So-called smartphones are becoming more and more widespread - if you include in your definition any phone that can display and share calendar and contact information with your computer. If you want your smartphone to run productivity tools as well, your choice is smaller; and if you’re a UK-based user and want a Microsoft platform, then you have a huge choice of one - Orange’s SPV E100.

The SPV (Sounds, Pictures, Videos) E100 is Orange’s second attempt at a smartphone and replaces the now discontinued SPV. Similar to a Pocket PC device, the SPV E100 (which was known as the SPVx when we first reported it), comes with ActiveSync software for synchronising data with your PC. ActiveSync helps you to manage the sharing of your Diary, Contact, To-Do list, Inbox and Web favourites between phone and PC.

The screen of the SPV E100 isn’t touch sensitive, but there is a very effective joystick-like directional cursor (far better than the alternative on the original SPV), and twin buttons that activate on-display menus. Information is presented on the screen in a surprisingly neat and tidy manner, especially considering that you are working with a 176x220-pixel display. The phone’s Home screen lets you view the day’s upcoming appointments, read any unread SMS, e-mail and MMS messages, and configure a few Internet and application shortcuts.

With a GPRS account you can browse the Internet, which works quite well, but you should bear in mind that Web sites don’t always render well to the small screen size. The SPV E100 comes with an external digital camera, which you can use to capture images for sending via MMS, and there’s also a single SD card slot. This is useful for storing and viewing data, such as images, playing back music via the customised version of Windows Media Player, and reading e-books using various third-party applications that form part of a growing array of add-on software. E-text reading is actually surprisingly effective, especially if you use a reader that lets you customise the font size to something that suits.

There are some less impressive features, however, such as the lack of built-in Bluetooth which prohibits using the phone as a modem unless you use the slow infrared port. The software on the phone can be rather slow to respond to key presses at times also, and sometimes when listening to music you get annoying silences while the phone processes stuff. The battery life could be a lot better, too. But in terms of ergonomics and ease of use, the SPV E100 could be a good choice for those that need access to everyday information, and would like a few extras on top.

BIOS, Aug 12, 03 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Mobile phone