In the last of a trio of short mini-reviews for Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) App store games (and Apps) you can now purchase, I am taking a look at iChillout, from Chillingo Ltd.

iChillout is a rather leftfield proposition, in that it’s there not as a game or productivity App, but as a relaxatory aid. Here’s the official breakdown on what it is about:

So there’s not a mass of complexity to what this App does - but the question is, does it do it well? Hmmm, I’ve got to say yes! I wouldn’t usually go a bundle on these sorts of Apps, but once I found sound 20 (English Woodland) I was sold - I really like the sound of birdsong in an otherwise peaceful environment!

There’s a good range of stuff here - and I can imagine if you are having trouble relaxing, this could well help you unwind. Overall, I’m saying this is worth a try - and for £0.59, you can’t go wrong!

Conclusion: Recommended!

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• Nokia S60 Tech Day Conference Analysis
• MOT Compact dictionaries hit the Ovi Store
• Mini-review: Pocket Mini Golf 2!
• Oxxo - The most confusing iPhone game description
• Mini-review: circuit_strike.one!

In the second of a few short mini-reviews for games you can get in the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) App Store, I am taking a look at Pocket Mini Golf 2, from Chillingo Ltd.

PMG2, as I’ll call it, is surprisingly enough, based on Mini Golf ! Here’s the official breakdown on what the game is about:

I have to let you in a little secret - Mini-Golf games are my favourite genre of casual games - the fact you can pick it up, control it easily, but it still requires some skill, is I think the perfect mix! PMG2 is no exception - I was wondering how the isometric controls you often need in these games would translate to a touchscreen, but the best test (just pick it up and see if the buttons come naturally to you) was passed well!

The graphics are not outstanding - but then again, they don’t need to be - they just need to show you where you are going with the ball, and if you sink it - kinda like a pool simulator game, the enjoyment is more in the skill of sinking a ball with a great shot!

Overall then, a great game - granted, I’ve not tried too many others from the veritable plethora of other games on the App store, but as a standalone this is well worth the £1.79 I invested in it.

Conclusion: Well recommended

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Bplay Introduces ‘Mini Golf 99 Holes’ for BlackBerry
• Nuclear Nova Software Updates GL Golf for iPhone
• GL Golf for the iPhone and iPod Touch
• Two UIQ 3 games: Another Ball and Can’t Stop Solitaires Collection
• Are multiplayer Mobile games better over Bluetooth, or 2G/3G?

In the first of a few short mini-reviews for games you can get in the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) App Store, I am taking a look at circuit_strike.one, from Chillingo Ltd.

CS One, as I’ll call it, is a neat little top-down shooter, based on classic 360-degree ‘zero gravity’ shooters that we all know and love from years ago. Here’s the official breakdown on what the game is about:

But on with the review proper:

First thing I noticed, it takes a little bit of time to download - now that’s usually a good sign with App store games, because it means you are getting a ton of media (GFX, SFX) in the game - on launching the App I wasn’t disappointed - it’s  a visual treat, and sounds good too!

I was worried about how this game was going to play, because I’m used to having tactile control through a joypad - well, again I need not have worried because it controls well. The font in the game is a little but stylised for my liking, and sometimes hard to read - but that’s a minor quibble really. This game is extremely playable also, and in terms of casual gaming, I really liked it!!

So overall, I’d highly recommend it - but hang on, what about the cost? Ooh, that could be a stumbling block - er, hope - how does £0.59 strike you?!

Conclusion: Highly recommended

Related News from IntoMobile:

• iPhone game circuit_strike.one updated
• Follow-up: Silent Scope for iPhone/iPod Touch plays well!
• Mini-review: Pocket Mini Golf 2!
• ‘Airport Mania: First Flight’ for iPhone from Reflexive Entertainment
• Rolando Lite Available in the App Store

A few short weeks ago, Rogers unleashed the HTC Magic and Dream, allowing Google’s mobile OS, Android, to descend upon Canada like a swarm of open source, robotic, bright green locusts. I, for one, welcomed our new insectoid overlords. Will had already enjoyed the bleeding edge of Android when it first came out in the fall with T-Mobile’s G1, but since then we’ve experienced the much-touted Cupcake update, and a new piece of hardware to carry the world’s second-newest cellphone platform. The G1 didn’t really come off as a comfortable, let alone sexy smartphone; the chin was bizarrely angled, and could easily get in the way of typing, and the whole thing looked fairly chunky. On the other hand, the Magic, announced in Barcelona at MWC, was a proper device that could easily appeal to the mass market, and make Android more than just a developer’s sandbox. T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) will soon be releasing the MyTouch 3G, their version of the Magic, so read on for a peek into the future.

Update: Samples from the camera now included in the gallery.

I’ve been using a BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) for about two years straight. (No, not the same one, that’s just crazy-talk.) Aside from a mild flirtation with the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) N85 during Mobile World Congress, I haven’t used any other kind of phone as my personal device, so getting Android in my hands for any discernible amount of time was kind of a big deal. I had covered Android’s unveiling back in the fall, but everything following that was little more than an insubstantial mirage floating across the blogosphere since Canada was devoid of any supporting devices, and even now with two available, there are still a few geographic limits. Enough jibba-jabba, here are the specs.

Magic

By HTC (T-Mobile, Rogers - $149.99, Vodafone)

• Processor: Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM)® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz
• Operating System: Android
• Memory ROM: 512 MB
• RAM: 288 MB
• Dimensions: 113 x 55.56 x 13.65 mm ( 4.45 x 2.19 x 0.54 inches)
• Weight: 116 grams ( 4.09 ounces) with battery
• Display: 3.2-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 320×480 HVGA resolution
• Network
  • HSDPA/WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz - Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds
  • Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz (Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent.)
• Device Control: Trackball with Enter button
• GPS: Internal GPS antenna
• Connectivity:
  • Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless stereo headsets
  • Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g
• HTC ExtUSB (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one)
• Camera: 3.2 megapixel color camera with auto focus
• Audio supported formats AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC-LC, MIDI, OGG
• Video supported formats MP4, 3GP
• Battery:
  • Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
  • Capacity: 1340 mAh
  • Talk time: Up to 400 minutes for WCDMA, up to 450 minutes for GSM
  • Standby time: Up to 660 hours for WCDMA, up to 420 hours for GSM
• Expansion Slot: microSD memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
• AC Adapter Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 47/63 Hz
• DC output: 5V and 1A
• Special Features:
  • G-sensor
  • Digital Compass

Pros

• Outstanding virtual keyboard
• Solid, stylish construction
• Smooth user interface

Cons

• Geographic limitations
• ExtUSB jack (no 3.5 mm for headphones) and no dedicated camera key
• Significant gaps in operating system

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Joshua Jackson Christens Rogers’ Android Foray with HTC Magic and Dream
• Android App Market Getting Prepped for Canadian Shoppers
• Google Apps Connector Plugs into BlackBerry Enterprise Server
• Rogers Cuts HTC Dream and HTC Magic to $99.99 on Contract
• Rogers HTC Magic and Dream to Come with Exchange Support

OtterBox announcing their uber-protective cases for the BlackBerry 8900 Curve, was my kick in the ass to finally crack open the Storm case they had sent me eons ago. Right off the bat, I could tell that there was a lot of differences in this model, namely the latching mechanism for the hard case is a much more convenient slide action rather than the brutish “crunch until it snaps” technique. If you haven’t heard of OtterBox, they make the toughest cases for phones out there. I’ve been looking at their Defender series, which uses three layers of protections (clear screen, hard plastic, and rubber skin), since it first came out, and with every new device they make some pretty interesting adjustments.

OtterBox 9500S

By OtterBox ($44.95)

Dimensions (case only): 4.76″ x 2.80″ x 0.90″
Weight (case only): 2.86 oz.

Pros

Skin anchors further improved
Sliding mechanism makes installation a breeze
Still the best practical protection out there for BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM)

Cons

Belt clip not quite strong enough
Typing is difficult in corners
Earpiece is uncomfortable

Related News from IntoMobile:

• BlackBerry Storm OtterBox Case Announced
• OtterBox Impact Series skins for BlackBerry Bold, iPhone 3G released
• OtterBox for BlackBerry 8900 Curve Released
• OtterBox for iPhone 3G Defender Series Case Now Available
• OtterBox Impact Skin for BlackBerry Bold Review

There aren’t too many sweeter combinations of words to hear than “portable” and “hotspot.” Especially for mobile geeks enthusiasts like me. Imagine my excitement when Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless announced their own-branded version of Novatel’s MiFi Intelligent Portable Hotspot, the Verizon MiFi 2200! A self-contained WiFi router that fits in my pocket? Yes please.

Tipping the scales at a scant 2.05 ounces and measuring a credit card-like 8.8mm thick, the Verizon MiFi 2200 Portable WiFi Hotspot is smaller than my laptop mouse. But, my mouse can’t broadcast its own WiFi network out to five separate WiFi devices while serving up data from Verizon’s 3G (EVDO Rev. A) data network.

The Verizon MiFi 2200 promises something like 4 hours of WiFi data connectivity for up to five WiFi-enabled mobile devices (laptops, smartphones, cameras, printers… you get the idea), with almost two days of stand-by time, thanks to that integrated Li-ion battery. But, can a 3G router barely bigger than a few stacked credit cards deliver near-broadband data speeds reliably and conveniently?

Verizon MiFi 2200 Portable Hotspot

By Novatel ($99.99)

Specifications:

• WiFi (802.11 b/g)
• microSD slot
• microUSB port
• Network: Verizon 3G (EVDO Rev. A) - Dual Band 800/1900Mhz CDMA
• Dimensions: 3.5 x 2.3 x 0.4 in (90 x 60 x 8.8 mm)
• Weight: 2.05 oz

Introduction

Portable 3G hotspots aren’t exactly new. But, until now, these solutions were basically full-sized WiFi routers with nothing more than a slot for your broadband data card. The MiFi Portable HotSpot does everything those clunky old 3G routers can do, but it shrinks everything down to the size of a really thick credit card - with an on-board operating system and integrated Li-ion battery to boot!

The Verizon MiFi 2200 pulls down data from Verizon’s 3G (EVDO Rev. A) data network, and serves it up via WiFi to connected WiFi devices. And it’s dead simple to setup.

I took the MiFi 2200 out of the box, taking a moment to admire its glossy shine that I knew would be very short-lived. I connected the MiFi to my computer with a microUSB-to-USB cable, installed the VZAccess Manager software that comes bundled on the MiFi’s on-board memory and, with one click, activated the MiFi 2200 on Verizon Wireless’s network. The power button glowed green to let me know that the MiFi 2200 was powered up and green signal indicator told me it was ready to do my bidding.

Usability

Activating the MiFi 2200 was easy. Using the MiFi is even easier. There’s only one button - the backlit power button. There’s only one LED indicator light - it tells you when you’re connected to Verizon’s EVDO Rev. A network. The power button glows different colors to tell you that it’s charging, fully charged, almost out of power or when there’s an error.

To use the MiFi 2200 as a USB-tethered 3G modem, simply plug the MiFi into your computer’s USB port. The MiFi will automatically power up and lock onto Verizon’s network. Using the MiFi in USB mode requires you use VZAccess Manager to log onto Verizon’s data network. This isn’t as convenient as the WiFi mode, but allows you to turn off your computer’s WiFi radio to save battery power.

WiFi mode is the simplest way to use the Verizon MiFi 2200. Simply power up the device and connect your WiFi device to the MiFi. Network SSID and password are conveniently printed on the back of the MiFi.

The only way to get a more accurate read on your battery’s status, other than the “full,” “not full” and “almost dead” updates provided by the glowing power button, is to check the VZAccess Manager window or log into the router’s web interface. A physical battery meter somewhere on the MiFi 2200 would have been a nice feature.

The MiFi charges via microUSB (the new standardized charging port for all mobile devices). That means all you need to do is carry around a microUSB-to-USB cable and you’re set. Plug the microUSB cable into your car’s cigarette lighter adapter, home wall adapter, or your computer to charge the MiFi. Even better, you can charge the MiFi while using its WiFi!

Performance….continued

Performance

Data Speed
More important than the MiFi’s ease of use is its wireless performance. Does this credit card-sized 3G router really deliver decent  data speeds?

I wasn’t expecting too much out of the MiFi 2200. It’s just so darn small. To my surprise, however, the MiFi 2200 consistently served up data no slower than 1.7Mbps. If you don’t have any reception on Verizon’s network, you’re obviously not getting any data service. But, testing throughout much of Los Angeles showed that Verizon’s data network is capable of EVDO Rev. A speeds almost everywhere in the city. Latency was reliable at around 100ms.

At the time of this writing, the MiFi 2200 hit 2.6Mbps on the downlink with 0.51Mbps (510Kbps) on the uplink, with a 96ms ping time. Impressive, right? Well, even more impressive is that this kind of data speed wasn’t that big of a surprise, I’ve seen it a couple times before.

Put it this way, the MiFi 2200 can stream just about any video (like Hulu) without so much as a hiccup. Higher-resolution video streams (like Hulu HD) might cause a few hiccups, depending on the service in your area, but can usually stream without too much trouble.

Battery life
Battery life. What about battery life? At less than 0.5 inches thin, how could the MiFi 2200 last for more than a couple hours? Well, I have no idea how they do it, but Verizon’s MiFi 2200 manages a solid 4 hours of continuous use. I didn’t test it with four hours of continuous video streaming, but I’m sure it could manage just fine.

I rarely sit at any one place for more than four hours, so the Verizon MiFi 2200’s battery life is more than enough for me. But, harder-core road warriors might need more power - which is why Novatel designed the MiFi with a user-swappable Li-ion battery.

Stand-by times are pretty much what is quoted on the box. I’m not sure if its exactly 40 hours, but it’s definitely longer than a day and a half. Impressive!

Security… continued

Security

Linux-based OS
The Verizon MiFi 2200 comes with an on-board Linux-based OS that is capable of running network management software on the device. I didn’t have a chance to test out this feature, but according to Novatel, the MiFi can natively host network security applications. That means system administrators won’t have to worry about installing network security applications on every corporate smartphone in the fleet - simply install the security software on the MiFi itself, and every connected WiFi device is protected and managed by that software. If I was a corporate IT director, I’d want to make sure that every mobile employee was issued a MiFi.

Changing SSID and password
The SSID and password are hard-coded to the MiFi. That poses some security risk, but I suppose the on-board security applications go a long way in protecting network security. Worse yet, the SSID and password are printed on the back of the MiFi. So, if it ever gets stolen, make sure you deactivate the MiFi post-haste!

I’m sure these are minor issues for most people, but corporate types might want to take note.

Overall… continued

Overall

The Verizon MiFi 2200 isn’t the only MiFi available in the US, so I can’t speak for all MiFi variants, but Verizon’s MiFi 2200 definitely delivers on all its promises. It truly is portable (my wallet is bigger than the MiFi 2200!). It delivers broadband-like data speeds on a reliable basis. Battery life is as long as claimed, but still leaves room for improvement.

One of the biggest problems I’ve had in using the MiFi is that, no matter where I’m working, everyone asks about the MiFi.  People ask me for access to my portable WiFi network, others just chat me up about the blinking plastic slab on my table. It can get a little annoying, but it’s a good problem to have!

Pros

• Tiny package - very pocket friendly
• Ample battery life
• On-board Linux-based operating system capable of hosting native networking applications (useful for corporate ecosystems)
• Removable battery for virtually unlimited uptime

Cons

• No battery-charge meter (the battery status indicator doesn’t always cut it)
• Can’t change password or SSID
• Login credentials printed on back of device (security issues)
• Exposed microSD card slot

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Verizon unveils MiFi 2200 Portable 3G HotSpot for May 17 launch!
• Novatel bringing CDMA MiFi to Verizon as MiFi 2200
• Verizon MiFi 2200 unboxing pics
• Sprint grabs Novatel MiFi 2200 for 3G hotspot fun!
• Verizon preparing $100 Novatel MiFi 2200 Portable HotSpot?

The Diamond2 still hasn’t officially landed in the USofA, but expect AT&T (NYSE: T) to pick up the Diamond2 as the HTC Warhawk (awesome name!) in the near future. For the time being, you’ll have to make do with a European Diamond2 or just keep yourself busy with the review and photo gallery below! (Summary at end)

HTC Touch Diamond2
By HTC ($599.99)

Specifications:

• Operating system: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional (upgradeable to WM6.5 Professional)
• CPU: Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM)® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz
• RAM: 288MB
• ROM: 512MB of user-available memory for data and applications;
• Connectivity: microSD, Bluetooth 2.0 (A2DP), ExtUSB, WiFi (b/g), GPS
• Network:
  Quad-band GSM/EDGE - 850/900/1800/1900Mhz
  Dual-band 3G (WCDMA) - 900/1800Mhz for Europe/Asia and 850/1900Mhz for North America, allowing for HSDPA 7.2Mbps data speeds

• Display: 3.2-inch resistive touchscreen at 480 X 800 WVGA resolution
• Camera: 5.0-megapixel camera with auto-focus
• Dimensions: 107.85 X 53.1 X 13.7 mm (4.25 X 2.09 X 0.54 inches)
• Weight: 117.5 g (4.15 oz)

Introduction
HTC’s second-take on the original Diamond resulted in the HTC Touch Diamond2 with double the RAM and ROM and a larger 3.2-inch VGA touchscreen. Gone are the diamond-pattern facets on the backside of the handset, replaced by a smooth glossy panel accented with brushed metal trim around the camera lens. The display bezel and chin of the Diamond2 are also trimmed in the same classy-yet-sassy brushed aluminum. But, the best thing about the Diamond2 may be the much-improved touchscreen display.

Aesthetics
Design
The HTC Touch Diamond2 rocks the slate form-factor, which makes for an incredibly slim profile. The Diamond2 eschews a slide-out QWERTY keyboard (the kind that older brother Touch Pro2 features) in favor of a 13.7 mm (0.54 inches) waistline that’s hard to ignore. Compared to the original Diamond, the Diamond2 is a bit taller to accommodate the larger touchscreen display.

Judicious use of brushed aluminum accents lend to a seriously high-quality feel. There’s plenty of plastic used throughout the Diamond2, but the you’ll be hard pressed to find any “plasticky” feeling components.

The “Diamond” moniker made sense when the Diamond had diamond-facet patterns adorning its backside. But, now that the Diamond2 has moved past the diamond pattern, the model name makes less sense - and we could care less. The Diamond2’s smooth and glossy backside lends to a more refined look, although it tends to pick up micro-scratches like a magnet. We’d recommend a full-body case or protective film if you’re the type to obsess over scratches and the like.

The bottom-right corner houses a magnetically-secured stylus. The magnet sucks the stylus in for the last couple millimeters of travel. It’s a really cool feature that probably goes largely unnoticed. The details, it’s all in the details.

Display
The HTC Touch Diamond’s full–VGA touchscreen, despite being a smallish 2.8-inches, delivered sharp images that still manage to impress us today. Unfortunately, it suffered from the “squishy-screen” syndrome that affects most resistive touchscreens of its kind. This new-generation HTC Touch Diamond2 sports a new touchscreen that is more sensitive and more accurate when used with fingers. The Touch Diamond2 is still cursed with a hint of “squishy-screen,” but the improved touchscreen sensitivity and larger screen-size make it easy to ignore. It really is too bad that Windows Mobile 6.1’s microscopic UI elements preclude the use of capacitance touchscreens.

Zoom Bar
Gone is the touch-sensitive navigation area that the original Diamond featured below the touchscreen. The Diamond2 replaced the circular-zooming control with a “Zoom Bar” that resides just south of the display. Drag your finger left across the Zoom Bar to zoom out, dragging it rightward to zoom in. From text to pictures to websites, the Zoom Bar should make it easier to zoom in and out of the display.

TouchFLO 3D II
HTC did a bang up job with their latest iteration of the TouchFLO 3D Windows Mobile overlay. Rather than use WinMo’s out-of-the-box UI, HTC replaces the traditional Windows Mobile homescreen with a finger-friendly, slide-scrolling, 3D-tastic interface. The result? A slick homescreen that gives at-a-glance access to all your information - weather, stocks, email, contacts (HTC refers to it as “People,” as part of their “people-centric” philosophy), time, web browser, camera, and music.  It’s like a gift from the smartphone gods… and HTC.

The one problem with older TouchFLO variants is that you still had to interact with the Windows Mobile UI whenever you ventured past the homescreen. HTC solved that problem in their newest WinMo smartphone by effectively disguising most Windows Mobile 6.1 menus and UI elements with their own finger-optimized creations. Hit the “Start” button and you’ll be taken to HTC’s custom application-launcher. Changing system settings rarely requires any interaction with Windows Mobile screens. The new TouchFLO 3D II UI is like an oasis in the middle of a desert designed by Windows Mobile.

Multimedia
Music/Video
Music playback is accessible right from the homescreen. Just scroll your finger over to the “music” icon to flip through your musical library (on both on-board storage as well as your microSD card), complete with cover art. Or, if a list-view is more your style, just tap the “library” tab and there you go. HTC’s media player UI is consistent with the main HTC TouchFLO 3D UI, making use of slide-scrolling categories and menus.

The Diamond2 sports full Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP) support, allowing all that sweet music of yours to be beamed directly to your Bluetooth headphones. The quality of sound over Bluetooth has been a sticking point with some, but the Diamond2’s Stereo Bluetooth connection isn’t going to muck up the sound of your music more than the MP3 compression already has.

Video playback isn’t as easy to access. You’ll have to fire up Windows Mobile’s Windows Mobile Player in order to play any videos. Depending on the quality of your video, playback on the large 3.2-inch WVGA display can be nothing short of stunning. High-resolution displays might not be high on your list of gotta-have features, but that’s only because you haven’t seen high-resolution media displayed on a capable screen.

The Diamond2 supports a dizzying array of media file formats. Chances are good that all your music and videos will play just fine on the Diamond2 without any conversion required.

Camera
The camera is impressive. With a quality 5.0-megapixel image sensor, the Diamond2’s camera takes some really impressive pictures. Low-light performance is still a bit lacking, made worse by the lack of a photo-flash, but we never expect any cameraphone to do well in dimly-light environs.

Auto-focus is fast and accurate. You know all those fancy out-of-focus pictures you always see coming from DSLR cameras? Yeah, the Diamond2 can do that. And, you can direct the Diamond2’s camera to focus on any point in the frame by tapping a focus-target on the touchscreen viewfinder.

No flash. Too bad. We would have liked to have seen a flash in there.

Videos are captured at up to VGA resolutions. The auto-focus feature focuses the camera only once when you start capturing video. If you change from close-up to far-away focus in the middle of your video, don’t expect the auto-focus to follow suit. You’ll have to stop and re-start recording. Still, for the quality video that we get from the Diamond2, it’s hard to whine about auto-focus not working on the fly.

Usability/Ergonomics
Push Internet
HTC is touting their “Push Internet” technology as a way to get quick and convenient access to your favorite websites, without having to wait for the phone to load the webpage. The “Push Internet” feature will automatically download data from your favorite websites at pre-set intervals throughout the day. The idea is to deliver your most-frequented websites to your phone first thing in the morning (or whenever you’d like it to deliver the data). But, it’ll eat into your battery life, so use it sparingly.
Keyboard
By eschewing a physical QWERTY keyboard in favor of a virtual, on-screen keyboard, the Touch Diamond2 manages to keep slim and trim. Unfortunately, like most super-small gadgets, the attractive size comes with compromises. The on-screen keyboard is fairly accurate, thanks to a completely refreshed resistive touchscreen design. And, the vibration feedback that accompanies each key press makes for a decent typing experience. But, if you’re a heavy into text messaging, instant messaging or you just have to deal with a lot of emails, the Diamond2’s virtual keyboard is going to be a major pain. The virtual keyboard’s keys are small enough to occasionally confound even the most nimble of fingers.

It all comes down to how much you use the keyboard. If you’re not a heavy typer, then the Diamond2’s slick styling and oh-so-thin waistline are hard to pass up. The keyboard power-users out there will probably want to go with the HTC Touch Pro2 (which we’ll be reviewing in short order!).

Zoom Bar
The zoom bar is awesome! It’s much more intuitive and “usable” than the “circle zoom” feature on the original HTC Touch Diamond. As long as the Diamond2 isn’t busy crunching numbers elsewhere, the zoom feature responds almost instantly. If your Diamond2 is bogged down with other tasks, however, don’t expect the zoom bar to respond immediately.

Still, the zoom bar gets high marks from us! The zoom bar is so good, in fact, that it rivals the iPhone’s pinch-to-zoom feature in terms of intuitiveness and accurate zooming.

MicroSD card slot
It’s a minor detail, but it makes for a huge difference in usability. The microSD card slot isn’t buried under the battery. Instead, it sits just next to the battery, under the battery cover - allowing the user to hot-swap microSD cards without powering down the device. Minor, but incredibly convenient!

Windows Mobile menus
Windows Mobile has been the bane of HTC’s smartphones for as long as we can remember. Back when Windows Mobile was the de facto smartphone platform, there wasn’t much competition to drive UI innovation. But, now that the iPhone OS has shown the world what a finger-friendly UI should look like, Windows Mobile’s flaws are that much more evident. HTC did as much as they could to hide the Diamond2’s Windows Mobile underpinnings, what with the new HTC TouchFLO 3D UI, but you still have to interact with WinMo on occassion. When you do, you’ll need to bust out the stylus in order to effectively navigate the myriad tiny buttons and check boxes that Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) as been using for years and years. Needless to say, Windows Mobile gets low marks for usability and ergonomics.

Overall
In the end, the HTC Touch Diamond2 has proven itself worth of the Diamond moniker. The aluminum-trimmed Diamond2 shines on almost every measure of what a smartphone should be. It’s got ample RAM to run all your applications with little lag. The intuitive zoom bar is a huge improvement (usability wise). The Diamond2’s microSD card slot that is accessible without removing the battery is a huge plus as well.

But, perhaps most importantly, the Diamond2 uses the latest HTC TouchFLO 3D UI that almost completely hides Windows Mobile’s ancient interface. TouchFLO 3D is quite possibly the best Windows Mobile overlay, and it’s clear that HTC has put a lot of thought into how the UI works.

The downsides, however, are short-ish battery life, no flash for the camera, and no standard 3.5mm headphone jack. The photo-flash and headphone jack are just going to be things you’ll have to live with. But, battery could be improved by turning off 3G, WiFi GPS and Bluetooth radios, as well as turning off “Push Internet.” Otherwise, don’t expect more than a couple days of moderate-to-heavy use without charging your Diamond2.

Pros

• 5-megapixel camera with touch-controlled auto-focus
• Much-improved touchscreen feel (less squishy, more accurate)
• Beefy memory stores (RAM/ROM)
• Intuitive zoom bar
• Classy brushed aluminum trim
• Refreshed TouchFLO 3D II - HTC made the best WinMo overlay even better
• Vibration feedback
• microSD accessible without removing battery

Cons

• Intermittent zoom bar lag when running multiple programs
• No camera flash
• No standard 3.5mm headphone jack
• Hard to remove battery cover
• Short-ish battery life

Related News from IntoMobile:

• HTC Touch Diamond finally gets FCC approval with US 3G HSDPA support!
• HTC shows off HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch Pro at CTIA San Francisco 2008
• Samsung readying QWERTY-toting Samsung Omnia Pro for July?
• Just how good will the HTC Touch Diamond (Diamond), HTC Touch Pro (Raphael) and HTC Touch Dual Pro (Titanium) prove to be?
• Inject some Diamond2 goodness into your HTC Touch Diamond!

Portable 3G routers aren’t exactly new. But, until now, these solutions were basically full-sized WiFi routers with nothing more than a slot for your broadband data card. The MiFi Portable HotSpot does everything those clunky old 3G routers  can do, but it shrinks everything down to the size of a really thick credit card - with an on-board operating system and integrated Li-ion battery to boot!

The MiFi broadcasts a WiFi network using 802.11b/g standards, allowing up to five people to simultaneously surf Verizon’s 3G network. Novatel and Verizon claim the battery should be good for up to four hours of continuous use. We’ll have to see how close that figure reflects on real-world performance.

There’s just something about being able to tote around a WiFi network in your pocket that tickles our inner geek silly. Excuse us while we go play.

Full review to follow. Here are some unboxing pics to hold you over.

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Novatel bringing CDMA MiFi to Verizon as MiFi 2200
• Verizon unveils MiFi 2200 Portable 3G HotSpot for May 17 launch!
• Verizon preparing $100 Novatel MiFi 2200 Portable HotSpot?
• Sprint grabs Novatel MiFi 2200 for 3G hotspot fun!
• Hands-on with the Novatel MiFi Portable Hotspot router @ CES Las Vegas 2009

These are the same guys behind iPhone-tastic gaming titles like Spore Origins, Tiger Woods PGA Tour and Need for Speed Undercover, so you know their “next big thing” is going to be, well, big. And, after spending some time with the EA Mobile team and their Sims 3 iPhone game, we’re convinced they have a hit on their hands. Keep reading for our first-look preview.

[Updated]
Now with 100% more video! (at bottom)

In The Sims 3, iPhone users can guide their custom “Sim” character through a virtual world as they mingle with other Sims, go to work and even decorate their house. From the “Romantic” trait or “kleptomaniac” trait to the “evil” trait, the player can choose from a vast amount of personalities that can combine in millions of unique Sims, which should make for some good “replay-ability.” The goal of the game is to simply to keep your Sim alive (by eating food and getting enough sleep) and achieving goals (like getting a job or buying a fishing kit) - a simple enough objective that makes for hours of addictive fun. If you’re familiar with The Sims franchise, you know what we’re talking about.

We were surprised by the game’s playability and the smooth 3D graphics (using an iPod Touch for demo purposes). All menus and navigation controls are incredibly intuitive - you flip through menus and scroll down lists with a flick of the finger. And, without being briefed on in-game controls, we managed to find our way through the Sims’ world with little trouble. The Sims 3’s iPhone-optimized UI is a testament to EA Mobile’s devotion to iPhone gaming.

The Sims 3 takes full advantage of the iPhone’s 3D graphics capabilities. The entire 3D world pans, tilts and rotates around your Sim character smoothly, without any noticeable lag. In fact, we were repeatedly impressed by the iPhone’s ability to smoothly render the 3D world with ease. You pan around the game with a single finger. Dragging two fingers vertically along the touchscreen tilts the 3D view and rotating two fingers (as if you were twisting a volume-control knob) rotates the map. All the while, the game dims and raises the lighting to match the time of day in Sim-land - a nice touch to be sure.

The Sims 3 for iPhone is expected to bring the Sims franchise to the iPhone on June 2, but the version of The Sims 3 that we played with seemed just about ready for prime-time. EA Mobile said that these final weeks will be spent tweaking some minor gameplay details and adjusting the in-game soundtrack, which sounds just about right to us.

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Illusion Labs’ Touchgrind multi-touch iPhone game for skateboard fans
• The Sims 3 Coming to the iPhone in June
• GarageGames brings Torque to iPhone - 2D and 3D game development made easy
• iPhone dominates the IGF Mobile Games Awards
• Microsoft preparing some sort of ‘Halo’ application for Windows Mobile

BlackBerry Pearl Flip

By Research in Motion

8230 (CDMA with 3G)

• Telus, Bell - $49.99
• Virgin Mobile -Free
• Alltel - $99.99

8220 (GSM with Wi-Fi)

• Rogers $29.99
• T-Mobile - $49.99

Pros

• New, flush keyboard style works well
• Form factor appeals to a new crowd
• External LCD offers new functionality

Cons

• A tad on the bulky side
• Recessed trackball takes getting used to
• Video doesn’t take advantage of full screen

Specifications

Available Features

Camera (2.0 MP)

Media Player

Video Recording

BlackBerry® Maps

Wireless email

Organizer

Browser

Phone

Corporate Data Access

SMS/MMS

Size and Weight

Height: 3.98 inches (101 mm)

Width: 1.97 inches (50 mm)

Depth: 0.69 inches (17.5 mm)

Weight: 3.6 ounces (102 grams)

Display

Internal Display: High-resolution 240 x 320 color transmissive TFT LCD

External Display: High-resolution 128 x 160 color transmissive TFT LCD

Font size (user selectable)

Backlighting

Light sensing screen

Camera & Video Recording

Camera: 2.0 MP camera (JPEG encoding) with flash, digital zoom

Video Camera: Depending on the amount of built-in memory available for use, a third-party microSD card may need to be properly inserted into the BlackBerry smartphone to enable the video recording feature

Battery & Battery Life

BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8220

• Standby time: 14 days (336 hours)
• Talk time: 4 hours
• 900 mAhr removable/rechargeable cryptographic lithium cell

BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8230

• Standby time: 9 days (216 hours)
• Talk time: 3.5 hours
• 900 mAhr removable/rechargeable cryptographic lithium cell

BlackBerry Maps

Preloaded with BlackBerry Maps

Data Input & Navigation

Trackball

SureType® QWERTY keyboard

Keyboard backlighting

Voice Input & Output

3.5mm stereo headset capable

Integrated earpiece/ microphone

Built-in speakerphone

Bluetooth® v2.0; headset, hands-free and serial port profiles supported

M3, T4 Rating for hearing aids

Media Player

Video format support: MPEG4 Part 2 Simple Profile, H.263, WMV

Audio format support: MP3, MIDI, AMR-NB, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA

Ringtones & Notifications

Polyphonic/MIDI ringtones

MP3 ringtones

Vibrate mode

LED indicator

Bluetooth

Bluetooth v2.0; headset, hands-free and serial port profiles supported

Keyboard Security

Password protection and keyboard lock

Support for AES or Triple DES encryption when integrated with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server

FIPS 140-2 Compliant (FIPS Validation In Progress)

Optional support for S/MIME

Wireless Networks

BlackBerry Traffic: 800/1900 MHz CDMA 2000 1X Networks1

CDMA 2000 1 x EV-DO Support

Quad-Band: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz GSM/

GPRS and EDGE networks

North America: 850 MHz GSM/GPRS networks

North America: 1900MHz GSM®/GPRS networks

Europe/Asia Pacific: 1800MHz GSM/GPRS networks

Europe/Asia Pacific: 900MHz GSM/GPRS networks

EDGE networks

So those are the specs, but let’s get to the review proper…

Related News from IntoMobile:

• BlackBerry Pearl Flip officially announced
• Alltel BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 Now Available
• Red BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 Now Available at T-Mobile
• BlackBerry Pearl Flip about to hit T-Mobile stores
• US Cellular to get BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230

Another good thing is the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Curve - thanks to the kind PR types at RIM, I’ve been trialing one for a while, and most of what I have to say is full of superlatives:

Screen - GREAT! 

Button response - AWESOME!

Battery life - SUPERB!

I could go on, but you get the idea. For me actually, being a heavy user, the battery life was heading toward being the must important thing - the amount of calls, emails, and texts I get through in a day is a truly frightening amount - and yet the Curve handled it all with aplomb! I also love the neat little touches like the keyboard lock toggle button on the top of the device - and did I mention the styling - lurvely!

Only two small niggles do I have: one is the flimsy back / battery door, and the other is the use of a micro-USB connector for the charger etc. The battery door is unforgivable, but the change in connector is just pain - I already own two RIM chargers for mini-USB … darn, looks like I am buying more then

Overall, a fab device, and highly recommended by my good self - now it’s been out a while, you can get a good deal with your local operator, as many of them are carrying it.

You can read the official RIM webpages for the 8900 here.

[Thanks to Lisa for the device loan!]

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Joe Everypimp’s Guide to BlackBerry Customization
• BlackBerry Niagara 9630 Watch: First Device-On Photo Emerges
• Motorola Q9h beats Apple iPhone in text messaging tests
• Seidio Extended Life Batteries For Your BlackBerry (and Other Devices Too!)
• BlackBerry Curve 8900 (Javelin) Approved by FCC

The Samsung Alias2

By using E-Ink, the Samsung Alias2’s keys have the ability to change the symbol that’s displayed on their face. Open the Alias2’s flip vertically and the buttons display a standard numeric keypad with navigation controls. Open the Alias2 lengthwise, and you’re treated to a full QWERTY keyboard. The best part is that the passive E-Ink technology only draws power when it has to change the display. In fact, the Alias2 came to us completely drained of battery power, but still displayed the numeric symbols on the keys.

The Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Samsung Alias2 is available now for $79.99 after $50 mail-in rebate and new 2-year contract.

Enjoy the unboxing pics, full review to follow.

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Samsung Alias2 brings E-Ink keypad to Verizon Wireless
• Samsung Alias 2 Landing on Verizon May 11th?
• Samsung Alias2 U750 bringing morphing keys to Verizon!
• HTC patent application shows off unique dual-slider
• CEATEC shows off mobile phone with e-ink keypad

Well, I’ve been lucky enough to have one to play with for the last few days (it’s not the one we are giving away I hasten to add, that one is still wrapped up nice ‘n’ new!!), and have some thoughts - check ‘em out below (Specs first):

The Zest is a good shape - chunky, but that’s no bad  thing - I like  a bit of meat on my devices as long as it’s styled well. And on that note, style, the Zest isn’t outstanding - but it’s solid looking, and relatively minimalist - but neat.

Of course these days, software is where it’s at - you gotta have a good UI, and it’s gotta be flashy. The Zest does OK here, because whilst WinMo is running the show, it’s been layer-caked with a Touch-UI that can take input from your finger, rather than the traditional stylus. I’ve played with the UI quite extensively, and how I feel about it right now is that you could get used to it over a period of time  - some UIs you know you are going to hate long-term, but this definitely isn’t one of them.

The camera is pretty serviceable at 3MP, and it’s got most connectivity options you would want. Probably the standout feature for me though was another piece of hardware - the screen. It’s a VGA jobbie, and very very nice indeed. Twinning high resolution screen output with physically small(er) screen panels means you do get quite stunning visuals.

Software-wise, the usual suspects are here for WinMo, with the nice addition of a trial of Co-Pilot GPS software - of course, we all like full versions, but if you are considering investing in Sat Nav, and you are getting the device, this could be a nice test for you.

Overall, I’ve got to say I enjoyed my time with the Zest - WinMo (and it’s UI overlayers) have come on somewhat since I stopped using it as my main O/S, and the hardware made the user experience really rather enjoyable. Now only if I could win one…. well someone is going to! 

(If you want to check out more about the XDA Zest from O2 (NYSE: TEF), you should click here)

 Ben

Related News from IntoMobile:

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• ASUS P565 - A VGA Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone from ASUS?

The Samsung Instinct S30 sports essentially the same feature-set as the Samsung Instinct, but wraps all that smartphone goodness in a sleeker, slimmer and overall better-looking package. What you get is the new Instinct S30 that feels better in the hand and turns more heads. But, is it worth the upgrade from the original Instinct? Is it worth the purchase in the first place?

Keep reading for Samsung Instinct S30 specs and photo gallery (at the bottom).

Samsung Instinct

By Samsung (Available from Sprint for $130 on new 2-year contract)

Specifications

• 800/1900 MHz CDMA
• EVDO Revision 0 (Rev. 0)
• 3.2-inch resistive touchscreen display
• 2-megapixel camera
• GPS (Sprint Navigation)
• Bluetooth
• microSD card slot
• Opera Mini web browser pre-loaded
• Text and picture messaging (threaded)
• Speakerphone and voice commands
• Weight - 3.88 ounces
• Dimension (HxWxD) - 4.57″ x 2.17″ x .48″

Design

Style
First and foremost, the Samsung Instinct S30 is a looker. The S30 is the little brother to the original Samsung Instinct, only, it’s the Instinct’s better-looking little brother. Created from the same DNA that birthed the Samsung Instinct, the Instinct S30 boasts a familiar design. The Instinct S30 is an all-touchscreen slate, with the 3.2-inch display dominating the front face of the device - it sports a narrower display-bezel that makes the touchscreen look even bigger than the original Instinct, while at the same time making the entire handset sexier.

The only physical buttons on the Instinct S30 are found lining the outside edge of the device. There’s the volume-control rocker, the Power button, the camera shutter-button, a voice command button and three ports for data/charging, microSD card and headphones. The front-face sports just three touch-sensitive “buttons” for “Back,” “Home” and “Call/End.” The end-result is a clean, uncluttered look that screams smartphone - minimalist-design prevails again!

Build/Material Quality
Build quality is on par with the original Instinct, if not a bit better. The device feels solid in the hand, but, more importantly, it feels more natural in the hand. The curvier lines and slightly slimmed-down body lends to the Instinct S30’s improved in-hand feel. Materials, on the other hand, disappoint slightly. There’s a lot of plastic in the Instinct S30. The display is plastic, the bezel is plastic, the battery cover is plastic. Although, for $130 on-contract, it’s hard to ask for more than high-quality plastics - which the S30 has plenty of.

On to the touchscreen. The Instinct S30 much sport a revised resistive touchscreen panel. The original Instinct suffered from resistive-touchscreen-syndrome - an ailment that affects most of today’s touchscreen handsets, resulting in a squishy, spongy touchscreen that’s never as accurate as you’d like it to be. Capacitance is the new touchscreen technology to keep your eye on, but that doesn’t mean resistive touchscreens should be completely disregarded. The Instinct S30’s updated touchscreen does away with most of the “squish” and is actually quite accurate. Each touchscreen input on the S30 is accompanied by vibration feedback, letting you know you’re input has been registered.

Gone are the days where touchscreen inputs felt like you were going to press your finger straight through the fragile display, usually resulting in a a touch-input just a couple millimeters away from where you thought your finger was pointed. The more accurate touchscreen also helps take the on-screen QWERTY keyboard from “frustratingly annoying” to “accurately enjoyable.”

Battery
Battery life is amazing. That’ pretty much sums it up. It’s useless to quote battery life figures, because it’s going to differe from person to person. Coming from a daily-driver iPhone, it’s an incredible feeling not having to worry about charging your phone for days on end. Or, if you forget the phone in your car over the weekend, you’ll be sure to find it with a “green” battery meter on Monday - and it’ll have all your missed calls and text messages queued up for you.

Through moderate use (email, web browsing, camera and music), it took a few days to completely drain the battery. Still, keep in mind that we weren’t playing with too many videos or watching TV shows or anything like that - battery life will likely suffer a bit under the load of streaming video.

UI

Usability
The Sprint Instinct S30 isn’t a smartphone. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about how the user interface measures up against smartphones.

The Instinct S30 comes “as is.” You can’t really install apps (aside from a game download), you can’t change how it looks (aside from wallpapers) and you’ll have to make do with whatever software Sprint saw fit to put on the Instinct S30. But, those drawbacks notwithstanding, the Instinct S30’s UI is incredibly intuitive and quick to respond. Actually, the fact that the Instinct S30 isn’t a smartphone works to its advantage. Applications like the Opera Mini browser, weather and email open instantly. There’s no “hang-time” between hitting the icon with your finger and the application loading.

In fact, the S30’s UI is so simple to navigate, that if you’re not completely familiar with the UI within the first few minutes of opening the box… well, we won’t go there. Every touch-input is confirmed through vibration feedback as well as an audible “click” (both of which can be disabled or turned down).

The on-screen keyboard is much more accurate, now that the resistive touchscreen has improved. Touch-inputs are verified by vibration feedback, but not intrusively. The previous Sprint Instinct would stumble over itself trying to keep up with vibration feedback for even the quickest keyboard inputs, a big problem once you become deft enough to type quickly on the virtual keyboard. The new keyboard will skip some vibrations if you type too fast for the Instinct S30 to keep up - a small improvement that makes a big difference.

Web Browser
Opera Mini comes pre-loaded, and it’ one of the S30’s headlining features. Opera Mini serves up full-HTML webpages just as they would look on a desktop, and it might even render the page almost as quickly as your desktop. Opera has been long considered the leader in mobile web browsers, and Opera Mini proves that any handset can be a fully-connected web browsing device.

Email
The email client, on the other hand, just won’t suffice for power users. HTML email isn’t an option, same goes for managing email contacts. Email inboxes are also limited to 100 of your most recent emails. Still, adding a Gmail account was about as hard as booting up the device, and the email client offers a file browser that makes it easy to attach media (pictures, videos, audio, etc.) to your email.

All in all, the S30’s email client is perfect for the needs-to-be-in-touch consumer with basic email needs. If you run your business from your smartphone, or need to view HTML emails, expect to be disappointed.

Media
The S30 comes with fantastic media support. Unfortunately, you’ll have to get used to using separate applications to access your music, videos and pictures. We’d like to see all media integrated into a single media player/viewer, but again, this is not a smartphone.

You can download songs through the Sprint Music store, games and the like are available through another Sprint store. You can keep up with NASCAR through the NASCAR application. You can even listen to radio. Sprint is big on pushing their own-branded services, and the S30’s limited UI makes sure you play in Big Yellow’s sandbox. We’re not too keen on that.

Camera
The camera is basic. The first time we fired it up, we got a “Fuzzy picture warning,” which we thought was kind of cool. But, after a few minutes playing with the camera, we realized there weren’t many imaging features to play with. Check that, there were no imaging features to play with - reminds us of the iPhone’s camera.

Picture quality is par for a 2.0-megapixel camera. Viewing and sending pictures and video is as simple and intuitive as the rest of the S30’s UI.

Overall

Pros

• A resistive touchscreen that we actually like using! (Less “squish,” more accurate)
• Sleek style
• Easy-to-use UI
• Much improved in-hand feel
• Long battery life

Cons

• Limited Email support (no HTML)
• No tabbed web browsing
• GPS navigation limited to Sprint Navigation

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Sprint launches Samsung Instinct S30!
• Sprint’s Samsung Instinct S30 getting unboxed
• Hands-on with the Samsung Instinct S30 for Sprint!
• Samsung Instinct S30 for $50 at Best Buy?
• Sprint readying Samsung Instinct Mini?

Keep reading for LG Versa specs and to see how it lived up to our expectations.

Photo gallery at bottom.

LG Versa

By LG (Available from Verizon Wireless for $199.99 with 2-year contract)

Specifications

• 1900/800 MHz CDMA
• 3G - EV-DO Revision A (Rev. A)
• 3.0-inch touchscreen display with 262K color, 480 x 240 pixels, ambient light sensor and proximity sensor
• 2.0 Megapixel Camera & Camcorder with Autofocus, Flash & Image Editor
• Virtual QWERTY Keypad & Detachable QWERTY Keypad
• Music Player for MP3, WMA, Unprotected AAC & Unprotected AAC+ formats
• External memory card slot that supports up to 16GB microSD
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• 2.5 mm headset jack
• Text, picture and video messaging with threaded messaging
• Support for a variety of Verizon services including: Mobile Email, Mobile IM, Mobile Web Email, My Verizon, VZ Navigator, Chaperone Parent/Child
• Mobile Broadband Connect Capable (tethering)
• Speakerphone and voice commands
• English and Spanish interface
• 4.16” (h) x 2.07” (w) x 0.54” (d), 3.81 ounces
• 1,100 mAh battery providing up to 290 minutes of usage time or 430 hours standby time

The LG Versa definitely lived up to our expectations for a non-smartphone. It’s not heavy on the power-user features, but if you start off with the mind-set that the Versa is a flexible feature-phone, you’re sure to not be disappointed. There are definitely more pros than cons, so we’re inclined to give the LG Versa a thumbs-up. Breakdown follows:

Design

Styling
The LG Versa is clearly cut from a different cloth. The handset doesn’t necessarily fit into any one single category of handset. It’s a slate-based touchscreen, but only until you attach its QWERTY keyboard wallet-thingy. It’s a messaging handset until you swap out the keyboard for a gaming module. Get the drift? We’re just going to consider the LG Versa a really versatile touchscreen slate…

As for industrial design, the LG Versa sports a minimalist design. The front face is uncluttered, offering users just three hard-keys from which to choose - Call, End/Power, and Cancel/Speakerphone. If that last button has you a bit confused, you’re not alone. The engineers tasked with making sure the LG Versa’s design is intuitive may have been taking “personal days” when LG decided to double-up a speakerphone and cancel button.

Faux-chrome and metallic-looking buttons wrap around the Versa, giving it a refined and classy look. The LG Versa gets bonus points for finishing the data-port cover and microSD card slot cover in a brushed aluminum “look” that lends to the Versa’s overall polished persona. And, we like the easily accessible volume controls and camera shutter button along the side of the Versa. The metallic-brown color scheme, however, may be a matter of personal taste - we don’t like it.

Build Quality/Material Quality
This isn’t a high-end handset. The LG Versa never pretends that it’s going to play with the big boys, and it’s obvious in the materials. While the LG Versa looks quite high-end, the extensive use of plastics is apparent in the hand. Build quality is still top-notch. Just because you use cheaper materials doesn’t mean you have to have a crappily built handset. LG knows how to make solid low and mid-range handset, and it shows in the LG Versa.

On big gripe is the keyboard module. Too much fake leather and hard plastic for our tastes. The hinge is a major sticking point. We’d have liked to have seen smoother hinge action.

Modules

All that refined style goes out the window when you snap on the modular QWERTY keyboard add-on. Finished in a questionable brown “pleather” type of material, the keyboard module is an unsightly contraption. Sure, it’s got a comfortable (and quite usable) QWERTY keyboard and informative external display, but we can’t concentrate on anything other than how quickly the Versa can go from refined to ridiculous.

To use the keyboard module, you take off the Versa’s battery cover and snap in its place the keyboard module. It would be nice to be able to swap modules without having to deal with battery covers, but the way the Versa mates with its modular add-ons is still impressive. Once attached, there’s no wiggle, no creaking, nothing that would indicate that the LG Versa didn’t come from the factory with a QWERTY keyboard attached. Plus points for that.

A new gaming module has become available for the LG Versa, but we haven’t had a chance to try it out. The gaming pad module is much slimmer and doesn’t hurt the eyes as much as the keyboard module, and it slides away to save space when not in use. If the keyboard quality is any indication, the gaming pad should be fairly tactile and comfortable in the hand.

UI

Not a smartphone
The LG Versa isn’t a smartphone. It’s a touchscreen handset, yes. But a smartphone it is not. To it’s credit, the LG Versa’s touchscreen isn’t half bad. It’s a resistive-based touchscreen so you’ll get a bit of that dreaded touchscreen “squish,” but screen-presses are accompanied by vibration feedback that lets you know when you’ve pressed hard enough.

You’ll be hard pressed to use the Versa to handle your business emails in a timely manner, but if all you need to do is quickly check your email inbox once a day, as you sit in rush hour traffic, the Versa works with Verizon’s mobile email service.

The web browser is decent. It won’t compare to any phone with “smart” as part of its description, but the Versa’s web browser does the job. You’ll want to make sure you’re rocking the QWERTY keyboard module if you plan to do any sort of URL typing, otherwise you’re just asking to be annoyed. Again, this isn’t a smartphone so don’t go expecting it to do anything at the smartphone level. Instead, let’s concentrate on what the LG Versa does well.

GPS Navigation is only possible through Verizon Navigator service and requires the GPS module that has yet to be released. We’re not big fans of for-pay GPS navigation services, but seeing as how the Versa isn’t going to be installing Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Maps for Mobile anytme soon, we suppose VZW Navigator is an acceptable compromise - but just barely.

Media
The Versa is a multimedia handset. With a large 3.0-inch touchscreen display throwing out 262K colors in a 480 x 240 pixel field and a microSD card slot, the Versa is ideal for watching videos or listening to music. The Versa’s “Media Center” handles all your music, video and pictures, allowing you to download and browse Verizon’s extensive media catalogue. The “My Music” application takes care of all your music-listening needs as well as any other bundled music player. Still, we’d have liked to have seen the “My Music” music playback controls integrated into the “Media Center” application.

Camera
The camera is better than just decent. You have 2.0-megapixels worth of image sensor ready to take from-the-hip shots of your friends and family that works quite well. We’d say the LG Versa’s 2MP camera beats out the iPhone’s 2MP camera in most cases. It has real-deal auto-focus and a flash, both features the iPhone’s camera has lacked for years. And, with a dedicated shutter-release button, the LG Versa wins over the iPhone for usability. Ever tried taking a self-pic using an on-screen shutter button? Not easy when the phone’s display is turned away from you…

Plus points for a highly usable camera on the LG Versa.

Overall

Pros

• Extremely versatile
• Slim and sleek in slate-form
• Well thought-out camera controls and interface
• Big and bright touchscreen display
• Great battery life
• Solid construction, even when mated to the keyboard module (the keyboard module itself is another story)
• Comfortable and very usable keyboard (when attached)
• Great media integration

Cons

• Chintzy materials - we expect more for $200 (especially on contract)
• Unsightly keyboard module
• Odd combination of a Cancel/Back button with a Speakerphone toggle
• Have to take off battery cover to swap modules
• Ugly keyboard module (did we mention that already?)

Related News from IntoMobile:

• First shots of the modular LG VX9600 Versa with detachable keyboard
• Verizon’s LG Versa slated to get game-pad module next month?
• Gaming is a GO with LG Versa’s new game pad add-on
• LG Versa hitting Verizon on March 1?
• LG Versa beats itself to the punch, gets unboxed early!

About the only difference between the Mobile version and the Arcade is the lack of the 8 ft. high cabinet and 2/3 size sniper rifle! Other than that, it’s a faithful arcade conversion!

The download did take forever and day, so be prepared for that - but I’d imagine there’s some graphical weight to the game - all the funky arcade sounds are there too! Moving on to the game, anyone who played the arcade machine will remember the stress of stepping between zoom in and zoom out, and getting those targets lined up - this game works in a similar way, with a countdown timer pressuring you all the way….

These kind of on-the-rail shooter games were very popular back in the day, and another of my then-faves, Time Crisis, was recently converted too - but I’d have to say that Silent Scope is a more authentic conversion, and just edges it - though both games are great fun.

Overall, I’d rate this game highly - coming in at £3.49 in the UK App Store, it was going to have to be good to compete with the plethora of free games - and fortunately it is very good retro-tastic fun - all in the palm (NSDQ: PALM) of your hand!

Search the App Store for Silent Scope if you want to get yourself a download to play

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Konami’s Silent Scope is now available on Apple App Store
• Konami announces Silent Scope to Apple App Store!
• Mini-review: circuit_strike.one!
• Konami releases games for iPhone/iPod Touch
• Quake ported work on Nokia S60 3rd edition FP1 handsets

The Sprint (NYSE: S) Samsung Instinct S30 you see getting unboxed below came to us finished in the “Touch of Copper” color scheme. The box was tastefully filled with all the expected accessories - user manual, wall charger, data cable, and wired headphones/headset. Review to follow, for now enjoy the unboxing pics!

Sprint is offering the Samsung Instinct S30 for $130 with new contract.

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Hands-on with the Samsung Instinct S30 for Sprint!
• Samsung Instinct S30 “Mini” spotted in the wild!
• Sprint Instinct gets Opera Mini 4.2, too
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Designed by an ear doctor at Stanford University (along with a team of acoustics experts and engineers), the SoundID 300 Bluetooth headset sets out to be THE most comfortable Bluetooth headset on market. Period. And, it touts noise cancellation technology and adaptive acoustics for better voice clarity.

But, is it really possible to go all-day wearing a hands-free headset without feeling any in-ear irritation? Read on and find out.

SoundID 300 Bluetooth headset

By SoundID ( MSRP $119.99 from AT&T (NYSE: T))

Pros:

• All-day comfort
• Adaptive acoustics
• Noise canceling
• Sleek, minimalist design

Cons:

• No battery-life meter
• Noise cancellation not perfect with background speech

The SoundID 300’s (and the lower-end SoundID 200) fame to claim is its ergonomic ear-plug design that improves voice clarity and gives the SoundID 300 day-long wearability. The SoundID boasts NoiseNavigation technology that uses the dual beam-forming microphones to isolate speech and algorithms to help reduce background noise. The PersonalSound feature offers three adaptive-acoustics settings that tweaks the conversation to best fit your hearing preference. And, the Automatic Volume Control feature automatically adjusts headset volume to match changing ambient noise levels.

So, does the SoundID 300 really deliver on its promise of long-term comfort? Indeed it does. With a couple caveats (there always are).

Ergonomics
In terms of ergonomics, the SoundID 300 just can’t be beat. At first glance, the strangely-shaped ear-plug and protruding loop of plastic doesn’t look all that comfortable. But, stick the headset in your ear and twist upward (to push that plastic loop up against your ear lobe), and you’re in for a surprise. Rather than trying to cram itself into your ear canal, the SoundID 300’s RealComfort ear-plugs gently slip inside your ear canal and even more gently props itself up against your ear. This tiny little headset tips the scales at just 8 grams, so you can be sure it won’t weigh you down.

When was the last time you wore a headset all day without an iota of discomfort? Have you ever forgotten that your headset was on your ear? With the SoundID 300, you can wear it all day and you might even forget that it’s on your ear at the end of the day.

The headset comes with a variety of patented RealComfort ear-plugs that help you tailor-fit your SoundID 300 to your ear’s shape. Remember, the RealComfort ear-plugs were designed by an ear doctor, and the SoundID proves that it is the single-most comfortable headset we’ve ever worn.

Sound Quality
What good is a Bluetooth headset if you can’t hear the caller on the other end. The SoundID 300’s specially-designed ear-plugs help channel the audio into your ear, which makes for a clear conversation on its own. The incoming conversation (what the headset-wearer hears) is tweaked by SoundID’s PersonalSound technology, automatically enhancing different frequencies to better fit your own personal hearing preference - older users might not have the same high-frequency hearing abilities as a teenager. PersonalSound offers three distinct audio profiles to improve speech clarity without raising the volume.

The NoiseNavigation technology works to clean up your conversation, helping your listener hear your voice, and your voice only. Dual beam-forming microphones and a sprinkling of magical “algorithm dust” helps the SoundID 300 isolate just your voice and send it along to the listener. In theory, the system should work well, but it’s not perfect. “Droning” noises like those from background wind and coffee shop blenders are easily isolated and suppressed. Background noises from TV, radio or someone talking too loud on their cellphone aren’t as effectively suppressed. This particular drawback is common to many dual-microphone noise-cancellation solutions - it’s hard to distinguish legitimate speech from background speech.

Battery Life
SoundID claims 6 hours of talk-time or 9 days of stand-by time on the SoundID 300. We did our darnedest to test that 6 hour talk-time limit, but after a day and a half of making excuses to talk to friends on the phone, the SoundID 300 is still going strong. Unfortunately, we have no idea just how much charge is actually left - a battery-life indicator would be incredibly helpful.

Overall
The SoundID 300 is a damn good Bluetooth headset. It’s noise-suppression systems aren’t as robust as the class-leading Jawbone2, but it’s definitely on par with other dual-mic setups. PersonalSound is cool, but we didn’t find ourselves needing anything other than the default setting. And, we’d like to see future SoundID headsets featuring battery-meters. It can be nerve-racking wondering when the battery on our headset is going to quit on us.

In the end, the SoundID 300 performs where it counts - this is THE most comfortable headset on market.

The SoundID 300 goes on sale through AT&T on April 15 for about $100, which is a nice little discount from the $120 MSRP.

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The Samsung Mondi uses a TouchWIZ-like UI overlay to hide the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional underpinnings, and we have to give Samsung kudos for a slick UI. The Mondi also features a 3.0-megapixel camera, GPS (Route 66), Bluetooth 2.0, HDMI video-out and 4GB of on-board storage.

Samsung’s Kim Titus was good enough to give us a little video walk-through of the Samsung Mondi. The Mondi isn’t going to replace a netbook or laptop, but with serious mobile broadband credentials, the Mondi will certainly find its place in the MID market.

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As expected, LG brought the LG GD900 Style to CTIA Wireless 2009. We had a chance to get up close and personal with the LG GD900 Style, and it’s all-glass keypad and touchscreen. The transparent keypad is apparently tough as nails, being made out of tempered glass. And, even more surprising was the tempered-glass touchscreen display - that’s right, the LG Style rocks a capacitance touchscreen, just like the iPhone 3G and the T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) G1!

Slide the 3-inch touchscreen display upwards and out slides the transparent multi-touch (more on that in a bit) keypad. Flip the LG Style over and you’ll see a monster 8-megapixel camera adorning the backside of the slider.  

The LG Style makes good use of LG’s S-Class 3D UI, with its fancy swipe-to-navigate interface. Swipe left or right on the all-glass capacitance touchscreen and the S-Class 3D UI “Cube” rotates to reveal different faces of the cube. Each face of the “cube” represents an application category, with each application represented by a widget icon. The S-Class 3D UI is easy enough to navigate and may prove to be a worthy competitor to the king-of-UI-overlays, the HTC TouchFLO 3D UI.

Having a capacitance-based touchscreen and touch-sensitive keypad allows the LG Style to support multi-touch features like pinch-to-zoom. But, the touch-interaction isn’t just limited to the display - multi-touch gestures are supported on both the touchscreen display and the keypad. The LG GD900 Style allows the user to navigate through the UI using swiping motions on the transparent slide-out keypad. The keypad also goes beyond simple multi-touch with its support for finger-gestures. Simply trace a “W” (or whatever movement you choose to program) on the keypad and the LG Style will launch the web browser. Trace an “M” and you get the music player. It makes sense.

Pricing and availability aren’t yet available. But, go ahead and enjoy the hands-on photo gallery below!

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