The company has expanded its range of phones with the modest model named Samsung Corby, which ratio of price and abilities may surprise you.

Design
In order to make it clear that such a colorful unit with touch screen is shown in pictures we need only to recall the main target audience of this kind of phone models. Of course, this is for young people, sometimes the most isolated and untamed. Now let’s see what phone Koreans prepared for the public. Thus we have: a small shell with dimensions 103×56, 5 x12, 5 mm which will not fit into pockets of business suits and shirts. It weighs only 920 grams.

Screen

Here we have a telephone with touch screen, so from the first seconds of getting acquainted, we see the screen. Only after this we notice branded grille on top, as well as easy to use phone keys at the bottom.
But let’s go back to the screen, which is protected with capacitive touch glass. Here is a 2.8-inch TFT-matrix with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels (260 thousand colors). Taking into account the quality of displayed images they are rather good comparing with phones which are more expensive. Besides under the sun the screen acts quite well, providing the ability to easily read text or dial a phone number.

Battery

Removing the back cover you can see 960 mAh battery, which is enough for three days – 20 minutes of conversation, hours of listening to your favorite music with headphones, and hours of using various recreational facilities, among which it is worth pointing out watching video.
But let’s go back to the exterior, because here it is important not to forget about a comfortable place of SIM-card and slot of microSD-card, which can reach at least 32 GB.

Communications abilities

Here we should mention the possibility of communication with PC, where are several variations of connect with the presence of the actual profile data on the memory card. It’s nice that in this case writing speed reaches up to 1,5 MB per second, so that the memory card can be retrieved only in emergency situations (for example, full memory).
Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP support together with other profiles is also present. With headsets and wireless headphones Corby works just as well, but not better than other phones. Speed of receiving/transferring data to another device is about 130 Kbps. You can find a compatible device using the convenient search tool that displays the process much clearly.

Programs and games

Describing the standard content of phones, we can say without looking at it about the presence of a standard set of multiple applications and demos of games, after a short game that will either send for 300 rubles, or restart the game. By the way about restarting – here it isn’t not useless to note multitasking for multiple applications (up to three maximum).
This part of application also contains different utilities – cards, a collection of links to social services, as well as a standard set of organizer.

Music
Player catches the eye by a simple and convenient separation of all the tracks on various criteria, among which are viewing album covers. After selecting interesting songs comes a window during playback with large comfortable buttons on the screen and active line of progress.
Fans of all sorts of settings and customizations will clearly appreciate the ability to install the rating change repeat modes and random play, and at the same time adjusting the equalizer. But this is not Samsung M7600 Beat DJ; so that you can not manually control equalizer. Although, without setting sound is rather good, with a small reserve volume and coherent study of middle frequencies. Of course, it sounds much worse than any player, but the most undemanding audience may seem quite a good help. If you get tired of its own music, then there is a FM-receiver with a good quality signal reception in the frequency range from 87.5 to 108 MHz.

Camera

The camera has a rather utilitarian role, although the 2-megapixel resolution of matrix caused a genuine interest a couple of years ago.
However, there is no flash and autofocus so you can not count on S3650. At least the interface to work with the camera is not subjected to rigorous simplifications, leaving at our attention full-screen viewfinder, labels of all modes as well as quite rich content of settings.
We have nothing to say specifically about the images, because on the phone screen, they look better, than on the monitor of PC.

Conclusion

Compact bright and cheap touch phone from Samsung Corby is not so simple as it may seem when you look at the price. Of course, we do not take into account beginning with the start of sales from 7 thousand rubles, but by December the model will show off at the shop windows at 6000 rubles. This will be very interesting offer, but having the desire and the additional funds you would better buy another touch phone. Well, it’s a matter of taste.

Samsung E790 is designed by two factors: a traditional for Samsung desire to create more flat, easy to carry and use phones, and shell and mirror elementsborrowed from other devices. It should be noted that the hybrid rather blends into the overall concept shell of Samsung.
This phone will surely be in high demand, primarily because of its universality: the middle class and outright unisex appeal will attract buyers from several adjacent segments of the market.

Shell
So, in front of us is a brilliant “shell” of Samsung E790, which hides a black pearl. This phone is available in two colors – neutral silver, which is decorated with bezel top panel and a removable back cover, and black, which accounted for the lower half of the chassis, all interior trim phone, as well as external mirror lining.
The mirror is almost opaque, resulting in use for external display monochrome OLED-matrix without background illumination. To enhance the mirror effect for the panel is used shiny plastic, which, moreover, is not only sufficiently resistant to mechanical damage (let’s say, if you use the phone only for its intended purpose, the scratches and worn spots on the lid will not appear soon), but also easily clean the inevitable fingerprints.
For the lower half of the shell is used dense, gritty, as though slightly rubberized. Thanks to it, holding this phone is not only convenient but also pleasant. From the same material are made, both plugs (headphone / charger and a removable memory card).

Control
First you may think that Samsung E790 is equipped with a sensory keyboard, but it turns out that all the symbols are located on a single plane (there is no separate buttons) that allows the manufacturer to save a minimum thickness of the shell. For ease of use the keyboard is supplied with four horizontal serifs – under each of row of buttons. In addition, the boundary between the alphanumeric and navigation of the keyboard (they are made from different kinds of plastic, which is very pleasant to touch and has a calm color) is clearly distinguished. Yes, and four-position navigation button is made of a bare metal disk without any switches or at least hints at the sectors.
At the ends of the shell there are volume control and voice recorder buttons. Although the keys are sufficiently tight, the probability of accidental clicks is not excluded.

Displays
External display of E790 has already been mentioned – it is made based on OLED-matrix with resolution 80×64 pixels and 16 gradations of brightness. In standby mode, it is turned off; it shows the number of an incoming call. You can change the settings so that you can have on it standard information on the status of the phone.
Internal display uses familiar TFT-matrix with resolution of 220×176 pixels (262 000 colors). Like previous models, E790 demonstrates low grain and good sharpness, both in static mode, and when displaying dynamic graphics, including videos. To be able to personalize the graphical user interface provides the possibility of using interchangeable skins, but in the firmware of the phone are included only two – contrasting black and white.

Camera
E790 is equipped with a 2 MP camera, which allows it to take pictures with a resolution up to 1600×1200 pixels. The most successful are objects shot at a short distance. But for landscape photographs there is often a noticeable grain.
All camera control rendered on the navigation keys – first finger instinctively tries to incorporate its side button, but there lies a small trick – the key should be kept for three seconds. With the lid closed self-portrait you do not succeed. At least in our test sample, the camera in this mode, showed them on an external display, but could not make a shot. Most likely, the commercial version of the phone will have this opportunity.
But the camera control interface is very convenient, especially the 11-step zoom, allowing very smoothly zoom in / remove objects, but let us not forget that quality lowers when zooming.
Video is recorded in a single resolution – 176×144 pixels about 128 kb / s (15 frames per second).
The memory of the phone can be expanded with the help of microSD cards.

Menu
To the standard for Samsung graphical menu “3×3″ stands out only recently emerged icon “Google”. Yes, instead of the normal section of the browser now the user can be connected directly to the services of the online service provider – search the web, personal mailbox, personal page, etc. As shown by tests, Samsung deals with Google servers fast and stable. In order to use the mobile Internet you can choose the menu “browser”, hidden somewhere deep in the section “Applications”.
Otherwise, there is nothing new in the organization of the menu of E790. As before, Samsung does not allow us to create sound profiles to switch circuits warning in different conditions – just a quick transition to the “silent” mode using the key “#”.

Software
Phonebook can store up to thousands contacts with five phone numbers. You can assign a photo and ringtones. Calendar supports the minimal functionality of the organizer.

E790 is rich in entertainment programs. First, the phone has MP3-player, which is rather good, but, the fact that E790 supports connectivity via Bluetooth wireless stereo headphones, the phone turns into a full-fledged portable player.
80 MB internal memory plus support for removable memory cards (microSD) allows you to carry a virtually unlimited amount of music. The only problem is the battery, which is in active mode, lasts only a day.
In addition to the player in the phone memory are loaded about a dozen games, but, alas, most of them are demo versions, which require payment for a short time.

Conclusion
Of course, Samsung made a good product. Sleek, stylish, and inexpensive device will surely attract the attention though it won’t become a bestseller, it is a very successful one.
This model can be recommended to all those who need a reasonably good functional mobile phone at a reasonable price. This phone is a nice gift for girls, because its exterior very attractive.

Nokia 6290 novelty is not an innovation. All these components we have seen in the earlier models, but compared to other phones the main plus of 6290 is completeness.
Nothing is semi-finished. There are really all the necessary functions to ensure convenience and comfort. The phone is very good both from a technical and design standpoint and you possibly would think that 6290 is deprived of the very identity, for which we love Nokia, but do not worry. You need just to look at it closely.

Design
Making a smart phone cot is not a simple task for the whole team. Size, dimensions, weight – all this must be combined with each other in digestible proportions. In the case the team of Nokia 6290 worked wonderfully. Weighting 115 grams is a very good indicator for a smart phone on S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1. In fact Nokia 6290 is a continuation of the successful model Nokia 6260, or in other words – clever cot in the middle price range.
The company is positioning the novelty as a “device for energetic professionals who live not only in business” and should admit it has everything needed for this. Matte lacquer paint (in black) gives the right of association, for example, even with the piano.
From a technical point of view, the back cover is made of opaque plastic, but it spoils the impression a bit. Otherwise, all the elements in their part will fit into the overall picture.
It is worth noting that two stereo speakers of impressive size are located at the ends of the phone, as well as a volume key and access to the PTT.
Particularly gratifying to find on the sides of two closed-doors connector plugs for memory cards and mini-USB, the latter has a gold-plated contacts, as well as SIM-card holder.
Dimensions (94 × 50 × 20,8 mm) of Nokia 6290 are standard, but the horizontal unit is somewhat less than usual. As a result, in the closed position it is perceived as something long and narrow, but eventually you get used to it, and the discomfort disappears.

Keyboard
Returning to the already mentioned buttons on the ends of 6290, it is worth noting that they are quite strict, which almost completely eliminates accidental pressing. Besides the external controls 6290 has three buttons below the display, to access the desired functions. By default, this is a player, music library and radio. In addition, they can be used to turn off the ringing tone, reject calls, and much more.
While opening the phone, we see a standard set of keys for S60. The navigation unit consists of two soft keys, menu, “C”, Quick Cover keys, and the four-key input in the middle. As you can see there is nothing new. All buttons are large and well located, which allows you to quickly navigate through menus or perform certain operations.
The numeric keypad will also need to “taste” your fingers. Large, well-defined keys have excellent ergonomics. Quick SMS, text notes typed with pleasure. The keyboard gets an honored setoff.

Display
A good screen is at least the required attribute for S60. In the case of 6290 we have a TFT-matrix with 2.2 inch diagonal (320×240 pixels) display supports up to 16 million colors.

The screen is very juicy and bright, well behaved in the sun (sometimes fades, but the information remains readable). The display has a small mirror property, due to this picture it is filled with color; and paint acquire the brightness, but the only minus is that there is not much, but affects the surrounding space.
As for the external display, it just carried on TFT-technology, has the physical size of 1.36. (28 × 160 pixels) and displays up to 262 000 colors. Display is somewhat pale, but copes with its tasks quite well.

Multimedia
Although Nokia 6290 has come to us from the world of business devices, it is endowed with rich multimedia capabilities. There is a powerful MP3-player (handy headset in Nokia HS-47 in the set), Stereo FM-radio and even if not necessary, but

Visual Radio.
Even the stereo speakers can be safely attributed to the media, because the volume and sound quality is enough to organize a mini-disco. The phone supports Java MIDP 2.0.
The first game is a successful reincarnation of “snake”. It should be noted that this game (Snakes) has long been available for free download, but its existence by default can rejoice everyone.
The second game is a great gift to all lovers of the game Zuma. In 6290 it is installed under the name of an analog Marble, ideological and repeats the principles laid down in Zuma. Both games have excellent addictive properties and dynamics.
User has only 45Mb memory at his/her disposal, however, you can install a microSD memory card up to 2 GB.

Functions
As usually happens with smart phones, the model 6290 is, if not at the height of functional perfection, somewhere very near. Traditionally, for Symbian, user receives useful organizer with an indescribable collection of features, a phone book and even a wagon with all possible functions. For example, a program of World-Mate standard.
With it you can view the time once in five cities of the world, check currency rates, weather and even the state of the flight.
Synchronization takes place through the Internet, and thanks to the developers of MobiMate this procedure has a minimum traffic.
It has also applications such as Adobe PDF or Quick-Office (combining Word, Excel and so on).

Connection abilities
I got surprised when I saw never “dying” IR port on the right end of the phone. In addition, 6290, of course, is equipped with new means of communication. Connecting via the above miniUSB (the ability to synchronize with a computer using the Nokia PC Suite via USB and Bluetooth), grown up to 2.0 Bluetooth version (profiles SIM Access, Headset and Handsfree), local and remote data synchronization via the cellular network to connect to the Internet through GPRS , multislot class 32, EGPRS Multislot class 32, the standard WCDMA (3GPP Release 99).
As you can see from the following, for nirvana network only Wi-Fi is not enough.
In addition, with additional camera (CIF +) it is possible to arrange video calls.

Camera
The time-proven 2-megapixel camera with built-in flash is perfectly blended both in design, and in the functional group of 6290.
The maximum size of the image is not difficult to guess – 1600×1200. There are three levels of quality of the images, white balance, color tone, night photography, photo series mode and auto-timer. For the second camera maximum resolution is 320×240 and it is ideal for self-portraits. In addition, it also records video with a resolution of 176×144 pixels. The main camera also supports recording up to 320×240 inclusive (not such a hot result for a 2MP camera).
Gradually Nokia became more serious about its phone cameras, so in 6290 there is a horizontal navigation on the main features of the camera, which is very nice and comfortable.

Images obtained have quite a decent level, of course, if you shoot in sunny weather. Viewing them on phone or computer, the quality should be satisfactory.

Conclusion

Nokia 6290 is not a bad phone. The user must like the speed of work and the overall stability of the system. This unit is definitely for people who appreciate the phone stability. From a single charge (Battery Nokia BL-5F Li-ion 950mA * h) at MTS phone worked for three days of active use (hour of games and listening to music), and 30 minutes of calls a day.

Last year Samsung released E900 model of a slider phone. The success of the model depends totally on the price, design and functionality of this mobile phone. These three features are the main characteristics that attract buyers when choosing the phone.
Today we’ll talk about the successor of E900 – J600E primarily designed for women. Modern eye-catching design must come to taste of a every fashionable woman. If we talk about the inner content, it has a solid intermediate level.

Design
Considering Samsung J600E as a whole, while stressing the major pluses, it turns out that the strongest side, of course, is its design. The exterior is certainly designed for women, although to some extent for men too. The four available colors (blue, pink, silver, gray) consider it to be a unisex direction of mobile phones.
Today, ergonomic device can not be expressed in one thing. The dimensions of this mobile phone are quite fashionable: 91x45x18 mm and 99 grams.
As you can see, Samsung J600E is a little bit elongated and narrowed (in the form of rectangle).
In the hand the phone is excellent. The navigation buttons are located above the thumb, so the process of opening this phone should not cause any difficulties.
Returning to the design of Samsung J600E, we’d like to mention the successful combination of slightly shiny metallic colors.
Top, bottom and back of the phone are deprived of any kind of controls, connectors and other things. But on the left side there are slots for charging the battery and headset, shortcut key for the quick access of the camera.
Both slots are closed with plastic plugs which give the impression of a long-playing mechanism. The right side turned on to be “poorer” and can boast only about volume buttons and a memory card slot.

Display
At first sight, the characteristics of the screen J600E look quite decent. Indeed who would have thought that the TFT-matrix with the support of 65 thousand colors and a resolution of 128×160 pixels will disappoint.
The problem lies in the ratio of the diagonal of the display and the resolution. As we can see in J600E, a 1.9-inch screen with 128×160 pixels resolution is very small. Hence there is grainy and generally unpleasant sensation of viewing images.
Many claims about the screen arise when typing and surfing on the menu – the quality of display animations, pictures and photos leave much to be desired. As for the brightness and contrast, there is virtually no claim, moreover taking into account its characteristics they are even good.

Keyboard
Tactile keyboard today does not surprise anybody. However, this feature is still a tasty morsel. In the case of J600E it seems that touch buttons are the only available solutions to the problem of visual excellence.
When the buttons are inactive, they are totally invisible, when the phone is opened or activated by the keyboard, all four sensory start flashing in a pleasant blue color.
Is it convenient to use the touch keypad, or it is just an extravagant whim of the manufacturer? This becomes clear very quickly. The sensitivity of the buttons is high. A light touch is enough. However, during navigation, or when writing messages you can easily press on them, in consequence of which there happens an abolition of the selected operation.
The navigation button has a nice ribbed structure and the relatively slow speed, combined with a strength of character.
Against the background of the touch keypad, the numeric keypad looks a little boring. Standard eleven separate keys are arranged in a nice and clear way.

Other Features
Menu is standard for the latest generation of Samsung phones. It is convenient, comfortable, but without any novelties. First submenus seem somewhat irritating, but soon, the user can really find freedom in controling it.
One of the interesting features is the communication capabilities. USB and Bluetooth 1.2 provide connectivity (up to about 50 KB / s). For the Internet there is WAP, GPRS and EDGE, this is also rather poor. Wired Headset in collaboration with MP3 player and FM-radio will open the doors to the world of music.

In the literal sense there is nothing outstanding (compared with everything we have met before), but the sound quality is very decent. There are five games preinstalled on the device, three of which have already been well introduced in Samsung phones, they are “Miner”, “Tetris” and “Sudoku”.
The phone has about 20 MB of memory available to user. But you can add megabytes with the help of microSD cards (not included in the set, but they are not expensive).
The device without recharging will operate three days, and in the mode of an active use you have to charge it in a day.

Camera
The general concept of J600E is expressed in the camera. Instead of the almost standard 2-megapixel camera, we have only 1,3 megapixels. In reality the phone is not bad, but, remembering the same E900, ot is somehow offensive.
Maximum image resolution is 1280×1024 pixels. As always, there is a certain minimum set of options with which you can influence the final result of the image. In addition, there are modes: multi-shooting, matrix and night mode. I can not get away from the simple effects such as: black and white, negative, sepia, relief, sketch, orange and others. The display in the viewfinder does not even think slowly, and the resulting images are recorded as fast as the phone memory and on the card.

As for the quality of the photos, they are somewhere between good and excellent, of course, in relation to the cameras pf this class.
Video recording formats are MPEG4/H.263 (AMR, 352×288, 15 fps), which is quite enough.

Conclusion
This is a beautiful, high-quality phone and a cheap phone from Samsung, if I may say so.
So, if you want a stylish and prominent model without unnecessary features, then J600E is definitely what you need. The only thing which I’d like to notice once again is the display. It is not bad, but is rather peculiar, so be sure to pay close attention to the screen. Otherwise, the phone is not bad and is worth money.

It is well known that the most long-expected novelties are rather expensive and sophisticated smartphones, or as for Sony Ericssonn – these are popular devices of Walkman series. A new clamshell Z555i by Sweden-Japan partnership is not the one of super-expected models and that is why it can stay unnoticed even by those whom it is addressed to. Although girls might like it.

Design

We can see a typical not expensive clamshell, something from a series of “phone for USD 250″.
In order to make its typicalness stay within the limits of allowable, the producers put on some glam to the front panel. Its surface is alike covered with small prisms that are playing in the sun beams falling on them. It looks especially effective in the sun when the phone just flashes out in the lights.
The obvious minuses are weakness of the front panel for showing all the fingerprints and other kinds of contamination, but we do know very well that such behavior is typical for the great quantity of modern phones. That’s ok; we are getting accustomed to that little by little. Except decorations on the front panel we can find a camera lens with a tiny LED (flashing upon certain circumstances), polyphonic loudspeaker and a single-line black-and-white inverse display showing service information.

In standby mode it is “hidden” under the glossy panel and reminds of itself while there is an incoming call, incoming SMS and if you press a volume control wheel. Everything is typical and accurate. Oh, almost forgot that even if it is rather hard to open the cover with one hand, still it is possible, nevertheless, you should not try to do that while walking, in other way you can badly drop the phone. The back side, to be more exact the cover of the battery, is fulfilled with a rather thin rough plastic; the same is used for the W910i model.
In fact, we do not have a “hot” change of a memory card, but a “warm” one, because we still have to take off the battery cover for that purpose. On the upper side of the phone there is an “ear” for the thong, on the left – a jack, on the right – a volume control wheel. Everything is traditional. No patterns, flowers, ornaments and other decorations of modern phones, oriented first of all to women’s attention.
The interior of Sony Ericsson Z555i is more modest, than stylish.

Keyboard and display

The disposition and the form of keys are rather typical, but frankly there is one novelty about this. For example, the key responsible for turning off/on the phone is placed right in the middle of the front panel, “clutched” in between the browser key and the key of quick menu launch.
Such arrangement does not make problems in working, because you get used to that for 1-2 hours and besides, short pressing this sacred key does not lead to turning off the phone. In spite of this you can see the profile list on the screen. On the picture we see a slightly curved shape of typesetting keys that plays a good part practically as well as aesthetically – it is pleasant to look at it, and fingers are not making accidental pressing.

The size of the keys is optimal, and as for me I liked the short response. Its clear that the digital block is not ideal, but we have what we have. It is pleasant that black keys have light inserts, but it cannot be considered a super-stylish decision, it looks satisfactory, nothing more. The navigation is not very comfortable, mostly because of the flat 4-position key at the same level with other keys. It’s just hard to feel the keys bounds with a finger and you have to be careful. The micro-lights depend on the light sensor which is working very correctly – the battery economy is never something extra.

The main display is very common – TFT matrix with a resolution of 176╤Е220 pixels. I remember that such display characteristics were the same as people-music-youth device of 2005 – Motorola E398. We should frankly tell that Sony Ericsson Z555 matrix is better of course, the lights are richer, the image angles are enough to write SMS when you are elbowing in the transport. The image quality is not bad, the grains are almost not seen, and the brightness resource is good. One thing is bad – a small physical size and that is why you can feel that the producer did not spend much for display.

Menu, Control

A typical menu presented with a usual set of 12 icons is quite common for SE devices that is why it will hardly surprise anyone or call admiration. It is comfortable to move around the icons because the device is slightly vibrating, showing every movement like that.
There are functions list, and you wont be accompanied with vibration moving around there. And yes, as always there are several themes in this device (to be more exact – four of them).
They are cute, one of them is even nice (with flowers), and that is definitely for girls.
Shortcut menu consists of 4 marks. One of them shows information about events, the second shows the applications you are using right now, the third – quick access to the functions you are choosing yourself, the fourth – web URLs.
Besides that, you can program the directions of the 4-position key for quick launch of these or those functions.
Its a pity that you cant change a web browser launch key, because surfing the net at using a small display is not so pleasant.

Useful trifles

Unlike Nokia devices, Z555i has five alarms versions, activated on certain days of the week and you can choose any MP3 melody as alarm ring tone.
I liked a simple reminder function; for writing down a new event (meeting/call) I needed not more than 20 seconds. The notebook is of the same style, just without a remind function.

The calendar has a rather good functionality, but the month table looks a bit small there. I am serious; you have to look intently to see what date will be on next Saturday. If the letters were bolder and the table was bigger there won’t be such problems.

There are common things like timer and stopwatch with nine intermediate results.
The memo book is of the same kind like the previous models have and has very comfortable horizontal keys too.
You can write down five numbers for one contact, e-mail and web address, choose a personal ringtone and a picture, and fill in the personal data like mailing address, company name, place of work, birth date.
On one hand – not so much, on the other hand – quite enough for the majority of users. As usual, the phonebook of the device itself and a SIM card are not shown as a single list, but you can choose showing the SIM card contact list by default.

Camera

Sony Ericsson Z555i is the type of the phones that you are not expecting anything unusual about them. That is why, frankly speaking, I was not even surprised when I saw a 1,3 megapixel camera. Of course it would be more pleasant to see a 2 megapixel camera, but…

There are not so many adjustments. The user can chose the size of the picture (1,3 Mp or VGA), a single frame or a series of 4 pictures, two types of the image quality, night mode, balance of white, several color effects, 4 sounds for confirmation of the shutter actuation, timer.

In other words, everything is more than usual. Not the whole display is used for the viewfinder purposes (we can see that on the pictures); the upper part is given to the series of icons, which, in fact, you don’t need, the lower part – for the signatures of the context keys. It is quite easy to use this simple camera; the picture is taken when you press the left context key or the central key. The camera is working really rapidly, the image recording to the phone or a card memory lasts for no longer than 1,5 seconds. The quality of the pictures is expectedly not high; in fact, you can see it on your own.

Player/radio and games

MP3 player (to be more exact – its interface) is also familiar due to the previous models. A rather strict, imperceptible design, several preinstalled equalizers, working in a background mode. There is also a function of sorting by an artist, track, and you can make your own playlists.

The quality of sound of our test example was not bad, we were especially surprised with a high volume (the music was heard quite well in the other end of the room – 12 m), but as for the bass function – it is not so good if you wear the earphones from the set as well as inlay earphones by Philips and Koss. I guess that the commercial examples of the player will be better.

The FM receiver sensitivity is not bad. Five of the stations make noises, the rest of the twenty were quite fine (the sound is clear with minimal noises).
There is also a mode of automatic tuning working quite correctly and finding out the radio stations even with a weak signal. The RDS system is working quite well.
As well as a player, a radio can turn into tray releasing display for other things. The most comfortable way to activate it is to choose it among the mentioned list of the applications.

Games are: logic Jewel Quest II and photo hunting FotoQuestFish. Both games are good, but I liked the one with fish most.
The sense of the game is that you are a diver and for the limited time you have to make good pictures of different kinds of fishes (no need to go to Egypt). In this game you get the points by the following way – the more fish you get into the frame of your photo camera, the more points you get. The game is quite pleasant and the time you spend going for work glides.

On-line

The data transfer speed between the phone and PC via Bluetooth is 32-38 Kb/second. Besides that, Sony Ericsson Z555i had no problems working with different BT accessories including stereophonic. There are no claims on the connection quality, everything corresponds to the expected level, and there were no connection breaches, the people you are talking to can be heard quite clearly. The battery charge was enough for three days without turning off the phone for the night (as for me – I practice that sometimes), talking for 10-15 minutes a days, long-time searching around menu, about half an hour of listening the music, rare Bluetooth sessions.

Outcome

Sony Ericsson Z555i cannot be called a stylish, glamorous and a kind of attractive device. If it is a Dusted Rose color – you can call this a device for girls, but if it is black it’s not clear who should be the user. A girl will hardly choose something like that – she is willing to choose something more elegant, a man will just pass it through. So, it means the device is something in the middle, which is quite offensive.

Among the products of Samsung the DUOS series is very successful, so the developers from time to time introduce new models of the device (with 2 SIM-cards). Because of the world financial crisis, the idea to release a low-cost model is to the point. So, meet the budget DUOS – C5212 Model.

Design

Monoblock as monoblock, nothing special. The device fits in any pocket. The thickness of the phone is 14.3 mm, but for low-cost handset it is quite acceptable.

Build quality of Samsung S5212 does not cause complaints, but the glossy plastic spoils everything. The manufacturer could make the back cover from rough material, as it is too glossy and can easily slip out from hands. In addition, the back cover’s plastic rapidly scratches and they are clearly visible on the shell. So, keep C5212 away from keys and other “evil” items.

If we again return to the evaluation of design, then one thing is clear – Samsung C5212 just can not look as solid as the first DUOS (D880), but it certainly looks better than many budget handsets.

Keyboard and display

The control is also not original. But some people like simple buttons that are easy and comfortable to control. They think that the fewer frills, the better. As a result, we have a convenient set of buttons with short stroke and white backlight.

The 4-side navigation button is raised above the surface. It is not highlighted, so it cannot be seen in the dark.

The rest of the keyboard is comfortable, of course, the plastic is cheap, but that’s another conversation.

The display, of course, is not the best the resolution is 176 x 200, 2.2 inch, TFT-Matrix. The picture quality is not bad.

Of course, the screen with a modest resolution is not suitable for viewing videos or photos, and even reading e-books is not convenient. Under direct sunlight the picture decently “burns out”, but the menu and icons are readable. As a result display can get the “quiz”, taking into account its low cost.

Menu

It has a standard menu, like most Samsung devices produced in 2007-2008, so those who are familiar with the Korean phone manufacturer in the whole will easily deal with such menu.

Familiar large icons, well distinguishable font (you can change the size), three nice themes.

Everything is convenient and logical; control will not cause problems even for beginners. For those who do not like to wander through the menu, there is a custom menu, consisting of five items, which are selected by the user from 24 functions.

Two SIM cards

As other devices from DUOS series, C5212 has a manager of SIM-cards. Here you can turn on one or another SIM-card, select the card as primary, giving them names, assign icons (seven pieces), in one word – control.

Finally you can choose a melody (vibration) for SMS for each SIM card.

As before, you can choose ringtones and signals for other events individually for each card. I’d like to mention that the main ringtone of Samsung phones has changed a little bit. It sounds more glamorous.

The device holds four calls (two on each card), switching between them takes place smoothly. During the data transmission (using phone as a modem, or just while surfing on WAP-sites) the number from which you have switched to the network becomes unavailable, while the second SIM-card can receive calls.

Calling and sending messages takes place in a standard for Duos way – dial the necessary number or text and select one of two SIM-cards. Everything is very easy.

Entertainment

Samsung C5212 can not boast about advanced multimedia, but it has a camera, MP3-player and FM-radio.

The camera takes pictures with a resolution up to 1.3 megapixels.
Camera settings are standard. The quality of images is not so bad.

MP3-player is already well known from earlier models. It has Simple and nice interface.

FM-radio works properly, the sensitivity is above average, and most of the stations with strong signals were received without interference. Automatic search works well, finding more than 60% of stations.

You can make records from air and keep audio content in the memory of the phone.

Applications

There are five independent alarms with the detailed configuration.

Lingvo Dictionary is also useful, which is convenient to use because of ease of implementation of the application.

Calendar, world time, calculator, notes, etc. are placed in the folder “organizer”, everything is standard. Recorder saves the content on the memory card or in the phone.

File Manager is convenient; it shows all the folders, etc.

The own memory of the phone is 30 MB. This is not much, so it is desirable to purchase microSD-card for 1 GB.

Conclusion

With two SIM-cards on board, in the mode of 15-20 minutes of calls a day, an hour listening to music and the use of other functions, C5212 battery lasts about three days. This is a good result for the budget DUOS, because many of the expensive smart phones work much less.

Anyway, I liked the phone, just as an affordable solution for those who urgently need a phone with two SIM-cards.

I will never compare Nokia E75 with Nokia E71. Despite the fact that both devices belong to the same series they are different with their design, keyboard (though both have a QWERTY-layout), and the display guidance.

The novelty has a quite acceptable size for this class of devices; the Nokia E75 fits excellently in the inner pocket of a light jacket and is not especially felt there, though it weighs 139 grams. The tube lies in the hand as expected, not jumping out from the palm of your hand at every opportunity.

The quality of the Nokia pleases, the details fit together perfectly, nothing creaking and annoying. The slider pleased me either – the closer strongly picks up the upper half, which opens with a loud click, in the middle way. Metal can be found on the reverse side of the slider at the ends around the display, and the lid covering the battery compartment is made of it as well. It is made of corrugated stainless steel, and looks good and solid.

At the ends are the volume keys, the camera button and voice dialing, the microUSB connector and memory card slot. The camera lens is located so that when recording the finger is not seen in the frame and does not interfere.

At the upper end there is a standard 3.5-mm jack for connecting headphones. This is good, because an adapter is not required.

Display and keyboard

The screen is quite standard for many Nokia devices, and if not a standard of quality, then certainly a very good option for this model. TFT-matrix decently «burns out» under the sun (the colors are indistinguishable), but the menu icons and text are well visible; it is possible to work under direct sunlight. Natural transmission of colors and decent viewing angles also refer to the advantages of Nokia E75. Of course, when disclosing the tube the picture overturns, however, it can be implemented by the sensor status as well. In general, the screen is suitable for any task, including GPS-navigation.

Decent size keys, including 4-position button-selector, are convenient; during one week of use there were only a few mistakes. The only «but», delete the characters, is not very convenient, because this function is assigned to the shared content key, which has a small area, and this causes discomfort. Numbers can literally be dialed on-the-run, as the finger always gets where necessary.

It is assumed that you need two hands when typing on the QWERTY-keyboard, otherwise it will not work. Keys are made of opaque plastic, are of sufficient size for quick (the adaptation takes two days) typing, fingers do not fly off, mistakes are rare. As far as to the use easiness, you again need to get used to the keyboard. As for me it was easier write an SMS on an «external» keyboard, and a long e-mail – on the «adult», but only after preliminary training.

Camera

The vast majority of users will of course shoot stuff with the camera. The particular model has nothing to boast about here, but this camera is what you expect to see in a phone for busy people – 3 IP, LED flash, mirror for self-portraits.

Seven scenes will be quite handy for creativity. There are several series of shooting modes, ranging from six shots «machine gun» to «capture every 30 minutes until the memory ends». Who may need such a function (I have in mind the latest), is not clear. It is also not pleasing that when the camera is turned on it always makes the «auto» flash mode, even if it was off before powering down. This is very uncomfortable. As the E75 has a GPS-receiver, the ability to put images on geo-markers is a self-evident joke. The autofocus properly fulfils its role, in most cases with the second attempt.

The output on the camera can be the following – it produces decent images under favorable light and with a strong desire (along with some skill). In early dusk the matrix begins to make «noise», and this must be taken into account. This is just in case.

Music

The music player interface is similar to previous Nokia devices, but has cosmetic refinement. As you can see the album covers are displayed without problems, info of the tag-files is often completely readable; rewind within a track is supported.

The sound can be changed through five preset EQs. However it is possible to decide oneself how music will sound by using eight lanes. There are the traditional modes of expanded and enhanced stereo bass.

The sound quality is decent, but with a noticeable «plastic» tint, in addition, the low volume should be noted because of which it is difficult to listen to music in the subway.

The radio is like a radio, nothing special. The quality of the reception is decent, at least in the city. A memory of 50 cells should be sufficient; RDS is supported, the sound can be put into an external speaker, recording the live-broadcasting is not possible.

Menu and Functions

There is no need to describe the mail client, because it takes long, and is not interesting for all (despite the mailing orientation of the model), it will take a lot of space, some people will even sleep (or simply close the page) while reading the text.

The menu is usual for new devices of the S60; you can see for yourself how it looks. Numerous tube settings are encapsulated in stylish icons or lists; all is sorted through, everything is logical and there is no need to refer to the instructions.

It has three themes of the main screen. One theme is standard; the other dubs the desktop icons, the third called «Active» – is the nicest. In addition, when it is activated, six icons for quick access to functions are displayed at the top of the screen, and at the bottom of the screen are thumbnails, which report events, such as missed calls or received SMS messages.

Office applications (the «Office» folder) are known from the early models, everything is familiar and everything works. For office workers, there is even the Intranet application. It will be used by some 10-15% of the owners of E75, but the function is not redundant.

The calendar is traced (executed) to a hundred points – informative, visual display of events, a simultaneous display of a whole month and the events on a particular day; convenient switching of the type of display of the created events. Everything is simple and convenient.

Outcome

If you work with e-mail by your phone every day, often go on business trips, your company pays for the mobile phone (GPRS-roaming is not cheap) and you are issued this model at the expense of the company, everything is wonderful. If not, then for all the benefits of the device, its price kills many people. In case the price is lowered, the E75 will become a justified purchase, but for me personally, I would have bought an HTC Touch Pro. Although this is a different class of device, but both have a full keyboard. In general, Nokia E75 is a good bargain if you just want to have such a phone in your pocket, and the price is irrelevant.