VGA Lovers Rejoice: The Successor to the Universal is Coming!

[Nurhisham Hussein]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=245564' target='_blank'>http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=245564</a><br /><br /></div><i>"After the slew of recent device announcements... HTC is now busily prepping the follow up to it's 'mini-laptop' form factor HTC Universal, better know as the SPV M5000, i-mate JASJAR, T-Mobile MDA Pro, O2 XDA Exec, etc. The follow up to the Universal, codenamed the 'HTC Omni', is set to offer a similar design, VGA support once again, and boosted connectivity with HSDPA support."</i><br /><br />One of the things that's stopping me from getting a WM5.0 device is the lack of choices for VGA devices - it's the Universal (too big), the Sharp Wilcomm (Japanese), or the Sharp Zaurus (not even WM5.0). There's always the Dell x51v but it doesn't offer much of an upgrade over my present PDA. Now another potential contender is on the way from HTC themselves - a replacement for the Universal that offers just enough extras to get me excited again. Featuring a processor from Samsung, more hardware buttons, HSDPA, a size smaller than the Universal, and potentially VGA out, the Omni is due to be delivered in late '06/early '07. Here's wishing it has an SDIO slot too. :wink:

[Menneisyys]

VGA output? Does this mean it will have a 2700G GPU, or just something worse (for example, ATI ImageOn?) It'd be GREAT!

I also hope it'll already offer seamless conversation recording-capable hardware, unlike all the HTC models released so far.

The other stuff (more hardware buttons, HSDPA) seem to be cool, but why there is no external LCD to, at least, display the caller's number/name? The Universal is so less usable than the Wizard or other, non-mini-laptop PPC PE devices when not used with an advanced BT headset...

[Nurhisham Hussein]

VGA output? Does this mean it will have a 2700G GPU, or just something worse (for example, ATI ImageOn?) It'd be GREAT!


I wish...it's not quite that simple though. The way I read the article, it's something that's been added to WM5 through AKU3 - i.e. software only. We'd still need hardware support and on that there's precious little except speculation. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed though :)

[DaleReeck]

I assume this all means quad band and high speed support for better usability in North America?

[alese]

VGA output? Does this mean it will have a 2700G GPU, or just something worse (for example, ATI ImageOn?) It'd be GREAT!


I wish...it's not quite that simple though. The way I read the article, it's something that's been added to WM5 through AKU3 - i.e. software only. We'd still need hardware support and on that there's precious little except speculation. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed though :)

I don't believe that SW upgrade only could give you the VGA out feature. You need some kind of HW. Maybe it could be done through USB slot, since it's allready used for sound, but iit would be kind of clumsy.
In any case if they don't use some kind of GPU, then this will be pretty uselles (slow) feature, maybe usefull for displaying static images/slides.
So I hope the implementation is going to be something like Dell x50v/x51v true VGA out capable of displaying full video, since HTC is producing them they should have plenty of experience.
Also USB host functionality would be really nice, and usefull for attaching external storage, and SDHC port for 8Gb and beyond cards...

[Nurhisham Hussein]

I don't believe that SW upgrade only could give you the VGA out feature. You need some kind of HW. Maybe it could be done through USB slot, since it's allready used for sound, but iit would be kind of clumsy.

...which was the point I was trying to make. Having driver/software support would be nice (DirectX Mobile?), but you still need the hardware to make it happen. I actually had the same thought you did - they might actually have to replace the mini-USB slot to one of the propreitary connectors like the Dell, just to get it working, or another slot/socket entirely.

[alese]

I don't believe that SW upgrade only could give you the VGA out feature. You need some kind of HW. Maybe it could be done through USB slot, since it's allready used for sound, but iit would be kind of clumsy.

...which was the point I was trying to make. Having driver/software support would be nice (DirectX Mobile?), but you still need the hardware to make it happen. I actually had the same thought you did - they might actually have to replace the mini-USB slot to one of the propreitary connectors like the Dell, just to get it working, or another slot/socket entirely.

Since HTC allready uses propreitary USB connector in all their new devices, I guess it could be possible to use this for VGA out too, but it I guess it would be rather clumsy. On the other hand, having USB and audio out is also clumsy and they still did it...

[Stan2]

did you forget about SDHCIO, if it exists :D

[185driver]

How about an Acer n311? I bought mine to replace my iPAQ 3835 and I'm really enjoying it.

[nosmohtac]

looks and sounds great, but I won't hold my breath on the details. It's a deal killer if it doesn't have vga and quad band GSM.

[Silver5]

I am looking forward to having a Universal with faster internet access and a much better camera. I would love an external screen (one or two lines...no color needed!) foor caller I'D and a slightly smaller overall size while retaining the VGA screen. That's it! It should be fairly simple to do. Output to a projector? Heck, if you need all that you need to get a laptop and be done with it...they are small enough now.

[Darius Wey]

A friend of mine was considering the Universal, but I told him to hold off because I knew something like this was coming. Size and VGA are key factors to him, so it only made sense to wait for the successor. This looks to be it!

[Phoenix]

The Universal is a great device, but...


Double the RAM!!! Double the RAM!!! Double the RAM!!!

And we want Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and Tri-band UMTS w/HSDPA!!!

Here's to hoping they at least get those things right! :)


Here's to hoping they also add an external color display and an external numeric keypad, and upgrade the BT, the WiFi, and the camera. And if we're lucky, maybe they'll add in a SSIII GPS chipset (yeah, right, but here's to hoping for that, too!).

They do that and change the keyboard backlighting to blue (and keep the chassis black), THEN it would be perfect, IMO. :D 8)

[Menneisyys]

I am looking forward to having a Universal with faster internet access and a much better camera. I would love an external screen (one or two lines...no color needed!) foor caller I'D and a slightly smaller overall size while retaining the VGA screen. That's it! It should be fairly simple to do. Output to a projector? Heck, if you need all that you need to get a laptop and be done with it...they are small enough now.

2700G would not only mean VGA output, but also 3D acceleration (games) and hardware-based MPEG decoding, which would really result in a LOT of saved battery power when watching videos.

[phreaker18]

well sounds mouth watering.... i hate technology to some extent only because i was looking at the HTC Trinity for my next buy... crap ill have to wait for this to show up on the market..... till then i have my fingers crossed..
i hope the VGA doesnt bite a big chunk from the battery performance.. which it is known to do...

Lord let there be complete CONVERGENCE... sorry VGA CONVERGENCE :D

[palur]

Any guess on the screen size? If it is less than 3.5", I won't be interested.

[pocketpcadmirer]

Any guess on the screen size? If it is less than 3.5", I won't be interested.

IMO, the current screen size of universal ie 3.6" will still be retained

[ctmagnus]

IMO, the current screen size of universal ie 3.6" will still be retained

The Universal has a 3.6" screen? I was under the impression that it has a 4" screen.

[alese]

It's 3,6", just barely enough for TrueVGA.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

The Universal has a 3.6" screen? I was under the impression that it has a 4" screen.

It's actually not as big as people seem to think it is - as far as length and width goes. Most of the bulk comes from its depth (you can blame that on the clamshell form-factor).