Motorola Droid 2 Review - Introduction and Design

Introduction he Droid 2 is the newest addition to the Droid family. It stands out from its brethren as the first Droid to include a slider, QWERTY keypad. It also has a 3.7-inch touch screen, a 1-gigahertz processor, and SwyPublish Postpe, which is a system that allows users to "swipe" their index finger across the keypad for faster typing. The phone also has pre-loaded applications like NFL Mobile, Need for Speed Shift, Skype Mobile, Blockbuster On Demand, a Kindle feature and a handful of integrated Google services. The Droid 2 has a little bit of the Droid X in its storage capacity, which can grow to a massive 40-gigabytes, and its ability to act as a 3G mobile hotspot for up to five other devices. It has a bit of the first Droid in it, too, in that it still has a 5.0-megapixel camera, something a few newer Droids have moved past. The device has room for a lot of features and already comes with some nifty tricks up its sleeve. But consumers will have to decide if those features are worth taking on the phone's bulky design or worth shunning the better camera on the Droid X and Droid Incredible. Design Those afraid of typing important texts or emails one finger poke at a time on a touch screen will be relieved to see the Droid 2 is a slider model with a full keyboard. Because the QWERTY keyboard slides out of the left side of the phone, there's more room for keys than is available on keypad/touch screen combination phones like the Palm Pre and new BlackBerry Torch. The keys aren't raised much, though, and the top row of keys is close to the side of the phone, which means thumbs bump against the side of the phone often when using the top row of keys. The Droid 2 also has touch screen options, including a virtual keypad, and the same Swype predictive-text technology available on the Droid X. Users can also tap the screen to make selections, zoom in or out, and flip between seven screen panels. A thin bar of menu, home, back and search keys is located below the 3.7-inch screen, which is trimmed with black and framed in silver. The back of the phone has the flash and lens for the 5.0-megapixel camera, and a 3.5 mm headset jack and power button are located atop the phone. The left side has a micro-USB port and the right side has volume keys and a camera key. The Droid 2 is just as bulky as the Droid X without the advantage of the Droid X's 4.3-inch screen. It's also thicker and heavier than the Droid X, as well as the iPhone 4, which is to be expected because of the keypad. It's a big phone -- there's no way around it. It's going to take up a lot of room in your pocket. There are lighter and thinner phone with bigger screens. But if the physical keypad is important to a person that really wants the power of a Droid, the weight may be worth it. Out of the box, the Motorola Droid 2 comes with a battery, a pre-installed 8-gigabyte microSD memory card, a wall/USB charger, quick reference guide, and product safety and warrant brochure. Camera Most smartphones had 3.0-megapixel cameras when the original Droid came out and impressed shoppers with a 5.0-megapixel camera. Since then, other phones have kept up and more and more have a 5.0-megapixel or stronger camera. The Droid line has continued to keep up and ahead of the pack with 8.0-megapixel cameras on the Droid X and the Droid Incredible. Motorola Droid 2 So it seems odd the Droid 2 still has a 5.0-megapixel camera instead of keeping up with an 8.0-megapixel. The Droid 2's pictures aren't bad -- they're sharp and better quality than images taken on most phones -- but they're not quite as impressive as those taken with an 8.0-megapixel camera and can be slightly grainy. Before taking a photo, users have a list of settings to pick from, including resolution choices of widescreen, large, medium, small and very small. Rotate, crop and tag options are available after an image is taken, and advanced editing options include resizing, adjusting color and saturation, changing brightness, adding effects (black and white, blue, green, red, lomo, oil painting, solarize, negative, and sepia), adding text, flipping the image, and adding a stamp or frame to the image. These are all pretty standard options for a smartphone -- there's nothing unusual or groundbreaking here. The phone's camcorder has resolution choices available in 720 by 480 pixels, 640 by 480 pixels, 352 by 288 pixels, 320 by 240 pixels and 176 by 144 pixels. Users can tag the video and, once it's shot, cut it into a shorter clip, remove audio, or add a title to the clip. These options are rare and always appreciated on a smartphone, especially when some phones don't have any video editing options and very few allow someone to extract part of a clip or shorten a video. The Droid 2 has a good, but not exceptional, camera. The camera is weaker on this model than on other recent Droid models, and its power is comparable to many other smartphones these days. The phone's real strength is in the camcorder, which takes quality footage and has editing options not available on most phones. Basic Features The Droid 2, like the Droid X before it, has Google integration. That means there's a Google browser. The phone can integrate a Gmail account, along with other email accounts, into the phone. The same goes for Google and Exchange calendars, which are integrated into the phone so any items added to the calendar at another location, like on a laptop, will appear on the phone, and vice-versa. The phone also has access to Google maps and a navigation system that offers turn-by-turn directions. The Android 2.2 platform allows for all this integration and also allows for social networking information to appear and update instantly, and pools all contact information from social networking and email accounts into the phones contact system without the phone owner doing anything. The 1-gigahertz processor and combined 16-gigabytes of memory available through the phone and memory card make for a speedy experience and offers lots of space for extra downloads. The Droid 2 has some unique features, like the Kindle book reader application and a physical QWERTY keypad, which is new for the Droid line. Plus, it has VCAST Media Manager, which is a Verizon service that allows people to organize their media files from their phone or on a computer, and the phone has live video chat via Skype Mobile. It also has what are becoming increasingly common smartphone features like a 5.0-megapixel camera and the ability to see webpages as they look on a computer. The phone's Flash capabilities ensure this is the case. The Droid 2 has lots of memory, one of the fastest processors out there, Google integration and something new for Droids -- a keyboard. Features like Skype Mobile and Kindle may appeal to some buyers, but they'll have to be important enough to someone to offset the bulky shape of the phone, the mid-range camera, and the mid-range size of the screen. Screen The HTC HD2 and the Droid X are screen-driven phones. They justify their size, 4.3 inches, by offering some of the biggest screens on the market and saying they'll offer a better typing and video-streaming experience. The Droid 2 is just about as big as these two phones, but its screen is smaller, measuring 3.7 inches. It's still bigger than most screens, but the fact that the Droid 2 doesn't offer the biggest will make its bulky design a harder sell. The screen isn't monstrous, but it is high quality. It offers 480 by 854 pixel resolution and supports up to 16 million colors, which is amazing, considering not too long ago 262,000 colors was considered mid-range. The screen's seven main panels help organize all the services available on the phone, and navigating through screens is pretty simple. The touch screen system is also easy to figure out, but the phone isn't ultra-responsive, and sometimes it takes a few tries to get the phone to accomplish the intended task. The Droid 2 has a visually appealing screen, but it's size, which would be appealing a year ago, is no longer a big draw. The touch screen technology is simple to figure out, but could stand to be more sensitive. Audio The Droid X had a slight flaw in its volume control. The phone never got too loud. But the Droid 2, some could argue, gets too loud. There are several volume options, ranging from quiet to very loud, and sound is distributed evenly thanks to a back panel speaker that is arranged in a horizontal strip across the back. Given its placement, it's hard to cover up if the phone is held vertically, but anyone using the keypad or who has placed the phone on its back may experience some muffling. The phone doesn't pick up audio well when recording video, unless the sound is made close to the phone. That's a common flaw in phone camcorders, but it's still annoying. The Droid 2 is plenty loud, but can also be quiet, providing for a range of listening options. Anyone wanting to keep sound to themselves can use the 3.5 mm headset jack, but they'll have to buy the headset, because it doesn't come with the phone. Don't expect much from recorded audio, unless subjects are close to the microphone. Messaging The Droid 2 has plenty of integrated messaging features. Users can have emails delivered instantly to the phone from Gmail, Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, and other POP3 and IMAP4 email accounts. The phone also has QuickOffice, so users can access Microsoft Office services with ease. Social networking is also integrated into the phone, with the power to have Twitter, Facebook and MySpace updates delivered instantly to the phone in a panel designed for social networking. The panel can get a bit crowded, so people will have to check this panel often. Users can also type updates for these sites through the same panel. Contact information will be gleaned from social networking sites and email accounts and built into the phone's contact list. The phone also integrates corporate and Google calendar items. The phone doesn't have instant messaging, which is becoming more and more passé anyway, so it's becoming a less prominent feature on non-BlackBerry smartphones. The phone supports text and multimedia messaging. It's best to use the physical keypad, because novices may have a difficult time figuring out how to make the touch screen keypad appear. None of the above features are rare for smartphones, but the Droid 2 and the Droid X are set apart by having Skype Mobile, which allows users to video chat with other Skype users. It's a handier system than the Apple-made video chat system on the iPhone4, which requires people to have an iPhone FaceTime account to use the system, while Skype users can just have a computer. Plus, users that already have a Skype account for their computer won't have to learn a new system and come up with a new account name. The Droid 2 has all the common features plus a bonus -- Skype. It helps give the phone an edge over the iPhone 4, although video-shy Blackberry Messenger fans may not want to switch to a Droid if they're attached to instant messaging. Entertainment As with most phones, the Droid 2 is what people make of it when it comes to entertainment. The Android Market offers thousands of applications for sale, and the phone's sizable memory stores allow people to stack up plenty of entertaining diversions on the phone. The market is getting better, but isn't as big as Apple's store, and the market offerings don't go through the approval process required of iPhone applications, so quality is somewhat unchecked. Still, there are plenty of good offerings, and there are a variety of applications available, from games to stock tickers. The phone comes stocked with a demo version of Need for Speed Shift, a racing game, news and weather feeds, and places to store, sort, upload (from a computer) and download music from the Amazon MP3 store. It also has Blockbuster On Demand and a Kindle application. The Kindle feature is unique and an interesting touch because it allows people to read books on the phone without investing in a Kindle device. The Blockbuster application is less impressive. It brings movies onto the phone, but users have to wait for them to download. Netflix provides a similar movie service for iPhone 4, and the Netflix system allows people to stream videos so they can see them sooner. People may pick the newest iPhone for this service, whereas the Blockbuster service is available on several phones, even out of the Droid line, so it's not unique. The Droid 2 has options for bringing more entertainment to the phone and for getting movies, but the iPhone 4 has the Droid 2 beat on delivery of both these services. Its advantage in the "unique" department is the Kindle service, which allows people to curl up with a digital novel. Internet The Droid 2, like the Droid X, can act as a 3G hot spot for up to five other Wi-Fi enabled devices, including laptops. The Droid 2 can connect to the Web through a Wi-Fi connection or a 3G connection, and the 1-gigahertz processor makes for a speedy Web-surfing experience every time. The Droid X also has a 1-gigahertz processor, same as the iPhone 4 and HTC Evo, which are all at the top end of the range of processor speeds on smartphones today. Because of its integrated Google features, including integrated Google calendar, email, contacts and maps, it doesn't take a far leap to deduce the phone has a Google browser. This makes for a familiar browsing experience, and each Web page appears as it would on a computer, thanks to HTML and Flash support from Adobe Flash Player 10.1, which is a newer model than what most peers can boast. Few problems have been reported about the Droid 2's internet experience. It's easy to see why. The phone has a speedy processor that sits atop the processor range, along with some other smartphones, and the Google system is easy to understand. Storage The Droid 2 has 8-gigabytes of internal storage and 8-gigabytes available through the built-in microSD memory card. That's a decent chunk of space, but the microSD card built into the Droid 2 has half the capacity of the one built into the Droid X and the iPhone 4 can have 16- to 32-gigabytes of memory. To be fair, the Droid 2 can expand to 40-gigabytes of memory with a 32-gigabyte memory card, but that requires buying another card. The Droid 2, like most heavy-duty smartphones with lots of storage space, doesn't have the best battery life. Verizon's website hasn't pinpointed battery life estimates yet, but expect to charge this phone on a daily basis, depending on use. There's lots of room for storage on the Droid 2. But it can be too much of a good thing, and will take a toll on battery life. Connectivity The Droid 2 connects to computers via a microUSB cable, has a 3.5mm headset jack for private music sessions, and connects to Bluetooth devices that can push emails, control audio and video, push calendar items, access messages and a phone book, connect to internet and use devices like joysticks and keyboards remotely. The phone is also integrated with a variety of messaging and Google services and supports GPS, integrated email, and integrated calendar sync. It also has integrated contact and calendar services that put Google and corporate calendar items on the phone and compile contact information based on what information users put in the phone as well as information from email and social network accounts. There was quite a stink made when the iPhone 4 was found to have signal problems. Media attention may return to the topic with the Droid 2, which some users have found signal problems with the phone. Unlike the iPhone 4, which had issues when people held the phone a certain way, Droid 2 users are sometimes having signal issues without even touching the phone. The Droid 2 helps users stay connected to the Web, other devices and other people. It offers all the essentials for Bluetooth users, and the basics expected of a smartphone for connecting to a computer. Signal problems could be an issues, but integrated calendar and contact services are appreciated. Conclusion The Droid 2 has a number of strengths. It's unique in the Droid line for its physical keypad and the Kindle digital book-reader feature. It's in a small group of smartphones that has Skype Mobile, the ability to act as a 3G hotspot, Swype predictive text technology, room for up to 40-gigabytes of storage, and the power and speed of a 1-gigahertz processor. It's not as rare, but the Droid 2 can also be commended for integrating a variety of email accounts, social networking sites and corporate and Google calendars, plus Google services and navigation help from Google Maps Navigation and VZ Navigator. Where the Droid 2 could improve is its camera. It's colleagues the Droid X and Droid Incredible moved forward to an 8.0-megapixel camera, so why didn't the Droid 2? The phone takes quality video, but doesn't pick up audio well when recording, and the images are sharp but could look better with 8.0-megapixel strength. Skype Mobile is a more accessible video chat system than Apple's FaceTime, but the iPhone 4 has the Droid 2 beat when it comes to delivering movies. The Netflix system and its streaming technology is better than the sit and wait for a download system offered to Droid 2 users by Blockbuster. Motorola Droid 2 Storage is a plus for the Droid 2, but all those downloads the phone can handle will take a toll on the battery, so be prepared to plug the phone in frequently for a charge as the phone fills up. The phone is well-connected with Bluetooth support, it's internet is fast, and there are plenty of messaging options, but the screen might as well be bigger given the bulky design, and, although there are lot of entertainment options, the Android Market is still catching up to the Apple store of numerous and creative iPhone applications. Those looking for the greatest camera, the most applications for sale, or streaming video may prefer another Droid model or the iPhone 4. But those seeking a powerful phone with speedy internet, lots of storage space, a great video chat system and a keypad to complement the phone's touch screen technology may want to take a look at the Droid 2. Product Specifications Technical Network: CDMA 800 / 1900 Form Factor: Slide / Google Android OS v2.2 Dimensions: 116 x 61 x 14 mm Weight: 169 g Antenna: Internal Navigation: Touch Screen (Haptic Feedback) / QWERTY Keypad Battery Type: 1390 mAh Li-Ion Talk Time: 9.6 hours Standby Time: 13.1 days Memory: 8.0 GB Expandable Memory: microSD / TransFlash Safety Radiation (SAR): (1.49 W/kg) Imaging Main Screen: TFT (Accelerometer / Proximity Sensor / Ambient Light Sensor) 16,700,000 colors (480 x 854 px) External Screen: Camera: 5.0 MP / Dual LED Flash / Zoom / Auto-Focus / Image Stabilization / Face Detection / Panorama Mode / Geotagging / Video Recorder Audio MP3 Player: VCAST Music / Rhapsody (MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / eAAC+ / WAV) FM Radio: Speakerphone: Dual Microphone (Noise Cancellation) Push-To-Talk: Multimedia Wallpapers: 480 x 854 px Screen Savers: 480 x 854 px Ring Tones: MP3 Themes: Games: Android Market Streaming Multimedia: VCAST Video / Blockbuster Movies (MPEG-4 / H.263 / H.264 / WMV9 / YouTube) Messaging SMS: EMS: MMS: Email: POP3 / IMAP4 / SMTP / Gmail Chat: AOL / Google / Windows Live / Yahoo Predictive Text: Swype / Handwriting Recognition

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Nokia 5230 Nuron Phone (T-Mobile)

Released for T-Mobile, the Nokia 5230 Nuron comes with apps, maps with turn-by-turn directions and more. Users can browse the Web on its 3.2-inch touch screen or wander the world with Ovi Map, Nokia's free navigation software. Lonely Planet guides also lets users find new places to eat, concerts, movies and more. Other features include the weather forecast and consumers can even share their current location on Facebook. With pedestrian navigation, the Nuron shows the best routes as well as shortcuts through parks and buildings. Additional features include a built-in 2.0-megapixel camera, MP3 player and FM radio, high-speed HSDPA Internet and Bluetooth technology. Main Features Designed with function in mind, offering a large 3.2-inch touch screen display with vivid 16.7 million colors Built-in 2.0-megapixel camera with CMOS sensor that capture photos and video that can be uploaded to Facebook and YouTube Listen to music on the road with the music player and tune into favorite stations with the FM radio Ovi Maps 3.0 is free for navigational maps find walking and driving directions to any location, pinpoint an exact location or explore new areas around the town

Product Specifications

Technical
Network:	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / WCDMA 850 / 1900
Form Factor:	Block / Symbian OS v9.4
Dimensions:	111 x 52 x 15 mm
Weight:	115 g
Antenna:	Internal
Navigation:	Touch Screen
Battery Type:	1320 mAh Li-Ion
Talk Time:	7 hours
Standby Time:	18.3 days
Memory:	70.0 MB
Expandable Memory:	microSD / TransFlash
Safety
Radiation (SAR):	(1.03 W/kg)
Imaging
Main Screen:	TFT / Accelerometer / Proximity Sensor 16,700,000 colors (360 x 640 px)
External Screen:
Camera:	2.0 MP / CMOS Sensor / 3X Zoom / Landscape / Photo Editor / Video Recorder / Video Calling
Audio
MP3 Player:	MP3 / AAC / eAAC+ / WMA / Nokia Music Store / Nokia Podcasting
FM Radio:
Speakerphone:
Push-To-Talk:
Multimedia
Wallpapers:	360 x 640 px
Screen Savers:	360 x 640 px
Ring Tones:	64 chord / MP3
Themes:
Games:	J2ME
Streaming Multimedia:
Messaging
SMS:
EMS:
MMS:
Email:	POP3 / IMAP4 / SMTP
Chat:

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Microsoft Kin Two Phone

Microsoft Kin Two Review - Introduction and Design

Introduction he Kin Two, like the Kin One, is all about social networking. A constant stream of Twitter, Facebook and MySpace updates piles onto the phone's main stream throughout the day. But with updates organized and sized in a readable way, the stream never gets too cluttered. Microsoft Kin Two It also eschews being so simple a person can't find or will miss an update if checked semi-regularly. The phone makes it just as easy to send updates as it is to receive them. Other parts of the phone get less attention. There's no instant messaging on the phone, no extras like visual voicemail or photo editing options, and messages and emails are stored separately, as are contact entries from various sources. The Kin Two is a fun option for young social butterflies and the limited, flat-fee entertainment options make managing the cell phone bill easier. But people that want more applications, downloads and extra options may get bored with the phone. Design The Kin Two definitely has a more approachable look than the Kin One. While the Kin One is close to square-shaped and compact, the Kin Two is less likely to turn heads with its more standard look and measurements of 4.38-inches long, 2.36-inches across and 0.64-inch thick. The Kin Two also looks more professional, with its all-black exterior. Whether blending in is a good thing or a bad thing depends on personal taste. The Kin Two is a horizontal slider with a full QWERTY keypad tucked under its face. The keypad is wide enough to make mistyping difficult, but a bit short. As with the Kin One, the number keys are all arranged on the top row of keys, a configuration Blackberry users will have to get used to. The screen view can go from horizontal to vertical based on which way the phone is turned. The screen has touch screen options for zoom, moving left to right and back through panels, and making selections. There's a back button below the screen and an earpiece above the screen. Volume and photo capture keys are on the right side of the phone, a USB port is on the bottom, a headphone jack is on the top, the power button is on the top right corner, and the back of the phone has the flash and lens for the 8.0-megapixel camera/camcorder. The Kin Two has a sleeker look and a larger screen than the Kin One. At 4.7 ounces, it's about 0.8 ounce heavier than the original, but most will appreciate the extra space, especially people that like to see things in a larger font. It may not turn heads, but that may be the idea. Out of the box the Microsoft Kin Two comes with a battery, a USB power adapter, a micro-USB cable, a stereo headset, a quick start guide, a warranty guide and a product safety guide. Camera Where most smartphone cameras, including the one on the Kin One, stop at 5.0-megapixel, the Kin Two has an almost unheard-of 8.0-megapixel camera. Images come out crisp and clear, but not so sharp that one can make out minute details in the photo. Microsoft Kin Two As with the Kin One, the LED flash isn't that much help, but images are less likely to come out dark on the Kin Two. Pre-picture settings options include large, medium or small resolution; flash on or off; night, burst or auto mode; and lighting adjustments for home, office, sunny, cloudy or normal conditions. These are the same options the Kin One has. Also pictures can't be edited, only shared or placed somewhere on the phone, once shot and video recorded with the camcorder have no sound and can only be deleted, not edited, once captured. Settings for the video are high or email quality resolution and auto or night mode. Videos have decent quality, but the camcorder doesn't work well in low light. The night mode function helps this situation, but images only get lighter after they've been focused on for a few seconds, so moving the phone around a lot while recording will produce a poor product at night. The Kin Two's camera is stronger than the Kin One's and has a better chance of producing bright, colorful images. But the difference isn't that immense, and the settings and editing options, which could use an upgrade, are the same. Also the same is the fact that the camcorder doesn't record audio, which is a poor choice given the technology available on most smartphones. Basic Features The Kin Two is made for social networking-crazed teens. Instead of offering just one glimpse at a time of what's going on on Twitter, Facebook or MySpace, as is the case with the Palm Pixi Plus and Motorola Devour, Kin Two users can see a full stretch of updates from these networking sites. The list items are large enough to be easy to read but small enough not to clutter the main screen, where the list appears. The Kin Loop system integrates any of the above mentioned social networking accounts into the loop, and any older posts can be seen by selecting "more" at the bottom of the list. Any time a person wants to share a comment on a social site, they can simply type it into a status update line at the top of the main screen. For more complex sharing, there's the Kin Spot. A person wanting to share a news feed, search result, picture, video or Web page address can simply drag that information down to the spot, which is a dot at the bottom center of the screen, and then drag into the spot the names of contacts the person wants to share that information with. The spot can be used to send out an item via email or can be uploaded to a social networking site. It's a handy way to do something that would be a more difficult task if performed in the traditional manner on a Web site, given the size of the screen, and works quickly. The Kin Two also has Kin Studio, which is a back-up system for any information saved on the phone. Information is backed-up in an account at Kin.com, so everything from songs to photos saved on the phone can be accessed remotely if the phone is lost, stolen or damaged. It has email, text and multimedia messaging, social networking integration, entertainment from Zune, a browser, an 8.0-megapixel camera, an alarm, a news feed reader and settings, help and search sections. It doesn't have a calendar feature, instant messaging, can't read Flash items, and doesn't have the ability to create PDF or Microsoft Office documents. The Kin Two has most of the basic functions a phone should have, but few extras that will really set it apart on the smartphone market. It's missing plenty of options that business people count on. But given it's demographic, that's probably okay. Social networking is the phone's claim to fame, but don't depend on it for much else. Screen The 3.4-inch screen on the Kin Two makes viewing Web pages, watching videos and organizing playlists a more desirable task than doing any of those things on the 2.6-inch screen that comes with the Kin One. When it comes to smartphone, as long as the phone can still slide into a pocket easily, bigger is better for screens, and 3.4-inches is closer to what most smartphones come with these days. The screen is reflective when turned off, has a 320 by 480 pixel resolution, and images appear bright and colorful. Text isn't huge but for most is easy to read. Touch screen options include zoom, making selections, and moving between panels. The Kin Two has a good-sized screen, enough touch screen options to keep most people happy, and shows images in high resolution. It works relatively fast, but can have a bit of a lag. The screen image can be viewed in horizontal or vertical mode, but beware, the phone likes to switch between the two at the slightest movement. Audio There are two-dozen ringtones to choose from on the phone, plus nine alert sounds and half a dozen alarm sounds. They're all wordless and generic, which may bum out some teens that prefer to have a ringtone featuring the latest hit as their ringtone. The tones sound a bit tinny and simple. As with the Kin One, there are only three levels for volume, and high and normal sound about the same, while the soft level is so quiet it wouldn't be very useful to anyone that wants to hear the phone at all. Call quality is good, music plays clearly, especially on the 3.5 mm headset, but the audio on the phone isn't anything special. There isn't a wide range of volume options, and a greater variety of ringtones would be a bonus in any future incarnations of the phone. Messaging The Kin Two allows users to integrate multiple email accounts into the phone, including accounts from Windows Live Hotmail, Gmail, AOL Mail, Yahoo Mail, Microsoft Exchange and other POP3/IMAP4 sources. The phone also offers text and multimedia messaging. Plus there's the messages rolling in on a regular basis from Twitter, MySpace and Facebook on the main screen via Kin Loop. There are some items missing, though. The phone does not support instant messaging, and, unlike some Verizon phones, does not offer visual voicemail, which is a service that takes a voice message and turns it into a text message. The phone also keeps it simple when it comes to contacts. It integrates contact information instantly from all social networking sites integrated into the phone, but does not allow for contact entries that may overlap to become just one contact entry with information from multiple sources. Contact entries can include information on birthdays and anniversaries, work and home addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. Each contact can have a photo and ringtone assigned to them as well. There are plenty of method for keeping in touch on the Kin Two, and most users will be satisfied with texting, email and social networking updates. But the Kin Two may not offer enough to keep instant message aficionados and those that prefer a more complex system of organizing contacts satisfied. Entertainment There are two main sources of entertainment on the Kin Two: the Zune subscription and social networking. Watching updates from friends roll in and posting news of your own via the Kin Loop list of integrated social updates can keep users entertained for hours. But if that gets old, users can listen to FM radio, watch videos and download and listen to music through Zune. A free pass to Zune is offered for two weeks. After that, users have to pay for the service. But anyone that's run up a bill with multiple downloads may prefer the flat monthly fee (or at least whoever's paying the bill will). Music can also be uploaded to the phone from a computer and arranged by albums, artists and playlists. The absence of games and extra applications, or any way to add them to the phone, is unusual and a let down. If the phone is marketed to teens, one would think arcade and video game-style entertainment would be prevalent on the phone. With iPhone and Android application stores stuffing more option in every day, it's also an interesting choice to leave an application store off this phone. Music lovers and those just wanting to stay in touch and maybe download a few videos may be satisfied with the Kin Two's entertainment options. But for anyone seeking unique options or looking for a phone that's more for business and pleasure than simple communication, the Kin Two isn't the best pick. Internet The Kin Two operates on Verizon's high-speed network and connects quickly to the Internet through its 3G service or a Wi-Fi connection, so going without a signal shouldn't be much of a problem. The browser provides full HTML views of Web pages, so you'll see the same look on a computer as you'll see on the phone. Some zooming is required to be able to read everything on the page, but it's not as hard to read the fine print on the Kin Two's larger screen as it is to peer at the Kin One's 2.6-inch screen. The Kin Two offers a relatively enjoyable Web surfing experience. There are two different ways to connect to the Internet, and Web pages look the way they would on a computer. Because the browser is not a system anyone's used to seeing on a computer, though, the navigation experience can be trying. There's no Flash support or ability to create tabs, so expect only a basic Web experience. Storage The Kin Two, like its cousin, comes with 256MB of RAM. Internal memory totals 8GB, more than the 4GB on the Kin One. There's a good amount of memory on the Kin Two, just not a lot of opportunity to use it. With limited entertainment and application options, most of that memory is designed to handle the endless news and social networking feed. The battery can last through a six-hour conversation, but not much longer, and can remain on standby without a charge for about 10 days. Connectivity The micro-USB cable connects the phone to a computer so a person can upload song files onto the Kin Two. The phone also connects to Bluetooth headset and hands-free devices (dual audio and video profile supported) and a 3.5 mm headset. There are plenty of ways to connect to the phone, but Kin Two is really about connecting to others with social networking and news feed integration. There aren't many options for Bluetooth use, but the target audience for the phone, teens, isn't big on it anyway. Conclusion The Kin Two has some upgrades from the Kin One, including a more powerful camera/camcorder, a bigger screen, and a less conspicuous color scheme. It also has a downgrade from the Kin One in internal memory and its keypad is a bit harder to type on since the keys are shorter. But plenty of things about the Kin Two that could use an upgrade are just like the Kin One. There's no calendar or calculator, simple basics on most phones, and instant messaging is unavailable. The 8.0-megapixel camera takes decent shots, but there aren't many setting options and zero editing options. The Zune entertainment system is unfamiliar to most users and doesn't allow users to get the games and applications so many other smartphones allow for. While most other companies strive to offer as many applications as possible to attract customers, the Kin Two hangs its hat on social networking. The Kin Spot and Kin Loop technology make for an easy-to-manage and easy-to-read experience keeping up with Twitter, Facebook and MySpace friends. If that isn't enough, Kin Two users can also keep in touch on email or through text and multimedia messaging. The phone also connects to computers and Bluetooth devices, has lots of storage room to support the Kin Loop, and has a screen large enough to make reading messages a snap for even people with poor eyesight. The Web browser offers a speedy experience available through a 3G or Wi-Fi connection, but the browser doesn't support Flash or tabs and can be confusing to navigate at first. Sound quality is alright, but there are few volume level options on the phone. The design is sleek and more standard than the Kin One, but it's heavier than its predecessor. Microsoft Kin Two The Kin Two isn't for conducting business. Anyone used to creating PowerPoint files and Word documents and emailing them off on the fly, checking a stock ticker application on the ride to work, and seeing contacts and messages in one stream similar to the social networking list on the Kin Two's main screen would simply find this phone frustrating. Those looking for a simplified phone experience focused on chatting, sharing and seeing what's new with friends with near-real-time updates are better candidates for the Kin Two.

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