CNET takes a hands-on look at the Pharos Traveler 137 smartphone.
Bonnie Cha
Bonnie Cha was a former chief correspondent for CNET Crave, covering every kind of tech toy imaginable (with a special obsession for robots and Star Wars-related stuff). When she's not scoping out stories, you can find her checking out live music or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California.
First introduced at CES 2009, the Pharos Traveler 137 is a Windows Mobile-based smartphone with integrated GPS and navigation software. Unlike other similarly equipped devices, the Traveler 137 does not require a cellular connection to operate as a GPS device.
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Pricey but unlocked
The Traveler 137 is sold unlocked through various online retailers, including Amazon, Dell, eXpansys, and Newegg, for $599.95, though you can receive a $250 discount if you sign up for a two-year T-Mobile contract through Pharos.
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Familar but attractive design
The Pharos Traveler 137 has a sleek and attractive design that's similar to other candy-bar-style, touch-screen smartphones like the Samsung Omnia.
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Pocketful
The smartphone measures 4.6 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide and 0.5 thick and weighs 4.9 ounces, so it's not the most pocket-friendly device.
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Back view
However, the Traveler 137 has a nice, solid construction and features a soft-touch finish on back to give it a nonslippery texture.
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Touch screen
The Traveler 137's boasts a 3.5-inch WVGA touch screen that displays 65,000 colors at a 480x800 pixel resolution. It's super-sharp and vibrant, however, the smartphone is a bit sluggish, so the touch screen wasn't always responsive and the built-in accelerometer was a bit erratic.
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Navigation controls
While you'll use the smartphone's touch screen most of the time, there are some buttons below the display, including a trackball navigator, a Start menu shortcut, and an OK button.
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Camera phone
The Pharos Traveler 137 features a 3.1-megapixel camera that can also geotag photos with the built-in GPS.
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Good photo quality
We were quite impressed with the photo quality of the smartphone's camera. Images were clear and while colors could have been a little more rich, we were satisfied overall.
