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Review: Helio Fin

Form Basics Extras Video Wrap Up Comments 52

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Clock

If you hold either of the volume keys for about a second, the external display will show the time, in addition to the battery and signal indicators that are always on.

As we said earlier, the external display is easy to read indoors. It's great if you're checking the time at your local watering hole wondering where the heck your mates are. It is pretty much useless if you're checking the time outdoors to see whether you have to break into a run to make the next train. If you flip the Fin open, the internal screen is easy to read no matter how bright it is outside, so you can check the time there.

Bluetooth

Pairing the Fin with a headset or headphones is quite easy. Once the Fin is paired, it does a good job of connecting/reconnecting with the headset whenever it's in range.

Like other Helio handsets, The Fin can only send and receive contacts and pictures over Bluetooth. To send or receive you must first go to the send and receive menu in the Bluetooth settings. Sadly, entering receive mode does not automatically make your handset discoverable, so you'll have to switch that on separately.

send and receive

Other

In addition to the usual extras, Helio offers all-in members two GPS applications for free. Buddy Beacon lets you show your friends where you are and also lets you send out a message asking where all your friends are at. Unfortunately these messages aren't linked to your phone book at all so you get messages saying 310 555 1234 wants to know where you are, not Karl K wants to know where you are. Cross referencing this is tedious.

There's a Google Maps application which has gone unchanged since we showed it in our Drift preview. Helio has now added a true turn-by-turn GPS application to its library of downloads, which costs $3 for a day's use.

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Samsung Fin

2.3" display 240 x 320 pixels
800 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot

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