January 14th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Nokia
Nokia does phones, and Nokia does phones right. There’s nothing wrong with that, and for all the hype about smartphones, most people just want a mobile phone that does what it says on the tin, and does it reliably, efficiently, and well.
The 6303 Classic follows the tradition of excellent Nokia mobile phones. With its sturdy but appealingly shiny black metal casing it’s built to stand up to some rough handling, making it ideal for those who work outdoors – it won’t break if dropped.
Like most mobile phones, it doesn’t boast a massive screen, but it’s certainly ample for texting, which is aided by a keypad that’s designed to accommodate most fingers without cramping or excessive typos.
There’s a camera, but it’s more functional than anything special, although it will do an adequate job. There’s also room for music on the phone, which comes with a built-in FM radio, and the 3.5mm headphone jack allows users to plug in their own headphones for more comfortable listening.
Don’t expect anything innovative with the phone. About the only thing to differentiate it from other Nokia offerings, especially the 6300, is the casing. But the things it does do, it does very well.
That, of course, is why so many people keep on buying Nokia mobile phones. They know what to expect, and they’re rarely disappointed. As long as a user knows what to expect, then it’s virtually certain that the 6303 Classic will satisfy. Nokia has done it again – and just as well as before.
January 12th, 2010 | Camera Phones, Mobile Phone Reviews, Samsung, Touchscreen
Samsung’s new handset featuring the Google Android operating system seems to be a winner all round. It’s as if the company engineers actually spent time analysing other smartphones and then wondering how they could not only do it better, but also more simply. In many ways they’ve succeeded admirably.
Samsung mobile phones have always had a distinctive style, and the Galaxy is no different; anyone familiar with a Samsung will be readily familiar with this and the size and shape fits very comfortably in the hand.
Wanting to turn apps on and off? That’s simple. Just a couple of quick taps on the screen accomplishes it, much better than most of the competition, and means a user doesn’t have to go paging all through the menu.
Those are the big pluses. However, there are negatives, most notably the onscreen keyboard, which is exceptionally awkward to use, and probably deserves a full redesign to be fully functional in landscape mode. Similarly, the lock key definitely appears to have issues, not always working as the user might wish.
Battery life isn’t particularly good either, as several mobile phone reviews of the Galaxy have noted. However, others haven’t had problems with it.
All in all, the Samsung Galaxy is a decent, if not superb, smartphone and the Android under the bonnet works very well, smart and snappy on browsing, as well as for moving between functions. This isn’t going to set the world on fire, though, and it’s not going to topple the iPhone from its throne. But Samsung fans ready for a smartphone will like it.
January 11th, 2010 | LG, Mobile Phone Reviews, Touchscreen
This is LG’s second version of its Prada phone tie-in with the fashion house, a winner for all those who like designer names on everything they own. The first version lacked a lot, and some of those things have been addressed here.
With a name like this, it has to have style, and there’s plenty of that. The design is much like its predecessor, although marginally thicker (all of 5mm) to allow for a pull out QWERTY keyboard. This one is exceedingly generous, making typing a snap with no excuse for typos, although for those who really desire it, there is also an onscreen keyboard available.
The other major improvement lies in the camera, and most specifically, the video function. The camera is now five megapixels, but users can shoot 720 p video – and then even edit it extensively on the phone itself, all the way to adding a soundtrack if they desire. That’s an excellent feature, although how much people who buy the phone for the name will use it remains to be seen.
With HSDAPA and Wi-Fi it is very fast, but the speed is cancelled out a little by the confusing screen. The icons look lovely, but what they represent, and where different items lie, isn’t too obvious. It takes time to figure the phone out, as it’s not intuitive.
So although it’s still not perfect – what is? – LG mobile phones have taken a great leap forward with Prada on the KF900, and produced a handset to be proud of, and one that still looks very good, too.
January 9th, 2010 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband, Wireless Devices
Do I need a new computer to connect to broadband?
This depends entirely on how old your computer is. If it’s over ten years old, then it is quite likely that you will need to update your computer, because the version of operating system that is installed may not be adequate enough to handle the advances that the Internet has seen over the past ten years. Broadband speeds are much faster today, but if your computer is no more than five years old there is absolutely no reason why you should not be able to connect without any real issues.
Is there anything else that I might need, before I can connect to broadband?
If you decide that you want to connect wirelessly you may need to purchase additional hardware; wireless internet is incredibly convenient, as it allows any member of the household to use the Internet in whatever room they wish, you may have to purchase a ‘Wireless Router’ that connects via a cable in the wall, to your ‘base’ computer. Unless your house is the size of London, the router’s signal should be able to reach any room in your home.
You should check to see if your computer has built-in Wi-Fi capabilities. All recent laptops come with this as standard, but older models may not. If yours does not have one you will need to purchase an adaptor in order to connect wirelessly to your broadband. These devices can be purchased at any computer shop and are quite inexpensive.
January 6th, 2010 | Google Android, Motorola Mobile Phones, Touchscreen
It’s been a while since Motorola had a hit phone, but with the Motorola Dext they’ve done a lot of things very well indeed, not the least of which is using Google’s Android operating system as a base.
That as a base is said deliberately, since they’ve put their own interface on top of it, and that’s what makes a big difference. MotoBlur, as it’s called, is exceptionally impressive, allowing users to collate information from various social networks (specifically Facebook and Twitter), and will automatically display Tweets and updates on the screen.
One idea grabbed from the iPhone allows users to track lost Dext handsets using the built-in GPS function and, if necessary, wipe them remotely, which can save a lot of heartache.
There’s a pull out keyboard, although some mobile phone reviews have called it little better than average, lacking in backlighting, and with the alternative characters on the keys too small to be read comfortably.
On the positive side, the touchscreen is quick and responds very easily, with stylish, sensible icons, and a good number of additional applications to customise the phone available via the App store.
For all that, it’s one of the best Motorola mobile phones in a long, long time, solid in the body yet easy on the hand, and with plenty of oomph under the bonnet, even if it’s not perfect. True, it doesn’t compare to the very best smartphones, but it’s still good, handsome, and will do most of the things people require, and that’s the ultimate test.
January 4th, 2010 | Mobile Phones, Samsung
There are phones, and there are novelty mobile phones – and the Samsung Beat DJ definitely falls in the latter category. It’s the phone for anyone who ever dreamed of becoming a major DJ – yes, the phone comes with decks to let the user mix, scratch and add effects, just as if they were in a DJ booth.
In many ways it’s a ridiculous idea – anyone serious would spring for the proper equipment – but it is fun, nonetheless, and it comes with a great imprimatur, the speakers courtesy of the mighty Bang & Olufsen.
Effectively it is DJ lite, selecting tracks and learning how to work with them, and it’s all very intuitive and easy to control. Even a total novice could be up to speed within 30 minutes using the touchscreen, impressing friends with his skills.
But really, that’s all the phone does. Yes, there’s a camera, but it’s nothing special – in fact it is decidedly awkward at times – and there’s no QWERTY keyboard on the screen, just a regular mobile phone keypad, which seems like a very glaring oversight, especially when annoying sounds issue every time a key is pressed.
The styling is decidedly retro – when was the last time anyone saw an oval phone? Worst of all, perhaps, is the fact that the B&O speakers just aren’t that great, certainly not the quality expected from a company like that.
This is the kind of phone to appeal to kids of about 12 – but even then, after a few days of playing, they’ll be bored with it. Not a winner, Samsung.
December 31st, 2009 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband, Wireless Devices
There are a large number of good deals out there when it comes to broadband. To help find the best broadband deal for you, here are a selection of the most competitive we could find:
If you are looking for a package that allows you to use the Internet without any of the usual 15Gb limit nonsense, Virgin Media’s ‘Virgin Broadband Size L plus Phone M’ could be the perfect package for you. With 10Mb connection speed and the size M phone, this package will cost you only a paltry £5 for the initial three months of the contract.
If value for money, is what you are looking for, we strongly recommend looking at BT’s ‘BT Total Broadband Option 1’. For a measly £7.78 per month, BT will give you 10Gb of usage, which is plenty enough for the majority of households, with a connection speed of 20Mb and including free Wireless BT Home Hub 2.0. If you decide that you’d like an extra 1Gb each month, its simple, all you have to do is purchase a ‘Mobile Broadband dongle’ and after making that one-off payment, it is just like Freeview, because you’ll have an extra 1Gb of usage, every single month.
For the majority of us, however, we want something between these two packages, something that balances everything out nicely. If this is for you, you should try O2’s ‘Broadband Standard’. The speed is a little slower than both the Virgin and BT packages, but it is cheaper than BT’s package and includes not only unlimited downloads, but existing O2 customers are instantly entitled to a special discount.
December 28th, 2009 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Nokia, Touchscreen
Is it a phone or a computer? The Nokia N900 has been described as a bit of both. It’s certainly popular; a handset whose release has been pushed back because of unprecedented demand, an extremely rare event, and one that makes it the hottest of the new mobile phones. So what is it about the Nokia N900 that has everyone so excited?
The answer is in the processor, which initial mobile phone reviews have said is blazingly fast, giving users an experience of browsing that’s almost as good as a desktop computer and far superior to the iPhone (then again, this is a very high-end Nokia model).
In spite of the fact that the directional keys and the space bar are unusually placed, which will mean plenty of initial confusion, the pull-out keyboard is very easy to use, even if it doesn’t seem to pull out quite all the way.
However, the phone only works in landscape mode for anything other than as a phone, which isn’t so good, and decidedly more awkward. But it does come with Wi-Fi, 32GB of internal memory (plus room for more on a microSD card), a good five megapixel camera, and even a stand for easier indoor use, as well as GPS and a 3.5mm headphone jack. At 3.5 inches the screen size is very good, although the touchscreen is perhaps a bit too resistive, needing more finger pressure than it should.
Ultimately, the Nokia N900 is a phone, not a computer, very good for Web browsing, but still definitely a phone.
December 23rd, 2009 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Sony Ericsson
The newest Sony Ericsson mobile phone, the Sony Ericsson C903, does two things really well – takes pictures and has a superb GPS. The question is, are those important enough for a user to adopt it as their new handset?
Closed, and from the back, the C903 actually looks like a compact digital camera rather than a phone. Whilst that might seem good, it will be a little too small for large hands. But once a user starts, it’s a pleasure to handle, taking very clear pictures, and having some photo editing capability right on board, as well as Best Pic, which is already hard at work saving images before you even click the button. Using video – and even being able to zoom while shooting – is just as easy.
One of the joys of mobile phone pictures is uploading them to the web, and the Sony Ericsson C903 handles that well via 3.5G. Sadly, however, there’s no Wi-Fi
The other joy is the GPS, which is powered by the ever-excellent Google Maps, but also features Near Me, letting users see nearby businesses – handy if you’re somewhere unfamiliar and in need of food, shelter or entertainment. That function will eat into the data allowance though, so beware of overuse.
The keypad looks good, but isn’t all it seems, as it’s all too easy to misdial and type out bad texts due to the positioning and response of the keys themselves – an area in need of great improvement.
What it does, it does very well. But the big question is how many people will be convinced?
December 21st, 2009 | Camera Phones, LG, Mobile Phone Reviews, Touchscreen
LG did well with the Viewty smartphone, and it aims to do even better with its successor, the Viewty Smart GC900. It’s a tough act to follow, but the company has made changes for this latest mobile phone. So how does this new handset fare?
In theory, at least, the Viewty Smart GC900 sounds very tasty. It boasts an eight megapixel camera, a good size three-inch touchscreen, 3.5G and Wi-Fi. Mobile phone reviews have been generous in their praise of the capacitive screen, which is sensitive to the lightest touch.
The features of the camera are among the mobile phone’s strongest points, able to take rapid-fire shots, with adjustments for lighting conditions, and straightforward between the macro and normal modes. Like its predecessor, it’s also good with video, even slow motion.
The Wi-Fi and 3.5G mean very fast connections for browsing, uploading and downloading. The screen is very efficient, and navigation is exceptionally easy. So what’s the downside?
Perhaps surprisingly, the camera is one of the worst offenders. It promises a lot, but the picture quality just doesn’t deliver. The onscreen QWERTY keyboard is remarkably slow (the same is true for the onscreen phone keypad), making for an annoying experience when typing.
Remarkably, although this is a failure that’s all too common even in the newest mobile phones, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack for listening to music.
So it’s a bit of a curate’s egg – good in parts. The touchscreen is a dream, but elsewhere LG needs to do more work on this model to make it really deliver for consumers. As it stands, the experience falls far short of what it could be.
