![]() Like the Sidekick 2, it has individual keys that are nicely spaced and give great tactile feedback. The only two keyboards that have been extremely satisfying to use have been the ones on BlackBerry devices, and Sidekick handsets. Most physical keyboards took some getting used to, and others seemed to mock the user – Go ahead, type out an e-mail on me if you can. Over the last ten years, it seems like nearly every single manufacturer got it wrong. One of the more salient points in owning a messaging phone these days is its keyboard. That means it gives you a much nicer viewing angle when you have it in landscape mode, and it gets out of the way of the microUSB port if a cable is plugged into it. When it’s open and revealing its keyboard, the screen angles towards the user – you. There is no play at all when it’s fully closed or completely open the screen jumps from open to closed and back with a satisfying click with nary a wobble in between. Some Sidekick users may lament the death of the swivel screen, as I do, but it seems that this slider screen is much better. On front, there is a front-facing camera for video calling and self-portraits, and some notification lights that tell you when you have messages and other actions to attend to. You have the speaker, which is loud and crisp, and a 3MP camera without flash. On the back of the device, there isn’t a whole lot going on. To the upper left there is a microUSB port that has a protective slot cover, and on the upper right above the menu key area there is a physical camera button. On the lower left you have a 3.5mm headset jack and volume rocker across the way on the lower right there is the power/standby button. It’s the only Android device that comes immediately to mind without a dedicated search button. So, in landscape mode, you’ve got the home button and jump keys on the left hand side flanking the earpiece, and on the right you have the standard Android menu button, an optical track button just below it and the back button below that. In general, the button placement all around is awkward unless you’re holding it the way it was intended. The home button is a hell of a stretch, even with larger hands like mine, when you’re holding it in portrait mode. ![]() But you bought a Sidekick because of its keyboard, so use it! The placement of the buttons begs you to use it in landscape mode, too. The soft keyboard buttons are a bit too small to type accurately, so luckily there is Swype. While it’s entirely possible to use the phone in landscape mode, things start to get a little tricky. The Sidekick 4G is also a landscape device. It’s not cumbersome at 5 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches, but it will probably start causing problems if you wear the types of jeans that require a friend in order to put on or remove. This smartphone has healthy curves and a decent amount of bulk to it, but in a good way. ![]() It’s not an anorexic device by any means, however, as we’ve grown accustomed to Android devices getting thinner each month. The new Sidekick 4G is very easily recognizable as a Sidekick: its shape and size resembles the Sidekicks of yesteryear even though it’s now made by Samsung instead of Sharp – and the one time Motorola build the Sidekick Slide – and it has the four buttons on each corner that have been a staple of the line of messaging phones. Physical camera key placement isn’t ideal directly across power/standby button.Some lag with applications and gestures.A bit bulky compared to most Android phones these days.Runs Android instead of Danger OS, no longer prone to server crashes.Satisfies what every Sidekick owner loves: form factor, excellent keyboard, great battery life. ![]()
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