Appearing on the shelves the second device from HP - iPAQ hw6500/6515, received a built-in miniklaviaturu module Bluetooth, EDGE support, and even receiver GPS, for many months waiting for thousands of customers worldwide. Meanwhile, the start of its sales, as is the case with its predecessor, HP iPAQ h6340, from late spring was moved at the end of the summer and early fall of 2005. However, some lucky people have managed to hold a novelty in the hands and even try it in practice. In this mini-review, we have collected eyewitness experiences of the typewriter. Immediately make a reservation, despite the fact that the information was gathered from various sources, based on article went to review, made Sandgotom Jorgen (Jorgen Sundgot), chief editor InfoSync World. The new communicator has become the embodiment of some of the ideas implemented earlier in the not very good for the producer Series iPAQ hw6300. At this time, HP was in the role of pursuer, and to a serious competitor to devices already on the market, it was not enough simply to collect all possible functionality in one device: remained the only way - to present something radically new.
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Let's see how it is managed.
Features
- Operating system: Windows Mobile 2003 SE Phone Edition
- Processor: Intel XScale PXA272 clocked at 312 MHz
- Memory: 64 MB RAM (memory), 44 MB of them are available to the user, 64 MB ROM (ROM), 12 MB Flash Disk
- Screen: Color TFT transflective, 240x240 pixels, size - 3.2 "
- Battery: Lithium-Ion battery, 1200 mAh
- Expansion: 2 - SD / SDIO / MMC and miniSD cards
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 2, GPS-receiver, IrDA (Infrared), GSM / GPRS / EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), USB-port
- Multimedia, "chips": multimedia and other features: polyphonic speaker, MP3-player, stereo 2.5 mm, voice recorder, integrated microphone, headset, vibration, camera 1.3 MP
- Input method: censorny screen / stylus, hard-button keyboard, a multi-position joystick
- Mass, Dimensions: 165 g, 118 x 71 x 21 mm
In addition, HP will offer a model of the communicator HP iPAQ hw6510 - c similar characteristics, but without a camera.
Appearance
To start razrabochtiki decided to get rid of the legacy of an awkward design of the last model, so the idea hw6515 was forced, literally in the rigid, severely limiting its size. As a result, the designers managed to realize his plan, and the new model came out not only compact, but elegant, even though that was built-in keyboard. With dimensions of 118 x 71 x 21 mm and weighing 165 g device is not much delayed pocket. Those who are already accustomed to wearing machine in the inside pocket of his jacket, it does not cause any inconvenience, and this despite the large number of different modules, hidden in the body.
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| Left to right: Treo 600, iPAQ hw6515 and Blackberry 6230 |
Greeting device "on clothes," the first thing we see - it's square screen, displaying 65 thousand colors, 240 x 240 pixels. This is the first smartphone running Windows Mobile with the display.
The screen quality has no complaints: it supports ClearType, and pretty well shows a bright colorful picture. Immediately below the screen we see a comfortable five-way joystick button. Next to her, put the hardware key, which you can assign a custom function, or use the default - to start contacts and e-mail application. Or the neighboring keys perform "telephone" features: green button - a challenge, red - the retreat. In the upper right corner of the device is on / off button and two service LEDs.
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Unfortunately, the keyboard is somewhat disappointing. External buttons are quite well (except the comma and the point that sometimes can be pressed accidentally) and have good tactile and audible feedback. There are also switching Caps Lock, and the button Fn, which is achieved by using the functionality of a full QWERTY keyboard: include numeric keys and cursor buttons. To simplify the management of one hand are the keys call the Start menu and context menu, as well as special keys Tab and Ok. Yet sometimes, when you press, there is a feeling of "sticking". Above all, it is shown at a fast double click, which is often not recognized, and despite the obvious tactile and audible response, showing that a key was pressed, no action occurs.
Ending with a description of the keyboard, it is necessary to mention the buttons on the left side and control the volume of the speaker - they are also sometimes possible to accidentally touch and activate.
Below is a button that is responsible for the inclusion of a 1.3-megapixel camera and actually photographing. Naturally from such a miniature camera can not expect high-quality pictures. Nevertheless, through the same lens obtained is quite good video with QCIF resolution (176x144 pixels), and those to whom this function is not very necessary, can reconfigure the button on the camera to start the recorder.
Communication capabilities
Communicator is not just works in GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz bands and supports GPRS Class 10, and is the first in-class device running Windows Mobile, supporting high speed data transfer protocol EDGE mobile networks, where the protocol is present. Ability to transfer data and voice carried very well, and if you compare the level of signal transfer and sound quality in the dynamics of a Windows Mobile communicator that went before, the result is, undoubtedly, be in favor of the hw6515.
Unlike most others, has recently appeared on the market WM-communicator-class high-end, at hw6515 list of tools designed to create a PAN network, exhaust module Bluetooth, infrared interface, and USB.Nevertheless, a set of profiles is quite good - among others maintained even become almost indispensable Profile DUN (Dial-Up Networking). They all work very well.
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Not only the absence of optimism has given Wi-Fi. On the other hand, maybe this is a difference: unlike most smartphones hw6515 is equipped with built-in GPS receiver and Wi-Fi can always be added by purchasing the appropriate expansion card for SD. Very pleasant surprise was a great job GPS, despite the absence of special external antenna, although, of course, there are also GPS navigators, with far greater sensitivity. The initial launch of the Navigator takes some time, but after installing the GPS connection is working like clockwork. Of course, GPS receiver - not the only thing in the device, worthy of attention. Communicator is based on the processor Intel PXA270, running at a frequency of 312 MHz, 44 MB RAM and 12 MB non-volatile memory available to the user. Expand memory function and hw6515 is possible not only through an SD slot supporting SDIO, and in the construction of a slot miniSD, through which a user can, for example, to use and more memory, and Wi-Fi card. Unfortunately, removable lithium-ion battery 1200 mAh can not fully enjoy all the features of the device. For example, the use of an additional Wi-Fi card pretty quickly devour the lion's share of battery power. With moderate use of all opportunities hw6515 battery lasts about a day, while most of these devices can hold up to several days.
Field tests
It is sad, but the battery - not the only component fallen victim to compromise, the developers found between functionality and miniature devices. Using a 312 MHz processor led to a general slowness of the device in almost all the usual applications, with the exception of PIM and e-mail. Particularly noticeable "brake" when using a GPS receiver in conjunction with other applications. Negative impact on multi-tasking and a modest amount of RAM. Despite significant changes in hardware, the developers decided to complement the HP staff set the Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, installed on your device. Thus, the standard kit, consisting of applications such as Pocket Outlook, Pocket Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger and Windows Media Player 10 compatible with PlaysForSure, add an application ClearVue, designed for viewing documents Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft PowerPoint, quite a successful backup of the client and the application , the control profiles. Starting last, by the way, you can manually adjust even on the hardware key, which is responsible for the inclusion of the device. Thanks already become the "gold standard" for handheld GPS devices, software from the Netherlands company TomTom, users will have to deal with the powerful GPS application running under the three-dimensional maps that can make the best route, it automatically monitor and maintain a database of local attractions. Pleased that HP chose the wrong version of the program in which it is possible to wirelessly purchase and download new maps. For those who frequently travels a lot, it certainly would be a useful tool. (It is, as you probably understand about the maps of Europe and America. It is not entirely clear what software will be bundled with the communicator to the Russian market.. - Ed.) And, finally, a few words about a square display, first used the device on Windows Mobile. Due to the fact that most of the applications offered by third parties, is designed to work with the display format 3:4, namely the screen with a resolution of 240 x 320 or 480 x 640 pixels, some applications may unexpectedly offer additional scrolling to access the screen and the other (the author of the review came across this rare. - Ed.) altogether "recognized" in its incompatibility with that display.
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In fact, even when working on the hw6515 with their own applications from Microsoft sometimes have problems that are most often related to a completely unnecessary run a virtual keyboard, after which the text entry was available to a very small portion of the screen between the keyboard and menu button "Start". Work process is, of course, difficult, but did not stop.
Accessibility
According to recent information, it is expected that the HP iPAQ hw6515 in the European market debut in late July. Significantly the retail price, our sources are not reported. Most likely, it will be set for each country individually. According to some reports, early next year will be published analogue hw6515, managed Windows Mobile 5. Perhaps this device will be called hw6715. According to rumors, the new module will be equipped with Wi-Fi. In preparing the material, it became known that the iPAQ hw6515 is now available in Germany with mobile operator T-Mobile.
Output
Ferrari with an engine from budget cars - that is coboy HP iPAQ hw6515, if in a nutshell. In other words, this machine, combining a magnificent iron, a good soft stuffing and compact size. However, the desire to grace this resulted in "a barrel of honey", one by one "fly in the ointment": it's a bad reaction to the keyboard, and a slow processor, and saving memory, and a modest battery capacity. In general, if you need to frequently enter text without using multiple applications, if you always have a place to charge the battery and you are not indifferent to the functional communicator, hw6515, certainly for you. But before you buy it, be sure to weigh all the pros and cons.
Cons: - bad reaction to the keyboard
- weak battery
- mediocre camera.
From: - portability
- the presence of keyboard
- EDGE support
- built-in GPS module.
Sources, Materials:
InfoSync World
Pocket PC Thoughts
The authors, translation:
Ilya Aksenov
