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Samsung have recently released the Z560 which has come just in time to shake up the technological world.

Packed with high-speed 3G HSDPA technology, the mobile gives out 4 times faster connection speeds than traditional 3G services, which is 1.8 megabits per second connection speeds. Not only does it allow you to access the internet from the handset, you are also able to hook up the phone to your laptop and use the new technology as a modem, allowing the user to surf online wherever and whenever. Because of T-Mobiles generous plans, you can get web‘n’walk plus unlimited Internet on your laptop with Instant Messenger at £12.50 per month, which isn’t bad!

The phone itself is extremely light, weighing in at only 94 g. This makes up for the fact that it’s quite a handful, being 51.3 mm in width. This may not come as a surprise to frequent Samsung users, as many of their handsets are quite large in width compared to such phones as the Nokia 6111 which is only 47mm.

The front fascia of the Z560 is nothing special, the only new additions being the external LCD screen which shows a clever analog clock, and touch sensitive buttons to control playing media files whilst having the phone closed. It seems as though Samsung where trying to implement as much ‘clever’ technology as possible, forgetting that the phone has to be practical also. The touch screen buttons are a disaster, not mapping the user’s actions on every click. Although being a good idea to keep the front of the phone flush, the buttons are more of a pain then practical. The analogue clock was a nice idea, but it only stays visible for 3 seconds, and then disappears, making the phone look as if it has been turned off. There is also no way to bring any lights back on the phone unless you open up the phones itself, which can get annoying when all you want to do is see the time.

Turning to the side of the phone, on the right there are two features, the first being the external camera button which is a Godsend when you wish to take a quick photo. The second feature is a MicroSD card slot which allows you store music, video and other data without taking up your phones memory. For this phone, the memory card is a must, as the phones internal memory is a tiny 30mb, unusual for such a new phone.
On the other side of the phone there are two other features, a volume button which is standard on most new phones, and also the charger and headphone socket. Samsung have redesigned the cover for the input devices, which to me seem very weak. The Z560’s predecessors where designed to have a sliding cover for the inputs, which is practical and easy to use. The Z560 has flimsy covers which are almost certain to snap with constant use, which is a major problem as these features are areas which the user will use almost every day.

Screen:
As for the inside of the phone the TFT 256K colors screen (240 x 320 pixels, 2.3 inches) is a nice feature as the images are sharp and can display a good amount of data. The screen is extremely bright and clear to read, along with the good size text for the time.

Menu:
The main menu itself is a standard Samsung menu, which is easy to navigate and understand. Calling someone has gone onto new levels, by having fancy text for the numbers, which you can change according to how you feel. There is a ‘quill pen’ feature which is mainly for the younger users, which draws out the number as you type. Samsung have really showed attention to detail with this area of the phone.

Keypad:
The keypad itself is nice to use. The keys are sat flush in the phone, but are still easy to press. The quick access buttons are again a handy feature, allowing you to access different applications with a click of a button. These are also customizable so you can set which button carries out which action.  

Camera:
The 2 mega-pixel camera was a real letdown for the phone. The images are grainy and the videos are very slow. Even the preset video on the phone shows just how bad the quality is, something not expected from such an advanced piece of technology. I compared the cameras 2 mega-pixel quality against the Nokia 6111’s 1 mega-pixel camera, and the outcome was surprising. I found the Samsung blurred objects around the edges and the overall image was poor, the same with the video quality.

Bluetooth:
The Bluetooth option on the phone is as good as any, connecting to surrounding devices instantly, and sending items at high speeds.

HSDPA:
The selling point of this phone is the 3.6Mbps HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) feature. Surfing the web on the phone is an experience in itself, as you can enjoy fast access and high-speed downloads. What is more exciting is using the phone as a modem.
Connecting the phone up is easy. The Handset comes with a CD to install on your computer, and once installed, your laptop picks up the modem, and asks you to dial up. The modem provides users with speeds up to 236.8 kbps, which isn't bad from such a small handset. Laptop users are advised to switch off any internet services on the machines before they hook up their Samsung modem to ensure full usage.  Surfing the web with this phone is also very cost efficient when using the T-Mobile web’n’walk. It allows full unlimited Internet access, giving you the ability to surf what you want, when you want, where you want, all for just £12.50 a month.

Games:
The games on the Z560 are quite surprising. Lurking in a ‘virtual pet’ game I found Samsungs technology rearing its head again. The ‘Mpet’ game allows users to adopt a pet dog, and watch it grow and learn. What is unique about this game is that the more you use you phone, and the more you sent SMS text messages, the faster your pet grows.

Summary:
The HSDPA technology reached its potential. The ring tones are dire, but can be adapted to suit the users preferences, so it isn’t a major flaw. The games on the phone are not for everyone, and although the phone is aimed at the ‘business person’ the Mpet idea is extremely enjoyable, allowing more interaction with the user and the phone.
The cameras quality was a real let down, not something I expected from Samsung, but the battery life for the Samsung was fantastic, only going down slightly over the course of a few days.

Click here to read a previous article on the Samsung Z560