Smart-ish phone recommendations

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signz

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Master Geek

#16422 9-Oct-2007 19:32

OK, now don't laugh ...

I'm gettin' a bit old and the eyesight aint what it was so last time I needed a new phone I bought what I call my GrandDad phone ... a Vodafone / Sagem cheapie with BIG fonts and high contrast. Not a bad phone if all you want are phone calls.

It's time to go upwards a bit and get some Bluetooth, a wee bet of email access and Outlook calendar sync. I have a Vodem for occasional web access so I'm not fussed about data access but if that comes then good.

Many of the devices I see I can't focus on the tiny, fine fonts even with glasses so I want something with decent fonts.

Recommendations ...?

Dale

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#90313 9-Oct-2007 19:39

All Symbian and Windows Mobile devices have an option to change font size, so you should be ok. As for browsing, if you use Vodafone live! a lot, Windows Mobile may not be the choice. But if you browser web sites, then it will work ok.

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jmosen

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#90384 10-Oct-2007 04:59

If the standard ability to adjust fonts on operating systems such as Symbian isn't enough, there is specialised magnification software available for both Windows Mobile and Symbian. Check out http://www.nuance.com/talks or http://www.codefacory.es

Jonathan

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#90389 10-Oct-2007 07:03

You can also add whatever Font you like to Symbian 3rd Edition phones, although its not a feature so much as a hack. . .

If you want recommendations then we could really do with your prospective budget, and an idea about which features are unimportant to you (camera, multimedia etc).

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signz

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Master Geek

#90396 10-Oct-2007 08:31

If you want recommendations then we could really do with your prospective budget, and an idea about which features are unimportant to you (camera, multimedia etc).

+ Bluetooth for headset
+ Email sync (IMAP)
+ Outlook Contacts / Calendar

~ Camera would be useful be not essential

- MP3 / AAC
- Video
- Vodafone Live

Mainly for phone and maybe 10 texts a month. Limited email usage for when I am away from a computer.

Don't want to spend $1,000 ... $500 should do the job, less if possible.

DS

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#90397 10-Oct-2007 08:33

Vodafone is about to release a couple of Windows Mobile handsets that will be on that price range - and this time with access to Vodafone live...

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#90461 10-Oct-2007 13:51

I'd just go for the best Symbian/Windows Mobile device in your desired price range, they should all have what you're looking for.

I don't know WM so I'll just discuss some Symbian phones:

For $528 at Parallel Imported the Nokia 5700 would probably be the best value at around that price point, you can the Khaki one from Vodafone online for $549 if purchasing a PI phone isn't for you (why not save a few dollars though, since its available through Vodafone its fully supported anyways).

If you could stretch a little more then the Nokia E65 ($639 at PI, $649 from Vodafone online) would probably be well worth it for its WiFi features. I find WiFi indispensable for browsing at the increasing number of WLAN areas around Auckland, and soon I'll have a wireless router at home and use it for VoIP calling and media streaming.

If WiFi is truly completely unimportant (which is only really likely if you've never known the convenience of it) then PI has the N73 and N91 8GB at around the same price point (different pros and cons, no WiFi on N73 but better 3mp camera, whereas N91 has the 8GB storage and WiFi a worse camera and is an ugly brick IMO).

Finally for only a little more at $669 PI has the N80, which is like all of the above but with no compromises anywhere really.

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signz

95 posts

Master Geek

#90471 10-Oct-2007 14:18

Thanks.

I hadn't really considered Wi-Fi options in a phone but this could be handy (airport lounges etc).

I'll look into it ..

Ta

Dale

signz

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Master Geek

#93107 30-Oct-2007 23:22

Just as a bit of feedback .. (not criticism).

Based on the above I shelled out for a Nokia N80 ex-TradeMe ... sight un-seen but cheap.

Nice phone, does a lot (have not tried Wi-Fi and IMAP yet but soon). But ... MAN ... is the screen and fonts TINY or what!!

The official word is that fonts on N80 cannot be resized.

So I bought a font magnifier app (EUR 9.95) and it blows the fonts up but in parts they no longer fit in their hole ... they get the tops clipped off in many places.

Contrast is also not so hot with pretty wallpaper etc. I have a solid white-on-black theme ready to try ...

Please Mr NZtechfreak do not take offence but my initial question was on big fonts and high contrast. In this area my Vodafone / Sagem "Granddad phone" eats the N80 for a morning snack. The Sagem is a really "dumb" phone but really easy to read.

There are SO many posts on the 'net relating to the N80 and it's tiny fonts. Just a shame I didn't look first.

So now it comes down to which of my kids gets the N80 when I replace it next month with something I can read ...

Dale

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#93141 31-Oct-2007 14:19

signz:

Please Mr NZtechfreak do not take offence but my initial question was on big fonts and high contrast. In this area my Vodafone / Sagem "Granddad phone" eats the N80 for a morning snack. The Sagem is a really "dumb" phone but really easy to read.

Why would I take offence when I can help?

Try this http://darlamack.blogs.com/darlamack/2007/05/changing_fonts_.html and look here too for some more advice (some stuff about N80 specifically too): http://www.symbian-freak.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5957&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 On page 12 you'll see someone with a large font that may be just you're looking for.

You can then change things around to your hearts content then until you get your ideal font/size, and I presume that'll fix your problem.

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