Hands-on with Samsung's Alias 2 and its E Ink keypad

Open this dual-hinge phone vertically, and you'll see a standard numeric keypad; open it horizontally for text messaging, and the E Ink-powered keys automatically morph into a full QWERTY layout. Great idea, but the Alias 2's "magic" keypad isn't without its quirks.

Announced on Monday and now available for $79 (with a two-year contract and a $50 mail-in rebate) from Verizon Wireless, the Alias 2 and its dual-hinge design will be familiar to anyone with the original Alias or the old SGH-D307 on Cingular.

And indeed, the 3G-enabled Alias 2's basic features are pretty standard stuff, including a two-megapixel camera, streaming videos and full-track music downloads, stereo Bluetooth, and turn-by-turn directions courtesy of VZ Navigator.

What sets the Alias 2 apart from the pack, though, is its morphing keypad, powered by the same electronic paper technology that's on the Amazon Kindle. Instead of getting a cramped keypad of tiny keys labeled with all manner of letters, numbers, and symbols, the Alias 2 delivers a relatively roomy set of clickable, domed keys, each with its own label (depending on what you're doing).

For example: if you want to dial a number, just flip the phone open vertically and you'll see the 12-button numeric keypad, with a gray set of five navigation keys just above. You'll also get clearly labeled camera, voice command, and speakerphone keys, plus one-touch buttons for Bluetooth, alarm, and gaming.

Flip the Alias 2 open horizontally, and you'll get the same numeric keypad on the left, with some blank keys on the right. One you start composing a text message, though, the keypad morphs into a full QWERTY layout; you can also click the input selection button (on the lower left) to cycle though various symbol keys.

Pretty cool, and the nice thing about the E Ink powered keys is that you can see them under direct sunlight; they're also backlit for low-light conditions. Tapping out messages was a breeze on the roomy, domed keys—much easier than on the old Alias. Source: Yahoo Tech