Handtops, UMPC - Does this chg any opinions about iPhone

06/12/07 + ecsk2

Apple announces third-party software details for iPhone

link

07/30/07 + educationk12

Hmmm, this device might better suit my needs. I haven't given WM6 a try, and this seems to have better features than my other Window Mobile phones that I've had in the past...namely VGA resolution. I could really use an SD slot, too.

link

07/30/07 + ecsk2

educationk12 said: "I didn't say get rid of the mouse, just the keyboard.

I disagree with you...I've used dozens of pricey "smartphones & WM5" devices...they are all horrible devices in my experience. Speaking about WM5 devices...anybody want a Verizon Q? I used it for about four months and canceled both of my 2 year contracts with Verizon. I also have a VK2020 RED (which is very rare) which I will be selling, it's a nice teeny tiny phone...the main flaw is the signal reception is tuned to Asia/Europe...while it has all quad GSM bands, it lacks North America optimization so it works pretty well but not like most phones.

I rarely use the iPod feature on the iPhone. I bought one album and one other song on iTunes for the phone, but that is a nice feature. Internet access is mediocre, yet the Safari browser is out of this world. I won't be using the Internet a lot until the HSDPA one comes out and hopefully it'll support Java and Flash by then.

The phone does work great though, but it's all the other features that make it so outstanding. I love the keyboard...never ever thought I'd like a keyboardless keyboard. And I'm also not an Apple fan...only other product I bought was the first generation iPod. iPod isn't that important to me...clearly I would have bought another iPod if it were.

Other nice feature is I can't seem to scratch it...I carry it everywhere with me and it still looks new, which is great because I hate cases that make a device less mobile/usable.
."

Yes ALL smartphones to date well more or less 99% excluding the few none WM devices like the Nokia Communicators and the Danger OS devices, for certain applications, have a VERY POOR UI indeed, but when you put all the plus and minuses on the table so to speak, the iPhone falls short of being eligble to be called a smartphone even, its an internet device (with great UI but limited functions) but without the ability to add on sw of your own falls short, the keyboard might be ok for a short SMS or for an occasional gmap search but however "smart" you make it you will never be able to type on it without looking as effeciently as on a physical keyboard

edited: Jul 30 2007 + ecsk2

educationk12 said: "I really like this Nokia E90, but I would need SQL compact on it and it only works with windows mobile. Otherwise, it looks like a nice phone. Supposedly SQL will work with Symbian, but sounds like it could be a headache. dunno

link

WM6 has both .NET Compact Framework 2.0 AND SQL 2005 Compact Edition in ROM....maybe I should just get a pda to replace the oqo and iphone and have one device. It's like both devices are amazing, yet lack what I ultimately need. Together they fill that gap, but it would be nice to have a smaller all-in-one device."

Ironically I was "cathing up" with any news on the E90 in the past 24 hours

here
link

Having had the whole family of the communicators before the E90 (91xx, 92xx, 9500 and 9300) I still have a "soft spot" for them although due to certain things you can do with WM devices such as Skype and some wmp streams and other things I need/want I don't know if it will work for me now, although it has the great benefit over the OQO of having a great battery time and instant on (as in constant on).

That's preciesly what I was thinking too, I'm SOO close to get an OQO but then I was thinking, what IF Sony comes out with a new UX in the next quarter or so, and YES I do appreciate the iPhone being a nice leap and I'm somewhat tempted to get one for a few weeks/months of "playing" but I already know it wouldn't fill my needs, I mean I use copy and paste almost as much as I type due to interaction between web, email and IMs.

edited: Jul 30 2007 + ecsk2

educationk12 said: "Hmmm, this device might better suit my needs. I haven't given WM6 a try, and this seems to have better features than my other Window Mobile phones that I've had in the past...namely VGA resolution. I could really use an SD slot, too.

link"

I bought one, owned it for a week, exactly

You know its actually BIGGER than the OQO 02 in one dimension and slightly smaller the other way?

I found the sizeasy thing I did once on this..
link

It's just too bulky I knew it before I got it but still wanted to try it

Other than that it's ok, but I didn't use the keyboard a single time, and it WILL tilt over if you try to hold it by the keyboard and type with it that way, the device attaches to the keyboard with a strong magnet, strong enough to do serious damage to your cards in your wallet but not strong enough to not tilt over if held by the kb alone.

07/30/07 + ecsk2

educationk12 said: "Okay, I returned the Dell HSDPA card. My customer service with Dell was probably the best I have ever had with a company. They gave me several options, they'd have UPS come to my house to pick it up, send me a label to ship back, then told me they'd expedite the refund, etc.

I just bought an HTC X7501 which has HSDPA/GPS/VOICE...battery life, can put in pocket when turned on...it's Windows Mobile 6 and I suspect it's similar to WM5, but I had only used QVGA with WM5 so I suspect I'll like VGA much better. An SD slot which I have been missing...might be a better solution for me than the OQO & iPhone. I did overnight shipping, but apparently this isn't out yet and is said to ship Aug. 14th to Aug. 22nd. It's $849.99 at Amazon.com

link"

Interesting that you bought this, unlike the x7500 I had this 7501 will support the USA frequencies, but I'm not a speed craving person anyhow so it didn't bother me. If you've been carrying around the OQO you should be ok on carrying this one around, also a nice thing is it has OPERA already installed, that's the OPERA browser, I forget if it was the latest one with the "finger scrolling" possibility kind of like on the iPhone.

Let me know if you have any questions when you get it, I'm no WM expert as such but have been dealing a lot with the WM devices lately for sure

And one of my favorite WM threads (yes again

) with a lot of fantastic looking skins, if that is what you happen to like

link
See that Vista look one for instance, and it runs through the whole OS btw!

07/30/07 + ecsk2

If you plan to use the HTC in the car this is one of the best holders (you can also get other than a suction cup option)
Made in Germany
link

07/30/07 + ecsk2

Here is a step by step on how to get that Vista look on the WM device, it does indeed in my opinion help on the horrible UI on the WM devices.
link

edited: Jul 30 2007 + ecsk2

educationk12 said: "... it would be nice to have a smaller all-in-one device."

Heh look at what I ran accross, as you mention you like the iPhone and now have that HTC on its way...check this out

QUOTE: "Hardware: HTC X7500 and a BT Mouse
Software: Teksoft Bluemouse and WM6 Remote Desktop

Note: Remote Desktop was working in 3G/HSDPA "

That is getting very close to what I have been talking about, instead of cramping it all in so to speak into your UMPC using remote access...

07/30/07 + ecsk2

Are you familiar with the VUEFLO feature of the x7500?

07/30/07 + ecsk2

Was just looking at some x7500 pics and I recalled one of the things that really bothered me was the inner edge of the aluminum(?) top cover and the "cutout" for the screen, it's super sharp and will actually cut into your stylus like crazy.

edited: Jul 30 2007 + ecsk2

educationk12 said: "I love the keyboard...never ever thought I'd like a keyboardless keyboard. And I'm also not an Apple fan...only other product I bought was the first generation iPod. iPod isn't that important to me...clearly I would have bought another iPod if it were.
."

Here you go

edited: Jul 31 2007 + educationk12

ecsk2 said: "
the iPhone falls short of being eligble to be called a smartphone even, its an internet device (with great UI but limited functions) but without the ability to add on sw of your own falls short, the keyboard might be ok for a short SMS or for an occasional gmap search but however "smart" you make it you will never be able to type on it without looking as effeciently as on a physical keyboard

"

I had the same conclusion about the iPhone prior to buying it. Using the device for a month has changed my view...I didn't expect it to be anything more than a good phone & iPod.

It's not perfect that's for sure...but I haven't found anything better...I'm open to suggestions.

edited: Jul 31 2007 + educationk12

ecsk2 said: "

educationk12 said: "Hmmm, this device might better suit my needs. I haven't given WM6 a try, and this seems to have better features than my other Window Mobile phones that I've had in the past...namely VGA resolution. I could really use an SD slot, too.

link"

I bought one, owned it for a week, exactly

You know its actually BIGGER than the OQO 02 in one dimension and slightly smaller the other way?

I found the sizeasy thing I did once on this..
link

It's just too bulky I knew it before I got it but still wanted to try it

Other than that it's ok, but I didn't use the keyboard a single time, and it WILL tilt over if you try to hold it by the keyboard and type with it that way, the device attaches to the keyboard with a strong magnet, strong enough to do serious damage to your cards in your wallet but not strong enough to not tilt over if held by the kb alone."

Yeh, I have decided serious typing is for my Thinkpad. I probably won't use the keyboard as it looks like an afterthought. My issue with the OQO as far as size is concerned is it is a bit on the heavy side for the pocket even if you could keep it turned on, but it's also on the thick size...something thinner would fit better in jeans than something thicker. Combine that with the issue of having to turn the OQO off when in pocket and feeling like you need to carry a power supply and/or a extra batteries makes your UMPC more of a PC.

The HTC seems smaller than the OQO. 35 percent thinner! 1/2 an inch wider (yet that is angled on both ends of this width) and nearly half an inch shorter. So overall it is considerably smaller, but still larger than it needs to be...they could have made this smaller with a higher resolution screen...which sucks.

edited: Jul 31 2007 + educationk12

ecsk2 said: "
Ironically I was "cathing up" with any news on the E90 in the past 24 hours

here
link

Having had the whole family of the communicators before the E90 (91xx, 92xx, 9500 and 9300) I still have a "soft spot" for them although due to certain things you can do with WM devices such as Skype and some wmp streams and other things I need/want I don't know if it will work for me now, although it has the great benefit over the OQO of having a great battery time and instant on (as in constant on).
."

Yeh, for me it is either WM6 or iPhone. Symbian to me is going to go the way of Palm, but I'm not knowledgeable about either nor do I want to be. SQL, Frameworks, Excel would be just a few reasons.

edited: Jul 31 2007 + educationk12

ecsk2 said: "

Here you go

"

What device is that? It's kinda loud where I am at, so either they didn't say or I can't catch what they said with regard to what device it is...they mention not being able to get a device here in Brazil...um, EBAY? Clearly it isn't an iPhone or the X7500. Is that WM6? The nice thing about the iPhone is rather than a blank white screen above, you type into the application itself...but maybe they are just typing into some blank application. I guess I don't know what screen keyboard they are using? Looks like one of those QVGA products.