December 23rd, 2009 | Camera Phones, Mobile Phone Reviews, Samsung Mobile Phones
Does the Samsung Soul really have a lot of soul? Of course not, it’s a mobile phone. But as the latest mobile phones go, it’s a pretty good offering from Samsung, and one of the better slider phones available at the moment.
It’s solid, moves in and out smoothly, and feels good in the hand – this isn’t a phone that’s going to fall apart quickly. What sets it apart from most other mobile phones is the navigation pad, an unusual device where the keys change depending on the function a user accesses (going to music, for example, will bring up music keys on the navigation pad – odd, yes, but very useful).
Speaking of music, the player is excellent, packing a Bang & Olufsen digital amplifier that really delivers; it won’t demolish any walls, but it does have a crisp, sharp sound, and there’s also an FM radio. That said, a 3.5mm headphone jack would have made this an even better handset – as it is, users are limited to the headphones that come with the Samsung Soul, or must buy an adapter.
The camera is also outstanding – a five megapixel effort with several tweaks, including an image stabiliser.
Although the phone is equipped with 3.5G for snappy, smooth uploads, what’s missing is Wi-Fi, which really ought to be standard these days, and having GPS on the phone would have turned it into something special.
Those two things aside, the Samsung Soul might not be especially soulful, but it is stylish, well-built, and functions very well.
December 21st, 2009 | HTC, Mobile Phone Reviews, Touchscreen, Windows Mobile
The HTC Touch 2 is HTC’s trial with the new Windows 6.5 Mobile operating system, although the company has put its own TouchFLO interface on top of that to try and offer more of an HTC experience. But somehow, somewhere, someone has dropped the ball on this handset as several mobile phone reviews have already noted.
So what are the problems? The most obvious one visually is that the handset doesn’t switch from portrait to landscape mode. Given that this change is standard in smartphones these days, it seems a counterproductive move not to include it, and it’s bound to turn off a lot of potential customers.
The other big downfall is the screen itself, which is resistive, requiring fairly heavy finger pressure or the use of a stylus, and which can easily result in choosing the wrong app – and frustration like that is never a good thing.
On the good side, the inclusion of Windows 6.5 Mobile means Internet Explorer is there as a browser although, oddly, it’s not the default one, but can be easily accessed. The OS also offers access to MyPhone via Windows Live, meaning all contacts – in fact everything on the phone – can be backed up, which can offer some peace of mind.
The HTC Touch 2’s user interface works well and does help with navigation, but given the screen it is a vital addition.
Given HTC’s record, it’s surprising that they’ve allowed this phone to come out. Compared to the competition, it really doesn’t do the job at all.
December 18th, 2009 | Blackberry, Mobile Phone Reviews, Wireless Technology
Blackberry has long been the smartphone of choice for the business crowd, but given the popularity of smartphones with consumers, the company wants a slice of that pie, too, and the Blackberry Curve 8520 is their way of trying to open up that market.
Alongside email, it’s crammed with ways to stay connected, having instant messaging, Facebook and Twitter, guaranteed to appeal to the younger set that needs to be constantly in touch. Bearing that demographic in mind, the Blackberry Curve 8520 is also good with music, offering not only clear speakers, but also a 3.5mm jack for the listener’s own headphones, and keys solely to control music play – a very definite plus.
The styling is much what you’d expect – the handset is quite distinctively a Blackberry, with a QWERTY keyboard that’s easy to use. However, although it comes with Wi-Fi for downloads, it is not fitted with the quicker 3G, nor is there GPS, meaning that this is a relatively stripped-down unit as smartphones go.
The old trackball has been dumped in favour of the newer style trackpad; in mobile phone reviews some people love the change, whilst others hate it. However, it’s the modern way to go on a Blackberry.
What is a real disappointment is the camera, which is just two megapixels. It functions and takes pictures, but that’s about the best to be said for it. By usual Blackberry pricing standards this is a low-end handset, which explains why it doesn’t offer so many features. But it’s excellent for communication and music.
December 17th, 2009 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband, Wireless Technology
The rise of broadband in the twenty first century has meant that the providers have been forced to become incredibly competitive in order to win your business. Why would you choose them if another company is offering you more for less?
The problem is that some deals can appear to be cheap, but in the long run aren’t, because you find yourself either using the service too much or not enough. A typical example of this is that for £6.49 per month, Tiscali offers 8Mb broadband, which sounds great until you realise that for just 51p more, Orange will give you 20Mb as part of their Broadband Home Starter. However, you must be an existing Orange customer to get this deal.
So, you really must decide whether of not having a really fast connection is important to you or if you won’t be online often enough for it to really matter how fast the Internet speed is. For example, if you only use it once a week, perhaps to check your e-mail and maybe update your Facebook page, then paying more for a fast speed might just be a complete waste of money. However, if your children go online everyday, are frequently updating Twitter, writing a daily blog and chatting with all of their friends on MSN, then a faster connection may well cut down on your stress levels.
December 16th, 2009 | HTC, Mobile Phone Reviews, Windows Mobile
Is it an HTC mobile phone or is it a Blackberry? Anyone giving the HTC Snap a quick glance would be forgiven for any confusion. Yes, it’s by HTC, but it certainly looks like a Blackberry, albeit a very thin one. Obviously taking aim at RIM’s business clientele, HTC has produced a phone that does everything well.
Of special note is the keyboard, which is very responsive, and the keys are large enough to avoid the kind of typos that can be endemic on some Blackberries. Since typing is important to the business market, anything that makes it easier helps with the handset’s appeal.
Even though there’s Windows Mobile under the bonnet, the HTC Snap is excellent for browsing, email – in fact virtually everything anyone would need. To be fair, this is the Standard edition, without all the fancy add-ons, but that’s good in this case.
As well as the expect Push mail support, the HTC Snap also supports IMAP and POP accounts, as well as Gmail, giving a wider range than its competitor. Users can also group email contacts via a new interface innovation called Inner Circle. It might not sound like much, but it can work very well.
Is there anything the HTC Snap doesn’t do well? About the only failing, at least on this version, is the omission of a 3.5mm headphone jack, and for this market that’s a minor failing.
For anyone wanting all the functionality of a Blackberry without actually buying a Blackberry, the HTC Snap is a great alternative. RIM should definitely be worried.
December 12th, 2009 | Camera Phones, Mobile Phone Reviews, Samsung Mobile Phones, Touchscreen
It might not be quite billed that way, but there’s little doubt that the Samsung Pixon M8800 wants to be taken very seriously as a touchscreen camera phone. After all, when a handset comes packed with an eight megapixel camera – the equal or better of many digital cameras – it means business.
The camera is certainly excellent, and the automatic lens cover is a very thoughtful touch. The pictures as are crisp and clean as can be expected, whether in sun or shade, although a Xenon flash would have been a distinct improvement. Those into video will like it too, since the handset manages that as well as slow-motion, and geo-tagging of images for those to whom it’s important. Anyone wanting to upload pictures, though, will have to use the 3G function – oddly, the Pixon M8800 isn’t equipped with Wi-Fi.
There’s a good music player, but no 3.5mm headphone jack, something far too many manufacturers seem to overlook, and which would give immediate improvement.
The touchscreen isn’t very responsive, which makes texting a slow, awkward procedure, and the browser that comes loaded with the phone is really surprisingly poor – users would do better downloading an alternative.
Anyone looking for a serious camera phone should well investigate the Samsung Pixon M8800. On that level it’s excellent, although the Xenon flash would have put it in the superb category. The downside is that you’ll have to put up with the rest of the phone, which could have been a great deal better. In the long run, a good digital camera might be the right choice.
December 10th, 2009 | LG, Mobile Phone Reviews, Touchscreen
We must give full credit to LG for being very daring with the design of the Chocolate BL40. It is longer and slimmer than many mobile phones, as if it’s been stretched out a little. Get past that strangeness, and there’s plenty to recommend this handset.
The home screen, which is a generous four inches in size, is very colourful and sharp, and responds very readily to touch commands. It’s definitely one of the best of the new mobile phones, with an excellent five megapixel camera that has plenty of options, including video, of course. One handy feature is the phone’s FM transmitter, which allows you to play the music on your phone through your car stereo. This is unusual, perhaps, but very useful, as is the built-in GPS.
The screen can be displayed in either portrait or landscape mode. Given the screen size, that may sound as if it will offer a lot, but in fact it doesn’t, since in landscape mode, a user can’t see much of a web page when browsing, and icons are small. When texting, the LG Chocolate BL40 goes into a bizarre split-screen mode that offers contacts on the left side of the screen and messages on the right, which can be very confusing at first.
Mobile phone reviews of the handset have been mixed, praising features like the responsiveness of the screen to touch and the camera, but decidedly mixed on other features. It’s not perfect, by any means, but it’s a phone that will stand out.
December 9th, 2009 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Sony Ericsson
It would seem that Nokia mobile phones own the basic phone market, but Sony Ericsson seems to be trying to muscle into that demographic with the S312. Yes, it’s the kind of phone that’s not fancy, no Wi-Fi, GPS, or all the extras people seem to expect these days. This is a phone that is satisfied with being a mobile phone and nothing more.
The Sony Ericsson is light, extremely light in fact, and makes no bones about being made of plastic, to the point where the unkind could consider it tacky. But it works, and that’s the important thing – and it’s cheap. The menus are simple to use and navigate.
It’s just a two inch screen, but it really doesn’t need any more than that, since all the functions are quite ordinary, with the exception of the camera, which offers quite a lot for a phone of this level. Yes, it’s just two megapixels, but it works well, and the loaded Photo Fix software offers some very good photo editing capabilities. Users can shoot video too and still and moving pictures are started with separate buttons, a thoughtful addition. The downside is that you can only use them when you’re not doing anything else on the phone – although, to be fair, there’s not a whole lot else to do.
Among cheap, basic mobile phones, this Sony Ericsson is a standout. It’s a phone that does exactly what it says on the tin and does it very well, and that’s what it’s all about.
December 6th, 2009 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband, Mobile Technology
One of the great tools to be found on the Think Broadband website is a user-friendly forum. There are several different categories, which make it relatively easy to scan the topic groups and find the information you are searching for. Here are some examples of the topic sections that are available on the forum.
‘Broadband not-spots and slow spots’ is invaluable to anyone who uses mobile broadband services. You can find out which areas of the UK have the best mobile broadband connections and who supplies them. You can also find out where the connections tend to be under 2Mbps or are non-existent. Knowing information like this ahead of time can save you a great deal of frustration.
For people who are interested in upgrading to broadband or just have questions about how the services work, there is the ‘General Broadband Chatter’ section. Here you can ask the simplest questions without fear of ridicule. Because this particular section is open to anyone, you can post your query anonymously if you wish.
If you are looking to engage in a little mobile broadband comparison, the ‘Mobile Broadband’ section is the place to search. You’ll find discussions about the mobile broadband services currently available, opinions on the quality of the service and speed and just about anything else you would like to know. This section is strictly for discussion on mobile broadband, so subjects related to wireless broadband are addressed in other areas of the forum.
Finally, there is a section for people to share their stories of woe with different broadband deals and providers. This is a great place to find out what can happen when things go wrong, as well as how the different providers handle the situation. Taking a look here can help you side step a deal that looks good on the surface, but may have problems underneath that shiny facade.
Bear in mind that some of the sections of the Think Broadband forum are open for anyone to participate. However, others are restricted to registered users only. Try viewing the different sections as a guest and if you want to jump into a conversation that is restricted, simply register and move forward with your comments.
December 3rd, 2009 | Camera Phones, Mobile Phone Reviews, Nokia
Nokia has been among the pioneers with music mobile phones, and the Nokia 5310 is a good, if not outstanding, addition to the line. The candy bar style design is neatly slim, just made for the pocket, and it offers – as it should – a 3.5mm headphone jack so users can use their own headphones. The body of the phone has keys dedicated to music, so browsing and playing is a snap, although it could use more memory – even the card slot only supports an extra 16GB, limiting the amount of tracks the phone can hold, but users can subscribe to Nokia’s Comes with Music service. Although the audio quality is good, it’s certainly not the best on the market.
At a mere two megapixels, the camera seems like an afterthought, and the picture quality isn’t especially good.
The keypad is simple and straightforward, but hardly worth writing home about. Users can customise the screen and include information on music, which is what should be expected in a device like this.
It’s more problematic using the phone to browse the Web, however, since there’s no 3G or Wi-Fi included. After all, it’s a mobile phone, not a smartphone, and one that’s focussed on music more than anything else.
Within those limits, it does a good job. It’s priced right and, for any music fan on a budget, it offers what they’ll need. Call quality is fine, and so is the battery life, which is an important factor for anyone wanting to play a lot of music.
