New devices - a bit of a moan

[Guest magic_peanuts]

A week after 3GSM has finished, I want to have a bit of a whinge about, IMHO, an overall disappointing event for WM handsets.

Lots of exciting new handsets but none that really do everything.

Allow me to illustrate...

HTC X7500 (Athena)

What a groundbreaking device. Huge screen, HSDPA and GPS, VGA output, 8GB hard disk...but it runs WM5 and given that T-Mobile have taken it on as the less attractive Ameo, getting the better looking black HTC one is going to be very very expensive :D

Toshiba G500/900

First showing of fingerprint technology in any mobile device (I believe) and I love the security options that come with the G500 (apologies for the Jacek link but I couldn't find the info elsewhere). No GPS can be forgiven for the G500 but running WM5 cannot. For the G900, no GPS and a screen (however good) that will not run standard resolution programs, sorry forget it. You don't need more than VGA on a mobile device.

iMate Ultimate 7510

The potential Universal successor. Window Mobile 6...yes, HSDPA...yes, FM radio...yes, cool new embedded dual display...YES YES YES!! But where's the GPS? And that gold colour looks seriously tacky ;)

Gibabyte gSmart Q60

Grrr, so near yet so far. :( WM6, HSDPA (although not for our American cousins), GPS, TV tuner, DAB radio. Yet it has a hooting great aerial, no mention of WiFi (would be even more criminal if they left it out though) but it runs on a BLOODY LANDSCAPE SCREEN!!!

I 'just' want:

WM6

HSDPA

QWERTY keyboard

GPS

VGA standard sized screen

Reasonable styling

At least one cool extra (DAB / G500's remote security / fingerprint)

I was hoping HTC Kaiser would be formally launched but I guess the Hermes has not been out a year yet (although it feels much longer) but even that would lack the little extra punch I want. Maybe I'm just being greedy.

[Guest LSmith4285]

I was hoping HTC Kaiser would be formally launched but I guess the Hermes has not been out a year yet (although it feels much longer) but even that would lack the little extra punch I want. Maybe I'm just being greedy.

I'm feeling the same to be honest, I have an MDA Compact 2 with a Bluetooth GPS device so I don't see the point in upgrading to the 3. The Vario 2 has been out since August so I don't fancy that much either.

And agree with wanting a bit more, it seems PPCs don't evolve much between upgrades to make you say "I must upgrade the day my contract finishes so I can get that PPC with x, y and z that my current one doesn't have"

I was thinking about MDAC3 and Vario2 but I think I'll wait for the Kaiser, it has 3g, wifi and GPS which would be nice but nothing "WOW!" ;)

[Guest Webreaper]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing (and was about to post something similar until I saw this thread). My XDA Mini S (Wizard) is due for renewal when my contract's up at the end of next month, and I'm looking for a new device. Must-haves are the slide-out keyboard, and GPS, but a better CPU and screen res would be nice. And, of course, WM6. Seems that there's just nothing quite there yet - the Hermes would cut the mustard but it has no GPS, the Trinity would be fine (with the new GPS ROMs) but it has no keyboard. ;)

The Kaiser seems to be where it's at, but there's no sign of that on the horizon yet. I thought the G900 would do the business, but if it's got no GPS I'm not interested (I want a device to replace my aging Garmin Streetpilot).

It's very distressing, frankly. :D

Edited February 26, 2007 by Webreaper

[Guest jimbouk]

All devices are a compromise in some way or other. Personally I am very happy with a Hermes (with Copilot Live 6 installed and a copilot BT GPS receiver).

[Guest Ingvarr]

If manufacturer will make "ideal device", everybody will buy it, and only it ;)

So they instead put a bit there and a bit here, and slightly shuffle features from time to time, so you have more motivation to buy a "new" one :D

Edited February 26, 2007 by Ingvarr

[Guest Webreaper]

Out of interest, I've just spotted the XDA Zinc, which looks very much like what I want. ;)

However, I can't seem to find any definitive answer as to whether it has GPS. Anyone know for sure? It's not mentioned on the O2 'coming soon' page, but that means nothing.

[Guest LSmith4285]

When should we see the HTC Kaiser as the Vario 3? I am thinking maybe about August as that is when the Vario 2 was released.

Thats ages yet ;)

I think I would have a G900 even without the GPS but I doubt tmobile will do it.

[Guest uczmeg]

Toshiba G500/900

You don't need more than VGA on a mobile device.

I agree with most things you've said. Every year it seems everything is almost there, but not quite.

However I completely disagree with the last comment on the G900. I've tried various incarnations of mobile VGA devices (from straight Pocket PCs, to PDA phones and the Sharp Zarus handhelds), and VGA is not enough on a mobile device. Web browsing still doesn't work well under it, and if you think it does go and play with a Nokia 770 or the new and lovely Nokia N800 with their 800x480 screens and prepare to be amazed at how much better the web experience is.

Whether 800x480 on the G900 works will depend on the browser support, but if it does it is a huge step up from VGA.

[Guest Ingvarr]

A huge step where? Either it wont fit in your pocket or you will need a good magnifying glass to actually discern something (and not worsen your vision after 2 months of such abuse :D )

I had a Toshiba e800, I know ;)

Maybe when there will be a flexible screens that you can easely roll down to portable size, it will be actually useful... Now its either a resolution, or portability, or usability, but not all at once.

Edited February 26, 2007 by Ingvarr