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Tag: telstra dave

  • Aspera R5 Review

    AsperaR5
    Welcome to the 2014 Aspera R5 review.  Aspera is currently an unknown brand in the sea of Android OS based mobile phones. It is a niche brandcatering for the rugged end of the mobile spectrum and probably will remain so until it generates more publicity. We didn't find out very much the company The retail pricing for the Aspera R5 is under $400 AUD which is good but could be better (bargain hard I suppose). There aren't many stores that stock them, so to help you out - we can say that Harvery Norman and Big W seem to have a few on the shelves. In terms of construction the Aspera R5 model looks and feels like one of the best rugged phone currently available. The R5 is built with heavy duty plastic and high-visibility yellow highlights - it looks the the part. We did not experience any issues with the way it was put together or any flaws around the environmental seals. The R5 didn't feel particularly heavy despite its specifications and the size was just about right for this type of phone. In terms of hardware the Aspera R5 is essentially a mid range phone but with a decent and better than expected quad-core CPU and dual SIM capability. The screen resolution is a bit under-par for a mid range and looks a little washed out thanks to the scratch resistant protective screen overlay. It is missing 4G capabilities so don't expect fast DSL like web browsing and you'll be happy. There are plenty of other 'mid-range' phones with the same hardware specs. In terms of use the Aspera R5 is pretty good. However the interface lacks the flashy transitions of the most current Android OS version any it is noticeable if you've come from a recent Samsung or Sony phone - as with us. There where no noticeable lags in the interface and apps ran relatively quickly. That said it still has all the pros and cons of Android. However thanks to the App store there are plenty of system enhancements to remedy that issue if you where after something a bit more flashy. The dual SIM functionality seemed pretty painless... Like most Android OS based phones in 2014 we can't say much more that hasn't already been said about how it works. We can only review the way its been built and any additional functionality. In this regard the Aspera R5 is one of the best rugged and cool looking smartphones you can currently buy since it features Dual SIM and that lovely tough exterior case. That said an 'Otter box' case on a compatible smartphone many be the better alternative if you can't bear to downgrade from a higher end phone! In terms of Aspera R5 competitors or alternatives only the Telstra DAVE comes close and at the same price. The DAVE differs from the R5 by having a 4G chip but lower tech CPU and only one SIM tray. The R5 is only 3G but has a better CPU, 2 SIMs and has better construction materials and looks - not by much though. Unless 4G is essential and you can't get the DAVE to work on your service providers network than the R5 is worth getting. Otherwise the DAVE is probably the better choice only because it has 4G capability. Specifications
    • Aspera R5
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 850/2100 (depend on country)
    • Design Rugged - Touch screen
    • L139.7 x W76 x D17.6 mm
    • Weight 240 grams
    • Display/s 4 inch 480 X 854 pixels
    • Camera 8MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera 480p high definition 30FPS main video camera VGA video phone
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU 1.2 Ghz Quad core Separate Graphic CPU
    • Memory 500MB RAM Up to 4Gig for user Up to 32Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features IP67 water and dust resistant Dual SIM A-GPS, Proximeter, Accelerometer
    • Li-Po 2800 mAh battery Up to 600 hours Standby Up to 9.5 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $400 AUD August 2014 (Outright)

  • Telstra Dave 4G T83 Review

    BLANK
    Welcome to the 2013 Telstra DAVE (T83) mobile phone review. Released in October 2013 this model is the first ruggedized touch screen smart phone offered by Telstra. Prior rugged phones have been designed based on the push button and candy bar style. Admittedly this old fashioned design does work better for those using the phone outdoors since it's easier to use with dirty or wet hands than a touch screen. However the outdoor types these days want more features which the traditional candy bar format just can't offer hence the new touch screen! The Telstra DAVE is available on a plan and can be purchased outright for around $390(recommended retail). Note that the biggest problem with the Dave is that it has limited phone network and 3G/4G frequencies meaning that it is really on useful on the Telstra network in Australia and not if you want to use it overseas. Note the ZTE have a similar if not exactly the same model called the ZTE G601U.  Also before you buy make sure you check its competitors. The Telstra Dave is not an Easytouch 4G or Frontier in a different body, since the DAVE has different CPU and slots. However whether these are the only changes is debateable unless you break open the case and compare. Furthermore it is based on Andriod OS and there's not much to differentiate the Telstra Dave from any other Telstra branded ZTE based smart phone. The name 'DAVE' is an interesting choice being based on a guys name in many parts of the world. It would be pity if you know a 'Dave' that you don't particularly like... In terms of construction and hardware the Telstra Dave has a reasonably fast CPU and graphics with all the usual sensors. The screen resolution is average likewise the camera and other 'entertainment' hardware. The resolution is Ok despite being 480x800 so it wasn't blurry or anything like the cheaper Android phones. Considering that the Dave is currently only available on a plan we expected and you should demand higher specifications. Regardless the body of  Telstar DAVE is the coolest part of the phone. Clearly it is made from toughened plastic with some metal screws on the back to highlight its toughness. We think the screws are only for show since the SIM card, power and expansion slots only have tabbed plastic covers. The Telstra Dave is easy enough to hold and feels solid with no creaks but the feel of the plastic is a little on the toy side of things especially with some sharper edges. It honestly looks like a phone with a rugged 3rd party case like the Otterbox... However overall not too bad but not as good as say the Casio G Z'one.  Check out the Nokia 625 for an example on how plastics should feel!. In terms of software the Telstra Dave is pretty good, being sold with the latest Android OS. The OS does not depart from standard Andriod OS very much with a few customised widgets and mostly smooth in operation. We didn't encounter and serious pauses. There's not much point going on about it since you can install the thousands of Apps for the Google Play store to fill in the missing functionality gaps. Overall the Telstra Dave 4G T83 is a decent mid range-ish smartphone wrapped up in a cool new case.  There are other 'rugged'  mobile phones with better specifications out there and the one that comes to mind is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active which is noticeably better than the Dave but quite expensive. Since both phones can be bought on mobile phone plans for the same amount of monthly payments the obvious choice is not the Telstra Dave but the Samsung... Update: Check out the very similar Aspera R5 if you are after this style of smartphone. Specifications
    • Telstra DAVE 4G T83 Review
    • Network Dual-band GSM 900/1800 Mhz Tri-band 3G 850/2100 Mhz 4G or LTE 1800 / 2600 Mhz
    • Design Touch screen
    • L128.4 x W66.1 x D12.1 mm
    • Weight 160 grams
    • Display/s 3.5 inch 480 x 800 pixel
    • Camera 5MP Video Camera 640x 720 pixels @ 30fps
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V3
    • CPU 1.2 Ghz Dual core Snapdragon Separate Adreno 305 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 FM Radio Compass Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass and 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 2500 mAh battery Up to 375 hours Standby Up to 8 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $N/A AUD October 2013 (Plan Only) Approx $390 November 2013 (Outright)