Motorola Quench XT3

Killer looks, but not great for texting

Smartphone Review: Motorola Quench XT3
by Sim Cheng Kai

05:57 PM Oct 19, 2010

The Motorola Quench XT3 is a sight for sore eyes. The back is sleek, glossy grey; a stylish assortment of silver fixtures (like a metallic rim band) adorns the body; and the phone's crowned with a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen surrounded by a black bezel.

And at $398 without a plan or $48 with a two-year contract (exclusive to M1), the XT3 is easily one of the most affordable Android handset offerings anywhere.

But the phone's good looks and affordability do come with a caveat - lower-performance hardware. Specifically, a 600MHz processor, a screen resolution of 320x480, 512MB flash storage, 256MB memory and a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash.

The XT3 runs the dated 1.6 version of Android, which means that it has a better camera gallery (you can delete multiple photos at one go); but it lacks the new contact lists, speed increments, HTML5 and Microsoft Exchange support in 2.0 and above. Though Motorola says that a 2.x firmware upgrade is forthcoming, there is no known release schedule at present.

The first thing XT3 users will notice is that scrolling - either left or right through the home screens or up and down through a list (like in the Web browser) - is sometimes choppy. And after running just a scant few applications in the background, the screen begins to show signs of lag, often freezing for a split second in the middle of scrolling manoeuvres.

The display lag emerges as a bigger problem when typing on the virtual keyboard, which is a dealbreaker for power users who trust the anto-correction feature enough to hammer out messages as fast as their thumbs can go - the XT3's screen does not update fast enough to register every key entry.

The touch panel controls below the touchscreen are nice and sensitive, but almost to a fault - while performing upward and downward strokes on the trackball, I found my thumb accidentally grazing the home or search sensors. Furthermore, the trackball is not very precise - when scrolling through links on a Google search results page, for instance, with each trackball stroke the selection cursor would travel too far some times, and not all other times.

As a phone, the XT3 works well. Voice quality and reception during calls are good and a proximity sensor turns off the touchscreen when you hold it up to the ear. You can also choose from tens of thousands of apps in the Android Market, though you might not be able to keep a smorgasbord of them due to limited internal memory.

The XT3's display lag and trackball issues are troubling but the phone's killer good looks might appeal to newcomers to Android as well as smartphone users who anticipate themselves making calls and reading Web content more often than typing long messages.

This story is only available online.


http://www.todayonline.com/

Read more...

Motorola Quench XT3 Smartphone

No-fuss smartphone?

Check out XT3

BY YEONG AH SENG

Motorola Quench XT3 Smartphone

SMARTPHONES are very popular these days but most of them can be quite expensive unless one subscribes to a major telco plan.

Motorola’s Quench XT3 is a budget smartphone launched under the aegis of M1.

It is an Android phone and has most, if not all, of the features found in more costly smartphones – big (3.2-inch) capacitative screen, 3.5G and WiFi Connectivity, GPS, stereo Bluetooth and 3MP camera with LED flash.

The Quench is a no-fuss smartphone. It is light (114g), fairly quick and responsive. Those who have little use for smartphones with social media and other fancy add-ons would be satisfied with the XT3. The version of Android used is 1.6 (Donut), not the speculated 2.1 (Eclair).

Hopefully, Motorola will provide an upgrade soon enough as this would make the XT3 an even more attractive buy.

How much: $468 or $148 with two-year M1 contract

http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/System/Zoom_In/Zoom_In_Page.html

3-Pack Motorola CLIQ XT/Quench MB501 Combo Screen Protector for Motorola CLIQ XT/Quench MB501

Black Silicone Skin Soft Skin Cover for Motorola Cliq XT / Quench T-Mobile Protector Case/BKPR

Read more...

Microsoft smartphone gets the axe

SAN FRANCISCO

JUST 48 days after Microsoft began selling the Kin, a smartphone for the younger set, the company discontinued it because of disappointing sales.

The swift turnabout for the Kin, which Microsoft took two years to develop and whose release was backed with a hefty ad budget, is the latest sign of disarray for Microsoft’s recently reorganised consumer-product unit.

“It’s an absolute failure,” said Mr Charles Golvin, an analyst with Forrester Research, adding that he was surprised to see Microsoft kill a product so quickly, given the company’s history of sticking with new products and improving them over time.

Microsoft’s consumer-product unit has struggled to offer a credible competitor to Apple products.

It has chased the iPod with its Zune for several years with little effect. Apple’s iPhone, as well as an array of smartphones powered by Google’s Android software, is a more recent challenge.

Microsoft also recently cancelled a project to develop a tablet computer that would compete with Apple’s popular iPad.

Microsoft said that it would move employees who had worked on the Kin to the team in charge of Windows Phone 7, a coming revision of Microsoft’s operating system for smartphones,which is due in autumn.

But Mr Golvin said that the recent success of Android phones and Apple’s new iPhone 4 make Microsoft’s challenge to compete effectively ever more daunting.

“They have an even higher mountain to climb now than when they announced Windows Phone 7 in  February,” he said. The Kin, which came in two models, was aimed at young users and emphasised access to social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

While neither Microsoft nor Verizon Wireless, which sold the Kin exclusively, disclosed sales figures, people close to the companies said that sales were disappointing.

Verizon slashed the prices of the phones to US$50 (S$69) from US$200 for the higher-end model, and to US$30 from US$150 for the stripped-down version.

Microsoft said it would cancel the pending release of the Kin in Europe, and would work with Verizon Wireless to sell existing inventories.

NYT

http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/System/Zoom_In/Zoom_In_Page.html

Read more...

Samsung Galaxy S i9000

Samsung Galaxy S i9000 - Take Me To Your Leader
Reviewed by Luke Tan on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 Share
Overview
A Year in the Making

What a difference a year makes, eh? We've watched Android grow up into the new darling of the smartphone world. Many mobile phone manufacturers have realized that Google's mobile OS is currently their best weapon for doing battle against Apple's iPhone, and with Android 2.1 maturing into a robust base on which to build, quite a few "superphones" have arisen with the power to successfully strike right into opposing territory.

For one of the world's top phone makers, Samsung seems to have taken more hits than it should have during this time. Its only Android offering thus far to actually be sold on our shores is the Galaxy Spica i5700 - and that was a much lower-specced device, coming as it did with the outdated Android 1.5 Cupcake incarnation. Meanwhile, other top-tier manufacturers have played their royal flush: HTC with its Desire (and the Nexus One for Google itself), Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X10, and Motorola's Milestone. But the Korean giant has responded with one who would rule them all: the Samsung Galaxy S i9000, with its 4-inch Super AMOLED display and the range-topping homegrown 1GHz processor, instantly making it king of the smartphone hill, at least on paper. Could there possibly exist a chink in its armor? Let's turn the page to find out...

More available at http://www.hardwarezone.com/product-guide/view/20283/review/43433

Read more...

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini - Size Matters Not

Reviewed by Seow Tein Hee on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 

Overview & Design

Good Things, Small Packages

2010 seems to be the year of the Android, and Sony Ericsson is one of the many that's taking that route. Unveiled as an integral part of its Fabulous Five devices during this year's Mobile World Congress, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini is an offshoot of its bigger sibling, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.

With the 'mini' term tagged to it, there's no doubt that you'll get a smaller and easier to handle device than the X10's larger 4-inch sized display. However, when we first noticed the X10 mini, we had the impression that Sony Ericsson took 'mini' to be too literal with its 2.55-inch screen and 83 x 50 x 16 mm dimensions. But thanks to that, the X10 mini is possibly one of the smallest Android phones on the market now.  In fact, if you have sufficiently large hands, you might even be able to hold the X10 mini, clench your fists and the X10 mini would stay out of sight. Similarly, taking a phone call could be a bit awkward if you aren't used to the phone stretching no further than your ears

Like its bigger comrade, the three staple buttons are present on the front - Menu, Home and Back, and a matte backing for a non-slip and easy gripping. Thankfully, the buttons are adequately raised for easy access, which also includes the volume and camera button. Oddly, Sony Ericsson chose to flush the power button at the top, which makes it hard to lock the phone with ease

Beneath the device lies the 3.5mm audio jack and the microUSB port. The latter is hidden by a plastic cover, which became more of a hindrance when it comes to charging and connecting the X10 mini to a PC. We spent more time trying to pry the cover away to reveal the microUSB slot, and it wasn't made any easier if you don't have nails to get a better grip of the plastic cover. Fortunately, removing the battery casing was easier than expected, with a slight grip to the side and pulling the casing away. Once done, you'll notice that the X10 mini's battery is integrated within, hence you won't have the option to insert a backup battery should you be running dry. Other than that, the battery casing should stay closed unless there's a need to swap your SIM card or microSD card
http://www.hardwarezone.com/product-guide/view/6315/review/43998

Read more...

Nokia C5

First Looks: Nokia C5

Reviewed by Seow Tein Hee on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 

Back to Basics

Simplicity is always in style, which is aptly represented by Nokia's core C-series. The new Nokia C5 isn't a show-off, preferring to keep a basic and simple candybar form factor. Made mostly out of plastic, with a hint of metal on its borders, the C5 comes with a 12-key numeric keypad. What's great about the keypad is the relative ease of use with its large and raised keys, and with it, faster and more accurate typing speeds.
Yet, the C5's design consideration isn't fully thought out. For instance, its microSD slot has a plastic, hinged cover, but we had difficulty pressing and releasing the microSD from its holder

The C5 might look simple on the outside, but it's nothing like that within. Underneath its 2.2-inch screen, lies Symbian S60 version 3.2, a mobile platform that's seen deployment on Nokia's various smartphones such as the Nokia E72. Similarities are aplenty, and thankfully so. This includes Nokia's Ovi Maps with a lifetime navigation license (which should be the case for all future Nokia smartphone series) and the full suite of Ovi services. As such, you can also browse the Ovi Store and download music off the Nokia Music Store. Downloading apps and music would rely on the C5's inherent HSDPA connection of up to 10.2Mbps as the unit doesn't come with a Wi-Fi connectivity option.
Some might balk at the petite nature of its 2.2-inch display, and though quite rare, bemoan the absence of a touchscreen. For sure, video viewing on the C5 was a painful affair for the eyes, but not so for the ears with its above average audio playback. Another trade-off would be its imaging capabilities, capped with a 3.2-megapixel sensor. Images did not turn out sharp and crisp - a factor that could deter shutterbugs from getting this phone. The C5 does have a slight advantage with its LED flash, a useful feature that's missing from some of the top tier smartphones.

The Nokia C5 has a decent number of features that's usually found in high-end smartphones, so it's surprising to see that it carries a $358 (without GST) price tag. In a time when we're flooded with bigger, faster and stronger mobile devices, it's good to see that there's still some consideration given for consumers seeking an affordable alternative with the basic smartphone features.

http://www.hardwarezone.com/product-guide/view/46590/review/46657

Read more...