Great Controls: X3-02 Nokia Touch and Type
Nokia’s X3 handset was clearly impressive for a mid range mobile handset, but the X3-02 Nokia Touch and Type is certainly a solid cut above the rest of its competitors. It features the reliable and ever familiar S40 Symbian mobile platform and takes the T9 keypad layout to a whole new level.
At first glance, the 4 column layout seems a little confusing –particularly for those who use the phone edges as a reference for speed texting. However, it does not take long to get accustomed to having the three lowest buttons moved to the right side of the device. If you really can’t get your head around the 4 column layout you could always check out the Nokia C3 Touch and Type, which boasts similar features to the X3 but with the more traditional 3 column layout.
New Form Factor
What makes the Nokia X3 Touch and Type truly remarkable however, is the fact that it brings together a basic, functional touch screen display and the convenience of an actual, physical keypad –all while keeping below the high end threshold.
While some might say that the 2.4 inch resistive touch screen is an unremarkable feature, a few moments of using the handset reveals otherwise. There are plenty of quick and useful functions that are achieved simply by being able to tap the screen directly. Navigating the user interface using the combination of the touch screen and the keypad integrates smoothly, making the entire mobile experience somewhat fulfilling. Thanks to the lowered spec needs of the S40 OS, the UI runs fast and is responsive to user input.
Camera Specs and Others
The camera on the Nokia Touch and Type is a surprisingly good 5 mega pixel snapper. While video recording is at a mediocre VGA (18 frames per second), the image quality of the still photographs are sharp and crisp –coming out at a nice 2592 x 1944 pixels of resolution.
The best thing about this handset is that it supports WiFi and 3G connectivity –making the integrated social networking features truly functional; users will be able to update their Facebook accounts, post on Twitter, and even connect to instant messengers such as Yahoo! or Windows Live.
