Detailed HTC Mogul Review: Design And User Interface

Detailed HTC Mogul Review: Design And User Interface
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HTC Mogul

Mobile phone users interested in the HTC Mogul smartphone should read an HTC Mogul review to give them an idea on what to expect from the handset. This HTC Mogul review will discuss the exciting and not-so-exciting features of this Windows Mobile smartphone.

Design (5 out of 5)

The HTC Mogul has dimensions of 4.3 inches in height, 2.3 inches in width and 0.7 inches in depth. The Mogul comes with numerous buttons which may confuse the user at first but in the long run will prove to be practical and useful. The right side of the phone has the power button, a shortcut for the Communication Manager for the various wireless connections, a shortcut for the camera and a holder for the stylus. At the back of the handset is the camera lens without a self portrait mirror. On the left side is the thumb wheel allowing for faster scrolling, an OK button, a key for voice recorder and toggle for the Wi-Fi. On the bottom of the unit are the infrared port, reset button, microSD card slot and port for mini USB. The Mogul also boasts a full QWERTY touch screen that comes in virtual and physical forms.

User Interface (5 out of 5)

The HTC Mogul gets a lot of rave reviews for its responsive touchscreen and roomy physical keyboard. The screen has a measure of 2.8 inches measured diagonally, and is capable of supporting up to 65,000 colors at a resolution of 240x320 pixels. Users can customize the home screen by assigning their choice background images, menu items and themes. There are shortcut keys surrounding the display while quick launch buttons are on top of the screen allowing users to quickly access their messages and Internet Explorer browser. Below the screen are the Talk and End buttons for making voice calls while a shortcut for the Start menu gives instant access to the phone’s menu system. There is also a four way navigator below the main screen.

In accessing the physical QWERTY keyboard, users have to push the front cover. Noticeable is the smooth sliding mechanism of the phone with its cover locking into place easily. The screen also switches quickly and smoothly from landscape to portrait modes. The physical QWERTY keyboard may not have enough spaces in between the buttons but its square-like keys are spacious enough for users to have no difficulty in typing in their messages.

Features (4 out of 5)

HTC Mogul

The HTC Mogul boasts of powerful multimedia capabilities. It has the mobile version of the Windows Media Player 10 that allows it to play various audio and video files such as AA3, WAV, MP3, MPEG 4 and WMV. The device also allows for easier transfer of songs from a computer with the Sync Manager software through USB port transfer.

The HTC Mogul also appeals to professionals who are always on the go as it comes with various mobile applications. It has an upgraded version of the Windows Mobile 6 that brings noticeable improvements like a better calendar application and integration with Windows Live. The phone also support Microsoft Office Mobile that allows users to create, edit and view files such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents, while the Adobe Reader allows opening of PDF files.

With the Direct Push technology from Microsoft, users can get their emails in real time. It can also be synchronized with their Outlook and export tasks and contacts through the Exchange server. There is also a powerful email search feature for easier sorting and viewing of emails. Users will also have the option of flagging and marking their messages in their inbox, similar to what they can do in the Outlook software.

The HTC Mogul also comes with an upgraded 2 megapixel camera typical of devices with the Windows Mobile 6 software. The said camera has an 8x zoom plus video recording functions.

Performance (4 out of 5)

The phone can be relied upon to deliver excellent voice calls with audio quality excellent and loud enough to be heard by the person on the other line. The Mogul gets low ratings for its internal memory of 256 MB which makes it unable to keep track of opening of multiple applications. The usual complain about the HTC Mogul is the hanging of applications and because of the limited memory, the applications fill up pretty quickly.

Sounds would usually sound disappointing without the richness of audio. The video quality however makes up for it with the clear pictures on the sharp screen of the device. The phone also delivers amazingly clear and brilliant images, and this can be seen with the impressive loading of websites. Also the phone can be relied upon to load websites quickly. The HTC Mogul lasts up to 4 hours of talk time.

Verdict (4 out of 5)

The HTC Mogul is not the best smartphone in the market today but it is pretty close to it. Although the phone is a disappointment in terms of memory and speakerphone quality it makes up for it with its fantastic screen display. The multimedia features are also impressive making it one highly rated and a must-buy smartphone.