 |
Printed On: | July 6, 2008, 7:34 am |
| Category: | Mobile Phones | |
| Type: | Reviews | |
| Posted By: | Firefox | |
| Date Posted: | December 3, 2007, 7:15 am |
 |
Introduction
It's been not long ago since mobile phones have become commonplace in our lives and since then, we've witness the evolution of the mobile phone into something that is more than just a phone. The mobile phones of today have evolved into mini-computers, helping us get through our daily life, offering services that once had been unheard of in something so unassuming. So much so that most people take it for granted until they lose their phones. As a telecommunications tool, the mobile phone has gone from just offering phone calls and text messaging services to becoming all-rounded entertainment devices.
In the recent years, we are also starting to see the trend in phones offering high-speed internet connectivity with GPRS, EDGE and HSDPA. All of these serve to provide connectivity for us while we are out on the move and the increased mobility has provided more opportunities for people to connect to the world. From PMEB's who need to access the internet while out on the move to teenagers who feel the need to share their daily lives with friends, mobile phones of today are fast becoming powerful tools for bringing people together. Whilst all of this tecnology can be daunting for many, Finnish telecommunications manufacturer, Nokia, recognised this and pioneered the move to provide Human Technology to mobile phone users around the world. Thus, forever changing the way people look at mobile phones again.
Today, we will take the Nokia 6500 Slide for a spin and see what has been packed into this diminutive package.
Lets take a look at the specifications before we move on.
|
Network |
Quadband GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz |
|
Dimensions |
96.5 x 46.5 x 16.4 mm |
|
Weight |
125 g |
|
Display |
16 million colors QVGA 240 x 320 pixels 2.2" LCD display |
|
Memory |
20 MB user free internal memory |
|
Data |
EDGE Release 4 multi-slot class 31 (5RX+2TX: maximum 6 slots) |
|
Messaging & Email |
MMS for creating, receiving, editing and sending videos and pictures with AMR voice clips |
|
Browsing |
WAP 2.0 browser with XHTML support over HTTP/TCP/ IP |
|
Ringtones & Themes |
MP3/ 64-polyphonic voice ringtones Video ringtones Themes with wallpapers and screensavers |
|
Applications & Games |
Games: High Roller Casino, Golf Tour, Rally 3D, and Snake 3 |
|
Camera |
Integrated 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, auto focus and up to 8x digital zoom |
|
Battery |
900mAH Battery BP-5M Talk time up to 6 hrs* Standby time up to 13.25 days* * Talktime may vary with usage |
|
Package Items |
Nokia 6500 slide phone Nokia Battery BP-5M Nokia Charger AC-4 Nokia Wired Stereo Headset HS-47 Nokia 256 MB Micro SD Memory Card MU-27 Nokia Micro USB Cable CA-101 Nokia TV-Out Cable CA-92U CD ROM User guide |
|
Design & Features
Design & Build Quality
The initial thoughts we had when we received the 6500 Slide was that it was replacement for the Nokia 6288. The Nokia 6500 Slide features the same slider form factor but it exuberates elegance owing to its brush-finished stainless steel body and sleek outline. Even the buttons on the facade are crafted from stainless steel! In terms of build quality, there are no complaints as the weight of the phone coupled with the cool touch of metal makes it feel solid in the palm. Furthermore, Nokia has coated the steel with a scratch resistant coating to prevent marring of the surface from regular use that often plagues other mobile phones. The sliding operation of the phone is smooth and neither sides of the phone move unnecessarily which is a lot more than can be said for many other slide phones. A large 2.2" QVGA LCD screen offering a wide gamut of 16 million colours completes the package that is the Nokia 6500 Slide.
Ergonomics
Nokia 6500 Slide (Left) & Sony Ericsson K800i (Right)
Volume adjustment and quick access to the camera functions
What good is a looker if the phone cannot be used easily? Many users with large thumbs find many phones hard to use due to their diminutive buttons. More often than not, grief is caused when the wrong buttons are depressed. On the 6500 Slide, that is not an issue as the Navi pad and keypad buttons are larger than the norm. Perhaps the only quirk is that the keylock does not automatically activate after the closing the slider.
Easy access to commonly used functions are also a plus with phones of today offering more than just the regular phone and messaging services. One of the main features most used on mobile phones would have to be the integrated camera allowing users to document their lives. Here, we find the button to enter the camera mode on the right side of the phone, along with the volume adjustment buttons. The volume adjustment buttons also double up as zoom buttons for which the phone offers a whopping 8x digital zoom.
Camera and Expansion Options
Camera on the rear of the phone featuring Carl Zeiss optics!
Unlike the older models that feature regular integrated cameras, Nokia has forayed from the norm with the 6500 Slide. The camera on the phone features an autofocus Carl Zeiss Tessar lense normally only found on their flagship N-series phones. Under low light conditions, the camera uses a twin-led flash system to provide additional illumination. Picture quality from the phone is very good and very much improved from the likes of the Nokia N95. The camera's picture quality easily matches the Sony Ericsson K800i but does so with noticably faster and more accurate autofocus. Aside from just taking pictures, the phone is capable of taking videos at 15 fps, VGA quality (640 x 480) or 30 fps, QCIF quality (176 x 144). That is 12 times the video resolution of the K800i at the same framerate (15 fps) or double the framerate at the same resolution!
Storage, Video Calls and Light Sensor
Left to Right: Front camera & ambient light sensor, MicroSD (TransFlash) card placement and SIM card placement.
Unlike previous models where the backlight is manually adjusted, the Nokia 6500 Slide features an ambient light sensor on the front beside the speaker. This allows the phone to automatically compensate the screen brightness according to lighting conditions. It certainly is an interesting feature to incorporate on a phone although not all users may appreciate it. On the other side of the speaker, we can see a small lens unit. This is for the front camera that allows a user to make 3G video calls as well as TV conferencing (more on this later).
Once the rear cover is removed, the SIM card as well as the MicroSD (TransFlash) card slots can be accessed. The phone comes with 20MB of internal user free memory and allows for an additional 4GB of expansion via the MicroSD slot. A hinged metal flap holds the card and can be slide-locked in place after it is flipped back down. For access to the SIM card, the battery needs to be removed and a small metal tab beside the memory card slot needs to be pushed to remove the card. Unfortunately, users without long fingernails may have to look for a toothpick or paper clip when they wish to replace the SIM card.
|
Software, Connectivity & Packaged Items
Software
Image Editor (left) & Opera Mini (Right)
Behind every modern day mobile phone lies an operating system of sorts. In the Nokia 6500 Slide, it is the Symbian 40 operating system. Being a fairly lightweight system, we did not experience any lag during normal operation of the phone. The OS allows the phone to support customized themes and ringtones so users can feel free to use their own polyphonic/ MP3 ringtones. As a matter of fact, the phone also supports video ringtones so one can go crazy over skinning and customizing the phone virtually.
As with most other phones on the market now, the 6500 Slide comes with a basic media player that allows playback of both music and videos. The MicroSD expansion slot would certainly come in handy for storing the media in such an instance. Basic options like stereo expansion and equalization are also present in the player.
Should there be any interesting broadcasts on radio, one can also tune in via the built-in FM receiver. However, this requires the use of the earpiece as it doubles up as an antenna for the receiver.
Simple edits of the pictures taken with the integrated camera can also be done via the Image Editor integrated into the phone. Crop the image, add border art along with some text and you would be ready to fire out a multimedia message to your friends! For those who surf the internet on the go, Opera Mini browser is included as part of the software package. In addition to what normal integrated browsers do, Opera Mini delivers RSS feed functionality as well. This is a very useful feature for business warriors who need to track the latest new feeds while on the move.
Connectivity
Left to Right: Charging port, rear cover lock, Mini 5-pin USB port, A/V output port.
The Nokia 6500 Slide supports EDGE, GPRS and HSCSD for those who need data connectivity whilst on the move. For transfer of data to and fro computers and other phones, Nokia has dropped Infared in favour of Bluetooth 2.0 which does not require line of sight and has better range. The mini 5-pin USB port on the top of the phone allows for high speed transfers to a computer via USB 2.0. It is just unfortunate that Nokia hasn't squeezed in Wireless LAN which would have been a great companion to the existing connectivity options. The A/V output port allows playback of videos to a TV at QVGA quality. Alternatively, one may make 3G TV video calls and video conferencing via the aforementioned port.
Packaged Items
Handsfree Earpiece set, USB cable, Travel Charger, Manual with CDROM and TV output cable.
The packaged items include a USB cable for connection to a computer as well as the TV output cable aside from the usual suspects like the travel adaptor, earpiece and manual. It isn't a lot but it is certainly sufficient and definitely more than can be expected from a mid-range phone.
|
Conclusion
Conclusion
The Nokia 6500 Slide is a Nokia first where it packs a Carl Zeiss lense normally found only on the N-series in a mid-range phone. Not only does its image quality match the K800i which has been the leader in this aspect, the 6500 Slide also boasts superior video quality compared to the latter. Along with its A/V output capable of QVGA video playback on TV sets, Nokia has certainly set a new yardstick in the mid-range mobile phone market for features. Whilst it is based on the Symbian 40 OS rather than the Symbian 60 OS, the choice of operating system allows for good responsiveness during usage. Battery life is healthy and we managed about 5 hours of usage with a mixture of messaging and phone calls on a single charge. Armed with good build quality, aesthetics and features to match, the Nokia 6500 Slide is a great choice for those who must have a feature rich phone that looks good as well.
|