Review: Microsoft KIN, Part One: Design

The Microsoft KIN has been on the market for a few weeks at present and we've shared a brief video tour of both KIN models and now we'll have a closer look at the latest Windows Phone from Microsoft.

Reviewing a single Windows Phone has its challenges and looking at two phones at the same time is actually challenging. To aid maintain sanity and break things downward a little better, we'll split up things into iii parts: pattern, software and performance.

The initial impression of the KIN (both I and Two) is that the phones were more like a feature telephone with a piffling more "feature" thrown in. I don't believe either were designed to supplant your Windows Phone running Windows Mobile but instead, to offer an alternative to those who don't need as much.

We start with looking at the KIN'south pattern. While the KIN Two has more of a traditional design, the KIN One compactness stands out. Ease on past the suspension to read more on the pattern and what impression information technology left.

What's in the Tube?

The KIN does make an impression. It's just difficult to decide whether or not it'south a adept one or bad. From the compact style of the KIN One to the cylindrical packaging, the KIN (especially the KIN One) is a unique Windows Phone.

Both KINs are packages in clamshell, cylindrical boxes that slide into tubes. Each are packaged with the battery, USB cable (micro-USB adapter), wall plug, stereo ear buds, and documentation.

Build Quality and Blueprint

Out of the box, the KIN Ane and Two felt solidly congenital. In that location was a bit of a plastic feel to both Windows Phones merely neither felt flimsy. The sliding keyboards on both, have smooth movement and snap into place with confidence. I take to compliment Microsoft on putting a matte black finish on the back embrace of both phones.

The tale of the record has the KIN One measuring 3.31x2.66x.73 inches and weighing in at 3.9 ounces. The KIN Two comes in at 4.38 x 2.36 x .64 inches and 4.7 ounces.

The KIN One has a two.vi" 320x240 capacitive bear on screen while the KIN Two sports a three.four" 320x480 screen. The screens wait nice and are very receptive to the touch. My but complaint on the screens is that each phone has a articulate plastic facing which is very fingerprint friendly.

Due to information technology'southward smaller form factor, the KIN One won't appeal to some. I found it to be as well small for my easily just my fourteen twelvemonth old son didn't have the aforementioned bug. The meaty size is user-friendly merely doesn't always lend itself toward productivity.

The KIN Ii is more of your traditional design and feels similar to the Samsung Omnia or a slightly shorter Touch on Pro two.

Push button Layout

Both the KINS share the aforementioned exterior buttons and ports. The KIN has a micro-USB port, 3.5mm headphone jack, book keys, camera button, power button and back push button. The controls are better spread out on the KIN Two due to its larger size.

The buttons on the KIN One don't savour the same spaciousness that can cause problems until you get used to things. More times than not, I pressed the camera push button thinking it was the ability push button. Later a few days using the KIN One, my fingers began to instinctively slide a little further down to find the power push button.

The Photographic camera Button is one of two ways to activate the camera. By pressing it fully and property it down, yous'll launch the camera app. Once the KIN is in photographic camera mode, pressing the button half-way focuses the photographic camera and pressing if down completely takes the picture. Y'all can as well employ the photographic camera icon that appears on the screen to actuate the shutter.

The buttons on both KIN models were responsive but the camera button was a piffling on the soft side (almost notably on the KIN Two). It took a conservative attempt to printing the camera push button all the manner downwards without irresolute the camera's framing. I plant it easier to use the on-screen shutter button.

Under the Hood

Fundamental differences under the hood on the KINS are that the KIN One has 4 gigabytes of storage while the KIN Ii has 8 gigabytes. Both accept 256mb of RAM, Wifi, Bluetooth, Nvidia Tegra 600mhz processors and utilize a-GPS. The KIN One has a 5mp photographic camera with light, while the KIN Two has an 8mp camera with light. Both have still and video capture capabilities.

The KIN One is powered by a 1240mah battery while the KIN 2 has a 1390mah bombardment. Both batteries are a footling on the calorie-free side, especially with the KIN One. Equally data dependent every bit these phones are, the batteries really need to be larger. The KIN Two was able to make information technology through the 24-hour interval on 1 accuse only the KIN One needed a re-charge by mid-afternoon.

The KIN Two has an accelerometer and neither take an on-screen keyboard.  The lack of an on-screen keyboard was a little disappointing and while the KIN I doesn't have the screen existent estate to accommodate an on-screen keyboard, the KIN 2 does.  An on-screen keyboard would allow you to type in quick responses without the need to extend the keyboard every time.  I think it would help meliorate the efficiency of the KIN Two.

Keyboard

Speaking of which, the KIN keyboard is very basic in design, offering alpha and numerical characters. There is no function shortcuts or hot keys to applications.

The KIN One's keyboard is more than compact (due to the smaller size) and at that place is a slight curvature to the keyboard that accentuates the compactness. The KIN Two's keyboard has more room and lies flat. Microsoft could probably get abroad with slightly larger keys on the KIN Two but I would imagine to continue production costs down, they opted for the same size keys for both.

The keys were a little on the firm side but typing wasn't besides difficult on either. You exercise have ane key that pulls upward symbols to apply in emoticons ( :), ;). :p, etc). While this may non exist an important feature to most, proceed in heed the targeted audience for the KIN. My teenage son liked the convenience of this feature while texting.

The build quality of the sliding keyboards feels solid. At that place is a slight jerk with both the KIN One and Ii when the keyboards are extended but not to the level of causing alarm.

Overall Impressions

With respect to the KIN'southward build quality and design, at that place are very little complaints. Granted, the KIN One was a niggling on the pocket-size size for my hands it did feel well built. I would have liked to have seen the buttons spread out a fiddling more than (mayhap moving the power button or photographic camera push lower on the phone) merely in fourth dimension, I got used to the layout.

Neither phone will counterbalance you down and were very comfy being carried in a shirt pocket. Cases will take a little creativity for the KIN I due to its unique size. The KIN 2 is close enough in size to other Windows Phones that case choice shouldn't exist an result. Personally, I used a Golla Pouch with the KIN One and a Nite Ize Cargo Case for the KIN Two.

I tin encounter the entreatment of the KIN Ane with the younger crowd but the KIN Two fit my hands better. My son and girl thought the KIN One was the "libation" of the two while my married woman thought information technology was the "cuter" of the two but saw the KIN Ii as more practical. Only as the KIN itself will appeal to a select Windows Phone crowd, the designs of the 2 KINs have their ain unique target audience.

Stay tuned. In function 2 of the review, nosotros'll take a wait at the software driving the KIN. In using the KIN for a short time, it became articulate that the KIN wasn't your typical Windows Telephone.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/review-microsoft-kin-part-one-design

Posted by: ferraraemparch.blogspot.com

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