Pictures taken with the HTC Magic

déjà vu \ˌdā-ˌzhä-ˈvü, -ˈvue\ noun: a feeling that one has seen or heard something before

The HTC Magic camera is identical to the T-Mobile G1 camera, and similar to the HTC Touch Pro camera – if you’ve read my review of the G1 camera, you’ve read my review of the Magic camera :)

Apple iPhone 3GS vs. Palm Pre camera

iPhone 3GS sample pictures (slide show):

Pre sample pictures (slide show):

OK, you’re probably thinking this is a bit of an unfair comparison – although the Apple iPhone 3GS camera lacks an (arguably useless) LED flash, the Palm Pre camera lacks the (absolutely essential) auto-focus, as well as video recording…

But, other than the difference in camera and storage specs, the missing GSM/UMTS radios, and the limited selection of apps, the Pre provides 95-105% the iPhone 3GS user experience and features a QWERTY keyboard – that is pretty impressive!

People currently looking for a subsidized über-phone in the US are going to compare the iPhone 3GS and the Pre (and perhaps even the T-Mobile G1 and the Blackberry Storm). So what about the 3 megapixel camera on each device?

Podcast: Talking with Matt #11

It’s time for another podcast (16 min) with Matthew Bennett:
- Audio version
- Video version

So between the gay high holiday month and the June tsunami things have been a wee bit crazy around here lately :)

The bad news is that I’m just over 2 weeks behind with posting this podcast, the good news is that after all this time, it’s still interesting. I’ve edited out the Palm Pre unboxing, since it’s a lot more compelling on video…

In this episode we discussed the Sharp/T-Mobile Sidekick LX, the Palm Pre, the Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD), the Nokia N97, the HTC Magic, and the Apple iPhone 3GS!

Click here to subscribe to this podcast.

Unboxing the Apple iPhone 3GS

The iPhone 3GS has landed, and with it, “the June tsunami” – as Matt and I are calling it – is finally over :)

So I picked up a black 16 GB iPhone 3GS to contrast with my white 16 GB iPhone 3G…

Of course, I’m particularly interested in putting the 3 megapixel auto-focus camera through its paces!

Take a look at my unboxing pictures and video.

Unboxing the Nokia N97, part 2

First the video, now the pictures… It’s a veritable Nokia N97 unboxing bonanza!

Enjoy the tasty goodness :) But please don’t drool, OK?

Nokia N97 vs. Samsung i8910 camera, revisited

To followup on my first impressions, I’ve taken full sets of pictures and made additional videos with both the Nokia N97 and the Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD)…

N97 sample pictures (slide show):

i8910 sample pictures (slide show):

My takeaway? Both cameras are great!

Unboxing the Nokia N97, part 1

First in black, now in white… I can has Nokia N97, again. Oh my :)

This is my official review unit – it’s a European model with tri-band 3G (2100/1900/900 HSDPA).

Stay tuned for more!

The HTC Magic is here

A few days ago I scored an HTC Magic… Mind you, it’s not just any HTC Magic – it’s the limited-edition, unlocked device that was handed out to developers at Google I/O!

This phone is noticeably more compact and attractive than the T-Mobile G1. Check out the specs:

- Android 1.5 “Cupcake”
- 3.2″ 480×320 TFT capacitive touchscreen
- 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus, macro, geo-tagging, and QVGA video recording at 30 fps
- 3G (2100/1700 HSDPA), 2G (quad-band EDGE), WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, GPS, compass
- Micro-SDHC card slot, standard mini-USB compatible (ExtUSB) connector, no standard 3.5 mm audio connector
- Thin, no hardware keyboard

I’m a couple weeks late to the party, but here are some pictures and a video. Enjoy :)

Life with the Sharp/T-Mobile Sidekick LX

So the friendly people at T-Mobile recently provided me with a Sharp/T-Mobile Sidekick LX to review. After unboxing it, I played with it for a couple weeks. The result? My first time using a Sidekick. The verdict? A mixed bag.

- Hardware:
The Sidekick LX is a deceptively large device. But it’s relatively light, and it’s well proportioned – its extra size is only noticeable when placed side-by-side with other phones. It looks thin, but it actually matches the T-Mobile G1 in the X dimension.

Build quality is fine – it looks and feels a lot better than other Sidekick devices I’ve sampled, with tasteful chrome accents and a lovely purple-ish color on this “orchid” model. I wouldn’t call this phone attractive, but it’s not offensive either.

The Nokia N97 is here

When it rains, it pours… Hot on the heels of yesterday’s Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD), I now also have a Nokia N97 to play with for a few days (thanks [redacted])!

It’s a pre-production/prototype device – no box, manuals, or accessories here. Regardless, it’s been rock solid so far – in fact it’s more stable than the i8910 or the production N96 I reviewed in January.

For those of you who are just joining the party and somehow missed my past coverage of this sexy über phone, here’s the lowdown:

- Symbian S60v5 touch with widgets
- 3.5″ 640×360 TFT resistive touchscreen
- 5 megapixel Zeiss camera with auto-focus, macro, dual LED flash, geo-tagging, and VGA video recording at 30 fps
- 3G (tri-band HSDPA), 2G (quad-band EDGE), WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, GPS, compass
- 32GB (!) on-board flash storage, micro-SDHC card slot, standard micro-USB connector, standard 3.5 mm audio connector
- Thin, with hardware keyboard

I think Nokia has a winner with the N97 – it’s definitely looking like a worthy flagship :) Bonus pictures after the break.