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Category: Windows Phone OS

  • Apple iOS Vs Android Vs Microsoft Windows Phone 2016

    hyp4mhz
    To start of 2016 we decided to once again compare the 3 main mobile phone operating systems again to see what's changed and to assess our own views on which is the best system to get. Apple iOS is used only for Apple's iPhones. Many are familiar with the system over the years and it is one of slickest systems out there. It is limited by the hardware it runs on and Apple's inability to innovate functionality further than the basics. Flaws are getting bigger too especially when official Apple accessories do not work with current models and problems with iTunes is half only half of it, for 2016 it's probably gone backwards overall in terms of ease of use. iOS also requires the latest hardware to run properly. We also hate the notification system downloading Apple biased news. Gone are the days when iOS was the most efficient its now sluggish on any model other than the latest. Android OS is used by every other manufacturer and many are familiar with the way it works. Android is a slick as iOS in default mode used but the Nexus models. Although Google develops the core other manufacturers have taken to modifying it with wildly different results. The best implementation is arguably Sony but it needs to cut back on 'Sony' experience Apps which can be combined into 2 apps not 6 or more as it is now. Samsung's Android version is the next best experience with genuinely useful mods however it makes it the interface not as slick as the others. The bare bones Nexus is probably the next best as it requires a number of other apps before it can be fully utilised which is arguably the point. Most models have microSD expansion which means longer life and easy data transfers and added to the ability of Android to play any movie, music file for example is brilliant. Unfortunately the amazing functionality of Android can still make it confusing to first time users. Windows Phone OS is very good no question. Easily the slickest and easiest to use on any sort of hardware. Just plug it into any Windows PC and you can manage your content. Lots of new features have improved usability and speed. We think it will thane the world a little longer to realise how good it is. The biggest problem is still the lack of Apps  but give it a little more time. We think Android and Windows Phone have advanced the most since the last time we reviewed them and should be your next choice in mobile phones.  

  • Nokia Lumia Icon 930 Review

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    Welcome to the 2014 Nokia Lumia Icon otherwise known as the Lumia 930 review. The Lumia 930/Icon runs Windows Phone 8.1 the most current version of the OS and can be regarded as one of the top range phones from Nokia. We believe it replaces the Lumia 925. This Lumia Icon/930 is currently available in the US market as we post this review, since we where fortunate enough to be in the country at the time. We estimate The release price of around $700 $620 outright in Australia since its was retailing for USD $599 unlocked. Since we've covered Windows 8 phones before and regard them as one of the best platforms around we won't cover the operating system in detail. Yes, it theLumia 930 will come with 8.1 as standard that most will not even know the difference since they wouldn't have tried one before. Instead we'll focus on what are the highlights of the latest Lumia 930 series. Needless to say that all messaging bases are covered, SMS, Email, Skype, Twitter, Facebook and work genuinely as well as an others. The omission of desktop Outlook Sync is also disappointing for those who don't want to use the cloud just yet and of course the lack of Apps, however that is slowly changing. In terms of construction and design the Lumia Icon/930 is literally the best one mobile phone currently available. Hence it is the best looking Windows 8 phone currently available. Yes it beats the HTC One and even the iPhone 5 in particular making that phone look dated and clumsy being made of too many pieces (Steve Jobs would be most disappointed by the latest iPhone). We where immediately attracted to the Lumia when we first saw and tested it, the looks, feel, weight and even size all was just about right. The 930 may be thicker than the others but it's tank like feel makes it better than the too light Galaxy S5 and brittle iphone 5s. The matt finish plastic back, metal frame and slightly curved front panel screams minimalism with elegance which the Apple phones lost years ago. The internal hardware features a fast quad core CPU, wireless charging, the latest Gorilla glass hardened touch screen and all the known mobile frequencies.  It also features a decent camera and video recording capability. The picture quality is not as good as the Lumia 1020 but then again no camera phone comes close to the 1020. Over the Lumia Icon/930 picture quality are as good if not better than a your typical point and shoot camera like the Canon IXUS which means fantastic results. The Lumia's OLED touch screen's colors and brightness rate a huge mention since it is literally gorgeous to look at. It's black is really the blackest we've seen and the color reproduction is even better than any of Sony's Xperia series. Since you can also adjust the color reproduction it is a secret not many high end phones seem to have! The 5 inch screen is just about the right size in 2014. In terms of Apps and operation Windows phones are easy to use and have all the functionality for everyday use as per Android or iPhone 5. The Lumia Icon/930 is no different and is easily recommended for any type of phone user. Of note is Nokia's Drive and Here Apps, which allow you to download GPS and road maps instead of using your data allocation to download them every time. We found it very useful when driving in the rental car in the US on the Lumia 625 downloaded before departure since international data roaming pack we had was tiny. Unfortunately the Icon/930 is not perfect and omits one key feature. There is no memory expansion slot. But the stand outs in the class outweigh this shortfall, for examples the loud speaker it actually the best amongst it's competitors. The 930 can also pull in phone signals better than any other phone in the same class. The 930's call quality is also and literally the best on the class, easily better then the iPhone6 or Galaxy S5. The end result is that the Lumia Icon/930 is a great looking phone and backed up with all the features you'd expect. It is one of the best mobile phones available currently and one you need to seriously consider. The only thing holding it back is the marketing department of Microsoft and Nokia which just don't seem to get it. It's a great phone that will appeal to anyone straight away. Specifications
    • Nokia Lumia 930 Icon
    • Network Quad-band GSM (all of them) Penta-band 3G (all of them) Penta-band 4G LTE (all of them)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L137 x W71 x D9.8 mm
    • Weight 167 grams
    • Display/s 5 inch HD 1920 x 1080
    • Camera 20MP
    • Video Camera 1080p HD pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4 NFC
    • CPU 2.2 Ghz Dual-Core
    • Memory Up to 32 Gig on board No expandable memory
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS, Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light, Gyroscope, Magnemometer Windows Mobile Store for Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email, Skye FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2420mAh battery Up to 18 days Standby Up to 15.5 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $620 AUS 2014 (Outright)

  • Nokia Lumia 925 Review

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    Welcome to the 2013 Nokia Lumia 925 review. The Lumia 925 running Windows Phone 8 at the start of 2013 was the former top end of  Nokia's Windows phone line up designed to compete directly with Samsung S4 and the iPhone 5. Of course this is all history now since Microsoft bought the phone division off Nokia then Apple released the Less than impressive iPhone 5S and Nokia presumably released its last ever range topping smart phone the Lumia 1020 with the world's best camera on a phone. The 925 is now available on various plans and outright purchase for around $500. In terms of design the Lumia 925 is more conventional than other Nokia phone's. It's basically a alloy frame sandwiched between glass front and plastic rear. Unfortunately it is definitely not elegant or stylish compared to other Nokia's but it is very well made. In fact we prefer the plastic or polymer case on other Nokia's of late as it's feels different yet quality and hard wearing that you don't really need as case for protection. The glass touch panel is 'Gorilla' so scratched are hard to come by in normal usage. In terms of hardware, the Lumia 925 is high end and one of the best specs for a Windows Phone 8 that you can get at the moment. Mind you like the iPhone it doesn't need the latest quad core CPU to work smoothly. Unfortunately there are 2 keep features missing from a phone of this class, they are expandable memory and the ability to change batteries on the go. The 4.5 inch screen is a good size in late 2013 and the screen resolution and colors are  excellent. If you see the specifications below, the 925 will work with any network available so not point in being to geek like about it! The camera is also slightly better than any other smartphone to date except for the Lumia 1020 naturally... In terms of software the Lumia 925 has all the key benefits and shortfalls that any Windows Phone 8 based phone. However Nokia have added their own touches that addresses any issues for example, free music streaming, downloadable GPS map data, decent internet browser and so forth. More 3rd party Apps will come in time. We still don't like the requirement to have a a Outlook email address before the Calendar and other functions will work. Sure it is required for every Android and iPhone these days for very good reasons but we don't like it. If you don't mind using Windows Phone 8 you'll be very happy with the Lumia 925. It is a great smart phone all round and better than any other Windows phone at the time of this post anyway (November 2013) but can't help thinking it should be a little cheaper, only because it is an all rounder and no key selling point - which may by the ultimate purpose of the phone? Specifications
    • Nokia Lumia 925
    • Network Quad-band GSM (all of them) Penta-band 3G (all of them) Penta-band 4G LTE (all of them) HSDPA Very fast - dependent on phone company HSUPA Very fast - dependent on phone company
    • Design Touch screen
    • L129 x W70.6 x D8.5 mm
    • Weight 139 grams
    • Display/s 4.5 inch External 1280 x 768
    • Camera 8MP
    • Video Camera 1080p HD pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU 1.5 Ghz Dual-Core
    • Memory Up to 16 Gig on board No expandable memory
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light Windows Mobile Store for Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2000mAh battery Up to 450 hours Standby Up to 18 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $500 AUS November 2013 (Outright)

  • Nokia Lumia 625 Review

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    Welcome to the 2013 Nokia Lumia 625 review. The Lumia 625 released in mid 2013 is the latest Windows OS based phones designed to complete with the low end of the mobile phone market. It also happens to be one of the last from Nokia, now that Microsoft have bought the company. The Recommend retail price of the Lumia 625 is $365 but you can easily find it priced nearer $300 and as low as $199 as part of a pre-paid package. At this of price in 2013 there are very few phones that approach it in terms of functionality and value for money! In terms of construction the Lumia 625 has a soft tactile plastic changeable back and a gorilla glass screen. Thanks to the removable covers it means that you don't really need to purchase a phone case for it. It is durable and dropping the phone is unlikely to damage it. It is solid to hold and not overly big or small. It's actually quite classy compared to any Samsung model and easily more expensive looking and feeling the the iPhone 5c. In terms of hardware specifications the Lumia 625 has a lot of up to date features but at this price point misses out on the best components. The 4.7 inch screen is large and very clear despite only having 480 x 800 pixels is genuinely a good thing, it is not the fuzzy experience you get on Android based phones of similar pricing. Sure the screen resolution be be better especially when you compare it side by side against the 925 series but that's twice the price so for 2013 no complaints against the 625. Ignore the other reports that it is sub-par screen because clearly they haven't used one. The camera, A-GPS, microSD memory slot, FM radio, camera are perfectly acceptable at this price point in 2013. The bonus of extra fast 4G or LTE download speed capability is also an amazing inclusion - at this price. Nokia truly knows its hardware and pricing - pity about the it's previous corporate short sightedness. In terms of use the Windows 8 based Lumia 625 is very slick. The menu navigation is smooth, the apps run pretty quickly in fact there is nothing to really complain about at this price point. It is better than virtually any Android based smart phone around this price. Any complaints can be solely leveled at the various issues with Windows 8 rather than Nokia's implementation. Sure there needs to be more Apps but the competitors store didn't get built in a day either!  Of note and as always is the free Nokia Drive and Maps which allows you to download maps and data for any country and use it as a without using data and as a stand alone navigator for free is a excellent incentive. We liked the Lumia 625 and purchased one as a reference model. It's a great package for the average user who wants an easy to use large screen phone for calls, emails, texts, Skype and the odd game of solitaire. By our own experiences the strangely popular jewel matching games that the vast majority play on the train to work really well on the large screen. Surprisingly, thanks to the smaller viewing angle keeps what we're doing more private than any other mobile phone we've tried to date and yet offering very good image quality! The Lumia 625 is fast and has enough features for the majority of phone users and well worth a look if you want a new mobile phone purchased outright. It is also better than the smaller Lumia 520, one of favorite budget smart phones. In the end the only thing annoying about the phone  was the side located power switch and the separate camera button. Both buttons are convenient but you end up pressing them accidently all the time which is annoying. So if you can live with that you have a truly great value mobile phone the Nokia 625 is the model to get. Specifications
    • Nokia Lumia 625
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Dependent on network) Tri-band 3G 850/900/2100 (Dependent on network) Dual Band LTE 800/1800/2600 (Dependent on network)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L133.3 x W72.3 x D9.2 mm
    • Weight 159 grams
    • Display/s 4.7 inch External 480 x 800
    • Camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 720 HD pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU 1.2 Ghz
    • Memory Up to 8 Gig on board Up to 64GB MicroSD
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light Windows Mobile Store for Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2000mAh battery Up to 550 hours Standby Up to 24 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx Less than $300 AUS November 2013 (Outright)

  • Nokia Lumia 520 Review

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    Welcome to the 2013 Nokia Lumia 520 review. The 520 is the latest Windows OS based phones designed to complete with the low end of the mobile phone market. The Recommend retail price of the Lumia 520 is $229 but you can easily find it priced under $200 and as low as $169 as part of a pre-paid package. At this of price in 2013 there are no other phones that approach it in terms of functionality and options - read on for the reasons why! In terms of construction the 520 is very well made despite being made of plastic. I think its the matt and soft touch surface that lifts the quality feel of the phone. You can also change the color of the entire rear panel! The 520 feel better in the hand than any other phone in this price range - easily. In terms of hardware specifications the main thing missing from the Lumia 520 is a camera flash but it does come with a specific camera button on the side. The screen size and quality is excellent for a phone in this price range. The CPU is a dual core 1 Ghz but since Windows doesn't use much power AKA like the iPhone it is more than adequate. All the usual senors are present along with a slot for microSD card and standard battery life. In terms of use the Windows interface can be described as boring but it is very smooth, responsive and does everything you could reasonably want. It is certainly as good as Android phones and more responsive than even the iphone. All the functions are easy to find and quick to access including one of the best GPS navigation software on any platform, Xbox, Music  subscription services and MS Office - Word, Excel and Powerpoint editing capability. The Web browser is also one of the quickest on a phone. However as with all Windows phones at the moment there are a relatively small number of  3rd party Apps to choose from. If you don't mind using Windows 8 for mobile phones you'll be very happy with the Lumia 520. There's nothing else like with the same functionality for the under $200 price, which can only drop. Only the characteristics of Windows 8 for phones will annoy but we're sure Microsoft will fix them over time. In the end we highly recommend the Lumia 520 it is a very good phone on a budget. Specifications
    • Nokia Lumina 520
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Dependent on network) Penta or Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 (Dependent on network) HSDPA 7.2 Mbps data speed (download) HSUPA 5.7 Mbps (upload)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L119.9 x W64 x D9.9 mm
    • Weight 124 grams
    • Display/s 4 inch External 480 x 800
    • Camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 720 HD pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V2.1
    • CPU 1.4 Ghz
    • Memory Up to 8 Gig on board Up to 32GB MicroSD
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light Windows Mobile Store for Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 13000mAh battery Up to 360 hours Standby Up to 14.8 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $200 AUS 2013 (Outright)

  • Nokia 920 Review

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    Welcome to the 2013 Nokia 920 review. The Nokia 920 is Nokia's latest flagship smart phone using the latest Windows 8 operating system. You can buy it by a variety of methods but the plan scheme seems to be the most affordable due to promotion pricing rather than out right at the time this review was written. The 920 is definitely the top end of the Windows Phone's currently featuring one of the best mobile phone cameras, screens and CPU technology. Outright pricing is a approximately $799 but there are cheaper places of course! The construction is typical Nokia which means it looks and feels good in the hand despite being made of plastic. The various colours are a nice touch but we think that only yellow, grey black and the white ones will gain any sort of sales. There is nothing outstanding about the way it made which is slightly disappointing but nothing that an after cover can fix easily. In terms of hardware the Nokia 920 has all the latest connectivity options including 4G and NFC. The screen while not the highest resolution available is actually quite good to look at. It is a pit that that there is nothing truly unique about the hardware that sets it apart from the other top end phones. In terms of software the latest version of Windows 8 is very boring to look at but easy and very slick to use. We don't know how Microsoft have done it but it does make the iPhone interface feel less than premium.  The off line GPS is also another selling point as are the live tiles, if you can find an App that uses it properly. The only real problem is the inability sync your details with the PC version of Outlook instead of trusting your personal detail on Hotmail, Live of Outlook.com which you should not feel comfortable about - we don't that's for sure. Once again the everything is very good about the Nokia 920 but the lack of Apps, the limited customization, missing local Sync and the lack of any sort of special features make it a very boring phone. Hence we can't write any more about it. It's easy to see why Android and its range of phones is the superior OS at the moment and makes us rethink our decision to convert to Windows OS exclusively. So if you want something that works easily that isn't an iPhone than this is the one to get. Specifications
    • Nokia 920
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Penta or Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 Quad band 4G 700/800/900/1700/1800/1900/2100/2600 dependent on network/country Data speed: very fast on 4G
    • Design Touch screen
    • L130.3x W70.8 x D10.7 mm
    • Weight 185 grams
    • Display/s 4.5 inch External 768 x 1280
    • Camera 8MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera 1080 HD pixel main video camera 720p face camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V3.1 micro-USB
    • CPU 1.5 Ghz Dual core
    • Memory Up to 32 Gig on board
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS Compass Accelerometer Windows Mobile Store for Apps Proximity Ambient Light Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 13000mAh battery Up to 400 hours Standby Up to 7.4 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $799 AUS 2013 (Outright)

  • Apple iOS Vs Android Vs Microsoft Windows Phone

    hyp4mhz
    We often get asked which is our favorite OS for our mobile phone so we decided to do a our first real article and comparison on the big three mobile phone operating systems and some hardware as well! None of the companies send us anything but media releases so there is not bias unlike the majority of commercial websites. In fact there is not interest other than our own. Before continuing we would like to make it clear what our primary choice operating system is: iOS and the Apple iPhone but it has nothing to do with iOS itself but its ability to run apps and music. If Apple had not provided this ease to access to content (music & movies) for mostly a reasonably price we would definitely choose another type of mobile phone. (We currently use Android for our secondary phones!) However we can announce our intention to change to Windows in the next 12 months so we can write up the latest on this 'new' OS. Apart from the apps and content we like Apple's iOS because it's simple and responsive but it is looking very tired in 2012, it has next to no customisation options and very few display settings you can adjust. The much hyped retina display produces details but the images are washed out, opposite of the camera's photos which produce fake over saturated colours. SIRI is the most interesting voice recognition program to date but since it needs the internet to work makes it no more useful than prior attempts. Apple's new maps software is also primitive and huge step backwards form the Google version. It is also annoying to use because once the single button wears out there is very little you can do, especially so when only 12 month into a 24 month contract. Furthermore the lack of a replaceable battery, small screen and no expandable memory is marketing genius but people aren't stupid and will choose alternate phones in a next year or two. We love Android OS for smartphones! much more so than Apple iOS or Windows Phone OS. Simply because the user interface can be made as simple or as complex as you wish. There are plenty of customisation options on Android to play with and plenty of apps to install. Some of the manufacturer's custom Android enhancements and larger screen and superior voice call and reception namely by HTC make it the only choice. (We have a laugh when Apple boasts that it has 3 microphones in the iPhone5 - that's because it really needs it due to lower voice and sound quality in prior iPhones - and honestly it doesn't sound any better) Android's media capabilities are amazing for a mobile phone.  It can play virtually any main stream audio and video format you care to think and one of the key selling points. Finally there are so many options and models to choose from that it makes shopping fun again together with the ability to be an individual. The only problem is that its music is not available in this country otherwise we'd switch immediately. As for Windows Phone OS: it is relatively simple to use, has a great browser and connectivity with Outlook, LIVE and Hotmail, polished apps but next to no customisation options. There are only a few but significant issues we have with all versions a this stage. Firstly none of the models have expandable memory and next there are very few models to choose from. It also takes a bit longer to work out how to do things beyond the basics even adding tiles and a world clock was an interesting experience. Considering that Microsoft has chosen not to allow any but a few insignificant mods to the user interface is a disappointment along with poor media player and lack of apps or cheap content reeks of Apple's monopoly like attitude to phones users which is definitely why it this OS will never be popular as the others. So that's what we think.

  • Nokia 710 Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the 2012 Nokia 710 review. The 710 is one the latest Windows OS based phones to hit the market in 2012 aimed at the mid-range and inevitably lower end of the smart phone market. At the time of writing this post (2012) the Nokia 710 phone's specifications in general are excellent for the current outright price of around $350 outright. (We purchased one for $270 in May) The construction is typical Nokia which means it looks and feels good in the hand despite being made of plastic. The rubberized rear cover is a great and useful touch. The 710 is not the best looking phone but to be honest everyone has some sort of protective case that changes the look of the phone for the worse usually. It also included some of the most useful hardware features missing from the latest phones like a replaceable battery an FM radio and a standard mini-USB slot for charging. In terms of hardware the 710 has all the latest connectivity options and sensors. However due to price it is missing a high end screen and resolution but it is a relatively cheap phone it is hard complain - especially more so when you realise the phone has a high end 1.4Ghz CPU! It is a bargain in this respect. The only flaw with the phone  is that is is missing at least a micro-SD card for memory expansion we believe it is a Windows hardware flaw - which is completely unacceptable. The other trade off for the high powered CPU is that its battery does not last very long. In terms of software the latest version of Windows Mobile (Mango) adds a number of features missing from the original version and closely matches the iPhone OS.  However both are still behind Nokia or superseded Symbian OS and Android. Symbian may have been harder to use but everything is already there. We think Android has a slight lead in terms of functionality but for the majority of phone users these functions would not be of use. Other features include XBox LIVE and of course Microsoft Office which includes compatibility over a number of levels.The availability of off-line GPS maps in the Drive App is selling point. The latest version of Windows Mobile 7.5 is impressive and smooth but spartan to look at. It has the functions that the majority of phone users will want except the key customisation options (and selling point) like those on Android and other Nokia phones.  The music player though still needs some work. The Windows App  store does not have many apps that are the equivalent of those in the Apple store that are certainly useful enough. However the key thing missing is being able to save files on the phone and NOT sharing it with the rest of the world. That said the requirement to store all your details on the Hotmail account is disturbing but convenient. The Nokia 710 is a very good phone for the price and definitely on our best buys list. As one of the few Windows phones you can't go wrong giving it a go.  That said, once it falls below the out right price of $300 price barrier and hit the $250 outright price you are looking at a sell out. Specifications
    • Nokia 710
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Penta or Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 HSDPA 7.2 Mbps data speed (download) HSUPA 5.7 Mbps (upload)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L119 x W62.5 x D12.5 mm
    • Weight 125.5 grams
    • Display/s 3.7 inch External 480 x 800
    • Camera 5MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera 720 HD pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V2.1
    • CPU 1.4 Ghz
    • Memory Up to 8 Gig on board
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS Compass Accelerometer Windows Mobile Store for Apps Proximity Ambient Light Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 13000mAh battery Up to 400 hours Standby Up to 7.4 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $350 AUS 2012 (Outright)

  • Garmin-ASUS Nuvifone A50 Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the 2010 Garmin Nuvifone A50 review. The Nuvifone A50 is our first ever Garmin mobile phone writeup so we had a significant play with the phone. Officially it is branded a Garmin-ASUS which makes it like Sony Ericsson which does sound more impressive. It is priced under $600 as an outright purchase which is a little expensive BUT you do get a proper GPS navigator! First impressions of the phone are good. Decent build quality, including the bright and simple to use menu system.  The Nuvifone A50 functionality is biased towards navigation more than mobile phone so the main menu has nice big icons for navigation and basic phone functions.  You also get the usual web browser, email, and a multitude of Apps that comes with the Android OS. The platform it runs on is customized version of Android 1.6 operating system, so you have access to additional Apps if you wanted to install them and combined with free map updates stored in the phone for the life of the phone which makes the whole package quite desirable. The menu system works really well and just as slick as other Android phones or the iPhone.  However most of the cool stuff that is standard on other Android's are hidden away but at least accessible. The Garmin navigation software on the Nuvifone has be updated to take advantage of mobile phone functionality so it looks like the traditional Garmin menu.  All the usual navigation features are there and it does works better than most App based navigation software you have to buy for other mobile phones. We think its probably the best navigation system you can get. Sure it has some quirks but there's plenty of substance. The phone system of the A50 works as well as any other phone. However in the end many won't get one because while it looks good it doesn't look that good and the mobile phone networks aren't making an effort to publicize its existence.  Maybe a price drop will help? We liked the Nuvifone A50 and so will you if you want one of the best GPS navigator/mobile phone experience available in 2010. Since the map data is on the phone you don't need a huge data plan either which makes the A50 as appealing as the Nokia E series or GPS biased phones. Specifications
    • Garmin-ASUS Nuvifone A50
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 1900/2100 (Dependent on country) HSDPA 7.2 Mbits data speed (download)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L116 x W62.5 x D11.9 mm Weight 140 grams
    • Display/s 3.5 inch External TFT 320 x 480
    • Camera 3MP
    • Video Camera 640 x 480 pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V2
    • CPU 600Mhz
    • Memory 4 Gig on board Up to 256MB available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS Compass Accelerometer JAVA Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 1150mAh battery Up to 18 days Standby Up to 9 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $599 AUS 2010 (Outright)