Windows Phone 7.5 does offer a search function in the app list, but the ability to group apps together in relevant folders would be greatly appreciated. The live tile system is useful and innovative, but if an app is not one that you want pinned to the home screen at all times, the only way to access it is by scrolling through all of the apps that are installed on the phone. I find that the older functionality of the button (defaulting to in-app search, for example, searching within email) was more intuitive and efficient. It does not default to a search function within the app itself, but instead kicks the user out and opens up a web search. With the 7.5 Mango update, Microsoft changed the behavior of the search key so that it opens up a Bing search no matter which app you happen to be in.
#NOKIA LUMIA 710 WINDOWS#
While Windows Phone 7.5 presents an enjoyable experience for the most part, there are areas that still cause consternation for me. Scrolling through lists is fast in all of the native apps on the phone, but as we have seen with all Windows Phone from the outset, third-party apps still struggle with smooth scrolling. The Windows Phone interface gets out of your way easily, and apps are quick to open more often than not. As with the other devices, this processor and RAM combination allows for a swift user experience, and there is very little lag throughout the system. The Nokia Lumia 710 is powered by the same 1.4GHz Qualcomm processor and 512MB of RAM as the Lumia 800, as well as the Samsung Focus S, Focus Flash and HTC's Titan. T-Mobile is offering the phone in a white color scheme, but my review unit was a staid, black on black. The back of the phone is home to a 5 megapixel camera and LED flash, as well as a surprisingly loud and clear external speaker. Nokia is also offering replacement covers in a variety of colors, so owners can personalize the 710's look. The rear cover on the Lumia 710 is removable, and users can swap out the battery if they desire. Unfortunately, it also attracts finger prints and pocket lint far more than other materials, forcing a particular person, like myself, to constantly wipe it down. The back of the Lumia 710 is coated with a soft-touch rubber that provides a good grip when holding the phone. Thankfully the power button doesn't suffer from the same issues that plague the hardware buttons elsewhere on the device. It is also where the power/sleep/unlock key is located. The top of the phone is home to both the micro-USB charging/syncing port and the 3.5mm headphone jack. The camera key, in particular, is quite hard to use, as it is very difficult to determine when you have pushed it down completely. The Lumia 710's button problems don't end with the front of the phone, as the volume rocker and camera key on the right edge are very mushy and don't provide much feedback. The areas of the bar for each action are back-lit, but the light does not stay on for as long as I would like. This proved to be an annoyance for me, as the large button was not as easy to activate as a capacitive button and required more attention and force than should be required. Instead of using capacitive keys for the standard back, Start, and search keys for Windows Phone 7.5, the Lumia 710 opts for a single, plastic bar that encompasses all three buttons into one unit. The traditional, flat design of the 710's display does not invite the user to swipe their finger over the screen in the same fashion that the Lumia 800's curved display does, but touch responsiveness was accurate. Colors are accurate, though, and the display performed well enough in direct sunlight. Unlike the AMOLED display on the Lumia 800, the LCD display on the 710 does not have endless, inky blacks and fabulous viewing angles. The Lumia 710 has a 3.7-inch, WVGA (480 x 800 pixel) display with Nokia's ClearBlack branding. Unfortunately, the Lumia 710 does not share this particular trait, as it features a more pedestrian design and significantly cheaper-feeling materials. The Lumia 800 is one of the most attractive and striking smartphones to come to the market in recent years (and top-notch build quality to go along with that).