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Cream of the crop 2005
By Kent German
(March 17, 2005)
We arrived in New Orleans eager to see the absolute best that the wireless industry has to offer. And for the most part, CTIA 2005 didn't let us down. Cooler smart phones, sharper designs, and handsets equipped for 3G and multimedia were big themes in the Big Easy, and we should see them continue throughout 2005. So after braving thunderstorms, Bourbon Street, and one too many beignets, here are our top product and service picks from the Crescent City.
Coolest phone: Sony Ericsson W800i
When Sony created the revolutionary Walkman, music was suddenly portable. And now, years later after being eclipsed by MP3 players, the Walkman is back with the Sony Ericsson W800i. Though we were a bit skeptical at first, we learned there's a lot to like about this device, most of which lies beneath the striking orange-and-silver design. Rolled up in a slim package, the W800i gives you a GSM/GPRS world phone, an MP3/AAC player, and a 2-megapixel digital camera along with e-mail support, messaging, an infrared port, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, and a Web browser. Yet convergence alone is not the reason the W800i caught our eye. Not only does the phone combine all that functionality into one device, but it seems to do it well. The camera is cool, the player interface is user-friendly, sound quality is admirable, and thanks to 500MB of memory, you can store around 150 music tracks. But even more impressive, the promised playtime battery life is 15 hours if the phone functionality is turned on and a whopping 30 hours if it's off. Pricing and availability are to be determined when the W800i becomes available later this year, and we're eager to give it a full shakedown.
Coolest smart phone: Samsung i730
We first checked out Samsung's i730 at CES earlier this year, and we were quickly impressed by what we saw. An update to the Samsung i700, this Windows Mobile 2003 smart phone is packed with so many goodies that we don't know where to start, but we'll try: a gorgeous 2.8-inch, 65,000-color display; 64MB of memory; Bluetooth; stereo speakers; e-mail support; a speakerphone; an SDIO expansion slot; and a Web browser. As a CDMA mobile, the i730 also includes support for high-speed EV-DO networks, which bring zippy download times and the promise of streaming media. There's no camera, but we didn't even miss it, and as more businesses restrict camera phones in their offices, its exclusion in this work-friendly device is probably for the better. Yet in addition to being a smarter device, the i730 also sports an awesome slider design and a full QWERTY keyboard for easier and faster e-mailing and text messaging. As with the aforementioned W800i, it also sounds very cool, but we'll have to wait for a full review to give our final assessment. Pricing and availability should be announced this summer.
Coolest accessory: Jabra JX10
We'll be honest here: sometimes size, as well as looks, do matter. Though Bluetooth headsets are certainly useful, they can make you appear a little geeky at times and, for the most part, are not particularly exciting. But Jabra, a company that usually doesn't let us down with its Bluetooth headsets, has rolled out a model that made our jaw drop. Dubbed the JX10, it's probably the first Bluetooth headset we've seen that we would want to wear in public. Weighing just 0.3 ounce, the JX10 also sports an eye-catching and sleek design that could almost be called fashionable. Many companies have claimed that they have the smallest headset around, but the JX10 is one of the best-looking we've seen. You don't get some of the high-end functions found on the company's BT800, but does it really matter? We couldn't test the sound quality, but looks alone were enough. Pricing is not yet known, but we should see the JX10 by the summer.
Coolest service: Motorola's Screen3
Web browsers on cell phones can be frustrating. Painfully slow and never very pretty, they also involve a tedious system of multiple clicks just to get to the promised news or sports scores that you crave. But Motorola might be on to something. Though the company rolled out some cool new handsets this year, what really captured our attention was the company's Screen3 service. In short, it's an always-on data connection that pushes scrolling text to the bottom of your Motorola phone's display. Picture a continuous reel of news, sports scores, or weather (exact content is yet to be determined). Then, at the touch of a button and without your having to open your Web browser, it enables you to access the full story that has been cached on your phone. Very useful indeed, but we'll have to wait for its rollout later this year to give it a full test. Pricing will most likely be determined by carriers.
Honorable mention: LG VX8100
Our top pick from the show last year was the LG VX8000. While there was a lot to like about it, that didn't mean it couldn't stand a few tweaks. But now with its new CDMA VX8100 (the updated VX8000), LG seems to have read our mind. First off, the design is much improved with a sleeker, more streamlined shape and an attractive blue color. LG also threw in Bluetooth and a Mini SD expansion slot, two features that were sorely missing on the previous model. Overall, it was our most improved player, but we hope we'll actually be able to use the EV-DO features in San Francisco. As this is written, pricing and exact availability are to be announced.
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