November 26th, 2009

Review: HTC HD2 raises the bar for Windows Mobile devices

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 8:19 am

Categories: HTC, Microsoft, Review, Windows Mobile

Tags: Apple iPhone, High Tech Computer Corp., Device, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Mobile, HTC HD2, Evernote, Battery Life, Mobile Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows

While Windows Mobile fans like myself are very pleased with the HTC Touch Pro2 there hasn’t been as much excitement around a Microsoft smartphone as we have seen with the HTC HD2 for quite some time. People are enthusiastic about its release due to the 1GHz Snapdragon processor, capacitive display, large 4.3 inch 480×800 high resolution display, multi-touch support in the browser and photo viewer, and Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. We also know that the HD2 will eventually be coming to a major US wireless carrier, but who that carrier is going to be remains to be seen. HTC gave each of us who attended the Mobius event in Seattle last week a SIM-unlocked European version of the HD2 and I have been using it as my primary device for the past week and wanted to give you some more details to enjoy over the Thanksgiving weekend as I now have experiences with many of those topics I mentioned in my first impressions article. You can browse through my image gallery to view a few product images and screenshots of the HD2.

	Image Gallery:There are some product photos and screenshots of the HTC HD2 in this image gallery.

I wrote that I planned to test out the following on the HTC HD2 and had the chance to perform all of this testing over the past week. I created specific blog posts to address a couple topics, as linked to below, and I will cover the other topics later in this review.

• GPS navigation: I posted a full review of CoPilot Live 8 running on the beautiful 4.3 inch display.
• Movie playing capability
• Zune subscription music support: I wrote about some media features and stated that you can use your Zune Pass music on the HD2. Check out the section later in this review for the steps to make this possible.
• Text entry keyboard accuracy and speed
• Image/video capture quality

In the box

As I said, HTC handed the HD2 to me so it came in a typical review white box. Inside the white box was a bright lime green compartment that held the HD2 on top with a USB cable, A/C charger adapter, and wired stereo headset. I am not sure what the retail packaging will look like and am sure it will vary by the carrier that sells the device.

Specifications

As a geek, I like to check out the specs and then see if the experience can match up to my expectations so let’s take a look at some of the best specifications seen on any Windows Mobile device.

• 4.3 inch 480×800 pixel capacitive touchscreen display
• Quad-band GSM and dual-band UMTS (900/2100 MHz) support for 3G data outside the US
• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• Windows Mobile 6.5.0
• Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP stereo support
• 512 MB ROM and 448 MB RAM
• Integrated 802.11 b/g WiFi. Understand 802.11n can be unlocked too.
• 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash
• Integrated A-GPS receiver
• 3.5mm headset jack
• microUSB port for charging and syncing
• 1230 mAh Lithium ion battery
• G-sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and digital compass
• Weight of 5.54 ounces
• Size of 4.74 x 2.64 x 0.43 inches

The HD2 is wider (by 0.24 inch), longer (by 0.24 inch), and heavier (by 0.84 ounce) than the iPhone 3GS. It is actually thinner than the iPhone 3GS by 0.05 inch. It really is a beautiful device and I cannot wait to see which carrier picks up the device in the US.

Let’s take a look at the hardware and WM 6.5 OS ª

November 24th, 2009

Review: Who needs a PND when you have CoPilot Live 8 on an HTC HD2?

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 4:51 am

Categories: HTC, Microsoft, Mobile services, Mobile software, Review, Windows Mobile

Tags: Software, High Tech Computer Corp., Map, Voice, Wireless, Safety View, Weather Data, ClearTurn, GPS, Tools & Techniques

Earlier this summer I posted on the release of CoPilot Live 8 for Google Android and loaded it up on my T-Mobile G1 to evaluate for a full review. A ton of new devices came shooting across my desk and I never had the chance to finish my review of this excellent GPS navigation solution, although I did use it successfully for a couple of road trips and found it to be an excellent solution on the Android platform. Last week I received an HTC HD2 device to evaluate and found that CoPilot Live 8 was preloaded on the device. The software was loaded with a 14-day trial and I quickly learned I could transfer the review license from my G1 to the HD2 and quickly set up the account on the HD2 and downloaded the 31MB map for Washington State. As you can see in my image gallery containing screenshots of the application and video of CoPilot Live 8 in action (thanks to my new teenage daughter taking the wheel), the software is fantastic and with that large, fabulous 4.3 inch 800×480 pixel resolution display you can’t find a much better portable GPS navigation/mapping solution available.

	Image Gallery:Check out a few screenshots of CoPilot Live 8 running on the HTC HD2.

I’ll try to cover some of the primary aspects and my favorite features of CoPilot Live 8 and give you my impressions of the usability and capability of the software, but as you can see on the Features page there is an amazing list of functions available to you in the software. As you can see in my video below the software screams on the HTC HD2 with 1GHz Snapdragon processor and all I need now is a proper car mount for the device to have a super in-car navigation system. As you will read below, CoPilot Live 8 also meets the needs for your out-of-car experiences, which is quite important for me personally.

Start up and walk around the interface

When you first launch CoPilot you need to select the region you want maps for, the language you want to use, and then enter registration information (if you want to purchase or enter your activation code) or select a trial. One thing I love about CoPilot 8 compared to a few other GPS navigation solutions I have tried is that Read the rest of this entry »

November 20th, 2009

Hands-on with the T-Mobile Samsung Behold II Google Android smartphone

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 2:48 am

Categories: Android, Google, Linux, Review, Samsung, T-Mobile

Tags: Google Android, Device, Smart Phone, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., T-Mobile, Samsung Behold II, Cube, Center Button, Lock Button, MicroUSB

I took a look at the Samsung Behold last year and as you may recall this is a high end feature phone with a high resolution camera. When I initially heard that T-Mobile was going to launch the Behold II in the Fall I didn’t think much about it since I just thought it was some kind of minor update to a good feature phone. I then read more about the device and learned it was actually going to be powered by the Google Android OS and my interest was instantly piqued. The Samsung Behold II launched a couple of days ago on T-Mobile USA and is T-Mobile’s fourth Google Android device, making them the US carrier with the most Android smartphones. Check out a few product photos in my image gallery and the video walk through the Behold II below.

	Image Gallery:Check out a few product photos of the Samsung Behold II on T-Mobile.

As I pulled the Samsung Behold II out of the box, I was immediately impressed by its solid feel in my hand. It is pretty thing and has no real curves on the top or bottom with just rounded corners. There are actually quite a few buttons on the front below the display, which is a bit unusual given the minimalist designs many companies seem to be using today. I was really blown away after turning on the device and seeing the OLED display shine with vivid colors. You can see Samsung added in some of their widgety design elements and personally I didn’t find them to add a ton of value to the Android platform and have just never been much of a fan of the TouchWiz interface while some people may absolutely love it.

Specifications of the Samsung Behold II (T939)

• Quad band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and dual band UMTS/HSPA (1700/2100 MHz)
• 256MB RAM/512MB ROM
• 3.2 inch AMOLED 320×480 pixels resolution display supporting 16 million colors and capacitive touch elements
• Standard 528 MHz processor
• Google Android 1.5 operating system
• 5 megapixel digital camera
• microSD expansion card slot with 2GB card included
• 3.5mm headset jack
• WiFi and Bluetooth radios
• Integrated GPS receiver
• 1500 mAh battery
• Dimensions: 4.57 x 2.20 x 0.48 inches and 4.23 ounces

The specs are typical for a Google Android device with the OLED display being the main unique feature. 528 MHz has proven to bog down a bit with Android, but so far it has done OK on the Behold II.

Box contents

The box is a typical square T-Mobile package with some thick manuals that weigh it down quite a bit. Inside the box you will find the Behold II, battery, charger, USB cable, wired stereo headset, 2GB microSD card, slip cover case, and manuals.

Hardware

It is tough to argue that the OLED display is not eye catching and pleasing in most situations. I rarely use my device in full sunlight so this is not a concern for me and being here in Washington I haven’t been able to test it out. Below the display on the front is an Read the rest of this entry »

November 19th, 2009

Hands-on with the HTC HD2, most impressive Windows Mobile device to date

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 9:38 am

Categories: HTC, Microsoft, Mobile software, Review, Windows Mobile

Tags: High Tech Computer Corp., Device, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Mobile, HTC HD2, TouchFLO 3D, Mult-touch, WorldCard Mobile Application, Microsoft Windows, Mobile Operating Systems

We wrapped up the Mobius 2009 event last night and since we spent most of the time talking about topics under NDA there isn’t much of anything I can share with your at this time. I recommend you check out Jason Dunn’s post on his new Windows Phone Thoughts site for coverage of what could be shared. HTC was kind enough to give each attendee an HTC HD2 device to evaluate so I wanted to post some first thoughts after spending the full day with it as my main device. I posted a video on YouTube with a short walk around the device and will post a full review early next week after a few more days with it. There is a ton of excitement about this device and after showing it to an iPhone owner here at work he said, “So this is what the next generation iPhone may look like.” HTC pushed Windows Mobile to the extreme with this device and it shows in an amazing product.

Hardware

Without even turning on the device you can tell there is something special about the HTC HD2. The device is a large black slab, but is thin at only about 3/8ths of an inch. It feels dense and a bit hefty, but like I have mentioned before I personally like devices that have good heft and density to them. The back metal battery cover is sleek and feels cool to the touch. It is surrounded by Read the rest of this entry »

November 16th, 2009

First impressions of the T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9700

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 5:36 am

Categories: BlackBerry, RIM, Review, T-Mobile

Tags: Research In Motion Ltd., Device, T-Mobile, RIM BlackBerry, BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Bold 9700, T-Mobile BB Curve 8900, Bold 9700, QWERTY Keyboard, Handhelds

It was a year ago this month that the RIM BlackBerry Bold was launched and I purchased one from AT&T while on a business trip (see my first impressions). The Bold had the BEST QWERTY keyboard available at that time, but that came at the price of width so the phone was a bit chunky. We now see RIM making some design improvements with the BlackBerry Bold 9700 that is launching first with T-Mobile and AT&T here in the US. I have spent a couple of days with the T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9700, check out my image gallery, and think it may be the best front facing QWERTY BlackBerry device on the market. I was quite impressed with the BB Tour, but the lack of WiFi in today’s smartphone market is really unacceptable. The T-Mobile BB Curve 8900 is also an excellent device, but the Bold 9700 adds 3G.

	Image Gallery:A walk around the T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9700.

The BlackBerry device I recommended for T-Mobile customers before today was the Curve 8900 and this is still a very good device if 3G is not a need for you on your BlackBerry. Honestly, the BlackBerry browser is not that great and I think people with BB devices are focused on email, which works quite well with just an EDGE connection. The Bold 9700 adds 3G and a bump up to 624 MHz processor with the trackball changed to an optical touchpad, which you may or may not like. There is not much more that RIM can do with these BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard devices, but it is great to finally see a 3G model on T-Mobile.

Specifications: The specifications for the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 include:

* Quad-band GSM/EDGE:1900/1800/900/850 MHz
* Tri-band UMTS: 2100/1700/900 MHz
* BlackBerry OS 5.0
* 624 MHz processor
* 256MB ROM
* microSD card slot with SDHC support (256MB card included)
* QWERTY keyboard and trackball
* Integrated GPS/A-GPS receiver
* 802.11 b/g WiFi with support for T-Mobile UMA service
* Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support
* 2.44 inch 480×360 pixels 65k colors display
* 3.2 megapixel camera with flash light and auto focus
* 3.5 mm headset jack
* 1500 mAh battery

* Dimensions: Weight: 4.3 ounces
* Length: 4.29 inches
* Width: 2.36 inches
* Thickness: 0.55 inches

The differences between the original BB Bold and BB Bold 9700 are as follows:

* Bold has 1GB internal flash ROM and Bold 9700 has 256MB
* Bold has a/b/g WiFi and Bold 9700 has b/g WiFi
* Bold has a 2 megapixel camera and Bold 9700 has a 3.2 megapixel model
* Bold has a larger 2.75 inch display and Bold 9700 has a 2.44 inch display
* Bold display has a resolution of 480×320 and Bold 9700 has a resolution of 480×360

The original Bold was quite a powerful device, but RIM’s ability to make the Read the rest of this entry »

November 14th, 2009

Who needs an Office app? Google Docs, Calendar & more all work on Nokia N900

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 9:20 am

Categories: Google, Linux, Mobile services, Mobile software, Nokia, Review, T-Mobile

Tags: Google Inc., Google Docs, Nokia Corp., Mobile, Microsoft Office, Web Browser, Web Browsers, Advertising & Promotion, Internet, Marketing

I have had a Nokia N900 for about a month now (see my in-depth coverage) and have concluded that it is a great compact mobile computer, but needs some more work to be a really good cell phone. If mobile data is your focus, then the N900 is a device to consider and one question I have received quite a bit is whether or not Google Docs and other Google services were supported on the N900. The web browser on the N900 is the BEST of any mobile device when it comes to giving you a full desktop experience and as you can see in my video below Google Documents, Calendar, Google Wave, and more all work just fine on the Nokia N900.

The N900 comes with the Documents To Go viewers, but no means to create Office documents on the device yet. However, with full access to Google services via the Mozilla-based web browser you can create, edit, share, etc. your documents without needing any other application. That is one thing that I am finding about the N900, you don’t need apps to do things related to the Internet because the devices lets you do them all within the browser. Granted, it is handy to have some apps for faster access and there are quite a few helpful apps available with more coming, but it sure is refreshing not to feel limited by the web browser at all.

November 5th, 2009

Review: OtterBox Commuter and Commuter TL Series for iPhone 3G/3GS

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 4:49 am

Categories: Apple, Mobile accessories, Review, iPhone

Tags: Apple iPhone, Apple Inc., Commuter TL Series, Commuter TL Case, OtterBox Logo, Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Matthew Miller

I have tried cases with my iPhone devices in the past, but kept going back to an InvisibleShield or BodyGuardz plastic skin because I didn’t want anything adding bulk to my iPhone 3GS. Silicone cases are very popular today, but I have never been happy with them since I carry my phone in my pocket and they tend to cause the phone to stick in my pocket and gather lint. OtterBox recently launched a couple of new hybrid silicone cases that add a hard plastic shell to a silicone case so you can slip your iPhone in and out of your pocket while also gaining a decent level of protection with minimal addition of size. The OtterBox Commuter and Commuter TL series cases are available now for the iPhone 3G and 3GS. Their Defender series adds the most protection, but add too much bulk for me to accept for daily use. Check out my image gallery of the OtterBox Commuter and Commuter TL Series cases.

	Image Gallery:A look at the new iPhone OtterBox Commuter and Commuter TL cases.

Both of these new iPhone case lines are similar in that they are composed of two pieces; a silicone inner shell and a hard plastic/polycarbonate out shell. You also receive a self-adhesive screen protector in each package and I found the protector gives you a feel very much like the oleophobic finish on the iPhone 3GS device. The inner silicone shells are almost exactly the same on both cases with just a slightly different back (designed to fit the plastic shell) and ribs on the inside left and right sides of the Commuter TL Series. The plastic shells are quite different, but they weigh almost exactly the same (0.74 ounces and 0.75 ounces) and have almost the same dimensions. The Commuter TL Series is available in seven different colors so it has a bit more personalization and as you can read below there is another main reason I prefer the Commuter TL Series.

OtterBox Commuter TL

The Commuter TL Series is available in black, blue, green, pink, red, white, and yellow. At the time I was sent an evaluation unit the black model was the only one available, but I may have to pick up a colored one soon. I was reluctant to place the screen protector on my iPhone 3GS because I love the oleophobic feel of the display and was worried the screen protector would take away from that experience. I was pleasantly surprised to find it felt much like the default display and decided to keep the protector on since it protects the display from scratches.

I then wrapped the silicone shell around my iPhone 3GS and found openings for the Apple logo, camera, silent/ringer switch, stereo speakers, bottom Apple iPhone port, and headset jack. There are covers for the headset jack and bottom connection port designed to help keep dust out of these open ports. There are rubber protrusions over the volume rocker and power switch so you can operate these through the silicone case. The Commuter TL also has Read the rest of this entry »

October 20th, 2009

Hands-on with the Sprint Samsung Intrepid Windows Phone

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 5:04 am

Categories: Microsoft, Review, Samsung, Sprint, Windows Mobile

Tags: SIM Card, Phone, Device, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sprint Communications, Windows Mobile 6.5, Samsung Intrepid, SIM Card Inclusion, Keyboards

A few new devices launched with the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system roll out on October 6th. One QWERTY messaging-focused device that launched on Sprint is the Samsung Intrepid. The Intrepid is the successor to the Samsung Ace and is a touchscreen device in a forward facing QWERTY form factor, similar to a BlackBerry device. Most all of the specs of the Samsung Intrepid are quite good, but the low resolution 320×240 QVGA kills the whole experience for me since every device I now have has much higher resolution and I can never go back to something with this low of resolution. The Samsung Intrepid is priced on Sprint at $150 so it is quite reasonable for a fully functional Windows Phone. Check out my image gallery for a few photos of the device.

	Image Gallery:A walk around the Samsung Intrepid Windows Phone.

Inside the fairly standard Sprint box you will find the Samsung Intrepid with stylus and battery, A/C phone charger, SIM card, 3.5mm headset jack, USB sync cable, and several helpful guides. The SIM card inclusion indicates the Samsung Intrepid is truly a world phone that supports US CDMA networks and worldwide GSM networks, which may be important for the business traveler.

As I pulled the Intrepid out of the box and held it, I found it to have an attractive design and solid feel in my hand. It is very similar to a BlackBerry with the front facing QWERTY and width the supports a full keyboard. There was nothing stunning that made the device stand out from the crowd, but that isn’t always needed for an enterprise user looking for a solid phone to get the job done.

Specifications

: The Samsung Intrepid (SPH-i350) has the following specifications:

• Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system
• Qualcomm MSM 7600 528MHz processor
• 512MB ROM/256MB RAM
• 2.5 inch 320×240 QVGA touchscreen display
• Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and Dual-band CDMA (800/1900 MHz)
• Integrated GPS receiver
• Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support
• Integrated 802.11 b/g radio
• 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus
• 1480 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
• microSD card slot with support for SDHC capacities
• Dimensions: 4.88 x 2.44 x 0.53 inches, 3.2 ounces

Walk around the hardware

The Samsung Intrepid is black and silver with a few brushed silver highlights on the front. The black plastic has a matte finish, but is not the soft touch material found on many other current generation smartphones. On the front of the device you will see the 2.5 inch QVGA display and honestly Read the rest of this entry »

October 13th, 2009

Nokia N900 Maemo 5 device in hand, S60 apps on the Internet Tablet

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 8:09 am

Categories: Linux, Nokia, Review, T-Mobile

Tags: Nokia Corp., Hardware, Internet, Matthew Miller

Given that the Nokia N97 flagship product did not receive the highest praise from everyone that Nokia hoped, there has been a lot of excitement about the upcoming Nokia N900 Linux Maemo-powered Internet Tablet. I just received a pre-production unit and posted some first impressions along with several photos of the hardware. The hardware is finalized, but I understand the software will be updated before production models hit buyer’s hands. That said, the N900 so far is quite an impressive device that is very responsive with an excellent web browser.

The hardware is not super sleek and modern and actually feels quite blocky when compared to the nice curved form factor of the iPhone 3GS and Sprint HTC Hero. The specifications are quite impressive though and it is a pretty solid piece of hardware. It does take a bit of practice to figure out how to customize the desktops and find everything loaded on the N900 and it is not as drop dead simple as the iPhone. It supports 3.5G on T-Mobile USA’s 1700 MHz frequency network and as a T-Mobile customer I am quite pleased by this.

The iPhone-optimized Google Reader site loads like a champ on the N900 and works well, except for keyboard shortcuts. I was very pleased to see Nokia include some software from their Symbian S60 platform in this Linux-powered device, including Mail for Exchange, Nokia Maps, Notes, and more. Mail for Exchange supports syncing calendar, email, contacts, and tasks with your Exchange account. I found it interesting to see that DataViz has a Documents To Go Office viewer available for the N900 since we have seen Quickoffice all over the S60 platform and this is the first I have seen of DataViz’s client working with a Nokia device. There is an Ovi Store client on the device, but it is not active as the store backend does not appear to be live yet. I am extremely happy to see threaded text messaging in the Conversations application and with the heavy texting that my teen daughters perform this is essential for me to keep my sanity.

Nokia sent these loaner units out for all of us to use for a couple of months so I plan to post quite a bit about the device. If you have any questions about it that you want me to answer, please feel free to post them in the Talkback section.

September 29th, 2009

Review: Spb Mobile Shell 3.5 for Windows Mobile

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 7:14 am

Categories: HTC, Microsoft, Mobile software, Review, Windows Mobile

Tags: 3D, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Mobile, E-mail, Mobile Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Mobile Applications, Handhelds, Wireless And Mobility

One of the premier developers of Windows Mobile software is Spb Software House and over the past couple of years they have created a package that gives device owners complete control over customization of their devices. Today, we see the release of Spb Mobile Shell 3.5 and I have to say Spb Mobile Shell has completely replaced the HTC Touch FLO 3D interface on my T-Mobile Touch Pro2. While TF3D is a nice UI that most people will probably enjoy using, Spb Mobile Shell caters to us “tweakers” who like to fully optimize and customize our devices. This capability is a strength of Windows Mobile and as you can see in my image gallery and in the video walk through below, Spb Mobile Shell 3.5 continues to improve and expand on the customization experience.

	Image Gallery:Check out screenshots of Spb Mobile Shell 3.5 running on a T-Mobile Touch Pro2.

Improvements in Spb Mobile Shell 3.5

I have been using Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 on my Touch Pro2 for a month or so and the main improvements and additions in this latest 3.5 release over the 3.0 release include the following:

• Improved SPB Carousel design (e. g. added reflections and some additional interaction gestures)
• Gravity sensor support in the SPB Carousel
• 3D email viewer (similar to TF3D, but better)
• 3D SMS viewer (with contact pictures)
• New Add Widget dialog
• Widget skin selection with preview
• New widgets for Tasks, Picture Frame, Facebook Status, Twitter Status, Internet Search, and Birthday reminders
• Option to have only one home screen (lifestyle or professional)
• Option to change number of screens in lifestyle or professional layouts
• Weather in Agenda
• Improved design of most dialogs (popup menus, settings etc.)
• Color themes support on Windows Mobile 6.5
• Redesigned settings dialogs

Spb Mobile Shell is loaded as the default UI on the Pharos Traveler 137 and other Windows Mobile devices to provide an easy user interface for new owners. If it is not loaded on your device, you can try it out for 15 days for free or purchase it for $29.95. There are also some upgrade discount prices if you owned a previous version. The 3.5 upgrade is free for 3.0 owners too.

Favorite new widgets

While I like the idea of the email view in Touch FLO 3D, it has very limited functionality and shows you just a few lines of your email. The new Read the rest of this entry »