MWg Zinc II Unboxing & First Impressions Video

[Jason Dunn]

<p>This is an unboxing and first impressions video of the <a href="http://www.mwg.com/zinc-ii.aspx" target="_blank">MWg Zinc II</a>, a GSM-based Windows Mobile Professional 6.1 smartphone. It has a 500 mhz Samsung CPU, 64 MB of RAM, a 2.8 inch 320 x 240 resolution touch screen, GPS, and a slide-out keyboard. It's a quad-band GSM (850/ 900/1800/1900 Mhz) and tri-band HSDPA 3G phone (850/ 1900/ 2100 Mhz). The Zinc II is <a href="http://www.expansys-usa.com/p.aspx?i=161302&amp;partner=pthoughts" target="_blank">available for purchase</a> from our affiliate partner, Expansys, for $749 USD.</p><p><br /> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="349" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xa13zgPTKYo&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;border=1" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xa13zgPTKYo&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;border=1"></embed></object><br /><em>[<a href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=xa13zgPTKYo" target="_blank">click through to YouTube to see it in higher quality</a>]</em></p><p>If you have a YouTube account, please <a href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=xa13zgPTKYo" target="_blank">rate the video</a>, comment, and <a href="http://ca.youtube.com/user/ThoughtsMedia" target="_blank">subscribe to our channel</a>. Thanks for your support!</p>

[Jon Westfall]

So how do you really feel about it not having a 3.5mm jack Jason?

The death of the 3.5mm jack is interesting in that 3.5mm was never the hands-down winner - some phones stuck you with the annoying 2.5mm size which required an adapter anyways (And it should be noted that inexpensive 3.5mm -> MiniUSB adapters do exist - why MwG and others don't include one in the box is a mystery to me).

And here's another rant: This device, stats wise, is about the same or even inferior to the TyTN II. Sure it saves a few mm in thickness, but it gives up GPS, drops a megapixel off the camera, and seems to have a smaller keyboard. And the TyTN II was last year's model... so why am I not seeing something amazing out of MwG - like 5mm thinner, VGA, and built-in popcorn maker... or at least 2 out of 3.

[swain69]

...and the after sales service will be non-existent...pass !

[gmontem]

Jon, their thinner, VGA phones are in the road map hopefully still slated for next year. Haven't you seen that leaked video of their slides that briefly talked about their Windows Mobile 7 phones for next year? I hope their Flame II phone doesn't get delayed.

[Jason Dunn]

The death of the 3.5mm jack is interesting in that 3.5mm was never the hands-down winner...and it should be noted that inexpensive 3.5mm -> MiniUSB adapters do exist

3.5mm has been the hands-down winner since the introduction of the Sony Walkman in the '80s. It's been the standard for portable audio until phone makes decided/needed to introduce the 2.5mm headphone jack - and I don't know if that was because the 3.5mm headphone jack was just too big on the inside, or if they needed a new spec to introduce the headphone/microphone combo.

Any solution that requires the user to carry an adaptor with them is a big fat failure in my opinion. I don't think it's a fluke that the iPhone has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

And here's another rant: This device, stats wise, is about the same or even inferior to the TyTN II. Sure it saves a few mm in thickness, but it gives up GPS

The Zinc II does have GPS - I tested it with Live Search and it worked like a charm.

The biggest drawback I've seen on it so far? The lack of a VGA screen. After using the HTC Touch Diamond for a month, going back to QVGA in a form factor that can handle VGA makes my eyes hurt. :(

[Jason Dunn]

...and the after sales service will be non-existent...pass !

Why do you say that?