Shadow 2009 In Depth Review
From AllShadow.com Wiki
Contents |
Read the Full Review
Click here to read the full allshadow.com review
Introduction
After spending a few quality weeks with the new 2009 Shadow it is time to write an in-depth review. In this review each image is linked to a higher quality image. This is going to be an in-depth review. Hopefully most of your questions will be answered. I will attempt to cover all angles and if need be follow up with an addendum.
The 2009 Shadow doesn’t have a different name from the older Shadow. It’s plain Shadow, although it is being called the HotSpot Enabled Shadow which can be confusing since the older Shadow already had Wi-Fi and could access HotSpots. Before it was released, we called it the Shadow 2/II. So to avoid any further confusion, from now on at AllShadow.com it will be referred to as the 2009 Shadow, Shadow 2009, S2009, S09, NotShadow2, ‘09 Shadow, and the New Shadow. Do not under any circumstances call it the UMA Shadow, because that wouldn’t make sense :-)
The Stats:
- UMA (more on that later)
- Faster Processor (260mHz)
- Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR
- Larger Battery (1100mAh)
- Windows Mobile 6.1 (more on this later)
- Accelerometer (or G-Sensor)
- Adjustable screen brightness
- JBlend (better java capability)
- Opera 8.65 (locked and hidden …for now)
Review Date: February 11, 2009
Picture Highlights
| 
|
| The Device | Weight wise it doesn’t feel much different. However because it is slightly thicker, it feels lighter. With the slide open it is a bit heavier towards the keypad so be careful when performing balancing acts. |
| 
|
| Internet Explorer Mobile, plus messaging (and other applications that have text) now has copy and paste. It’s easy to access and use from the Menu soft key. While it isn’t SkyFire it is still an improvement. | The new Photos and Videos application is an improvement. With a slideshow function with a few settings and smooth transitions you now can have your own little digital photo frame wherever you go. |
Overall Impression
The UMA Shadow is an improvement over the older Shadow. Being a somewhat basic Smartphone it isn’t a surprise that it lacks GPS. This shortcoming is quickly reconciled with Live Search, Google Maps or Navigon (not true GPS though). With the UMA functionality, it is targeted at users that spend a good deal of time near Wi-Fi connections, hence the lack of 3G. Being a successor in a line of phones the UMA Shadow doesn’t have too many stark differences. The UMA and faster processor alone make it worth the upgrade/purchase. If you lower your Plan minutes and sign up for the T-Mobile @Home plan the savings will pay for the phone within a year. Hack/Mod-ers should be excited to get their hands on this with some of the hidden goodies it contains.
Once you start using the UMA Shadow you will notice subtle differences that make it a more enjoyable device to use. It is definitely more polished than most Windows Mobile Standard phones. With a large user base T-Mobile has paid attention to many of us and our complaints about the older Shadow. While not throwing in the kitchen sink they have reached a compromise when it comes to price and features. A newcomer to Smartphones probably can’t imagine that you can watch video, subscribe to podcasts, host a server, play video games and more on a phone. If you want more from your phone and not stab your bank account in the back at the same time then I suggest the UMA Shadow to anyone (even you, Steve Jobs).
