Microsoft cell phones are receiving heavy criticism
Only online backup "Kin Studio" can clearly score points with testers
Today, Thursday, sales of Microsoft's Kin phones began in the United States. The devices with a focus on social networks should not least appeal to younger user groups. In the test reports published at the start of the Microsoft mobile phones, the "Kin Studio", an automatic online backup of all activities, is consistently rated as a very promising approach. Overall, however, the reviews are rather negative.
"It is a uniquely attractive device that is a pleasure to use," says the Wall Street Journal. But even this comparatively positive test found that the camera and the social networking tools in particular could be more sophisticated. Other critics are much harder with the devices.
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Many weaknesses in detail
While Microsoft positions the integrated cameras as one of the more central features, it is precisely these that are being criticized almost across the board. The five-megapixel camera of the more compact Kin One delivers blurred images in normal or poor lighting, according to the WSJ. The eight-megapixel camera of the Kin Two attracts with 720p video recording. But "the quality is not what we expected," is how Laptop Magazine sums up a widespread criticism.
The magazine also criticizes the device's essential loop surface for interacting with Twitter, Facebook and MySpace as confusing, but admits that it could appeal to young people. Teen blogger Chaim Gartenberg in particular actually thinks Loop on SlashGear is "great" and thus gives hope that Microsoft could land with teenagers. Overall, however, the voices are rather critical. Again, the Boy Genius Report thinks that the loop idea is good, but the execution is problematic.
Kin: Tests at the start are critical (Photo: Microsoft)
A great bearer of hope
On most other points, too, the general tenor about the kins is rather critical and some tests are downright devastating. Engadget believes that these are "cell phones that give the feeling that they should be destroyed before they can be put on the market". In this respect, it is remarkable that even the extremely critical technology blog classifies the Kin Studio as really promising.
In general, the testers liked the fact that, thanks to the studio, content such as SMS, e-mails, photos or videos can be easily backed up online. This cloud feature could even be trend-setting, as the WSJ, for example, would like all cell phones to offer such a carefree online backup. It is questionable whether this can help the kins themselves to be successful. This is not least due to the price of the devices, which, according to many critics, is too close to real smartphones despite limited features and a lack of apps.(ck)
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