And Even More Pictures of HP's hw6500 Mobile Messenger!

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/smartphones/hp/more-pictures-of-upcoming-hp-ipaq-hw6500-100448.php' target='_blank'>http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/smar...6500-100448.php</a><br /><br /></div><i>"An anonymous source sent us these nice pictures of the upcoming HP iPaq hw/hx6500, the new Windows Mobile phone with a built-in GPS unit (purportedly using an 'indoor' version of a GPS chipset built by Global Locate). There had been some debate as to whether the new iPaq phones would have a backlit keyboard, but as you can clearly see from the pictures, it does. I'm ready to make my jump to Windows Mobile, so I can't wait for these to launch (although I still think I'm going to wait until the model with Wi-Fi launches before taking the plunge)."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050422-hw6500.jpg" /><br /><br />Gizmodo have a handful of hw6500 pictures and the one that caught my eye was the one I've included in this post. I'll openly admit that I love anything that's coloured in neon blue, and this is no exception. :drool:

[ctmagnus]

A 240x240 resolution screen just screams for plugins like PocketBreeze and Spb Pocket Plus, with their multi-tab interfaces.

[seaflipper]

That backlit keyboard adds a lot of use to that....and it looks like it's not nearly as flashlight bright like the Treo650, which is good

[BTS]

It looks like a pretty good unit from this standpoint. The square screen poses questions about whether or not all software will work with the device, but I must say that appreciate that they are trying to keep the device small. I have a Tungsten W with a square screen and it would be a good phone except for the fact that you need an earbud to talk on it. Otherwise, the form factor has been pretty good. This iPaq reminds me, at least shapewise, of a "W".

[gorkon280]

As a owner of the 4355, I was never in doubt that it was not backlit. The type of backlighting it uses makes it LOOK like there's no backlight in the daylight pictures. It's actually quite nice. I can't wait to see this in person.

[Foo Fighter]

Do we know the dimensions of this thing? I'm curious to know how big it is compared to the Treo 650.

[Gex]

About the same size as the current IPAQ on T-Mobile.

[Darius Wey]

Do we know the dimensions of this thing? I'm curious to know how big it is compared to the Treo 650.

The hw6500 is 118.0mm (L) x 71.0mm (W) x 21.0mm (D), and weighs 165g. Compare this with the Treo 650 which is 113.0mm (L) x 59.0mm (W) x 23.0mm (D) at 178g. At least the hw6500 has no antenna bulk. :)

[Kowalski]

240x240 resolution ?!?! we are living in the year 2005!
come on HP, you can do better than that
i am pretty sure that most of the programs hard coded to work with 320x240 resolution will be far from usable

[IpaqMan2]

Anyone who uses the 4350 or 4355 should of had no doubt that HP's new model had a backlit keyboard. It literaly looks like the same keyboard on those models.

Still ... I would of loved to see this with a just a tad bit better resolution than 240 by 240. Because of that one aspect many people wont see this as a "treo 650" killer or replacement. When are use to a good resolution, it's hard to go to something less.

[van_mierlo]

Having had this model in my hand it is a step back for me with the hx4700. The small screen and the pixels visable again. The typing is getting used to, a blackberry works still faster. It's biggest loss is no Wifi, but the next version will include the Wifi.

[digital843]

:( It was supposed tol be released in April. Now I hear it has been set back to the third quarter.

[Ryan Joseph]

I'm still upset I had to give up my i-mate...I'm dying to have a Phone Edition device again. And I think this will be the one. It's just so beautiful and the keyboard would be awesome for text messaging and mobile email. The small screen doesn't bother me because I'm not a big gamer anyway. I can't wait for this thing!

And now...*cringe*...do we have a guess at price?

[Robert Levy]

It looks like a pretty good unit from this standpoint. The square screen poses questions about whether or not all software will work with the device

Dialog-based applications work fine (we automatically add a scrollbar to them). Many games will need to be updated though. Coincidentally, we just published a whitepaper on that topic... see http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2005/04/22/410895.aspx

-Robert Levy
Program Manager, Windows Mobile Application Compatibility