Author: Ed

Motorola V3xx Review
Welcome to the Motorola V3xx mobile phone review. We've had this phone for at least a year now but due to various reasons haven't done a write up. However its 2009 now and about time we did something... The V3xx is the 3G version of the V3 model range. It was released back in 2006 when it was still one of the thinnest and arguably the best looking clam shell phone around. In 2009 its still a good looking phone and one that should really sell better than it has. The phone clearly has had decent software updates over the years because our latest version (Telstra) is obviously better than a Vodaphone version 18 months older. So watch out and make sure you get the latest V3XX models. Make sure your carrier has a stable phone software. Construction wise it has a metal faced flip part and quality plastic base topped with the Motorola trademark aluminum keypad. (The battery cover at the back also felt like it was made of metal) The Key pad is customized for whatever network is offering the phone. It's a very well built phone with no creaks. The spring loaded flip works very well and reliably over the thousand or so open and close its been subjected to. Overall a very well made phone that's nice to hold. It is slightly bigger than the original V3 and subsequent V3i models. The most important thing you should consider when buying is to get one which has multiple 3G and GSM network frequencies eg. 2100mhz, 850mhz or even 900mhz etc.. because get the wrong version it won't work internationally. The operating system is the ages old Motorola OS and it shows. It has long menus and menu names which are not quite right. Most annoying is the inability to personalize the OS with custom themes without spending a lot of time and with dubious certainty modding the OS. Nevertheless the phone is quite stable with only an annoying backlight bug for the external screen which we have yet to mod out of the OS! The menu navigation and activating is very fast! However a few options that you need to change are located in illogical places. Eg. Open flip to answer is in the in-call options menu. The dual naming of Skins and Themes. Yes they are the same thing (except for icons). Furthermore you cannot video call directly from the contacts menu! You have to have already called the person by voice and then go to the call logs to be able to video call. The best feature of the V3XX is definitely the internal screen. It's brilliant literally. Very high quality display better than any mobile phone we've used to date (2008). The external screen however is not very good too small and too dim - at least it's color. The keypad is very easy to use but feels stiff - after all it is aluminum! The backlight is a nice iridescent blue and the keys if important enough have their own coloured backlight. There are 3 keys on the flip part - one for volume, camera and one to activate the backlight. The speaker volume is pretty decent on par with say most Nokia's. Sound quality is a bit tinny as per most mobiles but fair enough. However the call quality - microphone and earpiece quality is very good. I dare say better than most other phones we've used. The background noise reducer actually works in almost all instances! The implementation of SMS or texting is not as good as the competition. It requires several buttons and options before you can send a message off - specifically to someone not in your phone book! Not good for those game shows where you need to be quick to enter. The internet browser seems to have been updated and now using Opera 8 - better than many others I don't care to mention for this type of phone. Also missing is a File Manager. You can't create folders and organise files yourself it does it all for you. Its good for those who can't be bothered sorting out files or older folk who don't want additional complication. All you do is to go to the Multimedia - Media finder option and all the files are there. Icons will only appear if it can read the file so easy to see what works or doesn't work on the phone. There are plenty of customization options . The standard options are wallpaper, tones and the most important soft key reassignment. The installation of skins and JAVA software was easy enough but you have to be sure they are made for Motorola phones. There aren't too many because Motorola have not made a easy to access skin editor/designer. That's probably why Nokia and Sony Ericson are now more popular phones - which allow anyone with some determination to fully create their own. Overall it's got all the usual functionality including MS Exchange compatibility which was a nice surprise. This software may not be available on phones from certain networks. And I guess that's the main issue - the V3XX is clearly heavily modified by whatever network you're buying the phone for. So some may have much better software than others... As for other features the phone has everything a mid-range phone would have but at a cheaper price. Although some V3XX do not have a airplane mode - the latest models finally have one! Due to the very thin profile there's only a mini-USB connector for everything including earphones. That can be forgiven since it doesn't have an FM radio but it does have a microSD slot for extra memory. Battery life is a decent 7 days on standby. Network reception is very good. It was quite surprising especially comparing the signal levels to the Telstra branded and made for network ZTEs phones. The V3XX kept full signal bars whilst the ZTE only had two less than 1/2 strength. Conclusion: The V3xx is a very good phone - in particular the Telstra software version we tested. It's not embarrassing to show off to your mobile savvy friends and has all the latest functionality for 3G networks. (Mind you if they don't know it's a XX they aren't as savvy as you think!) If you get one it should keep you happy for a couple years that's for sure. There are a few annoying things caused purely by illogical placement and/or naming but we got over it and you probably will too. It's a phone that has definitely gotten better with age. Specifications
- Motorola V3xx
- Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 3G 850/1900/2100 (Dependent on country) HSDPA 3.6 data speed
- Design Flip or Clamshell
- L102.9 x W53 x D17.3 mm Weight 108 grams
- Display/s Internal TFT 240 x 320 External CSTN 96 x 80
- Camera 1.3 MP
- Video Camera 480x 272 pixel video camera
- Connectivity Bluetooth V1.2 Mini-USB
- CPU
- Memory 50MB available to user Micro-SD card up to 2Gig
- Ring tones MIDI, MP3 and others
- Features Menu Themes Image and Video viewer Organiser/Calender Video calling Voice memos SMS, MMS, IM, Email (inc. ActiveSync for some countries) JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free Battery 940 mAh Up to 300 hours Standby Up to 3 hours Talk Time
- Price history From $149-199 AUS 2009 (Pre-paid) From $499 AUS 2007 (Outright)
March 2, 2009
Palm Treo 750 Review

Welcome to our review of the Palm Treo 750. It's a Windows Mobile OS based phone that's been around for a few years now. Due to various corporate issues with Palm other factors its hasn't been very popular outside the business world. Palm has introduced a few benchmark products over the years and the qwerty Palm OS based phones where one of the first. Palm then decided to introduce Windows Mobile based phones as a means to attract the business user. The Treo 750 was the top of the range phone until the release of the Palm Pro in late 2008. We've actually bought the Treo as a run out special well below RRP. The Treo 750 originally ran Windows Mobile 5 which is not a very good OS. It had crashes, data sync issues power drains and all sorts of things you would expect from anything with a Microsoft OS but you'd also expect Palm to have sorted out the mess but didn't. The initial release was a shocker - it crashed all the time - simply did not work properly on a new and clean installed phone! Thus in Windows 5 form the Treo 750 like every other Windows based phone was not reliable. Other than that - simple things like MP3 ringtones where beyond the capabilities of this version. THANKFULLY Palm released a free Windows Mobile 6 OS update for almost every user of the Treo 750 and I must say the change is dramatic. We did the upgrade and was finally happy with the phone. So if you see a Treo 750 on special only buy if it has Windows 6 installed. With WM6 the Treo finally had all the features (except for Wi-Fi) ou'd expect from a decent smartphone. Moreover it was actually stable and has so far failed to crash since it's new OS upgrade. Even more important is that it could now play MP3 ringtones! The construction is certainly old tech - large and plastic but it was well made. No creaks could be heard. The back has a rubberised cover so it feels good to hold. There are plenty of buttons but it is well designed keypad so easy to use. The buttons may feel hard to touch but the spring action is excellent so it cheapness is only in appearance. Of note is the dedicated Windows Start Menu button and a OK/Close button. We are utterly serious when we say that these two buttons make the Treo superior to most WM6 based phones. Overall a sturdy and well made phone if a little on the large side. The camera lens is set into the back along with a mirror! and the main speaker. Very tidy arrangement and again well made but the speaker is blocked when you set the phone down - which is unfortunate. More so because it's for some reasons we could not get the volume of the ring tones to make themselves heard. The picture quality from the camera is poor likewise the video quality. At least it has something... The keypad back light is very bright, the white number keys an excellent idea! If you don't like the keypad you can always use the touch screen. The ability to dual input makes the phone great to use. However we found using the keypad superior to using the stylus or touch screen. Phones should be capable of one handed operation. Speaking of which the sensitivity of the screen is very good even if you have a stick on screen protector. The screen is very large by 2006 standards but now only average size for Qwerty based phone in 2009. Nevertheless screen resolution is also perfectly acceptable. Functionality is WM6 OS standard and there aren't any noticeable Palm specific apps like the more popular HTC models. However the the usual applications like Word, Excel and Powerpoint are available. The Web browser is still very poor. The most useful feature in WM6 is the ability to connect to MS Exchange for push email services. So if your company runs Exchange email, the Treo 750 can receive push email messages (just like the Blackberry). This basically means when you get normal email it is also sent to the Treo. It can also Sync calender items notes etc.. Just like the regular Activesync. In terms of operating speed - the phone is sluggish compared to the latest 2009 mobiles with similar CPUs but its not too slow either. Faster than the HTC Touch and even the latest Sony Ericsson Experia on first impression. Standard battery life was good lasting 3 days with full 3G and Exchange running all the time but no calls. With the phone functions switch off it lasted 5-6 days. You can still get the extended battery option if you want longer operating time. The speaker sound quality is excellent but its ability to get the best signal could probably be improved. It is 1000 times better than the iPhone 3G - but then which phone isn't in terms of keeping a signal? It also has a external antenna plug! The worst feature of the phone is the propriety PC connector. It is bulky and odd just like the separate power cable. Also the use of the largely defunct mini SD card... You can use adapters if you can't find appropriate cards. One final oddity is that the Treo does not have an OFF button. It stays on - so if you travel you'll have to manually turn the phone functionality off rather than turn off the whole phone. Conclusion: Despite a very bad start we have come to like the Treo 750. WM6 update made all the difference. Sure the physical design is dated but it is well made. It is NOT better than say the arguably market leader, the Nokia E71. But it is just as good as the 2008 HTC models. However it is a cheaper option to the Treo Pro. Specifications * Palm Treo 750 * Network Tri-band 3G HSDPA 3.6 / 850 / 1900 / 2100 MHz Quad-band GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 /1900 MHz * Design Mini keyboard L111 x W58 x D22 mm Weight 154 grams * Display/s TFT 240 x 240 16-bit colour 65,000 * Camera 1.3MP main camera * Connectivity USB Bluetooth V1.2 Infrared * CPU 300MHz Processor * Memory 128MB available to user 45MB available to user Up to 4Gig MiniSD * Ring tones MP3, MIDI, WAV, Vibration * Features Word/Excel/Powerpoint SMS, MMS, WAP, EMAIL Speaker Phone/Hands free Customizable backgrounds Picture Viewer Calender and organizer PDF viewer Internet Explorer (Mobile) 200Hrs Standby, 4 Hours Talk Time * Package contents XP/Vista Compatible Activesync Personal hands free kit Travel charger USB cable * Price history Between $650-900 AUS 2009

February 25, 2009

Game Review – Watchmen

NAME: Watchmen
VERSION: 1.0.1
COMPANY: GLU Mobile
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Action/Movie
SIZE: 626 KB
TEST PHONE: Nokia 6500
RATING: 9/10
DEMO:

Welcome to our Watchmen game (Java version) review.

The Watchmen was refreshing because I’ve never heard of the comic series before. It’s nice to experience something completely unknown. Furthermore the movie based on the series will be out by mid 2009.

Glu games are generally some of the best and although at first glance at the game’s application icon didn’t look too interesting we where slowly impressed from the opening credits! It doesn’t take much effort to produce high quality graphics for introductions thankfully Glu have for the most part.

I can’t tell you the entire story line because I haven’t finished the game or seen the movie at the time of writing so you’ll have to visit later for more details… However you start off playing the character of Nite Owl! The tutorial is quite good showing you that there are a ton of ‘weapon’ moves. You get to play new characters (eg. Comedian) as the games progresses each with their own regular and special moves.

Gameplay and controls are simple or difficult depending on how you want to play it. Just use the direction keys and the center button if you want OR if you want the special moves try the other keys! I won’t give too much away needless to say being able to punch enemies, throw them around or use your boomerang thing or the ultimate area destruction weapon is new to me and very well done.

Graphics are generally 3D like but if you look closely just 2D with shading effects. They are very good and 3D would not have helped since your character Nite Owl after all he is animated very nicely. Ie. moving cape and good character movement. It’s the best I’ve seen to date.

Likewsie the background graphics are really nicely done too! Cut scenes that progress the story are made in the same way and looks great. The quality of graphics are mostly pin sharp – or maybe the screen on the test Nokia 6500 is just very good – whatever! Quality graphics that’s for sure. The BGM is decent but like all mobile games gets repetitive. No sound effects though…

There is only one issue we have that is directed to the 6500 and that the game needs a fast CPU to work properly.

Conclusion: We enjoyed this game. Very entertaining beat’em up game in the vein of the old Arcade versions of Street Fighter. It is better than the latest super hero games released recently (late 2008) eg. Batman, Batman and Superman, Hellboy etc.. Very nice graphics – cool moves decent story line so far. Really well done. I think it’s a benchmark game…

February 20, 2009

Telstra/ZTE T7 Review
Welcome to the Telstra/ZTE T7 mobile phone review. The T7 is not really a replacement for the F256 clamshell phones. It is more like a new model above the F256. It's slightly smaller then it's predecessors but is NOT simply a clone of the cheaper T6! The T7 has much more functionality and specified to meet mid-range handsets of other manufacturers. Hence it is better than the F256 in every way. The T7 packs almost all the industry standard hardware like a QVGA ot 240x320 pixel screen, and A-GPS receiver is now included as part of the phone. Unfortunately no navigation software but then you can always use Google Maps. However you'll need a decent Internet data plan... The screen is better good but not as good as the Motorola V3xx which is still available Construction and finish, like all Telstra ZTE branded phones you really need to see the phone in real life because they arguably don't look as good. It is constructed well but has a brick like feel due to it's size. It's old fashioned when compared to the latest clam shell designs. Even the 3 year old Motorola V3xx as mentioned previously. Also like most Telstra branded phones there's an external antenna socket which does wonders when traveling to isolated regions. It also has an FM radio which is handy but not AM which in isolated regions the only form of radio available. Most younger users probably don't even know what AM radio is... A new 3 megapixel camera is also included but we haven't tried it yet so can;t tell whether its any good. It's got lots of functionality through various applications that are standard fare on most mid range range phones but being a NextG like all 3G linked phones is functionality offered through the network's internet homepage. Customization functionality is limited to light levels and wallpaper. Yes it plays music and MP3 ringtones... It's also Tri-band UTMS and Quad-band GSM, one of the few mobile phone with the complete set of modern frequencies so you should be able to use it around the world. Interestingly its got a ton of modem capabilities, most interesting is the Bluetooth and Dail-up networking profiles. It would seem like an inexpensive wireless modem - with the right data plan. Conclusion All up the Telstra/ZTE T7 is a typically good mobile phone. It's much better than the F256 and just as good other manufacturers in terms of features especially since it comes with a A-GPS receiver. So like most ZTEs another good, stable but cheap looking mobile phone. Nice but there are better for the price in terms of looks. PS. If it had navigation software including localized map data - it would probably sell much better. Unfortunately most Nokia mobiles in the price range have more capability. Specifications
- Telstra/ZTE T7
- Network Tri-band 3G HSDPA 7.2 / UMTS 850 / 1900 / 2100 MHz Quad-band GSM 850 / 900/1800 /1900 MHz)
- Design Clam shell L103 x W51 x D17.3 mm Weight 108 grams
- Display/s Intenal TFT 240 x 320 External TFT
- Camera 2MP main camera
- Connectivity A-GPS Reciever USB Bluetooth V1.2 - Supports FTP / HFC / A2DP
- CPU 270MHz Processor
- Memory 64MB internal memory 45MB available to user Up to 2Gig Trans Flash cards
- Ring tones MP3, MMF, MIDI, Vibration
- Features FM Radio SMS, MMS, WAP, EMAIL MyWords predictive text JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free Customizable backgrounds Picture Viewer Video calling Voice memos Calender and organizer 180Hrs Standby, 160 Mins Talk Time
- Package contents XP/Vista Compatible PC suite Mac OSX Compatible software Personal hands free kit Travel charger
- Price history Between $379 AUS 2009
February 11, 2009
Telstra/ZTE T6 Review
Welcome to the Telstra/ZTE T6 mobile phone review. For 2009 the complete range of phones from Telstra and ZTE has been refreshed. The old models are still available but in run out sales mode. If you've checked out the other ZTE reviews you realize that they are decent phones just a tad basic. However for the price you can't really complain. From the pricing the T6 is a replacement for the F153 and F158. They've made it longer but thinner and lighter. It's construction is solid and certainly comparable to other models in the basic phone category. Of note the micro SD card slot has been moved to a slot under the battery. No big deal since you can't do very many things with the phone anyway. In terms of functionality they've added a variety of new features. The most obvious is a FM radio and what we think is a slightly better camera. They've apparently added a faster CPU and it does seem faster to navigate the menus than phones with the older CPU. Essentially they have updated the specifications to match the offerings from other brands specifically Nokia in the basic phone category. Unfortunately it is now only a dual band GSM, dropping the 1900Mhz frequency. Which means there is no point unlocking it. However it is still a 3G or NextG capable phone so you can access reasonably fast data downloads. The battery life of the T6 (like the others) is very good. On standby essentially 7 days. The only let down was the screen. Same 176x200 pixel as it's predecessors. The predictive text is still not very good. Additional MicroSD cards are not included in the sales packages. The main selling feature of the T6 in comparison to all others, specifically the cheaper Samsung A411 is that it is one of the cheapest 3G or NextG capable phone with a FM radio. It's also HSDPA 3.6 compatible so you can use it as a reasonably fast wireless modem. However the plans for internet are still very high. (The on board web browser is next to useless for general internet browsing.) Conclusion We can't say very much more about it - after all is is a very basic phone. All up the Telstra/ZTE T6 is a good mobile phone. It's better than the prior F153 and F156 with the radio and additional apps. Don't judge the phone by the internet pictures see it for your self - its very different. Specifications
- Telstra/ZTE T6
- Network 3G HSDPA / UMTS 850 / 2100 MHz Tri-band GSM (900/1800 MHz)
- Design Standard shape L111 x W48 x D15.4 mm Weight 98 grams
- Display/s Intenal TFT 176 x 220, 262K colours External TFT
- Camera 2MP main camera
- Connectivity USB Bluetooth V1.2 - Supports FTP / HFC / A2DP
- CPU 270MHz Processor
- Memory 64MB internal memory 45MB available to user Up to 2Gig Trans Flash cards
- Ring tones MP3, MMF, MIDI, Vibration
- Features SMS, MMS, WAP, EMAIL MyWords predictive text JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free Customizable backgrounds Picture Viewer Video calling Voice memos Calender and organizer 200 Hrs Standby, 180 Mins Talk Time
- Package contents XP/Vista Compatible PC suite Mac OSX Compatible software Personal hands free kit Travel charger
- Price history Approx $129 AUS PRE-PAID 2009
February 11, 2009
Telstra/ZTE T165i Review
Welcome to the Telstra/ZTE T165i mobile phone review. This model is essentially a T7 model in a more rugged shell - without the folding design. We where initially impressed with this phone for a number of reasons. The construction quality was excellent and the materials and feel was better than most ZTE models we've had. Also for once the pictures do look like the actual physical model. The case for example is rubberised and screen is glossy. There are few mobile phones made for outdoor activities these days and we are happy to report that this one actually was really quite good. It's not weather proof (Telstra does not seem to claim it to be either) to the extent of the Nokia 5140 and the T165i does not appear to have exchangeable covers either. So dropping it shouldn't cause too much damage as long as it's got a decent cover on the screen. What's the point then - we don't know? Regardless the phone feels good to hold. I expected more functionality to be included with the T165i - afterall the benchmark (and very old) Nokia 5140 had many features all rugged type phone should have. Features like flash light, thermometer, and SPL. Sure the T165i has A-GPS - is a fantastic addition, the lack of navigation software is disappointing. Although a dedicated 3G or NextG phone it also has all the GSM frequencies. The 3G capabilities allow the phone far more functionality than you'd expect but at a cost - literally. You need a decent data plan! The screen was surprisingly good - its a QVGA model, so nice refined graphics. As for readability in sunlight - well it is OK better than normal phones but no where near super bright. The screen is set into the screen deeper than most due to the over sized case. The T165i packs almost all the industry standard hardware like a QVGA ot 240x320 pixel screen, and A-GPS receiver is now included as part of the phone. Unfortunately no navigation software but then you can always use Google Maps. However you'll need a decent Internet data plan... The external antenna pod is there for a reason so you get excellent network reception without an external antenna. Also like most Telstra branded phones there's an external antenna socket which does wonders when traveling to isolated regions. It also has an FM radio which is handy but not AM which in isolated regions the only form of radio available. Most younger users probably don't even know what AM radio is... A new 3 megapixel camera is also included but we haven't tried it yet so can't tell whether its any good. It's got lots of functionality through various applications that are standard fare on most mid range range phones but being a NextG like all 3G linked phones is functionality offered through the network's internet homepage. Customization functionality is limited to light levels and wallpaper. Yes it plays music and MP3 ringtones. The T165i is also Tri-band UTMS and Quad-band GSM, one of the few mobile phone with the complete set of modern frequencies so you should be able to use it around the world. Interestingly its got a ton of modem capabilities, most interesting is the Bluetooth and Dail-up networking profiles. It would seem like a inexpensive wireless modem - with the right data plan. Conclusion All up the Telstra/ZTE T165i is another typically good mobile phone but it is in a niche market. Afterall it's not a truly rugged phone outdoor phone more semi-outdoor. It is also quite expensive for a mobile phone unless you can get it on a decent plan. More disappointing is that there wasn't any MicroSD card included considering the price. Specifications
- Telstra/ZTE T165i
- Network Tri-band 3G HSDPA 7.2 / UMTS 850 / 1900 / 2100 MHz Quad-band GSM 850 / 900/1800 /1900 MHz)
- Design Rugged - Standard L117 x W51 x D16 mm Weight 119 grams
- Display/s Intenal TFT 240 x 320
- Camera 2MP auto-focus main camera
- Connectivity A-GPS Reciever USB Bluetooth V1.2 - Supports FTP / HFC / A2DP
- CPU 270MHz Processor
- Memory 64MB internal memory 45MB available to user Up to 4Gig MicroSD or Trans Flash cards
- Ring tones MP3, MMF, MIDI, Vibration
- Features FM Radio SMS, MMS, WAP, EMAIL MyWords predictive text JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free Customizable backgrounds Picture Viewer Video calling Voice memos Calender and organizer 250Hrs Standby, 3.5 hours Talk Time
- Package contents XP/Vista Compatible PC suite Mac OSX Compatible software Personal hands free kit Travel charger USB cable
- Price history Between $499 AUS 2009
February 11, 2009

Game Review – Snoopy The Flying Ace

NAME: Snoopy The Flying Ace
VERSION: 0.6.1
COMPANY: Namco Network
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Action/Cartoon series
SIZE: 272 KB
TEST PHONE: Nokia 6500
RATING: 7/10
DEMO:

Welcome to the Snoopy The Flying Ace game review (JAVA Version).

It’s taken awhile for anyone to release a game based on the dog from the popular Peanuts cartoon series created by Charles M Shulz.

The story of the game is for you to play as Snoopy to collect balloons in order to raise his friend Woodstock’s, the yellow bird’s nest from the ground.

The games graphics are replicated from the hand drawn cartoon they are essentially replications of the cartoon strip which are perfectly suitable. Fans of the cartoon will be very happy indeed.

The game’s sounds are typical MIDI based and acceptable.

Snoopy’s playability is very good since it requires only one button! You could compare it to the Johnny Crash series in this regard but Snoopy is a little more technical. As you progress through the levels it does get quite tricky.

You control Snoopy as he flies on his kennel though the air collecting balloons. There are various obstacles like storm clouds and the Red Baron to avoid and powerups like Root beer to collect. You even get to run over Charlie Brown and his friends for extra points.

Overall easy enough tasks to perfrom made more interesting by that addition of new obstacles with each new level. Eg. Barn Storming

The game is targetted at a younger audience since is a lot of help on screen including a mini map at the top! Nonetheless still challenging.

Conclusion: It is great little game that’s easy to play. It does not have the immediate addictiveness of the Johnny Crash series but overall interesting enough for casual player and fans of the cartoon.

January 17, 2009

Game Review – Star Wars The Force Unleashed

NAME: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
VERSION: 1.0.8
COMPANY: THQ & Universomo
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Action/Movie
SIZE: 512 KB
TEST PHONE: Nokia 6500
RATING: 7/10
DEMO:

Welcome to our Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Mobile game (Java version) review.

The game is a massive 512KB in size so we where expecting big things from this game! Mind you 512kb on a PC is tiny but as cell phone games go 1/2 a meg should mean that it will be a reasonable game.

The Force Unleashed is clearly a Star Wars game released in conjunction with the Xbox, Wii, PS2 and even DS versions. The mobile version is quite different from the others for obvious reasons. However the premise is essentially the same.

The story line set between Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith and Episode 4 – A New Hope is relatively simple you play as the Darth Vader’s secret apprentice who under various orders goes about the galaxy wiping out any remaining Jedi Knights. Throughout the game you get various cut scenes and dialogue that progress the story and of course the game difficulty.

The quality of graphics in the game are quite good for a 2D game. The action sprites and backgrounds work very well and in keeping with most of the other Star Wars games made in 2D. Characters from the original series and some from the pre-queal series also make an appearance. Including Liea and Wookies.

The quality of the sound is likewise good using higher quality MIDI and instruments. The soundtrack is typical Star Wars which is perfectly acceptable.

In terms of playability Universomo have developed a new system of controlling the action. So you don’t directly control the actual movement of the character rather you key in combinations (called Weaving) that appear on enemies the screen. Your character then attacks the character for the sequence you keyed in. As a method it works very well!

However there is a problem and that is to do with the large amount of variance in the keypads on your mobile phone these days. So if you have a Sony Ericsson K800i or a Nokia 6500 the keypads are quite stiff so you’ll have a hard time keying in the sequences fast enough and without error. If you have a small phone even worse because it can’t really be played one handed. The method would probably work better on a touch screen.

Each level is paced for 2-3 minutes if you do the right tasks which makes it playable on a bus or train. However the two handed controls, required for speed. Getting used to the control system takes a little while but once learned its quite repetitive and easy enough. However that still does nto solve the keypad problem.

Each level also reveals a new force power for you to use and various powerups available in the game. Again you need to type the correct pattern to use it. There is a free play mode along with 3 hardness levels AND unlimited lives which makes up for the novel control system.

Conclusion: It is a pure light saber/force game but the pressing so many buttons distracts you from actually watching the game rather – you are looking at the keypad to find the right shape to make. It is a game for the fans of the movies or those who want a bit of a physical challenge or one with a cell phone that has a soft touch keypad. So overall a decent game that takes more time than usual to get used to but ultimately enjoyable.

January 16, 2009

Telstra/ZTE F852 Review
Welcome to the Telstra/ZTE F852 mobile phone review. This model is essentially a replacement for the F256 but in a higher quality clam shell and better screen. We only had this phone a a little while before choosing the other models because the OS is virtually the same as the F256 with graphical improvements. We wanted something different. Speaking of which the main internal screen is much better due to the upgrade to 240 x 320 pixel or QVGA resolution although the external display remains the same. The main feature missing is a FM radio which is an important selling point these days since the iPod still doesn't have one. The main feature is that it has access to the NextG or 3G network and web based functionality that entails. However you will need a decent web access plan to make use of it. Conclusion All up the Telstra/ZTE F852 is another typically good mobile phone. It's easy to use and looks reasonably good. Targeted in the mid range sales category it works really well just like it's predecessors if you can live without a FM radio. Specifications
- Telstra/ZTE F852
- Network Dual-band 3G HSDPA 3.6 / 850 / 2100 MHz Quad-band GSM 850 / 900/1800 /1900 MHz)
- Design Clam Shell L98.5 x W50 x D19 mm Weight 110 grams
- Display/s Intenal TFT 240 x 320
- Camera 2MP auto-focus main camera
- Connectivity USB Bluetooth V1.2 - Supports FTP / HFC / A2DP
- CPU 225 or 146MHz Processor
- Memory 64MB internal memory 45MB available to user Up to 2Gig MicroSD or Trans Flash cards
- Ring tones MP3, MMF, MIDI, Vibration
- Features SMS, MMS, WAP, EMAIL MyWords predictive text JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free Customizable backgrounds Picture Viewer Video calling Voice memos Calender and organizer 140Hrs Standby, 150 minutes Talk Time
- Package contents XP/Vista Compatible PC suite Personal hands free kit Travel charger USB cable
- Price history Between $499 AUS 2009
January 4, 2009