Sony Ericsson Zylo Overview

November 17th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Sony Ericsson

A large number of new mobile phones are designed to cater to specific users and their individual needs.  Some are designed for people looking for cheap mobile phones, while others are marketed to high-end consumers.  Somewhere in the middle of this wide range lies another type of phone and good example is the Sony Ericsson Zylo.

This is a slider phone with pull out alphanumeric keypad, which makes texting easy and many of its features are aimed at music lovers.  The music player supports the lossless FLAC format as well as MP3 and allows users to share songs with friends by playing them in the background at the same time as holding a conversation on the phone.  Access to Sony Ericsson’s PlayNow music download store is also enabled.  Other features include a 2.6” screen, YouTube integration, Bluetooth, email, a 3.2-megapixel camera with geo-tagging, 3G, Google Maps and capacity to expand memory up to 16GB with a microSD card.

The best mobile phone deals for the Sony Ericsson Zylo are those involving extended contracts, as any user looking for a free handset would expect nowadays. Orange currently offers the cheapest Sony Ericsson Zylo deals, with a free handset on a 24-month contract costing £15.00 per month.  The best deal for a free phone from T-Mobile is £25.00 per month for a 24-month contract.  The same monthly price and length of contract as T-Mobile will get you a similar deal with Vodafone.  Users preferring Pay As You Go can obtain a handset for £60.00, from Vodafone Direct.

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Three ZTE Racer Review

November 15th, 2010 | Google Android, Mobile Phone Reviews, Touchscreen

An android is the first choice for many people who are looking at the latest mobile phones nowadays so if you want to compare mobile phones and find a good budget model you may find it useful to learn about the Three ZTE Racer.

Compact and fairly light without being flimsy, the Three ZTE Racer opearates on Android 2.1 with a 2.8 inch resistive touchscreen.  The 3.2 megapixel camera also records video.  Web browsing, email, a music player, FM Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G and HSDPA are features which are all available.  The battery provides up to three hours and thirty minutes of talk time.  An internal memory of 256 MB is expandable up to 2GB with a microSD memory card.

As with other new mobile phones that use the Android system, the Three ZTE Racer offers users seeking cheap mobile phones the added benefit of access to the large number of android apps on the market.  Anyone wanting to compare mobile phones with a view to playing games should note that the Three ZTE Racer is well suited to that purpose too.

As the name suggests, the Three ZTE Racer is only available with one network so you’ll need a contract with 3 to land mobile phone deals featuring this handset.  A 24 months contract with 3 offers a free phone for £13.00 per month including a combination of 900 minutes and texts.  A number of retailers including PC World and Tesco offer the Three ZTE Racer for £79.99 on pay as you go.

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A Guide to Wireless Broadband

November 14th, 2010 | Broadband

If you are looking at broadband providers to find a good deal and want to use more than one computer in the same location, then a wireless connection will be suitable for your needs.  Once you have found the right broadband package a Wi-Fi set up (the commonly used term for wireless broadband) will allow you to connect a number of computers in your home or workplace to the internet.

When making a broadband comparison with Wi-Fi in mind, it is worth checking to see what the provider offers in the way of hardware.  You will need a modem to enable one computer to be connected to the internet.  A wireless router is also required; this is the piece of technology which transmits wireless signals from the modem to any other computers which require connection to the internet.  Many broadband UK providers will offer a free modem or router as part of their offer, so check what is included in the package.

Any other computers connected via Wi-Fi will need to be able to receive signals from your network.  Many computers have built in Wi-Fi capability now, but if they don’t then they will need a wireless adaptor.  You will also need to configure the wireless router so it knows which computers to allow access to your broadband connection.  This is important for security reasons; otherwise you could allow unauthorised users to access your connection.  Any broadband provider you choose should be able to include instructions with their package on how to set up everything needed.

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T-Mobile Compact V Review

November 10th, 2010 | HTC, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, TMobile, Touchscreen

The T-Mobile Compact V cell phone is a must-have phone, ready to make life easier for its user.  Aside from being equipped with many of the more common features, the T-Mobile Compact V also provides users with a to-do list and calendar, as well as an alarm clock.

The 3.2-inch, high-resolution screen displays crisp graphics.  With only 288 MB of internal memory, users will definitely be making use of the microSD card slot for additional memory expansion.  The 5-megapixel camera is strong, but does not offer much in the way of features; however, photos are clear when viewed on a computer screen.

Its deep black front and matt-black backing make this phone look like a serious piece of hardware.  The T-Mobile Compact V is very Windows-based, running Windows Mobile 6.1 with HTC’s TouchFlo 3D added, which makes it much nicer for users.  Along the bottom of the home-screen is the toolbar, loaded with available widgets.

There are heaps of large icons so setting up e-mail messaging is pretty straightforward.  There are many options when it comes to the Win Mo phone, and the user is given a lot of control over these features.  Even zooming in and out of the screen is done with ease.

One thing the phone is lacking is the standard 35 mm headphone jack, so you are stuck using the headphones provided by the company, which are not that good.  In addition, the music player is a little on the basic side, but it is okay.  Aside from minor details, this phone would be ideal for the business user.

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Sagem Puma Smartphone Review

November 8th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Touchscreen

The Sagem Puma, manufactured by the French company Sagem, has hit the markets bearing the sports company’s brand name.  One of the main features to catch the eye of the eco-conscience consumer is the solar panel that sits on the rear of the phone.  It is meant to recharge the battery when placed in full, direct sunlight; however, it has been noted to offer more of a top-up than a full recharge.  Either way, it is still a step ahead in the eco-department.

Weighing in at 115 grams, the Puma phone may not be what the average consumer is looking for.  Its 2.8-inch screen has been a disappointment with a mere 320 x 240-pixel resolution.  The touch-screen has been known to be very unresponsive to touch, rating its accuracy as poor.  The phone is without the standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, which means users will have to carry around something portable to fully enjoy their own tunes.

This 3G model is equipped with Bluetooth, fitness applications, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and web browser.  However, it does not allow for Wi-Fi.  The built-in camera application is slow and produces poor-quality photos.  The music system is a pain to use and the internet is incredibly slow.

Consumers may enjoy some of the differences Sagem Puma phone has added to their phone.  In place of the battery status bar, Puma has replaced this with texts such as ‘Happy’ when the phone is fully charged, and ‘Feeding’ when it is charging.  The menu system, however, has been brilliantly laid out with a slide-down status bar, which allows the user to access essential functions quickly.

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Fair Use Policy for Broadband Users

November 2nd, 2010 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband

All broadband connections are subject to a fair use policy as a part of their terms and conditions. These fair usage policies are aimed at making sure that nobody is taking advantage of their internet connection and hindering the network performance for other customers by downloading a large amount of data.

Broadband users often fall foul of fair usage policies inadvertently by overindulging in common internet activities such as streaming video, playing games or downloading songs. As increasingly few fixed line broadband providers put formal usage caps on their connections, customers who contravene fair use policies are often those who transfer proportionally more data than other users on the same telephone line. There are some fibre optic broadband connections on the market, though, which do offer truly unlimited downloads and are not subject to a fair usage policy.

When users are deemed to be abusing their broadband connection, they are usually sent a warning by their ISP letting them know that they are downloading too much data each month and are advised to scale back. If a user continues to download too much data, though, then they are liable to have their internet connection throttled.

This throttling can take the form of added restrictions being placed on download speeds during peak times or blocking access to peer-to-peer downloads. In more extreme cases, a broadband provider may charge extra for the added data or even cut a customer off, leaving them to find a new ISP.

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Nokia 5310 XpressMusic

November 1st, 2010 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Nokia

The Nokia 5310 XpressMusic is a slim line candy bar phone designed for music lovers. Comparing mobile phones, it is similar to the Sony Ericsson Spiro, with the 5310 being a slightly larger offering with more internal memory.

Visually, the phone is stylish, coming in black with colour accents in either bright red or bright blue, both highlighting the phone’s dedicated music keys. The 5310 is a slim line phone, with a size of 103.8 by 44.7 by 9.9 mm and weighing only 70 grams. The screen is a two-inch 240 x 320 pixel QVGA.

Because this is a phone with a specific emphasis on its music abilities, the 5310 features three dedicated music keys, loudspeaker, 3.5 mm stereo headset, real time equaliser, album art display, playlist, and a variety of ring tone formats. While adding music is made simple via Nokia’s PC suite, you can also buy the ‘Comes with Music’ service which provides unlimited music downloads for a one-off payment.

As to audio performance, while not as crisp as you would get in a dedicated music player like the iPod, the audio quality isn’t bad. And, the phone comes with non-music features like a 2 megapixel camera (no flash), organising applications, games, etc. A microSD card supports up to 16 GB.

For someone looking for a simple music phone, the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic ranks high in the “cheap mobile phones that work” department. The phone is available on SIM free deals on Play.com, Nokia, and others.

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Dell Streak Review

October 29th, 2010 | Dell, Mobile Phones, Touchscreen

Laying someplace between a phone and a tablet, the Dell Streak is their answer to the iPad.  Its huge 5-inch screen definitely makes it feel more like a mini iPad than a phone.  There are many benefits to this extra large screen, which makes watching YouTube videos or viewing other media much easier.  It also makes reading e-books much more enjoyable.  When comparing mobile phones or e-book readers, the size and shape of the Dell Streak makes the handset much more portable than the Kindle or the iPad.

The 5-megapixel camera provides some great photo taking experiences.  Android applications are also aplenty with the Dell Streak as viewing up to ten applications at a time is possible using this grand screen.  Navigating through its sound system is enjoyable with the drag and drop feature, so moving playlists from your computer to your phone is painless.  There is also plenty of additional storage to be found with the SD card storage device.

If you have ever used Android UI, you will feel right at home using the applications here as not much has changed.  You can drag and drop shortcuts from the application launcher while assigning applications and widgets by clicking on a blank area of screen and waiting for the menu of your choice to appear.  Even though the Dell Streak comes with three of its own homepages, it is possible to easily add an additional three by tapping on the launcher in the taskbar.  This will provide an overview of all six home screens.

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Broadband – cheaper than you might think!

October 26th, 2010 | Broadband, Wireless Devices

In terms of speed and price, broadband is preferred over older dial-up connections, which take much longer to download files and access websites.  And in terms of price, broadband packages come in at a few pounds a month flat rate now, whilst with dial-up the waiting time for slow downloads costs you by the minute.

With broadband you can also do a lot more online, such as quickly downloading music and photos, and watching videos.  All the new technologies assume you are using broadband, and to take full advantage of internet telephony, social networking and other services you really need broadband to utilise them effectively.

Broadband may use the same home line as your telephone but calls are handled separately, so making or receiving phone calls does not interfere with online access.

If you have dial-up, you are practically there, as a quick call to your existing ISP can have a broadband modem delivered to replace the dial-up one, and the rest of the equipment you already own.  Alternatively, pick one up at your local retailer, with software included.

Broadband comparison websites such as Broadband Finder are useful when it comes to choosing the ideal broadband package, as these enable you to balance cost with services.  There is no point in paying over the odds for services you will not be using, but at the same time you do want a decent speed for your requirements.

Obtaining broadband enables you to keep up with all types of information such as travel and entertainment, 24-hours a day.  You may or may not require all this access, so to some extent broadband is a lifestyle choice.

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HTC Hero Pink

October 23rd, 2010 | HTC, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Touchscreen

HTC has built up quite a reputation in recent years for developing excellent smart-phones, utilising all software and operating systems available to them, with many mobile phone news sites devoting several articles to their range of phones.  Their recent release, HTC Hero Pink at first glance seems to be nothing more than an iPhone clone in a bubblegum exterior, however with the features and capabilities this mobile boasts, it’s arguably one of HTC’s best offerings yet, and one of the best mobile phones currently on the market.

Anyone familiar with Google’s Android operating system knows just what it’s capable of.   The HTC Hero Pink is no exception, and manages to push the capabilities of this software hard.  It’s quite simple to add widgets and applications to the phone, and there’s even a preinstalled twitter app that is ready to go, right out of the box.  While this is clearly a mobile for the modern social networker, the screen remains very responsive and fit for typing.  While there is no built in keyboard, and all typing is done on the display, this proves less frustrating than we expected, offering consistent performance in most applications.

All in all, while those looking to compare mobile phones will likely find what they need here, it’s safe to say that on intensive applications, the device can sometimes lag and prove unable to keep up. The HTC Hero Pink is a true iPhone competitor; however its processor proves to be its weak point.  If a bit of lag does not bother you, this remains a fantastic mobile phone in all other respects. To reduce costs, many service providers will offer reductions on the retail price as part of all their new or upgraded contract mobile phones packages.

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