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 take a closer wait 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 really challenging. To assistance maintain sanity and break things downwards a little better, nosotros'll separate things into three parts: design, software and operation.

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

We beginning with looking at the KIN's design. While the KIN Ii has more of a traditional pattern, the KIN 1 compactness stands out. Ease on past the break to read more on the design and what impression it left.

What's in the Tube?

The KIN does make an impression. It's just difficult to make up one's mind whether or non information technology's a good one or bad. From the compact manner of the KIN One to the cylindrical packaging, the KIN (peculiarly 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 Design

Out of the box, the KIN 1 and Ii felt solidly built. There was a bit of a plastic feel to both Windows Phones simply neither felt flimsy. The sliding keyboards on both, accept smooth motion and snap into place with confidence. I take to compliment Microsoft on putting a matte blackness finish on the back cover of both phones.

The tale of the tape has the KIN One measuring 3.31x2.66x.73 inches and weighing in at 3.ix ounces. The KIN Two comes in at iv.38 x 2.36 10 .64 inches and 4.seven ounces.

The KIN 1 has a 2.6" 320x240 capacitive impact screen while the KIN Two sports a 3.4" 320x480 screen. The screens await nice and are very receptive to the bear upon. My only complaint on the screens is that each telephone has a clear plastic facing which is very fingerprint friendly.

Due to it's smaller grade gene, the KIN One won't appeal to some. I plant it to be too pocket-size for my hands but my 14 twelvemonth old son didn't accept the same issues. The compact size is convenient but doesn't e'er lend itself toward productivity.

The KIN Two is more of your traditional blueprint and feels similar to the Samsung Omnia or a slightly shorter Bear upon Pro 2.

Button Layout

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

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

The Camera Button is 1 of two ways to actuate the camera. By pressing it fully and property it downward, you'll launch the camera app. In one case the KIN is in photographic camera mode, pressing the button half-way focuses the camera and pressing if down completely takes the picture. Yous can also use the photographic camera icon that appears on the screen to actuate the shutter.

The buttons on both KIN models were responsive but the photographic camera button was a little on the soft side (most notably on the KIN Ii). Information technology took a conservative effort to press the camera push all the mode down without irresolute the camera's framing. I found information technology easier to utilise the on-screen shutter button.

Under the Hood

Key differences nether the hood on the KINS are that the KIN One has four gigabytes of storage while the KIN Two has 8 gigabytes. Both have 256mb of RAM, Wifi, Bluetooth, Nvidia Tegra 600mhz processors and utilize a-GPS. The KIN 1 has a 5mp photographic camera with lite, while the KIN Two has an 8mp camera with calorie-free. Both accept still and video capture capabilities.

The KIN One is powered by a 1240mah battery while the KIN Ii has a 1390mah battery. Both batteries are a little on the low-cal side, especially with the KIN One. As data dependent equally these phones are, the batteries really need to be larger. The KIN Two was able to get in through the day on i charge simply the KIN Ane 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 picayune disappointing and while the KIN I doesn't accept the screen existent estate to accommodate an on-screen keyboard, the KIN Two does. An on-screen keyboard would allow y'all to type in quick responses without the need to extend the keyboard every time. I recall it would help improve 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 I'due south keyboard is more compact (due to the smaller size) and there is a slight curvature to the keyboard that accentuates the compactness. The KIN Two's keyboard has more than room and lies flat. Microsoft could probably get away with slightly larger keys on the KIN Two but I would imagine to keep 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 likewise difficult on either. You do take one key that pulls upward symbols to use in emoticons ( :), ;). :p, etc). While this may non be an important feature to near, go on in mind the targeted audition for the KIN. My teenage son liked the convenience of this characteristic while texting.

The build quality of the sliding keyboards feels solid. At that place is a slight wiggle 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's build quality and design, there are very little complaints. Granted, the KIN I was a fiddling on the small size for my hands it did experience well built. I would take liked to have seen the buttons spread out a little more than (peradventure moving the power button or camera button lower on the phone) merely in time, I got used to the layout.

Neither phone will weigh you lot down and were very comfy existence carried in a shirt pocket. Cases volition take a footling creativity for the KIN Ane due to its unique size. The KIN 2 is close enough in size to other Windows Phones that instance selection shouldn't be an effect. Personally, I used a Golla Pouch with the KIN Ane and a Nite Ize Cargo Case for the KIN Two.

I can encounter the appeal of the KIN One with the younger oversupply just the KIN Two fit my hands better. My son and daughter thought the KIN Ane was the "cooler" of the ii while my wife idea it was the "cuter" of the two only saw the KIN Ii every bit more applied. But as the KIN itself will appeal to a select Windows Phone crowd, the designs of the two KINs accept their own unique target audience.

Stay tuned. In office two of the review, nosotros'll have a look at the software driving the KIN. In using the KIN for a brusque fourth dimension, it became articulate that the KIN wasn't your typical Windows Phone.

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