RIM BlackBerry 7100t/Smart Phones For Globe Trotters

5. RIM BlackBerry 7100t

Product Summary

The good: The attractive and compact RIM BlackBerry 7100t is a world phone with extensive e-mail support, a vivid color display, a speakerphone, and an easy-to-use interface.

The bad: The downsides of the BlackBerry 7100t are its limited Bluetooth functionality, its lack of expandable memory, its mixed sound quality, and its awkward QWERTY-like keyboard.

The bottom line: Though the BlackBerry 7100t is a great option for RIM newbies, we were hoping for more consumer-friendly functionality with the Bluetooth.

Specs: Carrier: T-Mobile; OS provided: BlackBerry Handheld Software; Installed RAM: 4 MB

Our first look at Research In Motion's (RIM) would-be Treo-killer, the BlackBerry 7100t, generated quite a buzz. Hard-core BlackBerry devotees derided the company's foray into more phonelike devices, while others didn't quite understand the QWERTY-esque keyboard. Conversely, some users celebrated the sleek form factor and the bright color screen. Regardless of where you stand on these issues, the fact remains that at $199 (with a T-Mobile service contract) and coupled with the long-awaited (albeit limited) Bluetooth and great e-mail support, the 7100t is poised to bring a new crop of users into the world of the BlackBerry.

Design of RIM BlackBerry 7100t (T-Mobile)

The RIM BlackBerry 7100t's unique design is the first thing that will strike experienced BlackBerry users. In fact, RIM refers to the 7100t as a BlackBerry phone, stepping away from the more traditional PDA-like design of previous models such as the BlackBerry 7230. Styled in pleasant blue and gray, the 7100t's slim and lightweight dimensions (4.7 by 2.3 by 0.7 inches; 4.3 ounces) give it the ability to fit in most pockets, and it feels comfortable to hold while you're talking. You'll also notice that the 65,536-color, 2.1-inch (diagonal) screen is vivid and well lit, and the icons are easy to discern in the user-friendly menus. In standby mode, the screen shows the main menu in addition to the date, time, battery life, and signal strength. Caller ID (where available) is included, and you can change the font size and style. Our only gripe: The BlackBerry goes completely dark when the backlighting is off, so make sure to adjust it accordingly.

Slim and trim: The 7100t is thinner than most BlackBerry devices.

Aside from its sleek form factor, the 7100t's most notable feature is the 20-button keypad, which is a combination of a standard QWERTY keyboard and a more traditional cell phone keypad. We say it's a combination because rather than each character having its own key, each button has two or more characters that are accessed by pushing it several times, similar to basic text messaging on a standard cell phone. While the design ensures a trimmer keyboard size, we quickly found that typing messages involves a learning curve. To help, RIM includes SureType technology (which completes words for you) to streamline the text-entry process, but more often than not, it was simply faster to just type the words ourselves. We encountered another issue with the keypad; the 7100t doesn't use a standard cell phone layout, so when you enter passwords, you'll have to remember them as numbers instead. For instance, on a standard cell phone, the 5 key is also JKL, but on the 7100t, the 5 key is GH. We point this out as a minor nuisance that is easily overcome with increased use.

Tap dance: The 7100t has an alternative keypad.

Wheelie: Use the scrollwheel and the Escape key to browse the menus.

Included on the keypad is a shortcut to T-Mobile's T-zones and the Web browser, a button for shifting text, and Return and Delete keys. On the right side of the phone are a jog dial that scrolls through menu items and messages, and you can push it in to select a highlighted item. Additionally, there's an Escape key that takes the user back one page at a time. Though it's mostly easy to use, we found in some cases it was a bit sensitive, and we ended up selecting an item when we wanted to scroll past it. The 7100t also boasts a power button on the top of the case, an earphone jack and USB port on its left side, and a speaker on its rear face.

Features of RIM BlackBerry 7100t (T-Mobile)

The RIM BlackBerry 7100t's address book is limited by only the available memory. Each contact holds eight phone numbers, an e-mail address, and two postal addresses (an additional 250 names can be stored on the SIM card). You also can enter Web pages, personal information, and notes under each name, as well as customize other fields to your liking. Contacts can be organized into caller groups, but you can't assign ring tones, and there's no picture caller ID. Other features include a calendar, a memo pad, a task list, an alarm clock, 32 polyphonic ring tones, and a vibrate mode. While the 7100t has 32MB of internal flash memory, it lacks an expansion slot.

The inclusion of a long-awaited speakerphone was a definite plus, but we were disappointed by the integrated Bluetooth. Though the 7100t is one of a few BlackBerries to support Bluetooth, it can be used only to connect with a headset and not to sync with other devices. While we could also sync with our calendar and e-mail (see below), we nevertheless were puzzled why a business-friendly device such as the 7100t would boast such a high-end feature but limit its functionality.

Primarily an enterprise product, the 7100t easily connects to Microsoft Exchange and BlackBerry servers as well as Lotus Notes servers using the desktop redirector software. E-mail delivery is in real time, and both messages and the calendar can be synced to the device. If that isn't enough or if you don't work for a company that has BlackBerry Enterprise Server installed, you can opt for BlackBerry Web Client, which is included in the T-Mobile package service plan. It allows you to have e-mail messages wirelessly forwarded to your 7100t from up to 10 POP3 or IMAP4 accounts every 15 minutes.

The Internet chat program is compatible with AIM, Yahoo, and ICQ clients, and there's also a full-featured Web browser and text messaging. You can now open a wide variety of e-mail attachments--most importantly, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, as well as Adobe PDFs--and view them on the device. Unfortunately, it's a read-only situation, as you can't edit said files and send it back to a colleague.

Multimedia options were limited. The 7100t doesn't play MP3s, and you get only one Java (J2ME) game: BrickBreaker. Alternatively, you can download third-party applications or access T-zones for ring tones and games and to browse through news, weather, and sports scores. Though a selection of wallpaper is included, you always can get more from T-Mobile.

Performance of RIM BlackBerry 7100t (T-Mobile)

We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS) RIM BlackBerry 7100t world phone in the San Francisco Bay Area using T-Mobile's network. While getting a good signal was a piece of cake in downtown San Francisco, things weren't so good in the sticks, also known as East Oakland. Furthermore, those on the other end of our calls reported that the phone sounded "staticky" at times, and on our side, audio quality was tiny and hollow.

That said however, the speakerphone was surprisingly good. Just be aware that since the speaker is on the back of the device, you might find the sound muffled if the phone is placed face up on a surface. Also, you can activate the speaker only after you've placed a call. As for the Bluetooth, we tested the phone with Logitech's Mobile Bluetooth headset. We were able to connect without a hitch and found the sound quality to be better than when on the handset itself.

Speak up: The speaker is on the rear face of the 7100t.

Battery life was satisfactory. RIM promises 4 hours of talk time and up to eight days of standby time. For our tests, we met the rated talk time and managed seven days of standby time.

Source: askmen-cnet.com

Motorola MPx220/Smart Phones For Globe Trotters

4. Motorola MPx220

Product Summary

The good: Windows Mobile 2003 OS; ergonomic controls; easy to use; solid call quality; Bluetooth; world phone; VGA camera.

The bad: WAP browser could be improved; difficult to sync with a corporate Exchange server.

The bottom line: Motorola's MPx220 is a worthy choice for a Windows Mobile 2003 smart phone, though some of its features are less than perfect.

Specs: Carrier: AT&T; OS provided: Microsoft Windows Mobile for Smartphones 2003 Second Ed.; Installed RAM: 32 MB

We had high hopes for the MPx220, Motorola's follow-up to the popular MPx200. We're always excited when a product shows up promising so many fantastic things: Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 OS, Bluetooth, and Windows Media Player 9.0, just to name a few. We're pleased to say that after a few initial bumps (call quality was horrible until Motorola sent us another review unit), the MPx220 met most of our expectations. We liked the Cingular smart phone's PIM capabilities, Bluetooth support, and multimedia functions but found fault with the WAP Web browser and the syncing support. The handset is fairly priced at $399, but you should be able to find it at a discount with a service contract.

Design of Motorola MPx220 (AT&T)

Compared to other popular smart phones such as the RIM BlackBerry 7750 or the PalmOne Treo 650, the Motorola MPx220 measures a more pocket-friendly 3.9 by 1.9 by 1.0 inches and weighs a lighter 3.9 ounces. Its sturdy flip-phone form factor also makes it comfortable to hold while you're talking. Yet we aren't completely impressed by the design. The two-toned silver styling is attractive but a bit vulnerable to smudges, and the postage-stamp-size external screen is rather small. It does support 56,000 colors, however, and shows the time, signal strength, battery life, and photo caller ID (where available). Below the screen are the speaker, the camera lens, and the flash.

Half pint: For a smart phone, the MPx220 is compact.

Inside the phone, things get a bit better. The 2-inch-diagonal, 65,000-color display is large enough for viewing PIM data such as contacts and calendar information (you can change the text size), as well as games and photos. That said, however, the bright display was disappointing when viewing Web pages such as mobile versions of MSN, Yahoo, and The Onion. Images typically looked washed out, and using Web-based mail was not as pleasant as with other devices such as the Audiovox SMT5600.

Killer controls: We loved the MPx220's huge navigation controls.

We were very pleased with the attractive and user-friendly navigation controls. The four-way toggle is large and easy to manipulate, and it has a big, blue OK button in the center. Surrounding it are four buttons: two menu soft keys, the Home key, and a Back button. Below the Home and Back buttons are the Talk and End keys, respectively. On the left spine, you'll find the power button, a volume rocker, and the headphone jack. On the right spine are the Mini SD slot, a dedicated camera button, and the infrared port.

Side storage: The MPx220's memory card slot increases storage capacity.

When it comes to using the MPx220 as a mobile data-entry device, hard-core road warriors who have grown accustomed to smart phones with full QWERTY keyboards will no doubt bemoan having to compose e-mail with a standard keypad. Of course, anyone with experience sending text messages with a traditional cell phone won't have a problem, as the MPx220's keys are well designed and amply spaced. Though they're set flush with the face of the phone, they're quite tactile, and misdials were rare.

Features of Motorola MPx220 (AT&T)

The Motorola MPx220 offers a generous feature set. The phone book is limited only by the available memory (the phone comes with 64MB, and an additional 250 names can be stored on the SIM card). Each contact stores multiple fields such as 11 phone numbers, three e-mail addresses, three street addresses, and other personal information. You can also assign contacts to caller groups and pair them with a picture and a polyphonic or MP3 ring tone for caller ID. Other features include vibrate mode, a voice recorder, a calendar, a calculator, a task list, text and multimedia messaging, voice commands, MSN Messenger, Bluetooth, an infrared port, a WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser, USB connectivity, and a speakerphone. Aside from the 64MB of internal memory, there's also an expansion slot for Mini SD (Secure Digital) cards.

The handset runs on a 200MHz processor. Microsoft's ActiveSync handles PIM synchronization. And since the handset is essentially a Pocket PC device, it ships with an array of Windows Mobile software: Pocket Outlook (Inbox, Calendar, and Contacts), Pocket Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, and Windows Media Player 9.0. Despite the MPx220's power, we would have liked easier access to our corporate Microsoft Exchange server. The MPx220 doesn't ship with e-mail redirector software, which is a common feature on smart phones, including the PalmOne Treo 650 and the BlackBerry line of handsets. If your company runs Exchange ActiveSync on its mail server, then getting mobile access to your corporate e-mail will be a snap. If not, you may be out of luck. That said, we easily configured Pocket Outlook to access POP and IMAP e-mail accounts. Furthermore, the WAP browser, while not the prettiest, can display mobile-mail sites such as Yahoo and MSN.

Flashy: The MPx220's camera lens includes a flash.

The MPx220 provides a 1.23-megapixel camera with a flash and a 3X digital zoom. You can take pictures in six resolutions (1,280x960, 640x480, 320x240, 174x144, 160x120, and 128x96) and adjust the contrast, brightness, and white-balance settings. You also can choose from several shutter sounds (including a silent option) or use the self-timer. The external display makes taking self-portraits a snap when the clamshell is closed. The MPx220 also records videos with sound. Editing features is somewhat limited, but the length of the clips is restricted only by the available memory. Both snapshots and videos were good quality, and when you're finished, you can send them to others via a multimedia message, Bluetooth, or the infrared port and save them to the phone itself. You can store as many photos and videos as will fit in the available memory. A convenient counter keeps track of how much space you have left.

The MPx220 had good photo quality.

The MPx220 ships with Mobile Media Player 9.0, which supports playback of MP3s and MPEGs. You also get two Java (J2ME)-enabled games, Billiards and Skipping Stones, but more are available for download. You can personalize the handset with a variety of color schemes and background images and choose from up to eight ringer profiles.

Performance of Motorola MPx220 (AT&T)

We tested the Motorola MPx220 in the San Francisco Bay Area on the Cingular network, and the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) world phone worked well. We were initially disappointed with the call quality, but Motorola remedied that situation by recalling the first batch of MPx220s it shipped. Once the problem was solved, audio quality rocked. Callers remarked that the signal was quite clear. Furthermore, we never lost a signal, whether here in downtown San Francisco or in more residential areas in the East Bay. Calls using the speakerphone were also admirable, and when we tested the handset with a Logitech Mobile Freedom Bluetooth headset, callers said the audio quality was fantastic.

Though we fell a bit short of the promised times, battery life was satisfactory. We managed four hours of talk time, an hour short of the rated time of five hours. Standby battery life was 7.5 days, slightly less than the promised time of 8.3 days. According to the FCC, the MPx220 has a digital SAR rating of 0.75 watt per kilogram.

Source: askmen-cnet.com

T-Mobile Sidekick II/Smart Phones for Globe Trotters

3. T-Mobile Sidekick II

Product Summary

The good: Built-in VGA camera with flash; world phone; speakerphone; great keyboard; convenient e-mail and IM functionality; relatively speedy Web browsing; 32MB RAM.

The bad: Bulky and heavy; no corporate e-mail access; no Bluetooth or infrared port; limited customization options.

The bottom line: T-Mobile's Sidekick II adds a built-in camera to its stellar e-mail, surfing, and IM abilities, but some annoying flaws remain.

Specs: Carrier: T-Mobile; Band / mode: GSM 900/1800/1900 (Tri-Band); Talk time: Up to 270 min

Boasting a slimmer screen and a built-in camera, the second version of the T-Mobile Sidekick is more of a refinement than a revamp of its predecessor. This bulky but eye-pleasing smart phone is an e-mailer's and messenger's dream, and users of the older model will welcome the Sidekick II's thinner form factor and the addition of a speakerphone. But the new device is still without some higher-end features, and it won't access corporate e-mail. Mobile professionals will be better off with a more business-minded smart phone, such as the Nokia 6600. At $299, the Sidekick is fairly priced, but you'll also need to purchase T-Mobile's Sidekick data plan ($29.99 per month) to use the e-mail, messaging, and Internet browser functions.

Design of T-Mobile Sidekick II

There was nothing small about the previous color-screen Sidekick, and the new model is much the same. Measuring 5.1 by 2.6 by 0.9 inches and weighing 6.5 ounces, the new Sidekick actually is a bit longer and heavier than older versions, though it's slightly slimmer. Owners of the previous version, however, will notice a welcome change: The screen, which rotates 180 degrees to reveal the keyboard underneath, no longer bulges out from the rest of the phone. Though it's still boxy overall, this smart phone now feels much more natural when held against your cheek during a conversation. Though it didn't make much of a difference, the microphone and the speaker are now reversed; you hold the left end of the phone to your ear and talk into the right end, not vice versa. We had one complaint, though; to dial a number that's not in the phone book, you must first open the screen.

A bit of bulk: The Sidekick II is not pocket-size.

The T-Mobile Sidekick II adds some fashion sense with the removable rubber "bumpers" that run along the top and bottom edges of the phone. To freshen the look, bumpers are available in a variety of colors to match your mood. But more than just adding to the design, the bumpers hold an external power button so that you no longer have to open the screen, volume controls so that you don't have to dig into a menu to adjust the sound, and two ergonomic multifunction buttons. When in photography mode, the phone's right multifunction key is a camera shutter--an especially nice touch. The Sidekick even feels like a real camera when you hold it to take a picture, and the rear-facing lens sits well out of the way of your fingers.

Tap dance: A full keyboard makes sending e-mail and messages a breeze.

The Sidekick II has essentially the same 2.75-inch-diagonal TFT display as the previous model. The crisp, 65,000-color screen is readable in direct sunlight, and the animated menus (again, virtually unchanged from before) are easy to navigate. It's a piece of cake to swing the screen up and access the keyboard--just nudge the lower-left or top-right corners. We like the way in which the screen solidly springs into place, although it has a tendency to graze the keypad and accidentally hit a button or two. The backlit keypad itself is roomy and easy to use, with tactile buttons.

Rollaway: Though not backlit, the handy scrollwheel is handy for menu navigation.

Surrounding the T-Mobile Sidekick II's display are the familiar Jump and Back buttons found on its predecessor. The newcomers include a four-way directional control on the left side of the phone that lights up when you receive calls or messages, as well as send/end call buttons, which double as page-up/-down controls, that sit above and below the scrollwheel. Though it's smaller than that of previous models and not backlit, the scrollwheel can be used to select menu items. There's also a dedicated Menu key and a Cancel button. The Sidekick's speaker has moved to the back of the phone--not the best placement for resting the handset on a surface.

Features of T-Mobile Sidekick II

The bulk of the T-Mobile Sidekick II's robust feature set is almost unchanged from that of the previous model. The phone stores 2,000 contacts, with room for five numbers in each entry. Other goodies include a notepad, a calendar, a to-do list, 12 polyphonic ring tones, and a vibrate mode. The Sidekick also has a USB port, but as of July 2005, Danger's promises of future activation have yet to materialize. And to keep in contact without making a call, there's also text messaging; Web surfing; wireless e-mail access to three POP3/IMAP accounts but no corporate e-mail access; and support for viewing but not editing DOC, PDF, and JPEG files. For downloaded apps, there's 32MB of shared memory, though downloads are limited to a maximum of 1MB each.

Picture time: The camera lens, the flash, and the mirror are well placed for snapping shots.

The T-Mobile Sidekick II's new, integrated VGA camera, which doubles the resolution of the older, add-on version. With three resolutions (160x120, 320x240, and 640x480) and a built-in flash, the new addition takes above-average shots for a camera phone, although images still aren't of printable quality. The flash does a fair job if you're within a foot or so of your subject, but it won't do you much good beyond that range. Options for the camera are limited to a Night mode and a mirror for self-portraits. The Sidekick II stores up to 36 images at the highest quality, and all pictures can be sent to your buddies via e-mail or attached as thumbnails to contacts for photo caller ID.

Nice shot: We were impressed with the Sidekick's photo quality.

Other new features include the long-overdue speakerphone, which can be activated only after a call has started, and support for Yahoo Instant Messenger, which boasts the same functionality as the existing AOL Instant Messenger application. You can hold up to 10 IM conversations at once, and the phone saves your chats in case you lose your network connection. Now, if the Sidekick would just add ICQ and MSN Messenger, we'd really have something.

A few annoying quirks that dogged the old Sidekick live on in version II, including the lack of expandable memory, Bluetooth, or an infrared port. Fortunately, however, T-Mobile supports over-the-air PC syncing, and a third-party sync utility is available for Mac users. After downloading the client software from T-Mobile (Mac users can try MarkSpace.com), you'll be able to sync with Outlook's Contacts, Calendar, and To-do List. Alternatively, you can go to T-Mobile's Web site and import or enter your contacts, which are then downloaded to the device. The Sidekick II supports vCards, which you can send to yourself via e-mail, then import to the phone.

We were disappointed by the Sidekick II's surprising lack of customization options. You'd think a phone that's so clearly targeted to consumers would boast custom and photo wallpaper, screensavers, and desktop themes, but you'll find none of these on the new Sidekick. The only included game, Rock & Rocket, will be familiar to owners of the old Sidekick, and you can download more titles along with polyphonic ring tones, WAV music tracks, and sound effects from T-Mobile's Download Fun service.

Performance of T-Mobile Sidekick II

We tested the triband (GSM 900/1800/1900) Sidekick II world phone in New York City using T-Mobile's service. We had no trouble hearing our callers, even when holding the phone against our cheek to make calls, and they said we came through loud and clear. We also had a decent Web-surfing experience with the Sidekick's browser over T-Mobile's GPRS network; even pages that weren't optimized for mobile devices managed to load on the LCD, if a bit slower than they might have over a dial-up connection.

There were some speed bumps in the data service a few months after our initial testing, however. Shortly after the brouhaha over Paris Hilton's Sidekick II in early 2005 when personal information was stolen from T-Mobile's servers, Sidekick data service went down for nearly a week while Danger engineers patched security holes. T-Mobile refunded a month's data fee to Sidekick users, but customers had no Web browsing, e-mail, or IM service during that time. Sidekick users reported smooth sailing again by March, and as of July 2005, we haven't heard of any serious trouble or encountered it ourselves. Though the Sidekick II isn't the only device to lose service (BlackBerrys and Treos users reported service interruptions in June 2005), keep in mind that the Sidekick's high profile makes it an enticing target for hackers.

Battery life was satisfactory. T-Mobile promises about 4.5 hours of talk time and almost 3 days of standby time. In our tests, we managed 5 hours of talk time, and we matched the standby time.

Source: www.askmen.com

Sony Ericsson P910a (Unlocked)/Smart Phones for Globe Trotters

2. Sony Ericsson P910a

Product Summary

The good: Amazingly long battery life; great call quality; large and vibrant screen; full QWERTY keyboard; tons of features.

The bad: Hefty; flimsy flip-down keyboard; sluggish WAP browser; low-resolution camera.

The bottom line: The Sony Ericsson P910a offers road warriors a superb smart phone and multimedia alternative to devices such as the Treo 650 and the BlackBerry.

Specs: Band / mode: GSM 850/1800/1900 (Tri-Band); Wireless connectivity: Bluetooth,; IrDA; Talk time: Up to 780 min

While we've spent a ton of ink talking about the PalmOne Treo 650 and the Motorola MPx220, the fact remains that there are quite a few smart phone options out there. Take, for example, the Sony Ericsson P910a, the successor to the likable P900. Running on the Symbian 7.0 operating system, the P910a is a full-fledged GSM device that does almost everything you can ask for. But while some smart phones are more PDA than phone and others more phone than PDA, the P910a seems to be equal parts phone, PDA, and multimedia device. With a high-resolution display, an integrated (but only VGA) camera, Bluetooth support, and massive battery life, the only thing holding back the P910a is a hefty price tag of more than $700. Of course, this device is so chock-full of features that it may actually be worth it; also, the cost should come down once the handset is picked up by a carrier.

Design of Sony Ericsson P910a (Unlocked)

Compared to standalone mobiles, the Sony Ericsson P910a is on the large side. Of course, next to other smart phones, it's right in the mix, at 2.3 by 1 by 4.5 inches and 5.5 ounces. As evidenced by its predecessor, Sony Ericsson is good at putting together well-designed products, and in this regard, the P910a is no slouch. The generous 3-inch-diagonal touch screen is vibrant and crisp (262,000 colors), and it rotates to support Landscape mode. You can't change the text size itself, but a zoom feature effectively does the trick. And though it may take a bit of acclimation, the P910a is comfortable to hold while you're talking.

The stocky P910a isn't for the faint of heart.

Aside from the great display, the P910a's most notable feature--and the most significant change from the P900--is the flip-down QWERTY keyboard (see below). In phone mode, when the flip is up, the backside of the QWERTY keyboard is a standard numerical keypad that also boasts an OK, Back, Clear, and Menu key. Like the phone itself, the keys are silver, and the letters and numbers are white. In darker situations, seeing your way around the keypad is simple, thanks to the backlighting. Furthermore, the keys are raised such that dialing by feel is a snap. That said, there are no Talk and End keys; you'll need to use the OK button instead. While this isn't a big deal, we prefer dedicated call buttons.

When the flip is opened, you're greeted with a full QWERTY keyboard that is bound to create conversation. Though surely usable, the tiny keys are crowded together, and the flip's construction worries us. There's no truly comfortable way to type while holding the phone, and the flip mechanism seems rather fragile. We didn't perform a complete torture test, but we could imagine a situation where the flip-down keyboard could be broken. If it worries you too much, however, you can remove the keyboard via the included screwdriver and use the touch screen or the Graffiti-like handwriting-recognition feature. Another pet peeve: Unlike the numeric keypad, the keys on the QWERTY are not backlit. We also were disappointed with the keyboard's Enter button. Because it doesn't activate the highlighted Done buttons on the screen, we had to type our messages, then use the stylus to tap Done or Send. This is not terribly inconvenient, but it is silly.

Add on: Expand the P910a's storage with the Memory Stick Duo slot.

On the mobile's left spine, you'll find the power button, the headset jack, and a handy scrollwheel that not only adjusts volume during calls but also navigates through menu items on lists and the home screen. On the handset's right spine is the Memory Stick Duo slot, the stylus holder, a dedicated camera button, and a Home Screen button that fires up the integrated WAP 2.0 browser. As with the P900, the VGA camera lens and a self-portrait mirror are located on the handset's rear face.

The P910a ships with a saucer-shaped docking cradle that has a unique cable-management system for easy travel. The docking cradle has a USB 2.0 cable as well as a power cord. Once docked, the P910a sits at a nice angle that enables you to see it when it's on your desk. Unfortunately, the cradle was designed such that connecting it to the device is not a matter of simply sliding it into a slot. Instead, you must tilt the P910a to attach it to a recessed port.

Features of Sony Ericsson P910a (Unlocked)

The Sony Ericsson P910a has a ton of features that should please the most demanding smart phone fanatics. The Symbian 7.0 OS involves a learning curve for newbies, but it is exceptionally easy to use after some practice. The dynamic 64MB of embedded memory--a particular boon compared to the Treo 650's 22MB of user-accessible memory--lets you store as many contacts as space will allow, with room in each entry for multiple phone numbers, addresses, and other information; you can hold an additional 250 names on the SIM card. Contacts can be assigned to caller groups or paired with any of 24 polyphonic ring tones or a picture for caller ID (where available). Furthermore, the phone ships with a 32MB Memory Stick Duo card. While this is a nice amount for storing photos and whatnot, anyone who plans on using the P910a as a mobile audio device will need to invest in a much larger Memory Stick Duo card (the slot can handle cards up to 1GB).

When it comes to staying connected, the P910a includes an infrared port and Bluetooth, as well as USB connectivity through the charging cradle. Any of these methods can transfer data between the device and a computer, and you can also use the Bluetooth to connect to a wireless headset or as a modem with a Bluetooth-enabled laptop. On the downside, the P910a doesn't support Wi-Fi, but since it's so easy to connect to the Web, it may ultimately not be a big issue.

The phone and handheld functions are pretty much what you'd expect from such a high-end handset, and they include a calendar, a task list, a notepad, an easy-to-use speakerphone, vibrate mode, a calculator, an alarm clock, text and multimedia messaging, a sound recorder, and Quickword and Quicksheet for viewing and editing Word and Excel documents, respectively. The P910a ships with two games, Solitaire and Chess, which you can play against another P910a user via SMS. It also sports fairly robust audio and video player applications. The integrated MP3 player produces clean sound, and the process of moving files onto the player was much improved over the P900's. You can customize the smart phone with a variety of wallpaper, color themes, and sounds, and you can download additional applications from Sony Ericsson.

Say cheese: The camera's lens is well placed for taking pictures.

One of the P910a's best features is its ability to sync with IMAP4 mail servers using Smartner Duality Always-on Mail for corporate e-mail support of Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes. That said, however, depending on your corporate e-mail situation, getting this to work may be difficult. In other words, be prepared to enlist the help of your IT people. Comparatively speaking, getting access to corporate e-mail with devices such as the RIM BlackBerry 7750 is not only supereasy but can be done without the involvement of your IT team. Of course, the P910a also supports POP3 and SMTP e-mail and ships with a WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser that makes reading Web mail such as Yahoo and Hotmail a cinch. While the WAP browser is nice, it's often slow. This, as it turns out, was more of a minor pet peeve.

We liked the P910a's photo quality.

The P910a ships with only a VGA camera, which was a bit of a disappointment, considering the growing number of megapixel camera phones on the market. Features are very much like those of the P900. You can take pictures in 640x480, 320x240, or 160x120 resolutions and with outdoor, indoor, night, or auto settings. You also control the brightness and contrast, adjust the lighting (auto, fixed, indoor, outdoor, and fluorescent), use a backlighting option, or activate a shutter sound. We missed an optical zoom and a flash, but you get a mirror for self-portraits. You can store as many pictures as will fit on the P910a's memory, and a convenient counter keeps track of how much space you have left. When finished with your shots, you can save them as wallpaper, associate them with contacts, and send them to your friends. To channel your inner artist, the P910a also comes with a fun and handy image-editing application that supports multiple file formats. The camcorder records up to an hour of video with sound in MPEG-4 format (video length increases with Memory Stick); its file-editing options are similar to the camera's.

Performance of Sony Ericsson P910a (Unlocked)

We tested the triband (GSM 850/1800/1900) Sony Ericsson P910a in the San Francisco Bay Area on T-Mobile's network, and the handheld worked like a charm. Callers noted that our calls were clear, and from our side, while those on the other end sounded a bit hollow, they were clear as well. The P910a has a built-in speakerphone that is activated simply by opening the flip once a call has been initiated. It also worked well, with admirable audio quality and volume. Since the P910a is a multimedia workhorse, it ships with stereo headphones that double as a wired headset. Sound quality hardly diminished, and we also were pleased with calls made with our Logitech Mobile Freedom Bluetooth headset.

Battery life was excellent. Though we didn't reach the rated talk time of 13 hours, we still hit an outstanding 9 hours on a single charge. Standby time was also less than Sony Ericsson promised, but we still were pleased. We managed 10 days, compared with the rated time of 16 days. According to the FCC, the P910a has a digital SAR rating of 1.5 watts per kilogram.

Source: askmen-cnet.com

Palm Treo 650 (AT&T)/Smart Phones for Globe Trotters

1. palmOne Treo 650 (Cingular, GSM/GPRS)

Product Summary

The good: The Palm Treo 650 benefits from an improved display and keyboard, integrated Bluetooth, and a speakerphone. The world phone also has a 312MHz processor, Palm OS 5.4, multimedia, and e-mail support.

The bad: Sadly, the Palm Treo 650 has meager integrated memory, no built-in Wi-Fi, and a low-resolution camera. Also, the Treo 650's headphone jack isn't standard size, and you can't use its Bluetooth as a wireless modem.

The bottom line: Though it has its shortcomings, the Palm Treo 650 offers solid performance and adds some key features to maintain its reign as smart-phone leader.

Specs: Carrier: Cingular Wireless; OS provided: Palm OS 5.4; Processor: Intel 312 MHzXscale

When we made our wish list for the successor to the well-received Treo 600, it was to keep the great design but add several missing features. Fortunately, that's precisely what PalmOne did with its new Treo 650. This model offers a high-resolution display, a faster processor, Bluetooth wireless, Palm OS 5.4, and a removable battery--all notable additions. But the honeymoon ends with some shortcomings, specifically the stingy memory, the limited Bluetooth implementation, and the lack of Wi-Fi. How you feel about these issues depends on your needs, but for our money, the Treo remains the best all-in-one communicator available. Sprint PCS was the first to introduce the new Treo in October of last year, but now after three months of waiting fervently, Cingular customers have a version of their own. At $549, the price is hefty, but you should be able to find it for less with service.

Design of Palm Treo 650 (AT&T)

The PalmOne Treo 650 looks virtually identical to its predecessor. It is the same shape and size (4.4 by 2.3 by 0.9 inches, not including the stubby antenna) and only a hair heavier at 6.3 ounces. In fact, it looks so similar (except for a slight color change) that during testing, bystanders often did a double take and even then had to ask, "Is that the Treo 650?" No wonder--why tinker with a design that has stood the test of time? Of course, the Treo 650 is not the most compact smart phone on the market; models including the RIM BlackBerry 7100t and Windows Mobile 2003 smart phones such as the Audiovox SMT5600 and the Motorola MPx220 are all significantly smaller, though they don't have a full QWERTY keyboard.

Pocket buster: The Treo 650 is larger than many smart phones.

Still, there are some notable changes to the design. The most impressive new feature of the Treo 650 is its improved display. It is the same size (2.5 inches diagonal; 320x320 pixels) but now shows off 65,000 shades, compared to 3,375 hues on the Treo 600. The result: smooth, bright, and colorful images with no trace of the "screen door" effect on the Treo 600's display. Overall, the new display is on a par with that of the latest high-end handhelds--something that couldn't be said of the previous version at the time of its release. Another obvious change is the keyboard. The keys have been squished so that they are larger, flatter, and closer to one another. The keyboard still feels cramped, but generally, these enhancements make thumb-typing a little easier than with the Treo 600. The new white keys are also semitranslucent with bright backlighting.

Tap dance: The Treo 650's keyboard has been redesigned.

The Treo 650 retains the signature five-way navigational button, which is critical for easy one-handed operation. But there are several new buttons as well. The most prominent are the dedicated Talk and Power/End buttons, which operate much like those on most cell phones. Four buttons directly below the display provide quick access to the calendar, messaging, applications, and menus. And the volume buttons on the side have been replaced by a single rocker switch, which is easier to use, as well as one customizable quick-launch button (by default, it opens the Web browser).

We were pleased to see that PalmOne kept the hardware switch on top that toggles between ringer and silent modes--a handy feature--along with the MMC/SDIO expansion slot, the infrared port, and the SIM card slot. The camera is located in the same spot on the back panel but now has a tiny mirror for self-portraits; PalmOne will also offer a camera-less version for execs worried about security risks. The speaker and the panel for accessing the user-removable battery are immediately below the camera. Farther down on the bottom are the new Multi-Connector, for synchronizing and charging the Treo and connecting accessories, and a headphone jack. The Multi-Connector, first introduced on the Tungsten T5, replaces the unfortunately named Universal Connector of previous PalmOne devices, and it is not backward compatible. A minor inconvenience, the 2.5mm jack requires an adapter (not included) for use with standard headphones.

Cool controls: You'll find the new Treo's memory slot and ringer switch on the top of the device.

There's still no included cradle for charging or syncing. Instead, PalmOne includes USB and power cables that can be connected to each other or used separately. As with the previous version, the touch screen is unprotected and tends to get covered with dust and fingerprints quickly. You'll want to purchase a slipcase for it immediately since one isn't included.

Features of Palm Treo 650 (AT&T)

The PalmOne Treo 650 has a generous feature set, but we weren't completely in awe. We like the new 312MHz Intel PXA270 chip processor that provides the muscle for multitasking and digital audio and video applications. The memory, however, is another story. First, PalmOne did not increase the amount of memory in this version. In fact, the Treo 650's 22MB of usable memory is slightly less than the Treo 600's total after you take away what the OS and core applications require. Second, the company switched to a new file system that effectively reduces available memory by increasing file sizes. (There is a detailed explanation here.)

There is a good reason for this: the new nonvolatile file system (NVFS), paired with the 22MB of nonvolatile memory, means you no longer lose all your data if the battery dies or if you want to swap in a fresh battery, which wasn't possible with the Treo 600. In other words, the Treo 650 acts more like a cell phone and less like a handheld that needs to be tethered to a PC at regular intervals to recharge and to back up data. This is especially good news if you use client-server software that syncs directly with Microsoft Exchange Server wirelessly, such as ActiveSync for Exchange Server 2003 (now included) or GoodLink. In that case, you will need to HotSync with your desktop only to install new applications or to transfer large files.

Nevertheless, the memory has caused a lot of hubbub, especially among Treo 600 users who upgraded, then discovered that their files suddenly gobbled up more memory. PalmOne is promising a ROM software update to alleviate the problem, and the company has offered to send a free 128MB SD card to anyone who has memory management issues. Whether you get it from PalmOne or buy it yourself, the bottom line is that a nice, big SD card is a must-have accessory for the Treo 650.

Reflections: The Treo 650's camera lens now includes a self-portrait mirror.

In addition to wireless WAN voice and data, the Treo 650 includes both infrared and the much-needed Bluetooth. Theoretically, Bluetooth lets you do several things wirelessly: perform HotSyncs, connect to other Bluetooth devices, and hook up wireless headsets. Fortunately, we had better luck connecting to our testing headsets than we did with the CDMA version of the Treo 650. We tried using the Jabra BT250, the Logitech Mobile Bluetooth headset, and the Jabra BT800. Pairing with each device was problem-free, and calls came through loud and clear. Additionally, on the BT800, we were able to place calls directly from the headset.

But like the CDMA Treo 650, using a headset wasn't perfect. PalmOne maintains a compatibility list in the support section of its site; the ones labeled Handsfree Profile offer the most features. Only nine headsets support the profile, including Palm's own Treo headset, so be sure to check before buying a particular model.

The bigger issue is that you can't use the Treo 650 as a wireless modem for your laptop when you are on the road and there are no Wi-Fi hot spots within range. PalmOne says it is working on an upgrade, but in the meantime, it is directing users to a third-party application available from JuneFabrics.com.

Much to our disappointment, there's still no integrated Wi-Fi, a feature that has become a common in midrange and high-end PDAs. At some point, the PalmOne SDIO Wi-Fi card will work with Treos, but the company has been slow to release the drivers, and you'll still have to pay $129 for something that arguably should be built in. That said, improvements to the WAN data networks along with the addition of Bluetooth lessen the need for Wi-Fi.

We liked the Treo 650's photo quality.

The basic phone and handheld functions of the Treo remain the same. You get many of the features of an advanced mobile, including a phone book (size is subject to available memory), 28 polyphonic ring tones, a speakerphone, vibrate mode, three-way calling, speed dial, and picture caller ID (where available). And you get the features of a handheld running Palm OS 5.4. Aside from basic organizer applications such as a task list, memos, a calculator, an alarm clock, a calendar, and a world clock, the Treo 650 includes the excellent Dataviz Documents To Go 7.0 for viewing Microsoft Office documents, VersaMail 3.0, AudiblePlayer, and support for Java (J2ME)-enabled games. Multimedia capabilities also got a boost. Previously on the Treo 600, you had to download a third-party application to listen to MP3s; now, the Treo 650 includes RealPlayer in ROM for playing MP3s or Real files. Audio automatically stops when a call comes in.

The Treo has always been an e-mail machine, but VersaMail 3.0 ups the ante. In addition to its support for up to eight POP and IMAP accounts, it now works with ActiveSync for Exchange, which means that with a little help from IT, you can connect directly to your company's Exchange Server 2003. PalmOne also includes a convenient single in-box for text and multimedia messages. You also can use Cingular's Express Mail Suite, which can connect to major corporate e-mail systems such as Exchange, Notes, and Groupwise (additional subscription required). The WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser is largely unchanged in appearance, though the device supports both Cingular's GPRS and EDGE networks.

Though many cell phones now come with 1.3-megapixel cameras, PalmOne stuck with a VGA camera, which disappointed us somewhat. The company made some notable improvements, though. The camera performs better in low light, can shoot video (in MPEG-4 format) as well as stills, and includes a tiny mirror for self-portraits. We especially liked the included picture and video-viewer application, which can play slide shows and even set them to music.

Performance of Palm Treo 650 (AT&T)

The PalmOne Treo 650 is available in a quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS/EDGE) world phone version. We tested the GSM model for Cingular Wireless--it's the second version available--in San Francisco.

The overall call quality was admirable, whether we were holding the unit to our ear or using the speakerphone, the included wired earbuds, or the optional Bluetooth headsets. Web surfing was satisfactory, but it's not without its quirks. While you can access Cingular's high-speed EDGE network, the device displays the active network as GPRS. The result is a bit confusing--you can be using EDGE, but the Treo says it's working off GPRS instead. There's no word on when this might be fixed, but Cingular's EDGE network promises average data speeds of 100Kbps to 130Kbps (up to three times faster than GPRS).

The GSM version we tested is rated for six hours of talk time and 12.5 days of standby. The talk time was 4.25 hours in our tests, though the standby time seems a little optimistic. The Treo 650's battery is now removable, so you can swap in a spare (a $60 accessory) on long trips. According to the FCC, the Treo 650 GSM version has a digital SAR rating of 1.51 watts per kilogram.

Source: askmen-cnet.com.com