Recently, we saw many reinvented phones launched to the market. Just like the Nokia E72 after its successor E71 to win over customer’ heart. And now, it is BlackBerry’s term. They updated its flagship model with industrial design and latest UI to more powerful model, Bold 9700 which continues to be a staple for the manufacturer. Let’s take a closer look into the Bold 9700’s world.

What’s inside? BlackBerry Bold 9700, battery, charger, microUSB cable, stereo headset, a leather case and user guide.

It’s easy to see some of the design elements that were used in previous BlackBerry devices. With the 2.44” display which is a bit bigger than the Nokia E72 and it feels lighter in the hand and won’t require much room in the pocket as well. Sure we like the updated slim looks which make Bold 9700 one of the sleekest looking BlackBerry devices we’ve seen.

We weren’t surprised to see the Bold 9700’s QWERTY Keyboard as it is just like the one on the Bold 9000. The most glaring cosmetic different is the trackpad which appeared on Curve 8520.The other hardware buttons surrounding the trackpad remain unchanged.

The left side houses microUSB port and standard 3.5mm headset jack which is the commonly found on every BlackBerry device.

The volume rocker and the camera shutter are located on the right side which adopts the rugged feeling on the Storm2.

The top portion hides the lock and mute buttons.

Turn it over, you may find the 3.2MP autofocus camera with LED flash. The leather like back covering makes the device looks very professional.

You have to remove the rear cover access to the microSD slot which located near the top.

The same layout of the main menu as the previous. They are continues to live on in almost every BlackBerry we’ve seen since then-crispy and responsive.

With an updated operating system of version 5.0 tacked on that makes internet browsing faster than before.

It starts a sharp battle for business device between Bold 9700 and Nokia E72. They are both reinvented phone, Bold 9700 got a bit larger display and it is going to be the winner in this category with a brighter and crisper screen. The most famous BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard on 9700, but E72 catch up in this department but a bit smaller. However, E72 has a better camera with 5MP. And both devices come with an application store: Nokia has its brand-new Ovi Store while RIM launched the BlackBerry App World a few months ago. Both app stores are relatively young, but are offering more new and useful apps regularly. It is quite difficult to make the decision between them. How do you think?

BlackBerry Bold 9700 Video Review

When we take a first look at the Storm2, it looks almost the same as the old folk Storm. Of course, you would not expect the same phone masqueraded by the number “2″. BlackBerry has indeed put out a pretty refined version (although not as obvious as it appears) here. Let us dig deeper into how far Storm2 has come.

The package is a chunk of goodies. You have the phone, a battery, a charger, a data cable, a handsfree set, a CD-ROM and a user guide.

The design of Storm2 is improved with the expensive-looking tinted chromo edge which magically takes away the plasticity that most of the BlackBerry devices embrace. Some may complain that it is too heavy weighing 160g. It feels pretty hefty and solid, gracing like a mark of quality to me. Retaining the brightness and high-resolution of the 3.25-inch display, the floatiness of the old Storm due to the SurePress screen is eliminated.

On he top lies the easy-to-access power and mute buttons.

The data-transfer portal and the voice-command button are found on the left side of the phone.

Volume rocker, camera shutter and 3.5mm audio jack join hands on the right.

The speaker feet that make the phone go wobbly placing on smooth surface are gone and the back of Storm2 is looking elegant. The camera is placed in a very unfriendly position as it is easily blocked by your left hand when taking landscape photos.

You can find the SIM card slot by removing the battery compartment cover.

The features and interface are pretty much the same as the old Storm. However, Storm2 takes a leap forward by including Wi-Fi support and face detection during call.

SurePress technology is still a controversial feature. I am gonna explain what this tactile feedback technology does for the newcomers. Unlike conventional touchscreen, to ensure accuracy, BlackBerry Storm series is equipped with SurePress technology that makes you press hard on the screen until it clicks to get feedback from the phone. Touching simply will incur highlight on selected area. Some may find it such a hassle to navigate through the clicky touchscreen (ain’t a touchscreen supposed to be touched?), some may like the accurate typing that it delivers. SurePress in Storm2 is also improved to elicit faster response and more advanced auto-correction. Multi-touch has become more capable in including ALT and SHIFT and copy and paste during text-editing.

You can switch between landscape and portrait modes easily.

BlackBerry Storm2 is pretty much a do-it-all when Wi-Fi has been enlisted among the already brilliant features and specs, like A-GPS, 3.2MP camera, dual-mode for world roaming, HSDPA support. The improved SurePress and design are also an attraction.

BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Video Review

I have always been a fan of Nokia E Series. It is always a perfect equilibrium of sophistication, functionality and style. No wonder E71 can win over customer’s heart, solidly-built, user-friendly and looking great. It seems that the successor will have a notch far too high to live up to. It is E72’s burden to do the acrobatic moves to knock us out, can it?

You have got three colors to choose form for E72. Zodium Black, Metal Grey and Topaz Brown. All are looking fantastic and hip. You will get the phone, a battery, a charger, a data cable, a handsfree, a strap, a leather case (I have always liked one) and a user’s guide.

The Topaz Brown would be the apple of my eyes. It adds the sense of regality to the modern looking phone. When compared to E71, E72 is a gram heavier (or I should say less light!) and a millimeter thicker (or I should say less slim!). However, the one unit is well compensated for. It has 600MHz CPU vs E71’s 369 MHz. The HSDPA of E72 is 10.2Mbps and the HSUPA is 2Mbps while E71 has no HSDUA and its HSDPA only matches up to 3.6Mbps.

 Zodium Black                                                                    Metal Grey

The keypad is made protruding enough to facilitate fast typing. The last row of keys has extended by two items more. (adopting the atavistic E63-lookalike pad). The surprise lies on the Optical Navi Key (the black centre of the D-Pad) which works like the one from Blackberry Curve 8520. It assists smooth scrolling and also doubles as the AF key for camera.

Another step ahead for E72 is the 3.5mm jack which is absent in E71.

Here on the left you’ll find the portals of the MicroUSB and MicroSD. E72 has upgraded the compatible maximum extended memory to 16GB vs the 8GB max for E71.

Volume rockers on the right.

Here is the cave for strap.

The camera is also upgraded to 5MP with larger resolution (2592×1944) versus the 3MP camera of E71. Benefitted from the energy efficiency, the battery can last longer (from 410 hours of talk time of E71 to 480 hours and you get 12 hours of talk time when compared to 10 hours of E71) although it is the same battery model. A lot has improved eh?

The menu of E71 is still very easy to navigate. You have got real time mail exchange, GPS, WiFi, IM services, Lotus Notes and other supports on borad. What an irresistible juggernaut it is!

Yes, E72 is still a winner. It has retained the best bits of best-selling E71 which are the Blackberry-smashing which is the slimmer and more youthful design, a more vibrant and quality display and a friendlier price tag. E72 has not stopped there; it has equipped itself with a faster CPU, a bigger storage and a faster speed. If there is one phone that I want right now, that would be it.

 Nokia E72 Video Review

I have never thought of the resurrection of Canon’s S Series. (Yes, I thought the S Series had died as it has been four protracted years since the release of the late S80.) The release of S90 is thus a gospel to me. The heralded triumph of LX3 has testified the immense demand for compact camera with advanced features from the market. It is a surprise to see that it has taken so long for Canon to react to that. Canon S90 has finally arrived. It’s better late than never.

The package includes the S90 camera, a battery, a charger, a USB cable, an AV cable, a neck strap, a CD ROM and user’s guide.

The modest design of S90 is a plus. Its black understated professional-looking design has simply made the master statement that it does not want to distract the users from its powerful functions, so that a humble outlook would be an adequate match. Although it comes with delightfully portable dimensions (100.0 x 58.4 x 30.9mm) and weight (175g body), Even more compact than its main competition LX3. It does not sacrifice any of the shooting competence promised by the great line of S Series. It has the same large image sensor as the bulky G11 (1/1.7″, 0.43 cm²) which makes sure the details are captured. DIGIC4 image processor is also on board to guarantee the ever-so-speedy operation. The Dual Noise Reduction system is a powerful tool to stop noise from kicking in during low light situation, just to name a few.

Like a professional shooters, G90 allows flexible manual adjustment. On the mode dial, you will find full manual mode, custom mode, aperture-prior mode, shutter-prior mode, program mode, AE mode, low-light mode, scene mode and movie. You can add your creative input and manipulate the image and make it your own.

There is a dedicated shortcut key (button with an S) for you to assign specific function to it which saves you some time fumbling through menu.

The flash will automatically pop up when needed unlike the previous IXUS 200IS whose flash will pop up whenever the camera is on. However, for docking in the flash, you have to choose “no flash” from the flash menu and cannot press it down by hand. That may cause a little bit of hassles.

One of the main features of the camera is the control ring round the lens. You can adjust the focus, shutter-speed, aperture, exposure compensation, white balance or ISO by simply rotating it, just like the operation of DSLR. Although it is not as wide as LX3’s 24mm wide angle, the focal length of 28-105mm is still very useful. It has also a f/2.0 (W) – f/4.9 (T) maximum aperture. The 3.8 optical zoom is winning over LX3’s 2.5x.

When you turn the control ring, to adjust the aperture for instance, there will be a scale appearing on the screen. The monitor is an impressive 3 incher just like its more high-end cousin G11. It is highly viewable and is definitely a performer.

The battery compartment is at the base. The battery life can endure approximately 220 shots which is fair enough.

Canon once again hit the mark with S90. It is compact and solid. It has impeccable features that help shoot great images like how a Canon camera is reputed with easy operation that can cater even beginners. LX3 has finally met its match.

Wow…the stunning fourth handset of the Black Label Series, New Chocolate (LG-BL40) is now on my desk. This is another highlight-able phone after the transparency device-Crystal recently. LG never shied away from experimenting. The New Chocolate is not merely the next of the Chocolate, but in touch with the technology growth, just like Viewty Smart closes to Renoir and Crystal walks with the Arena. Let’s save the time and check it out.

What’s inside? The New Chocolate, a battery, a charger, a data cable, a handsfree, a CD-ROM as well as a user’s guide.

This bold new shape is designed with sleek sophistication plus an unconventional 4” wide screen. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but one thing for sure: it offers you more than the phone in the market with its extremely large display.

At the top, we have the 3.5mm audio jack and the Power/Lock key. Both are easy to access and nice to use.

Turn to left side, there’s a single key which starts the music player. The microUSB port is on this side as well.

The volume rocker and the shutter key are on the right side of the device. You may notice that the shutter key is very stylish, wide and rounded, and quite comfortable to use.

The 5MP camera is alongside the LED flash placing at the back. It is keeping the “less is more” style as the front.

Take off the battery, you may access to the SIM card compartment and the microSD card slot which is expandable up to 32 GB.

With the widened 21:9 panoramic display plus 3D-styling with some visual effects on the menu icons, you may enjoy the new level of visual comfort by operating the apps. And it is very finger-friendly. The main menu can be view in portrait and landscape mode as well.

With LG’s upgraded and intuitive S-Class UI, everything from homescreen to dropdown menus rolls, sweeps in, unfolds and rotates are extremely smooth and responsive. We are now on the Cube interface. The four homescreen panes correspond to the four sides of a tall 3D block.

The keyboard on the New Chocolate. The QWERTY keys are big enough and it is much harder to tap the wrong key. The touch feedback is very responsive, and typing is very accurate.

The new Chocolate is essentially reinventing the way we view and use mobile phones. The unconventional wide screen enlarged the optimal space for “on-the-go” computing, offering entirely new experience on entertainment: Playing on the perfect music players, which is with the small virtual vinyls which can be lined up on a rotating dial to display the albums. Watching a widescreen movie via theatre-like movie player is very brilliant. The 7.2 HSDPA provides speedier internet and e-mail. The New Chocolate packs enough skill to make comparison with some powerful smartphones in the market like Hero and Onmia HD.

N97 mini is just like its name, a more compact version of its big brother the Nokia flagship N97. As a whole, the device is exactly the same as the previous which is with the tilting mechanism of the display, but only a bit smaller. There is purely cosmetic to the design though, the most significant one seemingly being the lack of both a sliding camera cover and a D-pad on the QWERTY keyboard. Let’s have a closer look on it.

What’s inside? Beside the phone, you get a battery, a stereo headset, a travel charger, a data cable, an external stylus, CD and user’s guide.

The 3.2” touchscreen is dominating the front of the phone, leaving only the call, end call and menu buttons lying on the edge. It is just the mini version of N97 which got 3.5” touchscreen.

At the top, we have the 3.5mm audio jack (in the same location of N97) and the power key is just next to it.

The left side hosts the stereo speakers at each end and the microUSB slot and the screen lock knob in the middle. There is no protective cover for the USB slot and the screen lock triggers a mild vibration every time it is engaged.

The camera key and the volume rocker are on the right.

The Nokia N97 Mini is shorter and more “pocket friendly” than the Nokia N97. And the accelerator is very responsive. When you slide open the phone, the screen changes to horizontal view immediately.

The keys are same size as the N97. And the only different is N97 mini has removed the D-pod on the Keyboard.

N97 mini is more “top-notch” than the Nokia N97 mainly due to the quantity of metal on the exterior. And it is designed in Finland.

The backside of the handset features the 5MP camera and the dual LED flash. The back cover is made of stainless steel which feels sturdy and expensive. However, it missed the protective cover of the camera. Not a big deal though.

N97 mini packs 8GB memory and can also be expanded a further 16GB by MicroSD.

The upper one is N97 and the N97 mini is at the bottom. They look exactly the same. Actually, N97 mini is slightly smaller in measurement.

N97 mini (which is measured 113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm) is a bit thinner than N97 (which is measured 117.2 x 55.3 x 18.3 mm).

Many applications onboard such as Youtube, Facebook etc. You can also explore a dazzling array of downloads from Ovi Store and customized your own menu.

The audio quality of N97 mini is great because of two stereo speakers at the bottom of the phone. And the video is run quite smooth without hitch.

Actually, N97 mini is not only the things on N97, but a bit more than that. It packs most of the features in N97 and adds some more improvement to it: Becomes more fashionable with upgrading the stainless steel cover to replace the plastic cover, slightly smaller and slimmer overall.

The cheapest QWERTY keyboard mobile phone, LG GW300 is on my desk and ready to be served to the happy masses with the low-end pricing. LG are quite keen to build on a winning concept on QWERTY. Start from LG KS360, Best Handset Award nominee and then the midrange bestseller, LG KP500. After that, they have LG GW520 with QWERTY slider and finally come out with the GW300 which looks similar to a Blackberry. QWERTY keyboard no longer only appeared in the high-end device, but low-end also. Can’t wait to have a look on this cheapest luxury device.

Considering the price tag, no one is really expecting wonders with the retail package of the GW300. It included the phone, a battery, a handsfree, a USB cable, a charger, a CD-ROM and a user’s guide.

The GW300 comes with the well spaced out QWERTY keyboard looks similar to a Blackberry Bold or HTC Snap, in as much as it has a similar shape with rounded edges and its front face is taken up by a 2.4”display and a QWERTY keyboard. The phone measures 115.5 x 61 x 12.8 mm and weighs just 95 grams.

GW300 has a very friendly four-row QWERTY keypad and excellent touch orientation. But doesn’t have the trackball here, maybe let’s not to request too much on the cheapest QWERTY phone.

3.5mm audio jack onboard here which is lacked on HTC Snap.

On the right, we have the camera shutter.

The lanyard eyelet and microUSB port are located at the top left corner.

And turn to the left, you may find the volume rocker and the microSD slot which is expandable up to 4GB.

The 2MP camera which is the same as the HTC Snap is located at the back and the speakers grill is hidden in the flower-shape hollow. The speaker is very loud here to make sure that you won’t miss any incoming calls.

The main menu here which is alive with color, much better than the over simple one in HTC Snap and similar to the Nokia menu.

It comes with an MP3/Mp4 player which is able to play most audio and video files while a stereo FM radio offers the ability to tune into local and national radio stations.

LG GW300 is an accomplished handset with a variety of basic features. The QWERTY keyboard is user friendly. Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a 3.5mm audio port for using regular stereo headphones are the other goodies inside plus a fair camera and the most eye-candy price. It is such a good choice for many. There’re the other choices of mid-range devices like Samsung B7300 Omnia Lite, HTC Snap.

LG GW300 Video Review

Samsung B7300 Omnia Lite just like its name, a more budget-oriented version of the Omnia II. Omnia Lite has found its best way to keep fit, the hardware has became more compact than its previous, but the software and more importantly the functionality are still there with what you would expect from a Samsung smartphone. It is a good new to those who want to have a device that with high-end features and specification but in an accessible and affordable package.

What’s inside? The phone, a battery, a charger, a data cable, a stylus, a handsfree, CD-ROM and a user’s guide.

Let’s start off with the screen. Understand that the Omnia Lite is a more affordable version of the Omnia II, so it is predictable that the screen is a bit smaller. Don’t get the wrong way, the 3 inch display isn’t small by any means, it just isn’t as large as the Omnia II display.

At the top hosts the microUSB port and the lanyard eyelet. The stylus is dangle on its string tied to the lanyard eyelet, it just remind me of Omnia i900.

The camera shutter, the Lock key and the microSD slot which is expandable to 32GB are located on the right side of the device.

Turn to the left, you may find the volume rocker and the special Main Menu button there.

The 3.2 MP camera is located at the back of the device, which lacks a flash, but at least comes with autofocus.

It comes with Samsung’s TouchWiz 2.0 interface plus the downloadable online widgets make the Omnia Lite even more user-friendly.

The touch-optimized QWERTY keyboards on the Omnia Lite. It is a bit too small to hit if you have a “big finger”, or you may use the stylus for your daily operation of the phone. It’s not a big deal though.

The Omnia Lite runs on Windows Mobile 6.5, it has the usual features that come with the Windows Mobile operating system.

The overall design of Omnia isn’t really eye-catchy. It looks nice though. It’s really happy to see Windows Mobile 6.5, GPS, accelerometer, a FM radio, multi-push email, and Wi-FI connectivity onboard and find out the personalization pack has been heavily reworked, plus an affordable pricing. The Omnia Lite sound good after all, doesn’t it?

Samsung B7300 Omnia Lite Video Review

Scrambling for a winning position in the most ludicrous period of the retailing business (which is the Christmas gift market), Acer has upped the ante with the new handset neoTouch2. With a 3.8” display, 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, you know Acer means business this time.

Let’s take a look at what the package offers us: the neoTouch phone of course, a charger, a battery, a miniUSB cable, a handsfree set, a pouch, a stylus, a user’s guide and a CD manual.

The monstrously wide 3.8”-inch display is one of the hottest selling points of the device. It has a 480×800-pixel WVGA resolution and 56K color compatibility to guarantee you the crispest and most vibrant of images (This is not just a promotional saying, the color does pop!) I am not a fan of the sharp chrome edge. It looks a little too intimidating and rigid for me. However, for a handset with such an enormous screen, it’s impressively thin and fairly sized. You may also check out its chief competitor Toshiba TG01 who is even thinner with a width of 9.9mm, but considerable more sizable.

The 3.5mm jack is a thoughtful thing to have.

The touchscreen is intuitive enough to the fingers but you still have the alternative of Stylus, though you have to be real careful when you pull it out of the silo because it could get stuck. You have the camera button and volume rocker on the right side.

On the left side of the phone lies the power button.

I quite like the simple design of the back of the phone, although some may find the plastic casing looking cheap. You have a 5.0MP autofocus camera with the complimentary of flash. The speaker grill next to it is one hell of a performer.

I like the scrollable menu of the new Windows Mobile 6.5 professional very much. It breaks away from the conventional menu design and gives you a nice twist.

Acer neoTouch is among one of those forerunners to have the Qualcomm® 8250 1 GHz CPU. (Guess what, Toshiba TG01 has it too!) The speed of the handset is incredibly fast. With an internal 512MB ROM and 256MB RAM and an expandable external memory up to 32GB, Acer neoTouch is a blowout triumph!

Accelerator is installed and auto-rotation is enabled. You get a full virtual QWERTY.

neoTouch definitely has its potentials in making it big for Acer. A high-definition screen, great portability, user-friendly with direct link to flickr, YouTube, Facebook, built-in Wifi and GPS support, it has the hippest features that you can ever ask for.

Scrambling for a winning position in the most ludicrous period of the retailing business (which is the Christmas gift market), Acer has upped the ante with the new handset neoTouch2. With a 3.8” display, 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, you know Acer means business this time.

Let’s take a look at what the package offers us: the neoTouch phone of course, a charger, a battery, a miniUSB cable, a handsfree set, a pouch, a stylus, a user’s guide and a CD manual.

The monstrously wide 3.8”-inch display is one of the hottest selling points of the device. It has a 480×800-pixel WVGA resolution and 56K color compatibility to guarantee you the crispest and most vibrant of images (This is not just a promotional saying, the color does pop!) I am not a fan of the sharp chrome edge. It looks a little too intimidating and rigid for me. However, for a handset with such an enormous screen, it’s impressively thin and fairly sized. You may also check out its chief competitor Toshiba TG01 who is even thinner with a width of 9.9mm, but considerable more sizable.

The 3.5mm jack is a thoughtful thing to have.

The touchscreen is intuitive enough to the fingers but you still have the alternative of Stylus, though you have to be real careful when you pull it out of the silo because it could get stuck. You have the camera button and volume rocker on the right side.

On the left side of the phone lies the power button.

I quite like the simple design of the back of the phone, although some may find the plastic casing looking cheap. You have a 5.0MP autofocus camera with the complimentary of flash. The speaker grill next to it is one hell of a performer.

I like the scrollable menu of the new Windows Mobile 6.5 professional very much. It breaks away from the conventional menu design and gives you a nice twist.

Acer neoTouch is among one of those forerunners to have the Qualcomm® 8250 1 GHz CPU. (Guess what, Toshiba TG01 has it too!) The speed of the handset is incredibly fast. With an internal 512MB ROM and 256MB RAM and an expandable external memory up to 32GB, Acer neoTouch is a blowout triumph!

Accelerator is installed and auto-rotation is enabled. You get a full virtual QWERTY.

neoTouch definitely has its potentials in making it big for Acer. A high-definition screen, great portability, user-friendly with direct link to flickr, YouTube, Facebook, built-in Wifi and GPS support, it has the hippest features that you can ever ask for.