Samsung S7330

Someone at Samsung must be really fond of the Soul design and, honestly, we can see why. How we feel about it is not the point though. The Soul looks are spilling down the company portfolio, like it or not. The latest incarnation - Samsung S7330 - packs in stylish exterior, well-rounded feature set and a moderate price tag.



Key features:

-3G with HSDPA support
-Quad-band GSM support, usable worldwide
-Touchpad navigation
-2.2" 262K-color QVGA display
-3 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash
-35MB of user memory, microSD expansion
-Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
-USB v2.0
-FM radio with RDS
-Smart dialing
-ShoZu integration (direct image and video uploads)




Main disadvantages:

-LED flash is inadequate
-Video recording tops out at QCIF resolution
-Confusing mix of regular and touch-sensitive keys
-More expensive than similar-featured competing models




Final words

That's that on the down-market Soul, which does have the good and the bad of the original. The S7330 is in a lower price bracket than the U900 Soul but packs the same UI goodies, which is an achievement. However the low-key exterior shows its modest roots.

Samsung B2700

Samsung may be flying high on INNOV8 but they sure have at least a toe on the ground. Just recently they spilled the low-to-mid-end bag, so we don't forget a flagship is only as good as the fleet behind it.



Key features:

-Shock, splash and dust resistant (IP54 certified)
-Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE phone, UMTS 2100 MHz
-Very nice and responsive user interface
-2 MP camera, secondary video call camera
-1.9" 256K-color TFT display, 176 x 220 pixels
-Flashlight, Compass, Altimeter, Pedometer
-Good MP3 player, MPEG4/3gp video player
-FM radio with RDS
-SMS/MMS/E-mail/RSS Reader
-Bluetooth and USB v2.0
-30 MB flash memory, microSD card slot
-Comfortable keypad, strong and even backlight
-Very loud speakerphone
-Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery




Main disadvantages:

-Display could've used a higher resolution
-No autofocus in camera
-Poor video recording


Final Words

To wrap it up, B2700 makes no compromise with durability but the more important thing is Samsung make no compromise with the package. The maker could've easily gotten away with keeping the handset trimmed down on features and staking everything on ruggedness.

Nokia E66

It's been a while since mobile phones became an essential business tool and a huge number of devices are being specially designed for the purpose (not even mentioning the camera-free versions of some handsets). Nokia Eseries is almost a default name that comes to mind. Following a comprehensive review of Nokia E71, we are set to explore the other hot Eseries gadget. It's Nokia E66 with a priority appointment in our office. Refreshments served upon conclusion.



Key features:

-Quad-band GSM support
-3G with HSDPA 3.6Mbps
-2.4" 16M-color display of QVGA resolution
-Shortcut keys mean business
-Symbian 9.2 OS, S60 UI with FP1 (topped with some FP2 goodies)
-Accelerometer sensor for screen auto-rotation
-369 MHz ARM 11 CPU and 128 MB of SDRAM
-Wi-Fi
-Built-in GPS receiver, A-GPS
-3 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash
-110 MB of internal memory, microSD expansion, ships with a 2GB card
-Comfortable keypad
-Compact body (62.6cc only)
-Stainless steel casing
-Standard 2.5mm audio jack
-Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
-microUSB v2.0
-FM radio
-Infrared port
-Great battery life
-Good retail package
-Nokia Maps comes with three months free turn-by-turn navigation license




Main disadvantages:

-Average camera performance
-Video recording maxes out at QVGA@15fps
-No camera geotagging
-Cheap-looking power key
-Office document editing not available
-No RDS in radio




Final words

To begin with the upgrader's point of view, we'd say a jump from E65 to the E66 is totally worth it. The phone has improved in nearly every area compared to its predecessor and addresses most of its issues. The price tag is still slightly on the steep side but we guess it will be a great bargain in no time. And even as it stands now, the Nokia E66 still is a great purchase.

iPhone

It's finally here - the iPhone 3G. No, we mean that literally. It's finally at our office and boy, are we excited! GPS, HSDPA purring under the new iPhone hood with a hefty number of software enhancements.



Key features:

-3.5" 16M-color TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels
-Quad-band GSM support
-Tri-band UMTS support with HSDPA
-Built-in GPS receiver
-Wi-Fi
-8 to 16GB of onboard storage
-Accelerometer, proximity sensor and ambient light sensor
-2 megapixel camera
-Silky smooth user interface with multi-touch user support
-Unsurpassed web surfing experience
-Push email with MS Exchange support
-AppStore access for direct application download and installation
-Redone rear
-TV-out port



Main disadvantages:

-No video calls over the 3G network
-The handset wobbles on hard even surfaces
-There are a number of messaging downers
-Camera has no auto focus, nor video recording… nor any settings at all
-Safari browser doesn't support Flash and Java, doesn't have a download manager
-Bluetooth support limited to headset use only (no A2DP or file transfers)
-No office document editor
-No copy/paste functionality
-You cannot sync Notes and TO-DOs
-No memory card slot (but knowing Apple there will never be one)




Final words

We've had our fair share of the first-gen iPhone but, honestly, we weren't caught in the excitement last year until we saw it live. It was only after it arrived in our office that we really appreciated its sleek design and groundbreaking user interface.

Now a year later, the excitement grew on us weeks before we even had a chance to play with the iPhone 3G. And once it arrived, the enthusiasm gradually fades away. What's the point in your new device looking just like your old device? What's the point of having a GPS receiver when there is no navigation software for it? Yeah, we heard rumors of various companies prepping some real GPS navigation software, but we've been hearing the same rumors for the copy/paste functionality for over a year now.




The Apple iPhone, be it 1G or 3G, still has the most impressive full touch user interface to-date, and with the concept of AppStore, it have just gotten better. The iPhone 3G is evidently more evolution than revolution, but it still packs quite a punch. And there's some unique features that you can hardly get in any other high-end gadgets.

Nokia E71

Following some time off since the E51, the Nokia E-series is back to the shop with a new pet for business-minded users. Nokia E71 seems to have it all to take over and build on the E61 QWERTY messengers' expertise. The suave upgrade is much slimmer now (and thus much more pocket-friendly), more powerful and a whole lot more skilled. The smaller display is actually the only step down. Well, we're back in business too, and we're about to see if that's the step back before a major leap forward



Key features:

-Quad-band GSM support
-3G with HSDPA 3.6Mbps support
-Landscape 2.36" 16M color display of QVGA resolution
-Comfortable full QWERTY keypad
-Convenient business-minded shortcut keys
-Symbian 9.2 OS, S60 UI with FP1 (topped with some FP2 goodies)
-369 MHz ARM 11 CPU and 128 MB of SDRAM
-Wi-Fi
-Built-in GPS receiver, A-GPS
-3.15 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash
-110 MB of internal memory, microSD expansion, ships with a 2GB card
-Slimmest smartphone to-date, slimmest Wi-Fi and/or GPS handset to-date
-Stainless steel casing
-Standard 2.5mm audio jack
-Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP support
-microUSB v2.0
-FM radio
-Remote Wipe
-Provider-independent VoIP support
-Infrared port
-Great battery life
-Office document editor
-User-friendly Mode Switch for swapping two homescreen setups
-Rich retail package




Main disadvantages:

-Below average camera performance
-Video recording maxes out at QVGA@15fps
-No dedicated camera key
-Smaller display than its predecessor
-Cheap-looking power key
-No RDS for the FM radio



Conclusion

Nokia E71 is a powerful business tool - in fact it is one of the most capable we've ever seen. Plus, it has completed the demanding task of adding style and slick looks to the QWERTY messenger breed. The performance of Nokia E71 is praiseworthy, save for the below-par camera.

Samsung D880 Duos

Armed with solid design and the Samsung quality of build, the Samsung D880 Duos is two phones in one . It offers seamless dual SIM functionality with almost no compromise. Backed by a 3 megapixel autofocus camera and a large 2.3" QVGA TFT display, the Samsung D880 Duos is an intriguing package, truly worth closer examination. So, hop on as we head to explore the dual nature of Samsung Duos.




Key features:

-Seamless dual SIM functionality (both cards are active simultaneously)
-3 megapixel autofocus camera with good image quality
-2.3" 262K-color TFT display (QVGA resolution)
-microSD memory card slot
-FM radio
-Bluetooth with A2DP
-TV out
-MS Office document viewer
-Quick interface response
-Large capacity battery
-Comfortable keyboard and controls



Main disadvantages:

-Secondary SIM can be used for telephony and messaging only
-Secondary SIM has dual-band support only (no 1900 MHz support)
-Large size
-Boring slider design
-Interface options well behind the times
-Poor sunlight legibility
-No 3G support
-Portrait-oriented camera
-Poor web browser
-Awkward file browser
-Poor music player




Final words

Samsung D880 Duos is above all a handset of balance. It doesn't offer cutting edge solutions in external design, form factor, or interface capabilities. Yet it manages to deliver some style in looks (in a subdued and conservative way) and a snappy user interface. And besides it's the only handset produced by some of the major manufacturers to feature dual SIM functionality. The only test the Duos truly fails is web browsing and the lack of 3G.