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This story was printed from CNET Asia.
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Phones with touchscreen LCDs

By Damian Koh
13/06/2008
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39050603,62039375,00.htm

While phones with touchscreen LCDs are not new to the market, there aren't as many of them as compared with their PDA/handheld counterparts. So what we have done is compiled a list of handsets with touchscreen displays. If you've noticed, Nokia isn't mentioned in the list. Although the Finnish company released the 6708 model with a touchscreen display some years back, the upcoming S60 Touch interface is due only in the second half of this year. Though we expect that once it debuts, it should shake things up further. Until the official word is out, here are some touchscreen alternatives to get.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

1.  LG Viewty KU990
 
CNET Asia rating: 8.2 out of 10
The good: Touchscreen interface; 5-megapixel camera; HSDPA (3.5G); ability to upload videos straight to YouTube.
The bad: Lack of cover for the camera; lack of Wi-Fi; camera mode switch is a little tough to move.
The bottom line: This is one of LG's best phones yet. If you're looking for a good camera-phone, the LG Viewty is definitely worth checking out. From the vibrating touchscreen interface to the YouTube video capabilities and photo-editing app, we liked what it has to offer and think you will, too.

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2.  Sony Ericsson P1i    
 
CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10
The good: Compact design; 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus; responsive interface; FM radio and music player; office productivity applications; support for Exchange syncing.
The bad: No HSDPA; QWERTY keyboard takes some getting used to; thin stylus; requires optional accessory to use standard headphones.
The bottom line: The P series is now slim and compact but still remains feature-packed for business users. Those considering one will just have to get used to the uncommon space-saving keyboard layout.

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3.  LG Prada    
 
CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10
The good: Attractive design; large color screen; attractive user interface; world clock; FM radio.
The bad: Texting can be awkward; lack of autofocus on the camera; glossy surfaces attract fingerprints and face grease.
The bottom line: For a first-time collaboration between LG and Prada, this phone is a significant achievement that will get you noticed whenever you use it. Indeed, this is one of the most attractive handsets that we have seen so far, and while it's not perfect in every area, it keeps LG firmly at the top of the fashion phone market.

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4.  Sony Ericsson W950i Walkman    
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.7 out of 10
The good: 4GB onboard memory; good music quality; intuitive interface; large, crisp display; relatively good battery life for a smart phone.
The bad: No memory expansion; lacks Wi-Fi; weak tactile feedback from keypad; no Hold switch on the wired remote; no camera; bulky.
The bottom line: A generous built-in memory and overall good music features make the Sony Ericsson W950i yet another outstanding music-phone addition to the Walkman lineup.

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5.  Sony Ericsson M600i
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.7 out of 10
The good: Beautiful smart phone, with a slim silhouette, a large and bright QVGA touch screen; great design features such as a jog dial and a dual-function thumb keyboard; pleased with the multimedia functionality, integrated Bluetooth, speakerphone, sound quality, and the performance of the browser and RSS reader.
The bad: Lacks Wi-Fi, a camera, and quad-band support; phone crashed once in a while; no quick way to shut down applications.
The bottom line: The Sony Ericsson M600i is a great little smart phone that's big on style and features. Even though we wish it had a few extra functions and better performance, we still think this is an excellent smart phone for those who want a stylish smart phone in a small package.

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Click here for a feature comparison table.

6.  Motorola MING
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.3 out of 10
The good: Stylish design; handy size; transparent flip cover; bright LCD screen; Chinese handwriting recognition; Bluetooth stereo; business card reader; solid build quality.
The bad: 2.5mm audio jack; microSD slot placed beneath the battery; no 3G or Wi-Fi; shutter sound cannot be disabled; sluggish operation at times.
The bottom line: Despite the lack of onboard 3G and Wi-Fi, the Motorola MING is a compact yet capable smart phone that caters to the needs of mobile professionals.

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7.  Sony Ericsson G700
 
CNET Asia rating: 7 out of 10
The good: Nice, stubby buttons; dedicated keylock button; excellent ergonomics; 3G and Bluetooth stereo; images deliver punchy colors.
The bad: No Wi-Fi; camera doesn't have autofocus; sluggish performance.
The bottom line: The G700's appeal is its touchscreen LCD, but it also offers conventional controls that would likely appeal to users who want a bit of both worlds.

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8.  Giorgio Armani-Samsung
 
CNET Asia rating: 6.8 out of 10
The good: Compact size; sturdy casing.
The bad: Lack of 3G; Internet browser could be a lot better.
The bottom line: The Samsung Armani looks good, which is probably what you care about if you're thinking about buying a fashion phone. If you thought that just because the Armani had a touchscreen, it might be as good as something like the iPhone, or if you're after a smart phone, then think again.

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9.  Sony Ericsson W960i Walkman
 
CNET Asia rating: 6.4 out of 10
The good: 8GB onboard memory; great Walkman player; autofocus camera with dual-LED lights; Wi-Fi.
The bad: Uneven keypad lighting; poorly located Back button; no built-in 3.5mm audio port; dismal battery life; laggy performance.
The bottom line: The W960i Walkman may be the company's flagship music-phone, but its various shortcomings take away most of the hype on the handset.

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10.  Samsung SGH-F700
 
CNET Asia rating: 6 out of 10
The good: HSDPA; Bluetooth stereo; 3.5mm audio jack; microSD expansion card slot; handy keylock button; vibrating haptic feedback.
The bad: Lack of tactility on keyboard; Croix UI a letdown; doesn't sync properly with Microsoft Outlook.
The bottom line: While the F700 has a decent list of specifications, it is crippled by the choice of software used. Put simply, there are better alternatives out there.

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Click here for a feature comparison table.

1.  Motorola ROKR E6
 
CNET Asia rating: 6 out of 10
The good: Secure Digital card slot; 3.5mm audio jack; good build quality; doubles as Webcam; supports A2DP profile.
The bad: Slightly bulky; poorly located music controls; no onboard document editing applications; lack of hardware keypad can be a tad inconvenient at times.
The bottom line: Overall, the Motorola ROKR E6 is a decent multimedia phone but it lacks the extra oomph to set it apart from its Symbian and Windows Mobile smart phone competitors.

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2.  Sony Ericsson G900
 
First take
The Sony Ericsson G900 is part of the Japanese-Swedish company's series of Web-enabled phones and was announced at this year's Mobile World Congress. We got to spend a couple of days with this touchscreen Symbian UIQ smart phone. Here's what we think. Do note that this preview highlights the main differences between the G900 and G700.

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3.  Samsung SGH-F480
 
First take
We reviewed the SGH-F700 not too long ago and weren't impressed. Reason being it is hard to get touch user interfaces right and the Croix UI on the F700 just doesn't cut it in many areas. You can read about the specifics in our full review. Fortunately, we didn't have to go through the same thing with the SGH-F480. Although we had only some time with the F480 at a recent Samsung roadshow, we thought the Korean chaebol may have gotten the UI right with this upcoming touchscreen model.

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4.  LG KF700
 
First take
One of the three touchscreen phones announced at this year's Mobile World Congress, the KF700 combines three types of input methods on one handset. We take it for a spin to find out what this is all about.

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5.  Philips Xenium 9@9v
 
Max. talktime (in hours)8 hours
Max. standby time (in hours)720 hours
Additional functionsDual-SIM card

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