Mobile Phone Reviews

The newest addition to the BlackBerry Bold series of smartphones is now official, introducing the BlackBerry Bold 9780.  The new flagship model is set for a worldwide November release date and features the new BlackBerry 6 OS, Universal Search and a 5-megapixel camera.  Other upgrades include 512MB of flash memory and a microSD card slot that supports up to 32GB SDHC cards.

Here’s what RIM had to say about the Bold 9780: The BlackBerry Bold 9780 is a compact and stylish smartphone that offers a compelling blend of features, performance and design. It supports 3G networks around the world, includes Wi-Fi with support for carrier supported Wi-Fi calling (UMA where available) and GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging. It comes with a 5 MP camera with a full complement of high-end features including continuous auto focus, scene modes, image stabilization, flash and video recording. The BlackBerry Bold 9780 also includes 512 MB Flash memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB of additional storage.

To find out more about the BlackBerry Bold 9780 head to www.blackberry.com/bold

Verizon, T-mobile, Sprint and At&t will not be the only US carriers landing the Samsung Galaxy Tab this holiday season.  According to a press release issued this weekend, U.S. Cellular will be joining in the Android tablet mix with a holiday season release date of their own.  No word on pricing or availability were contained in the press release, but our rep from U.S. Cellular assures us they will drop us a line with the details when available.

If you need a refresh on the Samsung Galaxy Tab here’s your quick rundown: The Galaxy Tab has a vibrant 7-inch WSVGA TFT touchscreen and is powered by a 1GHz Hummingbird Application processor. The device operates on the Android 2.2 platform, with full support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 and access to the more than 100,000 applications available on the Android Market. It features two cameras, a 3 megapixel camera on the back with autofocus and zoom, and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat. The AllShare application allows customers to send video, audio and pictures from their Galaxy Tab to other DLNA-enabled devices, like TVs and computers.

The rumored Samsung ‘Nexus Two’, first leaked by Gizmodo, is expected to be front and center at a Samsung media event scheduled for November 8.  Invitations for the November 8 event began to be sent out today and Android blog AndroidandMe has revealed new information about the device.  According to the blog, the Samsung Nexus Two will be the first device to ship with Android 2.3, codename Gingerbread, and it will be the first device to have native video chat through an updated GoogleTalk app.

Specs for the Samsung Nexus Two include 1.2GHz processor, a 4-inch Super AMOLED or AMOLED display, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and HD video recording, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat, 512MB of RAM / 16GB internal memory and support for multiple carriers including but not limited to T-mobile and At&t.

If the rumors prove true, the Samsung Nexus Two looks to be Android flagship device for late 2010, early 2011.  With proper carrier partnerships and in-store availability, the Nexus Two can escape the shadows of the failed Nexus One and we think Samsung is the right hardware partner to make that happen.

The subtle joy that builds inside of me each time a ROM is leaked across the Internet turned to celebration as the ROM for the new T-mobile myTouch leaked last night.  What makes this ROM so special is that in the included videos was an Ad of the device itself and that Ad covers most of the core specs of the device itself.  The first revelation is that T-mobile will tack on 4G to the end of the device name so it reads “T-mobile myTouch 4G”.  A very interesting name indeed since T-mobile does not have a 4G network, but it does follow the naming structure of the myTouch 3G quite well.  Now for the key specs of the myTouch 4G:

• 3.8-inch display in a ultra-thin body
• Front-facing camera for video calls over WiFi, a T-mobile USA first.
• 5-megapixel camera with LED Flash
• 720P HD Video recording
• Genius Button for Voice Search

Overall the myTouch 4G does not look too bad and I’m sure the complete specs will be revealed very soon.  While it will not offer the screen real estate of the Droid X or EVO 4G, 3.8-inches is an excellent size and very close to what I consider the smartphone screen sweet spot of 4.0-inches.  Personally I feel that 4.3.-inches is a little big for 800 x 480 or 854 x 480 res and if phones continue to use that screen size I’d like to see the 960 x 480 resolution become the standard.  At 4.0-inches the WVGA 800 x 480 resolution would maintain the sharpness and ppi I expect in a next-gen smartphone.  These screen requests might seem a little ridiculous, but we have high expectation for smartphones in 2011 and I believe the industry can meet the demands.

The subtle joy that builds inside of me each time a ROM is leaked across the Internet turned to celebration as the ROM for the new T-mobile myTouch leaked last night.  What makes this ROM so special is that in the included videos was an Ad of the device itself and that Ad covers most of the core specs of the device itself.  The first revelation is that T-mobile will tack on 4G to the end of the device name so it reads “T-mobile myTouch 4G”.  A very interesting name indeed since T-mobile does not have a 4G network, but it does follow the naming structure of the myTouch 3G quite well.  Now for the key specs of the myTouch 4G:

• 3.8-inch display in a ultra-thin body
• Front-facing camera for video calls over WiFi, a T-mobile USA first.
• 5-megapixel camera with LED Flash
• 720P HD Video recording
• Genius Button for Voice Search

Overall the myTouch 4G does not look too bad and I’m sure the complete specs will be revealed very soon.  While it will not offer the screen real estate of the Droid X or EVO 4G, 3.8-inches is an excellent size and very close to what I consider the smartphone screen sweet spot of 4.0-inches.  Personally I feel that 4.3.-inches is a little big for 800 x 480 or 854 x 480 res and if phones continue to use that screen size I’d like to see the 960 x 480 resolution become the standard.  At 4.0-inches the WVGA 800 x 480 resolution would maintain the sharpness and ppi I expect in a next-gen smartphone.  These screen requests might seem a little ridiculous, but we have high expectation for smartphones in 2011 and I believe the industry can meet the demands.

Nokia has officially launched the affordable C5-03, the latest C5 device.  The C5-03 features a 3.2-inch touch display, 5-megapixel with 4x digital zoom (no flash) and it is powered by Symbian^1 (S60 5th edition touch edition).  Other notable features include a compass and assisted gps (a-gps) which make traveling using Ovi Maps a breeze.  Another nice touch for this affordable handset is that it includes WiFi so you can avoid paying for a data plan and simply use the Internet when you have access to a public WiFi hotspot.

The Nokia C5-03 measures 105.8 mm x 51.0 mm x 13.8 mm (L x W x H) and weighs 93g – that makes it a similar size to the forthcoming C6-01, and quite a bit smaller than the Nokia N8 or C7. It comes with up to 40MB of user memory and support for MicroSD cards up to 16GB. The talktime is quoted at 11.5 hours for GSM use and 4.5 hours using 3G. Standby time is estimated at 24-25 days.

Launching globally at the end of this quarter, the Nokia C5 is expected to retail at around €170 before taxes or operator subsidies.

HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, today introduced the HTC HD mini, an HTC Sense-based Windows Phone focused on delivering the popular experience of the HTC HD2 in a more compact design. The HTC HD mini utilises HTC Sense, a user experience focused on putting people at the centre by making the phone work in a more simple and natural way. This experience revolves around three fundamental principles that were developed by observing and listening to how people live and communicate. These core tenets of Make It Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected continue to be the key to the new HTC Sense experience.

HTC HD mini includes capacitive touch for viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft® Office files, PDF documents and pictures with just a pinch of your fingers. Leveraging its 3G broadband connectivity, the HTC HD mini also offers personal Wi-Fi anywhere for your computer or other devices. The HD mini can also be further enhanced to reflect your needs and style by downloading a variety of applications from the Windows® Marketplace for Mobile. The new HTC HD mini will be broadly available to customers across major European and Asian markets beginning in April.

[via HTC]

During a press conference at Mobile World Congress today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced the creation of a comprehensive mobile entertainment experience for the upcoming HTC HD2, available exclusively in the U.S. from T-Mobile this spring. Offering the largest touch screen on a smartphone in the U.S., the new HTC HD2 will come ready with access to millions of eBooks, movies, television programs and more.

Consumers will have access to a complete entertainment package consisting of pre-loaded content and new pre-installed applications. In addition to the device’s array of built-in multimedia applications, the HTC HD2’s top entertainment features include the following:

• Barnes & Noble eReader application puts the world’s largest eBookstore in your hand with access to more than a million eBooks, newspapers, magazines and your Barnes & Noble digital library everywhere you go. Enjoy reading on the largest screen available for eReader smartphone software.
• BLOCKBUSTER On Demand® application is for discovering and downloading the hottest new releases on the go. Blockbuster’s first-ever video download application on a smartphone allows consumers to buy a movie on one device and watch on another connected device through Blockbuster’s library.
• MobiTV mobile application offers consumers access to live and on-demand TV on their phone — including news, sports and entertainment. Favorite channels such as MTV, NBC, COMEDY CENTRAL, ESPN and more are available for HTC HD2 consumers to watch at home or away. Plus, when HTC HD2 consumers subscribe to MobiTV, their first 30 days of service are free
• Paramount Pictures’ popular films “Transformers” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” come pre-loaded on the device’s memory card and optimized for viewing on the HTC HD2’s high-resolution screen.
• Gogo® Inflight Internet service offers consumers who purchase the HTC HD2 an added bonus: up to six months of free in-flight Wi-Fi access on their device, with Internet access on 2,500 daily flights in the continental U.S. and growing.

In addition to the comprehensive entertainment features of the device, the HTC HD2 delivers advanced phone features including Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, GPS functionality with access to turn-by-turn navigation from TeleNav GPS Navigator™, a Web browser, a pre-installed 16 GB microSD card, and an advanced 5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual LED flash for capturing images, even in dim conditions.

Updated Release Date: “The HTC HD2 is expected to be available in the U.S. exclusively to T-Mobile customers this spring. More details will be available at http://www.sticktogether.com/htchd2.“

Related posts:

1. HTC HD2 coming to O2 and T-mobile Europe
2. Android-powered Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR coming to T-mobile USA this Fall
3. Vodafone launches the new Windows Mobile LG GM750 October 6

The Samsung Reclaim, exclusively from Sprint, is a joint initiative between Sprint and Samsung to design a mobile handset that is both eco-friendly and a feature-rich messaging phone. Reclaim’s hardware is made from bio-plastic materials extracted from corn, making 80 percent of the phone recyclable. Reclaim’s eco-friendly features extends to its packaging and support materials, which include a link to an online user manual in lieu of a print version, use of soy-based ink on enclosed printed materials, a phone box and phone tray made from recycled materials, and an Energy-Star approved phone charger.

• Full slide-out QWERTY keyboard
• Text messaging (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging (MMS) support
• Sprint Navigation with GPS-enabled, turn-by-turn driving directions, traffic rerouting and more than 10 million local listings
• Web browser capabilities
• Automatic speech recognition
• 2.0 megapixel camera with 3x digital zoom and video camcorder
• Advanced Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
• Access to Corporate and POP3 email including AOL, Gmail and Yahoo!
• External memory storage (MicroSD) up to 32GB
• Dimensions: 3.87 x 2.32 x 0.61 inches; 3.5 ounces 
• Display: 2.4” TFT (320 x 240 pixels and 260k vibrant colors)
• Standard Lithium (LiIon) battery: up to 6 hours continuous talk time

The Sprint Samsung Reclaim comes in two color choices: Earth Green and Graphite Grey.

Related posts:

1. Bell Mobility launches the eco-friendly Samsung Reclaim
2. LG Lotus Elite vs LG Lotus Specs
3. Sprint Samsung Moment set to release Nov 1 for $179.99

Just like flagship phone Sony Ericsson Vivaz™, announced in January, Sony Ericsson Vivaz™ pro allows consumers to produce and broadcast their best experiences in HD video. The open platform also allows users to personalise their entertainment experience by downloading great applications through PlayNow™ and the Symbian Developer Community.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz™ pro features:

• Full slide-out keyboard for faster typing
• Stay in touch through email, Twitter™, Facebook™, blogging and chat
• View everything on the 3.2” 16:9 wide touchscreen
• Capture the action in HD resolution – upload to YouTube via Wi-Fi™
• PlayNow – immediate online access to applications, games and music.

Now for the important specs: 5.1 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and autofocus, Bluetooth A2DP, Symbian S60 5th edition OS, FM Radio, A-GPS, TV Out (VGA), 3.5mm headphone jack, WiFi, 3.2-inch touchscreen 16:9 nHD 16.7 million colors @ 360 x 640 pixels, 8GB microSD card included and a 720MHz processor.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz™ pro supports UMTS HSPA 900/2100 and GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS HSPA 850/1900/2100 and GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900.  Sony Ericsson Vivaz™ pro will be available in selected markets from Q2 in the colours Black and White.

Related posts:

1. Sony Ericsson Vivaz is the Xperia X10 Mini “Robyn”
2. Sony Ericsson makes the 12.1-megapixel Saito and PS3-friendly Aino Official
3. Sony Ericsson adds the Elm, Hazel and VH700 to GreenHeart lineup