Samsung U900 Soul: Great touchpad and minimalist chic design!

• Author: Moby
• Filed under: Samsung
• Date: Feb 22,2008

Unlike most of Samsung’s phones which just contain the model number and are devoid of a name the Samsung U900 Soul is markedly different. Samsung has not just named this phone but has also gone ahead with a major marketing drive. So is this hype warranted?

Design aspects

In terms of design the Samsung U900 Soul is slim and trendy looking and has the slider mechanism as found in most of their phones. The uncanny resemblance to the LG KF600 cannot be ignored. The sliding mechanism is pretty high end what with slick movement and ease of use. In addition the phone’s design is nothing to rave about although it does have an intuitive Touchscreen interface. Encased in a complete metallic body the phone presents the image of minimalist design with an ultra chic element to it.

Feature rich phone

The Samsung U900 Soul comes with an inbuilt camera with a capacity of 5 megapixels which is much better than most of the phones today. However the camera is devoid of the zoom feature. The phone comes with HSPDA 3G connectivity of around 7.2 Mbps. This again is much above average as compared to several other Touchscreen phones of today. The built in FM radio player also has RDS support. The highlight of the Samsung U900 Soul seems to lie in its interesting and easy to use touchpad. The contextual touchscreen is an added advantage in the phone and it is extremely easy to browse through playbacks, menus and navigate through the various controls on the touchscreen.

Performance aspects

The Samsung U900 Soul has several high end aspects such as the 5 Megapixel camera and fast networking of 7.2 Mpbs HSPDA. These features make for a phone that has above average performance. While browsing through controls and navigation is easy there is still a certain level of innovation left to be desired in the phone. The improved touchpad mechanism is a definite plus in the Samsung U900 Soul which again offers enhanced user friendliness. The phone lacks WiFi but this can be ignored once you consider the superior camera performance and fast connectivity speeds. While the phone does look chic enough when compared to other phones in the market it lags a little behind. Battery life can be expected to be much above average as all Samsung phones are known to have superior battery quality. The great thing about the Samsung U900 Soul though is that when you consider the various features it has and the price of the phone it works out to be a very good deal. Maybe that is the reason why people are so eager to purchase the phone already!

Overall outlook

Going by the looks of it the Samsung U900 Soul seems set to conquer the market. Its relatively good features coupled with the low price it comes at makes for a large consumer base. Besides this the innovative and improved touchpad aids in the navigability factor. On the whole the Samsung U900 Soul can be great to have if you are part of the fashion market!

Get Unlocked Cell Phones at ElephantCellular

tagged: LG, Touchscreen, 3G, Touch, PDA, Samsung, 5 megapixel, KF600, Soul, U900, HSDPA, Autofocus

The Sony Ericsson K850i

• Author: Moby
• Filed under: Sony Ericsson
• Date: Feb 22,2008

What can we expect from Sony Ericsson next? Following the success of the K810i and the K800i, Ericsson has come up with the K850i which is not really all that different but lives up to our expectations for their new generation of handsets.

In terms of its design, the K850i is obviously an evolution of the earlier Cybershot versions with the large 256K-colour screen (now made bigger by a fifth of an inch) dominating the front. The concept of the K850i seems to be modelled after the digicams we know today with a convenient slider switch for shifting shooting modes.

We were pleased to see how Ericsson has scrapped the mechanical lens covers in their old versions and replaced them with automatic ones with the K850i. There is a catch though, as a layer of fingerprint-prone plastic protects the cover. So, expect to add an unnecessary step before taking pictures - cleaning the surface. You might as well have a soft cloth ready all the time to clean the front and sides as well. Also, reaching out for the dedicated camera on and off button can prove troublesome especially when taking photos in the dark.

We also like the K850i’s unique battery compartment. Unlike most handphones, this Cybershot features a convenient sliding door which allows you access not only to the battery but the SIM and the expansion card slot (which by the way can accommodate microSD pr M2). Also, this new handset features what they call as the D-pad (actually encloses the 2 and 5 keys) which works just like a navigation pad. If you ask us, this novel idea of joining the Keypad and navigation key in one is very creative.

In terms of functionality, the K850i is filled with cutting edge features - HSDPA 3G, GRPS, Edge, Bluetooth 2.0, an FM radio, a wireless stereo playback. It lacks Wi-Fi, which we had actually expected since it is not a smartphone in the first place.

As far as features are concerned, the K850i doesn’t really bring that much new stuff. Its interface is much like that of its predecessors. We noticed how it has added a novel way of managing multimedia files, though we are not pretty sure if it is even worth noting. The K850i is equipped with an accelerometer as an evolution to the pedometer of the W580i. However, it only functions solely to determine display orientation (changes to landscape when the handset is turned sideways). The sensor can also be used in playing one pre-installed game, Marble Madness 3D, which we surprisingly enjoyed playing.

The K850i offers an all-in-one media player which enables you to manage music, videos and photos conveniently. Its digital imaging feature is actually good enough - comparable to mid-range digicams today. Its autofocus, Xenon flash, second LED, and shooting modes and options all contribute to very satisfactory photos.

The Cybershot K850i has lived up to our expectations for the next batch of Sony Ericsson phones. It has a great well-built design, convenient ergonomics, and all the important features you want from a high-end phone. But still, wouldn’t it be great to have a camera with Wi-Fi and 8GB on-board memory? Though that might be something to drool over, the K850i deserves being a close second choice.

The Sony Ericsson K850 is available for $446.00 at ElephantCellular

tagged: 3G, HSDPA, Sony Ericsson, Keypad, Wi-Fi, K850i, 5-megapixel, K800, K810, Xenon Flash, Autofocus, Cyber-shot

Sony Ericsson W890i: Walkman Phone at Its Best

• Author: Moby
• Filed under: Sony Ericsson
• Date: Feb 22,2008

The premier expertise in walkman phones undoubtedly belongs to Sony Ericsson and it has proved itself yet again with the Sony Ericsson W890i. The W890i is an attractive looking handset which is unbelievably slim. It is a walkman phone so expect most of its features to be centered on playing good music. It does have convenient features though.

The features of the W890i have probably been patterned after its older sibling, the W880i. While the W880i minutely-sized Keypad was a pain, the W890i is equipped with one that is actually usable. Its raised buttons, comfortable tactility and reasonable size makes it easier to use. It also now has the dedicated call/end buttons which Sony Ericsson has only recently adopted.

W890i is dedicated for music lovers as its features are all easy and ready for maximum enjoyment. It has a built-in FM radio with RDS feature which gets activated when the headphones are plugged. The phone also has conveniently dedicated music keys to come with its Walkman player, which is probably the best of all music software. The phone also supports Bluetooth stereo A2DP which means you can connect your headset wirelessly. It also features SensMe, which allows you to create playlists depending on your mood and your music preference. Additionally, you can enjoy the TrackID feature which allows automatic song name setting. Furthermore, it supports Mega Bass to enhance music and add depth to the sound.

The slimness of the W890i fortunately didn’t compromise the features. This phone does not only have its music feature to brag about; it is equipped with a 3.2-megapixel camera which has still and video capabilities. It comes with a digital zoom, though it lacks an LED or a Xenon flash add-on. The phone also supports Java games and a flight mode feature. This quad-band handset is also capable of supporting 3G/HSDPA, a media browsing-interface and a front-facing camera. We also appreciate the fact that the W890i package will come with a 2GB Stick Micro M2 card.

As far as music is concerned, this handset delivers everything you need the way you want them to. The sound quality is excellent, and plugging it to a stereo makes it even better. In terms of music quality, we believe that the W890i is probably one of the best Walkman phones ever in the market.

We do have a few more gripes about this phone though. First, we were disappointed with the camera shots. While the photo quality is decent enough, it doesn’t match up to the excellence of other Sony Ericsson phones. Sony could have done a better job at this, or it should have at least incorporated autofocus. It also does not have a 2.5/3.5mm audio jack, which means that you are stuck with the earphones that come with the package. It is also a wonder why the expansion card is placed behind the battery.

Overall, the Sony Ericsson W890i is definitely worth waiting for. It is the improved version of the W880i packed with all the goodies for music lovers out there.

Get Unlocked Cell Phones at ElephantCellular

tagged: 3G, HSDPA, Sony Ericsson, Keypad, W890i, Walkman

The Nokia N95 8GB: The N95 Now Made Way Even Better

• Author: Moby
• Filed under: Nokia
• Date: Feb 22,2008

The phones Nokia has been coming up with in the recent years are very impressive - and they have done it yet again with the N95 8GB. It is one of the most technically advanced of all smart phones that we have seen.

The N95 by Nokia features amazing network connectivity (read: GPS, Wi-Fi, 3G and HSDPA) plus a 5-megapixel autofocus all wrapper in an unbelievably sleek and minute package. The N95 8GB features all these as well as it is its updated version. Though the N95 8GB proves to be a little chunkier than its older brother, it makes up for the additional weight quite well.

The 8GB version is packed with a larger screen for a more exciting viewing experience. The navigation keys at the bottom have been made smaller, yet easier to press. We also noticed how response time is quicker for this unit, and boot-up time is quicker by many notches. Very notable is its black casing, which made this phone sexier and more classy. Another thing we found interesting though is its two-way sliding mechanism which allows hiding of playback keys when the phone is not in use. The two plates of the slider are not prone to shifting, which we found very annoying with the N95 predecessor.

The omission of the expansion card slot in the 8GB version is noteworthy. Though it already has a huge onboard flash memory, we still find it unfortunate that this phone has stripped us of the freedom to expand memory and to switch memory cards. Nonetheless, being a multimedia mammoth, it allows you to install as many applications as you can.

If you think the N95’s camera cover is a good feature, you will be disappointed to know that the 8GB version has done away with that. On the other hand, this can actually be great as it avoids the chances of accidentally activating the camera on your pocket which can happen very often with the N95.

Nokia has tried to come up with a solution to the complaints of many N95 users when it comes to battery life. The N95 8GB comes with a larger capacity 1200mAh BL-6F battery which does make a difference, although only to a slight extent.

We have always found upgraded versions of old mobile phone models disappointing. However, the N95 8GB is surprisingly not disappointing at all. Needless to say, Nokia did a satisfactory job in addressing most of the issues that came with the original N95, and the N95 8GB is definitely a good successor. The bigger screen, fashionable black shade, increased RAM, and more compact built are among the few things to like about this handset. However, if you currently own an N95, we won’t find it practical to upgrade to an 8GB and spend $100.

For what it’s worth, the N05 8GB is still one of the most feature-filled handsets to ever enter the market. In fact, it has been difficult for us to compare it with another phone at par with its features.

The Nokia N95 is available for $679.89 at ElephantCellular

tagged: 5-megapixel, 3G, HSDPA, GPS, PDA, Wi-Fi, Nokia, 8GB N95, Symbian, Smartphone

The Nokia 6500 Classic: Truly Slim, Truly Classic

• Author: Moby
• Filed under: Nokia
• Date: Feb 22,2008

Finally, Nokia has come up with something great, proudly sleek and slim with the release of the Nokia 6500 Classic. While all the other cellphone makers have been up on their toes with slim offerings, Nokia seemed to have been slow to adopt with this trend. It first came up with the 6300 in 2006, and now the 6500 which is its slimmest Nokia we have seen so far.

Needless to say, we like the design and the leanness of the 6500 Classic. It may not be as thin as other slim phones, but it is comfortable enough to handle comfortably and to fit in shirt pockets. The Keypad is average-sized and tactile which makes them easy to press, unless you have really big thumbs, that is.

The 6500 Classic’s design exudes a more streamlined profile since thee is only a single port for data connectivity, charging and audio. The downside is that it makes multi-tasking virtually impossible to do. However, you can charge and synchronize at the same time since the data cable is bundled with a charger; an idea which is not at all bad. The 6500 classic is simply a classic phone. Aside from the onboard speakers positioned at the rear and the 2-megapixel camera with LED flashlight, there is practically nothing worth noting in terms of design.

Before we proceed, try not to confuse yourself with the 6500 Slide. The 6500 slide is obviously slide type, is more bulky but has better features to compensate for its bulk (such as a 3.2 megapixel Carl Zeiss camera for instance and an expansion slot). The 6500 Classic is equipped with a lowly 2-megapixel camera and does not have an expansion slot. However, it does provide a 1GB onboard memory which we find sufficient enough for storing photos and about 200 or so songs.

The 6500 Classic has improved imaging features because of built-in LED lights. We are still not contented though since it has no autofocus. This goes without saying that this 6500 is not meant to be as strong as an imaging solution as in the N series. The LED lights also didn’t seem enough, though fairly decent pictures can be taken under dim conditions.

The 6500 features a music player (which actually can play videos as well) which support regular music formats. It unfortunately does not have an FM tuner. Audio quality seems very satisfactory for the 6500 Classic both for calls and on speakerphone. The Nokia 6500 Classic relatively has a long battery life which can last up to 9 days on standby and 3.5 hours continuous talk time. The response time of the 6500 Classic is also quite excellent, as we didn’t experience any notable lags when switching applications.

The 6500 is indeed a classic. With its slim and sleek design, its sharper look and its compact features make it an outstanding handphone. Though it does not have video call capabilities, nor can shoot excellent image quality, the elegance and the look it exudes well compensates for all the rest of its shortcomings.

The Nokia 6500 Classic is available for $319.89 at ElephantCellular

tagged: Keypad, Nokia, 6500 classic, 6300