Samsung SGH X650 – cellular phone with digital camera / FM radio – GSM
Intro:
Product Short Spec: Band / mode: GSM 900/1800/1900 (Tri-Band) Talk time: Up to 360 min Combined with: With digital camera / FM radio Weight: 2.8 oz
Samsung SGH X650 - cellular phone with digital camera / FM radio - GSM
Our recommendation: Buy
Written by Joseph Abernethy - Miner, Missouri
Keywords: ethical issues of mobile phone, buy a cheap pay as you go mobile phone
Motorola Razr V3x (Pumpkin)
Intro:
Positives: The Motorola Razr V3x has a stylish and sturdy design, decent call quality, and a generous feature set that offers two digital cameras with a flash, stereo Bluetooth, and a speakerphone, as well as and support for (European) 3G networks. Negatives: The Motorola Razr V3x isn't compatible with U.S. 3G networks. Also, the volume is a tad low, the internal memory is limited, and its memory card is in an inconvenient location. Facts: Despite some minor complaints, the Motorola Razr V3x is top of the line for the Razr family. It's just too bad it isn't for use in the United States. Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. .
Motorola Razr V3x (Pumpkin)
Just because you may be tired of the Razr, that doesn't mean Motorola is bored of it as well. In fact, Moto has done all it can to capitalize on the success of its famous thin phone by introducing a gallery of new versions for almost every niche. The latest model to fall into our hands, the GSM Razr V3x, made its worldwide debut more than a year ago but never made a formal entry into the U.S. market. And that's a sad thing, as the V3x is the most satisfying Razr we've seen to date, with a several feature and design improvements. The 3G Razr V3x supports only the UMTS band used in Europe, but if that's not an issue, you can get an unlocked model in the States for around $250. A final word of warning though: you may not want to get too excited, as the HSDPA Razr V3xx will be out soon for Cingular Wireless. Razr enthusiasts will notice immediately that the Motorola Razr V3x looks a bit different than the original Razr V3. Though it's also available in a selection of colors (black, silver, pumpkin, pink, and blue) the V3x has a camera flash, a larger hinge, and a slightly more appealing look. We're not sure why we like the design better, but it did catch our eye just the same. At 3.9 x 2.1 x 0.8 inches, it's also a tad taller and wider than its predecessor (3.8 by 2.0 by 0.5 inches), and it weighs a full ounce more (4.4 ounces). Though thin-phone purists may shun the fatter profile, we didn't mind it at all, as the extra girth makes for a much more solid feel in the hand. We also like the rubberized covering on the front and rear face. The postage-stamp external display is the same size as the Razr V3's, but with a 65,000-color resolution, it's more in line with the Razr V3i's. The display shows the date, the time, battery life, signal strength, and photo caller ID. It goes almost completely dark when the backlighting is off, but a flick of one of the side-mounted controls will activate it again. Alternatively, you can change the backlighting time for a longer shine. Just above the display is the 2.0-megaixel camera's lens in its usual location, but this time Motorola included a flash, a feature that's sadly absent from the other Razr models. Completing the exterior is an arc-shaped LED on the bottom of the front flap that flashes when you receive a call. The Motorola Razr V3x's exterior camera has a 2-megapixel resolution. Shortcuts for the camera and the voice dialing feature sit on the right spine, while a volume rocker and the Motorola "smart" key are placed on the left. All the side-mounted keys are easy to use, but be advised they can be pressed accidentally while the phone is in a pocket or a bag. Also on the left spine is the mini USB port, standard on all Razrs, which serves both as a data connection point and the charging jack. The MicroSD slot is located somewhat inconveniently behind the battery cover, but we like that you don't have to remove the battery itself as well. Just below the battery cover on the bottom of the rear face is the V3x's exterior speaker. The Razr V3x has a large speaker, but its memory card slot is hidden behind the battery cover. The internal display shows a solid 262,000 colors and measures 2.2 inches (240x320 pixels). Though some colors appeared a tad washed out, the display did a great job overall of showing photos, graphics, and games. On the other hand, Motorola's outdated menu interface continues to wear a bit thin. You can change the backlighting time and the brightness, but not the font size. Look below the display and you'll discover why the V3x has such an oversize hinge: Situated almost in its center is a second digital camera. Since it's used for video calling, the camera is only VGA, but that shouldn't be a problem. There's also a small macro switch for taking close-up shots using the main camera on the V3x's front face. The Motorola Razr V3x's interior camera is next to the macro switch. As with the more recent Razr models, the Razr V3x has a refined keypad that's easier to use than that of the Razr V3. Though the dialpad resembles one large touch pad, tactile ridges between the individual number keys make it easier to dial by feel. The keys also have bright backlighting for dialing in the dark. The ridges also surround the navigation array which consist of a four-way toggle with a central Menu/OK button, two soft keys, a clear/back button, Talk and End/power keys, and dedicated shortcuts for the Web browser and video-calling functions. And speaking of shortcuts, you can program the toggle to give one-touch access to four user-defined functions. The Motorola Razr V3x offers a powerful feature set that outstrips Verizon's 3G Razrs, including the V3c and the V3m. But before we address the flashy extras, we'll tell you the basics first. The V3x has a 1,000-contact phone book with room in each entry for six phone numbers, three e-mail addresses, three Web addresses, three street addresses, a birthday, a nickname, and notes. You can save callers to groups and pair them with a photo or one of 30 polyphonic ring tones. You also can save a special number for video calls, but keep in mind that feature will work only when you have access to a compatible UMTS network. Other essentials include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calculator, and a date book. On the higher end, you'll find full Bluetooth for connecting to a stereo headset or for exchanging files, PC syncing, voice dialing, a speakerphone, USB cable support, a sound recorder, and POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail. The V3x also supports Motorola's Screen3 technology, but that feature is carrier-dependent, unfortunately. The Razr V3x is stocked with multimedia applications such as the aforementioned dual digital cameras. The primary shooter takes photos in four resolutions (2-megapixel down to 240x320 pixels) and includes a variety of editing applications, such as three quality settings, an 8x zoom, three color modes, five lighting choices, an exposure adjustment, and five shutter sounds (plus a silent option). The main display works well as a viewfinder, or you can use the external screen to take self-portraits when the phone is closed. And as we mentioned earlier, the flash is a welcome addition to the Razr family, even if it does take a lot of clicks to use. The Motorola Razr V3x had decent photo quality, though colors weren't quite sharp. The camera function defaults to the exterior lens, but it takes just two clicks to switch to the internal shooter. For that camera, three resolutions (640x480, 320x240, and 160x120) are available and editing options are similar to the other camera's. The zoom, however, is limited to 4x. For saving photos, the V3x has a somewhat stingy 64MB of internal space, but you can use a MicroSD card for even more room. As is the case with Moto phones, a handy meter keeps track of how much memory you have left. Video is a big theme of the Razr V3x. Both the internal and external cameras record clips in three quality settings (Good, Better, and Best) with sound. Editing options include much of the same choices found in the still camera with the addition of such features as auto repeat, spatial audio, and bass boost. Clips meant for multimedia messages are capped at 20 seconds; otherwise you can record for as long as the available memory permits. If you'd rather listen to some tunes, the Razr V3x also comes with a simple audio player for playing your favorite music. The interface is rather basic, but it does the trick for short stints. You can organize music by playlist, song title, artist name, album, or genre. Features are limited to repeat and shuffle modes, so equalizer fans will have to look elsewhere. The music player shares the same memory space as the camera. You can personalize the Razr V3x with a variety of wallpaper, screen savers, and color themes, as well as alter sounds. If you want additional choices beyond what's included with the phone, you can download them via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Gaming options were limited for such a high-end phone. You get just two Java (J2ME) titles--Crazy and Escape--so avid players will have to buy more. We tested the Motorola Razr V3x in San
Francisco using Cingular's service. The phone is a tri-band world phone (GSM 900/900/1900) so it will work in the United States, but as we said earlier, it supports the 2100 UMTS band, which is used only in Europe. Voice calls, however, were mostly clear, and voices sounded natural. Callers could tell we were using a cell phone, but they didn't report any significant problems. As is the case with most Razrs, the volume was a tad low, but overall, there was a slight improvement over that of other Razrs. Bluetooth calls were satisfactory, though speakerphone calls were a tad muffled. The speakerphone on the Razr line as a whole has had mixed success in our experience, and the V3x is no exception. We weren't able to test the video calling or streaming video quality, but music sounded decent if a bit low in volume. The Razr V3x has a rated battery life of 2.2 hours talk time and 9.5 days standby time. The standby time is about average, but we were expecting more juice from a promised talk time. Video talk time is rated at 1.5 hours. According to FCC radiation tests, the Motorola Razr V3x has a digital SAR rating of 0.13 watts per kilogram.
Our recommendation: Undecided
Contributed by William Wilson - Belleville, Michigan
Keywords: beadwork crystal knotting cell phone charm, free centro mobile phone radio
In our lab: Motorola Razr Amp’d Edition
Intro:
Positives: The Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition has access to Amp'd Live content, a customized Amp'd user interface, a 1.3-megapixel camera, a video recorder, a music player, and EV-DO support. Negatives: The Razr Amp'd Edition suffered from poor speakerphone quality and sluggish performance. There are fewer camera and video recorder settings than on the V3m. You also have to remove the battery to access the Micro SD card. Facts: The Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition is a rebranded version of the Motorola Razr V3m. It is the same as the V3m in a lot of ways, except for the addition of the Amp'd interface and access to Amp'd Live content. This is probably the best phone in Amp'd Mobile's lineup. Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. .
Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition
Now that almost every carrier has gotten on the Razr bandwagon, Amp'd Mobile has decided to jump in with its own version of the much-coveted cell phone. The Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition is really a rebranded version of Verizon's Motorola Razr V3m--it has the same look and feel, and even the same multimedia capabilities. But, Amp'd ups the ante with a custom user interface and access to exclusive Amp'd Live content. The phone is available for $99 with a contract or for $199 with the pay-as-you-go service. The Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition is the Amp'd Mobile version of the Razr V3m. The design of the Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition would be familiar to anyone who has ever seen a Razr. It has the same look and feel as the Razr V3m. As a quick reminder, the handset measures 1.09 by 3.89 by 1.01 inches and weighs only 3.48 ounces. The Amp'd Edition of the Razr is wrapped in a dark-gray metallic finish, and unlike the V3m, its keypad sports a similar grayish hue. Everything else is the same; the location of the camera lens on the front, the external display, the thin side buttons, and so forth. As with the V3m, the Razr has a Micro SD card slot inconveniently located underneath the battery cover, and you'll need to remove the battery to access it. You can read more about the design of the phone in our review of the Razr V3m. The primary design difference is that the Amp'd Edition has the aforementioned Amp'd Mobile user interface, which is similar to that used in the carrier's other phones, such as the Motorola Hollywood and the Kyocera Jet. The menu itself has a rather industrial design, with silvery metallic accents, slick pages, and animated icons, all of which add up to quite a user-friendly interface. We must say we prefer this over the staid and cumbersome Verizon interface on the V3m. While the Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition features special Amp'd Live content (which we'll touch on later), most of the underlying features remain the same as the V3m's. It has a 1,000-entry contact list, and each entry can be personalized with a ring tone and a picture ID and be grouped in a caller group. Other offerings include the basic text and multimedia messaging, a calendar, Bluetooth, voice dialing and commands, a voice recorder, vibrate mode, an alarm clock, a calculator, an airplane mode, and support for MP3 ring tones. We weren't able to find a notepad on it, however, but that isn't too big a loss. The Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition has a 1.3-megapixel camera. Much like the V3m, the Amp'd Edition also has a 1.3 megapixel camera and a video recorder. However, the Amp'd Edition model doesn't have a few camera settings that were available on the V3m. For example, we couldn't find white-balance settings, multishot controls, the color-effects setting, and fun frames. Despite the lack of these settings, we did experience similar picture and video quality--the photos were decent, if a little faded, and the video was quite grainy. As for the music player, you can access it via the My Stuff menu, which brings up the Amp'd Live media player. Creating a new playlist is easy, though we wish there was an equalizer mode. The music player supports MP3 and AAC formats, and you can either upload songs to the phone via the Micro SD card or purchase some tunes from the Amp'd Live store. The Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition took decent photos. Speaking of Amp'd Live, that's probably the ultimate reason to get a phone from Amp'd Mobile, and the Razr certainly delivers on that front. To get you up to speed, Amp'd Live is Amp'd Mobile's media browser and player that lets you download or stream video or music content. Content includes free movie trailers, Amp'd Live original programming (with amusing shows such as Lil' Bush and Swing Shift), as well as 99-cent downloads from NBC News, ESPN, MTV, and more. You can also buy music for about 99 cents a track. With its EV-DO support, we were able to download and stream videos and music with speed, though we did experience sluggish performance when loading the menu pages on Amp'd Live. We were slightly annoyed by the small video promos on top of many of the menu screens, which we couldn't seem to turn off. Personalization options are pretty standard. As with the other Amp'd phones, you can purchase additional wallpapers and ring tones from the Amp'd Live store. The phone doesn't come with many ring tones (only four), but you can buy more if you wish. The phone does support BREW games, though you'll have to download them as the phone does not come with any games. There is also an application called Lockbox included, which acts as a contacts backup solution. We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition in San Francisco using Amp'd Mobile. We experienced exceptional call quality with hardly any dropped calls. Callers also reported clear and crisp audio. We weren't thrilled with the speakerphone quality, especially since we had to raise our voice in order to be heard. The audio quality of the music was a little tinny but decent enough for a cell phone. We managed to pair the Razr Amp'd Edition with the Plantronics 655 Bluetooth headset successfully. The Motorola Razr Amp'd Edition has a rated talk time of 3 hours and a standby time of 13 days. Much like the Razr V3m, the Razr Amp'd Edition has a tested talk time of 3 hours and 55 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the Razr Amp'd Edition has a digital SAR rating of 1.14 watts per kilogram.
Our recommendation: Buy
Provided by Sammie Wold - Haleyville, Alabama
Keywords: analog cell phone service, mlb results for the mobile phone
In the lab: Sanyo SCP-2400 (Misty Rose)
Intro:
Positives: The Sanyo SCP-2400 supports family-friendly features, such as Sprint's parental control and family locator services. It also supports Sprint's Ready Link push-to-talk network, plus it features voice recording, voice dialing, analog roaming, and a speakerphone with great audio quality. Negatives: The Sanyo SCP-2400 has a rather unappealing design, and the colors on the internal display appear washed out. Facts: The Sanyo SCP-2400 is a basic handset that didn't impress us in terms of design. But because of its support for family-friendly services, it could be a great phone for both parents and kids. Note: This product is part of the Sanyo SCP-2400 series. .
Sanyo SCP-2400 (Misty Rose)
Sprint is one of several cell phone carriers now offering family-friendly handset packages. Verizon has its Chaperone service for the LG Migo, which lets parents know where their kids are, and Disney Mobile will have its own version sometime soon. Sprint's service comes in the form of a built-in parental control feature in selected handsets, and the Sanyo SCP-2400 is one of them. While it is a basic phone, the SCP-2400 also supports the Ready Link walkie-talkie network, which is another handy feature for families wanting to keep in touch. The phone is available now for the suggested retail price of $179.99, though it's only $29.99 after rebate with a two-year agreement. It comes in five different colors: Silver Sky, Midnight Black, Dark Bronze, True Blue, and Misty Rose. Like the Sanyo SCP-3100, the SCP-2400 has the appearance of a child's toy. Its plastic exterior and large speaker grille scream kid-size walkie-talkie. At 3.3 by 1.8 by 1.0 inches and 3.5 ounces, it fits in a purse without a problem, but it fits rather tightly in a pants pocket. Opening the clamshell takes a negligible amount of effort, and it cradles comfortably next to the ear. The Sanyo SCP-2400 has a large speaker grille. Right beneath the speaker grille is the 1-inch-diagonal monochrome external screen that has an orange backlight when activated. It displays the signal and battery strength, the time, and caller ID. On the left spine is the headset jack, a voice-recording key that doubles as the Ready Link key, and the volume rocker. The SCP-2400 has an extendable antenna as well. Open up the phone, and you'll find a rather disappointing 65,000-color, 1.75-inch-diagonal display. Colors appear washed out, and the screen is difficult to see in bright sunlight. You can adjust the backlight timer of the internal display, the keypad, and the external screen. The font size, the default greeting, the background, contrast, the background color for incoming calls, and the sleep-mode timer are adjustable to suit your preference. The navigational controls and keypad layout are very similar to those of the SCP-3100. There are the two soft keys, a five-way toggle that doubles as shortcuts to messaging, the phone book, the My Content folder (a list of games, ring tones, screensavers, applications, IM and e-mail, and call tones), and the My Favorites folder (a "smart" list of shortcuts to frequently used features). Underneath the left soft key is the Web browser button, and underneath the right soft key is the Back button. We found this arrangement a little odd, and we found ourselves accidentally hitting the Web button when we meant to make a call because it is located where the Talk key usually is. Below those are the Talk, Speakerphone, and End/power keys, followed by the keypad. The keys have a greenish backlight when activated. The primary attractions of the SCP-2400 are Sprint's parental control services and support for the carrier's Ready Link push-to-talk network. Aside from those, the phone has mostly basic features. There's a 300-entry address book, and each contact can store up to seven numbers, an e-mail address, a Web site URL, an assigned group label, a personalized ring tone [you can choose from 16 polyphonic (32-chord) ring tones], and a picture caller ID. As the phone doesn't have a camera, you'll have to get the picture ID in a multimedia message or download some clip art as photo substitutes. There is a separate Ready Link contact list that stores up to 200 personal contacts and 200 business contacts. Other offerings include text and picture messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, a calendar, a scheduler, a to-do list, a world clock, a calculator, a stopwatch, an alarm clock, voice dialing, voice recording, a vibrate mode, a wireless Web browser, analog roaming, and a built-in speakerphone that can be activated prior to calls. The SCP-2400 also supports an optional service called Wireless Backup, which lets you back up your entire phone's information to Sprint's servers, in case your phone gets lost or stolen. Accessing the parental control features couldn't be easier; it's actually the first option on the top left of the main menu screen. Enter in a lock code, and you can then set limitations on incoming and outgoing calls (ranging from allowing all calls to just special preselected numbers), lock or unlock the Ready Link walkie-talkie service or the PCS Vision service (which includes text messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, Web browsing, and games), assign special phone numbers, edit the phone book, and change the lock code for the phone. What's more, there's an optional service called Sprint Family Locator, which uses GPS technology that lets parents track where their child is at all times. Parents can track their child either from another Sprint phone or from their PC. As for personalization options, you can customize your phone with a variety of different backgrounds, animations, screensavers, ring tones, and more. The only game included is World Poker Tour, but as with all the other options, you can download more from Sprint's store via the wireless WAP 2.0 browser on the phone. We tested the dual-band, trimode (CDMA 800/1900; AMPS 800) Sanyo SCP-2400 in San Francisco with the Sprint network. Call quality was great on both ends, and callers could hardly tell we were on a cell phone. Speakerphone audio quality was similarly impressive. Web performance was slow, as expected. The Sanyo SCP-2400 has a rated talk time of 3.5 hours, which we met in our tests, and a standby time of 5 days. We doubled the standby time to 10 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the Sanyo SCP-2400 has a digital SAR rating of 1.27 watts per kilogram.
Our recommendation: Buy
Reviewed by Ronald Tatum - Slater, Iowa
Keywords: who invented the cell phone, dbm mobile phone
Up next: Kyocera Oystr
Intro:
Positives: The Kyocera Oystr is a basic phone that comes with text messaging, a speakerphone, and a wireless Web browser. It's a well-designed phone with easy-to-press buttons. Negatives: The Kyocera Oystr has a small lackluster display and no external screen. Facts: The basic Kyocera Oystr doesn't have a lot of features or an external display, but it does what a phone should do.
Kyocera Oystr
Kyocera has partnered with Virgin for quite a number of phones, including the Kyocera Switch Back and the Kyocera Slider Sonic. Now Kyocera has yet another phone with Virgin Mobile, the Kyocera Oystr. So named because of its pearly-white exterior, there's not much else to the Oystr aside from basic features, but that should be enough for those who want a phone without all the bells and whistles. The Oystr is currently available for $29.99. The Kyocera Oystr has a pearly-white exterior. As we mentioned, the Oystr has a pearly-white exterior that's reminiscent of its namesake. It also has some black accents and smooth, rounded corners. Measuring at 4.3 by 2 by 1 inches, the Oystr is a compact handset that fits easily in a pants pocket. It feels great in the hand and cradles comfortably when held against the ear. It has a headset jack and a stubby antenna on top, while a volume rocker rests on its left spine. We're a little disappointed, however, that the Oystr doesn't have an external screen to facilitate caller ID. As a result, you must open the phone to see who your callers are. Speaking of displays, the small and lackluster internal display was a letdown. It measures 1.75 inches diagonally, and though it supports 65,000 colors, it simply doesn't compare to other cell phone displays with similar specifications. We did find the user interface easy to understand, and we liked that you could change the menu style to icon or list view. You can change the contrast and backlight timer, but you can't change the font size or the brightness of the display. Underneath the display are the navigational controls, which consist of two soft keys and a five-way toggle that doubles as shortcuts to your Virgin account, text messaging, recent calls, and Virgin XL, Virgin's Web portal. Below those keys are the Talk key, a dedicated speakerphone button, a Back button, and the End/Power button, followed by the number keypad. All the keys were tactile, rounded, raised above the surface, and really easy to press and dial by feel. The Kyocera Oystr comes with an address book, and each contact can store up to six numbers, two e-mail addresses, two Web addresses, two street addresses, and a note and can be assigned a photo or one of four included polyphonic ring tones. Since you can't take photos with the phone, you'll have to use one of the included graphics as a replacement. You can also organize the contacts by caller groups and assign photos and ring tones to the groups. Other Oystr features include a speakerphone that can be turned on only after a call is made, text messaging, a vibrate mode, automatic redial, voice dialing, the wireless Web, voice recording, a scheduler, an alarm clock, a calculator, a tip calculator, a timer, and a stop watch. The Oystr provides easy single-button access to your Virgin account to see how much money is available on your prepaid account. There's also Virgin XL, which is Virgin's entertainment and information Web portal that lets you personalize your cell phone. You can access exclusive content in terms of wallpaper, screensavers, ring tones, and voicemail greetings courtesy of media outlets such as MTV and Comedy Central. Included games are Brick Attack and Race 21, though you can also purchase more via Virgin XL. We tested the Kyocera Oystr (CDMA 800/1900, AMPS 800) in the San Francisco area using the Virgin Mobile network. Calls sounded pretty good, though we did experience some interference occasionally. Callers heard us loud and clear for the most part as well. The speakerphone was surprisingly good although we had to speak loudly for the callers to hear us. The Kyocera Oystr has a rated talk time of 3.6 hours and a standby time of 8 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the Kyocera Oystr has a digital SAR rating of 0.94 watts per kilogram.
Our recommendation: Buy
Written by Clarissa Sewell - Kensett, Iowa
Keywords: samsung cell phone, best cross network mobile phone deal
