vB Easy Archive - SL75 is pretty sweet

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SL75 is pretty sweet
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Posted by: 4mula1

My wife's Christmas gift arrived today. I only had a few minutes to check it out before I had to box it back up and warp it. The slide is spring loaded so once you start it it will automatically finish. It also looks fantastic! The new D-pad is a little awkward at first, but I was getting better at it. The menu icons look terrible! They look very juvenile. Oh well. On Sunday I should have more time with it and can post a follow up. I was mainly checking to make sure it wasn't DOA.

Posted by: 4mula1

And now that I've had some more time with the SL75...

The good:

New slider mechanism is really cool and makes opening and closing a snap. Has a nice sound so you know it's open or closed.

Build quality. It's a solid little phone.

Bluetooth works well, Paired it to my PC and SX1 with no problem. Supports the BT API which makes Java programs like PuppetMaster work great.

Media player can play music in the background while you SMS or juggle other tasks. Automatically stops playing when a call comes in, and resumes playing at the end of the call.

MP3/AAC ringtones. Siemens have been long overdue on these and they got it right by finally allowing individual ringtones to be assigned to a contact instead of a group.

Screen: The screen is bright and very clear. It makes the display on my SX1 look awful! I've not compared the display of the SL65 to the SL75 yet, but as a first impression I am impressed with it.

The bad:

WAP configuration is somewhat confusing as they changed all of the configuration menus. I can connect to T-Zones homepage, but any link I follow gives me an error. At this time (12-26-05) there is no OTA configuration available. MMS and email were easy to setup, however.

Media player can be quirky. With only one title loaded it would play once, but wouldn't play again. Once I loaded multiple tracks it started to behave as expected.

Contacts: By default it shows all contacts, addressbook + SIM so you end up seeing some contacts twice if you have them both places. You can setup a filter to show only those in the addressbook, but I couldn't figure out how to make it a permanent filter. The only default filter are those who are called most often. You can set the default tab to open, be it all contacts, SIM contacts, or the most often called filter. Maybe with some effort I can figure out how to make an addressbook only filter the default.

Conclusion:

Great little phone. Nice shape and looks great. Once an OTA configuration tool is available it should be a breeze to setup. With the limitation of not having the 850MHz band, it would make a nice phone for most people who want a stylish phone but don't need too many features. BT is a great inclusion in this phone, the one thing that the SL series should have had long ago.

Posted by: leliil

Where did you buy the SL75 from? I haven't been able to find any place that has them in-stock.

Posted by: 4mula1

I bought it from a shop called KTFW. The only bad thing with them is they are in Germany and the shipping isn't cheap, but after looking at the price Expansys wants shipping wasn't a problem. Since I preordered mine and the initial shipment was delayed, they were very good at keeping me informed of the situation and giving me the option to cancel my order. When the phones did arrive on the 21st, they shipped (at their expense) FedEx priority instead of the ground service I requested. I had it on the 23rd. Very nice.

You'll be very pleased with the SL75 if you're trading in your SL55 for it.

Posted by: leliil

I was trying to wait for the SL75 availability but my SL55 finally died on me and I had to go with the Nokia 6111. Not too sold on the 6111 just yet; alot of people are having issue with the Nokia 6111 with regards to the sliding aspect were the mechanism/spring destroys the data cable that attaches the top pieces, when that goes you have no screen or key functionality making the phone useless. Also, the asian version of the Nokia 6111 are shipping with CPHS disables so the TMO vm icon does not display instead a blank SMS is obtained.

Is your SL75 the Euro/German version or the Asian version? The easiest way to tell is if you see Asian characters on the keypad for numbers 1 thru 5.

Posted by: 4mula1

Quote:

Originally Posted by leliil

I was trying to wait for the SL75 availability but my SL55 finally died on me and I had to go with the Nokia 6111. Not too sold on the 6111 just yet; alot of people are having issue with the Nokia 6111 with regards to the sliding aspect were the mechanism/spring destroys the data cable that attaches the top pieces, when that goes you have no screen or key functionality making the phone useless. Also, the asian version of the Nokia 6111 are shipping with CPHS disables so the TMO vm icon does not display instead a blank SMS is obtained.

Is your SL75 the Euro/German version or the Asian version? The easiest way to tell is if you see Asian characters on the keypad for numbers 1 thru 5.

I have the Euro version. Looking at the FCC documents for the phone it looks as if the SL75 could suffer the same problem with the spring. See the FCC document and on page 9 you will see the springs for the slider mechanism. After looking at the internal photos of the 6111 it looks like Nokia routes the display cable between the springs, where the SL75 has the cable to the side, somewhat away from the springs. See the Nokia design on pages 3 and 4.

The VM indicator works just fine on the SL75, that was one thing I hadn't checked yet.

Posted by: speedy0156

That's pretty nice man post some pics! I'll wait until they have the silver one on ebay and then buy it, I never like buying from other countries just incase it's a scam

Posted by: Ragewars_Sc

The phone is looking better that SL65 but imo worst that sl55.. still a nice buy imo.. that store u showed.. it seems a bit expensive

)

Posted by: 4mula1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragewars_Sc

The phone is looking better that SL65 but imo worst that sl55.. still a nice buy imo.. that store u showed.. it seems a bit expensive

)

I still love the look of the SL55, but putting it next to the SL75 and I have to lean towards the 75 now. Living in the US I was able to dodge the VAT, so the prices were more reasonable for me. Shipping made up the difference!

Posted by: 4mula1

I've added some pics of the SL55, SL65, and SL75 together. Plus I threw in one with my SX1.

Slides Closed

Slides Open

With SX1

Posted by: Ragewars_Sc

They look sweet!! I hope your whyfe enjoys her new mobile!! Seeing them now.. it seems that sl75 is a litle better that sl55.. best slide from siemens!! Congrats for your buy!

Posted by: speedy0156

I've never seen that sx1 before, is it any good?

Posted by: 4mula1

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedy0156

I've never seen that sx1 before, is it any good?

It's a different phone for sure. It runs Symbian+Series60, the same version of S60 that the Nokia 3650 runs. It's getting a bit dated now, I've had mine since December 2003. Not a bad phone, had great specs when it was announced and released, but it never quite shook it's reputation for not having all of the bugs worked out. I still have an occasional problem.

Posted by: Ned Flanders

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4mula1

I've added some pics of the SL55, SL65, and SL75 together. Plus I threw in one with my SX1.

Slides Closed

Slides Open

With SX1

Those pictures are excellent! Thank you for that! Is there any chance you could post a pic with the SL75 illuminated? I would like to see how it lights up if possible. Sad I know

Also, does anyone know when this phone is going to be released in the UK? I can't seem to get it under contract anywhere

Thanks

Posted by: 4mula1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ned Flanders

Those pictures are excellent! Thank you for that! Is there any chance you could post a pic with the SL75 illuminated? I would like to see how it lights up if possible. Sad I know

Also, does anyone know when this phone is going to be released in the UK? I can't seem to get it under contract anywhere

Thanks

It's sad that you asked to see it illuminated, which makes the fact that I did it simply appalling!!! I uploaded it before I realized that I forgot to resize it.

SL75 illuminated

Enjoy

Posted by: Ned Flanders

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4mula1

It's sad that you asked to see it illuminated, which makes the fact that I did it simply appalling!!! I uploaded it before I realized that I forgot to resize it.

SL75 illuminated

Enjoy

Thank you for that m8

Sorry for being such a sado but I just wanted to see for no reason I can think of

This phone looks fantastic and it will certainly be my next. Has this been released in the UK yet? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Posted by: 4mula1

I don't know if it's out in the UK yet. Beinbg a Yank myself I had to order from Germany since it's not officially coming over here.

Posted by: Ned Flanders

Thanks 4mula1. You must have really wanted this phone! It is coming out in the UK, but I just don't know when. Many thanks for your help,

Flanders

Posted by: nissand

How's the [only thing I care about] reception? I had an S56 that did fairly well w/reception, an SL56 that was worse and now am using a SE W600 w/amazing rf. I still am not used to the big size of the W600 and love the slider form factor, I want to go back to a small slider, but if rf sucks, there's no point.

Posted by: 4mula1

It's actually very good. The best phone I've used to date has been my SX1, which has better reception than the SL55, and the SL75 blows them both away in my experience. The only issue I've had, and this was also on the SL65, when you are in a very low signal area, the conversation can get choppy for the listener on the other end. That's the only issue we've had.

Posted by: Laguardi

Very nice review. Does it still say Made in Germany or they mobed to cheap labour? Just outta curiosity. Thanks

Posted by: 4mula1

Gebildet in Deutschland.

Posted by: rabitootoo

hi. nice pictures. i was wondering if you can take a picture shopping the user interface/ MENU??
please please please.
thanks!

Posted by: speedy0156

when is it coming out in the US? does anyone have the silver one yet?

Posted by: 4mula1

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedy0156

when is it coming out in the US? does anyone have the silver one yet?

It won't be marketed in North America so you'll just have to buy one unlocked.

Posted by: nycdane

I was wondering if you have had a chance to really figure out the SL75 phone book?
I'm thinking of getting the SL75, but if there's something I hate in a mobile phone's phone book, is when the it displays ALL names both in the internal memory and from SIM memory at the same time. I.e. all your contacts are listed TWICE!
Is that the case with SL75? You mentioned something about a filter?
Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4mula1

And now that I've had some more time with the SL75...

The good:

New slider mechanism is really cool and makes opening and closing a snap. Has a nice sound so you know it's open or closed.

Build quality. It's a solid little phone.

Bluetooth works well, Paired it to my PC and SX1 with no problem. Supports the BT API which makes Java programs like PuppetMaster work great.

Media player can play music in the background while you SMS or juggle other tasks. Automatically stops playing when a call comes in, and resumes playing at the end of the call.

MP3/AAC ringtones. Siemens have been long overdue on these and they got it right by finally allowing individual ringtones to be assigned to a contact instead of a group.

Screen: The screen is bright and very clear. It makes the display on my SX1 look awful! I've not compared the display of the SL65 to the SL75 yet, but as a first impression I am impressed with it.

The bad:

WAP configuration is somewhat confusing as they changed all of the configuration menus. I can connect to T-Zones homepage, but any link I follow gives me an error. At this time (12-26-05) there is no OTA configuration available. MMS and email were easy to setup, however.

Media player can be quirky. With only one title loaded it would play once, but wouldn't play again. Once I loaded multiple tracks it started to behave as expected.

Contacts: By default it shows all contacts, addressbook + SIM so you end up seeing some contacts twice if you have them both places. You can setup a filter to show only those in the addressbook, but I couldn't figure out how to make it a permanent filter. The only default filter are those who are called most often. You can set the default tab to open, be it all contacts, SIM contacts, or the most often called filter. Maybe with some effort I can figure out how to make an addressbook only filter the default.

Conclusion:

Great little phone. Nice shape and looks great. Once an OTA configuration tool is available it should be a breeze to setup. With the limitation of not having the 850MHz band, it would make a nice phone for most people who want a stylish phone but don't need too many features. BT is a great inclusion in this phone, the one thing that the SL series should have had long ago.

Posted by: 4mula1

Quote:

Originally Posted by nycdane

I was wondering if you have had a chance to really figure out the SL75 phone book?
I'm thinking of getting the SL75, but if there's something I hate in a mobile phone's phone book, is when the it displays ALL names both in the internal memory and from SIM memory at the same time. I.e. all your contacts are listed TWICE!
Is that the case with SL75? You mentioned something about a filter?
Thanks

I ended up deleting everyhing from the SIM and haven't gone back to see if I can figure out how to make a filter. Since all of the phones I have are Siemens and work with MPM I just transfer contacts that way, so not having contacts on my SIM is no big deal.

Posted by: nycdane

Ok, so in other words. First you have to transfer all your contacts to your new phone via your SIM. Then you have to erase all the SIM entries afterwards, is that what would have to happen?
Because then it's just like Samsung's phones and it's such a backwards system.
Thanks

Posted by: ant-dizzle

If it's like the x65 series (which I hope it is), it should just copy them straight to the phone address book, bypassing the SIM completely.

Posted by: speedy0156

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4mula1

It won't be marketed in North America so you'll just have to buy one unlocked.

oh ok. why do you not release a lotta stuff over here and the cool stuff they do always takes the longest time to get to the us

Posted by: nycdane

Quote:

Originally Posted by ant-dizzle

If it's like the x65 series (which I hope it is), it should just copy them straight to the phone address book, bypassing the SIM completely.

But from the other guys is saying, that's not the case. He is seing all his contacts DOUBLE in his phonebook, because the names from SIM card are listed directly below the names you end up transfering from your SIM card to your phonebook in your new phone.
The only way I see that you can vaoid this then, is by not transfering anything from the SIM, but simply use the SIM entries AS your phonebook, and that's pretty stupid. Because one of the advantages about SIM cards is, that whenever you buy a new phone, transfering all your contacts should be as easy as pie with a SIM. Not like in the old days, when you had to enter them all again one by one. And you shouldn't have to sit and erase all the dublicate contacts just because the SL75 can't figure out how seperate the SIM entries from the contacts in your phonebook.

Posted by: 4mula1

Remember that once I erased everything from the SIM I never revisited the issue. Maybe this weekend I'll have some time to look at it.

Posted by: nycdane

I look forward to hear about your findings!!

Posted by: Kamata

Great thread!!!

You can get the SL75 from club-siemens.net (their webshop) and from Mobile Gadgets as well as Mobile Phones (UK).

All of these sites off the original unlocked Euro verion of the phone. Don't forget to download the latest firmware (new one already available) from the benq-siemens site.

http://mobile-gadgets.net/shop/prod...23&cat=0&page=2

http://www.club-siemens.com/shop/

p.s. These sites also have the SXG75 available as well

Posted by: Duntaz

does anybody know where i can get a swivel holster and a desktop charger for this phone?