Windows 8 touchscreen devices to cost more, Dell says

IDG News Service - Touchscreen laptops and tablets with the upcoming Windows 8 OS will be priced higher than their non-touchscreen counterparts, Dell's CEO said on Tuesday.
Dell will offer a full complement of Windows 8 products when Microsoft launches its new OS, CEO Michael Dell said during the company's quarterly earnings call. The touchscreen Windows 8 products will occupy higher price bands, which could mean higher profit margins for Dell, he said.
"Unlike other Windows transitions, this is a transition where you are going to need a new PC," Michael Dell said, adding that touch capabilities could drive more people to buy Windows 8 tablets and PCs.
Microsoft hasn't provided a release date for Windows 8 but analysts expect its release later this year. Lenovo has said it will sell a ThinkPad tablet with Windows 8 when the OS is launched.
Despite excitement around the touch interface, however, the upgrade cycle to Windows 8 won't match that of Windows 7, especially in the enterprise, Dell said.
"Corporations are still adopting Windows 7, so we don't think there will be a massive adoption of Windows 8 early on," he said. It also remains to be seen if buyers will prefer tablets over PCs, he said.
The computer maker has been trying to reduce its dependence on sales of consumer PCs, where profit margins are lower, and is trying to sell more higher-priced systems, such as its XPS PCs. Dell's mobility revenue in the quarter just ended declined by 10 percent, while desktop revenue declined by 1 percent.
Its PC business underperformed as demand slowed down and more consumers opted for tablets and smartphones, Brian Gladden, Dell's chief financial officer, said during the call. Dell has shelved its consumer tablets and smartphones over the past few quarters, keeping only its enterprise tablets.
Dell's PC revenue also dropped below expectations because it didn't participate in the market for low-margin, entry-level PCs, which were a big chunk of PC sales for the industry overall, especially in emerging markets such as China.
Falling prices for memory and LCDs, and the normalization of hard drive supplies, favored companies selling those low-end systems, which in turn put pricing pressure on Dell's business.
The hard drive issues caused by flooding in Thailand last year have been resolved and drive prices will fall as the year progresses, Gladden said.
"That's behind us," he said.

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Review: Western Digital My Book Thunderbolt Duo 4TB

Premier partnerSamsung

Beats FireWire 800 speedsCan daisy-chain other devicesImproved access to replace a disk
The My Book Thunderbolt Duo is Western Digital's first desktop drive to use an ultra-fast Thunderbolt interface. In fact, it has two such ports, so the drive and an external display can be connected to a Mac with just one by daisy-chaining the display from the drive.
There are two disks inside, and WD has improved the marking and releasing of the mechanism that lets you in, should a disk need replacing.
They're configured as a striped array by default, for the full capacity of 4TB in a single volume, with the risk that everything is lost if one disk expires. However, it has tremendous speed benefits. With files of 2MB and larger, it averaged 298.4MB/second when reading, and 266.1MB/second when writing, but with large variation in write speeds, between 353.1MB/second down to a low of 217.2MB/second.
Fortunately, the supplied software enables you to easily reconfigure the hard disks as a mirrored array, halving the usable capacity and slowing transfer rates, but with the insurance of having two copies of your data. In this mode, read speeds averaged 189.1MB/second, and 126.4MB when writing. We found less variation in write speed in this mode. It peaked at 176.8MB/second, and hit a low of 111.7MB/second with a 100MB file.
The Thunderbolt Duo delivers speeds in excess of the equivalent FireWire 800-equipped Studio II drive, and it can be bought for £400, which isn't a huge premium.
However, its performance is inconsistent compared to some other Thunderbolt RAID arrays, such as LaCie's Little Big Disk Thunderbolt Series 240GB SSD, which are a better option when sustained high speed is essential.

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TuneUp Utilities 2012

TuneUp Utilities is a well known system maintenance tool. Some tools you’ll use to regularly clean your system and need to run once in a while or if you have a problem. The 2012 version of TuneUp Utilities also includes the program deactivator. It disables unused programs until you need them. It also includes Economy Mode, which can help laptop users improve battery life.

One Click maintenance scan feature helps to keep things simple by cleaning and defragmenting the registry, optimizing system startup and shut down and defragmenting hard drives. The program deactivator made specific recommendations for restoring system performance by disabling and uninstalling unused programs. The Fix Problems tab offers number useful fixes for common Windows problem like desktop icon errors. Some of the users on reported that uninstalling the product is difficult during or after the trial period but most of the users had no any problem with its uninstalling.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warefare III

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is one of the most anticipated games of the year 2011. It will deliver a multiplayer experience to user which increases the intensity by focusing on a fast paced gun versus combat. Its innovative features enhance the different styles of play. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III requires a good amount of skill and this is a first person shooting game.

In single player campaign the player has to play in various characters. Like its past games it is divided in to three sets of missions called ACTS. Each mission in an ACT features a series of objectives which marks the direction and distance towards and from such objectives. Blood splatter displayed on the screen shows the damage done to the player. In the mission objective bank there are ranging from having the player arrive at a particular checkpoint, manning mini guns, to eliminate enemies in a specified location and so on. The player also accompanied by fellow soldiers who cannot be issued orders.

The main core of the walk through consists in helping you dominate online. While other Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III Strategy Guide guides will simply provide you with vague advice and a couple of screenshots that do nothing to help, here you will not only clearly learn specific techniques and strategies, but you will be able to see for yourself how  they are to be implemented in a gaming situation.

System Requirements (recommended):

      Pentium Dual Core (3.06GHz) processor, Phenom Triple-Core AMD processor
      Video Card Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS
      3 GB RAM
      Windows 7 (32 bit)
      Direct X 9
      16 GB hard drive space 

Watch the Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coiTJbr9m04

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Review: Toshiba BDX5300

Smart TV services3D Blu-ray playbackDigital file supportLow priceBasic user interfaceHigh relative priceAwkward remote controlNo MKV playback
Ease of use increasingly makes or breaks electronic products, but with the Toshiba BDX5300 Blu-ray player, Toshiba is hoping there are shoppers out there who still put core features and a low price at the top of their wish lists.
With built-in Wi-Fi, smart TV services and support for 3D Blu-ray, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Toshiba BDX5300 is the equal of its more expensive competitors.
All core, must-have features of the modern age are here - and for a price of £119 in the UK and $139.99 in the US. The Toshiba BDX5300 is all about getting ticks next to your shopping list, with Wi-Fi and 3D playback both deftly integrated.
The smart dimension is a bit more of a fudge, with a rather limited collection. Currently it's just a four-spiked service in the UK, with BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Acetrax and Picasa, while US customers get Netflix, VUDU, Hulu Plus, Pandora and YouTube.
Toshiba probably takes the view that these services = smart TV in most consumers' heads, so why bother complicating matters? It's a good call, since the Toshiba BDX5300 makes up in simplicity what it lacks in choice (or any semblance of a pleasant operating system, as we'll see).
Since the US version of the Toshiba BDX5300 boasts Netflix, it's a shame that the UK version has only Acetrax for movie streaming; all such media streaming services are in their first generation, and sadly lacking in must-watch titles, so it's wise to have access to as many as possible if you like your films streamed.
What you don't get on this so-called 'smart' Blu-ray player, which are found on most of the other mid-market decks, is a wide choice of internet widgets or apps, or any notion of an app store.
Nor is there a web browser, but since we often criticise such software we're can hardly bemoan their collective no-show. It that respect at least, less is certainly more. 
Anything DLNA-compliant - such as a PC, netbook or a Mac running Twonkymedia - is recognised by the Toshiba BDX5300 and included in its source list. There's also some digital file support from a docked USB stick, too, although we're not expecting wonders.
We do like the super-slim, compact (just 430 x 200 x 36mm) Toshiba BDX5300's design; a silver arrow stretches across the entire fascia, pointing downwards and nicely lightening an otherwise heavy gloss black appearance. For the money it's actually a remarkably attractive finish.
That slim 'Wide Chassis Aero Cosmetic' hull contains outputs for just HDMI and coaxial digital audio (optical would have been nice), with an Ethernet LAN slot nearby for more reliable, wired internet, and a USB slot up-front.
As well as playing purchased discs and BD-R and BD-ROM discs, the Toshiba BDX5300's pop-put disc tray also supports CD, CD-R/-RW, DVD, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R, SVCD and VCD.
The Toshiba BDX5300 is one of six in Toshiba's Blu-ray line-up for 2012. Sitting above the 2D-only Toshiba BDX3300, which also sports smart TV functions, it's a notch or two above the Toshiba BDX1300 - a basic 2D deck with no smart functions. It's also above the smart-less, but 3D-ready Toshiba BDX4300. There's something for everyone, then.

Source: View the original article here

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Review: Hands on: Unnecto Quattro review

Premier partnerSamsung

When we showed up at CTIA 2012, we had no idea what Unnecto was, but their folded phone brochures littered the show floor and media room, so we just had to find out what they were about.
For the most part, Unnecto sells cheap, unlocked GSM phones with their own Unnecto OS. However, they have two Android offerings, and the Quattro definitely has something to offer.

It's first trick is functionality as a dual-SIM phone - meaning taking calls on your work number and your home number can be done through the same phone.

It's got a five megapixel rear facing camera, a 4-inch LCD display (with a resolution of 480 x 800).

The 650Mhz processor isn't going to exactly tear through complex processes, but it didn't feel sluggish in our time with it.

The plastic back feels expectedly cheap, and it's obvious the design is one of the steeper corners cut. It has a large rectangular home button that looks remarkably Apple-esque.
It comes with a slightly tweaked version of Gingerbread and with the weak processor, we don't expect we'd much like Ice Cream Sandwich even if it was installed.

The Unnecto Quattro will be releasing in coming months and cost less than $200. The official line was "between $150 and $200," which sounds like an absolute bargain for the dual-sim wielding niche.

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Review: Updated: Nikon D3200

Premier partnerSamsung

Excellent guide mode24MP sensorFull HD videoNo raw shooting in Guide modeOdd colours on LCD screen.
By all accounts, Nikon had a great year in 2011, topping both the DSLR and compact camera charts. The former came via the Nikon D3100, the company's entry-level offering with a 14.2 million pixel sensor, which is a great way in for those looking to get serious about their photography.
Nikon says that it will continue to market and sell the D3100, giving customers the choice between a budget model, and a more sophisticated option in the D3200.
There's lots of interesting technology crammed into the relatively small body of the Nikon D3200, including things that have trickled down from its more expensive bodies.
These include features such as the Expeed 3 processing engine, which promises to deliver quicker processing, low noise and a range of frame rates for Full HD video recording.
A number of other improvements have been made to the camera, which is priced at £649.99 in the UK and $699.95 in the US. These include slight ergonomic upgrades in the form of newly added buttons and an enhanced rear LCD screen.
But it is of course that 24.2 million pixel sensor that is likely to be the most headline-grabbing feature, coming just weeks after the unveiling of Nikon's other high resolution camera, the Nikon D800 (with 36 million pixels).
Coming from a company that used to profess that 12 million pixels was "enough", it's likely that some will scoff at the hike in pixel count, but Nikon is keen to point out the cropping potential that such a high resolution offers. This means that users who are unlikely to invest in a second, longer focal length range can crop into images post-capture and still retain a large enough pixel count for high quality images.
Aiming itself so squarely at the entry-level user, improvements made to the Guide Mode are something Nikon is understandably keen to shout about. On the Nikon D3200, new guides including Reds in Sunsets have been added, which - along with the original guides - is designed to help users to achieve the best possible image quality without necessarily having to have a huge amount of photographic knowledge.
Helpfully, the updated guide now has more reference images. These change as the settings are adjusted to show the typical impact.
Another feature that's likely to appeal to the intended target audience is the option to purchase an additional Wi-Fi adaptor, the WU-1A, which connects the camera to smartphones and tablets for remote shooting and uploading images to social networking sites.
A number of retouch options have been included in the camera, including the capability to straighten and crop images and add digital art filters after the shot has been taken.

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Bits Blog: Mark Zuckerberg Officially a Billionaire

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, is now officially a billionaire. Until now, Mr. Zuckerberg has been staggeringly rich only on paper.
On Tuesday, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the 28-year-old founder completed the sale of 30.2 million Facebook shares at $37.58 each. That will give Mr. Zuckerberg a not insubstantial $1,134,916,000 in cash.
Previously only a paper billionaire, he is now a real billionaire.

Mark-Zuckerberg

Other Facebook employees will have to wait. The S.E.C. maintains a 180-day lockup period for employees, their friends and family, and venture capitalists.
The transaction appears to have been done so Mr. Zuckerberg can pay his taxes, an exception to the lockup rule. If Mr. Zuckerberg decides in the future to go on a shopping spree and buy, say, a small country, he still owns more than 500 million shares, which are worth over $15 billion even as the price dips.
It’s a good job Mr. Zuckerberg didn’t wait until Wednesday to sell his first chunk of shares. The company stock closed at $32 even, which would have netted him only $966 million. And as we all know, being a millionaire isn’t cool. A billionaire, on the other hand, now that’s cool.

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Sprint could be cooking up a 4G ICS slider

Fresh leaks indicate that Sprint and LG are poised to deliver one of the firstAndroid 4.0 smartphones with a sliding QWERTY keyboard. In addition to its few preliminary specifications, BriefMobile has also obtained the first glimpse of the new LS860 handset.
Also known by its Cayenne code name, the rumored hardware matches up nearly identical with Sprint's LG Viper released back in April. The LS860 should feature the same 4-inch WVGA IPS display and 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm S3 processor. The smartphone is expected to launch with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and offer support for Sprint's 4G LTE network.
Related storiesSprint boasts mobile hotspot add-ons but kills 5GB planSprint aggressively promotes iPhone 4S unlimited planHTC Evo 4G LTE shipments now delayed at Best Buy
The remaining details are as unclear as the accompanying image at this point but I suspect the LS860 will feature similar memory and storage capacities as the LG Viper. Save for the 5-row sliding QWERTY keyboard, I don't expect very many differences between the two, if at all. Should that be the case, we can look forward to a 5-megapixel camera, NFC and Google Wallet support, along with a 1,700mAh battery.

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Intel-inside Lenovo K800 phone coming next week

Lenovo is expected to announce its K800 smartphone next week in China, according to a source familiar with Lenovo's plans -- the second phone powered by Intel silicon.
In addition to the 1.6GHz Atom processor with a 400MHz graphics chip clock, the K800 features a 4.5-inch 720x1280 display andAndroid -based Lenovo LeOS user interface for the local Chinese market.
Other features include HDMI-out, near-field communication (NFC), and Intel wireless display technology for steaming video to a compatible HDTV.
Lenovo's phone will run on China Unicom's network. The phone supports HSPA+.
The K800 follows the first Intel phone, the Lava Xolo 900 launched in India last month.
Smartphones running on Intel processors from Orange, Motorola, and ZTE are also due in the coming weeks and months.
Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, is trying to refocus its chip design and manufacturing efforts on smaller devices like smartphones andtablets, markets where it has been virtually absent.
Pricing is unknown.

Source: View the original article here

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Galaxy S III may arrive in Canada on June 20

American consumers are still waiting for launch details for the Samsung Galaxy S III, but their Canadian neighbors may already have a date to circle on the calendar. A leaked internal screen obtained by MobileSyrup suggests the next Galaxy might enter the atmosphere on June 20, just three short weeks from now.

The image, which has been subsequently pulled, shows four of Canada's major carriers are in line to offer the Galaxy S III. It's worth pointing out, however, that until an official announcement is made the real date may be different. When you're dealing with a major product release such like this, Samsung will want to ensure their stars are properly aligned.
Yet, should June 20 prove true, Canadians may soon be able to snag the "Ferrari of Android" for Bell, Rogers, Telus, and Virgin Mobile. Menawhile, for those of us living in the United States, the best we have to go on is still "summer". On a positive note, recent findings indicate that the we could be in for announcement in short order.

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Tech Paradise: Review: Samsung Genio QWERTY

Tech Paradise: Review: Samsung Genio QWERTY: With a colourful chassis, full QWERTY keyboard and seriously budget price tag, the Samsung Genio QWERTY is squarely aimed at the younger soc...

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Review: Samsung Genio QWERTY

With a colourful chassis, full QWERTY keyboard and seriously budget price tag, the Samsung Genio QWERTY is squarely aimed at the younger social networker.
Available initially from Orange from under £70 on pre-pay, the Genio QWERTY is a very affordable alternative to BlackBerry-style message-centric devices.
It joins the low-cost touchscreen Genio Touch in Samsung's budget portfolio, with the Genio QWERTY leaving out the touch-and-swipe control interface and instead adopting a more conventional 2.2inch display and physical control system to wow its users.

It maintains the bright and colourful bodywork of the Genio Touch with swappable coloured back panels supplied in-box and others available as extras.
As well as emailing, texting and instant messaging capabilities, the Genio QWERTY is pitched at social network users.
The Orange-flavoured version we reviewed adds optimised online access to services via its Orange World portal, with links for services including Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Picasa, Friendster and Photobucket.

There's no 3G to speed along online activity though (nor Wi-Fi, as you'd expect at this sort of price) – the Genio QWERTY is a quad-band GSM phone only, chomping through data at more modest GPRS/EDGE speeds.
The Samsung Genio QWERTY's onboard media capabilities include music and video player applications plus an FM radio – with a 3.5mm standard headphone jack so you can upgrade the supplied earphones.

Support for MicroSD card memory expansion is also included, and the Genio QWERTY's budget price tag is reflected in a modest 37MB of onboard storage.
The phone's camera snapping credentials are limited to a low-key 2MP camera on the back panel - but hey, you get what you pay for.
Design and handling
Samsung has trimmed costs with the display too. The 2.2-inch screen is a low-resolution (220x176 pixels) 65K-colour effort, rather than the sort of higher quality displays we've seen in recent Samsung devices.
That means graphics are a bit blockier and less refined, which is noticeable in graphic-rich applications such as web browsing and image viewing.
Like most BlackBerry-style devices, the display has a landscape orientation that's designed to be more messaging friendly on a wide-bodied device.
The Genio QWERTY's vital statistics – 110(h) x 59(w) x 12.9(d)mm and 94g – are slim and light enough to slip comfortably into a trouser pocket without questions over whether you're pleased to see people you meet.

The curvy plastic bodywork is reminiscent of several recent Samsungs including the Genio Touch, the Blade and the Jet.
Like the Genio Touch, its 'Fashion Jacket' back panel battery covers can be swapped. Included in our box were three such 'Jackets', in black, deep yellow and yellow with orange swirls, which work strikingly with the Genio QWERTY's glossy black with yellow and chrome trim front.

Side volume keys and the dedicated camera button on the side are splashed yellow, while the number keys on the QWERTY keyboard are also highlighted with yellow blocks, so you can quickly pick them out from the rest.
The 37-key QWERTY keypad isn't the most spacious we've encountered, although the four lines of keys are decently separated and contoured sufficiently.
This enabled accurate typing with one or two thumbs, and our large fingers didn't struggle too much in achieving reasonable typing speeds.

Among the QWERTY buttons are 'quick keys' for certain feature shortcuts, including new messages and the music player – although Samsung has also replicated some of these among its user interface shortcuts onscreen and via the navigation controls.
The control panel arrangement above the QWERTY keypad revolves around a typical navigation D-pad, which is nicely raised against the surface for quick and responsive thumb manipulation.
Immediately next to this are large softkey buttons, which initially feel oddly placed, as they're not adjacent to the relevant screen softkey options.
A bit of usage means you'll quickly get used it though. Call and End keys perch on either flank of the control panel, and again are pleasingly substantial.

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Review: HTC Desire

HTC Desire

After unleashing the massively impressive HTC Legend, its bigger brother, the HTC Desire, is here - faster, bigger and more powerful and still packing the Android punch.
It might be the Nexus One rebadged, but this is a behemoth of a phone in its own right; has HTC tried to do too much?
Check out our HTC Desire video review:
We reviewed a Desire from T-Mobile, which is first in line to offer the phone on UK release, but we also checked out our findings from another Desire review unit straight from HTC, to really find out how it compared to the competition.
While the Legend was all about style and functionality in one tidy package - the HTC Desire takes a slightly different approach.
Instead of the gorgeous aluminium chassis, we're given a slightly more low-key brown case and a huge 3.7-inch OLED capacitive touchscreen.
Also read:15 best mobile phones in the world today
But while the screen certainly is massive, the phone itself doesn't seem gargantuan. The screen reaches the edge of the chassis nicely, and the four buttons on the front of the HTC Desire are almost flush and set in attractive aluminium.

If you're looking for comparisons between this and the Nexus One, the first is highly obvious: the trackball is gone.
HTC has given the phone the Terminator eye once more (head back to the HTC Legend review if you want to know why we're glad it doesn't glow red and threaten humanity) which is basically an optical trackpad that registers finger motion over the sensor.
The phone is very slim indeed, with dimensions of 119 x 60 x 11.9 mm, and weighs in at just 133g. If you're counting, that's 2g heavier than the iPhone 3G and the exact same weight as the iPhone 3GS - and that makes it very pocket friendly indeed.

It has a rubberised chassis, which is a little hard to grip at times. We're not talking so slippy you'll be dropping it all the time, but it still can be a little difficult to hold in one hand, especially if you have dinky digits.
That said it sits very nicely in the hand, with a sumptuous curved chassis feeling very nice and making it easy to press the buttons on the front with the thumb.
There's actually very little button-wise on the HTC Desire, with only six in all. The front four buttons are standard HTC Android fare (Home, Menu, Back and Search) and the Terminator optical trackpad also clicks in as an enter key.

The up/down button on the left-hand side of the phone is flush to the chassis, as is the power button on the top - which sits next to the 3.5mm headphone jack atop the HTC Desire.
The power button also functions as the lock key, and is very nicely placed to press whenever necessary (and trust us, we've seen some horrors; we're looking at you, Samsung Galaxy).
That's it button-wise, as there's no camera key (instead the HTC Desire uses the trackpad to take a snap or two) which is a little sad - we still love a dedicated shutter button.
The USB slot is hidden at the bottom - no cover to keep the dust out, but on the plus side it's once again microUSB, banishing the memory of the horrid miniUSB port from HTC designs of old.

There's also a microSD card slot for extra memory - but that's hidden below the battery, and can't be taken out without turning off the phone.

The screen is simply to die for - we mentioned it was an OLED capacitive effort earlier, but that brings such glorious colour reproduction and 3.7-inch is a great size for media and the internet on a phone.
It's a little tacky under the touch - the iPhone for instance feels a little smoother - but we're being very, very picky with that, as it registers the slightest touch with ease.

The design is sleek, and the Desire certainly looks the business - sleek and compact, while still showing off the power of the OLED screen. Yes, it lacks the style of the HTC Legend, but we think it more than makes up for that in function.
In the box
HTC is excellent at keeping packaging minimal, and the Desire once again comes in a coffin-like box with the standard kit inside.
This means a microUSB cable, which plugs into an adaptor to make a wall charger, and the standard headphones which double as a hands-free kit.

HTC hasn't seen fit to update these, but they're functional and work well to use for calls and media, providing you don't have the same odd-shaped ears as us.
There's not a lot more, but with the minimal space in packaging you can see why HTC has kept the components down. We would like to see some PC software on a CD or memory card, but it can be downloaded from the site with ease.

Source:  View the original article here

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Review: HTC One S

Update: We've spent a long time with the HTC One S now, so have updated our review to represent the improved software and all round experience. Don't worry... it's still brilliant!
The HTC One S follows swiftly on the heels of the One X in HTC's new premium brand of Android 4.0-enabled handsets, bringing a svelte chassis, 7.8mm depth and a low-price of just £26 a month at launch - and only $149.99 in the US too.

HTC One S

First things first: the HTC One S is a cracking looking device. It's marketed this as the thinnest handset HTC has ever made. And you feel that when you take it out of the box. It's tall at about the same height as last year's HTC Sensation (with which it will draw a lot of comparisons) but a lot, lot sleeker.
Measurements come in at 130.9 x 65 x 7.8mm and weight wise, it's pretty insignificant at a shade over 119g. And that's even more impressive when you look at what's inside. GPS, HSDPA etc – all elements we'd expect nowadays and all packed in here like sardines.
First thing you notice is that huge black, glossy display on the front. Resolution wise, it keeps the Sensation's 4.3-inch display with a 540 x 960 resolution - qHD to you and me, meaning a pixel density of 256ppi.
It's clearly not as sharp as that found in the daddy of the range, the HTC One X, nor the likes of Apple's iPhone 4S or the Sony Xperia S (and you will be able to discern pixels if you look too closely) but it puts in a very good effort.
Colours are easily as bright and vivid as the now almost year-old Samsung Galaxy S2 even though the Super AMOLED display lacks the 'Plus' bit that the latter handset boasts of - but don't think it's not got superb contrast ratios though.
In fact, if you put the phone down on a table and look at it from a couple of feet away, that screen looks even more incredible with hues just jumping out at you and finished off with the polish of the glass.
The display has been pushed even further up towards that protective glass and it really shows. This is a display HTC can be proud to push.
Although the HTC One S ships with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, it's decided to still include three soft keys beneath the screen. They're fully responsive and we had no issues whatsoever with them.
The design is pretty minimalist. The front also houses that VGA front snapper for video calling as well as the earpiece, which actually consists of dozens of holes individually drilled into the chassis to add to the air of class.
Up top is the power/lock button and 3.5mm headset jack, the right holds a volume rocker, the left gives us a micro USB socket and nothing at the bottom other than a tiny microphone hole. The rear has little other than holes for the speaker (again, drilled in), a couple of logos and the camera with LED flash.
Completing the minimalist look, you'll see that at the back, you can only remove a small area, which allows you to add the (micro) SIM and do nothing else.
No accessing the battery here, thank you. It's sealed in. Nor will you be slipping your MicroSD card in there because memory is non-expandable (don't go there – because we plan to later in the Media section!)
The chassis is made from aluminium, which has been given a 'micro-arc oxidisation treatment'...the same as they do with satellites.
It all sounds very swish and space age and sets the HTC One S up to take up a few extra knocks, which is handy since you'll probably have this phone for two years. It fact, it puts us in mind of a Nexus One from back in the day a little bit. In principle, it looks great. In practice, it can cause a couple of problems.
Because this is a tall phone – and because HTC has elected to put the lock button at the top rather than at the side as some other manufacturers do – there is a certain amount of leverage to even unlock the phone.
And that's only the beginning – the HTC One S is so uber stylish, HTC seems to have forgotten about the functionality of it. With anodized metal all over, this is one slippery customer. In the first few days of having it, we wince at recalling how many times we dropped it. Luckily only into our lap, but we can see a lot of people breaking these within the first few weeks.
The HTC One X, meanwhile, doesn't appear to suffer this affliction thanks to the slight curve. And despite being protected with Corning Gorilla Glass, it's not that robust.
We cared for our One S review unit like a newborn baby and still, we were dismayed to see what appears to look like a deep scratch at the bottom of the screen, which we can't explain through normal use.
Indeed, you'll need to wrap this baby up like a child in a case with screen protectors and protection galore. Maybe even take it to a church and get it blessed for extra protection. That does detract from the overall beauty.

Source:  View the original article here

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Review: Nokia E72

Premier partnerSamsung

Fine QWERTY keyboardExcellent messaging functionalityGreat build and designWi-Fi and HSPA dataGood package of smartphone features4GB MicroSD card2.36-inch screen small for a smartphoneS60 user interface buries settingsOptical navigation key can be fiddlyOnly 250MB onboard memoryNo dedicated camera button.

Nokia E72: OverviewThe Nokia E71 certainly hit the mark for its target business audience, so it's little surprise that its E72 successor reprises much of what was good about that QWERTY keyboard-packing Symbian S60 smartphone, while updating it with extra power and performance.
The E72 features a sleek business-like design, sporting a BlackBerry-style full QWERTY keyboard across its wide body. Some eye-catching chrome trim complements the classically understated bodywork that's aimed squarely at serious business users.
Smartphone technology may have moved on rapidly since the E71 first wowed us as a business tool, but it seems there's still strong demand for devices like the E72.

This E-series model operates on the non-touchscreen Symbian S60 3rd Edition (v3.2.3) platform, so there's no screen-tapping action here – its 2.36-inch QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) landscape-oriented TFT display is, in fact, similar to the E71's.
However Nokia has upgraded the processor under the bonnet to a 600MHz ARM processor, making its work-rate that much quicker.
The E72 has also introduced an optical trackpad within the navigation D-pad, so light finger action can initiate movement on the screen.

The camera has been enhanced from the E71's 3.2-megapixel shooter, with a 5-megapixel camera taking care of imaging.
HSDPA connectivity has been boosted to download speeds of up to 10.2Mbps (suitable network capability allowing) and HSUPA upload at up to 2Mbps. Wi-Fi is safely onboard, as is A-GPS satellite navigation which supports Nokia's latest Ovi Maps free turn-by-turn sat-nav software upgrade.

Nokia has beefed up the messaging experience on the E72, providing support for Nokia Messaging, where up to 10 regular email accounts can be handled in a user-friendly desktop-style push email environment.
Nokia's Chat software also provides instant messaging connectivity for multiple services simultaneously. Other software enhancements are dotted throughout, bringing the enterprise user experience up to date.
So does the Nokia E72 still have what it takes do the business?

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Review: LG Chocolate BL20

LG Chocolate BL20

LG has introduced a more sweetly priced slider phone – the Chocolate BL20 – to try and tempt style-savvy phone buyers not interested in the more feature packed (but higher-priced) Chocolate BL40.
Sporting a similarly sleek design, the LG Chocolate BL20 is the latest update of the original LG Chocolate phone (KG800) that first appeared in mid-2006.
Central to the chic look is a smooth, glossy piano-black casing that features hidden touch-sensitive controls on the front panel that glow red through the casing only when the phone is activated.

It's a more refined look than earlier Chocolates, echoing the BL40's design – although the Chocolate BL20 has fewer high-end features than its touchscreen range-mate.
The new Chocolate BL20 instead offers a more typically mid-priced mobile package – including HSDPA high-speed 3G data connectivity, a 5MP camera, media player functionality and an FM radio. But the real headline on this new phone from LG is certainly style.
Design
The minimalist bodywork of the closed Chocolate BL20 is certainly attractive. Its black bodywork is offset with metallic red trim on top and bottom and on the slide-down number pad, plus some subtle chrome edging.

Measuring 105.9(h) x 50.8(w) x 12.3(d) mm, it's a slimline slider that weighs a reasonable 115g and is nicely balanced in the hand.
However, all that glossy bodywork does mean it can be slippery in cold or damp conditions. Covered in a single plastic sheet, the front panel is also a finger-smudge magnet.
The display is a 2.4-inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixels), 262K-colour LCD, which is bright and zingy enough for most applications. It's not as big as a smartphone-style screen, but is acceptable for this type of mid-range device, especially with no touch control.

The original Chocolate phone was one of the first to introduce a touch sensitive navigation pad, and the BL20's similar digit-stroke control panel takes up most of the space under the screen.
A central select button surrounded by four direction arrows glows out from behind the black casing when the slider is opened or the phone activated, delightfully fading again when the phone goes into standby mode.
These buttons work conventionally to navigate around menus, albeit requiring light touching rather than pressing. They each also do typical phone shortcuts for calling up features, including text messaging, contacts, ringer profiles and a quick menu grid (you can select up to nine apps or functions for fast-touch access).

Other buttons include two regular softkeys, a button that shows active features as icons on a toolbar, and a widgets key.
This key pulls up five mini apps you can scroll between on screen, wherever you are in the menus. Functions include an alarm clock, memo writer, calendar, favourite contacts list and an online-based weather forecast app you can define for your preferred location.
A light finger glide is all you need to use the controls, like stroking a mobile phone version of a duckling. Dabbing around the menus is similarly effortless, although the sensitivity of the controls to even the merest of touches can cause accuracy issues if you're not handling it carefully.
A stray thumb or finger brushing the pad (generally your own) can accidentally activate a shortcut or the select button.
It's not particularly troublesome in most features but has potential for irritation in some, such as if you accidentally select send while composing a text.
LG has included touch activated volume/zoom controls around the BL20's side, plus a camera key and a screen lock button.

A single microUSB socket on the side takes care of charging, PC data connections and earphones; there's no standard 3.5mm headphone socket on the phone (boo), though an adaptor is provided in-box (slightly quieter boos).
The sprung slider mechanism revealing the number pad feels sufficiently robust. The pad itself provides large keys with plenty of finger room, and despite being flush against the surface are very responsive for fast, accurate texting. The metallic red finish is arresting too.

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Review: Acer Liquid S100

Fast processorSlim chassisVisual home screen bookmarksSpeedy internet browsingAwful battery lifeBuggy messaging systemConfusing contacts sortingConstantly crashing Android system.
Acer Liquid S100: Overview, design and feel
By bringing the fastest Android phone on the planet to market, Acer has good reason to be proud of the Liquid S100. Packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and super hi-res screen, there's a lot to get excited about on this phone.
Acer might be a relative unknown in the mobile world, but that hasn't stopped it making an impression with first the Windows Mobile NeoTouch S200, and by bringing top-end specs and the Android OS, the Liquid S100 will be seen by some as even better.
But one constant problem with Acer phones from the past is that despite bringing some nice parts, they often fail to be anything more than average in general use. So can the Liquid change that?

The phone looks pretty basic out of the box, with a white plastic shell encasing a 3.5-inch screen, but with the large amount of plastic border around the display, it doesn't look anywhere near as big as the iPhone or Samsung H1.
The four touch-sensitive buttons at the bottom offer basic Android navigation, and the hieroglyph look is pretty neat.

The left of the phone houses the power/lock button, and the right has the volume and shutter buttons. Pressing the former is pretty easy one handed, but the chassis creaks a little from time to time.
Weirdly, Acer has decided to go for a miniUSB slot on the Liquid, which seems a little old fashioned. The slot is located on the bottom of the phone, and when charging, a little white battery indicator appears on the top of the chassis, next to the 3.5mm headphone jack, which was a neat touch.

The phone has a single speaker on the back, next to the camera, which is adequate but pumps out basic 'chav on a train' sound quality.
Pulling the battery cover off is a worrying experience – it seems digging your fingernails in at the top and pulling rather hard is the way to do it, and it feels very much like you're going to snap something off.
Overall, the feel of the phone is a little cheap – the plastic of the white chassis and silver buttons makes it feel a little toy-like.
In the box
Acer offers a simple range of accessories in the box – a miniUSB connection lead and separate charger are a nice touch, and the bundled ear phones are decent enough, doubling as a hands-free kit too (although without media control). We're still yet to learn how to use screen protectors on a mobile yet without adding a million bubbles to the screen, but you get a few of these in the box too.

There's also a 2GB microSD card, as well as an adaptor to turn it into a full SD card too. This is pivotal, as the phone won't save any media or photos to the 512MB inbuilt memory for some reason.
 
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Review: HTC HD Mini

HTC Hd mini

Hot on the heels of the excellent HTC Legend and the even more impressive HTC Desire, is the HTC HD Mini. But whereas the Legend and Desire both come equipped with Android 2.1, the HD Mini has to make do with Windows Mobile 6.5.3.
Don't be put off by the less-than-trendy operating system though, because if anyone knows how to make a Windows Mobile phone usable, it's HTC, and the HD Mini is a fine example of just that.
With HTC Sense UI thrown on top of Windows Mobile, the HD Mini is not just easy to use, but actually quite enjoyable.

So, has HTC managed to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear? (Sorry Microsoft.) In a word, yes. But there's far more to the success of the HD Mini than the slick masking of Windows Mobile.
HTC has created a phone that is simply packed with features, while also being far more compact and pocketable than its direct competitors.
At just under 104mm tall, the HD Mini is noticeably shorter than the HTC Legend and even the disappointing Nokia X6.
At 57.7mm wide and 11.7mm thick, the HD Mini is also extremely comfortable to hold – in fact it feels far more like a traditional phone than, say, the Desire or iPhone. It's not too heavy either, coming in at 110g, which is 23g lighter than both the Desire and the iPhone 3GS.

HTC has gone down the industrial chic route for the design of the HD Mini and the results are pretty successful. The bevelled back has a tactile, rubberised finish that ensures you always have a good grip on the device.
A design highlight comes in the shape of the four visible screws in each corner, which remain in place when the back is removed.
And when that back is removed, you realise that HTC's designers aren't just about those clean industrial lines, because the whole inside of the phone is finished in bright yellow, with the bottom half translucent, no less!
It's a great design juxtaposition, like the glove box in the new Jaguar XJ Supersport being trimmed in bright purple velvet – you won't see it very often, but whenever you do, it will bring a smile to your face.

Another nice touch is that the microSDHC card slot is mounted sideways, so you don't have to remove the battery in order to access it.
There was no card included with our review sample, but if you're serious about music and video on your phone, it's worth investing in a 16GB card, which will set you back around £35 online.
The phone will support cards up to 32GB and although these are now available, you'll be looking at over £150 for the privilege.

The front of the phone is as sleek as you can get, with a single glass sheet covering its entirety. HTC has achieved this look by making the HD Mini devoid of any physical buttons.
Instead there are touch-sensitive controls for Call, End, Home, Windows Menu and Back. Although touch sensitive buttons can be a pain, the ones on the HD Mini are both responsive and accurate.
The 3.2-inch capacitive screen is bright, vivid and viewable under pretty much any lighting condition. It can be a struggle to see under very bright, direct sunlight, but then that could be said about almost any phone.
The screen feels larger than it actually is, simply because the handset itself is comparatively small. Although HTC doesn't state that the screen uses AMOLED technology, it does appear to be identical to the 3.2-inch example seen in the Legend.
PC connection comes via the microUSB port mounted in the base of the unit. It's worth noting that the port juts through a hole in the rear cover, which means that you can't take the back off while the phone is connected, unless you want to unceremoniously rip your USB cable out as well.

On the very top edge is a metal strip that houses the power button, while the 3.5mm headphone jack sits on the bevelled edge of the rear casing.
The only other control is a volume rocker on the left edge, which is again a solid metal strip, adding to the industrial design statement as well as the phone's overall quality feel.
The traditional HTC oblong box is used once again for the HD Mini, and it houses the usual array of kit – which is to say, not much.
As well as the handset itself, you get a mains charger with a USB port, a USB to microUSB cable for charging and connecting to your PC, and finally a stereo headset.
The latter isn't as bad as some bundled headsets we've seen, but if you have any real interest in listening to music on the HD Mini it's worth investing in a decent set of noise-isolating earphones.

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Review: Nokia 7230

Premier partnerSamsung

3G connectivity on a budgetStylish design and ergonomic feelEase of calling and messagingImpressive internet experienceGood quality apps pre-loadedDecent outdoor images from the 3.2MP camera.The disappointing performance of OviIncredibly slow emailPoor audio quality of media playerLack of flash on the cameraLow-quality indoor and low light snapsLess-than-intuitive interface.Page 1 of 8Nokia 7230: Overview and designNot everyone needs a phone with a million apps and a 20MP camera.
Sometimes you just want to make calls, text and browse the internet for basic information, with a little style thrown in.
Something like the Nokia 7230 slider phone for example.
At only 10 x 5.5cm when folded, you're easily able to slip the Nokia 7230 into your suit or trouser pocket with ease.

But it still packs plenty of everyday essentials, including a featured 3.2MP camera, 3G connectivity, a media player with radio and a 2.2-inch screen for viewing everything from messaging and checking your email through to web browsing and fast access to Facebook and MySpace.

And there are apps too via Ovi if you want them, with a few demo games and utilities to get you going. All of that in a phone that's mostly free on contract or at £129 should you opt for pay-as-you-go, which isn't bad as a stylish-looking 3G phone.
Nokia 7230: Design
Small, functional and with smooth curves the 7230 is classic Nokia design. Sized at 98(h) x 48(w) x 14.75(d) mm and weighing in at 100g, the phone is small and light enough to fit into anyone's bag or pocket, with curved, chromed edges that contribute to an ergonomic shape for your hand.

Within the fairly minimalist design is a mini-USB slot (although the cable for hooking up the phone to a USB slot doesn't come as standard), a headphone point and those front facing controls for accessing/ending calls, along with an additional three menu-based controls for getting round the 2.2-inch TFT screen.

Memory card slot? That's located inside the handset, with a 2GB microSD down to come as standard..
The rear of the phone is devoted to photography, with a dedicated camera key on the side (or on top if you're taking pictures in landscape) turning your phone into a reasonable outdoor snapper in seconds.

The sliding mechanism is a dream, a 'glide' rather than a 'clunk', exposing a keyboard that's spacious enough for error-free typing and sufficiently responsive when you hit the keys. When you close the slide, the phone automatically locks, kicking off that lock when you flick it back open.

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Review: Sony Ericsson Vivaz

Premier partnerSamsung

Nice feel and ergonomic designCrisp LCD screenCamera easy to useHD video recordingEasy to set upComfortable level of customisationCan be slow and glitchyResistive screenPoor app selectionInternet settings never rememberedExtremely unintuitive screen lockPage 1 of 11Sony Ericsson Vivaz: OverviewThe Sony Ericsson Vivaz is the HD-video-shooting successor to the Swedish-Japanese firm's flagship Satio model.
With an 8.1MP camera that can also record 720p HD video, it is designed to thrill YouTube-rs with its easy video upload features as well as the bundled 8GB memory card for ample storage.
The touchscreen phone has been ergonomically designed to fit the contours of the hand and with social networking and multi-media features galore, the Sony Ericsson Vivaz is set to give the likes of the Nokia X6 and the LG InTouch Max GW620 a run for their money.
The handset itself has been ergonomically designed and does feel really nice to hold.
Also read:15 best mobile phones in the world todayThe curve of the back fits nicely into the palm and although it's a light handset, the Sony Ericsson Vivaz doesn't feel insubstantial. It has an abundance of very smooth surfaces, so we did find we dropped it quite a few times.

Aside from the LCD display, the handset is very plastic-heavy and does leave something to be desired in the design department.
Available in four different colour combinations, we tested the Sony Ericsson Vivaz Moon Silver with silver back panel with dark blue sides.
The touchscreen is resistive, unfortunately, but it's probably one of the best we've seen and gives the LG InTouch Max GW620 a run for its money.
Although it's not as smooth or accommodating as the capacitive screens found on handsets like the iPhone and HTC Legend, it is still quite responsive and swiping through menus doesn't require much pressure on the screen.

There is a sensible number of buttons on the Sony Ericsson Vivaz. The call, end and menu buttons are on the front of the handset, with volume/zoom and two camera buttons on the right side panel, and power/lock on the top.
However, the latter can be a little fiddly to hit when holding the Vivaz in one hand, with some juggling needed - this means you run the risk of dropping it.

We're glad to see a 3.5mm headphone jack and microUSB port, given Sony Ericsson's previous love for its proprietary Fast Port connector instead of a basic headphone socket.
In the box
The Sony Ericsson Vivaz comes with the basics – a plug, separate USB to microUSB cable to connect to the plug or to your PC, a pair of Sony Ericsson headphones and a standalone stylus.
The headphones don't come with sponge ear buds, nor in-ear fittings to accommodate different sized ears, but do double as a handsfree kit thanks to the built-in microphone.

Given the HD recording function of the handset, Sony Ericsson has also seen fit to include an 8GB microSD card - we would have preferred some inbuilt storage too, but at least this is a generous addition.

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Review: Samsung Galaxy Portal i5700

Samsung, the famed Korean jack-of-all-technologies, is having another go at mastering the Android phone scene, after making a bit of a mess of it with last year's original Galaxy.
The i7500 Galaxy was a brave first attempt, but Samsung threw it away, alienating early adopters by not bothering to update the phone past its basic Android 1.5 operating system.
Seriously, there are petitions all over the place. Some men are still very angry about it all.

And now, learning from past mistakes, comes the Samsung Galaxy Portal - which looks pretty much identical and features... Android 1.5. Oh well. Let's give it a chance.
First impressions of the Portal are good. Nobody's going to be won over by black plastic in this day of hyper-alloy unibody combat cases and NASA-derived coatings, but at least the Portal feels solid - and the grippy, rubberised-effect of the back cover should minimise dropping/pavement catastrophes.
In fact, the Portal manages to be thicker and generally chunkier than last year's Galaxy, measuring 13.2mm thick compared to last year's model's 11.9mm.

The OLED screen of the previous Samsung Galaxy i7500 has been dumped, in favour of reliable old LCD technology - coming in at a thoroughly middle-of-the-road 3.2-inch in size.
It's bright and big enough, and if you haven't yet used a modern smartphone you'll be staggered by the HVGA resolution.
The phone's button layout is a slightly tweaked version of the original Galaxy's control array, which sees acres of the finest black plastic bent into a curved, yet unintelligible collection of icons you might expect to see on the command console of an alien space vessel.

You don't get a trackball or optical pad - directional controls are taken care of by a clickable d-pad reminiscent of old video game controllers.
But this is actually fine - text editing is much easier with a reliable, clicky button.
Moving the cursor back three characters to correct a typo in an important, what-time-is-dinner-related text message is much easier when you can simply BASH-BASH-BASH a button three times, rather than fiddle about scrolling a little wheel into position - or even worse, trying to poke the screen at the relevant point.
The screen is also impressive to use - capacitive tech means it's solid and glassy, and it's every bit as occasionally patchy as most other touchscreens out there.

You'll soon get used to pressing a bit harder around the edges. Even Apple hasn't mastered that yet with the iPhone.
The standard Android buttons are all present, but there's no explanation of what they do. The 'Menu' button doesn't say 'Menu' - all you get is an icon that looks a bit like a tray with an arrow on it.
The Home button is easy to comprehend thanks to the little house illustration on it, but we can't help but pity some poor old dad who's going to get given one of these as a free upgrade and be left utterly confused by it all.
The handset also feels very 'bottom heavy' - trying to press back or home while holding it in one hand is fiddly, and worse still is the unintelligible approach to button placement - there's thousands of them. Metaphorically.
You get a separate 'lock' button on the top-right edge of the case to wake it up and send it to sleep, a camera button on the bottom-right side, and the volume up/down clicker to the left - picking the Portal up without accidentally pressing something requires forceps and a very steady hand.

If only Samsung would bite the bullet and copy HTC's idea (like on the HTC Hero) of having the power buttons also acting as your screen lock - it'd then be possible to do away with at least one plasticky button, shaving fractions of a penny off the manufacturing cost, too.
At least there's a dedicated key for taking photos, which removes the utterly awful concept of operating a camera using a touchscreen button.

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Review: Samsung Genio Slide

Premier partnerSamsung

Wi-Fi and HSDPA high-speed data connectivitySlide-out QWERTY keyboardTouchscreen control with widgetsA-GPS satellite positioning technology2GB MicroSD memory card supplied in-boxDecent music player with 3.5mm headphone socketSwappable 'Fashion Jacket' coversGood selection of social networking apps plus BBC iPlayer app preinstalledResistive touchscreen control system is functional2.8-inch screen dimensionsLimited camera lacks autofocus and flashVideo recording lacklustreEmail wizard set-up could be easierPage 1 of 14Samsung Genio Slide: OverviewSamsung has fused elements of both the Genio Touch and the Genio QWERTY to come up with a hybrid device – the Genio Slide.
The Samsung Genio Slide combines a 2.8-inch touchscreen display and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and sports the colourful swappable back panels and youth-targeted features – with an emphasis on social networking – that mark the previous Genio models.
However, the Genio Slide packs a far more powerful feature punch than its Genio mates – and consequently has much wider appeal.

Unlike its predecessors, the Genio Slide is a 3G-enabled handset, with high-speed HSDPA mobile data support (up to 7.2Mbps) and Wi-Fi connectivity built in.
It also has A-GPS satellite-based location finding onboard.
Cranking up the downloading and uploading speeds opens up the Genio Slide's potential for a quicker and more enjoyable online media experience than the EDGE/GPRS-only Genio Touch and Genio QWERTY.

For instance, as well as faster applications such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace, in the UK the Genio Slide comes with a BBC iPlayer app already installed, offering live and catch-up TV and radio programmes.
It also has pre-loaded links to mobile TV streaming services.
Onboard 3G also allows for video calling on this model, with a front-facing camera complementing the main 3.2-megapixel camera on the back of the phone.
In addition, Samsung aims to keep mobile music listeners happy by providing a standard 3.5mm headphone socket on top of the bodywork.

The review sample we tested also arrived with a 2GB MicroSD card included in the box, and memory cards up to 16GB are supported.
Initially, the Samsung Genio Slide is debuting in the UK for free on contract deals and £120 on pay as you go, where it's currently being offered by Vodafone and Tesco Mobile.

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Review: Nokia X3

Nokia X3

The Nokia X3 is a slim, budget offering from the Finns. With no touchscreen and modest memory, it still has pretensions of being an attractive music device with a low cost to boot.
While the recent Nokia X6 touchscreen topped the rebranded X-series music phone bill with smartphone functionality and a heavyweight 32GB of onboard memory, the Nokia X3 is a much more modest affair.
It works the signature Nokia XpressMusic design look again, sporting bright red or blue music player controls down the side of the display, and comes with a 2GB MicroSD memory card in-box, a standard 3.5mm headphone socket, in-ear earphones and an FM radio.
However, there's no high-speed 3G connectivity, let alone Wi-Fi or GPS functionality, and its onboard camera is an average 3.2MP shooter.

Initially available for around £90 with various pay as you go deals (or £129 SIM-free), the Nokia X3 is clearly aiming for the cash-conscious music phone buyer after a smart-looking device, pitching it squarely against the likes of the Sony Ericsson W395.
Design and handling
The Nokia X3's bodywork is tidily proportioned, measuring 96(h) x 49.3(w) x 14.1(d) mm closed and weighing 103g.
It has an average-sized 2.2-inch 262K-colour QVGA display dominating the front that's reasonable for this sort of handset.
There are no touchscreen controls – under the display is a regular navigation D-pad flanked by a standard issue quartet of soft key and call end buttons on a flat glossy black front control panel.

These buttons are adequately spaced for hassle- and error-free navigation, although the glossy front is a touch plasticky.
But the metallic red or blue music controls and trim bordering the display and the matt black bodywork used around the rest of the phone add a sharp look to the design – not HTC Legend levels of design, but not bad for 90 of your English pounds.
These three thin music control buttons (forward, rewind, play/pause) enable users to operate the music player when it's playing in the background, although they're aren't essential for controlling the phone - the navigation D-pad can take care of that too.
The slide-out keyboard is a bit of a throwback to Motorola RAZR styling, with a flat brushed metal pad separated by illuminated ridges. It's sufficient for texting at decent speeds, though it doesn't have the super-light touch of the best texting phones, and larger-fingered users should be wary of straying thumbs.

Around the sides are routine camera key and volume buttons plus a MicroSD card slot, covered by a fairly tight plastic bung.
The standard 3.5mm headphone socket sits correctly on top of the phone, next to a microUSB data connector and thin-pin charger socket.

All-in-all, it feels slim in the hand and pocket, and is comfortable to handle – what more do you really expect from a £90 handset? LG is doing the same thing with the LG Pop – so we're glad to see Nokia is playing in the right area as well.

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Review: Nokia 5230

Premier partnerSamsung

Light and portableGood battery lifePlenty of appsGood Bluetooth supportHigh call qualityLack of Wi-FiSlow speedsTouchscreen lagsConfusing menus at timesNo physical keyboardPage 1 of 8Nokia 5230: OverviewOne of the great truths about smartphones is that you should always match a phone to your actual needs. The Nokia 5230, despite falling short of expectations, is an intelligent device that offers a wealth of unique features. Whether these features match your needs is the real question.
Before covering the failings, let's cover the basic advantages of using this phone. The Nokia 5230 is the bargain-bin version of the flagship phone, the Nokia N97.
We say 'flagship' as a somewhat slippery term, because the N97 is by no means as powerful as, say, the Google Nexus One and is actually second-rate compared to the much faster Nokia N900.
Yet, the N97 is the touchscreen phone set to compete with the Apple iPhone and just about every Android, Palm and Windows Phone device.

As the entry-level version of the N97, the Nokia 5230 is about £118, or about half the cost of competing smartphones that run well over £200.
That's an attractive price point – one that provides all the functionality of a touchscreen device, apps galore, GPS, media playback, a 2MP camera with advanced options such as setting ISO level, and 4GB of storage (on an included microSD card).

No, the Nokia 5230 is not an iPhone or HTC Desire competitor, but does have some powerful features.
What you don't get is Wi-Fi, and that is one of the major problems with this device. Wi-Fi is useful because it means you can continue using the device inside when your carrier service goes AWOL or when you want to download huge files.
The Nokia 5230 also lacks a full hardware keyboard, runs a bit slow at times, has a confusing turn-by-turn voice nav for GPS routing (although the phone supports many languages), low camera quality at just 2 megapixels, and a few minor glitches.

In the box Nokia has included the typical charger, manual, and a pair of earbuds with a 3.5mm connector that you will likely discard for a much more adequate set. Our test unit included a 4GB card already inserted into a side compartment, which is included with every Nokia 5230.
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