Sidekick 4G Full Review T-Mobile Phone

On the surface, the batch of T-Mobile Sidekick 4G as older models that uses T-Mobile Sidekick for sale. Has the same basic design - a great slide-up screen as the centerpiece of a symmetrical arrangement aimed primarily at the messages, but looks can be deceiving. Danger, the company that made the Sidekick line of origin was bought by Microsoft several years ago, leading to the final of the "old" device and a long break in new versions. T-Mobile still owns the Sidekick brand, which is now trying to revive the manufacture of a device by the partner company of Samsung.

More importantly, the former owner "Danger operating system" has disappeared, replaced by an open smartphone platform and fully operational in the character of Google Android OS. With an MSRP of $ 100 with a news service, and after a $ 50, T-Mobile Sidekick is the new and improved almost the same market as the new equipment was used, namely, the entry level messaging crowd. But with their backs respectable hardware and a complete smartphone platform, the Sidekick has the potential to attract younger than text messages.

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Sidekick 4G ergonomics make it clear that this device is primarily intended to use it to "open the keyboard" mode messaging Mobile phone. When most of the moving vehicle equipment is designed so that the navigation buttons are all "bottom" and the display when the keyboard is closed, the Sidekick buttons are located on both sides, so they are convenient for the thumbs. This is a compromise - making them a bit 'easier to get when you enter the cost of making them less useful when you use the traditional grip with one hand.
This device is quite long, even more than the Motorola Pro Droid with a keyboard below the screen plate. It strikes a good balance, however, ensure that you do not feel uncomfortable in your hand, no matter how you oriented. I also gave the Samsung because the calculation of the Micro-USB port for exactly the right place, even if connected, can not be the same way, either vertically or horizontally
Display

The sliding mechanism 4G Sidekick is different. Instead the screen just freely slides up to reveal the keyboard, it asks you to press a certain part of the edge of the screen, which in turn leads to very open. It took me a few minutes to get used to but after that it becomes second nature. The way it locks the screen can provide a spring, while ensuring that the device will pop open in your pocket by accident.
Although he had hands to have the minimum required screen Android, Samsung ponied and gave a nice display of 800 x 480 WVGA. At 3.5 inches, it is less "high end" Android models sporting 4-inch screens. and a half inches might not seem like much, of course, but when you talk about screen size on the diagonal, going from 3.5 to 4 inches means 30% more space on the first screen. Sidekick yet still leaves plenty of space for web browsing more, while displaying the same resolution - meaning that as long as you have good eyes, you do not lose any details in relation to a larger screen.
Keyboard

At first glance, 4G Sidekick keyboard rather flat and potentially uncomfortable. Again, look cheat. In actual use, not just the buttons usable, they are extremely comfortable. Each button is easy to find, and has excellent tactile response. I knew a shorter pass probation 4G Sidekick keyboard I have for almost all other thumb keyboards I've worked with on a day I was happily typing and texting as I never needed anything else. In fact, it is one of the most comfortable thumb keyboards I've used with little or no need for adjustment. The buttons are fairly distributed even though they are easy to find and press, and they have a very good key travel and feedback. The keys are well lit at night. This is the kind of keyboard that fits perfectly into his role as best friend texts.
Interestingly, however, this device is the keyboard is not quite normal. Of course, this is a fifth row of number keys at the top, which is both comfortable and convenient, but also contains a series of links that are rare, but common sense telephone messaging. As is common emoticon shortcuts, such as smiles, hearts, and a button, which is devoted entirely to the @ character. All punctuation marks is readily available, and the only thing that might need to look around, probably because of an exclamation point, that is an alternative to the sign "1".
For reasons beyond my understanding, the left shift key, pink hot, even if all black sidekick 4G model. Like the color of the signature of T-Mobile, I think the company could not resist pushing his face.

Other Buttons And Controls

While the keyboard itself is nicely backlit, four navigation buttons are not, so you sometimes fumbling in the dark to find them. Although not strictly necessary, it would be useful to have such enlightened too.

At one end of the apparatus, the right side when opened, the Sidekick has a small optical trackpad that acts as a management control. In the past I had much less happy experiences with this type of sensors. In my experience, tend to be less accurate than it would be, often moving several notches at once, making it difficult to use for precise navigation type that were theoretically. That was to my pleasant surprise that there seems to be pressing the operation of the idea. Unlike its predecessors, is very precise and does not scroll off violently to the slightest touch.

This does not necessarily mean that I love more than a "conventional" directional pad. There is also the fact that you have to keep your finger to use, it is not ergonomic. But it is very compact and provides independent control of the management of a small amount of space that never fit into a D-pad. Given the choice between no control and optical, the optical drive is sometimes a welcome convenience.

Like many recent games, fortunately Sidekick hides its microSD / SDHC under the battery cover, but you did not remove the battery to get the card. All other ports and controls of interest are entitled to free air, and relatively straightforward, the Micro-USB connector 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Video
Part 2 of this review is the performance of T-Mobile Sidekick 4G, while Part 3 is the conclusion. Do not miss the photo gallery.