HTC S420 (HTC Erato) - Successor to the HTC StrTrk?

[Jason Dunn]

http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=727

PDAdb.net has published some very interesting information about a new Smartphone I hadn't heard of yet - the HTC Erato. There's no guarantee that any of this information is accurate, but assuming it is, this looks like a great phone. Compared to the HTC StrTrk, the ROM had been doubled from 64 MB to 128 MB, and more importantly, the CPU has been changed from a 195mhz Texas Instruments OMAP 850 to a Samsung SC32442 running at 400mhz. It also looks like it's UMTS, so we finally have 3G support in there. The battery stays the same at 940 mAH, but it seems to have GPS and Bluetooth 2.0 as well. Excellent!

Frustratingly, it seems to still be stuck at USB 1.1. I'll repeat what I said when I reviewed the HTC StrTrk: having a media phone with USB 1.1 is ridiculous and frustrating for the customer. I don't know why HTC did this again, but it's a big negative on an otherwise great looking device. I'm just hoping the PDAdb.net information is inaccurate. ;-)

I use the HTC StrTrk for quite some time, until I replaced it with the T-Mobile Dash, and it was a great phone. This new version looks even better! dogg

[Jason Dunn]

http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=727

PDAdb.net has published some very interesting information about a new Smartphone I hadn't heard of yet - the HTC Erato. There's no guarantee that any of this information is accurate, but assuming it is, this looks like a great phone. Compared to the HTC StrTrk, the ROM had been doubled from 64 MB to 128 MB, and more importantly, the CPU has been changed from a 195mhz Texas Instruments OMAP 850 to a Samsung SC32442 running at 400mhz. It also looks like it's UMTS, so we finally have 3G support in there. The battery stays the same at 940 mAH, but it seems to have GPS and Bluetooth 2.0 as well. Excellent!

Frustratingly, it seems to still be stuck at USB 1.1. I'll repeat what I said when I reviewed the HTC StrTrk: having a media phone with USB 1.1 is ridiculous and frustrating for the customer. I don't know why HTC did this again, but it's a big negative on an otherwise great looking device. I'm just hoping the PDAdb.net information is inaccurate. ;-)

I use the HTC StrTrk for quite some time, until I replaced it with the T-Mobile Dash, and it was a great phone. This new version looks even better! dogg

[AdamaDBrown]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

The battery stays the same at 940 mAH

Actually, the base config ST (such as the Qtek 8500) came with a 750 mAh battery, and the Cingular version with an 1100 mAh battery.

That said, all is to the good--this is pretty close to perfect for me. My upgrades to the StrTrk would have been GPS and 3G, along with the larger battery as standard. If they can provide the same kick-ass RF performance as the Hermes has, I might actually have to overcome my cheapness and buy one.

[damien1378]

Thanks! THis is the info I've been waiting for. My Verizon contract is up in May. If it's out online by then I'll just buy it! Don't know is I can wait until cingular actually puts out their own brand.

Speaking of which, does anyone know how long it took for Cingular to put out the 3125 after the StrTrk was released?

[sheltem]

USB 1.1 is Windows Mobile's fault. 400mhz processor? I dunno how they are gonna get decent battery life out of this one.

[john1027]

Originally Posted by damien1378

Speaking of which, does anyone know how long it took for Cingular to put out the 3125 after the StrTrk was released?

I bought the imate star trac when it first came out and then switched to the 3125. If I remember right, it was only a couple months, maybe three. Hopefully Cingular will pick it up. I read somewhere that they have indicated they are discontinuing the 3125 but no word that I know of regarding a replacement. Let's hope this is it. Thanks Jason for the info.

[Kris Kumar]

Originally Posted by sheltem

USB 1.1 is Windows Mobile's fault.

Windows Mobile's fault? :?

[Stinger]

Finally! More UMTS Smartphones.

[Mike Temporale]

Originally Posted by sheltem

USB 1.1 is Windows Mobile's fault.

Actually, no it isn't. It's the chipset that HTC has decided to use. ActiveSync 4.x was rebuilt to handle USB2.0 connctions. Some companies have taken advantage of this, while others have not.

There was one device released with USB 2 support, but I can't recall who released it. It' wasn't HTC.

[Jerry Raia]

I can live with USB 1.1. It has 3G which is my main concern.

[ragweed56]

I ended up returning my 3125 because the RF performance was so poor. (Low RF sensitivity, callers telling me that the voice quality wasn't noticably poorer than my MPx200.) Are all HTC's that bad?