'L' Series from LG announced to hit market in June
LG is plotting a big return to MWC this year. The company has just unveiled three new handsets right before the show: the LG L3, L5 and L7, all united under the new L series.
Starting from the bottom up, first is the affordable LG Optimus L3 with a 3.2-inch display and running on Android Gingerbread. We’ve already seen the L3 under the Optimus L3 moniker on a Swedish retailer’s website. The specs mentioned there include a 240 x 320 pixel resolution of the display and a 3-megapixel rear camera.
The LG Optimus L5 is the mid-range handset in the L series and it makes the welcome transition to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). It also features a 4-inch screen, advertized to offer “enhanced readability” which should hint to a decent resolution.
Finally, the LG Optimus L7 is the best money can buy in the L series - a combination of 4.3-inch display and ICS. There are no details about the hardware, but dual-core is the least we expect from it.
All three phones share the same design language: metallic feel (we’re not sure about the actual materials used), curved edges and a single rectangular physical button on the bottom. The L series will feature a "floating mass display" technology, so you get the feeling as if the screen is floating as the actual display is very close to the glass surface. They should also be very thin, but until we get the official specs, we don't have any specifics. What we can confirm, though, is that the metallic edges and thin body matches the ideas LG shared with the new logo for the Optimus series.
So we finally know what all the LG "L" teasing was about. How do you like LG’s L series, which one feels right for you?
Source: phonearena.com
Tags: Android 2.3 gingerbread, Candy-bar, cinematic view, dual core processor, Europe, Floating Mass display, ice cream sandwich, Lg optimus L series, LG Optimus UI, mid range smartphones, MWC 2012, NFC, Optimus L3, Optimus L5, optimus l7, Premium Metallic Touch
Microsoft’s latest update to Windows Phone, Tango, allowed phones running lower hardware specifications to run on the platform. The Nokia Lumia 610 is one such phone, but is the strategy backfiring already? Nokia has told users has told users that the Skype experience on the Lumia 610 isn’t up to par, and in the future the app won’t be available for download from the Windows Marketplace for that particular model.
Here’s the full statement from Nokia:
Nokia values the user experience provided by its products and services. Therefore, although the Skype Windows Phone version is workable on Nokia Lumia 610, after in-depth testing, we found that the user experience is not up to par with Nokia and Skype’s expectation and decided not recommending users using Skype on Nokia Lumia 610. In the future, users of Nokia Lumia 610 would no longer be able to download Skype Windows Phone version from Window Phone Marketplace. However, Skype Windows Phone version would still be available for other users.
The issue essentially boils down to the lack of RAM on the Lumia 610. The standard for Windows Phones is 512MB of RAM, while the Lumia 610 is only running 256MB. The app was most likely designed with the higher limit in mind, so Lumia 610 users seem to be butting up against memory limits. Skype did suggest that the app might not run properly on phones with less than 512MB, and it turns out the company was right.
It’s not clear right now if Skype intends to release an updated version of the app that will cater to lower specification phones, but we can’t imagine Microsoft will sit still and let the issue stand as is. Users probably aren’t happy about a premiere app being pulled either, and it raises questions about what other apps might share a similar fate in the future.
Source : slashgear.com
Tags: nokia, Nokia Lumia 610, Nokia Lumia 610 NFC, skype, smartphone, windows phone
With all of this talk about BlackBerry 10 and the internal politics at RIM, it's easy to forget that the manufacturer is still churning out phones in the hope that punters will buy one.
And until BB10 arrives, we have BB7 smartphones to enjoy - especially on this latest little handset, the BlackBerry Curve 9320, which is pocket friendly in terms of both price and physical size.
While BlackBerry has been busy pumping out impressive touchscreen handsets such as the BlackBerry Bold 9780 and BlackBerry Bold 9900, it's keen to make sure it doesn't alienate those who would be drawn in by its cheaper - yet just as cheerful - Curve range.
And the BlackBerry Curve 9320 - just like the BlackBerry Curve 9360 - fits that mould well.
The BlackBerry Curve 9320 looks like a Curve of old. It's sleek, with both black and brushed metal tones and has a curved back, which really fits in the hand well - almost as though it's been moulded with that in mind. It was one of the first things we noticed when we took it out of its packaging.
At 109 x 60 x 12.7mm and 103g, it's a bit thicker than the Curve 9360, and 4g heavier, and certainly feels rounder and more chunky. The precise edges are gone.
It's more Playskool to the Curve 9360's Prada - but that will suit some down to the ground: namely, the younger generation this is clearly aimed at and those who are coming to a smartphone for the first time with little regard for aesthetics.
The front holds the screen, which is a fairly basic 320 x 240 pixel job measuring 2.44 inches. The 164 ppi density won't blind you with its greatness, but it does the job reasonably well. We used to view this as amazing on devices of old. Now, we feel more hard done by.
Also, the BlackBerry Curve 9320 isn't touchscreen but you do get RIM's signature optical trackpad beneath it to navigate. This is surrounded by the four standard BlackBerry buttons (call, menu, back, hang up), and they're all mechanical rather than touch-sensitive.
The actual keyboard is typical Curve fare, with small keys that give a satisfying, tinny click when pushed in.
Round the back, you'll find little of interest other than the 3.2MP camera and LED light. The actual rear of the phone is made of shiny black plastic. We couldn't help feeling it looked a bit cheap, and thankful that the shape of this phone fits the hands so well. If not, this shiny rear would be taking you straight to slipsville.
Up top, you'll find the 3.5mm headphone jack and an unlock button. There are no dedicated media buttons but there is a dedicated BBM button on the left, which is something we're not used to seeing. That's accompanied by the charge/sync port.
The right-hand side has the volume buttons and convenience key, which is set by default to fire up the camera. Both can be easily changed to open your app of choice.
The BlackBerry Curve 9320 is one of a number of handsets in the BlackBerry Curve range, including the BlackBerry Curve 9360, BlackBerry Curve 8520 and BlackBerry Curve 3G. It will be competing foremost against them.
The BlackBerry Curve 9320 is free on contracts from as little as £10.50 (about $17) per month, and priced at around £150 (around $240) on Pay As You Go in the UK. US pricing is yet to be revealed, but is set to also target young and first-time smartphone owners.
Ever wondered why Samsung is taking so long to announce its
Galaxy Note 10.1 which they showed off in the last Mobile World Congress? After
showing off the 10.1” tablet equipped with its popular S-Pen, the company went
quiet and never really mentioned about the product ever again and fast forward 3
months later, it looks like Samsung has been busy revamping the device inside
and out.
The new Galaxy Note 10.1 is now slimmer and comes with a slot
for the S-Pen; the S-Pen too seems to be much slimmer than it first made its
debut. On top of that, the company will also sell a dedicated pen holder to make
it easier for you to hold and draw with. But that’s not the most exciting part,
sure, it’s great to have a slimmer and lighter product but what’s more
interesting is that it seems like the new tablet will be powered by Samsung’s
very own quad-core Exynos processor as opposed to the dual-core announced
previously.
Of course, nothing’s official yet, the product was spotted at
a German event recently and Samsung still refuse to shed any light. Whatever it
is, it’s said to make its official debut in June.
LG Electronics has just announced the availability of their (presumably) flagship model in South Korea – the LG Optimus LTE II, and what makes this particular smartphone from LG special would be the crowning achievement of yet another first, being the first smartphone in the world that delivers 2GB of RAM for optimal LTE connectivity, speed and stability, all rolled into a single device. Folks living in South Korea will be able to get their hands on the LG Optimus LTE II from this week onwards.
Just why does the LG Optimus LTE II require 2GB RAM? The more the merrier, I say, and this amount of RAM will deliver an optimal environment for multitasking and enhance the capability of a smartphone to run large applications. It is hard to imagine that computers not too long ago came with 2GB RAM for the top end models, and here we are with a modern day smartphone featuring something of the equivalent instead.
Other hardware specifications of the LG Optimus LTE II include a rather impressive 4.7-inch True HD IPS display alongside a brightness level of 550 nits, not to mention a resolution count of 1280 x 720 pixels that ought to do its bit to impress your eyes. Not only that, the dual-core Qualcomm one-chip solution will also incorporate both the LTE modem and Application Processor (AP) for added power efficiency, so much so that the battery will be drained slower than before with the same amount of usage.
Apart from that, the LG Optimus LTE II will also sport a removable 2,150mAh battery which is touted to be the largest currently available on a LTE smartphone in the 4- to 5-inch display category. If you are too lazy to carry around a dedicated digital camera with you, then the LG Optimus LTE II will be able to function as an able replacement of sorts, where it has an 8-megapixel shooter at the back, while the front features a 1.3-megapixel shooter for video calls.
Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, said, “The Optimus LTE II is the most powerful smartphone technology currently available in Korea. With a faster LTE network, the barrier for downloading and running very large applications is no longer a significant one for many customers, which is why LG saw a need for more RAM on high-end smartphones.”
No idea on when the LG Optimus LTE II will arrive outside of South Korea though, so keep your fingers crossed!
Ahead of the media preview of its bigger brother next week, Samsung have just released the Galaxy mini 2, an entry level Android smartphone that at RM599 looks like its quite good value for money. At 800MHz, 512MB of RAM, 3.27Inch HVGA TFT display which does 480x320, 3MP camera and 1,300mAh battery that has NFC capability, the only real letdown is that the phone will still run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
The Galaxy mini 2 may just be head to head with the recently announced HTC Desire C and may fall behind on the OS front, camera and of course the 25GB dropbox space. However it's all about the price. If the price is drastically different, those specs won't matter, however if the price isn't all that different, I don't see why the mini 2 would be a better choice than the Desire C.
As it stands, for RM599 the mini 2 is quite a decent starter smartphone.
LG Prada 3.0 ICS update coming soon, hints tipster
Make of it what you will, but the image that you see here recently landed in our inbox. It appears to be a screenshot of an LG Prada 3.0, as indicated by the LG-P940 model name, updated to Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. "Coming soon" is the comment that accompanied this tip, which lead us to believe that the ICS update for the LG Prada 3.0 might be nearing its release.
Could this be a fake? Certainly! However, we noted that the interface follows the same black and grey styling that is currently present on the device, so we might be looking at the real deal indeed. On the other hand, this could be nothing more but a screenshot from a custom ROM that a developer has crafted. Sadly, we don't have any further evidence to know for sure.
Now feel free to examine the image for yourself, and if you happen to come across clues that we have missed, do not hesitate to drop us a comment below!
Source: phonearena.com
Monday 14 May 2012
Sony Xperia U Hands-on Review
Posted: , by Ray S.
At a glance, the Sony Xperia U looks more or less like its flagship sibling, the Xperia S, only smaller. It features the same Identity design, and the special coating meant to repel dirt and dust is a welcome addition.
As a whole, we can say that the Xperia U is pretty nice little handset – it's made of plastic, but Sony has come up with a pleasing design, featuring the characteristic transparent line near the touch-sensitive navigation buttons and a changeable bottom part. These bottoms will be available in a number of colors, so that you can choose the one that suits you best. By the way, the above-mentioned transparent line actually illuminates in various colors, depending on how you set it. It can also lights up when you're getting a call, and changes its color according to the picture that you're currently viewing.
What we see on the smartphone's front is a petite 3.5-inch display with a resolution of 480 by 854 pixels. It did look fine while we were testing the handset here at MWC, but for some more in-depth details, we'll all have to wait a bit until we get the chance to review the handset properly.
The unit of the Sony Xperia U that we tested ran Gingerbread, but we really hope that Sony is to out the ICS update as soon as possible. There's been a fair degree of visual customization via the UXP NXT user interface (rolls right off the tongue). First of all, we see a revamped lock screen, as well as new gallery and music player apps. There are more than a few visual tweaks noticeable in Timescape.
Obviously, if HTC manages to pull off its software updating scheme well, its lineup will be a dangerous opponent to keep an eye on. The budget-oriented Xperia U is expected sometime during Q2 of 2012.
Sony Xperia Sola introduces "floating touch" navigation
Hot on the heels of the launch of the Xperia S, Sony has announced a new Xperia phone, the Sola.
What sets the Sola apart is the new "floating touch" touchscreen interface. According to Sony, this allows you to control a cursor without touching the screen itself - you let your finger hover over the panel to move the cursor and select a link, and then tap to launch it. We imagine it would have to be quite sensitive, as trying to move your finger across a phone's screen without touching it is actually quite difficult in practice.
The Sola will also be NFC-enabled, like many new phones, allowing you to trigger actions on your phone, such as toggling Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, by touching an NFC-compatible tag, which can then be placed where you need it. For example, you could associate a tag with turning on Bluetooth, and place it in your car so that when you get in, it turns on Bluetooth and connects to your hands-free headset.
More mundanely, it's got a 3.7in, 480x854 screen which uses Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine technology, and is powered by a dual-core 1GHz processor with 512MB of RAM. Sadly, it'll run Android 2.3, with Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" promised for "summer 2012".
According to Sony, the Xperia Sola will be available in a choice of black, white or red at some point in the second quarter of this year. As a side note, the Sola will be marketed as the Sole in Italy - "sole" means "sun", whereas "sola" means "only". In China it will be known as the MT27i - yawn.
The Xperia P is one of the better handsets from Sony Mobile's lineup this year. The smartphone has a great build quality and the WhiteMagic display is one of the best displays you can use outdoors.
The good
Beautiful design and brushed aluminum chassis; good build quality; bright 4-inch display; above-average camera.
The bad
Runs Gingerbread (Android 2.3); non-removable battery; lack of expansion slot; suffers from "death grip".
Announced at Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona, the Sony Xperia P was one of two handsets announced at the tradeshow. The other is the Xperia U and together with the Xperia S, these three handsets feature Sony's NXT design. This means that all three handsets look pretty similar--you'll note the flat front screen and curved back, as well as the transparent lighted band located at the bottom.
Design
Compared with the Xperia S, the slightly smaller Xperia P seems much easier to hold, and the brushed metal feels good in our hands. The 4-inch display also makes the P usable with just one hand, while size-wise, the smartphone is just slightly wider than Apple's iPhone 4S.
Unlike the Xperia S, the P does not come with plastic covers for its ports. The rear cover is also non-removable. This is no big loss, since the removable rear of the Xperia S only lets you access the microSIM card slot; the Xperia P's uses a slide-out microSIM tray located on the left side instead, and is a more elegant solution.
Located above the microSIM tray are the micro-USB and micro-HDMI ports. On the top is where you'll find the 3.5mm headphone jack, and finally, on the right are your power, volume and camera shutter buttons. We note that the handset's speakers are located on the right--an interesting design choice, to be sure.
The handset sports a 4-inch qHD (960 x 540 pixels) display, and comes with Sony's new WhiteMagic display. Sony claims the display is bright enough that you can view the screen comfortably even in direct sunlight. We found this to be true, when we used the phone outdoors-- we had no issues reading on the Xperia P's bright display.
The P features the same transparent lighted band at the bottom, and has the three icons for Back, Home and Menu. Instead of the Xperia S's annoying button placement (the keys are located above the icons), Sony has made the P's buttons on the lighted strip itself, which makes so much more sense.
Weighing at 120g, the Xperia P feels light enough in our hands, though its 10.5mm depth means it is much thicker than most phones. Lastly, the handset comes with a non-removable 1,500mAh battery.
Features
Unlike the smaller Xperia U, Sony has included built-in NFC for the Xperia P. This will allow you to make full use of the Xperia SmartTags the company is touting. These programmable NFC tags will allow you to quickly launch apps and services by simply tapping your Xperia P onto the tag. However, no SmartTags are included in the package. See our Xperia S review for more about this feature.
Other connectivity features include HSPA, Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi. The handset comes with 16GB of onboard storage, though only 13GB is available for use.
The Xperia P does not come with the latest Android operating system (Ice Cream Sandwich) at launch. Instead, it runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) but Sony has promised that an update for the handset in the future.
That said, Sony has added tweaks to enhance the user experience. Like in Android 4.0, you can create folders by dragging apps on top of another and the company has also added notifications for messages on the lock screen (you can also slide the message to unlock your handset and jump straight to reading it.
The 8-megapixel camera uses Sony's Exmor R, which is a backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor. There was no shutter lag. The Xperia P's shutter button also lets you take a picture even if your phone is locked by holding down the button, which launches the camera app and immediately snaps a picture. We note that the white balance isn't adjusted properly when you use this feature. The shot after that will look better as the handset would have some time to adjust correctly. However, that takes away from the immediacy of this feature.
We found images taken by the Xperia P's camera to have lots of detail, but colors do seem a little washed out. In low-light situations (and with flash turned on), there still seems to be quite an ample amount of noise. For a midrange handset, the Xperia P's camera seems above average in our books.
Performance
While it does not have a quad-core processor as we've seen in the latest high-end smartphones, the Xperia P's dual-core 1GHz processor was more than sufficient to keep things running smoothly.
The smartphone lasted us for a day at moderate usage, and that's on top of our usual test settings with two Gmail accounts, Facebook as well as Twitter set on push. It may be a good idea to carry around a battery charger, especially since you won't be able to swap in a spare battery if you run dry.
Lastly, there's no issue with voice quality and call reception. However, there seems an attenuation issue when it is used indoors. When the phone is gripped with the palm touching the back (see below), the signal bars seems to fall off, but we note that you're still able to make calls but data is affected--web pages' loading time slowed down to a crawl. The speaker located at the right side was loud enough to be heard, and we didn't think the location affected the quality of the audio.
Conclusion
The Sony Xperia P is strangely a more compelling device compared with the Xperia S. We found it to be the better handset, especially when it comes to build and battery life. Though the screen resolution is not as high as on the S, the WhiteMagic display works as advertised, which means you won't have problems using this smartphone outdoors. In Singapore, the handset is currently only available from telco SingTel, and retails for S$248 (US$197) on the cheapest monthly plan. We've reached out to Sony for more information on regional pricing.
At first glance, Porsche Design and BlackBerry might not make obvious bed-fellows. Still, the car firm’s aesthetically-obsessed arm has taken up with Canada’s finest, and the Porsche Design P’9981 is the result: maple syrup by way of Stuttgart. The less forgiving might draw comparisons between Porsche’s legendary reluctance to diverge from its original 1963 car design, and BlackBerry’s struggle to break free of its old OS. The frugal will likely be too busy gaping at the $2,350 price tag. So, Porsche or Pinto? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.
Hardware
Porsche Design starts as it means to go on, with an oversized box first presenting the P’9981 and its desk-stand in one dense foam layer, before revealing different chargers for near-global use, USB cable and headphones, various documentation and your exclusive technical support card, complete with PIN, to access freephone assistance. It’s not quite Vertu’s Concierge, mind; the team will help you set up your P’9981 and figure out its quirks, but not book you theater tickets.
The smartphone itself is certainly distinctive. RIM basically handed over the key parts of its Bold 9900 flagship, and Porsche Design dressed them up in a Dynasty-era suit, shoulderpads and all. It’s a resolutely aggressive, blunt design, all sharp edges and squared-off corners, with plenty of metal and metal-effect plastic, and it’s heavy too, feeling twice its actual 155g weight in the hand.
Porsche Design itself gets top billing, its name engraved into the brushed stainless-steel bar above the display; RIM’s BlackBerry logo is relegated to just below the earpiece, above the 2.8-inch 640 x 480 touchscreen. The display is bright and crisp, though lacks the color saturation of an AMOLED, while the touch response is good. The metal bar continues around the edge of the P’9981 – though with a polished mirror finish, rather than brushed – though the keyboard itself is plastic. Porsche Design P’9981 hands-on:
BlackBerry devices are famed for their keyboards, in fact you could construct a reasonable argument that it’s QWERTY text-entry that has kept the company afloat the past few years. Porsche Design does away with the 9900′s ‘board – one, we decided, of the best on the market – and replaces it with a heavily-stylized version with pronounced ridges. It’s not a bad keyboard – the spacing is good, as it spreads across the entire 67mm width of the phone, and the keys are clicky and responsive – but it’s definitely a step back from what the donor BlackBerry offers.
It’s also unevenly illuminated, with the backlighting focused in two patches that leave the center column of letters dimmer than the rest. No great functional issue, and you can still see them in low-light conditions, but it’s a noticeable flaw and one – since the backlighting is often active when the P’9981 is docked in its charger-cradle – you’re presented with all the time.
Sandwiched in-between the keyboard and the touchscreen is the usual row of call, menu and navigation buttons. They’re large and plasticky, and rock somewhat unnervingly under your finger. In their midst is the optical trackpad, which doubles as a select button, and is swiftly responsive. The left edge of the phone offers the 3.5mm headphones socket and a microUSB port, while the right has volume keys flanking a mute button (that doubles as a play/pause button in the media app) and a camera shortcut (that can be reprogrammed). On the top there’s a lock button.
If the front of the P’9981 is Terminator sturdy, the back is oddly unreassuring. An ingot of metal bears the 5-megapixel camera – which supports 720p but uses EDoF fixed-focus rather than auto-focus – and single LED flash, but the rest is a plastic panel that, despite being covered with leather, feels unduly cheap in comparison to the rest of the phone. There’s a little flex around the camera section, and the panel itself doesn’t click reassuringly into place as we might’ve hoped.
Peel it off, and you can see the antenna stuck to the back – connected with two discrete pins just above the Porsche Design branded 1,230 mAh battery – as well as the microSD card slot to augment the 8GB of internal memory. You’ll need to pull out the battery to swap the SIM card. This European unit has dualband 3G/UMTS (for up to 14.4 Mbps downloads and up to 5.76 Mbps uploads, network depending), quadband GSM/EDGE, WiFI a/b/g/n (with 2.4/5GHz support), Bluetooth and NFC, along with GPS, a digital compass, accelerometer and twin microphones for noise cancellation. Like the Bold 9900, the Porsche Design P’9981 runs BlackBerry 7 on a single-core Qualcomm MSM8655 1.2GHz processor, paired with 768MB of RAM.
Software
RIM has hung its long-term hopes on BlackBerry 10, the QNX-based OS for phones and tablets expected to debut by the end of this year. Unfortunately, that leaves the P’9981 running BlackBerry 7, just as on the Bold 9900, and it’s a platform that’s seriously showing its age compared to iOS and Android.
Porsche Design, as the name might predict, makes no modifications to the software itself beyond an ill-advised icon redesign. The paired down iconography is certainly in keeping with the rest of the P’9981, but it also leaves app menus confusing: you have to make a conscious effort to tell the difference between each icon. It’s something you’ll no doubt get more adroit at handling, the longer you live with the handset, or indeed you can change the skin altogether.
Beyond that, our primary frustration with BlackBerry 7 is its general sense of being a patchwork platform: some aspects feel relatively fresh, but other areas feel like they’ve been dragged over from RIM’s OS several years back. The text-based elements of the UI are generally the swiftest but also the points that feel most dated in comparison to rival software; in contrast, BlackBerry App World is sluggish and the BlackBerry Maps app is a lesson in frustration compared to Google Maps or Nokia Maps.
RIM has worked hard on the internet experience in BlackBerry 7, and it’s certainly improved from earlier iterations. You still get a throwback mouse cursor, though we came to appreciate it more after finding how much finger-navigation obscures the touchscreen. Pinch-zooming in the browser works, but that compact display also makes it feel clumsy.
As always, the email experience is the primary reason for using a BlackBerry, though it’s at its best if you’re an enterprise customer with a BlackBerry Exchange Server. If you’re on the Gmail train then you’ll have to use IMAP – Google discontinued its Gmail for BlackBerry app late last year – though there’s the Enhanced Google Mail Plug-in from RIM itself that adds spam and archive support, integrates Gmail inbox searches with BlackBerry 7′s universal search, and imports your contacts. Still, the best Gmail experience continues to be on Android in our opinion, with iOS following behind that.
We’ve covered BlackBerry 7 more in our Bold 9900 review, but the long and short of it is that the OS feels dated and is well overdue a replacement. BlackBerry 10 can’t come soon enough.
Camera
5-megapixels is midrange but acceptable for a smartphone, particularly one with business aspirations like the P’9981, but the fixed-focus is a disappointment. Not a surprising one – the Bold 9900 used EDoF after all – but still another black mark against the Porsche phone.
It means you’re limited in how close you can get with your macro shots, and in general images lack crispness in comparison to auto-focus cameras. Color balance is solid, and there’s a nice amount of detail in shots from the P’9981, but unlike, say, the iPhone 4S or Galaxy S II, you wouldn’t want to rely on the BlackBerry for all of your photography needs.
As for video, 720p is your high-definition maximum but the ensuing clips are good. Colors are accurate, if a little muted, and the digital image stabilization is neither ineffectual nor over-aggressive and helps smooth out a shaky hand. We found the sheer heft of the P’9981 also helped on that front too. Recorded clips can be sent via Bluetooth or WhatsApp, or uploaded to YouTube, though not emailed directly from the camcorder app. Porsche Design P’9981 720p HD Video Sample:
Phone and Battery
Just behind email performance in the Big BlackBerry Book of Achievements is traditionally voice call quality and battery life: on this, the P’9981 drops one of the balls. Calling quality is great, with a loud earpiece and speaker for hands-free use, crisp – but not overly-processed – background noise reduction, and tenacious grip on a mobile signal. We also like how both your mobile network and current WiFi SSID are shown in the status bar.
Unfortunately, whereas at one time BlackBerry devices could be expected to run for days, the P’9981 follows in the Bold 9900′s metaphorical footsteps and tarnishes the family tradition. The 1,230 mAh battery may be Porsche Design branded but it’s otherwise exactly the same powerpack as the 9900 uses, and it’s simply not up to the challenge of the 1.2GHz processor.
RIM does its best to hide that fact, underclocking the chip most of the time so that you’re running on a fraction of those cycles, but step beyond simple email and you’ll find calls, web browsing, photography and third-party apps all take their toll. Left to its own devices and the P’9981 will run for a couple of days, even with email updating in the background, but actually use it as you might a rival smartphone and you’ll struggle to finish a day. The desk charger cradle does at least make topping up the juice more straightforward.
Wrap-Up
It’s hard to imagine the Porsche Design P’9981 convincing the everyman: its severe styling is too divisive, BlackBerry 7 OS questionable, and general specifications uncompetitive in places. Then again, the everyman isn’t the limited edition BlackBerry’s target audience. Like Vertu and “luxury” editions of other manufacturers’ phones, the appeal of the P’9981 is more about who hasn’t got it than who wants it.
$2,350 is a ridiculous amount of money for a smartphone. A quarter of that gets you an iPhone 4S or a Galaxy Nexus, either of which outclass the P’9981 on functionality, usability and – many would argue – style. However, just as Porsche Design borrowed the Dynasty shoulderpads, the P’9981 is the cellular equivalent of Alexis Carrington: brash and unforgivingly blunt, an unapologetic backhanded slap to the face of anybody who thinks their mainstream handset makes them special.
The rest of us will continue to buy iPhones, and Android phones, perhaps even some Windows Phones, and wait to see whether RIM can relaunch itself in Q4 with BlackBerry 10. The biggest problem with the P’9981 isn’t its love-it-or-hate-it design, or its mediocre camera, or even its insane price tag: it’s the fact that it highlights just how tired BlackBerry 7 is. In the end, even $2,350-worth of metal and leather and Porsche branding can’t hide that.