LG Dare

If ever you wanted a basic phone that did its job, you're not going to be looking at the LG dare. The LG Dare’s release was announce on June 11, 2008. Since then, I asked my father near everyday if I could “please, please, pretty please” have the phone.

Finally. Success.

The Dare measures 4.1 inches down, 2.2 inches across, and is half an inch wide.  It weighs in at 3.75 oz and features a 3 inch touch display.

Touch Screen:

It takes a bit of time to get used to using. For one, I found that using the tips of my nails to hit the screen made it far easier to use. My friends without, made do with either jabbing at the screen repeatedly until it did what they wanted it to, or resorted to using a stylus to navigate my phone. It is also equipped with handwriting recognition. For a touch phone, that makes sense. I’ve used it once or twice when trying to send  a text. Honestly, you’re better off ignoring the function altogether. It’s frustrating because half the letters you write end up as something entirely different.

Camera:

The camera in the phone is a 3.2 megapixel camera which actually shoots decent photographs. It has both flash and a zoom function. The flash is great. I just wish that there was a way to convert and use that thing as a flashlight. My complaints with the camera lie solely with the zoom. If you have the image size set to the highest it can go, you can’t use the zoom function. You can only use the digital zoom when you drop down the image size. To be honest, it’s utterly pointless. I’ve printed several pictures taken with my phone, and while not OMG DSLR quality, they’re not half bad. For me, the camera is dependable as a back-up, especially since I seem to have lost my camera’s battery charger.

Multimedia:

The LG Dare functions both as a video and music player. It supports MP3, AAC, AAC+, and WMA file formats and the sound quality is good. It’s clear and loud enough to be heard by the people in your vicinity. Admittedly, if you’re in the library, please use the 3mm headphone jack that’s located on the upper left hand corner of your phone.

As far as applications go, you can download near anything on the LG Dare. It installs right away and you can use it at will. One of my favorite Verizon applications is the Backup Assistant. It automatically backs up all of your contacts, so should you ever need to change phones, you need only download the application to the new phone, input your PIN, and watch as your contacts are stored in the new phone. Verizon also waives the monthly charge for that application if you are a MyVerizon user. It’s an amazing alternative to people inviting you to their new “I lost my phone and need your numbers” Facebook group.

Themes:

The LG Dare has two basic decorative themes to the phone. White or black. The black theme is more rigidly structured, where all of the tabs and icons in the menu are set up appropriately in rows and columns. The white theme leaves your icons strewn about in an organized chaos. There are several fonts available to change and personalize the appearance of your phone. There are the typical “serious” fonts and two “fun” (rather, more fun) fonts to use: Joy and Script. Script looks like Bradley Hand ITC and Joy...just looks...spunky.

Battery life:

No one’s battery is as good as it was when you first bought the phone. The Dare’s battery is equipped to be able to hold 4.5 hours of talk time and almost 360 hours of standby time (15 days). My battery now, even as abused as it has been since February, still lasts me through the day. Unless you’re trying to have marathon talk times on this phone, a standard battery should last you a full day. Otherwise, consider getting yourself an extended battery or a spare normal battery that you can keep charged and on hand. It’s actually a good idea if you don’t have a car charger and you frequently go on longer trips.

3G capable:

The LG Dare can process email, can browse through the internet, has a calendar that you can store all of your “most important dates”, alarms, notepad, etc. This phone is NOT equipped to take the place of a smart phone, but it can be used in place of one if you aren’t ready to take that step yet.

Call Quality:

This phone takes great calls and has a decent sound quality. My only complaint seems to stem more from Verizon and its service rather than anything the phone does. There’s a strange thing some Verizon phones will do at some point whilst you have them. You can hear your voice echoing back. Some people find it to be a minor nuisance that is easily ignored. I hate hearing my voice played back to me. It makes me want to, happily, chuck my phone out of the nearest window. There is another flaw as well. Some Verizon calls are picked up or sent with a horrid amount of static. Just hang up and redial. Fixes the problem right away.

Bluetooth capable:

Yes. It is. Good news: hands free driving. Bad news: you will need to invest in a quality headset. The cheaper ones have far too much background noise and are NOT worth getting.

Cons:

The LG Dare has a strange system glitch that will make your phone power off and power back on while using certain applications. Or, the entire phone will freeze outright. Verizon’s said there was a system update that fixed that. Bollocks. It made mine worse. I just finally hauled into a store and asked them to replace my phone with another. No problems thus far. So, maybe I just got a glitchy phone.

Overall:

The LG Dare is a great phone for everyday use and for someone who definitely doesn’t want to hit the smart phone market yet. It’s versatile and light. It’s capable of handling a fair few of the smart phone applications without being as technically and usage broad as a smart phone can be. If not for that, it’s cute.

Posted by Varnish Vixen at 8:40 AM

Blackberry Curve 8330

Whenever a new and improved cell phone is released, I try and do anything in my power to obtain the device. My current phone may surpass my previous phones, but the latest market entry always seems to make my phone seem obsolete. First it was a color screen, then a digital camera, then email access, and now downloadable applications. Recently, my need for new and improved phones stopped after I upgraded my old, secondhand Blackberry with one of RIM’s new devices, the Blackberry Curve 8330. I am going to take you on a tour of the Curve from the outside in.

Design

The Blackberry Curve is light and small. At roughly the size and weight of a deck of cards, the Curve is easy to carry to class or keep in your pocket when you go out at night. It features a full QWERTY keyboard, which makes typing emails and messages a quick and easy process. A frequent problem with some cell phones is that the keys are either too close together or hard to press. The Curve’s keyboard does not suffer from this problem, as the keys are perfectly separated and easy to access. There are a number of other helpful aspects of the phone’s design, such as the side keys. The side keys are quick links to different applications. The side keys come preset but you can switch the applications to fit your needs.

Phone insurance is something I have always taken advantage of, as I am prone to accidentally destroying my phone. With the Blackberry Curve 8300, having insurance has not been necessary for me. The hard casing of the Curve protects it from most falls. However, without an aftermarket case, the phone’s silver exterior can scratch fairly easily. An easy fix to this problem is purchasing a case. I have used RIM’s silicon cases, which help to protect the Curve and give the phone a personal touch.

Calling

Call quality on the Curve is very good. I never have problems with fuzziness or dropped calls, and my friends can always hear me clearly. The phone features a speakerphone, which allows for hands free talking and is great for driving or talking on the phone when doing work. The speakerphone quality is pretty good, but not nearly as clear as the standard ear speaker. Callers were able to hear a difference in volume changes when speakerphone was switched on and off, but it was nothing to complain about. The difference isn’t very significant, and the speakerphone is still a great option.

Along with speakerphone, another great hands free option the Curve offers is Bluetooth. This phone is capable of using Bluetooth headsets, which makes hands-free talking a breeze. The Curve is also compatible with Bluetooth car systems, which allows clear conversation through supported car stereos.

Battery

It is very important for a cell phone to have a reliable, long lasting battery life for those long days filled with classes and study sessions. The Curve battery offers roughly four hours of talk time and can last about seventeen days in standby. The phone’s high-capacity battery has lasted me many days of full use before I needed to charge it. Thankfully, battery life is something you do not have to worry about with this phone.

Media

Directly below the battery casing is a spot for inserting a memory card into the Curve. Curve owners will want to consider adding a memory card, as it lets you store a great deal of media in your phone, from pictures, to music, videos, and even documents. Memory card expandability makes the Curve quite versatile, as it can become your media player and digital camera. Accidentally leaving your iPod at home will no longer be a problem since the Curve’s memory card slot allows you to always have your media with you.

The media card I purchased came with an adaptor, which allows you to use it with a digital camera along with your Curve. This is a great feature as you can have all of your pictures, from your phone and camera, on one small card. Another plus to having one media card is you can easily take the pictures from your camera and put them on your cell phone to post them to the internet or email to friends.

Digital Camera and Video Recording

On the back of the Curve is a small digital camera, which has two megapixels, 5X zoom, and flash. For a small camera on a cell phone, the quality is very good. No, this is not a camera to rely on when you want to take great pictures while traveling, but for what it is, the camera does a great job. The flash and zoom provide a nice boost to the camera, as they increase photo quality and allow you to use it in a variety of environments. The digital camera also has many bonuses such as color effects (black and white, sepia).

The Curve is capable of video recording, which is a new feature for Blackberrys. Video recording is a welcomed addition, as the Curve gives you the ability to capture and share moments that would otherwise be lost. Sadly, the Curve does not offer zoom on the video camera, but you can set a camera light and there is a color effect option just like the digital camera offers.

Themes and Applications

The Curve comes preset with many themes and applications. There are a few different themes programmed into the phone and thousands to download online so you’ll never get tired of your phone’s graphical appearance. Maps, games, and Blackberry Messenger are just a few of the useful applications that come with the phone. Blackberry Messenger is an easier way to send messages to other Blackberries than normal sms (text) messaging. Blackberry Messenger is basically an instant message system on your phone that is always reliable, quick, and easy to use. Maps is also a great application as it is a GPS system in your phone, which is great for road trips or making sure you have the right directions to meetings.

Portable Workspace

The Curve also features a number of practical work applications including calculator, email, memo pads, Internet, address book, calendar, and documents to go. These all allow to you to work from wherever you are and stay connected. The Curve’s portable workspace applications are great for students who are constantly on the go, allowing them to stay updated with emails from professors and keep their schedule together. Documents to go is a relatively new feature that helps integrate word processors into your compact cell phone, enabling users to work on and edit documents and slideshows. This is a very user friendly and useful application.

All in all…

The Blackberry Curve 8300 is a very solid addition to RIM’s Blackberry lineup. New cell phones have been released since the Curve first came out, including Blackberry’s Curve update the Rim Blackberry Tour 9630 and yet there is still no phone I would want to trade my Curve for. The features the Curve lacks are not significant (video camera zoom, speakerphone clarity) because what the phone gets right greatly outweighs these minor deficiencies. The Curve molds to your lifestyle and is a great cell phone for all students.

Posted by Megan P at 9:35 PM

BlackBerry Pearl 8130 on Verison Wireless Network

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is a smart phone which was released in 2006.  The Pearl is BackBerry's cheaper option for those looking for a quality smart phone, without initially spending a lot for it. 

You can read the reviews of the more expensive BlackBerry phones, the Curve, and the Tour.  The review of the largest BlackBerry competitor, Apple's iPhone, can be read here!

The Pearl looks stylish enough.  It is thin, sleek, and comes in a variety of colors, including red, silver, black, and blue.  It features a large 2.25 inch, full color screen.  Below the screen is the trackball, which allows the user to select options on screen, and control the mouse when browsing the internet.  The sides of the phone include two hot-keys, which can be assigned different functions, such as key lock or quick access to the 2.0 megapixel digital camera.  They keyboard is underneath the trackball, and includes a QWERTY keyboard, with most buttons being responsible for two letters.  It would be nice to have each key responsible for only one letter, but this would also make the phone much wider.  The phone comes with bluetooth capabilities, a street map program (similar to Google Maps), and is able to run a GPS program, available from Verizon.

Features like this will make one quickly notice that the Pearl is not a normal mobile phone.  The term given to phones such as this, "Smart Phone," means that it is able to do more than make calls and send text messages.  The Pearl is for someone on the go, who may not always be near a computer.  Sending and receiving emails, browsing the internet, downloading applications, and wireless syncing the Pearl to a home computer are just some of the advanced features that BlackBerries offer.  In the past, it was too difficult to integrate this technology in a way that was easy and efficient for the user -- one example being early Palm Pilots.  The technology and software simply wasn't available to make these devices as small or as useful as Palm would have liked.  Thus, BlackBerry needed to deliver good software along with its impressive technology so that it, too, wouldn't fall by the wayside.  

Thankfully, the Pearl delivers.  The BlackBerry software is easy to use.  Icons are used, much like a home computer, to distinguish different programs that can be run.  Furthermore, texting or writing emails is not hard thanks to BlackBerry's "SureType" software, which is pretty good at making an educated guess at which word the user is attempting to write. Because the Pearl acts as a mini computer, it also includes some of the less desirable aspects of computers, such as loading periods, and periodic slowdowns if the system memory becomes full.  However, being similar to a computer allows the Pearl to achieve tasks that a standard home computer can do in a seamless fashion, which is good because it allows the user to put less thought into how to use the phone, and more thought into the upcoming presentation, event, or meeting. 

To make the Pearl even easier to use, BlackBerry recently introduced the BlackBerry App World, which is their response to Apple's Application Store on the iPhone.  App World is basically an online store in which users can download programs (some free, some not free) for their phone.  Programs range from entertainment, such as Pandora for listening to streaming music, to communication, like Google Talk, with everything in between.  However, App World is just slow in general.  It takes longer than it should to load, and downloading even small applications can take several minutes.  The diversity of applications is not as wide as that on the Apple counterpart either.  At least BlackBerry is trying, I suppose.   

My biggest gripe with the Pearl is its durability.  It is not water resistant at all -- a friend of mine with a Pearl damaged the phone from only sweating while it was in his pocket.  In addition, the trackball tends to stop functioning on about one out of every three phones (in my experience), and the surface is easily scratched.   I cringe each time I accidentally drop the Pearl, never knowing if it will continue to function afterward.  A phone must be durable to be completely functional and reliable, and the Pearl leaves something to be desired.

It's all well and good that the Pearl can send and receive email, take video and still pictures, be used as an mp3 player, hold hundreds of phone numbers, etc, but what is most important is how it functions as a mobile phone.  It is in this category that the Pearl is truly outstanding.  The Pearl has very good signal strength and call quality on the Version network.  It drops very few calls, and can even be used in some underground locations -- usually a complete dead-zone for mobile phones.  The Pearl allows the user to access text messages and emails during a phone conversation, which can be useful for those of us who may be a bit forgetful.

And better yet, this great signal strength doesn't come at the cost of battery life.  BlackBerry reports that the phone is able to be on standby (not actively using the phone) for 9 days, and an impressive 3.7 hours of talk time.  After using the phone for over a year, I would agree with these numbers.  Battery life is mostly dependent on how heavily the phone is used -- the more its used, the shorter the battery will tend to last.

The quality of the Pearl comes at a cost, though.  Verizon requires that all BlackBerry users upgrade to their BlackBerry Nationwide data plan, which allows unlimited data transfer (which includes email, texts, pictures, internet browsing, etc) and call minutes.  This translates to $99 per month.  There are one time fees too, such as the purchase of the phone (which is greatly reduced when buying a service plan with it) and activation fees.

The BlackBerry Pearl is one of those objects which one might not think would be useful.  Why pay so much money for being able to send emails and browse the internet?  This question alone keeps many young adults from using the Pearl.  However, once one becomes accustomed to its design, features, ease of use, and call quality, he or she will question how survival was possible without one.  Thus, even though the phone isn't too durable, it's features and general ease of use has made it one of my favorite mobile phones that I've ever had the pleasure of owning. 

Thank you to BlackBerry.com for specifications, and to guitarmasterclass.net for the photo.

Posted by Sean at 8:32 PM

Apple's iPhone 3GS

In the past fifteen years, Apple has redesigned itself and created a reputation as a pioneer of innovation. Their first venture into the cellular phone market was a resounding success, but in line with their established name, the iPhone was soon redesigned and released anew. Most recently, Apple has come out with the iPhone 3GS, a fully featured and improved version of the venerable iPhone 3G. My article this week will cover the many highs and lows of this new entry and hopefully give you some perspective on why an iPhone might be right (or wrong) for you. Be sure to follow up on the rest of the articles from Phone Week, we have a host of Blackberry models that have been put to the test. But for now, back to the iPhone. Before diving too deeply into the mechanics of the phone lets examine the basic functionality offered by the device.

Reception and Service

I’ve found that phone reception remains strong and steady around most urbanized areas, though there is some drop off in more rural locales. As for as call quality, my calls were generally crystal clear with the phone receiver picking my voice up clearly even while using speakerphone from across the room. Unfortunately, this clarity comes at a price, and the receiver picks up background noise just as readily as my voice. Listeners frequently asked me to repeat myself or responded to a question posed by some random quantity in the background. All in all, I’d have to give the phone a 7/10 for reception and clarity.

Dropped calls were infrequent with my daily usage, though on football Saturdays they increased alarmingly. In fact, one Saturday I was unable to make or receive any calls for the entirety of the game. It wasn’t until 8pm that day that my phone began operating normally and received the full day’s missed texts and voicemails. Admittedly this is a symptom of the AT&T service and not the iPhone, but as AT&T is the only cellular service provider to work with the iPhone they are essentially one and the same. Because of these glaring problems I’d have to give the iPhone a 4/10 for reliability.

Features and Interface

Now, let us move on to the many features of the device. It is not surprising that the iPhone performs admirably in this regard. I get the impression that the iPhone was designed as a portable multimedia device first and a phone second. First of all, the phone is offered in 16 and 32-gigabyte flavors, this allows for storage of between 5,000 and 10,000 songs or between 20 and 40 hours of video. Talk about packing a lot into a phone. It features access to the most celebrated application store in the smart phone world. Virtually any application a user could desire is either available or capable of being produced. Unfortunately, Apple has denied both Flash and Google related apps. However given the virtually unending opportunity fro growth, I’ll give the iPhone a 9/10 for versatility.



The iPhone was the pioneer in the touch screen world and the new 3GS doesn’t disappoint. It features a functional 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display with 480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 ppi. Coupled with the built in 3.0 megapixel camera that doubles as a video camera and you have the most well rounded smart phone on the market. New on the 3GS, video is complemented well by Multi-Touch, which allows on the fly video editing. As far as interfaces are concerned, this is the best in the market. One button is used to "activate" the touch screen and then the rest is intuitive. The only real problem I have with the phone is that that touch keyboard is a little too cramped in portrait view, but the newest software update allows for landscape typing in all modes. This update pushed the iPhone back to a 10/10 for interface navigability.

E-mail, Internet, and MMS

Not to be overlooked, these features are what make smart phones "smart." The iPhone flawlessly syncs multiple emails and now supports the ability to search any and all data. This feature was a major Achilles heel in previous renditions and I'm amazed it took so long to implement. The iPhone mail software is a stripped down version of the Mail program present on full size Macs. Nothing is substantially new here, though in my opinion typing speed is greatly boosted with a touch screen over units that require depression of keys. 9/10 now that search has been added, its about time Apple!

The internet is quick and responsive and in many ways the best smart feature available. Coupled with the intuitive interface, it is quite easy to see why most iPhone users are found browsing the internet and using one touch shopping in their free time. There is always room for improvement though, I'd love the history to cache more data for quicker load times. Safari easily scores an 8/10 here.

MMS Texting, where have you been all my life? Apple finally brings MMS Texting to the iPhone and allows you to send pictures and video within texts. Don't hold your breath for it to work perfectly though, AT&T's network isn't up for the bandwidth usage. Give it some time for the "nations fastest 3G "network to beef up its system and then you'll be good to go. Texting still works, but without the full MMS functionality I can't give it higher than a 5/10.

Construction and Battery

Finally, lets move onto the aesthetics. The iPhone is sleek and fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Unlike most smart phones, the new iPhone features two colors. Users have the choice of either a black or white body color (though many protective cases can be purchased in varying colors). Due to my somewhat clumsy nature, I have firsthand experience with the resiliency of the phone. After several weeks of use the outer case is somewhat scuffed, but the screen has yet to suffer any cracks or scratches. I'm thoroughly impressed with how solid the phone has proven to be, 10/10.

The battery on the other hand has been a bit of a disappointment. It seems that with each update Apple accidentally damages the total battery life. Updates are not meant to be detrimental to a product, quite the opposite in fact. I have experienced around 6 hours talk time on a full battery charge. While certainly not the worst in the market, this could be improved substantially - especially when the phone is meant to also be used as your iPod, GPS, and E-mail platform. Hope you pack a charger, I give it a 5/10.

The Bill

What can I say about the bill? Well, it is quite painful. The general data plan is included, but if you want to text you're going to pay for it. Pro tip, download the AIM application and set it up to text your address book contacts. You will send AIM messages through the free data plan and it wont be charged against your texting limit. Nights and weekends don't start until 9PM and don't expect minute rollover to be much use. For modest savings, if you work for the University of Michigan you can get a monthly 15% discount on your bill. Visit your local AT&T store for details. Of all the iPhone's failings, the bill is probably the biggest. Customers can expect a billing range between $90 and $130.00 for "competitive features." This all adds up to a 3/10 for costing twice as much as the Palm Pre, and a third more than a Blackberry.

What it all Means

So what should you take away from all of this? Well, first of all, though I own an iPhone, I only score it at 70/100. Shouldn't the most expensive phone on the market do better than a C-? Secondly, the iPhone is a "solid" smart phone, but for all of its visual polish... it is lacking in many areas. If you're looking for the ultimate do it all phone that sits at the juncture of music, movies, photos, internet, texting, and regular old conversation then you've found the perfect phone. However, if you're looking for a phone that does one (or many things) well, then I suggest you go elsewhere. AT&T's service is a pain and their reliability is questionable, the iPhone is expensive, and Apple takes offense when you jailbreak the phone to open up to other cellular carriers and install Google apps. Let's hope that when AT&T's contract runs out that Apple moves onto other providers or the prospect of a fully realized iPhone will fade into memory.

Posted by Steve at 8:03 PM