HTC 8X Windows Phone Review

The HTC 8X Windows Phone is one of three flaghsip devices for the new OS. Justin Williams gauges how it measures up to the competition in an increasingly-crowded sector.

I've always had a soft spot for HTC's phones. The Taiwanese company was among the first to bring a touchscreen smartphone to the UK and was an early trailblazer for Android back in 2007. Its HD7 was an understated but worthy competitor when pitched against Nokia's colourful Lumia range in the small group of devices that ran Windows Phone 7. And, of course, it sold container-ship loads of Android devices up until 2011 when sales – thanks to aggressive marketing by Samsung – began to fall off a cliff.

So there's a lot riding on the 8X for HTC. Again it's up against a big brash phone from Nokia in the form of the Lumia 920 which seems to have a Frankenstorm marketing effort behind it as well as a flagship Windows phone from Samsung. It may not be a make-or-break device but we should not underestimate how important it is for HTC that this phone holds its own against the Lumia.

Hardware

The bald specs may suggest that the 8X isn't anything special but let's make no mistake here – this is an absolutely gorgeous phone. From its unibody design with its polycarbonate back through to a fabulous 4.3" LCD 2 screen, the 8X oozes quality. At 10.6mm it is thicker than both an iPhone 5 and a Galaxy SIII. But the 8X has tapered edges giving it a good grip and making it feel as slim as both the Apple and Samsung flagships. The phone isn't especially light but it sits evenly in the hand and the polycarbonate makes the hard plastic finish of the SIII and HTC's own One X feel cheap and slippery by comparison. Only the iPhone beats it in terms of design quality.

The physical buttons on the 8X – the power button on the top and the rocker and camera switches on the side – as well as the camera and flash are all flush with the body giving the phone a smooth profile whatever the viewing angle and HTC has reverted to placing the micro USB port on the phone's base rather on the side as with the One series.

Our review phone came in California Blue and the 8X will also be available in black, red and yellow

The phone is sealed so there's no access to the 1,800mAh battery but we had no issues here getting a full day of high usage out of it in contrast to the One X which was a great phone badly let down by its battery life.

What will almost certainly be an issue, though, is that the 8X comes with only 16GB of storage on board and no microSD slot (Windows Phone 8 does not support this). HTC points to the free 7GB of Skydrive storage giving an 8X user the ability to stream music to the device ignoring the reality for most of us who spend much of our lives outside 3G or WiFi zones. With the iPhone 5 offering up to 64GB and even the Lumia 920 having 32GB on board, one really has to question what astral plane HTC’s design team were on when they plumped for such a parsimonius amount of memory.

If your previous experience with Windows phones stretches only to Phone 7 then you’ll find the 8X quick… very quick. It opens apps, renders web pages and fires up the camera at near light speed compared to, say, the Nokia Lumia 900 or even an iPhone 4S which was no slouch in its day.

Display

Coupled with Windows Phone’s Live Tiles, the 8X’s 720 x 1280 pixel HD display is stunning. The pixel density (342 PPI) is higher than on the Nokia Lumia 920 and even the iPhone 5. Colours are rendered accurately and, even zoomed in, details are sharp and clear. We couldn’t detect any noticeable colour bias and there isn’t a hint of oversaturation.

Glare does not appear to be a problem and we were able to use the phone even in strong direct sunlight.

Until now, I’ve found Kindle books to be difficult to read on anything except an iPhone’s Retina display but this is as pleasurable on an 8X as a larger device.

Cameras

The 8X has a f/2.0 aperture and 28mm lens on the back coupled with a dedicated imaging chip which deliver the best results I’ve ever managed to squeeze out of a smartphone. The pictures are incredibly good for a point and shoot device whether close up or at a distance. Depth of field is good as is colour reproduction with sharp, accurately rendered colours that veer more towards under rather than oversaturation. Close-up, the macro performance is stunning with great detail reproduction even in low light.

Video capture is also up there with the best in class delivering 1080p at 30fps with a noticeable lack of wind noise and very speedy processing.

On the front, HTC has introduced a 2.1mp, f/2.0 wide angle camera allowing the social narcissists among us to start including up to three friends in those all-important profile and status shots.

Software

With Phone 8 development, Microsoft has gone down the Apple route opting to nip and tuck rather than radically overhaul the OS. It’s a brave strategy given the disappointing sales for Phone 7. But it’s the right decision – Windows Phone’s live tiles are far enough removed from the static icons of iOS and the confusing widget farm that Android has become to put clear blue water between Microsoft and its competitors.

Our testing predated the relaunch of the Windows Phone Store so we weren’t able to see the promised range of updated apps but it probably fair to say that this will continue to be very limited compared with the iOS App Store or Google Play. Those of us who desperately want to see a proper Twitter app or Dropbox on a Windows phone are likely to be still waiting months from now.

First introduced with its One series, HTC has included Beats audio technology with the 8X delivering an amazing depth and range of sound on even the cheapest in-ear earphones. But the inclusion of such an amazing sound system only serves to make the decision to limit on-board storage to 16GB appear even more bizarre.

What truly differentiates a Windows device from all the media-centric phones out there is its Office integration. With Phone 8 we’re still waiting for track changes on Word documents but tables and tabulation now render accurately and spreadsheets look and work like real Excel creations. For those of us who occasionally use a phone to grab a picture or a thought and share it with a desktop or tablet, the OneNote integration is fantastic and for the productivity minded this could be the deal sealer.

Microsoft is now bundling Nokia maps with all of its phones so you can download maps for most of the world and use them offline. This is a stroke of genius but one really does wonder what Nokia was thinking about when it decided to give away what was probably its last remaining USP.

I’d like to be able to say that web browsing on the 8X is pleasurable but Microsoft has failed to fix two of the biggest flaws with Phone 7: rendering and bookmarks. Pages still fail to render flawlessly leading to text and pictures overlapping on some sites giving the updated (and admittedly very quick) Internet Explorer an early 2002 Symbian feel. And as for bookmarks, the inability to manage and arrange your web bookmarks in folders or any other kind of coherent structure – rather than one long list – is baffling and, frankly, inexcusable.

Conclusion

The HTC Windows Phone 8X is a beautiful device with a delightful form factor. It is without doubt the best phone that HTC has made and has enough punch to be seriously considered alongside the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy SIII. On paper, it seems to beat the Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC has moved heaven and earth to get it to market on time which must give it a head start over the other Windows signature phones. The cameras – both front and back – are class leading and the image results breathtaking for a phone.

But it isn’t without its flaws, most notably the limited on-board storage which will make gaining adoption among music lovers an uphill struggle. - source

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Nokia Lumia 920 Snap Review

It's not the newest kid on the block, but Nokia's Lumia 920 is still the current flagship in the Windows Phone range.

Other manufacturers might disagree, but Nokia has packed the 920 with some enhancements to give it an edge over other models that have similar-sized screens and processing power.

The most notable of these improvements is the PureView camera technology that offers a low-light performance others can only dream of, but the other Nokia exclusive applications can't be ignored either.

Design

The design of the 920 isn't really anything new, given the release of the 800 and 900 models before it that had the same polycarbonate unibody design. However, that's not a bad thing, and the 920 is more a natural progression - a process that works fine for Apple.

The plastic casing allows Nokia to release the phone in a range of bright colours (as well as black, if the loud colours are too extravagant for you) and I certainly couldn't help but get noticed with the yellow model I received!

Side by side with HTC's 8S, or the 8X, which also comes with a choice of colours, Nokia still comes out top for making the boldest statement, with the whole rear casing sporting your chosen hue, complete with colour-coded in-ear headphones to match.

A large, 4.5-inch, 768x1280 pixel HD display completes the package, with illuminated buttons below that are also reflective to stand out even when not lit.

The 920 is a nice phone to look at, and the curved casing makes it even nicer to hold. It is quite weighty, but not in a way that makes it uncomfortable or hard to carry in a pocket.

Key Features

Powering the 920 is Qualcomm's dual-core S4 processor, clocked at 1.5GHz. This is accompanied by an Adreno 225 GPU and 2GB of RAM to aid multitasking.

It's not quite as powerful as the latest quad-core variant in use in the Android Google Nexus 4, or many other new smartphones shipping this year (including the HTC One with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 CPU), but it's still more than capable of ensuring that the operating system is always slick and smooth.

What the phone lacks, however, is a memory card slot - limiting you to internal storage only, although 32GB should keep most people happy.

The screen benefits from a higher level of sensitivity than ordinary screens, so you can operate it with a fingernail, or even when wearing gloves. Nokia has also used a 'ClearBlack' display, which is basically a polarised filter on the screen to reduce glare and reflections.

Along with 4G support (which is also ready to be used on the other networks launching 4G in the summer of 2013), the phone is also packed with a 2,000mAh battery so you should be able to make it through a whole day without being caught short.

And then there's that PureView camera, which leads me on nicely to...

Camera

For some years, Sony Ericsson ruled the roost by introducing better image sensors, improved lenses, post-processing software to enhance photos (contrast, saturation etc), and the Xenon flash to make it possible to take snaps in all conditions.

Nokia lagged behind until the N95 came along and showed it too was serious about imaging. In addition to its tie-up with Carl Zeiss, Nokia launched the PureView name in 2012, used for any device that offers exceptional camera performance.

In the case of the 920, this means optical stabilisation and incredible performance in low-light - of a level that would be impressive even for an expensive DSLR. It means there's no need for a battery-killing Xenon flash for indoor shots, or relying solely on an LED lamp that barely lights up things more than a metre or two away.

The performance is quite stunning, with very little light required to produce a photo that's clear of noise and amazingly well-defined. Sure, it can't work miracles and take photos in total darkness, but you really can turn the lights down low before the photos start to fade out.

So low that you'll find it hard to see anything until a soft press of the camera button illuminates the LED to aid focussing.

Unfortunately, the low-light ability doesn't extend to video recording, but you do still have an LED lamp that can help. The phone records in full HD at 30 frames per second.

Photos and videos can also be set to automatically upload to your free SkyDrive cloud storage space, but by default the phone is set to reduce photos to 1280x720 pixels to reduce data consumption. If you're using wi-fi, or have a high data allowance, you can opt to upload your media in full resolution.

Gaming

Thanks to Xbox, Microsoft has been gradually building up quite a large range of Windows Phone games, but they can be quite hard to find on the app store. Looking at the top games for January reveals titles that have been out, in some cases, for well over a year.

Games that have been available for some time will have more downloads, yet - great as the original Angry Birds is - newer users (and existing ones) might want to find something new.

Fortunately, Nokia has its own app recommendation service that offers up an ever-changing list of things that you can simply sit and watch until something catches your eye.

I did feel that an over-sensitive accelerometer made some games, such as Asphalt 5, a bit hard to play, but many games allow you to adjust the settings. Not every title has yet been optimised for the higher resolution, though, having originally been designed for Windows Phone 7 devices maxing out at 480x800 pixels.

Thanks to the phone's large screen, powerful processor, and super-sensitive touchscreen, I was able to enjoy a number of games without having to spend a penny. One big benefit of Windows Phone is the ability to get a trial version of just about everything (a developer would be mad not to offer this).

It's quick and easy to select a game to download and then go off to do something else while it downloads in the background, or you go and find something else to try.

Very soon you'll have the Games menu full of games, and with 32GB of storage space you shouldn't run the risk of running out of space unless you want your 920 to double up as a portable media player too.

When you're signed in with your Xbox LIVE account you can also enjoy multiplayer games, and interact with your avatar.

The good

Besides the above-mentioned features, Windows Phone now has more customisation options on the start screen, with adjustable sizes for icons. Live tiles continue to relay useful information, and a unified inbox delivers your email, Tweets, Facebook updates, and more in a single location. There's also a mode to offer restricted access to selected apps or games for your children.

[You can see more of the Windows Phone 8 features here]

Nokia has kitted out the 920 with plenty of its own apps, from Nokia Drive (its turn-by-turn navigation software) to Nokia Music, Creative Studio (picture editor), Maps (with high-quality Navteq maps), City Lens (an augmented reality app to show nearby locations), and two more apps to supplement the camera - Smart Shoot and Cinemagraph.

These apps, some of which will be made available to all Windows Phone users in the future, currently give potential customers of Microsoft's OS a very big incentive to buy a Nokia device.

Although still struggling to build up a large share of the market, Windows Phone has a pleasing and easy to understand user interface and plenty of the main apps you might expect to find on rival operating systems.

The bad

The Lumia 920 is pretty heavy at 185g, but this isn't really enough to be a deal-breaker, especially for anyone who is used to carrying a tablet or has owned a mobile phone more than a few years ago.

Then there's the lack of a card slot, although the problem is greatly reduced by having 32GB of storage space inside.

Summary

The Lumia 920 trounces every other Windows Phone on sale sale today, primarily because of the awesome camera and a very bright and high-definition display.

With Windows Phone set up so well for social networking, it's the perfect phone for use at parties, bars, and clubs. Those activities may well be the main reason for choosing this phone.

As ever, the problem facing Nokia and Microsoft is the relatively poor sales and the feeling that Windows Phone 8 isn't a major player.

But, with some new apps being released on Windows Phone at the same time as Android and iOS, this might be changing, and if there's a solid future for Windows Phone I can't think of any better phone to be enjoying it on.

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Talkatone: Talk and Text for Free Review

There are many apps that claim to allow you to talk and text for free. After doing some heavy research, I have come to the conclusion that Talkatone is the best option available. Below is a comprehensive review of this app.

Developers description: Unlimited FREE calls, texts and picture sharing to [...] any phone number in US & Canada.

Setting up: You must have or obtain a Google number which is absolutely free. It doesn't take long and is very easy. Go to Google’s website and select more -> even more -> Voice to get your free number. Be sure to follow all rules so you don’t have any problems using the app. When it requests a phone number, use any number that you can answer and punch in their verification code. You also want to go to voice settings->phone and have calls forwarded to Google chat and under voicemail & text have texts forwarded to your email address. This must be done on a desktop computer.

Talkatone automatically brings your contacts over to their dialer which i found very convenient. The app uses your Google number to make VoIP (voice over internet protocol) calls. All calls I made went through with no problem. I was able to call others who had Talkatone and i was able to call mobile and landline phones. Only a select few VoIP apps allow you to make calls to regular phone numbers. Most of them only allow you to make and receive calls from other people who also have their app. That ends their chances of truly replacing a carrier’ but Talkatone gets it right!

What sets this app apart from other voip apps is the ability to receive phone calls on your Google number. It works by forwarding the call from your Google number to your cell phone. This app doesn't use any of your minutes. It makes and receives calls via your 3g/4g service or over a WiFi network.

Talkatone also allows you to text from your Google number. You can even send pics. It also uses your data or a WiFi service to send texts. When you send a pic in a text, it sends a link to the recipient, not the pic. Once you press the link, it takes you straight to the pic and you can view it and save it to your phone from there. The texts went out and came in with no problems. It doesn't use any of your text messages from your carrier’s plan.

When you receive a text you will also receive an email. This was very annoying but i figured out a workaround. Do not sign up with a Google acct that is attached to your phone. If you must, disable the notification or deal with receiving 2 notifications for 1 text.

TALKATONE TURNED MY IPAD INTO A PHONE!

Oh Yes: I TRULY turned my iPad into a phone. The developers’ description was accurate and you CAN make free calls & texts and receive free calls & texts from mobile, landline and voip apps. I have a voip subscription and a paid voip app that i no longer use because of Talkatone, which is free. All features work like a charm. You can even change the ringtones, “textones” and wallpapers.

Oh No: Call quality was below average. There was a noticeable light static. It wasnt so bad that i wouldnt use it but it definitely needs an improvement. They do have settings that you can adjust to help but it didnt work for me. There were no dropped calls to report.

This app is a winner and it is certified for Newbies. Whether you want to use it to in case you run out of your regular minutes/texts or you want to use that spare phone/tablet and turn it into a phone, do yourself a favor and download it.

Price: Free

Platform: Download now: iOS , Android and rumored to be coming to Blackberry soon.

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KakaoTalk Free Calls and SMS Review

KakaoTalk is a communication tool for smartphone users allowing them to make free calls to contacts using the same service and to send text messages for free. Many other features are included with the service. The most interesting point with it is that it does not require the user to register and use a nickname, and uses their mobile phone number for identifying them. KakaoTalk is available for the iPhone, for Android phones, for BlackBerry and Windows Phone, and works on Wi-Fi and 3G networks. At the time I am writing this, the user base of KakaoTalk is reaching 50 million.

Pros

• No need to register, use your mobile phone number.
• Unlimited free calls and text messages to other KakaoTalk users.
• Group text messages.
• Huge user base.
• Many other features.

Cons

• No calling and messaging to non-KakaoTalk users, not even paid service.
• Not available for most phone models including Nokia, Symbian etc.
• Dependent on Wi-Fi or 3G signals.
• No video.

Review

KakoTalk is a Korea-based VoIP service that resembles Viber a lot. Services like this that give free calls and other communication services for free to other in-network users are numerous, but what I find more interesting with services like KakaoTalk is that it uses your phone number to identify you and does not require you to register for a username.

The service can be used exclusively with people who are already users of KakaoTalk. You can’t place calls to other landline and mobile numbers, not even if you pay. So you will be happy and save money with the service only if you have buddies using it and with whom you communicate frequently. For this reason, the huge number of users using this service (reaching 50 million) makes it interesting.

KakaoTalk is also used as a social networking tool, as a means to meet new people and to chat. It has features that allow you to search for people using their names, their numbers and their email account. It manages to get hold of people and their information so easily that it makes me think a lot on security and privacy issues. For instance, when I installed and set up the app on my Android device, it automatically fed in one of my phone numbers. It was actually an old number that is no longer active. How did they get that kind of information?

One thing you need with the service is constant connectivity wherever you are. While it uses your mobile phone number to identify you, it has nothing to do with your cellular network. It relies exclusively on your 3G or Wi-Fi connection. If your smartphone is not connected, you just can’t use it.

Using the service with mobility is finally not fully free. You need to consider the cost of a 3G data plan. It is fully free when used in a Wi-Fi hotspot, but that limits you considerably in mobility.

KakaoTalk has some more features. The Plus Friend feature allows users to obtain benefits and multimedia content like songs and videos by adding artists and celebrities as their friends. The app integrates your contact list and adds friends automatically to your chat sessions once they are online. KakoTalk actually offers an ID for each user and you use it to identify your friends on the network. You can import and export friend lists, and view each friend’s mini profile. You can also register your favorite friends. The app provides funny voice filters that you can apply to your voice when engaged in voice calls. It also gives useless but funny emoticons, that are animated.

KakaoTalk also allows you to share your multimedia files like images and videos, but also links, contact information, and voice messages.

You can use your KakaoTalk account with only one phone number. If you change your phone number, you will need to complete another number registration process.

You will have to be cautious when making calls using KakaoTalk. If you select a phone number that is not recognized in the KakoTalk service, the app will let you place the call using your mobile minutes. Make sure before calling whether you are making free or paid calls.

Finally, a word about group chatting, which gives the app its social networking touch. The number of friends you can have in a group chat session in unlimited, and you can add friends therein at any time. If all the friends are KakaoTalk users, the whole session will be free for everyone. You can also choose to make voice calls to a friend in the chat session.

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Viber iOS Review

A few months back, I was introduced to an app on the iOS platform called Viber, developed by Viber Media Inc. It’s a free download from the Apple App Store, and not a lot people use it or even know about it. Which is a surprise really, since this app is a smart-phone owner’s dream: it lets you make free calls and send free text messages from your phone!

The app is a small download (at just under 13 MB), and is totally free on the App Store. It has multi-language support. Currently, Viber is only available on the iOS and Android platforms.

The best thing about the app is that it integrates with your OS perfectly. It supports multitasking as well, and we’ll get to those features in a bit.

Once installed, the app asks for your location and phone number. It then sends you an activation code via SMS (works worldwide, provided you entered a legit phone number) which you have to enter on the next page. After this, the app asks for permission to access your phonebook. Allow it to do so. Upon initialization, you’ll be taken straight to its contacts tab, where you’re in for a nice surprise.

Viber works in a way that’s different from all other such VoIP apps. With Viber, usernames and passwords are a thing of the past! Viber uses your phone number as your username, freeing you off making user IDs, remembering passwords and logging in every time you want to use the app. It’s such a wonderfully simple concept! And that’s just the beginning. Once Viber accesses your phonebook, it scans it for cellphone numbers and matches them with its own database to provide you with a list of people, from your very own phonebook, using Viber. I mean how neat is that!

What you end up with then, is a separate list of all your contacts using Viber. You can send them a text message for free, or call them up for free of course, using the app.

Like I mentioned before, the integration with your OS is seamless. The calling method and appearance on the iPhone is exactly the same as it is when you use the native iPhone ‘Phone’ app. The only difference being that Viber uses its purple theme for everything. Ditto for texting, the interface looks EXACTLY like a purple-version of the iPhone’s native Messaging app, uses the same display to show conversation and to write a new text, and even has the same conversation window. Each text message that you send out comes with a delivery status as well. There’s also the option to attach an image from the iPhone’s library with your text message.

The calling also works pretty much the same way, you tap on a contact from your ‘Viber’ list. From there you can make a free call to him or her using Viber, send a free text message, or even call them using GSM from here.

The app’s interface is brilliant, and uses the same tabular look that comes with almost all iPhone apps. The tab bar on the bottom has tabs for messages, recent calls, contact, the keypad and a button for accessing more options.

When you receive a call or a text, Viber alerts you in pretty much the exact same way that the iPhone Phone and Messages app alerts you. For messages, a window pops-up (or you get a notification in the notification bar if you’re on iOS5), and for a call, the phone rings and the purple background of the display lets you know that you’re being called over Viber. The app also has the ability to send you push notifications for when one of your contacts starts using Viber.

I’ve been using Viber since a while now, and I’ve got to say, the sound quality has always been top-notch, even though I get the worst speeds on EDGE, thanks to my service provider. It’s quite frankly, amazing how Viber is able to keep the quality good despite the slow speed.

Like mentioned above, it runs in the background on your multitasking-enabled phone, so it works as sort of an alternative to your actual phone, only it’s free! ‘Free’ however often means ads, you might be pleased to know that I couldn’t find a single ad of any kind in the app. The only downside is that there’s no video option with this app. And while it might not be always useful, it doesn’t hurt having the security of putting the iPhone 4’s front-facing camera to use and switching to video-chat mode. I do hope they add this feature in the upcoming iterations.

This has to be, hands-down, one of the ‘must-have’ apps out there. It’s all totally one-hundred percent free: the app itself costs nothing, calling costs nothing and text messaging costs nothing. It does however use your data, so keep a watch out if you’re using it on EDGE or 3G. Works all over the globe, with anyone from anywhere in the world! You can use Viber to keep in touch with friends, or make free international calls and/or text messages using this. Get it here for free, right now!

What do you like about Viber? Let me know in the comments below!

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Truphone Snap Review

Truphone is a mobile VoIP service that allows users to make cheap local and international calls from their mobile phones. Calls between Truphone users are free. Truphone has cheap rates as strong point, but the service is also quite limited, mainly in terms of phone models it works on. Truphone service targets iPhone users, BlackBerry users and also those using high-end business phones or smart phones. Truphone is one of the first services to offer VoIP for the iPhone. It also brings VoIP to BlackBerry, which has somewhat been left apart by other VoIP services.

The rates are relatively low. Calls start for as low as 6 cents per minute, and prices hover around that for a set of common locations, known as the Tru Zone; but prices may go up to above a dollar for remote locations. For heavy international mobile callers, this can represent a save of around 80%. Truphone's rates are not the lowest on the mobile VoIP market - there are services that charge as low as 1 cent per minute, but these services have some rather consequent initial investments, such as a device or a monthly subscription. Truphone operates mainly on a pay-as-you-go basis - you top up and control your credit through their web site. This makes it therefore very competitive.

Truphone Anywhere allows you to use the service even outside a Wi-Fi hotspot, using your GSM network partly, the cost including the Truphone cost and that of the local GSM call. This small price addition gives perfect mobility anywhere.

The American TruSaver bundle gives 1000 minutes for calls to the US and Canada for $15. Anyone in the world can register for this bundle, but they can only make calls to the US and Canada with it. That's 1.5 cents a minute, but only if you use all of the 1000 minutes a month. Monthly leftovers are gone.

Guide Review

To get started with Truphone, visit their site, where you select your country and enter your phone number. You will be sent an SMS containing your download link, through which you will download the application on your compatible mobile itself and install it there. Once installed, you are already able to make a first free call with the free dollar credit you get. You can then carry on with your account for topping up credits. The installation process is really simple and easy. Using the application is also quite easy.

The Truphone application installed on your mobile phone integrates the phone well and works alongside the mobile user's GSM service. The application is kind of smartly versatile - in case you are out of Wi-Fi connection, you are asked whether to use your GSM service or that of Truphone for making calls and sending SMS.

If you are within a Wi-Fi hotspot, your phone uses the Internet connection to make and receive calls through the Truphone application. If you have no Internet connection, Truphone uses a mechanism called Truphone Anywhere, whereby your call is channelled partly through your GSM network until it reaches an Internet access point, from where it is routed to your callee over the Internet.

Truphone has been the first to develop an application and service for the iPhone, so most iPhone users who want to save money on phone calls have to consider it as a first option. Using VoIP over BlackBerry isn't very common as well, and as I am writing this, very few ways of doing so exist. Truphone service for BlackBerry comes to fill a large gap.

On the other hand, users of 'normal' (not to say low-end) mobile phones cannot use Truphone service as only very few models are supported. At the time I am writing this, only iPhone, BlackBerry and Nokia phones are supported. Would you believe they don't have an application for Sony Ericsson? Moreover, only a very small subset of phone models in each of these makes are listed in the service's list of supported devices. The supported phones are mostly business phones, like the Nokia E and N series. The Truphone web site says they are working hard on including other phone models into their list. So keep checking, specially if you have a high-end phone like a Sony Ericsson, HTC or Google phone.

In terms of connectivity, Truphone is limited to Wi-Fi. There is no support for 3G, GPRS or EDGE networks. But 3G support is coming soon.

The Cost

Calls through Wi-Fi between Truphone users are free and unlimited. Charges apply when you make calls to other landline and mobile phones.

Pros

• Cheap mobile international rates
• Usability everywhere, even where there is no Internet connection
• Easy to install and use
• Free calls between Truphone users, using Wi-Fi or 3G
• Works for iPhone and BlackBerry
• Possibility to make cheap calls even outside a Wi-Fi hotspot and without a data plan

Cons

• Service only supports a few high-end phones
• Does not on wireless networks other than Wi-Fi

Bottom Line

Given the fact that Truphone favors sophisticated phones like the iPhone, BlackBerry and Nokia N and E series phones, I am tempted to say it is a niche VoIP service. But it seems they realized that they are leaving out the great majority of mobile users to the competition. On ther other side, the so-far-deprived will surely find it too bad, thinking of the strong points of this service and specially its low rates. So watch out for considerable improvements in this good service. Via About.com Vendor Site

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Huawei Ascend Y210 Review : What does $78 buy you?

I recently raved about the Nokia Lumia 520. It was the first $150 prepaid phone that I’ve tried that didn’t suck. Of course now that you can buy the 520 for $150, many entry-level Android phones are going to have to drop in price to stay competitive.

So now we have a pair of $78 Android phone: the Huawei Ascend Y210 for TELUS which is available exclusively at Walmart and the Huawei Ascend Y201 on Virgin Mobile. We’ll be looking at the Y210 today.

Before I start we need to have a reality check. The Y210 is a $78 phone. That pretty much makes it the cheapest Android phone you can buy. With a fancy phone, a review is usually about its fancy features and what you get. With the Y210 it’s more about what compromises have to be made to hit the $78 price point and whether they’re acceptable.

It’s also worth exploring whether the Y210 and it’s ultra-low price point are a worthwhile alternative to a feature phone.

Huawei Ascend Y210, Apple iPhone 5 (just to compare size)

Huawei Ascend Y210, Y201

Y201 and Y210

The plastic covered screen measures 3.5” with a resolution of 480x320. While the resolution isn’t very high it’s only 3.5” in size so it has a pixel density of PPI 162 which isn’t THAT bad. Still 480x320 isn’t very high so while it’s not that coarse, it does feel a bit cramped at times.

Now you’re obviously not going to get a TFT screen for $78. Still, the Y210’s STN display doesn’t look all that bad. Viewing angles are better than I was expecting. Colour is also pretty nice. There isn’t too much ghosting.

The plastic screen shows a lot of reflections and gets oily very easily.

I haven’t had a chance to use it under direct sunlight yet.

You won’t confuse it with the HTC One’s display but it’s actually not a bad display.

Camera:

There’s a 2 megapixel camera on the back which can record video at 640x480. There’s a long 2 second lag from when you press the shutter button to when it takes the picture.

Now, megapixels are a poor indicator of image quality. So does the Y210 sport a revolutionary new 2 megapixel sensor where each pixel looks perfectly? Unfortunately no. Even with lots of light pictures are slightly foggy looking and aren’t very clean. It reminds me of a camera phone from 6 years ago.

Video isn’t very good either. The sensor isn’t very sensitive so it has to use slow shutter speeds which results in video that is often choppy and blurry. The microphone doesn’t sound all that great either.

Body:

The plastic on the back is hard and unpainted - It reminds me of the dash on my car. Still, overall the Y210 doesn’t feel cheap. It doesn’t creak or shift much when you squeeze it.

One refreshing thing about the Huawei is that its small size makes it very easy to use with just one hand.

Software:

While the latest phones are rocking Android 4.1 and 4.2, the Y210 soldiers on with Android 2.3 (For phones it goes Android 2.3 -> 4.0 -> 4.1 -> 4.2). In the case of the Y210 it’s probably better that it ships with an older version of Android since a newer one would probably require more resources.

If you’re wondering what differences there are between 2.3 and 4.x phones, with regards to the Y210 the most important one is that you can’t kill programs from the task switcher. While I don’t normally have to worry about killing programs, this ability actually becomes more important with the Y210 due to it’s limited resources.

There are many other differences like the ability to disable programs, an improved UI, more lock screen options, etc but most probably won’t run well on the Y210’s anyways.

It uses a custom launcher. The most significant difference is that there are toggles for WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, mobile data and an orientation lock. Here’s a tip; if you have trouble running a program try disabling GPS. That will free up some memory.

The keyboard works alright but it has trouble keeping if if you go really fast on it.

There’s also a FM radio and QuickOffice.

Performance:

SunSpider:

SunSpider is a benchmark that runs in the browser and tests javascript performance. Since I don’t review a lot of entry-level phones, I didn’t have any direct competitors (like the LG Optimus L3 and HTC Desire C) to compare with the Y210. Instead, I grabbed some older Android handsets I had sitting around to see how the Y210 compares with them. One thing to consider is that the Y210 has a 480x320 display whereas the other phone’ are 800x480. I do have an old Samsung Galaxy (the original non ‘S’ one) which has a 480x320 display but it has a much older processor and version of Android which would have an effect on benchmark results.

Lower scores are better.

Huawei Y210: 3800
Samsung Galaxy S: 5780.7
Google Nexus One: 5796.7

While all phones have 1Ghz processors and are running Android 2.3, the Y210’s higher scores mean its processor is more efficient in this instance.

Peacekeeper:

Peacekeeper is another benchmark that runs inside a browser. It test HTML5 performance.

Huawei Y210: 195
Samsung Galaxy S: 160
Google Nexus One: 151

At its heart, the Y210 has a Qualcomm MSM7225A processor clocked at 1Ghz. It’s a Cortex A-5 processor.

Most of the time, the processor actually provides adequate performance. The problem is that the Y210 only comes with 256MB RAM and 512MB storage.

When you turn the Y210 on, it only has 80MB of free RAM left. That’s not so bad right? It’s not so bad until you consider turning on location based services uses up around 10MB, opening up the settings to check how much free RAM you have eats up another 10MB. If you stick Facebook Messenger on that actually eats up 20MB of RAM.

If you browse a large webpage and press the home key you’ll actually get to see the launcher re-launch itself. While the Y210 still functions with so little RAM it does so - barely. It can definitely use more.

Many people who get the Y210 will probably give the built-in navigation a try. Before you can use voice-guided navigation first you have to install text to voice. When I tried to install it, Google Play closed (probably due to lack of RAM). After a second try it went on.

When I was actually using navigation it would also close. Ditto for when I’m surfing a large webpage.

In order to run Vellamo, I basically had to remove Facebook Messenger and disable my Gmail.

Another problem is that out of the 512MB of built-in storage only 160MB is left over for programs and storage. While Huawei does supply a 4GB MicroSD with the Y210, some programs can’t be installed onto the MicroSD, so the built-in storage can also fill up quickly. In fact, I don’t even advise updating the built-in programs because many of them (like Google Play, Maps, etc) can’t be moved to SD.

If you get the Y210, the best thing to do would be to install as few extra programs as possible. Also, make sure all your programs are installed to the SD card.

settings -> Applications -> Manage Applications -> choose the program -> Move to SD.

Many lighter apps like Facebook Messenger will run fine as long as you have enough space for them.

If you’re wondering how it does with games, it’s best to stick with only the most basic games. I managed to install Angry Birds, but it doesn’t run very well. Sometimes it will close - probably due to lack of RAM.

When viewing larger webpages the Y210 tends to bog down - sometimes it feels unresponsive. Again, I suspect this is due to lack of RAM.

The key to the Y210 is to not install too many extra programs on it. If you want to try lots of different apps you should probably look for something with more RAM and storage.

As a Media Player:

Huawei includes a 4GB microSD card with the Y210, while most of it’s competitors omit this but give you more built-in storage. I’ll be honest, while the 4GB card is nice, more built-in storage is more useful given how little space there is for programs.

I downloaded BS player and found that while it was able to playback 480p DiVX files just fine, 720p mkv’s were very choppy and not really watchable.

The headphone out is pretty adequate. It sounds fine and should be loud enough for most people.

The built-in speaker doesn’t sound that great. While it’s not that loud it’s louder than I was expecting.

As a Phone:

RF performance is average. The earpiece and speaker phone are both loud enough.

Sound quality is also adequate.

Despite the meager specs the Y210 sports a surprisingly large 1750mAh battery. As such, battery life is very good. It’s one case where a using a Smartphone doesn’t mean sacrificing battery life.

Conclusion:

In the end, the Huawei Ascend Y210 doesn’t really contain any surprises but then again, I wasn’t expecting any. Of course if you can swing it, I’d advise you get something with more RAM, storage and a higher resolution screen. When it comes to buying stuff and you’re debating price vs functionality there’s usually a curve. Usually there’s a sweet spot in the middle where you get most of the functionality you want for a reasonable price. I’ll be honest, the Y210 sits low on the curve; while you don’t pay much you don’t get a lot either.

That said, at $80 the Y210 is obviously aimed at an entry level buyer. Someone who’s curious about smartphones but doesn’t want to spend $700 or sign a contract. Someone who’s not a power user and most importantly, someone who’s mostly going to stick with the built-in apps and not going to install many apps.

The Y210 will do an adequate job - barely. Otherwise I suggest you keep saving and wait for a more powerful phone to go on sale. While researching competitors I noticed that the Samsung Galaxy Discovery on Bell is on sale for $99.99 at Futureshop. It actually has a slightly slower processor but it comes with 512MB RAM and 4GB of built-in storage which should make it much more usable.

Is it better than most other Android Phones? No? Is it better than a feature (dumb) phone? Probably.

If Huawei decides to quickly come out with a successor for 10 dollars more I recommend they include 384MB of RAM (512MB would be even better), ditch the included microSD and include 2GB (4GB would be better) of built-in storage. If they’d do that I’d probably be pretty excited about it because then it would be much more capable.

Now the Y210 is only $78 bucks. Since it’s only 78 bucks there’s really no point listing the camera as a con. For $78, the only thing I expect from the camera is that it’s present. So in that sense, I don’t have that many pros or cons for the Y210.

Pros:

• Cheap
• Reasonably well built
• large battery
• adequate as a phone

Cons:

• Needs more RAM
• Needs more built-in storage

This article was written by guest blogger via howardforums, you can also post yours contact me!

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Linksys PAP2T-NA 2-ATA Review

The Linksys PAP2T-NA 2-Line analog telephone adapter(ata) allows you to connect your analog telephones to voip servers. It supports the SIP protocol and has been reliable, loud and clear. It supports audible message waiting indicator(mwi) and also visual message waiting indicator so the message waiting light shows upon my Panasonic cordless phone. I have found a Canadian supplier(no brokerage charges) and it is available at a great price.

The web interface is clear and extensive. It is extremely configurable and I have not found any negatives yet. I highly recommend it.

The “NA” version is unlocked and is not tied to any specific service provider.

Linksys PAP2T

The Linksys PAP2T Internet Phone Adapter enables high-quality feature-rich VoIP (voice over IP) service through your broadband Internet connection. Just plug it into your home Router or Gateway and use the two standard telephone ports to connect analogue phones or use one of the ports for a fax machine.

Linksys PAP2T VoIP Adapter Overview

The Linksys PAP2T-NA Internet Phone Adapter enables high-quality feature-rich VoIP (voice over IP) service through your broadband Internet connection. Just plug the Linksys PAP2T into your home Router or Gateway and use the two standard telephone ports to connect analog phones or use one of the ports for a fax machine. Each phone port operates independently, with separate phone service and phone numbers, like having two telephone lines. You'll get clear reception and a reliable fax connection, even while using the Internet at the same time.

Linksys PAP2T Features and Functions

• Enables feature-rich telephone service over your broadband Internet connection
• Two standard telephone ports for analog phones or use one of the ports for a fax machine, each with an independent phone number
• High quality, clear sounding voice service simultaneous with Internet use
• Compatible with all common telephone features: Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, etc.

Linksys PAP2T Downloads

Cisco PAP2T, SPA-2102, SPA-3102, SPA-8000, SPA-8800 Admin Guide (Size: 2.7 MB)
Cisco PAP2T Datasheet (Size: 111.9 KB)
Cisco PAP2T User Guide (Size: 1.8 MB)
Cisco PAP2T Quick Start Guide (Size: 46.3 KB)

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HTC One XL Snap Review

Despite the fact that HTC didn't have the best year financially, it did manage to create some stellar handsets, beginning with the HTC One X early in the year.

While the HTC One joined the Samsung Galaxy S3 in promoting the benefits of a quad core processor to the specification geeks around the world, it lacked one feature that users were hungry for - 4G connectivity.

HTC's response was to release this handset, the One XL. Available exclusively through Telstra in Australia, the One XL offered practically the exact same experience as the HTC One X, but replaced HSPA connectivity with 4G, while dropping back to a dual-core processor to save battery life.

With an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean released for the phone just before Christmas, the One XL has also become one of the most advanced Android smartphones on the market.

Combined with its sleek unibody design, which incorporates the stunning 4.7-inch 1280x720 pixel display found on the One X, this handset has stood out as a flagship for Telstra's LTE network.

Design

Given the One XL has an identical appearance to the One X, we could almost copy and paste our review from the 3G handset here and be done with it.

Instead, we'll recap. The One XL has a sleek unibody design that is a testament's to HTC's engineering team. Despite the massive 4.7-inch screen, the phone feels comfortable in the hand.

At 129 grams, the handset is nice and light, which is about 20 grams heavier than the iPhone 5. That 20 grams makes all the difference though, as the phone feels solid, rather than underweight.

The 8.9mm thick body is stunningly thin, while the matte finish offers plenty of grip, as opposed to the slippery plastic of Samsung's Galaxy S3.

The One XL's screen is definitely a highlight of the handset, which isn't a surprise as it's the same one used in the One X. The Super IPS LCD 2 technology creates a brilliant picture that offers an abundance of colours, wide viewing angles and responsive controls.

Below the screen are the standard three Android control buttons - home, back and menu. The dedicated real estate on the device for these soft buttons - as opposed to the Xperia TX, for example - is a much more convenient solution for navigating the handset.

Because of the unibody construction, you probably shouldn't expect too much in the way of hardware versatility. There's no replaceable battery and no expandable memory to supplement the 32GB of on board storage.

In fact, connections are a pretty basic, standard affair. A single micro-USB port can be found on the handset's left side, while a volume rocker sits on the right.

On the top of the phone, a power toggle, 3.5mm headphone jack and Micro-SIM card slot have taken up residence. The Micro-SIM card slot is of the Apple variety, requiring a dedicated tool (or a paperclip) to open up.

The back of the phone is marked by the presence of an eight-megapixel camera with LED flash. The larger lens actually sticks out on the phone's back like a boil, but given the quality of photos, is a negligible design flaw.

Overall, this is a stunningly crafted handset, just like the HTC One X its design was cloned from. - source

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HTC Butterfly Snap Review

A Smartphone that apparently makes the tagline of Taiwanese manufacturer HTC – “quietly brilliant”- true to the core. With the launch of this costly Smartphone, the company has geared up for the battle of Androids.

Design:

The phone is sort of sophisticated and elegant, which is made using plastic coated with soft rubber and boasts of uni-body construction. It has three touch-sensitive keys- Home, Back and Task Switcher- below the display, while the sensors and secondary camera reside above it. It is IPX-5 certified and can withstand water at low pressure. Even though it is plastic, the build quality is good. 

Everything seems solid and there are no loose parts. The phone heels quite comfortable to hold in hand and weighs 140 grams. However because of the larger surface area and good weight distribution, the device feels lighter than the S III. Even though the device is a bit long, it will easily slide into pockets because of its slim profile.

Inserting SIM in the device is a bit complicated. Since the same location fits the microSD card as well, HTC was not able to fix the SIM tray onto the plastic cover. Instead of a cover that opens up, it is attached to the body. Hence, while ejecting the tray out of the socket, it is a bit difficult but the microsD is much simpler to insert.

Processor and operating system:

The Butterfly runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system and features the updated version 4+ of the HTC Sense User Interface and has 1.5GHz quad-core processor. Unlike the stock user interface, Sense uses more colorful icons, more elaborate animations and fancy widgets.

Screen:

The phone comes with a 5-inch Super LCD 3 1920*1080p display with Corning Gorilla Glass 2 and a pixel density of 441 pixels-per-inch, which is the highest in industry. A display of that size and resolution gives crisp text and images. In terms of sharpness, it is the main attraction here. It’s really good for people who like to read a lot. The display is extremely smooth and it’s great to use especially with the curved edges.

Battery life:

The HTC butterfly is powered by a non-user-replaceable 2020 Li-Ion battery which can stand its charge up to 45 hours.

Camera:

The phone is packed with an 8MP camera which captures images of 3264*2448 pixels in 4:3 mode and 3264*1840 in 16:9. It also captures 6 MP images during video recording. The HTC ImageSense or the camera interface is the same for both the still camera and the video camera and the camera functions as a UI shared between both functions. The 8MP camera delivers quality photos under daylight as well as low-light conditions. The front 2.1MP camera does a good job during video calls and clicking photos.

Storage and Connectivity:

The phone has 2GB RAM and packed with 16GB of in-built memory and microSD card support of 32GB. Connectivity features of the device include Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB 2.0. The Wi-Fi works perfectly well and the device isn’t affected by any grip issues like HTC Sensation. The phone can be used to convert cellular data connection into a Wi-Fi hotspot as well as supports Wi-Fi direct and DLNA.

Wrap-up:

HTC Butterfly, one of the most expensive Smartphones in the market is one of the best Android phones to combine best features like brilliant HD screen and great build quality. The device is a brilliant mix of hardware and software along with good looks, a beautiful display and classy build.

Pros:

The Smartphone offers a stunning display with full-HD of 1080p and runs on 1.5GHz quad-core processor which makes its performance much faster. It shines in excellent build and solid water resistance ratings.

Cons:

It loses image especially in the high price which is kind of pretty-expensive for Smartphone users and its confusing SIM tray mechanism and disappointing camera.

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HTC Velocity 4G Snap Review

The HTC Velocity 4G launched last week by Telstra is the first LTE/4G mobile phone available in Australia. Until now the only device able to use Telstra’s new mobile network has been a 4G USB laptop modem that we tested in late 2011.

When used in Telstra 4G coverage areas the new HTC Velocity 4G smartphone promises theoretical peak speeds of 2-40Mbps down & 1-10Mbps up, with some important caveats.

Besides it’s flagship 4G speed the HTC Velocity 4G features a 4.5” 540x960 screen, speedy 1.5 GHz dual core CPU, 16GB storage onboard expandable with 32GB microSD, 8MP/1.3MP back/front cameras, HD voice support and swappable battery.

Telstra plans to release four 4G phones this year and one tablet so there will not be much 4G mobile handset choice for customers. It is not known whether one of these four phones will be a 4G iPhone.

Optus isn’t launching its 4G network until Q2 2012 and Vodafone has not announced a date yet for its launch.

We tested the Velocity 4G in the Sydney CBD 4G coverage area as well as a 3G coverage area in Sydney’s western suburbs. Potential buyers should be aware of issues that affect all first generation 4G phones – short battery life and patchy coverage.

The Velocity 4G is like a speedway hot rod in that the payoff for smoking 4G data transfer rates means the battery charge depletes very quickly, as soon as 5 hours if used a lot.

The 4.5” screen also uses up the battery faster than a smaller phone so it’s a shame that HTC has equipped the Velocity 4G with an undersized 1620mAh capacity battery as a “fuel tank”.

Telstra 4G coverage is available within 5km of the GPO in each of the 8 capital cities as well as about 80 regional towns and cities.

As well as being Australia’s first 4G phone the Velocity 4G’s less well known capability is that it’s the first Australian phone that’s capable of dual channel (double the standard) 3G data transfer speed when outside 4G zones.

Telstra’s new 4G data network currently has far fewer customers using it than their 3G network so it’s like flying along an empty motorway at 110km/hr. We will judge how it handles a heavier load of users as more customers start using 4G during 2012.

So is the HTC Velocity 4G worth purchasing? This phone can definitely help your mobile workers increase their productivity if they spend a significant amount of time conducting business activities within 4G coverage areas and keep a second charged battery with them.

For business customers the key selling point in our eyes is the huge time saving speed difference (up to 10 times faster in our tests) between 4G and 3G when uploading large files, such as reports or presentations, to email or cloud storage.

Hopefully Telstra’s tendency to take quite some time to test updates is given a kick along so the Velocity 4G’s Android 2.3.7 phone operating system will be updated to Android 4.0 well before the end of Q1 2012.

The HTC Velocity 4G is initially available outright for $876 or to individual customers for free on a $79 plan and business customers on a $90 plan. Both require 24 month contracts that include 2GB of data/month. Extra supplementary data packs can be purchased if required.

It is highly advisable to keep a close eye on how quickly this 2GB gets used as faster 3G/4G speeds mean the amount of data transfers included in your plan will get used in much less time than before. With 4G speeds it’s easy to burn through several 100MB of downloads in the blink of an eye.

Be careful to avoid bill shock because Telstra's business mobile plans do not throttle/shape data usage after it goes over the included quota. Nor is there an opt-in for throttling/shaping - a Telstra spokesperson told us “business doesn’t want to be slowed down”.

Telstra's data usage meter theoretically lags one hour behind reality but call centre staff told us it’s best to assume the figure is 12 hours behind. They suggested customers SMS the word “use” (without quotes) to the number 176 for free to receive an instant SMS back with current data usage.

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Huawei Honor 3 Snap Review

Huawei has just released the third version of its popular mid-range phone. The Huawei Honor 3, or Glory 3 in some markets, is now available, but so far only in Chinese markets.

The Honor 3 first entered our radars back in May, when it was rumored to take on Samsung in the Chinese market, rivaling the Galaxy S 4. However, the specs that were later leaked revealed instead a mid-range phone, and it seems to have turned out that way indeed. The phone sports Huawei’s own quad-core K3V2 chip running at 1.5GHz and has 2 GB of RAM with 8 GB of internal storage, which is expandable with a microSD card. The Honor 3 runs Android 4.2.2 with Huawei’s Emotion UI on top.

That isn’t the end of the story, though. Huawei also threw in some rather interesting features. First, the Honor 3 features a 13.1 megapixel Exmor RS rear camera and a 1 megapixel front camera. It is also claimed to be water and dust resistant with a rating of IP55 or IP57, making it resistant not just to wet hands but to immersion under water. And finally, it has an infrared transmitter that the manufacturer claims is compatible with around 3,000 models of appliances ranging from TVs to set-top boxes, to even air conditioning units.

The Huawei Honor 3 is now available with a price tag of 1888 yuan, or around $310. If this smartphone has intrigued you, you might have to wait and hope for a while as there is no news yet whether it will be made available to markets other than China.

While we’ve ever covered the news about the new Huawei Honor 3 Android smartphone, is now we have a dozens picture of Huawei Honor 3 picture, this phone is very interesting since has IP57 certification, it’s mean the phone has water, dust and shock ressistant.

Huawei Honor 3 built-in new 1.5GHz Hisilicon K3V2e processor, 4.7-inch incell IPS screen with 1280x720pixel display, 2GB RAM and 8GB ROM, and 13-megapixel/F2.2 rear camera, own 2230mAh battery. While the body of Huawei Honor 3 is more thinner than predecessor with only 133×67.2×9.9mm dimension.

Here are the picture of Huawei Honor 3 Smartphone :

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Setting Up Your DSL Modem to a Single Computer

How to Setup Your DSL Modem to Your Computer This guide will help you step by step setting up a single computer to a DSL modem. If you are setting up a network please review the article for setting up with a router.

To begin you will need your Comtrend DSL modem/router, a phone cable, an Ethernet cable, the power adapter to the Comtrend, and a computer.

1.] First, we will need to get your Comtrend DSL modem/router. As pictured below it should look similar to the modem here.

2.] Now we will want to get the phone cable, and then plug one end into the LINE port on the Comtrend DSL modem. Once you have done this it should look the same as pictured below.

3.] Now that we have one end of the phone cable plugged into the Comtrend modem, we are going to take the other end and plug it into the phone jack that was dedicated for your DSL.

4.] Next we will want to hook up the Ethernet cable, this cable could be multiple colors. Once you have located the Ethernet cable, we will then plug it into LAN 1x on the Comtrend DSL modem/router.

5.] Now that you have the Ethernet cable plugged into the Comtrend, we will take the other end and plug it into your computer into the Ethernet port. As you can see here we used a laptop, on a desktop computer the Ethernet port is almost always located in the back of the computer.

6.] At this point you should have a setup that looks very similar to what we have shown here. You should have the blue Ethernet cable coming from LAN 1x on the Comtrend to the laptop computer. Then we have the phone cable plugged into the LINE port going into our wall jack that is dedicated for DSL.

7.] We are now ready to plug the power into the Comtrend modem. Once you have located the power adapter, plug one end into the Comtrend, and the other end into your wall outlet or surge protector. We recommend that you plug all your devices into a surge protector if you have one.

8.] If everything is hooked up correctly, you should see a light sequence like shown below. The power light should be solid green, the LAN 1x should blink to indicate data is moving, and the ADSL light should be solid to indicate the service is synced up to our Central Office and your location.

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THL W100 Snap Review

The THL W100 is a fascinating smartphone. What you find in the box, the spec sheet, and the features will really make you curious and want to test one out. For starters the box comes with two batteries (lol). This is the first time we’ve ever unboxed a smartphone with two batteries inside the packaging, hehe. It also has very competitive specifications for a budget offering: 4.5-inch qHD IPS display, quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM, and even a 5MP front-facing camera. Awesome that it sells for just Php6,999!

THL W100 Specification

• 1.2GHz MTK6589 quad-core CPU
• PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB Internal Storage, expandable via MicroSD
• 4.5-inches IPS display, qHD 960×540 resolution
• 8.0-megapixels primary camera
• 5.0-megapixels secondary camera
• Dual-SIM, Dual Standby
• 3G, WiFi, WiFi Hotspot, GPS, Bluetooth
• 1,800mAh Battery (x2)
• Android 4.2.1

Packaging and Unboxing of the THL W100

The THL W100 came in a clean white hard carton box. Product shot was up front with the specifications at the back. While it’s not printed on the packaging, the in-store collaterals of the THL W100 carries the slogan “Your Selfie Mate”. It’s a play on “Soul Mate”. The “selfie” references to the 5MP front-facing camera which is supposed to take good photos of your glamorous moments. Anyway, specifications are listed on the back as we wrote it above.

Unboxing was the usual process. Removed the circular shaped tape (whoever makes these tapes is probably making a fortune since almost all gadget boxes have ‘em). Pulled the top lid. Greeted immediately by the phone.

We’ll get to the actual unit in a bit. Underneath the phone is the usual compartment for accessories and peripherals. The good news is that THL stuffed it with a few extras. Other than the micro USB to USB cable, wall charger, earphones, and manuals, they also put in a screen protector fit to match the screen of the THL W100 and… an extra 1800mAh battery. Yes folks, the box comes with two batteries (the other one is loaded already in the phone).

What’s the use of another battery? Lots. You can keep it charged at 100% and just swap it in and out once you need more power. This way you don’t need to bring a bulky power bank and just bring the slim battery with you. That’s really the beauty of having a smartphone with a removable back plate.

We definitely appreciate the extras! Two thumbs up to THL for a great unboxing experience!

Hardware Impressions

Now we get to the hardware. The THL W100 is NOT a slim and sezzy phone, hehe. It’s actually around 10.3mm thick which is just the medium size level of smartphones. It weighs in at 135g which is not really “hefty” but it’s enough to assure you that what you’re holding is solid, compact, and can probably take a mid-level drop or two.

In terms of materials the dominant one is plastic. Fortunately the manufacturers were able to squeeze it in as much as possible so that there’s little air in between the internals and the outer shell. You won’t feel and soft plastics if you press down on the THL W100. We also kinda dig the very thing silver band that runs along the sides of the THL W100. Usually the chrome band on smartphones is thick. The thin one is not only refreshing to see but it’s actually cool, hehe.

The back has a smooth and very fine matte finish. It’s not the cheap kind of matte finish that’s a magnet for finger prints and smudges. The THL logo is proudly displayed at the center and the 8MP shooter is on the top center part with the LED flash just under it. “Technology Happy Life” is printed at the bottom which is apparently the meaning of the letters “T”, “H”, and “L”.

Up front we have the 4.5-inch display. Resolution is qHD or 960×540 pixels. It’s not too bad but the quality difference compared to an HD display is definitely noticeable, much so if OGS technology is applied. What’s applaudable is that they were able to squeeze in IPS technology despite the low price. This makes viewing angles much better. Truth be told one can’t really complain with the resolution since this is being sold for just Php6,999. That’s already great value for money seeing as a lot of other smartphones past Php10,000 still have the same resolution.

Everything considered about the hardware we feel that the THL W100 is a solid, sturdy, and compact smartphone. It’s easy to manage and use thanks to the form factor and it delivers the punch you need because of what’s under its hood.

Performance Impressions

Now we get to software. The default ROM is MIUI, the same one used by Xiaomi and the same launcher we saw with the THL W100′s bigger brother, the THL W11 Monkey King. It’s the overly customized Android UI which does away with the Android app tray and offers multiple paid and free themes that you can download via the Miui store (pre-loaded). If you want to remove Miui you can either do a full reset or you can just download another launcher from the Google Play store.

So what can the THL W100 handle? Well pretty much everything! It has a quad-core processor with 1GB RAM and we all know that’s usually the base minimum for a good Android experience. We tried a variety of apps already ranging from games with intensive graphics to photo editing apps and your usual social networking tools. All of them ran smoothly and without any major problems. Note though that the graphics intensive games took a while to load. That’s the limitation of the Mediatek quad-core processor.

Initial Verdict: It Gives the Cherry Mobile Razor a Run For It’s Money

So what’s our initial verdict? Well for Php6,999 this is a kick ass phone! It’s so kick ass it can give the Cherry Mobile Razor a run for it’s money! It may not have the crazy thin build but it does offer a solid, reliable, and nice Android experience wrapped in a compact and sturdy body. Not only that, both front and back cameras actually take decent photos (unlike the Razor which has a crappy front-facing shooter).

Two thumbs up to THL for this awesome offering. If you guys are looking for an affordable quad-core smartphone with little compromises, this is it.

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