The Moto Q 9h: Motorola Venturing into the Unfamiliar

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

Wonder how it would be like if your Keypad became a Keyboard? Wonder no more, the Moto Q 9h is here. It is about time that Motorola veered into the unfamiliar. For years now, it has produced phones solely based on the RAZR V3, which is its best seller. But Motorola seemed to go towards the really unfamiliar clamshell design-less path with the Moto Q 9h. Why? Read on and find out.

Motorola is introducing a handset with a QWERTY keypad with the Moto Q 9h. It is actually a smart phone which is design for those who heavy text and email users. This is not the first handset equipped with this type of keypad, but it is by far the easiest to use.

As in BlackBerry handsets, the Moto Q actually has room for a QWERTY keypad. With its 4.7 x 2.6 x 0.5-inch and 4.7-ounce dimensions, it is to a large extent wider, taller, and heavier than most usual phones we know. However, it is still thin enough to be pocket-friendly.

The QWERTY keypad is great and tactile, though it can take a little getting used to. The keypad is seemingly designed to match the movement of the thumbs. The colour screen is large enough, though there might have been a little more room to make it wee bit wider. It does not have a scroll wheel to help skim through emails easier, but it does have an up and down select button on the right side. We figure not all users will appreciate this.

The Moto Q runs on the Windows Mobile 6 standard. It supports email sending through Exchange Servers and access to your Hotmail account. You can also access your mails through a server supported by BlackBerry. One thing we like about the Moto Q is that it provides a 3.5G HSDPA connectivity for pre-installed Internet Explorer and Opera browsers. It’s unfortunate that it does not support WiFi.

The Moto Q 9h is not just for business use. It also features a Windows Media player which enables watching online videos and play music files, among a few others. At the back is a 2-megapixel camera which is great for taking snapshots and for sending MMS. It also supports quad-band connectivity, a microSD expansion slot which can hold 400 songs and a few hundred photos.

We didn’t have high hopes in this phone’s camera so we were not all that disappointed. The pictures are not crisp and may be a little blurry, but it is good enough as a 2MP camera phone. Audio quality was excellent, without any noticeable muffling or distortions. It is also impressive how the phone can be very responsive, with no amount of lag except when multiple applications are used at the same time. You may need to get yourself an extra battery if you are a heavy data user or talker.

The Moto Q 9h is probably one of the best smart phones we have seen so far. It is surprisingly affordable relative to other smart phones. Though it does not have Wi-Fi or a scroll wheel, all the rest of its features compensate well for it.

The Motorola Q is available for $329.89 at ElephantCellular

tagged: HSDPA, Keyboard, QWERTY, Windows Mobile 6, Keypad, Windows Mobile, Wi-Fi, Moto, Q9h

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

The Nokia E51: So Much More than What Meets the Eye

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

We fell in love with the E65 instantly, and for a time, we believed it to be the best smart phone Nokia has ever produced. This was not until the release of the Nokia E51. If you would like a smart business phone which provides almost all the perks you need to get life rolling, then the Nokia E51 is worth looking into.

The Nokia E51 looks downright ordinary. Its candy-bar design, relatively leaner built, and compact feel does not make it extraordinarily special. The phone is relatively tall, has a good and tactile Keypad, and has a wonderfully sharp and clear display. The fact that it sports a good number of dedicated and customizable buttons is very noticeable. This makes the E51 all the more convenient. Truth be told, Nokia did not seem to come up with any new design concept for this particular handset. However, in terms of features, the E51 offers so much more inside its deceptively ordinary casing.

The E51 is a quad-band GSM phone equipped with HSDPA and 3G connectivity. It supports Wi-Fe and SIP meaning that installing a special software can allow you access to VoIP. It has a 130MB internal memory, which we find fairly satisfactory with micro-SD extension slots. Of course, Bluetooth and Infra-red are both present. In the E51, there is a basic multimedia software and document readers. Nokia has added a little kick into this handset with its built-in FM tuner. At the back of the E51 is its 2-megapixel camera and its onboard speakers. Though the camera is good enough for the most basic snapshots, you shouldn’t expect to get high quality prints.

We believe that the E51 already has all the necessary features to get you through on a daily basis. As in many other Nokia units, this handset is prone to fingerprint smudges which we found a little troublesome. It also does not have a front-facing camera making video calls futile.

We noticed how the E51 can be very responsive; the menus and applications were activated almost instantly. We did experience some lag time when multiple programs were opened simultaneously, which should be normal. Call quality is decent enough, though the sound became a little hollow on loudspeaker mode. There was also some slight muffling since speakers were located at the back.

The 2-megapixel camera in this handphone can be disappointing. Though picture quality enough to be considered satisfactory, shooting photos while on the move is hardly possible. The photos that came out were not as great. We believe Nokia could have done better on this aspect, though we still loved the E51 despite this weakness.

Despite its shortcomings, it can be very easy to fall in love with the E51. It is easy to use and offers a great load of features. The slim profile, the dedicated buttons, the convenient tactility, the Wi-Fi connection - these are but some of the features that you would like most in a phone. This ordinary looking phone has so much more to offer than meets the eye.

Get Unlocked Cell Phones at ElephantCellular

tagged: 3G, HSDPA, Keypad, Wi-Fi, Nokia, E51, Symbian, Smartphone, E65

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 N81: For the Music and Game Lovers

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

The N81 is considered to be the best entertainment powerhouse that Nokia has ever come up with. It is a powerful multimedia device for the music lovers. If you are familiar with the N95, you will probably find them similar in more ways than one.

The N81 is a neatly designed slide phone. It is on the chunky and heavy side, though relatively slimmer than the N95. It exudes a stocky look, which we find classy but not sexy. At first glance, you will notice the much too many buttons and controls found on this handset. Aside from the usual Keypad and navigation keys, it is equipped with dedicated keys for playing and accessing music, video and games.

The N81 contains a whopping 8 Gigabytes of internal memory, which makes it unbeatable. It can store as much as 2,000 songs, and is actually a great music player. It has a 5-band equalizer which can be quite impressive, though the lack of bass is noticeable. It also allows easy playlist management and synchronization with Windows Media Player. If you are tired of your usual songs, you can opt to use the built-in FM radio. The pair of headphones that comes with the package is fairly decent. It supports Bluetooth headsets and 3.5mm mini-jacks just in case you don’t like them.

The N81 has been designed for music-lovers and gamers as well. There are dedicated game keys, and it supports Nokia’s NGage game series. However, we will not recommend you to get this phone purely because of its gaming potential. Though the excellent 3D graphics can be impressive, we are still not fully convinced that this handset can provide you as much enjoyment as a game console like Sony PSP will.

The N81’s connectivity is great. It supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and HSDPA for faster 3G downloads. Call quality and reception are also great, as in all Nokia handphones.

The N81 is not the perfect phone though. First, the N81 supposedly features a directional pad which can also be used as a Touch wheel as in the iPod. However, we found it practically unusable since they were just not as sensitive. Also, the built-in camera has a sad resolution of 2-megapixels. This should be good enough; it’s just that we have seen better cameras in the Nokia series.

Another gripe we have about this phone is that it has the tendency to slow down or even freeze if you push it hard on the applications. Although the 8GB capacity helps, it is just not as fast as the N82 (which features a good 128MB RAM). When run in the background, the music player can play lag free, while the currently open application are the ones which take on the slight lag.

Despite its imperfections, the N81 is still one of the best full-featured music- and game-dedicated phones we have ever seen. Though we would have wished for it to be a little slimmer and more fashionable than it is, we have definitely no problems recommending this phone.

The Nokia N81 is available for $496.00 at ElephantCellular

tagged: 3G, HSDPA, Touch, Keypad, Wi-Fi, Nokia, N81, N95, 8GB, Symbian