| Siemens CX65 |
| General |
| Network | Gsm 900 / Gsm 1800 / Gsm 1900 |
| Announced | 2004, February |
| Status | Available |
| Size |
| Dimensions | 108 X 46 X 18 Mm |
| Weight | 90 G |
| Display |
| Type | Tft, 65k Colors |
| Size | 132 X 176 Pixels, 9 Lines |
| | - 5-way Joystick
- Download Assistant For Logos |
| Ringtones |
| Type | Polyphonic (40 Channels) |
| Customization | Download, |
| Vibration | Yes |
| Memory |
| Phonebook | 14 Fields, In Mem, Photocall |
| Call Records | 100 Received, 100 Dialed And 100 Missed Calls |
| Card Slot | No |
| | - 11 Mb Shared Memory |
| Data |
| Gprs | Class 10 (4+1/3+2 Slots), 32 - 48 Kbps |
| Hscsd | No |
| Edge | No |
| 3g | No |
| Wlan | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Infrared Port | Yes |
| Usb | Yes |
| Features |
| Messaging | Sms, Mms, Email |
| Browser | Wap 2.0/xhtml |
| Games | Yes, |
| Colors | Cool Silver |
| Camera | Vga, 640x480 Pixels, Video |
| | - Java
- T9
- Currency Converter
- Calculator
- Stopwatch
- Organizer
- Voice Memo
- Clip-it Covers
- User Profiles
- Syncml
- Build-in Handsfree
- External Flash As Accessory |
| Battery |
| | Standard, Li-ion 750 Mah (eba-660) |
| Stand-by | Up To 250 H |
| Talk Time | Up To 5 H |
|
Siemens - CX65Midpoint with the Siemens CX65
Major features
GSM 900/1800/1900Mhz compatibility (tri-band)
65,536 colour TFT display @ 132 x 176 pixels
Dynamic light
40-chord polyphonic ring tones
WAV and AMR support
VGA video/still camera with 5x digital zoom
SMS/EMS, MMS, and e-mail messaging
WAP 2.0 browser over GPRS Class 10
Infrared connectivity
10.8mB internal memory
Java games
T9 predictive text
Clip-It™ front covers
Problems/Issues?
Slow User Interface
Can't turn off camera sounds
Clip-It™ cover removal
Sales package (should contain):
1 x Siemens CX65 handset
1 x Standard Lithium-ion battery
1 x Standard charger
1 x CX65 manual
1 x Clip-It™ cover key
Overview
Introduction
Recently Siemens released a new generation of handsets, including the CX65. I've managed to get my hands on a trial CX65, as well as another of the new generation models (M65 for those wondering) which will be reviewed very soon! But back to the CX65…
Siemens have made a later entrance into the enhanced multimedia handset market than most other major mobile phone brands, so the CX65 is a mobile phone that everyone has been waiting for.
But what makes the CX65 different from every other model on the market? The CX65 has been praised as what Siemens fans have been waiting for.
New/outstanding features
Standard form factor phones (or the non-Smart Phone range of handsets) are usually confined to a small display (when compared to Smart Phones). Siemens have made the statement that this isn't true, and even a standard form factor phone can have a large display. The CX65 has a 65,536 colour TFT LCD, and to top it off a VGA camera with video and still image capture. 10.8mB of memory is offered so you can make full use of the features on the CX65. Java game/application support is also included on the CX65, and the GPRS wireless data protocol is as well.
Mobile phones like the Motorola E398 and Sony Ericsson K700i have continued the new trend of handsets with larger displays than most of a similar size. These two models and the Siemens CX65 too all have a 65,536 colour display, the CX65 at 132 x 176 pixels. This is smaller than 176 x 220 pixel displays but does keep the size down, and anything above 128 x 128 pixels is great! The CX65's display is a TFT LCD, a Thin Film Transistor display. These displays offer the best resolution and quality as the each pixel is controlled by transistors. They are also very thin, only a few microns thin. Hopefully more manufacturers will follow suit with the large displays (128 x 128 pixel 65,536 colour LCD's are bad!) in their standard form factor phones.
The VGA camera on the CX65 can be used to spice up your messaging experience. With MMS and e-mail messaging supported, video and images captured with the VGA camera can be sent instantly to almost anyone in the world! The maximum image resolution is 640 x 480 pixels and the video is less than this. Video can contain sound too! There is a 10.8mB user accessible memory to store images and videos. The large full colour display acts as the viewfinder for the camera application as always.
GPRS is the wireless data protocol available for use on this model from Siemens, and allows you to use the built in WAP browser and also send/receive MMS and e-mail messages, and a whole heap of other interactive functions. For connectivity to other devices Infrared can be used and a USB data-cable can also be purchased but does not come in the sales package. Bluetooth sadly isn't included in the CX65; if it was this would really top off the handset!
A fun feature which the CX65 has is the ability to remove the front cover and replace it with another! A small tool is in the sales pack to aid in getting the front cover off, and the keypad also comes off. The CX65 only comes in one colour in the sales package, Cool Silver; so you can really personalize your phone with changeable front face plates.
Physical aspects
The CX65 is somewhat styled like its big sister the SX1, reviewed way back in April. The CX65 is less blue though, and has a more silver and white finish, a very sleek handset. This new Siemens handset is thinner than most of the similar handsets on the market but has a similar length and width. It only weighs 90 grams though, so it's definitely not bulky.
The front and back of the CX65 (the removable sections) have the same colour theme. Silver and grey are used together to give a stylish impression. A U shape set of keys are silver and the rest are grey – the keys are not super hard but aren't rubber, and aren't fully connected so pressing buttons is easy, with no extra force required. The directional stick is rounded off on the top and doesn't stab into your thumb when in use. I had no problems with the keypad on the CX65.
Above the keypad is the 65,536 colour TFT display. This takes up a bit more than half of the front of the handset, and above that are two clear "sections" on the left and right which are partly transparent. Behind these are the dynamic lights, or the LED's that can be turned on or off. They flash when the phone is idle, ringing, etc (there's more on this in the Major Features section)
Clip-It™ covers can be used on the front of the CX65 to give it a different look whenever you choose. None of these covers are in the sales package but what is included in a small tool which is pushed into the top of the handset and then rotated to click off the top section of the cover. The rest can be removed in a number of ways, and it is quite difficult. Check the Problems/Issues section for more on that!
The battery cover on the back is pushed in at the ridges and then slides downwards off. It is also grey, like most of the Clip-It™ cover. The rest of the handset (the irremovable sections) is white, except for the camera lens which has a grey outline around it. The left-hand side of the CX65 houses the infrared window, and at the bottom of the CX65 you will find the connection port.
User Interface & display
Take a closer look!
The CX65 doesn't use a Symbian or Series 60 user interface like some models from Siemens do, like the SX1. It uses a propriety interface, and also has the ability to run Java games and applications. The main menu of the handset is in 9 large icons which become active when selected. Icons and text lists are the two UI formats used in the CX65 and most other handset these days. Smack-bang in the middle and selected first when you open the main menu is the Messaging menu, for obvious reasons! To activate the menu the directional stick is pushed in.
The CX65 has a single display, a 65,536 colour 132 x 176 pixel TFT LCD. This is used for every function on the CX65; you can't do anything without it! Why would you want to anyway, it's bright and colourful in conjunction with the User Interface of the CX65.
There is a main menu and "My Menu" on the CX65. "My Menu" has a list of your most used features on the phone, but they aren't compiled automatically. You can reset them all to the defaults or change them to whatever you wish in a few button presses. To get into the "My Menu" list you simply need to open the main menu and press the left soft key.
For navigation around the CX65 several keys are used. Mostly used is the 5-way directional stick, and pushing it in usually is a "yes" or "accept" button. There are two soft keys to the left and right of the navigational stick and their functions are labelled on a small dedicated space along the bottom of the UI. The left and right soft keys are used to jump to different functions when the handset is idle, like left: New SMS and right: Camera. Moving the directional stick up/down/left/right when the handset is idle will also open up different functions.
Themes can be downloaded to the CX65 and used to change the look of the handset. 5 are pre-installed on the handset to suit almost everyone. Wallpapers and screensavers can also be used to personalize the CX65 further.
The only thing disappointing about the User Interface of the CX65 is the small amount of lag, mostly noticeable when speeding through the menus. Other than this the UI is very user friendly and easy to use and get used to.
Making and receiving calls
Making and receiving calls on the CX65 is an easy task. There is an inbuilt speakerphone for group calls, or you can hold the phone to your ear or use a Handsfree kit. Whichever you choose the CX65 is loud and clear in both directions, no complaints in this department from me! A handy minute-beep function is good for those on pre-paid or minding how long they're in call for, a small beep will sound every minute you're in call.
There are no external volume adjustment buttons on the CX65, so in-call the directional stick is used to change the volume level. As always there are the pick up and hang up buttons on the CX65, on the right and left side of the directional stick respectively.
In-call the left soft key when pressed will activate the Handsfree speakerphone. The right soft key is the options menu, which contains in-call options like the conference call function (if supported by your network). You can also turn the microphone off while in call on the CX65 through this menu, and turn it back on the same way.
Messaging
Siemens have made a late entrance into the enhanced multimedia mobile phone world, and the CX65 is a big leap from most of the other handsets. The CX65 has all the messaging formats you need, including e-mail messaging. SMS, EMS, and MMS messaging are all supported. The inbuilt camera ensures that MMS and e-mail messaging is as fun as it can be. There is some messaging lag which removes some of the fun though…
On opening of the main menu the Messaging icon is already selected, so pressing in the directional stick will open up the Messaging area. From here you can view inbox messages, drafts, unsent messages, sent messaging, MMS templates, and the SMS archive. The messaging setup function is also at the end of this menu list so you can get your MMS and e-mail messaging working ASAP. GPRS is used to send and receive your MMS and e-mail messages.
The top of the Messaging text list says "Create Message". When this is pressed, you are prompted to select a type of message you would like to start. SMS, MMS, and e-mail are the options. SMS and EMS are both basically the same thing, so to send an EMS message select SMS message. All of the messaging input windows have T9 predictive text – messaging is fast and easy. To change between input methods press down the hash key. The different selections will show at the bottom of screen, and they're straight forward and no explanation is necessary. To quickly jump to numerical input hold down the hash key.
At the top of the SMS messaging window you are shown how many characters are left in total, and also which SMS you are composing on. This means you can send a total of 760 characters in a long SMS (it's broken up then re compiled on the receivers' phone). When you move into SMS 2 or 3 the digit will change at top of screen. On my trial CX65 I could change the input language to a range of different ones, including Dutch, French, Vietnamese, and several others. If you press the options button you have the EMS features shown, like underline, font size, alignment etc.
Something small but what I found a very good idea is the ability to "mark" text. This is like selecting it with your cursor on a home computer. You can select entire sections of text and delete it without accidentally editing the rest of your message. All in all, messaging is a breeze with the Siemens CX65.
Connectivity
The Siemens CX65 can connect to a range of other devices in a number of ways. Sadly, the newest and easiest way to connect isn't included in the CX65 – namely Bluetooth Wireless Technology. There is Infrared and USB data-cable compatibility, and to connect to wireless services GPRS is at your disposal – maximum speeds of 48kbp/s can be reached in some areas.
There is no USB data-cable in the Siemens CX65 sales package, so if you wish to connect using this method you will need to go out and purchase one separately. If you own an infrared dongle the CX65 can be connected to it easily and you can transfer data to and from the handset with software downloadable from the Siemens website. From the options menu of a file on the CX65 you can select "Send" and then "Infrared" to send the file immediately. Send via e-mail or MMS are the other options.
Infrared can be activated through the settings menu, under "Connectivity". There you will also find a GPRS data counter and many other settings to fiddle around with! ;)
Build quality
The CX65 is a slim and light handset, and I only had a little problem with the build quality, namely the Clip-It™ cover removal. The handset measures 108mm x 46mm x 18mm, and weighs only 90 grams. As you can see from these specs the handset is much thinner than many others on the market, but around the same length.
There are two main removable pieces on the CX65, the front Clip-It™ cover and the back battery cover, which simply slides off. A small tool is used to remove the Clip-It™ cover, and that comes in the sales package. It's helpful at starting off the removal process but doesn't quite complete it. When you do finally get the CX65's front cover off you can replace it with another, clean the screen cover or change the keypad mat which also comes off.
Although the keypad mat comes off, the directional stick is built into the handset. Behind the back cover is the battery and SIM card insert, which is easy to use and shouldn't cause too much trouble.
Battery life
In regards to the CX65's battery life not much can be said complaints wise. I only ran out of battery unexpectedly once and that was due to my brother playing games all night and forgetting to put the handset on charge. Functions like games and the camera are always battery consuming so that's nothing to worry about.
The CX65 uses a lithium ion 750mAh battery, and the estimated talk time is 300 minutes, with standby time at around 250 hours.
Major features...
GSM 900/1800/1900Mhz compatibility (tri-band)
Wherever you travel around the world the Siemens CX65 can come with you. The handset has the ability to operate on the GSM 900, 1800, and 1900MHz frequencies making it a tri-band handset. These frequencies are used in most areas apart from the America's which use a different band all together.
Whether it's work or pleasure, the CX65 is a companion for all your travels!
65,536 colour TFT display @ 132 x 176 pixels
Large displays are becoming more and more popular and for obvious reasons. The larger display the more you can fit into a single "page" on the screen, and the more detail that can be offered. Although not a 176 x 220 pixel display like the Sony Ericsson K700i, the 132 x 176 pixel display is suitable for the size and demands of the phone. Capturing images and video is a breeze, and playback is great!
Viewing images full screen (ones that you've received or downloaded) looks fabulous as the display automatically rotates the photo to get a best looking fit. The Sony Ericsson P900 did this also; it's a great little feature!
Dynamic light
These two sneaky LED's hide behind a small film of plastic on either side of the ear speaker at the top of the CX65. When turned on they will simply flash when the phone is fully operational, just like in old Ericsson phones! The blinking LED is certainly coming back in style!
They are white, and can be activated or deactivated through the menu as you like. There are several "effects" that the lights have, named Speed, Lighthouse, Wave, Beat, Runway, Trance, Eternity, and Strobe. A demo can be played and you can set the dynamic light to activate during certain functions, like calls, group calls, when the phone is on standby, and during the on/off sequences just to name a few.
40-chord polyphonic ring tones
The higher the chord value supported with polyphonic ring tones the more "real" the tones sound. 40-chords are supported on the Siemens CX65; basically allowing it to play 40 different sounds simultaneously.
Pre-installed on the CX65 are some ring tones to give you an idea of the possibilities with the handset. More can be downloaded to the 10.8mB of memory in a number of ways; Infrared transfer from a PC or other device, USB Data-cable to a PC, or downloaded from WAP sites.
WAV and AMR support
The 40-chord polyphonic MIDI tones are supported, and so are WAV and AMR files. WAV files are uncompressed audio files, and therefore take up a heap of space. Unfortunately MP3 ring tones aren't supported so if you wish to have a real song as your ring tone you will need to cut/crop it and uncompress it to WAV format.
VGA video/still camera with 5x digital zoom
The VGA digital camera on the CX65 does more than just capturing images. It can capture up to 11 seconds of video with or without sound. These video clips can be played back on the handset or sent via MMS or e-mail (so can the images!). A 5x digital zoom is offered to get as close as possible to what you're capturing in an image or video clip.
The 10.8mB user memory is used to store your images and videos, or you can send them off via Infrared or a upload them to a PC with a USB data-cable.
SMS/EMS, MMS, and e-mail messaging
Simple text messaging to full featured multimedia messaging is supported on the Siemens CX65. E-mail messaging is also supported with the POP3, SMTP & IMAP4 mail server protocols. Class 10 GPRS enables you to perform these functions (excluding SMS/EMS), explained in more detail below.
T9 predictive text is included on the handset for quick and easy messaging. Up to 100 SMS/EMS messages can be stored on the CX65's memory, MMS and e-mail messages will use up a different memory section.
WAP 2.0 browser over GPRS Class 10
The mobile internet offers you high quality multimedia directly to your handset in an instant. From the latest news headlines, to tones and images to spice up your phone the mobile internet has it all. Connection to the service is easy and somewhat cheap these days, and it's only going to get cheaper! The WAP 2.0 browser on the CX65 delivers all the content to the handset.
GPRS Class 10 is the only wireless data protocol on the CX65 and connects to WAP sites for downloading of data, among other things. This class can transfer data at around 48kbp/s, which is fast enough for downloading images/tones/Java games etc, as they are only very small in size.
Infrared connectivity
A small black window on the left hand side of the handset is the infrared port, where you can send and receive files from other devices or a PC with infrared functionality. Images, video, animations, and tones can all be sent and received among other file types.
Bluetooth isn't supported on the CX65 but there is the ability to connect to a PC with a USB Data-cable, sold separately.
10.8mB internal memory
The Siemens CX65 has 10.8mB of internal memory. This can be filled with anything and everything you desire, and it a reasonable amount for photo and video storage. Video recording is limited to 11seconds anyway, so you won't be filling it up with long video files – but a lot of smaller ones maybe! Ring tones, Java games and applications, MMS and EMS messages are all stored on this menu.
The file browser menu on the CX65 is very functional and easy to use, as is like a folder tree. This allows you to find the files you want easily. You can format the entire phone back to normal easily, but don't do his unless you've backed up all your files or they'll be gone forever!
Java games
Two games are pre-installed on the Siemens CX65m Contest Arena and Stack Attack. These can be removed and more can be downloaded from WAP or Infrared/USB data-cable connections.
T9 predictive text
Long gone are the times where you had no choice but to compose messages or insert text by pressing a button multiple times for a single letter. T9 predictive text allows you to press the button corresponding to the letter you want only once, even though it may not be the first letter on the button. The CX65 has this predictive text technology to ensure your messages are composed in the quickest way possible!
Clip-It™ front covers
To personalize your CX65 physically you can remove the Clip-It™ front cover and replace it with another one. The CX65 comes in one colour only, and replaceable covers can be purchased from a range of different stores. A small black tool in the sales package is used to remove the front cover, it's quite helpful but getting the actual cover off isn't very easy.
Check the Problems/Issues section of this article to read more about the removal of these covers.
Problems/Issues?
Slow User Interface
Scrolling around the menus of the CX65 is more time consuming than in other mobile phones because of the lag. Messaging also has some lag, which can be annoying if you need to change words but the phone is lagging behind and hasn't inputted your word yet.
This problem isn't as bad as in some mobile phones, but it could still be a problem for the speed freaks among us… :)
Can't turn off camera sounds
On most mobile phone with a camera you have the ability to turn off or change the camera "shutter" sound as you please. The CX65 has no such function, and even when the phone has the silent profile activated you will still get the shutter sound. Turning off all warning sounds through the menu also won't turn off the camera sounds.
The manual says nothing about turning the camera sounds off either, and you can't even change the sound used!
Clip-It™ cover removal
The Clip-It™ covers on the CX65 are a great idea, but the removal of them isn't so great. Even though a small tool is used to get the removal started, there is a little extra force required and is a little tricky to master. When you stick the tool in and rotate it the cover "un clicks" a little, but doesn't fully come off. I found that using the tool around the edges to lift the rest of the cover off is the easiest way.
The back battery cover is easily removed, there's more on that in the Build Quality section of this Siemens CX65 article.
In Summary
The Siemens CX65 is a slim-line handset that doesn't compromise on features with a reduction of size. The handset isn't tiny and is comfortable to use, but it much thinner than most other handsets. One of Siemens new-generation handsets with advanced multimedia capabilities, the CX65 impresses in most aspects.
With features like SMS, MMS, and e-mail messaging, a VGA camera, Infrared & GPRS it was hard to find any problems with the CX65. The problems I did find however aren't extreme but are still annoying! The handset also has removable front covers and the ability to operate on three different GSM bands (tri-band GSM).
The Siemens CX65 is available now for around $400. |
| Common misspellings on this brand: soemens , siemene |
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