vB Easy Archive - Sharp 705SH Full Review

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Sharp 705SH Full Review
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Posted by: vinniereno

**Warning: Bandwidth Heavy, 9mb of photos**

Intro.
So a few days ago I finally recieved my much anticipated 705sh which a friend from Taiwan brought for me. Opening the package, I was somewhat intrigued by the fancy red box and the script "S L I M I A" all over, yet also mildly disappointed at the meager accessories that came in it. It seems that Sharp has gone Apple on this one only including a charger, battery, headset and manual. The manual was an impressive inch thick, yet it's nine tenths in Japanese. The battery is a 820mAh, average considering Sony Ericsson's k800i is 950mAH. The phone unfortunetly takes microSD/transflash, which are a bit more unstable more expensive, and not to mention easy to lose. I'm not sure if this phone is indeed made in Japan, but on the battery it writes "made in Japan." Nothing on the phone itself though.

Screen.
As with all sharp phones, the screen is fantastic to look at. Bright, crisp. Nothing much to say here, a bit of a rant about the exterior screen is that it leaves alot to be desired. In keeping with Sharp tradition, it is monochrome, pixelated, small and doesn't say much about anything. No complaints there however, it does it's job. I would appreciate it if it would show what song you are currently playing in the media player or something.

Interface.
Also in keeping with Sharp tradition is the interface. It's not really convienient to use comparing with the SonyEricsson phones, but once again, it does it's job. All the options and settings are there, it just takes a bit more digging and button pressing to find it. I especially find the bluetooth annoying. If you want to start a bluetooth transfer, you have to be in the standby screen, or the transfer disconnects immediatly. If you are paired up with a computer or something and not currently transferring any data, you can use the phone, BUT every 5 seconds or so, a message pops up, interrupting whatever you are doing and 'reminds' you that you have to be in the standby screen to transfer files. Also annoying is the popups that popup when you do anything. Enter the camera and a popup comes up to 'remind' you to check the macro switch, bluetooth always reminds you that 'when transferring files, the phone can not be used', the applying of themes 'reminds' you that applying themes is a lengthly process. You would think that warning us once is enough, but apparently Sharp doesn't. On the bright side however is the smart features such as a built in answering machine (too bad you can't record the message yourself), Comic reader (works fantastically well), Bluetooth applications such as "nearchat". There is a large amount of built in games and comics but unfortunetly almost all of them are trial versions, requiring you to buy after 5 uses.

Camera.
Nothing special, it is 2.0 megapixels but takes pictures more closer with a 1.3 than an actual 2.0. There is no auto focus. Most people don't but this phone for it's camera features (including me) so I will spare it here. One complaint here though is the absolutely horrible internal camera. It feels like it is 50k pixels or something, truly horrible. You can't differentiate colour as it is mostly just black and white unless there is some really noticeable colour such as red lying around. Don't know how you are supposed to videochat when the other person is having a hard time telling who you are.

Face recognization.
This feature is simply put amazing. It works everytime you flip up your phone and given the right lighting conditions, works like a snap. It scans your face and if it feels you are like the five picture stored database for each user, it will admit you. If it feels you look kinda like it, you can set a question and it will demand the answer to the question before it lets you in. People that look nothing like the database will have no choice but to enter the handset code before they are admitted.

Media player.
A hassle to use, the Japanese firmware demands you convert your songs to an mp4 format before it even considers taking it. Bluetooth transfers of mp3s are simply denied by the phone. However the movie quality is admirable, with full crisp display. I bought a headphone jack converter from Daiso the other day and it works like a charm, allowing me to use my own headphones.

Connections.
Supports bluetooth, infrared, and usb connection (which isn't even included).

Overview.
I don't know if I am missing anything, I'm pretty tired and pretty lazy to keep typing. Overall this phone while not perfect is pretty darn good. If you are going to buy a phone for it's functionality go for a SonyEricsson, for it's camera go buy a 903 or 904, but if your in for style, go for the 705sh. It looks stunning, it is thin and it just looks basically like alot of time and effort went into designing the cell phone. The pieces meld together perfectly, there is no hard edges, and keypad looks like it is made of stainless steel, and the front cover looks like something else all together. What it lacks, it makes up for being a Sharp. With a Sharp you know that you are buying quality and innovation. I mean for around the price of a V3i, you would be crazy to choose Moto over this.

Posted by: totaltoanage

nice pics.

Posted by: PaulShih

Since the 705SH is still locked, why don't you consider 905SH?
The camera of 905SH is much better than 705SH as it equipped with 2 million CCD sensor.

Of course, the price of 905SH should be more expensive.

Posted by: vinniereno

Because the 905sh will never get unlocked, as opposed the 705sh will..
the 705sh also has a 2 million ccd sensor

Posted by: totaltoanage

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulShih

Since the 705SH is still locked, why don't you consider 905SH?
The camera of 905SH is much better than 705SH as it equipped with 2 million CCD sensor.

Of course, the price of 905SH should be more expensive.

wow that was a stupid post.

Posted by: PaulShih

Camera quality of 905SH:-

Posted by: shungo

the 705SH is so nice ! i am gonna get it haha~

hey 905SH's cam is alright, but it cant be used here anyways so no point of getting it

Posted by: AL9999

Wow, awesome picture review, thanks for your time and patience.

I'm gonna read it when I get permanent internet access in a week.

Posted by: borgis

hey paulshih are you currently in japan using 905sh? its good that you showed us some pics from 905

Posted by: mavis

Nice pics.

I have a few negative comments about the 705, actually - for starters, it
can't download/use any java applications other than those available through
Vodafone Live ... I've tried synchronizing the microSD loaded with HUFs, I've
tried going to sites like tagtag.com and downloading stuff directly, but it just
doesn't work. Since the phone lacks a configurable email client (it uses
SMS/MMS) I really wanted to find a java email client (like the one made by
Sun Microsystems) but it simply doesn't work. It's really frustrating.

Also, when you customize your mode settings (manner mode, normal, etc)
and set custom ring tones for each, when you load a new theme (I
downloaded a bunch from custamo.com) it resets your mode personalizations
each time - so every time to try a new theme you have to go back through
each mode setting and set all your ringtones/vibrate settings again. Kind of
annoying.

Finally, there is no way to verify that a sent message (SMS or MMS) was
actually received by the center (might just be a Vodafone 3G thing, not sure)
so it's impossible to tell if your messages have actually gone through or not.

Oh yeah, one more thing - it might just be a Vodafone 3G thing, but it is
impossible to change the default "1" key preset speed-dial from voice mail to
a contact in your phone book. Highly annoying. 2-9 are customizable, but the
"1" key cannot be changed from 1416 (the voicemail center access number)
... ARGH!

Otherwise, a great phone. Great reception (network and Bluetooth) and it
works flawlessly with my Plantronics 510 headset as well as my IBM T43
(using Bluetooth to mange the handset (contacts, email, and files) as well as
internet access. The battery life isn't the greatest but seems to last almost
all day with heavy usage ...

Posted by: azn_boi_128

i like the 705 relli much but for some reason i just dont like that silver and black combo

Posted by: mavis

Quote:

Originally Posted by azn_boi_128

i like the 705 relli much but for some reason i just dont like that silver and black combo

Yeah, I thought the black/silver one looked pretty weird - that, and the fact
that the clear plastic panel covering the screen covered the entire top half of
the phone (and is black underneath) it really makes fingerprints and grease
stick out like a sore thumb. I went for the champagne gold model because it
doesn't show fingerprints at all, it looks good with minimal effort ...

Here are two pictures I just took - the first turned out pretty well and shows
off the color scheme, as well as the laser-cut single sheet of stainless steel
that the keypad is made from ...

The textured plastic exterior of the phone. Also, this pic shows the IrDA port,
above the LCD - a feature which the European model seems to be lacking ...

Posted by: Box215

most of the pics are blurry and out of focus...

Posted by: shungo

but i really like the black one tho....it looks good for me.
the gold onw is nice too but i would choose the black one over it

Posted by: iamifun

quick, hope that unlock comes out, my gf really wants the pink one....its perfect and small for a girl...i would say the only sharp really for a girl....i find the 703 even too big

Posted by: shungo

ya i m waiting for the unlock as well

Posted by: Timsta

patience.. patience... have a beer while u wait