i-mate JASJAR Announced

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.clubimate.com/t-DETAILS_JASJAR.aspx' target='_blank'>http://www.clubimate.com/t-DETAILS_JASJAR.aspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"i-mate™, the specialists in Microsoft® Windows Mobile™ devices and applications, are pleased to announce the advent of a new level in high-speed mobile experience with the launch of the i-mate™ JASJAR. This ultimate device allows users to enjoy powerful internet browsing and dynamic multi-media features for business, for pleasure, for life. The i-mate™ JASJAR offers the most advanced set of features yet including a full VGA screen, 520MHz Intel processor and 128MB of Permanent Memory, built-in Computer Associates® eTrust Antivirus software*, Skype™ internet telephony software*, i-mate™ global warranty and access to the exclusive support and services on offer at club i-mate™ web portal."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050901-JASJAR.jpg" /><br /><br />We're now experiencing a wave of HTC Universal announcements. T-Mobile (Europe) and Dopod will open their doors this month for customers to purchase the MDA Pro and Dopod 900 respectively, and now i-mate has joined in the fun with the official announcement of the i-mate JASJAR. The device is equipped with an Intel Bulverde 520MHz processor, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, a 3.6" VGA (480x640) transflective LCD screen, tri-band GSM/GPRS (900/1800/1900) support, UMTS (2100MHz) support, an integrated 62-key QWERTY keyboard, 802.11b Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 1.1, IR, USB 1.1, an SDIO/MMC slot, and Windows Mobile 5.0. i-mate is also packaging it with eTrust AV software and Skype, in accordance with the deals formed between the respective companies in the past.

[VanHlebar]

::sigh:: now if it would have been CDMA I would have been in love! This is the type of device that i really went, but VZW will never offer something like this. :( even if they did they would cripple the heck outsof it.

Oh well, guess I will keep drooling...

-Eric

[Paragon]

What's that I see....128mb of ROM and 64mb of RAM. Can this device actually work with this memory configuration? There were a few people here who said this device NEEDED 128mb of RAM?? &lt;sarcasm>

Dave

[saru83]

What's that I see....128mb of ROM and 64mb of RAM. Can this device actually work with this memory configuration? There were a few people here who said this device NEEDED 128mb of RAM?? &lt;sarcasm>

Dave

u right, and then i remember its previous configuratin was 128MB RAM and 96MB ROM... &amp; basically people were discussing that it should be the opposite.. but now what happend that they just reduced the RAM :evil:

[kaitanium]

finally seeing what i think is the sweetest device ever being released! if it had a cf slot too id be all over it.

[Paragon]

u right, and then i remember its previous configuratin was 128MB RAM and 96MB ROM... &amp; basically people were discussing that it should be the opposite.. but now what happend that they just reduced the RAM :evil:

Yeah, reversing, I felt was good idea, but cutting RAM seems kind of dumb.

[Phronetix]

Okay.... :huh: I'm still working on the name. It makes Clie seem like a cool name by comparison.

It's like they pulled out six scrabble pieces and formed the name from that... Hmmmm. R, J, S, A, A, J. Okey dokey, people, let's get a name out of this. Winner gets a Sony UXH-9614axtW!

Sigh, unless the J's are supposed to sound like Y?

:roll:

[TonyB]

u right, and then i remember its previous configuratin was 128MB RAM and 96MB ROM... &amp; basically people were discussing that it should be the opposite.. but now what happend that they just reduced the RAM :evil:

Yeah, reversing, I felt was good idea, but cutting RAM seems kind of dumb.

If I understand WM5 review articles correctly, unlike older versions of PocketPC OS, under WM5 all installed programs will go to flash ROM and RAM are only used for programs running at the time (kindof like PC with ROM=PC's harddisk and RAM=PC's RAM). That's probably the reason why all these new devices are coming out with 128MB ROM and 64MB RAM.

[zohaer21]

2 things need clarification:
1) expansys lists as BT 1.2v2 while clubimate lists BT 1.1
which one is correct.. if jasjar is BT 1.1 i will be waiting for o2 to release their version with BT 1.2
2)since i dont know this myself therefor im asking you guys will o2 xda exec , qtek 9000 and mda pro etc all have 64 mb rom instead of 96???
thanks

[jonathanchoo]

I guess we won't know until o2 releases theirs. Am waiting myself as my o2 contract renewel is here.

[szamot]

GSM/GPRS/WCDMA - now if they only took the W out and made that in CMDA I would truly have a world phone...with a choice of provider as needed

[saru83]

If I understand WM5 review articles correctly, unlike older versions of PocketPC OS, under WM5 all installed programs will go to flash ROM and RAM are only used for programs running at the time (kindof like PC with ROM=PC's harddisk and RAM=PC's RAM). That's probably the reason why all these new devices are coming out with 128MB ROM and 64MB RAM.
ya thats right, but we r saying that it was announced as 128MB RAM, u know... thats it... but anyways, it should be fine with 64MB RAM coz as u mentioned that the RAM will be just used to run programs...

2 things need clarification:
1) expansys lists as BT 1.2v2 while clubimate lists BT 1.1
which one is correct.. if jasjar is BT 1.1 i will be waiting for o2 to release their version with BT 1.2
2)since i dont know this myself therefor im asking you guys will o2 xda exec , qtek 9000 and mda pro etc all have 64 mb rom instead of 96???
thanks.
Does anybody know whats the difference between bluetooth 1.1, 1.2 &amp; 2.0 ???

[k_kirk]

What I want to know is whether this unit will come with Blackberry support pre-loaded. There were some XDA2 offerings with Blackberry capabilities in the past (in UK I believe). Anyone has any information on this? Thanks

[Duncan]

Two points:

1) The HTC Universal - in ALL its variations - will have Bluetooth 1.2 (which works better with WiFi). HTC put the Universal in for BT qualification and not the individual carriers/suppliers. It was qualified under the codename 'PU10' - see here (http://qualweb.bluetooth.org/Template2.cfm?LinkQualified=QualifiedProducts&amp;Details=Yes&amp;ProductID=2503) for the details. Yes, in theory a carrier could request HTC to provide a version with BT 1.1 - but a) that is very unlikely and b) every BT enabled PDA and smartphone HTC have produced for over a year, in all variations, has had BT 1.2.

2) Every official launch of a Universal variant has had the same memory specs - 128MB ROM and 64MB RAM. There were some specs doing the rounds that gave a different weight, dimensions and the 96MB ROM/128MB RAM memory configuration. Either this was a mistake, or it reflects early intentions that were changed a long time back, or it reflects a prototype configuration - it is *really* unlikely that anyone is releasing a version with that memory configuration (only a Qtek page lists it - but it also lists the older, seemingly inaccurate, size and weight specs).

I think that with so much info about the Universal being passed around for so long without confirmation it has been assumed, understandably, that these memory specs were officially verified/announced - but they really weren't. Note that Dale Coffing was able to give out the correct specs way back on 6 June (http://dalecoffing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/06/htc_universal_p.html) - long before any of the official announcements by carriers/suppliers.

[Kevin Daly]

A couple of observations on the memory issue: since (as people have pointed out) a WM5 device only uses RAM for running programs, it could be argued that 64M of RAM on WM5 is roughly equivalent to 96M on WM 2003...it's going to take us a while to get used to the fact that 64M on one of these devices doesn't mean the same as it did on the machines we're used to.
But there's more to this: as various articles have been pointing out, the less RAM you have to keep powered, the better your battery life is going to be, so 64M is seen as the sweet spot for RAM on a WM5 device.

For a Phone Edition device with a VGA screen, leaving out RAM that there's reason to believe you won't need anyway makes perfectly good sense.

[Phoenix]

Two points:

1) The HTC Universal - in ALL its variations - will have Bluetooth 1.2...

I hope you're right. 1.1 would simply be a stupid move on HTC's/Imate's part. Can you say, "Immediate ROM update"?


...And 64MB RAM is also shortsighted, IMO. When are they going to just upgrade these things to 128MB? Isn't this overdue? I'd rather have more than I need than barely enough.

[DaleReeck]

Two points:

1) The HTC Universal - in ALL its variations - will have Bluetooth 1.2...

I hope you're right. 1.1 would simply be a stupid move on HTC's/Imate's part. Can you say, "Immediate ROM update"?


...And 64MB RAM is also shortsighted, IMO. When are they going to just upgrade these things to 128MB? Isn't this overdue? I'd rather have more than I need than barely enough.

It was already mentioned in the thread, but Windows Mobile 5 uses ROM (128MB) for program storage and RAM (64MB) for just program execution - completely different from what WM 2003 and previous does. For WM5, 64MB is more than enough RAM.

Also, BT 1.1 to 1.2 would require a hardware update, not just a new ROM.

[bnycastro]

This incarnation of the Universal has the weirdest name amongst the lot (unless O2 sheds the XDA name; which is not likely). For a device targeted at the Business user this is a puzzling move. JASJAR is really too close JARJAR (I hate that SW character!). Anyway I hope i-mate doesn't name the Wizard with another weird name.

[Paragon]

Anyway I hope i-mate doesn't name the Wizard with another weird name.

Wizard= imate k-jam

[Raphael Salgado]

Just a couple of tidbits...

According to Jason Langridge who did the review a little while back and posted it on his blog, I received an email from him confirming that the unit does in fact have USB 2.0.

Also, the word JAM from the Magician series device comes from I-mate's CEO's initials, James Andrew Morrison.

He also noted that I-mate has left speculation for now in regards to what JASJAR means.

Perhaps it's Just A Significant Jump in Annual Revenue, since he doesn't have to worry about current I-mate owners who are left in the dust without Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrades.

[jonathanchoo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/jonchoo/o2xdaexecs.jpg

Large picture (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/jonchoo/exec1.jpg)

According to clueless store assistant available somewhere between mid to end September. Price wise is very cheap. At maximum price of £230 with £20 * 12 month contract, total price would be £470 compared to imate JasJar £670.

[norad]

Being an T-mobile USA customer, under which name do you guys recommend me to buy this device?

- JASJAR
- O2 exec.
- MDA Pro (I think this one has German OS, so it's not an option for me)

[whydidnt]

Being an T-mobile USA customer, under which name do you guys recommend me to buy this device?

- JASJAR
- O2 exec.
- MDA Pro (I think this one has German OS, so it's not an option for me)

Based upon i-mate's track record, I would guess the JASJAR will probably the easiest to obtain in the US. The others will initially be released by specific mobile operators and may either be locked to that carrier, or at least have carrier customizations installed. If history is an indicator, there will most likely be a Q-tek clone released as well, and that would also be a good choice. Other than the mentioned carrier customizations and localizations, the devices will all be identical.

[gibson042]

Being an T-mobile USA customer, under which name do you guys recommend me to buy this device?
I'm in the same boat as you, and in my opinion it's still too early to tell because we don't yet have all the details. We need to import unlocked units, paying attention to variations (if there are any) in GSM and UMTS frequencies (I plan on still having this phone when T-mobile finally rolls out their UMTS service, scheduled for 2007 IIRC). But judging from past models, our best luck will come from i-mate and/or Qtek.

[Darius Wey]

Being an T-mobile USA customer, under which name do you guys recommend me to buy this device?

- JASJAR
- O2 exec.
- MDA Pro (I think this one has German OS, so it's not an option for me)

I think the name is irrelevant. The thing you should look out for is support. I've never experienced a T-Mobile product before, so I'm not in the right position to comment. But between i-mate and O2, I prefer i-mate. They seem to churn out more updates than O2, but that's just my two cents. The quality of products to come out of both companies is still exceptional.

[DaleReeck]

JarJar makes me think of Jar Jar, as in Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars. Therefore, I'm afraid I'll have the urge to punch the JasJar phone in the face whenever I see it :D

[orinoco]

JAR JAR BINKS RULES AND SO DOES THE JASJAR !!!

Cheers,

Fernando

[bnycastro]

Anyway I hope i-mate doesn't name the Wizard with another weird name.

Wizard= imate k-jamis this for real? k for keyboard I guess. IMO from a marketing point of view they should really think up better names. Numbers seem to be working for other companies... Also i-mate should work on their customer service. I will probably get an O2 branded one (I hope it is sim-unlocked)

[JAmerican]

Looking forward to seeing it in the US. T-Mobile US is finally going to get EDGE. Does this move mean anything as to the possibility that they might offer the HTC Universal. :) I currently own a CLIE UX50 (yes a Palm device) and feel its time to switch. Never tried WM so I feel I should give it a try. I love this device. It is like every clamshell owner's dream device :)

JAmerican

[Phoenix]

It was already mentioned in the thread, but Windows Mobile 5 uses ROM (128MB) for program storage and RAM (64MB) for just program execution - completely different from what WM 2003 and previous does. For WM5, 64MB is more than enough RAM.

I hope you're right - I hope WM5 handles things differently, but I'm not so sure that 64MB for some of us is going to be perfectly sufficient. It certainly will for a fair amount of people, but for others, perhaps not. I've known people with an Imate JAM who used all of its 64MB of RAM for nothing other than program execution and simply did not have enough memory to accomplish everything they were trying to do (such as resolving web graphics, etc.). The bottom line is, we'll find out soon enough.

Also, BT 1.1 to 1.2 would require a hardware update, not just a new ROM.

You may be right about that. At any rate, 1.2 offers many advantages over 1.1 (too many to go into here), and that, I do know. It'd be a foolish move not to have included 1.2 in a device of this caliber. I hope it's there.

[Darius Wey]

Wizard= imate k-jamis this for real? k for keyboard I guess. IMO from a marketing point of view they should really think up better names. Numbers seem to be working for other companies... Also i-mate should work on their customer service. I will probably get an O2 branded one (I hope it is sim-unlocked)

Yes, it's real. We posted on this earlier in the week: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=42578

[piggity]

does anyone know if this device will work on Cingulars network, if you only interested in the UMTS?

As I understand it the GSM/GPRS and UMTS are separate chipsets in this unit.

[Duncan]

does anyone know if this device will work on Cingulars network, if you only interested in the UMTS?

As I understand it the GSM/GPRS and UMTS are separate chipsets in this unit.

No. Cingular uses 1900Mhz for UMTS while Europe uses 2100MHz and 1900Mhz combined (in the US 2100Mhz is military only currently).

[Paragon]

does anyone know if this device will work on Cingulars network, if you only interested in the UMTS?

As I understand it the GSM/GPRS and UMTS are separate chipsets in this unit.

No. Cingular uses 1900Mhz for UMTS while Europe uses 2100MHz and 1900Mhz combined (in the US 2100Mhz is military only currently).

....and there is NO EDGE support on the Universal. It will only do GPRS speeds for data in North America.

Dave

[piggity]

that sucks . Guess we will have to wait months for one of the carriers here to get it certified.