The Mysto has landed, and it is pretty hot. The slim slider is one of the best sliding phones I’ve seen yet. Samsung really knows what it’s doing with this form factor, and, with Helio, has made a pretty terrific mid-range phone that has high-end features.
My first impressions of the phone came not just in how it looked — it’s Heigl-style attractive — but in how it felt. This phone is a serious featherweight, clocking in at roughly 1/3 the weight of the Ocean by my estimates.
And it’s slim. “Lohan after a week long coke binge”-thin, but it doesn’t have that dime-store fake plastic feel to it lots of slender phones can have. It’s solid. And the spring-assisted slide mechanism is actually enjoyable to use. OCD kids, we’ve found your phone.
The interface is a fairly standard Helio-meets-Samsung affair, with a few minor improvements over the Fin. The Mysto features a pair of touch-sensative, Chocolate-like softkeys above a pair of touch-sensative phone keys. It’s a very futuristic effect, though if you’re of the chubby cheek persuasion, as I am, you might hang up on your mom mid-call. Oops.
The 2-Megapixel camera application is fairly improved, with one-touch HelioUP, and I do mean one-touch; it’s launched from the right touchkey. This lets you upload recent photos to flickr or videos to YouTube. While the device lacks the Oceans exclusive YouTube client, the HelioUP is actually an easier way to go.
Another neat feature is that this is for sure a Helio device. Not only do I mean the interface is there, but there are a few Helio-centric touches that one might miss at first, notably the T9 keypad is a clone of the Ocean’s.
While I wish it had QWERTY, you can say I wish everything had QWERTY, so if that’s not an issue, there’s no reason not to consider this phone when it hits in a few days.
If you’re in LA or NYC, you can get it at your local Helio boutique store, but you won’t see it on display, you’ll have to ask for it by name, under-the-counter style. Tell them CrunchGear sent you. Or you can wait for it’s national launch which should be sometime next month for (we hear) $150.
The only thing ,ysterio about this is the iCrack wasn’t mentioned in a CrucnhGear blog post.
NOW GIVE ME MY DAMN FREE EARBUDS!
http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/12/21/ultimate-ears-superfi-4vi-the-review-and-the-giveaway-yes-that-means-free-stuff/
I guess my main question is the quality of service. AT&T, while not the best, at least has a pretty good track record for voice service.
It’s fine. Helio piggy-backs on Sprint’s CDMA network, so the coverage is the same. The only place in the Seattle area I have troubles is in elevators, but that’s an aspect of CDMA, not the network.
my exp switchin from at&t to sprint/helio/verizon in my area (206) is that my call reception has gotten better but the voice quality/call quality is lower. I dunno if that is just the ocean hardware or if the network is suspect as well.
You’ve been a commentor here awhile, I didn’t know you were in the Seattle area. We’ve talked about a reader meet-up, we’ll keep you posted. :) Also, the fact that you’re an Ocean user is good, too.
He’s a fairly active member on our forum, too. Seems like a cool guy. Give him a high five for me if you meet him!
ATT does suck.
NOW GIVE ME MY DAMN FREE EARBUDS!
http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/12/21/ultimate-ears-superfi-4vi-the-review-and-the-giveaway-yes-that-means-free-stuff/
You can also pre-order your Helio Mysto at http://www.heliomembers.com. We have already tested the Helio Drift and our Wireless Consultants can help you answer any questions you have on the Mysto.
Many of our Helio dealers offer the Helio Mysto for up to 60% off the retail price. Buy your Helio Mysto from a confirmed Authorized Helio Dealer.
http://www.AuthorizedMerchants.com
I just picked my my Mysto from Invicta Wireless (www.heliobuy.com) and the thing rocks. It’s way better then the Ocean in my opinion because of the small footprint combined with solid feel of the device.