5. cell phone reveiws

(926,Samsung SGH-C417 (red),Positives: The Samsung SGH-C417 is simply designed and comes with a useful set of features, including Bluetooth, world-phone support, and a speakerphone. Negatives: The phones keys are flat and slippery, and voice quality is poor. The SGH-C417s VGA camera does not support video. Facts: The Samsung SGH-C417 is a good choice for low-end cell phone users looking for a functional handset with just a few extras. Note: This product is part of the Samsung SGH-C417 series. ., With so many silver cell phones on the market, its nice to see a handset that dips into another hue. Samsungs SGH-C417 for Cingular Wireless does come in basic gray for traditionalists, but its also available in eye-catching, candy-apple red. And if youre into slim phones, the SGH-C417 has this dimension covered too. The phones simple, attractive design echoes its feature set, which is basic but useful. Audio quality is decent, but can sound at times hollow. Overall the SGH-C417 is a solid device that you can find for the bargain-basement price of $29, with service.The SGH-C417 doesnt try to hard to look pretty, but thats OK. We liked the phones understated design, with its sleek lines. The SGH-C417 is relatively thin and compact, at 3.66 by 1.89 by 0.65 inches. It is, however, too small to cradle comfortably between your ear and shoulder. At 2.86 ounces, the SGH-C417 is also relatively light, but we couldnt help but notice that the flip mechanism and the stubby antenna felt flimsy. This isnt a phone for the adventure sports enthusiast. The external grayscale display measures 1 inch (96x96 pixels) and shows all the required information: date, time, battery life, signal strength, and caller ID (when available). It doesnt support photo caller ID, but it does act as a rudimentary viewfinder for self-portraits with the phones VGA camera. You can only change the display contrast, but fortunately it is visible when backlighting is dimmed. The camera lens sits above the display, but doesnt come with a flash. A volume rocker and a covered headset jack sit on the left spine while a camera shutter key and the charger port sit on the right spine.The internal display measures 2 inches and supports 65,000 colors. Though its perfectly adequate for navigating through the minimal but functional menus, the display isnt very bright or vibrant. Perhaps weve been spoiled with 262,000-color displays, but the difference between more modern screens and the SGH-C417s resolution is stark. You can change display font, color, brightness, and backlighting time, but thats about it. The navigation controls and keypad buttons suffer from the same problems that beset many thin phones. Not only are the buttons flush with the surface of the handset, but also theyre slippery. While the red SGH-C417 has an easy-to-read silver interior, the gray SGH-C417 comes with a black interior that makes keypad numbers and letters harder to decipher. Primary navigation is through a four-way toggle and a central OK button. The toggle doubles as a shortcut to four user-defined functions, while the OK button opens the phones Web browser when in standby mode. This isnt ideal, as wed prefer the OK button open the menu instead. However, its a design quirk that you quickly get used to. Other controls include two giant soft keys, a clear button, and the Talk and End/Power buttons. The keypad buttons have a unique design that unfortunately doesnt make them very easy to use. Each row of numbers sits on one long button, with different pressure points for each number. Theres little tactile separation between the individual digits, so dialing by feel is difficult.The phone book holds 500 contacts, with room in each entry for five phone numbers, an e-mail address, and additional notes. You can assign callers to groups, or pair them with one of 10 polyphonic ring tones. You also can pair friends with photos, but the images wont show up on the phones external display. Other basic offerings include text and multimedia messaging, a voice recorder, AOL instant messaging, a vibrate mode, an alarm clock, a calendar, a task list, a notepad, a calculator, a converter, a timer, a stopwatch, and a world clock. On the high-end, the SGH-C417 has Bluetooth capability and a speakerphone. The SGH-C417s camera doesnt come with a flash. The phones VGA camera takes pictures in four resolutions (640x480, 320x240, 160x120, and 128x120) and with three quality settings. Other camera options include a night mode, a 2X zoom, five color tones, brightness control, and three shutter sounds plus a silent mode. Once youve taken a picture, you can send them to friends or save them to the phones relatively meager 2.5MB of internal memory. Photo quality was what wed expect from a VGA camera--colors were washed out and details were fuzzy. Still, the quality is sufficient for quick shots for friends. The SGH-C417s camera does not shoot video. The SGH-C417s photo quality is average for a VGA camera. You can personalize the SGH-C417 with wallpapers, colors, skins, and sounds. If desired, you can also download additional design options or ring tones via the phones WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Gamers will enjoy a modest collection of four Java (J2ME) titles--Snow Ball Fight, Bubble Smile, Bowling 2, and Bejeweled--but Cingular offers more titles for purchase.We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) Samsung SGH-C417 in San Francisco using Cingulars wireless service. Sound quality was satisfactory, but voices at times sounded hollow. Volume level was fine, and callers could hear us plainly. Yet we did experience some problems with the phones voice-response systems when the surroundings were noisy. Speakerphone calls were good, and we had no troubles using a Bluetooth headset.The Samsung SGH-C417 has a rated talk time of 5 hours and a promised standby time of 10 days. Our tests showed a surprising talk time of 10 hours and 28 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the SGH-C417 has a digital SAR rating of 1.51 watts per kilogram. ),
(927,Samsung SGH-C417 (gold),Positives: The Samsung SGH-C417 is simply designed and comes with a useful set of features, including Bluetooth, world-phone support, and a speakerphone. Negatives: The phones keys are flat and slippery, and voice quality is poor. The SGH-C417s VGA camera does not support video. Facts: The Samsung SGH-C417 is a good choice for low-end cell phone users looking for a functional handset with just a few extras. Note: This product is part of the Samsung SGH-C417 series. ., With so many silver cell phones on the market, its nice to see a handset that dips into another hue. Samsungs SGH-C417 for Cingular Wireless does come in basic gray for traditionalists, but its also available in eye-catching, candy-apple red. And if youre into slim phones, the SGH-C417 has this dimension covered too. The phones simple, attractive design echoes its feature set, which is basic but useful. Audio quality is decent, but can sound at times hollow. Overall the SGH-C417 is a solid device that you can find for the bargain-basement price of $29, with service.The SGH-C417 doesnt try to hard to look pretty, but thats OK. We liked the phones understated design, with its sleek lines. The SGH-C417 is relatively thin and compact, at 3.66 by 1.89 by 0.65 inches. It is, however, too small to cradle comfortably between your ear and shoulder. At 2.86 ounces, the SGH-C417 is also relatively light, but we couldnt help but notice that the flip mechanism and the stubby antenna felt flimsy. This isnt a phone for the adventure sports enthusiast. The external grayscale display measures 1 inch (96x96 pixels) and shows all the required information: date, time, battery life, signal strength, and caller ID (when available). It doesnt support photo caller ID, but it does act as a rudimentary viewfinder for self-portraits with the phones VGA camera. You can only change the display contrast, but fortunately it is visible when backlighting is dimmed. The camera lens sits above the display, but doesnt come with a flash. A volume rocker and a covered headset jack sit on the left spine while a camera shutter key and the charger port sit on the right spine.The internal display measures 2 inches and supports 65,000 colors. Though its perfectly adequate for navigating through the minimal but functional menus, the display isnt very bright or vibrant. Perhaps weve been spoiled with 262,000-color displays, but the difference between more modern screens and the SGH-C417s resolution is stark. You can change display font, color, brightness, and backlighting time, but thats about it. The navigation controls and keypad buttons suffer from the same problems that beset many thin phones. Not only are the buttons flush with the surface of the handset, but also theyre slippery. While the red SGH-C417 has an easy-to-read silver interior, the gray SGH-C417 comes with a black interior that makes keypad numbers and letters harder to decipher. Primary navigation is through a four-way toggle and a central OK button. The toggle doubles as a shortcut to four user-defined functions, while the OK button opens the phones Web browser when in standby mode. This isnt ideal, as wed prefer the OK button open the menu instead. However, its a design quirk that you quickly get used to. Other controls include two giant soft keys, a clear button, and the Talk and End/Power buttons. The keypad buttons have a unique design that unfortunately doesnt make them very easy to use. Each row of numbers sits on one long button, with different pressure points for each number. Theres little tactile separation between the individual digits, so dialing by feel is difficult.The phone book holds 500 contacts, with room in each entry for five phone numbers, an e-mail address, and additional notes. You can assign callers to groups, or pair them with one of 10 polyphonic ring tones. You also can pair friends with photos, but the images wont show up on the phones external display. Other basic offerings include text and multimedia messaging, a voice recorder, AOL instant messaging, a vibrate mode, an alarm clock, a calendar, a task list, a notepad, a calculator, a converter, a timer, a stopwatch, and a world clock. On the high-end, the SGH-C417 has Bluetooth capability and a speakerphone. The SGH-C417s camera doesnt come with a flash. The phones VGA camera takes pictures in four resolutions (640x480, 320x240, 160x120, and 128x120) and with three quality settings. Other camera options include a night mode, a 2X zoom, five color tones, brightness control, and three shutter sounds plus a silent mode. Once youve taken a picture, you can send them to friends or save them to the phones relatively meager 2.5MB of internal memory. Photo quality was what wed expect from a VGA camera--colors were washed out and details were fuzzy. Still, the quality is sufficient for quick shots for friends. The SGH-C417s camera does not shoot video. The SGH-C417s photo quality is average for a VGA camera. You can personalize the SGH-C417 with wallpapers, colors, skins, and sounds. If desired, you can also download additional design options or ring tones via the phones WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Gamers will enjoy a modest collection of four Java (J2ME) titles--Snow Ball Fight, Bubble Smile, Bowling 2, and Bejeweled--but Cingular offers more titles for purchase.We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) Samsung SGH-C417 in San Francisco using Cingulars wireless service. Sound quality was satisfactory, but voices at times sounded hollow. Volume level was fine, and callers could hear us plainly. Yet we did experience some problems with the phones voice-response systems when the surroundings were noisy. Speakerphone calls were good, and we had no troubles using a Bluetooth headset.The Samsung SGH-C417 has a rated talk time of 5 hours and a promised standby time of 10 days. Our tests showed a surprising talk time of 10 hours and 28 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the SGH-C417 has a digital SAR rating of 1.51 watts per kilogram. ),
(928,Motorola Razr d Edition,Positives: The Motorola Razr d Edition has access to d Live content, a customized d user interface, a 1.3-megapixel camera, a video recorder, a music player, and EV-DO support. Negatives: The Razr d Edition suffered from poor speakerphone quality and sluggish performance. There are fewer camera and video recorder settings than on the V3m. You also have to remove the battery to access the Micro SD card. Facts: The Motorola Razr d Edition is a rebranded version of the Motorola Razr V3m. It is the same as the V3m in a lot of ways, except for the addition of the d interface and access to d Live content. This is probably the best phone in d Mobiles lineup. Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., Now that almost every carrier has gotten on the Razr bandwagon, d Mobile has decided to jump in with its own version of the much-coveted cell phone. The Motorola Razr d Edition is really a rebranded version of Verizons Motorola Razr V3m--it has the same look and feel, and even the same multimedia capabilities. But, d ups the ante with a custom user interface and access to exclusive d Live content. The phone is available for $99 with a contract or for $199 with the pay-as-you-go service. The Motorola Razr d Edition is the d Mobile version of the Razr V3m. The design of the Motorola Razr d Edition would be familiar to anyone who has ever seen a Razr. It has the same look and feel as the Razr V3m. As a quick reminder, the handset measures 1.09 by 3.89 by 1.01 inches and weighs only 3.48 ounces. The d Edition of the Razr is wrapped in a dark-gray metallic finish, and unlike the V3m, its keypad sports a similar grayish hue. Everything else is the same; the location of the camera lens on the front, the external display, the thin side buttons, and so forth. As with the V3m, the Razr has a Micro SD card slot inconveniently located underneath the battery cover, and youll need to remove the battery to access it. You can read more about the design of the phone in our review of the Razr V3m.The primary design difference is that the d Edition has the aforementioned d Mobile user interface, which is similar to that used in the carriers other phones, such as the Motorola Hollywood and the Kyocera Jet. The menu itself has a rather industrial design, with silvery metallic accents, slick pages, and animated icons, all of which add up to quite a user-friendly interface. We must say we prefer this over the staid and cumbersome Verizon interface on the V3m. While the Motorola Razr d Edition features special d Live content (which well touch on later), most of the underlying features remain the same as the V3ms. It has a 1,000-entry contact list, and each entry can be personalized with a ring tone and a picture ID and be grouped in a caller group. Other offerings include the basic text and multimedia messaging, a calendar, Bluetooth, voice dialing and commands, a voice recorder, vibrate mode, an alarm clock, a calculator, an airplane mode, and support for MP3 ring tones. We werent able to find a notepad on it, however, but that isnt too big a loss. The Motorola Razr d Edition has a 1.3-megapixel camera. Much like the V3m, the d Edition also has a 1.3 megapixel camera and a video recorder. However, the d Edition model doesnt have a few camera settings that were available on the V3m. For example, we couldnt find white-balance settings, multishot controls, the color-effects setting, and fun frames. Despite the lack of these settings, we did experience similar picture and video quality--the photos were decent, if a little faded, and the video was quite grainy. As for the music player, you can access it via the My Stuff menu, which brings up the d Live media player. Creating a new playlist is easy, though we wish there was an equalizer mode. The music player supports MP3 and AAC formats, and you can either upload songs to the phone via the Micro SD card or purchase some tunes from the d Live store. The Motorola Razr d Edition took decent photos. Speaking of d Live, thats probably the ultimate reason to get a phone from d Mobile, and the Razr certainly delivers on that front. To get you up to speed, d Live is d Mobiles media browser and player that lets you download or stream video or music content. Content includes free movie trailers, d Live original programming (with amusing shows such as Lil Bush and Swing Shift), as well as 99-cent downloads from NBC News, ESPN, MTV, and more. You can also buy music for about 99 cents a track. With its EV-DO support, we were able to download and stream videos and music with speed, though we did experience sluggish performance when loading the menu pages on d Live. We were slightly annoyed by the small video promos on top of many of the menu screens, which we couldnt seem to turn off. Personalization options are pretty standard. As with the other d phones, you can purchase additional wallpapers and ring tones from the d Live store. The phone doesnt come with many ring tones (only four), but you can buy more if you wish. The phone does support BREW games, though youll have to download them as the phone does not come with any games. There is also an application called Lockbox included, which acts as a contacts backup solution.We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) Motorola Razr d Edition in San Francisco using d Mobile. We experienced exceptional call quality with hardly any dropped calls. Callers also reported clear and crisp audio. We werent thrilled with the speakerphone quality, especially since we had to raise our voice in order to be heard. The audio quality of the music was a little tinny but decent enough for a cell phone. We managed to pair the Razr d Edition with the Plantronics 655 Bluetooth headset successfully.The Motorola Razr d Edition has a rated talk time of 3 hours and a standby time of 13 days. Much like the Razr V3m, the Razr d Edition has a tested talk time of 3 hours and 55 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the Razr d Edition has a digital SAR rating of 1.14 watts per kilogram. ),
(929,Samsung IP-830w,Positives: The Samsung IP-830w is a dual-mode CDMA/GSM phone for use domestically and overseas. The smart phone also features Windows Mobile 5, Bluetooth, and EV-DO support. Negatives: The Samsung IP-830w is bulky and has a disappointingly short talk-time battery life. It also lacks Wi-Fi, and the QWERTY keyboard is a bit cramped. Facts: Unless your business requires you to travel overseas frequently, there are a number of sleeker and better-performing Windows Mobile smart phones than the Samsung IP-830w. , Back in September at the fall CTIA show, Sprint and Samsung announced the upgrade to the Samsung SCH-i830, bringing some welcome additions to the smart phone. The updated Samsung IP-830w (a.k.a. Sprint International Smart Device IP-830w by Samsung) finally catches up to the competition and comes preloaded with the latest Windows Mobile 5 operating system. But its biggest benefit is the dual-mode CDMA/GSM functionality, which lets globe-trotters use the phone in the United States and overseas. That said, if work or pleasure doesnt require you to travel much, we think there are a number of better-designed and better-performing Windows Mobile smart phones out there, including the Sprint PPC-6700 and the Palm Treo 700wx. The Sprint IP-830w is available now for a pricey $599.99 with service.DesignThe Samsung IP-830w features the same slider design as its predecessor, and though its a tad smaller (4.5 by 2.2 by 0.9 inches compared to 5.2 by 2.8 by 0.6 inches), it remains a clunky phone. This isnt uncommon among Pocket PC phones; the Palm Treo 700wx and the Cingular 8125 share similar dimensions, but we found the IP-830w to be extrathick and heavy. In addition, theres an external antenna that adds an extra inch of unwanted bulk. On front of the device, there is a 2.8-inch touch screen that displays 262,000 hues at a 240x320 pixel resolution. Though it shows off more colors than the Samsung SCH-i830, we didnt notice a difference; in fact, we actually found the displays colors to be a bit washed out. We do love the convenience of the touch-screen functionality, however, as it gives you an easy and alternative method for inputting text and accessing the devices menus and programs. You also can navigate the smart phone with the set of controls beneath the screen, which include two soft keys, Talk and End keys, a Back button, shortcuts to your Calendar and Program Launcher, and a four-way navigation toggle with center Select key. The layout and buttons were on the smaller and cramped side, so users with larger digits might want to give it a test-drive before purchasing the phone. We found the Samsung IP-830ws keyboard to be a bit cramped. Hiding beneath the IP-830ws screen is a full QWERTY keyboard. To get to the keyboard, simply slide the front cover upward; the sliding mechanism is smooth, and the screen locks into place with a satisfying click. The buttons are tactile and well backlit, but we have several complaints about it. First, the layout is cramped, making it easy to press the wrong key. Whats more, since you can use the keyboard only in portrait mode and with the screen slid up, it makes the device top heavy and harder to hold. As such, we prefer the Treo 700wxs form factor. Save the devices internal memory for apps, and keep your multimedia files on an SD card. Theres an SDIO/MMC expansion slot on the right side, while a headset jack, a Voice Command button, a volume rocker, and a Hold/Backlight switch are on the left spine. Sprint packages the Samsung IP-830w with a Sprint Worldwide SIM card, an AC charger with adapters for Europe and the U.K. (very nice), a USB cable, a stereo headset, an extended battery, a software CD, and reference material.FeaturesOne of our biggest complaints with the Samsung SCH-i830 concerns the outdated operating system, so were finally glad to see that the Samsung IP-830w comes preloaded with Windows Mobile 5.2 Pocket PC Phone Edition with AKU (Adaption Kit Update) 2.6. Now, you can enjoy the benefits of the revamped Mobile Office Suite, which include a PowerPoint viewer and support for charts, tables, and embedded images in Word Mobile and Excel Mobile. This is supplemented by the Picsel Browser app that lets you view the aforementioned file types, plus PDFs, JPEG and PNG images, HTML, and more. For your e-mail needs, Outlook Mobile is onboard as is support for GoodLink so that you can get your messages delivered to your device in real time. In addition, you can configure the IP-830w to access your POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts. The biggest attraction of the Samsung IP-830w is the dual-mode CDMA/GSM functionality, which allows you to use the smart phone domestically and internationally while keeping the same number. In the States, you make calls via Sprints CDMA network, while the included SIM card is your ticket to roam on international GSM networks (GSM/GPRS 900/1800). Its a great option for business users who travel overseas frequently for work. The Samsung IP-830w ships with a SIM card so that you can use it to make calls while youre overseas. Other wireless connections include Bluetooth 1.1 and EV-DO support. The supported Bluetooth profiles include HSP, HFP, OPP, FTP, and HID for connecting to headsets, car kits and keyboards, and transfer of contacts and appointments between Bluetooth-enabled devices. In addition, you can use the included USB cable to hook up the IP-830w to your laptop and use it as a wireless modem. This will, however, require that you purchase a Sprint Power Vision Modem Plan, which starts at $39.99 per month for 40MB or $49.99 per month for unlimited. Though theres no integrated Wi-Fi on the Samsung IP-830w, the omission is easier to take (though wed still like the option) since you can connect to the Web via Sprints 3G EV-DO network. Data speeds can reach up to 2Mbps, but on average, theyll fall in the 400Kbps to 700Kbps range. As part of the Sprint Power Vision pack ($15 to $25 per month), you also can get Sprints On Demand content, which pulls all the current and local headlines from the Web and delivers them to your device. Other highlights of the Samsung IP-830w include 128MB of memory, a speakerphone, a voice recorder, voice commands, Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, a ring-tone manager, a remote-control app, and three preloaded games (Bubble Breaker, Checkers, and Solitaire).PerformanceWe tested the Samsung IP-830w in San Francisco using Sprints service, and call quality was good, much improved over the Samsung SCH-i830. Conversations were loud and clear, and our callers reported much of the same, although they said they could tell we were using a cell phone. Activating the speakerphone diminished the audio quality slightly, and we really had to jack up the volume to hear our callers, and even then, it was on the weak side. The IP-830w is rated for 3.4 hours of talk time and up to 5.4 days of standby time. In our tests, the standard battery lasted only a paltry 2.5 hours. Even worse, we swapped in the extended battery, which adds even more bulk and weight, and managed to squeak out only another half hour of talk time. According to FCC radiation tests, the Samsung IP-830w has a digital SAR rating of 1.17 watts per kilogram. ),
(930,Samsung SGH-T619 (T-mobile),Positives: The Samsung SGH-T619 has a generous selection of features, including Bluetooth capability, a speakerphone, world-phone support and a 1.3 megapixel camera. Negatives: The phones looks are dull, and its keypad is flat and slippery. Voice quality is variable, and photo quality could improve. Facts: Despite a so-so design and similar performance, the Samsung SGH-T619 is still a decent mid-range cell phone, if you can find it at a good price. , Samsung continues to feed the markets mania for svelte handsets with its new model for T-Mobile, the SGH-T619. While the companys SGH-T629 showcases the trendy slider form, the T619 sticks to a simple flip design. Yet the SGH-T619 is no simple cell phone--its packed with a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth capability, a speakerphone, and world-phone support. Unfortunately its performance doesnt live up to its specs, as sound and photo quality could be better. Yet the SGH-T619 is still a solid mid-range phone, particularly at $49.If youre looking for thin and sexy, youll only find the former with the SGH-T619. At 3.9 by 2 by 0.6 inches, its compact but not necessarily comely. We liked the phone bodys rounded edges, but its silvery color and overall exterior is dull. Its easy to hold, and at just 2.8 ounces, its also easy to carry. The SGH-T619s hinge mechanism felt slightly loose, but this wasnt bothersome. The SGH-T619 is compact, but not very pretty. The external display measures 1 inch (96x96 pixels) and supports 65,000 colors. It displays the date, time, battery life, signal strength and caller ID (when available). The display can also show photo caller ID, and acts as a viewfinder for self-portraits. While you can change the display contrast, we found it bothersome that we couldnt adjust the amount of time the display remained illuminated. Not only does it turn off completely just a few seconds after you close the phone, you must reopen the SGH-T619 to activate the screen again.The SGH-T619s camera lens sits just above the display. We were disappointed that theres no flash; granted, while tiny flashes arent always useful on camera phones, they can still be a nice touch on a megapixel camera. A covered headset jack and a volume rocker sits on the left spine of the phone, while a camera shutter sits on the right. The charger port is located on the bottom of the SGH-T619.The internal display measures 1.8 inches (176x220 pixels) and shows 262,000 colors. Similar to many other Samsung displays, the SGH-T619s display is very bright with vibrant colors, yet can be difficult to read in direct light. You can customize font size, color and styles, as well as screen brightness and backlighting time. We continue to enjoy Samsungs simple menu design, which typically features colored icons on a black background. The phones navigation controls and keypad buttons, however, werent as warmly received. The controls are adequately sized for larger fingers, but theyre flush with the surface of the phone and very slippery. While we didnt misdial, we still struggled with the controls. A four-way toggle doubles as shortcut to four user-defined functions, while the OK button sits at its center. The SGH-T619 sports two soft keys, a clear key, and Talk and End/Power buttons. The keypad buttons are also brightly lit for dialing in poor light. The phone book holds a generous 1,000 contacts with room in each entry for five phone numbers, an e-mail address, and notes (the SIM card holds an additional 250 names). You can assign callers to groups, as well as pair them with a photo or one of 24, 40-chord polyphonic ring tones. Other basics include: vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, voice recording, instant messaging, an alarm clock, a calendar, a calculator, a unit converter, a timer, a stop watch, and a tip calculator. The SGH-T619 comes with a few extras that should please more demanding users, such as voice dialing, a speakerphone, and full Bluetooth capability. The SGH-T619 is also equipped for T-Mobiles new MyFaves service. The SGH-T619s camera doesnt come with a flash. The 1.3-megapixel camera allows you to take pictures in six resolutions (1,280x960, 1,024x768, 800x600, 640x480, 320x240, 176x220, and 176x144). Other camera features include a night mode, brightness control, metering exposure, adjustable ISO, multishot and mosaic shot modes, a self-timer, five color effects, 29 fun frames, and a digital zoom thats usable even at the highest photo resolution. There are also a fair number of shutter and camera function sounds, but you cant silence the shutter completely. The camcorder records clips in two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96) with sound. Clips meant for multimedia messages are capped at 1.5 minutes; otherwise you can shoot for as long as the phones available memory permits. Overall, the SGH-T619s photo quality is much too blurry for a megapixel camera. The SGH-T619 had average photo quality. You can personalize the SGH-T619 with a variety of wallpapers, background colors, and alert tones. If youre looking for more options or additional ring tones, you can download them through the phones Web browser. The SGH-T619 also supports MP3 tones and comes with a generic digital music player (see the SGH-X820 review). Gaming options include four Java (J2ME) titles--Freekick, Midnight Pool, Forgotten Warrior, and ArchAngel--but you can always download more.We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) SGH-T619 in San Francisco using T-Mobiles service. Call quality was generally good, yet voice quality was variable. We could hear and be heard just fine, yet voices sounded at times harsh and robotic. On the upside, we had no trouble getting a signal, and experienced little interference from electronic devices. The speakerphone was adequate for shorts calls, but callers often had trouble hearing unless we spoke close to the handset. Calls made using a Bluetooth headset were satisfactory.The Samsung SGH-T619 has a rated talk time of 4 hours and a tested talk time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. It has a promised standby time of 8 days. According to FCC radiation tests the SGH-T619 has a digital SAR rating of 1.07 watts per kilogram. ),
(931,Samsung SGH-T719,Positives: The Samsung SGH-T719 supports BlackBerry Connect services for push e-mail capabilities and has integrated Bluetooth. The sleek flip phone also has a 1.3-megapixel camera, a speakerphone, and a bright internal display. Negatives: The Samsung SGH-T719s SureType keyboard takes some acclimation, and speakerphone volume is low. Facts: If you don't need the features of a full-fledged smart phone but crave the push e-mail capabilities, the BlackBerry Connect-enabled Samsung SGH-T719 is a good place to start; just be prepared to be frustrated by the SureType keyboard. , The biggest draw of Research in Motions BlackBerry devices is its push e-mail capabilities. The convenience of having your messages automatically delivered to your device and being able to easily reply with the QWERTY keyboard is addicting, hence earning their nickname, CrackBerry. However, up until now, these handsets have pretty much been restricted to blocky, candy bar form factors. True, the BlackBerry 7100 series and the BlackBerry Pearl certainly did a lot to bring a more attractive and sleek look to BlackBerrys, but what about something for all the flip-phone fanatics out there? Well, let us introduce you to the Samsung SGH-T719. The SGH-T719 for T-Mobile is the first Samsung flip phone to offer support for the BlackBerry Connect e-mail service, letting you enjoy the advantages of the push technology in a sleek clamshell design. Of course, the trade-off of the compact design is that youll have to endure the frustrations of the SureType keyboard, but its still a good alternative if you don't want to get a traditional BlackBerry device. The Samsung SGH-T719 is available for $199.99 with service, and BlackBerry Connect plans start at $19.99 per month. Design Samsung is known for producing some slim cell phones, and the Samsung SGH-T719 is no exception. The flip phone measures 3.7x2x0.7 inches and weighs a light 3.5 ounces to make for a sleek mobile that easily slips into a pants pocket or purse. While it is thin, the handset is a little on the longer side (7 inches in its open state); not a deal breaker by any means, but just something to be aware of as youre shopping around. Overall, the SGH-T719 is comfortable to hold and use as a phone, but we thought the front cover felt a bit loose as it jiggled a bit from side to side. On the front flap, you will find 1-inch external screen with a 96x96 pixel resolution, but disappointingly, its only monochrome, and you cant use it as a camera viewfinder for self-portraits. That said, it shows all the basics, including time, date, network strength, battery life, your BlackBerry Connect status, and caller ID (where available). Plus, the information is visible at all times, even when the backlighting goes off. Above the display, theres a flash for the camera, which can also double as a flashlight if youre in a pinch. The camera lens itself is housed in the hinge of the phone and swivels 180 degrees. The Samsung SGH-T719 features a 1.3-megapixel camera with a swiveling lens and flash. Open up the Samsung SGH-T719, and youre presented with a large internal display and a spacious keyboard. The TFT screen measures a lofty 2.2 inches diagonally and shows off 262,000 colors at a 176x220 pixel resolution. Though the lower resolution doesnt make for the sharpest screen, colors were bright and text was clear on the SGH-T719s display; in addition, it was still readable in direct sunlight. The menus and interface are typical of Samsung phones, which is to say theyre intuitive and easy to master. Below the screen, you have the standard navigation array of two soft keys, the Talk and End buttons, a Clear key, and a four-way toggle with a center OK button. The controls are extralarge and spacious, so most users wont have a problem with pressing the wrong key due to a cramped layout. Making its debut on a non-BlackBerry phone is Research in Motions SureType keyboard. For the uninitiated, this modified keyboard features a traditional QWERTY layout, but two letters are assigned to one key. As you start to enter the letters of a word, SureType technology will present you with a list of possible letter combinations or words based on context. Weve never been huge fans of this method, as you have to scroll to the correct word, then select it, which can be slow and frustrating. That said, in order to take full advantage of the BlackBerry Connect features and to keep the handset small, we can understand why they went with the SureType keyboard. The individual keys were large and well backlit, but a bit slippery for our tastes. The SGH-T719s keyboard is spacious, but the SureType technology is frustrating to use. Rounding out the SGH-T719s design is a headset jack on the left spine and an OK button and Volume Up and Down keys on the right side. The latter set of buttons can be programmed to launch other apps, such as the camera, through the Settings menu. Samsung packages the SGH-T719 with a travel charger, a wired headset, a USB cable, a PC Studio CD, and reference material.FeaturesThe main draw of the Samsung SGH-T719 is its BlackBerry Connect capabilities, so well start there. This feature allows you to enjoy the famed BlackBerry push technology, which automatically delivers your e-mail to your device in real time. You will, however, need to sign up for T-Mobiles BlackBerry Internet Service plan to take advantage of these advanced messaging options; it starts at $19.99 per month. Setup is fairly simple. For corporate e-mail, you can ask your friendly IT staff to help you get connected to the companys BlackBerry Enterprise server. For personal e-mail accounts, just follow the step-by-step instructions printed in the quick-start guide. We used it to add our Yahoo Plus account, and it was a simple matter of inputting our ID and password. In addition to e-mail, you can also synchronize the SGH-T719 with your Outlook Calendar by installing the Samsung PC Studio app on your PC and using the included USB cable. Also, for quicker communication, the phone supports text and multimedia messaging and comes preloaded with AIM, Yahoo, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo instant-messaging clients.Of course, the primary function of the SGH-T719 is still as a phone. The handset features a speakerphone (which can be activated only after a phone call has been made), a vibrate mode, and voice dialing. The phone book can hold up to 1,000 contacts (the SIM card stores an additional 250 contacts) with room in each entry for five numbers, an e-mail address, and notes. For caller ID purposes, you can add a photo, one of 30 ring tones, or a group ID. Unfortunately, photo caller ID will not show up on the external display, but the handset does support MP3 ring tones. Other goodies include Bluetooth 1.2, a Web browser, an alarm, a file manager, a calculator, a stopwatch and timer, a world clock, and a unit converter, among other things.The Samsung SGH-T719 comes equipped with a 1.3-megapixel camera with video-recording capabilities, and camera options are on a par with other similarly featured camera phones today. Theres a 4X digital zoom, a flash, and a self-timer at your disposal. You can choose from one of five sizes (1,280x1,024; 1,152x864; 800x600; 640x480; or 320x240) and one of three shooting modes (single, multi, or mosaic). For fun, you can add various effects or frames to the images. In video mode, there are only two size settings (176x144 or 128x96), but you can apply the same effects (no frames though) to your video clips. After youre done with your shots, you can send them via e-mail or multimedia message or save them to the phones 22MB of internal memory or to use as photo caller ID or wallpaper. The SGH-T719 took decent pictures for our quick snapshot, though nowhere near print quality. The Samsung SGH-T719s camera took decent pictures. You can customize the SGH-T719 with a number of wallpapers, color schemes, various information display settings, and dialing fonts and colors. The phone also supports Java apps and comes preloaded with five games. Of course, if none of the default settings suit you, you can download more options and game titles via T-Mobiles T-zone service.Performance We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) Samsung SGH-T719 in San Francisco using T-Mobile service, and call quality was mediocre, though we experienced a couple of dropped calls. From our standpoint, the audio was loud and clear. Our callers reported much of the same, although they did say we sounded like a robot on several occasions. Speakerphone quality was a mixed bag. Our friends said they could hear us fine with just a slight echo, but we had a difficult time hearing them even with volume cranked to high. On the bright side, we had no problems pairing the SGH-T719 with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.The Samsung SGH-T719 has a rated talk time of 3 hours and up to 6.5 days. In our tests, we were able to get 5 hours of talk time from the phones lithium-ion battery. According to FCC radiation tests, the SGH-T719 has a digital SAR rating of 1.44 watts per kilogram. ),
(932,Samsung SGH-T629 (T-Mobile),Positives: The Samsung SGH-T629 has a slim profile and a large screen. Features of the quadband phone include a Micro SD card slot, a 1.3-megapixel camera, a music player, and Bluetooth support. Negatives: The Samsung SGH-T629 has very slippery keys, and the keypad is difficult to dial by feel. We also experienced spotty call quality. Facts: The Samsung SGH-T629 is a great-looking, slim phone with a solid feature set, despite a few design flaws. , Samsung has definitely made a name for itself in recent months with its thin phones, and the slider style is no exception. The Samsung Nimbus from Alltel and the Samsung SGH-D807 from Cingular are just two recent examples of Samsungs stake in the slim slider market. The Samsung SGH-T629 is the latest slim slider from the Korean powerhouse, and this time its carrier is T-Mobile. We like it for its feature set as well as its style, and would recommend it for those who want skinny phones with decent multimedia offerings. It retails for $249.99, but you can get it for $149.99 with a new two-year contract. The Samsung SGH-T629 is a slim slider phone. Of course, the primary attraction of the Samsung SGH-T629 is its thinness. Measuring 3.9 by 2.01 by 0.55 inches and weighing in at 3.2 ounces, the T629 is certainly one of the skinniest phones to come our way. The phone itself is covered in a silver-gray hue, and though its a little blocky around the edges, the device felt lightweight and comfortable, both in the hand and when held against the ear. A charger/headset jack and a volume rocker reside on the left side, while the right spine is home to a Micro SD card slot and a dedicated camera button. Flip the phone around, and youll see the camera lens and self-portrait mirror at the top. You can take photos with the phone closed. Sliding the phone open is a tad more difficult than with other slider models weve tested, however. Instead of pushing the phone up from the bottom lip, youll have to slide it up by pushing the front of the phone. There is a slight plastic ledge jutting out from underneath the display that helps you do this, but we still ended up smudging the display with fingerprints when sliding the phone upward. You can adjust the phones slider settings so that it answers the call immediately when you slide it upward, and you can also set it to stop any operation if you slide it downward. The 2.2-inch display is absolutely stunning. It supports 262,144 colors, and it looks vibrant and bright, with colors that pop from the screen. The Samsung menu interface is pleasing to the eye, and we enjoy the animated icons and colorful graphics. You can also view the submenu of each main item as youre scrolling down the list, which makes for handy navigation. The backlight timer can be adjusted, as well as the screens brightness. As with most Samsung phones, the dialing text can be configured with different backgrounds, font sizes, and font colors. Underneath the display is the navigation keypad, while the dialpad is revealed when the phone is slid open. The navigation controls consist of two soft keys, a four-way toggle with a middle OK key, a call key, a cancel key, and an end/power key. The toggle also doubles as shortcuts for the camera, the voice memo recorder, the contacts list, and text messaging. We found the keypad extremely slippery, and the keys on the dialpad are set nearly flush with the surface of the phone. This made it tricky to dial by feel and navigate the phone easily. The Samsung SGH-T629 has quite an impressive feature set for such a skinny device. Each entry in the address book can hold as many as five numbers, one e-mail address, and a memo; you can also assign a picture ID, one of 16 polyphonic ring tones, and a caller group for caller ID purposes. The SGH-T629 also supports MP3 ring tones, which you can upload yourself or download from T-Mobile. Other basic features include text and multimedia messaging, a speakerphone, a vibrate mode, instant messaging (AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo), Bluetooth, voice dialing, voice recording, an alarm, a calendar, tasks, a calculator, world time, a unit converter, a timer, a Micro SD card slot, and a wireless Web browser via T-Zones, T-Mobiles mobile Web portal. The SGH-T629 is also a quadband world phone that supports the T-Mobiles EDGE network, which allows for faster downloads. The Samsung SGH-T629 has a 1.3-megapixel camera. Were quite pleased with the phones 1.3-megapixel camera. It doesnt come with a flash, but it does have a 10X digital zoom and a brightness setting. Other camera settings include five size resolutions (1,200x1,024; 1,152x863; 800x600; 640x480; 320x240), the viewfinder size (full screen or actual screen), shooting mode (single shot, multishot, or mosaic), effects, fun frames, a self-timer, default photo name, and sound options for the shutter, the zoom, and brightness. All camera sounds can be shut off if you choose. The camera took great photos, and we were pleased with the results, especially from a 1.3-megapixel camera phone. You can also record video in two sizes, 128x96 or 176x144, but they didnt turn out as well as the photos and ended up shaky and blurry. The phone comes with 21MB of built-in memory, but you can always upgrade to more storage with the help of a Micro SD card. The Samsung SGH-T629 took decent photos. The SGH-T629 also comes with a built-in MP3 player. There arent any external music controls, so youll have to scroll to the Fun & Apps menu in order to access it, plus youll have to use the navigation keypad to control the playback. Uploading music from a computer is fairly straightforward and is a simple matter of drag-and-drop. The MP3 player also has repeat mode, a shuffle mode, an equalizer, a visualization tool, a backlight mode (Always On or Normal), and a dedicated volume control for the player. Personalization options are pretty standard for the Samsung SGH-T629. You can customize the wallpaper, the background colors, and the greeting message, and you can choose to have the calendar appear on the main display or not. You can also assign different tones for incoming messages, alerts, the keypad, and the slider, as well as when the phone powers on and off. The phone supports Java games and comes preloaded with Bobby Carrot, Airship Racing, Arch Angel, Freekick, and Midnight Pool. If youre not satisfied with any of the options, you can download more graphics, sounds, and games from T-Mobiles T-zones Web portal. We tested the quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) Samsung SGH-T629 world phone in San Francisco using T-Mobiles service. Callers said they couldnt hear us too well most of the time, and we found that service was poor in certain areas. However, in areas with better reception, call quality was much improved, with clear call quality on our end and vice versa. Speakerphone quality was surprisingly good, thanks to the full-duplex speaker. Music heard from the MP3 player was crisp and clear, though it obviously sounded a lot better with a headset on. We had no problem pairing the Samsung SGH-T629 with the Nokia BH-800 Bluetooth headset. The Samsung SGH-T629 has a rated talk time of 5 hours and a tested talk time of 4 hours and 56 minutes. It has a rated standby time of 8 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the SGH-T629 has a digital SAR rating of 0.814 watt per kilogram. ),
(933,Limited Edition LRG Sidekick 3, Note: This product is part of the T-Mobile Sidekick series. ., Quick take: Clothing company Lifted Research Groups (LRG) slogan is \"underground inventive, overground effective,\" and its these words and LRGs baby tree icon that you will find on the Limited Edition LRG Sidekick 3. Aside from green design, all other specs remain the same as those of the Sidekick 3. Limited quantities of this special-edition Sidekick will be available through T-Mobile starting October 30. For more information on the Limited Edition LRG Sidekick 3, please read our review of the T-Mobile Sidekick 3. ),
(934,Limited Edition Diane von Furstenberg Sidekick 3, Note: This product is part of the T-Mobile Sidekick series. ., Quick take: In this limited edition of the Sidekick 3, famed fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg lends her styling to the popular messaging device. The Limited Edition Diane von Furstenberg Sidekick 3 boasts a sleek black casing and features Dianes lips smattered across the face of the phone in hot pink. Aside from design, all other specs remain the same as those of the Sidekick 3. Limited quantities of this special-edition Sidekick will be available through T-Mobile starting October 30. For more information on the Limited Edition Diane von Furstenberg Sidekick 3, please read our review of the T-Mobile Sidekick 3. ),
(935,T-Mobile Dash (aka HTC Excalibur),Positives: The T-Mobile Dash has a sleek design with a vibrant color screen and features integrated Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi; push e-mail capabilities; multimedia functions; and a 1.3-megapixel camera. The quadband smart phone also has good call quality and extralong talk time battery life. Negatives: The T-Mobile Dashs volume touch strip isnt always responsive. The camera interface is also confusing and picture quality is subpar. Facts: With a sleek design, good performance, and a robust set of productivity and wireless options, the T-Mobile Dash is an all-in-one hit and earns its reputation as a Motorola Q killer. , Photo gallery:T-Mobile Dash),
(936,LG VX3400,Positives: The LG VX3400 is a basic phone with a bare minimum of features. It has a compact design and a comfortable keypad, and features a speakerphone. Negatives: The external screen of the LG VX3400 is monochrome, and personalization options are limited. Theres also no Web browser. Facts: The LG VX3400 is one of the best basic phones weve laid our hands on, with simple and easy-to-use controls and a great compact design. , LG has a long history of churning out great basic phones for those of us who want a simple, no-frills device just for making and answering calls. The LG VX3400 is no exception, and though we have a minor aesthetic quibble over the monochrome external screen, everything else lived up to our expectations. And for the low price of $29.99 with a two-year contract, you certainly get what you pay for and more. The LG VX3400 is a simple compact phone. The LG VX3400 may not win any design contests, but we still liked its compact and minimalist appearance. It comes in dark blue with gray accents, measuring 3.33 by 1.79 by 0.94 inches, and weighing in at a lightweight 3.0 ounces. The device has a smooth plastic body with rounded edges, making it feel really comfortable in the hand. The phones hinge had just the right amount of give, and we managed to open and close the phone with one hand. On the front of the VX3400 is a small 1-inch-diagonal monochrome external screen. While were somewhat disappointed by the lack of color, we did like the blue backlight that lit up whenever the phone was activated. The external screen displays the date, time, battery, and signal strength, as well as caller ID. Of course the monochrome screen cant display photo caller ID, which sits just fine with us since the phone doesnt have a camera anyway. Theres a stubby antenna on the top right side of the phone. The left spine is home to a headset jack and a volume rocker, while the right spine houses a dedicated voice command button.The internal display is nothing to write home about. It measures only 1.5 inches diagonally and supports 65,536 colors, resulting in a lackluster display. We were glad that Verizon didnt impose its custom menu style in the phone however, as we definitely prefer LGs more user-friendly menu navigation. There are two menu styles to choose from, icon or list view, and you can adjust the backlight timer of the main display as well as the keypad. You can also adjust the phones contrast, as well as the font sizes for the calling digits, the text editor, and the menu font.Were fans of the VX3400s keypad, as the keys were well spaced and raised enough above the surface to allow for easy dialing and navigation. When pressed, the keys had a nice rubberized give, yielding easily to pressure. The navigation array consists of the regular two soft keys, a four-way toggle with middle OK key, a Send key, a Clear key, and an End/Power key. The four-way toggle also doubles as shortcuts to the speakerphone, the calendar, messages, and the sound settings.The VX3400 has a 300-entry address book, and each entry can accommodate up to five numbers You can assign callers to a group and pair them with one of 40 polyphonic ring tones or one of 43 message alert tones. Theres photo caller ID as well, but youll have to use one of the included clip-art icons, and the image shows only on the internal display. The rest of the phones features are pretty bare-bones. Theres a vibrate mode, text and picture messaging, a schedule, an alarm clock, voice memo recording, a notepad, a tip calculator, a calculator, a world clock, a unit converter, and a melody composer that you can use to create your own ring tone. The lack of Web browser was a little frustrating since its a feature that many other basic phones have. Personalization options are rather limited with the VX3400; there doesnt seem to be a way for you to download more wallpaper and themes. You can choose to have different wallpapers for when the phone powers on or off, analog or digital clock formats on the main display, and one of four different color themes. We tested the dual-band tri-mode (CDMA 850/1900, AMPS 850) LG VX3400 in San Francisco using Verizons network. The call quality was crisp and clear, and callers reported the same thing. It was still obvious that the calls were from a cell phone due to a slight static sound, but it wasnt that big a deal. The VX3400 has a rated talk time of 4 hours, while our tests showed a talk time of 3 hours and 43 minutes. It has a promised standby time of 7 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the LG VX3400 has a digital SAR rating of 0.963 watts per kilogram. ),
(937,Nokia 6315i,Positives: The Nokia 6315i has decent call quality and a broad range of features including Bluetooth, a speakerphone, and EV-DO capability. Negatives: The Nokia 6315is design is dull, and the controls are poorly designed. Also, music and video quality were uninspiring. Facts: Though it works fine as just a phone, the Nokia 6315i doesnt quite deliver on its 3G multimedia promises. , Nokia has always had a peculiar relationship with CDMA phones. The Finns dabbled in the space here and there but remained a staunchly GSM company. Then in 2006, Nokia decided it would retreat from the space almost completely by handing over CDMA handset design to Koreas Pantech. Though the Nokia name would remain on the CDMA models, for all intents and purposes, they are Pantech devices. The latest in the series, Verizons Nokia 6315i, follows on the heels of the Nokia 6305i, which was also a Verizon handset. Though the EV-DO-equipped 6315i offers good call quality and adds some important features, its design and multimedia performance are a step down from its predecessor, the 6305i. The result is an acceptable phone, but as an all-around 3G device, it cant compete with the likes of the LG VX8300 or the Samsung SCH-A990.Well be frank by saying the Nokia 6315i doesnt offer much in terms of design. Instead of resembling the slick 6305i, it looks more like its other Nokia/Pantech sibling, the basic Nokia 6215i. Sporting an angular, boxy flip phone shape with a dull black and silver color scheme, the 6315i hardly looks like a multimedia phone save for the dedicated music-player buttons on the front flap. At 3.5 by 1.9 by 0.7 inches and 3.5 ounces, the 6315i is neither big nor small, but it does make a nod toward the thin-phone craze. The stubby antenna adds a bit more girth, but the phone has a solid feeling in the hand; the opening mechanism felt somewhat loose.The external display measure 1 inch (96x96 pixels) and shows 65,536 colors. Its a nice effort overall as it displays not only the date, time, signal strength, and battery life, but also photo caller ID. You can change the wallpaper and the clock style on the display, but no other options are customizable. It also acts as a viewfinder for self-portraits, but you must go into the camera option to activate this feature. Speaking of which, the camera lens and flash are inconveniently located on the top rear of the phone. Activate the music player with the 6315is external music controls. Below the display are the aforementioned media player controls that allow you to open the player, then play, pause, rewind, or fast-forward your music. Theyre useful indeed, even if they are a bit too flat. Below the controls is the phones sole external speaker. A covered headset jack, a volume rocker, and a camera shutter sit on the left spine, while the Micro SD slot sits on the right spine. We were glad to see Nokia/Pantech didnt stuff it behind the battery cover.The internal display is a roomy 1.8 inches (1,280x960 pixels) and supports 262,144 colors. Its about average as cell phone displays go, but thats hardly a bad thing as its great for viewing just about everything, even Verizons much-maligned menu structure. You can alter the contrast, dialing font, backlight time, and clock format.Immediately below the display are the navigation keys, which were on one hand spacious, but on the other hand also slippery and too flush with the surface of the phone. Theyre not unusable by any means but our finger slipped around a few times. A four-way toggle surrounds a central OK button and doubles as a shortcut to four user-defined functions. There are also two soft keys, a camera shortcut, and, in a nice move, a dedicated speakerphone button that you can activate before you make a call. The Talk and End/Power buttons and the Clear/Voice-Dialing control complete the navigation array. The keypad buttons are roomy as well, but they too are slick and completely flat with the surface of the phone. Its difficult to dial by feel, and the backlighting could be brighter.The internal phone book holds 500 contacts. Its a bit small for such a feature-rich phone, but each entry holds five phone numbers and an e-mail address. You can pair contacts with a picture for caller ID and select a ring tone from the phones small selection of 10 polyphonic tones. Other features include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a voice recorder, instant messaging, e-mail, USB compatibility, PC syncing, modem capability, a calendar, an alarm clock, voice dialing, a notepad, a world clock, a calculator, and a stopwatch. As previously mentioned were pleased the 6315i bests the 6305i by including an external memory slot and Bluetooth, even if the latter comes with Verizons usual restrictions. And as we said, the speakerphone is quite user friendly; you can activate it before you make a call. The 6315s camera lens comes with a flash, but its in an odd location. The 1.3-megapixel camera takes pictures in five resolutions (1,280x960; 640x480; 320x240; 176x144; and 160x120) and comes with a 3-, 5-, or 10-second self-timer; brightness and white-balance controls; landscape and portrait modes; three color effects; and three shutter sounds, plus a silent option. Theres also a flash and a 2X digital zoom, though its unusable at the highest resolution. And if youre ever lost in the dark, the flash provides a meager amount of light. The video camera records clips in one resolution (176x144) with sound and at 15 frames per second. The flash and the zoom are usable here too, and you can adjust the brightness and white balance. Clips are limited to a short 15 seconds. Once youre done with your work, you can save it to the 6315is internal memory--it comes with 21.5MB of shared space--but youre better off using a Micro SD card. Despite being somewhat blurry, photo quality was average for a 1.3-megapixel camera. Colors were fine, but objects were a bit fuzzy. The 6315i had average photo quality. As an EV-DO phone, the 6315i supports the full range of Verizons 3G services including the V Cast video service and the V Cast music store. The music players interface is standard for all phones from the carrier that support the music store. You also have the option to purchase a variety of Verizon applications including VZ Navigator and Backup Assistance and a host of alternative services such as Vindigo MovieGoer and Accuweather. And of course Verizons Get it Now Internet service has even more programming choices. There are no included games, but you can always buy titles via the WAP 2 wireless Web browser; just remember that Verizon uses BREW instead of Java. You can personalize the 6315i with a variety of wallpapers, screensavers, and sounds, or you can buy more options if you want them. We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) 6315i in San Francisco using Verizon Wireless service. Call quality was decent overall. We could hear callers plainly, and though they knew we were using a cell phone, they didnt report any problems. Volume was fine as well, but we did hear some static at the highest sound levels. Its not enough to be bothersome, but it was noticeable nonetheless. On the other hand, we didnt get any interference from other electronic devices. Speakerphone quality was good on our end, and though it was loud enough, its best if you keep the speaker pointed toward you. Callers had more trouble hearing us, though, unless we were in a quiet setting. Calls with a Bluetooth headset were satisfactory as well. Verizons coverage remained strong throughout our test area, and we received strong EV-DO reception even in a subway station. The 3G network made Web browsing sufficiently zippy, and games downloaded in less than 30 seconds. Multimedia performance didnt quite measure up on the 6315i. Music quality in particular was unimpressive. Not only did it sound too brassy, but the lack of stereo speakers doesnt help the situation. A stereo wired headset (not included) helped a bit, but still we werent wowed. Keep in mind that you will need Verizons Music Essentials pack ($29) to use the player fully, and that the 6315i does not have a stereo Bluetooth profile. Music download time was excruciatingly slow--it took 3 minutes, 15 seconds to download a 3.7MB song. Streaming videos were a bit better, but still quite pixilated and jerky. On the upside the 6315i paused to rebuffer just once in a few videos.The Nokia 6315i has a promised talk time of 3.8 hours and a promised standby time of 10 days. Our tests showed a talk time of 4 hours and 3 minutes. We also managed to get an MP3 playback time of 11 hours and 37 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the 6315i has a digital SAR rating of 1.37 watts per kilogram. ),
(938,Samsung SGH-T509 (plum), , Quick take: The Samsung SGH-T509 was one of the first truly skinny Samsung phones from T-Mobile, and it first debuted with a silver casing. Now T-Mobile is offering the same phone in plum, which is so dark, it looks like black. It has the same features as the original T509. Please read our review of the Samsung SGH-T509 for more details. ),
(939,Samsung SCH-U420 Nimbus,Positives: The Samsung SCH-U420 is a slim, compact slider phone featuring a VGA camera with flash, a speakerphone, voice command, Bluetooth, and wireless Web access. Negatives: The Samsung SCH-U420 has slippery keys that may be a little tricky to dial by feel, and photo quality was average. Facts: The Samsung SCH-U420 is a very attractive and lightweight phone for Alltel, though it could use some refinements in feature implementation. , The Samsung SCH-U420, otherwise called the Nimbus, is one of the hottest new phones to come to Alltel Wireless, a large regional mobile-phone company that mainly focuses on the southeastern and southwestern parts of the country, but has low-cost roaming agreements with Verizon and Sprint for nationwide service. The SCH-U420 is the latest in a line of sleek Samsung sliders, much like the previous Samsung SGH-D807 from Cingular and the Samsung SGH-T809 from T-Mobile. Its also the first Alltel phone to feature Axcess technology, a new service from the carrier that lets you surf the Net and download XM radio content, ring tones, games, and more. You can get not one but two of them for $49.99 with a two-year plan. The Samsung SCH-U420 is compact and lightweight. Theres no question that the SCH-U420 is centered on design. While not anything new, its slim slider form factor is still unquestionably attractive. The phone measures a compact 3.7 by 1.8 by 0.6 inches and weighs only 3.2 ounces, resulting in a tremendously light feel in the hand. The phone slides open upward with a slight push on the bottom end, and slides closed with a little more force from the top. Opening the phone one-handed feels pretty natural, but we found closing the phone to be more of a two-hand operation.Definitely one of the most eye-catching aspects of the SCH-U420 is its luscious 1.8-inch 262,000-color screen. The colorful menu icons appeared to pop from the display, and we liked how the fonts were easy on the eyes. You can change the backlighting time of the display and the keypad, but theres no contrast or brightness setting. The font settings for the dialing text are changeable, either in terms of size or style, but the same settings don't apply for other texts.The navigation keypad underneath the screen consists of two soft keys, a rectangular four-way toggle with a middle OK button, and the Send, Clear, and End/Power keys along the bottom. The toggle also acts as shortcuts to a contacts list, the Axcess Shop, the wireless Web browser, and the ringer-type menu where you can select a ring tone. Slide the phone up to reveal the dial pad, which wasnt the best weve seen. Besides being slippery, the keys were flat with the surface of the phone. While they were easy to press and dial, we still thought they were a bit too smooth for our tastes. The left spine of the SCH-U420 is home to a thin volume rocker, while the right spine houses a dedicated speakerphone key and a dedicated camera key, both of which are similarly skinny. The camera lens is located on the back of the phone at the very top, which is only revealed when the phone is opened. Next to the camera lens is a self-portrait mirror and an LED flash. The Samsung SCH-U420 comes with a VGA camera on the back. The Samsung SCH-U420 comes with a 500-entry address book; each entry can accommodate up to five phone numbers, a-n email address, and a picture ID, and be assigned a group and one of 16 polyphonic ring tones. Features include text and picture messaging, Bluetooth, speakerphone, vibrate mode, e-mail, voice dialing, and access to Axcess, Alltels Web portal service. There are also a simple collection of organizational tools such as a calendar, a memo pad, an alarm clock, world time, a calculator, a stopwatch, a unit converter, and a tip calculator.Normally were not huge fans of VGA cameras when compared to megapixel ones, but considering the phones price range, were willing to accept it. Camera settings include three resolutions (640x480, 320x240, 160x120), a self-timer, flash, multishot, white balance (Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent), quality (Fine, Normal, Economy), color tones (Normal, Black and White, Sepia, Green, Aqua, Antique, Cool, Warm), and the choice of three shutter sounds. Alternatively you can turn off the sound altogether. After taking the photo, you can send it to your friends via multimedia message, though you cant seem to transfer the image via Bluetooth. The picture quality was acceptable, although it retained the blurriness weve come to expect from a VGA camera. The Samsung SCH-U420 took acceptable if blurry photos. Personalization options are plenty with the Samsung SCH-U420. You can personalize its wallpaper, themes, and the clock format on the main display. Greeting banners, screensavers, ring tones, and message alerts also are customizable. The SCH-U420 supports BREW applications and games, and comes with RealTone JukeBox that lets you purchase and download ring tones, a game called Zuma, and CGL, which is an application that lets you download wallpaper and ring tones that are related to your college of choice. You can also download more via Axcess, Alltels Web browsing application.We tested the trimode (CDMA 850/1900, AMPS 8500) Samsung SCH-U420 in San Francisco using the Alltel network. Call quality was surprisingly good, and we hardly heard any interference over the line. Callers from a landline could hardly tell we were on a cell phone, except for when we were walking down busy street sidewalks. Call quality also suffered a little in windier environments. The speakerphone can be turned on prior to dialing, and we found the quality to be pretty good. The volume was sufficiently high, and callers could hear us as long as we spoke up a little. Pairing the SCH-U420 with the Plantronics Discovery 655 was not a problem. The SCH-U420 has a rated talk time of 4 hours and a rated standby time of 9 days. We managed to get 4 hours and 10 minutes of talk time in our tests. According to FCC radiation tests, the SCH-U420 has a digital SAR rating of 1.28 watts per kilogram. ),
(940,Sanyo SCP-8400 (powder white),Positives: The Sanyo SCP-8400 offers a decent range of features in a satisfactory, customizable design. Call quality is good, too. Negatives: The Sanyo SCP-8400s display is average, and its picture and video quality were unimpressive. Facts: The Sanyo SCP-8400 passes the mark in design and features, but its multimedia performance doesnt quite measure up. Note: This product is part of the Sanyo SCP-8400 series. ., The first time Sanyo designed an EV-DO phone for Sprint, we werent terribly impressed. Not only was the Sanyo MM-9000 unattractive, but also it lacked Bluetooth, a necessary feature on a 3G phone. Yet it appears Sanyo has learned from some of its past mistakes with its new Sprint EV-DO handset, the Sanyo SCP-8400. Its still not the sexiest phone around, but its more stylish, and it offers a series of colors and design accessories. The feature set is worthy of a multimedia phone, with Bluetooth and a Mini SD card slot, and we like that Sprint packed in support for its Ready Link push-to-talk service as well. The only real stumble was on the performance side; photo and video quality were mediocre. The SCP-2400 is $99 with service--a fair price indeed.Sanyo phones tend to be pretty standard when it comes to design, and the SCP-8400 is no exception. At 3.4 by 1.8 by 1.0 inches and 3.4 ounces, its neither big nor small; in fact it shares almost the same dimensions as the recent Sanyo SCP-2400. Also, like most handsets from the company, it comes in multiple colors (electric blue, midnight black, and powder white), it has an extendable antenna, and its front face is dominated by the camera lens, speaker grille, and a postage-stamp external display. The camera lens includes a flash and a tiny macro switch (best if you have sharp nails), while the display supports 65,000 colors and 96x64 pixels. It shows the time, battery life, signal strength, and photo caller ID, and it doubles as a viewfinder for self-portraits. You can change the backlighting time but thats it. The overall shape is unremarkable, but the phone feels comfortable in the hand.One of the SCP-8400s unique features is that it supports changeable \"face masks.\" Different from changeable faceplates, the face masks are not needed to complete the exterior of the phone but are simple add-on accessories that snap onto the front face. Each MM-8400 will come with one face mask (our blue handset came with black), but more are available for purchase. Its a bit of a gimmick, yes, but its an added touch of customization. The SCP-8400s face masks add a touch of personalization. Inside the phone is a standard Sanyo display. It measures a roomy 2 inches diagonally (240x320 pixels) and supports 65,000 colors. Though thats not as high a resolution as wed like to see on multimedia phone (we prefer 262,000 colors), its a decent display for viewing photos and scrolling through the menus. And speaking of which, the SCP-8400 is one of the first handsets from Sprint to feature the carriers Themes interface, which allows you to customize the appearance of the main menu, standby display, and a list of shortcut options. Its a cool feature that fits nicely with the phones broad personalization options. The display has an adjustable backlighting time and font size.The navigation controls on the SCP-8400 are signature Sanyo. A five-way toggle includes four shortcuts to the phone book, downloads menu, media player, and Power Vision services. Surrounding it are two soft keys, a dedicated camera shutter, and a Back button, while a speakerphone key and the Talk and End/Power sit just below. All controls were large and tactile, so we had few misdials. The keypad buttons are brightly backlit, and though they are flat with the surface of the handset, it was easy to dial by feel. Back on the outside of the phone are a voice recorder/Ready Link and a volume rocker on the left spine, while dedicated shortcuts for the camera and voice dialing and a covered Micro SD card lot sit on the right spine. The SCP-8400 has a 500-name phone book with room in each entry for six phone numbers, two e-mail addresses, a Web address, a street address, and a memo. You can organize contacts into groups, assign them a photo that will show up on the external display, and pair them with one of 17 (72-chord) polyphonic ring tones. And in case you ever lose your SCP-8400, Sprints Wireless Backup allows you to store your contacts with Sprint for safekeeping. Basic features are about what youd expect from a phone like this. Theres a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a voice recorder, instant messaging and e-mail, a calendar, an alarm clock, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, a world clock, and a calculator. More-demanding users can take advantage of the voice dialing and commands, modem capability, support for Sprints Ready Link PTT network, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, USB connectivity, and PC syncing. As an EV-DO phone, the SCP-8400 comes equipped for all of Sprints 3G services including the Sprint Power Vision video programming, the carriers On Demand service for news and sports headlines, weather reports, movie showtimes (tailored to your zip code), and the Sprint Music Store. The video player and music player interface are similar to those of other phones that support the carriers 3G services; the phone supports MP3, AAC, and AAC+ files. And for listening to your tunes in the air, the SCP-8400 has an airplane mode that will disable the calling feature. The SCP-8400s camera includes a flash. The 1.3-megapixel camera is more or less a standard Sanyo design. You can take JPEG pictures in three resolutions of 1,280x960, 640x480, and 320x240, with three separate quality selections (Fine, Normal, and Economy). The camera also features a 12X zoom; a 5- to 10-second self-timer; four fun frames; a flash; seven color filters; brightness, sharpness, and contrast controls; white balance with six settings; and three shutter sounds. In an added twist, you also get four picture modes including beach/snow, scenery, mirror image, and night/dark. On the video side, the camcorder takes MPEG-4 clips with sound in two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96) with a set of editing options similar to those of the still camera. We werent crazy about the Sanyo SCP-8400s photo quality. Once you take a photo, you can attach a caption and send it to a phone number, an e-mail address, or to an online Sprint account. The phones internal 60MB of memory holds up to 123 high-resolution pictures or more than 1,278 at the lowest resolution. Alternatively you can use a Micro SD card to save even more of your work. Video clip length ranges from 35 seconds to up to 2 hours depending on the available memory. Pictures are mostly clear, though some object outlines were a bit fuzzy. Also, while colors were good overall, orange overpowered all other hues. Video clips were somewhat better though they showed a heavy amount of pixilation.You can personalize the SCP-8400 with a variety of screensavers, animations, color backgrounds, themes, and alert sounds. If you don't like what comes on the phone, you can download more options and additional ring tones via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Gamers get demo versions of four Java (J2ME) tiles--Midnight Pool, Ms. Pac-Man, Tetris, and World Poker Tour. Youll have to buy the full versions for extended play.We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900) Sanyo SCP-8400 in San Francisco using Sprints service. Call quality was quite sharp with great clarity and volume. We had no trouble understanding our callers, and they reported no real issues in return. Noisier environments made things a bit harder to hear, but we were pleased overall. Reception was good as well, and we experienced no interference from other electronic devices. The speakerphone was quite loud, and we had decent calls from a Bluetooth headset.Music quality was somewhat improved over the LG LX550, but not quite as good as on the Samsung MM-A900. The volume was loud, so we could hear our tracks plainly, and it lacked the hissing sound we heard on the LX550. We wish, however, that the SCP-8400 offered stereo speakers. Music tracks took just over a minute to download and took a few seconds to load. Streaming video quality was unimpressive. Our continual complaint about EV-DO phones is that theyre not at their best with lower-resolution displays. Video screams for at least 262,000 colors, and the SCP-8400 is no different. Sure, videos are acceptable for short stints, but they were somewhat jerky and showed a good deal of pixilation. On the upside, however, they didnt require any pauses for rebuffering.The SCP-8400 has a rated talk time of 4 hours, and our tests revealed a talk time of 4 hours and 4 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the SCP-8400 has a digital SAR rating of 1.1 watts per kilogram. ),
(941,Sanyo SCP-8400 (midnight black),Positives: The Sanyo SCP-8400 offers a decent range of features in a satisfactory, customizable design. Call quality is good, too. Negatives: The Sanyo SCP-8400s display is average, and its picture and video quality were unimpressive. Facts: The Sanyo SCP-8400 passes the mark in design and features, but its multimedia performance doesnt quite measure up. Note: This product is part of the Sanyo SCP-8400 series. ., The first time Sanyo designed an EV-DO phone for Sprint, we werent terribly impressed. Not only was the Sanyo MM-9000 unattractive, but also it lacked Bluetooth, a necessary feature on a 3G phone. Yet it appears Sanyo has learned from some of its past mistakes with its new Sprint EV-DO handset, the Sanyo SCP-8400. Its still not the sexiest phone around, but its more stylish, and it offers a series of colors and design accessories. The feature set is worthy of a multimedia phone, with Bluetooth and a Mini SD card slot, and we like that Sprint packed in support for its Ready Link push-to-talk service as well. The only real stumble was on the performance side; photo and video quality were mediocre. The SCP-2400 is $99 with service--a fair price indeed.Sanyo phones tend to be pretty standard when it comes to design, and the SCP-8400 is no exception. At 3.4 by 1.8 by 1.0 inches and 3.4 ounces, its neither big nor small; in fact it shares almost the same dimensions as the recent Sanyo SCP-2400. Also, like most handsets from the company, it comes in multiple colors (electric blue, midnight black, and powder white), it has an extendable antenna, and its front face is dominated by the camera lens, speaker grille, and a postage-stamp external display. The camera lens includes a flash and a tiny macro switch (best if you have sharp nails), while the display supports 65,000 colors and 96x64 pixels. It shows the time, battery life, signal strength, and photo caller ID, and it doubles as a viewfinder for self-portraits. You can change the backlighting time but thats it. The overall shape is unremarkable, but the phone feels comfortable in the hand.One of the SCP-8400s unique features is that it supports changeable \"face masks.\" Different from changeable faceplates, the face masks are not needed to complete the exterior of the phone but are simple add-on accessories that snap onto the front face. Each MM-8400 will come with one face mask (our blue handset came with black), but more are available for purchase. Its a bit of a gimmick, yes, but its an added touch of customization. The SCP-8400s face masks add a touch of personalization. Inside the phone is a standard Sanyo display. It measures a roomy 2 inches diagonally (240x320 pixels) and supports 65,000 colors. Though thats not as high a resolution as wed like to see on multimedia phone (we prefer 262,000 colors), its a decent display for viewing photos and scrolling through the menus. And speaking of which, the SCP-8400 is one of the first handsets from Sprint to feature the carriers Themes interface, which allows you to customize the appearance of the main menu, standby display, and a list of shortcut options. Its a cool feature that fits nicely with the phones broad personalization options. The display has an adjustable backlighting time and font size.The navigation controls on the SCP-8400 are signature Sanyo. A five-way toggle includes four shortcuts to the phone book, downloads menu, media player, and Power Vision services. Surrounding it are two soft keys, a dedicated camera shutter, and a Back button, while a speakerphone key and the Talk and End/Power sit just below. All controls were large and tactile, so we had few misdials. The keypad buttons are brightly backlit, and though they are flat with the surface of the handset, it was easy to dial by feel. Back on the outside of the phone are a voice recorder/Ready Link and a volume rocker on the left spine, while dedicated shortcuts for the camera and voice dialing and a covered Micro SD card lot sit on the right spine. The SCP-8400 has a 500-name phone book with room in each entry for six phone numbers, two e-mail addresses, a Web address, a street address, and a memo. You can organize contacts into groups, assign them a photo that will show up on the external display, and pair them with one of 17 (72-chord) polyphonic ring tones. And in case you ever lose your SCP-8400, Sprints Wireless Backup allows you to store your contacts with Sprint for safekeeping. Basic features are about what youd expect from a phone like this. Theres a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a voice recorder, instant messaging and e-mail, a calendar, an alarm clock, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, a world clock, and a calculator. More-demanding users can take advantage of the voice dialing and commands, modem capability, support for Sprints Ready Link PTT network, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, USB connectivity, and PC syncing. As an EV-DO phone, the SCP-8400 comes equipped for all of Sprints 3G services including the Sprint Power Vision video programming, the carriers On Demand service for news and sports headlines, weather reports, movie showtimes (tailored to your zip code), and the Sprint Music Store. The video player and music player interface are similar to those of other phones that support the carriers 3G services; the phone supports MP3, AAC, and AAC+ files. And for listening to your tunes in the air, the SCP-8400 has an airplane mode that will disable the calling feature. The SCP-8400s camera includes a flash. The 1.3-megapixel camera is more or less a standard Sanyo design. You can take JPEG pictures in three resolutions of 1,280x960, 640x480, and 320x240, with three separate quality selections (Fine, Normal, and Economy). The camera also features a 12X zoom; a 5- to 10-second self-timer; four fun frames; a flash; seven color filters; brightness, sharpness, and contrast controls; white balance with six settings; and three shutter sounds. In an added twist, you also get four picture modes including beach/snow, scenery, mirror image, and night/dark. On the video side, the camcorder takes MPEG-4 clips with sound in two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96) with a set of editing options similar to those of the still camera. We werent crazy about the Sanyo SCP-8400s photo quality. Once you take a photo, you can attach a caption and send it to a phone number, an e-mail address, or to an online Sprint account. The phones internal 60MB of memory holds up to 123 high-resolution pictures or more than 1,278 at the lowest resolution. Alternatively you can use a Micro SD card to save even more of your work. Video clip length ranges from 35 seconds to up to 2 hours depending on the available memory. Pictures are mostly clear, though some object outlines were a bit fuzzy. Also, while colors were good overall, orange overpowered all other hues. Video clips were somewhat better though they showed a heavy amount of pixilation.You can personalize the SCP-8400 with a variety of screensavers, animations, color backgrounds, themes, and alert sounds. If you don't like what comes on the phone, you can download more options and additional ring tones via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Gamers get demo versions of four Java (J2ME) tiles--Midnight Pool, Ms. Pac-Man, Tetris, and World Poker Tour. Youll have to buy the full versions for extended play.We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900) Sanyo SCP-8400 in San Francisco using Sprints service. Call quality was quite sharp with great clarity and volume. We had no trouble understanding our callers, and they reported no real issues in return. Noisier environments made things a bit harder to hear, but we were pleased overall. Reception was good as well, and we experienced no interference from other electronic devices. The speakerphone was quite loud, and we had decent calls from a Bluetooth headset.Music quality was somewhat improved over the LG LX550, but not quite as good as on the Samsung MM-A900. The volume was loud, so we could hear our tracks plainly, and it lacked the hissing sound we heard on the LX550. We wish, however, that the SCP-8400 offered stereo speakers. Music tracks took just over a minute to download and took a few seconds to load. Streaming video quality was unimpressive. Our continual complaint about EV-DO phones is that theyre not at their best with lower-resolution displays. Video screams for at least 262,000 colors, and the SCP-8400 is no different. Sure, videos are acceptable for short stints, but they were somewhat jerky and showed a good deal of pixilation. On the upside, however, they didnt require any pauses for rebuffering.The SCP-8400 has a rated talk time of 4 hours, and our tests revealed a talk time of 4 hours and 4 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the SCP-8400 has a digital SAR rating of 1.1 watts per kilogram. ),
(942,Sanyo SCP-8400 (electric blue),Positives: The Sanyo SCP-8400 offers a decent range of features in a satisfactory, customizable design. Call quality is good, too. Negatives: The Sanyo SCP-8400s display is average, and its picture and video quality were unimpressive. Facts: The Sanyo SCP-8400 passes the mark in design and features, but its multimedia performance doesnt quite measure up. Note: This product is part of the Sanyo SCP-8400 series. ., The first time Sanyo designed an EV-DO phone for Sprint, we werent terribly impressed. Not only was the Sanyo MM-9000 unattractive, but also it lacked Bluetooth, a necessary feature on a 3G phone. Yet it appears Sanyo has learned from some of its past mistakes with its new Sprint EV-DO handset, the Sanyo SCP-8400. Its still not the sexiest phone around, but its more stylish, and it offers a series of colors and design accessories. The feature set is worthy of a multimedia phone, with Bluetooth and a Mini SD card slot, and we like that Sprint packed in support for its Ready Link push-to-talk service as well. The only real stumble was on the performance side; photo and video quality were mediocre. The SCP-2400 is $99 with service--a fair price indeed.Sanyo phones tend to be pretty standard when it comes to design, and the SCP-8400 is no exception. At 3.4 by 1.8 by 1.0 inches and 3.4 ounces, its neither big nor small; in fact it shares almost the same dimensions as the recent Sanyo SCP-2400. Also, like most handsets from the company, it comes in multiple colors (electric blue, midnight black, and powder white), it has an extendable antenna, and its front face is dominated by the camera lens, speaker grille, and a postage-stamp external display. The camera lens includes a flash and a tiny macro switch (best if you have sharp nails), while the display supports 65,000 colors and 96x64 pixels. It shows the time, battery life, signal strength, and photo caller ID, and it doubles as a viewfinder for self-portraits. You can change the backlighting time but thats it. The overall shape is unremarkable, but the phone feels comfortable in the hand.One of the SCP-8400s unique features is that it supports changeable \"face masks.\" Different from changeable faceplates, the face masks are not needed to complete the exterior of the phone but are simple add-on accessories that snap onto the front face. Each MM-8400 will come with one face mask (our blue handset came with black), but more are available for purchase. Its a bit of a gimmick, yes, but its an added touch of customization. The SCP-8400s face masks add a touch of personalization. Inside the phone is a standard Sanyo display. It measures a roomy 2 inches diagonally (240x320 pixels) and supports 65,000 colors. Though thats not as high a resolution as wed like to see on multimedia phone (we prefer 262,000 colors), its a decent display for viewing photos and scrolling through the menus. And speaking of which, the SCP-8400 is one of the first handsets from Sprint to feature the carriers Themes interface, which allows you to customize the appearance of the main menu, standby display, and a list of shortcut options. Its a cool feature that fits nicely with the phones broad personalization options. The display has an adjustable backlighting time and font size.The navigation controls on the SCP-8400 are signature Sanyo. A five-way toggle includes four shortcuts to the phone book, downloads menu, media player, and Power Vision services. Surrounding it are two soft keys, a dedicated camera shutter, and a Back button, while a speakerphone key and the Talk and End/Power sit just below. All controls were large and tactile, so we had few misdials. The keypad buttons are brightly backlit, and though they are flat with the surface of the handset, it was easy to dial by feel. Back on the outside of the phone are a voice recorder/Ready Link and a volume rocker on the left spine, while dedicated shortcuts for the camera and voice dialing and a covered Micro SD card lot sit on the right spine. The SCP-8400 has a 500-name phone book with room in each entry for six phone numbers, two e-mail addresses, a Web address, a street address, and a memo. You can organize contacts into groups, assign them a photo that will show up on the external display, and pair them with one of 17 (72-chord) polyphonic ring tones. And in case you ever lose your SCP-8400, Sprints Wireless Backup allows you to store your contacts with Sprint for safekeeping. Basic features are about what youd expect from a phone like this. Theres a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a voice recorder, instant messaging and e-mail, a calendar, an alarm clock, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, a world clock, and a calculator. More-demanding users can take advantage of the voice dialing and commands, modem capability, support for Sprints Ready Link PTT network, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, USB connectivity, and PC syncing. As an EV-DO phone, the SCP-8400 comes equipped for all of Sprints 3G services including the Sprint Power Vision video programming, the carriers On Demand service for news and sports headlines, weather reports, movie showtimes (tailored to your zip code), and the Sprint Music Store. The video player and music player interface are similar to those of other phones that support the carriers 3G services; the phone supports MP3, AAC, and AAC+ files. And for listening to your tunes in the air, the SCP-8400 has an airplane mode that will disable the calling feature. The SCP-8400s camera includes a flash. The 1.3-megapixel camera is more or less a standard Sanyo design. You can take JPEG pictures in three resolutions of 1,280x960, 640x480, and 320x240, with three separate quality selections (Fine, Normal, and Economy). The camera also features a 12X zoom; a 5- to 10-second self-timer; four fun frames; a flash; seven color filters; brightness, sharpness, and contrast controls; white balance with six settings; and three shutter sounds. In an added twist, you also get four picture modes including beach/snow, scenery, mirror image, and night/dark. On the video side, the camcorder takes MPEG-4 clips with sound in two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96) with a set of editing options similar to those of the still camera. We werent crazy about the Sanyo SCP-8400s photo quality. Once you take a photo, you can attach a caption and send it to a phone number, an e-mail address, or to an online Sprint account. The phones internal 60MB of memory holds up to 123 high-resolution pictures or more than 1,278 at the lowest resolution. Alternatively you can use a Micro SD card to save even more of your work. Video clip length ranges from 35 seconds to up to 2 hours depending on the available memory. Pictures are mostly clear, though some object outlines were a bit fuzzy. Also, while colors were good overall, orange overpowered all other hues. Video clips were somewhat better though they showed a heavy amount of pixilation.You can personalize the SCP-8400 with a variety of screensavers, animations, color backgrounds, themes, and alert sounds. If you don't like what comes on the phone, you can download more options and additional ring tones via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Gamers get demo versions of four Java (J2ME) tiles--Midnight Pool, Ms. Pac-Man, Tetris, and World Poker Tour. Youll have to buy the full versions for extended play.We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900) Sanyo SCP-8400 in San Francisco using Sprints service. Call quality was quite sharp with great clarity and volume. We had no trouble understanding our callers, and they reported no real issues in return. Noisier environments made things a bit harder to hear, but we were pleased overall. Reception was good as well, and we experienced no interference from other electronic devices. The speakerphone was quite loud, and we had decent calls from a Bluetooth headset.Music quality was somewhat improved over the LG LX550, but not quite as good as on the Samsung MM-A900. The volume was loud, so we could hear our tracks plainly, and it lacked the hissing sound we heard on the LX550. We wish, however, that the SCP-8400 offered stereo speakers. Music tracks took just over a minute to download and took a few seconds to load. Streaming video quality was unimpressive. Our continual complaint about EV-DO phones is that theyre not at their best with lower-resolution displays. Video screams for at least 262,000 colors, and the SCP-8400 is no different. Sure, videos are acceptable for short stints, but they were somewhat jerky and showed a good deal of pixilation. On the upside, however, they didnt require any pauses for rebuffering.The SCP-8400 has a rated talk time of 4 hours, and our tests revealed a talk time of 4 hours and 4 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the SCP-8400 has a digital SAR rating of 1.1 watts per kilogram. ),
(943,Motorola Krzr K1m (Verizon Wireless),Positives: The Motorola Krzr K1m cell phone is downright sexy and offers Bluetooth, EV-DO support, and decent call quality. Negatives: The Motorola Krzr K1m suffers from metallic music quality, poor streaming videos, and sluggish performance. Also, it offers a lower-resolution camera than on the GSM Krzr K1. Facts: Though its oh-so pretty, the Motorola Krzr K1m doesnt offer any new features. Plus, multimedia performance wasnt reliable. Note: This product is part of the Motorola Krzr K1 series. ., Just when you thought Motorola couldnt ride the wave from its popular Razr any longer, the once-staid, now-cool company rolls out its line of Krzr handsets. Styled similar to the Razr but with a few important improvements, the Motorola Krzr K1m casts a slim and striking profile thats sure to send cell phone fashionistas into a tizzy. As with its predecessor, the style-focused form factor entails some usability sacrifices in the controls, but the Krzr K1m ranks as the one of the prettiest cell phones weve seen thus far. On the downside, performance had its high and low points, and the Krzr K1ms features set, which includes Bluetooth, a megapixel camera, and support for EV-DO networks, doesnt offer any changes over Verizons Razr V3m. And in all seriousness, just where did Motorola get the silly name? The Krzr K1m is so hyped that Verizon Wireless and Sprint announced availability within a week of each other, yet Verizons version is the first to go on sale. You can get it for as low as $199 with service. (Theres also a GSM version of the phone, the Krzr K1). While we don't hide the fact that were growing tired of the thin-phone phenomenon, well admit readily that the Krzr is getting us excited about diet handsets all over again. To put it mildly, the Krzr K1m is very pretty, so pretty that it makes the Razr look like some circa-1980s car phone. While the Razr was a one-trick pony with its design--thin from the side, yes, but also boxy and plain from the front--the Krzr is beautiful all around. At 4.05 by 1.73 by 0.67 inches, it has a slightly thicker profile than the Razr while also being taller and thinner when measured across its front face. The dimensions make the Krzr much more comfortable to hold in the hand, and it feels better when cradled against your face. Also, at 3.6 ounces (a tad more than the Razrs 3.3 ounces), it enjoys a more solid construction and a sturdier hinge. Its still a bit hard, however, to feel such a small phone vibrate when its in your pocket. As Moto is quick to point out, the Krzr includes a plate of hardened reflective glass on its front face. Though that sounded a bit gimmicky when we first heard about it, the result is undeniably appealing with a sleek and sharp look. The dark gray color is nice as well, though were partial to the blue face on the GSM Krzr K1. On the other hand, the K1ms darker hue attracts fewer smudges and fingerprints than the K1m. Motorola promises the glass will withstand cracking and scratches, but we didnt try to prove that wrong. Another highlight was the shiny chrome plating on the handsets bottom end.The postage-stamp external display is a bit small for the phones size, but it shows an acceptable 65,536 colors. You can view the date, time, signal strength, battery life, and caller ID (where available), and you can use the display as a viewfinder for self-portraits. The display disappears entirely when the backlighting is off, but a flick of any exterior button will activate it again. Alternatively, you can change the backlighting time to always-on. The Krzr K1m has touch-sensitive music controls. The camera lens lies above the display, though its disappointing that yet again theres no flash. On the upside, however, one of the phones more interesting design features sits just below the display near the bottom of the front flap. Here are three touch-sensitive buttons for controlling the music player. Fortunately they are lit and usable only when the player is on--a wise design decision, as its impossible to activate the player accidentally--but they can be too sensitive when the player is on. We paused out music unintentionally a few times, which was annoying. Overall, however, wed favor the Krzrs touch controls above those on the LG Chocolate.Completing the outside of the phone is a voice-dialing button on the left spine and a volume rocker and speakerphone/smart key on the left spine. A covered mini USB port sits on the left spine as well, but its worth noting that, because its the port for both the headset and the charger, you can use only one accessory at a time. The Micro SD card slot is located somewhat inconveniently behind the battery cover. Were glad you don't have to remove the battery as well, but wed prefer to find it on the outside of the handset. The Krzr K1ms memory slot is hidden behind the battery cover. The Krzrs internal display measures a roomy 1.9 inches (176x220 pixels) and supports 65,536 colors. The result is a rich and vibrant screen that displays most anything well. Even Verizons clunky standardized menu interface, which few people are crazy about, looks good here. You can change the backlighting time and the brightness, but no other options are customizable.The navigation array and keypad buttons will look familiar to Razr fans; they have a similar design and layout. The four-way toggle doubles as a shortcut to four user-defined functions, while the OK button in the toggles center opens the menu when in standby mode. Surrounding the toggle are two soft keys, a dedicated camera shortcut, a Clear/Back key and the traditional Talk and End/Power controls. Though the navigation array as a whole is smaller than on the Razr (due to the Krzrs smaller size), its still spacious enough for users with big paws. Keypad buttons are a holdover from the Razr as well, with a flat design and no separation between the individual buttons. They have a bit less texture than on some of the newer Razrs (such as the V3i), so its harder to dial by feel, and the keys can be slippery and difficult to master. On the other hand, they are brightly backlit.We admit weve just spent a lot of time taking about the Krzrs design, but look and feel are really what the phone is all about. As we said previously, it doesnt offer anything new in terms of features, so theres a lot less to talk about in that department. Theres a 1,000-contact phone book with room in each entry for five phone numbers and two e-mail addresses. You can organize contacts into groups or pair them with a photo or one of 20 (72-chord) polyphonic ring tones for caller ID. Basic features include a vibrate mode, a voice recorder, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calendar, a calculator, a world clock, and a notepad. On the higher end, theres a speakerphone, voice dialing and commands, a mini USB port, e-mail, and PC syncing. Bluetooth is onboard as well, but its options are limited. Though you still cant use it to transfer music files and ring tones, in a welcome move toward customer-friendliness Verizon is now offering photo transfers via that feature. Onboard usable memory is a bit skimpy at 18MB, but the Micro SD card slot gives you even more room. In a strange move, the K1ms camera is 1.3-megapixel, while the GSM Krzr K1 offers a 2-megapixel shooter. Were scratching our heads at the disparity, which doesnt make a whole lot of sense. Nonetheless the K1ms camera does the job. You can take pictures in four resolutions (1,280x1,024; 640x80; 320x240; and 160x120) but you don't get a selection of quality settings. Other options include a multishot option, brightness and white-balance controls, a self-timer, three color effects, an 8X zoom, 10 fun frames, and three shutter sounds (plus a silent option).The camcorder shoots clips in 176x144 resolution with sound; editing options are similar to the still camera. Videos meant for multimedia messages are capped at 14 seconds; otherwise you can shoot for as long as the available memory permits. Image quality was decent but not quite what we expected from a megapixel camera. Images were bit blurry, and colors werent always sharp. The Krzr K1m had average photo quality for a megapixel camera. As an EV-DO phone, the Krzr K1m supports the full range of Verizons 3G services including the V Cast video service and the V Cast music store. The music players interface is standard for all phones from the carrier that support the music store. You also get access to a variety of Verizon applications including VZ Navigator, Backup Assistance, and Chaperone as well as a host of alternative programs and services such as Fox Sports Mobile Pro, Extra TV, and Weathernews. There isnt much for gamers; you get demo versions of just two titles (Tetris and Pac-Man). Full versions and other games are available for purchase with the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Just remember that Verizon uses BREW instead of Java. You can personalize the Krzr K1m with a variety of wallpaper, screensavers, and sounds. You can always buy more choices if you want them.We tested the (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) Motorola Krzr K1m in San Francisco using Verizons service. Sound quality was unchanged from other Verizon phones like the V3m. Voices were clear, and volume actually was a bit louder than most of the Razrs weve tried. On their end, callers said we sounded fine, and they could hear us plainly in louder environments. At times there was a slight hiss in the background, but it wasnt bothersome. Reception was sharp, and the EV-DO connection was strong even in buildings. Speakerphone calls sounded a bit hollow but with enough volume, and Bluetooth headset calls were satisfactory.Music audio quality was decent, though the hiss that was audible during phone calls seemed louder here. It didnt make our tunes intolerable by any means, but it did give them a robotic and bass-heavy effect. The music player itself was sluggish at times, and it often paused for a fewseconds when navigating though different options. Also, unless you set it as a shortcut through the navigation toggle, it took too many clicks to activate the player. A 2.6MB song took about a minute and 30 seconds to download, which is rather slow. V Cast video also was unimpressive. It took up to a minute to access the applications main menu and navigation through menus was sluggish here as well. Whats more, clips showed a fair amount of pixilation. If youre a multimedia nut, Verizon has better, but less-pretty options such as the LG VX8300. The Motorola Krzr K1m has a rated talk time of 4.2 hours and a promised standby time of 18 days. In our tests, we managed to get a talk time of 4 hours and 16 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests the Krzr K1m has a digital SAR rating of 1.03 watts per kilogram. ),
(944,Motorola Razr V3 - pearl gray (T-Mobile), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., Quick take: Available for T-Mobile, the Motorola Razr V3 in pearl gray shares identical features with T-Mobiles original Razr V3 in silver. For more information, please read our review of the Motorola Razr V3. ),
(945,Nextel Motorola i615, , Quick take: The Nextel Motorola i615 is very similar to the Nextel Motorola i605 except that it comes with an enhanced keypad. ),
(946,Nokia 6030 (T-Mobile), , Quick take: The Nokia 6030 for T-Mobile is similar to Cingulars Nokia 6030 except that it comes in white. For a full description of the Nokia 6030, see our review of the Cingular version. ),
(947,I-mate Jaq,Positives: The I-mate Jaq has a nice touch screen and runs Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Edition with the full Office Mobile suite. It also features a full QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth, and solid talk-time battery life. Negatives: The I-mate Jaq has a bulky design and no integrated Wi-Fi, and lacks a camera option. The smart phone also has poor call quality and is expensive. Facts: Plagued by a bulky design and poor call quality, the I-mate Jaq cant stand up to the competition of other Windows Mobile smart phones. , Despite being relatively unknown in the United States, I-mate has produced some popular and solid smart phones for the U.S. market over the years, including the I-mate Jam and the I-mate SP5. And thats why its so disappointing that the companys latest model, the I-mate Jaq, is a dud. Announced at the CTIA 2006 fall show, the Jaq was dubbed by blog sites and others as a potential Motorola Q killer, but theres nothing killer about it. There are a couple of highlights, such as a spacious QWERTY keyboard and a nice touch screen, but the mobile has a bulky design and doesnt offer any new feature to give it an edge over the competition. The Cingular 8125, the T-Mobile MDA, and the Palm Treo 700wx all offer the same functionality as the Jaq but with better performance and design, so we cant really find a compelling reason to spring for this device, especially considering its hefty price tag of $499 for an unlocked version. Design At 4.8 by 2.7 by 0.8 inches and 5.6 ounces, the I-mate Jaq is neither sexy nor sleek. In fact, its downright clunky and unattractive. Though roughly the same size and shape as the Nokia E62 and the HP iPaq hw6900, the Jaqs lower half is thicker than the rest of the device, as the battery pack and the QWERTY keyboard in the front jut out a bit. Not only does it make the smart phone bulkier, its also unsightly. Whats more, its wide body will take some getting used to when you hold it up to your ear for phone calls, and we found it hard to find the earpieces sweet spot to hear our callers. (See Performance for more.)Yet there are a couple of redeeming factors to the Jaqs design. First, it has a nice 2.8-inch touch screen with a 320x240 pixel resolution and 64,000-color output. The wide screen makes it great for viewing Web pages, and images and text are clear and bright. In addition, many users will appreciate the touch-screen capability; its a feature that Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition devices, such as the Moto Q, lack. Once youve experienced the convenience of inputting data and navigating the device through the touch screen, its hard to go back to a mobile without it. You can also control the Jaq through the navigation buttons below the display, including Talk and End buttons, two soft keys, a Start key, an OK button, and a four-way joystick. One of the only highlights of the Jaqs design is its spacious QWERTY keyboard. The other highlight is the full QWERTY keyboard just below the display. The buttons are tactile, and it has a more spacious layout than the keypad on the cramped Treo 700wx. Though most users shouldnt have any problems firing off e-mails with this keyboard, we found the orange backlighting a bit hard on the eyes. On the left spine, there are Volume Up and Down keys and a Voice Record button, while the power button, the Mini SD card slot, and the 2.5mm headset jack are on the right side. A mini USB port sits on the bottom of the device along with the reset hole and stylus holder. The location of the latter in the bottom left-hand corner is a bit awkward; our natural inclination was to look for it at the top. Finally, there are three notification LEDs above the screen for new messages, Bluetooth, and battery status. I-mate packages the Jaq with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a wired headset, and a carrying case. We should note, however, that the power source that shipped with our review unit had a European adapter. We contacted I-mate, and they said they would ship a compatible adapter with U.S. shipments of the Jaq. Features The I-mate Jaqs feature set is solid but doesnt offer anything exceptional to give it an edge over the competition or to make up for its poor design. The handheld is powered by a 200MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 850 processor and comes with 128MB of SDRAM and 64MB of ROM. It runs Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Edition, so you get the full Office Mobile Suite, which includes Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and a PowerPoint viewer. ClearVue PDF is also onboard if you need to view PDFs. There are a couple of extra utilities and PIM tools, such as a calculator, a download agent, and a 30-day trial of the I-mate Suite, which includes apps for remote access and backup. With the QWERTY keyboard, the Jaq lends itself to be a powerful e-mail machine. Outlook Mobile comes with the Jaq as part of the Office Mobile Suite, and it supports push e-mail via Microsofts Messaging and Security Feature Pack. I-mate includes its own e-mail client, which you can set up via the phones Club I-mate e-mail app. It also supports instant, text, and multimedia messaging.The I-mate Jaq is a quad-band phone, so globetrotting execs will be able to use the mobile overseas. The address book is limited only by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts) and is quite robust. You can store up to 11 numbers for a single entry as well as home and work addresses, e-mail, IM screen name, birthday, spouses name, and more. You can organize contacts into groups, and for caller ID purposes, you can pair them with a photo and one of eight polyphonic ring tones. The Jaq is not equipped with a camera, however, so youll have to get images onto the phone another way. You also get a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, conference calling, and a Blacklist app to block numbers. Wireless options are limited to infrared and Bluetooth 1.2 Theres also EDGE support but no integrated Wi-Fi, which is disappointing. We understand that the EDGE capabilities lessen the need for Wi-Fi, but we still like having this option for connecting to the Web. Plus, it certainly looks like the Jaq could handle the addition of another wireless radio. The I-mate Jaq is equipped with a Mini SD expansion slot for all your storage needs. As far as entertainment, the I-mate Jaq is equipped with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile so that you can listen to your favorite MP3, WMA, WMV, and MPEG-4 files. As always, we recommend you load up these memory-heavy mutlitmedia files on a Mini SD card so that you can save the devices internal memory for other apps. As we mentioned earlier, the Jaq isnt equipped with a camera, which is great for those mobile professionals whose employers ban the use of camera-equipped phones, but we would still have liked to see an option for a camera version. The Jaq also comes preloaded with three games (Bubble Breaker, Solitaire, and I-mate Blackjack).PerformanceWe tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) I-mate Jaq in San Francisco using Cingular service, and call quality was poor. As we noted in the Design section, it was hard to find the sweet spot on the phones earpiece where we could hear our callers plainly, but even when we did, the audio was horrible. There was a noticeable hiss in the background, which drowned out our friends voices, while our callers reported slightly better call quality. Activating the speakerphone made things worse as we could barely hear the conversation, even with volume cranked to high, and callers reported an echo. Day-to-day performance was OK. Launching applications took only about a second or so, though there was a bit of a slowdown when we had numerous programs running at the same time--all par for the course. Browsing the Web on the Jaq was also decent as sites loaded fairly quickly, and the wide screen made viewing the pages a pleasurable experience.The Jaq is rated for 4 hours of talk time and up to six days of standby time. In our tests, we got double the rated talk time. According to FCC radiation tests, the I-mate Jaq has a digital SAR rating of 0.97 watts per kilogram. ),
(948,LG VX5300,Positives: The LG VX5300 is a simple and lightweight flip phone that features a VGA camera with a flash, a speakerphone, analog roaming, and a Web browser. It also has an easy-to-use keypad and excellent call quality. Negatives: The LG VX5300 has a rather boring design, and we arent fans of the cameras picture quality. Facts: The LG VX5300 is a fitting entry-level camera phone for those who don't want a lot of frills but do want excellent call quality. , The LG VX5300 is the latest in Verizons offerings of entry-level camera phones. While it has an unassuming appearance, it delivers the goods in terms of a simple feature set and great call quality. The VX5300 also supports analog roaming, which increases the likelihood of getting cell phone reception in more rural areas. This LG flip phone retails for $119.99, but you can get it for $69.99 with a two-year contract.Design is clearly not the objective of the LG VX5300. Its silver and gray casing isnt unattractive, but it doesnt stand out as too appealing either. However, we did appreciate its compact and lightweight form factor (3.51 by 1.87 by 0.94 inches; 3.28 ounces), and found we could slip it in and out of our pockets with ease. Slightly oval and pebblelike in shape, the VX5300 felt comfortable in our hands as well as next to our ears. The VX5300 also has a stubby antenna on the top. Opening and closing the phone was a snap, requiring minimal effort. The VX5300 comes with a VGA camera. On the front flap is the 1-inch diagonal OLED external screen that displays 65,000 colors. It shows battery and signal strength, the date and time, and caller ID, and it functions as a self-portrait viewfinder when camera mode is on and the phone is closed. It doesnt display photo caller ID, however, which is disappointing. You can also swap out the wallpaper of the external screen. The camera lens and flash is located above the screen. The left spine is home to the volume rocker and a voice command key, while a dedicated camera key lies on the right spine. Flip open the phone, and youre presented with a 1.8-inch, 262,000 color TFT display. Bright and colorful, the screen is very easy on the eyes. You can adjust the backlight timer, the font size, and the clock format, but you cant change the brightness or contrast. As for the navigation controls, there are the standard two soft keys, and a five-way toggle that doubles as four user-customizable shortcuts with a middle confirmation key, the send key, the clear key, and the end/power key. Right underneath the navigation array is the dedicated speakerphone button as well as the dial pad. We were very pleased with the arrangement of the keys; they were well spaced, and while the buttons felt smooth, they were slightly rounded and raised above the surface, which made for easy dialing. The LG VX5300 comes with a 500-entry address book, each of which can hold up to five numbers, two e-mail addresses, group IDs, a picture caller ID, and one of 11 polyphonic ring tones. Basic features include a vibrate mode, a silent mode, text and multimedia messaging, a full-duplex speakerphone (which you can activate prior to dialing), voice commands, voice recording, a calendar, an alarm clock, a world clock, a notepad, a calculator, a tip calculator, a unit converter, Bluetooth, analog roaming, and a Web browser. The VX5300 takes blurry photos. The VX5300 comes with a VGA camera with flash, as well as a variety of camera settings. They include three resolutions (640x480, 320x240, and 160x120), a self-timer, brightness and white balance controls, color effects, various shutter sounds (with an option to turn sound off), and night mode. Naturally, picture quality wasnt comparable to megapixel cameras as images appeared blurry and noticeably grainy. However, when compared to other VGA cameras, the images were of similar quality.You can personalize the VX5300 with a variety of wallpapers, colors, themes, and message alert tones. Downloading more options is simple with Verizons Get It Now service, Verizons mobile Web portal thats easily accessible from the phones menu options. Though you can play BREW games on the phone, youll have to buy and download them yourself as the phone doesnt come with any included. We tested the triband (CDMA 850/1900; AMPS) LG VX5300 handset in San Francisco using Verizons service. Call quality was excellent on both ends. Callers couldnt tell we were on a cell phone, and we were impressed that we could hear them even when walking down a noisy sidewalk. The speakerphone performed similarly well, and we were impressed with its clarity and volume, though we did have to speak up a little to be heard.The LG VX5300 has a rated talk time of 3 hours and a rated standby time of 8 days. In our tests, we got a talk time of 2 hours and 55 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the VX5300 has a digital SAR rating of 1.27 watts per kilogram. ),
(949,Sony Ericsson W710i,Positives: The Sony Ericsson W710i has an attractive, user-friendly design and good call quality. It comes with Bluetooth, a speakerphone, a 2-megapixel camera, and a Walkman digital music player. Negatives: The Sony Ericsson W710i has a disappointing external display and some flimsy parts, and its camera lacks a few extras. Also, music player navigation was a bit sluggish. Facts: The Sony Ericsson W710i is solid addition to Sony Ericssons Walkman phone line despite a few design hiccups and some missing features. Note: This product is part of the Sony Ericsson W710i series. ., Sony Ericsson is on a roll with its music-centric Walkman phone line, and in the past year and a half, the company has been introducing new models as steadily as the beat of a drum. Its latest entry, the Sony Ericsson W710i, puts a unique twist on the Walkman series. In addition to a series of fitness applications, it also comes with a sturdy armband for listening to music on the go. And of course, you get the usual assortment of quality Walkman phone features in an attractive, if a bit blocky, flip phone package. In all, its a solid effort, despite a few missing features and an unimpressive external display. As of this writing, theres no carrier for the W710i, so it will cost you a hefty $399 for an unlocked model.Sony Ericsson is still easing into the flip phone game, and the W710i is just the second Walkman flip phone after the Sony Ericsson W300i. But where the entry-level W300i skimped, the W710i delivers in both its high-end features and its accessible design. On that note, the W710i has a smart form factor with a unique white and gray color scheme. Admittedly its a tad boxy, but its not a design wed grow tired of. And while it borders on bulky (3.4 by 1.9 by 1 inches; 3.6 ounces) its easily portable, it has a solid construction, and it feels comfortable when held to the face for talking. A small looped antenna juts out at the top of the handset.The design of the W710s external display was a bit baffling. Its plenty big (1.5 inches, 128x128 pixels), but it has a monochrome resolution for showing the date, time, battery life, signal strength, and caller ID. While one on hand its easy to read in almost any light, the lack of color support means it doesnt show photo caller ID and it cant act as a viewfinder for self-portraits. You can change the backlighting time, but the font size and brightness are not customizable. The camera lens sits just above the display, and in a disappointing move, Sony Ericsson did not include a flash or self-portrait mirror.Surrounding the external display are dedicated Walkman buttons that give you full use of the player when the phone is closed. Not only can you open and close the player, but, unlike with the W300i, you also can pause, fast-forward, and rewind tracks. Its a very welcome improvement for a flip phone, and we liked the basic design of the buttons themselves. Besides being large they have a rubberized covering that makes them quite tactile and easy to locate by feel. Other exterior controls consist of a nifty slider lock mechanism on the right spine (like that on the Sony Ericsson W600i) and a volume rocker on the left spine. Theres also a dedicated camera shortcut on the left spine but unfortunately its unusable when the phone is closed. The W710s interior display measures 2 inches (176x220 pixels) and shows 262,144 colors. Though a tad overly bright, its clear and vibrant and great for viewing photos, playing games, or browsing through the standard but user-friendly Sony Ericsson menus. You can change the brightness only. Below the display and the oversize hinge is the well-designed navigation array. Theres a four-way toggle surrounding a central OK button, two soft keys, and dedicated Clear and Back controls. As with other Sony Ericsson handsets, the W710i lacks Talk and End buttons; instead the soft keys perform those functions. The toggle is tactile and decently sized, and it can be programmed to give one-touch access to four user-defined functions. The other buttons are also large, and fortunately they are raised above the surface of the phone. Finally, you also get dedicated buttons for the opening the Web browser and a secondary menu of user-defined shortcuts. The latter control is especially useful, but both buttons are too small and are set flush with the surface of the phone.The keypad buttons are also better than on many previous handsets from the company. As theyre raised above the surface of the phone, its easy to dial by feel, and we liked that there was some separation between the individual columns. Whats more, a bright backlighting eased dialing in dim situations. On the other hand, while he had few misdials, we werent in love with the keypad entirely. Besides being a bit slippery, the plastic buttons felt somewhat cheap for such a high-priced phone. Just below the keypad are a power button and a dedicated Walkman control. But like the aforementioned Web browser button, theyre too small for larger fingers. The Memory Stick Micro slot is located on the left spine, but you must remove the battery cover to access it. Though you don't have to take out the battery as well, its not an ideal location--the cover is rather flimsy. The charger/headset port is on the bottom of the phone, but you can only use one device at a time. Also, the phones sole speaker is on the rear face. The W710s memory card slot is behind the battery cover. Basic features for the W710i are similar to those of other handsets in the Walkman phone series. The phone book holds a hefty 1,000 contacts with room in each entry for five phone numbers, e-mail and Web addresses, a job title and company, work and home street addresses, a birth date, and notes. The SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts, and you can organize callers into groups. For caller ID, you can match contacts with one of just 14 (72-chord) polyphonic ring tones or assign them a photo or a video. Just remember that photos and videos do not show up on the external display.Other essentials include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calendar, a task list, a notepad, a timer, a stopwatch, a calculator, and a voice memo recorder (space is limited by the available memory.) On the high-end side, the W710i comes with a speakerphone (usable after you make a call), PC syncing, full Bluetooth with a stereo profile, e-mail, a code memo for storing sensitive information, and USB cable support. Fitness applications include a pedometer for running and walking, a sports trivia game, and a fitness trainer for tracking your workouts. Theres even a bizarre yet interesting application that will you calculate how long it would take you to walk to various world locations from your home city.Of course music is the main attraction on the W710i. Its Walkman player is near identical to that on other Walkman phones (see the Sony Ericsson W810i for a full report), except that it doesnt offer Sonys Mega Bass. Also, as on previous models, you must use the included USB cable and the companys Disc2Phone software to load music onto the handset. Internal memory is capped at 10MB, so its advised you use the included 512MB Memory Stick Micro card. You also get the FM radio that is near standard on Walkman phones and a Music ID application for identifying likeable tunes you cant name. Theres also a quirky Music Mate application that shows the correct finger position for various guitar chords and piano chords while playing the notes. You can even use the phone as a metronome. The W710is camera doesnt have a flash. The 2-megapixel camera shoots photos in three sizes (2-megapixel, 1-megapixel, and standard VGA). Other options include two quality settings, three color effects, a night mode, white balance and brightness adjustments, 12 fun frames, a 5X zoom, and four shutter sounds (theres no silent option). Theres also a self-timer, a multishot mode, and an option for taking panoramic shots. The camcorder takes clips with sound and offers a set of editing options similar to the still camera. Clips meant for multimedia messages are capped at just over 1 minute, 30 seconds; otherwise you can shoot for as long as the memory permits. Picture and video quality were good, with acceptable colors and little blurriness, but we miss having a flash, and the camera interface wasnt as attractive as that on the W810i. Yet the W710i does come with PhotoDJ and VideoDJ applications. We liked the W710i photo quality. You can personalize the W810i with a variety of themes, wallpaper, and screensavers. As always, you can purchase more options and ring tones from Sony Ericsson via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Alternatively, the phone comes with a MusicDJ application for composing your own ring tones. Gamers can enjoy three Java (J2ME) titles, Alpha Wing 2, Tennis Multiplay and Treasure Towers, with additional titles available for purchase. We tested the quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) W710 world phone in San Francisco and New York City using Cingulars service. Call quality was good in both places, with admirable clarity and volume. Reception wasnt a problem either, even in a building notorious for spotty coverage, but on a few occasions the phone took longer than expected to connect. Callers could tell we were using a cell phone, but they didnt report significant problems except that they had more trouble hearing us when we were on a busy street. Only rarely did callers sound a bit hollow on our end. Speakerphone calls were surprisingly loud and clear, and Bluetooth headset calls were satisfactory as well.Music quality on the W710i was on a par with other Walkman phones, though the lack of stereo speakers is disappointing. We still wouldnt chuck our stand-alone MP3 player altogether, but the W710i is fine for commuting, working out, or on plane rides. We also tried the included stereo headphones and were pleased overall, and we love that the phone comes with a stereo Bluetooth profile. Music player navigation, however, was occasionally sluggish.The W710i has a rated talk time of 10 hours and a promised standby time of 14.5 days. In our tests we eked out 9 hours of talk time. ),
(950,Samsung MM-A900M (SPH-A900M), , Quick take: The Samsung MM-A900M is an update to the MM-A900, which was touted as Sprints answer to the Motorola Razr late last year. Its features are identical to that of its predecessor; it supports Sprints Power Vision and Music Store services and has a 1.3-megapixel camera, a camcorder, a built-in media player and MP3 player, Bluetooth, text messaging, a speakerphone, a voice recorder, streaming music support, and basic PIM functions. The only difference is that the MM-A900M adds in extra personalization options to its interface. This includes customizable themes for menus, shortcuts, and screensavers; customizable ring tones and alerts; and customizable screensavers from personal videos. All in all, the MM-A900M is only a cosmetic upgrade from the MM-A900. Read our review of the Samsung MM-A900 for more details of the phones features. ),
(951,Sony Ericsson Z525a,Positives: The Sony Ericsson Z525a is an attractive device with a broad range of features and decent call quality. Negatives: The Sony Ericsson Z525a has poor photo quality. Also, its promised battery life and memory size are lower than for its predecessor. Facts: The addition of push-to-talk compatibility gives the Sony Ericsson Z525a a boost over the previous Sony Ericsson Z520a, but its smaller memory, poorer battery life, and persistently bad photo quality are detractions. , Its a shame that more Sony Ericsson cell phones don't make it into the hands of more U.S. carriers. For the most part, the companys handsets enjoy a good reputation, with eye-catching designs, admirable features, and good performance. Take the Sony Ericsson Z520a, for instance. Though its camera and photo quality were unimpressive, we considered it to be a solid choice for a midrange cell phone. And better yet, it made it onto Cingulars handset lineup. It must have had some success overall, as the carrier now is offering a follow-up phone, the Sony Ericsson Z525a. Bearing a nearly identical design to its predecessor, the Z525a offers much of the same feature set, save for the addition of support for Cingulars push-to-talk (PTT) network. Performance is also comparable, though photo quality hasnt improved. The Z525a has a fair price of $99 with service.When viewing both phones, youd be hard-pressed to notice any real design differences between the Z520a and the Z525a. Both handsets have identical dimensions (3.2 by 1.8 by 0.9 inches; 3.3 grams) and bear the same blue removable faceplate (other colors are available), looped antennas, and rear-facing speaker. The camera lens is located just below the one-inch diagonal (101x180 pixels), 4,096-color external display, though its disappointing that Sony Ericsson still left out a flash.Theres one major difference on the outside of the phone, however. Instead of the Z520as camera shutter being on the left spine, the Z525a has a PTT button there. Though that means theres no dedicated camera key on the phones exterior, we don't mind because many users reported problems with the Z520as camera control. Because its not lockable, a lot of people were taking pictures of the inside of their purse or pocket. The volume rocker and the infrared port sit below the PTT button; we like that you can access calendar appointments with the PTT button when the phone is closed.The interior of the Z525a shows no changes from its predecessor. Youll see the same 1.8-inch (128x160 pixels) main display with support for 65,530 colors. The menu interface, navigation controls, and keypad buttons are alike as well (see the Z520a review for a full description). Here again, were glad to see this good keypad from Sony Ericsson.The Z525a incorporates features from the Z520a, with a few changes. The 500-contact phone book is too small, but you can save an additional 250 names on the SIM card. This time, however, you get only 13 (40-chord) ring tones instead of the Z520as 46 choices. On the other hand, the simple digital music support means you can download additional tunes from Cingular via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Other features include a vibrate mode, an alarm clock, a world clock, a calculator, a stopwatch, a timer, a notepad, PC syncing for your contacts, a tasks list, a calendar, text and multimedia messaging, a code memo for storing sensitive information, a speakerphone, a voice recorder, an infrared port, a wireless business-card exchange, POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail support, and Bluetooth for calls and file transfers. And of course, the Z525a offers support for Cingulars PTT network. The Z525as camera doesnt come with a flash. Like on the Z520a, the VGA-resolution digital camera on the Z525a comes with plenty of features, but we werent quite pleased with the end result. You can take pictures in 640x480, 320x240, and 160x120 resolutions, as well as Normal and Fine quality settings. Other image options include Normal, Panorama, Frames, and Burst shooting modes; Black And White and Sepia picture effects; a night mode; a self-timer; a 4X zoom; and a brightness adjuster. The video recorder takes clips with sound, with clip length limited by available memory. Editing options are similar to those of the still camera. When finished with your shots or videos, you can send them in a multimedia message or save them to the phones memory. Yet in an unwelcome change from the Z520a, the Z525a offers 12MB of shared space instead of 16MB. Also, while we were hoping for better photo quality on the new phone, images showed little improvement from the Z525a. Photos were equally washed out and grainy, and the lack of a flash didnt help. But if you care to play, PhotoDJ and VideoDJ applications are available. We werent thrilled with the Z525as photo quality. You can personalize the phone with a variety of wallpapers, color themes, screensavers, and sounds. If you want more options, you can download them from Cingular and compose your own ring tones with the Music DJ application. Gamers can enjoy demo versions of four Java (J2ME) titles: Asphalt: Urban GT 3D, Tetris, Yahtzee Deluxe, and NY Nights. Youll have to buy the full versions.We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) Sony Ericsson Z525a world phone in San Francisco using Cingular Wireless service. Call quality was on a par with the Z520a, which is to say it was good overall with acceptable clarity and loud volume. The phone picked up wind noise easily, and callers had more trouble hearing us than on the Z520a. Though it wasnt a big problem, generally we had to repeat ourselves several times when talking to an automated voice-response system. This was true even when we were in a quiet location. The rear-facing speakerphone was surprisingly loud; its best that you face the speaker up if resting the Z525a on a surface. You must place a call before you can activate the speakerphone, but it doesnt hang up automatically when you close the flip. When we tried a Bluetooth headset, call quality didnt suffer significantly.The Sony Ericsson Z525a promises less battery life than its predecessor. The rated talk time is 5 hours (instead of 9). Our tests confirmed these results with 4 hours and 55 minutes of talk time. The promised standby time is 16 days (instead of 13). According to FCC radiation tests, the Sony Ericsson Z525a has a digital SAR rating of 1.47 watts per kilogram. );
REPLACE INTO `cellphones` (`id`, `product`, `overview`, `review`) VALUES (952,Nokia N93,Positives: The Nokia N93 is equipped with a 3.2-megapixel camera with video-recording capabilities, and it features a cool, swivel design. This Symbian smart phone includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a music player and FM radio, and e-mail capabilities. Negatives: The Nokia N93 is clunky and heavy, making it awkward to use as a phone. Call quality was mixed in our tests, and the external display is small. Facts: Though it wont replace your digital camcorder or camera, the powerful Nokia N93 does a respectable job of integrating quality multimedia capabilities into a cell phone. That said, its a bulky handset and is best suited for convergence fanatics and gadget hounds. Note: This product is part of the Nokia N series. ., One of the most anticipated models of the Nokia N series is the Nokia N93, and its easy to see why. This high-end \"multimedia computer\" (as Nokia likes to call it) boasts a 3.2-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, and it can record MPEG-4 VGA video at up to 30 frames per second. It has a dual-hinge swivel design, TV-out capabilities, and photo and video editors. In addition, the Symbian OS-based phone is equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and e-mail support. A big set of features for a big phone--no really, this mobile is huge. Aesthetics aside, the N93 performs most of its functions well, but its not for everyone. The powerful smart phone is best suited for those who love all-in-one devices and crave the latest and greatest tech. As of this writing, no U.S. carrier has picked up the phone, which unfortunately means youll have plunk down some serious cash ($700 to $800) for this baby. To put it bluntly, the Nokia N93 is a beast. The unit measures 4.6 by 2.1 by 1.1 inches and weighs 6.3 ounces, which is mammoth for a cell phone, especially when you open the flip phone to make or accept a call. In its open state, the N93 is about 7.5 inches long and is actually longer than our cordless phone at home. Its certainly a dramatic change from the skinny and compact phones that dominate the market today; as such, the N93 will take some getting used to as a mobile phone because of its large size. We also found that the middle section of the phone, where the camera lens is housed, juts out a bit, hitting our cheek and making for a somewhat uncomfortable experience. The N93s swivel design allows you to use the internal screen as a viewfinder for its camera/camcorder duties. To be completely fair, the N93 is more than just a phone, and when used as a camcorder, the N93s size becomes more of a pro than a con. Its easy to travel with and includes a number of design features that mimic the look and feel of a real mini camcorder. First, you can manipulate the screen to act as your viewfinder. Just open the front flap halfway and swivel the screen 90 degrees counterclockwise. This will automatically activate the camera, and you should see the scene of your photo or video splashed across the internal screen/viewfinder. The camera lens and flash are located on the left spine; the former is protected by a plastic cover, but its not attached to the phone, so take care not to lose it (a lens strap is included in the box). In addition to this lens, theres a secondary VGA camera above the internal screen that you can use for photos and video. On the right side is a zoom in/out slider wheel and a center capture button on the hinge of the phone, while a four-way navigation toggle, a camera/video button (to toggle between the two modes), and a flash key are on the right spine. Overall, most of these buttons are easy to master and use as camcorder controls, although we had a couple of complaints. First, the toggle may be too small for some users, especially those with larger fingers, causing you to accidentally press the keys beneath it. Second, the zoom slider is somewhat difficult to use one-handed; we found it easiest to move by using our index finger instead of our thumb. The Nokia N93 includes controls for zooming in/out and switching between camera and video mode, and it has a capture key. After youve captured images, you can take advantage of the N93s swivel design to best view your photo gallery and videos. To do so, start with the phone in its closed state and swing open the front flap to the right (Nokia identifies this as the View mode). From there, you can see all your shots on the N93s sharp, 2.4-inch QVGA internal screen. It displays an eye-popping 262,144 colors at a crisp 320x240-pixel resolution, so not only do images look great, so do text and Web pages. You can change the theme, wallpaper, and backlight time, but you cant change the font size. Below the display is a set of buttons, including two soft keys; the talk and end buttons; a four-way navigation control; a row of shortcut keys to the text editor, main menu, multimedia menu; and a clear button. The numerical dial pad below these controls is spacious and raised above the phones surface, making it easy to dial by feel. The dial pad is nice and roomy and easy to dial by feel. Other design highlights of the N93 include a 1.1-inch external LCD that shows 65,536 colors at a 128x36-pixel resolution. It displays the standard information, including the time, network strength, battery life, and photo caller ID (where available). Also, if youre using the N93 as a music player, the screen will show you the song title and track time. While this is a nice extra, we were a bit disappointed by the screens small size, considering that theres plenty of real estate to put in a larger display. In addition to the camera lens and flash, there is a Mini SD expansion slot, a Pop-Port connector (for the USB cable and headset), and a charger connector on the left; the power on/off button is on the top of the device. We wish Nokia had included external volume controls. Instead, you have to remove the phone from your ear and use the navigation toggle on the dial pad to adjust the volume.Nokia packages the N93 with a nice set of accessories, including an AC adapter, a travel charger, a 128MB Mini SD card, a pair of stereo earbuds, a USB cable, video cables, a protective pouch, a wrist strap, reference material, and a DVD containing the Nokia PC Suite, photo editors, and more. The Nokia N93 has a sizable feature set to match its large form factor. The main attraction, of course, are the camera and camcorder functions. The N93 is equipped with a 3.2-megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens and 3X optical zoom. (For those of you who don't know, Carl Zeiss was an optician who first started manufacturing lenses for microscopes, then used his expertise for camera lenses.) The camera options are very similar to those of the other N-series models weve reviewed, including the Nokia N80 and the N73. You get a choice of four image qualities (large, medium, small, and multimedia message) and six shooting modes (automatic, user, close-up, landscape, night, and night portrait). Plus, there are white balance options, exposure values, and color tones so that you can get the best picture possible. Theres also a sequence mode for multiple shots and a self-timer. You get four shutter sound options, but no silent mode. Save your images and videos to a Mini SD card. For video, the N93 can record up to one-hour clips with sound at up to 30 frames per second (fps). Options are a little more limited in video mode; you get five quality settings (TV high, TV normal, handset high, handset normal, and sharing) and two shooting modes (automatic and night). You also have access to 3X optical zoom or 8X digital zoom, and theres a video stabilization feature to help reduce camera shake as youre recording video. You can touch up your videos and photos with the included image editors. For example, you can add clip art and reduce red-eye on still images, or cut audio for videos. Theres 50MB of internal memory, backed by the Mini SD expandable memory, for saving your photos and videos to the phone. And sharing your memories is also easy with the ability to view them as a slide show, print them using Nokias Xpress Solutions, upload them to the Web, or transfer them to other devices. Also, Nokia includes video-out cables so that you can hook up your N93 to a TV to view all your media on the big screen.Overall, the Nokia N93 takes good quality pictures. Colors are vibrant and lines sharp; videos are also pretty decent. The N93 certainly wont replace your stand-alone digital camera or camcorder, but its a good stand-in when youre in a pinch, and its certainly one of the better camera phones weve seen to date. The N93s 3.2-megapixel camera produces decent photos with bright colors. As a multimedia computer, the Nokia N93 isnt limited to just imaging and video. Theres also an integrated music player that supports MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+, and eAAC+ files, as well as OMA DRM 2.0- and Janus DRM-protected songs. The music library categorizes tracks by artist, album, genre, and composer; you can also create playlists right on the phone and adjust the sound with the built-in equalizer. To transfer music onto the device, simply plug in the included USB cable and use the N93 as a removable drive. Craving new music or some diversity? Check out the N93s FM radio, though youll have to use the included headset to access the radio, since it acts as the tuner. RealPlayer is also onboard, with 3GPP and MPEG-4 video-streaming support.The Nokia N93 is well connected in other respects. First, as a phone, you get a speakerphone, speed dial, conference calling, video calls, voice command support, a vibrate mode, and text and multimedia messaging. As with the Treo 700 series, you can ignore a call with a text message. The N93s address book is limited only by the available memory, and the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts. Theres room in each entry for multiple phone numbers, work and home addresses, e-mail addresses, a birthday, and more vitals. For caller ID purposes, you can assign each contact a photo, one of 41 ring tones, or a group ID. Other than cellular wireless, the Nokia N93 has integrated Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and an infrared port. Bluetooth is version 2.0 with support for a number of profiles, including Basic Printing, Dial-up Networking, Headset, Handsfree, Generic Object Exchange, File Transfer, and Basic Imaging. There is, however, no support for the A2DP profile for stereo headsets. As far as Wi-Fi goes, the N93 is compatible with 802.11b/g standards; in addition, theres support for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), which lets you use a Wi-Fi connection to hook up with a compatible PC, printer, or home entertainment system. The downside is that the number of UPnP devices is limited at the moment.The Nokia N93 runs Symbian OS 9.1, so you get basic PIM capabilities and more. Theres a calendar, a to-do list, notes, a calculator, a voice recorder, a currency converter, and an HTML/XHTML Web browser. An app called QuickOffice lets you view (but not edit) Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files; plus, Adobe Reader is onboard for PDFs. The N93 is also equipped with e-mail capabilities. The phone supports SMTP, IMAP4, and POP3 accounts with full attachment viewing and mobile VPN support for corporate users. Finally, the Nokia PC Suite helps you synchronize the N93 with your PC to manage appointments, music, device memory, and more. We tested the triband (GSM 900/1800/1900; EDGE) Nokia N93 in San Francisco using Cingulars service, and call quality was a mixed bag. On our end, callers sounded fine but reported some distortion on their end and said we sounded like we had a cold. Unfortunately, activating the speakerphone didnt help matters as it added an echo to the mix. On the upside, we had no problems pairing the N93 with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.The N93 performed its other duties admirably. Music playback was respectable, although listening to tracks through the built-in speakers on front of the device sounded a bit blown out. Plugging in the included earbuds helped. Watching videos on the handset was also OK. We had no problem making out the picture, but there was some pixelation and blurriness, a plague of all cell phones with multimedia capabilities. Browsing the Web on the N93 was great, as pages loaded quickly, and we didnt experience any great delays when switching between apps, as has been the case with other N-series devices.The Nokia N93 is rated for 5.1 hours of talk time and up to 10 days of standby time. In our tests, the N93 met the rated time and surpassed it by an hour. ),
(953,Samsung SGH-T519 (Trace),Positives: The Samsung SGH-T519 Trace has a trendy design and offers Bluetooth, a speakerphone, a memory card slot, and world phone support. Negatives: The call volume on the Samsung SGH-T519 Trace is low, and photo quality is average. The navigation toggle is hard to use and lacks voice dialing. Facts: Though its performance could be improved a tad, the Samsung SGH-X820 Trace is an attractive thin phone with a nice assortment of features. , The slim phone phenomenon continues with the Samsung SGH-T519 for T-Mobile. Also called the Trace for reasons we cant quite determine, the T519 is almost a carbon copy of the Samsung SGH-X820 save for a few design adjustments and feature changes. Though we prefer the SGH-X820s all-back color over the SGH-T519s silver skin, the Trace is still a sexy phone with a sleek shape. And though we are getting a little bored with the thin phone mania, we don't mind the T519s eye-catching form factor. The Trace is reasonably priced at $99 with service. When we first saw the SGH-T519 Trace, we did a double take as we knew wed seen it somewhere before. For all intents and purposes, it is a twin of the SGH-X820, but a closer look reveals a few changes beyond the obvious color difference. Several buttons have been rearranged, and the SGH-T519 is just slightly bigger at 4.5 by 2.0 by 0.3 inches and marginally heavier at 2.5 ounces. The heftier weight gives the mobile a more solid feel in the hand while remaining easily portable.Other external features are largely the same. The SGH-T519 Traces 1.8-inch (220x176 pixels) display is equally beautiful, with support for 262,000 colors. As is the case with most Samsung screens of this caliber, its bright and vivid but is a little hard to see in direct light. The menu interface shows some welcome changes from previous phones from this company. Instead of the flash- and graphics-heavy interface that became a Samsung trademark, the SGH-T519s menu design features a basic grid of colored icons on a black background. Its still colorful and eye-catching, but its more user-friendly and functional. You can change brightness, backlight time, and font size, style, and color. The navigation and keypad buttons are a carryover from the SGH-X820 as well. The navigation toggle has a central OK button and can be programmed as a shortcut to four user-defined shortcuts. However, the toggle is rather difficult to use as theres no clear separation between the toggle and the OK button. Also, since theyre flat with the surface of the phone, we had a few misdials. Other navigation controls were better as their large size countered their flush design. There are two soft keys, a clear button, and the talk and end/power keys. The flat backlit keypad buttons are tactile but hard to dial by feel. Were glad to see an external memory card slot on the Trace. Like the SGH-X820s, the SGH-T519s camera lens is at the top rear face of the phone where the casing thickens ever so slightly. Unlike, the SGH-X820, however, the Trace adds a small speaker. In another change from the SGH-X820, the SGH-T519 adds a Micro SD card slot on the left spine just above the camera shutter. As a result, the headset/charger jack moves to the right spine just below the volume rocker. The SGH-T519 Trace comes with a generous 1,000-contact phone book (the SIM card holds an additional 250 names). Its similar to the SGH-X820s but with a few changes. Each entry holds five phone numbers (as opposed to four), an e-mail address, and notes. You can organize callers into groups and pair them with a phone and one of 37 (instead of 20) polyphonic (64-chord) ring tones. Basic features include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a world clock, a calculator, a currency and unit converter, a timer, a stopwatch, an alarm clock, and a calendar. Higher-end offerings include a speakerphone, a voice recorder, and full Bluetooth. Again we were hoping for voice commands and dialing, but sadly theyre not onboard the SGH-T519. The SGH-T519s camera lens sits next to its speaker. Though the SGH-T519 has a 1.3-megapixel camera instead of the 1.0-megapixel shooter on the SGH-X820, its chock-full of user-friendly features. You can take pictures in six resolutions (1,280x960, 1,152x864, 800x600, 640x480, 320x240, and 176x144) and choose from three quality settings. Other features include a night mode, brightness controls, multishot and mosaic shot modes, a self-timer, five color effects, 24 fun frames, and a digital zoom thats usable even at the highest photo resolution. There are also a fair number of shutter and camera function sounds, but you cant silence the shutter completely. We like the nice set of camera shortcuts, but theres no flash, and self-portraits are tricky without a mirror. The camcorder takes clips in two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96) with sound and a similar set of editing options. Clips meant for multimedia messages are capped at 1 minute, 30 seconds; otherwise you can shoot for as long as the phones available memory permits. Speaking of which, while the 80MB of integrated shared memory is impressive, the Micro SD card is a welcome improvement over the SGH-X820. Photo quality isnt the best and is much too blurry for a megapixel camera. The Trace has unimpressive photo quality. You can personalize the SGH-T519 Trace with a variety of wallpapers, colors, skins, background colors, and alert tones. If you want more options or more ring tones, you can download them through the Web browser. The phone also supports MP3 tones, and it comes with a generic digital music player (see the SGH-X820 review for the full rundown). Gaming options include three Java (J2ME) titles, Freekick, Midnight Pool, and Bobby Carrot, but you can always get more if you want them. We tested the Trace in San Francisco using T-Mobiles service. Call quality was good overall, with clear voices and little interference. Volume, however, was on the low side, and the phone took a few seconds too long to acquire a signal when we turned it on. Callers reported no significant problems but had more trouble hearing us when we were in noisy environments. Speakerphone and Bluetooth headset calls were serviceable, though sound was muffled at higher levels with the speakerphone. Also, be aware that the speaker is on the back of the phone. The SGH-T19 has a rated talk time of 6 hours and a promised standby time of 8 days. It has a tested talk time of 6 hours and 10 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests the Samsung SGH-T19 Trace has a digital SAR rating of 1.28 watts per kilogram. ),
(954,Motorola Razr V3i (violet), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., This Motorola Razr V3i offers an alternative color scheme to Cingulars gray V3i. Read our review for a full description. ),
(955,Motorola Razr V3i (dark blue), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., This Motorola Razr V3i offers an alternative color scheme to Cingulars gray V3i. Read our review for a full description. ),
(956,Motorola Razr V3i (maroon), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., This Motorola Razr V3i offers an alternative color scheme to Cingulars gray V3i. Read our review for a full description. ),
(957,Nokia 3250 (black),Positives: The Nokia 3250 has a stylish yet functional twisting design that rotates up to 270 degrees. We also liked its large display and external music controls. Features include a 2-megapixel camera, a video recorder, a music player, a Micro SD card slot, a speakerphone, and Bluetooth. Negatives: The Nokia 3250s navigation joystick isnt easily accessible when the phone is swiveled into camera mode, making it difficult to browse through the cameras options. The Micro SD card slot is located in a tiny inconvenient spot. Facts: Despite a few niggling design flaws, the 3250 is a great multimedia smart phone with a truly unique design. Note: This product is part of the Nokia 3250 series. ., With hot new skinny phones coming fast and furious, you would think that cell phone design is all about thinness and not much else. Well, thanks to the always-savvy design innovators at Nokia, were pleased that cell phones can still break the all-about-slim mold. The Nokia 3250 is one such phone, with a unique swiveling keypad thats the first of its kind--it twists up to 270 degrees in order to quickly switch from one function to another. The phone also comes in four different colors; black, green, pink, and silver. Its not supported by a U.S carrier just yet, so youll have to buy an unlocked version for about $339.99. The Nokia 3250 has a twist-action design. When viewed with the dial pad in front, the camera lens is on the left spine, while the external music controls are on the back. The twist-action design of the phone is made possible by having the phone split into two parts; the display half and the keypad half. Twisting the phone lets you switch between phone mode (with the dial pad in front), camera mode (the keypad portion in a 90-degree angle), and music mode (with external music controls in front), triggering the appropriate application at each turn. You can turn the camera 90 degrees away from you, or 90 degrees toward you for a self-portrait shot. Its a little gimmicky, but we liked that we didnt have to scroll through several menus in order to access these multimedia features. We do have one slight complaint about the 90-degree camera mode, however. The navigation joystick appears to be the only way to scroll through the different camera options, but with the keypad swung 90 degrees, access to the joystick was cramped. The phone itself is a tad bulky at 4.09 by 1.0 by 0.78 inches with a weight of 4.06 ounces, but it has a nice heft when held in the hand and against the ear. Another showstopper design element on the 3250 is its striking 262,144-color screen that measures 2.2 inches diagonally. Though the brightness and backlight timer of the display can be altered, you cant change the size of the fonts. Underneath the screen are a menu button, two soft keys, a Clear key, a five-way navigation joystick, the Talk and End keys, and an Edit key. The Play/Pause key also doubles as a Camera button when in camera mode. All of the keys have a slightly rubberized feel with a raised texture that makes it easy to dial and navigate by feel. The Nokia 3250 has external music controls. Thankfully, the 3250 does come with a Micro SD card slot, but it is a little difficult to access. You have to twist the keypad into camera mode (90 degrees), and it is located right underneath the Talk key. Its a little difficult to swap out cards at that tight angle, and we wished the slot were more conveniently located along the phones spine. On top of the phone is the power button, while its charging/connector port is located on its right spine. Youll have to attach an included adapter to use a pair of earbuds with the phone. The Nokia 3250 has a 2-megapixel camera on its side. Now on to the meat and potatoes of the 3250: its features. But before we delve into its multimedia functions, here are the basics. Each contact in the Nokia 3250s address book holds up to 17 numbers, three e-mail addresses, three URLs, three street addresses, a birth date, and a note and can be assigned to a group, or one of 41 polyphonic ring tones. Other basic features include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, a speakerphone, a clock, a calculator, a calendar, a unit converter, notes, voice command and dialing, a file manager, Bluetooth, and a wireless Web browser. Theres also a LifeBlog feature that lets you upload pictures on your phone directly to the Web. The Nokia 3250s Micro SD card slot is inconveniently wedged in a corner. The phone runs on Symbian 6.0 OS, and navigation may take some getting used to if youre not familiar with it. The default main display is known as Standby mode, and you can easily customize it with shortcuts to all your favorite applications and appointments for the day. Unlike other Symbian smart phones, the 3250 doesnt have a way to view and edit office documents. But thats OK, as the 3250 is more of a multimedia phone anyway. Speaking of which, the phone comes with a 2-megapixel camera that also acts as a video recorder. Camera options include image-quality settings (High, Normal, Basic), image resolution (640x480, 1,152x864, 1,600x1,200), night and sequence modes, a self-timer, white balance, and color tones. As for MPEG-4 video, you can record for a maximum length to make full use of available memory, or a short length for MMS. There are also two video-resolution settings (128x96 and 176x144), and you can choose to mute the sound or not. We were quite pleased with the quality of images, though video quality was a little choppy and didnt perform well in low light. The music player on the 3250 supports MP3, eAAC+, AAC+, M4A, MPEG-4 ACC LC, LTP, MP3, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MIDI, RealAudio, and WMA formats. You can transfer music from your PC via Nokias Audio Manager software, Windows Media Player, or third-party software. We found the music player interface very user-friendly, making it easy for us to switch from one track to the next in just a few clicks. There are also a few enhanced music features such as an equalizer, bass boost, and reverb, to improve how the music sounds. You can also make your own ring tones via a Tunes Studio, and listen to the radio. These enhanced features make this a step up from other music phones that simply play music.Along with music, you can download video clips to the phone for viewing on the go. A Streaming Links folder is available for you to save URLs to music or video you find on the Web. The phone has an internal memory of 10MB, but the phones Micro SD card slot ups the potential storage capacity to 1GB, which is good for such a multimedia-heavy handset. You can personalize the Nokia 3250 with a variety of wallpaper, themes, and alert tones, and if youre not satisfied with the phones selections, you can always download more. The phone supports J2ME applications and comes with a Snakes game preinstalled. We tested the triband (GSM 850/1800/1900; EDGE) Nokia 3250 in San Francisco on the Cingular network. Calls sounded loud and clear, and we were surprised by the quality of the speakerphone as well. Callers did note that we sounded a little faded and could tell we were on a cell phone with the occasional crackles. Audio quality of the speaker is great, as is the quality of the sound from the music player. We managed to pair the Nokia 3250 successfully with the Nokia BH-800 Bluetooth headset.The Nokia 3250 has a rated talk time of three hours and a rated standby time of 10 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the Nokia 3250 has a SAR rating of 0.44 watts per kilogram. ),
(958,Nokia 3250 (pink),Positives: The Nokia 3250 has a stylish yet functional twisting design that rotates up to 270 degrees. We also liked its large display and external music controls. Features include a 2-megapixel camera, a video recorder, a music player, a Micro SD card slot, a speakerphone, and Bluetooth. Negatives: The Nokia 3250s navigation joystick isnt easily accessible when the phone is swiveled into camera mode, making it difficult to browse through the cameras options. The Micro SD card slot is located in a tiny inconvenient spot. Facts: Despite a few niggling design flaws, the 3250 is a great multimedia smart phone with a truly unique design. Note: This product is part of the Nokia 3250 series. ., With hot new skinny phones coming fast and furious, you would think that cell phone design is all about thinness and not much else. Well, thanks to the always-savvy design innovators at Nokia, were pleased that cell phones can still break the all-about-slim mold. The Nokia 3250 is one such phone, with a unique swiveling keypad thats the first of its kind--it twists up to 270 degrees in order to quickly switch from one function to another. The phone also comes in four different colors; black, green, pink, and silver. Its not supported by a U.S carrier just yet, so youll have to buy an unlocked version for about $339.99. The Nokia 3250 has a twist-action design. When viewed with the dial pad in front, the camera lens is on the left spine, while the external music controls are on the back. The twist-action design of the phone is made possible by having the phone split into two parts; the display half and the keypad half. Twisting the phone lets you switch between phone mode (with the dial pad in front), camera mode (the keypad portion in a 90-degree angle), and music mode (with external music controls in front), triggering the appropriate application at each turn. You can turn the camera 90 degrees away from you, or 90 degrees toward you for a self-portrait shot. Its a little gimmicky, but we liked that we didnt have to scroll through several menus in order to access these multimedia features. We do have one slight complaint about the 90-degree camera mode, however. The navigation joystick appears to be the only way to scroll through the different camera options, but with the keypad swung 90 degrees, access to the joystick was cramped. The phone itself is a tad bulky at 4.09 by 1.0 by 0.78 inches with a weight of 4.06 ounces, but it has a nice heft when held in the hand and against the ear. Another showstopper design element on the 3250 is its striking 262,144-color screen that measures 2.2 inches diagonally. Though the brightness and backlight timer of the display can be altered, you cant change the size of the fonts. Underneath the screen are a menu button, two soft keys, a Clear key, a five-way navigation joystick, the Talk and End keys, and an Edit key. The Play/Pause key also doubles as a Camera button when in camera mode. All of the keys have a slightly rubberized feel with a raised texture that makes it easy to dial and navigate by feel. The Nokia 3250 has external music controls. Thankfully, the 3250 does come with a Micro SD card slot, but it is a little difficult to access. You have to twist the keypad into camera mode (90 degrees), and it is located right underneath the Talk key. Its a little difficult to swap out cards at that tight angle, and we wished the slot were more conveniently located along the phones spine. On top of the phone is the power button, while its charging/connector port is located on its right spine. Youll have to attach an included adapter to use a pair of earbuds with the phone. The Nokia 3250 has a 2-megapixel camera on its side. Now on to the meat and potatoes of the 3250: its features. But before we delve into its multimedia functions, here are the basics. Each contact in the Nokia 3250s address book holds up to 17 numbers, three e-mail addresses, three URLs, three street addresses, a birth date, and a note and can be assigned to a group, or one of 41 polyphonic ring tones. Other basic features include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, a speakerphone, a clock, a calculator, a calendar, a unit converter, notes, voice command and dialing, a file manager, Bluetooth, and a wireless Web browser. Theres also a LifeBlog feature that lets you upload pictures on your phone directly to the Web. The Nokia 3250s Micro SD card slot is inconveniently wedged in a corner. The phone runs on Symbian 6.0 OS, and navigation may take some getting used to if youre not familiar with it. The default main display is known as Standby mode, and you can easily customize it with shortcuts to all your favorite applications and appointments for the day. Unlike other Symbian smart phones, the 3250 doesnt have a way to view and edit office documents. But thats OK, as the 3250 is more of a multimedia phone anyway. Speaking of which, the phone comes with a 2-megapixel camera that also acts as a video recorder. Camera options include image-quality settings (High, Normal, Basic), image resolution (640x480, 1,152x864, 1,600x1,200), night and sequence modes, a self-timer, white balance, and color tones. As for MPEG-4 video, you can record for a maximum length to make full use of available memory, or a short length for MMS. There are also two video-resolution settings (128x96 and 176x144), and you can choose to mute the sound or not. We were quite pleased with the quality of images, though video quality was a little choppy and didnt perform well in low light. The music player on the 3250 supports MP3, eAAC+, AAC+, M4A, MPEG-4 ACC LC, LTP, MP3, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MIDI, RealAudio, and WMA formats. You can transfer music from your PC via Nokias Audio Manager software, Windows Media Player, or third-party software. We found the music player interface very user-friendly, making it easy for us to switch from one track to the next in just a few clicks. There are also a few enhanced music features such as an equalizer, bass boost, and reverb, to improve how the music sounds. You can also make your own ring tones via a Tunes Studio, and listen to the radio. These enhanced features make this a step up from other music phones that simply play music.Along with music, you can download video clips to the phone for viewing on the go. A Streaming Links folder is available for you to save URLs to music or video you find on the Web. The phone has an internal memory of 10MB, but the phones Micro SD card slot ups the potential storage capacity to 1GB, which is good for such a multimedia-heavy handset. You can personalize the Nokia 3250 with a variety of wallpaper, themes, and alert tones, and if youre not satisfied with the phones selections, you can always download more. The phone supports J2ME applications and comes with a Snakes game preinstalled. We tested the triband (GSM 850/1800/1900; EDGE) Nokia 3250 in San Francisco on the Cingular network. Calls sounded loud and clear, and we were surprised by the quality of the speakerphone as well. Callers did note that we sounded a little faded and could tell we were on a cell phone with the occasional crackles. Audio quality of the speaker is great, as is the quality of the sound from the music player. We managed to pair the Nokia 3250 successfully with the Nokia BH-800 Bluetooth headset.The Nokia 3250 has a rated talk time of three hours and a rated standby time of 10 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the Nokia 3250 has a SAR rating of 0.44 watts per kilogram. ),
(959,Motorola Razr V3i,Positives: The Motorola Razr V3i is an attractive slim cell phone with an admirable list of features. Negatives: The Motorola Razr V3is iTunes player has too many restrictions, and the phones call quality and music player performance could be improved. Also, we were hoping for EDGE compatibility. Facts: Though were still not won over by the iTunes/Motorola marriage and its call quality isnt the best, the Motorola Razr V3i offers music lovers a decent mix of design and features. Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., As the company that gave the world the slim cell phone, Motorola has been milking its Razr line for all its worth. Besides coming in a multitude of colors, the Razr now has two CDMA versions: the Razr V3m and the Razr V3c; theres also a 3G GSM handset in the Razr V3x, and now a series of new models based on the Razr form factor. Yet even with such success, were a bit perplexed by the Razr V3i. After the short life of the ill-received Rokr E1, we were wondering if Motorola would continue the Apple relationship. But Moto charged ahead with the Slvr L7 and now the V3i. While the iTunes Razr offers a huge improvement over the Rokrs boring design, it doesnt come without drawbacks. Besides patchy call quality, sluggish music player performance, and a sky-high $249 price tag with a two-year service plan, the V3i still has the annoying iTunes restrictions that turned us off to its predecessors. Whats more, the form factor is getting to look a bit old. Despite these complaints, however, the combination of the worlds most popular cell phone design with the worlds most popular music downloading service will be music to many ears.Though its descended directly from the original Razr, Cingulars Razr V3, the Razr V3i is more similar in appearance to the Razr V3m for Verizon. Like the V3m, the V3i is slightly bigger than the V3 at 2.1 by 3.9 by 0.54 inches, and it weighs a tad more at 3.5 ounces. It also shares the V3ms dark gray coloring, which is more appealing than the V3s standard silver hue (the V3i also comes in dark blue, maroon, and violet). Features on the front flap are standard for much of the Razr line. Theres a one-inch (96x80 pixels) external display supporting 65,000 colors, and a tiny camera lens at the top of the hinge. Theres still no camera flash, but the external display acts as a self-portrait viewfinder. The external controls are the same as well, with the voice commands button on the right spine and the volume rocker and smart key/camera shutter on the left spine. Like with the V3m, Motorola was able to cram a Micro SD card slot into the V3i. We appreciate such an addition on a slim phone even if it means you have to remove the battery cover (but not the battery) to access it. We like the memory card slot, but you must remove the battery cover to use it. Fortunately, the V3i shows 262,000 colors on its 2.25-inch (176x220 pixels) main display. While the V3 supported the same number of hues, both the V3c and V3m reverted to 65,000 colors, a change we still don't understand. The color upgrade is welcome and graphics appear relatively sharp. Were not the biggest fans of the Motorola interface, but it looks better here than on many of the companys phones. In standard Razr fashion, the navigation controls and backlit keypad buttons are completely flat with the surface of the handset, but raised ridges between the individual rows make them more tactile than on the original V3. A five-way navigation toggle doubles as a shortcut to user-defined functions. There are also two soft keys, a dedicated menu button, shortcut controls for the camera and iTunes player, and the talk and end/power keys. And as is the case with other thin phones, the flat controls take some getting used to.The 1,000-name phone book holds six phone numbers and an e-mail address in each entry; an additional 250 fit on the SIM card. You also get photo caller ID and a choice of 12 polyphonic ring tones (we were hoping for more). Basic features include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a calculator, a datebook, voice commands and dialing, a speakerphone, an alarm clock, and instant messaging. Higher-end offerings run the gamut from POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail support to full Bluetooth.The iTunes experience on the V3i is unchanged from the Rokr and Slvr and will be familiar to iPod devotees. The interface isnt particularly flashy but its functional and user-friendly. Opening the player takes you straight to the music library, where you can organize songs by playlist, artist, album, and name. When playing music, the phone goes into standby mode while displaying onscreen soft controls and album art. Settings include shuffling of songs or albums, but its disappointing the V3i doesnt offer an equalizer. Transferring between the cell phone and the music player is seamless, as music stops automatically when you receive a call. Hang up and press the dedicated iTunes key, and your song picks up again from the point you left off. Theres also an airplane mode that lets you listen to your tunes in flight with the cell phone turned off.As previously mentioned, the V3i retains the irritating iTunes restrictions found on its predecessors. You can download songs only through the included USB cable, and the V3i connects with only one computer at a time. Theres no way to transfer iTunes music wirelessly, you cant listen to music through a Bluetooth headset, and you cant use iTunes tracks as ring tones. The strict 100-song storage limit hasnt changed either, and all songs must be saved on a Micro SD slot. The phone accepts cards up to 1GB in size, which is a good thing since the V3i comes with only 5MB of integrated memory. The V3is camera doesnt come with a flash. The 1.2-megapixel camera takes pictures in four resolutions (1,224x768, 640x480, 320x240, and 160x120), but other options are limited to an 8X zoom, six color effects, five exposure settings, and a self-timer. We were hoping for a bit more from a megapixel camera, especially since you get five shutter sound choices besides a silent mode. The camcorder shoots MPEG-4 clips in two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96) with sound and a 4X zoom. Clips meant for multimedia messages are capped at a few seconds; otherwise you can shoot as long as the available memory permits. Photo quality was about what we expected for a megapixel shooter. Colors and objects were distinct, but brighter hues were a little washed out. Picture quality is decent on the V3i. You can personalize the Razr V3i with a variety of wallpapers, screensavers, and color themes, along with the option to download more via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. You can get more ring tones, too, as the V3i has a separate, generic Motorola-designed MP3 player that supports MP3 files. You can use stored tracks as ring tones, but since this second player isnt connected to the iTunes player in any way, you cant transfer files back and forth. You can store tracks on the Micro SD card or on the phone itself. As for games, demo versions of BlockBreaker Deluxe, Asphalt Urban GT, and Tetris are included, and but youll have to buy the full versions. And as always, other Java (J2ME) titles are available for purchase.We tested the quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS) Razr V3i world phone in San Francisco using Cingulars service. Call quality was acceptable but we noticed voices sounded a little fuzzy at times. Also, though we had no interference from other electronic devices, some static crept in on a few occasions. And as with previous Razrs, the volume was a bit low. On their end, callers said we sounded fine and they didnt report significant problems. Whats more, they said they could hear us clearly, and we had no problems being understood by a voice response system when calling on a busy street. Speakerphone calls were a bit muffled but nothing too bothersome. We were able to connect to the Plantronics Explorer 320 Bluetooth headset, and though volume was a bit low, voices were clear. And though GPRS support is great, a phone like this really deserves EDGE compatibility.As a music player, the Razr V3i is imperfect, though its use of iTunes at least makes the experience user-friendly. When we connected the phone to our computer, iTunes immediately recognized it and displayed a screen that lets you adjust the settings and add content; an Autofill button gives you the option of letting iTunes randomly fill up the phone. We added about 400MB of music, and it took at least 20 minutes to transfer it all; thats very slow for USB 2.0. Once we had tracks on the V3i, navigating around the onboard iTunes interface was also slow going, and songs sometimes took several seconds to start up when we manually skipped or selected tracks. Also, although you can adjust the volume and pause music while the phone is closed, theres no way to skip tracks unless its open. On the plus side, tunes sounded rich and clear through the included headphones (and Motorola even supplies an adapter for standard headphones), and the built-in speaker offers a simple way to share music on the go. All in all, the V3is music-playing capability is a nice extra, but its no substitute for a stand-alone MP3 player.The Motorola Razr V3i has a rated talk time of six hours and a promised standby time of 12 days. The Razr V3i went beyond 8 hours of talk time in our tests, for a surprising result of 8 hours and 20 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests the V3i has a digital SAR rating of watts per kilogram. ),
(960,Nokia 6215i,Positives: The Nokia 6215i is a cute and compact flip phone with a VGA camera, a speakerphone, voice dialing, and a wireless Web browser. Its OLED display is also quite pleasing to the eye. Negatives: The Nokia 6215i has a keypad thats a little too flush to the surface, and the internal display is rather small. The pictures taken were disappointingly blurry and grainy. Facts: The Nokia 6215i is a sleek entry-level VGA camera phone for those that want an attractive and slender package without a lot of frills.