Well, Helio sent us our
Kickflip in the mail today, and we can't really stop
playing with it. The EV-DO is the usual walled garden media business;
H.O.T. isn't bad, but won't let you add
feeds; generally the apps work well and are easy on the eyes, even if they aren't always incredibly flexible. We'll go
more into the software later (anything you want to know?) though, it's the hardware where the Kickflip really shines.
We freaking can't stop flipping the thing open. It's like tactile crack, and we have to put it away under some papers
to free our hands and get any work done, instead of engaging in the idle addictive sensation of nudging the screen and
flipping it open, then closing it again with that little click. Not that it'll do it justice, but if you want to peep a
video of the Kickflip's opening mechanism in action, check out the link below. Otherwise click on for a bunch of hands
on pics of the device.
Watch [19.5MB Quicktime]
Great box, the packaging is first-rate.
It's got a clean, minimal face, but if the screen's off you don't know which way is up.
Opened, the Kickflip feels great in the hand. A very solid, well engineered handset, not flimsy or plasticy in
the slightest.
The camera on the rear has a "flash"
(you know how those things are on cameraphones), and a macro focus setting for taking pictures of your food like
everyone in the world does. (Oh, and that blue thing is the self portrait mirror without the protective plastic film
removed.)
Media playback buttons take you straight to the media player software; camera button does what you'd expect as
well. There is, however, typically a few seconds lag after keypress.
That'd be the video-out and mini USB ports, as
well as the charger plug.
Here we've got the mic, MicroSD slot, and
2.5mm jack. (Don't worry, Helio includes a surprisingly discreet 2.5 to 3.5mm adapter.)
Come back soon for some more on what Helio's
got going on with their handsets. In the mean time, anything you'd like to know about the Kickflip? Leave it in
comments!
posted May 4th 2006 6:08PM
Cool, is this coming to the UK? When? How much?
wow
Is that a smaller screen on the back of the larger one? Maybe for self portraits?
oooooh i like!!! white like an iBook...sweet! pity the video is down the :-(
Can you playback video from orb?
What about the Hero??? Most of the time I like lighter colored devices, but in this case, I do like the shiny black, and the direct access keys @ the upper left and upper right corners.
hey heres a beginner question. Im in 9th grade and my parents are getting me a cell phone as long as it works with our wirless plan in verizon. So if it possible to synk it with our plan how hard would it be? Thank you for your time.
How is the sprint EV-DO speed / response?
Can you blog / moblog from the phone to standard blog services: typepad, wordpress, etc ?
Keep it coming!
Can you add your own RSS feeds to the H.O.T. software?
The bastard half brother of the sidekick! (UI'ingly speaking) This looks nice, I just might have to convince someone to get one. Maybe me!
I really like the idea of Helio. I have Cingular, but I'm thinking of paying the early termination fee for Helio. I also love the Flipkick but I would have to start out with the ala-carte plan first and gradualy move to the $85 a month plan. Well hopefully Helio gets huge, they've definetly won the myspace crowd.
should have made the screen bigger (or wider)..
that video reminds me of when i got a v80 i could not keep from messing with it. i dont know why the dont make more phones like this.
Wow, it's much smaller than the photos mde it look. Very sleek and sexy!
Pop email client? Tether as a modem via bluetooth and/or USB? Predictive text entry? If so, how good? Can you answer calls without flipping the screen? Can you navigate through a phone book to make calls without flipping the screen? (using those arrow keys?) Bundled Scientology membership?
What functions are available when the thing is closed? Can you check RSS feeds, read text, quick dial / voice dial?
Where's the damn iPhone!
Hey stax, this won't work with verizon. While it's the same technology, Verizon's network is locked down so you pretty much HAVE TO use the phones they sell. Sorry man, go get a RAZR, they're pretty cheap now.
what is so good about helio? what makes it better than cingular?
I thought that was a mini screen at first too. It's actually a self portate mirror. Something in the background was obviously colorful.
Brewer, close! I just didn't remove the blue protective sticker from the self portrait mirror. Woops!
Can you attach it to a laptop (mac) with the USB and use it to get internet anywhere? If so, is that included in the $85/month fee? Thanks!
VIDEO OUT?? Do they include a cable in the box for that? Can you show a video of the video playback/music player software please?
#1, No this will not work in the UK. Helio is exclusive to the US and even if you found a way to hack into to use on other CDMA networks, there are no CDMA networks in the UK, or anywhere in Europe. Sorry. You should move to the US. It's real nice down here in Florida. :)
Why did Helio launch without any bluetooth phones?! Seems hypocritical.
Wow, no bluetooth? How is the mp3 player? Can you assign mp3s as ringers? Can you tether to a laptop? What are the speeds like. Can you send files to the phone via usb, and if so do you have an option of sending to the sd card or the phone itself?
I'm guessing John M.'s Q is to me cause I'm the only one who mentioned Cingular. It's not that I think there is any wrong with Cingular, I just really like the Kickflip. See I'm only 15, I make enough myself to pay for Helio monthly, but I have to go through my dad. He took my texting away, and I just feel like moving totally away from Cingular. (and I use actually use myspace)
I actually asked Hellio what service they use, they have contracts with both sprint and verizon to use their towers. for both cdma 1x and evdo
As some have commented, this is the closest thing to an Apple i-Phone as is likely right now.
Very cool design...I hope other manufacturers take note.
Hey thank you Mark, maby ill just have to convince my parents to let me start a plan with helio!
just one question...can it tether leagally and, if so, is it included in the All-you-can-eat plan? thanks, engadget!
would this work on sprint?
ALright, it sounds awesome, but cmon... it has NOTHING on the Sony E's w600... you obviously cant use it while closed, so you have to flip it open EVERYTIME you want to use it, or even answer a phonecall. If I had to put that much effort into using it, I would much rather have a clamshell so the screen doesnt get scratched...
Man, got my Kickflip in the mail today, but I can't use it as I'm waiting for my number to port over. I'm dying here!
Helio and the Kickflip are almost exactly what I want ... almost. Great styling, love the all-in-one service plan, EV-DO, awesome! But come on, who launches a next-gen phone service aimed squarely at me (25 and willing to spend money) with phones that DON'T HAVE BLUETOOTH?! Am I missing something? Actually, yes.. my wireless headset.
I basically have the same questions as everyone else. Can this be used as a high-speed dial-up modem? Since it has no buttons on the front face, can you do anything besides take pictures when it's closed? Assisted hinge, or W600 do-it-yourself style? How's the UI?, etc.
so, can i get this phone with verizon?
please?
No, the phone cannot be used as a modem.
No it cannot be unlocked for other networks. The UI and featureset are exclusive to Helio servives.
Read the manual.
Will it ever come to europe/the Netherlands?
Wont be coming to the UK becasue we use GSM and the kickflip is like many other american phones and runs on CDMA. Looks like were gonna have to wait for some knock off from china to import =D
Over at Gearlog.com I've posted some answers to common questions about Helio. I was going to wait to actually get the phone, but then Ryan went ahead and led the pack! Check out my answers below ...
http://gearlog.com/blogs/gearlog/archive/2006/05/05/11138.aspx
I'm really excited to see what type of other phones these guys come out with. I got my new phone today and it's great. I'm actually really glad cause I've been waiting for my 3G phone for almost a year now (been shopping around since last summer dammit!), and this one seems to be the winner.
The screens are ultra-hi-res, and... wow the games on this are actually VERY good!! It's so not like the other tetris-for-grannies I've seen on my friends' Verizon phones. Which is good, cause I don't always carry my PSP around, and supposedly some of these games even support network play!!
Oooh! Oooh! I got a question, why isn't it GSM so that I can use it for Cingular? Sniff :(
I own the korean version of this phone.
With the promotion, (since them being half-actually more than half-Korean company) offers free 100min calls to Korea and 2 free music downloads and 2 free games.
I think Helio is the best thing that ever to Korean livin' in US for the new millenium.
Pirateinmymind, note to yourself. Korean phone makers prefers CDMA, they tend to penetrate wall better than GSM. And there's no GSM carrier in Korea.
I bet this phone(excluding all PDA phone and sidekick) has one of the top display in the US(from the official release)
It really sucks that i was used to borin' America flavor menu style. I'm gettin' used to it.
Ish the best!!!
Now it just has to work in the subway just like in Korea.
can you load off-deck java games onto this?
Can you people read? "(Oh, and that blue thing is the self portrait mirror without the protective plastic film removed.)" It's not an external screen, and it's not a reflection of something blue, either. Look before you leap, guys, look before you leap
Helio Does not have any sort of family plan. I dont know anyone's parents that would pay 85 a month (just for there kids phone ... NOT only that... THERE IS NO MOBILE TO MOBILE... even if you have sprint... Lame Not worth it.
#22 , If by CDMA you are referring to W-CDMA , and by that meaning 3G networks , we have those in europe aswell. We just call it UMTS.
Does either the Kiclflip or Hero act as an MP3 player?
Does the kickflip need to be flipped open to be able to make calls? Or can u flip through the addy book and make calls with the flip closed?
for those of you with technical/service questions - just go their site - helio.com. if you look in the FAQ's, just about all questions can be answered.
#46, The CDMA standard that Helio uses, which is CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, is not compatible with UMTS, which uses W-CDMA, an air interface developed by NTT DoCoMo for their 3G network FOMA. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is the 3G standard that is dominant in South Korea and Japan and UMTS is the 3G successor of GSM which is the most popular 2G standard in the world.
Ok.... you are are complaining there is no blue tooth.... Have you EVER seen a cell phone company launch with a Blue Tooth device??? Helio is still working out the little kinks that they have.... once thats taken care of I am sure Blue Tooth is on the way!! I hear they have 4 phones comming out before the end of the year!!!!