Dell Streak

Editor's Review of the Streak

One look at the Dell Streak and you would probably note just how big it is for a mobile phone. If you ever fancied your iPad to have calling capabilities, then get the Dell Streak instead. It follows a unique form factor and design, measuring 153 millimetres long, 79 millimetres across, and 10 millimetres thick. This handset is currently available in matte carbon (black) but there are rumors of other colours for its casing. Red Dell Streaks are said to be on its way to store shelves soon.

Another thing you would notice if you pick up the Streak is that it is much heavier than other handsets. Weighing in at 220 grams, it is double the weight of most other smart phones in its category.

Dell Streak currently has the biggest screen for a device that can be used as a phone. At 5 inches, it can display 480 x 800 pixels and is larger than the Sony Xperia X10's 4-incher. The touch screen is capacitive, making it more responsive to touch. It is also very readable even under direct and intense sunlight. Further, it comes with an accelerometer sensor for automatically rotating your user interface and it allows for multi-touch input. Also, if you could fit it in your pocket, you will thank Dell for the peace of mind that you would not crack your phone accidentally. The Streak comes with the Gorilla Glass screen, making it very durable and scratch-resistant.

Go online via class 12 GPRS or class 12 EDGE. If slowness bores you, you can get on a 3G network for high speed access via HSDPA and HSUPA. You also have the option to connect to a wireless network, interface with other Bluetooth devices, and download files to your desktop or laptop computer using the USB port.

The 5 megapixel camera takes photos with resolutions of up to 2592 x 1944 pixels. It has great features such as autofocus, geo-tagging, and smile & face detection. And if you are going to use this phone's camera at night, then it should be no problem because Dell included in a super bright LED flash. The secondary VGA camera is perfect for video calls. It can take videos too.

If the outside impresses you, then you should see the hardware that backs the Dell Streak and be in awe. Powered by a 1 gigahertz Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 processor, it utilizes the Android v1.6 operating system. But unlike recent v1.6 smart phones, the Dell Streak is upgradable to v2.2, also known as the Android Froyo.

Internal memory is set at 512 megabytes each for RAM and ROM, which is perfect for storing an unlimited number of phone book contacts and call records. The Streak also allotted 16 gigabytes for storage memory. But of course, because this mobile phone is great with multimedia, you can always add up to 32 gigabytes more memory using a microSD card.

You can play back H.263, MP4, H.264, and WMV videos, as well as MP3, eAAC+, WMA, and WAV audio files.

Dell also threw in GPS support, Java capability, social networking integration, QuickOffice document viewers that lets you view Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, games, and Flash support (for Adobe Flash 10.1).

Limitations

It is not far-fetched to declare the Dell Streak perfect, except for these minor and forgivable nuisances. For one, it is really quite big as to make it impossible to put into your pocket comfortably. Plus Dell should really think about transferring its audio jack to another location.

On top of these, where is the radio? Guess you won't be listening to live audio shows with your Streak.

But the Dell Streak is a piece of beauty. An artwork that combines masterful designs with a smorgasbord of features, which would make even the biggest tech geek drool with anticipation and longing.