AT&T Tilt

(Review) - Earlier this week, we did a First Look on AT&T's Tilt and shortly after publishing our quick thoughts, it arrived on our doorstep for a full, detailed analysis.  As mentioned, AT&T's Tilt is a mini notebook, and we are not just saying that because of the features it packs. The size is a key differentiating factor between Tilt and other smartphones. From Apple's iPhone and RIM's BlackBerry to  Palm's Treo and Samsung's BlackJack, AT&T could've done a better job at "sleekifying" the device. Gone are the days of bulky smartphones, and AT&T needs to get its groove on. To give you a perspective on its size, let's just say people will notice your bulging pockets, and it's going to be a handful, literally.

Once you get past the initial shock of its sheer size, then you start awkwardly gauzing at the phone to find hints of notebook-like functionalities and design. And there are plenty. On the front is a bright, crisp display that supports a 2.8-inch display with 65k colors at 240x320 resolution. Thanks to its tilting display, the screen was viewable in a variety of lighting conditions, and of course, just like every smartphone (at least the ones with Windows Mobile 6 Professional), you have the option to update the Today screen and a host of basic features to better fit your lifestyle. Below the display are the Talk and End buttons, a 5-way navigation button, an OK key, two soft keys, and shortcuts to Internet Explorer Mobile, the Start Menu, and e-mail. Needless to say, there are plenty of things going on before you even slide out the keyboard. Whew!

First Look: AT&T Tilt Phone

Continuing on... on the left spine, you will find a scroll wheel, an OK button and a push-to-talk button. The right edge has the power button, the camera activation key and stylus. MicroSD expansion slot and mini USB port is integrated on the bottom. All of the buttons were readily accessible and made working with them a breeze. Again, notice the healthy list of options on the Tilt, and we haven't even gotten to onboard features yet.

Unfortunately, there is no 3.5mm headphones jack, a self-portrait mirror and flash for the camera. The camera is located on the backside with the speaker, an external GPS jack and the SIM card holder. It's interesting to note that the SIM card holder is on the back of the front cover, rather than behind the battery compartment, which, by the way, was difficult to open, thanks to the Tilt's lack of an opening latch.

Now that we are done with the exterior (that took a long time), let's slide open the display to reveal the full QWERTY keyboard with amazingly soft keys and decent tactile feedback. Unlike RIM's BlackBerry, the keys are large enough to comfortably type long messages without straining yourself. Once you slide open the keyboard, the display automatically switches from landscape to portrait, albeit with a lag. That was a letdown. Considering our need for instant gratification and possibly ridiculously high expectations, the obvious lag during the switch left us cranky. We recovered later after typing a few messages on the keyboard, however. Everything is pretty standard with the Tilt, but the two soft keys were squeezed, it seemed, just beneath the hinges, which made them difficult to access and press. They are still not a deal breaker, though, and companies tell us we have high standards. Whatever.

In essence, despite its bulky size and overweight characteristics, AT&T's Tilt is well polished with round edges, a professional color scheme and a boatload of options.

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