Brighthand: "Brighthand's First Impressions of the Motorola MPx"

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://brighthand.com/article/Motorola_MPx_First_Impressions' target='_blank'>http://brighthand.com/article/Motor...rst_Impressions</a><br /><br /></div>"The MPx is the first Windows Mobile Phone Edition device to have the appearance of a phone. Like a lot of smart phones, it has a clamshell shape, with a screen on one side and a keypad on the other. But this is no ordinary smart phone. It has a screen at the full Pocket PC standard resolution, 240 by 320 pixels. And instead of just a keypad, it has a full keyboard. And, even better, thanks to its unique dual-hinge design, it can morph from a smart phone into a wireless handheld. <br /><br />Here's how it works. When your phone is ringing you want to be able to answer it as quickly as possible, so the standard configuration of the MPx is to open in the smart phone configuration, with the screen in portrait mode. However, if you want to some word processing or view a web page in landscape mode, you press a button on the side of the MPx and it opens in the wireless handheld configuration. Of course, the screen automatically adjusts for whichever way you open the device..."<br /><br />Ok, I'm officially jealous of Ed Hardy. I want an MPx in a bad way! :mrgreen:

[spaceman]

Too bad the screen will be 240x320, espcially ow the the hi-rez will be supported by the next release of Windows Mobile 2003.

[Janak Parekh]

Too bad the screen will be 240x320, espcially ow the the hi-rez will be supported by the next release of Windows Mobile 2003.
At 2.8", I really don't think I want 640x480. 8O OK, with font scaling it might be useable, but those kinds of pixel densities are probably very expensive right now.

--janak

[Kati Compton]

If only I could get something like this with a pay-as-you-go plan. I just don't use a cell phone enough to pay $30 or more per month.

[Janak Parekh]

If only I could get something like this with a pay-as-you-go plan.
The problem is you're not going to get this as a subsidized device with a prepay plan. ;) If you can get your hands on one, you can certainly get a prepaid SIM from several US GSM vendors.

--janak

[Kati Compton]

Yeah - I'm just not sure how good the GSM coverage is where I live now.

[yslee]

I've been wondering over this for some time.. since most dialog and input screens on the PPC are designed for portrait mode, how will it look like in landscape mode, which is where most data entry will be done, I wonder? Lotsa white space on the right?

[paris]

hmmm this thing might get me to merge my phone and pocket pc. i guess i we will have to wait until its released, get a feel of it in person and then decide if it wll do the trick.

[jonathanchoo]

Man, that is one ugly phone. Design counts and this will be a failure among most mobile consumers who prefer design over functionality.

[SassKwatch]

Man, that is one ugly phone.
Now there's a decidedly minority opinion!

[wigglesworth]

jonathanchoo wrote:
Man, that is one ugly phone.

Now there's a decidedly minority opinion!
Count me in the minority! I like the idea and the functionality, but I think it's pretty ugly as well

[griph]

Man, that is one ugly phone.
Now there's a decidedly minority opinion!
I agree with Jonathan - and I would remind you of the story of the Kings New Clothes! Just means that some of us have got taste! ;-) This machine has all the design flair of a Lada! Ugh it needs to be used in a brown paper bag!!

[griph]

jonathanchoo wrote:
Man, that is one ugly phone.

Now there's a decidedly minority opinion!
Count me in the minority! I like the idea and the functionality, but I think it's pretty ugly as well

You cant use pretty and ugly in the same sentence! :-) That is just plain ugly!

[Venturello]

Things I would love to see in a review:

1. side by side comparisons to an iPaq (preferably 4xxx series)
2. higher res pictures

Things I think this device is missing:

1. built in camera!
2. built in camera!

I HOPE they are not stupid enough to release this as a 32Mb memory machine. I hope for AT LEAST 64Mb.

What memory slots this thing has?

Anyway, very cool and I am looking forward to it A LOT since I am sincerly interested on it (just fell off my motorcycle and crushed my Samsung cell phone so I am in the market for a new one)

[Phoenix]

Ugly phone? NO WAY!!! That's a beautiful device! (And styling is very important to me).

I have one preordered and will buy one in place of my P900 and iPAQ 2215.

Can't wait for this beauty! :mrgreen:

[Phoenix]

Things I would love to see in a review:

1. side by side comparisons to an iPaq (preferably 4xxx series)
2. higher res pictures

Things I think this device is missing:

1. built in camera!
2. built in camera!

I HOPE they are not stupid enough to release this as a 32Mb memory machine. I hope for AT LEAST 64Mb.

What memory slots this thing has?

Anyway, very cool and I am looking forward to it A LOT since I am sincerly interested on it (just fell off my motorcycle and crushed my Samsung cell phone so I am in the market for a new one)

It does have a built in camera. A 1.3MP camera with flash.

It has an SD slot.

[Venturello]

It does have a built in camera. A 1.3MP camera with flash.

It has an SD slot.

Oh, thanks, my wrong. WOW. 8O

I WANT ONE!

pd. Is that SDIO?

[Stephen Beesley]

jonathanchoo wrote:
Man, that is one ugly phone.

Now there's a decidedly minority opinion!
Count me in the minority! I like the idea and the functionality, but I think it's pretty ugly as well

Another minority opinion here :D

The ugly part for me is the keyboard - maybe it will look better in cold hard plastic than in photos.

I am looking to buy a new phone right about now and most of the ones I like have quite a bit of PDA functionallity (contacts, appointments etc) which is actually driving me toward considering a PPC Phone edition. I just could not see the point of carrying my PPC (which goes just about everywhere with me) and a phone with all those fuctions. Plus I would have to decide on entering all my contact info etc into two devices or just ignore all those features (which bump up the price I will likely pay) on my phone.

If only the XDA II had built in Wifi or this had a larger screen (yes I could live with the bigger size - after all I would only be carrying one device) or maybe an Asus MyPal A730 phone edition....

Oh well we will see what else comes out this year.

[MultiMatt]

I'm just excited to see a radical departure from the usual form factor in which Pocket PC's are designed! Kudos to Motorola for literally thinking outside of the box!

I'll need to hold one in my hands and play with it before I'll make a judgement on it's overall beauty. The keyboard reminds me of those McDonalds cash registers, where the buttons are under a plastic film. If that indeed is the case, then I'm concerned about the tactile response of the keys...

We'll see! :roll:

Matt

[Silver5]

Man, that is one ugly phone. Design counts and this will be a failure among most mobile consumers who prefer design over functionality.

I agree, it is an ugly phone. It is also an ugly PDA. I might be one of those that buys one, maybe, but it is ugly.

[thunderck]

Man, that is one ugly phone.

Let the games begin..... And in the Blue corner :ninja: ........

[paris]

You all sound like a girls who would buy a car that looks nice and would not care at all about the safety/practicality/technology/features/performance it would have. (no offence to any girls around here but women tent to notice the aesthetic point of things where men the practicality)

[Janak Parekh]

Man, that is one ugly phone. Design counts and this will be a failure among most mobile consumers who prefer design over functionality.
I totally disagree. Design is also very subjective. ;) I think it looks pretty darn slick.

--janak

[thunderck]

As with cars, design DOES make a difference. Now if there was a big bru-hah-hah over color..... ya then you might be getting somewhere.

[groan]

of course this thing won't be available in canada. (will need to buy one from the states and unlock it) and it will cost $1000.

Why cant they just make the damn thing affordable and available!

sigh
:roll:

[stjohn1335]

Hmm, now that we know this phone will have Windows Mobile 2003 SE, does this mean that there is no longer a separate WM Phone Edition (that would be nice), or is the Phone Edition being released simultaneously? Or, will this have proprietary phone software (yikes!)

[Phoenix]

It does have a built in camera. A 1.3MP camera with flash.

It has an SD slot.

Oh, thanks, my wrong. WOW. 8O

I WANT ONE!

pd. Is that SDIO?

I read that it was indeed SDIO enabled. This sucker's packed, I'm tellin' ya. The only thing it doesn't seem to have is GPS.

[Phoenix]

Man, that is one ugly phone. Design counts and this will be a failure among most mobile consumers who prefer design over functionality.
I totally disagree. Design is also very subjective. ;) I think it looks pretty darn slick.

--janak

I agree with Janak.

For myself, I wouldn't go so far as to say that I prefer form over functionality (not saying that you do, Janak), but I definitely care about form as much as functionality, both of which equally attracted me intially to this device.

I also have reason to believe that some things on the MPx design-wise will change slightly. This includes Brighthand's info that the keyboard will change some before it's finally released to the public.

I know of a guy who just went to the CTIA Wireless 2004 convention in Atlanta and looked at the MPx in person. He was also told by Microsoft that it will be running a 400MHz processor and will have 64MB RAM. But since Brighthand was told that it will run a TI OMAP processor, I'm unsure as to how 400MHz translates (OMAP2410 or 2420 maybe?) - whether it even does, or if so, whether that's considered on the higher or lower end, I'm not sure. But I suppose some of these things can or will change. I guess we're all just piecing things together.

I also have reason to believe that photos of this device don't do it justice, and that it does/will look a lot nicer in person.

[Janak Parekh]

For myself, I wouldn't go so far as to say that I prefer form over functionality (not saying that you do, Janak), but I definitely care about form as much as functionality, both of which equally attracted me intially to this device.
I agree. I carry an i700 right now. Some people think it looks stupid as a phone, but it's not bad, IMHO, and when people see the functionality they're awed.

Anyway, I don't think the MPx is going to be a device for an average consumer. Phones serve that niche pretty well as it is, and Motorola seems to be pricing this product for a smaller market anyway (although I think we should hold judgement on the price until we see the final word). So one might think the form factor doesn't serve the mass market -- and that's probably true. ;) But my guess (and hope!) is also that gadget-lovers will find the device pretty awesome in person -- both in form and functionality.

My fear is that I don't see this device coming out in the middle of the year if it's as unstable and preliminary as Ed reports. I think we'll be seeing it closer to the end of the year. I hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't bet on it. :(

--janak

[Phoenix]

For myself, I wouldn't go so far as to say that I prefer form over functionality (not saying that you do, Janak), but I definitely care about form as much as functionality, both of which equally attracted me intially to this device.
I agree. I carry an i700 right now. Some people think it looks stupid as a phone, but it's not bad, IMHO, and when people see the functionality they're awed.

Anyway, I don't think the MPx is going to be a device for an average consumer. Phones serve that niche pretty well as it is, and Motorola seems to be pricing this product for a smaller market anyway (although I think we should hold judgement on the price until we see the final word). So one might think the form factor doesn't serve the mass market -- and that's probably true. ;) But my guess (and hope!) is also that gadget-lovers will find the device pretty awesome in person -- both in form and functionality.

My fear is that I don't see this device coming out in the middle of the year if it's as unstable and preliminary as Ed reports. I think we'll be seeing it closer to the end of the year. I hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't bet on it. :(

--janak

Yeah, you could be right about that. I wish Moto would just tell us when they plan to do this so that I could make an intelligent decision about selling my P900. If it is not to be released until the end of the year, then at least I'd have some time to make the most of the phone I have right now instead of wondering whether I should gear up to make a sale or sit tight.

Niche or not, I'm in. :D But I will say, although we won't know certain pricing until it's dropped on the shelves, that's a LOT of paper to lay down for anything. I did, however, spring for the P900, and that ain't exactly cheap... I think I can squeeze out another couple hundred. :lol: I can't believe I just said that... :huh: :lol:

[jamisonw]

I have read this phone will be tri-band. That would suck. I am guessing that means 900/1800/1900? What about 850? The new HP 6300 will be QUAD band. I need 850 for AT&T (now cingular). My current phone (Seimens SX56) does not do 850 and barely works in Seattle. I will have to do the Ipaq instead if this doesn't support 850. Does anyone know for sure?

[Janak Parekh]

I have read this phone will be tri-band. That would suck. I am guessing that means 900/1800/1900? What about 850?
I read one report that there will be two versions of the MPx -- one 900/1800/1900 and one 850/1800/1900. I've also heard (from Rich Brome of Phone Scoop) that making a quad-band antenna is very hard, so I'm curious what the quadband phones do.

--janak

[jamisonw]

Although the two different tri band options would be nice, I would be greatly inclined to a quad band phone. I don't want to be married to a provider, which is the problem with all the current devices. A quad band phone that is unlocked would be truly universal and it would give the choice to the consumer to choose their provider without having to be stuck with their hardware. I have a ton of clients would buy on that concept as well. I am anxiously awaiting the answers...

[Janak Parekh]

Although the two different tri band options would be nice, I would be greatly inclined to a quad band phone. I don't want to be married to a provider, which is the problem with all the current devices.
Quadband has nothing to do with provider choice -- it just allows for full roaming. In North America, the 900 and 1800 bands will almost definitely never be used, since they're allocated to the US military. By having quadband, you get the ability of full use in Europe & Asia -- which, mind you, is quite convenient.

--janak

[jamisonw]

If you want total flexibility you need quadband. AT&T uses 850 and 1900. Most triband phones do not include 850, including this Motorola from what I'm told. quadband is the only option that covers everything. 900 is used in the states, 1800 is not, but 1800 is pretty much included with all tri and quad band phones. Go figure. I want all 4 bands because I want choices. I really want to know if Motorola will include it.

[Janak Parekh]

900 is used in the states
Neither 900 nor 1800 are used in the US. I'll bet you significant amounts of money on that. ;) For GSM, only 850 and 1900 are used here.

Like I said in an earlier post, I read somewhere that there will be an 850/1800/1900 version. This has yet to be confirmed, of course, but if it's available it'll give you full network access on both AT&T and Cingular.

--janak

[jamisonw]

I'll take your word for it, but it is amazing the information you can (or cannot) get from the providers themselves. I have spoken with two of them who told me otherwise, and I would give more credibility to someone I have never met who made a post on a website (you) than I would give them. Sad, isn't it? Shouldn't they be the experts? Either way, I just want my d*mn phone to work and it doesn't with AT&T. I guess all I really need is 850 and 1900 then. My phone does 1900 but it is nearly worthless. I borrowed a phone that does both from an AT&T engineer friend and my signal was amazing in the area. I just need a PocketPC phone that does those two frequencies I guess. Do the rest of the GSM providers (sprint, verizon, etc.) use both these frequencies or only AT&T? I know most all of them use 1900, but is everyone adding 850 now?

[Janak Parekh]

Either way, I just want my d*mn phone to work and it doesn't with AT&T. I guess all I really need is 850 and 1900 then. My phone does 1900 but it is nearly worthless.
:( I feel your pain. Yes, indeed, you need an 850/1900 phone to get full AT&T GSM service (and, in particular, not 900MHz). Here (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/finder_results.php?m=s&plr=r&pl_5=y) are the Pocket PC phones that Phone Scoop lists (i.e., those that passed FCC certification). Unfortunately, none of these have GSM 850. Some rumored upcoming PPC Phones (iPAQ 6xxx, a BenQ model, and maybe a US version of the MPx) are what you need to look for. The real problem is it's not clear when exactly these phones will hit the market. If you can't wait, you might want to consider getting a Bluetooth phone and a separate Pocket PC -- here (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/finder_results.php?m=s&car=r&ca_3=y&avr=r&av_2=y&f38r=r) is Phone Scoop's listings on Bluetooth-capable phones available through AT&T (I'd only look at the Nokia 3620, 6820, and the T616, and the latter has gotten pretty good ratings).

Do the rest of the GSM providers (sprint, verizon, etc.) use both these frequencies or only AT&T? I know most all of them use 1900, but is everyone adding 850 now?
The only other GSM providers of note in the US are Cingular and T-Mobile. Of these, Cingular is starting to build out GSM 850 as well -- but they've been smarter, as they've been listing only GSM 850-compatible phones for a while now. T-Mobile is only 1900MHz and has no plans to enter the GSM 850 band.

And as for Sprint and Verizon, they're CDMA. Sprint only uses 1900MHz, while Verizon uses 800MHz and 1900MHz -- but has done so for years, so all their phones support it. Nevertheless, they're not GSM, so their phone lineup is entirely different. (Note I said "800MHz" -- GSM 850 also works in this frequency spectrum, but using a different technology. See this (http://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/term.php?gid=115) for a brief technical discussion on what GSM 850 is.)

--janak

[jamisonw]

Extremely informative. Thank you. Hopefully now that Cingular is buying AT&T and they are using the same frequencies and technologies they will come up with gadgets that utilize their network in the PocketPC arena. I am still anxiously awaiting the iPaq 6300. I have a ton of clients who would buy it if it is what it claims to be. Same with the mpx if it supports 850 and 1900... (US version) I will continue to monitor this website for updates.

[rfischer]

I read that it was indeed SDIO enabled. This sucker's packed, I'm tellin' ya. The only thing it doesn't seem to have is GPS.

Actually with integrated Bluetooth, you could use a BT GPS like a TripNav for example... :-)

[jamisonw]

Is there a PocketPC Phone Edition OR Smartphone on the market right now that does 850 MHz AND 1900MHz? Both Cingular and AT&T use these frequencies, right? As far as I can tell AT&T's devices do not do 850 and Cingular has no MS devices yet. Is this true? I just need a device that works on the AT&T network...

[Janak Parekh]

As my last post indicated, not right now. :( A couple are in the queue, but you'll have to wait... :|

--janak