Fresh off news of a leaked iPhone, reports of leaked Dell mobile phones hit the Internet yesterday. The technology blog Engadget.com posted the full details of several Dell mobile phones, including details of the Dell Lightning phone. The leaked Dell Lightning will run Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 operating system and will offer an experience that is completely different from previous Windows-based mobile phones. Moreover, the features of the Dell Lightning phone make it appear that it will be one of the many “iPhone killers” that are vying for a share of the smart phone market. From interesting hardware to a completely new operating system that aims to redefine the user experience, the features of the leaked Dell Lightning point towards a phone that should be watched.
Hardware Features of the Leaked Dell Lightning
When looking at the leaked Dell Lightning, the phone’s physical appearance is the first thing to grab your attention. The attractive black phone-which appears to be relatively low profile-features a portrait slider. This means that you can use the Dell Lightning with a touch screen, but when you need to type an email or otherwise use a keyboard, you can slide out a physical QWERTY keyboard. This should help to make it a great phone for mobile access to email. The leaked Dell Lightning’s screen looks vibrant and according to the tech specs, it features a 4.1-inch WVGA OLED display.
In addition to the visible hardware on the leaked Dell Lightning, the Dell Lightning features additional hardware that will make it an attractive smart phone. This includes a 1ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a five-mega pixel camera (complete with auto focus), 1 GB of Flash memory and 512 MB of RAM, and an 8 Gigabyte MicroSD card. Other hardware worth noting includes a GPS, FM radio, and compass. It will also reportedly work with the LTE wireless standard by late 2011. The hardware features of the leak Dell phone make it seem as though it will be one of the most exciting smart phones to be released this year.
Dell Lightning to Run New Microsoft Mobile OS
Of course, a smart phone’s hardware is only as good as the software that runs it. Previous smart phones billed as iPhone killers have always fallen short in this realm, but the leaked Dell Lightning may make significant strides towards that lofty goal. The Dell Lightning phone will run the new Microsoft Windows Phone 7 operating system. According to reports, the new operating system is a complete rewrite of Microsoft’s mobile operating system. The new operating system will sport a new user interface that is more inline with Microsoft’s Zune music player than previous Microsoft phones.
According to the spec sheets for the leaked Dell Lightning, the new operating system will dramatically improve usability by giving users easier access to critical features. This includes access to the Zune music marketplace and the Zune player, Windows Media Gallery for managing your media, and an improved mobile Internet experience. In addition, the Dell Lightning will have full support for Flash videos, something that is not found on Apple’s iPhone. The Dell Lightning also will feature a comprehensive email app that will allow you to manage and sort your email, synchronize your mobile phone and desktop, and access variety of email providers. The phone further promises to create an experience akin to having a mobile PC in your pocket. This will likely be enticing to many consumers, as the PC remains the dominant type of computer.
Based on the leaked Dell Lightning specifications, the Dell Lightning is an exciting smart phone. While a functional model needs to be seen before bestowing too much hype upon it, early indications are that it will likely be a great smart phone that will offer serious competition for Apple’s iPhone. Keep an eye on the Dell Lightning and look for further reports on the Dell Lightning as it comes closer to its launch date-it is a smart phone worth watching.
Sources
Nilay Patel, “Dell Lightning: the ultimate Windows Phone 7 device leaks out”, Engadget.com.
