Ya Hsin's B221: Smartphone or Pocket PC Phone?

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.yahsin.com/english/03_products/06_3_products_detail.php?ID=2' target='_blank'>http://www.yahsin.com/english/03_pr...detail.php?ID=2</a><br /><br /></div>This device, while lacking in detailed pictures, has some interesting specs, and an even more interesting conundrum: what kind of device is it?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20041114-YaHsinB221.jpg" /><br /><br />Note that the device claims to have a "touch screen" and "full Pocket PC(PDA) features", but it's also listed as running "Microsoft Smartphone 2003", which I can assure you is neither (seeing as I have one in my pocket ;))... and that picture does nothing to help disambiguate. So, I'll leave it to our brilliant investigative readers -- what do you think?

[Andy Whiteford]

Just to add to the confusion, the resolution is 240x320 which suggests Pocket PC however the software does not mention Pocket Word or Excel which suggests Smartphone!
If this is a small phone based on Pocket PC then you can sign me up for one! ;)

[JvanEkris]

Just to add to the confusion, the resolution is 240x320 which suggests Pocket PC however the software does not mention Pocket Word or Excel which suggests Smartphone!
If this is a small phone based on Pocket PC then you can sign me up for one! ;)It does sayMS Office applicationsWhich sounds a lot like saying Word and Excel.

I think it is a Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition device. AFAIK, The screensize and the fact it is touch-sensitive are capabilities beyond those of Windows Smartphone.

Jaap

[Andy Whiteford]

Just to add to the confusion, the resolution is 240x320 which suggests Pocket PC however the software does not mention Pocket Word or Excel which suggests Smartphone!
If this is a small phone based on Pocket PC then you can sign me up for one! ;)It does sayMS Office applicationsWhich sounds a lot like saying Word and Excel.

I think it is a Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition device. AFAIK, The screensize and the fact it is touch-sensitive are capabilities beyond those of Windows Smartphone.

Jaap



If you download the specification sheet it lists the included software as the usual suite such as Inbox, contacts, Messenger, Notes and Internet etc. but no mention of Word or Excel. I do agree though that it does sounds like it is based on the Pocket PC platform - the information listed just appears to be incomplete or slightly inaccurate to some degree.

[JvanEkris]

I did not get that far :) Conclusion could be that they either are a bit sloppy when it comes to specs, which never is a good thing accurate with the specs and rebuild a large deal of the PocketPC OS into the Smartphone OS, which blows your software compatibility with these platforms right out the window?

Jaap

[Ryan Joseph]

This thing looks fascinating! It's only got a 2.2" screen, but has SD (SDIO, I wonder?), tri-band GSM, camera with flash, MS Office Applications, and a 1050 mAh battery. Very nice.

But there's also this interesting line:


Input Type:
Touch Panel Interface (Writing Recognition Input)

What does this mean? Does it mean a non-touch screen (like a smartphone) with a seperate area for writing recognition? That would be a bummer.

Anyway, it looks really cool...I eagerly anticipate more details! :mrgreen:

[powder2000]

My money is on it being a smartphone. Just looks like one.

[Janak Parekh]

only got a 2.2" screen
And 2.2" seems awfully small for a Pocket PC Phone. Could you even tap on that thing meaningfully?

What does this mean? Does it mean a non-touch screen (like a smartphone) with a seperate area for writing recognition? That would be a bummer.
I'm wondering exactly that. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

--janak

[Ryan Joseph]

Could you even tap on that thing meaningfully?

I probably could, but then I'm young and have good eyes. :mrgreen:

[Andy Whiteford]

I did not get that far :) Conclusion could be that they either are a bit sloppy when it comes to specs, which never is a good thing accurate with the specs and rebuild a large deal of the PocketPC OS into the Smartphone OS, which blows your software compatibility with these platforms right out the window?

Jaap


I think it is safe to say that it won't be the second point!
The screen does seem a bit too small to make a touch screen interface at QVGA resolution very meaningful but then if it is then I'll reserve judgement.

[Darius Wey]

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Okay everyone... I am getting in contact with the manufacturers as we speak, so I'll keep you all informed on *what* this device is and hopefully get some clarification on the feature set of this device. Stay tuned! :D

[Ryan Joseph]

I am getting in contact with the manufacturers as we speak...

And if anyone can track down classified information, it's you Darius. :mrgreen:

[yanathin]

My Sony Ericsson S700i has a 2.2" QVGA screen, and even though it isn't touch screen or doesn't run Windows Mobile, it would still be perfectly touchable if it did. Running a VGA Pocket PC using se_VGA would still be slightly harder to touch accurately, as there are less pixels per inch on a 2.2" QVGA.

[Darius Wey]

And if anyone can track down classified information, it's you Darius. :mrgreen:

:worried: *Special Agent Darius Reporting for Duty* 8)

Well, it's 12AM in Taiwan at the moment, so if I'm going to hear anything, it'll be a bit of a wait. :P

[Andy Whiteford]

And if anyone can track down classified information, it's you Darius. :mrgreen:

:worried: *Special Agent Darius Reporting for Duty* 8)

Well, it's 12AM in Taiwan at the moment, so if I'm going to hear anything, it'll be a bit of a wait. :P


They do have a US office as well you know! ;)
Actually I emailed them earlier today but not in any rush for the information, more just out of curiosity so I'm sure more will be posted as its known. It would be great to have a true small phone running Pocket PC although the lack or Bluetooth and Wifi would mean me keeping my h4150 for the time being.

[Darius Wey]

They do have a US office as well you know! ;)

Mmm... That's just the sales office though - I want the big HQ! :D

Actually, if I don't hear from them in a few days, I'll just call them. It's so cheap for me to call Asia. 8)

[Sven Johannsen]

I think by definition it's a PPC Phone edition. A Smartphone (MS version as opposed to smart phone or smartphone, the press version, which often includes Treos and such) does not have a touch screen or the OS bits to support it. No-one says you have to include or remove any particular application to make it one or the other. To me it's the UI that defines it.

But then, it says touch panel, not touch screen, so who knows what that means. After all the 4700 has a touch panel under the display.

[carphead]

Wince.net looks a winner to me. ;)

[R K]

Just to add to the confusion, the resolution is 240x320 which suggests Pocket PC however the software does not mention Pocket Word or Excel which suggests Smartphone!

Actually, WM2003SE for Smartphone does include support for 240x320 screens.

[Fishie]

only got a 2.2" screen
And 2.2" seems awfully small for a Pocket PC Phone. Could you even tap on that thing meaningfully?

What does this mean? Does it mean a non-touch screen (like a smartphone) with a seperate area for writing recognition? That would be a bummer.
I'm wondering exactly that. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

--janak

Sure you can, screen of the Treo isnt that much bigger.

[Dolphin]

I can hardly wait to see the specs on this! I might have to dump my Audiovox SMT5600 Semi Smart Phone. :wink:

A small PPC phone would be very nice!

[Andy Whiteford]

Just to add to the confusion, the resolution is 240x320 which suggests Pocket PC however the software does not mention Pocket Word or Excel which suggests Smartphone!

Actually, WM2003SE for Smartphone does include support for 240x320 screens.


There was no mention of Second Edition though, hence the confusion.

[sofene]

What's the take here? Any news yet?

[Darius Wey]

What's the take here? Any news yet?

Not yet - I'm still waiting for the company to get in contact with me. ;)