Just when we thought the Sidekick was totally dead, T-Mobile revived the iconic handset with a new manufacturer and new mobile operating system . Can we really call it a Sidekick?
It is definitely a Sidekick by my standards – I owned the Sidekick 2, Sidekick LX and the Sidekick 2008 (the small one with interchangeable shells) – and admittedly more fun than the previous versions.
T-Mobile Sidekick 4G
Android 2.2 Froyo
Satisfies what every Sidekick owner loves: form factor, excellent keyboard, great battery life
Runs Android instead of Danger OS, no longer prone to server crashes
A bit bulky compared to most Android phones these days
Physical camera key placement isn’t ideal directly across power/standby button
Hardware
The new Sidekick 4G is very easily recognizable as a Sidekick: its shape and size resembles the Sidekicks of yesteryear even though it’s now made by Samsung instead of Sharp – and the one time Motorola build the Sidekick Slide – and it has the four buttons on each corner that have been a staple of the line of messaging phones.
It’s not an anorexic device by any means, however, as we’ve grown accustomed to Android devices getting thinner each month. The Sidekick 4G is also a landscape device. The soft keyboard buttons are a bit too small to type accurately, so luckily there is Swype. The placement of the buttons begs you to use it in landscape mode, too. It’s the only Android device that comes immediately to mind without a dedicated search button. Some Sidekick users may lament the death of the swivel screen, as I do, but it seems that this slider screen is much better. When it’s open and revealing its keyboard, the screen angles towards the user – you.
Keyboard
The only two keyboards that have been extremely satisfying to use have been the ones on BlackBerry devices, and Sidekick handsets. The new Sidekick 4G doesn’t disappoint.
Like the Sidekick 2, it has individual keys that are nicely spaced and give great tactile feedback. The T-Mobile Sidekick 4G runs Android 2.2 Froyo. Android is really what saves the Sidekick line.
Across the seven home screens, the phone, apps and contacts buttons are a permanent fixture at the bottom, giving users ready and easy access to them most of the time. The jump key, which made the Sidekick great for shortcuts, remains. It replaces the long-press action for the home screen.
The home button serves two purposes: it takes you to the home screen whenever it’s pressed, and it brings down the notification pane with a long press. Web, Multimedia, Camera
Web Browser
The web browser is your standard Android browser, and it works pretty well but still has a few things that irk me as it does across all Android devices. Over T-Mobile’s 4G network, web pages loaded up pretty quickly. In terms of multimedia, Android still needs better music player options. Camera
Call Quality, Battery Life, Coverage
Call Quality
The call quality on the Sidekick 4G isn’t bad. Battery Life
T-Mobile says the Sidekick 4G’s battery life is rated for 6.5 hours of talk time and 19 days of standby time.
Coverage
Verdict: The Sidekick is back and better than ever
It’s running Android and not the Danger OS! Remember paying $1.99 for an alarm clock on the Sidekick LX?
tablet PC
tags :
download aplikasi android, news update, info, android wacth, android sidekick,android toast, sonos android, android 2.3.3
download aplikasi android, news update, info, android wacth, android sidekick,android toast, sonos android, android 2.3.3
