hyp4mhz.com

Month: December 2012

  • Telstra Frontier Review

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    Welcome to the 2012 Telstra Frontier ( T81) mobile phone review. For Christmas 2012 Telstra and ZTE have released yet another 'bargain' priced reasonably high specified Android smartphone. The new Frontier T81 release took us by surprise, likewise the equally new EasyTouch 4G model. The Frontier model is a pre-paid phone package priced at $299. The Frontier and the EasyTouch 4G are both 4G or LTE phones have very similar design and specifications. The Frontier is a pre-paid package it has lessor spec hardware like lower camera resolution and screen size and so forth. The Frontier packs a 1.5 Ghz CPU and separate graphics processor are a standout in the pre-paid class but honestly when you use it - doesn't seem all that fast. In terms of construction the Frontier does not feel like high end phone but neither does the related EasyTouch 4G. Nonetheless it is solid and did not reveal any creaks or rattles. There is nothing that makes it stand out from the crowded pre-paid class on the outside at least. In terms of operation there is little to differentiate it from the a bare bones Android phone. Everything worked smoothly and fast but lacked some interface enhancements that Samsung and Motorola etc have come up with to show off the powerful CPU. That said Android has come a long way from a mere 2 years ago and likewise the offerings from Telstra/ZTE brand mobile phones. The ability to use the 4G part of the network is also a great hardware feature. Overall the Telstra Frontier has a fast CPU for games but hampered by the lower resolution and smaller screen. Since mobile websites are so minimal there is little make any difference from lower powered smartphones.  The only thing that made as cringe was the high price! it's not a cheap phone. The Telstra marketing area probably thought it would appeal to hand held gamers and it might but unlikely for the obvious reason - it that doesn't look high end and that Angry Birds doesn't need a 1.5Ghz CPU to run smoothly and everyone we talked to wanted a phone with a 5 inch screen for gaming! So if you like a plain looking and fast Android phone but locked to Telstra then go for it. Otherwise the value for money the Google Nexus 4 or even the Nexus 3 is more than a match. Specifications
    • Telstra Frontier T81
    • Network Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 Mhz Tri-band 3G 850/2100 Mhz 4G LTE 1800/2600 Mhz HSDPA 7.2 Mbps data speed (download) HSUPA 2 Mbps (upload) 4G LTE 1000Mbps 50 down Mbps Up
    • Design Touch screen
    • L124 x W65.5 x D11 mm
    • Weight 149 grams
    • Display/s 4.0 inch 480 x 800 pixel
    • Camera 5MP LED Flash Forward camera 1MP
    • Video Camera 640x 480 pixels @ 15fps
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V3
    • CPU 1.5 Ghz Dual core 'Krait' Separate Adreno 225 Graphic CPU
    • Memory Up to 2.5 Gig for user Up to 32Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS AndroidApp store Free Google Navigator (requires data plan) FM Radio Compass Accelerometer Proximity Ambient Light Music and Media player MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint, PDF, ZIP compatible Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 1785 mAh battery Up to 380 hours Standby Up to 6 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $299 AUD December 2012 (Pre-paid)

  • Telstra Easytouch 4G Review

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    Welcome to the 2012 Telstra Easytouch 4G ( T82) mobile phone review. For Christmas 2012 Telstra and ZTE have released 'bargain' priced reasonably high specified Android smartphone. The new Easytouch 4G release took us by surprise, likewise the smaller Telstra Frontier model. The Easytouch 4G is currently only available on a monthly plan at around $35. The Telstra Easytouch 4G at first use is a great experience. In terms of construction the overall build quality is very good. The only thing we can comment on was that the metal surround looked a little 'cheap' and a little on the toy side in terms of feel but better than the original iPhone though! and clearly much better than the models we've seen from Telstra in the past 12 months. In terms of hardware specification, the Easytouch 4G's CPU is fast likewise the graphics system. The screen is the 4.3 which is a reasonable size and above the average. There is nothing deficient or particularly low end abut the phone which is nice change. The technology is about the level of the Samsung Galaxy SII. In terms of operation the  user interface is often where the Telstra phones fall down. However we can thankfully say that Easytouch 4G interface works really well and that's due purely to the fast CPU. There are a few customisations we noticed apart from the large menu widgets on its Android (Jelly bean) version of the software. In fact there are only a few image transition effects which were missing. Presumably this is why Apple is suing every other phone company for. It is a bit rich coming from a company that out right copied the clock design of the Swiss clock. What else have Apple copied that they haven't owned up to yet? Regardless we really don't care about legal battles and you won't miss the power hungry effects. There are plenty of Apps in the Google Play store these days and there is always something new to try. Admittedly some apps though are quite old and primitive to look at . Of note is that the Angry Birds games are free. Overall the Telstra Easytouch 4G is definitely the best model released by the company under its own branding for the Christmas 2012 period but we understand there are better ones planned for 2013. The Easytouch will do everything you want with the speed and stability you expect on another brand name smartphone. It appears to be almost as polished as any other phone running Andriod 4.0 - but at a cheaper price on a monthly plan. It is the best one we've tested from Telstra to date. Forget the other cheaper Telstra Urbane, Uno etc.. Just remember to compare the Nokia 800 and 900 which run Windows Phone 7.5 you may change your mind since they are now priced the same even on plans. Specifications
    • Telstra Easytouch 4G T82
    • Network Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 Mhz Tri-band 3G 850/2100 Mhz 4G LTE 1800/2600 Mhz HSDPA 7.2 Mbps data speed (download) HSUPA 2 Mbps (upload) 4G LTE 1000Mbps 50 down Mbps Up
    • Design Touch screen
    • L120 x W63.6 x D108 mm
    • Weight 140 grams
    • Display/s 4.3 inch 540 x 960 pixel
    • Camera 8MP LED Flash Forward camera 1MP
    • Video Camera 640x 480 pixels @ 15fps
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V3
    • CPU 1.5 Ghz Dual core 'Krait' Separate Adreno 225 Graphic CPU
    • Memory Up to 2.5 Gig for user Up to 32Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS AndroidApp store Free Google Navigator (requires data plan) FM Radio Compass Accelerometer Proximity Ambient Light Music and Media player MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint, PDF, ZIP compatible Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 1900 mAh battery Up to 300 hours Standby Up to 6.5 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $35 AUD December 2012 (Plan only)

  • Apple iPhone 4S Review

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    Welcome to the Apple iPhone 4S review. Although we've been using a 4S for nearly 12 months, once again we don't have anything new to add to the world full of glowing 4S reviews. The iPhone is the most efficient smartphone for the majority of users in the world but it is definitely not perfect and the competition is catching up and in many cases surpassing the ease and functionality offered by the 4S. Since it is such a great phone we see little point in pointing out its good points since they are well known.

    So here's our opinion and why you should NOT buy the iPhone 4S and consider another mobile phone:

    1 - Micro-SIM makes it incompatible with 90% of other phones for now...
    2 - poor voice quality, signal reception and call quality is all below much cheaper phones.
    3 - its overly expensive despite last generation hardware apart from the screen.
    4 - retina display is detailed but has poor color reproduction eg. washed out
    5 - it is true! the screen on the front and back shatter very easily.
    6 - camera still produces fake over and under saturated lacking detail pictures compared to the ancient Nokia N8.
    7 - must look at screen to type.
    8 - limited user interface customisation.
    9 - requires ugly additional case to prevent damage
    10 - no expandable memory and paying over $100 for 16Gis is simply ripping you off.
    11 - everything requires an internet to work
    12 - it does track you for almost every app you use and call you make
    13 - the screen IS tiny for an expensive phone
    14 - everyone has got one.

    If you like to buy apps, videos and music with some web browsing than the iPhone is the best there is. Unfortunately thanks to brewing legal action (2011) the company is attempting to get rid of the opposition which they can't buy out. They bought SIRI for example and claimed it for them selves - its pretty sad really. Apple didn't invent the mobile phone - they made certainly made it so much better but basing legal action on the shape of phone and their improvements like icon designs is essentially a joke only the US legal system can be put through. I wonder whether they paid Nokia and Motorola for all the tech they essentially stole the IP from in the first place?

    Regardless if you can afford the iPhone 4s go for it i it still is one of the best phones you can get! However watch out for the Androids... HTC and Samsung which do much more.

    Specifications

    • Apple iPhone 4S
    • Network
      Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
      Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100
      HSDPA 7.2 data speed (download)
    • Design
      Touch screen
    • L115.2 x W58.6 x D9.3mm
      Weight 140 grams
    • Display/s
      External TFT 640 x 960
    • Camera
      8MP
      LED Flash
    • Video Camera
      640 x 480 30 fps
    • Connectivity
      Wi-Fi
      Bluetooth V4
    • CPU
      ARM Cortex A8 1 Ghz
      Graphics: PowerVR MBX-Lite
    • Memory
      From 8-32Gig
    • Ring tones
      Purchase or iStudio only and vibration
    • Features
      A-GPS
      Accelerometer
      Gyrometer
      Compass
      Proximity sensor
      Multi-touch screen
      Music and Media player
      Remote security
      Contacts/Organiser/Calender
      SMS, MMS, IM, Email
      Speaker Phone/Hands free
      Battery 1420 mAh
      Up to 300 hours Standby
      Up to 12 hours Talk Time
    • Price history
      From $679 AUS 2012 (Outright)
      From $879 AUS 2011 (Outright)