Holiday Present Guide 2007 (1)

It's almost Christmas and everyone tries to get out of the box and find the best present for their loved ones, Here you can find a little guide about What mobile phone is the best for the present.

Cameraphones

Cameraphones continue to fascinate many people. This year they've crossed the 5 megapixel barrier en masse taking mobile phones closer to digital cameras than ever before. This also means that you don't have to break the bank to get yourself a decent cameraphone these days.

Our main offerings however are several top-of-the-line cameraphones that won't fit into everybody's budget, but they represent the latest and greatest on the cameraphone market.

The Nokia N95 has been around for quite some time now. Its 8GB sibling brought some changes only to the camera speed. Both handsets are versatile smartphones and the camera is not their only main feature. However in terms of camera quality, the Nokia N95 and the 8GB version are second to none.

The Nokia N82 was only recently announced but it's already available just in time for the holiday shopping. While we are still working on the N82 review, we can surely conclude that it's equal in camera quality to the N95. In fact the built-in xenon flash makes it even better. As we managed to verify, it's brighter even than the xenon flash used in Sony Ericsson Cyber-shot line-up.

The LG KU990 Viewty is another capable 5-megapixel cameraphone that has exciting features of its own. While being really good at taking pictures, its main focus is the 3-inch touchscreen TFT display and the whopping video recording capabilities. The LG Viewty is the only cameraphone to date capable of capturing video at 120 fps. That kind of framerate is great for making slow motion videos that show never before seen details.

The Samsung G800 is a healthy choice too if you really need camera-centric mobile phone. It's again an exceptional offering with its 3x optical zoom that allows you to get closer to the action. The sturdy built, the extensive camera settings and the great image quality make it a great product for any shutterbug on the go.

You probably saw that the Sony Ericsson K850 is not on the top places of our list. Although a Cyber-shot cameraphone snatched our recommendation last year, we feel that this time the Sony Ericsson K850 is not on par with the other major contenders. While it sports wonderful camera interface and a wonderful xenon flash, the Sony Ericsson K850 simply doesn't cut it with image quality this year. All of our recent shootouts confirmed that the Sony Ericsson K850 is inferior in camera quality.

The Samsung G600 is another 5 megapixel offering by the South Korean manufacturer. It's not their top cameraphone product but it's really popular since it's the most compact handsets of all 5-megapixels, and also it the least expensive one. It offers most of the advanced features that its brother has plus it has the most recent version of the Samsung handheld user interface.

In case you are on a shorter budget, you also might want to have a look at Samsung E590, which is a mid-end 3-megapixel cameraphone by Samsung. It's designed by Jasper Morrison and thus has some really controversial looks. If that doesn't bother you that little nifty player has all the camera powers to keep you posting on Flickr day after day.

Music Phone

Traditionally, Sony Ericsson Walkman phones are ruling the music-oriented mobile phones market. This year we saw the advent of the new generation of Walkman phones - we saw the Shake Control feature introduced for the first time and we saw an 8GB Walkman phone.

The Sony Ericsson W910 is a really neat mobile phone - slim, well designed, stylish and it comes bundled with some exciting technology - the Shake Control. It allows you to control your music player with only a shake of your hand. Besides, the top-of-the line music player, the Sony Ericsson W910 also offers lightning fast response in all scenarios plus a great display.

The Sony Ericsson W960 is the flagship of the Walkman series with a large touchscreen display, Symbian OS, and probably the most enhanced Walkman music player currently. Oh, and did we mention the 8GB of storage space available to the user? Anyways, while we did a relatively unfavorable review on the Sony Ericsson W960 mainly because of its disappointing looks, that bloke is still a viable option when choosing a mobile phone/music player this year.

The Nokia N81 is the next 8GB mobile phone that just might do the trick for you. While the previously mentioned cell phones are better at music reproduction quality, at least as far as our audio quality tests go, you won't find a recent Nokia mobile that sounds better than this baby. The Nokia N81 8GB offers a host of other multimedia features that would make listening to music and watching videos on the relatively big 2.4" 16M color display more enjoyable.

It's worth pointing out that all Samsung phones are great at music reproduction quality. It seems that the South Korean company is embedding the same high quality sound hardware in all of its mobiles - even the cheaper ones such as Samsung E200 or Samsung E250. So if you pick a Samsung offering for your next music mobile, you won't be making a mistake. Just make sure you listen to your music at the loudest volume level - it seems to be producing the best result with Samsung amplifiers.

Sony Ericsson also has a mid-tier offering that not only sound good, but also looks good, too. The Sony Ericsson W580 is a Walkman slider with a little something for the sports-minded user too. It features a slim profile, a nice display, and a pedometer, which will help you in your sports endeavors. It also has a calorie counter for storing all those calories burnt on the track.

In next review, I'll give review about fashionable and slim Phone

LG KU990 Viewty

With 5 Megapixel camera, 3G video calling, high quality video camera, MP3 player, FM radio, HSDPA for broadband internet speeds and bags of memory, this is probably LG's best phone so far.

If you liked the LG Prada or are considering an iPhone, then the LG Viewty should definitely be top of your list of phones to check out first. Touchscreen phones are the hot product of 2007/2008 and LG have a proven track record in this area with the LG Prada. The Viewty is basically a souped-up Prada without the designer logo, and it's a very accomplished product. I loved the Prada's touchscreen user interface, and the Viewty retains the best features of the Prada, but with the addition of 3G, a 5 megapixel camera, an uprated video camera, more memory and longer battery life.

Key Features

• 5.1 Megapixel Camera with Xenon Flash & Auto Focus
• Video Record
• 3 Inch TFT LCD 262k Touch Screen (240 x 400 Pixels)
• FM Radio RDS
• 100 Mbytes Memory plus MicroSD™ Memory Card Support
• 3G HSDPA Technology

The LG KU990 Viewty is a touchscreen 3G mobile phone which comes with a high quality camera & imaging features. The Viewty is a member of the LG family & pays significant resemblance to the popular LG Prada which is also a fashion conscious touchscreen mobile phone. The Viewty is a solid design with no fancy opening systems which weighs 112 gram & the overall measurements of the handset make it easy for the user to use & carry whether the handset is in the users pocket when carrying or in the users hand when in use. The height of the Viewty is 103.5mm by 54.4mm wide by 14.8mm deep which is a good size for a 3G touchscreen phone. The handset comes with a large 3 Inch TFT LCD touchscreen which has a 240 x 400 pixel screen resolution & can display up to two hundred & sixty two colours. The touchscreen comes with touch feedback which allows the user to actually feel the response from the touchscreen with a subtle buzz on their fingertips. The user can either use their finger to control their touchscreen or the LG KU990 Viewty comes with a stylus if the user prefers to use it. The user can view & use the keypad which is displayed clearly on the beautiful touchscreen.
The Viewty is an imaging focused 3G phone comes with a 5.1 megapixel digital camera feature. The user will be amazed at the imaging qualities as the camera comes with a Schneider kreuznach lens, auto focus, image stabiliser & a xenon flash. The LG KU990 Viewty comes with dedicated camera buttons which are situated on the side of the handset which also allows the user to select the camera or video settings. The phone comes with video capabilities which allow the user to record video at 120 frames per second, edit video & playback video footage. The Viewty has a voice recorder which allows the user to record voice clips which can be added to multimedia messages. The phone has a built in music player which allows the user to enjoy music playback on their phone whenever they feel the need for sound. It has a FM radio complete with RDS which allows the user to view information whilst listening to their preferred radio station.

The Viewty's music player is nice and easy to use and can handle virtually every music format: MP3/AAC/AAC+/AAC++/WMA. There's also an FM radio built in. Stereo headphones are supplied in the box, and you can use optional mono or stereo Bluetooth headphones if you prefer. The Viewty's memory is very generous, with 90 Mbytes of internal memory and up to 2 Gbytes of additional memory (microSD memory card).

I've already mentioned that the Viewty is a 3G phone. In fact it's 3.5G, i.e. it supports extra fast 3G connections using HSDPA which enables download speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps. Bluetooth and USB connectivity are available, and a USB cable is supplied in the box. The Viewty supports web browsing and email, and there's a useful document viewer that can handle all common file formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF).

It works on a tri band network which covers GSM 900, 1800 & 1900 which provides the user of the Viewty with coverage in Europe & the majority of the US, this is dependent on the network provider. The phone comes with 100 Mbytes of internal memory onboard & the phone comes with a MicroSD™ memory card option which allows the user to extend their memory capabilities up to 2 Gbytes. The LG KU990 Viewty comes with the latest high speed technology including 3G technology, HSDPA which is high speed download packet access, Bluetooth® wireless connectivity, EDGE technology & USB connection. The user can connect their phone to other compatible devices using either a Bluetooth® wireless connection or a USB cable connection. It comes with a TV output connection which allows the user to connect the Viewty to a TV to view their video creations. The phone comes with high speed Internet access with the help of the 3G HSDPA technology. The user can access a XHTML browser & enjoy a broadband speed connection on their mobile phone.

If I have to find a fault with the Viewty it would be the battery life. The huge touchscreen eats battery juice and I frankly can't believe the official battery life figures from the manufacturer. Still, the Viewty is better than the Prada and no worse than the iPhone when it comes to battery life, and it shouldn't be a problem for most people.

I love the Viewty. It's received a tiny fraction of the hype of the iPhone, yet in so many ways this is the phone that the iPhone wants to be. The touchscreen user interface is much more than just a novelty, and unlike the iPhone the Viewty brings the very latest technology too. I love it!

Nokia N 82

A good alternative to the N95, the N81 offers very nearly the same features, but at a significantly lower price. It's a classic-style smartphone with GPS navigation, an outstanding 5 megapixel camera, media player, a 2 Gbyte memory card and HSDPA for accelerated 3G connectivity.

Key Features

• Assisted Global Positioning System A-GPS
• 3G HSDPA Technology
• 2.4 Inch LCD QVGA 16.7 Million Colour Screen (240 x 320 pixels)
• 5 Megapixel Camera with Carl Zeiss Optics & Tessar™ Lens
  
• FM Radio with Visual Radio
• 100 Mbytes Memory plus 2 Gbytes MicroSD™ Memory Card

The user can capture all their special moments with the built in camera feature & the photos or video clips can be shared with others, saved, edited or deleted. The integrated camera is a 5 megapixel camera which comes with the fantastic Carl Zeiss optics & Tessar™ lens which provides the user with a professional built in camera feature. The Carl Zeiss optics provides the user with a clear & precise photo & imaging experience in the user's hand. The camera feature comes with a xenon flash which allows the user to capture photos in the day light as well as at night. The camera comes with a 20 x digital zoom so the user can zoom in on their subject. There is a second camera which is a CIF camera which is situated on the front of the handset & can be used when the user wants to take part in a 3G video call with any compatible 3G video calling contact. The phone comes with video capabilities which include video recording, video playback & video streaming capabilities. The N82 3G Smartphone supports all popular formats of video playback. The built in music player provides the user with music entertainment when the user is on the move, along with a built in FM radio complete with visual radio provides the user with the perfect mobile music companion. The user can create playlists & even enjoy a wireless listening experience using a Bluetooth® stereo with A2DP connection between the Nokia N82 & compatible Bluetooth® headset.

The Nokia N82 is the first Nokia handset to feature a xenon flash. The N82 xenon flash is the first worthy adversary of the Sony Ericsson K850 xenon flash that has been dominating ever since its first introduction in Sony Ericsson K800

The battery provides the user with approximately 3 hours worth of WCDMA talk time or up to 4.3 hours of GSM talk time. A fully charged battery will provide the user with up to 210 hours of WDCMA standby time or 225 hours of GSM standby time. The user can enjoy just less than 2 hours of video recording or 2 hours of video calling time from a fully charged battery. The N82 comes with useful call features which include a missed call log, dialled call log & a received call log. The user can use the voice dialling feature to dial popular & regularly called numbers quickly. The phone comes with a conference call feature which allows the user to enjoy a call with up to six contacts per conference call, which is a perfect way to have a meeting on the move. The push to talk call feature allows the user to use their phone like a walkie talkie which allows the user to press a button when talking to others but on releasing the button the user will hear their contacts talking back to them. The handsfree speaker call features allows the user to rest their handset on a table or desk whilst speaking to their contact over the phones loud speaker system which means the user will hear their contact loud & clear whilst enjoying a handsfree experience.

This 3G HSDPA technology handset allows the user to enjoy a broadband speed Internet service, high speed data transfers & multitasking capabilities on their beautiful handset. The phone comes with a choice of connectivity options which allows the user to connect their Nokia N82 to a selection of compatible devices using either a Bluetooth® wireless connection or a USB cabled connection. The phone also supports other technologies including WLAN wireless local area network & EDGE enhanced data rates for evolution for high speed data or file transfers. The Smartphone comes with 100 Mbytes of internal memory & the start up kit includes a 2 Gbytes MicroSD™ memory card which allows the user to expand their phones memory by adding this MicroSD™ memory card. The user can use their Smartphone Worldwide as the phone cover GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 & WCDMA 2100. The N82 comes with an assisted global positioning (A-GPS) routing system & Nokia maps application which can assist the user on a whole new adventure. The user can enjoy a full Internet experience with the built in HTML Internet browser. It is easy for the user to communicate with others without even making a call as the user can simply send an email, text message or multimedia picture message to compatible messaging contacts. The user will find it hard not to enjoy this wonderful Smartphone.

The N81 may not have the looks of the N95, but is has 95% of the features for a lot less money, and we think that it deserves to be a hit!

Motorola RAZR2 V8

The RAZR 2 V8 is even slimmer than the original RAZR, and uses premium materials in its construction to update its look. Novel features such as an external touchscreen for playing music, and CrystalTalk technology for enhanced call clarity make it well worth a try. The camera is average, but the music player is good, the memory is good, battery life is acceptable and the phone offers a good all-round mix of style and functionality.

Key Features :

• Large Dual Screens 262k Colour Display (320 x 240 Pixels)
• 2 Megapixel Camera with 8 x Digital Zoom
• 420 Mbytes or 2 Gbytes Memory Option
• Size 103 x 53 x 11.9 mm
• Music Player with Touch Sensitive External Music Controls
• Bluetooth® with A2DP Technology

After 3 years, the original Motorola RAZR is still in the shops, and that's a rare achievement in the mobile industry. The RAZR spawned various follow-ups, including a range of 3G phones, but now a new milestone has been reached with the launch of the RAZR 2 V8. The V8 is even thinner than the original RAZR, at just 11.9mm thick, and when opened it's astonishingly thin. Yet it's heavier than the original, which gives it a really substantial feel. Part of the reason for the heaviness is the use of stainless steel in the casing. The phone also uses premium materials such as chrome and chemically hardened glass. Although it looks similar to the RAZR, it feels more upmarket, like Nokia's premium 8800 Sirocco. The keypad is larger than that of the original RAZR, and the keys are more tactile too.

But the RAZR2 is not simply an upgraded RAZR phone - it is a quite unique device, as we will explain. One of the most striking features of the RAZR2 is the size of its external screen. It's an ultra-high resolution 2 inch display, which makes it the best external display in its class - possibly in any phone. It's also a touchscreen, making this phone the first of its kind. The touchscreen controls appear on the external screen, like the LG Prada or the iPhone, and are context-sensitive. For example, if the music player is on the touchscreen can be used to select tracks, etc, meaning that the phone can be used as a media player even with the clamshell closed. Other functionality is available through the external screen, such as reading and replying to text messages. This is a really nice concept. When not in use as a touchscreen, the external display shows information such as the date and time, or incoming calls.

The media player installed in the RAZR2 is Windows Media Player® 11, which is an excellent music player, with wide support for virtually all music formats. You can create and manage playlists from the phone, and synchronisation with a PC is simple. It's a shame that there's no radio though, and also the bundled headphones aren't the best on offer. The memory available is either 512 Mbytes or 2 Gbytes, depending on which version of the V8 you choose. It isn't expandable, so we'd recommend that you choose the 2 Gbyte version, as you won't be able to change your mind later!

Another new feature in the V8 is Motorola's new CrystalTalk technology. This is a mix of hardware and software improvements that are designed to enhance voice clarity and reduce background noise. Does it work? In a word, yes. The V8 offers call clarity that beats previous generations of Motorolas and puts it up there with the best from Nokia, Samsung or Sony Ericsson.

The RAZR2 V8 comes with a voice features which includes a voice reminder feature which allows the user to record & store a voice reminder on their handset. The phone comes with a speaker independent name & digit dialing feature & a vibration alert feature which allows the user to select these features if required on their mobile phone. The user can take their calls over the phones speaker system which allows the user to place their handset on a table or desk which provides the user with a handsfree call feature. The user can hear their contact talking to them over the phones loud speakers & the users voice is recorded by the phones discrete built in microphone. The phone comes with a variety of messaging services which include text messaging (SMS), multimedia messaging (MMS) & email service. The text message service comes complete with a predictive text input method. The user can read & reply to their text messages on the 2 Inch external screen which is a useful feature when the user does not want to keep opening their handset for a quick & simple reply. The MMS service allows the user to send a message complete with a photo or video which is a quick & easy way for the user to share their experiences with others. The Motorola RAZR2 V8 comes with a MotoSync™ feature which allows the user to synchronise their email, phonebook & calendar over the air. The RAZR2 V8 is a fun & user friendly mobile phone which comes with many useful features to suit today's mobile phone user.

The RAZR2 also has a camera and video recorder, but at just 2.0 megapixels and no flash the camera is at best average.

The V8 supports Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2) with support for Bluetooth headsets, and also microUSB 2.0 connectivity, giving fast data connections with a PC.

Battery life is acceptable, although the big LCD displays do tend to eat power. Depending on how much you use the phone, you'll probably get between 1 and 3 days' use between charges.

Summing up, the RAZR2 V8 is a really interesting phone - far more than just a slimmed-down V3. The external touchscreen is a really nice concept, the CrystalTalk feature works well, and the media player is excellent. Connectivity is good and so is memory (provided that you choose the 2 Gbyte version). Battery life is fine. We like it!