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Samsung Galaxy Note. First Look
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Review of Nokia 6700 Slide GSM/UMTS phoneContent:
In the box:
PositioningIn the review of Nokia E51 around two years ago I first mentioned that the company tried to create simple phones on S60 platform. The term “simple” means that at the expense of big screens and functionality operation times could be increased, which is an important factor for any phone. We are used to feature-packed smartphones towering head and shoulders above simple phones. The popularity of such handsets, the shift from high-end to low-end segment and into ˆ 120-160 price range reposition them in the eyes of consumers as phones, with which now they have to compete. According to research lower price of a smartphone makes it more popular among buyers who don’t need all the functions of this class. They simply ignore the major part of available features. Nokia sensed that in Nokia E51/E52 sales: they were bought by people, who needed not a smartphone, but a convenient phonebook, good operation time, reliable assembly. We can argue for hours if the term “smartphone” still exists. In my opinion, it became outdated, which is confirmed by the launch of products similar to Nokia 6700 Slide. S60 platform was used to create a midmarket model. Company’s marketing materials still label it as a smartphone, because it is seen as an advantage. They are not quite sincere though. Metal frame, operation time and 5 MP camera become more important for average consumers. Wi-Fi connection is vital both for a modern smartphone dedicated to data transfer and Nokia marketing moves promoting such services as OVI. Cheap Internet access via Wi-Fi ensures active use of services, for example application stores. Statistics confirms that owners of Nokia smartphones with Wi-Fi make use of net services 12 times more often. It is one more indirect support that not all S60 products are bought as smartphones. Many consumers see them as phones with particular features and priority is often given not to the traditional characteristics of smartphones (e.g. web surfing). This model targets young people, as witnessed by a wide range of available colors. On the other hand, such solutions are attractive for middle age people as well. Some young people (let’s say 10 per cent) will actively use web surfing, mail and other solutions. The rest will see it as a simple phone.  The buyers of this budget smartphone will maintain that it’s a true smartphone, but unfortunately it doesn’t meet the definition. It’s more of a phone with advanced characteristics, and nothing else. No matter how you call it, you need its functions, not its name? Back to the table of contents >>> Design, Size, ControlsBudget Nokia solutions are traditionally offered in many colors and this model is available in Petrol Blue, Purple, Pink, Red, Lime and Raw Aluminum.   Aluminum as the main frame material is a bit unusual. It is used for the back cover and the band around the screen, while the lower part of the frame is made of plastic. At first sight the assembly quality is fine, there are no complaints here. You can enjoy the feel of a well-crafted phone in your hand, it boasts a smooth slide mechanism, so opening and closing the phone is just a breeze. On a negative side, the head top has microUSB port cover near the back cover latch. I don’t know the reason for the loose cover near the head top, but it lets in dust. After a couple of days in my pocket the phone became so dusty as if it had been to a garbage bag. Eventually dust will get into other parts of the phone and it is a serious drawback.    Nokia designers didn’t try to come up with a universal solution. Their task was to create a phone, which isn’t showy and can be easily recognized as a low-end model despite the frame materials. They were quite successful as the model doesn’t look expensive. Many companies are trying to use another approach and their phones look more expensive than they actually are. Nokia sales in high-end segment are going down and such approach was unacceptable. Tastes differ and some people may find something special in the design of Nokia 6700 Slide, but the phone is simple and you can’t get rid of this feeling. If you compare the design quality of this handset with Nokia 6500 Slide, the older model will always come out on top.  Belonging to a low-end segment is also visible in other details. For example, there is no side volume control button, which is a serious disadvantage for ergonomics. The head top also hosts a 2.5 mm audio jack to rule out the possibility of using the model as a music phone with your own headset. Near it we have a 2 mm charging socket with the corresponding charger in the box (though charging via microUSB is also supported). Right side of the phone has place for a two position camera button, unfortunately made of cheap plastic, as you can tell when you press it. It’s like a difference between the sounds of a door closed in expensive and cheap cars. The difference is immense and it shapes our perception of the product.  Phone dimensions are 95.2õ46.1õ15.9 mm (3.74"x1.81"x0.62"), and weighs 110 g (3.88 oz). The handset fits a shirt or a jeans pocket well.   Back to the table of contents >>> DisplayThe handset uses 2.2" display with QVGA (240õ320) resolution. TFT matrix can boast of up to 16 million colors, picture brightness is average, but is well visible under various conditions. In general the display is balanced, though it trails other Nokia models of the current generation. The screen fits up to 8 text lines and 3 status lines. In some modes you can see up to 14 text lines. The fonts are well legible.   In the sun visibility of information on the screen becomes an issue, first of all due to its size. The phone comes with an ambient light sensor and supports automatic screen rotation.   Back to the table of contents >>> KeypadNavigation key is large and pleasant to work with. Numeric keypad is made of plate. Backlight of white color starts automatically, is always visible and balanced. The keypad is quite convenient. There are no complaints here.    Back to the table of contents >>> BatteryThe phone is equipped with Li-Ion Battery BL-4CT of 860 mAh. The manufacturer claims that the handset can work up to 4 hours in talk time mode and 300 hours on standby. If we compare this time with the results for the majority of the latest Nokia phones, we will see that our handset can stay alive two times longer. In real life the more long lasting models will work for 24 hours in such a mode, while this phone gives you 2.5-3 days.  Music playback time is up to 29 hours, video recording with maximum quality –180 minutes. The average operation time in European networks is around 2.5-3 days. It includes 1 hour of talk time, you can also take two dozens of pictures, record around 2 minutes of video and have up to 2 hours of music or radio playback time. It takes about 2 hours for a full recharge. The maximum operation time in different modes is the following:
Back to the table of contents >>> MemoryThe handset offers 128 MB of storage with 56 MB of free memory available for the user at the start. The traditional problem remains the same: when you open “heavy” web pages the phone may close the browser. In general, if you don’t visit websites you won’t experience any problems. Around 50 MB of memory in the phone itself are available to users. You can store any data here. The phone uses microSD memory cards, hot swappable (the card is under the back cover), 2 GB in box, expandable to 16 GB.  Back to the table of contents >>> USB, Bluetooth, Wi-FiUSB. In USB settings 3 modes are available:
Data transfer speed reaches 1 Mb/s. Bluetooth. This smartphone uses Bluetooth version 2.0 with EDR support. The phone supports the following modules:
Data transfer speed via Bluetooth reaches on average 100 Kb/s. We tested the transfer of stereo to a headset like Sony Ericsson DS970. Tracks handling, rewinding and skipping work without any problems, but the name of the track played at that time is not displayed on the screen. Wi-Fi. This model doesn’t support Wi-Fi. Back to the table of contents >>> CameraThe phone features 5 megapixel CMOS module comparable with the ones used in other models, the optics is different though, despite Carl Zeiss label. The main complaint is the camera’s speed, which is slow at times (during focusing and when you save the images). Generally for a low-end solution the camera is good. LED flash works well in the range of 1-2 meters (the manufacturer claims up to 3 meters). Look at the camera shots and a video sample. The maximum video resolution is 640õ480 pixels (15 frames per second).
Back to the table of contents >>> Software detailsBy and large everything is quite standard for S60 platform and as far as we have described all standard functions we invite you to read the corresponding material.
The phone has no additional applications, but Bounce. Cost cutting can be seen everywhere. We have to mention the unusual though – Nokia tips on how to use the phone. There is nothing spectacular, just pop-up help. Let me show you the screenshots from the handset without any classification according to the software used.
 
Back to the table of contents >>> ImpressionsThe ringtone volume is enough for the majority of situations, but its sound is not very clear. The same can be said about the performance of the speaker during the talk. There is a bit of vibration and the sound is not clear enough. I deliberately checked it with a number of phones on sale and in every case I had the same result. The quality of connection was normal, but the speaker spoils the picture. The same can be seen in Nokia 6730 Classic. It must be a sign of a low-end phone. In Europe the handset is priced at 160. This money can buy you different touchscreen models, but we are speaking sliders here. This Nokia handset was created to compete with last year’s Samsung S7350, which sells well even today and costs ˆ30 less. Samsung has in its portfolio a run-of-the-mill model in the shape of Shark 2 S5550, which will be no less popular than this Nokia phone. Samsung doesn’t see any potential for sliders in this price range. People in the company believe that the sliders have to be either cheaper or more expensive than this. Given the fact, that Samsung is the world leader in this form factor and managed to make it so popular, it can be trusted. This model has no significant advantages. There is no Wi-Fi support, it lacks many features of a modern smartphone – has a small screen, simple functionality accompanied by high price. This is surely a model for impulse buying. It’s difficult to use maps when you have no integrated GPS. You can do it, though it will be everything but comfortable. This model is interesting as a phone for calls. If your expectations are not too high, the handset will not disappoint you. It is a pleasant phone with expected flaws, but surprisingly without rivals. It is unrivaled, because in this price range similar phones are just not offered. The power of Nokia brand will do the trick and the model will have reasonable sales, at least in the beginning. Then its popularity will subside to a moderate level. Even the multitude of colors will not change the situation. It can’t be helped. Do you want to talk about this? Please, go to our Forum and let your opinion be known to the author and everybody else. Back to the table of contents >>> Related links
Eldar Murtazin ([email protected]) Published — 25 May 2010 Have something to add?! Write us... [email protected]
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