Multimedia Phone Reviews

Pantech Matrix Review - Digital Trends

2008-11-19T15:04:11Z

Digital Trends have published a review of the Pantech Matrix smartphone. 'One of the first things we noticed about the Matrix after firing it up was its subpar display quality. Pantech must have scored a great deal on these screens from a surplus shipment left over from 2002, because that’s exactly what they look like. The lack of color range produced choppy gradients, the low resolution made text look choppy and graphics look pixilated, and there was a subtle “screen door effect,” in which the tiny grid between pixels is visible. Superior brightness helps mask some of these flaws, but in general, it’s not a pretty or refined-look display.'

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Read: Pantech Matrix - Digital Trends

Review: RIM Blackberry Pearl Flip 8220 - PC World

2008-11-18T12:25:07Z

PC World have published their review of the RIM Blackberry Pearl Flip 8220 handset. 'Available from T-Mobile for $200 with a two-year contract, the Flip is a tad thick (0.7 inch) for a clamshell, but otherwise it's in the ballpark in height (3.9 inches), width (2 inches), and weight (3.6 ounces). It makes a great first impression thanks to its external 1-by-1.25-inch, 128-by-160-pixel color display, which sits under the smooth, glassy black surface on the top half (the case's underside has a matte surface). The display, when active, shows information ranging from caller ID data on incoming calls (including an image if one is attached to the number in your phone book) to new message alerts to a clock (the type with hands, as opposed to numbers) showing the current time.'

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Read: RIM Blackberry Pearl Flip 8220 - PC World

HTC Touch HD Review - Register Hardware

2008-11-17T18:33:11Z

The Register Hardware have published a review of the HTC Touch HD Windows Mobile smartphone. 'At the bottom of the phone is a single USB 2.0 port, and on top is the large start/stop button and a 3.5mm socket for headphones. The rubber-plastic back would be more effective in preventing it slipping around when placed on a table except that the phone actually rests on the protruding glossy plastic boss at one end and the metallic surround of the camera lens at the other. Below the screen are four buttons that are touch-sensitive and flush with the face. They're for call start and end, home and back. Each pulses gently with haptic feedback when you press them.'

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Read: HTC Touch HD Windows Mobile smartphone - Register Hardware

Sony Ericsson W850i Review - Dev Hardware

2008-11-16T14:10:44Z

A review of the Sony Ericsson W850i slider handset has been posted over at DevHardware.com. 'The Sony Ericsson W850i is available in two colors: Precious Black and Golden White. You could see the images of both on the first page of this review. The particular phone that I am reviewing now is the latter—Golden White—edition. That’s why the sales package is also distinctively white, sporting the Sony Ericsson emblem. The first impressions of the phone’s quality can be felt right as you take it in your hands. The main danger of slider phones is that the “sliding mechanism” loosens sooner or later and may even bring the entire phone close to its death. With the W850i, things are different. You can feel that its design is robust, solid, and heavy-duty. Despite this being Sony Ericsson’s first attempt at creating a slider, it also feels quite responsive.'

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Read: Sony Ericsson W850i Review - DevHardware.com

Nokia launches Eseries messaging device with mass market appeal

2008-11-14T14:26:41Z

Press Release

Nokia E63 joins the successful Nokia E71 to form a compelling QWERTY messaging device range

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced the latest addition to its Eseries range, the Nokia E63, designed for people who need to manage their business and personal lives equally well. Building on the success of the Nokia E71, the company's flagship messaging device, the Nokia E63 brings the QWERTY keyboard form factor to a broader audience at a great price. The Nokia E63 is expected to begin shipping in the coming weeks for an estimated retail price of EUR 199, before taxes and subsidies.]]> "Our research shows that people want a device that deals with both their personal and professional lives, but helps them to separate the two. When someone sits down at lunch, they want to update their social network or browse their personal email account and they don't want work getting in the way of that. It's another great case of technology adapting to the people that use it," says Soren Petersen, Senior Vice President, Nokia. "The Nokia E63 is a new proposition for Eseries - a messaging device where people will be just as involved in their social network as they are in their business network."

Whilst appealing to a new group of consumers with a design that feels great in the hand and has two new colors, the Nokia E63 is still very much a member of the Eseries family. Petersen continues, "People use Eseries to access their corporate mail, review their calendar and work in their business network, so the Nokia E63 still includes Wi-Fi connectivity, easy access to Mail for Exchange and dedicated key access to contacts, calendar and email."

The Nokia E63 also has the ability to switch modes with a single key press, switching from a view of corporate mail, appointments and intranet data, to a personal mode with a picture of friends, personal email and shortcuts to favorite hobby blogs or websites. Petersen adds, "The amazing response we have seen to the Nokia E71, which has very quickly become the best selling model in its category, let us know that we are heading in the right direction. People want a rich experience when using messaging, social networks and the Internet. With the Nokia E63 you can enjoy the web, update your status and work meaningfully with multiple email accounts."

The Nokia E63 also includes Files on Ovi, a service where people can get remote access to their PC files even when their computer is offline. Anyone buying the handset will have access to 1GB of online file storage for free.

The Nokia E63 will be available in ruby red or ultramarine blue with a range of multimedia features. Record and view images and videos with the digital camera and bright landscape display, listen to music downloaded from the Nokia Music Store, or a number of other sources, via the standard 3,5 mm audio jack or customize the device through the thousands of applications available for download.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

Press materials and photos can be found at www.nokia.com/press

Sony Ericsson C902 - IT Reviews

2008-11-13T07:59:55Z

IT Reviews have published a review of the Sony Ericsson C902 camera phone. 'This is a Quad-band 3G handset with HSDPA and a front-facing camera for two-way video calling. The general design is well thought out and the phone feels good in the hand. The 2-inch screen is up to Sony Ericsson's high standards, though it does seem a bit small in relation to the handset itself. The reason for this is that two bars down the left and right hand side of the screen offer touch sensitive icons when the 5-megapixel main camera is in use. Backlit a subtle deep blue, they offer access to a range of features that you might want to get at quickly.'

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Read: Sony Ericsson - C902 review - IT Reviews

Samsung Propel Review - CNET

2008-11-12T12:45:24Z

CNET have published a review of the Samsung Propel (AT&T) multimediaphone. 'The Propel has a similar design to that of the Verizon Wireless Blitz. They both have a somewhat square shape, and both slide up to reveal a QWERTY keyboard. The similarities end there, however. Measuring 3.85 inches long by 2.33 inches wide by 0.58 inch thick, the Propel is much thinner than the Blitz, with a flatter front design. Though it is slightly bowed on the left and right side, the Propel is also much less curvy than its competitor. So while the Blitz appears cute and cuddly, the Propel is more lean and mean. On the front of the Propel is a nice 2.2-inch display with support for only 65,000 colors, which is quite a disappointment by our standards. The screen looks decent enough, but colors looked muted and dull. The menu interface is typical Samsung and is easy to use. You can adjust the backlight time, the dialing font (type, size, color, and background color), brightness, and the menu style.'

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Read: Samsung Propel - green (AT&T) - CNET

Nokia 7310 Supernova Review - Register Hardware

2008-11-11T14:25:19Z

The Register Hardware have published a review of the Nokia 7310 Supernova handset. 'The 7310's slim-ish candybar casing measures 106.5 x 45.4 x 11.95mm, and is pocketable and comfortable in your hand. Its light 83g bodyweight is evident in the feel of the bodywork, though the Xpress-On covers actually look decent enough - for bright pink and green, that is - with a bit of patterned detailing added to the finishes. They’re no hassle to swap, either. The low-budget chrome finish on the numberpad is cheap-looking, however. Still, the buttons are reasonably responsive for texting, and the navpad and soft-menu keys are perfectly serviceable. At rest, the display hides behind a large slab of mirrored screen, which is quite striking out of the box – and handy for checking make-up.' ]]>

Read: Nokia 7310 Supernova candybar phone - Register Hardware

Sony Ericsson takes mobile music into 2009 with the W705 Walkman™ phone and Wireless Home Audio System MBS-900

2008-11-10T08:06:43Z

Press Release

Building on an array of innovative launches in 2008, Sony Ericsson announces two new products into its mobile music range looking beyond music into 2009 to offer the most state-of-the art mobile music experience.

Liverpool, UK – Introducing advanced wireless connectivity combined with Sony Ericsson’s best-in-class audio experience, the W705 Walkman™ phone and Wireless Home Audio System MBS-900 were unveiled today in conjunction with the MTV Europe Music Awards where Sony Ericsson is one of the main sponsors. The latest products underpin Sony Ericsson’s commitment to provide consumers with an enhanced mobile entertainment experience however they choose to consume media.

]]> Using Wi-Fi™ to connect to broadband hot spots, consumers can use their W705 to go online for the best songs or most popular YouTube™ video clips or stream tunes wirelessly to the stylish MBS-900 speaker via Bluetooth™. With Clear Bass, Clear Stereo and premium headphones, the W705 delivers a sound that has crystal clear clarity and is dynamic, rich and natural.

“We’re really proud of what we have achieved in 2008 with our market leading mobile music range, said Ben Padley, Head of Global Music Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “Combining premium design and best-in-class sound quality with super-fast access to a host of digital content whether it be from PlayNow ™ arena or via the web, we really are offering the most feature-rich mobile music experience available today.”

The W705 features the same superior sound quality as the W980 Walkman™ phone which was rated “best audio experience” in a trial conducted in Germany by TESTfactory*. The W705 includes popular Walkman™ features such as the music recognition application TrackID™, SensMe™, for matching your mood to the music and Shake control to change tracks with the flick of your hand.

Also available on the W705 is PlayNow™ arena which provides a full range of mobile entertainment - unique themes and wallpapers, ring tones, a wealth of free content and of course DRM-free music tracks and TrackID charts from around the world.

The W705 is much more than a music phone. Its exclusive metal finish combines with a large screen in an elegant and compact slider for a professional feel. Use the 3.2 megapixel camera to snap photos of friends and upload them using Wi-Fi to your social networking site for all to see. Can’t see a site properly? Auto rotate between vertical and horizontal mode to view the internet in all its glory.

The new W705
• Award-winning clear audio experience – listen to music as it was meant to be heard
• Desktop direct search to online music – Go online for the best songs and most popular videos on YouTube™
• Wi-Fi™ and DLNA certified™ – connect the way you want
• PlayNow™ arena - a complete range of mobile entertainment
• Shake control – switch tracks and control the volume with the flick of a wrist
• SensMe™ - create playlists based on mood rather than artists or genres
• Large 2.4” screen – view websites and emails with high clarity
• Automatic rotation – switch from portrait to landscape with just a tilt of the phone
• Google Maps™ for Mobile – never get lost again
• 3.2 megapixel camera – snap and share your favourite images via Bluetooth™
• FM radio with TrackID™ - listen to the radio while on the move
• 4GB memory card – store up to 3900 songs**

About Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson is a top global industry player with sales of over 100 million phones in 2007. Diversity is one of the core strengths of the company, with operations in over 80 countries including manufacturing in China and R&D sites in China, Europe, India, Japan and North America. Sony Ericsson was established as a 50:50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in October 2001, with global corporate functions located in London. Website: www.sonyericsson.com

Motorola MotoZINE ZN5 - PC Mag

2008-11-09T12:46:27Z

PC Magazine have published a review of the Motorola MotoZINE ZN5 camera phone. 'Developed by Motorola and Kodak to be an excellent still-picture camera phone and a terrific voice phone at the same time, T-Mobile's Motorola MotoZINE ZN5 succeeds admirably at its two primary goals. The first 5-megapixel camera phone offered by a U.S. carrier (so it's subsidized), it rings up at an unbeatable price of $99 with a $100 mail-in rebate. To get there, Motorola sacrificed some other features, most notably 3G high-speed Internet and decent video recording. But if you just want to make calls, send text messages, and snap better-than-typical camera phone pics, the ZN5 is the way to go.'

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Read: Motorola MotoZINE ZN5 - PC Mag

Samsung Rant Review - Laptop Mag

2008-11-07T22:41:43Z

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Samsung Rant (Sprint) handset. 'Designed for constant communicators and serial texters, the Rant and the Rumor are around the same size and weight (Rant: 4.5 x 2.1 x 0.7 inches, 4.6 ounces; Rumor: 4.3 x 2.0 x 0.7 inches, 4.1 ounces), and both have a 2-inch, 220 x 176-pixel screen. The screens on both reorient themselves when rotated, and two soft keys appear under the repositioned on-screen menu options. The Rant’s keypad is about an inch wider and therefore roomier than the Rumor’s. Samsung put the extra real estate to good use with wide keys and spacing to minimize mistakes. While the keys are not as rounded or responsive as on a T-Mobile Sidekick, thumb-tapping is easier than on the Rant, which lacks raised edges on the sides.']]>

Read: Samsung Rant (Sprint) - Laptop Mag

Samsung SGH-i200 Review - Trusted Reviews

2008-11-07T13:54:55Z

A review of the Samsung SGH-i200 smartphone has been posted over at Trusted Reviews. 'The front of the handset is naturally dominated by its 2.3in screen. This has a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and is not only bright, but also produces rich and vivid colours. However, it's framed by quite a large blank border area which means that Samsung could have been a bit more generous with the screen size. Nevertheless, the display does have a neat extra feature: a built-in light sensor means that the screen is automatically dimmed in lower light conditions to help eek out a bit more life from the battery.'

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Read: Samsung SGH-i200 Smartphone - Trusted Reviews

RIM BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 - MobileBurn

2008-11-06T00:21:35Z

A review of the RIM BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 handset has been posted over at MobileBurn.com. 'The RIM BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 for T-Mobile is rated for 4 hours of talk time or up to 14 days of standby time. While the standby time seems optimistic, at least when used with T-Mobile's UMA(INFO) based WiFi VoIP service, the talk time seems pretty much on the money. Reception from the built-in antenna is about average, but the call audio is pretty good overall on regular calls. The speakerphone performed decently, but was nothing to write home about. The Pearl Flip 8220 lacks any 3G support at all, but works on all 4 of the major GSM/EDGE network bands used throughout the world. And thanks to that UMA support, the phone can be used on any available WiFi network for clear VoIP calls without worrying about any possible GSM reception issues.'

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Read: Review of RIM's BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 - MobileBurn.com

HTC Touch HD Review - Pocket-Lint

2008-11-05T16:11:43Z

Pocket-Lint have published a review of the HTC Touch HD Windows Mobile smartphone. 'Measuring 115 x 62.8 x 12mm and weighing 146.4 grams this isn't a tiny phone that you can sneakily hide in your pocket. To give you an idea against other handsets the casing is about the same as the iPhone (the HD's screen is bigger though) and compared to something like the BlackBerry Curve it’s about the same thickness and width just a little talle. However where the iPhone features just the one button, or the Curve about 27, the Touch HD sports four on the front. Ditching the d-pad you get pick up and hang up buttons, a home key and back button. Everything else is expected to be done via that large screen, and why not? It's massive after all.']]>

Read: HTC Touch HD mobile phone - Pocket-Lint

Sprint HTC Touch Diamond - HotHardWare

2008-11-04T14:00:56Z

HotHardWare have published their review of the HTC Touch Diamond (Sprint) smartphone. 'The Touch Diamond is an attractive looking phone. It has a high-gloss black finish on the front and soft touch maroon finish on the back. While attractive, the high-gloss black finish on the front tends to collect fingerprints. As a result, you’ll likely find yourself cleaning the display often, though we didn’t notice performance degradation in terms of response even when the screen was dirty. Compared to the original HTC Touch, the Touch Diamond is noticeably narrower but has the same height and thickness as the Touch. On the left side of the Touch Diamond, you’ll find a volume rocker that is flush with the side of the device. The right side of the Touch Diamond is clean, save for the stylus in the bottom corner. This stylus is magnetic, so you don’t have to worry about it falling out like you would with other phones.'

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Read: Sprint HTC Touch Diamond Review - HotHardWare.com