Nokia 3720 Classic- With rugged appeal!
The Nokia 3720 Classic is a new IP54 certified phone designed to be able to withstand shock and dust. Being water resistant, you can carry the phone around in wet conditions without any problem. The ruggedness of the phone is it’s most talked about feature. The durable materials used to seal the Nokia 3720 Classic are top class and will last for ages without any problem. The inner electronics of the Nokia 3720 Classic are well protected as they are sealed in and kept separated from the environment quite effectively. The cost of the phone will probably fall in the mid range of the price spectrum. The Nokia 3720 Classic is a robust device which will help you capture and share life’s physically rocky moments while still being able to survive it! The phone will be released in range of colors. Even the battery cover of the Nokia 3720 Classic is sealed in to prevent the battery of the phone from short circuiting the rest of it. This battery is locked in the phone using a tight screw which can be annoying in case you have to remove the battery cover for anything.
The memory of the Nokia 3720 Classic can be expanded up to 8 GB using the microSD memory card slot. You can also play a range of music formats such as MP3, AAC, and WMA using the media player on the phone. The XHTML browser allows you to access the internet whenever you want to. The Bluetooth 2.1 is pretty useful as you can transfer files to and from the Nokia 3720 Classic without having to use a cable. If you want a long lasting reliable phone without being too picky about the features, then the Nokia 3720 Classic is exactly what you are looking for.
Nokia 3720 Classic Links:
Motorola ROKR ZN50- A music centric device
The Motorola ROKR ZN50 is one of the new phones to be released by Motorola this year. This phone will feature in the mid to high end of the price spectrum. The music phone has enough features to satisfy even the pickiest music lover. This music slider is very similar to some of the music phones launched by Nokia, with the gray body and red and blue accents.
The 3.2 inch touch screen on the ROKR ZN50 is top class, as it boasts ease of use. The battery of the Motorola ROKR ZN50 is one of the best features, as it can last for up to 30 hours of music playback via a decent pair of headphones.
The Motorola ROKR ZN50 is the first Smartphone to be powered by the Android operating system. There are 3 panels that form the design of the Motorola ROKR ZN50 allowing up to 3 home screens to be used. You can flick from one screen to the other, making navigation through menus and submenus even more enjoyable. There are also a range of application shortcuts which come with the Android operating system.
The built in accelerometer allows you to shake the phone to switch between tracks. The Motorola ROKR ZN50 has a 3.5 mm headphone jack giving you the freedom to use your favorite pair of headphones. This comes with the SRS WOW HD audio making the speakers of the Motorola ROKR ZN50 play loud clear sound when you want it to. The built in T-DMB TV tuner allows you to tune into your favorite channels when you want to. All of these features solidify the phone’s reputation as a media device. The memory of the Motorola ROKR ZN50 can be expanded, though the built in 4GB should be enough for more people.
Motorola ROKR ZN50 Links:
LG GW300- A messaging optimized mobile
Set to be launched later this year, the LG GW300 is bound to take over the market by storm! The keyboard is nice and large with well spaced circular keys. This will make it easy for you to type out messages and emails. The set of applications and widgets such as Facebook and Twitter which come preinstalled in the memory of the LG GW300 make it even easier for you to keep in touch with your friends and family. Updating your Face book status, or Twitter profile is simple thanks to the easy to use user interface that the phone is blessed with! On the downside, you do not have access to the full version of the Facebook website, and instead should just make do with the mobile version. All the latest networking software is installed in the phone’s memory which makes it easy for you to organize your SMS and emails.
The 2.4 inch TFT display allows up to 240 x 320 pixels to be displayed on it, making the display a fairly decent one to view web pages on. Unfortunately, images do not turn out to be so clear and appear to be quite dull and discolored. The phone is pretty pocket friendly, in part due to the fact that it has rounded edges, but also because it weighs in at only 95 g. Lack of 3G connectivity as well as Wi-Fi means that you can only access the internet using GPRS and EDGE connectivity. This can be quite irritating as you cannot download any large files directly to your phone. Absence of GPS means that the utility of the LG GW300 as a navigation tool is also compromised. Even the 2 MP camera is quite poor, as it does not capture any clear photos even in well lit surroundings.
LG GW300 Links:
LG BL40 Chocolate- Pamper yourself!
Out of all the phones to be launched by LG this year, the LG BL40 Chocolate stands out. The 4 inch display on the phone is top class as it allows you to view your favorite media with an 800 x 345 pixels resolution. The large screen is what makes the LG BL40 Chocolate one of the largest phones to be launched this year. Unfortunately, this means that you cannot carry the phone around in your pocket without feeling some sort of strain. Even if you manage to slip it in, the unsightly bulge will definitely prompt you to whip the phone out again as fast as you can!
The home screen of the LG BL40 Chocolate contains a number of icons that allows you to access a range of applications easily. This makes the phone more user friendly than you would expect. With a little bit of practice, you should be able to use the phone in one hand with no problem.
The LG Black Label series is one series launched to focus on style rather than functionality. The LG BL40 Chocolate stands out in the series as it succeeds in coupling an attractive appearance with good functionality. The body of the phone has a glossy black finish with added red highlights on the sides of the phone. The highlights, and the tempered glass covering the screen, make the phone look more expensive than it actually is. This curved glass is scratch resistant, allowing you to handle the phone a bit rough without having too much to show for it.
The user interface of the LG BL40 Chocolate allows 2 screens to be displayed at the same time which means that you can access 2 applications simultaneously. This double screen along with the 5MP camera makes the LG BL40 Chocolate one of the best all round phones available.
LG BL40 Chocolate Links:
T-Mobile G1 Touch
The T-Mobile G1 Touch might not have a very flash user interface, such as the one used on the iPhone. However, when looking at ease of navigating through the sheer number of features that are available on the G1, Google have done a great job in creating a UI which is extremely intuitive, powerful and fun as well.
In addition to this, the T-Mobile G1 Touch also benefits from the Google Android 1.5 ‘Cupcake’ update, which brings in some new features such as a higher level of parity with the iPhone and a couple of other neat stuff as well. The phone is extremely good when you consider convenience of use and doesn’t pile on the menu items unnecessarily. The apps present in the G1 as well as in the Google Market are quite good and, in particular cases, are quite unique. The Google Maps Street View has really done a great job in terms of creating a whole virtual world using the built – in compass and the accelerometer.
The T-Mobile G1 Touch has another great feature in the form of the Amazon MP3 store which gives you the chance of purchasing music from the store without the hassle that is DRM. There is an app known as Compare Everywhere which scans the barcodes and gives you details on some discount deals for certain products.
All this just means that there are a variety of applications compatible with the G1 which really takes mobile applications to a whole new level. The Cupcake update might not really result in an overflow of customers but the existing users will be happy with the presence of the onscreen keyboard, the nice UI utilities and the video recording facility. The G1 has already been released in May earlier this year and will be available on contracts
Sony Ericsson Yari
The Sony Ericsson Yari is set to be one of the best gaming devices out there. Having been unveiled by Sony Ericsson, expect it to be released during the fourth quarter of the current year. The phone also incorporated 3.5G connectivity, meaning that the phone will also appeal to users who would like high speed internet to be a part of their phone in addition to the enhanced gaming options. The phone comes in a slider form factor.
The Sony Ericsson Yari makes use of a 5 megapixel camera to provide the user with some really high quality pictures. The presence of auto focus as well as flash means that you can almost be guaranteed that the pictures you take with the camera will be of the highest quality.
GPS functionality is also present on the Sony Ericsson Yari, meaning that you will be able to plan your journey in advance and also get directions to a particular place in case you get lost. Smooth GPS functionality is assisted by the presence of HSDPA and HSUPA, ensuring that any service which goes through the internet is extremely smooth.
The presence of an accelerometer is really great as, in addition to the fact that the orientation of the screen automatically changes according to the position of the phone, you will also be able to use the gesture control facility to enhance the overall gaming experience. Moreover, this phone also has an FM radio and a very good multimedia player to satisfy the music needs of the user.
There is USB connectivity to ensure that you will be able to transfer data between the phone and the computer. The Yari has a wide array of connectivity options in the form of GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA and HSDPA. The phone is set to be released in two different colour schemes – cranberry white and achromatic black.
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2
CommunicAsia, which was held about 2 months ago in Singapore, had a lot of smart phones to show off, but one of the most conspicuous absences was the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2, the second phone to be released by Sony Ericsson which makes use of the Windows Mobile platform and is said to be the successor to the hugely popular Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1
Despite the fact that there has been no official word regarding the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2, a large number of details have been leaked out to the open, including a couple of snaps of the phone. Most notable features of the X2 seems to be the bigger touchscreen which is set to come with this phone. The screen will be 3.5 inches as opposed to the 3 inch screen of the X1. The screen will also be an OLED screen rather than the usual LCD display.
The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2’s pictures show that just like the X1, this phone is also set to have a keyboard underneath the screen which, when slided out sideways, will change the orientation of the screen to landscape mode. The X2 is set to be released with the WinMo 6.5 platform, therefore, a clear indicator that the phone won’t be released at least until the fall. Since Microsoft is still in the process of putting the finishing touches to the OS, the potential release date has been made more clear.
Details have still not been revealed as to what Qualcomm processor this phone will be using, but, if there’s one thing that is clear is that the processor is sure to be faster than the one in the X1. SE has also tuned up the software to ensure that maximum performance is possible. The phone is also set to have 512 MB RAM in addition to the memory card slot.
Sony Ericsson Yari Links:
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 Links:
Sony Ericsson W205 Walkman
The Sony Ericsson W205 Walkman is one of the latest phones to have been unveiled by Sony Ericsson to the lower price segment. The Sony Ericsson W205 Walkman is one of the first low end phones to have been released to the lower end of the market since the Sony Ericsson W200i, which was released nearly 2 years ago. The phone is compatible with all 2G networks and is set to be released during the course of this year. The phone is one of the lightest phones in the market at 95 grams. However, the phone is quite thick at 16.4 mm, making it extremely uncomfortable to hold in the hand. However, the light weight of the phone means that you will be able to slip the phone easily into your pocket and not feel it much. The phone has a fairly strong build, meaning that it will be able to withstand a couple of falls in the event that you accidentally drop it. This is good news for careless people.
The Sony Ericsson W205 Walkman has a paltry onboard memory of 5 MB, which means that if you accidentally store some items on the phone memory, the phone will get stuck quickly if you try to load too many applications at the same time. However, the memory of the phone can be expanded to a maximum of 2 GB by using a M2 memory card. There is an array of connectivity options such as Class 10 GPRS and Class 10 EDGE, ensuring that you will be able to surf the internet wherever you go. Bluetooth connectivity enables you to transfer data from your phone to another phone without any hassle.
The Sony Ericsson W205 Walkman makes use of a 1.3 megapixel camera which is very rudimentary and is definitely not a replacement for your digital camera.
Sony Ericsson S312 Snapshot
The Sony Ericsson S312 Snapshot is just one of the many phones which are to be released or were released during the course of the year by Sony Ericsson. The phone has the code name Athena. The S312 is set to be launched during the 3rd or 4th quarter of this year and is targeted mainly towards the lower segment of the market as it is a budget candy bar. The phone is fairly easy to carry in your pocket as it has some rounded edges, making it look smaller than it actually is.
The alphanumeric keypad of the Sony Ericsson S312 Snapshot can be found under the screen and is quite easy to use as the keys are quite big and well spaced out. The display is actually quite small and has a fairly bad resolution.
There is 20 MB of onboard memory on the Sony Ericsson S312Snapshot, which is not at all sufficient. However, this is expected, considering that it is a budget phone. The connectivity options of the S312 are quite limited as there is only 2G connectivity and not 3G connectivity. This means that you will be able to surf internet at extremely slow speeds, which can get annoying if you are used to surfing the internet at broadband speeds.
The S312 is in possession of a fairly basic 2 megapixel snapper which should be perfectly fine if you plan to take pictures only on the odd occasion. However, it is no replacement for your digital camera. The biggest disadvantage of the camera present on the S312 is the lack of autofocus, meaning that there is a higher chance that the pictures you capture on the phone will be fairly blurred due to the lack of focus. The screen of the S312 is also too small for comfort, making everythign you view on the screen to appear fairly cramped. The pricing details of the phone have not been unveiled as of yet.
Sony Ericsson T715
The Sony Ericsson T715is part of the new mid range phones in the market today. The phone will be released sometime in the fourth quarter of this year. Measuring 91.5 x 48 x 14.9 mm, the Sony Ericsson T715 can be easily fit into your pocket without any problem. The weight of the phone is also low making it easy to carry around your neck if you want to carry it that way. The Sony Ericsson T715 has a TFT display which can support up to 256000 colors. This screen measures 2.2 inches diagonally and is bright and clear. The keypad of the Sony Ericsson T715 lies just below the screen. The keys on the keypad are easy to operate as the keys are well apart from each other.
The Sony Ericsson T715has a memory of 90 MB that it comes with. This memory can be expanded using the microSD slot. The Sony Ericsson T715 allows class 10 GPRA, EDGE and HSDPA connectivity. You can transfer data across a short distance using the Bluetooth or the USB cable. The USB cable allows data to be transferred faster than the Bluetooth connection will allow you to. Transferring folders is also possible only using the USB cable.
The media player of the Sony Ericsson T715is good enough for any music lover as it can play a range of audio and video formats. The Sony Ericsson T715 also has stereo FM with RDS. This allows you to get information about what you are listening to directly from the radio station itself. The battery life of the Sony Ericsson T715 is pretty good as the phone can be used for more than 3 days if used moderately. The 3.15 MP primary camera on the Sony Ericsson T715 is pretty good as it has an LED flash which can be used if the surroundings are not well lit.