Sony Ericsson G502 Review

The newest member of the Sony Ericsson G-lineup was only announced a few weeks ago with a stark commitment to deliver great internet experience. Compact and stylish, this bar has the looks and our preview has already lifted a corner of the curtain on performance. Join us as we start our answer-to-all-your-questions Sony Ericsson G502 review.
Key features

.2" 262K-color TFT LCD display of QVGA resolution
.GPRS, EDGE and 3G connectivity with HSDPA
.Great web browser
.Great battery life
.Compact size
.M2 memory card slot
.2 megapixel camera
.Media center
.Comfortable keypad
.FM radio with RDS
.Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP support
.USB connectivity

Main disadvantages

.Camera produces mediocre pictures
.Poor display legibility under direct sunlight
.No video-call camera
.No document reader
.D-pad might be uncomfortable at first

The market, at which Sony Ericsson G502 is aiming, is not really overcrowded. There are only a handful of budget handsets to feature HSDPA and at least decent browser capabilities. The strongest challenger is probably the Sony Ericsson K660 but it will probably be a bit more expensive due to the few extra features it offers. Whether the dedicated browser keys are worth the extra cash is debatable but, as these are internet-centered devices, they might just make a difference.
Motorola RAZR maxx V6 is also a reasonably priced HSDPA-enabled handset that comes with the Opera web browser. This might just be enough for some people to choose it over the G502. The form factor could also be decisive here as the maxx V6 is a flip.

The slider Samsung F330 may appeal to the music-lovers, as it features some dedicated music keys to compliment the HSDPA. Some people might prefer the sliding design to the Sony Ericsson G502 bar. We for one do happen to like the G502 browser and general interface more.

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Sony Ericsson W910 review

The thin and elegant slider does look the part, while HSDPA (3.6 Mbps) and Walkman 3.0 are the right features to expect in a high-end device. At first glance, the W910 brings a few brand new software and hardware solutions to the scene. Stay with us as we go beyond the disarming looks and try to determine whether Sony Ericsson W910 has what it takes to win the hearts of the customers.

Key features

. HSDPA (3.6 Mbps), EDGE, Bluetooth (with A2DP)
. SensMe™ and Shake control features
. Slim sliding construction
. Media Center, Walkman 3.0
. Dedicated Call and End keys
. Fast photo browser
. Ample 2.4" display
. Powerful loudspeaker
. FM radio with RDS
. 1GB or 2GB M2 card included, M2 USB card reader

Main disadvantages

. Comes at an overpriced price tag
. Wobbly slider
. 2 MP camera with neither autofocus, nor flash
. Only 40 MB internal memory
. Video recording in QVGA resolution at 15fps
. Irrelevant gaming/photo keys
. No skins for the Walkman player

Sony Ericsson W910 comes in a nice compact black-and-orange box with all the necessary gear to get you started - charger, USB data cable, stereo headset, 1GB Memory Stick Micro (M2) (in our case, you may get yours with 2GB card), plus the usual papers and installation CDs. A tiny piece of hardware will make your face broaden into a grin. For the first time, a compact Sony Ericsson USB 2.0 M2 card reader with a status LED and a strap is included in the retail box. We ran a quick test on it comparing performance to a regular card reader on USB 2.0. The standard reader transferred 113 tracks totaling 492 MB in 4:30 min, while the Sony Ericsson USB 2.0 M2 card reader executed the task in almost the same time - 4:20 min. So, you get the same transfer rate and the compact dimensions are an added gain.

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HTC Touch Cruise review

HTC Touch Cruise is surely one of the most interesting Windows Mobile Pro devices to hit the shelves recently. It features the new version of HTC's TouchFLO interface and one of the heaviest feature sets in the PocketPC class. It is very close in terms of specifications to the omnipresent HTC TyTN II, except for the hardware QWERTY keyboard. However the Cruise is incomparably lighter and thinner and - as we see it - much better looking. Not that looks are the first thing about a PocketPC.

Key features

. Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
. 3G with HSDPA
. 400MHz Qualcomm processor
. 128MB of RAM
. 2.8" 65K color touchscreen TFT display with QVGA resolution
. Integrated Qualcomm GPS receiver
. TomTom satnav software pre-bundled, one free map included
. Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
. 3 megapixel camera with autofocus
. Sleek design
. Enhanced HTC TouchFLO interface
. Jog-wheel D-pad
. Great picture gallery
. Retail package is rich in content
. Good battery life


Main disadvantages

. No hardware keypad
. Inadequate video playback capabilities
. Paint starts to peel off very quickly
. Display image quality is a bit disappointing and is practically
. illegible under direct sunlight
. Photo processing issues

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Nokia 8800 Arte review

Stainless steel and OLED screen: there's no way a handset with that kind of features will ever blend in with the crowd of handsets. Add the hefty price tag and you got the high-end biting the dust too, just like that. But then, there's always someone like us to ruin the pleasure. Poking and prying, finding out if it's worth your dime. Wait a minute, did we say dime?! Sorry, we got carried away. Can't help it with the Nokia 8800 Arte.

Key features

* Looks
* Body made of the highest-quality materials
* 2" 16M color OLED display with QVGA resolution
* 3G
* 3 megapixel camera with autofocus
* Full-house retail package
* Decent battery life
* Fingerprint resistant surface on the back
* Turn-to-mute
* Magic clock
* Large internal memory
* Series 40 5th edition user interface

Main disadvantages

* Poor legibility under direct sunlight
* Tri-band only
* No memory expansion
* Smallish display
* Expensive, believe it or not


Nokia has long stuck a pole into the ground of premium lifestyle. Ever since the original Nokia 8800 saw the light of day, the Finnish-based company has been the first choice for phones made of exclusive, highest quality materials. Exquisite and beautifully crafted, the 88xx series handsets will get away with anything, be it their underperformance or exorbitant price.

Nokia 8800 Arte will face the greatest amount of competition inside its own pack, with every other 88xx-series handset a potential rival. Looks will be the weapons of choice, although the Arte duo has an ace up their sleeve in terms of functionality too.


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Samsung SGH-G800: Review

For more than a couple months, an eternity in the gadget world, the Nokia N95 enjoyed the distinction of being one of the only 5-megapixel camera phones on the market, at least outside of Korea. However, considering that change is the only constant with cell phones, it wasn't surprising when Samsung released a high-resolution camera handset. Besides its powerful shooter, the Samsung SGH-G800 has a lot in common with its Nokia rival. Inside a relatively boxy design is a media-centric feature set that includes: a music and video player, an FM radio, stereo Bluetooth, expandable memory and support for 3.5G HSDPA networks. On the whole it lived up to our expectations. However, the disappointing Web browser, dim camera flash, and lack of Wi-Fi ultimately put it behind the N95. The GSM SGH-G800 isn't available with a U.S carrier, but you can buy it unlocked in the United States and Canada from third-party retailers like Dynamism.com

Design

It would be difficult to squash a 5-megapixel camera into a svelte design, so we don't mind that the SGH-G800 is on the hefty side. At 3.97 inches by 2 inches by 0.74 inch, it rivals a standalone camera in size, but it's still small enough to slip into a pocket. Even though it weighs in at 4.9 ounces, it has a comfortable feeling in the hand. On the whole, it has a sturdier feel than the N95, but we noticed the slider mechanism felt a tad loose. It could just be our review model, but it didn't exactly click into place. The silver finish is attractive, but the phone is rather boxy.

The 2.4-inch display supports 262,000 colors (240x320 pixels). It's vibrant, and displays graphics and photos well. You can change the backlighting time, the brightness, and the dialing font type, size, and color. The simple and intuitive menu interface (available in two styles) is classic Samsung; we continue to love the nifty pop-up menus.

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iphone: Review

From the moment Apple announced its iPhone at Macworld 2007, the tech world hasn't stopped asking questions. Because Apple has kept many iPhone details under wraps until very recently, we've been forced to speculate. Until now. Is the iPhone pretty? Absolutely. Is it easy to use? Certainly. Does it live up to the stratospheric hype? Not so much. Don't get us wrong, the iPhone is a lovely device with a sleek interface, top-notch music and video features, and innovative design touches. The touch screen is easier to use than we expected, and the multimedia performs well. But a host of missing features, a dependency on a sluggish EDGE network, and variable call quality--it is a phone after all--left us wanting more. For those reasons, the iPhone is noteworthy not for what it does, but how it does it. If you want an iPhone badly, you probably already have one. But if you're on the fence, we suggest waiting for the second-generation handset. Even with the new $399 price for the 8GB model (down from an original price of $599) and $499 for the 16GB model, it's still a lot to ask for a phone that lacks so many features and locks you into an iPhone-specific two-year contract with AT&T.
Design
On with the review: the iPhone boasts a brilliant display, trim profile, and clean lines (no external antenna of course), and its lack of buttons puts it in a design class that even the LG Prada and the HTC Touch can't match. You'll win envious looks on the street toting the iPhone, and we're sure that would be true even if the phone hadn't received as much media attention as it has. We knew that it measures 4.5 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide by 0.46 inch deep, but it still felt smaller than we expected when we finally held it. In comparison, it's about as tall and as wide as a Palm Treo 755p, but it manages to be thinner than even the trend-setting Motorola Razr. It fits comfortably in the hand and when held to the ear, and its 4.8 ounces give it a solid, if perhaps weighty, feel. We also like that the display is glass rather than plastic.

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Nokia 6555 3G-enabled handset:Review

The two quality displays and great keypad provide for comfortable handling, while 3G support adds to the excitement with this elegantly tall and sleek clamshell.

Key features
. Stylish slender clamshell
. High-quality 2-inch QVGA 16M color TFT display
. Comfortable keyboard
. UMTS and EDGE support
. microSD memory card support up to 4 GB
. Good music player
. Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP profile
. microUSB connector and 2.5mm jack
Main disadvantages
. Shiny surfaces suffer fingertips
. Loose hinge and the "cracking" back cover
. Only 1.3 megapixel camera with rather basic interface
. Memory card slot under the battery
. No FM radio
. No video calls support
. microUSB port is still not widely popular
. No headphones and memory card in the retail package

Nokia 6555 is a midrange 3G-enabled handset, joining the clamshell ranks of the Finnish company. The form factor inevitably brings back memories of the likeable push-to-open Nokia 6131. Nokia 6555 lacks the auto-open functionality but the 3G support is one of the strong points of this stylish clamshell.

Slender black

The first thing about Nokia 6555 to sure make an impression is its elongated silhouette. Compared to 6131, Nokia 6555 is 8 mm taller and 4 mm narrower, keeping the same thickness. The actual dimensions are 99.6 x 44.3 x 19.6 mm, at a weight of 97 g. We are testing the black variety, but Nokia 6555 is also available in sliver, red and beige. The colors only vary on both the front and rear framing; the middle glossy sections on the face and the back of the handset are always black. Enclosed in handsome chrome-colored accents, they do contribute to the stylish looks and feel of the device, but are critically prone to fingerprints.

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Sony Ericsson S500i :Review

Sony Ericsson is known for its elegant and beautifully designed phones, and the S500i is no exception. Its sleek and sexy slider design sports a unique aesthetic that makes it look like it belongs in a high-end boutique rather than a cell phone store. And even though it's not a Walkman-branded phone, it comes with an onboard music player, as well as stereo Bluetooth, a 2.0-megapixel camera, a wireless Web browser, e-mail, and more. The S500i is available in Mysterious Green, Spring Yellow, Ice Purple, and Contrasted Copper. Since the S500i isn't offered via U.S. carrier, you'll have to purchase it unlocked at a rather steep price of $359.

Design
As we mentioned, the S500i is a very stylish and eye-catching handset. It has a classy and sophisticated appearance, and there are even glowing LEDs along the sides whenever it's activated, making it appear extra sparkly. Not only is the S500i sleek, it's also compact, measuring only 3.9 inches by 1.8 inches by 0.5 inch and weighing about 3.3 ounces. The S500i is one of a few phones that Sony Ericsson has manufactured in a slider design, the others being the W580i and the W850i. We like the slider mechanism quite a bit--the movement was smooth yet sturdy, and didn't feel too loose at all. There is a slight sloping curl along the chin of the phone that you can use to push the phone open, and to close it, you can slide your thumb down on the raised toggle--making the entire sliding process completely one-handed.

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