OPTICS
Already alone for the style factor, the Legend has earned 5 points. The massive aluminum case makes a very high-quality impression and fits comfortably in your hand. The battery cover and the part around the camera lens around are covered with non-slip rubber, so that the phone is still good and not slip in hand. For a smartphone that Legend is also quite pocket friendly: placed directly next to an iPhone is striking that it is significantly smaller and slimmer.
The four keys below the display are easy to hit, but must already be pressed vigorously (at least prevents inadvertent firing). A real highlight is the optical mouse: particularly in list views she plays her strength. Using the mouse can easily eg scroll in e-mail lists and select highlighted items.
FIRST STEPS
The Legend set is really fun. When you first turn the Installation Wizard asks all important data from: user data? Wi-Fi access? Mail account? Fill each two or three fields and you're online and the current mail, contacts and calendar are on the phone. All very simple and intuitive, the Legend confused when you first set not with a variety of configuration options as you know from the Windows Mobile world (the configuration can be fine later in the menu but of course catch). Who wants, the same operation can also add their own accounts for Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and Co.. So you have taken all the important settings within minutes and can get started.
This simplicity pervades all menus: Setting up VPN access? No problem, after less than a minute you have first prepared the IP addresses before dial to the corporate network. For former Windows Mobile users is a revelation: No error messages, no complicated configuration orgies. Simply enter your data - and everything works, reliably and easily.
USABILITY
The Sense UI is very nice to look at and runs to very fluid and absolutely intuitive. No jerking, no standstill, only the virtual keyboard is in portrait orientation relatively difficult to operate (very narrow buttons, you meet very easily neighboring keys). Turning the Legend 90 degrees, the keyboard rotates and is thus operable (unfortunately does not work in all applications). After all, the predictive text input makes text input easier, so that the Legend can also reasonably be used for emails, etc. on the go.
The home screen consists of 7 windows, which can be freely assigned with widgets and shortcuts. The respective setting can be saved as a "scene", so that you can create different profiles for different usage situations: with you Has weekdays always the current mails and appointments on the Home screen, can be at the weekend with a click to "Leisure" setting Music Player, Facebook and Google Maps switch.
Such thoughtful details can be found everywhere: such as the Cell is quieter, as soon as one takes the ringing Legend in the hand. If you turn it without answering the call, the sound (for this call) is switched off completely. The call answering via a sliding motion on the touch screen, which prevents accidental call Accept in your pocket. Once you set up social networking sites, the current Facebook status messages or photos are displayed in the address book in the linked contacts. And the calendar can be located next to the appointments also still the same can display the weather forecast for the next few days.
IN EVERYDAY LIFE
The voice quality is very good, especially the speakerphone has surprised me very positively: I had as yet no cell, in which you could hear the other person in such a loud and clear hands-free mode. The reception quality is flawless, both for mobile as well as Wi-Fi. Who has a calling plan with a limited amount of data can be reassured: an available WLAN automatically preferable only if no WLAN is available, the mobile connection to access the Internet is used (can of course also be turned off completely).
For me particularly important: The Exchange synchronization works perfectly (via VPN), and the Mail client can go really work. The only drawback: Unfortunately, tasks are not synchronized with, this you have to install one of the many apps from the Market. Mail markings are retained after all.
CONCLUSION
After one week test run I am still fully convinced. Finally a smart phone that is really absolutely suitable for daily use in the business environment, and that convinces with mature, stable solutions.
APPS
The Android Market offers apps for everything and everyone. A few recommendations:
- Places Directory (shows restaurants, bars, hotels, shops, etc. in the immediate vicinity or in a selected area and returns the corresponding reviews from Qype, TripAdvisor and Co. with the same)
- Shazam (as is the same again this suffering which is currently running there?)
- CalWidget (widget to display the current appointments on the Home screen)
