trend continues. The Pearl Flip's 240x320 pixel (QVGA) display is quite pretty, and the 20 key SureType keypad has nice flowing lines to it. There is the signature "pearl" trackball, of course, but this time it sits in a recessed well that keeps the trackball from pressing on the display when the phone is closed. We didn't find this to be a problem at all and were able to use the trackball normally. The keys that cover the bottom half of the device, including those of the SureType keypad, have a reasonable feel to them. Somehow, though, the SureType keypad seems less usable than it is on the original Pearl series. Perhaps it is because the keys are perfectly flat, maybe it has something to do with them not being arranged in straight rows. But whatever it is, we didn't like it all that much. It is usable, but something just feels slightly wrong with it.

In the end, the Pearl Flip leaves us with mixed feelings. We all love the way the device looks, it really is a pretty phone. It's just that some aspects of the phone seem to have suffered for that pretty design, notably the play in the hinge and the curved rows of keys on the 20 key keypad. These aren't deal breaking issues, of course, but perhaps RIM should have tried a more traditional design for its first flip phone effort.

Reference: http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Id=5587

Samsung S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty Mobile Phone Preview

Cell Phones


Samsung launched a limited edition, S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty Mobile Phone (or another name Samsung S5230 Hello Kitty Star) after success of S5230, featuring a 3” resistive touch screen display with WQVGA (240 x 400 pixels) resolution. I do believe Samsung S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty Mobile Phone will be able to catch all the girls’ eyes, especially for Hello Kitty fans owing to its aesthetic design. Highlights also includes an MP3 and MP4 player for playing audio and video, an FM radio, handwriting recognition, a document viewer for looking at Word, Excel and Powerpoint files, a 3 MP camera, QVGA video recording, bluetooth, a microSD slot, a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser.
Body design

With the dimension of 104×53×11.9mm and a weight of 93.5 grams, Samsung S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty is portable for women users for its slim body. A combination of white and pink colors with Hello Kitty pictured on the phone adds a touch of romance.





Samsung S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty’s screen is concise and large and occupies the most part of front body.

Samsung S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty’s concise screen only has 3 keys for controlling calling, returning and ending call. Scrupulous users will find the return key was replaced by lovely Kitty face.



Besides, there are a lot of special wallpaper and rings available in this limited edition of Samsung S5230C.


Samsung S5230 Hello Kitty Star’s right side

There is a hole for pendant, a shortcut key, a lock key, and a slot for touch control pen on the right side of body and the touch control pen can be lengthen and shorten.



Battery

The battery supports up to 800 hours’ Stand-by time and up to 10 hours’ talk-time.



Multimedia functions

S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty mobile phone can supporting 8 GB expansion card. Its mini music player and music recognition function enable you to enjoy the music freely. With clear 3.2 megapixels and WQVGA resolution, Samsung S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty mobile phone can capture your wonderful moment.



Other functions

Featuring full touch screen and Touchwiz operating interface, S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty provides with network service, such search engineers, e-books, the download of over 100 free application software and games.

Accessories

Let’s see what else in the box



Delicate mobile phone case with Hello Kitty logo



Cute chain and ornament

A shinning star link to the zipper, a fuzzy ball and butterfly tie create cute and romantic atmosphere.



Conclusion

Samsung S5230 Tocco Lite Hello Kitty’s built-in software for accessing internet facilitates our life, although doesn’t adapt intelligent system for its product location. Samsung S5230C Hello Kitty star’s cute design and esthetic interface will capture many girls’ heart.

Reference: http://blog.etech.com/2010/06/02/samsung-s5230-tocco-lite-hello-kitty-mobile-phone-preview/

Nokia N900 Review

Operating systems play an increasingly more important role when choosing a new mobile phone. Besides the design and the speed, many of its functionalities strongly depend on the phone’s operating system. Nokia always uses Symbian OS for high-end mobile phones. Symbian enables installing applications, and also managing your agenda and email account is easy and straightforward. Besides Symbian, Nokia also uses a further developed Open Source operating system, the Linux-based Maemo. The Nokia N900 is the first phone to make use of this operating system, where it is called Maemo 5.• Read our full Nokia N900 review.

Nokia N900 Mobile computer review
With the implementation of the Nokia N900 Maemo 5, the menu structure is entirely new, which means that it takes time to get used to. After startup, there are a number of home screens for the user to scroll through. Widgets, average shortcuts or contacts can be added to a home screen. This structure is found on several mobile phones nowadays and is very convenient. It allows you to create your own user environment, containing everything that is important to you, in an easy way.

Nokia N900 review - Maemo software
The Open Source character of the Maemo software naturally ensures easy installation of additional applications. The Nokia N900 mobile phone standard features an FM receiver and infrared, although there are no applications at this time that make use of it. These features have been added for developers, thus getting more out of the N900 in the (near) future. This way, applications can be developed for the Nokia N900 that will transform the device into a remote control or radio. The OVI-store did not (yet) work during the test period. But there are several other channels to get to additional software.

Nokia N900 smartphone review
The Nokia N900 is a further developed Internet Tablet, with a newly added call functionality. Ideal for using Internet services and running multiple applications, similar to a regular computer. The Nokia N900 also features a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a sliding keyboard, GPS antenna, 5.0 megapixel digital camera, 32GB internal memory and Wi-Fi. Our experiences are revealed in the following Nokia N900 review.

Reference: http://www.letsgomobile.org/en/6259/nokia-n900-review/

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Review

The Xperia X10 is Sony Ericsson’s first smartphone to feature Google’s Android OS, and it comes with a range of impressive specifications. The Xperia X10 features a 4 inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 480 x 854.

It is powered by a Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon processor and had an eight megapixel camera with built in autofocus and an LED flash. There is also integrated WiFi, and A-GPS. The Sony Ericsson X10 comes with Google Android 1.6 plus a custom user interface from Sony.



You get 1GB of storage built in and it also comes with an 8GB microSD card as standard. Other features include an accelerometer and a proximity sensor, Bluetooth 2.1 and support for HSDPA and HSUPA connectivity.

The first thing we noticed about the Xperia X10 when we were unboxing it is the packaging, it comes packaged in a similar way to the Apple iPhone. Inside the box there is a micro USB cable, plus an AC adapter, and a set of headphones.



After unwrapping the X10 the first thing you notice is the screen, at 4 inches it is pretty big, the display is crisp and clear, and the colors are nice and bright.



Below the large 4 inch display there are three buttons that are used for navigation as well as the touchscreen, and it features a custom UI from Sony with a couple of cool functions called Timescape and Mediascape.

The UI seems pretty good, although it did take a little while to get used to, but once you have learned how to navigate your way around, it works pretty well. One thing we would have liked to have seen on the X10 is multitouch, although this could possibly be added when Sony update the Android OS to 2.1, this hasn’t been confirmed by Sony as yet.



The Xperia X10 features a eight megapixel camera with an LED flash and autofocus, the camera works pretty well, and is definitely one of the most impressive ones we have tested on a smartphone.



As well as being able to take still photos, the X10’s camera is also capable or recording video in WVGA at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. The X10 does a good job with video, and it is definitely more capable of recording decent quality video clips than some of the other mobile phones with video cameras we have tested.



Where the Sony Ericsson really shines is with music, and video, Sony’s Mediascape application is great and it makes it really easy to access your photos, music and videos, and it displays your most recently played media.

The audio quality of the X10 is very good, and the bundled headphones that come with it do a reasonable jobs, although if you add a quality pair of headphones to the X10 you will be impressed with the sound quality.



Video is also very good on the X10, and it looks great on that large 4 inch screen. One thing we would have liked is support for DiVX and XviD files, lets hope this is something that Sony adds in the future.

The X10 comes with a built in web browser, to be honest it isn’t the best browser we have seen, and takes a little getting used to, but once you have played about with it a bit it isn’t to bad, although this really isn’t a problem as there are lots of browser options available from the Android Market.

Conclusion

The Xperia X10 has some interesting features, we really liked the design, and it is very well built, and the 4 inch capacitive touchscreen is impressive and great for videos and photos, and the UI is easy to use and quite user friendly.



Overall considering that the Xperia X10 is Sony Ericsson’s first smarpthone to feature Google’s Android OS, I would say they have done a pretty good job. The only downside to the Xperia X10 is that it comes with Android 1.6 and not Android 2.1

This is something that Sony intend to address as they will be releasing an update for the X10 that will give it Google Android 2.1, which should make the Xperia X10 into an impressive Android smartphone.

If you are in the market for an Android Smartphone, we would definitely recommend checking out the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.

Reference: http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-review-19-04-2010/

HTC TyTN II 4550 Kaiser

HTC TyTN II Review

The most robust Windows Mobile device on the market today..
More powerful than any mobile communications device you've used before, the HTC TyTN II takes global connectivity to the next level. Staying connected means staying ahead. The TyTN II supports the full spectrum of network standards, guaranteeing that you will stay in touch ANYWHERE in the world. With an internet connection via 3.5G HSDPA that is nine times faster than 3G, using the TyTN II to download files and surf the Web is a breeze.

I have to say the first week of using the HTC TyTN II has been pretty interesting. The unit is probably one of the most powerful Windows Mobile phones I have used to date other than the HTC Advantage. I am very happy with the lack of soft resets, something that has plagued me with the WM6 Treo 750 I was using. The TyTN II does have some quirky things that really tick me off. The unit will not accept the little brother HTC TyTN battery! Yes, It is a completely different size! Now don't get me wrong but COMON HTC lets get logical. The battery is a Samsung KAS160 battery which is a measly 1350mAh battery. Totally unacceptable for a POWERHOUSE phone. So what did I do? I immediately grabbed my USB car charger that has worked on EVERY HTC device I owned.. Guess what? Nope it wouldn't work! So now I have to patiently wait for an extended battery solution. I am hoping our store will carry them also.

Now to the things I like! Boy where do I start. The TyTN II works like a charm with Skype and Slingbox! Two applications that are very processor intensive and it ran like a charm! I called Steve on the TyTN II over 3G and he clearly heard me with no feedback and a very slight delay. It almost makes you wish Skype for Windows Mobile supported video calling because this phone definitely would work with it. During my use with the Slingbox, I noticed really no problems whatsoever. The Sling always went to full screen giving me the best horizontal view possible. Now since the device slides open and at a 40 degree angle it is a pleasure to watch while eating my lunch.

One other factor that drew me into purchasing the TyTN II was the GPS radio. I have been using the free map w/TomTom and I was using Google Maps but once you get a taste of TomTom you really want the full experience. So yesterday I placed an order at the Mobility Today store for Tom Tom 6 Navigator for PocketPC! I have read many forums where people were not sure if the TomTom 6 Navigator for PocketPC would work and for confirmation it did! When I got the DVD today I immediately installed the application and was prompted with an error, "Not enough space on HTC TyTN II".. Now, I should have known since I only had a 1GB card so I once again placed an order for a Sandisk 4GB MicroSD card. Now this is the mother of all memory cards to buy for any Windows Mobile phone! I used the included reader to move all my previous content from my 1GB card to the 4GB card which it only took 4.5 minutes to move 850MB's of data!!! Unbelievable!

Once I got the maps installed I timed exactly how long it took the TyTN II to lock the satellites. The average time took me only 6.5 seconds!!! This is even better than my TomTom 910 unit! The guidance is dead on and exact! Now I have only used the TomTom for 1 day but I do have some long trips coming up so I definitely will put it through some paces...

So please keep posted as I will continue my adventure with the HTC TyTN II.. Please continue to post your questions as I will answer them as I can.

DISLIKES

The unit definitely needs a bigger battery 1350mAh just doesn't cut it especially for a device with 802.11, HSDPA, GPS and Bluetooth.
I have no clue how to tweak the GPS as there is no application associated with it? It just works..
TomTom included is a complete waste for US. Why? Because you have to buy the entire US/Canada maps on DVD not like European maps where you can buy cities.
Bluetooth pairing w/my Speakerphone worked fine but it looks like the Bluetooth Stack on the TyTN II is weird. Volume is much lower compared to the Q9m and Treo 750.
US Tech support is terrible for this unit. As per HTC America's "We will not support the TyTN II, thank you sir have a nice day!"
I need Microsoft Voice Command... CASE CLOSED! Poor decision HTC!!!!
LIKES

I LOVE the tilt screen. Most comfortable keyboard I have ever used.
Skype is fantastic on the TyTN II! Wish I could get video to work on Skype but they haven't enabled it yet..
Memory, Memory, Space.. Gotta love it!
3MP camera takes some great pictures!
TomTom teaser makes me want to spend more money for maps.. Perfect fit for me in NY when walking around Manhattan.
GPS works with zero configuration
Google Maps and Live Search for Mobile works perfectly with the embedded GPS.
Nice touch by adding a screen protector in the box
USB charging.. Gotta love it!
Slingbox works perfectly.. No stuttering and full screen viewing is beautiful on the tilt

Reference: http://mobilitytoday.com/articles/htc_tytnII_review.html

Nokia E75

The E71 is considered Nokia's most recent hit. With this handset, Nokia was able to hold the consumer's attention in this strongly competitive market. The times of the traditional cell phone manufacturer and the success that undoubtedly came with it, are definitely a thing of the past. Electronic giants such as Samsung and HTC, as well as LG, demand their market share. In addition, the ongoing worldwide credit crunch and the unpredictable behavior of today's consumer are causing sorrowful times for both the marketing and the R&D department. The Nokia E75 smartphone is expected to prolong the success of its predecessor, at which the Nokia messaging feature is very likely to help. One difference between this service and a comparable one such as that of BlackBerry, is that the latter settles for any company network, whereas the Nokia user is dependent on Nokia's network.

The Nokia E75 is a 3G mobile phone, providing onboard WLAN and HSDPA, topped off with an array of multimedia features such as Email, VoIP, camera, A-GPS and Internet. The specifications really do look promising on paper.

Nokia mobile phone review

First impression of the Nokia E75 handset

"Designed for the way we manage our business'; this is Nokia's message on the box of the Nokia E75. The visual messages on the box imply the Nokia E75 is meant for all-round communication. You can gain access to all your email accounts in three steps; select 'set email' and start the program. Select; manage email account and enter your password, whereupon you, as a Nokia E75 owner, are ready to communicate with the outside world. The Nokia E75 has a high quality appearance. The handset features attractive curves and fairly compact dimensions. The E75 feels solid partly thanks to the materials used. When we slide the device sideways to open it, a QWERTY keyboard appears. In horizontal position, the Nokia E75 lies safely and stable in your hand, providing easy operation. The equipment included with the Nokia E75 comprises of a set of earplugs (HS-43), USB cable, battery charger, BL-4U Lithium-Ion battery, microSD memory card and an instruction manual. A voice recognition navigation system with maps for a period of 3 months comes with the E75 as a nice extra, although this may vary by region. For the Nokia E75 review, we received a silver/black version, however; the handset is available in several other colors (also depending on the region).

Nokia E75 test

Nokia E75 smartphone design

The Nokia E75 cell phone has a stylish design. Whereas before, the Nokia phone design used to be somewhat conservative, or in other words: ordinary and certainly not trendy, the Nokia E75 is an eye-catcher. It has a striking appearance and will look good on any desk. The weight of the device is considerable yet not too heavy. It provides essential stability. Compared to its predecessor, the E71, the Nokia E75 is somewhat larger in size. On the other hand, the E71 is wider than the Nokia E75. Altogether, it doesn’t make much of a difference as far as the total dimension is concerned, although personally I do prefer the Nokia E75. The back features a truly attractive finish, and seems to radiate pure luxury. The engraved pattern gives the phone a classic yet modern appearance. The form factor; a slider phone with a keyboard that slides open sideways, is new for Nokia. The Nokia E75's form factor may in fact signal a new generation of Nokia slider phones.

Reference: http://www.letsgomobile.org/en/review/0117/nokia-e75-test/