SPICE S 5420 MOBILE PHONE REVIEW

Spice S-5420 Mobile Phone

Spice has not always been one of those companies that stands out in today’s competitive market, however they still manage to offer a plethora of features with all their handsets and still offer them at reasonable prices which makes them aces in my book. But here’s how their S-5420 budget multimedia handset fared.

Form Factor
The S-5420 comes equipped with a 2.0-inch display that sports a 240 x 320 pixel resolution, which is great for a handset in this price range. The keypad may seem a little small but it’s easy to use and the buttons are comfortable to use for typing. The five way nav-pad is fashioned in a metallic dial above the keypad and adds a certain class to the otherwise all black plastic handset. A mini USB port is located on one side of this slim handset. Thankfully it’s not a universal port as the S-5420 has a 2.5mm handsfree socket on the other side. The handset also supports up to 4GB of external memory via microSD cards for which there’s a hot swap slot under the rear panel. The handset also comes with a VGA camera.

It’s a very neat handset, light weight, slim so it’s easy to carry around and with a crystal clear display and easy to use keypad the S-5420 fares quite well in the build section.

Features and Performance
Interface
I have to say that the UI on this baby is excellent. It’s sharp, bright and the large fonts (default) make it extremely easy to navigate and read. The built-in themes are quite vibrant and add quite a lot of color to the handset. Users can opt to switch the language to Hindi and that’s when the ‘Hinglish’ keypad comes in handy of course.

Media
The handset’s music player is well equipped with features that include EQ presets with fully customizable 8 band graphic EQ settings for a more personalized listening experience. It also has a few animated themes which look quite funky. Unfortunately the problem is volume. It’s just too low. At peak volume you’ll never be able to enjoy the otherwise good quality audio. The handsfree set is quite comfortable but would have been more so with a set of foam ear covers. Another handsfree option is via the built-in speaker that’s no problem when it comes to hearing anyone on calls which is what it’s meant for, and NOT music.

The FM radio has good reception and also comes with an FM recorder that has a scheduling option so you can record specific shows at a designated time. A voice recorder is also present for taking voice memos when necessary. The clear display is once again a feature that ‘shines’ when it comes to watching videos. The handset has support for 3GP and MPEG4 video file formats. A few games have been thrown in as well.

INTEL CORE i7 PROCESSORS

Intel has finally lifted the embargo on the yet-to-be-launched Intel Core i7 processors and the Intel X58 Express chipset. Intel strongly believes that this new platform will be the must have work horse for digital media & gaming enthusiasts for many months to come. With so much to talk about this new platform we made the decision to focus just on processor performance for this article and then take a deeper dive at other features in the weeks to come. This should work out nicely as the processors won't be available to purchase until later this month and many companies are just now getting us production grade triple channel memory kits and video card drivers for this new platform.

The Intel Core i7 Processor (known as Nehalem internally) has some very big architecture changes as you can tell from the picture above. The new Core i7 processor has 1366 pins and as a result the size of the processor, socket and heat sink mounting brackets are all larger than LGA 775 based processors that have been out now for a couple of years. The die size of Core i7 processors is 263 mm² and the transistor count is 731 Million.

Taking a look at the die of the Core i7 processor we see a first for Intel processors -- the integrated memory controller. This on-die, triple channel, DDR3 memory controller is unique in the fact that it allows consumers to run three memory modules together for optimal performance. By moving to an integrated memory controller and triple channel memory the platform has over 25GB/s of throughput between the processor and DDR3 memory modules!

For those that follow processor architecture you will notice a brand new cache structure on the Core i7 diagram shown above. All Intel Core i7 processors feature L1, L2, and shared L3 caches. Before, Intel Core 2 Duo and Quad processors had just an L1 and L2 cache. The break down on the cache is as follows: there is a 64K L1 cache (32K Instruction, 32K Data) per core, 1MB of total L2 cache, and an impressive 8MB chunk of L3 cache that is shared across all the cores. That means that all Intel Core i7 processors have over 9MB of memory right there on the 45nm processor!

Can it get any better than this?

Of course it can! The new Core i7 processor has a huge list of improvements that have been made to it.

• New SSE4.2 Instructions
• Improved Lock Support
• Additional Caching Hierarchy
• Deeper Buffers
• Improved Loop Streaming
• Simultaneous Multi-Threading
• Faster Virtualization
• Better Branch Prediction

Intel always told us that Hyper-Threading was not dead and they were right as the technology has surfaced again and is enabled on all of the Core i7 processors. With Hyper-Threading enabled on quad-core Core i7's processors the operating system sees eight virtual cores that can be used. Intel has told Legit Reviews that when Hyper-Threading originally came out the idea was solid, but that the Pentium 4 processor might not have been the best processor to bring it to market. The Core i7 series should highlight all the strong points of Hyper-Threading as they are calling it Hyper-Threading "done right" now. If you want a deeper look at the Intel Core i7 architecture take a look at this presentation that was given at the Spring 2008 IDF and this one that was given at the Fall IDF.

Intel will be releasing three Core i7 processors and all have a TDP of 130W and an on-die shared L3 cache of 8MB. All current Core i7 processors are not intended for multi-processor motherboards, so it has only one Quick Path Interconnect (QPI).

• Core i7 965 Extreme Edition - 3.2GHz with 8MB Shared L3 cache and a 1x6.4GT/s QuickPath interconnect - $999
• Core i7 940 - 2.93GHz with 8MB Shared L3 cache and a 1x4.8GT/s QuickPath interconnect - $562
• Core i7 920 - 2.66GHz with 8MB Shared L3 cache and a 1x4.8GT/s QuickPath interconnect - $284

NEW SAMSUNG i300

Samsung i300

There is no doubt that the new Samsung i300 smartphone represents the best of the best Windows Mobile OS can offer nowadays. It has a 3GB hard disk, a high-quality display, a unique steering control button as well as plenty of functions, of which the music ones are probably the most successful. The phone's equipment is wrapped up into a compact and quite elegant body.

Key features

• Windows Mobile OS
• 3 GB hard disk
• Brilliant display
• Standard connector for earphones
• Megapixel camera

Main disadvantages

• Slow data transfer (USB 1.1)
• No EDGE, Wi-Fi or 3G
• 3.5mm audio jack only through adapter

As smartphones represent a top-class technological achievement in the business with mobile phones, it is a matter of prestige for each manufacturer to be able to offer a smartphone. Hence it is no wonder that a device of that high a category has appeared in the offer list of the Korean company Samsung. By the way, Samsung is known for its tendency to often change the OS of its smartphones. The mobile phone we have just tested - Samsung i300 - was announced with Microsoft Windows Mobile 2005, but the final version works with Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 OS Second Edition.

Samsung i300

Samsung i300 was shown for the first time this year, at the European trade show CeBit, along with several other smartphones: the slider Samsung D720 featuring Symbian Series 60, the clamshell D730, also with a Symbian OS, and the communicator i750, which has a touchscreen and a slide-out keypad, and works with Windows for Pocket PC OS. Yet, Samsung i300 was the most successful in holding visitors' interest, mainly because of its 3GB hard disk.

Samsung D720 • Samsung D730 • Samsung i750

This phone is a tiny spectacle

When I first saw Samsung i300, I could not help but getting the impression of a quite big and edgy device. However, after having tested the phone for several days now, I would not dare change its size of 113 × 48 × 20 mm even a little bit. The phone is comfortable to hand-hold and stands firmly. The edges are round enough and thus assure easy work. In addition, the location of the control buttons is nearly perfect. It is only the weight of 130 g that makes difference when compared to other mobile phones.

It looks like Siemens, doesn't it?

Nearly half of the front side of the phone is occupied by its big color display. As expected, the latter is active and allows the TFT technology to brilliantly show all its strengths. Display's surface is 3 X 4 cm big. It fits 76800 pixels in a 240 × 320 matrix. Each pixel is able to show 262K colors. The display can fit from 6 to 11 text lines according to the used mode.

It sticks to your hand... • comparison to a credit card

The new Samsung i300 display is truly a top-class one. Its quality exceeds all expectations. The graphic image looks very natural due to the combination between high resolution and reasonably big surface. Diagonal lines are far from jaggy. Redrawing speed is exceptional, just like the evenness of the backlighting. The display is perfectly readable under direct sun light as well.

Display is very good

Spin it around

Have a look at the discreet silver cover of the receiver. On both its sides there are two color LEDs, which alert you about phone's basic functional states. Personally, I am quite fond of this type of indicators and I am sorry to see that the more the time goes the less it is being applied by the manufacturers.

The real control innovation however can be seen on the block below the display, where 6 functional keys are dominated by a silver control button. The latter is quite strange and at the same time habit-forming. Its silver ring can be used as a standard navigation button. In other words, you can move within the phone and control its functions by pressing the wheel in four ways. A press on the black middle part confirms the choice. The silver ring, however, features an additional peculiarity - it steers both clock- and anticlockwise, in a way similar to the one we know form the iPod first generation music players. A small projection on the ring prevents user's finger from slipping away when steering. Navigation within the phone by means of a steering ring seems to be a most logical and natural solution.

All-way control button - can be both pressed and steered

The block of functional keys is quite standard. Right below the display you will find a pair of soft keys, followed by the back button and the one for quick access to the main menu. The last to come are the red and the green receiver buttons, which serve incoming and outgoing calls.

Keypad is extremely comfortable

The keypad gives no reason for complaints. The keys are made of solid plastic; individual lines are separated by clearly cut spacing and touch orientation is easy. Perhaps the touch marks on the middle key could have been a little bit more tangible. The keys show no delay, their uplift is ideal and their reactions are easy to notice. All this allows for quick and comfortable writing with minor, if not insignificant keying mistakes.

Keypad backlighting is deep blue

NOKIA E52 REVIEW

Nokia E52

Introduction

Eseries seem to have been around forever: grown-up, confident and reliable. It's a small but solid lineup that's gone a long way from a fairly late start. Perhaps they've got a point: the business Finns are not running against the clock to discover, but look always on the spot to deliver. Eseries are less likely to obsess fans really - they're more into serving customers. And here they go again: the Nokia E52 looks well set to reward that once an Eseries, always an Eseries user attitude.

Nokia E52 official photos

We've come to take the lethal dress code for granted, and the E52 brings a welcome speed and stamina boost to the family. The 600 MHz CPU couldn't have been more at home in that razor sharp stainless steel outfit.

Compelling exterior and strong performance are the textbook definition of the business range of handsets where Nokia are clearly the standard-setters. The E52 in turn, appears to be the standard measure for business value - you pay for an entry level Eseries and get top-of-the-line smartphone treatment. Did anybody say bestseller?

Key features

• Compact metallic body and extra slim girth (9.90mm)
• Quad-band GSM support
• 3G with HSDPA 10.2 Mbps and HSUPA 2 Mbps
• 2.4" 16M-color display of QVGA resolution
• Symbian OS, S60 UI with FP2
• 600 MHz ARM 11 CPU and 128 MB RAM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology, DLNA support
• Built-in GPS receiver, A-GPS support, digital compass
• Accelerometer for screen auto-rotation and turn-to-mute
• One-touch shortcut keys mean "business"
• 3 megapixel enhanced fixed focus camera with LED flash
• Secondary videocall camera
• 60 MB of internal memory, microSD expansion, ships with a 1GB card
• microUSB v2.0
• Standard 3.5mm audio jack
• Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
• FM radio with RDS
• Class-leading audio output quality
• N-Gage gaming support
• Ovi Maps preinstalled with trial turn-by-turn navigation license (10 days)
• User-friendly Mode Switch for swapping two homescreen setups
• Office document editor (with free MS Office 2007 update)
• Remote lock/wipe over-the-air
• Comfortable keypad
• Smart dialing
• Great battery life

Main disadvantages

• Disappointing camera features and performance
• Video recording maxes out at VGA@15fps
• No DivX or XviD support (can be installed, possibly requiring a purchase)
• No TV-out functionality

We guess you know what to expect from the Eseries and, in a way, the Nokia E52 is the most predictable of them business smartphones. It is a 3rd generation handset so to speak, and the straightforward linear progression from E50 and E51 should tell the whole story. Screen size, FP 2, GPS and system speed make the E52 a done deal for upgraders. But even users who consider it overqualified will find it hard to ignore.

The Nokia E52 live shots

Think big, act fast and look sharp is what Eseries have always stood for but there's something about the E52 that seemed to make our knees weak. It's the traditional Eseries styling - bold, confident but conservative enough to safely rule out uncontrollable displays of emotion. Still, the E52 must've hit the right spot and its commanding appeal is hard to define but hard to deny. So we'd better move on before we got too soft, and see if the ergonomics are on par or if they have been sacrificed for looks.

ALCATEL OT -S853 MUSIC PHONE

Alcatel OT-S853

Now, we can introduce to you one of the most expected mobile phones lately, the music Alcatel OT S853. It has stereo speakers, supports Bluetooth and EDGE, ordinary headphones may be connected. This is an Alcatel, we may expect a good price/ performance ratio.

Key features

• fancy design
• music functions : MP3 and radio
• excellent sound, especially through its built-in stereo speakers
• memory card
• option to connect standard speakers
• fast GPRS and EDGE
• expected cheap price

Main disadvantages

• phonebook searching method - by first character
• incoming text messages are stored in the SIM card only
• the shiny black surface holds finger prints
• delayed release date

After Alcatel had incorporated with the Chinese company TLC, they had gradually lost their influence in it. The new merged company introduced some new phones on stages. These however were stylish devices and mobiles of lower price and function classes. For the first time the fortune smiled on the most dedicated Alcatel fans in March this year on the CeBIT trade fair. The manufacturers didn't introduce smartphones or communicators as they had often promised before. The top mobile phone OT 853, however repaid the waiting.

This is Alcatel OT 853

Alcatel OT 853 is a high to medium class mobile phone. I wouldn't put it in the highest category, though it is a step behind from the best. It offers sophisticated call functions, messaging functions and time organization. It's not low on data technologies. This is a music phone with top sound quality; it has no competition in playing through the built-in loud speakers.

Juat a first look, the phone is still in development

According to the original plans, Alcatel OT S853 was to be released in September. They couldn't make it even for the Christmas sales and tchris he release date is still unknown.

Considering that the sales have been delayed and the phone will be unavailable for at least two months, the model, which we had the chance to test, is not a final version. It's one of the early releases, with sufficient stability and full of functions. However it's early for final conclusions about its abilities and performance.

This review is based on a pre-production prototype. That's why we will add further information just before sales start. We know, for example, that the Bluetooth performance will change, e-mail client or Push-to-talk have to appear. We don't expect that Alcatel would remove functions, so you may consider this article as a "basic version".

What will be the price we may only speculate. It's for sure that Alcatel S853 won't be one of the overpriced phones.

From the Matrix?

I think that technology fans will approve the phone. It has a dark matrix-like design and looks very durable at first sight. It slightly reminds of Siemens ME45. This is only a first sight impression however, the phone durability is typical and the massive edges only refresh the outer look.

We have already mentioned the shiny black surface, which literally acts as finger prints catcher on the CeBIT fair. Initially it seemed that the tested prototype is better. However reality is the same as the released phone. The front and back surfaces are both shiny and black. You have to clean it all the time in order to look good.

Finger prints just stay

The side edge colors of the phone are different than the ones, presented on CeBIT. It's not with silver case, but black and from semi-rubber material. The phone looks better and doesn't slide in hands due to the surface modification. It will hit the market soon, so let's not judge the prototype before the final device comes out

Comparing the tested phone and the Alcatel, presented on the CeBIT

Compared to other phones, the OT S853 is rather big, but light. The proportions are 103 x 48 x 20 mm, and it weighs 94 grams.