Google Nexus S vs T-Mobile myTouch 4G

Introduction:

With a cornucopia of devices vying for the top spot on T-Mobile's lineup, there are two that stand together all too closely to one another thanks primarily to their larger than life status. One of them is none other than the T-Mobile myTouch 4G which can be argued as the premier and latest HTC built device to wow customers all around. Conversely, Samsung was graced with opportunity of manufacturing the Nexus S which stands prominently as being the sole Android 2.3 Gingerbread powered device on the market. Since they embody all the terrific high-end features you'd expect out of any premier phone out there, it's one difficult decision for any T-Mobile customer thinking about making the plunge for their next handset of choice.

Nokia BH-218 Review

Introduction and Design:

This fall was a busy season for Nokia – the company released its latest flagship, the Nokia N8, and took over Symbian while trying to accelerate its development to match the increasing competition in the smartphone field. With all these news around the Finns, you might have missed their latest series of Bluetooth headsets. The lineup of five new earpieces carries some distinct Nokia accents and packs some innovative ideas. What we're looking at in this review is the Nokia BH-218 handsfree, which is part of this very same lineup.

In the package you will find the headset itself, a 2 mm AC-3 Nokia charger (sorry, no microUSB) and both small and large-sized earplugs.

The Nokia BH-218 uses the unconventional clip-on design with a separate clip and a single earbud attached to it with a cable. The headset clips to your clothes and holds the earpiece until you need to make a call. Even though the design is somewhat unusual, we found it to be convenient in most cases. The headset powers on or off automatically when the earpiece is moved from the clip, which boosts the battery life significantly. Except for the design, the BH-218 has almost the same features as the BH-217, the previous model in the lineup.

The Nokia BH-218 uses an unconventional clip-on design

LG Cosmos Touch Review

Introduction:

As a follow-up to the Cosmos VN250, LG needed to improve on the entry-level messaging, but unlike what they did on Sprint (with the Rumor line) they couldn’t risk encroaching on their successful enV lineup by moving into the feature phone market. So what do you do to a basic, side-sliding messaging phone? Why add a touchscreen, of course! The VN270 Cosmos Touch retains the same basic specs as the original, and mostly just adds a touchscreen. Other features include a 1.3 megapixel camera, full QWERTY keyboard and GPS. The Cosmos Touch simply includes the battery and AC adapter.


Design:

By ditching the numeric keypad, LG was able to make the Cosmos Touch shorter than the original Cosmos, while still giving it a bigger display. The Cosmos Touch has a 2.8” resistive TFT display with a resolution of 240x400, but manages to be 0.4” shorter than the Cosmos. On the right side of the phone is the lock key, microSD slot and camera key. On the left is the microUSB charging/data port and volume rocker, while the top simply has the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The LG Cosmos Touch feels good in the hand

Palm Pre 2 Review

Introduction:

The Palm Pre and Pixi marked a bittersweet moment for Palm. Even though the Pre and Pixi were critically acclaimed smartphones, which offered the convenience of a contemporary OS with exceptional functionality and true multi-tasking capabilities, sadly, they couldn't prevent Palm from going under and eventually become absorbed by HP. Under HP's wing however, Palm has consolidated its technologies with HP's market presence and brought forward their latest device, the Palm Pre 2.

Design:

The Palm 2 Pre adopts an almost identical form factor to the original Pre, with a pebble like design, curved black styling and a portrait slide out QWERTY keyboard. The keys on the Palm Pre 2 are improved over the original Pre and the phone is also slightly thinner, however, for the most part, you'd be forgiven for not seeing a difference without the phones side-by-side. The handset has a glossy fascia with a matted rubberized backing. Slide up the screen to reveal the QWERTY keyboard and a reflective mirror panel on the back of the screen part.

The Palm Pre 2 has a pebble like design

Samsung Zeal Review

The Samsung Zeal is now available from Verizon Wireless, but much like Verizon did with the U740/Alias, the Zeal is simply a renamed Alias 2, including a shared U750 model number. That Verizon would reintroduce this phone over a year and a half after its initial launch speaks to just where we are in the market right now. While smartphones are simultaneously redefining what you can do with a mobile device, as well as seeping into the entry level market (LG Optimus One, Samsung Galaxy 5) feature phones are getting lost in the fray.

The Samsung Zeal at least tries to be unique with its slick e-ink keyboard and dual flip design. Samsung has never been afraid to try something different, whether it was the first compact smartphones (the i500 and i600), a dual flip (the Alias) or a dual slider like the Exclaim. The e-ink concept is cool, and a year and a half later still works well. In phone (portrait) mode the keys are a bit awkward as the layout isn’t exactly ideal, but when used in the messaging mode the quick-switch nature makes e-ink ideal for alternate characters and flexibility.

The Samsung Zeal has unique dual flip design

The phone has special e-ink keyboard

Rattling off the other features of the Zeal - QWERTY keyboard, 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, GPS, microSD expansion, QVGA display- and it could almost be any other feature phone on the market over the past few years. Because of this we are willing to compare the Zeal with newer devices on the market. More and more feature phones have touchscreens these days, but there is still a significant segment of the market that wants either a flip phone or a non-touch messaging device and because of this the Zeal still has a legitimate spot in Verizon’s lineup, even if the phone is a year and a half old.

The QWERTY keyboard

The sides of the Samsung Zeal

Back in the spring of 2009 we proclaimed the Alias 2 the coolest non-touch phone on Verizon. While that exception has grown much, much larger with the introduction of Android on Big Red, we might very well agree with this. With such a stagnant feature phone market the Zeal and its trick keyboard still very much has a place in Verizon’s lineup.

The Samsung Zeal for Verizon Wireless is basically a renamed Samsung Alias 2, which was available last year. For more information about the handset, see our Samsung Alias 2 Review.

Sumber : www.phonearena.com

Dell Venue Pro Review

Introduction:

As we've already witnessed with the LG Quantum, there might be some annoyances in trying to use Windows Phone 7 devices packing on a landscape style keyboard, for now. However, the Dell Venue Pro seeks to remedy that issue as it presents itself as possibly being the very first true titan in the Windows Phone 7 space as it packs a massive display and a portrait style slide out keyboard. Boasting a refreshing design that undoubtedly differentiates itself from the current pack, this might very well be the device you'll probably want to check out if you want to get your feet wet with the still new platform.

The package contains:

• Dell Venue Pro
• 1,400 mAh battery
• microUSB Cable
• Wall Charger
• 3.5mm Stereo Headset
• Getting Started Guide
• Product Safety and Warranty Brochure

Design:

Of all the Windows Phone 7 devices we've checked out thus far, the Dell Venue Pro easily supplants all of them as it takes the trophy in the design category. Just about every aspect of the phone's design radiates a sense of quality craftsmanship that doesn't skimp out in terms of appeal and construction. Sporting some hard lines that are accented elegantly by its chrome side plates and rubberized top and bottom edges, the Dell Venue Pro is essentially the epitome of an alluring industrial designed smartphone – even with its patterned plastic back cover. Angular cutouts found on the top and bottom sides carefully provide some character to its subtle curved display surface. However, the handset does look a bit more hefty in size (0.59” thick), while its weight (6.74 oz) is definitely on the heavier side.

The Dell Venue Pro sports some hard lines that are accented elegantly by its chrome side plates and rubberized top and bottom edges

Sprint ZTE Peel Review

The iPhone is now available on Sprint… well, kind of. Thanks to an innovative new offering Sprint can now counter the “when are you getting the iPhone” question carriers not named AT&T get every day. The ZTE Peel is a Wi-Fi-enabled case for your second or third generation iPod touch, giving users access to Sprint’s 3G network on their Apple device. It’s a pretty clever scheme by the nation’s third largest carrier, but as with any scheme there are some serious drawbacks.

The theory behind the Peel is very simple: snap in your iPod touch, turn on the Peel, connect to Wi-Fi and ta-da! you have an iPhone on a network that is, well, not AT&T if nothing else. Initial setup is simple, once you turn the Peel on (which takes a long press of the power button) it creates a Wi-Fi network, much like the MiFi or Overdrive does, that you can immediately connect to. There is a web interface for changing security, setting up passwords and renaming the network if the user so chooses. The entire process was painless and we were up and running as soon as the Peel was charged.

The ZTE Peel is a Wi-Fi-enabled case for your second or third generation iPod touch

The drawbacks are minor, but they begin early. First off, even though the Peel is pretty light at just 2.6oz, it is relatively thick, turning the super-thin iPod touch into a brick in your pocket. Secondly, there is the issue of audio. The iPod touch supports Bluetooth, but it does not support the Hands-Free profile, meaning you can’t use your Bluetooth device to make calls. A wired headset isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it’s another cable that you’ll have to have along. You’ll also have to use the included extension cable since the iPod’s headset jack is a bit too recessed in the Peel to use a regular headset.

Even though the ZTE Peel is pretty light at just 2.6oz, it is relatively thick

To make those calls you’ll need an app such as Skype or Fring from the App Store. As the world moves to VoIP calling this will be less and less of an issue, but for your everyday user it will likely be another account they must setup and a new phone number to learn. In our testing Skype-to-Skype calls worked just fine, there was no noticeable difference in voice quality compared to using our regular Wi-Fi network or making the calls via a computer. We’d imagine most Peel buyers are the bleeding edge techies anyway, so there is a good chance they have had a Skype account for a few years at this point.

One thing will definitely stand out to these techies though: the Peel is slow. Actually, the iPod touch is slow. We used the Xtreme Labs Speedtest app on both our iPod touch and EVO 4G and the EVO was doubling and tripling the download speeds when connected to 3G like the Peel. Just to eliminate any bias we decided to connect the EVO to the Peel via Wi-Fi- the Peel can handle up to two concurrent connections- and ran the tests side-by-side again. To our surprise the EVO continued to trounce the iPod touch in speed tests. It was a curious result, but one that we replicated time and time again. In real world usage the iPod touch feels very much like an iPhone 3GS over AT&T’s 3G network. Pages loaded fine, but you were noticeably not on a Wi-Fi network.

The sides of the ZTE Peel

The ZTE Peel is an intriguing and innovative product, but there's still some work to be done. Some of the faults- lack of Bluetooth headset support and sub-par internet speeds- cannot be blamed on the Peel, but others, such as the size, can be. The pricing is good: the Peel runs $79.99 and is contract-free, but you are limited to just 1GB a month for $29.99. If it were 2GB, like Sprint prices the Galaxy Tab, things would be much better. The plan pricing is one thing that sets the Peel apart from a Wi-Fi data card like the Overdrive, which will give you 5GB a month of 3G and unlimited 4G, but runs $60/month. In the end we think the Peel will appeal to a very specific user base and could become a cult product, or a spring board for bigger and better things. Or, Sprint could just pick up the iPhone.

Source : www.phonearena.com

HTC 7 Mozart Review

Introduction:

HTC's launch line of Windows Phone 7 handsets includes the most affordable HTC 7 Trophy, the HTC HD7 at the top end, and sandwiched in between the two is the HTC 7 Mozart, the smallest screened handset (by 0.1 inch). It is however equipped with the best camera of the bunch, with an 8MP sensor and a xenon flash on-board. So is the higher-specced camera enough to make buyers choose the HTC 7 Mozart over the competition? Lets find out.


Design:

The HTC 7 Mozart is the most daring in terms of design of the three HTC Windows Phone 7 handsets. With a matte finish, asymmetrical battery cover and a raised swirl pattern on the reverse, it might not be to everyone's taste. It does however have a very appealing fascia, with a grill up top taken straight from the HTC Desire HD and an ergonomic curvature that makes holding it a pleasure.

The HTC 7 Mozart has an ergonomic curvature that makes holding it a pleasure