Dopod Launches 5 New Devices

[Nurhisham Hussein]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhelds/0,39001709,61963971,00.htm' target='_blank'>http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhe...61963971,00.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Dopod's biggest product launch in Singapore to date sees the Taiwanese handheld maker unveil five new product offerings including four PDA-phones (C800, D810, M700 and P800W) and one smart phone (C720W)."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hisham-20061102-m700.jpg" /><br /><br />Whew, that's some bunch! We've got here in Asia most of the new HTC devices that have been talked about a lot recently - Artemis (<a href="http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhelds/0,39001703,39272190p,00.htm">P800W</a> and <a href="http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhelds/0,39001703,39272189p,00.htm">M700</a>), Herald (<a href="http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhelds/0,39001703,39272200p,00.htm">C800</a>), Trinity (<a href="http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhelds/0,39001703,39272188p,00.htm">D810</a>), and Excalibur (<a href="http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39051199,39272180p,00.htm">C720W</a>). What's new is the Dopod M700 model, which is built on the Artemis chassis, but with some significant differences - no GPS, but includes a bundled 512MB micro-SD card, double the flash ROM, and support for Open Mobile Alliance Digital Rights Management (OMA DRM). The M700 is billed as Dopod's first music-oriented PDA phone. Stocks should be generally available by the end of November (mid-November for the P800W only, exclusively at Courts Singapore and mobile operators), and you can check out the specs and Singapore pricing <a href="http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhelds/0,39001709,61963971-2,00.htm">here</a>.

[blissfull]

Anyone know if the D810 model has the GPS with the tri band UMTS and navigation sofeware?

[Nurhisham Hussein]

No GPS unfortunately - the Trinity is basically the Hermes without the keyboard i.e. it does have tri-band UMTS.

[blissfull]

No GPS unfortunately - the Trinity is basically the Hermes without the keyboard i.e. it does have tri-band UMTS.

Actualy this is the same phone as "Orange M700" or better known as the HTC P3600, it has the GPS integrated but not activated yet due to some software issues that will be resolved in January of 2007.

[virain]

Same HTC phones under different name. I don't understand what is the reason for that :|

[hamishmacdonald]

These are attractive devices, but I'm most distressed by this move toward teeny-tiny, QVGA screens. Does nobody actually work on their handheld anymore?

[SteveHoward999]

These are attractive devices, but I'm most distressed by this move toward teeny-tiny, QVGA screens. Does nobody actually work on their handheld anymore?

I think the problem is that the Marketing Gurus have convinced the engineers that the only people using these devices are phone converts who cannot bare the idea of larger screens. There seems to be no ground for PDA users who are being 'encouraged' to used converged devices.

Bring back bigger screens!

[peterg]

I was thinking the exact same thing about the screens. I've been spoiled by my Axim x51v.

For any consideration, my next device will have to be a VGA screen device.

[cab124]

I couldn't agree more about the VGA screens. After using an Axim 50v for a couple of years, I just can't go back to QVGA.

[virain]

It reminds me mid 90's when cellphone manufacturers were rushing to make the smallest cellphone. I remember Motorola phone that you could only dial using toothpick, like in that movie, "Zoolander". I guess now generation of smartphone manufacturers are not that creative and full of new ideas, they just like sheeps, where one goes, others follow :devilboy:

[Darius Wey]

Same HTC phones under different name. I don't understand what is the reason for that :|

Because HTC only markets their branded devices in Europe. Dopod handles Asia Pacific. American carriers tend to handle North America. SoftBank usually covers Japan. It's all due to regional coverage.

[bnycastro]

I guess microSD and TI OMAPs were the main components for these devices [only the UMTS enabled one had a Samsung in it] :P 2 things that I am not that fond off. I do hope that they [manufacturers] do not abandon the VGA screens. We want more choices not less!!! there should be sub-qVGA, qVGA, VGA screens!!!

Also hope that more software makers start fixing their apps to be resolution aware [sauare, qVGA, VGA] until now some apps especially games look like crap or will not run because they are not hi-res aware.

After seeing the 838pro in person I decided to keep my Exec and wait a bit more. Now that I've seen these from dopod... I'm looking at other manufacturers for my next device. So far it's a toss up between a unbranded Treo750v [dunno if the v will be removed after it becomes unbranded] and the Fujitsu Seimens T830, true both of them are sub-qVGA a definite step down from my Exec's VGA but I really want something smaller this time around and less moving parts too! I want to move away from a PPC with a lot of moving parts... so far the T830 is edging out the Treo cause it has regular SDIO slot and WiFi [I don't and can't use GPS here cause we have no maps! hooray for 3rd world nations!] the problem is I don't know if FS will be selling these in Asia [so far it looks like only Europe will be getting these] and how frequent FS releases ROMs/patches etc [never owned an FS device before] oh and if a Universal successor comes out then it's a whole different ball game... :P

[saru83]

Same HTC phones under different name. I don't understand what is the reason for that :|

That has been happening for the last 5yrs+ , the thing was that some ppl could actually build those lovely devices &amp; others can market it &amp; make it successful, but unfortunately it does not work that way anymore, &amp; i'm VERY happy that HTC started to release phones under its own name. :wink:

[Nurhisham Hussein]

... so far the T830 is edging out the Treo cause it has regular SDIO slot and WiFi

Even better than that, the slot is also SDHC compliant so you can take advantage of the bigger cards about to be released (8GB is already on the market, and up to 32GB will eventually be available).


[I don't and can't use GPS here cause we have no maps! hooray for 3rd world nations!]

Manila at least is covered (http://www2.mapking.com/en/).


the problem is I don't know if FS will be selling these in Asia [so far it looks like only Europe will be getting these] and how frequent FS releases ROMs/patches etc [never owned an FS device before]

Apart from the original Pocket Loox, none of the FS devices were ever sold in Asia (or anywhere else outside of Europe) - that hasn't stopped me from getting an FS device though, nor others (there's at least one Malaysian who's already received a t830). And FS have a pretty decent record of issuing updates as well - luckily most of their devices have had few problems.

[bnycastro]

Even better than that, the slot is also SDHC compliant so you can take advantage of the bigger cards about to be released (8GB is already on the market, and up to 32GB will eventually be available).

Manila at least is covered (http://www2.mapking.com/en/).

Apart from the original Pocket Loox, none of the FS devices were ever sold in Asia (or anywhere else outside of Europe) - that hasn't stopped me from getting an FS device though, nor others (there's at least one Malaysian who's already received a t830). And FS have a pretty decent record of issuing updates as well - luckily most of their devices have had few problems.
--
Wow all these is great news!!! Except the GPS hehehe do you know that here in Manila they keep on changing the traffic flow [sometimes they block of intersections insert u-turn slots here and there, turn off traffic lights etc etc] some roads are one way in the AM and two way in the PM so I guess the GPS will become more of a guide rather than an accurate tool for navigation here. it's not the devices fault that our traffic flow is crappy though! How did your malaysian friend get the t830? i don't have ebay cause the philippines is not certified by paypal.

[trapper]

here in Manila they keep on changing the traffic flow [sometimes they block of intersections insert u-turn slots here and there, turn off traffic lights etc etc] some roads are one way in the AM and two way in the PM

I had the opportunity to experience the bizarre traffic situation in Manila last year. I was warned how bad it was but it was far worse than I could have imagined. Ordered chaos is the only way it can be described. People might think you're joking with your above comments but it is that bad. The amazing thing is how few accidents there are. Your comments brought back some amazing memories.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

How did your malaysian friend get the t830? i don't have ebay cause the philippines is not certified by paypal.

Try clove (http://www.clove.co.uk/) - all you'll need is a verified credit card. Register at the forums at FirstLoox (http://www.firstloox.org/), and you can get an additional discount from clove as well.

[bnycastro]

thanks for all the info :)

[bnycastro]

thanks for all the info :)

[bnycastro]

thanks for all the info :) i think i am a member of firstloox already :)

[ppcsurfr]

I don't and can't use GPS here cause we have no maps! hooray for 3rd world nations!

Hmmm... Funny thing is we've been doing demos of the map of Metro Manila for more than 2 years now starting with the Mio DigiWlaker 168, and the HP iPAQ hw6515... and in the latest Mobile Piipinas 2006, I showed Mapking v10 (with Metro Manila map) running on an ASUS MyPal A636N with voice navigation. :wink:

Yes there are maps for Metro Manila...

[bnycastro]

yeah I saw the mapking link provided earlier and it did indeed include MM... problem is the traffic flow changes :( I don't think mapking includes all of BF's wacky schemes hehehe, still given a chance and if it were accurate and reliable enough I'd probably use GPS cause I always get lost! Curses! Now that I know there are maps for Manila I might add GPS to the wants list on my next PPC oh boy and it is mighty long already... anyway I'll stop now as it seems I have been hijacking this thread and turning it into a GPS related one.