First Look: New Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PCs and Smartphones! :: Buyers Guide 2006

First Look: New Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PCs and Smartphones! :: Buyers Guide 2006T-Mobile SDA II Smartphone

T-Mobile's new SDA II is a Smartphone with a a 195 MHz processor and with 64 MBs of RAM and 64 MBs of flash ROM memory. This device has four notable features: A QVGA screen, an integrated 1.3 megapixel camera, built-in Wi-Fi, and 4 large buttons to control music playback.

The SDA II's 320x240 pixel, 65K color display measures 2.4 inches diagonally, just slightly larger than the screens on earlier models. I was quite impressed with the screen's sharp and crisp display of text and graphics; excellent for watching movies and album cover artwork while listening to music.

The SDA II has exciting features, including a very readable QVGA screen and build-in Wi-Fi: features not normally found in a Smartphone.

The addition of a high resolution camera is another welcomed advancement over other current Smartphones, which have lower-resolution VGA cameras. At 1.3 megapixels, it has 4 times more resolution and takes much better pictures. The file size of the image is larger and e-mailing them to friends will take more resources, but they provide a more satisfying end result. I took some impressive pictures with this camera in low-light conditions-by far the best images I've taken with any embedded camera I've tested.

The camera is also capable of capable of recording movies with sound that can be sent via MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) or Outlook e-mail. There are three file formats that the video can be encoded in: Motion-JPEG AVI (playable using Windows Media Player), MPEG-4, and H2.63 (playable using Quicktime players). You can use AVI video format and Outlook to e-mail a video to a friend with a Windows Desktop computer. However the AVI file is much larger than files saved in the MPEG-4 or H2.63 formats. If you are sending videos from phone to phone via MMS it's best to use MPEG-4 or H2.63 because these formats are supported by most video phones on the market today.

The mini-SD card is stored underneath the 1,150 mAh battery. next to the SIM card slot. I was disappointed in the layout because with a music device it's nice to have easy access to change the memory cards. That said, it's still a "Plays for Sure" device and you can always re-sync with your desktop to change music frequently.

One of the things that are immediately noticeable on the MDA II is the four large round buttons on the front panel, below the display. Three are used for music playback (play/pause, skip/next, and skip/previous) and one button that looks like the letter "T" in the form of an "@" sign that launches Pocket Internet Explorer and connects the device to the T-Mobile site on the Internet. The three music buttons are not very readable and I had difficulty making out the symbols. I hope they paint the raised symbols black on the final version of the device, to make them readable.

Above the round buttons and immediately below the display are four small rectangular buttons used for menu navigation. The far left and right buttons activate the soft keys; middle left is the Home button, and middle right is the Back These buttons are very tiny and are difficult to use. I found myself using mini joystick for most of my navigation when I could. However, the left and right soft buttons still had to be used to activate menus. Since I use the mini-joystick to control music anyway, I think it would be better if the rectangular buttons were larger and the music buttons smaller. I also found the dialing keypad a bit difficult to use because the buttons are so small. I had to use my finger nail to press the keys and my fingers sometimes covered two keys at the same time. This slowed down entering text via predictive T9 text input. It would actually be better if the rectangular buttons were switched with the round buttons. This way it would be much easier to navigate and since the music buttons are used that much anyways. Even so, I also used the mini joystick to control music playback was easier to use than the buttons.

I was impressed with the MDA II's built-in connectivity options. With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and EDGE/GSM/GPRS, all the bases are covered. Windows Mobile 5.0 provides integrated support for Wi-Fi, and this is the first Smartphone I've see with Wi-Fi built in. It's a much-welcomed feature, especially for those who have wireless networks at work or home.

The MDA II's good features far outweighed some of the minor issues I had with the buttons. The screen, connectivity, camera, and strong audio output make this a very desirable phone!

Bottom line:

The MDA II Music has exciting features, including a very readable QVGA screen and built-in Wi-Fi-features not normally found in a Smartphone. The quality of the images the camera took impressive me. If you don't mind the smaller menu navigation buttons, this is an excellent choice device.

These are the first Windows Mobile 5.0 devices we've gotten to test. If the features they included and the quality they display are any indication, we can look forward to a bright Windows Mobile future as more innovative devices become available.

HTC: Premier designer and developer of Windows Mobile devices

HTC is the Taiwanese company that works with HP, Dell, Audiovox, and other vendors to design and manufacturer most of the Windows Mobile devices available today. HTC doesn't sell devices directly to the consumer.

We list the HTC Universal in this review because we tested a device we got from HTC through Microsoft, before any vendor announcements had been made. As we went to press with this issue, branded versions of the Universal were available through T-Mobile (MDA Pro) and I-mate (JASJAR). We expect that the device will be offered by other vendors as well.

The PPC-6700 is Sprint's version of a different HTC device, the "Apache." Sprint is the first U.S. wireless carrier to introduce the device, but we expect it to be offered by other vendors.

HTC also had a hand in the design and manufacture of the other two devices in this review: the Axim X51v and the iPAQ rx1950. However, Dell and HP have exclusives on these devices: you won't see them with another vendor's brand name on them.

A Cautionary Note Concerning Windows Mobile 5.0

We are an enthusiast magazine and as such like to share the excitement and vision of Windows Mobile computing. However, please take note. As we complete this Buyers Guide, Windows Mobile 5.0 devices are just beginning to ship.

Windows Mobile 5.0 is a major upgrade, several years in the making. Based on the nature of software in general, and Microsoft's track record in particular, you should proceed with caution before purchasing a Windows Mobile 5.0 device. With most new and complex high-tech products, bugs, unanticipated problems, and "gotchas" are discovered. Third-party software that worked on your current Pocket PCs and Smartphones should work on Windows Mobile 5.0 devices, but there is always the possibility that it won't until the vendor updates it.If you are a cautious sort, wait. Check out online forums and read about what Windows Mobile 5.0 users are saying. Wait for our next issues' reviews of new devices and reports of existing problems and workarounds. On the other hand, if you like being in the mobile computing forefront and enjoy having the latest and greatest, then go ahead, upgrade your iPAQ or Dell, or purchase a new Windows Mobile 5.0 device. As fixes and minor updates to the software become available, you should be able to get them for free, from your device manufacturer. (Hal Goldstein)