E-TEN Announces the Glofiish M800

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.glofiish.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.glofiish.com/</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20071116-glofiishm800.jpg" /><br /><br />The M800 is finally here - it's everything you love and hate about the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=57212">X800</a>, plus a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. So yes, that means 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM radio, a VGA (480 x 640) touch screen, and Windows Mobile 6 Professional. Want one? Our <a href="http://www.mobileplanet.com/p.aspx?i=156642&partner=pthoughts">affiliate hardware store (Expansys)</a> can order them on request for $749.95 a pop.<br /><br />A copy of the press release can be found after the break. <!><br /><br />"At a launch event held in the UK E-TEN Information Systems has introduced the Glofiish M800, an industry leading Pocket PC Phone that combines the current most advanced mobile technologies to deliver a premium mobile communications experience. In terms of features, the Glofiish M800 sets a new highest standard which few, if any, currently available handsets from other vendors are able to match.<br /><br />E-TEN has packed the Glofiish M800 with a comprehensive mix of the current high-end mobile functionality. A sliding QWERTY keyboard design speeds up input for rapid messaging. 3.5G and Wi-Fi connectivity provide fast accesses to email, and online information. The VGA display allows more information to be viewed onscreen at once, while text, images and video are sharper and easier to view, and when traveling on foot or in the car GPS provides access to accurate location information for easy navigation. Furthermore, the M800 is based on the Windows Mobile 6 platform which comes with built-in features including a mobile office suite for productivity, search, and support for push email. While these features are available in other products, the M800 is E-TEN's first to offer them all in a single versatile device.<br /><br />Compared to handsets from competing vendors, few, if any, can equal the complete feature list of E-TEN's device. For example, while there are some models on the market that feature 3.5G and a sliding keyboard design similar to the M800, these products only have a QVGA display, one-quarter the resolution of the M800's VGA (640x480) screen.<br /><br />Additionally, as it is based on the Windows Mobile 6, the Glofiish M800 supports the extensive library of software written for Pocket PC platforms. With 1,000s of titles available ranging from simple freeware utilities to commercial applications, the M800 gives users the choice to expand and customize their devices in any way they need, unlike devices based on closed or proprietary platforms, while Windows Mobile's several years of development and refinement put it ahead of open source platforms in terms of maturity."

[starstreak]

Too bad it still only have 64mb of program memory. I was going to get the x800 but after reading the posts on how the unit crashes due to not enough memory, I'm glad I went with the Tilt for now. Although I HATE the qvga screen. I miss the VGA screen. For those who say yeah,yeah, vga sucks on a small screen, try and use pocket informant and read the text in calender view. Its usable. Not really on a qvga screen

[rlynnt]

The Tilt really does have everything: worldband, wifi, gps, keyboard, camera and music player. I've been looking forward very much to getting one. But when I saw the glofish, I thought it might be smaller and lighter. I do want the camera and music player, though. So it looks like it might be the Tilt after all.

[virain]

Still hope i-mate 9502 will arrive by Xmass

[srmz]

64 MB Program Memory is a No-Go for me. Maybe my TyTn II has spoilt me. VGA screen is good though but if I have to choose between more memory and VGA, for me it is the higher memory anytime.

[whydidnt]

I'd like to thank E-TEN for saving me $750.00. I'm certain this would have found it's way onto my long list of gadgets had they NOT skimped on the RAM. By saving $5.00 and keeping the RAM at 64 MB they have manged to SAVE me from spending my $. Everyone wins!! :wink:

[Marty1781]

only 64MB RAM? No thank you! As anyone who has ever owned a Sprint Mogul/6800 will attest to, 64MB RAM for WM6 just isn't enough. What good are all the M800's features if the device keeps crashing due to not enough memory? I'll take the Kaiser anyday over this device.

[Underwater Mike]

I'd like to thank E-TEN for saving me $750.00. I'm certain this would have found it's way onto my long list of gadgets had they NOT skimped on the RAM. By saving $5.00 and keeping the RAM at 64 MB they have manged to SAVE me from spending my $. Everyone wins!! :wink:

Ditto. The reason I've stayed away from the Tilt is that I really wanted VGA -- but 64 megs is just crippling the device. Why do manufacturers make these stupid decisions? Don't any of them do market research???

[RogueSpear]

If HTC were to release a 2nd gen Tilt with a VGA screen I bet they would remove the GPS or the Bluetooth or (name it). It's really like there's a conspiracy between all of these companies to not give the public what they want.

[whydidnt]

If HTC were to release a 2nd gen Tilt with a VGA screen I bet they would remove the GPS or the Bluetooth or (name it). It's really like there's a conspiracy between all of these companies to not give the public what they want.

:lol: I hate to say it, but I agree with you. I think the real issue is that MS hasn't released any earth shattering upgrades to the platform in soooo long that the vendors figure they have keep providing incremental upgrades just to make upgrade sales. If you look at HTC's sales record over the last few years, it seems their strategy is working. I was hoping ETEN would try to disrupt the market a little and try to beat HTC by getting everything right, but I guess they want to play the upgrade game as well. Who want's to bet against a M800+ with more memory sometime the first half of 2008?

Hopefully the iPhone, coupled with RIM and Nokia's recent advances in the smartphone market will push MS to invest more time and energy into this platform.

[Phoenix]

I agree with the sentiments here. It's frustrating. I've been practically crying out for these features for years. I too, want to see someone come out with a phone that has everything once and for all. The Tytn II seems to be the closest to this.

But even that phone could be better. HTC should've gone with SiRFstar III GPS (it's just the superior GPS chipset right now and has been since its release), and they should've added a VGA screen.

But of course, the M800 has SsIII GPS and a VGA screen, but only a 2mp camera and 64MB RAM, and no tilt feature. (The M800 also has an FM radio, where as the Tytn II does not, but I suppose that's negligible, although easily implementable with GPS (or at least with SsIII, anyway).


While we're at it, I'd also like to see both companies add WiFi b/g/n (instead of just b/g).

I'd also like to see between 4 and 8GB of memory integrated - hey, the Nokia N95 has it; the iPhone has it; I believe a couple of Sony Ericsson phones have it, too. Why don't the HTC's and Eten's then? They already cost as much or more than the others.


I'm not certain, between the HTC and the Eten, which phone has the better build, fit, and finish, but aside from addressing that in more detail, if they each made the above changes, both phones would have everything we look for, and it would then simply come down to looks, build quality, warranty/customer service, and perhaps software additions.

But as it stands now, we have to look at the hardware more closely, and although I like the idea of VGA and SsIII GPS, if the phone doesn't have enough memory to function as smoothly and consistently as it could, then those features don't mean much - and 64MB just isn't gonna cut it.

I can live with QVGA although I don't prefer it. I can make good use of the GPS chipset that HTC chose to implement, although I don't prefer it. But the Tytn II has 128MB of RAM which effects performance, and which of course, matters the most as it serves as the gatekeeper for all the other features to do their thing, do it together, and do them well. So the nod goes to HTC.

Hopefully, both these companies will hear what we're saying, or figure it out for themselves, and make the appropriate improvements. I can have faith because afterall, they keep getting closer. They're just not there yet.

[JKingGrim]

only 64MB RAM? No thank you! As anyone who has ever owned a Sprint Mogul/6800 will attest to, 64MB RAM for WM6 just isn't enough. What good are all the M800's features if the device keeps crashing due to not enough memory? I'll take the Kaiser anyday over this device.AGREED.

All in favor of the Imate Ultimate 9502 raise your hands.. :clap:

[jmacdonald801]

If HTC were to release a 2nd gen Tilt with a VGA screen I bet they would remove the GPS or the Bluetooth or (name it). It's really like there's a conspiracy between all of these companies to not give the public what they want.

Very doubtful that GPS is going away. If anything, it's going to be in more and more devices.

Specifically, GPS is part of the MSM7200 Qualcomm chipset that the Tilt uses. In time HTC will release a 640x480 screen as costs and power usage decreases for these devices.

No conspiracy I assure you. Look at all the **** that qualcomm packed into their chipset, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, HSDPA, GPS, 3D acceleration (not currently enabled on HTC units).

Have you noticed how poor the battery life is of all these PDA phones, as opposed to say, a simple GMS phone? There's you're reason for this so called public not getting what they want, there is a limit to what is plausible with current hardware. Again, I'm sure 640x480 screen will become the de facto standard as GPS is already becoming a standard bullet point for upcoming PDA devices.

I too would love a 640x480 screen, but the Tilt just works. It does a lot. It gives me directions with TomTom, Bluetooth works well, I can read the news while sitting in the can, hope on my home or work network. It meets plenty of needs.

Well there's always iPhone ;-)

-James

[eugarps]

And.. dundun...dundun....dundun....dundun....There's always the second generation iPhone, which may incorporate lots more features with a screen that most Pocket PCs can only dream about. My guess is Apple will add at least a 3G capability and allow Bluetooth to talk to some keyboards. It would be great, if they brought iWork into the phone, then you could edit and compose Word and Excel files.

If Apple does the above, the iPhone becomes a more serious business phone and Microsoft will have to show us something new. Am I missing some key issues or do Word and Excel look about the same on Windows Mobile 6 as they did on CE2002 and SE2003? Heck, Documents to Go just announced "Full Office 2007 Support!" And it'll run on my Palm! If I'm right, all we're paying Microsoft for, as we spend more and more on newer and newer gadgets, are bug fixes.

At the risk of repeating myself to many times: Please, Microsoft, show me something new and innovative!

My $0.02,