nokia 5130 xpress music

WELCOME TO NOKIA 5130 XPRESS MUSIC.

At a certain point everyone finds themselves in the situation where all they need is a no-nonsense phone that looks good and doesn't cost a fortune. The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic is exactly the kind - one of the sleekest, most affordable handsets by the Finnish manufacturer that has ever set foot in our door.

With a distinctly youthful charm, the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic certainly won't replace your laptop but will give you all a mobile phone should. Offering the bare minimum might not be what your average geek expects from a phone but it is exactly what the market wants. The fact that the Nokia 5310 sold more than 13 million units is clear enough evidence of this.

After all, not everyone can afford an N97 nor does everyone need it. What everyone does need however is good performance from their handset, even more so if reliability can be offered at a low price point. So we felt a thorough review of the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic was in order to check out this theory.

Nokia 5130 XpressMusic official photos
Key features:
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
2" 262K color TFT display of QVGA resolution
Sleek body design and nice hoice of materials
Ambient light sensor
Hot-swappable microSD card slot up to 16GB (1GB card included)
Music features:
Top notch audio quality
Dedicated music keys with backlighting
Music light effects
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Up to 21 h of dedicated music playback
Main disadvantages:
Mediocre camera with no flash or auto focus, sluggish
QCIF video recording (only good for MMS)
No 3G
No stereo loudspeakers
No smart dialing
No Java multi-tasking
No office document viewer
No Flight mode and no Active stand-by

The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic might be a mass-market handset but it most certainly doesn't look run of the mill. On the contrary, it's one of those unassuming little gadgets that actually cash in big for the company. With such expectations on its shoulder, it is little wonder we are so curious to find out what this handset has to offer.

Nokia 5130 XpressMusic is in for a review
Join us on the next page to find out more about the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic hardware and design features.

nokia 6216 classic

WELCOME TO NOKIA 6216 CLASSIC.

The 3rd annual WIMA conference is the place Nokia chose to unveil their third NFC-enabled handset - the Nokia 6216 classic. The new phone is their first attempt at making a SIM-based NFC device, which allows operators to integrate NFC services into the SIM card itself.



The Nokia 6216 classic combines both the ease of NFC contact-less payments and the security of SIM transaction authorization. As a result, the Nokia 6216 classic will truly be among the first wireless devices that can freely be used as a replacement for the credit cards one usually brings along.



Taken straight form our own glossary, NFC technology or Near Field Communication is a short-range wireless communication technology that enables the exchange of data between devices over about a 10 cm distance.



NFC is an upgrade of the existing proximity card standard (RFID) that combines the interface of a smartcard and a reader into a single device. It allows users to seamlessly share content between digital devices, pay bills wirelessly or use their cellphone as an electronic traveling ticket on existing contactless infrastructure already in use for public transportation and payment.



The connection between two NFC devices is established at once (under a tenth of a second). Due to its shorter range, NFC provides a higher degree of security than Bluetooth.
With the introduction of the Nokia 6216 classic the smart card role will in fact be taken by the SIM card that every GSM phone already uses. Owner's credit card information can be stored securely on the SIM card and waving the device in front of a contactless terminal enables quick payment and simple ticketing services.



Of course, a compatible NFC SIM card is required in order to be used with contactless ticketing and payment services, and require a service subscription and installation of an appropriate secure application.



In addition to the NFC technology, the Nokia 6216 classic, which seems as quite blatant remake of NFC-enabled Nokia 6212 classic, and is equipped with 3G support, a 2-inch QVGA display, a 2 megapixel camera, stereo FM radio and and a microSD slot.



The Nokia 6216 classic is expected to hit the shelves in Q3 2009 in select markets only. Its projected retail price is 150 euro before taxes and subsidies.

The 3rd annual WIMA conference is the place Nokia chose to unveil their third NFC-enabled handset - the Nokia 6216 classic. The new phone is their first attempt at making a SIM-based NFC device, which allows operators to integrate NFC services into the SIM card itself.

The Nokia 6216 classic combines both the ease of NFC contact-less payments and the security of SIM transaction authorization. As a result, the Nokia 6216 classic will truly be among the first wireless devices that can freely be used as a replacement for the credit cards one usually brings along.

Taken straight form our own glossary, NFC technology or Near Field Communication is a short-range wireless communication technology that enables the exchange of data between devices over about a 10 cm distance.

NFC is an upgrade of the existing proximity card standard (RFID) that combines the interface of a smartcard and a reader into a single device. It allows users to seamlessly share content between digital devices, pay bills wirelessly or use their cellphone as an electronic traveling ticket on existing contactless infrastructure already in use for public transportation and payment.

The connection between two NFC devices is established at once (under a tenth of a second). Due to its shorter range, NFC provides a higher degree of security than Bluetooth.
With the introduction of the Nokia 6216 classic the smart card role will in fact be taken by the SIM card that every GSM phone already uses. Owner's credit card information can be stored securely on the SIM card and waving the device in front of a contactless terminal enables quick payment and simple ticketing services.

Of course, a compatible NFC SIM card is required in order to be used with contactless ticketing and payment services, and require a service subscription and installation of an appropriate secure application.

In addition to the NFC technology, the Nokia 6216 classic, which seems as quite blatant remake of NFC-enabled Nokia 6212 classic, and is equipped with 3G support, a 2-inch QVGA display, a 2 megapixel camera, stereo FM radio and and a microSD slot.

The Nokia 6216 classic is expected to hit the shelves in Q3 2009 in select markets only. Its projected retail price is 150 euro before taxes and subsidies.

nokia E 75

welcome to nokia E75
If we can think of one reason to take being told "to mind your own business" with a smile it would be the Nokia Eseries. A household name for enterprise users, it's hardly a surprise that each E-series update is greeted with plenty of excitement. The Nokia E75 is no exception, even if it doesn't really put anything new on the table.
Nokia E75 official photos
The side-sliding QWERTY form factor lands on Symbian turf following a reasonably successful spell on the WinMo side of the yard.
The major novelty of the Nokia E75 is the form factor and we're about to see if this is enough for it to carve a niche out for itself in a crowded market.
Nokia E75 lifestyle photos
There's no denying that if a side-sliding QWERTY is good enough for a teenage-targeted music phone (the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic), it must be more than at home in a full-featured business phone.

Even if we leave aside the scores of competing business handsets, the Nokia E75 still faces quite stiff competition from within the E-series range itself. It's unreasonably close to the E90 as far as pricing is concerned and is quite uncomfortably cloning most of Nokia E71 functionality. The side-sliding QWERTY keyboard and FP2 are pretty much all the E75 has over the E71.
The Nokia E75 in the comfort of our office
It's more like an alternative we're talking here rather than a substantial upgrade. Truth be told, we were pretty impressed with the Nokia E71 and if the E75 matches its performance then there will be no reason to grumble.Retail package is decently stuffed
The Nokia E75 is pretty decently equipped and that was probably to be expected considering the price tag. The phone comes with a 4GB microSD card, a USB cable and of course a DC charger.
Unfortunately we didn't find a leather carrying case in the box like the one for the E71. Quite a nice accessory, this is probably the thing we miss most from the retail package.
The retail package is moderately well equipped
The supplied handsfree is one piece, which means you cannot use the remote with another headset. Finally, there is a whole load of paperwork including manuals, quick start guides, a few leaflets plus the required sync software on CD.
Nokia E75 360-degree spin
A slide-out QWERTY keyboard suggests the E75 might be a bit chunky. Not a bit of it though - at 111.8 x 50 x 14.4 mm and a volume of only 69 cc, it turned out to be more compact than we expected.
Design-wise the Nokia E75 is a phone of two faces. Its steel back is a joy to look at, even more so than the E71 because of its slender shape. However the front panel is not nearly as attractive. The number pad is made of cheap looking plastic and doesn't really ooze the style and solidity that the E-series is famous for.
The design has its ups and downs
We certainly don't want to rekindle the debate that our conclusions on the glossy plastic used on the Nokia N96 provoked, but we are not particularly fond of the fact that an E-series device gets this kind of treatment.
Based on the tacky keypad, we were expecting to be disappointed by the slide-sliding QWERTY - but the quality took a turn for the better with a very solid looking, chrome-framed keyboard. To add to the positive impression, the phone keeps quite a compact shape even with the keyboard out, and the handling is comfortable and secure.
The ambient light sensor and the video-call camera are at the top of the front panel of the Nokia E75, either side of the earpiece. Below them is the 2.4" display, followed by the D-pad, which is quite comfortable to use. It has a programmable LED in the center that can be set to indicate missed events or simply serve as a standby breathing light.
We don't mean to sound to pretentious, but we would have liked it quite much if the E-series had finally been updated with a larger display - say, something like a 2.8-incher would have been great. Instead, here we see the same diagonal as on Nokia E66.
The ambient light sensor and the video-call camera
There are eight system keys, level with the D-pad, including the usual Nokia foursome - Call and End keys and two soft-keys. The end key doubles as a power switch, unlike the E71, which has a dedicated button for the purpose. Given the garish red power button they inexplicably added to the E71, this key combo might actually be something to be thankful for! On the other hand if you have a habit of hitting the End key repeatedly for going to the homescreen you might end up turning your E75 off by accident now and then.
The other four keys around the D-pad are menu, backspace and the typical E-series one-touch keys for calendar and messaging. However, these last two can be programmed to serve whatever purpose you like, two commands assignable to each of them. The first will respond to a short press, the second to a press-and-hold.
The problem with all those eight keys around the D-pad is that they are rather small and cramped. In addition, each pair of them shares a plastic knob with a rocker-like action, which can occasionally lead to mispresses.
The buttons on the inside (bordering on the D-pad) have a rather flimsy press too. To be honest, it's nothing critical and you will get used to the control pad but the form factor has inevitably led to some compromises. In short, the layout and handling of the controls on the E75 are inferior to the E71, though that's before we've passed judgment on the QWERTY keyboard.
The eight keys around the display are way too tiny
The left side of the Nokia E75 is where the microUSB port and the microSD card slot are. They're both covered with plastic lids to avoid getting filled with dust and dirt. Those fit firmly in place and can be somewhat tricky to use as they are a little stiff.

The bottom is where the standard charger port is. Next to it is the mic right at the very edge.
The charging port is at the bottom right next to the microphone pinhole
The right side of the E75 comprises four keys and the lanyard eyelet. The keys include two volume controls, a voice command shortcut and a camera key. While it has full functionality, including autofocus half-press and camera launch, it is quite poorly designed.
The camera key clicks unpleasantly every time you press it and a tangible wobble makes it less than a joy to use. But these are just minor complaints compared to the amount of time it takes for the camera to actually start.
Yes, it's a good idea they have made it resistant to accidental presses, but needing to press it for good 4-5 seconds before the camera starts is hardly ideal when you want to capture a 'moment'.
No less than four keys are to be found on the right

Nokia N79

The Nokia N79 is a GSM/WCDMA dual-mode multimedia computer supporting WCDMA/HSDPA, EGSM, and WLAN. Change the Xpress-on smart covers that automatically change the theme when attached. Use the Nokia N79 to connect to mobile broadband using WLAN or HSDPA (3.5G). Find directions and locations with the integrated A-GPS and included maps. Take photos with a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with a dual LED flash and automatic location tagging of images and videos. Enjoy videos, music, and graphics on the 2.4” QVGA display with orientation sensor. Additional features include UPnP, Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR, and USB 2.0 High-Speed.

Nokia N8800 Arteokia

Nokia describes the composition of the latest 8800 as a "unique synthesis of high quality glass and metal", however, unique seems a misnomer considering how similar the Arte looks to its predecessor the Sirocco. That said, there's definitely something alluring about the simple elegance of the Arte.

The 8800 feels great to hold and to use. It's noticeably heavier than other handsets, and while we'd often mark the extra heft as a bad point, the Arte has a pleasing weight; it feels solid and durable. The sliding mechanism is amongst the best we've used, and again gives the impression of a high quality build and of a level of craftsmanship absent from cheaper mass-produced models.

The keypad is comprised of small angled keys which we found easy to differentiate when typing quickly, despite being smaller than we'd typically like to see. The glass OLED display is bright and clear, and displays 16 million colours, like most Nokia handsets.

The Arte is also bundled with similarly attractive accessories. Alongside the standard CD-ROM and user manual we discovered a sexy suede carry case and a sleek-looking USB charging stand

The folks at Expansys are hard at work helping us get a wee bit more dirt on what Samsung has in store for us this year with the unofficial unveiling of the Samsung C6625. This QWERTY messaging device has a 2 megapixel camera, runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, triple-band GSM, HSDPA in the unfortunate (for us) 2100MHz band, AGPS, and 100MB of onboard memory that you can boost with microSDHC. Pricing is tentatively set -- these things change as it is still a pre-order -- at $365 with no firm shipping date. Thanks again for the goods and we'll see you, Samsung, at Mobile World Congress.

t-mobile sidekick 2009

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General
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network
UMTS 1700 / 2100
Announced
2009, April
Status
Available
Size
Dimensions
132 x 61 x 16.3 mm
Weight
165 g
Display
Type
TFT, 65K colors
Size
854 x 480 pixels, 3.2 inches

- Swivel display- Full QWERTY keyboard- Trackball navigation
Sound
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
Speakerphone
Yes
Memory
Phonebook
2000 contacts, Photo call
Call records
30 dialed, 30 received, 30 missed calls
Card slot
microSD (TransFlash), up to 8GB, 1GB included, buy memory
Data
GPRS
Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD
Yes
EDGE
Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G
Yes, 384 kbps
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port
No
USB
Yes
Camera
Primary
3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features
Geo-tagging
Video
Yes
Secondary
No
Features
Messaging
SMS, MMS, Email, IM
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
Radio
No
Games
Yes
Colors
Yes
GPS
Yes, with A-GPS support
Java
Yes, MIDP 2.0

- MP3/WMA/WAV audio player- MPEG-4/3gp player- Voice memo- MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Photobucket, YouTube apps
Battery

Standard battery, Li-Ion
Stand-by
Up to 192 h
Talk time
Up to 5 h 30 min
T-Mobile announced an upgrade of their Sidekick LX from 2007 - it's called... well, Sidekick LX. The 2009 edition has a beefier display, 3G connectivity, GPS chip, 3.2 megapixel camera and updated OS.
The renewed T-Mobile Sidekick LX sports a 3.2-inch WVGA display, a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash, microSD expansion slot (1GB card in the box), 3G support and built-in GPS receiver. The handset will also be noticeably thinner than its hefty predecessor, but follows the same design - though now it's also got a bigger battery.
The Sidekick LX has an updated Danger OS, which is now tightly integrated with all popular social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Photobucket.
The Sidekick LX 2009 is expected to hit the shelves on 13 May in T-Mobile USA network as far as we know. The new handset will be priced at 200 US dollars (150 euro) on a contract basis.

HP Pavilion dv9000:

HP announced three new laptops this morning: the 17-inch HP Pavilion dv9000, the 15.4-inch HP Pavilion dv6000, and the 15.4-inch HP Compaq Presario V6000. All are based on AMD processors and feature up to 2GB of RAM at 533MHz or 667MHz, Altec Lansing speakers, plus HP's new styling. (To see photos of the new latchless, glossy, scratch-resistant lid designs, see our review of the HP Pavilion dv2000z.) Other features include HP's Mobile Remote Control, S-Video out and FireWire ports, an ExpressCard slot, 802.11a/b/g wireless, Bluetooth, a dual-layer DVD burner, and a 5-in-1 memory card reader. Each model also has an optical docking station.
The 7.8-pound HP Pavilion dv9000 is a desktop replacement that's serious about multimedia. The notebook can be configured with an AMD Turion 64 X2 processor at speeds from 1.6GHz to 1.8GHz. Its matte- or glossy-finished, 17-inch wide-screen display comes with a native resolution of either WXGA+ (1,440x900) or WSXGA+ (1,680x1,050) and is powered by an Nvidia GeForce Go 7600 graphics card with 256MB of dedicated VRAM. The system features LED-backlit, touch-sensitive multimedia controls; two headphone jacks (one of which supports S/PDIF out); and HP's QuickPlay 2.1 software for accessing media without booting into Windows. A Webcam, dual microphones and Windows XP Media Center Edition are all optional. The HP Pavilion dv9000 starts at $1,349 before a $50 rebate.

The HP Pavilion dv6000 is powered by either an AMD Sempron or a Turion 64 X2 at speeds from 1.6GHz to 1.8GHz. Its 15.4-inch wide-screen display has a native resolution of 1,280x800, comes in glossy or matte finishes, and is powered by either a discrete Nvidia GeForce Go 7200 with 64MB of dedicated VRAM or an integrated GeForce Go 6150 video card. It can be configured with hard drives in capacities from 60GB to 120GB spinning at 5,400rpm. At 6.5 pounds and 1 inch thick, the HP Pavilion dv6000 puts many of the dv9000's features in a smaller package. It has the same multimedia controls, QuickPlay software, and dual headphone jacks as its larger sibling. Also optional are a Webcam, an ExpressCard slot, and dual microphones. The HP Pavilion dv6000 starts at $929 before a $50 rebate.
The HP Compaq Presario V6000 is a stripped-down version of the HP Pavilion dv6000. It's the same size with the same processor, display, and hard drive configuration options, but it does not offer advanced options such as a discrete graphics subsystem, multimedia controls, dual headphone jacks, or QuickPlay software. The HP Compaq Presario V6000 weighs 6.5 pounds and starts at $959 before a $100 rebate.

HP Pavilion dv4t,

This world is spinning around to fast, that's a fact. No, this has nothing to do with the fact that our planet is actually spinning faster and faster(that has been proven already, but we won't be thrown into orbit too soon, don't worry), because what I care about here are laptops, and not world peace and prosperity. The laptop targeted now is HP's Pavilion dv4t, an older product that's getting better...the quiet way!

No less than three Pavilion laptops got various updates during the last few weeks, and the dv4t is one of them. Why the dv4t, and why now? As I said, the world is spinning around much too fast, and HP surely got that right.

Just as a side note, the Intel Atom CPU reached 2 GHz... so netbooks may soon catch up to some entry-level full fledged laptops..

if the laptop producers are not taking care to keep their product lines updated! Anyway, for now, everything's safe, because the Z5xx processor series is mainly targeting the mobile market, and possibly the tiny Sony VAIO P...

<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->

...so let's get to the HP Pavilion dv4t update: LED-backlit display, Espresso Black and Moonlight White color options, integrated WWAN (Verizon or AT&T), a generous 500GB HDD, as well as optional NVIDIA GeForce G 105M graphics with 512MB of dedicated memory. At last, there are some high-end features available on request, like the Blu-ray drive, integrated HDTV tuner, and a 12-cell battery!

With a 17-inch large display and 8 hours of battery life supporting up to 1,000 recharges, the new Apple MacBook Pro high-end notebook computer introduced at the beginning of this month enabled practically double the lifespan of standard Dell’s batteries, which leads to three years of operation.

Covered in the aluminum chassis characterizing all Apple’s notebook computers, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro brings a LED backlit screen of 1920 x 1200 pixels, the Multi-Touch trackpad, backlit keyboard, NVIDIA graphics card, and a 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor.It is just 0.98 inches thick at 6.6 pounds which makes it the world’s thinnest and lightest 17-inch notebook computer.<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->Internal components include 8GB DDR3 system memory, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics, additional NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics, a 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor, a 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive, optional 256GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort, slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support, Mini DisplayPort for video output, built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet port, built-in iSight video camera, 3 USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, ExpressCard slot, and many others.The price was set at $2,799.

"We've developed new battery technology that is better for the user and better for the environment," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Apple's advanced chemistry and innovative technology deliver up to eight hours of use on a full charge cycle and up to 1,000 recharges."

If you were anxious to get some MacBook updates, your wait is over! I only hope you weren't expecting some software updates, because now we're talking about serious things - two brand new MacBook laptops, although they're not quite revolutionary. Yup, you got it - we're only talking about minor MacBook updates, but it's better than nothing, don't you think?

First, we have the new aluminum 13-inch, 2.0GHz MacBook, packing the following hardware setup:

- 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor- 2GB DDR3 Memory - 160GB hard drive- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics - Standard keyboard - Aluminum unibody<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->Next, there's the faster and more expensive 2.4GHz MacBook, with the specs below.

- 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor- 2GB DDR3 Memory- 250GB hard drive - NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics - Illuminated keyboard - Aluminum unibody.

Both models above are using the ultrathin 1280-by-800-pixel LED-backlit display, and feature a Multi-Touch trackpad. The list of included software also looks very tempting, with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard and iLife '09 available in the box.

At last, if you're into making a purchase, here's the info you need - these new MacBooks are shipping within 24 hrs, and prices are $1,299, respectively $1,599, with $100 rebate on a printer and Education Discounts available

ASUS Laptops, New Anti-Theft Features

Fortunately for me, I never had to face a theft. No, I am not living in another world, I've seen it happening a few times, but it never happened to me. Why? I am not lucky, that's a certain fact, I just try to do the right thing. When it comes to stolen laptops, some of my friends had to go through it, and the most painful part is losing your precious(and sometimes also VERY personal) data, so I am sure that hearing about the ASUS laptops and their new anti-theft technology will be useful to a lot of people.

The anti-theft technology implemented in several business class P-series notebooks uses an embedded security chip allowing you to simply send a remote "suicide" command to your stolen computer. Obviously, it won't blow up, but it will stop working, until you recover it and enter a pass phrase or recovery token.Even more, the P-series ASUS laptops feature a fingerprint reader used for "finger login" before the system boots up. At last, we have the AI Secure Delete feature, to make sure those personal documents you want gone are really gone.If we look at what's remaining, there's nothing really out of ordinary for business laptops - Intel Core 2 Duo and Pentium Dual Core CPU options, ranging from 2.0GHz to 2.8GHz(Intel CULV processor for the P30), up to 4GB of memory, a 14-inch(13.3 for the P30) display with a native resolution of 1366X768 pixels, showing graphics sent by the NVIDIA GeForce 9300M with 512MB of VRAM card.While the ASUS laptops with the new Intel anti-theft features are already available, the manufacturer hasn't come up with any pricing information yet.

BenQ made available 3 new notebooks in Asia-Pacific, China and East Europe, featuring the recently announced SRS advanced surround sound audio solutions and HD audio sound cards.If yesterday we were presenting you a new HP laptop series with the SRS Premium Sound, now we will talk about the SRS TruSurround XT, TruSurround HD and SRS Headphone 360, which are the new sound enhancements brought by BenQ’s Joybook S33, Joybook S42 and Joybook P53 notebook models. In short words, the new SRS technologies deliver deeper and richer bass, crystal clear communication and high-definition of high frequencies, with compatibility with any kind of speaker system, whether it is built inside the computer, designed for desktop, or integrated in headphones.According to the latest researches, the majority of the adults using a laptop computer need HD audio sound cards for content streaming, gaming and movies, so SRS had to develop the best solution without scarifying the lightweight and small form factor design of the portable computer.BenQ Joybook S33 and Joybook S42 models feature the SRS TruSurround XT technology, which provides a premium virtual surround sound experience from any type of multichannel source, via 2 speakers or headphones. Doesn’t matter if sources are mono, stereo or surround encoded content, because the SRS technology transforms it into an outstanding virtual surround sound.

BenQ Joybook P53 laptop comes with the SRS TruSurround HD and SRS Headphone 360. The first technology supports input sources up to 6.1 channels and renders surround sound from 2.0 – 3.1 speakers. It practically creates virtual “phantom” speakers for a greater multichannel surround sound effect. For example, if the source has mono sound, SRS TruSurround HD will give you the sensation of a three dimensional sound field, compensating for those systems that don’t offer tweeters for high frequency performance.

On the other hand, the SRS Headphone 360 enables outstanding surround sound effects on portable devices, enabling up to 7.1-channel sound over headphones including dialog clarity and enhanced bass.On the other hand, the SRS Headphone 360 enables outstanding surround sound effects on portable devices, enabling up to 7.1-channel sound over headphones including dialog clarity and enhanced bass.The 13.3-inch ultra-portable BenQ Joybook S33’s design resembles the classic Victorian style by sporting curlicues over the white or black lid’s surface. Its 1280 x 800 display features 250 nits for high brightness and the Display Brilliance Enhancement Film for high-quality imaging. Inside it has the Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology, Windows Viata operating system, Intel GMA X4500HD graphics, up to 4GB system memory, up to 320GB hard drive storage, DVD burner, 4 USB ports, SPDIF connection, ExpressCard slot, a built-in 2MP web camera, microphone, the Intel WiFi Link 5100 module, Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR, a 4-in-1 card reader, High-Definition audio, Noise Suppression & Echo Cancellation, 4 hours of battery life, and the QDataTrove 3 backup and system restore utility. The system has a total weight of just 1.8Kg without the battery.

LG released its X110 mini laptop earlier this year with the high-speed 3G connectivity support, in a small form factor with mirror finish black housing.The new mini notebook computers offer now the pink color option in addition to the classic black and white, coming in a lightweight system weighting just 1.19Kg and sporting the 10-inch widescreen LCD display with LED backlight.LG released its X110 mini laptop earlier this year with the high-speed 3G connectivity support, in a small form factor with mirror finish black housing.The new mini notebook computers offer now the pink color option in addition to the classic black and white, coming in a lightweight system weighting just 1.19Kg and sporting the 10-inch widescreen LCD display with LED backlight.Running on the Windows XP Home operating system, LG X110 performs various user-friendly applications with a low power consume, thanks to the Intel Atom processing technology at 1.6Ghz speeds.It is a great portable solution for web browsing, chat and multimedia functions, integrating a 1.3MP LG Smart Cam web camera, 160GB hard drive storage, up to 1GB system memory, Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics, Wireless LAN, dual quad-band antenna, Ethernet connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate, SRS WOW HD, SRS TruSurround XT, stereo speakers, Kensington Lock security, a 4-in-1 card reader, 3 USB ports, and an optional 6-cell battery.

<-125x125 Button - right->“Mobile communications is now as much about data access as it is about voice calls. With this in mind we are delighted to be entering the Netbook market with this exciting, stylish and technically advanced device. We know that people want to be able to access the internet in its entirety, wherever they are. Now we’re allowing them to do just that from a feature rich device with all of the styling people have come to expect from LG,” said John Barton, UK Sales and Marketing Director, LG Mobile, back in August.LG X110 is prepared for the release in Europe and we don’t know its price yet, but engadget said this summer that it is expected at around $650

TOSHIBA COSMIO X300

Graphics card and blazing processor. Though these form the foundation for a good playing experience, it takes much more to gain recognition as an excellent gaming platform. The Toshiba Qosmio series has always had top-end components to target the entertainment crowd. However, the latest X300 is the first Qosmio to pave the way into the gaming segment for the Japanese maker. In Asia, the current laptop selection for hardcore gamers is very limited, consisting of only Dell's XPS M1730 and the ASUS G series. Even so, the Qosmio X300 is not going to have an easy time competing, considering that the XPS is currently the only machine in this region to offer a dual graphics setup, while the ASUS G2S comes with a pimped-up look.
DesignWhen Toshiba designed the Qosmio X300, it was obvious what the company intended the laptop to be. This machine is not meant to be used for gentle (read wimpy) social titles like The Sims or Wall-E the Video Game. Hell no. When one whips out the Qosmio X300, Toshiba wants you to know it means business. The shiny fiery-red motif was made to stoke the flames of glory and strike fear in the hearts of opponents.
The fiery design looks great in the dark. (Click for larger image)At least that was the original plan. What really happens is that this effect occurs only in dimly lit environments where the flickering lights give the machine a fearsome effect. However, under strong office lights we felt the laptop gives off a plasticky impression which does little for its appeal. Fortunately, most hardcore gamers will probably play in low-light conditions and, in any case, aesthetics is a personal choice. But what is not subjective is that this laptop is both huge and heavy. Occupying a space of 412 x 306 x 62.5mm with a 4.3kg heft, this is not a portable you want to commute with on a daily basis, especially if you take public transport. To be fair, even this proportion is dwarfed by the XPS M1730 which needs extra space and power to support the two internal graphics cards. Like most desktop replacements, there is a separate numeric keypad next to the keyboard. Unfortunately, the keyboard is coated with a glossy layer which does wonders for its look, provided you never ever use it for typing. In our opinion, fingerprints get picked up too easily for comfort and this is something we could do without.
FeaturesComing in at over S$4,000 (US$2,676.84), we expected and got an excellent feature set with the Qosmio X300, save one. To date, no Toshiba laptop has incorporated a Blu-ray drive and the X300 is no exception. Even in machine which cost half as much, Blu-ray combo drives are becoming commonplace. The optical drive reads and writes to almost every DVD and CD standards available, though Toshiba went with its proprietary LabelFlash labeling technology instead of the more common LightScribe format. Another gripe is with the screen. Though a Blu-ray drive isn't present, there is no excuse not to bump up the resolution to full-HD. The 17-inch widescreen's native resolution of 1,680 x 1,050 may be sharp enough for most games, but falls short when rendering high-definition videos. There is also a trend for desktop replacements moving to new 16:9 aspect ratio LCDs with 16.4- or 18.4-inch sizes. 16.4-inch machines like the Sony VAIO VGN-FW12G offer almost the same screen estate but keeps to a midsized form factor, while the 18.4-inch HP HDX18 give much more viewing area with a relatively small increase in dimensions. The LCD is powered by an Nvidia GeForce 9700M GTS with 512MB of dedicated video memory (which can be bumped up to 1,791MB by sharing with the system RAM). As we will see later, this graphics card (GPU) provides excellent gaming performance. We tested the system with Crysis and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and had no issues running at an acceptable frame rate with high settings. External displays can be hooked up to the VGA or Regza-Link HDMI ports.

Toshiba QOSMIO X300-11S (4026203588141) PC Notebook
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Toshiba's Qosmio X300-11S is a powerful laptop computer that comes fully equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor clocked at 2.4 Ghz, 4 GB of RAM and Windows Vista for great results every time! This laptop is the perfect choice for gamers, thanks to its NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GTS graphics card, which guarantees maximumToshiba QOSMIO X300-11S (4026203588141) PC Notebook
Consumer Rating:
Be the first one to write a review on this product Toshiba QOSMIO X300-11S (4026203588141) PC Notebook
Consumer Rating:
Be the first one to write a review on this product
Information:
Product details
Toshiba's Qosmio X300-11S is a powerful laptop computer that comes fully equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor clocked at 2.4 Ghz, 4 GB of RAM and Windows Vista for great results every time! This laptop is the perfect choice for gamers, thanks to its NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GTS graphics card, which guarantees maximum
Information:
Product details Toshiba QOSMIO X300-11S (4026203588141) PC Notebook
Consumer Rating:
Be the first one to write a review on this product
Information:
Product details
Toshiba's Qosmio X300-11S is a powerful laptop computer that comes fully equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor clocked at 2.4 Ghz, 4 GB of RAM and Windows Vista for great results every time! This laptop is the perfect choice for gamers, thanks to its NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GTS graphics card, which guarantees maximum
Toshiba's Qosmio X300-11S is a powerful laptop computer that comes fully equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor clocked at 2.4 Ghz, 4 GB of RAM and Windows Vista for great results every time! This laptop is the perfect choice for gamers, thanks to its NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GTS graphics card, which guarantees maximum

SONY ERICSSSON W995

Convergence is the buzzword and the Cyber-shot Walkman affair-turned-marriage is busy producing offspring. And hey, the young Sony Ericsson W995 sure makes the first-born W902 look like a helpless orphan.
Easily the best equipped feature phone of the house, Sony Ericsson W995, still more popular as Hikaru, packs in all there is to find at the top of the company portfolio. The full set of connectivity options, the biggest screen on a Sony Ericsson feature phone to date, GPS, Wi-Fi and the great user interface make a sweet enough package on their own.
But in the case of W995 they're just the perfect background for the unprecedented blend of music and imaging. The Cyber-shot line is graciously lending its 8 megapixel triumph, while the music dowry includes the latest Walkman 4.0 player, with all the bare Walkman necessities such as Shake control and SensMe. And there's more to make it even sweeter. We called it a marriage and Sony Ericsson have taken due care of the wedding presents. We don't know what else to call the kickstand and the on-board 3.5 mm audio jack.
So Sony Ericsson W995 has it all, doesn't it? Now let's see if it gives it all.
Sony Ericsson W995 official photos
Key Features:
Brushed metal body parts
Quad-band GSM, dual-band HSDPA
2.6" 256K-color TFT display of QVGA resolution
8.1 megapixel camera with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, face detection
WQVGA video recording at 30fps
Built-in GPS with A-GPS functionality
Wi-Fi with DLNA support
Bluetooth (with A2DP) and USB v2.0
Accelerometer sensor
118MB of internal memory and M2 memory expansion (8GB card included)
Stereo speakers
3.5 mm audio jack
Kickstand
Walkman 4.0 music player with Shake control and SensMe
FM radio with RDS
Multi-tasking support
Smart dialing
Comfortable keypad, nice sliding mechanism
Main disadvantages:
Video recording limited to WQVGA
No lens protection
No DivX/XviD video support (though it's touted as a video-centric phone)
Kickstand construction could've been more reliable
No office document viewer
Sony Ericsson W995 at ours
Since the phone is expected to hit the market by Q2 2009 (which is just around the corner) and Sony Ericsson didn't mention any price, we can only guess how much it will sell for. It's fair to expect a price tag around the same as the similarly equipped Nokia N86 8MP, which will start shipping at the same time at an estimated 375 euro (before taxes and subsidies).
As we said, the Nokia N86 8MP offers almost the same features. Almost. The camera is 8.1-megapixel and sports autofocus, but it also comes with Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash (W995 has a single-LED) and the exciting wide-angle lens and variable aperture.
The N86's screen is also 2.6" but it's based on AMOLED technology (not TFT) and shines with 16M colors (not just 256K). Both devices have kickstands but the one on the N86 seems more reliable based on what we saw at the MWC.
And last but not least, let's not forget that the N86 8MP is a Symbian smartphone with all the possibilities for expansion this entails. It's in the best interests of the W995 that we don't extend this comparison any further!

Convergence is the buzzword and the Cyber-shot Walkman affair-turned-marriage is busy producing offspring. And hey, the young Sony Ericsson W995 sure makes the first-born W902 look like a helpless orphan.
Easily the best equipped feature phone of the house, Sony Ericsson W995, still more popular as Hikaru, packs in all there is to find at the top of the company portfolio. The full set of connectivity options, the biggest screen on a Sony Ericsson feature phone to date, GPS, Wi-Fi and the great user interface make a sweet enough package on their own.
But in the case of W995 they're just the perfect background for the unprecedented blend of music and imaging. The Cyber-shot line is graciously lending its 8 megapixel triumph, while the music dowry includes the latest Walkman 4.0 player, with all the bare Walkman necessities such as Shake control and SensMe. And there's more to make it even sweeter. We called it a marriage and Sony Ericsson have taken due care of the wedding presents. We don't know what else to call the kickstand and the on-board 3.5 mm audio jack.
So Sony Ericsson W995 has it all, doesn't it? Now let's see if it gives it all.
Sony Ericsson W995 official photos
Key Features:
Brushed metal body parts
Quad-band GSM, dual-band HSDPA
2.6" 256K-color TFT display of QVGA resolution
8.1 megapixel camera with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, face detection
WQVGA video recording at 30fps
Built-in GPS with A-GPS functionality
Wi-Fi with DLNA support
Bluetooth (with A2DP) and USB v2.0
Accelerometer sensor
118MB of internal memory and M2 memory expansion (8GB card included)
Stereo speakers
3.5 mm audio jack
Kickstand
Walkman 4.0 music player with Shake control and SensMe
FM radio with RDS
Multi-tasking support
Smart dialing
Comfortable keypad, nice sliding mechanism
Main disadvantages:
Video recording limited to WQVGA
No lens protection
No DivX/XviD video support (though it's touted as a video-centric phone)
Kickstand construction could've been more reliable
No office document viewer
Sony Ericsson W995 at ours
Since the phone is expected to hit the market by Q2 2009 (which is just around the corner) and Sony Ericsson didn't mention any price, we can only guess how much it will sell for. It's fair to expect a price tag around the same as the similarly equipped Nokia N86 8MP, which will start shipping at the same time at an estimated 375 euro (before taxes and subsidies).
As we said, the Nokia N86 8MP offers almost the same features. Almost. The camera is 8.1-megapixel and sports autofocus, but it also comes with Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash (W995 has a single-LED) and the exciting wide-angle lens and variable aperture.
The N86's screen is also 2.6" but it's based on AMOLED technology (not TFT) and shines with 16M colors (not just 256K). Both devices have kickstands but the one on the N86 seems more reliable based on what we saw at the MWC.
And last but not least, let's not forget that the N86 8MP is a Symbian smartphone with all the possibilities for expansion this entails. It's in the best interests of the W995 that we don't extend this comparison any further!

15 April, 2009 | Comments (22) | Post your comment
Tags: LG, Touch UI
LG Viewty Smart (known as Viewty 2) is now official and very similar to the current LG flagman - the Arena. S-Class UI, 8 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS awaits you in the 12mm only thin body.
The popular LG Viewty has finally jumped into the next generation with its successor. Previously known as simply LG Viewty 2, the device is now cunningly called LG Viewty Smart.
The new LG Viewty Smart packs a 3-inch capacitive touch-display with WVGA resolution, an 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and D1 video recording, accelerometer, 3G support, Wi-Fi and GPS. It runs on the new S-Class 3D user interface and most probably will have the multi-touch functions. Dolby Mobile technology along with the DivX/XviD support is also on board.
LG Viewty Smart
It's business as usual for LG, which showcased the LG Viewty S2009, but didn't really bother to reveal any more details about it. Instead they focused on the LG Arena.
As you can see the similarity to the LG Arena is quite obvious except for the better camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics and the lack of huge storage. Unfortunately the rumored xenon flash is not present, instead the Viewty Smart has a LED one.
The 8 megapixel camera lacks a xenon flash
Just like the KM900 Arena, the GC900 Viewty Smart is only 12mm thin but its weight is even less - 90 grams.
The LG Viewty Smart practically leaked on the German LG blog but the information about it was quickly removed with a promise of publishing it officially soon. We guess it's going to be soon, as according to the leaked Orange UK release schedule it's due for market availability in June.
Source

LG GC900 VIEWTY

LG GC900 Viewty 2 turns official the Smart way, no xenon though
15 April, 2009 Comments (22) Post your comment
Tags: LG, Touch UI
LG Viewty Smart (known as Viewty 2) is now official and very similar to the current LG flagman - the Arena. S-Class UI, 8 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS awaits you in the 12mm only thin body.
The popular LG Viewty has finally jumped into the next generation with its successor. Previously known as simply LG Viewty 2, the device is now cunningly called LG Viewty Smart.
The new LG Viewty Smart packs a 3-inch capacitive touch-display with WVGA resolution, an 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and D1 video recording, accelerometer, 3G support, Wi-Fi and GPS. It runs on the new S-Class 3D user interface and most probably will have the multi-touch functions. Dolby Mobile technology along with the DivX/XviD support is also on board.
LG Viewty Smart LG GC900 Viewty 2 turns official the Smart way, no xenon though
15 April, 2009 Comments (22) Post your comment
Tags: LG, Touch UI
LG Viewty Smart (known as Viewty 2) is now official and very similar to the current LG flagman - the Arena. S-Class UI, 8 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS awaits you in the 12mm only thin body.
The popular LG Viewty has finally jumped into the next generation with its successor. Previously known as simply LG Viewty 2, the device is now cunningly called LG Viewty Smart.
The new LG Viewty Smart packs a 3-inch capacitive touch-display with WVGA resolution, an 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and D1 video recording, accelerometer, 3G support, Wi-Fi and GPS. It runs on the new S-Class 3D user interface and most probably will have the multi-touch functions. Dolby Mobile technology along with the DivX/XviD support is also on board.
LG Viewty Smart
It's business as usual for LG, which showcased the LG Viewty Smart behind glass at the MWC 2009, but didn't really bother to reveal any more details about it. Instead they focused on the LG Arena.
As you can see the similarity to the LG Arena is quite obvious except for the better camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics and the lack of huge storage. Unfortunately the rumored xenon flash is not present, instead the Viewty Smart has a LED one.
The 8 megapixel camera lacks a xenon flash
Just like the KM900 Arena, the GC900 Viewty Smart is only 12mm thin but its weight is even less - 90 grams.
The LG Viewty Smart practically leaked on the German LG blog but the information about it was quickly removed with a promise of publishing it officially soon. We guess it's going to be soon, as according to the leaked Orange UK release schedule it's due for market availability in June.
Source
It's business as usual for LG, which showcased the LG Viewty Smart behind glass at the MWC 2009, but didn't really bother to reveal any more details about it. Instead they focused on the LG Arena.
As you can see the similarity to the LG Arena is quite obvious except for the better camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics and the lack of huge storage. Unfortunately the rumored xenon flash is not present, instead the Viewty Smart has a LED one.
The 8 megapixel camera lacks a xenon flash
Just like the KM900 Arena, the GC900 Viewty Smart is only 12mm thin but its weight is even less - 90 grams.
The LG Viewty Smart practically leaked on the German LG blog but the information about it was quickly removed with a promise of publishing it officially soon. We guess it's going to be soon, as according to the leaked Orange UK release schedule it's due for market availability in June.
Source

LG GC900 Viewty 2 turns official the Smart way, no xenon though
15 April, 2009 | Comments (19) | Post your comment
Tags: LG, Touch UI
LG Viewty Smart (known as Viewty 2) is now official and very similar to the current LG flagman - the Arena. S-Class UI, 8 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS awaits you in the 12mm only thin body.
The popular LG Viewty has finally jumped into the next generation with its successor. Previously known as simply LG Viewty 2, the device is now cunningly called LG Viewty Smart.
The new LG Viewty Smart packs a 3-inch capacitive touch-display with WVGA resolution, an 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and D1 video recording, accelerometer, 3G support, Wi-Fi and GPS. It runs on the new S-Class 3D user interface and most probably will have the multi-touch functions. Dolby Mobile technology along with the DivX/XviD support is also on board.
LG Viewty Smart
It's business as usual for LG, which showcased the LG Viewty Smart behind glass at the MWC 2009, but didn't really bother to reveal any more details about it. Instead they focused on the LG Arena.
As you can see the similarity to the LG Arena is quite obvious except for the better camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics and the lack of huge storage. Unfortunately the rumored xenon flash is not present, instead the Viewty Smart has a LED one.
The 8 megapixel camera lacks a xenon flash
Just like the KM900 Arena, the GC900 Viewty Smart is only 12mm thin but its weight is even less - 90 grams.
The LG Viewty Smart practically leaked on the German LG blog but the information about it was quickly removed with a promise of publishing it officially soon. We guess it's going to be soon, as according to the leaked Orange UK release schedule it's due for market availability in June.
Source

SONY ERICSSON W508

Tags: Sony Ericsson, Walkman
The Sony Ericsson W508 walks and talks midrange though by no means does it keep a low profile. What we have here is the full Walkman package at a bargain price and the rest of the W508 specs may as well be irrelevant if music is the first thing on your list.
A true Walkman at heart, the W508 takes after the Sony Ericsson W980 in many ways and even adds a dash of color to the Walkman experience - in fact, the StyleUp covers make it a regular chameleon.
There are eight StyleUp covers to choose from and the W508 always ships with a spare one in the box. And in case you wonder what's with all those paintjobs, let's not forget the W508 is in a twin predicament and has an identity to assert against the T707. That one we just reviewed, so we're sort of in for a sequel, though in Walkman flavor this time.
Sony Ericsson W508 official photos
Key features:
Quad-band GSM and 3G with HSDPA support
3.15 megapixel camera
2.2" 256K-color TFT display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution
Secondary monochrome OLED external display
Scratch-resistant surface for both displays
Touch sensitive external music control keys
Hot-swappable M2 card slot (up to 16 GB), 1 GB included
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
Walkman music player with Shake control and SensMe
FM radio with RDS
Gesture control
Accelerometer for screen rotation
Basic multi-tasking support
Smart dialing
Threaded messaging
Exchangeable StyleUp covers
Main disadvantages
Camera doesn't have auto focus or LED flash
Low-grade video recording (QVGA@15fps)
No web browser screen auto rotate
No document viewer
The Sony Ericsson W508 is a friendly phone that has many ways to interact with you - TrackID to find the track you've just overheard at the caf?, SensMe so you can pick songs based on your mood, Shake control to change tracks at the flick of the wrist plus touch-sensitive music buttons and even Gesture control to mute calls with a wave of your hand.
Sony Ericsson W508 at ours
The proprietary audio jack and the single, lonely loudspeaker are points against W508 but support for 16 GB M2 cards and FM radio with RDS are guaranteed to keep you rocking from dusk till dawn.
3G goodies like video calls and HSDPA for high-speed browsing are here, complemented with the nice web browser. The lack of document viewer is a bit of a letdown but not really a feature a Walkman can't do without.
So without further ado, the Sony Ericsson W508 is in for a proper hardware inspection. Join us on the next page, as we go through our checklist.
Tags: Sony Ericsson, Walkman
The Sony Ericsson W508 walks and talks midrange though by no means does it keep a low profile. What we have here is the full Walkman package at a bargain price and the rest of the W508 specs may as well be irrelevant if music is the first thing on your list.
A true Walkman at heart, the W508 takes after the Sony Ericsson W980 in many ways and even adds a dash of color to the Walkman experience - in fact, the StyleUp covers make it a regular chameleon.
There are eight StyleUp covers to choose from and the W508 always ships with a spare one in the box. And in case you wonder what's with all those paintjobs, let's not forget the W508 is in a twin predicament and has an identity to assert against the T707. That one we just reviewed, so we're sort of in for a sequel, though in Walkman flavor this time.
Sony Ericsson W508 official photos
Key features:
Quad-band GSM and 3G with HSDPA support
3.15 megapixel camera
2.2" 256K-color TFT display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution
Secondary monochrome OLED external display
Scratch-resistant surface for both displays
Touch sensitive external music control keys
Hot-swappable M2 card slot (up to 16 GB), 1 GB included
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
Walkman music player with Shake control and SensMe
FM radio with RDS
Gesture control
Accelerometer for screen rotation
Basic multi-tasking support
Smart dialing
Threaded messaging
Exchangeable StyleUp covers
Main disadvantages
Camera doesn't have auto focus or LED flash
Low-grade video recording (QVGA@15fps)
No web browser screen auto rotate
No document viewer
The Sony Ericsson W508 is a friendly phone that has many ways to interact with you - TrackID to find the track you've just overheard at the caf?, SensMe so you can pick songs based on your mood, Shake control to change tracks at the flick of the wrist plus touch-sensitive music buttons and even Gesture control to mute calls with a wave of your hand. Design and construction
Sony Ericsson don't seem too keen on clamshells lately - most of their recent releases have been either bars or sliders. In fact, the form factor as a whole seems to have been falling out of favor. It would be interesting to speculate as to why that is, but now's not really the time for an analysis of Sony Ericsson's design choices.
Anyway, the few flips they've released recently do look very similar. Let's check them out.
Sony Ericsson R306 Radio, Z780, TM506, T707, W508
Just to clarify, the Sony Ericsson W508 and T707 are only slightly different breeds of the same species. It's the same chassis and specs, one repackaged as a Walkman and the other as a ladies' fashion phone.
The Sony Ericsson W508 is a midrange phone and that becomes clear on closer inspection. But imitation is the sincerest form of flattery they say, and what better gadget to imitate than a former king of the hill? That's right, we're talking about the Sony Ericsson W980. The only reason we didn't include it in the selection above is the haughty Walkman wouldn't have blended in with the low and midrange crowd.
The W508 display is 2.2 inches in diagonal, which is the largest you get in Sony Ericsson flips but still not the most respectable size in clamshell terms. The unused space on the upper part of the clamshell doesn't make much sense and hurts the looks too. QVGA resolution and 256K colors make for decent picture quality and legibility under sunlight is passable, although viewing angles are not very wide.
The video-call camera is above the display next to the earpiece. That camera lacked on the T707.
Quite a waste of space on the flip
The keypad is made of plastic and comes across as a cheap attempt to mimic that brushed metal look. It's quite practical though and it definitely feels better than it looks. We think the T707 keypad is more attractive, but the keys on the W508 are ergonomically much better. Then again the difference may be due to the pre-production status of our review units.
While both handsets use a flatbed membrane, the alphanumeric buttons on the W508 have a genuinely nicer press feedback and they are more raised than on the T707 and so are slightly more tactile. These slight differences are quite essentials as they can make or break the typing experience.
W508 is more typing-friendly than the T707
The control and navigation pad, which takes the upper part of the same flatbed that accommodates the numberpad, is quite user friendly. The call keys, along with the Activity Menu key and the Clear button are on each side of a round D-pad, while the soft keys are at the very top. The context keys are slightly bigger than those on the T707 and that's another point in favor of the Walkman.
The round D-pad raises no usability issues except that some users may miss the alternative color backlight in Walkman mode. The center key is big enough to use comfortably as is the direction rim, which is exactly the right width for perfect handling.
The keypad illumination is even, and light appears to spill down the keypad as it comes on and that's a nice visual enhancement.
The keypad illumination is nice and even, the only omission is D-pad backlighting in Walkman mode
On the right side of the W508 from top to bottom are the volume rocker, the lock slider and a slit with M2 written next to it. Don't get excited though, this just marks the location of the M2 card slot under the rear panel and the slit helps you pry the cover open.
Lock slider prevents accidental touches
The W508 left side is occupied by the standard FastPort only, yet again left uncovered. These two are small faults but still we'd like to see some improvement to the handsets as time goes on. A 3.5 mm audio jack would have scored some serious points in favor of the W508 but sadly, no such luck.
Say proprietary port ten times fast
The bottom of the device is featureless - the mic hole is on the left of the 4 key.
Sony Ericsson W508 at ours
The proprietary audio jack and the single, lonely loudspeaker are points against W508 but support for 16 GB M2 cards and FM radio with RDS are guaranteed to keep you rocking from dusk till dawn.
3G goodies like video calls and HSDPA for high-speed browsing are here, complemented with the nice web browser. The lack of document viewer is a bit of a letdown but not really a feature a Walkman can't do without.
So without further ado, the Sony Ericsson W508 is in for a proper hardware inspection. Join us on the next page, as we go through our checklist.