Dlmag.com Reviews the TORQ P120 (E-TEN M600)

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dlmag.com/news/55/02-14-2006/624-dl-product-review-torq-p120.html' target='_blank'>http://www.dlmag.com/news/55/02-14-...-torq-p120.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"As a new entry in the competitive smartphone market the TORQ P120 offers a lot of capability in a compact, attractive package. Integrating the functions of a PDA, GSM/GPRS network phone, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, and a 1.3 megapixel camera, the P120 elegantly covers all the bases for the mobile professional. The P120 builds on the features of its predecessor the P100 model. With a style change from silver to a cool black case, and the addition of 802.11b wireless networking the P120 is a much more capable portable device. This plus the incorporation of the Windows Mobile 5 OS vastly improves functionality."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060216-TORQP120.jpg" /><br /><br />Dlmag.com has posted a combined written-video review of the TORQ P120 (a re-branded version of the E-TEN M600 that I <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,44578:dont_paginate,1">reviewed</a> last November). It's a solid device that is definitely worthy of consideration for anyone wanting to purchase a new Pocket PC Phone Edition.

[ricksfiona]

As soon as I can get one for under $500, I'm there!

[macattack]

Tomorrow, I will have had my P120 for two weeks. It is easily the best, most well-rounded device I've ever owned. And I've owned many, many PDAs over the last 10 years.

Actually, I'm posting with it right now.

The only complaint I have so far is that the max ring volume is not nearly high enough, and the vibrate is not strong enough. I often miss calls in loud environments.

[jalex]

I too own one of these guys and it really does rock the house when it's working. I owned two P100's prior to my P120; the screen died on the first one and both suffered from the now infamous STD (sleep 'till death) syndrome (taking up a large proportion of the posts on the E-TEN Forums site). Hence my upgrade to the P120. Major props go out to David at Mad Monkey Boy Gadgets for taking such good (and patient) care of me -- a true testiment to the very definition of the phrase "excellent customer service".

Unfortunately, this device also suffers STD's on a more-than-daily basis. Rather than demand you visit the E-TEN forums I'll provide a little background here: when the device is idle, i.e. the screen is off but it should respond to calls just like any other phone (kinda snoozing more than sleeping I guess) it will die. I define death as no response to my pressing the power button (or any other hardware buttons) on the device. The only recourse is to soft reset or, in the extreme cases that make up about 85% of the time, a hard reset -- yes, a hard reset. Now you can see why this was so bad on the P100's (running Pocket PC 2003) as this would wipe the device of all data. Yes, I could restore from a backup I'd make automatically at 5am every morning to the SD card, but there are some serious drawbacks to that.

Now, though, on the P120 (running Windows Mobile 5) a hard reset doesn't cost as much as no data is lost. I DO still suffer the major inconvenience of the phone having been unavailable for who-only-knows-how-long and the minor inconvenience of resetting it (it will then be out of commission for the next 100-200 seconds) usually when I've reached for the device to make a call right there-and-then (not right there and in two/three minutes time).

Additionally, the Activesync-by-Bluetooth functionality is badly handicapped. In order to provide this, one must first create the partnership between (one must "pair") the phone and laptop. This is fine and works great, but on subsequent attempts to synchronize, I'm supposed to be able to pick a menu item from within Activesync and simply sync there-and-then. Unfortunately, that menu item never materializes and I have to go through the pairing process on every subsequent occasion that I want to synchronize my devices again. Not much fun at all, as well you can imagine.

Anyways, as I said at the beginning of this post, when the device IS working, it really works fantastically. Now, with WiFi as well, I am so set for all my connection needs. The built-in camera is fun (and, after all, that's all it's supposed to be) and emailing and texting work great. I find the ring volume to be adequate for my needs but the vibrate a little too soft too. I'm still working my way through various BT headsets to find the best one for me. Listening to music (and even watching the odd TV show/movie) while on my many plane rides is unbeatable. The screen is incredible and (at twice as bright as the P100) is more than bright enough for indoor use at the very minimum setting (I haven't tried it outdoors yet). With all this and a responsive CPU, I have never even reached a 50% level on remaining battery life, as the battery life is just excellent too.

So, in summation? An excellent device that, if you can live with its faults, is truly unbeatable. If it suits your needs, just buy it, you won't regret your decision.

[Darius Wey]

Unfortunately, this device also suffers STD's on a more-than-daily basis. Rather than demand you visit the E-TEN forums I'll provide a little background here: when the device is idle, i.e. the screen is off but it should respond to calls just like any other phone (kinda snoozing more than sleeping I guess) it will die.

I suggest you update your ROM to the latest version (i.e. 0171). It includes a fix for the STD issue.

You can download it from here: http://update.eten.ch/

Edit: Oh, wait, you have the P120. Unfortunately, a TORQ version of the E-TEN 0171 ROM doesn't exist for it yet, but you can apply the latest TORQ 0170B ROM and apply the STD patch which exists on the site I linked to above.

[jalex]

Thanks Darius, but I've tried such an update before. The updates for the E-TEN M500 will not work on a TORQ P100 (and the E-TEN forums state the same is true for the M600:P120).

In fact, that's the one thing Mad Monkey Boy (or his hardware contact at Sound Solutions) wasn't able to help me with; they never could find me a ROM update for my TORQ device. The TORQ web site (as installed in PIE on the device itself, by default) points to a single static page that hasn't changed at all in the months I've been grappling with the STD issue. I don't know who else to turn to for such support.

Thanks for trying though.

[Darius Wey]

Thanks Darius, but I've tried such an update before. The updates for the E-TEN M500 will not work on a TORQ P100 (and the E-TEN forums state the same is true for the M600:P120).

Cross-company ROM updates will not work, but the STD patch is a generic one (a quick-patch) and should work on your P120. Of course, I've not tested it on the P120 since I have the M600, so I trust your opinion.

[jalex]

Darius, I'm not sure if I didn't read your previous post in its entirety or if you edited it right after I got done reading it the first time, but I'm on the support FTP site right now trying to find the STD patch. I'm DEFINITELY going to give it a try ... if I can find it. I'll keep you posted...

[Darius Wey]

Darius, I'm not sure if I didn't read your previous post in its entirety or if you edited it right after I got done reading it the first time...

Yep, I edited while you were reading it for the first time. After submitting that post, I remembered that you had the P120, so I thought I'd clarify the deal with E-TEN and TORQ ROM updates. :)

but I'm on the support FTP stie right now trying to find the STD patch. I'm DEFINITELY going to give it a try ... if I can find it. I'll keep you posted...

If it helps, it's at http://update.eten.ch/ in this directory path: \Downloads\Updates\M600\Patch for OS 0170\Patch for Backlight. There is a file called DisableSyncSchedule.cpf. Download it and run it on your device. You should receive a message in your Inbox notifying you that the patch was successfully applied.

[jalex]

Well, I found it in /Download/Updates/M600/Patch for OS 0170/Patch for Backlight. Translating the ReadMe file (using Google) from French to English revealed that it's simply a backlight issue -- that it won't turn back on, thus rendering the device useless.

I've applied the patch. I did a soft reset (just in case) and will report back here if-and-when I either get another STD or if (after a week or two) I don't.

Thank you for your help and if this really does work I'll be posting this solution on the E-TEN forums and will make a LOT of people very happy.

[jalex]

Checked email at dinner (with the wife's permission) and get home to find STD strikes again. :(

So, hard reset and we'll see how we go from here...

[macattack]

Unfortunately, this device also suffers STD's on a more-than-daily basis. Rather than demand you visit the E-TEN forums I'll provide a little background here...

I spent quite a bit of time on the E-Ten forums long before I bought my P120. I read quite a bit about the STD issue before I bought it, and it almost kept me from pulling the trigger. Like so many others, I also had a fantastic purchase experience from Mad Monkey Boy.

From what I read, it sounded like the STD issue was SD card issue. I have never had a handheld with 80 MB of available storage space before, and I'm not a big mobile gamer, so I have only used an SD card for tranferal of files from my old iPAQ to my new P120. I have yet to experience the STD issue. I know that not utilizing SD cards is not a viable option, however, for many others.

Does anyone have any insight as to whether this is a E-Ten M600/Torq P120 issue or more of a WM 5.0 issue? It seems that I've read elsewhere about similar problems with other WM 5.0 machines.

David Weiniger, if you're watching this forum, can you give any insight as to when/if Torq will begin supplying ROM upgrades to US users?

[Darius Wey]

Does anyone have any insight as to whether this is a E-Ten M600/Torq P120 issue or more of a WM 5.0 issue? It seems that I've read elsewhere about similar problems with other WM 5.0 machines.

It's not really a standalone M600/P120 issue. STD has been reproduced on a small group of other Windows Mobile 5.0-based devices before (e.g. iPAQ rx1950) and it's directly related to the presence of a storage card in the device.

I wish I had another solution for jalex, but it looks like it's up to TORQ to release a new ROM for him. I was hoping that the generic STD patch would work, but I guess it hasn't. :(

[macattack]

I wish I had another solution for jalex, but it looks like it's up to TORQ to release a new ROM for him. I was hoping that the generic STD patch would work, but I guess it hasn't. :(

MikeWChandler has a post on the E-Ten users forums that states that its at least partially realated to ActiveSync attempting to automatically sync.He says that running this "DisableSyncSchedule.cpf" file will stop the STD issue. Any insights here?

Here's a link to the post page: http://www.eten-users.net/index.php?showtopic=1186&amp;st=15

It's about 3/4 of the way down. Hope it can help someone.

[Darius Wey]

MikeWChandler has a post on the E-Ten users forums that states that its at least partially realated to ActiveSync attempting to automatically sync.He says that running this "DisableSyncSchedule.cpf" file will stop the STD issue. Any insights here?

Here's a link to the post page: http://www.eten-users.net/index.php?showtopic=1186&amp;st=15

Well, that (DisableSyncSchedule.cpf) is the STD patch I was referring to earlier. It can be applied successfully to the M600 with ROM 0170, or you can go straight for ROM 0171 which has the STD patch included within it.

If you read the earlier posts, you'll see that the patch still doesn't work 100% on the TORQ P120, and no E-TEN ROMs can be used either, which is unfortunate.

[eddiefong]

HI, I'm new here But I do own a TORQ P120 which I've been havin some trouble with. I've been reading all the discussion but I'm still a little in the dark about whether the problems will be solved.

I have tried the DisableSyncSchedule.cpf but the Torq gave me an unsuccessful installation message.

My bigger problem is that once I turn the GSM off, I cannot reconnect back to the network. No matter how it searches, it cannot find the network. I have to do a soft reset to get it reconnected automatically. Of course, I'm begiinig to be an expert at quickly doing up all the settings again once you reset the PDA. Just very annoying! I'm wondering if this problem is part of this whole problem?
ANy solution that works is welcomed.
eddie

[Darius Wey]

HI, I'm new here But I do own a TORQ P120 which I've been havin some trouble with. I've been reading all the discussion but I'm still a little in the dark about whether the problems will be solved.

I have tried the DisableSyncSchedule.cpf but the Torq gave me an unsuccessful installation message.

It appears that DisableSyncSchedule.cpf has been locked to function on E-TEN devices only, so you can't use that to fix the "sleep to death" issue on your P120.

However, I have heard that TORQ will be issuing an appropriate ROM update in the coming days, so keep your eyes on TORQ's web site for more information.

My bigger problem is that once I turn the GSM off, I cannot reconnect back to the network. No matter how it searches, it cannot find the network. I have to do a soft reset to get it reconnected automatically. Of course, I'm begiinig to be an expert at quickly doing up all the settings again once you reset the PDA. Just very annoying! I'm wondering if this problem is part of this whole problem?
ANy solution that works is welcomed.

I've never heard of this problem, but then again, I have an M600, not a P120. The M600, for the most part, is flawless.

As I mentioned earlier, check for a TORQ update in the coming days, and that might resolve your GSM issue.

[eddiefong]

I've never heard of this problem, but then again, I have an M600, not a P120. The M600, for the most part, is flawless.

As I mentioned earlier, check for a TORQ update in the coming days, and that might resolve your GSM issue

ANyone else out there who has a problem reconnecting with their GSM network once it is turned off? Keen to know if i'm alone on this one. :(

[macattack]

ANyone else out there who has a problem reconnecting with their GSM network once it is turned off? Keen to know if i'm alone on this one. :(

I've had an issue with it taking a long time for the GSM unit to identify at the antenna icon that I have a signal, even when I do. Usually after turning GSM back on, I go to the "Network" tab under the phone settings and press the "Find Network" button. This always registers the network almost immediately (if there's a network to be found, of course).

The other problem I have had (very rarely) is that the phone will give the "phone not ready...please wait 15 seconds" message after a reset. This only seems to happen if I've left the GSM unit on before resetting. The quick fix for this is to turn flight mode on, wait several seconds, and then turn flight mode back off.

Hope this helps.

[Hagow]

I have the M600 for like 3 weeks now running ROM 0175 without any problems whatsoever.

I do think it is the perfect convergence device!

[eddiefong]

I seem to have found a solution to the problems of the GSM not connecting and the STD problems with the Torq P120.
I have installed ''battery Pack 2003'and it seems to have rectified all the problems. Even though it was not meant for Win 5.0. i don't know if there is any rationale behind it but now the GSM is reconnecting and no STD problems. worth giving it a go! :lol:

[jwilkie]

HI, I'm new here But I do own a TORQ P120 which I've been havin some trouble with. I've been reading all the discussion but I'm still a little in the dark about whether the problems will be solved.

I have tried the DisableSyncSchedule.cpf but the Torq gave me an unsuccessful installation message.

My bigger problem is that once I turn the GSM off, I cannot reconnect back to the network. No matter how it searches, it cannot find the network. I have to do a soft reset to get it reconnected automatically. Of course, I'm begiinig to be an expert at quickly doing up all the settings again once you reset the PDA. Just very annoying! I'm wondering if this problem is part of this whole problem?
ANy solution that works is welcomed.
eddie

I have a similar problem with my Torq. I have to reset to the default settings to get reception again. I can't do a standard soft reset, I have to choose the default settings and thus lose all data. I have tried a lot of optionswith no success. Not real happy with the device.