10-05-2006, 04:00 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Cingular 8525 Gets Closer to Release
There's always the telltale signs when a device starts nearing release -- namely, more blurry pics of the device found in the wild. (Seriously, will someone teach the world how to use macro mode? It's not hard!) This is also the case with the Cingular 8525; Engadget Mobile reports a sighting of the device on, and live.
There's another shot on Engadget Mobile's site that clearly shows Cingular's logo. Timeframe? Rumored to be within the next 30 days. I'm seriously tempted to get one of these. 
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10-05-2006, 04:31 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 172
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If you get one, I'd love to see your review. This is the one I'm thinking seriously about. Tried to get in on the beta of it, but was too late in showing my interest in it (approval is still pending but not likely happen with release so near). With the beefed up specs from the 8125, I'm pretty sure this one would meet my PDA needs, so I'd personally be most interested in reviews of phone quality and the 3G network.
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10-05-2006, 04:52 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 114
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by bvkeen
If you get one, I'd love to see your review. This is the one I'm thinking seriously about. Tried to get in on the beta of it, but was too late in showing my interest in it (approval is still pending but not likely happen with release so near). With the beefed up specs from the 8125, I'm pretty sure this one would meet my PDA needs, so I'd personally be most interested in reviews of phone quality and the 3G network.
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I believe this is the same (or slightly modified) as the HTC TyTN, which I have had on the Cingular Network for almost a month now. Overall, I'm not all that impressed, but that may be because I switched to it from a PalmOS Treo. I've gotta say, even at 400 MHz, compared to the old Treo 600, this device is SLOW, buggy (hangs a lot), freezes requiring resets, and is far more difficult to use. I suppose I should have expected that (kinda like the switch from MacOS to Windows....), but overall my experience with the TyTN has been disappointing. I'll keep it, and start looking around for 3rd party apps to lay on to make it more user friendly.
Since you're probably used to the oddities of a WM5 device, then the annoying things for you would be the MicroSD (I mean really, am sure they could have fit an SD in there), the system hangs (unless that's normal for WM5), and the ridiculous fact that if you want a wired headset, you're stuck with a proprietary connector, and can't charge and talk at the same time! It really FORCES you to get a BT headset.
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10-05-2006, 05:12 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 35
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Quote:
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I've gotta say, even at 400 MHz, compared to the old Treo 600, this device is SLOW, buggy (hangs a lot), freezes requiring resets, and is far more difficult to use. I suppose I should have expected that (kinda like the switch from MacOS to Windows....), but overall my experience with the TyTN has been disappointing.
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Why oh why did you switch?
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10-05-2006, 05:22 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 114
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Originally Posted by bmcbride_81
Why oh why did you switch?
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Well, several reasons:
1. My Treo600 died, and our group uses a lot of WM5 software for demo purposes.
2. I travel international a bit, and thus a GSM cell was a good idea
3. Unfortunately Sprint does not have coverage in either Yosemite or up at the ski area I go to, making weekends all year long a complete communications blackout
Don't get me wrong, Sprint has horrible customer service, but I'm finding out quickly that the same goes for Cingular. And for the record, Cingular drops my calls even MORE than Sprint, although I didn't think that would be possible.
On the bright side, tethering the TyTN on a UTMS connection makes for a slow but usable modem option. Oh, and on a UTMS connection, Skype for PPC actually works, which is nice for international calls wth SkypeOut. Doesn't work for crap on a regular 3G connection though. Haven't used any of this for almost two weeks though as Cingular has screwed up my data plan and hasn't been able to get it working again yet...
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10-05-2006, 05:28 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 172
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Quote:
I believe this is the same (or slightly modified) as the HTC TyTN, which I have had on the Cingular Network for almost a month now. Overall, I'm not all that impressed, but that may be because I switched to it from a PalmOS Treo. I've gotta say, even at 400 MHz, compared to the old Treo 600, this device is SLOW, buggy (hangs a lot), freezes requiring resets, and is far more difficult to use. I suppose I should have expected that (kinda like the switch from MacOS to Windows....), but overall my experience with the TyTN has been disappointing. I'll keep it, and start looking around for 3rd party apps to lay on to make it more user friendly.
Since you're probably used to the oddities of a WM5 device, then the annoying things for you would be the MicroSD (I mean really, am sure they could have fit an SD in there), the system hangs (unless that's normal for WM5), and the ridiculous fact that if you want a wired headset, you're stuck with a proprietary connector, and can't charge and talk at the same time! It really FORCES you to get a BT headset.
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Hmmm, sounds like I at least ought to start thinking about what else to do with the money. Will keep my eyes open for other reviews. As for the overall speed, I had gotten somewhat accustomed to a bit more slowness when I had a 700w with Verizon (only very recently sold it off), and I didn't really have very many problems with WM5, except for intial activesync and appointment alarm problems (former fixed with 4.1, latter fixed with MemMaid). I'm not thrilled with WM5, but did get accustomed to it - it does have some advantages. But, I can understand your disappointment after switching from a 650: that was the best phone I ever had. Shame it couldn't multi-task.
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10-05-2006, 05:31 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by kzemach
I believe this is the same (or slightly modified) as the HTC TyTN, which I have had on the Cingular Network for almost a month now.
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Well, keep in mind that the ROM on the TyTN may differ from the Cingular one; fixes may have been issued; that's one reason I generally wait for the carrier's release. There's also the possibility that applications may be interfering with your device's stability. I have to say that none of my WM devices in the last 5 years froze more than once a month on average (unless RAM was at a premium, as it is sometimes on the Treo). I also have had zero speed issues with my 312MHz Treo.
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the MicroSD (I mean really, am sure they could have fit an SD in there)
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It is annoying, but I'll deal with it. microSD prices are dropping anyway.
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the system hangs (unless that's normal for WM5)
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It's not. My Treo is generally quite stable on a day-to-day basis. Either there's a problem with your ROM, the device, or an application being used on it.
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and the ridiculous fact that if you want a wired headset, you're stuck with a proprietary connector, and can't charge and talk at the same time!
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Hmm. The lack of a headset port is a little unfortunate, although I presume you can find an adapter. Since I have a Bluetooth headset anyway, which I find far more convenient, I use that.
--janak
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10-05-2006, 06:19 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 143
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Re: Cingular 8525 Gets Closer to Release
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
Engadget Mobile reports a sighting of the device on, and live.
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how do u define "live"? if u look carefully at the screen, there is no SIM CARD inside the 8525?? y is that?
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10-05-2006, 06:38 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 114
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
Well, keep in mind that the ROM on the TyTN may differ from the Cingular one; fixes may have been issued; that's one reason I generally wait for the carrier's release. There's also the possibility that applications may be interfering with your device's stability. I have to say that none of my WM devices in the last 5 years froze more than once a month on average (unless RAM was at a premium, as it is sometimes on the Treo). I also have had zero speed issues with my 312MHz Treo.
--janak
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Janek-
Interesting thought. For the first several weeks I added ONE, and only one program: coPilot for GPS tracking/mapping. All the hangs and required resets happen in the standard applications, such as address book and calendar. I have to be very careful not to try to open one, then the other too quickly. There are also sometimes delays of more than 10 seconds for the screen to rotate when I'm in Contacts. Sometimes not. I have now added a second program (BatMemTime), and that's it so far.
So perhaps you're correct that Cingular has made mods and corrections... it sure needs it.
Then there are the other annoying WM5 things which make you wonder if anyone at MS actually usese the OS. For instance, on the Today screen, the upper right hand button (below the screen) maps to open the contacts, whereas the left opens calendar. If I open the phone app, the left button is now the contacts, and the right the Menu. In another view of the phone software, the contacts mode moves to a soft button, and the left hardware key turns to something else. I realize I'm being really nitpicky here, but why not keep a consistent access button for the contacts, instead of moving it all over the place depending upon what screen you're on? The left/right switch alone is annoying.
One other thing I hope the fixed on the Cingular is the backlighting on the keyboard. Say it's dark, and I want to type in a contact to look for them. So I open the contacts, and THEN (this is apparently what I shouldn't do) slide open the keyboard to type in a contact name. But the keyboard doesn't light up until you press a key, but since it's dark, inevitably, the first key you hit will be the wrong one. Luckily, the keyboard lights up at this point, so you can find and hit the delete key and then type the key you wanted to.... If I open the keyboard, it's really likely I'm going to USE IT, so why not light it up? I find stuff like this pretty annoying.
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10-05-2006, 06:40 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by bvkeen
If you get one, I'd love to see your review.
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Me too. :lol: It may happen, but I have to be honest: it may take some time. I'll be getting a new job in January if things go as planned, and I'll probably do a carrier switch, etc., at that point, making sure my phone works both at work and at home.
--janak
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Linear Mode
