With some recently communicators won a firm place in the sun on the PDA market, while some surpassing their "brothers." However, leading manufacturers of PDAs continued to play the role of these devices "stepchildren", in favor of the handheld without the GSM-modules. The exception to this rule is only Taiwanese company E-Ten, debuted on the market about two years ago. C such time as the E-Ten started work on a PDA-direction, it has not released any of the classic PDA. Every single model was fitted with telephone module, ie belonged to the class of communicators. Nevertheless, we can not say that the products of this company can boast outstanding performance, or what some unusual features. E-Ten products have always been ambiguous. Of course, their count of the number, rather, more minuses than pluses, but it remained, and one distinct advantage over our competitors - low price. Thanks to its affordable cost, communicators E-Ten has become known in Russia. In addition, the quality of devices that Taiwanese company significantly increased with each new release. Today, we "analyze the bones," another model, which became the logical development of the line, - E-Ten M500.
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| Qtek s100, E-Ten M500 and Qtek 9090 |
Specifications: - Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
- Processor: Samsung S3C 2440 400 MHz
- Memory: 64M RAM (54 MB user available) and 128 MB Flash ROM (83 MB available)
- Screen: 2.8 "(72 mm) transflective TFT c resolution of 240x320 pixels, 65536 colors
- Memory Expansion: SD / MMC / SDIO
- Wireless interfaces: IrDA, Bluetooth, GSM 850/900/1800/1900, GPRS Class 10
- Battery: Li-Ion, 1440 mAh
- Audio: microphone, speaker, 2.5-mm stereo headphone jack
- Dimensions and weight: 112 x 61 x 22 mm and 170 g.
Compare E-Ten M500 with its closest competitors, Qtek s100 (platform HTC Magician) and Qtek 9090 (platform HTC Blue Angel), can use the "Compare devices" in the "Catalogue of the CCP" on our site.
Supplied
Included with the machine is all that is necessary for using PDAs. A little disappointed there is no additional stylus (PDA owners are often lost), but at the E-Ten M500 has a cradle and a very decent case-holster of high-quality synthetics.
So, set: - communicator
- Cradle
- charger
- USB-cable for synchronization and charging
- Stereo Headset
- cover
- User guide
- software.
Appearance
Picking up a new device, you know that the manufacturer is seriously working on the design of their models. Even though this machine is clearly lacking in elegance and harmony lines communicator HTC Magician (the next model size / functionality), but it is very different for the better from the previous model, E-Ten - p300.
Enclosure M500 is made of plastic, soaked in the actual silver-black color version (with a predominantly silver). Black bokovinki some disguise the fullness of the silhouette of the communicator, and dark "cap" on the screen visually reduce its length. The lower part of the "person" is rounded in the manner of competing devices. Despite a decent thickness (22 mm) and weight (170 g), the handheld comfortably in the hand.Provided that, due to abnormal proportions of the communicator: the ratio of length to width ratio of E-Ten M500 more than conventional PDAs.
The quality of construction of the body - "to chetverochku. All parts are tight fitting, do not hang out. If the machine hard to compress, none of the "components" does not squeak.
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Under the screen there is a system of control buttons and a joystick. Buttons are placed around the ordinary way joystick. The appointment of two of them ("call" and "end the conversation") is standard. The remaining two are not caused by "Contact" and "Calendar", as it is the communicator, and a list of frequently dialed phone numbers and special utility M-desk. However, these applications a little lower. Two of the four keys can be reprogrammed to launch other programs. True, sorry that user again for some reason made it impossible to program "Hold" - pressing the retention. This is doubly a shame, if we remember that the tools of the OS supports it. Moreover, in camom M500 can still be programmed "Hold", but only one of hardware buttons. What prevented the developers realize this fukntsii in life on the other, is not very clear.
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The quality of implementation of hot keys have no complaints. They are quite big, with clear tactile feedback. The top buttons have a small protrusion that can distinguish them by feel from the bottom. The size and location of the keys is that the communicator can be quite comfortable to operate with one hand. Perhaps the only drawback of the keys - no backlight. It is a pity that the new machine with a joystick things are not so good. Firstly, it is very small, and, second, round. The result is rather difficult to distinguish pressing "left-right" clicks on the up and down. " Central button dangles within the space allocated to it, which, however, does not affect the quality of its work, just annoying from an aesthetic point of view. In general, the navigation block is no major complaints, especially if we remember failures the previous model - E-Ten p300. It is evident that the developers seriously concerned with ergonomics and pretty successful in its cultivation.
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Above the screen is the phone speaker and two LED indicators. One is responsible for the GSM-module, exercises, and memos. The other - to work Bluetooth. At the top end machine is a slot for memory card SD / MMC / SDIO, covered with a plastic plug and the power button. Incidentally, this arrangement seems most logical. The button is recessed slightly into the casing to protect against accidental clicks. Somewhere nearby, under a bar of dark plastic, is infrared.
But the top slot for the stylus there. He was placed in the most unexpected place - the bottom of the battery compartment cover.Sam stylus - telescopic design, long (in the unfolded state even more of the communicator) and quite comfortable. In the nest he was securely fixed, so the risk of accidental loss is minimal. Still, the location of a container for a feather inconvenient fact that the extract out the stylus would not be possible until the device is in cradle.
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The other controls are located on the left side of the machine and include: button camera control lever, a slider for volume control and a button to run a special utility voice control. She starts (by pressing and holding) recorder. There is also a reset button and a socket for a wired headset, closed with a rubber stopper. All the elements are fairly logical, as well as that of similar competitor models. Slightly alarming attention to the reset button - it is highlighted and has a very decent size. This feeling that we hinted at, say, she would have to use more often than usual:)
At the lower end of the PDA is an interface connector and a microphone.
Multimedia speaker, camera, backlight for shooting and a mirror mounted on the rear wall, above the battery cover. Connector for SIM-card is designed in such a way that the map is fixed with the battery. Thus, to remove it without disconnecting the phone, it does not, which is quite logical.
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| E-Ten M500: this could be your SIM-card:) |
And, finally, a couple of words about the cradle. Still, there is no limit imagination of designers, and it is clearly seen in the palm E-Ten M500. The cradle of a new device ... round. That is, absolutely. As a flying saucer from old American movies. But, despite the extravagant form, it has everything you need: and a compartment for charging a spare battery and the indicator of its charge, and even a USB-host.
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| E-Ten M500 on a silver platter:) |
In theory, a USB-host lets you connect to our communicator mass-storage and HID-devices, for example, USB-drives, keyboard or mouse. Unfortunately, I failed to connect to the E-Ten, none of them. Flash drives and CF-card readers, which, for example, FS Pocket Loox 720 immediately identify, was not shown in the list of connected devices. A similar fate befell the USB-keyboard and mouse. It is quite possible that the E-Ten's own implementation of USB-host, which require special drivers. So the question remains open, the more so as a USB-host it in the cradle seems rather dubious decision. So, what can you say about the design of new items in general? Compared with previous models, the quality has improved by an order. However, despite the efforts of developers, the machine will still not reach the level of "elite" communicators. Cause - body material and a rustic design.There are some ergonomic shortcomings, like not a very convenient location of the stylus or joystick unsuccessful. In general, I would put a design and ergonomics "C grade with a plus." However, with regard to the appearance of the device is always difficult to give an objective assessment. Arguing about taste, as is known, is a thankless task.
Processor. Memory. Speed
The heart of E-Ten M500 is an ARM-compatible processor Samsung S3C 2440 processor with a clock frequency of 400 MHz. A similar stone set HP in its multimedia processor iPAQ rx3715. The choice is not very intuitive, perhaps, this option was chosen in order to reduce the cost of the platform. But, in principle, specific complaints about this processor does not cause. But with the memory of the new machine is all right. Standard RAM - 64 MB (of which 54 MB user available), but the ROM has been increased to 128 MB Flash ROM, of which 83 mb given to the user's needs. Not that it's very much (the ever-declining prices for memory cards), but a few. Prior to that, this level of built-in flash drive user spoiled only HP (iPAQ rx3715 and hx4700) and palmOne (Tungsten T5). This is the amount of memory allows you to use the SD-slot, not only for memory cards, but also to connect the SDIO-peripherals (latest example - a bunch of navigation PocketGPS Pro + SDIO GPS, which, for example, i-Mate Jam was unusable). Performance was measured program SPB Benchmark. Test results have pleased. Processor speed is only slightly (by a few percent) inferior to other communicators.
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But for speed file system (that is the speed of memory operations) E-Ten M500 was ahead of his fellows in the class, and, with a good margin.
Detailed test results below.
The test video was produced separately as SPB Benchmark incorrectly assesses the speed of the graphics subsystem. To test the program was used BetaPlayer v.0.0.95 and three of its test video: RL_LQB, RL_MQB and RL_HQ. The first two - a mobile video medium and high quality, the latter - the standard "desktop" video.
Detailed test results can be found in the attached file. From the results clearly show that the new video system device copes with mobile video playback high bitrate - rather resource-intensive task for the CPC. However, unconverted files for playing high-resolution power of machines is not enough, which, however, it hardly makes sense for this size screen.
Screen
In the previous model, E-Ten p300, the screen was terrible. In the new device is an excellent matrix transflective, no way inferior to their counterparts in more well-known manufacturers. Screen size - the same as the nearest competitor, HTC Magician, - 2,8 inches (72 mm). The quality of the matrix - level, high brightness and excellent color rendition. The viewing angles are good, colors are not inverted at all, and, in principle, the screen looks fine when you reject up to 30-40 degrees from vertical. At large angles strongly decreases the contrast, which makes uncomfortable.
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Illumination has 10 levels of brightness, which is enough to set up under any ambient light. Minimum backlight level - low enough, even when working in total darkness the screen still makes eye strain. Unfortunately, there is no way to set the backlight level separately for battery and AC power. But there are two automatic adjustment. First - Autoadjust by battery's cap - change the backlight depending on the battery (something similar was used in the model from Toshiba e800). Second, with the strange name Autoadjust free backlight, the backlight gradually reduces as the inaction of the machine. The value of the second adjustment is questionable, but, in principle, nothing prevents it did not include.
Battery
E-Ten M500 comes with a lithium-ion battery decent capacity - 1440 mAh. For such a device capacity - not a luxury but a necessity, because, apart from the CCP, it is necessary to feed more and GSM-module. Nevertheless, the new device does not possess any outstanding features regarding working hours, it is quite comparable with our neighbors in the class.
The manufacturer claims the following characteristics: - While working in the PDA mode - 10-15 hours
- Time running conversation - 3,5-4 hours
- time Standby - 150-200 hours.
Statements by some optimistic, let's see what happens in actual use.
Testing time work was carried out with a full battery charge before the warning "Main battery low" in four different modes: - Stress test. GSM-module and Bluetooth are included, brightness and volume - the maximum, the CPC lost in a series of "hard" video. Opening hours - 2 hours 05 minutes.
- Normal operation. Simulated average load: GSM-module is enabled, Bluetooth is turned off, speaker volume was set to half the maximum brightness - in the first division of the minimum. PDA lost in a cycle of regular video. Hours - 4 hours 55 minutes.
- Reading e-books. GSM-module and Bluetooth turned off, the light - in the first division of the minimum, the reading program was carried Haali Reader mode avtoskrolla. Hours - 7 hours 50 minutes.
- Play audio. GSM-module, Bluetooth and the screen - are off. Play was performed on a set of headphones attached. Used the program GS Player, files with a bitrate of 192-256 Kb / c were played from a memory card. Hours - 8 hours 30 minutes.
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All the above figures mean that the device would be enough for a day of active use. And, indeed, in normal mode (about 3 hours a day use as a PDA, 5-6 calls and half an hour surfing the Internet via GPRS) battery lasted a year and a half days after the charge. Also, do not forget that the battery is removable, so it is very active users can purchase a spare battery and charge it in the cradle with the car.
Sound
Sound - not the strong point E-Ten M500. Built-in speaker volume is quite enough for comfortable conversation, you just have to find the right position relative to machine ear. Quality of performance headset - also on the level. Headphones, as expected, are equipped with passive volume control in the form of wheel and answer button. As far as quality sound path, it leaves much to be desired. When playing music clearly audible noise. In addition, there are practically no bass. And, unfortunately, is not the problem sets, because when you connect other headphones sound image does not change. Voice Recorder, again, not very good. Sound hard of hearing and the microphone sensitivity is fairly weak.There are adjustments, which allow for changing the level of its signal (separate for audio and telephone conversations), but they help only slightly. With a maximum sensitivity of the microphone in the room average noise caller's voice can be dismantled only at a distance of 1.5 m. When recording a call quality on the order of magnitude better, but you can only record the conversation.
Wireless interfaces
GSM / GPRS
In the E-Ten M500 mounted quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) GSM-module, which allows its owner to use the phone literally all over the world (where there is a GSM-network and roaming native operator). Data transfer may be a protocol GPRS Class 10 (3 slots to accept, 2 to transfer). All telephone functions are performed by the staff application Windows Mobile Phone.
It supports all the standard features of GSM-networks: - call barring
- waiting
- call forwarding
- AON
- Voicemail
- index of the network and broadcast messages.
Receiving / sending SMS messages in the standard application of the operating system - Messaging.
To create an MMS is a special supplement - MMS Composer.
To speed dial using utilities and Index Dial Frequency Dialing.
In addition, the user has the ability to create a "black" and "white" lists of subscribers.
To import contacts from SIM-card is a tool SIM manager.
In general, we can say that the phone software is functional enough to use the communicator and it's even easier than before. And a few words about the stability of the phone software. Quite often we hear complaints against the phone's operating in different models of E-Ten. Of course, I have not had a chance to test a brand new machine for a few months, but for all time his test the week of the telephone used by a very active and there was no case to device dependent on the fault of the tube. Although, maybe I just got a good copy:)
Bluetooth
Contrary to popular tradition, Bluetooth-driver for E-Ten M500 - own making. Honestly, I can not say that it's gone for the benefit of a typewriter. In principle, nothing serious, all the required services are present and some can even be configured (eg, COM-ports). But Bluetooth-functioning economy of our hero is still pretty weird.
For example, start ActiveSync via BT I had a third attempt, and "paired" with a desktop machine - with the second. Of course, everyone is working, but we need patience.
As for the Bluetooth-headset, the E-Ten, to put it mildly, does not make friends with them. With the discovery and connect no problem, but while the machine quite often (on average about once every 2 hours) "loses" the headset and switch over to the main speaker. In addition, "golubozuby" headphones provides a very quiet sound, with distortion. Hopefully, the problem is not in the hardware device, and software, so that the situation will correct the appearance update drivers.
Infrared port
Frankly, the information about the type installed in the machine infrared I can not find. Judging by the range of a is either a standard (SIR), or accelerated (FIR) sensor. Thus, the standard CIR is not supported, and, therefore, to use PDA as a remote control technique will not work (at least at distances from 2 meters and above).
Luggage
In the E-Ten M500 camera set with a matrix of 1.3 megapixels. And, for the honor of E-Ten, it is still better than its counterpart in the HTC Magician. At least, not this characteristic fading pink sky and a terrible day for pictures. The rest - the same thing. Clarity of images still leaves much to be desired. By the way, the camera has another advantage - the backlight, but the sense of it, frankly, a little bit. Available to the user following installation.
Photo: - format images: BMP or JPG
- image size: 1280x960, 640x480, 320x240, 176x144
- White Balance: Auto, room lamp DS, sun, shade, cloudy, or night
- Special Effects: Negative, grainy, retro, mirror
- imposition of a framework for MMS
- Shooting Modes: Normal, timer, series, portrait mode
- turn on / off the backlight
- enable / disable the display of dates.
Video: - Video Format: MP4 or 3GP
- compression level: high, medium, low
- frame size: 320x240, 176x144 and 128x96
- white balance, special effects: the same as in photo.
The obtained images can be saved, sent via MMS or processed in one of two basic image editors. Typical examples of photos - below.
Software
On the E-Ten M500 is running Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 SE Phone edition.
Ranked Among the standard built-in applications: - Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Notes
- Pocket Word, Pocket Excel
- Pocket Internet Explorer
- Messaging
- Phone
- Voice Recorder
- Windows Media Player 10
- File Explorer
- Pictures
- Calculator
- Solitaire, Jawbreaker
- Terminal Services Client, MSN Messenger.
In addition, the machine literally nashpigovanna "small utilities, greatly facilitates the life of a novice user. Let's try to enumerate them. The first thing you notice when you look at the screen Today, - pretty easy to run applications manager (launcher) - Quick Link.
In addition to the icons to launch programs, the user can insert labels quickly access a list of dialed, missed and answered calls.
In the upper right corner of the Today screen you can see a nice plugin that displays the current battery voltage. In addition, the system has alternative shell for launching programs and quick access to system settings - M-Desk, which we mentioned above. This tool is called a default button with an icon Home.
For imaging is a good graphics editor ImageMaker, as well as utility-composer MMS - Image Wizard.
For quick adjust brightness, volume and vibrating alert E-Ten M500 application cnabzhen Scenarios. Something similar offers its users HP, only the PDA from this eminent manufacturer of these functions are performed programm HP Profiles.
Another interesting thing - Voice Commander - designed for voice dialing and launching applications. Honestly, I did not have enough time to properly "train" the program on a set of numbers, so check this possibility could not be, but the voice tags, it distinguishes quite well.
To create a backup of user data have utility Backup.
And closes the list of additional software program for using your device as a GPRS-modem for a large computer - Wireless Modem.
Price
In the stores' computer in the palm of "communicator E-Ten M500 available for $ 599.
Results
Taiwanese developers can finally congratulate the first success. The new M500 - vivid proof that the company E-Ten perfectly learns from his mistakes, offering an every day more informed decisions. Freshly communicator is quite capable to compete with the new hit sales - devices based on the HTC Magician. In addition, the price / performance "from M500 - one of the best on the market. Of course, not to say that our hero is completely without flaws, but nonetheless, this is the first device in the line of the company's products, which really should pay attention.
Cons: - "Cheap" design
- instability of the Bluetooth-driver
- poor quality of the sound section.
Pros: - reasonable price
- excellent technical characteristics
- an extensive collection of additional software.
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