Joining the EF51, the EF71 is BenQ-Siemens' second music phone, complete with MP3 and WMA playback, a 2 Megapixel camera, microSD memory expansion and USB 2.0 connectivity.
 Representing BenQ-Siemens second stab at a music phone, the aluminum-encased EF71 will join the EF51 in the maker's hitherto anemic line-up of tunes-toting handsets. A clamshell, the EF71 supports playback of MP3, WMA and AAC formats, letting users manhandle a 10-band equalizer on its 2.2-inch internal colour display. An external monochrome OLED display is also present for presenting playback information, whilst memory is courtesy of a bundled 256 MB microSD card.
In addition to its musical prowess, the tri-band GSM model also offers a 2 Megapixel camera for shooting stills and recording video. Files can be transferred to PCs either by way Bluetooth or USB, the latter of which enables laptop-toting road warriors to skip the charger whilst on the go.
Price and availability
Slated for introduction in the third quarter of 2006, BenQ-Siemens did not disclose any information concerning the expected pricing of the EF71.
More music phones coming soon
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Sony Ericsson W700i
Score: 65% When: May 2006 Worth: €350
With 256 MB of bundled memory and a 2 Megapixel camera sans autofocus, the W700i is, in essence, a W800i light - although with speedy USB 2.0 as a welcome addition. Numerous software installs present something of a hassle, but the handset itself offers the Sony Ericsson interface we've come to know and love - background music playback included. Sound, screen and overall performance all qualify for the mid-range, as does battery life with approximately 3.5 hours of talk, 6 days of standby and 15 hours of music playback in its Walkman mode. Its €350 price tag renders the maker's own W550/W600i slightly cheaper, but the W700i remains our preferred choice due to a better overall score. |
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Motorola ROKR E2
When: August 2006
Read the full article » The ROKR E2 makes for a relatively nondescript candy-bar phone -- indeed, when we first laid eyes on it, we mistook it for one of Moto's new MOTOFONE handsets. But the ROKR E2 boasts some serious music abilities under its modest hood. Apple iTunes support is gone; instead, you get a snazzy MP3/WMA music player, plus Bluetooth with stereo headset support and a standard stereo jack for high-end earbuds. You also get streaming iRadio stations, USB 2.0 for bone-rattling data transfer speeds, SD memory expansion (up to 2GB), and a 1.3 megapixel camera. Unfortunately, still no word on when -- or if -- the ROKR E2 will ever arrive stateside.
Read the full article » |
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