Let's Glofiishing with the X500 [Archive]

Darius Wey

01-15-2007, 02:00 PM

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-00.jpg" /> Product Category: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE Pocket PC Phone Manufacturer: <a href="http://www.etencorp.com/">E-TEN</a> Where to Buy: <a href="http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=140450">Expansys</a> or <a href="http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/sales.php">authorized E-TEN distributors</a> Price: £374.43 (excluding tax) or ~$734 USD System Requirements: Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows Vista; USB port Specifications: Windows Mobile 5.0 with AKU 3.2 (Pocket PC Phone), Samsung S3C2442 400MHz CPU, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 2.8" QVGA (65K-colour) TFT-LCD, 2.0-megapixel CMOS camera with flash, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 (Class 2) + EDR (with A2DP & AVRCP), GPS (SiRFstar III), TMC support, FM radio, microSD, Mini-USB, 113.0mm x 59.5mm x 15.5mm, 146g (with battery) Pros: <li>Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE;<li>Integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and FM radio;<li>Slim form factor;<li>Blazing performance;<li>Bright display. Cons: <li>No support for 3G;<li>microSD slot lacks protection;<li>Leather case is impractical;<li>No bundled navigation software;<li>Shipping ROMs 0273 and 0291 are riddled with bugs. Summary: The Glofiish X500 is one of two debut devices in E-TEN's emerging Glofiish series, and looks can be deceiving. Despite being incredibly slim, the X500 manages to pack an incredible punch with integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and an FM radio. Is it just what the doctor ordered, or is there a catch? Read on to find out! <!> <PAGEBREAK> The X500 Has the EDGE When E-TEN's <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,44578">M600</a> first entered the market, it was generally well received as one of just a few quad-band GSM Pocket PC Phones around. Of course, this made it suitable for roaming, but for every positive, there's a negative. The M600 was crippled with limited data support (GPRS only; no EDGE). E-TEN's recent release of the Glofiish X500 changed all that. The company realized the M600's shortcomings and gave the X500 the love of EDGE, while retaining the solid quad-band GSM support the M600 was well-known for. With EDGE's increased data and subscriber capacity, everything is golden, right? By today's standards, not really. In this day and age, you'd have to be living under a rock to realize that 3G is growing at a rapid rate. When rumours were circulating in the middle of 2006 that E-TEN had a couple of new products ready for an end of year release, there was hope that they would be 3G-capable, though as we now know from the specifications of the recently-released <a href="http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/X500.php">X500</a> and <a href="http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/M700.php">M700</a>, that was not to be. Perhaps we'll see E-TEN make amends in its next-generation Glofiish devices. What's In the Box? From all angles, the X500 box is covered with a splash of purple, which works well with the prominent orange theme of the Glofiish series. The old E-TEN branding is noticeably absent, which suggests the company's intentions to give its new and upcoming Pocket PCs their own identity, much like what Microsoft has done with the Zune. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-32.jpg" /> Figure 1: The purple and orange X500 box. Upon opening the box, the X500 is clearly visible through a clear plastic window. Bundled with it are a number of accessories and documentation: <li>1,530mAh Li-ion polymer battery;<li>AC charger with region-specific adapter;<li>Book-style leather case;<li>Stereo headset (with microphone, volume controls, and shirt clip);<li>USB synchronization cable;<li>Screen protector;<li>Glofiish Getting Started CD (includes Microsoft Outlook 2002, ActiveSync 4.2, and an electronic manual);<li>Glofiish Quick Start Guide. These will be covered in greater detail as we progress through the review. M600 + G500 = X500? In many ways, the X500 can be seen as a combination of its predecessors, the <a href="http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/600.php">M600</a> and <a href="http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/G500.php">G500</a>, and then some more. The X500 retains the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,44578">blazing performance of the M600</a> with its 400MHz processor, and its strong wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The X500 then borrows the G500's embedded SiRFstar III chipset and TMC support to boast GPS capabilities, and similarly goes the extra mile to feature an FM radio with RDS support. All of that, and a 2.0-megapixel camera with a flash, packed into a slim shell and it appears that we have a winner in our hands. But is it? Following an examination of design, software, and performance, we'll proceed to answer that question. <PAGEBREAK> Design: Thin Is In Fresh out of the box, the X500 cries elegance and structural solidity. It moves away from the traditional "flat top" and "curved bottom" design to be symmetrical and rectangular all over. Brushed metal houses the Glofiish logo (note, not the E-TEN logo), while surrounding the 2.8" QVGA (240 x 320) display. Silver coated plastic fills the remaining portion of the front, with GPS and Today/M-Desk buttons, call buttons, soft keys, and a D-pad embedded in it. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-01.jpg" /> Figure 2: The X500 from the front - (1) GPS and Today/M-Desk buttons, (2) call buttons and soft keys, (3) microSD slot and Mini-USB port, (4) headphone socket, and (5) volume controls and voice command button. Unfortunately, the position of the D-pad impacts usability to a minor degree. It is situated too close to the lower edge of the device, and there are tendencies for the thumb to slip off while using it. Also impacting usability is the lack of dedicated OK and Start buttons. E-TEN obviously realized the importance of soft keys with Windows Mobile 5.0, and so included them in the X500 after the poor design decision of excluding them in the M600. Unfortunately, without dedicated OK and Start buttons, true one-handed operation is still absent, meaning you'll be forced to put thumb (or stylus) to screen every now and again. The earpiece and wireless and battery indicator lights sit adjacent to the GPS and Today/M-Desk buttons. Wi-Fi uses orange, while annoyingly, both Bluetooth and GPS use blue, which makes it difficult to determine which of the two radios (or both) is on. Fortunately, the state of the battery is easier to identify visually. While charging, the battery indicator light is a solid orange, and when completely charged, it's a solid green. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-02.jpg" /> Figure 3: The X500 from the front - (1) earpiece, (2) soft reset hole, (3) camera button, (4) stylus, and (5) microSD slot. Unlike the M600, all of the X500's buttons are backlit as shown in Figure 4. Their brightness, colours, and neon glow effect are true to the "Glofiish" mental image. Day or night, they activate for approximately five seconds whenever a hard button is pressed. Of course, it's of little use in direct sunlight. To help conserve battery power, E-TEN probably should have included a light sensor and had the buttons' backlight only activate in dark environments. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-33.jpg" /> Figure 4: It glows! The X500's QVGA (240 x 320) display is much like the M600's, <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,44578">famously bright</a> and capable of accurate colour reproduction. White appears white. Black appears black. The only downside is that while the specifications state a size of 2.8", it's just shy of it. Personally, I found the bundled screen protector to be a little too fragile and attracted a lot of dust, so I looked to third-party offerings. For the many years I've been using Pocket PCs, <a href="http://www.pocketpctechs.com/">Pocket PC Techs' WriteSHIELDs</a> have always stood out, and so I decided to give the X500 some <a href="http://www.pocketpctechs.com/main~area~accessories-WriteSHIELD%AE+anti.htm">WriteSHIELD anti-GLARE</a> love. Unfortunately, the X500's less-than-2.8" display rejected a 2.8" WriteSHIELD, which forced me to trim the edges of the screen protector in order to enable a perfect fit. This is something you'll have to keep in mind if you ever plan on picking up a third-party 2.8" screen protector for the X500. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-03.jpg" /> Figure 5: The rear of the X500 - (1) 2.0-megapixel camera with flash, and (2) mono speaker. Black rubber dominates the rear of the device. The top third houses the 2.0-megapixel camera, self-portrait mirror, flash, and mono speaker, which is adequately loud for most purposes. The battery compartment occupies the bottom two-thirds of the device and holds the slim 1,530mAh battery in place. The SIM slot is situated beneath it, so the act of swapping SIM cards requires the complete removal of the battery. <PAGEBREAK> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-04.jpg" /> Figure 6: The left side of the X500, with (1) volume controls and voice command button, and (2) headphone socket. The sides of the X500 contain some positive and negative design choices. The volume controls and voice command button are clearly visible on the left. Unfortunately, their close proximity and similar size and shape make them difficult to operate blindly (for example, in the car). It's not uncommon to accidentally press the volume controls while attempting to press the voice command button, and vice versa. Further to that, the volume control buttons are too sensitive. On any other device, a single tap of either the + or - button typically adjusts the volume by one notch, while holding either button down typically adjusts the volume by multiple notches. At times, a single tap of a volume button on the X500 will adjust the volume by two or three notches, which is quite a departure from the desired effect. A complete transformation of the device volume from mute to the loudest setting (or the other way around) can be achieved by holding a volume button down for less than a second, which is far too quick. It seems that E-TEN probably would have benefitted by retaining the very functional volume slider of the M600, though I'm adamant that the aforementioned issue is software-related, and a future ROM upgrade may be able to correct it. The headphone socket is of the 2.5mm input/output type, and unlike the M600, does not feature a rubber cap. I view this as a positive move as I found the M600's rubber cap to be an annoyance to fiddle with on every occasion of headset use. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-05.jpg" /> Figure 7: The bottom edge of the X500, with (1) a microSD slot, (2) Mini-USB port, and (3) stylus. Moving to the bottom edge of the X500, we see a microSD slot, which is a departure from the SD slot utilized in the M600, and the miniSD slot utilized in the G500. Months ago, this may have presented an issue for the many of us who invested dollars in SD and miniSD cards, though with microSD cards now increasingly affordable and available in relatively large capacities (to date, up to 2GB), it's a moot point. The advantage of the X500's side-loading microSD slot is that it's easily accessible, but there's a catch. A protective rubber cap is noticeably absent, which I guess is ironic as I previously cursed it as an annoyance for the headphone socket, though we're dealing with two different worlds here. In the past, there have been reports of cards accidentally ejecting from devices with side-loading slots (more so when said devices are dropped). While I have yet to experience this with the X500, I think it would have been in E-TEN's best interests to include a rubber cap for that extra piece of mind, especially when dealing with a card as miniscule as microSD. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-07.jpg" /> Figure 8: The use of microSD has become increasingly common in the past half year. Perhaps the biggest change E-TEN has made with the introduction of the Glofiish series is the move from its proprietary sync/charge connector to the standard Mini-USB connector. This is nothing but a thumbs-up move as it opens up a whole new world of accessories for the X500. Similarly, it's a dual-purpose sync/charge connector, but with the supplied accessories, you cannot sync the device to your computer and charge via AC simultaneously. You can sync and charge off the USB port simultaneously, though this is noticeably slower. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-08.jpg" /> Figure 9: The X500 features a bottom-loading stylus. Will this face wear and tear issues? Only time will tell. Slots and ports, we now move to the stylus. Like a lot of Pocket PC Phones, it's of a bottom-loading design. Time and time again, we hear people express frustration over the wear and tear that takes place on the small lip of the head of the stylus. This is what holds the stylus in its slot, and wear and tear can only lead to one thing: missing styli. From personal experience, I've never lost a stylus. They've become loose from wear and tear, but not loose enough to slip out of its slot on its own. Whether this will hold for true for the X500 is something I cannot answer this early in the game, though I will mention that the X500's stylus appears structurally solid and I have great faith in it staying in its slot for as long as the X500 remains my primary device. Fingers crossed. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-10.jpg" /> Figure 10: In its compact form, the stylus measures 68 millimetres or 2.68 inches. An SD card is featured in the picture for size comparisons. The stylus is telescopic in nature, measuring 68 millimetres (2.68 inches) in its compact form and 93 millimetres (3.66 inches) when extended. Its size automatically modulates when inserted and removed from its slot. Overall, it is of the right length and weight to warrant comfortable use, though it probably could have been a little thicker to help eliminate that fragile feeling. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-09.jpg" /> Figure 11: In its extended form, the stylus measures 93 millimetres or 3.66 inches. An SD card is featured in the picture for size comparisons. Finally, we focus on the right side of the X500 (there's nothing on the top edge), and it's quite bare. There is a power button located in the upper corner, a camera button located in the lower corner, and a soft reset hole in between. The positioning of the camera button is perfect for landscape shots. It follows conventional camera design, so it feels natural to hold the X500 in landscape mode for a quick point-and-shoot. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-06.jpg" /> Figure 12: The right side of the X500, with (1) a camera button, (2) soft reset hole, and (3) power button. <PAGEBREAK> Size Comparisons: Just How Thin Is It? At 113.0mm x 59.5mm x 15.5mm, E-TEN claims that the Glofiish X500 is the <a href="http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/X500.php">world's thinnest Pocket PC Phone</a>. Sadly, this isn't true, as the UBiQUiO 501 beats it by two millimetres, but to E-TEN's credit, the X500 is still incredibly slim and more functional than the 501 by a long mile. How does it compare with other devices? <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-11.jpg" /> Figure 13: Side view of the E-TEN Glofiish X500 (top) and E-TEN M600 (bottom). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-12.jpg" /> Figure 14: Side view of the E-TEN Glofiish X500 (top) and E-TEN M600 (bottom). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-13.jpg" /> Figure 15: Angled view of the E-TEN M600 (left) and E-TEN Glofiish X500 (right). Here, we see the X500 head-to-head with its predecessor, the E-TEN M600. The X500 is noticeably thinner, just a hair taller, and features-wise, packs more of a punch. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-14.jpg" /> Figure 16: Side view of the E-TEN Glofiish X500 (top) and Dell Axim X50v (bottom). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-15.jpg" /> Figure 17: Side view of the E-TEN Glofiish X500 (top) and Dell Axim X50v (bottom). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-16.jpg" /> Figure 18: Angled view of the Dell Axim X50v (left) and E-TEN Glofiish X500 (right). Not surprisingly, the Dell Axim X50v is significantly wider and taller than the compact X500. <PAGEBREAK> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-17.jpg" /> Figure 19: Side view of the HP iPAQ h1940 (top) and E-TEN Glofiish X500 (bottom). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-18.jpg" /> Figure 20: Side view of the HP iPAQ h1940 (top) and E-TEN Glofiish X500 (bottom). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-19.jpg" /> Figure 21: Angled view of the HP iPAQ h1940 (left) and E-TEN Glofiish X500 (right). These pictures are a tad deceiving. The famously thin HP iPAQ h1940 is wider and thinner than the X500, though it's not clearly visible above. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-20.jpg" /> Figure 22: Side view of the E-TEN Glofiish X500 (top) and Zune (bottom). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-21.jpg" /> Figure 23: Angled view of the Zune (left) and E-TEN Glofiish X500 (right). It's not everyday you see a Pocket PC head-to-head with a Zune, but with the media player slowly making its way into the hands of consumers, I thought some of you might appreciate the size of the X500 together with a Zune. The X500 is marginally slimmer than the Zune. Otherwise, they're similarly sized with regard to width and height. I did take a couple of shots of the X500 with the iPod nano, but for all intents and purposes, the shots were too cruel and bizarre to feature in this review. ;) At 146g (with the battery), the X500 is a lightweight device. Coupled with minimal pocket bulge courtesy of its slim form factor, the X500 is a device that fits comfortably in the pocket. Kudos to E-TEN for getting it right here. <PAGEBREAK> Accessories: Life Isn't Complete Without 'em! A collection of well-designed accessories can add a great amount of value to the overall Pocket PC experience. For the most part, the X500's bundled accessories fall in that category. Yes, "for the most part" - meaning there's an exception, and in this section of the review, we'll examine said exception while also looking at every other accessory from head to toe. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-22.jpg" /> Figure 24: The X500's book-style leather case. Let's start with the exception. The bundled leather case exhibits the qualities of most high-quality leather cases: that soft leathery touch and rich leathery scent. The only problem is, it falls well short of what a Pocket PC Phone case should be. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-23.jpg" /> Figure 25: Note the cutouts for the speaker, but not the camera. Firstly, it's a book-style leather case, which would be fine for a standard Pocket PC, but not a Pocket PC Phone. If you've ever tried holding a book-style leather case to your ear, it simply does not work. Not only is it awkward to hold, the leather flap has a tendency to get in the way (read: flip back and slap you in the face), and you'd more than likely draw curious looks from strangers on the city streets. It's a moot point if a Bluetooth headset is your 24/7 communication tool of choice, but I'm willing to bet that those who do not fall in that category far outweigh those who do. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-24.jpg" /> Figure 26: Friction grips hold the X500 in place. A pair of friction grips dutifully hold the X500 in the case. Unfortunately, the positioning of the left grip makes it exceedingly difficult to access the voice command button with ease. To complicate matters, there is no cutout for the camera on the rear of the case. Therefore, in order to use the X500 for image capturing, it must be removed from the case, and if you're doing this multiple times a day, the friction grips may wear out the sides of the device. On to some of the more positive design aspects of the case, there is a loop for a lanyard, a magnetic closure system, and two slots to hold spare microSD cards, though I feel that all of these factors combined are not enough to make the case a worthwhile accessory - by a long shot. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-25.jpg" /> Figure 27: The AC charger ships with a generic head and region-specific adapter. The Australian adapter is pictured above. From cases to cables, E-TEN has moved on and replaced the trusty cradle with a simple USB sync/charge cable measuring ~1 metre and 5V/1.0A AC charger measuring ~1.8 metres. As Figure 27 shows, the AC charger ships with a region-specific adapter, most likely to simplify E-TEN's production process. Whatever the reason, it does not modify the user experience in any way (it's still very much a plug and play affair). Its Mini-USB connector plugs into the Mini-USB port of the X500 for direct charging, and so syncing is not possible in this case. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-27.jpg" /> Figure 28: The other end of the AC charger features a Mini-USB connector. <PAGEBREAK> Vice versa, using the USB cable (Figure 29) to sync the X500 to a computer does not allow for direct charging via the AC charger as the USB cable is not a splitter cable. Fortunately, the X500 is still charged in this manner, though slower due to the limited power output of a computer's USB port. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-28.jpg" /> Figure 29: The USB sync/charge cable offers a means for synchronization and slower charging. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-29.jpg" /> Figure 30: The earbuds are relatively slim, making them comfortable for extended use. Using the M600's headset as a starting ground, it's safe to say that E-TEN made significant improvements to the X500's headset. The earbuds are noticeably slimmer, and the hands-free controls (volume, call button, and microphone) are better designed. Audio quality is what you'd expect for most standard headsets. The bass response is a little weak, but can be easily rectified with high-quality headphones and a suitable 3.5mm (or other size) to 2.5mm adapter. The pinout configuration of the X500 is unlike that of several Pocket PC Phones from HTC, so bear this in mind if you have a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter from an old Pocket PC Phone. It may not produce the desired effect. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-30.jpg" /> Figure 31: The headset's volume control also includes a call button and microphone (not visible) for hands-free operation. An adjustable shirt clip can be seen adjacent to it. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-31.jpg" /> Figure 32: Love it or hate it, that's a 2.5mm connector. Finally, there's the documentation and CD (which includes Microsoft Outlook 2002, ActiveSync 4.2, and an electronic manual). There's nothing new or exciting here. It's mostly tailored toward users new to Windows Mobile and/or users interested in learning the basic design aspects of the X500. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-26.jpg" /> Figure 33: The "Quick Start Guide" and "Getting Started CD": an essential combination for those new to Windows Mobile. <PAGEBREAK> Software: It Makes Hardware Tick The X500 ships with Windows Mobile 5.0 and one of the newer "service packs" available, Adaptation Kit Update (AKU) 3.2. AKU 3.x adds a collection of new features never before seen in previous builds of Windows Mobile 5.0. For example, enhanced Wi-Fi capabilities (including, but not limited to, WPA2 support), an improved Microsoft Bluetooth stack (notably, improved A2DP performance), an "Internet Sharing" application to enhance modem connectivity, and enhanced one-handed operation in Outlook Mobile, along with a host of bug fixes to improve the overall stability of Windows Mobile 5.0. There is also a heavy emphasis on the device's Direct Push capabilities: out with the traditional blue Windows Mobile startup screen, and in with the new green Windows Mobile "Direct Push Technology" startup screen. The "About" applet in "Settings" also stresses the inclusion of the Messaging and Security Feature Pack. However, the core of this section of the review focuses on E-TEN's bundled applications, and to mention that there are a lot of them is no understatement. Most of the applications are installed during the initial device configuration phase. There is a window of three seconds where it warns you about the imminent installation of said applications. Historically, a soft reset during this period allows a complete bypass of the installation process, though with the X500, this no longer works. Instead, it has been replaced with a more user-friendly hold-and-release of the camera button. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-etenm600-22.gif" /> Figure 34: The X500 includes a customized phone dialer skin. There are some nice touches added to the device, such as a visually strong red/orange Today theme and a unique Vista-like phone dialer skin (Figure 34). In addition, there is a "Quick Link" plug-in on the Today screen. This is nothing more than an application launcher, though it does include handy phone shortcuts and a battery meter. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-39.jpg" /> Figure 35: FM Tuner unleashes the FM radio capabilities of the X500. E-TEN's "FM Tuner" (Figure 35) does what it says. It's easy to switch stations using the on-screen keypad, and favourites can be stored and accessed in a couple of taps. The X500 does support RDS (Radio Data System), though I found it to be disappointingly weak. It wasn't able to pick up the transmitted information I'd expect from some of the more popular local radio stations. In addition, the application's single line scrolling display has a tendency to scroll back unexpectedly and also spit out invalid characters every now and again. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-41.jpg" /> Figure 36: GPS Viewer is a basic positioning application. Unfortunately, the X500 does not include any moving map navigation software, but it does include a handful of basic positioning applications as consolation. The first of the lot is "GPS Viewer", which delivers coordinates, altitude, speed, time, and the number/location of fixed satellites. "Location SMS" (Figure 37) is a little more interesting, though probably impractical for day-to-day use, as you would rarely send a message to a friend to tell him/her to meet you at X degrees west/east, and Y degrees north/south. "Satellite Data Update" is the third and final GPS application bundled with the X500, and it's nothing more than a simple internet update application for the supply of internet data to accompany existing GPS data. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-42.jpg" /> Figure 37: Location SMS is great in theory, but of little value in practice. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-43.jpg" /> Figure 38: Satellite Data Update can be configured for automatic or manual updating. The X500's multimedia applications are a nice addition. "Image Wizard" (Figure 39) is a wizard application that allows you to add frames, filters, and scribbles to images in five quick steps. "Image Maker" is a basic image editing utility with Microsoft Paint-like tools. A more advanced third-party offering is <a href="http://www.conduits.com/products/artist/">Conduits Pocket Artist</a> and highly recommended if you prefer something with more punch. Finally, "Multimedia Manager" (Figure 40) is supplied as a simple media browser supporting both thumbnails and slideshows. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-44.jpg" /> Figure 39: Image Wizard supports frames, filters, and scribbles. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-45.jpg" /> Figure 40: With thumbnail support, Multimedia Manager can preview media files without ever opening them. <PAGEBREAK> Moving on to the phone-oriented applications, we see "Call Filter" (Figure 41), which allows you to set calling rules for certain contacts (in case you're still holding a grudge against that certain someone). ;) <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-46.jpg" /> Figure 41: Like someone? Don't like someone? Call Filter is there to lend a hand. "Scenarios" adds profile support to the Pocket PC Phone platform, and it resides in the X500's system tray for quick access. Four profiles are offered (General, Meeting, Outdoor, and Silent) and each can be customized. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-48.jpg" /> Figure 42: Scenarios offers profile functionality familiar to Smartphone users. "Speed Dial" is an extension of Windows Mobile's default offering. There are two modes available (Index Dial and Frequency Dial) and the appearance of the application can be tweaked. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-49.jpg" /> Figure 43: Speed Dial - when standard speed dialing isn't good enough. If you've ever experienced data loss, then there's a good chance that you know just how valuable a backup tool is. The X500's "Backup Utility" is one such tool offering backup and restoration functionality, and more advanced features such as scheduled backups and automatic backup file management. If a microSD card is present, "Backup Utility" is smart enough to save backup files on to the card by default. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-51.jpg" /> Figure 44: Backup Utility is a breeze to use and configure. "M-Desk" is another application launcher, though unlike "Quick Link", it doesn't reside on the Today screen and has greater functionality. If Windows Mobile's Programs interface doesn't tickle your fancy, then "M-Desk" is an ideal replacement, supporting themes, meters, and system commands such as screen rotation, among others. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-52.jpg" /> Figure 45: M-Desk is an ideal replacement for Windows Mobile's Programs interface. As far as features are concerned, "Voice Commander" (by <a href="http://www.cyberon.com.tw/commander.htm">Cyberon</a>) bears similarities to Microsoft Voice Command, though the former requires greater customization for correct operation and perfect voice recognition. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-53.jpg" /> Figure 46: "Um... free for a chat?" Other minor applications such as "Add Ringtone", "SIM Manager", and "Skype Receiver Switch" are also included, and their names speak their purpose. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-50.jpg" /> Figure 47: Application Recovery allows you to reinstall bundled applications that were previously uninstalled. <PAGEBREAK> Gloiing Performance? The X500 is about as snappy as snappy can get. Its fast Samsung S3C2442 400MHz CPU helps, though other factors (which we'll explore later) also contribute to its solid all-round performance. I've taken the liberty of providing two sets of memory data: available storage and program memory with E-TEN's bundled applications installed, and similarly without E-TEN's bundled applications installed. The bundled applications consume approximately 13MB of storage. Hard Reset; No Applications Installed <li>Total Storage Memory: 69.88MB<li>Used: 3.96MB<li>Free: 65.91MB <li>Total Program Memory: 47.52MB<li>Used: 14.02MB<li>Free: 33.50MB Hard Reset; Applications Installed <li>Total Storage Memory: 69.88MB<li>Used: 16.89MB<li>Free: 52.98MB <li>Total Program Memory: 47.52MB<li>Used: 16.68MB<li>Free: 30.84MB Of the 128MB ROM, only half is available for use, though with microSD cards becoming increasingly affordable, this is a shortcoming that is easily overcome. RAM-wise, the 64MB is sufficient for most demanding tasks, as much like the M600, memory management is tremendously efficient. With several applications open (namely, ActiveSync, Windows Media Player Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, Word Mobile, Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks), the X500 consumes just 1.5MB RAM. Being a quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE Pocket PC Phone, the X500 is a true roaming device, so any North American residents or visitors to North America can feel consoled knowing that the X500 is compatible with the 850MHz networks. Overall, cellular connectivity is strong; rarely in the weeks of testing did I experience anything less than full signal strength. Unfortunately, without carrier support for EDGE, I was not able to give the X500's EDGE connectivity a test run. GPRS, on the other hand, was something I was able to test, and it worked (of course, it was typically slow, but it worked). Admittedly, with AKU 3.2 installed, I was eager to explore the X500's Bluetooth capabilities - specifically, A2DP performance. The X500 utilizes the Microsoft Bluetooth stack, though for better or worse, E-TEN has taken the extra step of adding its own UI on top. The Bluetooth radio is rated at v2.0, which offers faster transmission speeds, greater available bandwidth, and lower power consumption. And indeed, leaving Bluetooth active during standby mode eats very little battery power, though battery life is a topic I'll be covering a little later. At Class 2, the X500 is good for approximately ten metres. Armed with a <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,49783">Jabra BT500</a> Bluetooth headset, I put it to the test, and scored eight to nine metres in an open environment before the crackles kicked in. With the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,46223">Bluetake i-PHONO mini</a> stereo headphones, I arrived at the conclusion that A2DP performance was positive, though not perfect. In terms of audio quality, it was a step up from AKU 2.x (very few crackles and no blips). Unfortunately, I had issues reconnecting my headphones to the X500, despite the two being paired. Whether this is related to the X500 alone or Microsoft's implementation of Bluetooth is something I will have to explore in the future. There's a lot to like about the Wi-Fi support. Both 802.11b and 802.11g are supported, and with AKU 3.x's added support for WPA2, the X500 is now capable of connecting to more Wi-Fi networks than ever before. Unfortunately, FM radio performance isn't so positive. Earlier, I spoke of the odd RDS issues. Now, it's appropriate to discuss reception. To put it simply, it's weak (tolerable outdoors, but poor indoors). Audio can only be channeled through the headset as it uses the headset wire as an antenna, and often, the wire takes a bit of fiddling in order to attain a clear signal. With a SiRFstar III chipset, I expected the X500's GPS performance to be solid and I was not left disappointed. Cold boots were approximately 40-45 seconds, while warm boots were almost instantaneous. Tracking sensitivity was decent. Indoors and outdoors, I averaged a fix of 8-10 satellites. Third-party applications such as <a href="http://www.gpstuner.com/">GPS Tuner</a> and <a href="http://www.tomtom.com/">TomTom Navigator</a> detected the X500's integrated SiRFstar III chipset without a hitch. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and an FM radio combined are all battery guzzlers, but the relatively high capacity 1,530mAh battery manages to rise to the challenge. E-TEN rates the X500 with a talk time of 5-7 hours, standby time of 150-200 hours, Pocket PC usage time of 10-15 hours, and GPS usage time of 5-7 hours. Although being highly theoretical, I'd say that these figures aren't that far off the truth. A typical day in my life may consist of half an hour on the phone, the odd SMS message being sent or received, a Bluetooth headset connected for half a day, an hour of Wi-Fi (for the aimless browse), and an hour of general application dabbling. That usually consumes around 35-40% of the battery, so based on standard usage patterns, the X500 offers two to three days before requiring a charge, which all in all, I am quite content with. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-54.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-54th.jpg" /></a> Figure 48: An outdoor picture, taken at noon on a clear day. Click the image above for a larger version (1200 x 1600; 629.83KB). Surprisingly, the quality of images produced by the X500's camera exceeds expectations. Images are crisp and contain a reduced number of artifacts, while colour reproduction remains true to the source. However, night macro shots tell a different story, as the flash has a tendency to wash out the target object. The camera application itself offers more options than you can poke a stick at. Frames, effects, resolution, quality, white balance, file format, orientation, flash, and date stamps can all be modified at the touch of a button. There's also a video camera mode, if you prefer to capture an event as a movie rather than a still image. Unfortunately, the application acts a little sluggish when switching between varying degrees of light, so I'm hoping E-TEN gets around to tweaking this in future ROM upgrades. <PAGEBREAK> Because benchmark results appeal to some of you, I've included X500 benchmark results in this review. It was only appropriate to compare the X500 to other devices running Windows Mobile 5.0, so I called the E-TEN M600, Sprint PPC-6700, i-mate JASJAR, Dell Axim X50v, and Dell Axim X51v to duty. The Dell Axim X50v was upgraded to Windows Mobile 5.0 and the latest A02 ROM (AKU 2.3.1). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-34.jpg" /> Figure 49: The overall Spb Benchmark index tells an accurate story. The X500 feels fast and the results prove it. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-35.jpg" /> Figure 50: As expected, the Dell Axim X50v and X51v dominate the CPU index, thanks to their 624MHz processors. The i-mate JASJAR (520MHz) is next, followed by the X500. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-36.jpg" /> Figure 51: When it comes to reading and writing files, the X500 excels. Not surprisingly, the upgraded Dell Axim X50v falls well short of the leaders due to its different memory structure. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-37.jpg" /> Figure 52: It's hard to take the graphical index results too seriously as Spb Benchmark isn't optimized for the Intel 2700g GPUs of the Dell Axim X50v and X51v. However, as far as basic graphical performance is concerned, the X500 flies. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-glofiishx500-38.jpg" /> Figure 53: I was surprised by this result, but then again, I also wasn't. The X500 choked during a Word Mobile test. Could that have contributed to its apparent poorer performance? Does Anyone Have Bug Spray? No one likes bugs, yet no matter how hard we try to eradicate them, they exist, and unfortunately, the X500 is filled with two major bugs that impact usability to a significant degree. Most X500s ship with either ROMs 0273 or 0291, and both are plagued with echo issues. During a phone conversation, there's a good chance that you can hear your own voice in the background, despite the other party not using a loudspeaker. It's not an isolated incident, as several other X500 users have also reported this issue. Sadly, the next bug (again, plaguing both ROMs 0273 and 0291) is even more severe than the last, and it concerns a failure to receive incoming SMS messages. Some X500 users have even reported a failure to send SMS messages, though I've not yet experienced this. There is a working patch circulating an E-TEN enthusiast site, <a href="http://www.eten-users.net/">E-TEN Users Forum</a>, but still no official fix via a ROM upgrade. It is definitely in E-TEN's best interests to cure its ROMs of these bugs as soon as possible, and I have little doubt that it will happen (in fact, rumours already suggest so), though just "when" that may be is still a question mark. Conclusions It's hard to look down on the Glofiish X500. It's a top-notch package consisting of quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, an FM radio, and a 2.0-megapixel camera, all packed into a slim and lightweight shell. Despite a few shortcomings, it's the most complete converged Windows Mobile-based device I have ever played with, and one that I highly recommend to anyone on the hunt for an "everything but the kitchen sink" device. If QWERTY is your cup of tea, then take a look at the <a href="http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/M700.php">Glofiish M700</a>. <a href="http://www.dariuswey.com/">Darius Wey</a> enjoys all forms of technology. His time is usually channeled into mobile devices, digital media, application and web development, graphic design, and his Xbox 360. He lives in Perth, Western Australia, and dreads hot summers.

virain

01-15-2007, 06:40 PM

Great device! the only major minus for me is a lock of 3G! And lock of GPS mapping soft is actually a plus! You can choose what you want to use, and not to get tied up with some Pharos Ostia, the worse I've ever used!

Phillip Dyson

01-16-2007, 01:10 AM

Excellent review Darius,
And great pictures by the way. I may have to hit you up for some tips. I disappointed in the echoing problem. I remember the same problem in G500 when I reviewed it. Actually I didn't hear it, the person I was talking to did.

ianl

01-16-2007, 06:25 AM

Darius has done a good service review for the X500. I have used it now for about 3 months (including going overseas live twice, armed only with the X500) and it performed perfectly.

The bluetooth, wifi, GPS and phone services all work extremely well. The small size of the device is a huge plus. It's performance is just excellent.

A plethora of GPS programs (including commercial ones like TT6, CoPilot6) all work perfectly. I use a whole group of commercial GPS mapping programs in my work - all of them behave seamlessly well.

Darius has possibly misjudged the pricing. Try Clove in the UK.

Now, the infamous "bugs" - for both ROM273 and ROM291:

1) straight out of the box, my phone (even O/S on Roam) worked without hitch or echo (even to the listener). There is a CAB patch on the ETEN user's forum that removes any malfunction anyway. I'm in Aus with a straight Telstra SIM. Most of the bug complaints here, when one examines the detail of the complaints threads on the users forum, are related to transferring locked SIM's from other phones, or other weird efforts like multiple SIM's. Carefully examining the detail of complaint threads is a quite useful way of learning your device.

2) the SMS issue has never surfaced for me at all. From day one, I received and sent messages without hitch. I had to learn whether or not I liked the Zoom SMS utility (I do not), but this is easily turned off. Again, most complaint threads here devolved into doing something a bit weird ( a whole group of complaints turned out to be the particular telco blocking GPRS for its own reasons)

3) there is a default utility called Scenario that ETEN supplies in ROM. Most of the early forum complaints were related to this utility - in particular, it was not widely appreciated that it was running from boot, and most complainants didn't like it's defaults without knowing these were easily changed (or in a lot of cases, that these were even running)

For those in Aus, although ETEN has not marketed the X500 here, Expansys in Melbourne sells the accessories.

The only true CON ?

If it breaks, I have to send it back O/S where I bought it for warranty.

Darius Wey

01-16-2007, 06:35 AM

I may have to hit you up for some tips.

Sure, knock yourself out. :)

Darius Wey

01-16-2007, 06:40 AM

Darius has done a good service review for the X500.

Thanks.

Darius has possibly misjudged the pricing. Try Clove in the UK.

I didn't misjudge it. The indicated price is based on the store featured above - in this case, Expansys. I'm sure if one shops around a bit, they can find it for cheaper.

1) straight out of the box, my phone (even O/S on Roam) worked without hitch or echo (even to the listener)... Most of the bug complaints here, when one examines the detail of the complaints threads on the users forum, are related to transferring locked SIM's from other phones, or other weird efforts like multiple SIM's.

That's a positive sign. Although, I should mention that I tested it with three standard Optus, Vodafone, and Telstra SIMs (none locked and no multiple SIM scenarios), and all were a victim of the echo issue. However, if rumours are to be believed, the next ROM just might solve it.

3) there is a default utility called Scenario that ETEN supplies in ROM. Most of the early forum complaints were related to this utility - in particular, it was not widely appreciated that it was running from boot, and most complainants didn't like it's defaults without knowing these were easily changed (or in a lot of cases, that these were even running)

Fortunately, it can be disabled and/or uninstalled.

phreaker18

01-16-2007, 10:17 AM

Excellent review Darius ..... im looking for it in India.... lets see if i can find it here...

can someone please tell me which GPS softwares have maps for India?

Phoenix

01-16-2007, 01:57 PM

Darius,

I know you mentioned a few things about the design, but I'd like to know whether the shell is mostly plastic or a metal of some sort. Is the only metal found on it just around the screen? I know you mentioned coated plastic covered the front, but I'm curious about the back and sides.

I've heard from others that Eten devices felt cheap in terms of overall build quality, and since I've had my eye on the M700, I'd appreciate hearing more of what your thoughts were on this in a bit more detail.

Darius Wey

01-16-2007, 06:39 PM

I know you mentioned a few things about the design, but I'd like to know whether the shell is mostly plastic or a metal of some sort. Is the only metal found on it just around the screen? I know you mentioned coated plastic covered the front, but I'm curious about the back and sides.

Metal is only located around the screen. Silver coated plastic covers the remaining portion of the front. The sides and the back are covered with hardened rubber.

I've heard from others that Eten devices felt cheap in terms of overall build quality, and since I've had my eye on the M700, I'd appreciate hearing more of what your thoughts were on this in a bit more detail.

The overall build quality of the X500 is very good. It feels very solid in the hand and I've yet to see a scratch on it. In terms of quality, it's definitely a step up from previous E-TEN devices.

mwelch

01-17-2007, 03:47 AM

Anyone know how this compares with the HTC P3300 (Artemis)? Anyone had their hands on both devices and if so, what are your thoughts?

drbgood

01-22-2007, 06:17 AM

I've been using the Glofiish x500 since late November 2006. This little instrument has permitted me to retire (permanently, I'm sure) from my pockets three (3) truly superb devices: a Nokia 3650 phone, an Ipaq 4700, and a Globalstat 339 GPS receiver.

The phone section of the x500 works flawlessly for voice and GPRS/Edge transmissions. All of my PDA based programs work as well on my Glofiish as they did on my Ipaq; and I am absolutely ecstatic with the GPS performance of my Glofiish. I do a great deal of interstate travel throughout the US and the x500/Mapopolis software marriage was made in heaven for me.

I do miss the visual slickness of my Ipaq 4700's large VGA screen, but I've adjusted well to the x500 2.8" QVGA screen's color and font clarity given all of its other most laudable attributes.

I find the built-in camera w/flash to literally be "icing" on a very delicious cake!

Finally, I've encountered none of the bugs with respect to phone voice echo, failure to send or receive messages via MMS/SMS, or inability to receive GPS satellite data that have been widely reported by other early adopters. Best $550 that I've spent on electronic gadgetry in a while!