Smartphones

HTC Titan II Review

By George Ponder, Monday, Apr 9, 2012 at 5:19 pm

WPCentral's Review of the AT&T HTC Titan II

While all the attention has been focused on the Nokia Lumia 900, another Windows Phone has slipped on to the AT&T store shelves. The HTC Titan II joined AT&T's Windows Phone lineup on April 8, 2012 and it is bound to turn some heads now that it's out of the shadows.

The HTC Titan II sports a 4.7" Super LCD screen, 16gb of storage, a 1.5GHz processor and a sleek uni-body design. While the large screen could easily be the center piece feature of the Titan II, the 16mp rear camera will likely stand out more on the Titan II spec sheet.

While the Nokia Lumia 900 is a fantastic addition to the AT&T Windows Phone lineup, the HTC Titan II is no slouch. Once customers have the opportunity to handle the Titan II in AT&T stores, the choice of which new Windows Phone will get a little harder to make.

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Nokia Lumia 900 Review

By Daniel Rubino, Tuesday, Apr 3, 2012 at 9:01 pm

WPCentral's Review of the AT&T Nokia Lumia 900

“With one of the best displays for a Windows Phone around, a $99 price point and Nokia’s svelte and sexy design, the AT&T Lumia 900 is one of the best values for a smartphone today. For those people upgrading from a first generation Windows Phone to those folks just coming on board, the Nokia Lumia 900 is sure to impress.”

Design:
The Lumia 900 is designed and manufactured to perfection. This shows in the end result, while not as smooth as the Lumia 800, it's still beautiful.

Feel:
Unibody, check. Single piece of injection molded polycarbonate, check. Feels great to hold and use? Check.

Performance:
Powered by Windows Phone Mango Release 2, a 1.4Ghz processor, 4G LTE and an 1830mAh battery, the Lumia 900 will keep you going throughout the day.

Quality:
AT&T, Nokia and Microsoft have done a great job with the Lumia 900. It's not perfect but it's certainly close.

Solid 8MP rear camera and outstanding 1MP front camera make the Lumia 900 a great video phone. The polycarbonate unibody design makes this device one of the nicest looking on the smartphone market and the 1830mAh battery ensures great battery life even when using AT&T's blindingly fast 4G LTE. To cap it off, the 900's AMOLED screen is one of the nicest we have used.

The rear 8MP camera could stand to use a BSI sensor to reduce noise and increase brightness in low light situations. The non-removal battery may be an issue for some and the rattle from the vibrate feature is cringe worthy.

For $99 on contract, the Lumia 900 is one of the nicest Windows Phone on the market today and for the foreseeing future all at a great price. It has solid hardware including super-fast 4G LTE and the latest version of Windows Phone Mango ensuring a great experience for new users and veterans looking for an upgrade. Plus the device oozes with Nokia's quality craftsmanship making it a device many will want to talk about. With all the hype around this phone, this could be the next "it" device for the summer.

The Nokia Lumia 900 on AT&T is the most anticipated release for the Windows Phone since the system was released back in October 2010. There’s a lot riding on this launch for Microsoft, AT&T and certainly Nokia, with the latter betting everything on the fledgling mobile OS from Redmond.

In fact, this is the first time outside of Microsoft enthusiasts that a Windows Phone actually has some buzz in the mainstream media, partially due to Nokia’s rapid buildup with the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710 along with those respective advertising campaigns.

Does the AT&T Lumia 900 live up to the expectations? We gave the 900 high marks for its display, super-fast 4G LTE speeds, mesmerizing design and solid battery life. All of which exceeding most of our expectations. Yet, all is not perfect though and there are few minor complaints, especially around that rear 8MP camera. Still, the Lumia 900's esthetics and visual appeal will make up for any deficiencies it may have in the long run.

Read on for our definitive AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 review...

Nokia holding event for South Africa

By RogueCode, Friday, Jan 13, 2012 at 7:51 am

If you needed anymore proof that South Africa isn't just being tossed aside when it comes to the Nokia Lumia/future devices, then we have great news for you. We have just received word from an anonymous tipster that Nokia is holding an event in Midrand near the end of this month. Although the invite doesn't outright say that this is a launch party or unveiling event, it's probably quite safe to assume that it is.

And here is the invite:

Besides the obvious positives of Nokia launching their Windows Phone 7 devices in South Africa, there is another aspect that you may not have considered. Blackberry and Android may be all the rage over here at the moment but before that Nokia was a really big player in SA.

I remember a time when almost every person I knew either had a Nokia or was attempting to get one. What this means is that when they start selling their new phones people will not be buying Windows Phone, they will be buying a Nokia, because they trust the brand. So this skips the step of people avoiding WP7 because of their feelings on Windows Mobile, and allows them to experience the amazing everyday with no bias.

EDIT: This is a private event.

Windows Phone Review: T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 710

By George Ponder, Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 8:42 am

Nokia has had a good amount of success with the European launch of the Nokia Lumia 800 and has hopes that success continues as the company begins its push into the North American market. The first Nokia Windows Phone for the U.S. Market is the Nokia Lumia 710, that is now available over at T-Mobile.

The Lumia 710 is a compact, entry level Windows Phone that sports a 3.7" screen that is protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass. The latest Windows Phone feels solidly built and comfortable in the hand.

As with other second generation Windows Phones, the Lumia 710 is designed more for a specific audience and may not appeal to everyone. Some will find the 8gb of storage limiting and the missing front-facing camera disappointing. It may not suit your fancy but the Nokia Lumia 710 is a very good Windows Phone and a nice entry level model. It represents Nokia very well as their first U.S. Windows Phone.

T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 710: First Impressions

By George Ponder, Friday, Jan 6, 2012 at 5:28 pm

The Nokia Lumia 710 is expected to hit T-Mobile's shelve on January 11, 2012 and will run just under $50 after contractual discounts . It will be the first Nokia Windows Phone for the U.S. Market and we've gotten our hands on one.

First impressions? The 710 is a very nice, compact Windows Phone. Feels solid in the hand and the screen looks great.

The Lumia 710 is slightly smaller than T-Mobile's other Windows Phone, the HTC Radar, separated by only tenths of an inch. The Lumia 710 has a 3.7" screen while the Radar sports a 3.8" screen. The Lumia 710 is also very similar in size to the AT&T Samsung Focus Flash with the Flash being slightly smaller and lighter in size.

Nokia Lumia 710 HTC Radar Samsung Focus Flash Size 4.69 x 2.46 x .49 4.7 x 2.4 x .43 4.57 x 2.31 x .27 Weight 4.4 ounces 4.83 ounces 4.1 ounces

The Lumia 710 is fitted with 512mb RAM, 8GB of storage, a 5mp camera, and 1300mah battery. As with other second generation Windows Phones, the Lumia 710 comes across as a well built, solid phone but due to smaller storage space, the lack of a front facing camera and other specs it may not appeal to everyone.

We'll take the Lumia 710 out for a test drive over the next few days and get a full review up on the site shortly thereafter. If there's anything in particular you'd like us to look at, speak up in the comments.

Nokia and T-Mobile bringing 'something exciting' to NYC on Dec. 14

Smartphones

By Phil Nickinson, Wednesday, Dec 7, 2011 at 2:40 pm

Nokia and T-Mobile are teaming up for an event Dec. 14 in New York City, and it looks like we might well get our first glimpse of some sweet, sweet Nokia Windows Phone love here in the United States.

As you'll recall, we've already seen the Lumia 710 pass the FCC with its AWS bands intact, so that's a strong bet. Hopefully we'll get the Lumia 800 here as well. We've got our invite in hand. Guess we'll see what's what in a week.

More: Lumia 800 hands-on; Lumia 710 hands-on

AT&T HTC Titan - Review

By George Ponder, Friday, Nov 25, 2011 at 9:19 am

While I was impressed with the Samsung Focus S, Dan kept telling me "wait until you get your hands on the Titan." I expected to see a quality Windows Phone in the HTC Titan but was very skeptical of the 4.7" big screen. The Focus S was large enough with the 4.3" screen but would a 4.7" screen be too big?

Short answer... No.

HTC engineers have done a fantastic job of balancing a large screened device on a thin platform to minimize the bulk. The Titan feels comfortable in the hand, thanks to more beveled or curved sides and the 4.7" screen really shines. Add an 8mp camera with all the bells and whistles, a 1.5ghz processor, 16gb of storage, and a 1650mah battery and the Titan becomes a very strong performer.

Don't get me wrong, the Samsung Focus S is also a quality, large screen Windows Phone but the Titan has just as strong (some may say stronger) of an appeal. While the Titan may have an lengthy model designation (HTC PI39100) it's a solid Windows Phone. To read more on the AT&T HTC Titan, hit the break.

WPCentral Holiday Gift Guide: Windows Phones

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 8:22 am

With the Holiday Season fast approaching everyone is looking for the perfect gift for the Windows Phone user in their life. When it comes to gifts for the Windows Phone user, it's hard to beat a new phone. There are a lot of new Windows Phones hitting the market and while each is a quality device, one may be more appealing than the other.

While we've reviewed most of the new Windows Phones hitting the market, hit the break to catch a quick overview of each of the new phones hitting the shelves this Holiday Season.

AT&T Samsung Focus S - Review

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 at 11:18 pm

On November 6th AT&T released the Samsung Focus Flash and Focus S to their Windows Phone line up. We've already taken a look at the Focus Flash and now turn our attention to Focus S.

Similar in design to the Samsung Galaxy Android devices, the Focus S sports a 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus screen. While the surface area of the S is large, it's size is diminished by being only .33" thin. The Focus S feels comfortable in the hand, has a very nice screen and comes with all the bells and whistles Windows Phone Mango has to offer.

The Focus S's pricing point and features will make it a high-end Windows Phone when compared to the Samsung Focus Flash or HTC Radar. The S is a solid performer and if you're a fan of large screen, well built Windows Phones the Focus S a very good option to pursue. To find out all the details on the Samsung Focus S, just make the jump past the break.

AT&T Samsung Focus Flash - Review

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Thursday, Nov 10, 2011 at 10:29 pm

As far as Windows Phones are concerned, Samsung has enjoyed a good bit of success with the Focus. The company recently released two new Windows Phones they hope will enjoy the same amount of success, the Focus S and Focus Flash. We first turn our sites first to the Focus Flash.

The Focus Flash is one of the more compact Windows Phones available and follows the same design of Samsung's successful, overseas Windows Phone the Omnia 7. Sporting a 3.7" Super AMOLED screen the build quality of the Flash is very good and the phone fits snugly in your hand. While the Flash makes a very good first impression, the compact size may not appeal to everyone. There's not a lot of elbow room with the on-screen keyboard and I often found myself activating the Search or Back Button when I held the phone too tightly.

Another concern with the Flash is the amount of storage space available. The Flash is fitted with 8GB of storage and once you've loaded all the software, only 6.33GB of storage remains. Many will find this unappealing in that they will have to be more selective on what is loaded onto the Flash.

The performance, build quality and price does make the Flash an attractive Windows Phone but the reservations illustrate what may be the state of Windows Phones today. There simply isn't a bad phone out there, it's just a matter of finding which fits your needs, budget or tastes the best. If you like a more compact feel to your Windows Phone and storage isn't an issue, the Flash will do nicely.

To read more on the Flash, follow the break.

T-Mobile HTC Radar 4G Review

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Sunday, Nov 6, 2011 at 11:10 pm

While the curtain has been lifted for some time on the HTC Radar, it is still a fresh face on the Windows Phone market. The white/silver color scheme and unibody design makes the phone stand out amongst other Windows Phones. The lighter color pattern may extend the Windows Phone appeal to new users but how does the Radar hold up to other Windows Phones?

The Radar isn't just another pretty face amongst smartphones. With respect to design and feel, the HTC Radar can easily hold its own against other Windows Phones on available today. The aluminum unibody is curved to fit your hand comfortably while giving the Radar a quality build. The screen is vibrant, responsive and has a bit of a pop to it. While the color choice for the Radar may not appeal to everyone, there's no denying this is a well built Windows Phone.

We've put the Radar to use over the past few days and to see how this second generation Windows Phone has held up, bounce on past the break.

Nokia Lumia 800 Review

Smartphones

By Rich Edmonds, Thursday, Nov 3, 2011 at 8:59 pm

The Nokia Lumia 800 is the final result of hard work and active development in the time that was available since they announced the partnership with Microsoft earlier this year. Nokia has stated that 2012 will be the year to look out for innovative hardware, powerful handsets (with possibly dual-core chips) and much more. The Lumia family also includes the 710, a more affordable option.

The Lumia 800 is a solid phone with a unibody and a single piece of injection-moulded polycarbonate. The Gorilla toughened glass appears to "fold" into the chasis to provide the design a smooth surface. The screen is a ClearBlack AMOLED display, which ensures there's enough attention focused on what's being projected. The technology used in construction allows the Lumia 800 to be used in sun light. Being powered by a 1.4Ghz chip and fuelled by a 1450mAh battery, the Nokia Lumia 800 is a perfect handset for those who are arriving to the platform or looking to upgrade. Head on past the break for the run through.

Pros:

Solid hardware Good camera Slick screen unibody design

Cons:

No FF camera Buttons feel cheap Capacitive keys are too close to screen

Dell Venue Pro - Review

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Sunday, Jul 24, 2011 at 7:05 pm

Dell made a shaky entrance into the Windows Phone 7 market. You had supply issues, quality control issues and software headaches. Slowly but surely these problems are getting ironed out with the Venue Pro but does it leave consumers with a quality Windows Phone?

While some may see this as being late to the table (Dell isn't that generous with review units), we decided to take advantage of the $299.99 sale and ordered a few on our own. Out of the box, the Venue Pro makes a nice first impression. The 4.1" AMOLED Screen has a good bit of pop to it with vibrant colors and sharp contrast. But does the positive first impression last?

Just make the jump past the break to see if the Dell Venue Pro continued to shine or dulled a little after several days of use.

Verizon HTC Trophy - Review

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Thursday, Jun 16, 2011 at 8:19 pm

Verizon Customers may say, "It's about time" with regards to the release of the HTC Trophy but I think they will be very pleased with their first Windows Phone 7 device. The Trophy completes the Windows Phone coverage for the major U.S. Wireless Carriers and isn't a shabby addition to the Windows Phone line up.

We had the opportunity to get our hands on an HTC Trophy for a few days and the Windows Phone made a nice first impression. The phone felt good in the hand, had a nice design to it, and the 3.8" screen looked good. To see if our first impression was changed much after using the Trophy for a few days, make the jump past the break.

AT&T HTC HD7S - Review

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Sunday, May 29, 2011 at 9:19 pm

T-Mobile customers have been enjoying the HTC HD7 for some time now. The large screen Windows Phone is now headed to AT&T as the HD7S. The "S" is for the Super LCD WVGA screen. Personally, I would have liked to have seen AT&T go with something more creative like the HTC Slate. HTC HD7S is fitting but it can be somewhat of a tongue twister.

We ran a first impression video earlier and was impressed with what we saw. Over the past few days we've used the HD7S exclusively and while it still makes a good impression, there is some room for improvement.

Move on past the break to see how well that first impression lasted.

Sprint HTC Arrive: 720p Video Test [Follow-up]

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Friday, Mar 18, 2011 at 9:23 pm

Sprint's HTC Arrive - Review

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Thursday, Mar 17, 2011 at 5:31 pm

Sprint customers who have been longing for a Windows Phone 7 unit are in for a treat. The latest Windows Phone, the HTC Arrive, is impressive.

We've shared a hands-on video of the new Windows Phone and now we'll take a little closer look at things. We'll skip the formalities and jump right into it.

After the break that is.

Review: LG Quantum

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Sunday, Nov 28, 2010 at 8:28 pm

LG has joined the party! The LG Quantum is available over at AT&T to complete the wireless provider's initial Windows Phone 7 lineup.

The Samsung Focus's main features would be the thin size and Super-AMOLED screen. The HTC Surround's key feature would be the slide out Yamaha speakers. The LG Quantum's key features, the slide-out keyboard and DLNA compatibility.

Can the physical keyboard and DLNA give the Quantum a leg up on the competition? Or will the smaller form factor dampen the impact of the LG Quantum?

Ease on past the break to find out.

Review: HTC Surround from AT&T

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Monday, Nov 1, 2010 at 8:57 pm

The HTC Surround is right around the corner from hitting the shelves at AT&T and we were able to spend some time with the new Windows Phone over the past few days. The HTC Surround lives up to HTC's reputation for quality phones. It's not without shortcomings but overall, the Surround is a nice addition to the Windows Phone family.

The tell of the tape has the HTC Surround measuring 4.71" x 2.42" x .51" and weighs 5.82 ounces. The Surround was thinner than expected but after using the HTC Tilt2 for the past year, most phones would come across thinner than expected. The 3.8" WVGA screen may not be as large as the HD7's 4.3" big screen but it has plenty of real estate.

Follow the break to read more of our review on the HTC Surround...

Review: LG eXpo

Smartphones

By George Ponder, Thursday, Dec 31, 2009 at 6:06 pm

LG turned heads with the announcement of its latest Windows phone, the eXpo. The slide-out keyboard phone is the first Windows phone designed with an optional pico projector.

Our first impression of the eXpo are good. The phone feels well-built, comfortable in the hand and has some interesting features, such as an optical scanner that pulls double duty as a directional pad and fingerprint scanner.

We shared our initial impressions on the Expo and now we share our thoughts after taking the phone out for a test drive. Ease on past the break to see how long our initial impressions of the Expo lasted after a few days of use.