Samsung M8910 Pixon12 review: By the dozen

Introduction

The Pixon12 is about to be three times lucky. But any way you look at it, it's nothing short of a dozen. Not that we wanted to make that much fuss, but a bunch of 12 megapixel pictures coming from a phone are always worth it. All the more so, when they come out just right. With two quick primers behind us already, we're about to focus on the Samsung M8910 behind the Pixon12.

The Samsung M8910 Pixon12 is a top of the line cameraphone but some may find it guilty of not being a smartphone. It's got the ultimate in still photography but not the best video a handset can offer. It's a dream-come-true upgrade but can the mishaps of the original Pixon spell trouble? Awaiting its official launch, the Pixon12 is standing tall against the odds.

When it comes to capturing your moments and sharing them with the world though, the Pixon12 will hardly let you down. On top of the industry leading camera, the phone has all the connectivity options you may need.

Samsung M8910 Pixon12 official photos

So, we're setting off on our last trip with the Samsung M8910 Pixon12. We know it's got enough fire to scorch most of them big-shot cameraphones. But is it enough fire to call the fire department?

Key features

• 3.1" 16M-color resistive AMOLED touchscreen of 800 x 480 pixel resolution
• 12 megapixel auto focus camera with LED and xenon flash, 28mm (30mm effective) wide-angle variable aperture lens
• Object tracking auto focus, geotagging, image stabilization, Smart Auto mode, face detection, smile detection, smart contrast
• D1 video recording at 30 fps with auto focus and face detection
• Amazingly short shot-to-shot time
• Latest TouchWiz 2.0 UI
• Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA support
• Wi-Fi
• GPS with A-GPS
• 150MB onboard storage
• microSD card slot with microSDHC support
• Built-in accelerometer
• TV out
• Stereo FM Radio with RDS
• microUSB port and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
• Web browser has full Flash and Java support
• Smart Unlock
• Preinstalled GPS navigation software
• DivX/XviD video support
• Good audio quality
• Smart dialing
• Office document viewer

Main disadvantages

• Video recording output isn't on par with the still camera performance
• No smartphone capabilities
• No stereo speakers
• No 3.5 mm audio jack on board (but a 3.5mm adapter is supplied)
• Smart dialing only works for numbers, not contact names

The original M8800 Pixon was dragged down by the lack of some key features and it seems Samsung chose to treat their top cameraphone with more respect this time. The Pixon12 boasts a complete pack of features, including Wi-Fi and SatNav software to go with the embedded GPS chip.

The complete xenon plus LED flash package will go down well with the cameraphone buffs. As a whole, the Pixon12 strives to be the complete imaging device with a wide-angle variable aperture lens and a whole bunch of camera features that Samsung are usually keen to offer anyway.

Samsung M8910 Pixon12 live shots

Finally, in pure upgrade terms, the Pixon12 is well worth it for the new TouchWiz interface, full of eye-candy and faster than ever. Smarter than smart may be too much, but the TouchWiz 2.0 is simply better a year later. A multimedia gadget like the Samsung S8000 Jet will sure take maximum advantage of the new 3D interface, but the M8910 Pixon12 cannot afford to fall behind either.

Follow us on the next page for more Pixon12 action and our say on design and ergonomics.

Source : www.gsmarena.com

Samsung S5230 Star review: Hot starlet

Samsung are going to great lengths to pile pressure on the LG Cookie. While the Samsung S5600 Preston aims to outdo it, the 5230 Star is set for a head-on collision course. This starlet's middle name is Tocco Lite and that's plenty to live up to.

The name itself is no shortcut to stardom but the Tocco pedigree certainly brings with it certain expectations of quality. So will this little Star still be going strong a year from launch? The S5230 certainly has all the ingredients, now all we need to do is see if Samsung has got the mix right.

Add a dash of touchscreen and nifty unlock, a pinch of smart looks and document viewer, DNSe and smile shutter to taste. Samsung's widget-wielding TouchWiz makes reading the recipe a cinch.

It's a dish that's already proving popular - the Star is already shifting over a million units per month and Samsung expect to total 10 million sold by the end of the year. Certainly an ambitious plan, but they just might pull it off - the Star is set to become one of Samsung's bestsellers.

Samsung S5230 official photos

Samsung S5230 main features:

• GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12
• Dimensions: 104.0 x 53.0 x 11.9 mm, 93.5 g
• 3" resistive TFT touchscreen, WQVGA resolution (240 x 400 pixels)
• 50MB onboard storage, microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
• 3 megapixel fixed focus camera with smile detection
• Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB v.2.0
• Document viewer
• Smart unlock
• Accelerometer sensor
• FM radio with RDS
• DNSe
• Find Music recognition service
• 1000 mAh battery, up to 800 h of standby

Main disadvantages

• No 3G
• Proprietary connectivity port
• Slightly more expensive than the LG KP500 Cookie
• No way to directly switch between running apps
• The camera is quite basic - uninspiring picture quality, no autofocus or flash
• Non-hot-swappable microSD slot

Samsung S5230 live shots

The Star offers a basic touchscreen package with little to no access to top-of-the-line technology. It still knows a trick or two though and is keen to treat the masses to Smart Unlock. It was initially dubbed Gesture lock but in the end Samsung went for Smart instead. This feature lets users unlock the S5230 Star and even launch apps by drawing a letter on the screen. It can be any letter: U to unlock the device, B to launch the browser, J to run your favorite Java app. It's a nifty trick that adds a little speed and spice when working with the device.

Jump to the next page for a guided tour of the Star exterior. We'll look closer at the few things that have changed since our early-bird preview.

Source : www.gsmarena.com

Samsung S8000 Jet review: Airborne

Introduction

It's that time of the year and the living is easy: pool parties, blockbuster movies and new gadgets. The Samsung S8000 Jet sure knows good timing and gallantly promises a bit of everything - style, entertainment and impressively light and lively handling. It's a thing to show off to your friends and help you enjoy and capture the hot moments of the season.

The S8000 Jet is not exactly jet set stuff but claims a big piece of the touchscreen action. And it knows who it needs to kill to get it. The Jet is the direct and brave answer to the LG KM900 Arena and boy isn't it a tough call between these two. The S8000 Jet has the fancy 3D interface upgrade, 5MP camera with D1 recording, Wi-Fi, GPS and all the stuff to put this touchscreen phone in the desirable category. We have a thriller of a local derby and the high-end contenders need to do everything and do it well.

Samsung S8000 Jet offical photos

We were impressed in our preview with the new visual upgrades of the TouchWiz interface, which combine the best part of the 3D LG cube and page-organized iPhone menus. But now it's time for the final and deciding round with the Samsung S800 Jet.

Here is the full ammo of the S8000 Jet, along with what might be the deal breakers.

Key features

• 3.1" 16M-color resistive AMOLED touchscreen of 800 x 480 pixel resolution
• 800 MHz processor
• 5 megapixel auto focus camera with dual-LED
• Geotagging, image stabilization, face detection, Smile Shot, Wide Dynamic Range (WDR)
• Latest TouchWiz 2.0 UI with Motion UI, Media Gate 3D, Smart Unlock
• Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA 3.6 Mbps and HSUPA support
• Wi-Fi
• GPS receiver
• 2 / 8 GB onboard storage
• microSD card slot with microSDHC support
• Built-in accelerometer for screen auto rotate and turn-to-mute
• Proximity sensor for display auto turn-off
• TV out
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Stereo FM Radio with RDS
• microUSB port and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
• Web browser has full Flash and Java support
• DivX/XviD video support
• DNSe and SRS sound effect
• Smart dialing
• Speaker Call

Main disadvantages

• microSD slot is under the back cover
• No preinstalled GPS navigation software

As the specs suggest, the Samsung S8000 Jet is nothing short of a multimedia monster. The picture is complete with full Flash support - still quite a rarity among today's handsets - DivX/XviD video codecs and great music package. The camera is a high-end snapper with premium features that the LG Arena doesn't have, while the Smart Unlock, Speaker Call and Motion UI just add to its uniqueness.

Samsung S8000 Jet in our office

But first things first - let's get the handset unboxed and ready to roll on the next page.

Source : www.gsmarena.com

LG GC900 Viewty Smart review: S-class act

It's 12 and counting for cameraphones but the real thick of action is at the 8 megapixel notch. There goes the next of them exciting imaging gadgets waiting to be put in play. We've got a bit of catching up with the LG Viewty Smart to do since our first rendezvous. But let's quickly review the basics. Whether you call it an LG Arena with a beefier camera or a Viewty on S-Class, we guess we're happy either way. Oh, you can also call it Viewty2, while we go on and check if it's 2 good 2 miss.

Sweet waistline and slick packaging, the Viewty Smart carries quite an impressive feature set including a 3" capacitive touchscreen, 8 megapixel autofocus camera with loads of options and the high-flying S-Class Touch UI. The Viewty is not smartphone kind of smart but the inspired interface and the sharp gadgety looks do give its name some credence.

LG Viewty Smart official photos

LG GC900 Viewty Smart key features

• 3" 16M-color capacitive TFT touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
• S-Class Touch UI
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• 3G with HSDPA (7.2 Mbps)
• Wi-Fi and GPS receiver with A-GPS
• 8 megapixel autofocus camera, Schneider-Kreuznach optics, LED flash, manual focus, geotagging, image stabilization, multi face detection (up to 3), smile detection
• D1 (720x480 pixels)@30fps, VGA@30fps, QVGA time-lapse and slow-mo video recording
• 1.5GB flash storage, microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
• Hot-swappable microSD card slot
• USB Mass Storage, TV out
• Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
• Accelerometer for screen auto rotate
• Multi-touch input
• DivX and XviD support
• FM radio with RDS
• Dolby for Mobile audio enhancement
• Office document viewer
• Smart dialing

Main disadvantages:

• Poor screen sunlight legibility
• Below average image quality
• No voice-guided GPS navigation software available
• No standard USB port and no inbuilt 3.5mm audio jack
• Records video in 3GP format
• Email attachment size limit is 1MB only (both ways)
• Limited DivX/XviD video support
• All-plastic build

LG GC900 is not just another cameraphone but one worthy of bearing the name of the original Viewty. For a bit of household drama, the Viewty Smart will be rightfully expected to outdo another strong performer like the Renoir. And to make the family tree even more intricate, comparison with the Arena will be inevitable. That said, the Viewty Smart sure has style and quality of its own. The feel and looks, the upgrades and the performance sound like a good enough reason for a proper in-depth review. And mind you, the LG GC900 Viewty Smart is not all about the imaging. With an inviting touchscreen platform, complete connectivity set (Wi-Fi and HSDPA), great music and DivX/XviD videos, the Viewty Smart promises a fun and exciting ride.

LG GC900 Viewty Smart live shots

The LG KU990 Viewty legacy doesn't come out so obvious on the comparative shots. You will hardly tell that the elegantly edgy Viewty Smart is the direct descendent of the boxy Viewty 1. Well then, we guess we're eager to see it in action and look for the imaging talent we sure hope the parent has passed on. In all fairness, looking back at the original, the weaknesses are well obvious but if the upgrade would match the splash the Viewty made two years ago, it can safely call it a day.

The evolution of Viewty

We're all set then for a closer look at the Viewty Smart exterior. Hit the jump for our scoop on design and ergonomics.

Source : www.gsmarena.com

Nokia 6700 classic review: Sirocco Lite

The slim and stylish no-nonsense handset has been a Nokia trademark ever since the 6300 took the world by storm a few years back. However, it's only now after a run of equally popular successors that we realize just how much the Slim Finn changed the rules of the game. And the Nokia 6700 classic is here to say that no matter how simple and seemingly perfect things are, they can always get better.

Nokia 6700 classic official photos

Not everyone wants a high-end camera, a huge touchscreen or a QWERTY keyboard and - even if they do - not everyone is keen to dish out. The extra features are always welcome to have on board but in the end it's about the core functions of a phone that you want to work and want to work well. They say money can't buy you love but when a handset is great at the basics and looks like a million bucks it has every right to disagree. And the Nokia 6700 classic, like its forerunners, seems to know just how to please a massive crowd.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• Tri-band 3G with 10Mbps HSDPA and 2Mbps HSUPA
• Slim and sharp
• Solid metal casing and beautiful design
• 2.2" 16M-color QVGA display with excellent sunlight legibility
• 5 megapixel camera, autofocus and LED flash
• VGA video recording at 15fps
• Built-in GPS receiver
• S40 user interface, 6th edition
• Built-in accelerometer sensor
• Tap-for-time and turn-to-mute
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• Bluetooth (with A2DP) and microUSB port
• microSD card slot (16 GB supported, 1GB included)
• Rich preinstalled application package
• Ovi Maps and Ovi Share
• Push notifications
• Dedicated camera key and good image quality

Main disadvantages:

• Memory card slot under the back cover
• Smallish display
• S40 interface feels clunky and out of date
• No smart dialing, multi-tasking or even an office document viewer
• No 3.5 audio jack
• Poor image gallery
• No videocalling

A brief look at the features listed above is enough to convince you that the Nokia 6700 classic is more than a pretty face. However we doubt it that anyone with I-want-features-and-I-want-them-all mentality will put it on top of their shopping list. On the other hand, the extra stuff will be better used to persuade Nokia 6500 classic owners that there is enough there for an upgrade.

The Nokia 6700 classic live shots

By the way, one of the best-equipped S40 handsets might also be able to convert new fans who want decent functionality but are intimidated by smartphones. Until recently Sony Ericsson, LG and Samsung were enjoying a free run there, but with the Nokia 6600i slide and the Nokia 6700 classic, the market leader is quite keen to regain some of that ground.

Anyway, one thing we know is we shouldn't keep a stunning looker like the Nokia 6700 classic in that cardboard box any longer. Hit the jump to get to the real deal and prepare to be jealous.

Source : www.gsmarena.com

HTC Magic review: Practical magic

A cool looking touchscreen carrying a new mobile OS was enough to get the attention of even the most hardened of them techies last time we checked. Fair enough, the HTC Magic isn't groundbreaking but the Cupcake-ful of changes it brings, promise a whole new experience.

HTC Magic official photos

Well, for starters the Android sure looks more human. The formidable and weapon-like G1/ HTC Dream needed every ounce of weight to stand its ground. With an honestly lighthearted and disarming approach, the HTC Magic is willing to play by the conventional touchscreen rules. And may as well be eyeing massive sales. Compact dimensions and distinct styling, decent all round functionality and system expandability, the HTC Magic seems to have what it takes to keep both smart and feature phone touchscreens on edge. The second edition of the OS should have dealt with the issues of the forerunner and given the Magic that extra bit of pace. So, what do you call a good platform getting better and a gadget looking more mainstream but still creative enough? We call it good sense but who knows, it may be Magic.

Key features

• Android OS v1.5 Cupcake
• 3.2" capacitive touchscreen of HVGA resolution
• Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528 MHz CPU, 192/288 MB RAM
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• 3G with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
• 3.15 megapixel autofocus camera
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• GPS
• Trackball navigation
• Accelerometer sensor
• Digital compass
• Compact and stylish body

Main disadvantages

• No video-call camera
• No Flash support in the web browser
• No file transfers over Bluetooth
• No FM radio

In the beginning there was the unforgiving vastness of G1. Come to think of it, mobile phone evolution has always moved from huge to small. Android for one is quite aware and unafraid to press the fast-forward on evolution. Anyway, Google and their HTC counterparts feel confident enough to concentrate on style. Size mattered when they were about to take their first dip in the shark pond. Size matters even more when they're gearing up to beat a legion of seasoned touchscreens at their own game.

HTC Magic live shots

Full-touch handsets have been all the rage, and every manufacturer is putting their best effort to not merely stay in the game but influence it. Google DNA and HTC craftsmanship, the Magic almost has the impact guaranteed but how it translates into actual sales is perhaps the first thing on everyone's mind.

The HTC Magic is in for a real challenge and we are keen to see what it's got. We're back after the jump and ready to judge the game plan by the kit.

Source : www.gsmarena.com

Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO preview: First look

Samsung are not quite the standard-setter in communicator devices but are obviously keen to have their say. Playing catch up seems well in order for a debut but we guess someone here is set to play for keeps. The Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO is a generously spec'd device that's poised to tackle the best in the class and even raise the bet. While sheer size and scope confine it to a niche, the Samsung communicator might be just the right option for those served by that niche.

Samsung B7610 Omnia Pro official photos

Having acquired a pre-release sample of the side-slider PocketPC we are squeezing in a short preview, introducing its most important features. The chunky bloke does give a decent first impression, but handling will be the ultimate test. For starters, let's look at the key items on the Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO's balance sheet.

Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO at a glance:

• General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 3.6Mbps
• Form factor: Full QWERTY side-slider
• Dimensions: 112.6 x 57.8 x 16.2 mm, 159g
• Display: 3.5" 16M color (65K effective) resistive AMOLED touchscreen of WVGA resolution
• OS: Windows Mobile 6.1 (upgradable to 6.5), TouchWiz 2.0 UI
• Memory: 1GB built-in storage, 256 MB RAM, hot-swappable microSD (up to 16GB)
• CPU: 800 MHz processor with dedicated graphics accelerator
• Camera: 5 megapixel auto-focus, with dual LED flash and VGA video at 30 fps
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, TV out, 3.5mm standard audio jack
• Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate and turn-to-mute, FM radio with RDS, DivX/XviD video support, work and leisure modes
• Battery: 1500mAh Li-Ion battery

Samsung are obviously eyeing market penetration at all levels. The B7610 OmniaPRO is their scout in a long colonized territory. HTC.are clearly the key target, though the communicator game is competitive enough with XPERIA, Nseries and Eseries all keen to take the lead.

Samung B7610 OmniaPRO at ours

A heavyweight fight it sure is but let's focus on this one contender here. The OmniaPRO will hit the scales and warm up with a hardware inspection on the next page.

Source : www.gsmarena.com