Pocket PC magazine, Apr/May 2004
Page 4
(above) The Bluetooth-enabled Smart car.
The Smart car is a small, economical car ideal for driving around big cities and squeezing into the smallest parking space imaginable. It is equipped with a “dual gearbox,” meaning you can drive it in automatic OR manual. Its Electronic Stability Program (ESP) has an advanced safety program which uses onboard sensors to recognize certain dangerous situations and react to them in a timely manner. For example, when it spins or loses road contact, ESP is able to moderate the engine power and selectively brake individual wheels to stabilize the car and bring it back on track.
The technology doesn’t stop there. Hidden in the car’s body is Bluetooth wireless technology. When you receive a call on a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone or Smartphone, the call is directed through the microphone and speakers in the car. Using voice-recognition capability built into your PDA or your mobile phone, you can answer calls and make new ones while keeping your hands on the wheel.
Bluetooth works by using a wide range of radio frequencies, allowing it to transmit different types of data (text, sound, graphics, etc.) to other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Since the technology has worldwide compatibility, many global manufactures are integrating it into their everyday products, from mobile phones (Sony, Motorola) to computers (Apple, HP) and even cars (Smart).
Hands-free phones with Voice Command
Microsoft has unveiled a brand-new application for Windows Mobile 2003 and Pocket PC Phone Edition devices. Voice Command offers hands-free voice interaction with applications on your Windows Mobile device such as Contacts, Calendar, and Windows Media Player.
Voice Command uses Microsoft’s latest phonetic speech-recognition technology. While most voice-controlled software today requires you to deliver rather unnatural verbal commands, Microsoft claims that Voice Command will allow you to use natural language. For example, you could make a call by saying “Call office,” or by speaking out a phone number. Voice-controlled Calendar lookup lets you check appointments by asking your Pocket PC, “What’s my next meeting?” or “What’s happening today?” Voice Command would then read the time, subject, and location of each appointment to you. Windows Media Player can also be controlled by voice commands, allowing you to navigate through your music by album, artist, or genre by uttering commands such as “Play Elvis” or “Next track.” Last of all, you can control your Pocket PC’s application launcher by voice, opening any program, including satellite navigation, by voice command.
Voice Command is available for $39.95 directly from Microsoft’s Website (http://www.microsoft.com)
The Orange SPV E200 Windows Mobile Smartphone
When you’re not driving, a Smartphone gives you the best of both worlds by combining most of the functionality of a Pocket PC and that of a mobile phone in one device.
Orange has been the biggest supporter of Microsoft’s Smartphone platform, releasing three versions of the SPV as well as Motorola’s MPx200. The SPV E200 is the newest Smartphone and is a little like its baby brother the E100, but with a few cosmetic changes and two big new features.
The two major changes to the phone are the addition of an integrated digital camera with both still and video modes, and built-in Bluetooth capability.
The minor cosmetic changes to the SPV are new button keys, a re-designed joystick, and the addition of screen backlighting. The phone has a sleek, ergonomic design, and weighs a barely noticeable 130 grams (5.6 oz). The 200 x 76 pixel, 16-bit transflective screen is one of the best displays on any phone on the market. It offers amazing colors, superb brightness, and stunning resolution (ideal for viewing pictures!). The camera is also one of the best, producing amazing, clear, and colorful pictures. You can even change the settings quickly to handle “dark” picture situations (e.g., in a dim restaurant). The camera is fairly easy to use, even though there is no shortcut key for the camera such as many other camera phones have (e.g., Sony’s T610). While the video feature is a great piece of gadgetry, the current version does not record sound with the video. Hopefully, the next wave of Smartphones will.
The keypad is easy to use, with well-spaced, responsive keys. The power, voice recorder, and volume buttons are found on the left side of the Smartphone. (Be careful not to switch the voice recorder on by accident!) A small LED in the top left-hand corner of the SPV E200’s face flashes green every couple of seconds when the phone is receiving a GSM signal. The same LED glows green when charging and flashes blue when Bluetooth is activated.
The Orange SPV E200 ships with a cradle for charging its lithium-ion battery, and for synchronizing data with a PC. It sports an SD/MMC slot for memory expansion, and Orange thoughtfully includes an 8 MB SD card to get you started!
The built-in Bluetooth capability allows you to sync with a desktop PC or with a network that’s equipped with a Bluetooth access point. You can also use this capability to use a Bluetooth-enabled headset, or to beam files between the E200 and another Bluetooth-enabled device. And unlike infrared beaming, Bluetooth communication does not have to be line-of-sight. All settings are pre-configured by Orange, ready to use as soon as you remove the E200 from its box. Having integrated Bluetooth places the E200 on the same level as phones from Nokia and Sony Ericsson.
The decision to include a digital camera and Bluetooth capability may have made the E200 more attractive to consumers, but those features require extra power. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery is unfortunately not big enough! If you use these features a lot, they will eat the battery power fast. If you forget to charge the battery for one day, you will be in trouble.
The E200 runs on Microsoft’s newest Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone operating system, which is much faster than earlier versions. I have used both 2002 and 2003 versions and definitely prefer the 2003 platform. As with previous versions of the SPV, the E200 ships with version 3.7 of the ActiveSync desktop PC synchronization program, as well as a desktop PC version of Microsoft Outlook.
The E200 is the best SPV so far, beginning with the already successful platform and adding Bluetooth capability, the best camera in its class, a better screen, and some impressive design changes. The battery life problem can be easily solved with daily charging. Other than that small fault, the E200 is highly recommended.
Windows Mobile 2003 enhancements
Windows Mobile 2003 improves core elements of the Pocket PC software, making it easier to connect to a variety of wireless networks. Features include automatic detection and connection to Wi-Fi and personal area networks, and native support for Bluetooth and e-mail synchronization through integration with Microsoft’s Exchange Server 2003. Windows Media 9 audio and video technology has been integrated into the Windows Mobile version of Media Player. In addition, Microsoft has introduced Movie Maker 2 and Plus! Photo Story, the desktop PC applications that let you create home movies and digital photo albums that you can play on your Windows Mobile device. Finally, Plus! Sync & Go lets you synchronize content from the Internet to your desktop PC, and from your desktop to your Pocket PC or Smartphone.
Windows Mobile 2003 also includes integrated support for the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework, providing enterprise developers, ISVs, and solution providers with an application development platform that can take full advantage of Web services.
Microsoft has also announced two new manufacturers for the Windows Mobile platform. Gateway and JVC will introduce new Pocket PCs later this year, joining HP, Dell, Toshiba, Fujitsu Siemens, ASUSTeK, ViewSonic, and other Windows Mobile equipment manufacturers.
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Becky Benfield is co-owner of Pocket PC Life (http://www.pocketpclife.co.uk), a leading European PDA review site. She has won many high-profile UK business awards including Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2002. In addition to PPCL, Becky runs and owns several other companies within her Utterly Group. A newcomer to the PDA world, Becky is learning fast and now can’t seem to live without her PDA organizing her life! Becky can be contacted at becky@pocketpclife.co.uk
The E-TEN P30
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The smallest Pocket PC with an integrated phone is now available in the U.S.
by Diane Dumas
The E-TEN P300 is the latest of a number of innovative convergent devices to hit the U.S. consumer market. The P300 has the smallest form factor yet for a Windows Mobile Pocket PC with integrated phone. In addition to this, its excellent ergonomics and attractive trim have made it a hit with most of the staff here at the magazine. (I can’t count how many times I’ve heard, “Where can I get one?” or “I want one!”) If you carry a cell phone and a Pocket PC, but haven’t been attracted to the larger and heavier Phone Edition Pocket PCs, the P300 may be just what you need.
Smaller screen
One of the first things you notice about the P300 is its smaller display. It has the same 320x240-pixel resolution as a standard Pocket PC screen, but a diagonal measurement of only 2.8 inches. Other Pocket PCs have 3.5- to 4-inch screens. Since this is a Pocket PC and not a Smartphone, the display is a touchscreen. You can use a stylus or your finger to access functions and input information by tapping on it. The screen is recessed from the front surface of the device, which provides a little more protection and helps to insure that your face doesn’t touch the screen and accidentally activate a function while you’re talking to someone. The display uses transflective technology, making it very readable inside and reasonably so outdoors. The latter is a necessity for everyday phone use. The P300 has a 12-bit color screen that is capable of displaying 4,096 colors. It looks a little washed out when compared with the 16-bit, 65,000-color displays found on most Pocket PCs.
“Unlocked” GSM/GPRS phone
The P300 has a tri-band phone built into it. It must be used on a GSM/GPRS wireless network, such as the T-Mobile or AT&T Wireless networks in the U.S. Fortunately the P300 has an unlocked phone, which means you can slip in a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card and use it with almost any GSM/GPRS carrier worldwide. The SIM card is easily installed in or removed from a slot located under the P300’s removable battery.
Built-in digital camera
The P300 has a built-in “Web” quality (640x480) camera capable of taking digital photos and video clips. The lens of the camera is located on the front of the device, just above the right side of the screen. Because it points towards the P300 user, it’s not really designed to be used like a stand-alone digital camera. Instead, you might use it to take a picture of yourself or make a short video message, and then attach it to an e-mail and send it to someone.
(above) The P300’s built-in camera captures digital images or video clips.
Relatively fast device with an excellent speaker
The P300 is powered by a 200 MHz Hitachi ARM 9 processor. It’s fairly fast and for the most part did a great job of running the built-in software. The device comes with 64 MB of SDRAM to run applications and store data, and 32 MB of flash ROM to store the OS and other built-in programs.
The speaker is located at the top of the device and the microphone at the bottom. The speaker produces clear audio at a reasonably loud volume—good enough so that you can listen to your favorite MP3s without using the headset. When you answer the phone or make a call, the P300 automatically lowers the speaker volume so that you can put it up to your ear. The P300 has a combination stereo headphone/external microphone jack located on the top edge of the device, and comes with a really nice microphone/headset combo that includes an adjustable volume control and a button for initiating or answering phone calls.
The scroll/action switch on the left side makes it easy to move through lists or dialog boxes and to select items without having to use the stylus. This feature is great for selecting a phone number from your Contacts list, or for reading an e-Book. You can even use it with Media Player to skip or select songs. It also doubles as a volume control for the phone—another very useful feature. Located just above the scroll/action button is the reset switch, with the on/off switch just above that. The stylus is stored inside the antenna pod on the top right edge of the evice. The stylus is a little over 4 inches long and comfortable to use. Also located on the top edge in the center is the IrDA port. This placement makes beaming information to another IrDA-equipped device a simple point-and-click operation.
The navigation button and SD card slot
I liked the small navigation button, centered underneath the display and flanked by the application launch and call/end buttons. Surprisingly, it was easier to use than some of the larger navigation pads found on other Pocket PCs.
Located on the bottom of the device are the connector for the sync cradle and the SD card slot. The slot accepts SD or MMC storage cards, as well as SDIO peripherals such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi adapters. The downside of this design is that you cannot remove the SD card while the P300 is resting in the sync cradle.
The sync cradle has a functional clip-on backrest and an extra slot in the back to charge a spare battery. In my tests the P300 ran all day on a fully charged battery, but I didn’t make a lot of phone calls and did not talk a long time. If you do either, a spare battery would be a wise investment. The device comes with a 1050 mAh lithium-polymer rechargeable replaceable battery and a backup battery.
Built-in and add-on software
The E-TEN P300 comes with Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC OS and productivity applications built in. This includes the Windows CE 4.2 operating system and Pocket PC versions of Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Inbox, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, MS Reader, Media Player, and more. A detailed description of this software can be found on the Pocket PC magazine Web page (http://www.PocketPCmag.com/bg2003/MS_software.asp). Look for the description of the Phone Edition software.
The most obvious software difference between a Phone Edition and a standard Pocket PC is the Phone Dialer application. It lets you use your fingers or a stylus to dial a phone number, access speed dial, check for missed calls, and more. Phone Dialer lets you make conference calls and has the speakerphone option I mentioned earlier. It is also closely integrated with some of the other built-in applications. For example, you can find a phone number in Contacts and dial it automatically with Phone Dialer.
(above) All Pocket PCs with integrated phones include the Dialer application.
In addition to the standard Microsoft applications, E-TEN includes the following applications with the P300:
Image Maker: Used to create, edit, and browse images.
Multimedia Manager: Image and Ring manager that allows previewing of images and rings in folders.
Photo Capture: Allows you to browse and capture images using the built-in camera.
Phone Settings: Sets Band, Channels, and Auto Answer options.
SIM Manager: Manages the phone book of the SIM card and copies information in the phone book.
Backup utility: Back up, and restore from backup.
Contrast adjuster: A sliding bar to adjust screen contrast.
System Console: Displays information about the System, CPU, Memory, Display, Software, and Wireless Module.
Small, impressive Phone Edition device
I was quite impressed with the P300. Because of its small size and phone-like appearance, you can use it without drawing a lot of attention to yourself. The speed and battery life were very good and should make for a very useful and productive device for most people.
It is available in limited quantities in the U.S. from Convergent Technology (http://www.convergentech.com) for $675. They sell the P300 and a T-Mobile wireless data plan and ship the Pocket PC and SIM card in the same package. For more information, check out E-TEN’s site (http://www.etencorp.com). For another review of the P300, take a look at Carlo Guerrero’s article on Arne Hess’s Web site (http://www.ppcw.net/index.php?itemid=1682&catid=60).
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Spec Sheet
E-TEN P300 Pocket PC with Integrated Phone
Price
$675
Contact
http://www.convergentech.com
Hardware
CPU
>
200 MHz Hitachi ARM 9 32-bit RISC processor
Display
2.8 inch diagonal, 240x320-pixel 4K-color transflective touchscreen
Memory (RAM/flashROM)
64 MB SDRAM, 32 MB flash ROM
Input
Pen entry with handwriting recognition, soft keyboard, 2 application launch buttons, Call button, End button, voice memo record button, 4-way navigation button with “select” function, microphone for voice recording and phone calls, scroll dial
Built-in communications
Integrated tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS, IrDA
External ports
USB port for connecting to PC, 2.5 mm stereo headphone/microphone jack
Card slots
One SDIO-compatible SD card slot
Battery/continuous use on fully charged battery
Rechargeable 1050 mAh lithium-polymer / no usage estimate; built-in rechargeable backup battery
User-replaceable battery
Yes
Dimensions/weight
4.61 x 2.64 x 0.91 in (117 x 67 x 23 mm)
5.82 oz (165 g)
Other features
LED alarms indicate battery charging, fully charged, event alarm/notification
In the package