Database Info

Battle of the PDA Phones

okay guys, been reading up for the past few weeks on the lastest PDA phones. i need to get a new phone, preferably windows mobile, and preferably wm6. here are my requirements:
1. 400mhz cpu or faster
2. 2 mp camera or higher
3. GPS - MUST have
4. tri-band GSM, wifi, video capture
5. small phone
okay those are absolutes. my preferences:
6. keyboard or numeric keypad
7. large screen
8. windows mobile 6
9. long battery life
10. 262k screen, 2nd camera for conferencing
more or less, the N95 kind of meets most of the requirements--except that the cpu is kinda slow and its not windows mobile. though the good thing about it is that its got video-out, where i can put a presentation on the phone and plug the cable onto the projector.
now, im trying to debate between:
a) the g-smart i300 (no keypad)
b) m700 (65k colors, side keypad)
c) P3600 (65k colors, no keyboard)
d) asus p535 (65k colors, no keypad)
e) X800 (65k colors, no keyboard)
f) asus p526 (65k colors, 200mhz cpu)
g) JAQ4 (65k colors, 200mhz cpu)
h) XDA orbit (65k colors, 200mhz cpu, no keypad)
i) hp 6915 (1.3mp, 65k colors, BIG phone, no upgrade to WM6)
as it stands, the N95 kind of trumps everyone with a 5mp camera, 30fps video capture, keypad, 256k colors, video-out, and relatively small form-factor.
the wife has the nokia, so i dont want another nokia and im partial to windows mobile (has to sync with outlook, nokia has issues). ive also used the N95 and it can be slow at times and can hang. otherwise, its a dream phone except that it doesnt run windows mobile.
the comparisons above make it look like the ETEN is going to win. ive owned an M500 before, and didnt like the overall experience (though the phone was kinda okay) due the the bugs, signal reception, and cheap chassis. so im kinda wary about taking an M700, though it looks like the only real and closest option to my requirements. other than the M700, i would have gone for the HP except that they announced there will be no wm6 upgrade (the M700 has the upgrade).
what do you guys think? any other options or other ideas i may have missed? any reviews of the abovementioned phones to dissuade or persuade me?
btw, the E90 is kinda too big for me, though i like it. its also not wm.
http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia-phones-1.php

Nice first post ....
Ok sarcasm mode off.
I am sure you will get lots of recommendations on which phone to go for, but in my experience the only person who can decide this is you. You have a very demanding list of requirements and sound as if you just needed to write down your thoughts to help you decide.
Personally I have an MDA Vario II (Hermes) with a TOMTOM bluetooth GPS unit and this works well for me.

If you need the *best* built-in GPS, the P3600 isn't the way to go either. Also, it's pretty useless for A2DP, should you ever need it.

So maybe the upcoming Kaiser for AD2P since its native WM6? Same gps module as the P3600 though (not that it's that the gps is that bad, just not the BEST ie. SIRF III). It is supposed to be available in late June, or July.

there is only one good phone on the market today, but impossible to buy.. The benq p51 ..good cpu, enough ram/rom, gps, wifi, bt, big enough screen (320*240)..but most important a full qwerty keyboard and hotpluggable sdcard. 1.3 megapixel camera is enough cause 2.0 megapixel doesn't make that big a differents. And no i don't want a 240*240 screen. It's bollocks when you have to see a streaming movie.
umts and other high speed connections is not done cause not payable in europe. Waaaay to expensive. Just for a few business users.
-my first pda was dell axim x5 ..still a great pda..use it for streaming movies and occasionally surfing in my bed. still in great shape.
-now i have a htc p3300 ..very small..bad cpu for streaming, bad camera, screen is to small for confort.the only advantage is build in gps.
- now i want the benq p51 and i don't have any problem with it if it's the last one on earth it has everything i need.
all the others pda phone from htc and other brands are missing something from my wishlist
the benq p51 is one of it's kind but like i said..impossible to find and buy
greetz

Why it is not payable in Europe for umts?
At least T-Mobile NL, we pay fixed monthly for HSDPA access:
https://www.t-mobile.nl/persoonlijk...internet_email/wat_heb_je_nodig/tarieven.aspx
9.95 euro for 64 Kbps
19.95 euro for 192 Kbps
...
Unlimited access !
And without subscription is 0.24 euro per 100 KB ... or 2.4 euro per MB which is quite cheap.
kasperke said:
there is only one good phone on the market today, but impossible to buy.. The benq p51 ..good cpu, enough ram/rom, gps, wifi, bt, big enough screen (320*240)..but most important a full qwerty keyboard and hotpluggable sdcard. 1.3 megapixel camera is enough cause 2.0 megapixel doesn't make that big a differents. And no i don't want a 240*240 screen. It's bollocks when you have to see a streaming movie.
umts and other high speed connections is not done cause not payable in europe. Waaaay to expensive. Just for a few business users.
-my first pda was dell axim x5 ..still a great pda..use it for streaming movies and occasionally surfing in my bed. still in great shape.
-now i have a htc p3300 ..very small..bad cpu for streaming, bad camera, screen is to small for confort.the only advantage is build in gps.
- now i want the benq p51 and i don't have any problem with it if it's the last one on earth it has everything i need.
all the others pda phone from htc and other brands are missing something from my wishlist
the benq p51 is one of it's kind but like i said..impossible to find and buy
greetz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.
I'll probably narrow it down to:
a) the g-smart i300 (no keypad)
b) m700 (65k colors, side keypad)
so which one do you think would be a better trade-off? higher screen color or side-keypad?
I need the keypad so when im driving i can punch numbers; a touchscreen works like hell when you do that. I need the color screen for playing videos and camera work. I guess the more important one is the keypad. Any bad reviews for the M700 from our current users? how about the gigabyte?

Forget those 2 ... and take a look into HTC Kaiser ..

htc trinity?

"high speed connections is not done cause not payable in europe. Waaaay to expensive. Just for a few business users."
not here
and i believe prices varies alot! in europe
here it's 1euro pr MB if you dont go flatrate

gogol said:
Forget those 2 ... and take a look into HTC Kaiser ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3MP camera, 2nd camera, I like it. slide-out keyboard, not too fond of that but I'll work. nice ROM but CPU not that great. That puts it a little above the M700. how is the NMEA 0183 GPS compared to the SiRF Star III of the M700?
bbobeckyj said:
htc trinity?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, as laid out the P3600 has 65k screen and no keyboard. id like one with keyboard/keypad.

Kaiser
is nice
though i think it's a bit ugly
and thick
and seem to be in the universal replacement
as in being closer to Advantage then a real pda phone
but apart from those issues it's everything i want in a phone

im not really one that cares for looks as long as all the functionality is there. the kaiser lacks screen resolution, otherwise its pretty good.
im now thinking about the HTC Nike, comparing whether its better to have a keypad than keyboard. i absolutely NEED the keypad, as in punching numbers while driving; but id also like a keyboard for when im doing wifi outdoors.
http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=736

yeah nike is sweet but i just know that one day what ever stop the slider thing from going all the way and sending the top part flying and hitting a busdriver in the eye so he run his bus into a full school of handicap'd kids will brake

Its funny I have the same dilema I was thinking of the two I like the i300 because its smaller but no keypad but the m700 is bigger and slower. So I am pushing more to the i300 which one did you pic? Also I like that the i300 has internal message and windows 6 update. But the m700 has a bigger screen and I can watch more movies....

HTC P6500 Sedna - (Very)Short Review

1. this thing is HUGE and when I mean HUGE, I mean REALLY HUGE.
Just forget anything you ever new about a Pocket PC, the P6500 Sedna beats it all
in size, with the exception of the HTC X7xxx/Advantage series. Kind of a Pocket PC on steroids. I have small hands and I hardly(actually I can't at all) use this thing with one hand only, simply because my thumb isn't long enough.
2. the P6500 Sedna build quality is impeccable, this thing is really made of nice materials. The casing is black(not brownish as some pictures may indicate), it is a dull black, "stealth" like, not glittery at all and it feels well in your hand, kind of semi-soft material. This makes sure that this thing doesn't slide out of your hand accidentally.
3. the HUGE display which by the way only HTC and maybe god know why it is QVGA low resolution, is a bit dull and colors look washed out. Not really the display you want to use for video playback or viewing pictures. On the other hand, the display can be used outdoors, even in bright sunlight. Not as good as the display on my Blackberry Curve regarding direct sunlight but still very good. Also worth mentioning: you can easily use this display with your fingers only, simply because it is HUGE and because, surprise surprise, your fingerprints don't seem to stick to it. I used the P6500 for a couple of minutes with my fingers only and I wasn't able to see one single fingerprint on the display, very impressive.
4. can't say much about video playback capability, I didn't try it yet(my bad). The device feels responsive and fast though, not as fast as a homecooked WM 6 edition but still not bad at all.
5. the speaker is pretty loud, very nice. Ringtones and the speakerphone deliver a very good loudness, I like that. Not so nice: the speaker on the P6500 sounds a bit metal can like, not as pleasant as on other high quality phones.
6. reception is very good, I get a HSDPA connection most of the time and it is at par with the Nokia E90 I'd say. Very impressive seems to be the GPS reception quality, I got a FIRST fix(using Tom Tom 6) in about 15(!) seconds and even more impressive: I got this first fix under a covered(!) and closed roof windows...8(!) satellites. I was still able to receive the signal of 4(!) satellites around one meter away from the windows. WOW!
7. it is a pitty that HTC didn't supply some sort of belt holster for the P6500. The little cheap looking pouch supplied with the unit is pretty much useless. It will be difficult to find a fitting holster for this "little" giant.
8. the HTC P6500 comes pretty much naked, no navigation software installed, nothing special either. Just the fingerprint scanner software is supplied, nothing more.
9. the fingerprint scanner works flawlessly and it is very fast, it is fun to use, definetely.
I don't know how safe this baby is but it works so far very well.
10. the built-in 3MP camera delivers decent pictures but it annoys the user with a countdown from 3 to 1, seriously, no kidding. It is almost impossible to take fast moving pictures at the highest quality setting...well, maybe you could take a picture of a snail moving. HTC definetely needs to take some lessons in the camera department because so far, most of their cameras on their devices STINK.
11. the built-in 1GB NAND memory is a nice feature but with two SD(IO) slots, I wonder if this really was necessary. I don't understand why HTC didn't offer 256 MB RAM and 1GB Flash instead but anyway...1GB NAND is not bad at all, it is fast and you can't loose it.
What HTC could improve:
1. VGA instead of QVGA resolution
2. less "dull" and more colorful display
3. built-in phone speaker should sound more natural
4. camera without the annoying countdown
5. reduction of length by aprox. 1 cm, reduction of width by aprox. 0.5 cm and reduction of depth by aprox. 0.5 cm. This would improve the handling of the P6500 with one hand only
6. touch flow or similar would be actually perfect for the P6500, don't have a clue why it isn't even optional
Seriously, I got almost a shock when I saw the P6500 for the first time. It is SOOOOO HUGE. Still: the size has some sort of coolness factor, can't describe it with words.
Some retailers in Germany advertise the HTC P6500 as the perfect tool for the police, security forces, emergency services, etc. I'm not sure if this has to do with the built-in fingerprint scanner or if the unit is more rigid than other HTC units(no info here) but I still wonder what this giant could do more or better than other WM6 units. Yes, the P6500 has two SD(IO) slots, they come very handy and you may be able to install various tools like scanners, laser taggers or whatever. HTC eventually needs to launch a completely new accessory line for the P6500.
Is it worth buying it? Well...I don't know. Most dealers over here in Germany are asking around 750-799 EUR(incl. VAT) for the P6500, the dealer I played with it at asked 699 EUR for it, not bad compared to the others but still a lot of money. I own the Samsung i780 which is a VERY FAST Pocket PC with a gorgeous display and a great video playback capability, GPS, etc. etc. etc. I paid 450 EUR for this little thing, I just don't see the advantage of the additional 249 EUR for the P6500, especially since there don't seem to be homecooked ROMs available yet.
One things seems to be sure though: you won't see the P6500 Sedna in many hands, making it a pretty exotic Pocket PC in my opinion.
As soon as I have some testing results regarding video playback, etc., I'll post them here.
Sorry, no ROM dump since this isn't my property.
The unit I tested has ROM version 1.10.407.3 dated 01/23/08.
Radio ROM was 1.58.21.23.
The CPU is a Qualcomm 7200 at 400 MHz speed.

Little update regarding video playback: I played a 800MB sized video(Divx) file from a 4GB SDHC memory card using the TCPMP player. No stuttering at all, definetely MUCH better than HTC TyTN II video playback(heavy stuttering of video file).
So it seems to be true...the P6500 does have the necessary extra video drivers for the chipset.

Hi,
THX for the short review, could you please post (if possible) the OS mobile version, may be you can get post the video drivers too...!!

not the drivers, if you could dump the rom itself that would be great, if you go to htcclassaction.org, they are asking for rom dumps form the sedna, so maybe you can help them
Rory

rorydaredkign said:
not the drivers, if you could dump the rom itself that would be great, if you go to htcclassaction.org, they are asking for rom dumps form the sedna, so maybe you can help them
Rory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'dont think he'll do kind of extraction like that without the respective Hard SPL programm..!!!

qtek_metanol said:
Hi,
THX for the short review, could you please post (if possible) the OS mobile version, may be you can get post the video drivers too...!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but I already answered this:
1. this isn't my property, so I can't extract the ROM
2. I already provided the ROM/Radio version but
if you need to know details, here there are:
Windows Mobile 6 Professional 5.2.1622 (Build 18128.0.4.4)
Right now, I consider the P6500 to be some sort of special usage Pocket PC with no real value for the regular WM user and/or HTC gadget lover.
Yes, it looks weird and huge and the fingerprint scanner works great but this can't be all. The outdoor display is worth mentioning too but on the other hand, it seems to be "dull" and the colors look washed-out, not really a display for video playback and/or picture viewing. I hate to say this but stay away from this thing, it won't make you happy.

isnt there already a rom dump in the kaiser thread..
edit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=381254

Touch Pro vs. Samsung Omnia?

Sorry if this is completly out of place here but I just have to ask!
I am getting tired of all the problems with HTC devices, and I am considering buying another device just to be able to do what I want!
Let´s face it, I have had many different HTC devices, and there is always a problem somewhere! Either it´s the video driver or gps lag or whatever...
Now, I am not ready to give up on my TP just yet, and that is mainly becouse of this great forum. So I am keeping my TP to see if things get better in the future!
But I still want to be able to use my GPS software properly, and would also like to be able to watch movies without having to bring another set of devices with me where ever I go!
I was looking at the new Touch HD, but it seems that it has video issues as well!
So now I was thinking about the Samsung Omnia!
All the reviews I read so far seems promising, the device is very fast and is even DivX certified!
My question is, have you used or do you own a Samsung Omnia?
If yes, then what is your opinion about it? Is it really as good as I think it is or is it just another HTC like device with many buggs?
Will I be able to watch my videos smoothly or not?
Will I be able to use the gps without lag?
How does it compare to TP when it comes to other programs and games?
How is the screen compared to TP, does it feal much bigger or not?
Or maybe you can suggest another device that meets my demands, I am open for sugestion!
I know these are alot of questions, but I hope that some of you can help me out here! I am really frustrated that I have to bring several different devices with me to be able to do everything that my expencive TP was supposed to be able to do!
Thanks to all of you in advance!

my 2 cents...
list out ur priorities in what you want and then choose from there...
ie
video = get iphone
GSP = get nokia
.
.
.
for what u have stated, i'd personally get the HD over the Omina as its more sexy but its a bit bigger which is a turn off. If ur choices are limited to HD or Omina then I'd choose HD as I would think the battery would be better and lets face it... all phone are crap if the battery sucks...

venom037 said:
my 2 cents...
list out ur priorities in what you want and then choose from there...
ie
video = get iphone
GSP = get nokia
.
.
.
for what u have stated, i'd personally get the HD over the Omina as its more sexy but its a bit bigger which is a turn off. If ur choices are limited to HD or Omina then I'd choose HD as I would think the battery would be better and lets face it... all phone are crap if the battery sucks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fact the HD is bigger then Omnia is no issue for me, and I also think that HD is the better looking device!
However I read in the HD forum that HD still has problems with video playback, now if that is true it´s a complete turn off for me!

A negative, Omnia won't have world 3G (850/1900 + 2100).

NuShrike said:
A negative, Omnia won't have world 3G (850/1900 + 2100).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Sweden, does that apply even here or just for US?

branko.savic said:
The fact the HD is bigger then Omnia is no issue for me, and I also think that HD is the better looking device!
However I read in the HD forum that HD still has problems with video playback, now if that is true it´s a complete turn off for me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the default playback is not important to me as I only use CorePlayer... unless i'm mistaken and ur talking abt the phone hardware itself.... that i'm not technical enough to comment on.

venom037 said:
the default playback is not important to me as I only use CorePlayer... unless i'm mistaken and ur talking abt the phone hardware itself.... that i'm not technical enough to comment on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it is problem with hardware becouse they say that there is no smooth playback even with CP without converting!

Maybe another device is better then Omnia?
If Omnia is not as good, maybe you all can suggest me another device that will fit my needs?
Thanks!

I am responsible for the mobile devices in our company. I have a T-Mobile Vario IV (HTC Touch Pro) and a T-Mobile Vario III (HTC Kaiser) for my own use. I have ordered and configured 2 Samsung Omnia, 3 Vario IV, 3 Compact IV (HTC Diamond) and the best after all is the Vario IV.
The Omnia software feels not very well. The TF3D ist much more comfortable als feels really smooth.

If you can live without the g-sensor, get the Xperia X1 and put HD manilla on it.

Kraize said:
If you can live without the g-sensor, get the Xperia X1 and put HD manilla on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tought the X1 had a much smaller screen, and less RAM?

Bigger, higher res screen than touch pro, better battery too. And 3.5mm headphones. If only it had been available in Australia a month ago (still isn't). That said, I like my touch pro. The GPS isn't so bad it's not useful and it's a big improvement on my old Hermes...

I was trying to decide between the Omnia and the Pro myself. I ended up keeping my Touch Pro - largely because of the cost difference between identical plans with Sprint and Verizon.
Video will definitely run smoothly on the Omnia because it has a faster processor, and is not running a VGA screen. The screen is much lower resolution and nonstandard though it's bigger. That said, quality TV Out will be limited to files it's native player can output. Otherwise, you're only getting the resolution of the screen, 400 x 240 I think.
On the Touch Pro, I've gotten good performance with the files I normally play using either Coreplayer or Divx Player. I've heard bad reviews about unconverted files using TV Out - but am waiting for a cable to try myself.
When you're comparing screens - the Touch Pro is higher resolution but the Omnia is bigger. I can see positives and negatives to both in viewing webpages or images. But for video play and output the Omnia should be faster.

By the way, I should add that though the Touch HD has a bigger, 800 x 480 screen - video play should be slower/choppier than the Touch pro because it has the same processor. The same processor would have to move even more pixels, which is already causing slow performance with the Raphael's VGA screen.
The only possibility for better performance with a VGA (or higher) screen, is a faster processor or better integrated video drivers.

If I were you, I wouldn't sink a lot of money into a samsung phone. IMO they are generally not very good. That being said, the Omnia is obviously not a standard samsung.
pros
-it has innovative interface
-bigger screen
-good with media
cons
-lower res screen (is it wqvga? i think it is)
-NO STYLUS SLOT (huge turnoff)
no qwerty (we are comparing to touch pro here)
this being said, I feel that there is little the omnia can do that the pro can't. with coreplayer, video playback is flawless for me, even when i am viewing a 700mb divx encoded movie

I purchased omnia!
Okey, so I decided to buy the Omnia even if most of you voted against it!
Boy am I glad I did that!
I have spent almost this whole day testing the device, the first thing I tested was to copy a 1.2 gb Xvid movie to it, it played out of the box with it´s built in touch player so I did not even have to install CorePlayer! And do I even have to mention that it did not lag/stutter even once watching the whole movie, with alot of action scenes!
Then I installed TomTom 7 and BeeLine GPS and went out for a walk!
Testing BeelineGPS while walking was a whole different experience then with my Touch Pro, the compas view rotated and adjusted it´s position with every step I took! (With Touch Pro it only updated every 10 to 20 meters!) What a difference!
TomTom performed just as well, it followed my car exactly even in high speed!
And it is alot snappier then my Touch Pro even tho it has less ram! Rotating screen is an instant and overall performance is way better then the TP!
Bare in mind that I have installed custom speedy rom in my TP, and the Omnia is all original! Now imagine what this device can do with a custom rom!
I dont know about you, but I can just say that I dont believe I made a misstake with this device, but I have to keep testing it a bit more, just had it one day so far!

venom037 said:
my 2 cents...
list out ur priorities in what you want and then choose from there...
ie
video = get iphone
GSP = get nokia
.
.
.
for what u have stated, i'd personally get the HD over the Omina as its more sexy but its a bit bigger which is a turn off. If ur choices are limited to HD or Omina then I'd choose HD as I would think the battery would be better and lets face it... all phone are crap if the battery sucks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, I bought the omnia yesterday, and today after two days of pretty heavy use, I still have 40% battery left!
So the batter is in fact better then in my tp which did not even last for one full day!

What network has the Omnia? I want one! This fuze has done nothing but frustrate me! What carrier are you with?

Duder29 said:
What network has the Omnia? I want one! This fuze has done nothing but frustrate me! What carrier are you with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Sweden so I am not familiar with the networks in us, but this is what I see in my Omnia settings: Automatic, GSM 900/1800, GSM 850/1900 and WCDMA!
I should point out that this is a 3G device and it works great here in sweden, it also has HSDPA (Hight speed internet!)
Hope this helps!

I love my Omnia, but especially with this ROM: http://www.modaco.com/content/i900-...illa2d-with-flashlite-3-1-and-uc-dthj9-m2d03/
But I can get a great deal on a Fuze through work and I'm tempted to pick one up as well... this last month or so that I've had the Omnia is the first time since the Blue Angel came out that I haven't had an HTC device

HTC Touch Pro 3 (Dream Device)

I just saw the new HTC Touch Pro 2. But as usually, it is not perfect. It is always missing some specs.
So I build one as I think could be a perfect devise. The name is HTC Touch Pro 3.
What do you think if this devise was on sale?
Have a look on the specs at: http://marcustavares.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/htc-touch-pro-3-a-dream-pda

Marcus Tavares said:
What do you think if this devise was on sale?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it would cost at least £1000 SIM-free and, frankly, wouldn't sell to most people, simply because of the price.
All the Touch-Pro-2 needs really is a 3.5mm headphone socket.
Like the one they put on the Touch HD, damnit!

Best things in it:
- OLED display
- the projector. Build in a tripod and the TV output is not so important.
What it lacks:
- 50-200mm F/1.8 lens with image stabilization.
- Windows Mobile with CE Core 6.0.
But they won't build such a device, because it would satisfy most people for about 5 years.

kosherpig said:
But they won't build such a device, because it would satisfy most people for about 5 years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this is the REAL PROBLEM here. All they could think of is how to squeeze more money from us.

Htc is trying to rip us off. I mean why can't they just focus on a particular phone like the iphone and build on it till its perfect. Instead they release all these new phones with the same features and slight difference and charge u an arm and a leg and i can just buy an iphone for $200usd. I mean what the hell is wron with those idiots at htc. I need to buy some shares and have a say in that company because clearly they a great at creating but horrible at business.

12.1MP camera.
Lol it would be 12.1 mp of blur.

the problem with HTC
do u guys realize the software support for HTC sucks big time? For example I have a HTC Advantage. They could have improved the video playback of the G-sensor. Instead they just ignored it and went on selling other new products.

I agree the cost might be too high. The 3.5mm headphone socket I don't need as I use the Motorola S9-HD but I agree it is important.
If I need to chose one item it will be the camera. 3.1 is defenetly low for a device is comming in the middle of 2009 and in the mean time lots of competitors like Samsung OmniaHD, Nokia N97 and others are comming with better camera.

3?! 2 won't even be out for a few months.

dortyboy said:
Htc is trying to rip us off. I mean why can't they just focus on a particular phone like the iphone and build on it till its perfect. Instead they release all these new phones with the same features and slight difference and charge u an arm and a leg and i can just buy an iphone for $200usd. I mean what the hell is wron with those idiots at htc. I need to buy some shares and have a say in that company because clearly they a great at creating but horrible at business.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC release devices like the TP2 for those that need a keyboard, the Diamond for those that want something small, the HD for those that want films etc. They've realised there is no perfect device, so why not make something for everyone?
Also, those complaining about incremental improvements, look at the iPhone. So, the second gen has 3G. Which it should have had the first time around. That's about the only new thing hardware wise.
Also, no one is forcing you to by HTC. If you love the iPhone so much, go and buy one, and regret it.

I read your specs, and while it is good to dream, even maybe hint at a potential HTC engineer what to do next...you should also keep in mind some physical constraints, so here are my few remarks ;-)
a screen of 10 cm of diagonal, and a 5 way dpad seems very difficult to fit in a 59x116mm device. Your screen is 85mm high, add 2*2mm for borders, 7mm up for the front camera and loudspeaker, and u have 10mm to fit a 5 way dpad... difficult! and a zoom bar? forget it ;-)
Fitting an optical zoom in a 17 mm thick device? difficult, u would need to use 45 degree mirror to angle the zoom/captor 90 degree (it will be set in the width of the device)...and then u can forget about the projector...
Also, such arangements (optical zoom OR microprojector) would change the physical layout of your device. Basically, it would look more like the G1 than the touch pro, the DPAD/zoom bar should stay fixed with regard to keyboard to have some room to fit those devices.
USB3 is not supported by snapdragon, so this is not possible (additional control chip is not possible, for space and energy usage reasons)
same for wimax and 802.11n wifi...not sure it support 1080P output either, I think it is 720p. Recording in 1080P/30fps is certainly out of reach of the snapdragon...but even if it could do it, no way u could use such a resolution with the small lens in anything less than bright sunlight or studio lighting. and even then, i am not sure it would be better than 720P. 1080P camcoders need a significant lens opening, you need a lot of photons to get an acceptable signal/noise at 30 fps with so many pixels...
scroll wheel would be very nice! I wonder why this has faded from all current smartphones, it was popular at one time, and for good reasons: some kind of side control is great for navigating in lists, webpage or ebooks...So yes, here I am 100% with you: it is time for a comeback
And last: I think it is not possible to fit a 2100 mAh battery given the size of the device and the presence of a physical keyboard: it would have to be thicker..or without keyboard...batteries with higher energy density could allow it, but they are not available right now, and hoping for such a significant progress would push your dream device to long term future ;-)

Marcus Tavares said:
I agree the cost might be too high. The 3.5mm headphone socket I don't need as I use the Motorola S9-HD but I agree it is important.
If I need to chose one item it will be the camera. 3.1 is defenetly low for a device is comming in the middle of 2009 and in the mean time lots of competitors like Samsung OmniaHD, Nokia N97 and others are comming with better camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3 megapixels is enough for amateur photography, especially in mobile phone
I prefer less megapixel with less noise than the opposite.
Do you make prints bigger than 20x30cm (8x12in.) ?
I did 20x30cm prints from 3mpix DSLR camera (Sigma SD9) and quality was very good...
Regards,
Adam

Nice, but for the vid recording, how about CCD, its better than CMOS apparantly, and make the image quality really high, as that is what makes a photo look nicer. And seriously, a dream phone should have UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100, which is what the XPERIA should have had.

adeltaY said:
Nice, but for the vid recording, how about CCD, its better than CMOS apparantly, and make the image quality really high, as that is what makes a photo look nicer. And seriously, a dream phone should have UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100, which is what the XPERIA should have had.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think multi-purposes camera are going back to CMOS. From what I understand, CMOS suffered from image non-uniformity...but this has been mostly solved. On the other hand, CMOS decrease price of supporting circuitry, but also allows for faster framerates. So the new photo/video camera with high framerate video recording (30fps/60fps/even more for slow motion) are going back to CMOS...

Oh, ok, thanks for the info man!

dream device= touch pro with faster cpu in a kaiser body.
i just have to have soft keys.

Dream device
1 ghz processor
3.5" screen
Universal unbeatable form factor: Microlap top-pda
great keyboard

Waiting for Phone after Touch Pro 2
I bought the Mogul in 8/07 and the Touch Pro 1 in 10/08 and don't see the need to jump at the Touch Pro 2 for $500-$600 with only minor improvements, even if I can sell (which I always do) my TP1 on ebay. I'll wait for the phone after the TP 2 from HTC that has:
-WM 7
-5 MP camera
-better battery life
-700+ MHz processor
-4GB ROM
-1GB RAM
-etc., etc.
Going from the TP 1 to TP 2 is a waste of money IMHO and everyone making the jump won't be able to get the 2 year contract discount which is still $400 with it. I'll put my $400 to the next upgrade due in late 2010 or early 2011. I'm good with Mighty ROM 6...LOL

orb3000 said:
Dream device
1 ghz processor
3.5" screen
Universal unbeatable form factor: Microlap top-pda
great keyboard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Add TV-Out or a projector and I'll dish out $ for that, as long as it'll have att 3G (preferably unbranded)

Touch Pro3
Android or Webos
Cortex A8 Processor or Snapdragon/tegra.
same form factor+headphone jack
slightly larger screen because of the omission of the zoom bar.
same screen resolution.
i tried to be realistic because all these things are possible right now not some fantasy device. (with the exception of licensing Webos or just building it for Palm)

[Q] What is the best Windows Phone?

What do you think? Prices are unimportant.
It would be nice if you can tell us why

I think the best windows phone always depends on your personal needs. I choose a HTC 7 Pro, because I needed a device with a physical keyboard, as I'm often using the office app and the email functionality.
So I bought it directly when it came out and I'm still very pleased with my descision. As there was only the Dell Venue Pro with a keyboard on sale, I choose HTC, because I had allready several phones produced by them and I loved all of them. The only thing I miss is a microSD reader.

The 7 Pro would be the best if it has a larger screen and better landscape support :/

Wtf where is the LG quantum?

The Omnia7 is a great piece of HW for that price. I just also cant live without physical KB and got the HTC 7 Pro.
Why i decided the HTC over the Dell is that Dell is pretty bulky and also note that dells keyboard does not have directional keys. When i had the Omnia 7 it was a pita when trying to go back to some specific place in a text...
As for the not so good support of landscape in WP7 its not a problem. The places where I use the KB most landscape works... Like now writing this!

Also unlocked bootloaders is a thing that made me go towards HTC.

hardcoreplur said:
Wtf where is the LG quantum?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, forgotten.
It isnt aviable in Europe, so...
Can any mod apply that phone to the poll?
Another problem of the Pro ia that it has only 8GB in the Europe version -.-

I love my HD7, but I love big screens. I use my phone 24/7, literally, it monitors my sleep lol... The battery isn't as good as some of the smaller screens, and HTC batteries suck, but you need to get a phone that suits your preferences.

HTC has problems with quality these past few years.. Not jst on wp7/wm6, bt android too..
I'll go for LG.. Easiest way to developer unlock via its mfg menu..
Sent from my LG Optimus 7

I don't actually own an Windows Phone, but I'll swap my LG 2X to a DVP. I think, that's the best Windows Phone, it has an 4.1" AMOLED Screen, a physical keyboard, it's cool looking...
But the Omnia 7 is really good too. Super AMOLED is quite better than AMOLED, and it has an metal body... thats nice

Hands down the dell venue pro. I own all of them but for battery life, functionality, quality, and pretty much everything that matters the dell venue pro. It was ergonomically designed in every sense to be form-fitted to the hand, the screen has a slight curvature unseen elsewhere, its the only windows phone without physical buttons that I dont accidentally hit the back button on, and lets face it, no other looks near as cool. The weight took some getting used to, its just slightly heavier than the hd7 but the weight is my only complaint.

The battery on the HD7 sucks, yes, but that's the least of its problems.
My main issue is that it's a terrible PHONE. The reception/signal strength is terrible.
If you're on WiFI a lot and want a bit screen, it's a great phone. WiFi will save some battey over a 3G connection given the quality of the radio in the phone.
If you want a phone that actually functions very well as a phone, I'd look into something else. Maybe the Focus. Samsung phones tend to have very good signal strength. At least my Vibrant does, but it may have a different radio /shrug. The HD2 had poor reception as well. The HD7 is basically it's fraternal twin brother.
Also, I'd try my best to get an unlocked/unbranded phone because Microsoft is making us do the carrier dance, Sadly.

HD7
Pros:
Large screen
Good call quality (Sounds nice & clear)
Good signal strength (I get 3G+ reception up in the mountains of Burbank, CA & Burbank refuses to allow cell provider to put up new towers)
Nice build quality, feels nice in the hand
Kick Stand for media viewing
Hackability (Same goes for all HTC's as we have R/HSPL)
Cons:
Battery
Poor speaker volume/quality
LCD is nice but nothing compared to Super AMOLED & SAMOLED+
Some complain about the hardware buttons, personally I like them
The capacitive buttons are too close to the LCD (prone to accidently hitting one while holding the device)

I owned the HTC HD7, the HTC Mozart, the LG Optimus 7 and the Omnia 7. So I think I can give a fair point of view.
In my opinion:
* the best is LG Optimus 7:
Pros:
16GB storage, nice battery life, DLNA, great augmented reality apps, speech to text, physical buttons (I hate capacitive buttons)
cons:
Ugly design, too much plastic, heavy weight, mediocre screen and camera, bad image of LG
* Followed by HTC Mozart:
Pros:
Very well balanced phone, HTC apps, aluminium body, 8MP camera, battery life is ok, speakers are of good quality.
cons:
8GB storage only, no HTC flashlight, no DLNA, screen a little bit small.
* Followed by Omnia 7:
Pros:
Wonderful elegant design, great S-Amoled screen
cons:
8GB storage only (at least in my country), very limited number of Samsung apps, no DLNA, a lot of annoying bugs that ruin the overall experience.
* In my opinion the HD7 is the worst.
Pros:
Screen size, kick stand, HTC apps, good call quality
cons:
Terrible screen resolution, horrible battery life, boring design, no DLNA, mediocre camera, mediocre 8GB storage only, terrible speakers (my God)...
I was surprised to discover that I really enjoy using the HTC Mozart and finally hated the HD7 (even if my previous phone was a HD2).
At first sight I fell in love with the Omnia 7 but was finally disappointing on a daily basis...

I have the Omnia 7 and all I can say is that it has terrible call quality and reception-issues.
Otherwise I love it.
By the looks of things there are no good WP7 phones available.
Lets hope Nokia can set things straight.

nizzon said:
By the looks of things there are no good WP7 phones available.
Lets hope Nokia can set things straight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true unfortunately...
Our WP7 devices are really underpowered, with poor storage.
MS shall really increase the minimum specifications now.

arturobandini said:
This is true unfortunately...
Our WP7 devices are really underpowered, with poor storage.
MS shall really increase the minimum specifications now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think, only Android and Bada/WM6 really needs dual core, 1GB RAM and some more, because the software isn't really good adapted on the devices.
On WP7, it is.
So for WP7-devices is a 1 year old Snapdragon enough - because they all have the same and Microsoft can easily adapt their OS on the hardware, and everything is running smooth.
On Android, it looks like the devices are requiring an Tegra2 or Exynos to run as good as WP7-devices.
Waste of power, just my opinion. Or do you want to tell your friends, how many cores your phone got?
Lower hardware specs make the devices much cheaper, you can see it on the Omnia7. Only 199€ in Europe.
But with the storage-thing I agree with you. It is really annoying, to have to buy a new phone if the storage is full and you want to save more music and apps on it, otherwise you only need to buy a new SD card...
Enough OT now
Sent from my LG 2X using xda premium app. Sorry 4 bad English :/

arturobandini my omnia 7 has 16gb with 14.5gb available so that is not true
also i don't suffer from poor call quality, its crystal clear.
the only things i don't like about it
1. battery life could be better (its 50%) of how long my iphone 4 battery could last
2. not very ergonomic, don't understand the fascination of big phones that need 2 hands to compose a message

LGXX said:
I think, only Android and Bada/WM6 really needs dual core, 1GB RAM and some more, because the software isn't really good adapted on the devices.
On WP7, it is.
So for WP7-devices is a 1 year old Snapdragon enough - because they all have the same and Microsoft can easily adapt their OS on the hardware, and everything is running smooth.
On Android, it looks like the devices are requiring an Tegra2 or Exynos to run as good as WP7-devices.
Waste of power, just my opinion. Or do you want to tell your friends, how many cores your phone got?
Lower hardware specs make the devices much cheaper, you can see it on the Omnia7. Only 199€ in Europe.
But with the storage-thing I agree with you. It is really annoying, to have to buy a new phone if the storage is full and you want to save more music and apps on it, otherwise you only need to buy a new SD card...
Enough OT now
Sent from my LG 2X using xda premium app. Sorry 4 bad English :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont really care about dual core.
I want...
SAMOLED (or something equal in blacks)
Good reception and good call quality
at least 16gb storage
Good buildquality
Hardware homebutton
Is that too much to ask? It looks like it.

SicilianTony said:
arturobandini my omnia 7 has 16gb with 14.5gb available so that is not true
also i don't suffer from poor call quality, its crystal clear.
the only things i don't like about it
1. battery life could be better (its 50%) of how long my iphone 4 battery could last
2. not very ergonomic, don't understand the fascination of big phones that need 2 hands to compose a message
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello SicilianTony,
In my country the Omnia 7 is only available with 8GB unfortunately...
That's a shame.
Regarding call quality, I suppose I have been unlucky with my device in particular. Accrdingly I will modify my previous comment in order to give the most objective and fair review possible.