Yorch Place

Today Apple release a new iPhone, same looks but a few improvements in hardware and software.

The new version came with 3.2MP the resolution that was the best in 2005 with Sony Ericsson k790 and Nokia N73-N93 the SE the first with xenon flash and the Nokia with optical zoom (N93).

Also the new iPhone now can record video at 640x480 30fps, something the Nokia N93 was a first, the video record of smaller resolutions in mobile phones was a reality back in 2003.

So the iPhone is closer to what the N93, released in 2005, was, but with touch screen, something they did improve, the only thing actually.

Still missing...

-Turn by turn gps software (in the box and not $99 usd I preffer the montlhy fee like in Nokia Maps, because there are month when I don't use the GPS)
-A good camera, at least 5mp
-Multitasking, like all symbian, windows mobile phones can do.
-Flash support in the browser, the apple lovers claim the iPhone has the best browser, how is that if it can't handle flash.
-Multiple browser windows open, or tabs. I think that is part of multitasking.
-To do list or tasks or checklists.
-Office files viewer (at least) editor will be great.
-Java support
-No restrictions in the apps, I want to install all kind of stuff no restricted nor chose by apple, and no I don't want to jailbreak.

With all that, the iPhone will be closer to what a real last gen mobile is. Also a change in design can't hurt. It looks good but is so 2006, you can create a new great looking mobile, like the changes you do with the nano and the shuffle iPods.

So I'm staying with all the other alternatives, with better pricing, apps (90% of iPhone apps are silly games) and no restrictions.

But if you want an iPhone in Mexico are free with a $46 usd plan that has 200 minutes and unlimited data in a two year contract. Or better go with the Nokia 5800 same deal plus one year of free music from the nokia music store.

Recently I cahnged my mobile for a Nokia XpressMusic. Nokia in many ways is leading in innovation, Sony Ericsson is good in the music, and a few years ago they had the most innovative products, now they are like catching up.

I'm going to compare the music player since I had a Sony Ericsson W960 (walkman phone) and now I use a Nokia XpressMusic phone.

The sound quality is impressive in both handsets, Nokia has stereo speakers so it is a win here in the external speakers, also Nokia has a 3.5mm jack, which means any headphones fit, another win for Nokia, but, the UI of the Nokia player is really bad, they improve little with time, the list of songs is really slow to show, you can not see album art in the album list, you can't see which song will be next in the shuffle mode, there is no magic play list like the "sense me", rated songs or per year or decade.

Also I miss the TrackID, a great function that I loved, and I wanted yesterday while I was listening the radio there was a great song.

The phone has a lot of functions and possibilities, and since it is a Nokia, it has a great support for software, but the player, which is the reason of the phone, has a lot to improve. Kudos to Sony Ericsson doing such a great player for their phones.

I'm wating for Sony Ericsson new smartphone family based in S60 with touch screen capabilities, great cameras and impressive player, to go back with them.

NOKIA


SONY ERICSSON

Until yesterday I haven't seen the LG cookie, and it is a really good phone, amazng actually, and the best part... afordable.

-It has a camera of 3.2 MP wich is better than iPhone's camera.
-It has a MicroSD slot up to 16GB and since a 8GB card cost like $30.00 usd is really an option.
-Touchscreen, with a nice size screen 3in.
-Also the version that is being sold in Mexico by Telcel is 3G not only EDGE.
-A decent web browser and the posibility to download Opera Mini (great browser).
-It has a Office documents viewer.
-Video Call
-Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP (stereo Bluetooth)
-It has Java so you can download a ton of apps (games, ebuddy, among other)
-MMS, SMS, Mail

Sumarizing, if we count the fact that 97% of iPhone users and iPhone wannabes will use only the basic of the phone, not more than Calls, SMS, eMail, Web, Camera and Music, this cookie phone does that, plus it doesn't attach you to a contract for 2 years, or in Mexico case, you can even have it without a contract for less than $220 usd. And since 3G data plans are more afordable than before it can be considered an option. With a contract this phone cost like $30.00 usd in Mexico and it is a 12 month contract (in some states is 18 months)

I love mobile phones, because those are the new tech, gps, mp3, camera, communication, and more in one small device...

Motorola answer to Apple's iPhone, Sony Ericsson Walkman and Nokia XpressMusic, is the Rokr line, which in short, sucks so much is amazing, and the flagship of the line the E8 is so ugly, it is incredible that some designer was involved, it looks like the phones in the mid 90's it is even that big, and it is not a smartphone (those are big) the only "cool" thing is the morphing keypad, but the rest is so ugly is not worth the materials it is made, the worst part is that Motorola is advertising that product as a good choice, when it is not a choice at all.

Poor Motorola, they invented the mobile phones, but sucked in the business, the only nice phone they ever released was the Razr in 2003, and they have no progress from there, plus battery life still is the worst and the user interface is so bad it is almost unusable.

And the company executives wonder why they are so bad in sales and profit, spending that amount of money in advertising and promoting an ugly phone, when all the other companies had better alternatives for less money.

In Mexico we had 3G mobile services since five years ago, but from the tiniest of the mobile providers, with the worst coverage, Iusacell and actually they provided the 3G service only in Mexico City and not all of it.

My mobile provider is Telcel (America Movil) which is the largest in Mexico and the largest in Latin America, I have a data plan but only EDGE connection, well this week they launch the 3G service, the music store and video call.

Finally 3G!!! I'm so happy I could get the unlimited data plan, and they have agreements with Yahoo! and Youtube, so I'll have YouTube videos, the only thing my mobile phone didn't have that iPhone does, so with this, I got everything the iPhone does plus more! (and US people call the iPhone a smart phone)

It is great news, because we are always last in this things. America Movil released 3G in other countries first, which is not fair, since it is a Mexican company.