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If it looks like a BlackBerry and smells like a BlackBerry, chances are it’s a BlackBerry.  But the BlackBerry Pearl Flip arguably doesn’t look or smell anything like a traditional BlackBerry.  While the Pearl Flip has all the functionality of its candy bar siblings, its clamshell design makes it a unique addition to the BlackBerry family that some may find a desirable alternative to the norm.

Look and Feel

From afar, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip looks more or less like your run-of-the-mill camera-toting flip phone.  On closer inspection, however, the prominent BlackBerry logos on front and back hint that this flip phone may be packing more than meets the eye.  The device is available in either red or black.

At 3.9 inches tall by 1.9 inches wide when closed, and about .7 inches thick, the Pearl Flip isn’t the smallest clamshell design the world has ever seen but still will fit comfortably in a pocket or purse.   The Pearl Flip weighs in at 3.6 ounces, with the bottom composed of a faux brushed metal and the top part of the device a shiny black plastic.

When closed, the front of the device is graced by a 1.6 inch 128×160 resolution, 65k color display.  The external screen indicates battery life, signal strength, time and date, caller ID, and notifications of new email messages, texts, voicemail, and missed calls.  When not illuminated, the external screen blends with the Flip’s black front.  The front is also home to a 2 megapixel camera with flash, as well as the traditional blinking BlackBerry status indicator.

Flipping the phone open reveals a 2.2 inch, 240×320 resolution, internal display set in a sleek silver frame.  While considerably smaller than its candy car brethren, the Pearl Flip’s screen offers ample space for reading emails but may frustrate frequent web browsers. Opened, the Pearl Flip is somewhat lanky, but feels good in the palm of the hand.

Not surprisingly, the internal keyboard closely resembles the Pearl’s SureType keyboard.  RIM’s SureType technology, as it’s called, allows two letters (and a number) to be assigned to each button and offers a list of possible words and letter combinations as you type.  The layout of the keys resembles that of a traditional telephone keypad.  To be sure, SureType will take some getting used to.  You may learn to love it, or you may find yourself desperately longing for your full QWERTY keyboard.

On the left of the device is a mute button, standard 3.5mm headphone jack, micro USB port for charging and synching, and an app launcher key defaulted to voice commands.  On the right of the phone is a volume rocker, microSD card slot for up to 16GB of additional storage space, and another app launcher key defaulted to the camera.

User Interface & Performance

The Pearl Flip is running Blackberry OS 4.6.  OS 4.6 offers a big step up in aesthetics, replacing the aging icons and interface of previous OS’s with sharp, semi-transparent icons that glow brightly when scrolled over.  Sure, beauty is skin deep, but the facelift made a world of difference in the feel of the device.  The Pearl Flip uses the traditional BlackBerry trackball for navigation – though it’s set into the phone slightly so it can flip closed.

Unfortunately, it’s sometimes apparent that the Pearl Flip isn’t packing the same power under the hood as some of its contemporaries.  I experienced some hang-ups and sluggishness when opening and switching applications.

Features

Messaging

The Pearl Flip may not look like other RIM smartphones, but successfully delivers the same messaging might that BlackBerry is known for.  Of course, the RIM flip phone offers support for enterprise email solutions including Microsoft Exchange, Novell GroupWise, and IBM Lotus Domino.

The device can also support up to 10 additional email accounts, including POP and IMAP accounts.  I was able to effortlessly add my Gmail account to the Pearl Flip.  I just entered my user name and password, and my Gmail was soon being pushed to the device.  You can also view and edit Word, PowerPoint, and Excel attachments.

The Pearl Flip also supports instant messaging, with six pre-installed messaging clients including Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, and of course BlackBerry Messenger.

Because there’s a SureType keyboard instead of a full QWERTY, the BlackBerry Flip is likely not a great choice for users wanting to frequently send lengthy emails.  It is, however, a great choice for being able to reliably stay up on emails on-the-go without taking up too much space.

Web Browsing

The Pearl Flip is equipped with a full HTML browser. While the small screen size sometimes makes browsing cumbersome, the overall experience is pretty positive, particularly for a clamshell device. Navigation is achieved using an on-screen cursor that is used to zoom in, move around, and select links. A “GoTo” window is used to jump to a new web page and search, with built-in search functionality for Google, Yahoo, Wikipedia, and Dictionary.com.

Media & Entertainment

The Pearl Flip’s media player supports MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA , MIDI and AMR-NB audio formats, as well as MPEG4 and WMV video formats. The phone has 128MB of memory built-in, and is expandable with support for up to a 16GB microSD card for plenty of space for music and video. You can sync the Pearl Flip with your iTunes music library, or add music directly to the phone. Expect the usual options, including playlists, shuffle and repeat modes, album art, and search functionality. Conveniently enough, you can also jump back to the media player from any menu when a song is playing.

Camera/Video

Picture Quality on the Pearl Flip is acceptable for a quick memory.  The device’s camera is 2 megapixels, with a flash, 5x zoom and limited amount of settings.  Images sometimes weren’t very sharp in conditions with lower light, even when taken with a steady hand.   Colors were pretty well-defined for the most part, but direct sunlight tended to wash out brighter colors.  Video quality was mediocre, with frames appearing dull and pixilated.

Wireless & GPS

There are relatively few flip phones that can boast WiFi, and the Pearl Flip is one of them.  Unfortunately, however, the Flip’s WiFi doesn’t fully make up for the fact that the device lacks 3G support.  The Pearl Flip is equipped with Bluetooth v2.0, with support for headset (mono and stereo), hands-free, and serial port profiles.  There’s also no built-in GPS on the Flip.

Extras

The Flip features T-Mobiles MyFaves feature on the home screen which gives you unlimited calling to 5 pre-selected favorites. The device also has a speakerphone, voice dialing, memo pad, tasks list, calculator, and voice notes recorder. Pre-installed games include BrickBreaker, Word Mole, Texas Hold’Em King 2, Sudoku, Klondike, and Trooper Typing. The Pearl Flip is also compatible with BlackBerry’s App World, making thousands of applications available for download for the device.

The Bottom Line

The BlackBerry Pearl Flip is a device that some people will love and some people will perhaps love to hate.  Power BlackBerry users may be frustrated by the SureType keyboard, lack of 3G and GPS, and occasional sluggishness.  Yet, flip phone devotees who have resisted jumping on board the BlackBerry bandwagon will welcome having the messaging power of a BlackBerry, full HTML browser, and WiFi just a flip away.

Today I got the chance to play around with the red-orange “Fire” version (also comes in a bluish “Ice”) of the Samsung Highlight, and can happily report that not only did I not get burned, but I was actually quite impressed with this entry-level resistive touch screen device.

The Highlight has plenty to offer, including a 3-megapixel camera with video capture, full HTML browser, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, web-based email access, instant messaging, media player, PC syncing capabilities, voice commands, and support for T-Mobile’s 3G network.

Samsung has included its Touch Wiz user interface, which offers a fair number of customizable widgets that can be dragged from a collapsible side bar to the home screen. Some widgets simply offer one-touch access to frequently used apps like the web browser, while others provide real-time weather or allow music to be controlled from the home screen.

The Highlight is a full touch screen device — no slide out QWERTY. You have the option to type in portrait mode using an on-screen numerical keypad and T9, or flip the device to landscape for a full on-screen QWERTY.

Measuring 4.3 inches tall, 2.1 inches wide, and half-an-inch thick, the Highlight is small and will slip nicely into a tight jeans pocket. The Highlight also feels great in the palm of the hand thanks to its slightly rubberized feel, patterned backing, and curves.

You will be able to find the Samsung Hightlight for a great price at Wirefly starting next week.

With its introduction of the Snap for Sprint and very similar Ozone for Verizon, HTC is undoubtedly taking aim at the likes of RIM’s successful BlackBerry Curve.  The Windows Mobile device perhaps isn’t quite as sleek or feature laden as some of the competition, but certainly answers its calling as a powerful email and messaging device complete with HTC’s simple yet innovative Inner Circle email prioritizing feature.

Look and Feel

The HTC Snap for Sprint took a bit of a departure from its sleeker GSM counterpart.    While the GSM Snap has a chic brushed aluminum navigation area and a trackball, the Snap for Sprint is more plasticky all around, and features a four-way navigational key in lieu of the trackball.  This is not to say that the CDMA Snap isn’t attractive in its own right.

The Snap’s form factor is reminiscent of the BlackBerry Curve.  At 2.4 inches wide, 4.6 inches tall, and only half an inch thick, the device is small and slender.  The majority of the Snap’s body is a glossy black plastic, while the bottom portion of the phone’s backing is a slightly lighter black brushed plastic.

On the front of the Snap is a 2.4 inch non-touch screen with support for 65k colors and 320×240 pixel resolution.  The Snap’s screen is bright and fairly crisp, but not as high resolution as some of its competition.  The primary navigation bar consists of a four-way directional key with a centered select button, a send, end, home, and back key, and two soft keys.

The only button on either side of the Snap is a volume rocker.  The back of the device features a 2.0 megapixel camera housed in brushed aluminum.  A microUSB port for synching and charging can be found on the bottom of the phone.  The port also accepts an included adapter for plugging in a pair of 3.5mm or 2.5mm headphones, or an included pair of headphones with a hands-free microphone and volume control.

The Snap’s QWERTY keyboard feels good to the touch, and provides a satisfying tactile feedback.  The keyboard features an offset layout instead of a grid, resembling a full-sized PC keyboard.  The Snap’s keys, however, feel a bit cramped and close together and may be error prone for users with bigger thumbs.  The CAPS key is where the ‘A’ key is on most other QWERTYs, which also takes some getting used to.  The keyboard features dedicated keys for the camera, email, web browser, and Inner Circle.

User Interface & Performance

The HTC Snap is running on Windows Mobile 6.1 standard edition.  As usual, Windows Mobile is simple and easy to navigate, but powerful at the same time.  Menus are navigated using the right and left soft keys as well as the four-way directional key and select button.  For the most part, applications and menus loaded in a snap.  I didn’t experience any hang ups or delays in my time with the device.

HTC provides an attractive custom home screen layout with sliding panels.  The home screen does a good job providing quick and easy access to the most frequently accessed information, applications and settings.  There is a panel for missed calls and voicemail, appointments, messages, email, weather, the browser, and settings.

Clicking right or left in a panel offers further options.  In the browser panel, for example, you can scroll through bookmarked web sites.   Similarly, the appointments panel allows you to scroll through upcoming appointments, or add a new appointment.  You can also browse through new emails in the email panel.

While HTC’s home screen provides a refreshing face lift, not too much has changed in the Window’s Mobile realm as of late. Moving beyond the home screen into the standard Windows Mobile OS feels mundane and a tad bit dated in this day and age.

Features

Phone & Voice Commands

To dial a number or contact, just start typing the number or contact’s name from the home screen.  The Snap’s phonebook is only limited in capacity by the device’s internal memory.  Phonebook entries have space for tons of information, including multiple phone numbers and email addresses, physical addresses, instant messaging addresses, and personal information such as birthday and spouse.  Of course, you can also set a custom ringtone and picture.

As part of Windows Mobile 6.1, the HTC Snap features an impressively comprehensive voice commands utility.  By default, holding down the send key launches voice command.  After being prompted by a tone, you can command the Snap to do any number of things from dialing a phone number or contact to launching an application or asking what time it is.  The voice command utility worked impressively well when speaking slowly and clearly with minimal background noise.

Messaging

Backed up by the power of Microsoft’s Direct Push Technology, the Snap delivers an impressive messaging experience.  I had no trouble setting up my Exchange account and Gmail account.  For Gmail, I just entered in my username and password and I was good to go.  The device was unable to setup my Exchange account without manually entering my settings, but after entering my server and domain settings successfully, the Snap synchronized with my email, contact and calendar in a matter of minutes.

Activating HTC’s Inner Circle feature will automatically filter out emails from those individuals you have added to your circle.  Yes, it’s about as simple as it sounds – but depending on how many emails you get on a regular basis and who they are from, you may actually find Inner Circle a life saver.    If you get an inordinate amount of company emails and news alerts, for example, pressing the dedicated Inner Circle button will display emails from only those individuals you have deemed important enough to make the cut.  Take that, Google Alerts!

Web Browsing

The HTC Snap has the latest version of Microsoft’s Mobile Internet Explorer.  Mobile IE did a great job rendering even complicated pages.  The browser does support Flash, although Flash video was often choppy.  Navigation is performed using the four-way navigation button to guide an on-screen cursor.  You can zoom in and out on a web page, although Mobile IE’s zoom function is a bit clunky.

Media & Entertainment

The Snap uses mobile Windows Media Player for music and video playback.  Windows Media supports the usual, including playlists, shuffle and repeat, ratings, and album art.  The Snap only has 256mb of memory onboard, but supports up to a 16GB microSD for plenty of space.   Other entertainment options include Sprint TV and a YouTube player.

Camera & Camcorder

The Snap’s 2 megapixel camera offers acceptable but not great photo quality.  In bright light, colors appeared somewhat washed out and dull.  The quality of indoor photos was on par with that of comparable 2 megapixel cameras.  The camera can be set in several modes, including Contacts Picture, Picture Theme, Panorama, as well as Video and MMS Video mode.  The brightness, white balance, and resolution (128×96, 176×144, 320×240, or 352×288), and capture format can be adjusted along with several others options.  There’s also an effects option to take images in grayscale, sepia, or negative.

Wireless & Extras

The HTC Snap is equipped with Bluetooth 2.0, with support for stereo Bluetooth.  Regrettably, the device does not have WiFi and is also lacking dual mode, making world roaming an unfortunate impossibility.

The Snap supports numerous Sprint services including Navigation, TV, Nascar and NFL Mobile Live.  The device also comes loaded with Office Mobile for viewing attachments, YouTube, Windows Live, an RSS reader, MP3 trimmer, and voice recorder.  Pre-installed games include Bubble Breaker, Solitaire, and Wheel of Fortune.  Numerous other applications and games are available for the Windows Mobile platform.r.

The Bottom Line

The HTC Snap may not be the most glitzy smartphone to hit the market in recent memory, but the device offers a powerful email and messaging experience complete with HTC’s Inner Circle feature for prioritizing emails.    The handset’s lack of Wi-Fi and dual-mode for world roaming, however, limit its appeal.  Because the Snap’s QWERTY keyboard is compact and somewhat cramped, users with larger thumbs may want to think twice about the Snap.  But with a host of features including Sprint Navigation and TV, a camera and camcorder, and media applications – in addition to its messaging prowess – the Snap is a good pickup.

Take advantage of Wirefly’s exlusive pre-order opportunity and reserve your Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Tour today.

$179.99 for new customers. $199.99 for upgrades.

The BlackBerry Tour 9630 can best be thought of as the long-awaited next generation of the 8830 World Edition.

The Tour offers an impressive feature set and sleek design, and supports CDMA and high-speed EVDO networks at home and 3G networks abroad so you can stay connected while you tour the world.

If you weren’t a big fan of the Storm and its touch screen, this may well be the Verizon BlackBerry you have been waiting for.

Hurry while supplies last!

By Satirous Mochsem

LOS ANGELES– Today marks the anniversary of California’s ban on driving-while-talking without a hands-free device.

But one Californian long ago decided to give the law the boot.

After being pulled over twice for talking on her custom gold and diamond studded Motorola RAZR, Maria Garcia Perez y Diaz de Arroyo decided to take a stand.

“Daddy had this phone made for me special, and I love it. I wouldn’t be caught dead with one of those Bluetooth thingies in my ear – but I knew I couldn’t survive without talking on the phone and driving,” said Garcia Perez y Diaz de Arroyo.

Armed with freakish flexibility from years of Pilates classes, Garcia Perez y Diaz de Arroyo decided earlier this year that she would redefine the meaning of hands-free.

“I can wrap my feet around the back of my head, so I got the idea to hold my phone up with my foot. Then I asked Daddy’s lawyers to look into it — and it’s totally legit. There’s nothing in there about not using your foot.”

With some practice, Garcia Perez y Diaz de Arroyo was soon back to her favorite pastime of talking while driving.

With eyes forward, two hands on the wheel, and a foot to her ear, she was again cruising the streets of Beverly Hills while chatting it up – this time fully legal.

Despite continued hassling by the boys in blue, she remained undeterred. “I got pulled over like four more times because [the police officers] thought I was talking with my hand. Each time I just held my phone up to my head for them, and they didn’t give me a ticket.”

“I even showed one cop how I could wrap both my legs behind me. He was sweet. He left me his number on a slip from his ticket book.”

Source: Wirefly Wireless Not-News

It seems like every few weeks I open up a paper (I know, so 20th century of me) or browse to a major website where I am greeted by a big, bolded headline that begs the question: Is [insert name of new device here] the iPhone killer? I make no efforts to conceal my dislike of the term “iPhone killer.” In fact, I’ve made every effort to avoid any serious use of the term in the past. Yet, after my time with the Palm Pre, I am willing to make a bold statement.

At long last, there may be the makings of an iPhone killer on the loose. To be sure, the Palm Pre has its fair share of first generation hiccups and disappointments, but with sleek hardware, superior multitasking abilities and a touch driven operating system that undoubtedly rivals (read wins over in many ways) that of the iPhone, Apple will finally have to begin thinking defensively if it is to maintain its dominance in the touch screen market. (more…)

We waited. We tried to document the excitement … and finally … we got it.

Here’s the Web’s first professional unboxing of the iPhone 3G S.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux4-W1PS9WA