HTC Radar review: Mango on the radar

Introduction

The HTC Radar is the smaller, less expensive, less powerful and - overall - less exaggerated version of the Titan. Now, turn that around and the Radar will be the sensible, down-to-earth and friendlier phone of the two. It will be up to users to decide. HTC do need both.
HTC have been on home turf in the Windows Phone game so far. LG and Samsung didn’t really take the first complete makeover of the platform to heart, allowing the Taiwanese to capture more than half of the WP7 market share. Now though, with the emergence of Nokia, HTC will have a harder time asserting their supremacy.

HTC Radar official photos
The HTC Radar is a good-looking - though far from flashy - and well-built smartphone. It's a WP7.5 Mango-running 1GHz powered package with a fairly palatable price tag hanging off that aluminum unibody. Sure, it may not be the upgrader’s dream, but it will probably tick plenty of boxes for those that are only now considering giving the platform a go.

Key features:

• 3.8" 16M-color capacitive LCD touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• Dual-band 3G with HSDPA (7.2 Mbps) and HSUPA (2Mbps)
• Windows Phone 7 operating system
• 1GHz Scorpion CPU, Adreno 205 GPU, Snapdragon chipset
• 512MB RAM, 512MB ROM
• 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, geotagging and a hardware shutter key
• 720p video recording @ 30fps
• 8GB of built-in storage
• Standard 3.5mm audio jack
• Standard microUSB port (charging)
• Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancement
• Wi-Fi b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
• Accelerometer for screen auto rotation
• Office document editor
• Facebook integration and cloud services
• Built-in A-GPS receiver
• Stereo FM Radio with RDS
• Comes with HTC Hub and exclusive HTC apps

Main disadvantages:

• Non-expandable storage
• No mass storage
• Zune-only file management and sync
• No Flash (nor Silverlight) support in the browser
• No native video calls
• No DivX/XviD video support (automatic transcoding provided by Zune)
• Non-user-accessible battery

A year ago when Microsoft launched it, Windows Phone 7 was refreshingly different and quite pretty, but still too immature to be able to cover as much ground as its maker hoped. The Mango update brings WP closer to its competitors and while Android and iOS haven't been idle either, WP7.5 has a better chance at making a difference in the midrange.

The HTC Radar at our office
What's fair is fair - Android has zoomed ahead on dual-core and HD screens. It's not up to the likes of the HTC Radar though to push hard and catch up. WP needs a foothold in the midrange and the second generation of phones may help the platform get it. The HTC Radar for its part doesn’t target upgraders - being pretty much the same phone as the 7 Trophy. It's mostly the software updates that will be trying to convince the fence-sitters.
And Mango does well to address some of the lacking functionality. Before we get to that though, there's the usual unboxing and hardware checkup. It's a proper unibody - at long last. We'd love a taste of the traditional HTC premium feel and solid build.

Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman review: Music to go

Introduction

This Walkman is still learning to walk. But it sure knows how to mix. One part spicy, one part sweet, sprinkled with sexy and fun. Just don’t expect it to mix business with pleasure.
This is not a smartphone. Smartphones come farther down the road. It looks like a long way for the Mix Walkman and it takes music to go.

Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman official pictures
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is a fairly basic handset with music, Wi-Fi, stills and video. It’s a touch phone with a neat and efficient interface, good hand fit and customizable body. Affordable and simple to use, it’s not ticking boxes and getting serious stuff done. It’s not in a rush to grow up.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• Touch-friendly four corner UI with Walkman player
• Stereo speakers
• 3.0" capacitive touchscreen of WQVGA resolution
• 3.15 megapixel fixed-focus camera with QVGA video recording
• Wi-Fi b/g
• Stereo FM radio with RDS and TrackID
• Standard microUSB port for charging and data
• Stereo Bluetooth
• microSD card slot, support for up to 32GB
• 3.5mm-compatible audio jack
• Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
• Facebook and Twitter apps
• Customizable color bands
• Scratch-resistant surface

Main disadvantages

• No 3G
• Low-res display
• No on-screen QWERTY keyboard
• No equalizers or repeat function for the music player
• Disappointing camera
• No file browser
• No smart dial
• No multi-tasking
• microSD card slot under the battery

An entry-level phone, the Mix Walkman is trying to stay focused on features that are relevant to its target audience. Having covered its music and social bases, it carries no unnecessary weight. It’s an upgrade of the Sony Ericsson Yendo though and has something to show for it. The bigger screen and Wi-Fi are worth noting.
Work’s been done on the software too. Sony Ericsson have done their best to emulate the Android experience with the four-corner UI. There’s Facebook and Twitter integration too through the Friends app. You can follow the status updates of five of your friends right on your homescreen.

HTC Titan review: Huge is the new big

Introduction

One big scary smartphone, the HTC Titan. Visible from space. Oh well, a little exaggeration won't hurt. But as far as we can tell, they certainly wanted it big enough to see from Finland.
Microsoft have a thing going on up north that they want to explore. But old-time partners HTC won't take the cold shoulder. They are honoring their part of the agreement and making a big statement.
The size of the Titan aside, the message HTC are sending is loud and clear. Nokia will be instrumental in shaping the future, essential to fulfilling the vision of a third ecosystem. But here we are, delivering here and now.

HTC Titan
The Titan is among the first WP7 Mango phones to make it to the market. It’s the biggest too – and likely to stay this way for quite a while. And although it feels good to think HTC were keen to show to newly-fledged allies Nokia what’s what, the size of the phone is more than just muscle flexing.
Many upgraders will be looking at the Titan and the bigger screen is the right thing to show them. Otherwise the doubters would’ve been right to ask: why Titan and not a Mango-running HD7. But the display is not the only upgrade over last year’s Windows Phone flagship.

Key features:

• Massive 4.7" 16M-color S-LCD capacitive touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• Dual-band 3G with HSDPA 14.4 Mbps and HSUPA 5.76Mbps
• Windows Phone 7.5 Mango OS
• 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon CPU, Adreno 205 GPU 512MB RAM
• 8 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash, 28mm wide-angle lens, F2.2 aperture and BSI sensor
• Hardware camera button
• 720p video recording @30fps
• Ample 16GB of built-in storage
• Standard 3.5mm audio jack
• Standard microUSB port (charging)
• Wi-Fi b/g/n
• Stereo Bluetooth 2.1
• Mobile Office document viewer/editor
• Social network integration and cloud services
• Built-in A-GPS receiver
• Stereo FM Radio with RDS
• Comes with HTC Hub and exclusive HTC apps

Main disadvantages:

• A bit on the gigantic side
• Screen size stretches the resolution a little thin
• Non-expandable storage
• No mass storage
• Zune only file management and sync
• No Flash (nor Silverlight) support in the browser
• No native video calls
• No DivX/XviD video support (automatic transcoding provided by Zune)

We already let a spoiler slip in our recent shootout. The Titan is an impressive cameraphone. It falls short in the video recording department but the lack of Full HD video is a platform limitation. Dual-core support is yet to come to Windows Phone 7. The HTC Titan is no slowpoke though on its 1.5 GHZ processor.
It’s got the typically solid HTC build too. The phone sure looks a handful but not as scary as some may think. The Metro UI plays its part here too. The Windows Phone 7 interface is good-looking and offers a novel software experience. The first generation didn’t quite get everything right but the Mango update is a big step forward.
Mango has enabled multitasking and improved the overall experience, while HTC are lending some of their custom add-ons to a package with already solid Office and Organizer credentials and deep social network integration.
The HTC Titan is a quick ticking smartphone – responsive and well connected. It’s a capable cameraphone too, well above the usual HTC standards. Plus, the OS is out of its teens and ready to be taken seriously.

HTC Sensation XE review: The eXtended Edition

Introduction

No breaking news here. More of a developing story. The HTC Sensation XE is a shiny new release that lets you catch up on the latest from HTC Android lineup. A luxury edition for audiophiles with some extra kick squeezed out of the CPU. Old song to a new tune, if you will. But we wouldn’t frown at the sound of it. After all, it's the sound that counts.

HTC Sensation XE official photos
Beats Audio is a big part of the deal in the new Sensation XE. HTC have teamed up with Beats by Dr. Dre to boost the phone's credentials to audio purists. There's special sound processing on the inside and a Monster iBeats headset in the box.
The other things they tinkered with are the processor and battery. The two cores are now ticking at 1.5 GHz and the battery's been beefed up to 1730 mAh. The rest is familiar but by no means boring. The HTC Sensation is a dual-core super droid with a massive 4.3 qHD touchscreen, 8MP stills and Full HD video.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
• 14.4 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
• 4.3" 16M-color capacitive LCD touchscreen of qHD resolution (540 x 960 pixels); Gorilla glass
• Android OS v2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense 3.0
• 1.5 GHz dual Scorpion CPUs, Adreno 220 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8260 chipset
• 768 MB RAM and 1 GB of app storage
• Beats audio enhancement and premium Monster ibeats headset
• 8 MP autofocus camera with LED flash; face detection and geotagging
• 1080p and 720p video recording @ 30fps
• Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA
• GPS with A-GPS
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• microSD slot up to 32GB (16 GB card included)
• Accelerometer, proximity and ambient light sensor
• Front facing camera with video calls
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v3.0
• MHL TV-out (requires a MHL-to-HDMI adapter)
• Smart dialing, voice dialing
• DivX/XviD video support
• HTC Locations app
• HTCSense.com integration
• HTC Portable Hotspot
• Ultra-fast boot times (if you don’t remove battery)
• Office document editor

Main disadvantages

• Death grip issues for both GSM and Wi-Fi radios
• Less than impressed with the screen's outdoor performance
• Unimpressive camera results
• No dedicated camera key
• microSD is under the battery cover (you'll lose all wireless signal when open the cover)

Sony Ericsson did it with the Xperia arc S and Samsung must've lost count of the Galaxy S sequels. Why have one flagship when you can have two seems to be the common thinking. The XE is not a replacement of the original Sensation. It's a special edition with very specific targeting. Brand spanking new - yes! Groundbreaking - no! Worth it? Well, we're about to see.
The build and finish are nearly identical to the original model, but for the BeatsAudio logo and red color accents. Those seem to make quite a lot of difference and to us the Sensation XE is the better looking phone. And HTC did well to make it easily recognizable.

The HTC Sensation XE at ours
So, how will the two flagships get along? This isn't going to be a rivalry we think. The Sensation XE has a very specific target and the original Sensation can only benefit from a price drop - albeit a minor one. There's a six month gap between the two. Too soon for releasing a massive upgrade but enough time for the initial excitement to wane.
It's a sensible move from HTC to try and rekindle the love. And they did well to give the new version a unique selling feature. But is it worth the extra asking price? Always a legitimate question, this one is even more pertinent given HTC's usually steep pricing. To be fair though, the Monster headset alone pretty much offsets the premium.
Well, anyone can do their own math. Now, let's do ours. The usual set of benchmarks, audio and screen tests, and image samples will help us know the Sensation XE better. As usual though, we start with the hardware.