Smartphone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

The HTC Snap [Affiliate] is a Windows Mobile Standard 6.1 smartphone, and the new torch-bearer for the messaging phone that HTC had all but abandoned after making the T-Mobile Dash/Excaliber. The Snap has a 528 Mhz Qualcomm processor, 128 192 MB of RAM, 256 MB of ROM, a 2.4 inch 320 x 240 screen, a microSDHC memory card slot, a trackball, 4-row QWERTY keyboard, GPS, Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11b/g WiFi, a 1500mAh battery, a 2.0 megapixel camera, and is a quad-band 2G (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), and dual-band 3G (900/2100 MHz) GSM phone. It's 116.5 X 61.5 X 12.0 mm ( 4.59 X 2.42 X 0.47 inches) in size and weighs 120 grams (4.23 ounces). Read more...

This is an unboxing and first impressions video of the HTC S640, a CDMA 1xEVDO Windows Mobile phone that's sold by Telus in Canada, and as far as I can tell, it's only sold by Telus. So even though this phone has been out since late 2007, I was interested in taking it for a spin because there are virtually no reviews of it anywhere online. It runs Windows Mobile Standard 6, meaning it's a non-touch screen phone and has a QVGA screen, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a microSD slot. It also has a full QWERTY keyboard and shares its lineage with products like the HTC Excalibur and Cavalier. I've long held that the T-Mobile Dash I have is the best Windows Mobile Standard smartphone ever made, but being stuck at EDGE speeds got old really quick.

There's another thing that made this phone interesting to me: my wife would be using it. I'm using a Samsung Jack (Blackjack II) with Rogers, our monopolistic GSM carrier, and my wife Ashley is with Telus, our main CDMA carrier herein Western Canada. For several years now, she's been a two-device user, using variations of the smallest iPAQs on the market, most recently the iPAQ 1940, and a Motorola KRZR for phone-calling duties. She preferred the large screen on the iPAQ and she synchronized her email and PIM data with a 4smartphone hosted Exchange account. She wanted her phone to be just a phone...until she started doing more text messaging. Her skills with T9 were lacking, so a QWERTY smartphone started to make a lot of sense. And since data plans in Canada were finally more reasonable ($30/month for unlimited email + Web), she wanted a Windows Mobile smartphone.

I'll be following up this first impressions video with a Q&A interview - it's been really interesting to watch what my wife liked about the S640, what she didn't like, and what she thought of Windows Mobile 6 (sadly, there's still not 6.1 update from Telus).

This is an unboxing and first impressions video of the T-Mobile Shadow. Although the T-Mobile Shadow isn't a brand new device, it's still a current model being sold so when I was given the opportunity to take a look at one I said yes. It runs Windows Mobile Standard 6, meaning it's a non-touch screen phone. With a slide-out keypad and 128 MB of RAM (along with a microSD card slot) it's one of the more powerful Windows Mobile Standard smartphones on the market today.



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I have fantastic news. I just sat down by my desk after a nice hearty lunch to find my brand new Motorola Q9h waiting for me. This is not the AT&T version, so their are a few tiny differences compared to our recent offering from the "Powers That Be" in AT&T Headquarters. For one, the packaging is different and as well as the name and nowhere throughout the packaging is the word "Global" used. Not a big deal, but I figured it would be nice to clue everyone in on this before I show the images.

Now that we have taken care of the disclaimer, it is time for a quick sneak peak at the unboxing on this surprisingly nice handset!


(Figure 1: The packaging that my brand spanking new Motorola Q9h arrived in!)
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"When the SGH-i620 first surfaced in May of this year, I was intrigued by the form factor and excited to try it out, because it seemed to be a variation of the BlackJack (and if you know me, you know I love my BlackJack). Though the unit is officially called the SGH-i620, it's also known as the BlackJack slider because it looks like a shrunken BlackJack (that's the SGH-i607) with a slide out keyboard. So what's different between the i607 and i620? In the next two weeks or so, we'll cover the device in full via video reviews, but in summary: the i620 adds a faster processor (400MHz versus 201MHz), front-facing video camera, a 2MP camera on the rear, stereo speakers, and touch-sensitive keys on the front with a rotary wheel built into the D-Pad. Unfortunately, the device doesn't have WiFi."



I have to say, even though the Samsung Blackjack slider is a tad ugly, it is also very appealing. Out of all the new Smartphones that have been released lately, the new Samsung Blackjack Slider is on the top of this list for devices that I would like to own. Brandon Miniman of Pocketnow.com has done a gret job on this unboxing video and I absolutely loved the comparison shots. Hopefully I'm not alone in my desperately wanting to own this device. So what do you guys and gals think? Should I buy one or not?

Chris Leckness from Mobility Site ping me to let me know that he's posted an unboxing and photo gallery of the new Qwest Fusion, better known as the HTC 5800 or HTC Libra. This is the CDMA version of the HTC Vox, for those of you, like me, who are having a hard time keeping track of all the different names and variations that are showing up.

I noticed a small, but significant difference between the Libra and the Vox. When the keyboard is extended, the left and right softkeys appear to have a little more space between them and the top half of the device. On the Vox, these keys are much closer making it a little hard to press them at times. Check out the unboxing video and photo gallery at the links below.

Qwest Fusion Photo Gallery / Unboxing Video

"Two independent (but somewhat related) articles have surfaced, both focusing on the HTC Excalibur replacement, the HTC Cavalier. Over on Tim Carmichael's blog there's a great unboxing gallery, including some Excalibur comparison snaps. Also, recent documents have surfaced on the FCC site, indicating the device is approved for use in the USA. This thing has been hot and cold for a few months now, maybe now we will finally see some traction...?"



There is nothing more exciting than the smell of a brand new phone. Unfortunately, this "new phone" is no more than HTC's on-again/off-again QWERTY Windows Mobile Standard phone. I don't know about you guys, but when we first announced this device, which seemed like an eternity ago, I was filled with nothing but joy. Then HTC decided to �can� the device... then decided to launch it and then canned it again. While I am happy that HTC is finally releasing this device, I feel the boat has pasted on what would have been a Smartphone media frenzy a year ago.

I don't know what has happened to HTC over the course of the past year, but they used to be on top of the world and now they're just on top of my yawn list. If anyone from HTC actually reads this, for the love all things mobile and good, just give us something new and innovating and not just an upgrade to an existing product... oh, and seriously, 1999 called and they want their camera lenses back.

"In a first for pocketpcsoft.net I'm pleased to bring you a video of the unboxing of the new iPAQ 514 voice messenger. This has only just shipped this week in the UK, so this will be one of the first glimpses of the retail device."



PocketPCSoft.net has an unboxing video and PocketInfo.nl has a series of pictures of the new device, including a couple comparison pictures with that hot new Vox. I know we've talked about this device a lot back at the start of the year when it was announced, and now it's starting to hit the streets in the UK. I'm not sure how successful HP is going to be with this device - the specs are 2 years old. The only thing this device has going for it is the voice enabled software. Is it enough to keep this device and HP's efforts in the Smartphone arena alive? Only time will tell, but my prediction is no. What are your thoughts?

"The Bottom Line: Because the Dopod C730 has so many high-speed connectivity options coupled with a blazing fast processor, this new release really scores well. If you are looking for a thin, elegant Windows Mobile Smartphone that really has it all -- this is the device for you."



So here I go again, my mind bouncing around between the Asus M530w and the Dopod C730 (Cavalier). I like them both. After watching this unboxing video at On The Go Solutions, it would appear that I have a much better shot at the C730 since it actually supports quad band. Check out these great specs: Windows Mobile 6.0 for smartphone, a 400MHz Processor, HTC JOGGR Control, 2.0 MP Camera, 128MB ROM / 64MB SD RAM, Quad-Band, 3G/GPRS/EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0, Wifi b,g, Micro SD Card Slot. I sure hope we see it here in the US soon. As of right now, (IMHO) this is the best smartphone there is. Agree or disagree?

"I think most of us are all too familiar with HTC's much hyped, yet failed to hit handset, the Cavalier. As far as technical specs go, this smartphone really offers it all. Quad-band GSM/EDGE, Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 400 MHz processor, 64MB of RAM, and 128MB of RAM. Woweee! HTC's brother from another mother, Dopod, who was recently acquired by HTC might we add, will be releasing the HTC Cavalier or the C730 as previously reported. However, as this model makes its gracious Windows Mobile 6 way into our hands, we are still getting cold shoulder from HTC. They're still saying that the HTC Cavalier or HTC S630 will never be released. Only time will tell what fate the handset will be subject to."



So let's get this straight. I'm looking at the HTC Cavalier being unboxed and yet according to the Boy Genius Report, HTC states it will never be released. Why? Doesn't it seem like a logical upgrade to the Dash? What's your thought? Do you think we'll see the Cavalier here in the US? Would you go for it if it did?

"I have been looking forward to this ritual for a while now, and finally a little while ago it happened. The HTC Cavalier (S630) in the flesh unboxed. As many of you know it's a needed upgrade to the ever popular HTC Excalibur (and all incarnations). The processor has been upgraded to a Samsung 400Mhz, flash memory of 128MB, a 2-mega pixel camera, and a slightly updated form factor. The 3G is tri-band, 850/1900/2100 and I have been zipping along Cingular's network without a hitch so far. HSDPA baby!"



Few things are as much fun as opening the box of a new device when it shows up on your doorstep or you get it home from the store. The next best thing is to see pictures of someone else do it. Head on over to witness this unveiling.

"OK, what's it with all these smartphones I am looking at? Today I received a Sexy, Tri-Band GSM phone from i-mate, the SPL. This phone looks similar to the Motorola SLVR but runs Windows Mobile. It has no keyboard like the Q and the Cingular Blackjack, but hey... It's itty bitty. Here is a video unboxing of this device, hope you enjoy it. The video lighting was rough, but you can't redo an unboxing can ya?"

Chris Leckness from Mobility Site has posted a 5 minute video of the i-mate SPL unboxing. This is one sexy little phone. I like the glossy black look, but I can imagine it would be a pain to keep clean from finger prints and smudges. :?

"This morning I found a notification in my postbox, that a parcel service tried to deliver a long awaited package yesterday and I gave the driver an imidiate call-back. One hour later, he rang again and handed-over a package from HTC's marketing agency - containing the HTC MTeoR Windows Mobile UMTS Smartphone/aka HTC Breze and the HTC TyTN Windows Mobile UMTS Pocket PC Phone Edition/aka HTC Hermes (I've already reviewed in the O2 Xda trion version some time ago)."



Just a couple of pictures for your consideration of the new MTeoR. Actually only one picture but I wanted to get your attention. I know most of you think it is ugly. I happen to like it. :)