HTC Vox (Smart phone)[

3 02 2007

Some folks are confused between Windows mobile Pocket PC platform and Windows Mobile Smart phone platform. Welcome to reality. In actual fact, it has never been a cruel intention from Microsoft to design two different mobile platforms to confuse us, the consumers. It is more to say Pocket PC platform was once designed to en act like a PDA while Smart phone platforms were designed to act more like a mobile phone than a PDA. Anyway, towards the near future, Microsoft resolution in mobile devices is to integrated both platform and mould them into one strong Operating system for mobile devices. Meanwhile, we just have to bear with the confusion over the Pocket PC and Smart phone platform.

Introducing one of the latest HTC release, it was officially titled as the S710 Vox. Identical like Moto Q Pro, this slim good looking device is actually a smart phone based. It supposed to run the latest Windows mobile 6.0 (Crossbow) that is not released globally yet.

The phone is featured 128MB of ROM and 64MB of RAM, 2.4 inch Q VGA Screen with WiFi connectivity 802.11 b/g. Inbuilt 2 Mega pixels camera, MicroSD slot and is running on Texas Instrument OMAP processor 850 at 200 MHz (side track a bit, Processor like this is featured mainly because that is the best since battery consumption demand is pretty low. The most ultimate interesting concept design of this device is that even with a numeric key pad, there is this well hidden sliding QWERTY keyboard which measured less than 1 cm for mobile warriors to text fast while on the go. The keyboard is easy and spacious to type too. What lack in this device is UMTS 3G.
There is no touch screen since such device is designed in smart phone platform. It has buttons for adjusting the volume and no longer need to scroll because the screen layout is in standard 240 x 320. One of another great feature of the phone is it has a button for voice command recognition which is below the volume adjustment buttons. Now using the voice command make more sense while driving.
The beauty of this device is that the U oval shaped bezel is designed to be the buttons for Pick up/ Hang up/ Home and Back buttons. The whole keypad interface protruding a soft bright blue illumination that enhances the phone appearance at night. The screen will adjust to landscape position automatically when you slide out the keyboard. Though the screen might not be big compared to some other smart phone devices, it is relatively well balance on the over all design.
Since the product I have on hand is a prototype, so the final specifications or OS might not be the same as the commercial release. In any case, I believed the hardware specifications are more or less confirmed.
The feel of the phone is quite nice. It is overall well in balance. The weight of the phone is spread pretty even. The size of the phone is quite small and compact. The sound quality of the phone is crystal clear also. The device is very impressive even if it is just a prototype.

If you are someone whom constantly on the move, prefer a mobile phone that can push mail same time can read and edit MS Word, excel files, WiFi preferred and also an inbuilt keyboard. This phone might be the one for you. Now, the only problem is we have no idea when this device will be launching.





Google Maps – a service for your mobile device

3 02 2007

Google extended one of its most innovative mobile products to a new group of users with the release of its Google Maps service for mobile on U.S. Windows Mobile devices. This version of Google Maps for mobile, which will run on Windows Mobile 2003 and higher, enables users to view interactive maps and satellite imagery, find local businesses, get point-to-point driving directions, and view live traffic updates, all while on the go. The Windows Mobile 5.0 version of Google Maps for mobile is also GPS-enabled, allowing users whose mobile devices support GPS functionality to view their current location.

Google is committed to providing as many users as possible with access to the information they want and need. With this release, Windows Mobile users can now join the millions of others using Google Maps for mobile to get mapping and local information, whether they’re looking for directions to a family wedding, searching for a local pub, or checking the traffic on the way to work. Google Maps for mobile on Windows Mobile is optimized for the platform, with device-specific features such as contacts integration and tap-and-hold menus