HTC Building Lightweight Pocket PC Phone

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketpcitalia.com/magician_preview.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketpcitalia.com/magician_preview.asp</a><br /><br /></div>Pocket PC Italia is showing exclusive pictures of a new (prototype?) HTC unit. You can read an English translation <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=mozclient&u=http%3A//www.pocketpcitalia.com/magician_preview.asp">here</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20040902-HTCMagician.jpg" /><br /><br />It certainly has a very sleek, understated look. It is also small, with a 2.9" display, measuring 4.1" x 2.3" x .59", and weighing just 4.5oz. We're talking of a device just a hair heavier than an iPAQ 1910. 8O The unit's specs aren't amazing (400MHz XScale, 64MB of RAM, Bluetooth), but it is also quadband GSM, so I'd love to see this hit North American shores!

[Fishie]

Sweet, and low price too.

[Spiral]

well if it's quadband as long as its unlocked, you can still use one without it actually being available in the us.

[Blue Zero]

Very sweet!

I want one, I've been looking for a PPCPhone lately. Cant wait till the day where I dont need to carry too much stuff around wherever I go.

[100thMonkey]

that's a step back from the MDA III IMHO

[Janak Parekh]

that's a step back from the MDA III IMHO
In several respects, featurewise, but the key is the size. The MDA III is quite a bit larger.

--janak

[klinux]

Nice, almost looks like something Apple would have designed.

[Fishie]

that's a step back from the MDA III IMHO
In several respects, featurewise, but the key is the size. The MDA III is quite a bit larger.

--janak

Not to mention twice the price.

[jeisner]

that's a step back from the MDA III IMHO

HTC didn't make the MDA III

And besides, personally I would prefer the small unit to the keyboard!

[bnycastro]

IMO the smaller size will certainly attract more potential users. Good move for HTC.

IMHO though all PPC PE devices should have atleast a keypad or qwerty thumboard. Stylus use must be minimized on such devices (think Treo 600) for it to be really useful as a phone. Sms, chat, dialing etc. will be easier with a keypad/thumboard. That's why I'm very excited about the MDAIII and MPx designs.

Definitely, size matters but ease of use matters more to me :wink:

[bnycastro]

that's a step back from the MDA III IMHO

HTC didn't make the MDA III

And besides, personally I would prefer the small unit to the keyboard! I think I read somewhere that they did (I think it is at mobile-review and PPCW.net)... the MDAIII is actually the HTC Blue Angel PPC PE design.

[Jeff Song]

IMO the smaller size will certainly attract more potential users. Good move for HTC.

IMHO though all PPC PE devices should have atleast a keypad or qwerty thumboard. Stylus use must be minimized on such devices (think Treo 600) for it to be really useful as a phone. Sms, chat, dialing etc. will be easier with a keypad/thumboard. That's why I'm very excited about the MDAIII and MPx designs.

Definitely, size matters but ease of use matters more to me :wink:

good point. however, many people do want that smaller unit as they can carry it around much easier. I think the size and hopefully cheaper price will attract more people, allowing the PPCPE platform to grow.

[jimski]

that's a step back from the MDA III IMHO
In several respects, featurewise, but the key is the size. The MDA III is quite a bit larger.

--janak

OK, but dosen't that make it a bit impractical to use as a PPC. Maybe OK for looking up a phone number or writing an SMS message but how about using it with a Bluetooth keyboard (maybe some day at least) to take meeting notes, or to read e-books or what about that valuable real estate on a teeny 2.9" Today screen.

Don't want to start a one device vs. two device debate here, as I realize that everyone uses their devices differently and I respect that. But I use my PPC for a lot more than looking up numbers or IM'ing people (although I do that too). I need my PPC to be robust with lots of screen real estate and plently of memory and battery power.

Instead of making a small inefective PPC (IMHO) that is still a somewhat large and a bit hard to use phone, let's try this one. Give me my small phone AND my full size, GSM enabled, PPC and allow both of them to work with the same number, with a single contract, without having to change my SIM card. While changing the SIM is not that difficult it's still not that simple. I want to choose which device I want to use at a moments notice. When my phone is turned off, the PPC answers, when turned on the PPC remains silent, but can still make outbound calls.

True flexibility for everyone.

[Arne Hess]

I think I read somewhere that they did (I think it is at mobile-review and PPCW.net)... the MDAIII is actually the HTC Blue Angel PPC PE design.
Yep, it's HTC and I wonder where it comes from that the MDA III isn't from HTC?
All "non-believers" should check the FCC approval... ;-)

[Delta737]

Is it just me, or does that keypad looks alot like that of the Palm Tungsten T3.

[maximus]

Other than the ipaq 6300, all other PPCPEs are made by HTC.
Why noone wants to make a PPCPE ?

[Rudolf]

Other than the ipaq 6300, all other PPCPEs are made by HTC.
Why noone wants to make a PPCPE ?
Except: Motorola, Samsung, ASUS and E-ten ? :lol:

[whydidnt]

This looks more like the type of PPCPE device I could carry. Size is extremely important for my phone, which is why I abandonded my original XDA.

However, If I compare "smaller" designed PPCPE devices, I think the MPx smacks this thing around like a two bit.....

If they could figure a way to get a flip out or slider keyboard and keep the size close to this that would be a winning design. The smaller screen doesn't bother me in the least.

[TheZodiac]

Anyone notice the pad looks kinda like the one on the Tungsten T3?

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20040902-HTCMagician.jpg http://www.agito.pl/images/Palm_Tungsten_T3_D.jpg

Neato.

[Scott R]

Actually, the center button looks like the Zire 72's and the buttons around the button look exactly like the Zire's. Are these guys sure that this is a new PPC and not some new palmOne device? Or perhaps HTC was the manufacturer behind these palmOne models. If the latter, I would think that palmOne would own the rights to these specific design traits.

Scott

[Birdman]

At 64mb RAM, BT, and SDIO, this thing may be a step back from the MDA III but it kicks butt all over my current XDA I that I still use.
Bring it on.

[Darren Behan]

Have to say I'm undecided. I was one of the biggest complainers that the 19XX form factor seemed dead. Not that it looks like they're doing something like it, somehow I feel underwhelmed. I think I'm staying with the XDA III.

db

[bnycastro]

I too would not mind a smaller screen as long as there is a dedicated hardware input system. Also hoping for an MDAIII or MPx or a VGA PPC (will have to see what all the fuss is about first... and of course save money hehe)!!!

BTW is that a digicam lens on the back with a self portrait mirror??? If so any news on the resolution of the camera? :mrgreen: now I don't want to go into a debate on camera vs. no camera devices just askin if anybody else noticed it... the translated site had no mention of a camera (I think).

[Rudolf]

the translated site had no mention of a camera (I think).

- Integrated Room 640 x 480 :lol:

what was Itegrated Camera 640 x 480 in the original text.

[100thMonkey]

IMO the smaller size will certainly attract more potential users. Good move for HTC.



good point. however, many people do want that smaller unit as they can carry it around much easier. I think the size and hopefully cheaper price will attract more people, allowing the PPCPE platform to grow.

These are very good points. A smaller unit will definately add to competition with UIQ and Palm units. Definately an excellent marketing move to gain position.

[dMores]

Nice, almost looks like something Apple would have designed.
i don't think so, it would have to be white and be called something with "i".
"iMate" perhaps ?

;)

i think apple's not in the smartphone business because they can't make iSync work properly with current smartphones. so maybe they even have a smartphone in their workshop and are just waiting for the iSync programmers to get their acts together.

:twisted:

i think it looks cool, though. lighter and smaller, definately what the smartphone segment needed.

*rant* of course, sonyericsson already did this with their p900 smartphone :) */rant*

[Dolphin]

130 grams = 4.6 oz. This is how much my new iPaq 4155 weighs... its got my vote! I think this is the smallest and lightest PPC phone to date... am I right?

Still waiting for the Mpx...