Buying Guide: HTC Touch Pro2

By Benedict Wee

When you've got the iPhone dominating the realms of popular culture, the BlackBerry being the top favorite of business professionals and Google's Android spreading like a zombie virus throughout phone manufacturers, it's hard for older -and admittedly, less user friendly- mobile operating systems such as Windows Mobile to maintain their niche in the smartphone market.

However, after spending about a week with the HTC Touch Pro2, I've come to the realization that although Apple and Google will soon be the mobile OS of choice by many in the next year or so, it is still too early to discount the current phone choices we have available to us in New Zealand. So here with go with a buying guide to Telecom's latest smartphone.

Why I like it

HTC's TouchFlo UI:

Let's start off with the best bit about the phone. Starting from Windows Mobile 6.1 and working backwards, Microsoft's mobile OS has been the bane on the existence of many users who've had to deal with the two-handed, stylus-only, only-accurate-when-standing-still interface hell.

HTC had the foresight to cover all that nastiness with their TouchFlo UI, which has gone through many incarnations since their implementation on early WinMo handsets, to the awesome software interface present in the Touch Pro2.

Aside from the initial five second lag when you turn on the phone and the two second one when you wake it from sleep mode, TouchFlo is fast and is very responsive to finger touches, swipes and long presses. From scrolling past programs to flicking through pictures to touching song selections, the UI works smoothly and I hardly encountered any misread errors when I wanted it to do a particular function or input words/numbers.

Speaking of input, the virtual keyboard works the same way as the ones found in Android mobiles and the iPhone so writing texts and emails, surfing the web and dialing numbers are done using fingers and even fat digits (such as mine) aren't a problem as the keys are adequately spaced out and there's always the good-old "predictive text" feature to help solve misspelt words.

Navigation through the basic features of the Touch Pro2 is done easily by sliding the bar located on the bottom of the screen horizontally to scroll from one program to the other. Everything you usually do on a daily basis is located on the bar: contacts, web browser, weather, text, emails, music, calendar, pictures etc. are all there and if you've got a specific program you plan on using repeatedly, there is always the Start button on the top left of the screen which sends you to the list of programs installed in the smartphone. The Start button mimics the one used in Windows Mobile 6.5 by using big icons on a scrollable list which is navigated by flicking the screen up or down.

Overall I'd say that HTC's TouchFlo UI is a good enough reason to buy this phone but then it wouldn't be very professional of me to not go though the rest of the other features.

Sound quality and microphone:

It's really good. Crystal clear voices coming thru the speakers and dual microphones ensure that calls are never misheard and I'd dare say they're quite on par with landline quality. Of course this is also dependent on the mobile connection you have. Telecom works perfectly on the West Coast and I didn't have a problem in talking or listening from my contacts.

HTC's Straight Talk:

Another well-implemented HTC feature, Straight Talk allows you to switch from email to single, multi-party or conference bridge calls. This feature is easy to use and is practical, considering the phone is designed for business purposes. Combine this with Windows Mobile and the great sound quality of the phone and you get what is essentially a full-on portable office.

Meh

Tilting Screen:

Although I thought it was a cool feature at first, later on I realized that I had no idea how I'd use the feature in my everyday life. Does it become an upright alarm clock next to my nightstand? Do I put it on the table and use it as a mini-notebook?

The mechanics of the phone work really well, the keyboard slides out smoothly and everything clicks into place when the screen is brought upwards, making it a solid piece of equipment but I feel the tilting screen is kind of gimmicky and does nothing helpful to the phone as a whole.

Physical Keyboard:

I guess business-types aren't comfortable with using virtual keyboards. I have nothing against physical ones however and the Touch Pro2's is nice and responsive but I found myself using the virtual one more. It could be also that the physical keyboard can only be used when the phone is in landscape mode and that the virtual one in portrait, and I did use Touch Pro2 in the latter more than I did the former.

If I had any gripe, it would be that the physical keyboard adds a significant thickness to the phone, essentially doubling its size.

Zoom Bar:

I didn't even notice it was there till under certain lighting conditions were met and the icon magically appeared. The zoom bar is located at the bottom of the screen (and in landscape mode, to the right) and it's supposed to help you zoom in or out when viewing images, web pages, maps or reading email.

I don't know if I was doing it correctly or if the response wasn't good but using the zoom bar felt clunky and at the end of the day I didn't find any reason to utilize the feature, choosing to use the options located in the program itself instead.

Why I do not like it

No headphone jack:

Really? In this day and age? Granted you wouldn't see your businessman pumping tunes into his ears with headphones while walking down the street and most likely the only time they'll be listening to music will be when they're in the car, but placing a 3.5mm jack into the pretty big smartphone shouldn't be a problem and you never know what market you'd open to if you had put in a simple feature such as that. Also, it would be nice not to disturb anyone should I want to watch a quick video on YouTube while I'm at work.

Size:

Ok this thing isn't exactly pocket-friendly. The Touch Pro2 possess a considerable size and frame which means you should expect to see an unsightly bulge if you decide to carry it in your pants. The smartphone seems more of a hold-in-your-hand or store-it-in-your-handbag kind of a gadget though its size does betray its weight so carrying it around wouldn't be an extra burden.

Other things to know

Camera: Average quality pictures and video. To be expected as it is only 3.2MP.

Screen: Great. Crystal clear and easily readable. Not grainy at all.

Conclusion

I like the phone. Yes its size may be a little too big for my tastes and I could do without the physical keyboard, but bearing in mind that the phone is designed for PMEBs and therefore business use, you can see that the Touch Pro2 does suit its intended clientele really well. With its big (and very clear) screen, a fantastic UI and possessing great quality sound clarity, I'd gladly take this phone over a BlackBerry any day. If you're a Telecom customer and are looking for a good business smartphone, I'd highly recommend this one.

The HTC Touch Pro2 is now available all Telecom NZ shops for NZ$1499 without contract.

FGTs: How I Tried To Buy A China Phone Finale And The Sunno HDi Buying Guide (Latest update: 25th November)

By Benedict Wee

Latest Update:

11th October: After weeks of waiting and no contact from FastCardTech I decided to write an email to them asking for a refund as what I had in my possession was essentially a phone I didn't order and I was getting sick and tired of their delaying tactics to get a WinMo 6.5 phone.

They replied on the same day, admitting what I knew all along: the phone had to be exchanged for a new one and I had to send it back. It seems that only by threatening them do you get any productive results.

12th October: Sent my phone back to FastCardTech to be exchanged. Estimated delivery time is 6 days.

27th October: They sent an email acknowledging that they've received my phone. This is 15 days after I've sent it back. Obviously another tactic to delay the exchange.

6th November: They've sent another email, explaining that they've got the new phone and will be shipping it "ASAP". They took 10 days just to get a replacement phone.

16th November: It has been another 10 days. Still no sign of the phone. I send them an email telling them I'm very frustrated.

17th November: They send an email back, telling me that they sent the phone back "last saturday". This means that they only shipped the phone on the 14th, 8 days since getting the new replacement phone. So much for "ASAP".

18th November: They send a tracking number to me. The number is suspect as the last two letters are 'SG' which means that the phone was being sent from Singapore. Over the next couple of days I've checked both Hong Kong/Singapore post office websites but there are no details about the package.

24th November: I wrote another email to them, tell them that the number does not appear on the post tracking sites. They write back explaining that they have to use some shady mailing method in order to circumvent authorities. They send the phone from Hong Kong to Singapore, and then Singapore to New Zealand so customs will not check the packages.

25th November: FastCardTech has left me without a phone for 44 days (and counting). I don't think I need to explain how highly questionable their business ethics are as you can see probably see it for yourself after reading this.

I've totally given up on FastCardTech which, despite offering cheaper China phones, have terrible after-sales service. I don't think I'll ever see the replacement phone at all as I suspect the number they gave me doesn't exist. As such, I'll be taking measures to obtain a refund via PayPal and will use the money to purchase a phone from a more reliable website.

I'll continue to update this post if any new drama arises from this situation. Till then let my horrendous experience be an example to those who are thinking of exploring the shady world of China phones and the companies that sell them.

Updated 22nd September: FastCardTech is now selling the phone with the Windows Mobile 6.5 Rom and Route 66 (a GPS program) installed. Unfortunately for those who bought the HDi early with promises that they will support 6.5 were not informed that the update was available and I had to personally visit the page to find out myself.

It started to go downhill when I was told that the installation program I was given can only be used with Windows XP which means Vista users and those who have upgraded to Windows 7 will have to search for a compatible computer to install the update. The fatal shot came when the 6.5 rom I installed didn't work and I ended up with a phone with an unresponsive blank display that ran a supposed Windows Mobile rom (I don't know which as I could only hear the startup sound).

I immediately contacted customer service (via Live Messenger) and was assured that the Rom was working perfectly before being told to try again. I did. It didn't work. I told them about it and it turns out that I was sent a phone from another factory which didn't support the rom. They then sent the 6.1 restore rom which returned my phone to its original state.

Although I am thankful that -once again- customer service came to the rescue I am starting to lose faith in the way FastCardTech does their business. Why didn't they inform us of the availability of the update? Why weren't we told earlier that we'd need Windows XP to run the installation program? Why are there 2 versions of the HDi phone? Does this mean those who purchased the phone earlier are now being punished for doing so as those who buy the phone now are able to get the ones running 6.5?

It's bad enough that the price has dropped and new buyers get Route 66 for free but we can't even get the Windows Mobile 6.5-run phone we originally paid for. Like I've said, I'm happy that customer service is always there to help with the problems but I am deeply disappointed that I had to contact them repeatedly with a litany of them that I've encountered.

Until the situation gets sorted I'm retracting my recommendation of purchasing any mobile phone from FastCardTech and I'm placing a 'Buyer Beware' warning, buy at your own risk.

Original Article:

It took almost 17 days for the Sunno HDi to arrive, the latest drama unfolding on the 19th of August when the phone reached customs and was sent back due to them giving the wrong description of the package. It finally reached me on tuesday last week and after testing it out for a couple of days I'm ready to put up a buying guide for the China-made phone.

Tuesday, 25th August 2009:

First impressions - Not happy. The phone is not the shining sophistication of technology they made it out to be on the website as most of the details on the site and in my previous post I made are absent. There is no headphone jack, no TouchFlo UI and the Sunno logo is present on the phone. They also provided me with two batteries but one isn't working. So either they gave false information about the HDi, or I've received the wrong phone. I decided to contact FastCardTech's customer service.

12 hours later:

They haven't replied to the message I sent them so I contacted the company's service rep on Windows Live Messenger instead. He apologized for the delay in shipping and explained that they have no control over the factory who manufactures the phones. Turns out it was they who decided to remove the headphone jack and imprint the Sunno logo on the screen. He offers to replace the battery, saying that they usually have testers to ensure everything is working well. When asked about the missing TouchFlo UI he told me he'd send an alternate one which worked better. And surprisingly enough, it did.

Before we continue:

I would like to point out that the phone I thought I was going to get is completely different from the one I have now. The specifications and software of the phone have enough significant changes that warrant it being classified as a completely separate model. As such I've decided to redo the feature article and reevaluate the Sunno HDi.

Gadget: Sunno MyTouch HDi

Place of Origin: China

"Inspired" by: HTC Touch HD

Main features: 533Mhz Processor/128MB RAM/WQVGA 2.5-inch touchscreen/5MP camera with flash/runs Windows Mobile 6.1 with an alternate user interface.

Why I hate it

Runs Windows Mobile 6.1: My original reason for purchasing the HDi was primarily because it was supposed to run Windows Mobile 6.5 which has a full finger-friendly interface. 6.1 was developed in 2007 and it shows its age as navigating the OS is done completely with a stylus.

The keyboard is unusable and if you try using your thumbs to touch the icons of programs be prepared to launch all the wrong ones. The only decent input method I found was the handwriting function and that barely made the cut as it relied on the use of a stylus and no one uses two hands to scribble on their handhelds anymore.

I personally believe that a device is only as good as its operating system and the HDi's is terribly flawed. That being said, the guys at FastCardTech promise to offer 6.5 as an update when it is available so there is hope that the frustratingly clunky interface will be replaced with a much better one in the near future.

Why I like it

Application "Store": It doesn't exactly have a program where you can browse and download applications to use on the HDi but being a Windows Mobile phone you can search the internet for programs to install into the mobile. The files end in .cab extensions and can be downloaded from the HDi's browser and installed into either the phone's internal memory or the microSD card. Alternatively you can download a .cab file onto your computer and transfer it onto the memory card and install it from there. This is a unique feature only available to Windows Mobile phones without needing to hack into the operating system (ala Android).

I've managed to download a better web browser (Opera), VoIP (Skype), maps (Google), Youtube (also Google), Media Player ( and it doesn't stop at just individual programs. There are applications which make using Windows Mobile 6.1 a better experience by changing the user interface and improving the input method. For example: FingerKeyboard 2.1 is an excellent program that replaces the tiny Windows Mobile keyboard with one that works like the iPhone's or Android's so typing can be done using fingers.

Alternate UI: To continue the application "store" love, the alternate UI emailed to me by the service rep is fantastic. How come? It is completely finger friendly, easy to use and is beautifully seamless.

Android-like Home Screen

Like the Android OS, the main screen is divided into 3 parts which can be scrolled horizontally and you can put shortcuts and widgets onto the pages for easy access. If you're at work you can switch to a "Professional" version of the screen by sliding your thumb down.

"Professional" Home Screen

Access to programs are located at the bottom of the screen and switching between the other available UI screens is done in a HTC Touch Flo style which works smoothly.

Switching alternate UI screens

The service rep has promised that until the Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade gets released, all HDis will come with this alternate UI.

Camera: One of its better features, the 5MP camera comes with flash and autofocus and the test pictures came out looking pretty good.

HDi Camera Test Shot

Conclusion

I was initially very unhappy when I received the HDi (days of waiting and being given the wrong information will do that to you) but after using the alternate UI provided and finding ways around the terrible input methods I've changed my mind about the mobile and have come to a conclusion that it is a pretty good phone to have.

It isn't the Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone extravaganza I was promised but if you look at the mobile by itself you would see that its features provide decent competition against the other well-known phones you can find from our telcos and it comes at a low price tag of NZ$400 (NZ$9 for posting the faulty battery back) which makes it a really good deal.

If you're looking for a budget smartphone, I highly recommend trying this one out.

About FastCardTech: Although I've been burnt by them on numerous occasions, I'm willing to just brush it off as a one-time hiccup and a personal spate of bad luck. Their customer service rep was truly apologetic when he went though the list of problems I encountered and was very willing to help me in whatever way possible which is a very good indication that the company is legitimate and that it's not some scam site they're running.

The phones that they're selling are also cheaper than most sites as well and the separate-purchase accessories they offer are worth considering, especially the memory cards. If you're thinking about getting the HDi or another China-made mobile then I would recommend buying from them. The link to their site can be found here.

Buying Guide: Playstation 3 Slim

By Benedict Wee

Alright, I gave it one day for the "Ohhhh! Shiny toy!" excitement to wash over me and now that my head's cleared up and am much more sober I'm thinking to myself: would I buy the Playstation 3 Slim? I've already got an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii so would the price cut and a new sleek design be enough for me to fork out another thousand bucks or so to get another console?

Here's a quick buying guide/review.

Why I like it

Does not look like a George Forman Grill:

Let's get the petty issues I've had with it out of the way first. Ever since Sony revealed it's current-gen console I have not once seen an image of the PLAYSTATION 3* without thinking that I could do with a good surf and turf combo with a side of corn. The new model is thinner, lighter, compact and can be held in one hand which makes it easy to fit into my ever-growing tower of entertainment systems and carry around with me in my travels.

*The original name of the console was put in caps so I'm using it to distinguish the older model from the new one.

Swappable Hard Disk:

The Xbox 360's specifically designed HDD is made in such a way that you can only purchase the ones made by Microsoft and they're about twice as expensive as the normal ones you can find in any tech store. That is a huge rip off. Either that or I could just delete the games I've stored in the HDD and re-download them again if I want to play a particular title but that just wastes time and money (for the internet data, you don't need to purchase the game again).

If I ever felt the 120Gb worth of space in my PS3 Slim is not enough I could always buy any standard HDD and plug it into the console which should be the way these things work.

It's the PS3 I've always wanted:

Like I've just mentioned before, the PLAYSTATION 3 was a hulking monstrosity which departed from my traditional view of consoles. It was big, shiny, expensive, a finger-print magnet and used that Spider-man font in caps which clearly meant that Sony was having an identity issue when designing the console.

And it did. With so many PR snafus and empty promises it seemed like the console maker had completely disconnected with the fanbase that made the Playstation and Playstation 2 popular.

The PS3 Slim is Sony's way of saying: "Forget about the last 3 years, lets start over." And it has. With a lower price point and a console which looks similar to the PS2, it's the successor I always wanted it to be.

I don't need to pay to play with other gamers online:

Xbox Live is expensive. It can go from as low as $6.70 to as high as $10.95 per month to upgrade to the Gold membership just so you can play with others online. Combine that with having to pay for the broadband connection and it all accumulates. And it's not like I want to play with people 24/7 so all those lost days/months of not playing online do get wasted.

The Playstation Network is free. Win.

Region Free (And Easy):

Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 games cost around the same price: a lot. But a big difference is that the 360's games are region locked while the PS3's are not. This gives you a variety of outlets (read: the internet) to purchase your games from. Import them from America, Singapore, Japan, England etc. anywhere you can find cheaper games from. It also makes it far more convenient to get the latest game releases instead of having to wait for them to reach our shores. A wait which can take up to months sometimes.

Meh

No more manual OS install:

You can't install a Linux OS on the PS3 Slim which wouldn't make a big difference to anyone since a) this is a feature utilized only by a small number of tech experts and geeks, b) no one knew this feature existed anyway.

2 USB ports:

I don't see myself using them anytime soon. Probably for Rock Band but you only need 1 anyways.

Blu-Ray:

I can finally climb aboard the High Definition train by watching my movies/tv shows in glorious full HD. Then again, not everyone has a Full HD television and mine's only HD Ready. Also, blu-rays are still expensive and have not been adopted as readily as DVDs were. The format might have triumphed over HD-DVDs but it has yet to prove itself worthy of following and in a world that is moving towards digital distribution (the downloading of movies/shows/games) the blu-ray might end up a lame duck.

Why I do not like it

Stand Straight Boy! :

The new PS3 Slim cant stand vertically like the old PS3 can: That's alright.

You can buy an optional stand however: Oh ok.

It'll cost you US$24/NZ$35.60, possibly more since you live in NZ: No.

It's a plastic base to hold the PS3 upright for God's sake. Why are you charging me so much for what is -in essence- a bicycle kickstand!? Couldn't you have included it in the set? Are you that desperate to make a quick buck from us?

I recommend waiting for 3rd party accessory makers to come up with their own PS3 Slim stands, they'll be cheaper and you'll get an assortment of colors, designs and extra features (charging base perhaps?) to choose from.

Still too expensive:

It's US$299/NZ$442.76 in the United States, 29980 Yen/NZ$458.61 in Japan and 299 Euros/NZ$479.50 in the EU. Why on earth is it NZ$620 here?! That is a good $140 more than what it costs in Europe. With that extra cash you could get one new PS3 game or 2 used PS3 games or an extra controller with change or 3-and-a-half official Sony PS3 Slim stands!

Seriously though, why are we always getting the short end of the stick? Are we trying for a world record for most expensive electronics sold in a country? High prices are a perfect excuse to resort to piracy and the last thing game developers and console makers want us to do is to start modifying our consoles and getting our games illegally. It's ridiculous.

Fortunately -as I've mentioned above- the console is not region locked so I highly recommend you contact your relatives/friends overseas to help you purchase the system. If you can't find someone there are always online shops that ship to New Zealand.

Another point to make is that though the current price tag of the PS3s is the same as the current Xbox 360 Elite model, we're expecting a price drop for Microsoft's console soon, thus still making the 360 a cheaper current-gen console.

And let's not forget how much the console really costs. The reason why I said I'd have to spend around a thousand dollars for the PS3 slim is because we all tend to forget the extra bits and pieces that add up. Its $620 for the system, another $100+ for an extra controller, games ranging from $55 (old/used) to $140 (new), blu-ray movies from $30 (old/used) to $90 (tv series) and PSN points at $30/$50 to download games can tally into almost paying for the PS3 slim twice over.

Games:

Exclusive 3rd party titles are a thing of the past. Devil May Cry, Silent Hill, Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy and Resident Evil are examples of popular 3rd party franchises that appear on both the Xbox 360 and PS3. If you already own an Xbox 360 and are a fan of these established franchises chances are you've already played these games. So what could Sony offer you in terms of software that would justify a purchase of another console?

For every Gran Turismo on the PS3 there is a Forza on the Xbox 360. For every SingStar there is Lips, for every Resistance, a Gears of War.

Yes the gameplay differs from each title but they do not make an enormous leap in mechanics to lure gamers from one console to the other.

Conclusion

Not everyone is in the same situation I am so I'm going to give a conclusion into different tiers.

If you already own an Xbox 360: Stick with it. You're not missing out on much as 3rd party developers are making games for both platforms and Sony exclusives are few and far between to not justify buying another console.

I know it has a high failure rate of breaking down but you've got 3 years warranty on the console which does help and the new models that they replace it with are fitted with better chips that prevent it from dying so often. If the warranty period is over you can look forward to a price drop on the Elite model. Also, it may not mean a lot but you'll be giving up your Gamerscore and Achievements you've collected when you were playing those games.

There are other glaring negative points about the 360 as well though don't get me wrong. The silly banning of under 18s from Xbox Live and the ludicrous prices to download games online are totally unfair but it's something that can be easily worked around with (i.e. lie about your age and buy physical games respectively).

If you own a PLAYSTATION 3: There's no point in changing to the newer system. Chances are you got one with the better configuration out there (with PS2 backwards compatibility and all) and Sony systems are made to last. Stick with your behemoth.

If you own a Wii/neither consoles: It's a good time to join the high-definition party and a good way to do that is getting the PS3 Slim. Bear in mind that it is quite a big investment, don't go into a shop with $600 and expect to be ready to experience an onslaught of brilliant graphics and gameplay when you get back. I'd prepare at least $850 for games/movies/tv shows and an extra controller to get myself up and running decently.

If possible import. It'll save you tons which means more games and blu-ray movies.

So there you go. I won't be buying one for myself because I don't think the purchase is necessary but if you're considering getting one think about the time/money that this investment is going to cost. Chances are most gamers have already selected the console of their choice and though the PS3 Slim has a lot going for it, it's been 3 years and it may have come a little too late.

So Is It Time To Switch To 2degrees? A Buying Guide

By Benedict Wee

Well we've gotten all the details about how much mobile newcomer 2degrees is charging for its services and the reaction has been pretty mixed. Let's go though their list of services using a Buying Guide.

Why I like it

Cheap Call/Text Rates:

Thank God. I can stop telling people that my calls are $0.89 a minute now. Also, $0.09 is not too steep a charge (for now) for texting.

Texting Overseas:

To anyone in the 21 countries is awesome. Will be texting mum more often.

SIM Cards:

Are finally cheap. They come in both $2 and $20 varieties with the respective value inside. I always wondered why I had to pay almost $30 for a SIM with no credit.

Easy To Read/Understand Pricing:

Calls? $0.44/min anywhere, $0.22/min to 2degrees mobiles and landlines if you top up. Texts? $0.09. Picture messages? $0.50. Data? $0.50/MB. It's really simple. Vodafone is now officially the only telco that makes my eyes glaze over when I read about their pricing structure. Telecom isn't too bad however.

Calling Customer Service:

Is free. Always a good way to let consumers know you care and value their input.

Meh

Calls Overseas:

Might be cheaper but I'd be able to skype or use a phone card at a better rate.

Port Your Number:

And you get $5 credit. Come on 2degrees, you gotta do better than that to get people to switch.

Per Minute Billing:

Is kind of a let down but the lower call rates don't make it hurt too bad.

Why I don't like it

Data:

Is expensive. $0.50/MB is way too much to charge to surf the internets. It's a pity cause if this was cheaper I'd switch from Vodafone immediately.

GPRS and EDGE:

If you're gonna charge so much for data it should at least be on a HSDPA network. GPRS and EDGE (it's like 2.5G) is considered slow in any 1st world country.

Handsets:

Telecom had a better line of phones when they launched. Vodafone still tops the list in terms of better overall phone choices. 2degrees only has one smartphone on the list and it isn't good. I was hoping for a Hero or Palm Pre to make its debut here. Sad.

Conclusion

Overall, I'm feeling pretty positive about the network despite its lackluster launch. 2degrees is stepping in the right direction and they can prove to be a formidable force against the duopoly that is Vodafone and Telecom. The points I don't like about the network are easily improved with time and I hope that they're working hard to bring us great mobiles and postpaid plans.

I saw on their facebook site that there are some people who are quite negative about the launch, complaining about the lack of "Best Friends" or thousands of texts for a cheap price. All I can say is hold on. They've only just started and once they get their bearings we'll be able to see better value deals. Besides, mileage will vary from person to person and since the SIM cards are affordable I highly recommend that you just get one, top it up and see how far you can go with the telco. (Update: They're even giving away free $2 SIM cards for a limited time.)

2degrees has brought something to New Zealand that we've lacked for a long time: competition. It can only get better for us consumers from here.

Nokia news roundup - Buying Guide: N97 and Android.

By Benedict Wee

Judging from Twitter reports of local tech celebrities, Finnish mobile giant Nokia held a press conference in Auckland today to debut their latest smartphone, the N97. I don't have the phone physically but I'll give it a buying guide based on the information I can gleam from impressions/reviews by other tech blogs.

Why I might like it

Sturdy:

Nokia has been making phones for a long time and they've been known to make them to last. Expect the N97 to posses the same sturdy-ness.

Size:

Measuring 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm, the N97's dimensions are ideal for any pocket from bermudas to tight-fitting jeans. It's pretty amazing that it's only slightly bigger than the Nokia 5800 and it comes with a full QWERTY keyboard. It's like a mini netbook!

Features:

32GB should be an internal hard drive standard for all smartphones released after July. The N97 does just that and with an upgradable microSD slot you'll get a potential 48GB worth of storage space. What to do with that much space? Listening to your music would be appropriate as the mobile has a standard headphone jack.

The user interface looks pretty. With widgets like Qik, facebook, RealPlayer, YouTube, Accuweather and Spore already installed in the phone you'll be able to streamline your accounts and play videos from the get go.

These features combined with a 5 MP Carl Zeiss optics lens, digital compass, WMV/RealVideo video player, 2-way transmitter (able to receive signals for radio or to broadcast music to your fm receiver), removable battery and voice command/dial makes the mobile almost comparable to the iPhone 3GS and HTC Magic. Almost.

Meh

Ovi Store:

It's not the Android Market and it's definitely not the Apple App Store. Nokia's own online application store for their phones is still in its early stages so don't expect to download heaps of useful apps for the N97 and they've still got a long ways to go before developers create any that are worth mentioning. Why? Because those who want a bigger consumer base and money develop iPhone apps and those who want the freedom go to Android. After that they'll have other popular platforms to develop for like Palm and BlackBerry so you're looking at pretty tough competition out there. Also I heard the store is pretty hard to navigate.

Why I won't like it

It runs Symbian:

Or to be more specific; Symbian OS v9.4, Series 60 rel 5. The Symbian OS has been around for awhile now, going through various upgrades the past few years to its current iteration today. Symbian is also the oldest mobile OS when compared to the iPhone OS or Android so one would think that they've perfected the art of creating a easy to use operating system. They didn't. It's clunky and not very user friendly interface can be frustrating to use.

Looks like a million things happening at once

This is a major mistake to make. With us spoilt on the smooth UIs of the iPhone and Android one would think that the N97 had the strong, capable body of a 18 year old with the personality of an 81 year old. Looking at the video reviews of the phone I kept telling myself that the phone would be perfect to run Android. And speaking of Android..

I'm inserting the Nokia news about the Android here. They've flat out denied the rumors that they will release a smartphone running the Android platform. To quote:

"There is no truth to this story whatsoever. It is a well known fact that Symbian is our platform of choice for smartphones."

Why Nokia? Android could be the saving grace you need to get back that market share you've lost when other smartphones like the iPhone and HTC Android mobiles were released. You've got awesome looking phones which last really long and all you need is to have an OS that runs perfectly and you'll get an uber-phone that people will want to buy. I know, I know, you own Symbian now but flogging a dead horse is not an option when there are better platforms out there that many are using. Android is free for pete's sake!

Back to the review, I don't think anyone should bother to learn how to use an interface that might (or might not) get phased out in a couple of years because there are easier and better looking OSs out there where you'll only need to learn only once.

Price and Processor:

So apparently Finland is encased in a magical bubble where recession is a word that goes with spring to signify a weeks break for university students in March and there are no other smartphone makers out there that could possibly compete with their mobiles. Either that or Vodafone NZ is trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for most expensive phone sold commercially ever.

The cost of the phone is NZ$1799 without a contract.

Now compare that to the other (better) options in the market; a 32GB iPhone 3GS for NZ$1379 or the HTC Magic for NZ$1099 and you'll wonder how Nokia (or Vodafone) came to that really, really, really far out price. The N97 might be like a mini netbook, but its pricing is in the notebooks range.

Also why does the N97 only have a 424 MHz processor when the iPhone 3GS has 600 MHz and the HTC Magic 528 MHz? That's only a tiny step up from the iPhone 3G's 412 MHz. Does the 18 year old have the mind of a 81 year old as well?

Conclusion

The N97 gets so many things right but the stuff it gets wrong are so glaringly bad that you've got no choice to but to keep on staring at it like a vehicle accident. Bad OS, slow processor and an incredibly high price makes me give the phone a major fail. I would not recommend buying it at all.

It's a real pity though, and I can't help but feel sad for the Finnish mobile giant. I remember the time when I was 16 and I fell in love with the 3210 which began a very long love affair with Nokia till the 6280, but its refusal to get with the times, their ridiculous pricing and its unwillingness to be open about their OS might end up being the source of its own destruction.

Look for the N97 to appear on Vodafone's (and maybe 2degrees') shelves soon.

Sources:

Gizmodo's review of the N97

The National Business Review's review of the N97

TechRadar's report on Nokia and Android

Buying Guide: HTC Magic

By Benedict Wee

I've had enough time to spend with the HTC Magic which I got last week and I'm ready to post a review/buying guide to New Zealand's first Android mobile.

Why I like it

It's got Google's Android OS:

One of the main features that I'm excited about, the Android platform was created by Google for the Open Handset Alliance in order to create a standardized operating system for mobile phones. Because the source code for the platform is free mobile manufacturers are allowed to create phones in any size, form and design as long as they meet the needed system requirements to run Android.

What you'll get is a unified interface amongst the various brand mobiles that you'll only need to learn how to use once. Mobile companies like Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Acer will follow HTC in creating mobiles that run Android though mobiles aren't exclusive to phones alone as netbooks and even digital photo frames are being created to run Google's platform. I always parallel Android's use in portable devices/mobiles to that of PCs and notebooks; different computer makers (HP, Dell, Acer etc.) running the same operating system (Windows).

I don't want to go all gushy on the Android but another great point about the platform is that since it's open sourced people can develop any kind of application without having to go through stringent screening processes that Apple app developers are subject to because of copyright and trademark infringement. Sega and Nintendo Rom emulators here I come!

On to Android's actual interface. There is a learning curve to the OS and the only tutorial available on the mobile is how to use the on screen keyboard, the auto correct and dictionary. It's not rocket science however, so you'll be able to pick it up pretty fast and the quick start guide provided is useful. Here's a simple rundown on how to use the phone:

• The main page is called Home.
• Touch an icon to run the application.
• Touch and hold the icon to move/drag the application to desired location.
• Drag the icon to the bottom tab to remove the application from the Home screen. This does not uninstall the application. To do that you have to go to settings and remove the application from the phone permanently.
• Icons and Widgets are different. Icons have to be activated by touching them while Widgets are applications that are run automatically. The analogue clock you see on the home screen is a Widget.
• Different Widgets can be put onto the Home screen but they cannot overlap one another or over icons. You can insert a Widget by touching an empty space on the Home screen.
• The home screen has more than one page which you can navigate by flicking left or right on a page. This allows you to put more icons and Widgets on the Home screens.
• The tab at the bottom of Home is where all your applications are stored. Pull it upwards to access and scroll through the icons. Hold down on an icon and you can move it to the Home screen.
• On top of Home is the Notifications bar. The right side informs you of the connection you're using, the strength of the connection, the amount of battery life and the time. The left side informs you of an incoming text, email and if a new application has been installed. The symbols of the notifications can be found in the Quick Start Guide. You can pull down the bar to preview the notifications you've received just like the bottom tab.
• More applications can be downloaded from the Android Market. Currently the only applications you can download are those that are free. The paid applications will be rolled out soon. I'll be giving an applications review soon.

There is a trackball on the phone which is supposed to be the "mouse" but I don't see its use (being touch screen and all) other than functioning as shutter button and "glows when you got a text/missed call" indicator.

The last bit about the Android which I totally love is that your Google account is synched with the phone thus saving me the trouble of manually inputting contacts and calendar notifications. If you already have a contact list and calendar on an account other than Google you can easily sync them with the online/software program Plaxo. If you do not have your contacts/calendars online then I suggest you take some time to compile them on a Google account cause you'll only need to do it once and you're set for life. Also, Android comes with QuickOffice which allows you to access Microsoft Office documents which is pretty handy. Update: Well, turns out the HTC Magic does not have QuickOffice but only the HTML viewer to preview PDF and Office files. Also it doesn't have voice search. Wow Vodafone, I thought crippling your mobiles was a shallow thing practiced only by the american telcos. (Thanks Mike!)

Hardware:

A 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and video recording, an internal compass and GPS. No, that's not Apple's new iPhone 3GS I'm talking about. The Magic has these features too and they've had them since its predecessor, the HTC Dream was released. The iPhone 3GS claims to be fast (600 MHz CPU and 256MB RAM) but it's relatively the same as the Magic (528 MHz CPU and 288 MB RAM).

This much hardware in compressed into a small and pocket-friendly size and it's pretty light (116 gm) which makes it easy to carry around. I also like the fact that the battery is removable which gives me the option of buying more of them should I need to travel without a power source available (i.e. camping, trekking, boating etc.).

Meh

Battery life:

Like all smartphones in the market now, expect to charge the Magic pretty frequently when you've got the whole shebang on. 3G, GPS and WiFi are your main culprits of battery drain though it is not terribly bad in my opinion. I've checked my Twitter, facebook and email while doing the odd surfing and map checking and I ended up having to charge the phone every two days. My first charge ended pretty quickly cause I had WiFi on to sync my Google account and download applications. If you're really concerned about battery life then there's always the option of buying additional batteries.

Storage Space:

The phone comes with an internal 512MB worth of space and you can expand it with a microSD card (Vodafone will provide an 8GB one upon purchase). This space might seem too little for people who want to use the Magic as a media player but for those who want to use it for standard phone functions it should be enough, which brings me to the next 'meh'.

Personal Media Player:

The Magic allows you to play audio in standard formats (Mp3, AAC, AAC+,WMA,WAV,MIDI OGG etc.) but I wouldn't use this as my main music player because there is no headphone jack (you gotta use the headphones provided with a mini-usb port) and there is not enough space to store all the music I have.

The video quality of the player is average. They support 3GP (standard video format mobiles shoot in) and Mp4 though they are pretty picky about what kind of Mp4 you're playing (just like the iPod).

The photo viewer is alright but the lack of multi-touch to zoom in out as well as flicking to browse though photos makes it clunky and similar to your standard mobile phone.

Overall I would say that if you're looking for your mobile to become your media player then you're in for a disappointment. I would suggest getting an iPod Touch for your portable entertainment needs and leave the Magic to do the other smartphone stuff. You'll save a lot on battery life in the process too.

Lag:

Expect the phone to slow down when you wake it from its sleep or when you call upon the keyboard. This happens occasionally and it only lasts a second so it's nothing you should worry about.

Why I do not like it

There is nothing that brought out pure hate when using the Magic. The 'meh' bits didn't affect me that much and I'm really happy with the phone. Of course there'll always be room for improvement (better camera with flash, longer battery life) but for New Zealand's first Android mobile I would say that it is a great introduction to a platform that we might all be using in the future.

But, I do hate something that relates to the HTC Magic. Something that would turn me off purchasing the mobile. The price.

Conclusion

If you look at the HTC Magic by itself, you would not only see what an overall great smartphone it is, you would think that it is an essential gadget for anyone to have to keep yourself organized and in touch with the rest of the world. It is light, of an appropriate size and relatively easy to use. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

However if you compare it to another smartphone in the market right now you might think twice about purchasing the mobile.

As I've mentioned before, the price of the HTC Magic is steep and too close in comparison to the iPhone 3G and the future 3GS. Should the 32GB iPhone 3GS be sold at the same price as the current 16GB iPhone 3G is selling at ($1129) you would be paying $30 less for 23.5GB less of space (if you use the Vodafone provided 8GB card). And this is not factoring points like the iPhone is a great all round portable media player with a headphone jack (and of course it's the most popular phone around).

I also made the argument on a forum somewhere that Apple's hardware and OS were developed by in-house developers in the US which does explain the premium price we have to pay for the iPhone and its seamless interface. In the case of the Magic I made the PC/Windows parallel which meant that the phone should cost significantly lower since the developer is from Taiwan and they're using an the Android platform which is free. $30 is a tiny gap to separate both smartphones from each other.

Update: Also, the lack of QuickOffice and voice search is a kick to the balls Vodafone. Why?

My current verdict: Wait for the iPhone 3GS prices to be announced before making a decision. Chances are you'll get a better deal with the 3GS. If however you harbor an intense hatred for all things Apple then I would highly suggest you get the HTC Magic because it is a brilliant phone.

Buying Guide: Nintendo DSi

By Benedict Wee

I know it’s kinda late but this blog is new so I’ll just post it anyways. To buy or not to buy the DSi? (hey it rhymes!) I’ll go through a simple review, highlighting the pros, cons and the not-of-any-interest (which I call ‘meh’) aspects of Nintendo’s new handheld, finally summarizing if the purchase of the DSi is worthwhile.

Why I like it

Bigger Screens:
The DSis screens are 17% bigger than those of the DS lites (3 inches) at 3.25 inches. Big screens are always a welcome addition.

DSi download games/applications:
Ever got sick and tired of changing your DS game cartridges when you wanna change games? Me neither. But for those who find this task arduous the DSi allows you to download games from their online DSi store thus saving you time of swapping aforementioned carts. These games are however, not the immersive kind that you’re used to. They’re simple mini games targeted towards the non-gaming crowd but still, some of them incorporate the DSi’s internal camera in order to play them so it is pretty fun.

You can also download applications like the new (and vastly improved) Opera web browser as well as the Animal Crossing clock/calendar and calculator. Most of the downloadable stuff cost DSi points (which you have to purchase via credit card) but Nintendo will start you off with 1000 DSi points for your new system (available till October 5 2009) which makes the deal pretty sweet. 

Web Browser:
The DS lite’s Opera web browser was a badly made piece of junk that was expensive and had a poor user interface which was slow and clunky. The new DSi’s browser is an upgrade to that mess and it doesn’t require the purchase of any peripherals. Just head on to the online DSi store and download it via the DSi for free. Its performance is much better too.

SD card slot:
For SD cards (obviously) where you can store your (ACC formatted) music files, photos as well as DSi download games.

Meh..

Music Player:
The DSi plays audio files but they’ve gotta be in ACC format which means a tedious conversion process via iTunes.  Also it seems that the DSi can only read up to 100 songs so your choices are limited. I’d stick with an ipod to cater to your music needs.

Dual Cameras:
The thought of two cameras (one on the cover, the other inside on the hinge next to the microphone) on the DSi would lead one to put this feature in the ‘pros’ section of the review but its disappointing resolution lands it in this category. Both cameras are 0.3 megapixels which makes me wonder why they even bother featuring them at all. In our current technological environment I’d expect at least 2 megapixel dual cameras even though they aren’t selling mobile cameras with that kind of resolution anymore. The low-res cameras won’t be able to take anything decent without a generous dose of lighting and what you’ll end up with most of the time is dark shadows on your screen where your friends should be.

The photo editing program included in the DSi is pretty neat though, but it is kind of pointless when you’re drawing funny faces on the aforementioned dark shadow-friends on the screen.

Voice Recorder:
Another not-particularly-useful-nor-fun feature of the DSi allows you to record your voice (up to 10 seconds) then play it back in varied tones using the synthesizer program. If you like to make one-sentenced swears like a chipmunk then this an application for you.

Why I do not like it

No DSi Cartridge Games:
Yes you can download games from the online DSi store but as I’ve mentioned before, they’re not your full-fledged games.  The debut of a new console should be complimented by software that shows off the improved graphic/processing capabilities of the system rather than push something trivial like downloadable games. When the Xbox 360 was announced, Microsoft marketed its upgrade from predecessor Xbox with great looking games like Perfect Dark and its Live! Arcade service (where you download old arcade games and amateur developer-made ones into the 360’s hard drive) was only listed as an extra feature. Sony did the same with its Playstation 3 and its online store.

The games are coming however, but it’s going to take a while. Nintendo has talked about it but they did not announce any titles which means you’re not going to see a full DSi cart game till probably next year. 

Region Lock:
What makes the lack of games worse is that when they are eventually released they’ll be region locked. Till the DSi, Nintendo has only implemented locked hardware and software on their home consoles which meant that we could play videogames that we would not usually get in this part of the world. A good example is Japan where quirky games like Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! (the Japanese equivalent of Elite Beat Agents) and Super Robot Wars W, where you control different robots from famous series (Voltron, Gundam SEED, Full Metal Panic! etc..) are exclusive only to their native land due to licensing issues or the reluctance of western publishers.

Another big problem is that the region lock means that we’re usually at the end of the stick when it comes to getting games. Like Australia and Europe, our televisions, dvds and consoles are of the PAL variety. This means that games take longer to get published (because software in PAL regions are subject to multi-translations by law in the EU) and that the games we get are infinitely more expensive (due to the higher exchange rate).

This major fact alone should turn one off to buying a local set and resorting to importing or even worse, piracy.

No GBA slot:
Means that you’re going to have to stick with your DS lite if you wanna play all your old GBA games or use that rumble pack.

Really terrible battery life:
One of the proud features I used against the Sony PSP was that the battery life on a DS lite was incredibly long. On the lowest light setting you could play a game for about 15-19 hours before needing a recharge which made traveling with the handheld really convenient cause you don’t have to bring the charger. Even on the highest screen brightness it could last you 5-8 hours which is still amazing.

The DSi however lasts for about 9-14 hours on its lowest brightness setting and 3-4 hours on its highest. That is one whole tier lesser than its predecessor! It would be forgivable if the DSi was using different proprietary game software (the PSP uses a disc which takes a lot of power to spin and read) but they’re talking about the same DS games which you can play on your DS lite. It is not energy efficient at all.

Conclusion

Nintendo’s new handheld does some things right but many others wrong. At the end of the day the main purpose of having a portable console is to play games on it and the frills that the DSi offers aren’t appealing enough to tempt a gamer into making the purchase. The introduction of DSi downloadable games aren’t impressive (facebook has better ones and they’re free) makes this a hard sell to those who already have a DS. For non-gamers, the DSi should offer better bells and whistles (2 megapixel camera with flash perhaps?) and be slightly easier to use (why can’t I use mp3s to play my music?) because there are other daily devices out there -like mobiles- that allow them to the same thing and more.

If you already have a DS lite stick with it. If you’re looking to get into the handheld gaming scene get a DS lite or if you’re willing to wait, do so. Nintendo has a habit of improving the specs of their portables yearly so you might see an improved device announcement towards the end of the year. 

Sources:

DS lite and DSi specs on IGN

Kotaku DSi Games are region locked

Kotaku Nintendo plans DSi only games