For the past few years at the CTIA show, CNET has chosen our favorite products, and here in Orlando, Florida, we're glad to do it again. Products are selected on a variety of factors including design, features, and innovation in three main categories: best cell phone, best smart phone, and best cell phone accessory.
Sometimes our picks become big winners when they're introduced, and sometimes they don't live up to our full expectations, but our 2006 picks fared pretty well over the last year. And without further ado, we present CNET's Cream of the Crop for CTIA 2007:
Samsung Upstage phone side
(Credit: Samsung)
Samsung Upstage MP3 side
(Credit: Samsung)
Coolest cell phone: Samsung Upstage
Samsung and Sprint hit CTIA in full force when they announced the U.S. version of the Samsung Ultra Music the day before the show began. The Upstage earns points not only because it's completely innovative but also because it's actually a decent phone too. The unique dual-sided design successfully integrates a cell phone and an MP3 player into one device. You can listen to music, watch streaming video, take pictures, and yes, you can make calls too. It has its quirks to be sure and it's not for the gadget-phobic, but on the whole it's a sleek, satisfying device with admirable performance. Just be advised that during your first couple sessions, a dose of patience is needed. Again, it's not perfect, but it's a very positive step in a new direction. Indeed, it just makes us excited for the next-generation model. For a full report on the Upstage, read our review. We liked Sony Ericsson's slick new Walkman phone, the W580.
HTC Advantage
(Credit: HTC)
Coolest smart phone: HTC Advantage
To be perfectly honest, 3GSM World Congress stole a lot of thunder from CTIA 2007 when it came to introducing new smart phones. The event in Spain saw the debut of the HTC Vox, Motorola Q q9, three new Nokia E series phones, and much more. So what did that leave for CTIA? Well, not much. But that's not a bad thing since many of the companies announced plans to bring these models to the United States, including what we think was the coolest smart phone: the HTC Advantage. OK, we know the Advantage is more than just a smart phone, but we have to reward it for its innovation.The portable gadget features an 8GB hard drive, Windows Mobile 6 Professional Edition, a 5-inch VGA touch screen, and a magnetically connected full QWERTY keyboard. In addition, it's stacked with all the wireless connections you'd ever want (quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS/EDGE; 3G (UMTS/HSDPA), Bluetooth 2.0, and Wi-Fi. We're really looking forward to checking out this device when it's released in the summer. Also worth a mention is the much-coveted and now U.S.-bound Nokia N95.
Cardo S-800
(Credit: CNET)
Coolest cell phone accessory: Cardo S-800
The Cardo S-800 is our pick of favorite accessory due to one simple factor: it fits a lot of features in one tiny package. The lightweight 0.38-ounce Bluetooth headset is stylish and compact, with a lot of brainpower inside its petite form. Some of the more interesting features include a battery status indicator, a headset location buzzer, a missed call indicator, and even a "hot-dialing" button that lets you call up to three of your favorite contacts. As for sound quality, the S-800 also has a dual-microphone system that cancels out background noise. We look forward to reviewing the headset first-hand later this year.
Kyocera E5000
(Credit: CNET Networks)
Honorable Mention: Kyocera E5000
We have to admit we were impressed with Kyoccera's offerings this year.That's not to say the company hasn't done good work before, but at this year's CTIA it struck a brave new path. Of the five phones it introduced in Orlando, a couple featured completely new stylish designs that stood out from the cell phone crowd. And while some of the new handsets are indeed thin, Kyocera is not blindly chasing the thin phone crowd with another Razr look-alike. Instead, they're being a bit more creative, and that's why the Kyocera E5000 earns an honorable mention. Its stainless body and S-shaped hinge thin profile make it quite the looker, and it looked even better in Kyocera's fancy booth. The promised features aren't bad either, with a music player, a microSD card slot, a 1.3-megapixel camera, and stereo Bluetooth. We're a bit concerned about the usability of the flat keypad, and we don't know how well it will perform when it hits the streets, but we can say one thing: it sure is pretty,
Nokia 5700
(Credit: Nokia)Though the announcement didn't officially happen at CTIA, today Nokia unveiled an update to one of my favorite phones, the Nokia 5300 Xpress Music. Like its predecessor, the Nokia 5700 Xpress Music boasts a strong music-like portfolio but adds a twisting base straight from the Nokia 3250. The camera is also upped to 2 megapixels.
The microSD card slot can accommodate 2GB cards (that's about 1,500 tracks), and you can listen to your tunes via stereo Blueooth or connect your own wired headphones to the included 3.5mm adapter plug. Or for less private affairs, you can blare music over the 5700's stereo speakers or get one of Nokia's wireless speaker options. Supported formats include WMA, MP3, AAC, AAC+, and MP4 files, and though you can't purchase music over the air, you can connect the phone to a PC and transfer files. The optimized music player features album art, playlists, an equalizer, and audio visualizations.
We don't know about North American availability, but if Nokia has a heart they'll give us a chance to play with the device. But if a U.S. carrier picks it up, we'll only lend our support if that carrier doesn't strip it out any GSM bands. T-Mobile did just that with the 5300 and we're not happy.
Work it, work it ...
(Credit: CNET Networks)Every year, CTIA puts on a technology fashion show featuring the latest handsets, accessories, wearable tech, and more. Billed as a "MUST SEE" event for media outlets, CNET TV starlette Veronica Belmont and I couldn't resist and grabbed some front-row seats to the Fashion in Motion show. We watched as some unenthusiastic models took to the runway showing off phones like the new Samsung Upstage and Sony Ericsson Z750, and did their best to make Bluetooth headsets look sexy. Yeah, no. Hey, I totally get that they're useful and functional accessories, but as we all know, fashion and function don't always go together. Granted, Bluetooth headsets have definitely come a long way in the looks department with semi-attractive models like the Aliph Jawbone but still, if you're not on a call, is it really necessary to walk around with it stuck in your ear? Don't even get cell phone editor Kent German started on that topic. *wink*
But you know what was the most disturbing thing I saw at the show? A product called eScent from Sensory Design & Technology of France. It's a little badge that you pin on your clothing, which releases a scent based on your "biological conditions." So if you're digging that guy or gal you've been eyeing across a room, it'll release one fragrance (they didn't specify what the scent was), but if you feel threatened, it'll send out a different scent. Umm, what?!
Sony Ericsson Z550
(Credit: Sony Ericsson)At CTIA we caught a few other phones at the Sony Ericsson booth that aren't in our Sony Ericsson line show. The Sony Ericsson Z550 is a flip phone with a vertically oriented external display (quite the trend right now). It sports a flip phone design, a form factor the company is becoming more comfortable with, and is available in sterling black or pearl copper. Features are mostly midrange and include a 1.3-megapixel camera, a memory card slot, a music player, a speakerphone, and an FM radio. As an tri-band (GSM 850/1800/1900), the Z550 is available in North America.
Sony Ericsson K810
(Credit: Sony Ericsson)We also spied the very cool Sony Ericsson K810 Cybershot. As an offshoot to the K800 Cybershot, the K810 offers all the usual Cybershot goodies such as a 3.2-megepixel camera, a lens cover, a Xenon flash with red eye reduction, and a new image optimization system you can use to fix exposure and adjust the contrast after you take your shot. You can save photos to the K810's memory card slot or upload them to a blog directly from the phone. Yet the coolest camera feature is a series of buttons on the left side of the keypad that allow you to change options like the image resolution and the self-timer without using the onscreen menus.
Other features include a music and video player, a TrackID for identifying unfamiliar songs, an FM receiver, stereo Bluetooth, and an infrared port. It runs on the GSM 900/1800/1900 bands but it doesn't supports 3G networks. And it won't be widely available in North America.
Motorola Razr Maxx Ve
(Credit: Motorola)Aside from the LG VX8700, Verizon has also announced the availability of the Motorola Razr Maxx Ve today. Quite possibly the most appealing Razr on the CDMA front, the Razr Maxx Ve is built of metal and glass and is only 0.59-inch thick. Its features are dazzling as well, and they include a 2.0-megapixel camera, a music player with access to V Cast Music, stereo Bluetooth, V Cast Video support, 60MB of internal memory plus a microSD card slot, text and multimedia messaging, GPS capabilities with access to VZ Navigator, and of course EV-DO support for all that streaming content. It is available exclusively through Verizon for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement, after a $50 rebate. The Razr Maxx Ve will be available both online and in Verizon stores starting April 24.
Motorola W218
(Credit: Motorola)Motorola wants to prove that your cell phone can look like a million bucks without actually having to empty your bank account. The company introduced four new models to its Motomobile line at CTIA 2007--all offering chic designs at an affordable price. The quartet includes:
- Motorola W218: A sleek candy bar-style GSM handset that offers all the basics, plus a VGA camera and FM radio.
- Motorola W360: Another slim bar GSM phone with an emphasis on music capabilities. The company calls it a "multimedia device for the masses." The 360 has MP3 ringtones, an FM radio, 5MB of user-accessible memory, a VGA camera with 4x zoom, and a speakerphone.
- Motorola W380: Flip phone design with support for text, multimedia, and instant messaging. The GSM W380 has a VGA camera with 4x zoom, an FM radio, and can also act as a storage device.
- Motorola W395: Last but not least, the W395 offers a clamshell design with a metal front cover. Features include a 1.3 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities and Bluetooth.
All phones are expected to ship during the second half of 2007, but no details have been released about pricing or carrier. Now, typically we'd also have a lovely slide show of all of Motorola's new phones for your viewing pleasure, but I'm currently experiencing technical difficulties here in Orlando (maybe it's all the heat, I don't know). So bear with me while I tinker away on my laptop, and hopefully I'll have something for you soon.
LG VX8700
(Credit: Verizon)Though we've seen the LG VX8700 at the LG booth at CTIA, we weren't allowed official information about all the important carrier details--despite the glaringly obvious "Verizon" logo emblazoned on its front surface. However, Verizon has finally let the cat out of the bag and officially announced that, yes, it will indeed carry the LG VX8700 in its lineup. This means that in addition to all the multimedia goodness already in the handset (a 2.0-megapixel camera, a music player, and a video recorder, just for starters), the VX8700 will also support V Cast video and V Cast Music. It'll also be compatible with VZ Navigator, Verizon's GPS turn-by-turn navigation service. Other goodies include a microSD card slot, voice-recording capabilities, stereo Bluetooth, speakerphone, and EV-DO support. Expect the VX8700 to be available on the Verizon Web site starting April 6, and in Verizon stores starting April 17. After a $50 rebate, it will cost you $179.99 with a two-year service agreement.
The UTStarcom PCS-1450 is an upgraded version of the PCS1400, pictured here
(Credit: CNET)UTStarcom has unveiled a third phone at CTIA today, which is in addition to the CDM-7026 and the CDM-7076 phones announced earlier this week. Described as an ultra-thin candybar handset, it was nowhere to be found at the UTStarcom booth yesterday, but we did get word that it is unofficially titled the UTStarcom PCS1450. An upgrade to the UTStarcom PCS1400 (otherwise known as the Virgin Mobile Slice), the PCS1450 maintains the same super-slim lightweight profile as its predecessor but amps it up with two additional features: a VGA camera and Bluetooth support. We'll try to get an image of the phone and post it up here shortly, but the UTStarcom rep assured us it'll look quite similar to the PCS1400. I'm sure you're tired of hearing this, but pricing and availability is unknown at this point.
Samsung F700
(Credit: CNET Networks)Samsung gave us a nice surprise today at CTIA, when it showed us the sleek, high-end Ultra Edition phones that it first unveiled at 3GSM last month. In addition to the U700, U600 and U100, Samsung also highlighted the F700 QWERTY phone. It was under glass and devoid of any handy signs detailing its features, but the slider phone is obviously meant for messaging addicts.
Samsung Ultra Video
(Credit: CNET Networks)Since Samsung made such a big statement at CTIA with the debut of its dual-sided UpStage for Sprint we think the least the company could do is bring us a U.S. version of its Ultra Video as well. The Ultra Video looks like the Upstage, but it features a unique and sexy swivel design that allows you to balance the phone on a table for easy viewing. Also called the F500, the GSM Ultra Video made its debut last December at an electronics show in Hong Kong. We like its slick styling and are eager to see if it's any good in the real world.
