Orange SPV M600 review

The built-in 2-megapixel camera isn't unique, but what we've not seen before in a Pocket PC is a macro mode function. You can get pretty close to your subject using this, which is easy as you just have to swivel the surround of the camera lens. The lens and a self-portrait mirror are in the back of the casing, but there is no flash.

Using the camera is easy. There's a button on the upper-left edge that you press once to start the camera software rolling, then again to shoot. The front screen defaults to landscape mode for shooting, with the round navigation button under your left thumb available for switching between video and stills mode and using the zoom feature. To make other settings, such as changing the image size, applying filters or using the self timer, you tap a tools icon on the screen. It's pretty quick once you're familiar with how to get to the various settings.

The SPV M600 is a quad-band handset and has a shade under 43MB of free space for you to fill with software. You can add more with an SD card.

On the phone, a quick tap of the call button opens the on-screen dialler, and another tap gets you into speed dials or call history. Alternatively, if you are on the Today screen, the right softmenu button takes you to your contacts, where you can find -- and then using the 'tap and hold' menu, call -- any contact stored on the system. Some handsets can be used more quickly for making voice calls, but it is still a good system.

Add to all this Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and infrared, and the various Windows Mobile 5.0 applications including Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, email, SMS and MMS tools, Windows Media Player, Pocket Internet Explorer, plus some software Orange has added, including a PDF reader, Zip file manager and video player, and you have a well-rounded device.

Performance
Audio quality is pretty good, and we found using the speakerphone delivered enough volume. If we have a major issue it is that the screen, which is easy to read in most lighting conditions, gets difficult to see clearly in bright sunlight.

Battery life is not bad for a PDA too. We easily got through a couple of days of average use without needing to charge, but if you are heavy on the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or decide to use the Pocket version of Windows Media Player for tunes, you should expect to charge daily.

The fact that you can charge via USB makes travelling with the SPV M600 less of a burden if you have other devices that charge in the same way.

Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Kate Macefield