News

First X-series review praises 3 for "multimedia computer experience."

Review samples of Hutchison 3G's new data-rich and media-rich phone services handsets are only just being delivered, so to get a full Nokia N73 review up on the web today is definitely "points for enthusiasm."

Mark Harris reports: "It's simply not accurate to call this device a mobile phone any longer." The N73 is, he writes, "in essence, a powerful 3G handset that uses a variety of technologies to perform a variety of tasks using a variety of services. And if that sounds woolly and imprecise, welcome to the 21st century."

What does he like? Almost everything - except, it seems, the device that you can buy to put your home TV shows onto your mobile - the Slingbox. It works! - but it's not for the beginner: "the Slingbox can be a real pig to set up. If you have a complex broadband set-up with multiple routers, you'd better be good at port forwarding and hacking your router configuration or you'll soon be pulling your hair out."

Conclusion?

Overall, this is a really interesting device. The web access alone represents tremendous value and the pre-loaded, generally hassle-free applications only make it more attractive. However, there's no denying that as it stands the X-Series is a tremendously geeky offering. Skype sounds but than it sounds, if you get my drift, although it'll soon pay off if you regularly call abroad. Slingbox is fun but sluggish and over-complicated to set up – and battery life is bound to suffer. Make no mistake, the X-Series is the future. Whether we're ready to take the giant leap forward that it represents yet is another question entirely.