LATEST GADGETS: SPEAKER SYSTEM

Price: $249.95
Features:
Number of speakers: 4
Frequency response: 20kHz
Talk time: Up to 540 minutes
Standby time: Up to 200 hours
Power supply: AC power, battery
Pros:
Versatile, streamlined design, decent sound quality, doubles as hands-free speakerphone
Cons:
Slight hissing sound when connected via A2DP
The final word:
The Motorokr EQ7 is a versatile device that performs well for both music and mobile phone calls. This well-designed speaker system produces reasonable sound considering its size.
THE Motorokr EQ7 is an extremely versatile wireless speaker system. This UFO-shaped audio system provides A2DP Bluetooth audio streaming and a traditional audio-in jack, and acts as a wireless speakerphone for mobile phone conversations.
Taking into account its Motorokr branding and partnership with JBL, Motorola clearly considers the EQ7 first and foremost a music accessory. Although it is JBL branded, the EQ7 is distributed and sold solely by Motorola.
The design is definitely eye catching. A nice touch is the gloss black edging surrounding the unit and the chrome volume buttons on the front. The anti-slip rubber on the bottom ensures the speaker remains firmly in place on a desk or table. On top, the black speaker grill hides four transducers, while a bass port is located at the rear of the unit. In addition to steaming A2DP audio, the EQ7 has basic playback controls: volume, previous and next track and play/pause.
One of the best features of the EQ7 is its versatility. This unit is compatible with a whole range of devices, including iPods, notebook PCs, mobile phones that support A2DP and any device that supports a standard 3.5mm audio jack – including the iPhone and iPhone 3G.
We tested the EQ7 with a first-generation iPhone as well as the Nokia 6220 classic and were impressed with the results on the whole. Audio streaming from a mobile phone via the A2DP Bluetooth profile resulted in reasonable, but not outstanding sound. We have often criticised A2DP Bluetooth products in the past for poor audio quality, but the EQ7 doesn't fall into this category. Although distortion is evident at high volume, anything below this doesn't suffer. There is a slight, underlying hissing sound when connected via Bluetooth, but this isn't as noticeable as it is with many other A2DP units.
When connected via the standard 3.5mm audio jack, the EQ7 produces sound loud enough to fill a small room. A weakness is instrumental separation – in complex riffs individual elements can be lost, creating a somewhat muddy sound. Particularly impressive, however, is bass, which is punchy but not overpowering. For a small unit, the sound is fair. It's obviously not audiophile quality, but most people shouldn't have too many complaints.
Where the EQ7 also shines is in handling phone calls. When connected to a Bluetooth mobile phone, the unit acts as a hands-free speakerphone. If you are playing music when a phone call comes in, the music dims and the phone rings through the speaker. An answer call button allows you to take the call without touching your phone. Sound quality during calls is excellent and the microphone located just underneath the JBL logo is powerful enough to pick up your voice from a few metres away. Though it's marketed mainly as a music device, we feel the EQ7's speakerphone capabilities make it an ideal office tool for conference calls during meetings.
The EQ7 comes with an AC adapter but the unit can also run on four AA batteries, located beneath a plastic lock at the bottom of the unit.

Motorola Motorokr U9

Features:

Camera Rresolution: 2 megapixels

Screen size - external: 1.5";

internal: 2"

Storage capacity: 25 megabytes

Talk time: 430 minutes

Mobile network bands: Quad Band GSM
Pros: Thin and lightweight design, external display, touch-sensitive music controls, animated screensavers, A2DP Bluetooth
Cons: No 3.5mm headphone jack, no microSD card included, sluggish user interface

The final word: The Motorokr U9 is a nicely designed handset, but given it's marketed as a music phone, the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack is an annoying omission.
MARKETED by pop star Fergie and aimed at female buyers, Motorola's Motorokr U9 is a budget music handset with plenty of style. Despite its fairly low price tag, this handset boasts a thin and lightweight frame, touch-sensitive external music controls, and a 2 megapixel camera with digital zoom.
The design of the U9 is similar to the now superseded PEBL. Sleek curves, a completely flat interior, a glossy exterior and a flip design make this an attractive handset, and its compact size ensures it fits comfortably in your hand.
Flat keypads have long been a pet hate of ours. Although the Motorokr U9 continues this design trend, this model is slightly more tolerable than many other examples. The handset's keys are well spaced and clearly separated, making messaging and general navigation a more pleasant experience. Aside from the keypad, the U9 features a five-way navigational pad, two selection buttons, answer and end call keys and dedicated keys for music and clear.
The U9's external display is completely camouflaged when not in use, but can be brought to life when used in conjunction with the phone's built-in music player. It also displays caller ID information; you can use the external volume controls to reject incoming calls, or flip open the handset to answer them. In direct sunlight, the external display can be somewhat difficult to view.

The Motorokr U9 is clearly marketed as a music phone, but we can't but help feel disappointed with this aspect of the handset. For starters, the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a huge oversight, despite the included micro-USB headphones being of reasonable quality. Aside from the touch-sensitive external music controls and external screensavers, the U9 is fairly standard in terms of playing music. Sound quality is reasonable, though not outstanding, and options are limited – shuffle and repeat modes, a spatial audio setting and a 10-preset equaliser are the extent of audio tweaking you'll be able to perform.
Users can manage their music through Windows Media Player, and a microSD card slot allows you to add up to 4 gigabytes of storage. Unfortunately, Motorola doesn't bundle a card in the sales package, although you do get a USB cable for file transfer and headphones that double as a hands-free headset. The A2DP Bluetooth profile is also present, meaning you can wirelessly stream your music from the handset to a compatible pair of Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
The user interface of the Motorokr U9 is similar to most other Motorola handsets; it's relatively straightforward and easy to use. The main menu is a simple 3x3 grid layout with labelled icons, while most submenus are in a simple list format. Unfortunately, a common trait of many Motorola interfaces is their slow speed, and the U9 continues this trend. Applications are sluggish to open, scrolling quickly through long lists is tiresome, and general navigation is slow.
The U9 is only a standard quad-band GSM phone, but call quality is reasonable. A 2 megapixel camera with digital zoom is included, but its quality is understandably poor and it can't be recommended for anything more than a few happy snaps. Other features include access to Motorola's ARIA Charts (allowing you to download the best-selling tunes on the Australian charts), SMS, MMS and e-mail messaging with iTap predictive text input, and a range of PIM features, including calendar, alarm clock, world clock, calculator and task list.

Motorola A810

Motorola A810 is a midrange GSM-only touchscreen phone with a basic 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and microSD expandable memory. Motorola A810 smartphone comes in a minimalist design, and relies inputs to its touchscreen. No keypad is packed to the A810, just green button, right button and a 5-way nagivation joystick abailable to receive, reject calls and navigating. Motorola A810 is powered by Linux OS.

Other feature should include an FM tuner and a 2MP camera
Motorola A810 CHARACTERISTICS

General Network GSM900 / GSM1800 / GSM1900

Introduced 2008 Q2

Status Coming soon

Form factor Block

Antenna Internal

Size Weight 100 g (including battery)

Dimensions 105 x 51 x 14 mm

Display Type Graphical

Colours TFT touchscreen, 262K colorsSize 240 x 320 pixels

- Handwriting recognition

Memory Outgoing Calls 30Received Calls 30Lost Calls 30

- microSD (TransFlash), up to 2 GB

- PhotocallRingtones Polyphonic Yes

- MP3Networking GPRS Yes,

Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbpsModem Yes,

EDGE, Class 10, 236.8 kbpsUSB Yes,

2.0Bluetooth Yes, 2.0WAP Yes

Browser Yes,

WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (Opera v8.5)Email Client YesFeatures Vibration Yes

SMS Send / ReceiveMMS Send / ReceiveCamera Yes,

2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, videoJava Yes

Changeable Games Yes

Games YesClock Yes

Alarm Yes

Calculator Yes

To-Do List Yes

Voice Memo Yes

T9 YesHandsfree Yes

FM Radio Yes

- MP3/WAV/WMA/AAC+ player

Standard Battery Type Li-IonAmperage 910 mAh

Standby Time 150 hoursTalk Time 4 hours