Orange san diego nfc

It's difficult to describe what's been done to stock Android. For every change Orange made, some parts were left completely unaffected -- like an increasingly rare stock version of the app drawer.

We were able to scrape back most of what Orange had wrought -- aside from the dated orange app icons. The carrier did add gesture features, which are largely unobtrusive and occasionally useful. By slowly tracing across the screen on any app or the home screen you can draw out a symbol that acts as a shortcut, catapulting you to whatever's assigned to it. We give it a run in the video review -- check that out if you'd like to see how it all works.

Up to 27 shortcuts can be assigned to apps, contacts, playlists and even FourSquare places. Popular carrier apps, like Orange Wednesday, are pre-installed and are unfortunately flanked by less useful additions like the Orange Assistant helper app, an additional user guide and an NFC tags app that went largely untouched.

While the phone is NFC-capable, there's no "taggable" cards packaged with the phone and the San Diego doesn't hook up to Orange's existing contactless payment service. The stock Android keyboard felt very, very responsive -- more so than on various other Android devices we've reviewed this year, and Swype is offered as well if that's more your style.

As we'll cover more closely in the performance section, the web browser copes well with denser sites -- there's a little stutter but it's on par with existing dual-core Android phones, if not quite on the same level as a flagship.

App compatibility on the new chipset was a concern that we almost completely forgot about during our review. We came across only two apps that didn't work during our review and we use a lot of apps -- it simply wasn't a problem.

For Intel, a lot boils down to this section. Our benchmark figures have barely moved since we tested the device at its launch event, and the numbers paint an interesting, largely positive picture.

In short, the single-core 1. Sure, it's not a leader -- it's not even close to the quad-cores and Snapdragon S4s of , but look at that SunSpider score. We've run several rounds just to check, but yes, it slides in just underneath the Galaxy S III -- and less is better here.

It demonstrates that Intel was serious when it promised to focus on web browsing. And while the phone was clearly unable to scale 3D environments on the likes of GTA 3 as well as pricier handsets, it still manages to juggle this and other low-intensity tasks without a problem. Alas, real-world battery life didn't hold up to those heady promises of 14 days' standby. Many people might want a smartphone that can simply exist in their bag for a few days -- but we've reviewed enough devices and tested enough batteries to tell you it's the screen that will burn through your charged-up phone.

On our video rundown test, which involves looping a video with the screen fixed at 50 percent brightness, the phone managed to wind down in around seven hours and 20 minutes. That time is no better than current Android devices, but it's still pretty good for a 4-inch smartphone. In day-to-day use, we found the battery fared better, managing closer to two or three days between charges -- substantially better than many other smartphones we've used this year.

Unsurprisingly, its runtime is directly related to how much you use it, but if you're not going to use those smartphone features, it will doggedly hold onto its initial charge very well -- close to that posited two-week mark.

Call quality was strong -- Orange offers HD voice calling between the San Diego and other compatible devices. It also has the same earSmart voice-cancellation processing found in the likes of the Galaxy S III and, er, Dell Streak, keeping our test calls sharp and clear. Intel's first Android smartphone proves that the company is more than happy to bring the fight to existing processors.

Despite the low price, the admirable performance of the San Diego's Medfield processor is the take-home message here -- which is great news for a manufacturer looking to dip its toes into mobile devices. What we're interested in seeing now is what Intel can make if it really pushes the envelope.

How would an Intel-powered, p, flagship smartphone with a more capable camera compare to Samsung's and HTC's best and brightest? In comparison, the San Diego looks plain cheap, lacks Ice Cream Sandwich and has often disappointing camera. However, for this price -- and as Intel's entry-level smartphone gambit -- we were left impressed by both the display and battery. The first Medfield phones may not register on the radar for those looking for the best Android has to offer, but it remains a strong start for Intel to build upon.

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