Windows Mobile Phone Looks Neat, Intimidating, and Odd at the Same Time!

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/11/18/winmo-powered-icephone-comes-to-life-looks-scary/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/...fe-looks-scary/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Edinburgh's own The Medical Phone is just about set to unleash the mobile for the true argonaut in the iCEphone. The Windows Mobile-powered "Swiss Army knife of mobiles" is dubbed a micro-notebook by its manufacturer, and while we're hesitant to go along with that, we can't deny the utility here. Sporting a Jacob's Ladder-style hinge and a full QWERTY keyboard, the unit features three independent panels, a 3-inch 400 x 240 resolution touchscreen, a mouse / tracker pad, dual SIM card slots, HSDPA support, quad-band GSM connectivity, GPS, a 3.1-megapixel camera, WiFi and a 532MHz Freescale iMX31 CPU. We're told that the phone is just weeks / months away from a release in Thailand, and it should be hitting the UK sometime in the March - April time frame for around $1,000."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/ppct/auto/1227111049.usr7.jpg" /></p><p>You can't say this isn't an original form factor, I rarely see something this big and somewhat intimidating with Windows Mobile on it (Well, perhaps the Rugged devices are intimidating somewhat). Anyone think they want to sport one of these next year?</p>

[Ed@Brighthand]

This gizmo gives me the same totally confused expression I once saw on my dog when he was looking at a ceiling fan. Huh?

The third panel makes me think this thing isn't practical, or even usable. Do you hold the keyboard section with one hand and press buttons on the third panel (like SHIFT and RETURN) with the other? And not drop it? Or is it supposed to lie flat on a table?

If someone can explain how this design is usable I'd be happy to hear it. But I'm not coming up with anything.

[Pony99CA]

The third panel makes me think this thing isn't practical, or even usable. Do you hold the keyboard section with one hand and press buttons on the third panel (like SHIFT and RETURN) with the other? And not drop it? Or is it supposed to lie flat on a table?

If someone can explain how this design is usable I'd be happy to hear it. But I'm not coming up with anything.
I'm wondering about that myself. Does the button panel slide under the keyboard when you don't need it? How does this thing close?

Maybe they could make a clamshell device like the HTC Universal and have button panels flip out from the sides of the keyboard (like wings). That would seem to be more practical.

Steve

[Reid Kistler]

Think the "March / April" release date is the clue: Looks like a Wonderful April Fools Joke!

(So, NO, don't see wanting to carry such a beast - let alone Pay for it....)

[JKingGrim]

Hmmm. For a thousand bucks no VGA screen? What about it makes it worth 1000?

[LordFuzzy]

That device is just asking to get broke, dropped, or bent the wrong way. I'll take a pass on this one.

[ucfgrad93]

Looks great to me. Can't wait to get one!;)

[ADBrown]

This gizmo gives me the same totally confused expression I once saw on my dog when he was looking at a ceiling fan. Huh?

(Cackle)

I agree with the consensus of the room: this thing is absurd. I don't care if it's got 20 gigs of memory and can make waffles. (The latter actually seems likely, looking at it.)

[Craig Horlacher]

What should we do Optimus Prime?!?!?! There is a new Decepticon that is unlike anything we have ever seen!!!!!!

[bnycastro]

i like the panic button feature. it calls the doctor, ems. and since it has gps they can find you in an emergency. i think that feature would be good on all devices.

the design is a bit too much for me though. i have 2 sliders [1 of them a slide and tilt] this has too many moving parts.

[kerrins]

Does it come with a trolley?

[bnycastro]

Does it come with a trolley?

i'd prefer if a butler is included :D

[marcmain19]

You couldn't give me that contraption for free! Definitely couldn't convince me to drop $1000 on it!

One good thing is that you wouldn't have to worry about someone mugging you for it. Who would want something that hideous!

[Pony99CA]

You couldn't give me that contraption for free!
Yeah, right. I bet you'd take it if somebody offered it, if only to say you had one. :) It might not be your main device, but why turn it down?

For the record, if they offer me one for free, I'll be happy to try it and report back here. :cool:

Steve

[marcmain19]

Yeah, right. I bet you'd take it if somebody offered it, if only to say you had one. :) It might not be your main device, but why turn it down?
Steve

Well, it if were absolutely free your right. But free phones typically come with a two year contract attached.

"Come here little boy... you want a free phone? All you have to do is be our slave for 2 years and it's all yours."

[Pony99CA]

Well, it if were absolutely free your right. But free phones typically come with a two year contract attached.
Yeah, but those are subsidized phones, not really free. ;)

"Come here little boy... you want a free phone? All you have to do is be our slave for 2 years and it's all yours."
I got my Motorola Q9m for "free" (after rebates and discounts, not including sales tax) and had to re-up for two years with Verizon. But they've never made me pick cotton or clean their stores. :)

Steve

[Restroom]

I get it, and I like it. Sort of. It's a solid foundation: full KB, reasonably large touchscreen, a touchpad, dual slots (though dual mem card slots makes a whole lot more sense), HSDPA/quad-band, integrated GPS, decent camera, WiFi and... http://themedicalphone.com/images/pic-wristmount.gif
Mounting options! That's nifty. That's really nifty.
But what made me register just to post a comment in this stale thread:
CTRL and ALT BUTTONS. How awesome is that? Finally! We can interact with a WinMo device using proper key combo shortcuts and modifiers, instead of this bloody "Fn" dross! Proper computers don't have "Fn" buttons; Apples have "Fn"s!
F'n A!

But retail pricing at a solid thousand? How is it worth that? A thousand dollars?! I can get an XNote or something for that kind of dough.

[Pony99CA]

But what made me register just to post a comment in this stale thread:
CTRL and ALT BUTTONS. How awesome is that? Finally! We can interact with a WinMo device using proper key combo shortcuts and modifiers, instead of this bloody "Fn" dross!
Actually, with Pocket PCs, you've always been able to use Ctrl key shortcuts with the virtual SIP keyboard. Also, my Celio Redfly allows both Ctrl and Alt key actions (although I'm not sure what Alt is good for without a menu bar).

Proper computers don't have "Fn" buttons; Apples have "Fn"s!
So I take it that you don't think many laptops are "proper" computers. :)

Steve