Motorola's worrying convention for giving its mobile phones silly, truncated names may have been taken to breaking point with the PEBL, but few would be prepared to deny that the handset was a considerable hit with fashion-conscious consumers.

The company has now updated the concept with the rather more ordinary sounding U9, which retains the pleasingly rounded appearance of the PEBL but brings some intriguing features of its own to the party.


The most notable aspect of the phone is the shiny, mirrored front that conceals a surprisingly vibrant external screen and some undetectable touch-sensitive controls. When the U9 is dormant, the reflective casing is blank and unassuming; an incoming call triggers a showcase of colour and sound as the phone immediately springs to life. Also, when in music-player mode, the track name is displayed on the external casing.

The touch controls mimic those shown on the RAZR2, the big difference being that there's no tactile feedback this time around, which often makes it hard to discern when your presses are actually registered by the phone. But this is a minor quibble; the external appearance of the U9 is uniformly excellent and the smooth lines that made the PEBL such a crowd-pleaser are all present and correct here.

Opening the phone reveals a set-up that should be familiar to Motorola fans. The layout of the keypad is similar to that seen in previous handsets and the D-pad is a direct copy of the one seen on the RAZR2. Those of you savvy enough to follow Pocket Gamer's mobile handset reviews will undoubtedly recoil in horror at that last observation – when we reviewed the RAZR2 we were highly critical of the D-pad because it just wasn't up to the task of playing games on the go.


Thankfully the U9 comes as a marked improvement, and this is largely thanks to the dimensions of the phone itself. While the RAZR2 was thin and therefore awkward to hold correctly when involved in some particularly heated gaming action, the U9 is slightly fatter and its rounded form sits more comfortably in the palm of the hand. The upshot of this is that your thumb rests better on the D-pad, resulting in a far superior degree of control.

Our review unit came complete with a version of sudoku, which (as you might expect) singularly failed to put the D-pad through its paces. However, upon downloading some action-packed classics we were pleasantly surprised by the performance of the controls. It's still not completely perfect but makes the U9 a far more attractive proposition for mobile gamers than the RAZR2 ever was.

The joy of finding the U9 adept at mobile gaming was dulled slightly by the entry-level technology found elsewhere on the handset, though. The two-megapixel camera is acceptable but unexceptional, with no auto-focus or flash, while the 25MB of internal storage is unlikely to hold many music tracks. MicroSD support is included but we found it irksome that the slot is located under the battery, meaning that the phone has to be completely powered down in order to swap storage media.


Given the modest price point of the U9 (under £100 on PAYG at the time of typing) these rather underwhelming specs are a little more forgivable, but it's worth noting that other sub-£100 phones are available with much more power under the bonnet.

Taking into account the fact that the phone comes in garish purple and shocking pink (with metallic black almost coming as an afterthought), we'd assume that Motorola is gunning for the female customer with the U9. The PEBL was a hit with the ladies and it would be fair to expect this updated version to perform just as admirably with the fairer sex.

Combine the looks with the aforementioned low selling price and the phone to reach a wide audience, becoming yet another successful release for Motorola, but there's certainly room for improvement should the company choose to revisit the 'phone as a stone' idea.

Source:http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/Motorola+U9/handset_review.asp?c=5898

T-Mobile UK and Research In Motion (RIM) are launching the new BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone in a ‘Blue Slate’ colour, along with a new price plan.

T-Mobile’s model has the same consumer-orientated features as the model launched on Vodafone in January. The compact and stylish phone includes a 2 megapixel camera, integrated GPS and Quad Band connectivity.


To differentiate its offering from Vodafone, T-Mobile is launching two price plans for email and internet access. With an 18 or 24-month contract, customers can sign-up for email-only for £5, or email and unlimited internet access for £10.

Vodafone’s version comes with Telmap navigation software and a special Facebook function. In conjunction with the GPS receiver, Telmap provides full turn-by-turn navigation rather than having to enter a location and map-read off the screen.

A year’s subscription to the Vodafone SatNav service is included.

Source:http://www.camera-core.co.uk/28-02-2008-blackberry-pearl-8110-available-on-t-mobile.html

Sony Ericsson just announced the G700 and G900 UIQ 3-powered 'touchscreen organisers'. The G700 has a 3.2 megapixel camera, while the G900 has a 5 megapixel camera and Wi-Fi, but otherwise they're very similar. Read on for more details, analysis, photo links and specs.


The G700 and G900 are UIQ powered phones from Sony Ericsson. The two devices are relatively similar. The G900 has a higher specification (a 5 megapixel camera, WiFi Connectivity, some extra imaging software and a different keyboard layout) than the G700 (3.2 megapixel camera), but they're of broadly similar size and share the same software enhancements.

At 106 x 49 x 13 mm and 99g, the G700 and G900 are smaller and lighter than any previous Sony Ericsson UIQ phone. They're the size of a typical Sony Ericsson feature phone and are more pocket friendly than both the P1i and W960.

Both have touch screens and directional controls (i.e. a d-pad - hurray!). This means you can access all the phone functions using either the stylus or the keypad. The phones also feature a revamped home/idle screen which is made up of customisable panels through which you rotate/scroll. This means that many functions are more accessible - indeed it is possible to use the majority of the phones' functionality without going into the traditional application launcher.

There's also a sticky note application (a revamped version of the long in the tooth jotter) which enables you to put virtual post-it-notes on the phone screen (these can also be sent to others via MMS or email). Sony Ericsson described this a key application for the target audience of these devices.

These phones are very specifically targetted at the 30+ market (hence the new G series designation). It is for those users who are looking for their phone to be a productivity tool that is easy to use while still being easy on the pocket. Traditionally Sony Ericsson has been relatively weak in this area (its Walkman and Cybershot brands are aimed at younger consumers).


In some ways, the most significant aspect of these handsets are that they are the first true mid tier devices from Sony Ericsson that are UIQ powered. The handsets are likely to be priced accordingly and will take UIQ to a new set of users. This is a sign of things to come from Sony Ericsson. This is easy to miss in the general noise around the other major Sony Ericsson launch of the day (the Windows Mobile powered X1). However, in another way it also underlines Sony Ericsson's message that, to the consumer, the software platform does not matter, rather it is the experience that the phone provides that matters.

We will be providing further coverage of the G700 and G900 in due course.

The Sony Ericsson G700 and G900  phones at a glance

Networks:
UMTS 2100

GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900

Available in selected markets from Q2 2008.

Source:http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/6711_Sony_Ericsson_out_the_G700_and.php

Motorola expanded its Rokr family of music products with the introduction of the Rokr E8 mobile device at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show. The latest generation of Rokr products offers consumers a complete music ecosystem that can help them enjoy their favorite tunes while on the go. "Rokr E8 is a no compromises device- it’s both an MP3 player that makes great phone calls and a mobile phone with tremendous audio capabilities. With our unique ModeShift technology, we’re dispelling the myth that mobile phones with music features are inferior to stand-alone audio devices," stated Stu Reed, president, Motorola Mobile Devices.


Motorola E8 ModeShift technology

Motorola designed Rokr E8 to deliver an uncompromised consumer experience for music or talk. Using breakthrough ModeShift technology from Motorola, the quad-band GPRS/EDGE device presents users with only the controls they need, at the time they need them, instantly transforming from music player to phone with the touch of a button.

Motorola Rokr E8 Music key


When powered off, the surface of Motorola Rokr E8 is smooth, with no visible keys. Power on the device and it presents a virtual numbered keypad on the front surface. With one "press" of the virtual music key, the phone keypad disappears and control keys for the music player - play, pause, fast forward and rewind - appear in its place.

Motorola Rokr E8 Features

    * ModeShift technology transforms the device from phone to music player with the touch of a button
    * Innovative haptics technology provides tactile response when a virtual key is pressed
    * FastScroll navigation wheel allows for scrolling through thousands of songs with the slide of a thumb
    * Patented CrystalTalk technology delivers outstanding call clarity even in noisy environments
    * Windows Media Player 11 compatibility enables easy transfer of tunes from the PC to the device.

Moto Rokr E8 FastScroll navigathion wheel

Yet, Rokr E8 is more than just a "touch"-operated device. Using innovative vibrating haptics technology, the device provides the tactile feedback consumers expect from a traditional keypad, providing confirmation they have pressed a virtual key. Motorola Rokr E8 also marks the debut of the new FastScroll navigaton wheel from Motorola, a variable-speed touch control that lets consumers easily scroll through all of the content stored on the device. With a gentle slide of the thumb, the wheel quickly scrolls through your music (music mode), contacts (phone mode), calendar (phone mode), or multimedia (imaging mode) content. Information is easily viewed on the landscape 2.0" QVGA display.

Motorola Rokr E8 Cellular phone with Music player


In music mode, Moto Rokr E8 delivers great sound through a three-dimensional stereo feature that enhances two-channel audio and an on-board equalizer. Music can be enjoyed on the built-in speaker, with a compatible Bluetooth enabled stereo headset, or through a wired headset plugged into the 3.5mm jack.

Motorola Rokr E8 Cell Phone with Built-in FM radio

Motorola E8 also helps consumers discover new music with a built-in FM radio and support for Song ID. The 2GB internal memory can store up to 1,500 songs, and the external memory is expandable up to 4GB with an optional microSD card. Music transfers quickly with USB 2.0. The device is compatible with Windows Media Player 11 on the PC, which also provides access to more than 200 online music stores.

Motorola E8 Mobile Phone with CrystalTalk technology

In phone mode, Motorola Rokr E8 provides outstanding voice quality using Motorola CrystalTalk technology. The powerful device can receive calls while downloading or playing music, text messaging, surfing the Web or taking pictures. Quality construction and materials help make Motorola E8 durable and reliable, and a high gloss front, aluminum soft touch back, spun metal side keys and engraved banding offer the modern style expected from Motorola.

Source:http://www.letsgomobile.org/en/3016/motorola-rokr-e8/

Samsung has partnered with U.S. CDMA carrier Sprint to launch the new SPH-i325 Ace, a dual-mode CDMA/GSM smartphone that borrows some styling cues from Samsung's SGH-i320 from 2 years back.


The Ace combines the best of both worlds with EV-DO capable CDMA coverage in the U.S. on Sprint's network and a SIM card slot for GPRS/GSM use when traveling abroad to make the handheld a true world phone.

The new Ace is similar in design to Samsung's popular Blackjack line of smartphones, but features a non-scrollable d-pad and a thumbwheel for one-handed navigation. The best feature found on the new Ace its dual-mode functionality. The Samsung Ace will work on the 800/1900MHz CDMA networks found in North America and can be used with any valid SIM card when traveling abroad on 900/1800MHz GSM networks. The GSM feature of the Ace is unlocked, meaning that users can buy their own local SIM cards when travelling, rather than having to pay high per-minute rates to Sprint.


Sprint has teamed up the new Ace with some special roaming costs, too. For example, calls placed in Canada are billed at a discounted rate of US$.59/minute, while voice and data minutes used on Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam are billed as if they were used on the U.S. mainland.

Measuring up at 118mm x 58mm x 13mm (4.65" x 2.3" x 0.5") and weighing a mere 111g (3.9oz), the Samsung Ace is both lightweight and stylish. MicroSD memory cards (up to 2G can be used to complement on-board memory, and the device features a large 2.3" QVGA resolution 65k color TFT LCD display. The Ace runs Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6 operating system and features a full QWERTY keyboard for optimum use of the included Office Mobile suite applications. Standard features like a 1.3 megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth stereo, and speakerphone are also present.

The Samsung SPH-i325 Ace from Sprint is available now for US$199.99 after mail-in rebates and savings, with a two-year service agreement.

Source:http://mobilitytoday.com/news/008358/samsung_ace_sprint

World's largest cellphone maker Nokia has tied up with Google to facilitate web search on its products, even as it launched models offering new services, moves that could consolidate its leadership position.


The integration will begin in select markets on Nokia N96, Nokia N78, Nokia 6210 Navigator and Nokia 6220 classic. Google search will be extended to additional models in the future.

Ultimately, Nokia will make Google search available to its customers in over 100 countries around the world, serving mobile owners speaking more than 40 languages.

At the GSM World Congress, the company also launched a number of new devices including phones that offer location- based navigation services.

Nokia improved its market share to 40 per cent last year and hopes to better it.


Launching four mobile phones -- N96, Nokia N78, Nokia 6220 and Nokia 6219 Navigator, the company said these were no longer mobile phones but mini personal computers.

"As we continue to free the internet from the limitations of the desktop, we are taking mobility into a completely new realm of possibility," Nokia Chief Executive Officer Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said.

The devices exhibit different location-based and multimedia experiences from pedestrian navigation to geo-tagging and movie viewing to video and photo sharing. The phones would be in the market from second quarter this year.

Commenting on i-phones from Apple and other companies, Nokia officials said they were ready to face the competition.


Nokia Executive Vice President (Mobile Phones) Kai Ostamo, while commenting on its new range of phones, said "we would like to be called Mobile Experience Company and not just a mobile phone company."

Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Nokia_ties_up_with_Google_to_offer_search_engine_facility/articleshow/2789539.cms

i-mate, a specialist in Windows Mobile powered devices, has unveiled the latest devices in its Ultimate range, the Ultimate 9502 and the Ultimate 8502 at the Mobile Congress World.



The Ultimate range is a collection of four devices in various forms to suit individual preferences, from classic PDA to a notebook replacement, and were designed to provide the latest and best in phone and PDA technology. The devices include a wide variety of features ranging from to HSDPA and HUSDPA connectivity to the 262k color TFT screen.

The Ultimate 9502 represents the flagship of the Ultimate range and delivers an all-in-one Windows Mobile device. Powered by 3.5G (HSDPA and HUSDPA), and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the Ultimate 9502's VGA display is ideal for multimedia viewing, or checking through maps using the its integrated GPS functionality for navigation. There are dedicated shortcut keys all around the 9502, allowing easy and fast access to often used applications.


The 9502 includes integrated support for Direct Video Out capabilities, providing you with the option to connect it to monitors or projectors and watch videos off it or even use Windows Mobile on a larger screen. This feature was especially included in a business sense so users can perform video conferencing or project slideshows and presentations from the phone itself, making it a viable alternative to a notebook.

The Ultimate 8502 delivers a customized out of the box experience in a slim line QWERTY keyboard form factor. With a 2.6-inch touchscreen with 65k color TFT backlight, it is fully loaded with Microsoft Office Mobile giving users access to popular applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint on the go. This device also comes with built-in GPS navigation functionality offering users satellite navigation. The 8502 can play video clips directly and a variety of music file formats on the inbuilt Windows Media Player 10 Mobile media player.

"2008 sees i-mate continue to deliver on its iconic devices and sophisticated services," said Jim Morrison, CEO, i-mate. "The Ultimate range has already won plaudits on its design and strong specifications. The Ultimate 9502 and 8502 will continue to build on i-mate's, the best of breed combination of innovation, design and technology. Each of our devices is designed with different users in mind giving our customers real choice."

As part of its service proposition, i-mate has also launched its I-Q Services, a portfolio of services that ensure the best wireless experience out of the box. With I-Q, i-mate can immediately customize user devices, fully support devices on a 24/7 basis and fully protect, and if necessary, remotely wipe devices that are lost of stolen in as little as 48 hours. Mobile Operators can use i-Q to improve their services to the enterprise segment and to accelerate their time-to-market with new mobile devices to address the rapidly expanding mobile workforce.

"The mobile industry is starting to develop an approach where a customer can select a device based on what they want and need, not because they are restricted by available options. With the latest Ultimate devices powered by Windows Mobile and customized for the enterprise, we believe we are delivering what our customers are asking for," added Morrison.

Source:http://www.itnewsonline.com/showstory.php?storyid=11770&scatid=7&contid=4

The Modu phone can take many avatars--GPS device, digital camera, business phone, MP3 player


The GSMA Mobile World Conference 2008 in Barcelona saw loads of action, including product launches, new concepts, and prototypes of products on the anvil. One of these products was the Modu phone.

The Moduis an ultra-light, ultra-small "basic" phone, which can make and receive calls. The skeletal phone can be given any number of manifestations by slipping it into various "jackets" or "mates," which turn the phone into different devices, such as a GPS device, an MP3 player, or a digital camera, all of which are mobile telephony enabled.

The company has announced the availability of 10 such jackets, some of which will come bundled with the phone. Consumers can buy the other jackets separately as needed. There is also a possibility that Modu will tie up with third-party manufacturers to expand the range of jackets.

These jackets enable you to do different things with your Modu or to metamorphose it to suit your various connectivity needs. You can slip it into a jacket with a full-fledged QWERTY keypad to use it on a typical workday. For a night out with friends, you can use a cool jacket that has MP3 player functionality. You can slip it into a digital camera jacket to share your photos with friends in your contacts list. You will also be able to slip it into devices such as GPS systems or car stereos. The company claims that the jackets will be “custom branded” and will contain “exclusive content” related to fashion, movies, or music.

The advantage is that you buy one basic phone and several add-ons, which would be cheaper than buying each of those as standalone gadgets. You also get a lot of variety in looks and functionality. Moreover, the jackets are interchangeable, so you can swap with your friends to get even more out of the Modu.

The phone is slated to be available by October this year in Israel, Italy and Russia, and subsequently in other parts of the world. Modu has also tied up with Sandisk, Magellan, and Blaupunkt to incorporate slots for Modu in their devices.
Source:http://computing.in.msn.com/Articles/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=1247920

Sony Ericsson Sunday night announced its first Windows Mobile phone, the Xperia X1 – and it's coming to the U.S. soon.


"It's a truly converged device for entertainment and productivity. We're trying to avoid the use of the term 'smart phone,'" said Suzanne Cross, head product marketing manager for Sony Ericsson North America.

The Xperia line signals a new focus on innovations in 'user experience' for Sony Ericsson, said Rikko Sakaguchi, the company's head of portfolio and propositions.

"What is tomorrow, what's the vision?" he asked. "A very simplified view is mobile communication with a rich, enriched environment with the Web ... it's not about a great-looking phone or nice design, it's more about appealing to the senses."

Whatever it is, the X1 is smart. The 0.68-inch thick, 5.2-ounce device slides open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard and a 3-inch, incredibly high-res 800 X 480 touch screen. Yes, that's a higher pixel density than the iPhone.

The X1's specs include, basically, everything. Quad-band EDGE plus quad-band HSDPA 7.2 with HSUPA? Check. Wi-Fi and GPS? Check. A 3.2-megapixel camera with DVD quality video playback and capture? Check. FM radio, Bluetooth stereo, and GPS? You bet. It's all powered by a 520-MHz ARM11 processor running Windows Mobile 6. In short, this thing screams.


To navigate around the X1, you can use the touch screen, cursor keys, or an optical trackpad that works a little like a laptop trackpad.

Sony Ericsson has been making their own effort at fixing the Windows Mobile interface, too, with a new desktop design they call "Experia panels." Panels are essentially large, finger-friendly blocks that sit on your home screen and let you quickly access various applications. Because of the Xperia's ridiculously high-res screen, they look like zoomed-out entire screens of information. Like other maverick Windows Mobile devices such as the HTC Touch and T-Mobile Shadow, though, once you get below the home screen you're back to the old Windows Mobile interface.

The X1 may appear on either AT&T or T-Mobile. Interestingly, Sony Ericsson is producing different variants with AT&T's 850/1900 MHz high-speed frequencies and with T-Mobile's new 1700-MHz high-speed frequency, which they haven't even launched yet.

The X1 will be available during the second half of the year, and don't expect it to be cheap, Cross said.

"It's going to be high-end," she said.

This won't be the only Sony Ericsson Windows Mobile phone, said Pieter Knook, Microsoft's senior vice president of mobile communications."While this is the first, initial product, clearly the anticipation is that there will be a family of products over time," he said.

Sony Ericsson's choice benefits Microsoft, helping Windows Mobile in the consumer space, Knook said.

"Core to our strategy is to expand out from just being business or personal productivity focused," he said.

But the X1 announcement wasn't the only news in a very busy Sony Ericsson press conference. Sony Ericsson also released two new camera phones, a music phone, two ExpressCards and two Symbian UIQ-based smart phones.

The Cybershot C702 and C902 camera phones are both coming to the U.S. in mid 2008, and they each have something not seen in this market before. In the C702, it's a combination of a 3.2-megapixel camera with basic ruggedization, what Sony Ericsson calls splash and dust resistance. In other words, you can drop it in a mud puddle without fear, but not dunk it in a swimming pool. It's also covered with a grippy, rubbery surface.

"This phone is really designed to allow you to take more pictures in more places," said Sven Totte, head of imaging marketing for Sony Ericsson.

The C702 also comes with built-in GPS and Google Maps for Mobile software, and tags your photos with the locations they were taken. A full Web browser, email client, FM radio and Bluetooth round out the feature set.

The C902 is a slim 5-megapixel camera phone with a true Xenon flash, but similar other features to the C702. It's more metallic and skinnier, though, at only 10.5 mm thick. You activate the camera by snapping the top part of the phone up, and then manipulate it with eight dedicated camera settings touch keys studded around the screen.

Both Cybershots are quad-band EDGE phones, which means they could turn up on either T-Mobile or AT&T. Sony Ericsson says they will arrive in mid 2008.

Sony Ericsson hasn't played much in the ExpressCard space here in the U.S. in years – though they do have one ancient card selling on T-Mobile – but the EC400 and EC400g might change that. Both cards are HSDPA 7.2 with HSUPA on the 850/1900/2100 bands and quad-band EDGE – in English, that's AT&T's latest and fastest technology. Both have drivers on board for Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X so you don't need to download separate drivers. The EC400g adds a GPS unit to your PC, as well. Expect both mid-year.

Sony Ericsson's three other releases will not make it to North America any time soon, company reps said. They include two candy-bar-style Symbian UIQ smart phones, the G700 and G900, which have a neat feature that lets you essentially write sticky notes and tack them to the phone's touch screen to remember things. The Z770i is a midrange clamshell phone with a Web browser and European high-speed networks. Finally, the W980 Walkman music phone is a clamshell phone with 8 GB of built-in storage and an FM transmitter; Sony Ericsson trumpeted this phone as the first of its kind, but the LG Fusic did it in mid-2006.


Sony Ericsson's new phones impressed a packed crowd at their press conference.

"Motorola needs every single one of these products," said Avi Greengart, principal analyst for mobile devices at Current Analysis.

Source:http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2258979,00.asp

Samsung wouldn’t want to be accused of not catering for the budget market with its new array of phones, and in the understated J700 has found something to appeal to those who aren’t bothered about the sorts of snazzy features found elsewhere.


It’s another slide-phone, a design choice that perhaps suggests that flip-phones are on their way out, sports a 2” display and adopts a similarly sleek and glossy style to much of the rest of its range. It’s solidly built though, with a metal frame and is impressively slim at under 10mm thick. You’ll still find a music player, FM radio and rather meagre 1.3MP camera built in, and there’s a microSD card slot for upping the internal capacity. You’ll find tri-band GSM connectivity and Bluetooth 2.0 built in, but no HSDPA for fast data access.

It’s not a patch on the high-end models from the range but for a budget phone we think it looks pretty impressive, certainly good enough to fool the naked eye from a distance anyway.

The J700 should hit the market in March and is set to retail for around 130 euros.

Source:http://www.dialaphone.co.uk/blog/?p=1152

Nokia N82 Mobile Reviews

For the uninitiated, the N82 may seem like a new member of the Finnish company's Nseries stable. Technically, that is right, but its close resemblance to the earlier N95 in terms of features is hard to ignore. Although some mobile phone review sites have made references to the N73, we feel it's more appropriate and relevant to talk about the N82 with the N95 in mind. Our review of the N82 follows below.


The good: Quadband GSM with HSDPA; Xenon flash with 5-megapixel camera; built-in GPS; A2DP; 3.5mm audio jack; microSD card slot.

The bad: Tiny keys; smaller 2.4-inch display compared with the two N95; microUSB port.

The bottom line: The N82 is an excellent all-round phone with an impressive list of specifications despite some niggles that could have been avoided.

Design

When placed side-by-side, probably even a six-year-old will be able to tell the N82 and the N95 apart. In terms of design, the N82 looks radically different from the N95, which is a good move pre-mediated, or not. Otherwise the company will be guilty of bookshelving by introducing several variations of identical phones on the shelves, confusing the consumers (or if you like, giving them more options). This situation is especially rampant in the digicam market where manufacturers produce a single model in a variety of colors.

The biggest difference between the N82 and the N95 is that the latter is a slider-phone, while the N82 is a candy-bar model. So users who previously shunned the N95 due to its form factor now have a legitimate reason to pick up the N82. One of the main concerns was that the sliding mechanism may loosen over time. In our opinion, that's a strategic move because it allows Nokia to capture another share of the market which it was previously unable to.

Moving on, the N82 is of a comfortable size and the even weight distribution means we don't have to worry about the phone slipping out of our hands. As for the choice (or lack) of colors, it's a matter of personal opinion. We feel the metallic shade gives a very "bright" persona to the handset, but it also bears a tinge of industrial construction which may not appeal to everyone.

Just like there isn't a perfect phone, the N82 has a few shortcomings. First off are the alphanumeric keys. Maybe there were miscommunications between the designers and engineers during the manufacturing process, because no one in the right mind would fall in love with such tiny buttons. Our only consolation is that the keys are relatively well-spaced-out, so it's a whole lot better than the ones on the Sony Ericsson W880i.

Still on the issue of the buttons, even though each of the softkeys shares the same button with a secondary function, it wasn't easy hitting the wrong key. That said, we would have preferred the functions to be separate. It could be just our review unit, but the D-pad felt rather loose when we pressed it in any of the four directions and light could be seen escaping from the sides. We'd also like to highlight that the build quality was a little shabby on our set because there was a gap between the left edge and the top face. But like we said, it could just be our unit.

We also didn't fancy the shortcut carousel button between the right softkey and the correction function. In our opinion, this is something that could be left out as we constantly worry about pressing it accidentally. The dedicated Gallery button on the right edge of the phone could have been used for that purpose. Only the camera module is at the back of the phone (not like we had expected it anywhere else). Nokia has opted for a mechanical lens cover which is great for protecting the lens. Sliding down the cover activates the shooter.

This time round, the 3.5mm audio port is on the top edge of the handset instead of at the side. This lets us plug our earphones from the top, so there won't be anything protruding from the sides when the phone is in our pockets. Elsewhere, the microUSB port, microSD expansion card slot and charging connection are found on the left edge, while a pair of stereo speakers, camera shutter, gallery key and volume controls lie on the right.

Features

In terms of features, there's really nothing much to talk about since we've already covered most of it in our reviews of the N95 and the N95 (8G, so we'll just keep it short and sweet. The most distinct feature in the N82 is the addition of a Xenon flash, like the ones we've seen on the Sony Ericsson K810i and K850i Cyber-shots. Compared with LED lights, Xenon flashes are much stronger and able to illuminate subjects better in the dark.

Next is a smaller 2.4-inch QVGA display compared with 2.6 inches on the N95 and 2.8 inches on the 8GB version. The size of the screen is likely a result of having to share the limited front estate with the alphanumeric keypad since it doesn't have the privilege of being able to stow away the keypad under the slider like the two N95s. Well, something has to give. It's not a setback, though, because the LCD held up well under the harsh afternoon sunlight. We were able to read text clearly even though colors appeared washed-out. Compared with the K850i, the Sony Ericsson gave us better screen legibility under the same lighting condition.

We mentioned about the microUSB port earlier and even we are getting confused as to which size Nokia favors. Besides rendering all our existing miniUSB cables useless, we are also unable to charge the N82 via the PC, unlike the N95 (8G. Although that's not a big issue, it's probably good to know that you should try not to lose the cable which comes with your set. If you care to know, Nokia has also dropped the infrared option on the N82.


The N82 runs on the third-edition Symbian S60 platform with Feature Pack 1, so it should be familiar to most Nokia users. Porting over data from their existing S60 phones can be done via the onboard Switch application. We've mentioned before that the Quickoffice app is a read-only version on the earlier N95s. The same goes for the N82 we are reviewing. So for users who have an absolute need to create Word, Excel or presentation documents, they'll have to look elsewhere, unless they are willing to pay for the upgrade.

Performance
With a larger-capacity 1,050mAh battery, the rated talk and standby times are higher than the N95 with a 950mAh cell, though its still less than the 1,200mAh BL-6F option on the N95 (8G. According to the literature, the N82 has a talktime of 260 minutes and standby of slightly over nine days. Based on our typical usage pattern of making phone calls, sending text messages, taking pictures and listening to music, the N82 was able to keep us entertained for about 2.5 to three days before it winked out.

The N82 comes with 128MB of RAM like the N95 (8G, so we've come to expect a similar kind of snappy response. Truth is, with that amount of memory, it's hard that it will ever be depleted and most of the preinstalled applications can be running in the background without stalling the phone.


As for picture quality, it's one of the best we've seen, on par and better than the Sony Ericsson K850i on some occasions. Although the K850i gave us a better preview of the image on the phone's LCD, the snaps right out of the N82 when viewed on a PC appear more saturated, carry more punch, but sacrifices details. We'll let the pictures speak for themselves, but one thing to note is that the flash on the N82 is brighter than the one on the K850i. It's a pity that the N82 isn't capable of standing on its sides without any support unlike the N95 (8G. That could be really useful if we are taking night pictures and want to minimize camera shake by using the timer function. The N82 records VGA-resolution videos at 30fps in MPEG-4 format. There's also a front-facing CIF 352 x 288-pixel camera for video calls.

Conclusion

Depending on which angle you are coming from, if you are upgrading from a N73, then it's almost a non-decision that the N82 would be the ideal choice. But for current N95 users, it's a less compelling switch and boils down to a choice of going for a larger LCD screen (N95 8G or a more powerful Xenon flash (N82). As a camera-phone, the N82 is on par with the Sony Ericsson K850i Cyber-shot, and, in certain cases, betters it in terms of image quality. But, on the other hand, the K850i has dedicated camera controls that can enhance user experience when shooting. Overall, the N82 is a great all-round phone. Despite some niggles that could have been avoided, we'd still recommend it.

SPECS

• Phone
• Phone type:Quadband
• Networks:GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, VoIP
• Connectivity options:3G, GPRS, GPS, HSDPA, Bluetooth, A2DP, USB, WLAN
• Calling Features:Video calls, Speakerphone
• Physical design:Form factor
• Candy bar:Dimensions (W x D x H):112 x 50.2 x 17.3 mm
• Weight w/battery:114 g
• Primary display type:TFT
• Secondary display type:None
• Secondary display resolution:x pixels
• Interchangeable covers?:No
• General:LCD display size:2.4-inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixels)
• Color LCD?:Yes
• Primary Display Color:24 bit
• Performance:Operating system
• Symbian OS:Battery type(s) supported
• Rechargeable, removable 1,050mAh battery
• Max. talktime (in hours):4.33 hours
• Max. standby time (in hours):225 hours
• Internal memory:100 MB
• Expansion slot(s):TransFlash / microSD
• Included accessories:2GB microSD card; local maps preloaded in memory card
• Other Features
• Additional functions:Carl Zeiss optics; TV out; Nokia Maps wih GPS and A-GPS; orientation sensor; email; Nokia Mobile Search; Nokia WebBrowser and Mini Map
• MMS?:Yes
• Predictive text input?:Yes
• Polyphonic?:Yes
• Built-in vibrate alert?:Yes
• Games:N-Gage experience,Multimedia.
• Built-in digital camera?:Yes
• Maximum camera resolution:5 megapixels
• Warranty:Base warranty 1 year

source:http://www.bangkokpost.com/gadget/gadget.php?id=380&p=5