03-22-2007, 04:30 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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E-TEN Goes QWERTY: Glofiish M700 Reviewed
Product Category: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE Pocket PC Phone
Manufacturer: E-TEN
Where to Buy: MobilePlanet or authorized E-TEN distributors
Price: $599.95 USD
System Requirements: Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows Vista; USB port
Specifications: Windows Mobile 5.0 with AKU 3.2 (Pocket PC Phone), Samsung S3C2442 400MHz CPU, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 2.8" QVGA (65K-colour) TFT-LCD, 2.0-megapixel CMOS camera with flash, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 (Class 2) + EDR (with A2DP & AVRCP), GPS (SiRFstar III), TMC support, FM radio, backlit QWERTY keyboard, microSD, Mini-USB, 117.5mm x 59.0mm x 19.8mm, 165g (with battery)
Pros:
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE;Integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and FM radio;QWERTY keyboard;Solid performance.
Cons:
Underperforming camera;Minor usability issues affecting the QWERTY keyboard;Mediocre battery life.
Summary:
There's a lot to love about the Glofiish M700. It packs a plethora of popular features and scores highly on the performance charts, so does all that make it the most complete Windows Mobile-based device in the market? Read on to find out!
Everything and the QWERTY
The Glofiish M700 is much like its sibling, the Glofiish X500. On paper, they're almost identical. Both include the strong Samsung S3C2442 400MHz CPU, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, today's common wireless technologies (minus 3G connectivity), a 2.0" megapixel camera, and a microSD slot. So, what's different? The M700 adds a slide-out backlit QWERTY keyboard - a first for E-TEN, and hopefully, the first of many for E-TEN.
However, in the real-world setting, the M700 differs in many ways. A significant proportion of this review will work off my X500 review, so if you have yet to read it, I encourage you to do so prior to reading this review.
What's In the Box?
The M700's box has a similar design to that of the X500's: a splash of blue and orange and Glofiish branding all over. When opened, the M700 is clearly visible through a clear plastic window.
Figure 1: No E-TEN here. It's all Glofiish.
A stack of accessories and documentation are bundled with the M700. Here's the full list:
1,530mAh Li-ion polymer battery;AC charger with region-specific adapter;Leather case with belt strap;Stereo headset (with microphone, volume controls, and shirt clip);USB synchronization cable;Semi-adhesive screen protector;Glofiish M700 Getting Started CD (includes Microsoft Outlook 2002, ActiveSync 4.2, and an electronic manual);Glofiish M700 Quick Start Guide.
Most of the accessories are no different to the ones bundled with the X500. However, the leather case is certainly a fresh change, which will be covered in greater detail later in the review.
Design: What's Hot? What's Not?
Out with the plastic/metal front and the rubbery rear and in with an all-plastic shell. Yes, the M700's design is quite a departure from that of the X500, and admittedly, that's something that may not appeal to those who take pride in the appearance of their device. However, while it certainly feels "cheaper" in the hand, it's still structurally solid and overall usability is in no way impacted.
Figure 2: The M700 from the front - (1) call speaker and adjacent GPS and Today/M-Desk buttons, (2) power button and soft reset button, (3) camera button, and (4) microSD slot and Mini-USB port.
If you're a fan of black, you'll find none of that here. Silver dominates the front and rear, while a grey strip lines the side. A quick gaze at the front of the device and you'll instantly notice that the M700 appears vastly different to the X500. While only marginally longer than the X500 (size comparisons will be discussed in detail later in the review), the M700 comes across as a very "tall" device, due to the seemingly empty spaces that sit above and below the display. Toward the top, we see the call speaker, and the GPS and Today/M-Desk buttons sitting on either side. Unfortunately, these buttons aren't backlit. Adjacent to the buttons are the wireless and battery indicator lights, and like the X500, Wi-Fi uses orange, while confusingly, both Bluetooth and GPS use blue. The battery, on the other hand, uses a more familiar orange while charging, and green when full charged.
Figure 3: The M700 from the front - (1) call speaker and adjacent GPS and Today/M-Desk buttons, (2) microSD slot and Mini-USB port, (3) 2.5mm headphone socket, and (4) volume controls and voice command button.
Toward the bottom of the M700 is a confusing array of buttons that can be a little hard on the thumb at times. Beneath the Glofiish logo, we see two buttons assigned to Windows Mobile 5.0's soft keys, and below them are the call buttons, which are shaped like inverted shoes, and they're not exactly the easiest buttons to press. Aim your thumb a little too high and you'll hit the soft keys. Too far to the left and you'll find yourself messing around with the D-pad. On that note, the D-pad tells a different story. Thanks to its concave nature, the tip of your thumb sits nicely on it, making navigation a breeze. The action button sits in the centre and offers ample tactile feedback. Sadly, while the call buttons and D-pad are backlit, the soft keys are not. Considering E-TEN had a good thing going with the X500's backlit buttons, the M700's buttons simply feel like an unfinished job.
Still on the topic of buttons, the M700 follows the X500 in that it doesn't sport any on the front that are dedicated to the OK and Start functions of Windows Mobile, so true one-handed operation is absent. Although, E-TEN's recent unveiling of the upcoming Glofiish X800 suggests that this shortcoming will no longer plague future devices.
Figure 4: The M700 sports a bright 2.8" QVGA display.
Like the M600 and X500, the M700 possesses an extremely bright 2.8" QVGA (240 x 320) display. However, unlike the other two, the M700 has a bit of trouble making white appear as it should be; instead, there's a very slight yellow tinge, although certainly not to the same extent as the HP iPAQ h1940. In fact, it's unnoticeable to the untrained eye. On a different note, the display size specification of 2.8" is actually 2.8" (the X500's is a little less), so you can use third-party screen protectors if the one in the box doesn't tickle your fancy.
Figure 5: The rear of the M700 - (1) 2.0-megapixel camera with flash and mirror, (2) microSD slot and Mini-USB port, (3) camera button, and (4) power button.
As with most devices, there's not much on the rear. Toward the top, we see a 2.0-megapixel camera with a flash and mirror, and adjacent to it, a mono speaker, which is loud enough for most purposes. The battery cover consumes the remaining space. It includes a rubber grip near the centre and two small projections toward the bottom. They're purposed for elevation and indeed a nice idea, but said idea is poorly executed as the mirror adjacent to the camera protrudes far enough to override the effects of the rubber grip. As a result, you may find that minor scratches will develop on the mirror over time.
Figure 6: Let's take a peek inside - (1) SIM slot, (2) battery compartment, and (3) the 1,530mAh Li-ion polymer battery.
Unsurprisingly, popping the battery cover off the device exposes the battery compartment. The slot for the SIM card is located beneath it.
Figure 7: The M700 from an oblique angle - (1) call buttons and soft keys, (2) Today/M-Desk button, (3) stylus, and (4) microSD slot and Mini-USB slot (and microphone, if you squint hard).
Touring the side of the M700, it's immediately noticeable that the button arrangement matches that of the X500. Both the power and camera buttons are located on the right, the microSD slot and Mini-USB port are on the bottom, and volume controls, voice command button, and headphone socket are on the left. The M700 actually features some slight improvements in this regard. The sensitivity of the volume controls (a problem affecting earlier builds of the X500) has been tuned, and they also sport raised notches that help minimize accidental pressing of the voice command button during blind operation.
Like the X500, the headphone socket of the M700 is of the 2.5mm type. E-TEN includes a stereo headset designed specifically for it, although they do not include a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter, so if you plan on using your own 3.5mm headphones, you'll need to pick up a suitable adapter from a third-party vendor.
The M700 accepts the increasingly common microSD card via a slot located on its bottom edge. It's accessible, but exposed. Without a rubber cap, there's an increased chance of the microSD card accidentally ejecting when the device is subject to hard impact. microSD cards of up to 2GB are relatively available and affordable. While the microSDHC specification allows for card sizes of 4GB and up, the M700 does not support it.
Figure 8: When extended, the M700's stylus measures 91 millimetres or 3.58 inches.
With the Glofiish series, E-TEN says "no" to proprietary connectors. The M700's Mini-USB connector acts as a dual-purpose sync/charge connector, so with the included USB synchronization cable, you can sync and charge simultaneously. With the included AC charger, you can only charge, but it is considerably faster.
Finally, it's all eyes on the bottom-loading stylus. The M700's is almost a clone of the X500's. It's lightweight, telescopic, and measures a slightly smaller 65 millimetres (2.56 inches) in its compact form and 91 millimetres (3.58 inches) when extended.
Figure 9: Hello QWERTY - (1) left soft key, (2) right soft key, and (3) volume controls and voice command button.
Figure 10: The same QWERTY keyboard with the backlight off.
Of course, what's an M700 review without a look at the QWERTY keyboard? The M700's contains 41 keys (soft keys included) and slides out to the left. Some notable inclusions are the OK and Start buttons (yes, they're not on the front of the device, but they're certainly on the QWERTY keyboard), and the numeric keypad, which sports a shade of grey and is assigned to the secondary function of a set of keys located in the right-half of the keyboard. The keyboard itself features a blue backlight that illuminates the primary function of the keys as well as the gaps between the keys in a U-shaped fashion for a fixed period of twenty seconds. Unfortunately, it fails to illuminate the secondary function of the keys and the soft keys, so anyone who doesn't have the keyboard layout confined to memory will undoubtedly be left in the dark (so to speak).
Each key measures 8.5mm x 7mm (except the Space bar, which is double the length), possesses a slight bulge, and offers a good amount of tactile feedback. The only exception is the Q key, which without reason, seems to offer a little less feedback. That aside, the typing experience is very reasonable. However, I admit to being a fast typer, and on very rare occasions, the M700 would fail to register a pressed key. I've yet to nail this down to a software or hardware issue, but it doesn't bother me enough to warrant further investigation.
A major shortcoming of the M700 is its lack of Fn and Shift/Caps Lock indicators, both on the hardware side and software side. This forces any user to become increasingly aware of the number of times he/she has pressed the Fn key or Shift key as a double press in succession will switch it to a locked mode, which can lead to odd results during typing.
Figure 11: It just keeps on glowing...
Figure 12: ... and glowing.
The sliding mechanism of the keyboard is very solid. It'll lock the keyboard in place when extended or retracted, and automatically modify the orientation of the display to match the position of the keyboard.
Sizing It Up: Head-to-Head with Other Devices
With a QWERTY keyboard in its arsenal, the M700 certainly can't match the stunningly thin X500 in size. However, at a depth of 19.8mm, it's certainly slim enough to fit in most pockets, although the good ol' pocket bulge is unavoidable. Other QWERTY devices such as the HTC Hermes (21.95mm) and the HTC Wizard (23.7mm) simply cannot compare.
Pictures tell a thousand words, so I'll let the following depict the overall size of the M700.
Figure 13: E-TEN Glofiish X500 (left) and E-TEN Glofiish M700 (right).
Figure 14: E-TEN M600 (left) and E-TEN Glofiish M700 (right).
Figure 15: HP iPAQ h1940 (left) and E-TEN Glofiish M700 (right).
Figure 16: Dell Axim X50v (left) and E-TEN Glofiish M700 (right).
Figure 17: Zune (left) and E-TEN Glofiish M700 (right).
Figure 18: Welcome to the social! From left to right, the Dell Axim X50v, HP iPAQ h1940, E-TEN M600, E-TEN Glofiish X500, E-TEN Glofiish M700, and Zune.
At 117.5mm x 59.0mm x 19.8mm and 165g with the battery, the M700 is reasonably sized for a device with a QWERTY keyboard, and with so many features under the hood, E-TEN has done a pretty good job packing them all in.
Accessories: The Good (There's No Bad or the Ugly)
If you've seen an X500 accessory, then you've seen an M700 accessory. Minus the leather case, they're identical, so to avoid rehashing my thoughts on them, I'd encourage you to read the two-page Accessories section of my X500 review.
Figure 19: Thankfully, the M700's leather case bears no resemblance to the X500's.
Figure 20: What's better than one belt clip? Two belt clips.
With the X500's leather case delivering such a woeful experience, it's suffice to say that the M700's is a huge step forward. It's part-nylon and part-leather, sits on the belt, and offers ample protection all over. Two belt clips/straps keep it in place, while its magnetic closure system ensures that the device never falls out. Two headphone cutouts can be seen on the bottom of the case, but there are none on the top, so you'll have to remember to insert the device with the left side facing down if you hope to have the case, device, and headphones play nicely with each other.
Figure 21: It fits...
Figure 22: ... like a glove.
Of course, this type of case makes in-case use virtually impossible, although this is not uncommon with many of today's Pocket PC Phones and Smartphones. Most seem to favour a case like this (or a silicone skin) over a book-style leather case such as the one bundled with the X500.
Figure 23: Headphone cutouts allow the music to keep pumping while the device is in the case.
Figure 24: If you're new to Windows Mobile, these will get you going.
Software: More Applications Than You Can Poke a Stick At
Again, with the X500 and M700 sharing so much in common, it's probably of little surprise that the software bundle of the two are no different. The M700 ships with Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU 3.2, so all of the enhancements in AKU 3.x are present, along with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Microsoft's Direct Push solution. The backup, media, and phone applications are all there, and covered in detail in the two-page Software section of my X500 review. As if that wasn't enough, the latest ROM (0354) includes a couple of extras, which are featured below.
Figure 25: Birthday Reminder does what it says.
First on the list is Birthday Reminder, which makes up for Outlook's inconsistent birthday feature. The new application allows the user to set birthday and anniversary reminders using a highly-customizable calendar interface.
Figure 26: Easy Keyboard works in portrait mode...
Figure 27: ... and landscape mode.
Next, there's the Easy Keyboard SIP - an alternative to Windows Mobile's default Keyboard SIP. Easy Keyboard consumes half of the screen space and is able to stretch to both sides of the screen in landscape mode. Apart from supporting the standard QWERTY layout, there's also support for the less common ABCDE layout. All this is great for times when you prefer not to use the M700's slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
Performance: Does It Meet Expectations?
Let's cut to the chase. With a Samsung S3C2442 400MHz CPU, the M700 flies. It rarely chokes when handling video, music, pictures, VoIP, and other demanding tasks. Of course, it's just one of many components that contribute to its solid all-round performance, and we'll have the opportunity to explore the others when we examine benchmark results later in the review.
Memory is always a hot discussion topic in enthusiast forums, so I've provided two sets of data here for your assimilation. They focus on available storage and program memory with and without E-TEN's bundled applications installed (the latter scenario can be created by holding down the camera button during the device's initial configuration phase).
Hard Reset; Applications Installed
Total Storage Memory: 70.24MBUsed: 18.51MBFree: 51.74MB
Total Program Memory: 47.52MBUsed: 19.65MBFree: 27.87MB
Hard Reset; No Applications Installed
Total Storage Memory: 70.24MBUsed: 4.49MBFree: 65.75MB
Total Program Memory: 47.52MBUsed: 16.44MBFree: 31.08MB
A little over a half of the M700's 128MB ROM is available for use as storage. E-TEN's applications consume approximately 14MB. If you're not the sort of user who installs a vast number of applications, then the remaining storage space should be more than enough. If you are, then there's always a microSD card for additional storage space. The M700's 64MB RAM should be sufficient for most users. With all of the Office Mobile applications open (including that of Outlook Mobile), the M700 follows the X500's footsteps in consuming just (roughly) 1.5MB RAM.
While E-TEN's initial batch of Glofiish devices fail to target 3G, they don't leave EDGE out of the equation. Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity ensures that compatibility in North America (namely, the 850MHz networks) is hardly an issue. They may match each other on paper, but it's questionable as to whether the X500 and M700 utilize the same chip and antenna. Over a month's worth of testing, I discovered that the M700 failed to achieve the same level of signal strength as the X500. Where the X500 would achieve 100%, the M700 would achieve 75%. On occasion, it'd dip to 50%, and in certain environments where cellular connectivity was known for being weak (e.g., lifts and underground parking lots), the M700 would lose a connection. That said, it's not as bad as it sounds. Under a normal usage pattern, the M700 will stay connected most of the time, so you'll rarely have to worry about missing that important phone call. Call quality tends to be decent, and the other party is usually very audible. Thanks to the latest ROM (0354), the echo and incoming SMS issues (discussed in my X500 review) have been eliminated. Incidentally, this also applies to the X500, so regardless of which Glofiish you have in your hand, an upgrade to ROM 0354 is recommended.
Bluetooth 2.0 gives the M700 an edge over some of its predecessors and competitors. Driving its faster transmission speeds, lower power consumption, and greater available bandwidth is the Microsoft Bluetooth stack, with E-TEN's own user interface sitting on top. Leaving Bluetooth active during standby mode has a minimal effect on battery life, although as will be discussed a little later, the M700's battery life isn't stellar to begin with. A Class 2 specification gives the M700 an approximate ten metre range. I tested this in an open environment with five different headsets and achieved an average of eight to nine metres (on par with what I was expecting). A2DP performance wasn't perfect, although audio quality in this regard appears to be linked to the Microsoft stack rather than the device itself. Unfortunately, like the X500, I was unable to reconnect my Bluetooth stereo headphones to the M700, despite the two being paired. The solution is an arduous deletion and re-establishing of the partnership.
Wi-Fi performance is very solid. 802.11b/g and WPA2 support give the M700 greater compatibility with many wireless networks. And as far as range is concerned, the M700 was able to match my laptop in consistently discovering and connecting to distant networks. FM radio performance tells a different story. It's much like the X500 in that it leaves a lot to be desired. Reception is generally very weak, particularly indoors. The bundled stereo headset wire (which acts as the antenna) requires a lot of adjusting in order to attain a clear signal. As you'd expect with a SiRFstar III chipset, the M700's GPS performance is rock solid, both indoors and outdoors. Tracking sensitivity is good. The number of satellites fixed hovers around five to ten. Cold boots rarely take longer than a minute, and warm boots are instantaneous. There's no bundled GPS navigation software, so you'll have to keep in mind that they're a separate purchase.
Figure 28: Taken with the M700's 2.0-megapixel camera. Click the image above for a larger version (1200 x 1600; 257.7KB).
Figure 29: Taken with the M700's 2.0-megapixel camera. Click the image above for a larger version (1200 x 1600; 183.4KB).
Figure 30: Taken with the M700's 2.0-megapixel camera. Click the image above for a larger version (1200 x 1600; 342.9KB).
After seeing the X500's camera in action, I had high expectations while sampling the M700's, but I was left disappointed. With or without the flash, many of the images seemed washed out and contained a great number of streaks, while the colours often failed to match the source. E-TEN's camera application offers a plethora of options from frames, effects, and resolution to orientation, flash, date stamps, and capture modes. It also supports the capturing of video, but it really bogs down the device when subject to fast motion or varying degrees of light.
Previously, I mentioned that the battery life of the M700 wasn't stellar. E-TEN rates the device with a talk time of 5-7 hours, standby time of 150-200 hours, Pocket PC usage time of 10-15 hours, and GPS usage time of 5-7 hours, but in a real-world setting, these figures are far from the truth. Where I'd typically attain two to three days off a single charge with the X500, I'd attain one to two days with the M700. All that takes a wide range of factors into consideration: half an hour of talk time, one or two SMS messages being sent or received, an hour or two of Wi-Fi, an hour of general application usage, and a Bluetooth headset connected for half a day. If you follow a charging pattern of once a day or two days, you'll rarely have to worry about a dry M700. Just don't expect a single charge to last for long bursts.
Both the X500 and M700 dominated the Spb Benchmark tests. The results are featured below, and just as a side note, the Dell Axim X50v was upgraded to Windows Mobile 5.0 and the latest A02 ROM (AKU 2.3.1).
Figure 31: The M700 is right up there with the X500 in the overall index.
Figure 32: There's nothing too surprising here. The Dell Axim X50v and X51v (624MHz), and i-mate JASJAR (520MHz) surpass the M700 (400MHz).
Figure 33: File handling is one area that the X500 and M700 share a lead in.
Figure 34: Considering Spb Benchmark doesn't take the Intel 2700g into account, I'd say this isn't a fair assessment of the Dell Axim X50v and X51v. However, basic graphical performance sees both the X500 and M700 ahead of the pack.
Figure 35: The M700 lies somewhere in the middle of the platform index chart. The X500 failed to complete the test this time, but at the time it was reviewed, it achieved a score of 349.
Conclusions
We've examined the M700 from head to toe, so now it's back to the question raised at the start of the review: is it the most complete Windows Mobile-based device in the market? Not quite, but E-TEN is definitely taking a step in the right direction. Minor usability issues affecting the QWERTY keyboard, an underperforming camera, and a weaker battery life all hurt the M700, but it's still a very capable device with a large collection of features that most other manufacturers would normally fail to include in their devices. If you're in the market for a QWERTY device, the M700 is worthy of consideration. But if you can hold on to your dollars for a little longer, E-TEN's upcoming Glofiish devices (with their VGA displays and 3.5G connectivity) may be suitable alternatives.
Darius Wey enjoys all forms of technology. His time is usually channeled into mobile devices, digital media, application and web development, graphic design, and his Xbox 360. He lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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03-22-2007, 09:24 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 740
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Windows Mobile 5? Sorry but you are late.
I am looking for WM6 equipped devices.
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03-22-2007, 11:16 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Fritzly
Windows Mobile 5? Sorry but you are late.
I am looking for WM6 equipped devices.
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Whoa, slow down. You may be interested to know that both the X500 and M700 will be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6 in May.
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03-26-2007, 09:03 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1
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Excelent review. What can you tell me about the M700 display visibility outdoors, under sunlight? I intend to buy one to replace my current HTC TyTN, which is useless under sunlight - no way to dial anything, to take pictures, etc.
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03-26-2007, 05:01 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by LKrym
Excelent review. What can you tell me about the M700 display visibility outdoors, under sunlight? I intend to buy one to replace my current HTC TyTN, which is useless under sunlight - no way to dial anything, to take pictures, etc.
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It resembles most devices in that it's not stellar outdoors (i.e., hard to see unless held at the right angle). Such is the case with a lot of the TFT-LCDs in the market. An anti-glare screen protector can help, but I'd say it's far from a perfect solution.
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10-04-2007, 09:21 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1
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TCM support
Everywhere I can see that this device has TMC support but I wasn't able to check even for just its presence anywhere. The integrated applications do not use it (as far as I know) and I can't find any other app using it. Were you able to test it?
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10-05-2007, 06:59 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Re: TCM support
Quote:
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Originally Posted by alichino
Everywhere I can see that this device has TMC support but I wasn't able to check even for just its presence anywhere. The integrated applications do not use it (as far as I know) and I can't find any other app using it. Were you able to test it?
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The M700's TMC support is based on the device's FM-RDS system. I wasn't able to test the former specifically due to lack of resources, but the latter got a heavy workout via the integrated radio application.
If you have a navigation application like Destinator, and live in a country that offers TMC services (select EU nations, the US, and Australia), you should be able to test it out.
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Linear Mode
