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2010-07-03 00:14
By Noah Kravitz, posted Feb 26, 08 12:00 AM / 92828 view - add comment -
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Read more:cell phone reviews, HTC Shadow, HTC
Click to visit the HTC Shadow information hub
HTC Shadow What is Good: Shadow is a sleek slider with a custom interface and jog dial that make it easier to use than the average Windows Mobile smartphone. The SureType keypad fits a QWERTY layout into the ace of a regular numerical keypad but has larger butto than the BlackBerry Pearl or Samsung Blast. Built-in WiFi and myFaves compatibility.
What's Not Good: Not everyone will like Shadow&rsquo keypad. Wider than most slider phones. Le powerful than many smartphones. No touchscreen. EDGE is slow for Web browsing.
Bottom Line: If youre looking for a smartphone in a sleek disguise, Shadow is an interesting choice. Though it ru Windows Mobile, it&rsquo really more like a souped-up me aging phone than a smartphone. The custom UI is a great touch.
Specs: * Make/Model: HTC Shadow * Network: GSM Quad-Band * Data: EDGE and WiFi (802.11b/g) * Carrier: T-Mobile USA (Locked) * Size: 103 x 53 x 15 mm * Weight: 150 g * Form Factor: Slider * Di lay: 2.6 Color LCD, 240 x 320 (QVGA) Resolution, 65,000 Colors * Memory: 144MB built-in, microSD card slot * Notable Features: Windows Mobile 6 Standard OS with Custom User Interface; SureType QWERTY Keypad; Jog dial navigation wheel; myFaves compatible
Introduction
I really liked testing out the HTC Shadow for T-Mobile but Im not sure Id want it for my daily phone. How&rsquo that for a strong stance, huh? In all seriou e , the Shadow is a great mix of smartphone features with a sleek sliderphone&rsquo body, and makes great use of a custom user interface developed to harne the power of the Windows Mobile 6 platform while masking much of its ugline . So itd likely make a great handset for someone who wants a compact design with WiFi and a QWERTY keyboard o oard.
Shadow&rsquo too much phone for a barebones user and not quite robust enough for a phone geek (like, ahem,
, me), but could find a nice niche with T-Mobile customers who want high- eed acce to Web and Email features without the bulk of an HTC Wing or BlackBerry Curve.
Design &am Features
HTC Shadow openAt first glance, Shadow looks like a slightly oversized version of almost any sliderphone currently on the market. Shadow&rsquo is just a few millimeters longer and wider than a slider like Samsung&rsquo T819 (also for T-Mobile), and the extra size affords a roomy 2.6 color di lay and a SureType-style keypad. The 20-button keypad puts two letters on most keys in a QWERTY arrangement, so it&rsquo sort of a compromise between the standard 12-button arrangement and a full typing thum oard. I found it pretty comfortable to use, thanks in large part to the roomy butto , but it takes some getting used to and even then is something of a love/hate proposition. Deft thumb texters would probably opt for a smaller handset with a regular dialing layout, and Email addicts wo rsquo;t be giving up their BlackBerry butto for Shadow&rsquo SureType system anytime soon. But there&rsquo probably a sweet ot for Shadow amongst folks who get frustrated trying to tap out me ages on standard little cell phone butto . Succe typing on Shadow also involves learning to trust the predictive text software, which worked pretty well for me.
I really liked the scrolling jog dial / navigational pad on the front of the handset. The wheel can be scrolled and clicked like an iPod wheel to navigate through menus, and it can also be used as a four-way directional pad, as well. The wheel is flanked by six butto , and theyre all easy to get to and click. Shadow also features a so-so two megapixel camera mounted on the back, and a microSD memory card slot so you can load up a bunch of music and movies to play back on the Windows Media Player software that&rsquo built in.
Usability &am Performance
T-Mobile and HTC deserve a lot of credit for the work they did customizing Shadow&rsquo user interface. Windows Mobile 6 is something of a beast to behold, and Shadow&rsquo top-level UI all but masks it from the average user&rsquo view. The Shadow home screen features a vertical row of ico down the left side - scrolling through them gets you just about everywhere youd want to go on the phone, from me aging optio to WiFi and Bluetooth co ectivity management. Configuring HotSpot acce and pairing with Bluetooth devices was a ap with Shadow.
It&rsquo easy to dig down to the standard WinMob menu scheme if you want to (and not all that hard to accidentally wind up there), but Shadow&rsquo custom UI is much easier to use, and this i rsquo;t a power user&rsquo smartphone. For myFaves, Email/me aging, and Web browsing,
, the custom menu system will suit most Shadow users just fine. Though Shadow i rsquo;t as powerful, hardware-wise,
, as current high-end smartphones, I did rsquo;t encounter any real performance i ues while testing it. Menus were generally re o ive and as long as I did rsquo;t try to run more than two or three a licatio at once, Email, Web browsing, and media playback were all satisfactory. As with any Windows Mobile handset, I highly recommend ditching IE and downloading Opera Mobile or Mini (or the new Torch Mobile browser) for your Web surfing.
HTC Shadow keypadShadow performed quite well as a phone,
, gra ing a good signal and producing loud, clear sounds through both its earpiece and eakerphone. The handset doe rsquo;t su ort T-Mobile&rsquo calling pla , but is myFaves compatible, and a recent software update adds su ort for Audio Postcards, which so far as I can tell are just MMS me ages with a fancy name.
The built-in 2 MP camera captures video but lacks a flash of any sort,
, and performs about as well as most other mid-range cameraphones out there: It&rsquo not great, but it&rsquo fine in decent lighting. HTC&rsquo proprietary headphone system is a bit a oying, but USB earbuds are included in the package and stereo Bluetooth su ort allows for wirele enjoyment of your multimedia - and while only capable of 65,000 colors, Shadow&rsquo QVGA di lay performed pretty well during video playback. Conclusion
Im gue ing that Shadow&rsquo keyboard will have a lot to do with how potential users take to this phone. Shadow packs a nice feature set and a great UI into a cool little package, but it may prove to be a case of &ldquo either here nor there, tra ed between smaller, simpler low-end phones and larger devices with more email-friendly keypads. True me aging addicts may well opt for one of T-Mobile&rsquo Sidekick devices or even the HTC Wing or BlackBerry Curve and their full QWERTY boards.
Still, HTC and T-Mobile are to be commended for the work they did packaging the power of a Windows Mobile smartphone in a co umer-friendly offering. Shadow&rsquo size,
, style,
, and friendly, efficient user interface go a long way towards making advanced features like WiFi co ectivity and integrated Email much easier for the non-geek to get a gra on. Shadow may wind up being a critic rsquo; favorite that struggles to win over customers, but it should serve as a sign of good things to come in the realm of user experience and industrial design on mobile devices.
相关的主题文章：
2010-07-03 00:13
Noah's Sony Eric on W580i Carbon Grey review,
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Read more:cell phone reviews, Sony Eric on W580i Carbon Grey, Sony Eric on W580i Black, Sony Eric on W580i White, Sony Eric on
Click to visit the Sony Eric on W580i Carbon Grey information hub
Sony eric on w580iMy wife has used a Samsung T809 ever since we signed a service contract a year and a half ago and she got one for free (after rebate, of course). She really liked the phone's sleek slider profile, big, bold di lay, and overall cool factor. Mind you, she's not a geek in any se e of the word - she's got style and so did her T809.
But the T809 broke a few months ago and she'd been using one of my extras until the Sony Eric on w580i arrived at our place. Lots and lots of handsets pa through our home office, and this is the first one that actually made her say, Hey, lemme see that! when I u oxed it and showed it to her. It's a slider, it's sleek, and it's got this very hip grey with blue trim thing going on.
Lucky for us Sony Eric on makes an unlocked version of the w580i as well as the locked AT&am T version. We tracked down an unlocked model for her to use, and I got to play with the AT&am T model for this review. And we're both ha y. The w580i combines SE&rsquo latest Walkman music player with full HTML Web browsing, Email, and an RSS feed reader into a very slim, light slider phone. If you can live with EDGE-only data eeds, Sony Eric o rsquo latest Walkman slider packs a lot of punch into its sleek little body.
Measuring just 99 x 47 x 14mm and weighing only 94 grams, the w580i is sleek and lightweight. Sony Eric on sent me the Urban Grey color scheme w580i, which is finished in dark grey matte plastic with silver and blue accents and black side panels. I really like the handset&rsquo look - it&rsquo slick and fun in a semi-understated way. A white/orange 580i is also available.
A slider phone, the w580i features an angled bottom edge that makes for easy one-handed operation - you can grip the backside of the curled edge with one or two fingers for leverage while sliding the front panel open/shut with your thumb. It&rsquo a funky look that&rsquo actually i ired by functionality.
The front of the handset shows a 2 TFT di lay above a control layout built around a circular array of media player butto that&rsquo become quite popular on musicphones as of late. The shiny silver circle of butto on the w580i is actually a five-way directional pad comprised by a play-pause button at the center surrounded by a ring-shaped four-way rocker switch labeled with track forward/back and camera ico . Flanking this iPod-esque array on the left is a round Walkman button to ed by a circular two-button array providing Return and soft key functionality. This arrangement is mirrored on the right edge of the front panel with a programmable shortcut key below a Clear/soft key duo.
Sliding the front panel open reveals a standard 12-button dialing layout. The keys are black plastic with blue labeling and two colum of silver plastic dots separate the three colum of butto for easier navigation. Rounded left and right edges on the dialing butto echo the rounded edges found all over the handset, and the butto are also slightly domed in shape, which a ists in blind dialing.
The left edge of the phone features a lone rocker switch, finished in chromed silver plastic, which controls volume. On the right side is the charger/acce ory port, which is a change from older SE handsets that place the port on the bottom edge of the device. Along the top edge of the w580i is a plastic-ca ed slot for the M2 Memory Stick micro card and a power on/off button. The back of the handset is blank save for SE and Walkman logos, but when the phone is slid open, the camera se or is revealed along the rear of the front panel . The design allows for le -cover functionality when the slider is shut, and SE finished the area around the camera se or in a reflective blue plastic with a grey pattern printed on it.
All in all I really like the design of the w580i, with a few small exceptio . The handset is exceptionally light and orty but still has a solid build and feel. And while the slider mechanism and dialing keypad are solid and comfortable to use, the front panel controls are a bit on the small side. The center-mounted control ring for the media player is particularly tricky, as the outer ring is both narrow and mounted agai t a raised plastic ridge that looks cool but can be a little harsh on the thumb during repeated button mashing.
Features
Sony Eric on packed nearly all the features of its high-end k790/800 handsets into the w580i, making it a very versatile device for entertainment and communicatio purposes. The 580&rsquo interface, Web browser, RSS reader, email cilent, and file manager will all feel very familiar to users of these devices, but as a Walkman-branded device, the 580 also gets SE&rsquo latest music player software. As such, this is really a feature-packed &ldquo on-smartphone.
The w580i also features a few fun additio not found on SE&rsquo other handsets. A pedometer function will track your every step (so long as you carry the phone around with you all day), and the same technology that se es your footste also powers the Shake to Shuffle feature that lets you advance through your music randomly by literally shaking the phone in your hand. The pedometer works pretty well - and its functionality is enhanced by Fitne a licatio that time and track your workouts - but I found Shake to be a bit hit or mi .
An FM radio, Java games, organizer/PIM programs, Blogger integration, and a graphically-enhanced music sequencer program add to the handset&rsquo functionality. The front-mounted shortcut button features a four-tab dialogue box that allows for quick acce to favorite programs, Internet destinatio , ru ing a licatio , and an Events log. As on the K790a, I really a reciated having a dedicated shortcut button on the w580i - it made it much easier to acce my favorite of the handset&rsquo many functio without having to click through multiple layers of menus.
Sony Eric on W580i cameraSony Eric on is a bit like Nokia when it comes to cameras in their mobile phones - they seem to have a dozen or more different cameraphones with at least that many differently configured cameras. SE brands their imaging-centric phones as the Cyber-Shot line and their music-centric phones as the Walkman line, but of course the Cyber-Shots play music and the Walkma (Walkmen?) take pictures. So sometimes it gets a bit confusing.
The w580i is a Walkman phone that features a two megapixel camera, much as my old w800i is a Walkman phone that features a two megapixel camera. However, the cameras on the two phones are quite different. While my w800i&rsquo camera orts autofocus and an LED flash-a ist light, the w580i&rsquo shooter has neither of those features. As such, the w580i is a pretty average picture taking cameraphone. The camera settings and included PhotoDJ software allow for a fair amount of image correction and editing, but image quality is hurt by the lack of autofocus, and without any sort of flash shooting in low light conditio doe rsquo;t yield very good results (though a night vision mode compe ates a little). Video recording is also limited to QCIF (176 x 144) resolution, and captured cli are pretty jittery.
Viewing saved photos using the handset&rsquo gallery software is, on the other hand, an excellent experience. The Camera Album is very similar to the one found on the K790a, and allows for thum ail and full screen viewing in both landscape and portrait modes. Album thum ails may be viewed en ma e or viewed by month in Timeline mode. A Blog Thi rdquo; function allows for easy uploading of photos to a Blogger account for Web-based sharing.
Di lay &am Audio
Though only 2 in size, the w580i&rsquo di lay is big, bold, and bright - unle it&rsquo in direct sunlight. Capable of QVGA (320 x 240) resolution at 262,000 colors, the 580&rsquo screen generally looks very good - all the more so because the phone&rsquo user interface is such a pleasure to work with. While confusing menus and hidden features are common complaints in the world of mobile phones, SE&rsquo UI is refined and mature - both intuitive to use and easy on the eyes.
Ico , images, and videos all looked very nice on the w580i, and the included themes show off the phone&rsquo capacity for di laying animated backgrounds. The newest version of SE&rsquo Walkman music player di lays album art on the w580, and video files can be downloaded from the Internet or loaded onto an M2 memory stick card for playback on the handset as well.
Using the phone in bright, direct sunlight did prove to be a bit troublesome - perha just a bit more so than to be expected on a phone of this caliber. Just to be sure my eyes were rsquo;t playing tricks on me, I asked my wife if she&rsquo had any trouble seeing the screen on her unlocked w580i. She furrowed her brow for a second and replied, Yeah, just a little sometimes when Im outside.
Sony Eric on W580 audioI tested the quad-band GSM w580i on AT&am T&rsquo network in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, and my wife and I also tested the unlocked w850i on T-Mobile&rsquo network in the same general locatio . While I ran into a few problems with interference and dro ed calls on the AT&am T version of the phone, we had no such i ues with the unlocked version on T-Mobile. So Im pretty sure any calling problems I encountered were caused by AT&am T&rsquo network and not Sony Eric o rsquo handset.
Audio quality during phone calls either good or riddled with problems. Again, the problems seemed to stem from AT&am T network coverage in ecific locatio (and at ecific times), and not with the w580i. When signals were solid, the handset was plenty loud and voices came through clearly with minimal interference on either end. When problems occurred, I experienced everything from static and interference noise in the background to repeated call dro ing. The noise problems occurred whether I was using the earpiece, built-in eakerphone, wired headset or a wirele during calls.
Sony Eric on included a Walkman music adapter and stereo canalphones in the w580i&rsquo packaging. The adapter a into the handset&rsquo acce ory port and features a 3.5mm stereo audio jack with an integrated microphone and single button for a wering calls. You can use the included earphones with the adapter, or co ect your own &lsquo hones - while Id prefer the headphone jack to have been built into the handset itself,
, at least SE includes an adapter (and better than average earphones) so you can use the Walkman features straight out of the box. With a good pair of earphones and some tweaks to the EQ settings, the w580i sounds as good as most portable media players when playing back music.
The w580i&rsquo built-in eaker is also quite loud. Music, ringtones, and calls on eakerphone all rang out noticeably louder than they do on most handsets Ive reviewed recently. Stereo Bluetooth is also su orted by the w580i, and music can be played and controlled via AD2P-compatible wirele headsets. Certain SE Walkman-line
also su ort caller ID and music library browsing on the w580i via remote di lays. Me aging, Internet &am Co ectivity
For a co umer phone that doe rsquo;t have a QWERTY board, the w580i&rsquo me aging features are fairly robust. The phone su orts SMS and MMS me aging and POP/IMAP email via pre-i talled software.
Me aging setup is fairly easy, and text, MMS,
, and Email me ages are stored in separate mailboxes. The phone&rsquo camera software makes it easy to take a photo and include it in an MMS or Email me age, and video cli may also be attached to me ages.
As always, I really liked SE&rsquo implementation of predictive text i ut on the w580i. The software itself works well and allows for adding custom words to the standard dictionary, and SE&rsquo user interface makes it easy to choose from word suggestio via a pop-up menu.
W580i angleSony Eric on feature phones generally include full HTML Web browsers, which is still something of a rarity in the marketplace these days. The w580i features the latest revision of their browser, which can handle all but the most complex of Web sites with commendable grace,
, even co trained by relatively slow eeds of AT&am T&rsquo EDGE network.
Standard Web pages are reformatted into a single column for easier viewing,
, and both landscape and portrait di lay modes are available during browsing. The browser of course also can handle mobile format WAP pages, and the toolbar-esque integrated Google search feature was also quite handy.
Even more handy, however, was the RSS feed reader. Web browsing via EDGE i rsquo;t as horrible as some 3G-aholics might have you believe,
, but it&rsquo not particuarly well suited to quick checks of image-heavy sites and blogs, either. RSS is a great solution for mobile browsing over EDGE - I set up the phone&rsquo RSS reader to track feeds from a handful of sites, and was able to get news updates much quicker this way than by checking and rechecking the sites themselves. The RSS reader shows feeds as headlines with colla ible teaser bodies capable of di laying images and inline links to the original articles.
Co ectivity
The Sony Eric on w580i is a quad-band GSM phone locked to AT&am T in the United States. An unlocked quad-band GSM version is also available. The phone is compatible with EDGE networks for data tra fer and does not have a WiFi radio.
Bluetooth implementation on the w580i includes su ort for file tra fer, data synching and mono and stereo (A2DP) audio. I had no trouble pairing the phone with headsets or my computer, and I was able to move files between the phone and my computer easily. The included software allows for PC syncing and music management, though music can also be dragged and dro ed directly to the phone or via the included M2 Memory Stick card. I was also able to sync the phone&rsquo addre book and calendar data with my Mac via a free plug-in for A le&rsquo iSync software.
Sony Eric on has migrated away from the Memory Stick memory card format to the newer, smaller Memory Stick M2 Micro format. The w580i includes a 512MB M2 card and an adapter for use with flash memory readers made for the older, larger Memory Stick format. Music and video files, a licatio , and other data can be copied between cards and the handset&rsquo 12MB of internal memory via the integrated File Manager software.
The w580i may also be co ected to a computer via the included USB cable that co ects to the phone&rsquo acce ory port. Data tra fer, synching, and charging are all su orted over USB.
Conclusion
Sony Eric on continues to make some of my favorite music and cameraphones, and the w580i brings a se e of style to their US market offerings. This Walkman line handset offers one of the most complete out-of-the-box music phone experiences available this side of top of the line handsets costing hundreds of dollars more. Between the refined user interface, included music adapter and stereo earphones, and 512 MB memory card, the w580i is ready to be loaded up with tunes and used on your daily commute as soon as it&rsquo taken out of the packaging.
Seen as an upgrade from the w800/810i Walkman phone (the 810i was also offered by AT&am T), the w580i is a sleeker, sexier model with a better di lay and user interface but, oddly enough, a weaker camera. SE would should at least built the 580 with the same autofocus le and LED flash a ist light found in those older Walkman models - i tead a very good cameraphone is reduced to an average one.
Still, if you like the way it looks and feels, the w580i is a great choice in a handset that does just about everything a cell phone can do this side of full smartphone functionality. The lack of 3G data is a sore ot, but between the Walkman features, the HTML and RSS browsers, Email, and even the pedometer functionality,
, the w580i is a small slider with a lot going for it. Definitely check it out if you want something more than the average cell phone that wo rsquo;t break your bank. 相关的主题文章：
2010-07-03 00:11
James's HTC S710 review
By User (142107), posted Jun 11, 07 12:00 AM / 94201 view - add comment -
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Read more:cell phone reviews, windows mobile, HTC S710, HTC
Click to visit the HTC S710 information hub
HTC does only one thing, they produce cellular devices, and luckily for the HTC 710 they do that one thing extremely well. The HTC 710 not only provides its users with all the features of the newly released Windows Mobile 6.0, it does so in a design that is much smaller than earlier models of HTC devices, think the Cingular 8525 but smaller, sleeker and more practical.
Much like the T-Mobile Wing, the HTC S710 combines the power of a quad-band GSM phone,
, and soon the power of the Sprint CDMA network, with the know how and tested practices of the HTC brand. The phone is small, yet functio with even more usability of a larger Motorola Q, while offering a unique candy bar design never before found in a side loaded sliding qwerty keyboard.
HTC S710Even with its smaller size, the HTC 710 never sacrifices its functionality, in fact the HTC 710 actually capitalizes on its small dime io (3.97 inches x 1.96 inches x .69 inches) by implementing the first candy bar styling phone to feature a side loaded sliding qwerty style keyboard,
, while keeping the thickne of the phone at a re ective .69 inches. The phone also weighs in at a manageable weight of only 16 grams.
The model I chose to review provided by MobilePlanet came in a black design with silver/chrome front keys. While it wa rsquo;t the most striking color design I have seen, the unique size made up for the lack of an ooh and ahh factor found in the phones color scheme.
At first glance the phone a ears to be nothing more than a candy bar cellular device. The phone features a front panel numeric keypad with two distinct soft keys, which point on the left to the Windows Start Button and on the right to the phones me aging system. The front di lay also features a back arrow and home keys for easy navigation. Finally a directional keypad is offered for navigating throughout the Windows Mobile Interface and other third party a licatio that are easily loadable to the device.
Further investigation reveals a Micro SD slot located on the right side of the device, the slot offers easy acce to the memory slot. The right side of the phone also features a camera button at the top of the phone.
The left side of the device also has a hidden second slot, this slot however is meant for the phones Sim Card. I ecifically enjoyed the Sim card being located on the side of the phone, mainly because it saved me from having to dig out the battery when placing the card in the reader, or removing the card for other uses. On the top left there is also an up and down arrow, this is used ecifically for volume control functionality. While the phone also features an easy to use one touch button function for voice tag usage.
The top of the phone features a multifunctional button for turning the device on and off, while also used for acce ing the phones co ectivity menu and for swa ing between profiles, while the bottom of the phone features a USB co ection for charging and syncing.
On the back of the phone youll find a 2.0 mega pixel camera with very little thrills,
, but it gets the job done.
Finally,
, pushing on the side of the phone reveals a sliding keyboard, and while the phone may be fairly small in dime io , the keyboard was actually fairly acious with a high level of usability. The keyboard also features blue backlight keys for easy acce in low light areas.
Aside from the phones aesthetic ha enings, the device offers an excellent build factor. The phone definitely lives up to the high build standards set forth by HTC&rsquo entire line of devices. The phone has no ga , no ru ing of parts, and thanks to a well built slider device, no i ues opening and closing the phones unique, and first of its kind, side loaded sliding qwerty keyboard.
Features
HTC S710 backThe obvious new feature of the HTC S710 is the new operating system in Windows Mobile 6.0. The OS offers users easier acce to their email by allowing for email searching and opening of documents in the HTML Format. The Operating system also allows users to open documents in their entirety without having to use the Send/Receive function as it did in the previous Windows Mobile 5.0 OS. The calendar and other views are also greatly enhanced. Ill get into the Windows Mobile 6.0 Operating system in more depth at a later date, I will mention however that the phone operates smoothly and efficiently with the new interface.
The HTC S710 features a sliding qwerty keyboard that fli between standard and landscape modes depending on the keyboards position with a striking blue lit di lay module.
The S710 I examined came unlocked with no type of GSM Carrier features flashed to it (Cingular/ATT, TMobile, Cellular One). I personally think this is a good thing as it allows users to load their own third party a licatio , while not restricting the phones capabilities to one service. If you are looking for a direct load system with T-Mobile features or Cingular offerings however, you may actually find this feature to be limiting.
An added bonus is the ability to open MS Office a licatio in Word, Excel, and Powerpoint for easy viewing and editing, a newly found feature that added an ease of busine use to the device. With the use of Ma card storage through the phones USB syncing feature it easier than ever to work with office documents on the go.
The 2.0 Megapixel camera offers nothing new in terms of picture taking, but it also doe rsquo;t detract from the phones usability, the pictures taken were of an average gradient and the lighting in room lit conditio was sharp and concise, but nothing to gawk at. The picture quality in low lit areas was okay co idering the phone doe rsquo;t house a flash, and the pictures loaded quickly once taken with little delay from the time the button was pre ed to take the picture or video.
Di lay &am Audio
HTC S710The HTC flash, much like the LG KE970 features a QVGA screen putting out resolutio of 240x320. However, the screen size of the device is slightly larger than the LG, coming in at 2.4 while pushing out 65,000 colors.
Overall the di lay is easy on the eyes, and with the new look of Windows Mobile 6.0 helping the device along, I actually found the device to be in its own league in terms of easine on the eyes. Combine the new Mobile 6.0 look with the well backlit canvas of the S710, alongside the QVGA screen and the outcome is admirable.
I love devices that have good sound features, and while this phone may not be the equivalent of the Sony Eric on W850i, I wa rsquo;t really expecting it to be. The phone offers su ort for the following mai tream playback files: AAC, WMA, WMV, MP3 and ASF. The phone is no way offers stirring hi-fidelity playback, e ecially through the phones rear loaded back eaker system. If you plan on listening to MP3&rsquo I would highly suggest plugging in the included stereo wired headset for easy listening.
The HTC S710 offers programs for music listening, the first is the Windows based Media Player software, while the second is HTC&rsquo Audio manager software. Both the Media Player and the Audio Manager are similar, barring their difference in the look of their interfaces.
The device also features an MP3 Trimmer that can be used to set start and end points of selected MP3&rsquo . E entially, users can forget about paid services for MP3 ringtones, and i tead create their own, a novel a roach for sure.
Me aging, Internet &am Co ectivity
HTC S710 sideThe HTC S710 was made for me aging as much as it was for busine purposes. While the phone may not feature the killer a of the Pantech Ocean, it does offer a full qwerty keyboard that at no point compromises the phones size. The phone also features MSN Me enger capabilities that have been upgraded with an easier to follow layout for me enger users.
My favorite me aging features however come in the form of outlook usability. Users of the new exchange server 2007 can easily set out of office me ages from their HTC S710, while viewing and sending HTML me ages (A feature not previously available) the phones newer global addre lookup and outlook capabilities makes the phone much more suited for emailing on an exchange server than ever before.
The phone also features AOL, Yahoo! And Windows Live push email su ort. The me ages were received quickly on each platform using the Cingular Edge network, and Tmobile service, while the lag time for me aging was fairly minimal.
I would really have liked to see a 3G co ection on the HTC S710, but at its fairly low buy price I ca rsquo;t complain. Not to mention that the phones Internet Explorer moved at a nice pace while surfing the net on the Edge network. I actually found both AT&am T and T-Mobile to be well suited for web browsing, emailing, and basic web functionality. One qualm I have with the unit i rsquo;t based on its own fault, but rather the inability of Internet explorer to open multiple windows at one time. I actually prefer phones ru ing the Opera browser such as the Nokia E62, if you want a better experience with the S710 I suggest getting the Opera browser.
The phone also features the field tested 802.11 b/g WiFi. Much like the HTC P4350 and P3600 models, this new HTC device offers easy WiFi setup. The new Mobile 6.0 version on a ha y note has finally taught itself to co ect much easier for voice calls. I should point out however that skype and some other providers suggest a minimum 400mhz proce or o osed to the HTC 710&rsquo 200mhz configuration. The phone also features su ort for WEP encryption, WPA, and LEAP.
When all is said and done, the HTC S710 offers a solid internet co ectivity package, Internet explorer opened quickly and offered a no thrills setup in regular and landscape modes. I found the WiFi to be sturdy and easy to use, while
The HTC S710 is a Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900mhz) device that will operate on all North American GSM towers. The device will also be released this year as a CDMA device available through Sprint under a different yet to be released name. The device also features Bluetooth 2.0 co ectivity,
, allowing users to co ect up to 6 devices at one time using the phones easy to learn comm. Manager program. The phone also shi with an included data sync cable for easy acce to your computer files. Not to be left out is the devices A2DP feature which worked well alongside the Motorola S9 Active Headset.On a side note,
, users can save files directly to the Micro SD card, including video and pictures taken from the 2.0 megapixel camera.
Conclusion
Often times these days phones choose style over su tance, hoping to attract users to the devices cool new look. Unfortunately all to often those devices offer little to nothing new in terms of usability. The HTC S710 proves that a nice form factor can be combined with excellent usability, creating a device that is not only nice to look at, but offers a licatio that add to the phones practicality. HTC with their new attempt have proven that a major overhaul in phone design is more than skin deep, so to eak.
In fact, after playing with the HTC 710 for several weeks, it became more and more a arent that the devices form factor actually plays second fiddle to a bevy of hosted software programs that will offer students, busine profe ionals,
, and many other users a refreshing new a roach to cell phone usage. If you are using a GSM Network, or if you can wait until the Sprint release of this phones CDMA offering, I would highly suggest doing so, youll find the phone le bulky to carry around than other phones with a hidden qwerty keyboard, and youll even find the systems 200mhz proce or to be on par with phones such as the Blackjack, while pushing out even more su ort programs then the aforementioned device. Overall I would suggest the HTC S710 to any user looking for a busine solution, or anyone looking to send text me ages without filling up their pockets with bulkier devices of le usability.
相关的主题文章：
2010-07-02 10:22
Aaron's Samsung Jack review Overview
What&rsquo good: Design, battery life, co ectivity optio (3G, GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth)
What's bad: Reception in some areas, proprietary ports
Introduction
The Samsung Jack i637 is a nice entry-level device that will compete well with the Nokia E71x and other devices in AT&am T's smartphone lineup. It looks good, and offers a good feature set to boot. Overall performance is good, and it offers a range of programs out of the box. Minus a few minor frustratio ,
, our two primary i ues came in the use of a proprietary ports and le -than-desired reception in otty areas.
Design &am Features
At first glance, the device looks sharp. Billed as an update to the Samsung BlackJack line, the i637 offers tapered edges and vaguely resembles its older brother, the Samsung Epix. Weighing in at 3.5 ounces, the device measures 4.4 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick. It fits well in the hand,
, and the chrome exterior design elements accentuate the device well. The chrome look did have a setback, however: because of the sli ery nature of it, the battery back required perfectly dry hands to remove.
The 320x240 QVGA screen looks good and di lays colors well, but we'll admit that we're a bit oiled by the high-resolution scree found on devices like the BlackBerry Bold and the Curve 8900. However, given the Jack's a eal to the entry-level smartphone crowd, we understand.
The keys on the keyboard are close together, making it challenging to type quickly for those with larger fingers. Additionally, the bottom row is a bit cramped with a small acebar, and shortcuts to a licatio . I tead of pre ing the comma button,
, for example, we would often pre the AT&am T Navigator shortcut button. The keys themselves feel good, and offer the right amount of firmne .
Usability &am Performance
In its earlier days, Windows Mobile was well-known for its sluggish behaviors, particularly when ru ing multiple programs. Not the case anymore. We were pleasantly surprised at how pe y the device was,
, even with multiple programs ru ing in the background. Packed with a 528 MHz proce or,
, 256 MB ROM, and 256 MB RAM,
, the Jack packs a punch. Along with the usual Windows Mobile 6.1 productivity suite, the device offers AT&am T Music, Cellular Video, AT&am T Mall, AT&am T Navigator, AT&am T Wi-Fi (offering free co ectivity through 17,000 AT&am T hot ot locatio ), Adobe Reader LE, MobiTV, WikiMobile, eBay, My-Cast Weather, and Office Mobile. Fortunately, the device will be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6.5 at launch.
The Jack shi with a 3.2 megapixel camera and a portrait mirror. Though a flash i 't offered, pictures were generally good, provided they had the correct amount of light. On the other hand, video quality left a lot to be desired, as it a eared cho y and dark. Our favorite feature had to be the threaded text me aging, making it much easier to keep track of our conversatio . One place where we have to give Samsung credit is the inclusion of 3G, GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth into the i637. It's nice to see a device that offers all of them.
The Jack is a quad-band device, meaning it su orts GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900/2100 bands. De ite its cosmopolitan offerings, reception was a bit otty. In areas where AT&am T service was strong, the phone performed well, and callers could hear us without a problem. But in areas where AT&am T service was generally mediocre, the Jack had a challenge acquiring a co istent signal. Callers would complain that we were fading out, and calls were dro ed on occasion. As a result, we would recommend taking advantage of the trial period if you live in an area with mediocre service. Data co ectivity was a bit perplexing, as well: every now and then, the phone would switch from 3G to EDGE, making videos and other data-inte ive things challenging to view. Both eakerphone and regular eaker quality was good; the volume could be a tiny bit louder, but that's only a minor complaint.
The Jack shi with a 1,480 mAh battery,
, capable of 7 hours of talk time and 12 days of standby time. In separate tests, we were able to receive just over 5 1/2 hours of continuous talking and 9 days of standby before the device powered down. Overall we were pleased with the battery life, particularly given the relatively short life an between the Jack's competitors. We did not test it with Wi-Fi and GPS on, however.
Conclusion
The Samsung Jack is a fantastic player in the entry-level smartphone realm, and will a eal to first-time buyers. It offers a number of features, and de ite a few setbacks, proves to be a worthy competitor in the field. Check the reception and the keyboard before you commit to the two-year agreement, and you're likely to be pleased.
Visit the Samsung Jack Hub for more information including Samsung Jack video reviews &am news, user feedback and reviews, full ec sheet and more. Or use our Phone Finder to find a device based on your needs.
相关的主题文章：
2010-07-02 10:21
ohn's Samsung i900-Omnia review
What&rsquo Good: Universal landscape mode and universal landscape QWERTY; optically-enhanced action button functio as a scroller or track pad; a ropriate use of haptic feedback and accelerometer excellent 5 MP camera with LED flash, auto-focus and face detectio secondary cam for video call embedded GPS; FM radio and overall A/V-friendline large, welcoming and se itive scree it's a generally comfortable phone that makes you feel cool even though you're obviously using a Windows product.
What&rsquo Not Good: Windows Mobile may be a bit cumbersome and inacce ible for some users, even with Samsung's TouchWiz UI, which is a bit bland, but better than WM default; reception problems in sketchy coverage area no built-in stylus sheath; volume rocker sits RIGHT next to the camera butto in-call screen lock can be a ha le; proprietary headphone jack.
Bottom Line: The Omnia is at the top of everyone's list of gotta-try-it touchscreen phones. It has capable hardware and a generous scree large and se itive enough to compete in the iPhone-driven market. The unlocked version is pricey, but cheaper than it closest rival dash; The HTC Touch Diamond. And, it feels tougher than other phones in the same price range. Windows Mobile i 't everyone's favorite interface, but you really have to play with this beauty to a reciate how comfortably it rests in your hand.
Specs: * Make/Model: Samsung SGH-i900 (Omnia) * Network: HSPDA 7.2 M * Data: Quad-band EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi, * Carrier: Unlocked * Size: 112 X 56 X 12.5 mm * Weight: 122 g * Form Factor: Candybar with full Touchscreen * Di lay: 3.2 TFT WQVGA (240 X 400) * Memory: 16GB/8GB with an SDHC expa ion slot that su orts an additional 16GB * Notable Features: 1440mAH battery; Windows Mobile 6.1 profe ional, Push email, tv-output, busine card recognition, Samsung's proprietary easy sharing capabilities, nice camera.
Introduction
The touch screen market has really heated up over the last year, and Samsung's Omnia is no sloucher. Building on the succe of the I tinct, Samsung delivers hardware upgrades-a-plenty. The 5 MP camera in particular is a welcome and impre ive improvement.
For some reason, Samsung atched the volume rocker from the perfect ot on the I tinct and moved it to the undeniably wrong place on the Omnia. My other minor complaint is that this European unlocked version of the phone that I've been using features a barely-disguised Windows Mobile 6.1 Profe ional. Which, in comparison to the UI of Sprint's I tinct, or the Unlocked HTC Touch Diamond, feels like a work-in-progre . Fa of Windows Mobile may love it, but the non-fa will find that Samsung has done little to ruce-up that old goose.
Still, the acce ibility of the hardware makes the phone very comfortable to hold and use. It feels pretty rugged for a touchscreen, and doe 't induce the overprotective paranoia that comparably-priced phones are known to cause.
A generous screen and universal landscape QWERTY make the Omnia a great me aging device, but the screen resolution is a bit low for serious web browsing. Overall, it feels like a mid-to-high-quality smart phone designed for casual use.
Design &am Features
The Omnia fits perfectly in my hand. It feels like a phone, not a cramped computer. It looks stylish but humble: the corners and edges are rounded; the front with a gunmetal sheen, the back, a plastic imitation of black brushed metal.
The style is simple: three butto on the front, two on the right side, and a power button on top. On the left side, there is a hatch that covers the port for charging, data tra fers and headphones. There is also a protruding clip-point for a lanyard.
The back features a 5 MP camera and LED flash, and removing the shell reveals a microSD slot. It's a pretty media-capable phone, but is lacking a standard headphone jack.
The face of the phone is quite lovely. The plastic screen and its plastic surroundings look like gla and metal. The weight of the phone says otherwise. There is a secondary camera for video calls, send and end keys, as well as an action button that encases an optical se or that allows the button to read finger movements. There is an option to use it as an optical mouse, with a cursor on the screen, which I never felt the need to use.
The screen dominates the face, which is pretty tempting. Unfortunately, due to the 256k colors, gradation is a arent in the wallpaper. The resolution is a bit disa ointing when browsing the web as well. Fonts look pretty horrible until you find that sweet ot in the zoom ectrum. The screen is fairly se itive and re o ive; I have no complaints in that regard. I only wish the Omnia's di lay had more colors and pixels per inch.
Windows Mobile looks and feels like a relic, and with so many companies trying to improve upon it's dry a earance and unintuitive configuration,
, I'd think that Microsoft would be hard at work on some revolutionary UI. Samsung's TouchWiz addition to WM does offer a cool home screen dock-like panel, filled with widgets, as well as a handy program launcher page. Better task management is an obvious trouble ot, begging for attention.
The 5 MP camera is a nice surprise. My pictures have turned out much better than I had su ected they would dash; e ecially those taken in low light. It doe 't match the Dare in terms of quality optics,
, but the results easily beat those of the $250 3.2 MP Fuji I've had sitting around for a couple of years.
The Omnia is a capable media player, but the interface does not emphasize these features. Even though Samsung improved a bit on the old Microsoft player, it doe 't feel fresh or new.
Usability &am Performance
I want to start by saying that I enjoy using the Omnia. But in the search for the perfect phone I can be a bit finicky; po ibly not giving the attention I should to positive attributes, while I nit-pick and expound on the negative. That said, let's mush on.
In good coverage areas, the Omnia sounds great on both end in shady coverage areas, look out. This phone cuts out quite a bit more often than some other comparable full touch scree ,
, and a heck of a lot more often than a good, old-fashioned flip phone.
Keep in mind that I test in very poor coverage just to see how much signal any given phone needs to function. As I said, in good coverage, the phone sounds great. And rather than dro ing calls when the signal is bad, it hangs on to the co ection and gives you some white noise to contemplate while you wait for your buddy's voice to return.
Trying to adjust the volume during a call is a oying. The shutter button is situated about 2 mm from the volume rocker switch, while the other side of the phone is button-free. I 't the u er-left corner of the phone the industry-wide, designated volume region? I'm sure I'll get used to this placement eventually,
, but I call it a poor decision.
I use eaker phone occasionally, but it's become a redundant feature for me, thanks to bluetooth. There are two occasio where the eaker function still comes in handy: group singing for birthday calls, and the dreaded phone queue menu. The latter is when Samsung's screen lock gets irritating.
When a call is placed, the touch screen locks up immediately. Touching the action button unlocks the screen, but it locks back up pretty quick. This should not be the default setting for eaker phone calls. Which, by the way, are the only mea of getting through one of those phone menus that recognizes tones rather than eech.
The Omnia really shines as a me aging phone. Others have complained about it's predictive text behavior, but I have adapted quickly. Here's a hint: never use predictive text when entering email or web addre es. I think the predictive text is helpful and accurate when me aging or taking notes.
Landscape mode, as well as a full QWERTY keyboard, is universally available in the Omnia. Thank you, Samsung. There is nothing more disa ointing to this ex-Sidekick user than picking up a sexy touch phone only to find all that screen ace wasted due to the lack of landscape mode. Or worse; landscape mode can be used, but only for a few functio , so the user can see how nice it would be if it were available in other a . This feature makes a notable difference for me, and scores several points for Samsung in my book. It changes the entire experience.
The screen is large and re o ive, and I was able to get by without the stylus, which is good, because they didn't give me anywhere to put it. I used my pinky nail, now and then - e ecially when twiddling some archaic (it is Windows Mobile,
, after all) wizard,
, trying to get MMS to function with my T-Mobile account.
The haptic feedback (vibrating) is good, but occurs every time you touch the screen dash; even if you haven't actually selected or done anything. This is a minor complaint dash; I'd rather have all than nothing.
The camera is very nice. I haven't done exte ive testing; comparing photos with other phone-cams and such. But I can say this: the colors are accurate, the pictures are sharp, and the flash is bright.
I was surprised by how little battery life the LED flash uses. I wouldn't plan to go take 50 pictures and still browse the web, but the1440mAH battery offers plenty of juice for my needs. I've gone two days without charging, using only the phone functio . I usually charge it every night.
I'm a bit disa ointed by the di lay resolution. It is fairly sharp, but browsing the web is awkward. Here you have all of this ace to work with, and you can zoom in and out and scroll with the nifty optic button on the from of the phone, but it's difficult to read anything on a web page. I find myself endle ly zooming in and out, trying to reach that magic zone where the text looks sharp dash; rather than zooming to the view I feel comfortable with.
Speaking of views, if you want to use this phone in direct sunlight, you'd better have an umbrella, or a loose shirt to tuck your head into. Trying to make a call in the sun is the one scenario that makes me mi having more hardware butto . Other than that, the Omnia has me embracing the touchscreen without regret.
Conclusion
The Omnia is built of some slick and sturdy hardware; perha not as sophisticated as the (not much) pricier touch scree in the market, but I'm not nervous about taking this one out on the road and treating it like a phone.
The screen is big and does not require a stylus,
, but Samsung's TouchWiz user interface i 't as inviting or i iring as it could be... as it should be. The phone is far too handsome for it's software. It's actually Windows Mobile that comes off bland; TouchWiz i 't much but a tweak here and there, plus two launchers. One of them is a sexy dock-like, widget-holding a on your home screen. If only that kind of style were a lied to the rest of the UI.
Samsung has ble ed the Omnia user with a universally available landscape mode, which is one of those things I co ider a requirement, but feel endle gratitude for when I receive it. This feature makes the Omnia much more acce ible than most of it's touchscreen competitors.
Big screen + landscape QWERTY = comfortable mobile computing environment.
The Omnia is a perfectly-sized, hot phone that begs to be used, and used casually. While it looks, feels, and handles like the high-end phone that it is, no one will be ru ing this one with a diaper or ending a paycheck on protective acce ories. This one is ready for the real world.
相关的主题文章：
2010-07-02 10:19
Noah's Motorola RAZR2-V9m review,
Motorola V9mMotorola&rsquo RAZR is an icon of cellphones, technology, and design in general. The V3 and all of its brethren collectively became the second most succe ful mobile handset in history, and the word RAZR has become synonymous with thin flip phone in gadget parlance.
But the RAZR eventually grew a little long in the tooth, and Motorola&rsquo dominance in the cellular world eroded over time. After a legion of four letter phone offshoots - KRZR, ROKR, RIZR, PEBL, FONE, et al - Moto finally released the long awaited sequel to the RAZR: The RAZR 2.
RAZR 2 dro ed on nearly every major US network at the same time, and while there are differences from carrier to carrier, the new RAZR&rsquo overall look and feel is the same acro its variatio . RAZR 2 is thi er but heavier and taller than the original,
, and its traded those razor-sharp edges for rounded corners and curvier lines throughout. The new RAZR is also built like a tank - it feels luxurious and nearly indestructible in hand.
But in a world where handsets let you do everything from watch TV to parse RSS feeds to find your way when youre lost, is Moto&rsquo new RAZR too little too late? I took the Sprint variant - the RAZR2 V9m - for a in to find out.
Just 11.9mm thick, the RAZR 2 V9m is one of the thi est clamshell handsets currently available, and thi er than the RAZR V3m by more than 2mm. The V9m is 103mm long by 53mm wide and weighs in at 117g,
, which is a surprisingly big number for a RAZR. But this RAZR doe rsquo;t feel heavy in a bad way - i tead it feels solid like a luxury cla product should. The handset orts a stainle steel internal frame and hinge, which accounts for both that weight and the feeling that the handset could stand up to a pretty good licki rsquo; and keep on ticki rsquo;.
In find this RAZR much more attractive than the original, as well. The combination of rounded corners and hardened gla on some exterior surfaces is modern and sexy. And while some folks find the V9m&rsquo pearly gray a little drab, I think it looks understated and cla y (RAZR2 variants from other carriers are available in other colors).
A clamshell phone, the front panel of the V9m features a huge 2 external di lay with three touch se itive controls along the bottom edge that provide haptic (vibrational) feedback when you pre them. The le for the two-megapixel camera is center mounted along the top edge of the panel. There&rsquo a volume rocker switch and softkey along with a u /charger port the left ine of the handset and a camera key on the right ine. Removing the battery cover on the back panel of the handset provides acce to the microSD memory card slot as well as the battery. While itd be nicer to have an externally-mounted memory port, at least it&rsquo not hidden behind the battery itself.
Flip the V9m open and youll find a familiar, if updated, layout: screen on top, butto on the bottom. The main di lay is larger than the external screen, though barely, at 2.2 inches. The button layout is a flush mounted, etched metal affair, with font faces that echo the futuristic vibe of this newest RAZR. A 12-button dialing array is to ed with a navigational layout built around a shiny circular D-pad flanked by two softkeys, eakerphone and back keys, and call and cancel keys.
While all of the butto on the i ide of the V9m are flat, they offer better tactile feedback than most other flat/etched keypads Ive tested. The butto here have a bit of a sli ery feel to them, but they have pretty good travel. Brushed metal on the D-Pad makes it rather nice to use, even without looking.
I give MOTO a general thum -up on their RAZR redesign. Obviously the original was a huge hit, but I never really liked the way it felt in hand. RAZR 2 fixes that i ue by rounding over sharp edges and using pearly gla and a stainle steel hinge to give the handset the feel of a fine object from the near future.
Features
Some features will be common to all RAZR 2s, while others are of course carrier-dependent. Sprint decided to put that big external di lay to good use by making the V9m compatible with Sprint TV, and programming the handset to di lay programming on both of its scree . I was able to launch, watch, and change cha els on Sprint TV without opening the handset, which is a neat trick that avid viewers might find pretty useful.
The Sprint TV a underwent a minor face-lift for the V9m, but the Sprint Music Store sadly is still in need of a redesign. I love Sprint&rsquo Groove Mobile-powered Music Store for its huge catalog, quick downloads, and 99 cents per track pricing; I hate the fact that you ca rsquo;t shop buy album or even manually add an album&rsquo worth of tracks to your sho ing cart for automatic download. Rumor is there&rsquo an upgrade to the store coming in mid-November; my fingers are cro ed.
Still, the V9m makes it easy to acce your multimedia and me ages from the external di lay, and the handset is pretty feature-rich for a &ldquo on-smartphone.&rdquo In addition to solid organizer a , you can also do nifty things like a ign Photo and Video Caller IDs to your contacts. The handset also su orts J2ME Java gaming,
, and four demos came pre-i talled on my review unit. Would it kill you, Sprint, to give us the full-version of Ms. Pac Man for free? Please?
Sprint also offers a bunch of extras including the excellent On Demand program for quick News,
, Weather, and other info-centric updates, and NFL Mobile for all you football junkies out there. In addition to the Sprint TV offerings, you can also rent and view full-length feature films on the V9m in true pay-per-view style. Streaming video quality wa rsquo;t great, but honestly it was on part with other Sprint TV-compatible handsets Ive tried. Programs were a bit pixelated and tended to stutter during playback. The full-length movie I rented actually played back quite a bit more smoothly than Sprint TV offerings.
Integrated A-GPS offers location-aware services on the V9m. Sprint&rsquo GPS offerings include Where and the TeleNav-developed Sprint Navigation. I was a little partial to Where. The phone is also compatible with Sprint&rsquo Wirele Backup system, which saves your contacts and other info to a server for wirele restoration if you need it (in case you lose your phone, buy a new one, etc).
Generally all of the offerings on my sample V9m worked well, but I did run into some hiccu and glitches now and then. While I always checked the do not remind me agai rdquo; box when warnings about a licatio wanting network acce po ed up, I seemed to always be warned and asked permi ion the next time, anyway. Also, some amount of fli ing the handset open and shut seemed to be nece ary to navigate or exit a licatio from the external screen.
Motorola V9m What&rsquo cool about the V9m&rsquo camera is that it&rsquo mounted above an external di lay that doubles as a viewfinder - perfect for those wacky self-portraits of you and your girls at the club! What&rsquo bad about the V9m&rsquo camera is that there&rsquo no flash or a ist light, so those photos a ed in the dark of the club are rsquo;t going to come out.
The V9m&rsquo two-megapixel shooter is about average for a 2MP cameraphone, which is to say that photos come out pretty well so long as theyre taken in good lighting. Colors and detail were pretty good in optimal lighting conditio , but degraded as lighting diminished - that&rsquo on par with most cameraphones in this range. Photos taken in the dark are going to be fuzzy and grainy at best. There&rsquo also a 4x digital zoom and your choice of five resolutio in which to capture your photos.
Photo-related software on the V9m is better than average, with great optio for sending your photos off via MMS or Email or even uploading them directly to the Web after youve a ed them. You can also print photos directly on a compatible printer or through a Sprint-offered pay service, or tra fer them to your computer via Bluetooth.
Video capture is also su orted on the V9m. Videos shot in MMS mode are ca ed at 10 seconds, while standard video cli can be as long as you want so long as there&rsquo available storage ace in the phone&rsquo memory or on an i erted microSD card.
Di lay &am Audio
The V9m&rsquo external di lay is so big, and can do so much, it almost makes me wonder why there are two scree at all. And then I remembered that flip phones are cool, and generally quite comfortable to talk on. Still, a handset with two di lays ru ing at nearly the same size and resolution is either a roaching the pi acle of utility or total overkill.
On the outside of the V9m is the 2 secondary di lay ru ing at QVGA (320 x 240) resolution acro 65k colors. As mentioned, you can use this di lay to watch TV, browse your music collection, and do all kinds of other things via a row of three touch-se itive controls aligned along the bottom edge. Pre ing any of the touch controls results in a jolt of vibration that lets your finger know its intent was received. This di lay is bright and clear and shows off the most user friendly user interface Ive seen on a Motorola handset in quite awhile. As also mentioned, there are certain navigational tasks I expected to be able to handle via the external controls that required opening the phone up, which was a little disa ointing.
Fli ing the handset open reveals a 2.2 primary di lay which also ru at QVGA and 65,000 colors. Id really liked to have seen this screen bumped up to 262k colors like on the GSM RAZR 2 (V8) - why the CDMA versio get a lower-res internal di lay is beyond me. In any case, the internal di lay is more than adequate to make good use of that much improved UI and all of those Sprint Power Vision multimedia services. It&rsquo not a state-of-the-art di lay, but it&rsquo certainly not bad in any way.
I tested the dual-band CDMA V9m on Sprint&rsquo network in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Audio quality during phone calls was generally quite good. Callers came through loud and clear on the phone&rsquo earpiece, and they reported being able to hear my voice with no problems beyond the occasional crackle or distortion. There were no notable problems with static or hi during calls, and signal strength on the V9m was above average as compared to other Sprint handsets Ive used.
The V9m&rsquo built-in eaker is also quite loud,
, making for a more-usable-than-most eakerphone function. Stereo Bluetooth is also su orted by the V9m, and while Ive read some reports of i ues playing music wirele ly from the handset, I found that it worked fairly well with the Motorola S9 headset Sprint provided for this review. No wired earpiece is included with the device, though its micro-USB port does su ort mono and stereo headsets. Me aging, Internet &am Co ectivity
Me aging on the Sprint V9m is very good, with su ort for IM and email along with SMS and MMS me aging. The T9 predictive text i ut system worked pretty well for ta ing out mi ives on the 12-key keypad, though heavy texters may well prefer a device with raised butto .
Email required a free client download, but once Id i talled the a lication it was pretty easy to set up an account and also configure the software to work with GMail, Yahoo! and other third-party services. It&rsquo worth mentioning here that you ca rsquo;t read or write me ages while listening to music on the V9m - unlike Sprint&rsquo LG Muziq, the RAZR 2 doe rsquo;t su ort any form of multitasking.
While the V9m&rsquo Obigo Web browser only renders pages in single-column,
, and not full-page, mode, it still does a pretty good job of letting you browse full HTML sites on the go. Sprint&rsquo 3G EV-DO network is pretty fast, and while the V9m&rsquo browser i rsquo;t in the cla of the Nokias and A les of the mobile world, it&rsquo great for mobile-formatted WAP sites and pretty good with the rest of the Web.
Simple WAP sites load within a matter of seconds and are re o ive to scrolling and clicking. More complex pages like CNN or the NYTimes site take awhile longer, but their images and text get parsed into a single column view and are generally quite readable and useful on the handset&rsquo internal di lay. Scrolling through pages like these requires a little patience, but you are afforded acce to areas of the Wild, Wild Web that WAP-only browsers simply ca ot handle.
For better Web browsing, the Java-based Opera Mini browser may be i talled and run on the V9m.
The Sprint Motorola v9m is a dual-band CDMA locked to the Sprint network for use in the United States. Data services are handled by Sprint&rsquo EV-DO network, and the handset is compatible with the 1xEV-DO rev. 0 protocol.
Bluetooth implementation on the V9m includes su ort for file tra fer, data synching and mono and stereo (A2DP) audio. I had no trouble pairing the phone with headsets or a Windows-based computer, though I had to seek out some shareware plug-i to get the V9m to work with my Mac via iSync. Files may also be tra ferred between the phone and a computer via the included microSD memory card.
The V9m may also be co ected to a computer via the included USB