"Today we had an opportunity to play with HTC Universal and we have taken some pictures of it, including comparative photo shots of HTC Universal together with HTC Typhoon (Orange SPV C500 aka Audiovox STM 5600) and including also close-ups of volume up and down and external "accept phone call" and "reject phone call" buttons. In photos you can see hands of John Starkwether, Senior Product Manager MED, Microsoft, who presented the HTC Universal to us."
I've gotta say that overall, I really like the featureset of this device. My one gripe is that it doesn't look like it'll be that comfortable to hold up to one's ear, although a Bluetooth headset would solve that problem nicely. I'm glad the device is not too thick, though; as long as it's pocketable I'll be looking to get one.
It would have been nice to see some comparison shots of it next to a current Pocket PC or Pocket PC Phone device (say an MDA II or II for example) to get a better idea of size etc, but overall it does not look too bulky.
I am not sure if I would use the keyboard a great deal, but it would certainly be a great option to have. The only real concern would be the lack of application buttons on the screen face of the device. This coud be a hassle when using it in "PDA" mode - especially if you like your games!
Still I would love to see one in the flesh (or should that be in the plastic...)
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...waiting for the arrival of my Axim x50v...But I still love my Newtons!
1- Looks cheap; paint is likely to wear off quickly.
2- Design is not very good. Lots of apppendixes...
3- No D-Pad? What's the use of the flip screen then? You can't use it as a normal PPC then.
4- Give me a Psion-like KB, a flip screen like the Helix, a 2GB hard disk like the Zaurus, dual-cards, dual wireless, VGA and a 2000+ battery and I'm sold!
...Give me a Psion-like KB..., a 2GB hard disk like the Zaurus, dual-cards, dual wireless, VGA and a 2000+ battery and I'm sold!
Ahhh now that would truly be a device worth owning!
I would really love to see a sliding keyboard like the one from the Psion come out on a pocket pc (whether phone edition or otherwise) it was one of the things that almost made me pick a Psion rather than my first Pocket PC many years back.
As to the dpad issue, I also wonder what you do when using the device in "laptop" mode. Now if only they could include a mouse curser and maybe one of those little pencil eraser like mouse controllers.
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...waiting for the arrival of my Axim x50v...But I still love my Newtons!
It looks as though it does have a D-pad/mic combo in the pictures, and I am sure some of the side buttons that are still exposed can be programmed for games.
It looks as though it does have a D-pad/mic combo in the pictures, and I am sure some of the side buttons that are still exposed can be programmed for games.
Yes there is the d-pad on the "PDA" face, but that would nor be very useable in laptop mode.
MDA IV Pictures From 3GSM In Cannes
I'm glad the device is not too thick, though; as long as it's pocketable I'll be looking to get one.
Linear Mode
