06-14-2005, 02:00 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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A Quick Look at the HP hw6515 Messenger
Some of you may recall this thread regarding the delayed release date for this hw6515 device, I am now hearing that the release will actually be much sooner than the reported November date. The hw6515 will originally ship in late-July with WM2003SE, but will be re-released with Windows Mobile 5 in early 2006. The device reviewed here is a pre-production version of the hw6515 with WM2003SE. The sister-model, hw6715 (same specifications except with WiFi), will ship in early 2006.
I recently had the opportunity to test the HP hw6515 device. Unfortunately, this was a pre-production unit without the GPS support, so I didn't get to preview the one feature I was most curious about. Overall, the device provides a good medium-point between users who want more power than the standard MS Smartphone, but still want the convenience of hardware-based alphanumeric text input capability (in this case, the thumbpad) without going overboard on size and weight. This review is not a thorough review by any means. I only wish to provide my impressions in using the device for the limited time I had it. Additionally, some of the comparison photographs are a bit blurry. I apologize ahead of time as I didn't have my regular digital camera handy when I had the competing RIM and Treo devices in my possession (I had to resort to my phone camera instead). With that, please read on for my humble impressions along with a handful of screenshots and comparison photos.
Figure 1: Today screen with PocketPlus... you can see the screen is cramped even with minimal information.
Figure 2: PocketInformant displays without any issues.
The obvious sacrifice with the hw6515 is the QVGA-quality square-resolution screen. I wasn't quite as bothered by the QVGA-class resolution as I thought I would be. However, on the downside, it does feel obvious that the WM2003 OS platform wasn't built with this square-aspect ratio in mind; I found myself having to scroll vertically through screens that shouldn't require it. I didn't have the luxury of time to fully test this device with every PocketPC application I own. Instead, I focused my testing on a few key applications that I use most often. Amongst that group, all were 100% functional with the square screens (you'll see from the screenshots how PIE, PI, ListPro, PocketPlus, and PocketMusic all display). The thumbpad takes time to adjust to as the keys are very small (I would expect this to be the case for any thumbpad device), but once I adapted, it was nice to be able to enter text without needing my stylus. While FITALY input is still the faster method of input for me, the thumbpad proved to be the easier method of input as it doesn't require the same level of precision / concentration as FITALY and the learning curve was obviously short. I should mention though that there were occasional instances where I had to rely on the SIP keyboard to input specific characters (such as the backslash character).
Figure 3: No problems with ListPro either.
Figure 4: You really need an app like PocketPlus to help maximize the screen real-estate for PIE. BTW, is there any surprise that the post you see is from Darius? The man is a posting-machine!
As a phone device, the hw6515's sound quality was surprisingly clear both in speaking and listening. Operating this device with my Bluetooth headset worked exactly as it should, in both bonding and in standard use. The screen visibility without the backlight is better than most backlit-reflective devices. It's certainly much easier to read (without the backlight) than my current hx4705 and it's almost as good as my old sidelit-reflective iPaq 3870. This may sound trivial, but what it means is that within most environments with adequate lighting, I could comfortably use the device without the backlight, allowing me to conserve battery should I ever need to. In terms of size and weight, the device is lighter and smaller than I had expected (see the comparison shots below with the RIM Blackberry 7230 and Treo 600). Finally, this device is an EDGE-GPRS-enabled device. As a T-Mobile user, I've never tested out EDGE speeds before now, so this was a point of curiosity for me as well. For those of you in the same boat as I, allow me to ensure you that the speed difference between the EDGE connection and a standard GPRS connection was VERY noticeable.
Figure 5: PocketMusic worked surprisingly well. You can't see as much information as one of the sub-windows will be minimized. Given the limitations though, the program displayed as it should.
Figure 6: You can toggle Bluetooth and/or the phone signal on or off
Overall, HP seems to have done fairly well here. I don't see this as being the right device for power-users (which is probably 90% of the reading audience here at PPCT). The sacrifices in screen resolution and aspect ratio would be too much for most of us to accept, but for regular consumers who wants a reasonably pocketable convergence device with hardware input and basic PocketPC functionality, this would be a tough option to pass up. From an enterprise point-of-view, it's not quite a RIM-killer due to the lack of push-email support and due to the lack of elegance in which WM2003 handles square-aspect screens. Once this device is re-released with Windows Mobile 5, I would expect this to be a much more compelling solution.
Figure 7: Here's the dialer.
Figure 8: Holding down the power-button reveals a profiles menu with a variety of options.
Figure 9: The hw6515 side-by-side with my hx4705. Can you tell the screen is easier to read on the hw6515 without the backlight?
Figure 10: Standard view - from left-to-right: Treo 600, HP hw6515, RIM Blackberry 7230.
Figure 11: Side view - from top-to-bottom: RIM Blackberry 7230, Treo 600, HP hw6515.
Figure 12: Top view - from top-to-bottom: RIM Blackberry 7230, Treo 600, HP hw6515.
Figure 12: Bottom view - from top-to-bottom: RIM Blackberry 7230, Treo 600, HP hw6515.
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06-14-2005, 02:24 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 318
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Ekkie,
Thanks for the great insight into the 65xx series.
One question, did you try playing music over the BT connection?
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06-14-2005, 02:50 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,734
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Another question: Could you voice dial using BT?
BTW, completely of topic, those are surprisingly good photos for a phone camera. Who says those things aren't handy.
Surur
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06-14-2005, 03:17 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 516
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How about some samples of pictures taken with the camera? BTW, that's a Treo 600, not a Treo 650, in those pictures. And because of that, I'm not sure I'd bother doing comparison shots with that (the Treo 600's camera is awful, the 650's camera is much better, but still awful).
Where is the news of the WM5 update coming from? Will there be an official announcement about this? I'd hate to buy one of these expecting an update that may not come to pass. Thanks.
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Tapland
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06-14-2005, 04:58 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by carphead
One question, did you try playing music over the BT connection?
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Unfortunately not. I don't own any BT audio devices... only my standard headset used for making/receiving calls.
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Originally Posted by Surur
Another question: Could you voice dial using BT?
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I was unable to locate any support for voice-dialing (having checked both the contacts menus and the system menu). That's a great question as I could see this actually be a glaring omission for some folks.
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Originally Posted by Surur
BTW, completely of topic, those are surprisingly good photos for a phone camera. Who says those things aren't handy.
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You're absolutely right. Those shots come from my Motorola v635. The quality of the photographs from the v635 is heads-and-shoulders above my previous camera phones (Nokia 3650, SE T610, SE K700i). It's a 1.3Mpx camera and I actually had to resize those shots (originally 1280x960) and ratchet down the compression to make them as web-friendly as possible. The only weakness (as you can see) is that the phone seems to have a hard time focusing in on close objects, but overall, this is the first camera phone I've owned that was actually functional as a camera.
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Originally Posted by Scott R
How about some samples of pictures taken with the camera? BTW, that's a Treo 600, not a Treo 650, in those pictures. And because of that, I'm not sure I'd bother doing comparison shots with that (the Treo 600's camera is awful, the 650's camera is much better, but still awful).
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Thanks for the correction! I've updated the article.
As for sample photographs, that's an omission on my part. I'm not in the habit of paying attention to camera capabilities on PDAs or phones, so I neglected to take any samples. Sorry about that.
BTW, that reminds me, my sources also tell me that customers will have the option of ordering this device with or without camera (Jonathon Watkins, are you listening?  ).
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Originally Posted by Scott R
Where is the news of the WM5 update coming from? Will there be an official announcement about this? I'd hate to buy one of these expecting an update that may not come to pass. Thanks.
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The information that I reported above is strictly based on my sources internal to HP. There's no official announcement that I know of.
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06-14-2005, 06:32 PM
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Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ekkie Tepsupornchai
BTW, that reminds me, my sources also tell me that customers will have the option of ordering this device with or without camera (Jonathon Watkins, are you listening? ). |
It's just not Jonathan. It would be a non-starter for me with a camera in it, though the rest of the device is compelling. I spend a good deal of time in places I cannot take a camera. I used to leave my T610 and now my SMT5600 in the car at these facilities. No biggie, the cell phone didn't work in those places anyway. I can take my PPC in which has all my reference material, contacts, calendar, notepad etc. If my PPC has a camera I would lose it's functionality entirely as it too would be in the car.
If you think it's silly that I can take in a PPC or a phone as long as it doesn't have a camera, I don't disagree. I don't make the rules, I just have to follow them. I'm not campaigning to have cameras abolished. I just wouldn't even condsider the device if it has one, because it doesn't improve anything for me over the two device situation I'm in now. I appreciate the choice, it opens up the possibility for me.
__________________
Sometimes you are the anteater, sometimes you are the ant.
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06-14-2005, 07:33 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Sven
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ekkie Tepsupornchai
BTW, that reminds me, my sources also tell me that customers will have the option of ordering this device with or without camera (Jonathon Watkins, are you listening? ). |
It's just not Jonathan. |
It's not just you and Jonathon either. I'm actually in total agreement for the same reasons (see my comments in the thread Use of Embedded Camera Lands Man in Jail). I'm teasing Jonathon b/c he's the one the most vocal with regards to this topic and consequently, takes the most backlash from those who don't agree.
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06-15-2005, 03:29 AM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 866
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Great device. It is such a shame HP didn't use a 320x320 screen in it. Then I would actaully have a better screen than other devices. Here we are with new VGA devices coming out (after far to long) and HP brings out a 240x240 screen. Thats going backwards in my opinion. 320x320 would make is able to run normal PPC apps, ones that won't stretch to the sides could just have bars on the sides.
Otherwise, a very nice device. I have heard that there is another version that has WiFi too (does is still have GPS though?), but ditches the SD slot. I'd rather loose the minisd than the full SD.
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06-15-2005, 06:52 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 49
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The buttons menu in setup should tell you if you can voice dial via bluetooth. I'm using an E-ten m500, which offers voice dial via bluetooth support and I have an extra button mapping in the buttons section that says bluetooth headset button. That way you can activate the voice command with the bluetooth headset button, whether or not the operating system offers built in voice command or not.
What Bluetooth profiles does the unit have? Does it have the Advanced Audio Profile?
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06-15-2005, 07:31 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2
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hw6515
Nice review Ekkie. I am a glutton for convergence devices and hw6515 seemed manna from heaven when I first heard about it. Key functions I look forward to include the camera (always available), GPS (must have) & BT (to link a full keyboard). However, I have heard some criticism elsewhere about its sluggish processor. Did you get a feel for the Messenger's multitasking? I noted that your model did not have a GPS, but a lazy processor would dampen my ethusiasm for its use as a GPS navigator. I use a Nokia 5140 with a GPS shell and that is a primitive combination (no download of data, difficult to load maps, etc.). I shall watch this space for your next review with its GPS functionality.
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Linear Mode
