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Category: Mobile Phone

  • Telstra T90 Review
    Welcome to the Telstra/ZTE T90 mobile phone review.  This is one of the newest models (late 2009) that has been released.  The Telstra/ZTE T90 as you see a is a ruggerized phone meaning it for those who drop phones or like to keep one handy for outdoor activities.  It's IP54 rated which means its much tougher than your average mobile phone.  The stand out feature is that it is one of the few ruggerised 3G capable phone. Sure its not designed to the extent as the Sonim XP3 for example, which also has GPS but the T90 looks as if it could. (The new T90 is not a  replacement for the Testra/ZTE F159 since the 159 has A-GPS) The T90's construction is solid and the edgy design makes it one of the best looking and practical phones in this category.  Sure the pictures does not reflect the actual physical phone but it is pretty close.   However it is still toy like but may just be a best seller based on this purpose.  It's a man's phone!  It is not a small phone but light enough and feels quite sturdy.  Not sure how the screen would stand up to scratches so an additional screen protector is probably essential.  The T90 is better than the F159 in this regard. The functionality offered by the phone is no different from the other Telstra or re-branded ZTE models so you get all the basics for voice and video calls, texts, music, pictures, contacts, calendar, FM radio and internet.  You have to purchase other apps to get more interesting stuff.  Like the other phones in the Telstra/ZTE product range the web browser is next to useless on all but the Telstra WAP site. They say the screen can be read in day light but we think it is a tad dim.  The F159 seems to have better go at day light visibility. Being a dedicated 3G or NextG phone it also has all the GSM and UTMS frequencies. So you should be able to use the phone anywhere in the world.  As a bonus it has better transceiver hardware so it can still pull a signal in areas where a normal mobile phone give up. All the latest Telstra branded mobile phones are now Windows and MacOS compatible.  However you must install the new 'JoinME' application on your PC or Mac before it you can Sync or backup data.  The 'JoinME' software is included with the phone and is relatively simple to use.  With the software installed you can also use the phone as a wireless broadband modem but you'd better have a decent data plan for that. Conclusion All up the Telstra/ZTE T90 is a perfect phone for outdoors adventure types, in particular trades people.  Although the underlying functionality is identical to most of the other Telstra/ZTE phones available but at least this one has a genuine selling point compared to most.  Unfortunately the outright price is quite high too. Specifications
    • Telstra/ZTE T90
    • Features IP54 standard compliant shock resistant water and dust protection
    • Network Tri-band UMTS 850 / 1900 / 2100 / MHz 3G HSDPA 3.6 Quad-band GSM 850 / 900/1800 /1900 MHz
    • Design Rugged - Standard L107 x W47 x D14 mm Weight 108 grams
    • Display/s Intenal TFT 176 x 220
    • Camera Dual cameras 2MP auto-focus main camera
    • Connectivity USB Bluetooth V1.2 - Supports FTP / HFC / A2DP
    • Memory 64MB internal memory 40MB available to user Up to 8Gig 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 200Hrs Standby, 3.5 hours Talk Time 1000ha
    • Package contents XP/Vista Compatible PC suite Mac OSX Compatible software Personal hands free kit Travel charger USB cable User manual
    • Price history Approx $xxx Available only on a monthly plan.

  • Telstra/ZTE T106 Review
    Welcome to the Telstra/ZTE T106 mobile phone review. I our opinion this model is essentially a T6 model in a classier case. The T106 differentiates its self from the other models in the range by a partly metal body.  It's construction is solid but the design of the case and buttons are not exactly up there with the other manufacturers.  However higher quality materials are used than the T6 and predecessors. Probably one of the better made cheap pre-paid mobile phones you can get at the moment. The screen is a tad small or rather the same size as the other ZTE model.  Specs say it has a resolution of 176 x 144 but I think it looks better than that - it is definitely 176 X 220, regardless it is perfectly acceptable and readable whatever it really is. The functionality offered by the phone is no different from the other Telstra or re-branded ZTE models so you get all the basics for voice and video calls, texts, music, pictures, contacts, calendar. FM radio and internet.  You have to purchase other apps to get more interesting stuff.  Like T6 the web browser is next to useless on all but the Telstra WAP site. Being a dedicated 3G or NextG phone it also has all the GSM and UTMS frequencies. So you should be able to use the phone anywhere in the world.  As a bonus it has better transceiver hardware so it can still pull a signal in areas where a normal mobile phone give up. Conclusion All up the Telstra/ZTE T106 is another typically good but increasingly basic mobile phone.  It is the older T6 in a new more stylist case.  Yes it does look better than the other models in the ZTE range and low end phones but that is it.  You will be happy with it because it because at the current low pre-paid price there is very little competition.  Great for talk and text, receiving emails and the odd video call. Specifications
    • Telstra/ZTE T106
    • Network Tri-band 3G HSDPA 3.6 / UMTS 850 / 2100 MHz Quad-band GSM 850 / 900/1800 /1900 MHz)
    • Design Rugged - Standard L107 x W47 x D14 mm Weight 108 grams
    • Display/s Intenal TFT 176 x 220
    • Camera Dual cameras 2MP auto-focus main camera
    • Connectivity USB Bluetooth V1.2 - Supports FTP / HFC / A2DP
    • CPU 270MHz Processor
    • Memory 64MB internal memory 40MB 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 200Hrs Standby, 3.5 hours Talk Time 1000ha
    • Package contents XP/Vista Compatible PC suite Mac OSX Compatible software Personal hands free kit Travel charger USB cable
    • Price history Under $60 AUD Late-2010 (Pre-paid) Under $90 AUD Mid-2010 (Pre-paid) From $99 AUD 2009 (Pre-paid)

  • Motorola V3xx Review

    hyp4mhz
    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)

  • Telstra/ZTE T7 Review

    hyp4mhz
    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

  • 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

  • Telstra/ZTE T165i Review

    hyp4mhz
    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

  • 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

  • Nokia E71 Review
    Welcome to our review of the Nokia E71. (First time we've managed to post a review relatively quickly.) The E71 is the replacement for the relatively popular E61i release about 12 months ago. It's the only Qwerty keyboard based mobile phone made by the company. Like it's predecessors the E71 is an amalgamation of all Nokia has learnt to date since the introduction of the original E61. First impressions are excellent. The E71 looks fantastic! Construction wise, it uses real metal but this time thinner than the past models to save weight. Smoked stainless steel and high quality plastics where necessary really add to the impression of expense and class. It's also very thin. It's seems more just 1 generation away from the slate like predecessors. We liken the new model as the RAZR of the QWERTY keyboard phones, except that the quality of the Nokia is noticeably superior. No creaky panels or detail that would fade. The keys have a nice quality feel when you press them. Pictures do not do this phone justice. Nokia has packed so much technology in such a small size in the E71. It features every single wireless and wired connection option you could want: Wi-Fi, Infrared, bluetooth, USB, GSM and 3G. Yes it has Infrared! So we can still exchange contacts with older phones or use it as a modem and even Sync with other computers without all that mucking around with bluetooth pairing and USB drivers. We can still run our handy universal TV/Video/Stereo remote controllers. Infrared rules. Other features (entertainment) include and crisp 320x240 pixel screen, dual cameras/video, autofocus, flash, barcode reader, 2.5mm headphone socket for the FM (RDS) radio and internet radio, VOIP, voice recorder, MP3 and MP4 player and the list goes on. Fantastic considering that this is not a dedicated multi-media phone! Since this is an E series phone there are a ton of work applications that are pre-loaded. Word, Excel, Powerpoint editors, dictionary, Notes, ZIP, PDF, wireless printer connectivity, clocks, calendar, unit convertors, VPN and of course Internet. The most amazing feature is the built in GPS. Nokia's Maps software has been updated to the point that I think it is better than Google Maps for your mobile. You can download the maps for free but it doesn't tell you the directions. You have to subscribe for voice and trip guidence - fair enough. Google maps requires constant 3G or wi-fi connection and you don't get locations like shops, hotel and so forth.  Nokia Maps has the lot like regular GPS systems! The A-GPS system used on the E71 is actually quite good.  It picks up the GPS satellites from turn on as quick as the TomTom One or quicker.  (Average of 10 secs)  Like the TomTom though if you have traveled a significant distance from the last time you used the GPS it takes a little more time to lock on.  That said you must make sure the A-GPS (uses the network towers but not data) is turned on otherwise it can take several miutes to get a proper fix on your location. The next amazing feature (for 2008) is the web browser. Nokia has updated it from the past versions and it worked on ALL websites we tried - to date. It even shows Flash content and Youtube on the same screen. The first mobile phone browser to do this! Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoomail and all news sites worked! The only problem we encountered where with WordPress BLOGS - the editing of text when scrolling is required is a hit and miss. This can be overcome by writing your entries in the notepad and cutting and pasting into the browser. Nokia's web browser is better than the one on the iPhone or iTouch -at least on this phone. The only short fall is that the E71's screen is smaller than previous models. (Update: After installing the latest phone software we discovered that the E71 can play FLV files from Youtube without additional software!  We knew the web browser could already do this but it brilliant that it can play them out of the browser as well.  Give it go - we really like this phone and you probably will too!) New and useful features worth a mention on the E71 include data encryption, Music store, Podcasting, Standard bar and QR code readers. Nokia's thrown in MS Messenger LIVE and Yahoo GO applications so you can IM all you want. The only thing missing from prior models is the emulated Blackberry compatibility. We where also surprised to find that Nokia has included a 2GIG memory card as part of the sales package! We also liked the remote auto lock feature so that if you lose your phone you can send it an SMS to lock it. You have to set this up and your passwords - so do it! You never know when you could lose your phone. As for operating speed, Nokia has clearly improved the S60 interface's speed, menu navigation is immediate, and running programs are noticeably faster than prior models. It only seems to pause when starting up JAVA based programs but this applies to all phones we've ever tried. Overall excellent. Conclusion: The E71 is a great phone! I dare say it's the best Nokia mobile phone out of the entire range - at least in July 2008. Fast, looks good with a ton of functionality. Sure menu navigation is old hat and getting crowded due to the huge amount of features but that applies to all E and N series Nokia's. If tossing up between the new N series phones have a long hard think because the E71 does 90% of what the N series in terms of entertainment but 110% of day to day functions. Nokia should be applauded as to how they managed to cram all the hardware and software into such a small mobile phone. If you want the most complete mobile phone to date in a elegant design then buy one no need for any decision making needed. If you've got a E61 or E61i it's a no brainer you will be impressed. Note: Nokia has included a few 'extras' in the packaging this time! We a custom hard/slip case, a 2.5mm headset with mic, micro USB connector and a wrist lanyard. The thing we most liked was the screen protector that didn't hide any of the screen's icons as per prior models. The case and screen protector are hard to purchase separately so don't lose them! Price history $595-650 AUS 2008 Manufacturer : Nokia Model : E71 OS: Nokia S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 CPU: ARM 11 369Mhz Network : Country dependent - Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) 3G WCDMA 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz Design: Mini-keyboard 114 x 57 x 10 mm Weight: 127 grams White/Black Display/s : 16Million 24-bit colour TFT - 240 x 320 pixels Main Camera : 3.2MP Camera with auto focus, 8xzoom and dual flash Video Camera : up to 320×240 auto focus, 4xzoom, 15 FPS Video phone Camera: 128 x 96 pixels Video capable MP4, WMV, 3GPP, RealMedia, Flash, FLV Connectivity : Bluetooth, Infrared, USB, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g FM Radio - VOIP Memory : 110 MB internal memory MicroSD memory Hot Swap Up to 8 GB SD and SDHC Ring tones : AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MP3, MP4, WMA, AMR-NB, Mobile XMF, SP-MIDI, MIDI Tones (poly 64), True tones Animated screensavers (powersaver) FlashLite2 and Flashlite3 capable A-GPS JAVA MIDP 2.0 Modem for PC Web browser (WAP 2.0 - xHTML) Mono Speaker Phone/Hands free Media player with 2.5mm RCA socket. Speed : Vs Nokia 6230 Navigation 10/10 Battery Life : BP-4L 1500mAh Li Ion Claimed operating times: Standby 20 days - network dependent Voice 10.5 hours - network dependent Sample camera :

  • Telstra F256 Review
    Welcome to the Telstra/ZTE F256 mobile phone review. Once again Telstra has physically and rebranded a ZTE model. Rebranding in this fashion is quite farcical since when you go back to Telstra to get the phone fixed and told to go to ZTE. Telling it 'like it is' Telstra, if you want to rebrand phones with your logo then you have a responsibility to get it fixed. That goes to all manufacturers who do this sort of thing. The ZTE F256 was another initial release phone for the the Telstra NextG network. It's was one the the only flip phones that was available at the time of the network's launch back in 2006. Lately this model has dropped significantly in price and also become a pre-paid phone. You can get only on the pre-paid scheme but locked to the Telstra network for as low as $69. (Previously it was priced at $249) It now undercuts the F152 and F56 by half. But is it good value? Top save you reading the entire review if you get bored easily, the F256 is really just a flip phone version of the F152 and F156 but cheaper! Battery Life The battery life of the F256 is very good. On standby essentially 7 days. With normal usage 3-4 days. Since it operates on the NextG (850Mhz 3G) network its a bordering on excellent in most instances. Note that batteries are not compatible with the F156. Speed The phone operations are very fast. Menu navigation and running applications are flawless. Turns on and off quickly too! Since it's a 3G phone loading web pages and streaming videos work really well. It does have HSDPA so the quality of the streaming video quality and the sound is just as good as more expensive phones. However the volume of the loud speaker is on the soft side. Camera/Video Picture quality is OK for a mobile phone. Like older 3G phone it has only one camera that you rotate if you want a face shot or regular photos or video camera. Picture quality is the same as the other phones in the ZTE lineup. See the specifications for more details. It has the capability to record videos in MP4 format or 3GP format which is nice. Media Player The MP3 player included is basic missing multiple playlists, EQ, ID3 tag display, and easy navigation. At least it sounds reasonable through the head phones. The only problem is that is uses it's micro-USB connection as the headphone socket. So you can not charge the phone or do data transfers and listen to music through the headphones at the same time. This is not a media focused phone so we were not expecting a lot of functionality anyway. Screen The internal screen used on this phone reflects its pricing position. It's the industry standard circa 2006 176 x 220 pixels with 262K colours. Specifications indicate a sharp and clear screen but in reality it's nothing special. Its probably because of its slightly larger is size. The screen's back light is very good with adjustable levels. The external screen is small but appears sharp and clear indicating that it's a TFT - no specifications where included in the box so at a guess it's 80 x 40 pixels. Construction Like almost all Telstra/ZTE phones the major flaw is the construction materials. Don't believe the pictures it doesn't look as good in real life. Yes like the others it is sturdy but just looks and feels bargain basement. The flip mechanism works well and is sturdy. The buttons look like they are metal but we think they have just glossy surface so we think it'ss plastic. The deforming micro SD card cover is a shocker but at least it has one! Functionality It is a 3G phone so you'd expect a reasonable offering. Indeed it doesn't let you down. It has everything you'd expect in a mobile phone made in 2007. However it lacks a lot of customization features that would make ownership more enjoyable. Also lack of any additional content in terms of games of wallpaper images for wallpapers was also disappointing. All manufacturers include at least 1 or 2 additional images and games that have been optimized for the phone's screen these days. At least there are the numerous ring tones. For the customization features it does have it has pre-set phone groups and custom ring tones. It can run JAVA games and other applications but we haven't tried it yet. Call quality Overall very good. Callers and us where heard without any break up or static. We where impressed that the F256 has the ability to connect an external antenna - to boost the signal - this is a rare feature in 2008 and I hope they continue to include it. We certainly use it. Network It has almost all frequencies you need 3G HSDPA and UMTS in 850Mhz or 2100Mhz, GSM 900, 1800 and 1900. Not many phones have dual 3G frequencies which is thus a stand out. Network reception seems in our 'marginal' area is good but should be better. In fact the GSM signal was always better then the 3G signal for Telstra. Whether its the actual network coverage or phone receiver we aren't quite sure. Conclusion All up the Telstra/ZTE F256 is a good mobile phone. In fact the entire range or variants of the current ZTE line-up are reasonable phones. All use the same underlying phone OS hence all have the same functionality. Price differences are just that and dependent on demand and marketing of particular models. For the price catergory for 2008 they are in they are hard to beat. For example not many are Tri-band GSM and dual band 3G phone with bluetooth, memory card expansion a decent screen. The only thing missing are more customization options. Only being able to change wallpapers and ring tones is pretty lame in 2008. So a good, stable but cheap looking mobile phone. If your after 'personality' in a phone look else where. Specifications
    • Telstra/ZTE F256
    • Network 3G HSDPA / UMTS 850 / 2100 MHz Tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz)
    • Design Flip or clam shell phone L99 x W49 x D19 mm Weight 125 grams
    • Display/s Intenal TFT 176 x 220, 262K colours External TFT
    • Camera 1.3 MP main camera
    • Connectivity USB
    • CPU 225MHz Processor
    • Memory 64MB internal memory 47-48MB 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 Bluetooth V1.2 - Supports FTP / HFC / A2DP Speaker Phone/Hands free Customizable backgrounds Picture Viewer Video calling Voice memos Calender and organizer 200 Hrs Standby, 180 Mins Talk Time
    • Package contents Vista Compatible PC suite Personal hands free kit Travel charger
    • Price history Between $69-249 AUS PRE-PAID 2008