By WILSON ROTHMAN
I've never been a fan of clock/radios, mainly because of the non-intuitive controls they generally have. I've been rudely awakened — literally — trying to figure out what lever to slide or button to push to get the thing to turn off — and I know how to program a VCR. Anyway, it was with some relief that I learned of Nokia's attempt to shake the foundations of the clock/radio business with its DT-1 Music Stand, an accessory I tested with the upcoming PM-6225 camera phone for Sprint PCS.
Facing front only a bit larger than a CD's jewel case, the Music Stand wraps around the phone like an oversize fur, charging it as well as providing speakers for radio playback and hands-free calling. The sound is serviceable, what you'd expect from competing clock/radios and travel speakers. Best at mid-volume, it's a background music provider.
Unlike Nokia's phones, the Music Stand's antenna is external — a dangly wire about two feet in length that is unsightly, though it at least gives you a chance for less static, by way of a hands-on adjustment. There's also a line input for CD or MP3 players.
The Music Stand is just a speaker system, though. The radio and all its programming happen inside the phone, in this case the 6225. (Other compatible phones include the 7250i, 6800, 6610, 6585, 6230, 6200 and 3200.) With color screen and smooth interface, the phone makes it easy to name and save your favorite stations in memory and set the radio-alarmed wake-up. You can shift through your pre-sets by pressing a button on the Music Stand's face; holding the same button for a few seconds brings hands-free voice dialing through the speakerphone.
There are two problems that may keep the 6225 from toppling the clock/radio cartel. First, there's no "radio on" button, though you can program it to turn on with a voice command. It's easy to shut off the radio (just hold down the red "call end" button) but to turn it on manually takes a jaunt through the phone's menu. Second, the phone's LCD goes off automatically, unless you program it to stay on all the time, depleting your battery when you're on the move. For the phone to be a useful clock, the LCD should stay on when docked, then return to its automatic setting when you unplug it.
On other fronts, the phone is a nice addition to Sprint's lineup. The camera functions are a good example of the simple interfaces of both Sprint and Nokia, merged without incident. There's no Bluetooth for wireless headsets and car systems; hopefully that's Nokia's next step in Sprint territory.
|
More Gadgets
