Plemix

Like its siblings Sapphire and Carbon , the new member of the Nokia 8800 Arte family is christened after the oh-so-precious material that it’s made of: Gold. I guess it is not so difficult to see the reason behind. The material is the selling point. It defines the phone (and its horrendously out-of-this-world price tag!!!!) It glitters for sure, but if it is really good as gold?

The package is one to be envied: the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte phone body, a gold-plated desk stand, a Bluetooth headset, a leather pouch, a battery, a data cable, a charger and a user’s guide.

The gold-plated case of the phone is pretty much where the money goes. It is a real stunner. The luster on the surface can blind one’s eyes. Gold can put up with the erosion from temperature and moisture, which make the phone more durable. It can definitely stand the test of time, but I am skeptical about whether it can stand the test of theft. You may find the 2-inch OLED screen a bit too small, but a smaller screen makes room for more gold. You choose.

The terrace design of the keypad is very pleasing. The keys are large and thumb-friendly. The top row could be arranged with more room so that it’s not that attached to the ridge, but it’s not really a big deal.

The gold-plated desk stand is a delight. It completes the phone as a piece of art. You can appreciate the phone like an exhibit showcasing its beauty upright.

This is the back view. The back and the speaker piece are covered with white leather. Its creamy color does look amazing together with the gold. However, it may easily collect stains and fingerprints.

The BH-803 Bluetooth headset is looking amazing with a touch of gold made especially to match with Gold Arte. (It is silver when the headset is purchased alone)

You can find the battery cover release and loudspeaker piece on either sides of the phone. It is disappointing to find no shutter button for the camera though. (I know the 3 megapixel camera is not really the thing that matters, but still you would want it to be perfect.)

There’s an inbuilt memory of 4GB, without any expandable memory, which is another big letdown.

The menu is the classic Nokia menu. You have seen it all before.

You’ve got all the basic applications that come with a ‘classic’ Nokia phone.

All in all, you have a very clear idea what to expect from such a high maintenance phone, a dazzling design that makes you want to lock the phone in a bulletproof glass safe. If you want HSDPA, WiFi, super effective camera, HD video or any other advanced technology, your money could be more well-spent elsewhere.

Nokia 8800 Gold Arte Video Review

# posted by plemix @ 1:46 AM 0 Comments

The latest additions to Eten’s line of Windows Mobile based phones-X610, which is the successor of Eten X600 with similar look but packs a lot of features in it. Like, the new one is running on Windows Professional 6.1 and packs the full SPB Shell personalized interface...And you must be burned with curiosity over what are the significant changes after ACER acquired glofiish in this affordable Windows 6.1 device. Let’s check it out!

It comes with a battery, a charger, a data cable, 2 styluses, a handsfree headset, a CD ROM and a user’s guide as well as a wrist strap.

The new Eten X610 looks alike its predecessor the X600, with the glossy look and feel solid definitely an eye candy, however, it is also a fingerprint magnet.

The new Eten got rid of a full row of keys from its face compare with the X600. It remains the accept/reject call keys, GPS and one providing access to the QuickBar shortcuts menu only. They are with tactile feedback.

The bottom part of the phone contains the microphone, microSD card slot, mini USB port and the telescopic stylus. Unfortunately, you have to take off the stylus before release the back cover.

The volume rocker, voice commander, the small soft reset button and the 2.5mm headset jack are on the left side of the phone.

2 megapixel fixed-focus camera with flash is located at the back of the phone. And it is secure in the hand and fit well in a pocket with its rubbery-like back.

The User interface of X610. The new Eten features the full version of SPB Mobile Shell, just like the one in HTC Touch. It definitely looks good. It got large buttons and icons to make it easier to use with your finger.

The X610 runs the latest version of the Windows Mobile Professional 6.1. Inside is a 400 MHz Samsung SC3 2442 processor. And there is a shortage of memory hamper with 128 MB ROM only. Normally, the Windows Mobile should have 256 MB ROM.

The new Eten has a built-in GPS receiver with SiRFstarIII chipset which is doubles as a personal navigation device.

The battery life of X610 is reasonable but if you are a keen user of Wi-Fi you might find you need to charge daily. The personalized interface offers plenty of ways to get to your favorite applications easily with one hand, and looks pretty good. It features Window Windows Mobile Professional 6.1, Wi-Fi and GPS but in a reasonable price. The X610 is definitely a good choice and worth considering if you're on a tight budget.

Eten glofiish X610 Video Review

# posted by plemix @ 12:28 AM 0 Comments