Shadow 2009 Quick Review
From AllShadow.com Wiki
Contents |
Read the Full Review
Click here to read the full allshadow.com review
Introduction
This is the Shadow 2009. Many of you have waited anxiously for this day. I know many of you are wondering how this compares to the Shadow 2008. How well does the UMA work? Is it worth an upgrade? Keep reading this review for the answers you seek. (All Pictures are linked to higher quality images)
Quick Stats:
- 260mhz Processor
- 2.0 MP camera with video recording
- Music and multimedia player
- Wifi and T-Mobile HotSpot capable
- microSDHC support up to 8GB (according to documentation, we believe up to 32GB, stay tuned)
- Windows Mobile 6.1
- Syncs with Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Office Mobile (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Onenote mobile)
- Bluetooth (A2DP stereo Bluetooth as well)
- Speakerphone and voice-activated dialing
- MyFaves
- Four instant-messaging clients built in: AOL, ICQ, Windows Live and Yahoo!
- Quad Band World Phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE/Wi-Fi
- 1.6 inch, 320×240 pixels, 64K QVGA display
- Dimensions: 2.05 x 4.06 x 0.59 inches; 5.29 ounces
- UMA support: HotSpot@Home calling over Wi-Fi
Review Date: January 27th, 2009
Picture Highlights
| Unboxing, part I | Unboxing, part II |
| 
|
| Compared to the 2008 Shadows, this device is much sleeker with rounded corners and warmer color scheme. The 20 Key keyboard still matches the layout from 2008 and support T9 input as well as ABC and 123. The Shadow 2009 does have the NEO interface as well as the Windows Mobile 6.1 Sliding Panel interface that many of you have grown to love. With its increased processing power the NEO interface doesn’t slow down the device as much as on the 2008 Shadow. The slide is just as smooth. The buttons on the front have been rounded off and are not as pronounced as on the 2008 Shadow. The Center-Select on the Scroll Wheel has increased in size. | Mentioned previously, UMA, or HotSpot@Home Calling, works over Wi-Fi. The T-Mobile Customer Care rep I spoke with said that you will need the T-Mobile router for this. HOWEVER, the UMA calling has worked flawlessly over the Wi-Fi routers that I have without incident. The UMA hardware allows a seamless transition between the Wi-Fi network and the cellular network when moving from location to location. For less than $10 a month you can have unlimited minutes using UMA. This feature is a main selling point for the Shadow 2009. This type of functionality is useful for anyone that spends a large amount of time in Wi-Fi areas like universities and office buildings. It is also helpful when there is little or no cell signal. |
Overall Impression
Overall, the 2009 Shadow is an improvement over the 2008 model. The UMA is an immensely valuable feature that should sell the phone by itself. If it hadn’t shown up in my mailbox for free (as in air) I would definitely buy one. Rumor on the street is that the 2009 Shadow will sell for $400 outright or a for $250 with a partial upgrade and $50 mail in rebate. The money you can save in minutes alone with the UMA will definitely put those precious dollars back in your pocket.
I am looking forward to using the Shadow 2009 over the next few weeks and will definitely keep you updated. If there is something you want to know more about, be sure to post in the comments.
