WM 6 Devices

Microsoft unveils 21 Windows Mobile 6 devices
By Reuben Lee

The software giant recently showcased 21 new handhelds running the Windows Mobile 6 OS at the 3GSM World Congress tradeshow in Barcelona. Here's a quick look at all the handsets. (Note: Some of these devices may not be available in Asia. At press time, only the Moto Q gsm, Moto Q q9 and HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger have been confirmed for rollout in the region.)

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Quadband with GPRS and EDGE

312MHz; Intel Bulverde PXA27 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel display

QWERTY keypad

miniSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth connectivity

1.3-megapixel camera

Moto Q gsm

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Quadband with HSDPA, 3G, GPRS and EDGE

325MHz; TI OMAP 2420 processor

96MB RAM; 256MB ROM

320x240-pixel display

QWERTY keypad

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth connectivity

2-megapixel camera

Moto Q q9



Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Quadband with 3G, GPRS and EDGE

300MHz; Samsung S3C2442 processor

60MB RAM; 128MB ROM

240x240-pixel touchscreen display

QWERTY keypad

miniSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth connectivity

Palm Treo 750v



Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Quadband with GPRS and EDGE

200MHz; TI OMAP 850 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

176x220-pixel display

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity

HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger


Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Quadband with HSDPA, 3G, GPRS and EDGE

520MHz; Intel XScale processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

480x800-pixel touchscreen display

Slide-out QWERTY keypad

miniSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity

Fingerprint sensor

2-megapixel camera

Toshiba G900


Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Quadband with GPRS and EDGE

206MHz; TI OMAP 850 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel touchscreen display

QWERTY keypad

miniSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity

2-megapixel camera

i-mate JAQ4

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Quadband with GPRS and EDGE

200MHz; TI OMAP 850 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel touchscreen display

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity

2-megapixel camera

i-mate PDAL

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Quadband with GPRS

200MHz; TI OMAP 730 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel display

miniSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth connectivity

2-megapixel camera

12mm thin

i-mate SPL



Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Quadband with 3G, HSDPA and EDGE

520MHz; Intel PXA270 processor

128MB RAM; 256MB ROM

640x480-pixel display

Onboard GPS receiver

Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity

2-megapixel camera

i-mate Ultimate 5150

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

(3G) CDMA Quadband/CDMA2000; 1xEV-DO

400MHz; Samsung SC32442 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel touchscreen display

Sliding QWERTY keypad and number pad

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth and 802.11b/g WI-Fi connectivity

Samsung i760




Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Triband with GPRS and EDGE

260MHz; TI OMAP 1030 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel display

UMA / VoIP

Bluetooth and wireless LAN connectivity

BenQ E72



Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Triband with GPRS

520MHz; Intel PXA 270 processor

96MB RAM; 256MB ROM

640x480-pixel touchscreen display

Digital TV (DVB-H/T); digital radio (T-DMB/DAB)

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity

2-megapixel camera

Gigabyte GSmart t600

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Also known as the HTC Vox and Dopod C500

Quadband with GPRS and EDGE

200MHz; TI OMAP 850 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

Sliding QWERTY keypad and number pad

320x240-pixel display

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity

2-megapixel camera

Orange S710

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Triband with GPRS and EDGE

416MHz; Intel PXA270 processor

128MB RAM; 256MB ROM

320x240-pixel touchscreen display

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth 2.0, infrared and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity

3-megapixel camera

Inventec K870


Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Quadband with GPRS and EDGE

200MHz; TI OMAP 850 processor

64MB RAM; 256MB ROM

2.6-inch 320x240-pixel touchscreen display

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth 1.2 connectivity

2-megapixel camera

Asus P526

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Triband with GPRS and 3G

520MHz; Intel XScale processor

64MB RAM; 256MB ROM

320x240-pixel display

microSD card expansion slot

QWERTY keypad

2-megapixel camera

Asus Aries

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Triband with GPRS and EDGE

200MHz; TI OMAP 750 processor

128MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel touchscreen display

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity

2-megapixel camera

Lenovo Vinci

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Triband with GPRS and EDGE

200MHz; TI OMAP 750 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel display

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth and USB connectivity

Lenovo Tetris


Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Quadband with GPRS and EDGE or CDMA/1xRTT/EV-DO dualband

520MHz; Intel XScale PXA270 processor

128MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel touchscreen display

miniSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth 2.0, infrared and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity

Onboard GPS receiver

Magnetic strip reader (optional)

Intermec CN3

Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Also known as the Dopod C720W in Asia

Quadband with GPRS and EDGE

201MHz; TI OMAP 850 processor

64MB RAM; 128MB ROM

320x240-pixel display

microSD card expansion slot

Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity

QWERTY keypad

T-Mobile Dash


Notable features:

Runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Quadband with GPRS and 3G

200MHz; TI OMAP 730 processor

64MB RAM; 64MB ROM

176x220-pixel display

microSD card expansion slot

VCC-based GSM/VoIP handover

802.11b/g wireless LAN connectivity

Paragon HiPi-2300

Windows Mobile 6

Full review: Windows Mobile 6

By Bonnie Cha, CNET.com

CNET Rating: 7 out of 10

The good: New shortcuts to make performing tasks easier; added functionality to the Calendar and Contact apps; email improvements include a new search function and HTML support; Windows Live integration; Standard Edition (formerly Smartphone Edition) now includes Microsoft Office Mobile with editing capabilities.

The bad: Some of the improvements to email and the calendar app require that you have Exchange Server 2007; no notable enhancements to the multimedia capabilities.

The bottom line: Though it doesn't offer earth-shattering new features and interface issues remain, Windows Mobile 6 brings a collection of noteworthy improvements that makes its mobile devices easier to use and equips mobile professionals with more robust productivity tools.

Windows Vista isn't the only operating system making its debut this year, as Microsoft also revamped its OS for mobile devices and formally introduced Windows Mobile 6 at 3GSM World Congress. Taking the reins from Windows Mobile 5, Windows Mobile 6 isn't a complete overhaul of the OS; instead, it offers a number of useful enhancements that makes performing tasks easier and puts more powerful tools into the hands of mobile professionals. We were particularly impressed with the new email search function, Mobile Office additions, and Windows Live integration, but we think Microsoft could have done a lot more. For example, multimedia improvements are practically nonexistent and the user interface is still kludgey, requiring numerous steps to complete a simple task. Also, some of the enhanced functionality to Outlook and calendaring require that you use Exchange Server 2007. Despite these flaws, the new improvements make Windows Mobile 6 worth the upgrade.

The best news, of course, is that new OS means there will be a number of new devices coming out. There will be three editions again, but they've been renamed as Classic (formerly known as Pocket PC Edition), Standard (Smartphone Edition), and Professional (Pocket PC Phone Edition), so you can look forward to a variety of form factors. In fact, we've already seen a number of product announcements from 3GSM, including the Motorola Q q9 and the HTC Vox (also known as the Dopod C500 in Asia). For Windows Mobile 5 users, Microsoft said it will be up to carriers and device manufacturers whether they will offer upgrades.

For our review, we checked out Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition using the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger, though we will continue to evaluate the OS and its variations as more devices start to arrive on the scene.

Interface
Windows Mobile 5 users won't be in for any major surprises when they see Windows Mobile 6, as the interface largely remains the same as before. Windows Mobile 6 does have more of a Vista look with its similar color scheme and bubbly, eye-pleasing icons. Along the top of the Today screen, you still get shortcuts to your most recently used apps, but the icons are slightly larger. Below that, you'll find such important information as time, date, upcoming appointments, messages, and so forth. Of course, you can customize the background image, color scheme, and backlight time.

One of the biggest complaints about Windows Mobile devices, especially when compared to Palm, is the number of steps it takes to perform a simple task, such as closing out of a program. This is still pretty much true of Windows Mobile 6, but Microsoft has taken some steps to ease the pain. For example, the company has added nine new email shortcuts so you can easily reply, delete, move messages, and more. While this is a step in the right direction, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Features
Window Mobile 6 really doesn't offer any mind-blowing new features, but rather, it includes some nice refinements that make the devices easier to use as well as act more like your PC. However, we should warn you that a number of the enhanced PIM capabilities require Exchange Server 2007, so unfortunately, if you or your company have no plans to upgrade, you're left in the cold. We'll note such exceptions as we go through the features.

Contacts And Calendar
Starting with some of the basics, call history is now sorted to the appropriate contact page. Though you may think this isn't a big deal, it's actually quite convenient as you can easily see when you received and made calls to that specific person, the time of the call, the duration, and so forth. Also, the new OS provides a quick Send Text Message shortcut, so you can be on your way to text message heaven with just one click, rather than having to go through several steps.

The Calendar app is also more user friendly, as the upgrade provides a better view of your schedule at a glance. First, there's a new Calendar Ribbon that lines the top of the screen and shows you which times you are free and which are booked. In addition, you get a week view, and while it gives you a good overview of your schedule--complete with colored blocks for appointments--you can also get details of the event, such as meeting location, right along the bottom of your screen so you don't have to open each one. The calendaring capabilities are also more robust if you are using Exchange Server 2007. With that integration, you have the ability to not only see who is attending a meeting, but you can forward and reply to meeting requests as well. While we couldn't test this feature, we got a working demo, and we can see how it would really come in handy for the mobile professional, bringing more of that PC experience to your smart phone.

Email
Email is a lot smarter on Windows Mobile 6. First, all devices will ship with Microsoft's Direct Push technology so you get real-time email delivery and automatic synchronization with your Outlook calendar, tasks, and contacts via Exchange Server. Microsoft has also added nine new one-click shortcuts, as we noted above; plus, you get more of the true Outlook experience as your In-box view shows messages that are flagged, marked as high importance, and so forth. Once again, with Exchange Server 2007, you can do even more with Outlook Mobile, such as set up an Out of Office reply. Searching for emails is no longer an unpleasant task, thanks to a new search function. Similar to the Smart Dial feature on Windows Mobile 5 devices, where you input a couple of letters to pull up associated contact, you can simply start typing in a word while in your Inbox, and it will automatically pull up messages with that term in the subject or contact field. It worked great for us, and it's truly a timesaver. There is, of course, continued support for POP3 and IMAP accounts, but now you can also view emails in their original HTML format, regardless of account type. If there happens to be a hyperlink within a message, you can select to go to that page or if a phone number is listed, you can dial out directly from that message as well.

Windows Live For Mobile And Web Browsing
If you have a Hotmail/Windows Live email account, you can easily access those messages with Windows Live for Mobile. It's a simple matter of inputting your user ID and password, then you can choose to synchronize your email and contacts, which integrates nicely into your phone's address book. As far as instant messenger, you get Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger), which boasts some improvements in its own right. Now, you can have multiperson chats and send images and voice clips via IM. While we appreciate these new capabilities, we're disappointed that there's not a more universal app included that supports other popular IM clients such as AIM and Yahoo.

Another aspect of Windows Live for Mobile is the Live Search, giving you a quick and easy way to search the Web. When you first access Windows Live, you are given the option of adding a Live Search bar, as well as Windows Live services, to the Today screen, and we recommend doing so. It's truly handy just to turn on your phone, enter a search term in the field, press OK, and instantly get results. The Live Search bar is also now part of the Internet Explorer Mobile home page, as well as new expandable Favorites and History menus.

Finally, there is also a new Internet Sharing utility, courtesy of Windows Mobile 6, that allows you to easily set up your phone as a wireless modem for your laptop via Bluetooth, or you can use a USB connection as well.

Work And Play
The big news here is that Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition (formerly Smartphone Edition) now has the full Microsoft Office Mobile Suite. Whereas Windows Mobile 5 smart phones typically came installed with the Picsel Viewer Suite for opening and viewing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents, Windows Mobile 6 brings the real deal so you can not only see said files but also edit them. We should note, however, that the editing capabilities are pretty light.

In Word, you're pretty much restricted to adding and deleting text and formatting type (such as bold, italic, underline, and highlight); while in Excel, you can insert rows and columns, sort, perform basic functions, and so forth. PowerPoint remains pretty much view-only, although you can change playback options. For now, you can't create new documents on Standard Edition devices. It is possible with OneNote 2007, but this isn't part of the standard Windows Mobile 6 package, so you'll have to shell out US$79.95 for the app. That said, we were able to transfer all three document types using a beta version of ActiveSync 4.5 and had no problems viewing or editing them. Admittedly, trying to edit manuscripts and spreadsheets without a touch screen and a QWERTY keyboard was a bit challenging on the HP iPaq 510.

Sadly, there were no notable improvements to Windows Media Player Mobile.

Service And Support
Microsoft has maintained an informative and helpful support site for Windows Mobile 5 users; we hope and suspect that this will continue with Windows Mobile 6 as more devices become available. As it stands now, you can search through a number of help and how-to articles to get you through the basics, such as setting up your device, then delve into more advanced capabilities. As we noted in the beginning, it'll be up to carriers and device manufacturers to determine if they will offer Windows Mobile 6 upgrades.

Dopod 838 Pro

By Andrew Lim
Aug 03, 2006

After the launch of the Dopod 838 in Asia last year, the handheld company has recently released an upgrade model, the 838 Pro. Touted as the first Windows Mobile PDA-phone with HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) and 3G, the new QWERTY-enabled handheld sports many enhancements over its 838 predecessor including a high-resolution 2-megapixel CMOS sensor and faster 400MHz Samsung processor. It is expected to be available on retail shelves for S$1,398 (US$919.01) (or S$1,298 (US$853.05) with a two-year plan).

Editors' note: Some modifications have been made in this article, which was originally written for the UK audience. The Dopod 838 Pro is known as the HTC TyTN (pronounced titan) in the UK.

Strengths
The Dopod 838 Pro runs Windows Mobile 5.0, which means you can access and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, browse the Web using Internet Explorer, and even play music and video on the mini Windows Media Player. Windows Mobile 5.0 also gives you the ability to use MSN Messenger and Hotmail, check your personal email via Direct Push Technology and Exchange 2003 SP2, and even access your calendar, contacts, tasks and inbox over the air. The 838 Pro is all about communication, and features HSDPA, quadband GSM support, 3G (UMTS), EDGE, infrared, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so you won't be lacking in ways to keep in touch.

Although the 838 Pro bears some resemblance to the 838, it is powered by a 400MHz Samsung stacked CPU with 128MB ROM and 64MB SDRAM. This is a significant improvement on the 838, which only has a TI OMAP 850 195MHz processor. This makes accessing applications faster and means that unlike some previous HTC models, this device can handle Skype without any problem.

Navigating through the phone is made easier and faster by the 838 Pro's scroll wheel on the left side of the handset. There's also a cleverly hidden QWERTY keypad that slides out from underneath the 838 Pro. When in use, it automatically puts the screen into landscape mode and lights up if it's dark. The 838 Pro's screen measures 45mm wide by 60mm tall, which is large enough to view Web pages and documents without needing to squint.

The screen is good to take photos with, and fortunately the 838 Pro comes with a 2-megapixel camera that can be put in landscape and macro mode. There's also a 0.3-megapixel (VGA) camera at the front of the device so you can make video calls. We like the OK button on the left-hand side that takes you straight back to the home page, and the easy-to-access microSD card slot.

Finally, we're impressed with the battery life that lasted for the quoted 200 hours on standby and around 4 hours of talk time. This is without using the Wi-Fi adapter, however, which would decrease battery life significantly.

Weaknesses
Our main problem with Windows Mobile devices is that they are less straightforward to use than other mobile phones. If you're not used to Windows Mobile then buying this device as your first mobile phone would not be advisable. Making calls with the 838 Pro on the Windows Mobile interface can be testing at times too, as you have to use the touch screen or slide-out QWERTY keypad to dial numbers.

The 838 Pro isn't small, either. Measuring 58 by 112 by 22mm, it may have difficulty fitting into your pocket and, if you can make it fit, the 180g is likely to weigh down your suit jacket pocket or pair of jeans.

The addition of a 2-megapixel camera may also prove to be a disadvantage for business use, given that some companies don't allow camera-phones in their buildings. Another problem some people might find with the 838 Pro is that most digital cameras use SD cards and not microSD ones, so you won't be able to view your photos on the device until you've transferred them over to your computer.

Conclusion
The 838 Pro is one of Dopod's best devices to date. With its slide-out Qwerty keypad, HSDPA capabilities and a plethora of other connectivity options, it is definitely a Windows Mobile device to be reckoned with. It's rather chunky though, and we'd like to see smaller Wi-Fi-enabled devices in the future.

Rating 8.2 out of 10

The good: Range of connectivity options including 3G and HSDPA; slide-out QWERTY keypad; scroll wheel; support for Bluetooth stereo (A2DP).

The bad: Chunky size; heavy; microSD expansion slot.

The bottom line: An extremely well-equipped Pocket PC PDA-phone, Dopod has made sure that the 3G-enabled 838 Pro balances features with power so it doesn't leave you hanging when you need to access applications like Skype. Due to its size and weight, however, you'll need a bag if you're going to carry it around.

Moto Q8

Phone type	Quadband
Networks	GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900
Connectivity options	EDGE, GPRS, Bluetooth, USB
Weight w/battery	115 g
Battery type(s) supported	Rechargeable 1,170mAh battery
Max. talktime (in hours)	5 hours
Max. standby time (in hours)	240 hours
Additional functions	802.11b/g Wi-Fi supported via miniSDIO; Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition (full Web browsing, document viewing and editing)

Moto Q9

By Andrew Lim
Aug 09, 2007

For years Motorola has produced handsets firmly based on its best seller, the RAZR V3. Fortunately, the Motorola Q 9 (previously known as the Motorola Q q9 and Q 9h or Q9h) breaks away from the thin clamshell design we know a little too well and is a slim, BlackBerry-style device that features a full QWERTY keypad and Windows Mobile 6.

Design
Motorola is starting to break away from its clamshell roots and produce handsets that look and feel different. The Q 9 is a smart phone designed primarily for texting and emailing. Similar to BlackBerry handsets, the Q 9 is wide enough (67mm) to accomodate a large screen and full QWERTY keypad, but it's also only 12mm thin, which means it fits in your pocket and doesn't cause too much disruption.

The keypad is really well designed and we found it good for writing out long emails and text messages. Each key on the keypad is raised in the middle, making it easier to distinguish between them, and the keypad is curved, which matches the movement of your thumbs better than a straight one.

The color screen is relatively large and satisfactory for reading long documents and emails on, but we think it could have been made wider still. Also, instead of a scroll wheel for scrolling through emails, Motorola has added a simple up, down and select button system on the top-right side, which some people might not like.

Features
The Motorola Q 9 runs on Windows Mobile 6 Standard, which among other things means it supports push email through Exchange Servers, in addition to letting you set up push email via a Windows Live Hotmail account. You now also have the option to access emails through a BlackBerry server, using RIM's Windows Mobile 6 application.

There's HSDPA (3.5G) connectivity for browsing and both Internet Explorer Mobile and Opera Mobile browsers are preinstalled. Unfortunately, there's no Wi-Fi, but Motorola claims this is to increase battery life. HSDPA can currently achieve speeds of up to 1.8Mbps in the UK and we found it worked well, making browsing the Web a fast and enjoyable process.

Email and processing features aside, Motorola has made sure this phone isn't just about business. The Q 9 also features Windows Media player that lets you watch online video and play MPEG4 and WMV video files among others, and supports a variety of music formats, including MP3 and AAC+.

You can listen to music using the proprietary headphones or use a pair of stereo-Bluetooth (A2DP) headphones. On the back of the Q 9 there's a 2-megapixel camera that takes acceptable pics for MMS messages and mementos, but don't expect to print out large, clear photos.

On the left side of the Q 9 there's a handy expandable microSD slot that supports up to a 2GB card, which will hold around 400 songs and plenty of shots from the built-in camera.

Other Q 9 features include light-sensing technology that optimises the screen's brightness depending on the ambient light, USB 2.0 connectivity for quick data transfer with your PC, and quadband connectivity, which means you can use it in any country that supports a GSM network.

Performance
Audio quality during calls was good and unlike many other smart phones didn't sound distorted or muffled. The speaker phone mode is loud and easy to access using a dedicated key on the keypad. The stereo Bluetooth works fine--we used a pair of Philips SHB6102 Bluetooth headphones without any problems.

The picture quality from the 2-megapixel camera was, as expected, not great and most pictures looked blurry when printed out at full size. Looking at pictures and videos on the Q 9's screen, however, was good and you can use Sling Media's SlingPlayer Mobile in conjunction with a Slingbox to watch your TV on it too.

There are two processors inside, which means there wasn't much lag while starting and using various applications at the same time. Relative to other smart phones running Windows Mobile, the Q 9 was quick to respond and seemed pretty smooth overall.

Battery life was acceptable, lasting for over a day without needing to recharge. Motorola quotes it at 260 minutes worth of talk time and 510 hours of standby.

Conclusion
There are loads of rivals out there--the BlackBerry 8800 has GPS, and the Samsung i600 and Palm Treo 750v also have QWERTY keypads, but the Q 9 beats them all on the strength of its keypad alone. It's one of the best we have ever used.

Add to that HSPDA connectivity and a decent-sized screen and you have a worthy rival to RIM and Palm's offerings. Our only niggles are the lack of a scroll wheel and Wi-Fi, but otherwise this is one of the best smart phones around.

Rating: 8 out of 10

The good: QWERTY keypad; HSDPA (3.5G) connectivity; dual processors.

The bad: No Wi-Fi; screen could be slightly wider.

The bottom line: The Q 9 has one of the best smart phone keypads we have used and the Windows Mobile 6 software moves along fairly speedily. It's definitely one of the better models out there at the moment.

HP iPaq 512 Voice Messenger

Phone type	Quadband
Networks	GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900
Connectivity options	Bluetooth, USB, WLAN
Weight w/battery	102 g
Max. talktime (in hours)	6.5 hours
Max. standby time (in hours)	188 hours

Dopod C730

By Damian Koh
Jun 25, 2007

Also known as the HTC Cavalier, the Dopod C730 is an update to the C720W, joining the ranks of devices running on the latest Windows Mobile 6 Standard platform. The main difference between the C730 and the C720W is the addition of 3G in the former, with support also for faster HSDPA connection.

Design
The sides and back of the C730 are made of stiff plastic with a brown metallic color. On the front, a brushed matte-silver surface surrounds the screen and keypad. While its general shape and size are similar to the C720W, the newer model comes across as more conventional and sophisticated in its design because of the lack of striking contrasts between the silver and brown parts.

With a side profile of 13.5mm, the C730 is a tad thicker but 10g lighter than the C720W with a 12.8mm girth and weighing 130g. Overall, the C730 still falls into the thin-and-light category and it sits comfortably in our pockets. More importantly, it feels good in the hands.

However, as a QWERTY handheld, the C730 doesn't quite impress. Although the array of controls below the 2.4-inch, QVGA display are large and provide tactile feedback, we can't say the same for the keyboard. The keys are rather small and there's no spacing between each button. So we ended up pecking on the keys instead of thumbing our messages. Not a big problem if you have small digits or are just sending a short text message, though we won't say the same if we had to edit a long Word document.

An interesting element which the C730 has brought over from its predecessor is the touch-sensitive strip on the right edge of the phone. It controls the volume, opens up the messaging application and allows us to return to the previous menu. But we're not huge fans of this touch strip.

There were times when it got a little temperamental and turned cranky on us. That said, it's not all that bad because other than the volume area, the other two touch-sensitive parts require the user to double-tap to activate. And if we really hated it, we could turn it off altogether or specify it to do only certain tasks, like adjust volume in-call.

Unlike the C720W which has the microSD expansion slot behind the battery cover along the right side, the media slot on the C730 is on the left edge of the unit, making it a whole lot easier to swap cards.

Features
Other than the addition of 3G and HSDPA connectivity features on this quadband Dopod, the biggest difference between the C730 and the older C720W is the operating system. The C730 runs on the latest Windows Mobile 6 Standard edition, while the C720W is powered on the Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone edition. For a full review of Windows Mobile 6, click here.

That said, we didn't feel that there's a major overhaul between the two platforms, though there are some definite improvements on the newer OS. For instance, the WM6 ships with Office Mobile by default so we could view and edit Word and Excel PowerPoint documents on the smart phone without the need to install third-party applications. PowerPoint files, however, remain view-only. One other thing to note is that the programs don't allow the user to create new documents, at least not on the Standard edition devices.

Other refinements include the ability to view emails in all their full HTML (only on Exchange 2007) glory as well as a more friendly user interface for emails, contacts and calendar. There's also a task bar on the top row of the home screen which displays the most recently used programs. Windows Mobile 6 additionally integrates some services to give a more desktop-like experience such as the Live Search function and Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger).

We like how WM6 attempts to integrate all the various programs and services together for a wholesome experience, but we also noticed that keeping an always-on connection drains the battery rapidly. Syncing with our Exchange server was a breeze. One thing we noticed was that if we had already specified to sync, say, Contacts via a PC connection, the device would not allow us to sync Contacts again over-the-air. We had to disable the selection on the sync profile before we could do that.

As a multimedia device, the C730 is pretty much like the rest of the competition and there aren't big surprises. The 2-megapixel shooter on the back is still missing an LED flash and the handheld sorely lacks a front-facing camera for 3G video calls. It supports Bluetooth stereo (and AVRCP) so we could use our wireless headsets if we didn't want to utilize the onboard speakers on the back of the unit.

With Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, the C730 can read AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA and AMR files. Rather disappointing is the omission of an audio jack. Instead, we had to rely on the mini-USB port on the top of the phone for plugging in a USB headset, charging and synchronizing.

There's also a nifty Internet Sharing program which allows the user to deploy the C730 as a modem to share Internet connection with a computer over Bluetooth. While we're at it, this Dopod is also Wi-Fi-enabled.

On the technical specifications, the Dopod C730 is powered by a 400MHz Samsung processor with 64MB of RAM and 128MB of flash ROM. There's about 20MB of free memory to run applications.

Performance
We tested the quadband (850/900/1800/1900MHz) Dopod C730 with our HSDPA M1 SIM card in Singapore. The unit has a rated talktime of about 6 hours and maximum standby time of 8.3 days. In actual use, with minimum Wi-Fi, 3G or HSDPA connection, the 1050mAh Lithium-ion battery lasted about two days (less if you sync with Exchange often) before it konked out. During our tests, we also synchronized with our Exchange server a couple of times and went online with Live Messenger using our HSDPA connection.

Image quality was rather decent and the image sensor tended to clip the shadows to retain the highlights. With post-processing, we could actually bring out more details from our pictures. Still, the lack of an onboard flash limited shooting options in darker environments.

As for sound quality, we didn't have any complaints. The party on the other end could hear us fine both on the speakerphone and when we had the phone to our ear. The only thing to note was that the C730 doesn't have hard buttons for volume control. Instead, we had to slide up or down the touch strip to adjust the volume.

Rating: 7.4 out of 10

The good: Thin and light profile; hot-swappable microSD card slot; 3G; HSDPA; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth stereo; Windows Mobile 6; seamless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange server; decent image quality.

The bad: Keyboard buttons a little too small; temperamental touch strip; no dedicated audio jack; no onboard flash and front-facing camera.

The bottom line: The Dopod C730 has big shoes to fill considering its predecessor's popularity and it attempts to do so with extra connectivity options (3G and HSDPA) and a new WM6 operating system. Still, the temperamental touch strip and the tiny keys don't quite do justice to the smart phone.

Nokia 6300

By Andrew Lim
Apr 04, 2007

Nokia is renowned for easy-to-use, simple mobile phones, but its recent line-up of high-end handsets has left some people very confused. The Nokia 6300, however, gets back to basics--combining modern design with good old-fashioned simplicity. It's currently available at about S$198 (US$130.99) with a two-year contract. Alternatively, you can buy it SIM-free for about S$548 (US$360.97).

Editors' note: This review is based on tests done by our sister site CNET.co.uk. As such, please note that there may be slight differences in the testing procedure and ratings system. For more information on the actual tests conducted on the product, please inquire directly at the site where the article was originally published.

Design
You may have thought the days of mobile phones sturdy enough to beat a mugger about the head with were over, but the 6300 feels very solid indeed. It's made from a combination of tough stainless steel covers and glossy, expensive black plastic.

Fortunately, the 6300 is more Van Damme than Schwarzenegger and comes in at a hard but slim 12mm deep. It's comfortable to carry around in a jacket or trouser pocket and unlike other metallic handsets it doesn't feel that heavy.

The 6300's 320x240-pixel (QVGA) color screen displays up to 16 million colors and is good for viewing photos, watching videos and reading text messages or emails on. Measuring a relatively large 30mm wide by 40mm tall, you won't need to squint when looking at it.

We were relieved to see the 6300's keypad features large keys, making it easy to use. Our only niggle is that the four-way navigation key above the keypad feels a little on the thin side and can be awkward to press.

At the bottom there's a small charging port that fits the new Nokia chargers, a 2.5mm headphone jack and a mini-USB port that lets you connect the 6300 to your PC, which means no more searching for the proprietary Nokia USB cable.

One noteworthy design feature is the blue lights on either side of the 6300, which glow when you have an unread text message--hardly essential, but we like it nonetheless.

Features
Nokia has kept it very simple on this handset and opted for the straightforward Series 40 user interface. This means it's very simple to use and easy to understand, particularly if you're upgrading from an old Nokia phone.

One tap of the menu button underneath the screen and you're straight into the menu. You can view the menu as a grid of icons, as tabs or as a list. You also have the option to rearrange the icons so they're in the order you want them.

When you hover over an icon in the menu for long enough, a pop-up window appears explaining what that icon is for. The menu gives you access to, among other things, the 6300's media applications.

The 6300 boasts a camera, a music player, a video player, an FM radio and a voice recorder. The 2-megapixel camera on the back lets you take still photos or shoot video and there's the option to adjust several settings, including a timer and night mode.

We're disappointed, however, that there's no auto-focus or flash on the camera as it means that photos come out blurry if you don't hold the 6300 very still, and while there is a night mode, taking pictures in very low light isn't really an option.

You can send pictures to friends using Bluetooth or via GPRS/EDGE in an email or MMS message. The GPRS/EDGE connectivity also works in conjunction with the 6300's own Web browser or the Opera Mini Web browser that comes pre-installed.

Other pre-installed apps include a Bluetooth presenter that lets you control PowerPoint presentations and Nokia's sensor app, which lets you share pictures and personal information over Bluetooth. You can download more Java applications for the 6300 on the Internet and install them using the Nokia PC Suite.

The PC Suite also lets you transfer music and video files to the 6300's internal memory or to a 2GB (or smaller) microSD card, which will hold about 480 songs. The 6300's music player supports MP3, MP4, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, H.263 and H.264 files.

You can listen to the FM radio and your own music using the proprietary headphones, which have a small 2.5mm jack plug, but feature a built-in mic for hands-free calls. Alternatively, you can listen to music wirelessly via a pair of stereo Bluetooth headphones, but these won't work with the FM radio.

One of the Nokia 6300's hidden talents is its ability to upgrade and synchronize data wirelessly. FOTA (firmware upgrade over the air) support lets you upgrade the 6300's firmware wirelessly and SyncML lets you synchronize your contacts and calendar, among other things, using services such as ZYB.

Other features include an email client that's easy to set up and supports most popular email services, including Gmail and Yahoo mail. There's also a voice recorder, alarm clock, calendar, to-do list, notes, calculator, countdown timer, stopwatch and Java games.

Performance
The 6300's audio quality during calls was good and we didn't notice any distortions, echoing or muffling. The speakerphone is loud and worked as expected, but you probably want to use the headphones to listen to music rather than the loudspeaker--your fellow commuters would certainly agree.

The camera took decent pictures for MMS messages or mementos, but the comparatively low-resolution camera and lack of auto-focus meant that pictures came out blurry when we viewed them at full size.

The GPRS/EDGE connectivity is rather slow and browsing the Web or downloading data isn't a particularly pleasant experience. We're disappointed that the 6300 doesn't come with 3G, as it would make downloading data much quicker.

The battery life is good and even after using it moderately for about three days we didn't need to recharge it. Nokia quote the 6300's battery life at 14.5 days on standby and 3.5 hours talk time.

Conclusion
when it comes out. Alternatively, the If you want 3G connectivity and a better camera, it's worth having a look at Sony Ericsson's K800i, and the K810iNokia E65 is another good new handset from Nokia that's slim and comes packed with features.

Otherwise, the 6300 epitomises what Nokia does best--it's simple, it's easy to use and it feels well built. Yes, the camera could have been fitted with a higher-resolution sensor and it would have been great to have 3G connectivity. But this is still one of the best Nokia handsets we've seen so far, and it's set to become popular with businessmen and teenagers alike.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

The good: Slim design; sharp color screen; easy-to-use keypad; slick-looking user interface that keeps it simple.

The bad: No auto-focus or flash on the camera; lack of 3G connectivity.

The bottom line: While this isn't the most advanced handset out there, it has a strong casing, a decent all-round feature set and an elegant, straightforward design. This is Nokia at its best.

Phone

Phone type Triband

Networks GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, EGSM

Connectivity options GPRS, Bluetooth, A2DP, USB

Calling Features Voice commands, Speakerphone

Physical design

Form factor Candy bar

Dimensions (W x D x H) 106.4 x 43.6 x 13.1 mm

Weight w/battery 91 g

Primary display type TFT

Secondary display type None

Secondary display resolution x pixels

Input method(s) Voice recognition

Available colours Silver/black

General

LCD display size 2-inch, QVGA screen

Color LCD? Yes

Primary Display Color 24 bit

Performance

Operating system Others

Battery type(s) supported Rechargeable removable 860mAh battery

Max. talktime (in hours) 3.5 hours

Max. standby time (in hours) 336 hours

Internal memory 135 MB

Expansion slot(s) TransFlash / microSD

Included accessories

Stereo headset, compact charger, battery, 128MB microSd card, user guide and CD-ROM

Other Features

Additional functions PC synchronization; Push to talk

MMS? Yes

Predictive text input? Yes

Polyphonic? Yes

Built-in vibrate alert? Yes

Multimedia

Built-in digital camera? Yes

Maximum camera resolution 2 megapixels

Warranty

Base warranty 1 year

Sony Ericsson W880i

By Reuben Lee, CNET Asia
Mar 21, 2007

Sony Ericsson has finally jumped onto the thin-phone bandwagon when it launched its first sub-10mm Walkman phone, the W880i, a week before the 3GSM World Congress in February. (The company offered sneak peeks of the handset earlier in January during the CES tradeshow in Las Vegas.) What's impressive about Sony Ericsson's new offering, however, is not just its thin profile. Like the Samsung Ultra Edition 8.4, the W880i comes with an extensive feature set that includes 3G, 2-megapixel camera, expandable memory card slot and Bluetooth stereo support. It is currently available for S$788 (US$518.96) with a two-year contract and S$888 (US$584.04) for just the handset.

Design
At 9.4mm, the W880i is possibly Sony Ericsson's slimmest phone so far and ranks among the thinnest 3G candy bars in the cellular market today. The Samsung Ultra Edition 8.4, which is currently one of skinniest 3G candy-bar phones, measures 1mm thinner, but sports a slightly wider and longer footprint..

Despite its thin form factor, the W880i feels solid, thanks to its sturdy construction and stainless steel front cover. The rubberized finish used for the rear casing also provides a firm grip, a thoughtful feature for slim models since there's a greater tendency to slip. Overall, we found the W880i lightweight at 71g and slim enough to slip easily into tight pockets.

Like most Walkman phones, the W880i is designed to stand out from the conventional grey or black handsets with its bright colors. The unit loaned to us, which sports the trademark orange and black tones, will appeal to those who want an eye-catching mobile. Those who fancy more subtlety and elegance will find the silver-grey edition more attractive.

Our biggest gripe with the W880i is probably its tiny keypad. Smaller than even the size of a rice grain, the buttons are not only hard to press, the sharp edges of the keys can be painful when texting for prolonged periods. Placing the buttons close together doesn't help matters, either, particularly for those with big digits.

We had similar issues with the navigation and various softkeys, which are a tad too small for comfortable use. On several occasions, we hit wrong buttons while scrolling through the menus, which added to the frustration. Nor did we like the tiny rocker switch on the right side panel as this requires a bit of dexterity to use for adjusting the volume or zooming into an image. For all their size, the Walkman and camera buttons on the sides proved surprisingly responsive, possibly because they are single buttons.

The W880i comes with two cameras: A primary 2-megapixel camera behind the LCD display and a second lens just beside the earpiece for video calls. We like that the Memory Stick Micro slot is located along the edge which allows for easy accessibility.

As with many other Walkman handsets, the charging port at the bottom left side of the phone multitasks as the connector for the wired handsfree headset as well as the USB cable. Previously, this meant users could carry out only one of the three functions. However, with the new dual connector on the AC adapter, you can either hook up to the handsfree headset or the USB cable while charging the phone.

The standard bundle of the W880i includes a USB cable, handsfree headset, AC adapter, 1GB Memory Stick Micro card as well as manuals and software CD.

Features
We can't help but notice the various similarities between the W880i and the Samsung Ultra Edition 8.4. Both candy-bar sets are slim and come with 3G capabilities. Each sports a 2-megapixel camera, expandable memory and Bluetooth stereo support. Sadly, both handsets also lack FM radio, which would have given users an alternative music source other than the onboard MP3 player.

There isn't a whole lot of manual controls in the 2-megapixel camera, save for the standard white balance, filter effects as well as options for multiple and panoramic shots. In shooting mode, the phone has to be held horizontally like a regular camera, making use of the full LCD display for viewfinder and image viewing.

The key feature of the W880i, however, is still its digital music player which is easily accessible by pressing the tiny Walkman button on the right. It runs the Walkman 2.0 player which can be found on the newer Sony Ericsson handsets such as the W850i and the recently unveiled W660i. The second-generation music player features an updated, more user-friendly interface that allows users to add album clipart and manage playlists. It also adds stereo widening, visualization and skin effects on top of the equalizer and play mode functions. We like that the player allows you to run music in the background while performing other tasks such as SMS texting or surfing the Web, unlike the Samsung Ultra Edition 8.4.

We were slightly disappointed to find HSDPA missing from the W880i's feature list, particularly since other major players such as Motorola and Samsung have already announced HSDPA offerings. However, most users will still find the Walkman phone fairly well-equipped with 3G, Bluetooth (with A2DP stereo profile) and USB. Also supported on the handset are Picture Blogging, PictBridge and Java MIDP 2.0. The flight mode can be activated when using the phone on a plane.

Sony Ericsson is including a 1GB Memory Stick Micro media with the W880i as a standard bundle. This should easily store around 250 MP3 files and more than 1,000 2-megapixel images, which should be more than sufficient for most users.

The W880i uses the Access NetFront Web browser for surfing the Web and supports RSS feeds as well as OMA DRM 2.0 for music downloads. There's also TrackID which is a music recognition application. All a user needs to do is record a few seconds of the song and send it to the Gracenote database. The song, artist and album name will be sent to the phone in a few seconds.

Performance
We tested the W880i in various locations around Singapore and found the call quality and reception generally good. The speakerphone volume was tad too soft at times, but the other party had no issues with the voice quality.

During tests, we were able to get around on two days of moderate use before the 950mAh Lithium-polymer battery powered down. Do note that for frequent use of 3G and Bluetooth, the battery life will expectedly be shorter.

Even without an autofocus function, the onboard 2-megapixel camera took pretty decent pictures when used outdoors during the day, but like most camera-phones in the market, the image quality suffered for low lighting and night shots. It didn't help that there was no built-in LED light to illuminate nearby objects. We didn't find any self-portrait mirror on the W880i, either. Video captures turned out relatively grainy but smooth.

When we played music through the speakers, the sound volume was loud but the audio quality was somewhat tinsy. The music sounded much better when we hooked the phone up to the bundled wired headset. We had no problems pairing and using the W880i with the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset.

Images generally appeared sharp and bright on the 1.8-inch QVGA LCD screen which is capable of displaying up to 262,000 colors. At its brightest setting, the screen was viewable under direct sunlight.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10
The good: Slim, attractive design; solid build quality; bundled with a 1GB memory card; 3G; loud speakers; sharp image captures.

The bad: Camera lacks autofocus and flash; buttons are too small; no FM radio; tinny sound quality.

The bottom line: The W880i is slim, sexy and surprisingly packed with features. If you can look past its tiny keys and tinsy sound, this is one music-phone that's worth a closer look.

Phone

Phone type Triband

Networks GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900

Connectivity options 3G, GPRS, Java, Bluetooth, A2DP, USB

Calling Features Video calls

Physical design

Form factor Candy bar

Dimensions (W x D x H) 103 x 46.5 x 9.4 mm

Weight w/battery 71 g

Primary display type TFT

Secondary display type None

Secondary display resolution x pixels

Interchangeable covers? No

Available colours Black-orange and silver-black

General

LCD display size 1.8-inch QVGA TFT

Color LCD? Yes

Primary Display Color 18 bit

Performance

Operating system Others

Battery type(s) supported Rechargeable 950mAh Lithium-polymer battery

Max. talktime (in hours) 6.5 hours

Max. standby time (in hours) 425 hours

Internal memory 16 MB

Expansion slot(s) Memory Stick Micro

Included accessories

1GB Memory Stick Micro card; USB cable; AC adapter; stereo handsfree headset; user manual and software CD

Other Features

Additional functions

Picture blogging; PictBridge; Face warp application; flight mode; IM; full HTML browser with RSS; USB mass storage; PC synchronization; second VGA camera for video calls

MMS? Yes

Predictive text input? Yes

Polyphonic? Yes

Built-in vibrate alert? Yes

Games QuadroPop

Multimedia

Built-in digital camera? Yes

Maximum camera resolution 2 megapixels

Warranty

Base warranty 1 year

Samsung Ultra Edition 8.4

By Reuben Lee
Jan 12, 2007

In the past year, Samsung has built a strong reputation for featuring some of its slimmest handsets in its Ultra Edition series. The new Ultra Edition 8.4 (a.k.a. SGH-Z370) is no exception. Touted as the thinnest 3G phone in the world during its initial European launch in August 2006, the 8.4 improves upon the Ultra Edition 6.9 with several key enhancements, including 3G connectivity, dual cameras and an expansion card slot. The extra features do add slightly to the bulk of the handset, but frankly you'd be hard-pressed to find another phone that's as slim and feature-rich as the 8.4.

Design
Like previous Ultra Edition phones, the number in the model name denotes the thickness of the handset. Thus, in the case of the Ultra Edition 8.4, the mobile measures just 8.4mm. While it may not be as thin as its Ultra Edition 6.9 predecessor, we like that it feels a lot less flimsy. Combined with the solid build quality of the handset, we certainly had no qualms when putting the 8.4 in the back pocket, unlike the 6.9 which somehow felt like it would break under stress.

To better differentiate the new trio of 3G Ultra Editions from the first-generation lineup (unveiled during CommunicAsia 2006), the 8.4 will be offered in silver. This is a conservative yet refreshing change from the black in the original series and should appeal to the mass market audience. That said, there are just too many silver handsets in the market today. Given a choice, we hope to see the 8.4 being introduced in more vibrant colors.

Aesthetics-wise, Samsung adopts a plain-looking yet functional approach for the 8.4, with its design modeled closely after the 6.9. The phone follows a flat, wide footprint, with buttons and connectors on both sides. The microSD card expansion slot can be accessed from the right side and comes with a plastic cover to keep out the dust and dirt. The 1.9-inch landscape display makes it easier to read messages.

Buttons on the keypad are generally well-spaced and large enough for comfortable typing. Compared with the 6.9, Samsung has added two extra keys on the 8.4 for video calls and quick function switch just above the call and end call buttons, respectively. The center navigation button to access the Internet will take some getting used to as it is instinctively a menu button for many other phones.

To enable 3G video calls, the 8.4 comes with a VGA camera right above the TFT screen and a 2-megapixel sensor on the rear. The back camera is aligned with a self-portrait mirror plate on a flat surface that juts out slightly from the rest of the back cover. It's great for taking pictures as it is designed so your finger doesn't block the lens. This design, though, puts the glass at greater risk of being scratched.

For such a thin phone with limited real estate, we're surprised that Samsung still manages to squeeze in a small hook for hanging phone straps and other dangly accessories.

Our main design gripe lies with the phone's 3-in-1 connector. The single port is used to hook up to a wired headset, USB cable and charger, a setback as it means you can perform only one of the three tasks at any one time.

Features
It's amazing what mobile manufacturers pack into handsets these days, particular for ultra-thin models like the 8.4. Besides a 2-megapixel camera, the Samsung packs a video recorder/player as well as a music player. Its onboard document viewer application also lets you read your document files on the phone, a nifty tool for those who want to remain productive while on the daily commute.

The biggest enhancement the 8.4 has over the 6.9 is really the addition of an onboard memory card slot. This not only provides a convenient option to transfer data in and out of the mobile, it also doesn't cap the storage space available since more microSD media can always be purchased.

The 8.4 comes with the standard array of connectivity options including 3G, Bluetooth and USB. It also supports Java games and has a basic set of PIM applications for simple organizer tools. There's an onboard browser for surfing the Web, too.

This is not a music-phone, so naturally you won't find features such as dedicated music playback controls and 3.5mm audio jack, although those will be nice to have in future editions. What the phone offers, though, are stereo Bluetooth (A2DP) support, playlist creation and a built-in digital power amp that does improve the sound from the onboard speakers.

It's a pity the phone doesn't come with an FM radio. Nor is there a flashlight on the camera, which would have doubled as a handy torch.

Performance And Battery Life
We tested the Ultra Edition 8.4 extensively throughout a two-week period and didn't encounter any problems with reception or voice call quality. We liked that the volume on the earpiece could be adjusted louder such that we were able to hear the other party even on the noisy underground and bus stops. In 3G speakerphone mode, both parties could also be seen and heard clearly.

We were neither impressed nor disappointed with the sound reproduction from the speakers, although the relatively loud volume range came through on the phone. In terms of image quality, most of the pictures displayed relatively good color accuracy and sharpness compared with other camera-phones tested. However, night shots, as expected, turned out blurry and pixilated.

As with all small phones, there's always a tradeoff. For the Ultra Edition 8.4, the shortcoming is with the small battery. On average, the cell lasted us for about two days based on moderate usage. This should suffice for most folks, but if you are a heavy user and plan to employ more of the 3G applications such as data transfer and video calls, one can reasonably expect the battery to run even shorter. Unfortunately, unlike the 6.9, the 8.4 will not come with an additional battery. So you may have to factor in the cost of an extra battery when purchasing this phone.

Rating: 8 out of 10
The good: Slim, sleek design; 3G; microSD card expansion slot; supports Bluetooth stereo; 2-megapixel camera; solid build quality; vibrant display.

The bad: Average battery life; no FM radio; no second battery (like the Ultra Edition 6.9); one port for charging, earphone and USB; exposed lens design.

The bottom line: Samsung's latest 3G handset will appeal to those who want an ultra-slim phone but aren't willing to compromise on functionality.

Phone

Phone type Triband

Network GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900

Connectivity options 3G, EDGE, GPRS, Java, Bluetooth, USB

Ringtone options MP3 ringtones

Calling Features Video calls, Speakerphone

Phonebook capacity 1000-entry phonebook

Physical design

Form factor Candy bar

Dimensions (W x D x H) 112 x 50 x 8.4 mm

Weight w/battery 71 g

Primary display type TFT

Secondary display type None

Secondary display resolution x pixels

Interchangeable covers? No

Available colours Silver

General

LCD display size 1.9-inch; 220x176-pixel screen

Color LCD? Yes

Primary Display Color 18 bit

Performance

Operating system Others

Internal memory 20 MB

Expansion slot(s) TransFlash / microSD

Included accessories

AC adapter, USB cable, wired handsfree headset, user manual and installation CD-ROM

Other Features

Additional functions Document viewer; offline mode; uSearch

MMS? Yes

Predictive text input? Yes

Polyphonic? Yes

Built-in vibrate alert? Yes

Games Java games

Multimedia

Built-in digital camera? Yes

Maximum camera resolution 2 megapixels

Warranty

Base warranty 1 year