PDA Mobile Phones

Motorola Quantico: A Phone That Can Rough It With You

Kris Saelen — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:56:48 +0000

Built specifically to survive harsh conditions, the Motorola Quantico is the perfect phone for customers who never quite know where they’ll end up. Between its clunky but practical rubberized exterior and the military ratings it carries for extreme weather and external conditions like dust, shock, and extreme pressures, this Mobile Phone can handle it all.

There are even convenient rubberized plugs for all of your various plugs to ensure some amount of water resistance. Sure, it isn’t the most eye catching device on the market, but it’s incredibly practical, with a design that offers peace of mind over flashy features.

Not to say that it’s without features. In fact, the Motorola Quantico has a nice bundle of midrange features that make it a nice solid choice for the user who wants a little more than sheer practicality. Beyond your basic, run of the mill expected items like speaker phone, clock, notepad, and stopwatch, the phone also offers some fun bonuses. A music player is included (though you need a microSD card to make it function), as well as a fun voice command feature and a wireless web browser.

Motorola Quantico Quick Stats:

Dimensions: 3.7″ x 2.2″ x 1″
Weight: 4.2 oz
Resolution: 176 x 220 pixels
Camera: 1.3 MP

Of course, with only 65,000 colors supported, the 2.2 inch display could be improved quite a bit – things tend to be a bit dark or distorted on occasion. But if you can see past the cosmetics of a clunky design or sub par display, you’re left with a solid, reliable phone that can travel almost anywhere without problems. Call quality is solid and rarely dropped, with the added bonus of not having to worry about whether your phone can keep up with you for once. Don’t agree? Try to convince me I’m wrong by leaving a comment below.

Balance Work and Fun with the Palm Pre Plus

Kris Saelen — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:53:22 +0000

The latest in Verizon’s overwhelming line up of smart phones, the Palm Pre Plus offers great usage options both for the on the go business user and the casual media fan, allowing a lot of impressive work and play crossover. With a slightly updated design making easier overall usage, the Palm Pre Plus is now more accessible than smart phones have ever been. An eye-catching 3.1 inch multitouch screen makes your fingers itch to play, and the inclusion of a slider design and full QWERTY keyboard means that messaging fans can enjoy this smart phone, too.

As an operating platform, Palm WebOS 1.3.5.1 still remains an intuitive and easy to use aspect of this phone that’s a big draw for customers who don’t like messing with every tiny detail of their phone. With an included 16 GB of Flash memory, a customer can easily use this product for just about any need they might have. Thanks to increased RAM, games and surfing on the web are faster than ever, leading to some rather addictive distractions.

Palm Pre Plus Quick Stats:

Dimensions: 3.9″ x 2.3″ x .6″
Weight: 4.89 oz
Resolution: 320 x 480 pixels
Camera: 3 MP

A camera that offers some pretty decent pictures is included, as well as the usual score of business and personal management apps. The Deck of Cards Menu allows a user to easily switch from one app to another, meaning that working and playing no longer have to be two separate activities.

Of course, there are one or two usage quirks – the lack of a digital keyboard means that texting can’t be done while using the phone in landscape mode, for example. Additionally, the lack of expandable memory means that you will have to limit yourself a little. But for the improved performance speed and great usage options, they’re small trade offs.

HTC Nexus Might Be the One

Kris Saelen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:42:21 +0000

While maybe not the stunning, all encompassing blessing to the world of Android phones that Google promised customers it would be, the HTC Nexus One by Google is certainly an interesting addition to the market. Offering a stunning display, some new standout features, and further proof that Android continues to get better and better, the Nexus One improves upon an already excellent design.

The design of this phone is beautiful, even if you’ve seen it before. A crystal clear AMOLED 3.7 inch display that supports 16.7 million colors means that pictures are impressively clear, text is crisp and easy to read, and overall usage is a pleasure.

A super fast processor means that you’ll never have to wait – scrolling between apps really is as easy as the touch of a finger. Easy to access features like a standardized headset jack, a volume rocker, and even a fun panel that you can get engraved complete the overall look.

HTC Nexus One Quick Stats:

Dimensions: 4.56″ x 2.36″ x .47″
Weight: 4.58 oz
Resolution:
Camera: 5 MP

Actual features on the phone are a mixed batch of standouts with some unfortunate inclusions I would’ve liked to not see again. The Android blunder of forcing users to store apps only on the internal memory of the phone is still here, you still have to remove the battery to access the microSD slot, and the calendar syncing is a bit choppy.

Still, other features are snazzy enough to make you forget all of that. The voice command features are particularly impressive, allowing a user to dial, text, or even update their Facebook status. The wonderful camera offers a variety of options, a flash that’s relatively hard to find in Android phones, and great picture quality that’s nice to see.

Add all of this onto a completely unlockable phone and you have at the very least, a revolutionary way to sell a remarkable Mobile Phone.

Casio Offers A Rock Solid Phone

Kris Saelen — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:41:07 +0000

While the rugged and durable look isn’t new for a phone, it certainly isn’t very common, either. The Casio G’zOne Rock is a fortuitous blend of design choices and features that make it the perfect phone for a relatively untapped market – the extreme outdoors enthusiast. Offering functionality in both form and function, the Rock is a great choice for the shopper who is heading toward more distant locales.

Structurally, the Rock lives up to its name, appearing bulky and heavy with a solid build that seems like it could withstand anything. What’s more, it lives up to this potential – the rubberized surface offers great protection against falls. The lock on the battery means extra peace of mind.

Plugs on all of the ports means that the phone is extremely water resistant. What’s more, it is actually military certified to withstand extremes of almost every kind – temperature, solar radiation, high altitude, and more.

Casio G’zOne Rock Quick Stats:

Dimensions: 4.1″ x 2″ x .9″
Weight: 4.4 oz
Resolution: 96 x 96
Camera: 2 MP

The stand out features of this phone are directly aimed their target audience. Beyond just the expected flashlight or other small bonuses for a sturdy model like this, there is an included G’zGear suite of outdoorsman applications.

Including a pedometer, a compass, a thermometer, and even a tidal graph application, these bonuses are small extras that could be huge pluses for the right buyer. Add to them the inclusion of standard multimedia features and you have one stand out product that can entertain you wherever you go, no matter what you might be doing.

A music player, a passable camera, and your basic messaging features all enhance the overall package to be the smart choice for a particular market – plus those who just want to be able to answer questions like, “Hey, you know what time the tide comes in today?”

LG Shine II Isn’t Aptly Named

Kris Saelen — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:21:31 +0000

Although a significant improvement over its predecessors, the LG Shine II isn’t quite as standout as the name would have you believe.

While the physical appearance of the phone is all smooth silver that catches the eye and the high-resolution screen is sure to attract attention, the actual usage of the phone is still a bit clunkier than many Mobile Phones in a similar price range.

The most major design problem are the tricky to use buttons scattered throughout the phone’s design. Two soft buttons below the Menu screen are easy to feel, but entirely too thin to easily press.

The keypad buttons are flat and dialing by feel is difficult to do. A stiff four way toggle makes scrolling difficult, even if it is sizable enough to easily maneuver. Overall, the use of this phone is just clunky and awkward, which directly opposes the sleek modern style of the clean slider design. Match this with a somewhat subpar performance and the Shine just fails to match up to the competition.

LG Shine II Quick Stats:

Dimensions: 4.2″ x 2″ x .53″
Weight: 4.4 oz
Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
Camera: 2 MP

If you can get around the awkward usage issues, though, there are plenty of higher end features that can attract users. Beyond the basic personal management features like a calendar, speaker phone and large phone book, the Shine II offers some interesting high tech features.

The voice dialing option makes the problematic keyboard less of an issue, and Bluetooth features and PC syncing are sure to draw interested techies attention. A customizable camera and generous in phone and expandable memory are all definite reasons to overlook the clunky physical interface in favor of the phones many other attractions. Do the features turn your head? Leave a comment below and let me know.

There Are Better Options Than The HP iPaq Glisten

Kris Saelen — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:45:52 +0000

The HP iPaq Glisten offers all of the features that smartphone users could possibly want – in theory, anyway. In practice, the device is somewhat subpar, with several features that should be standouts actually becoming detractions from the overall usage experience. What’s more, at a fairly high price tag, it seems unarguable that there are better options for the discerning business user.

A passing glance at the Glisten is promising, as the sleek black and chrome design and wide, easy to push buttons of the full QWERTY keyboard are undeniably attractive. The 2.5 inch AMOLED touch screen should be a design triumph here, but low resolution makes for an underwhelming practical experience. Colors and text appear fine, but not with the “glisten” promised in the phone’s name. Touchy and somewhat dated menu screens take what could have been a huge draw and leave no impression at all.

HP iPaq Glisten Quick Stats:

Dimensions: 4.45″ x 2.48″ x .52″
Weight: 5.3 oz
Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels
Camera: 3.1 MP

As far as features go, the Glisten offers exactly what you would expect in smart phone – and nothing else. This phone, which should have been designed to go above and beyond, seems to expect star credit for everyday options. There are plenty of wireless options, as well as email capabilities and personal management features like a calendar and alarm clock.

The media options are all halfhearted attempts at including them without putting any extra energy into making them stand out. The camera is included, but has disappointing photo quality, and the media player included is very basic and unexciting. Match this all with a sometimes sluggish performance and you have a whole host of reasons to dismiss the HP Glisten as little more than disappointing eye candy.

HP iPaq Glisten Fails To Shine

Kris Saelen — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:52:23 +0000

While the HP iPaq Glisten offers most of the standard options professionals routinely expect in their smart phones these days, the sum of its individual features somehow ends up being less than its parts. Starting with design and trickling all through the various aspects of the phone’s design and usage, the Glisten somehow manages to come off as a sub par consolation prize for smart phone users who aren’t enamored with Blackberry’s design and layout. In the hand, the Glisten is a bit wide and heavy, though the soft touch back at least ensures security during use.

The problems continue with the touchscreen, which at a relatively small 2.5 inches can be problematic for maneuvering through the Windows Mobile 6.5 screens. The AMOLED display is being touted as a stand out feature here, as similiar screens are clearer and use less energy than other LED displays. However, due to a comparatively low pixel resolution, the supposed asset just seems a bit dark and fuzzy around the edges, making a user wonder what all the fuss is about.

HP iPaq Glisten Quick Stats:

Dimensions: 4.4″ x 2.5″ x .5″
Weight: 5.3 oz
Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
Camera: 3.1 MP

Of course, it’s certainly not all bad news. The wide and easy to press buttons on the full QWERTY keyboard make for an easy emailing and messaging experience. There is support for corporate and personal email, and all of the updated options offered by the new Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 platform.

The problem arises not in what this smart phone, but what it doesn’t, becoming a high priced smart phone that seems to stick to the bare minimum. If you’re dead set against a Blackberry, this phone is a decent substitute, but otherwise, I’d stick with something like the Blackberry Bold that has a smoother, more impressive performance at a lower price.

Stay In Touch with the RIM Blackberry

Kris Saelen — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:48:27 +0000

Much like its predecessor, the RIM Blackberry Bold 9700 by AT&T offers cutting edge technology to keep every feature you could possibly need easily accessible. What’s more, the redesigned sleek look, easy messaging features and a comparably low price make this smart phone hard to resist. The new design manages to be more attractive and compact without sacrificing the easy interface that made the original Blackberry so accessible.

Running programs on the Blackberry OS 5.0 improves many of this smart phone standard functions, like messaging, the calendar, and browser applications. Increased email functionality means that this phone is an even bigger draw for high tech business consumers who need to be connected as much as possible to their home base. Free downloads for most well known messaging systems are offered by Blackberry, as well as a whole score of other customizable apps and features. A small sour note is the fact that you can only download apps onto the phone’s main memory, but this can also keep you from cluttering it up with unnecessary add ons.

RIM Blackberry Bold 9700 Quick Stats:

Dimensions: 4.29″ x 2.36″ x .56″
Weight: 4.3 oz
Resolution: 480 x 360 pixels
Camera: 3.2 MP

When functioning as a phone, the Bold 9700 offers a variety of usage options. The speaker phone, voice activation, and background noise suppression alongside of several other impressive features make it a great choice for personal or professional use. Completely decked out with wireless options and bonus features galore, this Mobile Phone offers a great overall communication experience. The browsing controls are still a bit limited and can take awhile to maneuver, but the scores of other distractions more than make up for it. What’s more, at an unbeatable price of $99 with a two year contract and after a rebate, this smart phone is definitely a smart buy.

Droid Eris: High End Features At A Bargain Price

Kris Saelen — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:17:49 +0000

Offered for only $99 with service through Verizon Wireless, the HTC Droid Eris is one of the cheapest android phones available on the market. Completely easy to use, the compact and convenient design offers a lot of solid features like a beautiful 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive touch screen for an impressively low price.

With an impressive color resolution and smooth surface, the stand out touch screen allows a user to easily transition between 7 rotating homepages, a QWERTY keyboard, and a menu filled with fun and eye catching apps. The ability to zoom either by double tapping the nicely responsive screen or by pinching your fingers offers a huge bonus for people who are still resisting the iPhone. A built-in accelerometer automatically changes screen orientation depending on how you hold the phone, and a proximity sensor keeps your cheek from accidentally cutting off your calls.

HTC Droid Eris Quick Stats:

Dimensions: 4.45 x 2.19 x .51 inches
Weight: 4.23 oz
Resolution: 320 x 480 pixels
Camera: 5 MP

The loaded feature set is another huge plus for this Mobile Phone. Coming equipped with not only Android standards like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, PC syncing, and voice recording, the HTC Droid Eris also offers the full range of Google programs. Messaging and email options are seemingly limitless, and smart additions like a PDF viewer allow even more practical applications. The lack of a unified Inbox is a bit inconvenient, but at least all programs are accessible under the same menu icon. The included Flash Lite support is a bit choppy, but at least it’s included.

While not a perfect Mobile Phone, the HTC Droid Eris comes close enough that the price more than makes up for any defects. Leave a comment below and let me know if you agree. This may not be an iPhone killer, but it’s one slick from from Verizon … finally.

Palm Pixi for Sprint

Kris Saelen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:51:54 +0000

While not as powerful as the Palm Pre, the Palm Pixi for the Sprint network is no slouch. It’s a pretty cool smartphone for people who are looking for something a little more, but don’t want a cellphone that’s too complicated if you know what I mean. The Mobile Phone is super thin and small, which is okay if you don’t have large (or normal sized?) hands.

All that said, if you’re new to smartphones, this may be a perfect way to “get into the game.” It’s not too complicated, but it offers a whole heck of a lot more than a normal Mobile Phone.

On the negative side, some have said that the OS can be slow sometimes. Also, battery life isn’t the greatest according to some people who have reviewed it around the Internet. There’s no video capability either.

Still, for the money, if you want something sleek, small that can do email and simple Internet, this may be the perfect smartphone for you. There are pros and cons to the phone, but if you’re already on the Sprint network and want a newer smartphone, this is a logical decision for many different reasons.

The Palm OS is one of the biggest reasons people like this Mobile Phone because it’s so easy to use. Once you use it, you’ll ask yourself why other phones are so complicated. This may or may not be enough for you to choose this smart phone, but there are other things to consider as well.

If you have the Palm Pixi, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and let us know what you think whether it’s good or bad. We can handle it! We really want to bring you unbiased reviews on all the latest greatest smartphones available.