Author Archive: Matt

Apple iPhone 3G review

The iPhone. You may have heard about it!?

INTRODUCTION

Here at TracyandMatt, we’re always quick on the uptake, so wasted no time getting o2 to send us an iPhone. Hmm. Anyway, here it is, and I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by the added features. It’s not a major leap forward, but is their enough to warrant an upgrade?

The Apple iPhone 3G

What’s in the Box?

I’ll not go into too much detail but in summary, it’s typical Apple. By typical Apple, I do of course mean that plenty of effort has been put into making the entire product, including the packaging, a design marvel. OK – it’s a box, but it sure looks nice.

GENERAL

So, a little history lesson. iPhone was released 29^th June 2007 in the USA, and worldwide launches followed soon after. The iPhone 3G was released July 11^th 2008 with a lower pricing structure, and more features.

I reviewed the original iPhone for TracyandMatt around a year ago and tried to cut through all the promotional stuff associated with it, and find out if it was any good. It was.

So to the iPhone 3G. At 115.5mm x 62.1mm x 12.3mm, its slightly bigger than its predecessor, but doesn’t really feel it. The black plastic back is actually an improvement over the scratch-happy shiny metal finish. As it’s curved, in the hand the 3G variant feels smaller with no noticeable difference in weight either.

Little has changed design-wise, but we’ll start with the usual tour around the device. The front is still taken over by the excellent widescreen display, which when turned off, appears as a complete blank surface. At the top there is the speaker/earpiece, and at the bottom the single ‘home’ button takes its customary place, just like the original.

iPhone 3G front view

 

The back of the phone, as I’ve stated already, is in black plastic, with a silver apple logo, and iphone designations. The 2mp camera is also in the same place – top left.

iPhone 3G back view

 

Things changed a little when we take a look at the top of the iPhone. The main silver power button is similar, as is the sim card slot, but there is now a none-recessed 3.5 earphone jack – woo!

iPhone 3G top view

 

On the bottom of the hand set you’ll find Apple’s proprietary sync/charge cable socket. This is exactly the same as the previous iPhone and other iPod products. Either side we have a loudspeaker which plays audio when then headphones are not connected.

iPhone 3G bottom view

 

The left hand side of the device has a toggle switch at the top – used to turn vibrate mode on and off. Below that we have some VERY welcome hardware volume controls – a rocker switch system which works very well.

iPhone 3G left side view

iPhone 3G right side view

 

SOFTWARE

In truth, outside of standard firmware updates, small improvements etc, there isn’t a lot added in terms of standard software.

The first row of apps – SMS, Calendar, Photos and Camera are all pretty much identical to the original iPhone release, and the same goes for the YouTube and stocks apps. Maps – powered by google, has probably seen the most change, and now supports the new built in GPS module, as well as traffic information where available, and Street View.

Continuing through the menu – with the Clock app, Calculator and Notes all seeing little change. The settings area again has seen minor changes, but the App Store is where the real excitement happens. While it may have its faults, the App Store is the new gateway to ‘real’ software on your iPhone. Bye Bye web-apps? I hope so.

I could spend all day talking about the useful software available in the App Store, it is huge. I found a (London) tube status program MASSIVELY useful on a trip to the capital, and the National Rail Enquires application is also a must-have for the traveller!

You’ll also find a large supply of free and paid-for games, and the most poinless-yet-genius app yet – iPint.

 

Highlights:

• 3G – Yes it should have been there in the first place, but ignoring that, it’s a must have.
• GPS – I could just repeat myself – but at least its here now. Seems to work well enough in Google Maps, and ‘local’ apps.
• It’s an iPhone – As John stated in his HD Touch review, whether other phones are better or not, you still get to tell people you have an iPhone.
• App Store – Its simple, quick, and fairly cheap. Possible the best install experience of any device. Ever.

Lowlights:

• Battery Life – its still not quite enough. I have a background of using really terrible early Windows Mobile Smartphones, and I don’t mind charging every night. But these days… surely Apple can do better than this?
• It’s an iPhone – No not a copy and paste mistake, but you are locked to Apple, to what they want to allow you to install. Well… unless you are extremely naughty and break it out of jail!

REVIEW

I have to admit I was pretty impressed with the original iPhone, despite being of a Windows Mobile background. Apple are truly masters of the UI experience, and the iPhone OS’ look and feel is unchanged from the original. The new plastic back panel could have ended up looking cheap, but Apple have in fact improved on the original instead. The iPhone still looks expensive, still feels well built and still attracts attention from friends/colleagues when you feel like showing off (with a review device you don’t own perhaps!)

At first glance, besides the minor handware mods, you might think there isn’t a lot to see here over the original, but you’d perhaps be wrong. 3G and GPS are features that many people would say should have been on the EDGE iPhone, but that could well be said about phones released by Nokia and HTC. The GPS chip was reported early on as being very weak, but in my experience was pretty reliable. I don’t know whether this is down to a software update since launch, but I really can’t complain at all.

The 3G is interesting. Unfortunately in most of my experiences, I felt the iPhone was still pretty slow to download webpages, despite having a seemingly stable 3G connection. My Nokia N95 8GB sat next to the iPhone was much quicker. I’m not sure why this was the case – or whether it was a fault. On wifi I saw no such slowdown, and struggle to explain why I struggled on 3G.

The major software upgrade on the iPhone 3G, or rather software version 2 for both 3G and original, is the App Store.

The App Store is effectively a new area of the itunes store, just like Music, Videos, TV Progammes etc. Apps are downloaded for free, or paid for, on the same apple ID account that you use for other areas, and if you have credit card details saved, you can quickly download applications on the device. You can also run up a nice bill!

Despite this being a review device, I put my hand in my pocket and took one for the tracyandmatt team in order to test the whole process. As I already have an apple ID, I started up the app store client onboard the iPhone 3G and quickly found a sort-of-but-not-for-legal-reasons Mario Kart clone. I think the whole game was around £1.29, which seemed reasonable when you consider the cost of java games on other platforms. I was asked for my password, and the app started downloading – literally onto the main menu screen. A progress bar appears on the menu icon, and when complete, the icon becomes coloured and the process is complete. Tapping the icon launches the game like any other app.

It’s a shame that Apple couldn’t have improved some of the existing apps though. SMS is still threaded, which is nice, but it’s also still extremely limited. No MMS, no copy/paste and no forwarding etc. It’s a nice experience, but needs more options and features – and fast.

The onscreen keyboard is identical to that of the original software, which works well enough, but is a little bit squashed – and hard work if you are typing out an email or text in a rush.

The landscape does make an appearance within the Safari browser – and it’s a revelation. I found myself able to type much much quicker, and with a lot more reliability. Please Apple – allow us to use the landscape keyboard in the email and SMS applications. There is a free application available on the app store that allows a user to type out a message with the landscape keyboard, and then copy it into the mail app to send. A useful workaround, but this is really something Apple need to get on top of, and give users a proper solution.

As an iPod, it’s still the best you can buy – barring storage space issues. The screen is still lovely, and for playing video’s its pretty much unbeatable. The new built in speaker actually performs quite well – especially for listening to online radio where quality is not always great anyway. It’s also great for playing this weeks favourite track to mates etc. Compared to other ‘loudspeaker’ options its very good – which is amazing considering the size of the iPhone vs, for example, the N95 with its stereo speakers.

 

CONCLUSION

In summary – I love this, like I loved the original. I’m a sucker for design, but I need usability as well – which is why (and I can hear the abuse already) – I don’t like mac’s. However the iPhone has both in buckets, and when my contract expires in a few months time I have a tricky decision – iPhone 3G or HD Touch.

The iPhone 3G is most definitely the most desirable, and probably the most polished. The HD Touch though fixes nearly all the items on my missing-from-iphone list. It’s a tricky one, but there is no doubt in my mind – the iPhone 3G is a great phone, and a good update. I await this years iPhone HD(!?) with interest.

 

Review by: Mark

O2 XDA Zest review

New on the scene and the latest in the XDA range, we find the XDA O2 Zest. Can it live up to O2 claim that ‘The Xda Zest is a sleek, slim and stylish phone bursting with friendly features.’?

Firstly this is not one of the much followed and much awaited new devices, if fact I had never heard of it until that regular contact where Matt is looking for a review to be done. This is one of the only XDA type devices not to be made by HTC, being a derivative of the Asus Galaxy 7.

The O2 XDA Zest

 

I have been playing with the Zest for a week or so now, and these are my thoughts so far…

 

First looking inside the neat looking and unusually tidy box you’ll find:

• the O2 XDA Zest
• A spare stylus
• A three part AC adaptor
• USB to mini USB cable to sync and charge, also used with the above adaptor
• A stereo headset with mini use connector
• An unusual ‘Y- cable’
• A quick start guide and CD, warranty card
• Included in this test unit, the optional Co-pilot micro card and SD adaptor 14 day trial.

The AC adaptor and ‘Y – cable I will cover shortly.

 

O2 XDA Zest specification:

• Windows Mobile 6.1
• Marvell TavorP 624MHz processor
• Quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• UMTS/HSDPA
• 2.8” 65K TFT VGA 480X640
• 3 Megapixel camera
• 256 MB Flash Memory ROM
• 128 MB SDRAM
• MicroSD slot (up to 32GB support)
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• GPS
• 1300 mAh Battery
• 102×60.5×16.5mm

 

GENERAL

Taking a wander around the Zest on the top there is the power button and the housing for the non telescopic stylus.

XDA Zest top view

 

The left hand side is the home to a covered external GPS connector, and a single button, up and down volume rocker

XDA Zest left side

 

On the right hand side is a dedicated camera button and also a screen and manual key lock switch.

XDA Zest right side

 

The bottom of the Zest there is only the miniUSB connector, reset hole and strap holder,

XDA Zest bottom view

 

Around the back the simplicity continues with only the 3 Megapixel camera and speaker slot,

XDA Zest back view

 

And finally on the business end of the phone is, from top to bottom, an LED indicator light next to the front facing VGA camera for video calling etc., the earpiece and the 2.8” flush screen.

XDA Zest front view

 

Below which is 4 illuminated, when touched buttons, one for the Start menu, one ‘OK’ and the normal green send and red end keys. In the middle of which is housed the up/down/left/right directional, navigation key and enter key.

The device itself is unusual, in that it is very shiny, very black and very plastic. At first it feels quite nice to the touch and the metal accents set it off quite nicely, however after a very short amount of time you realise that it is slightly too wide, as well as slightly too thick and therefore makes it uncomfortable to hold. When set against my Diamond it is slightly shorter, nearly 10mm wider, and 5mm thicker. To me it does look dumpy and squat, yet thick and chunky, not the best start.

Highlights

• Sharp clear screen
• Very quick and responsive
• Very stable
• Good camera
• Loaded with user features

Lowlights

• Uncomfortable to hold and use
• Poor sound quality
• Over complicated

Software

I will try and explain my highlights and lowlights here, they do contradict themselves, for the reason that, if you are used to Window Mobile and SpB Mobile shell, this device has the lot, well at least O2’s customised versions. The highlight is that it gives you loads of choice in the way of ‘Today’ and other screens, the downside or lowlight is that for me it completely overcomplicates the issue. I may have been missing something but deciding to rotate the screen to use the Sat Nav turned into a 5 minute ordeal flicking through menus to find out how to do this and when I did finally get the hang of it, you can only turn 90 degrees clockwise and then back again not left hand/right hand. I use my phones with the buttons on the right when in landscape, as I am right handed, not on this phone not an option without adaptations.

That said there are is plethora of menus, sub-menus to keep you entertained, if you are new to windows mobile, I think this phone could well put you off in terms of its complexity.

Software wise it is pretty standard 6.1 with the addition of O2’s menus.

Pick a screen any screen…..

The included 14 day trial of CoPilot 7 worked well and showed off the capability of the sharp clear screen and the very capable processor.

Review

This device for me has been one of the hardest one to review, not knowing a lot about it in the first place and not having chance to get used to it beforehand, it has proved to be very good in some areas and not that good in others.

As already mentioned the screen is a major plus point the 480×640 is a gem, I did find though, that despite being calibrated, I quite often missed the lines I was trying to tap and ended up hitting the line above. At first I thought it was me, but as it happened regularly and despite recalibrating more than once, I conclude it could be down to the appearance of a decent gap between the actual screen and the screen covering. The camera is pretty good and has to be considered better than average in its sector, and I must admit it got better when I realised that it has a small plastic lens protector in place, underneath the cover, when sent, so don’t forget to take it off!

I really like the screen lock switch that shuts the phone down, having been used to this on my Asus P526; I really don’t know why more devices don’t include this as standard, so no accidental button presses or call answering here, as the phone is locked down completely. One really small point here is that, for me, although I do like this feature it is slightly too close to the stylus housing and quite often while trying to remove the stylus, without looking, found I was trying to pull out the switch instead, but a nice inclusion anyway.

The charger is a slightly strange affair, I think it might have been a slow day in the design office when they dreamt this up, it is made up of a block into which you insert the miniUSB cable, and then attach one of the 2 regional plug adaptors which have fold out terminals, very strange, I can’t help think they have been over designed and if done to save space, have failed. What’s wrong with a standard wall charger?

The next anomaly for the Zest is the inclusion of the ‘Y – cable’ this connects to the miniUSB port on the bottom of the unit and acts as a splitter to allow connection of both charge/sync cable as well as the headset. I have not seen this before and although I get the idea and can see why it have been included, I remain unconvinced, it is a good idea, but surely a simpler solution would be to include a 3.5mm socket instead, the Zest is certainly thick enough to house one!

The processor is great, it is an unheard of Marvell TavorP 624MHz, which works very well and definitely one of the better ones about, it certainly pack a punch in delivering speed. The phone I also found to be software stable, it is only while writing this that I realised I have not reset the Zest, at all, since I have been playing with it.

The gripes I have with the XDA is that the battery is not fantastic, it tends to drain quite freely, lasting about a day with moderate use, less with heavy use. It reminds me of the diamond, and this is neither devices’ best feature.

The calls quality, I found also, was not great, the speakers either internal or loud sounded crackly and not at all pleasant, it does get better with a good and clear reception, but in bad conditions it did not fare well at all, one of the worst I have heard for a long time, maybe particular to this test device though?

Conclusion

I have to admit and you can probably tell this is not one of my favourite devices that I have tested over the last few years, it has the potential to be very good and hopefully I have highlighted some really strong plus points. Overall, for me, the strange, uncomfortable size and the negatives, mentioned already, outweigh the positives, and for that reason this is not on my Xmas list.

Don’t get me wrong, it is quick, stable, and full featured, and hopefully the faults that I found are test device specific. The overall spec and screen coupled with that processor do make it very good value for money. Just not for me.

 

Review by: Steve