Phone Reviews: LG enV2

Short Reviews

Specs:
Make/Model: LG EnV2 (VX-9100)
Network: CDMA 850 / 1900
Size: 102 x 54 x 16.5 mm
Weight: 120 g
Data: 1x EV-DO Rev. 0 (3G)
Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Display: 2.4” Color LCD, 240 x 320 (QVGA) resolution, 262,000 Colors (main); 1.45” Color LCD, 160 x 64 resolution, 262,000 colors (secondary external)
Form Factor: Clamshell (Horizontal-opening with dual displays and keyboards)
Memory: 63 MB built-in, microSD card slot
Notable Features: Internal QWERTY keypad and external 12-button dialing keypad; Dual displays; Stereo speakers; VCAST Music and Video compatible; Stereo Bluetooth

Plus:
Sleeker and smaller than the original EnV. Comfortable QWERTY keyboard and QVGA internal display make texting fun. Huge external keypad makes dialing easy. VCAST music and video support. Support for laptop tethering (phone as modem).

Minus:
External keypad makes the phone look like a retro calculator, although I suppose that could be seen as a good thing. Space bar is small and oddly placed. Verizon’s menu system can be confusing. Limited Bluetooth functionality. Still a little bulky.

LG and Verizon dropped the ENV and the results are good. While the original env an innovative but (very) large and expensive high-end phone, EnV2 is smaller, cheaper, and slots in downtown VZW line phone messaging. Text addicts who do not need the Voyager touch screen - and additional size and cost - Australia must find joy with this affordable and capable handset.

Phone Reviews: Motorola Z9

Short Reviews

Specs:
Data: HSDPA (3G), EDGE
Make/Model: Motorola Z9
Network: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quad-Band)
Carrier: AT&T Mobility
Display: 2.4” Color LCD Touchscreen, 240 x 320 (QVGA) resolution, 262,000 Colors
Memory: 51 MB built-in, microSD card slot
Size: 114 x 54 x 14 mm
Weight: 140 g
Form Factor: Slider
Notable Features: Crystal Talk noise reduction technology; 3G data speeds; AT&T CV Video Service; MobiTV Video Service; AT&T Music Store; XM Radio Compatibility; 2MP Camera with Flash; A-GPS with AT&T Navigator Service

Plus:
Great voice quality; fast 3G data speeds; good GPS system; mobiTV compatibility; sleek, attractive design; clean menus and UI; solid build; easy to hold and use

Minus:
Rather large for a sliderphone; some may not like tiny buttons; heavy

Mota's Z9 is a first-class featurephone that provides access to almost all of AT & T data and multimedia services in an attractive form factor. The phone is quite large and quite high, which is either really kind of pleasant or annoying, depending on your perspective. If you do not mind - or even like - the size and Z9 Heft, you're sure to enjoy his big screen bright, quick access to data of 3G, built-in GPS chip and navigation on board.

Phone Reviews: Samsung Glyde

Short Reviews

Specs:
Make/Model: Samsung Glyde (SCH-u940)
Network: CDMA 800/1900
Size: 103.8 x 50 x 17.8 mm
Weight: 117 g
Display: 2.8” Color LCD Touchscreen, 240 x 440 resolution, 262,000 Colors
Data: 1xRTT/1xEVDO rev.0
Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Form Factor: Candybar with Slide-Out Keyboard
Memory: 40 MB built-in, microSD card slot (up to 8GB officially supported)
Notable Features: Touch screen and side-sliding QWERTY board; 2MP Camera with Autofocus and Flash; Audio/Video Player with stereo speakers and VCAST streaming media support; GPS with new build of VZ Navigator Service

Plus:
Touchscreen and Full QWERTY Keyboard in Compact Body; Clean Menus and “Croix” User Interface; 2MP Camera with Autofocus and Flash; GPS with VZ Navigator; Full HTML Browser; Good Sound Quality

Minus:
Touchscreen Can Be Difficult to Use, Especially Around Edges and Using Web Browser; Slightly Thick Profile; No D-Pad

Samsung F700 reduced to a cool and compact size in making the Glyde. The slide-out QWERTY board is very practical and comfortable is surprising given its small size, and finger-friendly touch screen is generally quite good (with some peculiarities constantly frustrating). Glyde provides much of the Voyager a flash smallest, simplest device, and is a new option for fun in messaging Verizon phone lines.