World Of PPC Previews HP's iPAQ hw6500

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://worldofppc.com/HWTests/hw6500.htm' target='_blank'>http://worldofppc.com/HWTests/hw6500.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"After the various PDAs with integrated telephone, abgekuendigten before introduction on the market, and the successful ready for the market one iPAQ 6340 gets ready to HEWLETT PACKARD now to bring in the summer 2005 a further pocket PC Phone edition equipment on the market. PDA the called 'mobile measuringclose' brings some at characteristics with itself, a prototype was allowed to our Vorabtest to place itself"</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20050509-WorldOfPPChw6500.jpg" /><br /><br />Okay, so it's a poor translation (<a href="http://216.239.39.104/translate_c?u=http://worldofppc.com/HWTests/hw6500.htm">available here</a>) from German. ;) Still, this is one of the only detailed previews of the hw6500 I've seen, so you might want to check it out.

[seaflipper]

Nice find. That translation link didn't work, try this one if you are having trouble with it:

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fworldofppc.com%2FHWTests%2Fhw6500.htm&amp;langpair=de%7Cen&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8&amp;prev=%2Flanguage_tools

[Mr. PPC]

"lack of Bluetooth"

If it doesn't have Bluetooth then forget this as a phone.

[WorldofPPC]

"lack of Bluetooth"

If it doesn't have Bluetooth then forget this as a phone.
... which is a problem of the translation. The correct sentence would be "it has Bluetooth, it lacks WiFi". BT is very stable (tested with several handsfree kits) and it already has the High Quality Audio Profile integrated (which e.g. is used by the HP BT Stereo Headphones).

Cheers,

[Mr. PPC]

That's good to hear. Would have liked having WiFi, but Bluetooth to me is more important (car kits etc.)

[kanzlr]

hey there. i know the translation isnt perfect. but i tried at least :)
here we go:


After some cancelled PDAs with integrated phone, and the successfull introduction of the iPAQ 6340, HP brings another Phone Edition to market in summer 2005. The "Mobile Messenger" has some special features wich are discussed in our preview:

For messaging, its important to have an integrated keyboard. HP already managed this successfully with the iPAQ 4350. To achieve a better form factor, HP used a feature of WM2003SE: native support for resolutions other than 240x320. Now the hw6500 is the first PDA to market that features a so called "square screen" with "just" 240x240. The gained space (and the fact that the display only measures 3") led to the fact, that the Mobile Messenger is so inconspicuously. Talking "TREO" here. It describes the visual impression best. In practical use, one minds the missing pixels always when much information is displayed, like the today screen, the calendar, etc. A fact you have to get used to.

With 64MB RAM (of wich 58MB is user accessible) and a free ROM (iPAQ File Store) of 8MB, the 312MHz Intel PXA-272 the hw6500 is no power-PDA, but that wasnt HPs goal anyway. They wanted to create a small, compact device with a focus on communication. A goal HP obviously achieved. As always with HP, the keyboard has rather thick keys with a nice feeling to the touch. After a short period one types fast and securely. And its way better than the one featured with HTC Blue Angel devices. SMS, MMS, Email are all written quickly and the auto-configuration of the device, that uses the info from your SIM-card for setting up a data connection adds to the ease of use.

Another feature not seen before: as addition to the SDIO slot you have another one for miniSD cards, like often used in Smartphones. That way you are able to quickly exchange data between devices and use your SD-slot for applications and the miniSD for data. Thats handy, because the Mobile Messenger has many merits, but also one important feature lacking: bluetooth is integrated, but WiFi isnt. so you have to buy a SD-WiFi-card if you want to go wireless without using GPRS or CSD.

The really exciting feature is its integrated AGPS. All available PDAss with integrated satelite receiver stand out due to their retractable or fixed antennas. The hw6500 features an integrated antenna thats invisible. And more: if available, the receiption gets even better due to additional data beeing provided by the carrier. they add cell-information to support the service for a quicker fix and a more robust receiption - therefor: "Assisted GPS".

During our preview, the GPS-receiption with TomTom Navigator and its GPS-Engine worked flawlessly, no different to an external GPS.
And finally, HP integrated a digital camera with 1.3 megapixels thats assisted by a bright LED. Due to the increasing enterprise demand for camaraless phones (to protect against industrial espionage), the hw6500 will be available camara-less also.

Our preview-device is not for release, so all statements about stability, performance and battary-life are preliminary. Positiv, anyway: Even now the battary works for 2 days on a charge and follows the 6340 example here. All in all, the impression is positiv: The device has everything one would need on the go. if you want to use a WiFi hotspot, go and get your WiFi-SD-card (the Socket card worked flawlessly). Compared to the MDAIII, the hw6500 is small and handy. Its yet to be seen how the square screen works out over time, and if all applications that were adapted for WM2003SE also take care of the screen, so we wont see ugly scrollbars everywhere.

PRICE: not yet decided, will be released summer 2005
CONCLUSION: Because of the performance and sice it will definitly find its place amont the Phone Edition devices!

[surur]

Thank you for the very detailed translation. It must have taken you ages. I think with the new low profile WIFI SD cards this might just be a usable phone device, especially since you can expand memory using the other slot.

http://www.spectec.com.tw/images/sdw-820-3b.jpg

Surur

[jerboa]

Thank you for the very detailed translation. It must have taken you ages. I think with the new low profile WIFI SD cards this might just be a usable phone device, especially since you can expand memory using the other slot.

I was thinking the same thing - The only potential problem is that the SD slot is on the side. If the WiFI SD card protrudes, it might be uncomfortable to hold and use the iPAQ.

[bugsy]

Also, don't forget that the followon to this device, the 6700, is supposed to eliminate the SD slot and integrate WiFi into the device while leaving the miniSD for memory expansion

[TheZodiac]

Translated from English:

...and, so in conclusion, this item is poopoo..."

[stevelam]

Also, don't forget that the followon to this device, the 6700, is supposed to eliminate the SD slot and integrate WiFi into the device while leaving the miniSD for memory expansion

Any specs for this device?

[WorldofPPC]

I was thinking the same thing - The only potential problem is that the SD slot is on the side. If the WiFI SD card protrudes, it might be uncomfortable to hold and use the iPAQ.
I used the Sandisk SD-WLAN with the device (which is quite long) and noticed that being a righthanded person (and thus holding the iPAQ with my left hand), this is no problem at all. More problematic vice versa...

[MitchellO]

I love the idea of this device. The builtin keyboard makes it a definate contender with the Treo. Plus TWO expansion slots and GPS!! The other version, the 6700, would be better if it was WiFi and SD, not WiFi and MiniSD, but it is still good none the less.

I am still waiting for my Mini to come back (speaker died), and miss being connected :cry: :cry: :cry: Just wish You could get a thumboard for it.