To the Editor HPCru looked dear visitor, news of which has been boggling the minds of the second month in a mobile society. Yes, yes, talking about the new flagship of HTC - the model X7500 (Athena - Athena). Not carry the device to the category of mass, at least because of the indicative price - about $ 1500, so you can not say that he was waiting impatiently. However, we are confident you will be quite interesting to know what is this thing prelyubopytnaya. As mentioned in the article about plans to HTC for the current year, X7500 - a kind of application a leading manufacturer of communicators on leadership in the mobile world, purely a fashion device, in a sense, the concept. This device can not be called the continuation of Qtek 9000 (Universal), as well as a classmate of the present communicators. Level of novelty - are much higher for the whole set of factors. Firstly, due to the presence of the largest in the history of kommunikatorostroeniya 5 "VGA screen, along with 8 GB hard drive. Secondly, due to an unusual form factor, providing a detachable QWERTY-keyboard and impressive size. Thirdly, the presence of typical notebook connectors like VGA and TV Out. About Standard for the latest bells and whistles and can not speak. That's why HTC, not too straining to the classification assigned unit index X. Attempt to determine the class membership HTC X7500 at the moment is difficult. Most likely, given the specifications and price models, the developers describe it as a concept-based platform from which you can push off in the future. So let's just consider the machine in detail, starting as usual with the performance.
- Operating system: Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone AKU 3.3
- Processor: Intel PXA270, 624MGts
- Memory: 128MB RAM and 256MB ROM, hard drive, 8 GB
- Screen: TFT LCD with backlight, diagonal 5 ", 640x480 pixels
- Expandable memory: miniSD
- Communication capabilities: GSM / GPRS / EDGE, UMTS / HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi, USB 1.1 Host
- Multimedia features: stereo sound, video output VGA, video out TV Out
- Camera: 3 megapixel main flash + additional camera with VGA on the front for video calls
- Battery: Lithium-Ion, 2200mAch
- Audio: microphone, stereo speakers, standard 3,5 mm headset connector
- Additional features: GPS-receiver, motion sensor, QWERTY-keyboard with a magnetic mount
- Dimensions and weight: 133x97x20 mm, 350 g.
As seen from the specifications, HTC X7500 really is unparalleled, so here we present only the photo device "in company" with other models of smartphones and PDAs, so you can estimate the size.
Judging by the available information, a set of HTC X7500 is not as rich as its filling. It will include in addition to the cars and detachable QWERTY-keyboard: wired headset, charger, sync cable and a cable VGA. Athena looks like it should be representative of "high society" simply superb: black metal body, slightly rounded lines, a spectacular design, and of good build.
Separately want to mention regular stylus apparatus. Unlike most cars the pen looks like something undignified, as is made entirely of transparent plastic, and almost weightless.
Quite unusually placed joystick - left of the screen, in the upper right corner (if you look at the device placed horizontally). Joystick is very nicely highlighted in orange, as well as all device buttons. In terms of convenience, this element is, of course, gives the usual navigation buttons, but get used to it not be easy. In addition, around the screen is an indicator of the device, the camera lens for video calls, while irrelevant here, as well as three buttons - Internet Explorer (it is the same motion sensor activation button, which just below), "OK" and "Start".
Weight model commands respect because, as mentioned above, is an impressive 350g with battery. As the saying goes, you take it in your hand you know - the 'thing! "Of course, this gizmo is not shabby in a pocket or belt, her seat in an expensive briefcase businessman. Obviously, it is business people and constitute the main target audience X7500.
Without detachable QWERTY-keyboard device looks like a PDA or small tablet overgrown. But in general as a Pocket PC will use the X7500 is very inconvenient: in hand, he is so-so, plus the fact - quite heavy. Obviously, that was conceived as a desktop solution, or for use in the car. In general, attachable keyboard (by magnet) - and before we have a mini-laptop.
By The words, magnetic mount - a very interesting solution, but it has one negative point: X7500 is better not to put next to credit cards, magnetic cards, etc. - It can be dangerous. Otherwise, the magnets at X7500 so strong that you can even use the keyboard on weight. In the folded position it just primagnichivaetsya to the front panel, so that losing it would be difficult.
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What is the keyboard? It consists of two parts - an elegant transparent plate that performs the role of the stop and, indeed, a keyboard unit. In addition to the standard set of QWERTY-keyboard directly below the screen are the usual phone buttons - lights out and receive calls, soft keys and application buttons. The keyboard, quite frankly, so-so: a response from the keys is missing completely, and move - at all miserable. Touch-type on this will be difficult. What a pity! The key size - more than enough, and the distance between them is quite comfortable to press with both hands. It is hoped that we were dealing with an engineering sample, and the developers somehow will bring this point to mind. But let us continue our examination.
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Memory card slot (though someone may need a memory card in the presence of 8-GB hard drive - I'll never know) is located together with a compartment for the SIM-card and the battery under the rear sliding cover, which is very inconvenient to open. Unlike most devices, battery compartment lid does not occupy the entire rear panel, but only opens a small crack in the hull, where, and inserted the battery.To remove it, you need to move a small metal plate on the battery itself, and pull it like a hook. Here's an unusual decision. Oddly, it does not cause big problems.
On the back side of the case, in addition to the battery compartment, are also a 3 megapixel digital camera and reset button.
Now we shall examine the ends of the device. On the left is the most interesting for us Connector - Combined VGA / TV Out + USB Host. Thus, with his help, and through appropriate adapters, we can connect to a monitor, TV or connect to a machine, such peripherals such as mouse and keyboard. Adjacent to this connector "apartments" headphone jack, one of two speakers providing stereo sound and a connector for charging and syncing.
On the right side is placed the second speaker, as well as on / off button and call the device manager wireless / voice recorder. HTC X7500 features a large 5-inch screen with a VGA-resolution. By itself, the display - just excellent, with great viewing angles and good colors. But the high resolution makes itself felt: to redraw some applications, particularly graphics-actively, openly retard. It seems that this feature of WM-devices with VGA-screen.
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Under the "hood" with our hero - all the latest. Tested Intel PXA270 processor with a record for the PDA 624 MHz in a pair of graphics processor ATI Imageon 2282. Standing and memory in X7500 on average two times more than the majority of smartphones - 256 MB and 128 MB respectively. Developers are not stingy, and are equipped with a 8 GB mikrovinchesterom - what is called a reserve. Just imagine how it can write all good to entertain yourself, a loved one during a long road! In this case, the developers knew about the love of such devices to fall, added a X7500 motion sensor to park the heads in the fall of the hard drive and save it from damage. However, check this option, I did not, as too expensive:). It is interesting that in addition to protective functions, the movement sensor can be used to control the device.Press and hold the button on the front panel (in this case on the status panel lights up a special icon) and then just cannot device in either direction to scroll the text or page in the browser (the icon with the shows where we are tipped off the device). Tipped over - scrolled down on my own - scrolls up. Right or left - scroll is in the same direction. Very entertaining feature that allows you to manipulate the device with one hand, do not touch to any authorities other than buttons to activate the motion sensor. Is it easy - just difficult to understand, maybe someone will like it. Communication capabilities flagship, too, as they say, are told. As the saying goes, "all inclusive" - from the powerful phone part based on the chipset Qualcomm MSM 6275 supports quad GSM / GPRS / EDGE networks and third-generation UMTS / HSDPA up to mandatory Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Owner X7500 will be in touch in any environment, as long as the battery did not disappoint, and the latter has the record for today Capacity - 2200 mAh. At the moment we have not had time to test it on battery life, but for about estimations we can conclude that the forces of the battery enough for the next couple of days without recharging. Producer promises about 6 hours of talk time, 300 hours of standby time. Of course, use the X7500 as the phone only through the headset, which will be bundled. Yes, and it is unlikely anyone would ever think to keep the ear such thing. Audibility of the way through it great - no interference at both ends of the wires was noted. In this regard, apart I want to say about the sound. Our hero is equipped with stereo speakers which give out a fairly loud, though not of good quality. GPS-receiver is declared a 20-channel, so in theory it should be familiar to all SiRFstar III, but for now we can not assert it is 100%. In any case, a large screen X7500 is simply ideal for navigation, given the great variety and navigation software for Windows Mobile 5.0.
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As for software, then our sample was installed Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone with a fresh AKU 3.3. In terms of a set of additional software has been no change compared with the latest smartphones from HTC. In general, summing up, we can say that the HTC X7500 to be very niche machine (hello Universal!), Implying a fairly limited range of tasks, such as working with documents, mail, and navigation. True, the convenience of the keyboard is poor considering the price model. Well, its stuffing - is beyond praise, as it does not become obsolete very quickly, and everything has been done to the conscience. In general, X7500 is quite suitable for the role of faithful companion business people on long journeys. Forgive death all this magnificence to anything - or read on the subway or on the move SMS ki ponabirat - seriously, sir. So leave that concept for lovers, and themselves will wait for new devices from HTC, more adapted to real life. Finally we say that the novelty will be available in early 2007 at a price of about $ 1500. A detailed review of HTC X7500 will be published later. The authors, translation:
