Impressed by the new Katana DLX

The Katana DLX doesn't look very interesting, but it does a lot of things well.

(Credit: CNET Networks, Inc.)

Looks truly aren't everything, as evidenced by this remarkable Sprint Katana DLX. While basic in appearance, this Sprint offering raises the bar in features.

Two words epitomize this gem: speed and availability. Live TV (though not via the superior DVB-H platform), fast Web access, a current--dare I say almost complete--over-the-air music list that easily justifies it's 99 cents per song download, a solid 1.3 megapixel camera, easy contacts transfer, supports up to a 4 gig microSD, etc.

And may I also add, call quality is excellent. It's from Sanyo, which may be the most underrated cell phone manufacturer around.

Oh...it's also very light, comfortable, and affordable. I continue to be amazed at what I discover. This ain't your brother's Katana. Wow!

[Sunfell]

I just got one myself

I picked one up last week to replace my ancient Nokia candy-bar phone. It is a lovely phone (I got the Champagne), but I had to bring the first one back and exchange it due to a firmware problem. The phone would totally lock up when I tried to access email, and required removal of the battery to reboot it. When I brought the phone back yesterday for exchange, the folks at the Sprint shop told me that they'd gotten a message about it that morning, and exchanged my phone. They also wrote down the 'fix' code to correct the problem if it occurred on my new phone.

I am happy to say that my replacement phone does not have this problem. It is remarkably quick to download stuff (unless the servers are busy), gets five bars in the basement where I work (a small miracle in itself), and sounds pretty good. And I am really glad that I got the "Wireless Backup" feature- I loaded my Contacts into my new phone within seconds after accessing it.

All in all, I think it was money well spent.

[bladejjpr]

What is the 'fix' code for the problem?

Sunfell, I got one myself too this past Monday and love it... but I'm having the same problem you described in your post with the e-mail feature. The interesting thing is that the problem happened at the store when the Sprint guy was showing me the new features of the phone but he thought the problem had to do with the Power Vision Network, not a bug in the phone.

Could you post the fix so I and others that might come a across this post and have the same problem can save themselves a trip to the store? I would like to save myself that trip and maybe having to reload my phone with my new ringers and applications.

Thanks

[bladejjpr]

Fix for the E-mail Application Issue

I found the fix online and though I should post it here too.

If your e-mail application freezes type the following string in your phone. ##EMAILRST#

It will ask if you really want to reset. You will say 'Yes', once it finishes resetting the phone will automatically restart and now you will be set.

Next time you click the e-mail app it should work.

It work for me.

The e-mail app is cool!!! I really love this phone. My last Sanyo phone MM-7400 was a really go phone but this one tops that phone.

[spharris73]

Katana DLX e-mail question for bladejjpr

Question about that e-mail freezing up on the Katana DLX's. How are you supposed to type that in after it freezes up?

When it re-sets the phone, what does it reset exactly? All the settings in the phone?

I've had this phone a few days and I'm not to impressed. I've gotten more lost signal strength than with my previous cell. Mine to was a Sanyo 7400. I know alot of phones going the internal antenna route but my Katana DLX with its internal antenna gets terrible signal strength.

[tc1uscg]

Katana 1 was the 1st step

Too bad Sanyo couldn't come up with better colors. My 13yo daughter has the first Katana. It has served her well. Now, she is getting a new phone. She picked the Samsun M510 over the katana DLX. Her input about the phone from a teen point of view makes sence. Her statement "dad, the dlx isn't as sleek or pretty like the 510" pretty much said it all from her standpoint.