HTC S740

Features

Enhanced features on the S740 include a higher-res 3.2-megapixel camera with fixed-focus lens (no onboard flash, though), faster Qualcomm MSM7225 528MHz processor, GPS with support for Assisted-GPS and 256MB RAM (four times that of the S730). Of course, the standard suite of connectivity features such as quad-band GSM radios, HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also available. The phone doesn't support 3G video calls, though, which is a real pity.

The S740 runs on the Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard edition with a rotating panel interface. This allows the user to access their appointments, call records, text messages, emails, weather updates, Internet browser, music player and settings directly from the standby menu. New features on the 6.1 Standard include the improved Home screen, easier initial setup, threaded SMS and new Internet Explorer Mobile. Click here to find out more. When you slide open the S740, the onboard accelerometer rotates the display to landscape orientation and an Action Menu with shortcuts to the messaging functions and Live Messenger appears.

Other features like push-email and productivity apps like Microsoft Office are standard fare. Additional preinstalled applications are a little on the barebones side, though. Our review unit didn't come with any navigation software, so we installed Google Maps on the device. We also downloaded the Opera Mobile 9.5 browser. Both programs worked as expected with the A-GPS giving us a lock on our position at under 30 seconds.

Performance

256MB of RAM and a 528MHz Qualcomm processor are plenty for most tasks. The device responded fast enough and we didn't notice any significant lag even when the screen switched from portrait to landscape, and vice versa. The 1,000mAh battery gave us slightly under three days of use which included making calls, sending text messages, using the navigation features, browsing the Web and syncing over-the-air with our Exchange server. The S740 has a rated talktime of 4 hours and slightly over nine days on standby.

Voice quality was good without any complaints, though we did wish the onboard speaker was a bit louder. As mentioned, the S740 doesn't support 3G video calls, so if it is a must-have feature, this WM handset is not for you. Without autofocus, our pictures turned out hits and misses. The rule of thumb here is to shoot further away from your subject. Where image quality is concerned, don't expect anything other than snapshot quality from the camera module.

Conclusion

The most pressing question here is what a dual-keypad device like the S740 can offer that its competitors can't. The answer is really up to the individual. During our review, we ended up using the numeric keypad most of the time because the width of the keyboard made it tiring to type for extended periods. The S740 may be a decent upgrade from the previous model, but with the number of QWERTY smart phones now available in the market, alternative choices are aplenty. Plus the price of the S740 isn't a deal breaker, either.

Tags: SIM Card, Nokia Corp., Keyboard, Camera, High Tech Computer Corp.

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