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Review of HTC's X7510 Advantage Smartphone
An anonymous reader writes "DigitalBurn.com has posted a review of HTC's new X7510 Advantage smartphone. It is technically a smartphone, but looks more like a small laptop since it has a 5" VGA touchscreen display. Other features include tri-band HDSPA 3G data, a 3 megapixel auto-focus camera, a magnetically attached QWERTY keyboard, and a full-blown Opera 9 web browser. It can even be hooked up to a TV or external monitor/projector."
Not to be funny or troll, but honestly -- this seems to do a whole bunch of things, but I can't imagine that it does any of them particularly well. Then again, I don't even use all the features on my verizon-locked motrolola krazer. It least it fits nicely in my pocket.
Quick, and hard...
I can bet this thing will almost certainly flop when it comes to market. Heck, even the US rebate check isn't enough to cover the cost of one of these!
Whats the battery life?
By Michael Oryl â May 21, 2008
The HTC X7510 Advantage is a hard device to label. Technically it is a smartphone, because it runs the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional OS and has the ability to make voice calls. But the fact that calls can only be made with the built-in speakerphone or a headset hint at the fact that it was not designed primarily as a voice device. Its size drives the point home even further, since it weighs as much as 3 normal sized smartphones at 375g (13.2oz). Thatâ(TM)s a lot of hardware, no question.
So what is the Advantage? It is a media and data-centric device that also happens to make calls. Think of it as one part smartphone, one part laptop, and a dash of media player voodoo for good measure. Its 134mm x 98mm x 20.5mm (5.3â x 3.9â x .8â) size without the keyboard means it is pocketable, but only barely. Compared to a laptop computer, though, the Advantage will run for hours without a charge (300 hours of standby, 5-6 hours of talk time) and can be easily toted around. And it can make that emergency phone call if you need it to.
The X7510â(TM)s large 5â VGA resolution touchscreen display is great for web browsing or video watching. The included Opera 9 browser makes the most of the huge touchscreen, allowing users to scroll with a finger or stylus and double tap to zoom in or out. It is a true laptop-like browsing experience, though perhaps a bit less zippy at times.
The zip factor depends largely on how the Advantage is getting its connectivity. On WiFi or an HDSPA 3G network (850/1900/2100MHz), it is pretty quick. HSDPA can provide 1000Kbps data downloads, while WiFi can double that as long as the X7510â(TM)s 624MHz processor and generous 128MB of RAM arenâ(TM)t juggling too many other tasks. If there is no high speed data available, youâ(TM)ll be stuck with quad-band GSM/EDGE support and sub-100Kbps download speeds. That might not be awe inspiring, but it will keep you in touch with the world. it is worth mentioning that the Opera 9 browser appears to ignore the WiFi connection if the WiFi system was enabled after Opera was already running, which is unlike how the Pocket IE and other apps behave.
Of course there is more to a device like the Advantage than just downloading web pages. Sometimes you need to give back a little. To that end, Advantage users can create and edit Word, Excel, and OneNote documents, and view PowerPoint presentations. To get the most of such abilities, though, you need more than the Windows Mobile on-screen QWERTY keyboard. Thatâ(TM)s where the X7510â(TM)s 104g (3.7oz) detachable keyboard comes in. It connects to the main body of the Advantage through a few brass contacts, and the keyboard is held in place with a pretty strong magnet. I am always surprised at how easy it is to get the keyboard into position - it just wants to go to the right place on its own.
Compared to the earlier Advantages, the keyboard that comes with the X7510 is quite different. For starters, the keys are molded into the top membrane of the keyboard (think Atari 400 for those of you old enough to remember back that far). There are ridges that separate each key, and a soft click and accompanying vibration greet each key press. It seems that the sound itself is somehow causing the haptic vibration, and as such there is no way to get the reassuring vibration feedback when the keyboard sound is muted. The click might be annoying to others when in a quiet room, but when there is any kind of ambient noise around at all, nobody will be the wiser.
Like all Windows Mobile smartphones, the X7510 Advantage supports over the air synchronization of email, contacts, tasks, and calendar appointments when linked up to a Microsoft Exchange server. I use a hosted Exchange account for email, and I love having push email delivered to the Advantage. It supports other push email systems when loaded with the appropriate software, and can also
This product is way too big to be marketed as a smart phone. The concept behind the whole PDA/smartphone market is portability. Anything that cannot fit in my pocket does not fall into the portable category.....
FOXTROT UNIFORM CHARLIE KILO
Am I the only one who sees a problem with a magnetically attached keyboard?
09-F9-11-02-9D-74-E3-5B-D8-41-56-C5-63-56-88-C0
Athena/Advantage. Used to come with a - get this - 8 GB hard disk. Then in v2 that was 8 GB Flash card and soon after what it has today in v2.5. The margins are huge on these so selling a "few" still reaps big returns.
It's a laptop with a "phone" feature.
The price is always right if someone else is paying.
... master of none. Sure it's a nice gadget, but let's see, too big for a phone, won't fit in a pocket, and too small to be really practical as a "sublaptop", I don't see anyone working for hours on that keyboard. Fringe market, even in a professional settings. Only useful for showing off, I guess.
Like HTC's earlier similar product, the Universal, for which there are now several unofficial GNU/Linux distributions, including even a way to run a Debian port almost unmodified. However, there is no cooperation from the vendor at all, so if you want to support a company which invests in Free Software, better check out Nokia n800/n810 or that OpenMoko phone.
If it didn't cost your soul and left nut it might have been a nice ebook reader. No thanks. I'll keep my nokia, T5, and nikon for all that it does.
Supporting World Peace Through Nuclear Pacification
A third altogether possible option is that there is a significant union between both of the above sets.
How in the name of blue fuck does a handheld device with a fold-open screen and a full keyboard, no native 'traditional' phone mode even remotely represent someone trying to copy the (All Hail The Apparently Omnipotent) iPhone?
It is interesting that all of these reviewers own a camcorder and review tons of high tech gadgets, presumably for a salary, on a consistant basis. Why do none of them ever use a tripod?
I stopped reading the article after the first sentence. Who in the hell would actually want a Windows Mobile device. They are the most unstable, poor performing, ugly UI phones on the planet. (Next to Verizon's mods of course)
It runs Windows Mobile, the least reliable operating system ever made. It will probably reboot during phone calls like my Dopod 838 Pro does every day. And I bet using the data connection for any length of time causes it to loose network ability until it's rebooted again.
:/
Now, if it were running XP Embedded or even full blown XP, I'd want one. But seriously, Windows Mobile is useless for anything other than jotting down notes. And even then sooner or later it will want to be hard-reset and you will lose them.
EEEPC with a Data Card? Seems the remind me more of that then a cell phone. Not saying it's bad thing though. I never could get too much into the smart phone thing. Ever new phone I get breaks faster then the last. Personally I miss my Nokia 5180... cause man that thing could place calls, had a basic calculator and that was about it. But if an H-bomb went off, it would still make and receive calls! God I am old ;~(
Did they provide video drivers on this one, or is it like the Tytn II model, which had no drivers even though the hardware exists??
-> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_TyTN_II#Video_Driver_Issues
Mod points are a dangerous tool. Abuse them wisely.
I will be up front and admit I am a fan boy. However, I have owned quite a large number of phones over the years. I tend to upgrade phones every 3 - 6 months, and I am a total geek when it comes to cool phones. After using the iPhone since launch day, it has been by far the most enjoyable experience I have ever had with a phone. I am not saying that lightly.
Yes, I have had to reboot it 3 times or so. But thats a drop in the bucket compared to other smart phones. A co-worker has a Windows Mobile phone that she has to reboot daily or it stops accepting incoming calls. I had a Treo 700p that required hard resets every 2 - 3 weeks and had Verizon replace the phone, 7 times (iirc).
HTC makes some cool stuff, but nothing interesting until Android is released.
Windows Mobile is a dying breed. The iPhone is here to stay, and I think Android is going to make a major dent when it comes along.
until (succeed) try { again(); }
Oh, I understand. Don't get me wrong, I don't think WM is amazing. In fact, I tried a couple of HTC phones, and whilst initially liking them, found the frustrations too much to put up with - I'm also a phone upgrader extraordinaire. I have only tried the iPhone for a few hours, and am willing to concede that many people claim it takes a few days to get into the habit of, but for me, for now, I'm happy with my Nokia N95. Also with its flaws and peccadilloes, but it does what I want, and well.
The author states:
"So what is wrong with the X7510? Well, since it has the raw capability, would it really have hurt to let people use it as a regular phone in a pinch, without a headset? It seems to me that this would have been a relatively minor tweak, though I imagine it was left out so as to position the Advantage as a non-voice device first and foremost - but I think it was a mistake."
It seems the manufacturer has answered the question of "What is it?" in a way, by requiring a second piece of equipment to effectively use the phone part.
The HTC X7510 has specifications that seem to limit its market. The weight is an issue when holding the phone up unless a bluetooth headset is used. The size of it doesn't allow it be carried in pocket. The 3 megapixel camera is not powerful enough to compete with competitor's higher resolutions. The WIFI is not always useful in rural areas. The keyboard is not efficient and overlaps the handwriting recognizing technology.
Why not look at the Nokia N810 with WiMAX instead. They have almost identical features and the N810 is Linux based. I have the standard N810 and love it. GPS, Bluetooth, memory slot, Wifi and a keyboard with a nice 800x480 screen, mozilla browser supporting flash 9, skype for calling (or other similar voip progs work), along with full media capabilities and such. This is one of those, why spend twice as much when the N810 does more already. You can pick up the Nokia off Ebay for about 300-350 too. I would definately go with the N810 for the keyboard myself, and an external portable bluetooth keyboard is a nice add on for when you want to have a mobile platform that is easier to do email and stuff with.
Because they removed the control key.
... though battery life is a wee bit limited with a BT headset and email polling and a blast of mp3 to/from work
Lack of a control and escape key makes this potentially useful device annoyingly limited (for me)
I have a T-Mobile Ameo, and I love it
Oh, look, nice picture. ..." *click* (closes the tab)
"The HTC X7510 Advantage is a hard device to label. Technically it is a smartphone, because it runs the Windows Mobile 6.1 Profes
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
Another "neat" but not impressive device.
I wonder who honestly wants to view Windows Mobile on a full-size monitor?
rm -rf
Yes, Windows Mobile is kind of clunky, and it lacks some patented gestures like the pinch zoom. But I can actually replace the bits of it that I don't like, unlike certain offerings from Apple. And Windows Mobile 7, which will probably be out some time next year, will include some of Microsoft's patented gestures which Apple can't use either. (I really think it'd be a better world for everyone if the patents didn't exist, but that's another story.)