LG Rumor Touch Review

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LG Rumor Touch Review

Release Date: March 28, 2010

$250 Retail
$80 with 2-year Sprint Contract + Mail-in Rebate

Battery

Cell phone shoppers will be happy to know that the LG Rumor Touch has a long-lasting, 1250 mAh, Lilon battery.When talking, users will get seven hours between charge times. During extended use of the phone’s Sprint Navigation and Sprint TV, the battery will drain at even a quicker rate. Users have reported a 2-hour use time while watching videos received from Sprint TV.

Memory

This phone features 53MB of internal storage for memory as well as a 600 phone book capacity. This makes the LG Rumor Touch ideal for heavy cell phone users whose usage sways more towards a device’s phone features rather than its internet and app features.

Screen

This slider cell phone has a 3-inch, 200 x 400 pixel touchscreen. Due to the screen’s pixels, users will not be able to see a lot of a single web page but the font is easily readable. And even in landscape mode, multiple columned websites appear disproportionate. On the other hand, images and formats usually stay intact. When compared to the two previous Rumor models, this Rumor has a bigger display screen; however, when used outdoors for picture taking, the screen as a viewfinder is not easily visible. But when used in the dark, a back light makes the screen easy to see; the audio feedback for the touch buttons is also clear.

Form

This device includes a full five-line QWERTY slider keyboard. Unlike the older Rumor phones from LG, this Rumor Touch has a modern, youthful yet rugged look younger cell phone users seem drawn to. The styling updates have only added to this LG phone’s popularity.

Controls

In addition to the Rumor Touch’s QWERTY slider keyboard and touchscreen, it also features four shortcuts for the touchscreen–recent history, keyboard, groups, and phone book. There is room for 99 speed dial numbers and when user’s access a phone book listing, they will be given the automatic option to either choose “Contact Details,” “History,” “Send Message,” and “Call.”

Camera

This Rumor phone comes with a 2.0 megapixel camera that is great for taking quick photos to share online. The saturation and colors are generally balanced and the picture usually turns out clear. However, many of the phones introduced to the market within the past two months have 3.0 megapixel cameras, meaning the Rumor Touch does not quite measure up. Anyone wishing to record video or take pictures in subdued lighting should be aware that the end result will not be high quality.

Other Features

•    EV-DO technology for high-speed data, allowing users quicker access to Sprint TV, Sprint Music Store, and Sprint Navigation
•    Messaging tools galore–personalized video and picture mail and threaded text messaging
•    Email–Windows Live, AOL, Gmail, Yahoo!, and Hotmail
•    Applications–MySpace, Facebook, Sprint’s Social Zone, Twitter, YouTube uploads, and Photobucket uploads
•    32GB micro SD card
•    10 minute maximum voice memo

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Nokia N900 Review

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Nokia N900 Review

Release Date: November 18, 2009

$550 Retail
$500 When Purchased from Amazon

Battery

The Nokia N900′s battery is not anything worth writing home about. People who use the internet via their cell phone, which is almost everyone, will experience short usage times between charges with some users reporting only six hours of use per one full charge. Others have had to buy spare batteries to get through their day without having to charge their phone. In this case, it is the size of the battery to blame. Instead of a 1500mAh size that is seen on N810 and N97 Nokia models, this model phone only has 132mAh size battery, which is too small for the power and features of the Nokia N900.

Memory and Processing Speed

However, the Nokia N900 is a lot more powerful than most other phone due to its 600MHz processing speed. In addition to the powerful processor, the N900 also has 1GB of app memory, 256MB RAM, 768MB of virtual memory, and a 3D graphics accelerator. If that is not enough to turn a few heads, the Nokia N900 also features an internal storage memory of 32GB that can be expanded with the additional purchase of a 48GB micro SD card.

Screen

On the other hand, this phone’s display screen is something any owner will be proud of. This 3.5 inch wide screen display screen showcases touch-sensitive technology as well as 800 x 400 screen resolution. Users seem to love the N900′s paper-thin LCD screen.

Form

Because the Nokia N900 does have a 3.5 inch screen, it is smaller compared to the Nokia N810; however, this makes the N900 a better fit for the user’s pocket as well as gives the phone a 40g smaller difference in relation to the N810. The rounded shape of this phone makes it easier to carry and hold.

Controls

The main feature of the N900 is its QWERTY keyboard complete with domed keys and right-side directional buttons for easier use. However, the keys are fairly close together, which means new Nokia N900 owners will have a short learning curve in regards to typing accuracy. The volume, power, and camera snapshot buttons are all located at the top of this device and the headphone jack is well-concealed on the right, much like its N810 predecessor. Although the N900 does have a kickstand, it does not keep the device stable.

Camera

This Nokia phone/web device is also highly regarded for its 5.0 megapixel, triple zoom camera, found on the rear of the device, is designed by Carl Zeiss. A simple slider is used to protect the camera while not in use while two different LED bulbs are utilized for an appropriate camera flash for low lit pictures as well as the best lighting for great video quality.

Other Features

*  While there are many factors that make the N900 the perfect choice fore technology junkies, one of the most notable is its 3.5 connectivity.
*  54Mbps for Wi-Fi data transfers
*  Pre-installed OVI maps and assisted GPS receiver

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Blackberry Curve 8530 Review

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Blackberry Curve 8530 Review

Release Date: November 22, 2009

$450 Retail
$200 with 2-year AT&T Contract + Online Discount
$130 with 2-year T-Mobile Contract + Mail-in Rebate

Battery

Users will not enjoy a lot of talk and usage time with the Blackberry Curve 8530. This Blackberry’s battery charge will only last 4.5 hours with constant talk time and while it will keep going for 10.5 days on standby, it is irrelevant because virtually no Blackberry user will go more than one day without using their device.

Memory and Processor Speed

This Blackberry features a 528MHz processor speed, which makes it relatively fast compared to other cell phone models released in the past several months and especially faster than Blackberry’s previous 8520 model. The Curve 8530′s RAM has also doubled to 256MB since the release of the 8250, making the Blackberry Curve 8530 one of the fastest Blackberry phones made to date.

Screen

The Blackberry Curve 8530 has a 320 x 240 screen that can display more than 6,500 colors. The screen size is a quite smaller at 2.5 inches than most comparable phones. And while this screen looks nice, it is not quite up to snuff when evaluated against other Blackberry phones such as the Blackberry Tour. One complaint voiced by several users is this phone’s LED indicator light’s small pinpoint size is barely noticeable when lit up from a text message or incoming call.

Form

This particular Blackberry phone is slightly different from other Blackberry devices. First, it has a rubber strip that wraps around the sides of the phone as opposed to pronounced convenience keys and chrome bezel. And finally, the trackball of Blackberry devices from yesteryear has been replaced with a newer and better trackpad. This phone is also smaller than the Tour but is not slim and petite like so many of today’s cell phones. It is sturdy yet compact.

Controls

While the trackpad is a relativity new feature for Blackberry phones, the keys are soft and square, which is a throwback to previous Blackberry models. There is also the matter of the 8530′s redesigned “Return,” “Menu,” “End,” and “Talk” buttons. These buttons are now made to look as if they are integrated into the phone’s screen, which causes some users to mistakenly end a call while talking on the phone or other slight mishaps.

Camera

The Curve 8530′s camera is definitely is not an impressive phone feature. With only a 2.0 megapixel camera that does not even possess a flash, users should not expect pictures that even come close to the vicinity of decent, especially considering the higher power cameras of previous Blackberry devices. One other disappointing camera aspect is its lack of auto-focus. If any user values a cell phone’s camera and believes it to be an important purchase point, there are definitely better buys for under a retail price of $450.

Other Features

•    Blackberry 5.0 OS
•    Bluetooth
•    Wi-Fi
•    GPS
•    Many Blackberry apps including DocumentsToGo, DataViz, Blackberry Maps, and Pandora

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Motorola Devour Review

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Motorola Devour

Release Date: February 25, 2010

$480 Retail
$149 with 2-year Verizon Contract
$99 with 2-year Verizon Contract but Only When Purchased at Best Buy

Battery

Because this Android 1.6, slider phone does so much, the Motorola Devour goes through battery power quickly, which is the tradeoff for this high performance mobile device. However, when the battery reaches low power of 20% remaining, the phone will automatically shut down until it is powered. Unfortunately, this leaves the user with absolutely no warning. The average person can expect to get 4-5 hours worth of use between charges.

Memory and Processor Speed

The Motorola Devour features a Qualcomm MSM7627 processor, which is the same one found on other popular cell phone models such as the Blackberry Curve 8530 and Palm Pixi. The Devour’s processor includes two ARM cores–400MHz modem processor and 600MHz CPU core. In addition to this exceptional processor, the Devour also has 8GB of internal memory with a supported removable SD mini card memory of 32GB.

Screen

This phone’s display consists of a HVGA well-responsive touchscreen with a size of 3.1″. The majority of users are pleased by the screen’s vibrant, clear colors. Devour’s screen also doubles as a camera viewfinder; however, when used in this manner, the display is pixelated and grainy; this could be due to software issues and not display problems.

Form

The Devour by Motorola is certainly not known for being slim, small, or lightweight. Although this phone can fit in a large pants pocket, it’s bulky size creates an unsightly bulge. On a positive note, the Devour’s metal case makes it ideal for those who frequently drop their phones while at work or simply due to sheer clumsiness. It’s the Hefty bag of cell phones.

Controls

The “Tab” and “Shift” buttons of this easy-to-see, large keyboard are located on the right, which can be problematic to some users. Overall, people have found the Devour’s keyboard easy to type on using only thumbs. In conjunction with the keyboard, the Motorola Devour also showcases a touchscreen with a small, frontal, optical trackpad that controls only the screen selections. The standard “Home,” “Back,” and “Menu” buttons as well as the camera shutter are located below the phone’s screen while the “Power” button can be found on top.

Camera

This phone includes a 3.0 megapixel camera with continuous zoom that falls short of expectations. Besides the disappointing zoom that usually creates grainy photos when used, the camera takes consistently good pictures.

Other Features

*  Includes the efficient and fun MotoBlur social networking function that retains a user’s information if they ever replace their cell phone with any other model that also contains MotoBlur
*  Quickoffice for Microsoft Office document access on the go
*  Synchronized address book and calender
*  Google Maps mobile version and GPS receiver
*  RSS reader built-in
*  Quick web browser
*  Loud and clear external speaker, even when not using headphones
*  YouTube application
*  Verizon Wireless’ exclusive VCast Music
*  Video gallery and picture applications

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Motorola Backflip Review

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Motorola Backflip

Release Date: March 7, 2010

$350 Retail
$99 with a 2-year AT&T contract + Online Discount

Battery

This QWERTY keyboard, Android 1.5 flip phone by Motorola starts off with a disappointing battery charge life. Daily Motorola Backflip users will find the need to charge their new gadget once a day and if they use the internet, take a couple of pictures, use apps, talk for an extended amount of time, or basically do what most cell phone users do, the Backflip will need to be charged more than once per day. This means the Motorola Backflip might not be the best choice for busy people who are constantly on the go.

Memory and Processor Speed

The Backflip includes a 528MHz processor. Although the processor speed is disappointing, the phone makes up for it with its 2GB of memory and 32GB Micro SD card, which can be added to expand the Backflip’s internal memory. These specs make the Motorola Backflip run much like the Motorola Cliq, although each have different looks.

Screen

While the Backflip features a 480 x 320 resolution on a 3.1″ screen, some users have complaints of an overall “pixelated” look whether viewing photos or text. And when used outdoors, the user will need to shade the phone’s screen; otherwise, they will not be able to see the display.

Form

What makes the Motorola Backflip distinctive is its reverse-flip design, or ability to whip out the screen that is located behind the keyboard, giving users quick keyboard access. It also features a scrolling touchpad that while although fun to use, runs slower than physical keyboard’s arrow keys. This phone is tall, narrow, and thick, making it too large to comfortable fit into a pocket.

Controls

Motorola got it right when it made the Backflip’s keyboard. This backlit keyboard with large, easy-to-read keys make it a delight to use. Despite the slight separation between individual keys, typing can be accomplished accurately and quickly. The headphone jack and power button are located on the top of the Backflip while the camera shutter and volume are located on the right, leaving the left side clear for the keyboard hinge.

Camera

This phone boasts a 5.0 megapixel camera with a 4X zoom. The lens and flash can be found on the back of the Backflip’s keyboard. While it is known to take decent pictures, there have been reports of slow capture times, making the user more likely to move the phone before getting the shot. This in turn causes blurry pictures.

Other Features

•    Bluetooth 2.0 complete with stereo
•    Wi-Fi, the new cell phone standard that will come in handy with AT&T’s lackluster 3G broadband network
•    Qualcomm MSM 7200A processor
•    The social networking connector exclusive to Motorola–MotoBlur
•    The Backflip is due for an Android upgrade from 1.5 to 2.1 in the fall of 2010
•    AT&TQuickoffice
•    AT&T Navigator and Google Maps
•    Mp3 and ACC supported playback
•    Underpowered external speaker
•    Three music app selections–AT&T Radio, MusicID, and Music Player

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Motorola Cliq XT Review

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Motorola Cliq XT

Release Date: March 10, 2010

$330 Retail
$130 with a 2-year Motorola Contract

Battery

Motorola states on their specs that the Android 1.5 Cliq XT can be used 17 days on standby or for 7 hours of straight talk before needing to be charged; users feel that Motorola is right on the money; the Cliq XT boasts excellent battery power.

Memory and Processor Speed

Here is where the Motorola Cliq XT falls short for some cell phone users. This phone contains 159MB memory and 256MB memory space, which means that the user who enjoys downloading a lot of apps will not appreciate the lack of memory space. Of course, those who love this phone for its other features but need more memory can buy a supported 32GB mini SD card for a big memory upgrade. The Cliq XT also features a 528MHz processor that while still experiences brief app launching or screen switching delays, is a step up from its Backflip predecessor.

Screen

The Cliq XT has a 3.1″ HVGA display that shows video, photo, and text in amazingly sharp clarity. The colors hues and black are bold and vibrant. Because it has an LCD screen, like many other modern phones, the display will fade in direct sunlight; however, it is still viewable. The only downside to this phone, if it can be called a downside, is that the Cliq XT’s screen appears too bright in low lighting.

Form

This phone will fit in anyone’s pocket and is comparable in size to the HTC Hero or Apple iPhone. Each phone’s back comes with a textured design to aid user’s grip and while it is plastic, it has a nice feel when held. While most users will be content with the XT’s black color with silver accents, it also includes an interchangeable back cover that is smooth and purple, perfect for the female user who likes to be stylish.

Controls

One of the best features of the Motorola Cliq XT is that it gives phone users a choice between a “swipe” or standard Android keyboard. Either way, alphanumeric input is virtually effortless, leaving little chance of entry error.  Even better, there are only four buttons–”Home,” “Back,”Search,” and “Menu”–with a touch-sensitive navigator in the center. The volume and power buttons are found on opposite sides of the XT.

Camera

For a cell phone camera, the Cliq XT’s camera does an adequate job of taking clear pictures with its 5.0 megapixel camera, located on the back of the phone. This camera also features an LED flash as well as a zoom feature.

Other Features

•    Besides the standard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology commonly found on today’s phones, the Motorola Cliq XT also features MotoBlur service that is closely integrated with but not limited to the social network big 3 websites–MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.
•    Quick and accurate TeleNav GPS Navigator
•    Customizable RSS Feeder
•    USAQuickoffice, Google Calendar, Microsoft Exchange–all perfectly synched
•    YouTube app
•    Fully-loaded music player

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HTC Incredible Review

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HTC-Incredible

Release Date: April 29, 2010

$530 Retail
$200 with a 2-year Verizon Contract + $100 Online Discount

Battery

The HTC Incredible is an Android 2.1 phone with Sense UI technology and a battery that will last an entire day with average use but when used heavily–during extended gaming sessions–it will need to be charged sooner; this comes as no surprise considering the slimness of the phone and therefore, the shorter battery power.  Besides an outlet charging option, HTC users can charger their phone via a USB port, making on-the-go battery charging a lot more easier through the use of a laptop or car adapter that includes a USB port.

Memory and Processor Speed

However, the HTC Incredible does have a 1GHz processor speed, making its battery power on par with other processor speed comparable phones.  Although the Incredible does not contain an SD card, it does feature an internal memory of 8GBs, making the SD card irrelevant.  Factory specs state this phone has a 512MB memory; however, many users claim to enjoy 748MB of memory space.  Although the internal 8GB memory and 512MB memory space should be sufficient for most users, those who must have an SD card can purchase a 32MB one for the Incredible.

Screen

The Incredible’s screen default setting is “automatic adjust,” which users seem to appreciate.  And when used in the sunlight, the “auto” setting seems to work perfectly.  Also, when it’s light is set to “off,” the screen is not able to be seen.  The biggest complaint about the Incredible’s screen is that when viewed from an angle, the pixels are apparent but since most people look directly at their phone while using it, the pixel grid work should not be an issue.

Form

This phone’s feel is easy to adapt to.  It is slim and very easy to hold.  There are only a few slight problems with the button locations and their interference with the Incredible’s usage.  Some users have complained that the volume buttons are easy to unintentionally hit as well as the power button, especially when removing and replacing the phone’s back.

Controls

The Incredible showcases a touchscreen buttons at the bottom of its 3.7″ screen that although can be easily tapped by a brand new Incredible user, is not an interference issue with those comfortable with this phone.  This phone also comes with an optical joystick, which seems to work perfectly.  However, there are no “call” and “hang up” buttons on the Incredible; these buttons are instead located on the Incredible’s home screen, meaning users will need to take a few extra steps just to make a phone call.

Camera

Perhaps one of the best features of this model HTC phone is its camera function.  The Incredible’s camera works fantastically in low lighting and its touchscreen allows the user to choose an off-center focus.  And not only does the video function work great, all recorded videos can be instantly downloaded to YouTube and Flickr.

Other Features

•    Bluetooth 2.1 Technology
•    480 x 800 AMOLED Display
•    Snapdragon Processor

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Mobile Phone Advertising and its Benefits

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Mobile Marketing

The last few years have seen a growth in marketing strategies that make use of mobile phone advertising and most experts believe that this is a marketing trend that is set to continue for the foreseeable future. So, what are the benefits of using mobile advertising?

The first major advantage that it has over more traditional marketing strategies is that it is nearly always possible to reach consumers. These days, people are rarely separated from their mobiles for any significant length of time. This means that an advert can instantaneously reach an audience.

Linked to this is the advantage of timing. As people are nearly always within arm’s reach of their mobile it is possible to time adverts so that they arrive when a potential customer is at their most receptive. This means avoiding sending communications during the working day, or even at lunchtime; people are most open to adverts during the evening, this is the time at which they are most likely to follow up on an advert.

The ease in which mobile phone adverts can be constructed and sent out also means that, in terms of the timing of the message, it can be tailored to certain current events or even as a response to other advertising campaigns.

One of the biggest advantages that mobile phone advertising has over traditional marketing campaigns is that it is possible to target adverts to specific groups. It is no secret that TV or billboard adverts come with an extremely high level of wastage. This means that the majority of people who see them will not fall within the advert’s intended target group and therefore not be influenced by the advert. With mobile advertising, it is possible to send your adverts only to those people who fall within your target group and therefore minimise wastage.

The power of this personal touch should not be underestimated. Targeting your marketing strategy to the right individual (based on their age, gender, location, mobile device, etc) can yield immediate results.

This leads on to the next benefit, the possibility for immediate action. When a mobile phone advert appears on the phone’s screen, it is possible for a consumer to immediately respond by visiting the company’s website. This means that should a person be interested in a product, they do not have to wait until they get home to find out more, they can access all the information they need instantaneously.

Nearly everyone has a mobile phone and increasing numbers have smartphones. While more traditional mobile adverts usually appear in SMS messages, iPhone advertising (and adverts tailored to other smart phones, such as those that use Google’s Android) can appeal to consumers on a whole new level.

People are fed up with old school advertising techniques, such as TV broadcasts, which are often perceived as being too dictatorial. The type of adverts that people respond best to are those which they consider to be intriguing and innovative. This is where mobile advertising can really step up to the plate.

Smartphone games and applications are, at the moment, hugely popular. Adverts that are combined with games or applications are growing in number rapidly to take advantage of this. If you were to combine an advert with a chart-topping game you have an instant phenomenon on your hands.

Yet another benefit to using mobile advertising is that it facilitates two-way communication with consumers. Individuals are able to provide feedback on an advert almost instantaneously. This means that it is possible to test your marketing strategy in almost real time and adapt and improve your advert according to the feedback that you receive.

Building a two-way relationship with consumers enables an advertiser to gain a huge amount of trust and support for the product or company that they are representing.

In addition to consumer feedback, with mobile advertising it is easy to access reports and analytics detailing how an advert is performing. Again, this means that it is possible to improve those aspects of an advertising campaign that are not performing as well as hoped.

One last benefit of utilising mobile advertising to consider is that it can be extremely cost effective. There much fewer costs associated with mobile advertising than, say, television campaigns. Some of the best mobile adverts are produced for a pittance, their success being attributed to the phenomenon of going viral.

These are just a few of the benefits of using mobile phone advertising. This is a market that is set to continue to grow as an increasing number of advertisers realise its potential.

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