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Sony Announces VAIO UX Micro Computer

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Sony today announced the new Ultra Mobile PC VAIO VGN-UX50! The computer runs on Intel Core Solo Ultra Low Voltage 1.0GHz CPU and Windows XP operating system. It features 4.5-inch wide SVGA screen with XBRITE technology for enhance image clarity. Weighing only 520 grams and measuring 150mm x 95mm x 32mm, this little PC can go with you anywhere.
You also get a stylus, WWAN (Wide Area Network), Wireless LAN, and Bluetooth. The UX model has two built-in cameras - one in fron for VoIP or conferencing and another on the back to take photos. For security and if you don't want to remember passwords, it comes equipped with a biometric fingerprint sensor.
Even better, Sony will offer an optional Bluetooth GPS (VGP-BGU1) so you can get directions anywhere you go!
source: http://www.laptoplogic.com/news/detail.php?id=890

I think Sony already have a similiar product in the market, slightly bigger.
Anyway, I wonder how practicle is this thing. I mean, it is rather big to have it as a pda/handphone, and rather small screen to be used as a laptop.
Even if you consider the case you don't mind a bulky PDA, rather difficult to have things to be useful on the small screen (e.g. running winXp). Does it have extra software that will do a PDA job on that small screen (e.g. big enough fonts for you to display on the small screen)? Or you will have to change the screen resolution from time to time (e.g. when you reach your office and plug it into your PC).
When will they come out with a foldable screen

hanmin said:
When will they come out with a foldable screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, they have rollable screens already. I like the idea of being able to pull a large screen out of the side of a slimmer but just as tall Universal XX.
Anyone remember the com units used by the agents in the tv show Earth: Final Conflict? Pull out touch screens, nice. 8)
Cheers
Nasdaq

Its nice to see Sony offering a true micro PC. The 'Origami' pcs were some what dissapointing, as they are basically just portable media and email devices. This however is a genuine micro pc, you could literally do a tonne of work of any kind on it.
Very impressive, coming from SOny it wont be cheap but hey, very cool device to have.

here is a small comparison:
285 g vs
520 g
127 x 81 x 25 mm vs
150 x 95 x 32 mm
640x480 vs
1024x600
Windows Mobile vs
Windows XP
520MHz vs
1GHz

the exec is much better then this sony rubbish as:
1. Its lighter
2. The battery lasts much longer (the sony will last 1-2 hours max)
3. The sony has no GSM/GPRS or 3G ... jeez
4. The sony is much bigger
5. The sony has a horrible aerial poking out the top
6. The sony is much heavier
7. The sony has a memory stick socket - yuck, betamax all over again
If I need a laptop I'll take my tiny Compaq with 1gb mem, 1280x768 screen, 80gb harddisk and 64bit amd chip.
For small devices I'll take my change with WM5.1 and WM6. XP was designed for beefy big screen PCs. It don't work on these things ...

colonel said:
...3. The sony has no GSM/GPRS or 3G ... jeez...
7. The sony has a memory stick socket - yuck, betamax all over again...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The US version comes w/ Cingular Wireless Broadband.
It also has a 30gb hard drive which to my knowledge is a bit more than the available memory on the universal
$1800 at Sony Style

When it comes with GPRS and 3G, and I can get it subsidised woth T-Mobile, then I'll buy it.
Otherwise it's like my exwife. Cute, but far too expensive.

The only thing I don't like is the use of Memory Stcks, very expensive memory cards. I hate them.

belfast-biker said:
Otherwise it's like my exwife. Cute, but far too expensive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something in this forum that finally makes sense...!

belfast-biker said:
When it comes with GPRS and 3G, and I can get it subsidised woth T-Mobile, then I'll buy it.
Otherwise it's like my exwife. Cute, but far too expensive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL
Well according to a blogger who had a hands on; the keyboard is crap.

colonel said:
the exec is much better then this sony rubbish as:
1. Its lighter
2. The battery lasts much longer (the sony will last 1-2 hours max)
3. The sony has no GSM/GPRS or 3G ... jeez
4. The sony is much bigger
5. The sony has a horrible aerial poking out the top
6. The sony is much heavier
7. The sony has a memory stick socket - yuck, betamax all over again
If I need a laptop I'll take my tiny Compaq with 1gb mem, 1280x768 screen, 80gb harddisk and 64bit amd chip.
For small devices I'll take my change with WM5.1 and WM6. XP was designed for beefy big screen PCs. It don't work on these things ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you never used one before. I have the U70, the last model. Normal battery 4-5hours and the extended battery 8-9hours. Thats with Wifi on the whole time. You can do 100 more things with XP then WM5. It also has a SD and MS slot. 30gig HDD.
Shame you wont try it.

zakeen said:
I guess you never used one before. I have the U70, the last model. Normal battery 4-5hours and the extended battery 8-9hours. Thats with Wifi on the whole time. You can do 100 more things with XP then WM5. It also has a SD and MS slot. 30gig HDD.
Shame you wont try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm somewhat sceptical. The Universal fits in my pocket - just. Anything bigger wouldn't be usable - and amongst my friends I'm the most easy going about device size, no one else will carry anything close to as big.
Irrespective of its capabilities its no good to me sitting on the shelf when I'm out and about.
So, for me at least, when it comes to trading off capability against 'pocketability' the latter wins every time... YMMV

some more links:
Sony Vaio UX50 resuming from standby in six seconds - Google Video
Hands on with the UX50

hi Zakeen,
That battery life you mention does sound much better. I have had a few sony laptops over the years and they always faired much worse then other ones.
I am following the new Ulitra Micro laptop generation with interest. The Samsung Q1 and Toshiba libretto look more interesting to me as the Toshiba has a better spec. and is cheaper, and roughly the same size, whereas the Samsung is smaller. I think the 2nd generation of these devices will be better. I am prepared to spend around $1000 on a 1Mhz Pentium clone around the size of the Samsung Q1. The Libretto and UX180 are just too expensive.
I was also disappointed that Apple hasn't brought out a tiny laptop. The new macbook is very cheap at $1099 with a core duo cpu, but is actually bigger then the previous G4 macbook.
I have a feeling it'll take another year for these devices to mature. However then the Universal II (or whatever) will be out and again we will have to see whether a micro-laptop is actually worth it!

Using Universal as micro notebook is an excercise in how much compromises you can make/take.
- Lack of built in storage
- No USB Host
- No VGA out
- Poor or no office compatibility (even Text and Page maker are a pain, Power Point and Project editing is even more of a strech and there is no Visio at all.
- Browsing capabilities and compatibility
- Even Mail clients are rather poor
... ant the list goes on ...
I'm sure Sony users will also have to make many compromises, but I'm also pretty sure not even close to Universal's users. If only it would not be so expensive...

Re:TyTN possibly knocked off its Throne!

A Device to Surpass the 8525?
Will there be one soon? within the next 2 or 3 months or so? I know when I got my 8125 the 8525 came like in 5 months or so after. I just sold my 8125 and I am currently using a Motorola RaZR for backup. B4 I go purchase the 8525, i want to know is there a sequel coming any time soon so I can save my money and wait? And Do people really think dishing out the cash they did to upgrade was a good choice? Thx alot for the responses and sorry if this was a repeat I didn't see anything of it yet.

I feel understand your hesitation.
I got myself the i-Mate K-JAM (HTC Wizard) late last year after a bit over a year with the i-Mate JAM. I thought I'd be using that new phone for at least year.
And then the HTC Hermes was released. I couldn't justify spending more money after recently upgrading my phone. But thankfully, my telco offered a deal I couldn't refuse for the Dopod 838 Pro, so I happily took it up.
Hopefully, there won't be any new releases that warrant a change!
But more than simply the release of new handsets, I wish HTC would stop changing the type of memory card that their phones accept. From SD to mini-SD, and no the micro-SD! It's a hassle having to go out and buy a new card AGAIN each time you get a new phone! hehe

I remember when i got my first phone and I'm not even sure how i even came to even own a PPC it all started with a T-Mobile MDA-II,SPV C500,SPV M500,T-Mobile MDA Pro and now T-Mobile MDA Vario II i could not even wait for the 8525 to come out so i got a MDA V II and most of the phones that came out were not even available here i always thrown the money for a new phone that came out never felt it was a waste just go for it

I remember reading during the summer that they were going to release after the Hermes a 128mb of ram Pocket PC.

thx all for the responses, i know the memory card is annoying but the companies making the memory cards are prolly paying HTC money for more sales on their new products by switching out the memory cards. I hate it wen companies do that kinda stuff.

most probably the "next" hermes will be the HTC Herald, have a look at the specs:
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Herald

My vote is the Cavalier would be the next killer phone before the Herald.
Check out my comparison of the Hermes vs Excalibur
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=287684

pof said:
most probably the "next" hermes will be the HTC Herald, have a look at the specs:
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Herald
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the herald is a follow up to the wizard. I am just basing that off of the cpu and the improved hardware buttons.
Later, Lew

The i-mate SP JAM Communicator looks like it could definitely trump the Hermes:
(it's the second phone discussed in this article)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/06/i-mate_roadmap/
Built-in GPS and A2DP, 256 MB flash, TV-out, and possibly a 532 MHz processor.
Sounds like we may see it soon, too (Feb 07).

Re:TyTN possibly knocked off its Throne!
Is it just me and a couple of other people, or does the spec of the upcoming Athena not sound closer to what we wanted out of the TyTN, bar size of course. I'm still in limbo presently, but if the 'updated specs' are true, I'm getting pretty exited about it.
Check the news thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=286884
And no, it is not the next HTC Universal, more like the first HTC PPC/UMPC or UMPPC.lol

good lord, how do you talk with that thing?! It'd be like holding a ghetto boombox up to your head.

specs are cool.. but i would have to stick to my hermes.. that thing looks like to much of a hassle... that device would make it totally impossible to text and drive.. i mean, not that i would do that, that would be unsafe

The specs sound fine but..but...but... I use a seven inch mini computer with full specs and 2.4 Ghz processor / CD/DVD RW etc etc and runs Windows XP/Vista. This mini computer, with all that, is only marginally bigger than the Athena!! Obviously Id rather have my mini computer cos it's got everything.
For travelling, casual use, fun and lets be honest the challenge and size I would have the Hermes not Athena.
So for me its
1. Full size 20 inch PC
2. Mini (but full spec) PC for travelling but still good 7 inch screen
3. TyTn Hermes small enough to be a phone but lots of other things besides - cos let's face it phones by themselves are just boring!
Mike

Re: WM5 UMPPC? Or Dual Boot Technology?
mikechannon said:
The specs sound fine but..but...but... I use a seven inch mini computer with full specs and 2.4 Ghz processor / CD/DVD RW etc etc and runs Windows XP/Vista. This mini computer, with all that, is only marginally bigger than the Athena!! Obviously Id rather have my mini computer cos it's got everything.
For travelling, casual use, fun and lets be honest the challenge and size I would have the Hermes not Athena.
So for me its
1. Full size 20 inch PC
2. Mini (but full spec) PC for travelling but still good 7 inch screen
3. TyTn Hermes small enough to be a phone but lots of other things besides - cos let's face it phones by themselves are just boring!
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't argue with you there Mike.
mackaby007 said:
I can't lie. I'm thoroughly confused as to which is the most ideal portable solution for my needs. One thing is for sure....I want only one device to carry around and it must pretty much do all things. I love the power and 'real configurabilty' of a WinXP/Vista UMPC, not to mention the 'real' and 'actual' 'processing capabilities' i.e. I can still video edit, download (at proper speeds) and actually get the true browsing experience as was intended by whichever website I venture to, not to mention play the occasional PC game in glorious DirectX 3D with high resolution and no need to encode video files to a suitable codec and resolution.
However, Coreplayer is improving in leaps and bounds and can already play my Ripped DVD's in native format, albeit the 400Mhz CPU struggles a little, so theoretically speaking, with a 624Mhz CPU (or more if overclocked), videoplayback shouldn't be an issue in the Athena. Games is really neither here nor there to me, as I rarely play them (I just like to have the choice), but there are some great titles already on WM5 and they are sure to improve as PPC CPUs' improve in power and performance.
Pocket IE and other mobile browser variants are acceptable for now, but still seriously lacking compared to their XP counterparts, but still doable, providing screen real estate is improved via a bigger screen in VGA mode (covered in the Athena).
Storage doesn't seem to be an issue with the Athena as it supposedly will ship with at least 8GB of HDD (battery drain problems), but this can be overcome with the larger iminently released 8GB+ SD Cards etc which can be used for Program installations and the in-built harddrive for storage capacity.
Then you can't ignore the communication advantages of mobile broadband/HSDPA, 3G Video conferencing and GSM, not to mention in-built GPS!! Damn....I think the confusion is lifting...I'm starting to sway towards the Athena or such like devices.
Then there's the Graphics accelerator. If they can get that ATI chip to be a little more versatile and possibly stick their top end mobile accelerator in the Athena, we'd be a lot closer to the UMPC format, which I prefer but without the bulk.
To be able to hook up an external hard drive via USB for 'true mass storage' would be a deal clencher for me. But every one has their own needs and desires in the devices they choose to buy, but for me, the Athena is getting pretty damn close if the specs thus far are genuine.
See here:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/21/htc-athena-x7500-a-umtshsdpa-quad-band-UMPC/
and here:
http://www.mobile-review.com/pda/articles/htc-athena-en.shtml
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So as you can see, there are reasons to go for the all in one solution, but as we all know, it comes down to personal preferances, however, it looks like some other interesting developments are on the horizon that incorporate both WM5 and Full XP/Vista software and PC hardware. Sort of Dual boot options, but no specs as yet.
See here:
http://www.4winmobile.com/viewtopic.php?t=4179

That thing looks huge... I keep my Hermes in my front pocket - I doubt I could do that with that phone!

hrmmm,,,,
maybe notebook manufacturers will need to develop a bag/case with a shoulder strap for this upcoming device.
I think too much convergance in technology can be a bad thing. it is better to have a device specific to your needs and does the job transparently (as in my case) than an all in one device that is "clumsy" and you spend most of your time on debugging the technology, not using the technology to become more efficient in your work.
my 3 cents....
My devices (what is in my office at the same time):
* Work PC desktop with 20" LCD (no screen alignment issue there...lol) - used for word processing and email/browsing.
* Sun Microsystems Ultra workstation running Solaris - namely used for integrated circuit design and intensive simulations of complex telecommunications scenarios
* Rohde and Schwarz - Vector Signal Generator (gsm/umts test vector generation for ASIC hardware testing)
* R&S - spectrum analyzer
* R&S - baseband signal analyzer
* Asus S6F 11.1" notebook - mainly used at home and when travelling (camel leather casing, sweet)
* Imate JASJAM - used 40% of the time for email when out of the office and liasing with industry, and 40% for voice, 20% mucking around
*lava lamp (so retro i know)
It will be nice to have all of the above in one nice device, i just need someone to carry it around for me....lol

Did I mention my Wimshurst Machine (so 19th Century) but great for that moment when the battery goes flat.
Oh and my new project is to find a way to greatly extend battery life so the old Wimshurst Machine becomes obsolete on my travels. As you will see below I can manage to charge myself up ok, just can't quite mange a slow voltage controlled release into Hermes tends to disappear in a blue flash when I shake hands with anyone (perhaps a large capacitor is the answer.) (Courtesy of Hermes vs Van De Graaff productions 2006)
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Mike

mikechannon said:
Did I mention my Wimshurst Machine (so 19th Century) but great for that moment when the battery goes flat.
Oh and my new project is to find a way to greatly extend battery life so the old Wimshurst Machine becomes obsolete on my travels. As you will see below I can manage to charge myself up ok, just can't quite mange a slow voltage controlled release into Hermes tends to disappear in a blue flash when I shake hands with anyone (perhaps a large capacitor is the answer.) (Courtesy of Hermes vs Van De Graaff productions 2006)
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nice vandegraff mike,
the problem is, it creates thousands of volts, but merely any amperes. it would take for ever to charge the 1350mah battery.
You should maybe try a jacobs ladder. we just finished building one. you cab place the hermes in between the spark of the two electrodes.
the hermes will receive one hell of a 'shocking' charge.

Listen after 3 hours on the Van De Graaff you don't really care about anything anymore!!
And.... so... er......you don't think it'll work then??
Mike

ok mike,
this is what you need to do.
fly to melbourne and visit science works (http://scienceworks.museum.vic.gov.au/about_us/lightroom.asp)
our university has a high voltage theatre there
ask the exhibition operator to place your hermes in the path of the lightning strike (2 million volts).
If it survives, then you have atleast 3 years usage without recharge.

best mobile device out there

Any of you thins is there any device (or device + phone combination perhaps) out there or coming shortly better than the Athena platform?
If so which one and why, what device would make you to ditch your dear Athena if any, and expend your hard earned cash in something new?
My device is dead cold and I been looking around and failed to be excited with the new iTOY 3G or the 7510, the Samsung Omnia looks kind of interesting, no devices with a 5"screen which is something I love on the athena, so probably my best bet will be a reasonable priced second hand Advantage....or a cheapo thing and wait a few months to see what's new? or iTOY and other mobile device companion?
If somebody think is worth to make this thread a poll and attach that colour bars at the top please do so
Regards

PBL1 said:
Any of you thins is there any device (or device + phone combination perhaps) out there or coming shortly better than the Athena platform?
If so which one and why, what device would make you to ditch your dear Athena if any, and expend your hard earned cash in something new?
My device is dead cold and I been looking around and failed to be excited with the new iTOY 3G or the 7510, the Samsung Omnia looks kind of interesting, no devices with a 5"screen which is something I love on the athena, so probably my best bet will be a reasonable priced second hand Advantage....or a cheapo thing and wait a few months to see what's new? or iTOY and other mobile device companion?
If somebody think is worth to make this thread a poll and attach that colour bars at the top please do so
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung OMNIA... very strange resolution=problems for SURE
Imate 9502? May be...
Raphael is the best choice IMHO but athena is far better
It is simple: software could be developed from users, but Hardware don't. And Athena is STILL the best hardware in the WM business

sergiopi said:
Samsung OMNIA... very strange resolution=problems for SURE
Imate 9502? May be...
Raphael is the best choice IMHO but athena is far better
It is simple: software could be developed from users, but Hardware don't. And Athena is STILL the best hardware in the WM business
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree with you.
5 inch screen is so important. I can surf the net without having to zoom in and out which drives me crazy after a while.
Standard aspect ratio is very important for the sake of getting software.

My acer Aspire One has ousted my Athena as my web browser. Check it out online somewhere, it realy is small, btu never pocket size. Best netbook there is in my opinion.
But if youre looking for another pocket device, my vote goes to the Raphael/X1. Although, the athena screen is so big you will probably miss it.
Rory

rorydaredkign said:
My acer Aspire One has ousted my Athena as my web browser. Check it out online somewhere, it realy is small, btu never pocket size. Best netbook there is in my opinion.
But if youre looking for another pocket device, my vote goes to the Raphael/X1. Although, the athena screen is so big you will probably miss it.
Rory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Acer Aspire One could not be practically brought alone with you all the time, is not instant on, does not have long enough battery, cannot be used without a table or chair, ...
Raphael. The screen is too small. Movies, internet, Softmakerall need bigger screen to be enjoyable.

I agree with you both,
The reason Omnia called my attention was that it match Athena specs and in some case add better ones,16Gb internal memory and memory slot good camera, Fm radio that works with the GSM, the haptics touch screen gimmic and the funky graphics
still no 5" screen and funny resolution that remains to be seen how well it works.
The 9502 looks Ok but not worth to compare with Athena (also the advantage looks better IMO) and the Raphael/Diamond devices, the same thing.
Why after a year there is no better device than Athena bugs my, not for technical reasons for sure.

I LOVE my 5 inch screen....sooo sweet!

PBL1 said:
(...)
Why after a year there is no better device than Athena bugs my, not for technical reasons for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Market... still not "mature" and IPHONE is the perfect example.
BT blocked to avoid file transfers, no way to download anything from browser, no file explorer, eeven no easy way to set an MP3 as ringtone... SUCCESS ???
Sorry folks, we are ALIENS from the future and the market is for Neanderthal men, we are looking for a beautiful lighter in a place were the fire was just discovered!

I just bought a HTC Advantage x7501 this last week. While I was looking the only thing that came close for me were the upcoming MID's. Though, I don't think they take sim cards (not sure). But, I wasn't looking for the mobile phone aspect of a mobile device. They also run Linux although there might be some that come out with Windows Mobile.
I am happy with my Advantage, it's a great upgrade from my Dell Axim x51v.

I just won the bidding on ebay so an "less than 2 moths old as new Advantage"should be on my way, hopefully all is right and everything goes as expected
soo back on course.
My problem with MID and similar devices is the ridiculous battery life, I was looking at the QPQ2, real use battery life just over 2H but al least there is a battery on sale with twice the capacity for that device.
Cheers

Indeed it is very true that the one isn't practical to carry around, but if you have even a small bag with you it can easily be stored. My mum even commented that when i'm at uni it will be good because it won't look like I have a laptop in my bag, it'll just look like a normal bag.
Although I do admit I was a bit silly suggesting it, I should have known he really wanted a ppc.
Rory

Although I do admit I was a bit silly suggesting it, I should have known he really wanted a ppc.
Rory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not at all, you make a very valid point, indeed with some laptop devices becoming very portable and affordable it is a real possibility to carry a "real computer" and a mobile phone, some peple mentioned eee pc and a celular in other threads.
besides the opinion of the people about possible devices out there is the idea of this thread in the first place
cheers

Athena against Idildo?
I'm not an expert but do NOT change your Athena against an I-garbage. It is a gadget for apple fans. I had one for one week before selling it away.
Cheers.

I made the choiceto get an iPhone, and it does everything I need in such a cool manner. Well cool if you're 18, everyone loves it... I would love to be able to share it's internet to my laptop though...
Anyways as always a mattr of personal choice.
Rory

wow i see that i'm not the only person who had an itoy for just a week. i had it returned. and then i bought my x7501.

I have both, Athena and Iphone.
In CAR terms i have SMART and HUMMER.*
Nothing to compare but nice to have both in different situations
http://www.pinklily.com.au/images/media/smartcar.jpg
http://car-reviews.automobile.com/images/cars/ArtImages/56131/alt.jpg
My DASH is the FIAT PANDA 4x4 , small, nice to have in light snow or living in the countryside...
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* EDITED... for IPHONE a better definition could be... MAZDA MX5 Roadster
http://www.mazdaforum.com/models/miata/mx5/images/miata-mx-5.jpg

sergiopi has a good point.
unfortunately i only had enough money to buy one hummer
ciao!

hi, so im not the only one that have these kind of thought's and idea's.
i was thinking about buying a netbook like the msi wind and having a (more or less) small phone like the raphael only for the situations when the netbook is not with me. even if that means i have to drop my 'one device for all situations' idea .
so i played around with a friends diamond (should be the same screensize as raphael or?), but i cannot get warm with this solution, not only because wasting money for 2 devices that are used to do similar things.
so i sitdown and wait for htc (or someone else) to do the trick and bring a raphael like device but with a 3.8" screen, for me everything below a screensize of 3.8" (the size of my old htc universal) is to small to be used as 'one and only' device.
greets mad

madbird said:
hi, so im not the only one that have these kind of thought's and idea's.
i was thinking about buying a netbook like the msi wind and having a (more or less) small phone like the raphael only for the situations when the netbook is not with me. even if that means i have to drop my 'one device for all situations' idea .
so i played around with a friends diamond (should be the same screensize as raphael or?), but i cannot get warm with this solution, not only because wasting money for 2 devices that are used to do similar things.
so i sitdown and wait for htc (or someone else) to do the trick and bring a raphael like device but with a 3.8" screen, for me everything below a screensize of 3.8" (the size of my old htc universal) is to small to be used as 'one and only' device.
greets mad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will suggest MSI WInd and HTC S630. the 630 as phone is almost perfect: easy to fit in the pocket, cheap, full Kb, great opera mini, all (calendar, contacts, task) sync, landscape screen NON TOUCH (means no plastic film over MUCH better view, also considering the needs for a touch screen phone of a screen protection)
I fit in your jeans REAR pocket, or shirt's pocket, great (3g) for internet connection, add a small EXTERNAL GPS and TT6
If you need a TRUCK (MSI WInd) better to have a PANDA 4x4 TURBO ( HTC S630) as everyday's CAR

Sergiopi, you and me are evidently the same person...
iPhone and Athena, and both of us love cars... wow
lol
One thing, I wish I was able to put WM on my AAO, as its the best mobile OS there is. If it could be just like the Shift and the unlocked snapvue that would be awesome.
Rory

Do you still use your Universal outdoors?

As in the title, do you use the phone when you go out or do you use it only at home? Since mobile phones/pocket pcs have become a bit smaller/slimmer but with bigger screens, the Universal is a beast or a big brick compared to actual phones in the market. Plus it is definitely heavy, more heavier if you put a 3200mah battery and is definitely far behind in terms of specs (no gps,accelerometer,only 64mb ram...). Have you come across people saying the Universal is a big/ugly/outdated phone?
I personally take 2 x 1620mah batteries when I'm out and only use the 3200mah when indoors. Still I find the Universal an attractive phone and the keyboard is definitely unique.
Would it be time to switch to a more stylish and less bulky phone like the HTC Touch Pro2, HTC Blackstone or the likes? What are your thoughts about this - just want to know what the community still think about this phone.

i love my uni. compared Omania II. I like uni's qwerty keypad. and the rotating screen but yes it really heavy. I wish uni is gps capable and has motion sensing like Omania II

Universal, one of the greatest devices ever
Final5k said:
As in the title, do you use the phone when you go out or do you use it only at home? Since mobile phones/pocket pcs have been becoming a bit smaller/slimmer but with bigger screens, the Universal is a beast or a big brick compared to actual phones in the market. Plus it is definitely heavy and more heavy if you put a 3200mah battery with it. Have you come across people saying the Universal is a big/ugly/outdated phone?
I personally take 2 1620mah batteries when I'm out and use the 3200mah when indoors. Still I find the Universal an attractive phone and the keyboard is definitely unique.
Would it be time to switch to a more stylish and less bulky phone like the HTC Touch Pro2, HTC Blackstone or the likes? What are your thoughts about this - just want to know what the community still think about this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You´ll find that proud owners of Universal are very happy and probably won´t get rid of their Uni´s!
On my case, I had Universal as my main and only device for almost 5 years, then I buyed a Rhodium but never with the idea to substitute my Universal, as it has not a real substitute on the market
HTC made it so well that they do not want to do another one as good as Uni...So sadly I don´t think we will find a "real" successor on the same from factor.
So yes you can buy another device but with the time you will find that there is nothing that will substitute great Uni.
Long live to Universal!!
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orb3000 said:
You´ll find that proud owners of Universal are very happy and probably won´t get rid of their Uni´s!
On my case, I had Universal as my main and only device for almost 5 years, then I buyed a Rhodium but never with the idea to substitute my Universal, as it has not a real substitute on the market
HTC made it so well that they do not want to do another one as good as Uni...So sadly I don´t think we will find a "real" successor on the same from factor.
So yes you can buy another device but with the time you will find that there is nothing that will substitute great Uni.
Long live to Universal!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
coud'nt we e-mail HTC with a request for a phone to succes the uni?

Yes we can!
Please go ahead, you have my support and signature!

orb3000 said:
Yes we can!
Please go ahead, you have my support and signature!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine too
All they need to do is add more ram/rom space, GPS, accelerometer, FM radio, and U.S. radio frequency. For all our users still with Uni with no 3G lol.
BTW Uni is still my only device I use currently. Thought about TP2 but passed on it.

Same here. I bought my uni recently as my main device, and it's fine. Big and heavy, but with great keyboard, powerfull and just... I don't really like this whole "cool, and slim, and whooooah finger friendly devices" thing. But in my case I usually message instead of calling (It's just that I prefer to), therefore the size doesn't bother me this much.
Also, I had some other big devices in past (i.e. blue angel - not as big as uni, but still big) so it's not really anything new for me.
Only thing that bothers me for now is battery life time. Yesterday I drained about 60% of my uni battery browsing internet for 2h via wifi. I was kind of shocked to be honest - my 15,4 notebook would last for 3h at least. I know uni sucks when comes to battery life time, but seriosuly, 2h for a mobile device?
I'm going to change rom and radio (back to 1.15), and also try some other tricks from xda-dev. Hope it will help.
The other option (and most probable one) is that the seller "battery is fine and can last for a few days" was a lie, and battery is just kind of dead.
Also, greetings for xda-dev, as it's my first post here (I'm not new in terms of registration time though ;])

Thanks and welcome to forums

2hrs internet browsing seems to be reasonable - i think i've managed to browse 2h30min-3hrs with my new battery. Even on Nokia, batteries drain fast when browsing the web this much especially heavily loaded pages.

boxchevy said:
Mine too
All they need to do is add more ram/rom space, GPS, accelerometer, FM radio, and U.S. radio frequency. For all our users still with Uni with no 3G lol.
BTW Uni is still my only device I use currently. Thought about TP2 but passed on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, i have good news, i have sent them a e-mail and i'm waiting for a reply, this is wht i sent:
Dear HTC
I on behalf of the xda-developer fourm would like to request a new device to succed the HTC Uniersal / XDA Exec.
We would like it to have:
GPS
Touch Flow 3D
Accelerometer
3.5 Audio Jack
full 62 QWERTY Keybaord
Bluetooth
WifI
GPRS
3G
Wireless Router Setting
SD/SDHC Card Compatibility
ROM: 512 MB
RAM: 256 MB
5gb Internal Storage
5mp Camera
Video Calling Camera
2.8-inch TFT - LCD touch screen =]
If you could do this, We would all be very greatful
Thannk You
Mr Simon Lee
Simon_WM - Xda-dev user name

I'm using my Universal as a primary mobile phone, 24/7 in my pocket, with 3200 mah battery, no problems for me

I use my Uni in Internet browsing and watching movies. With WoW SRS + good headphones, i feel like watching in a theater.

Simon_WM said:
Well, i have good news, i have sent them a e-mail and i'm waiting for a reply, this is wht i sent:
Dear HTC
I on behalf of the xda-developer fourm would like to request a new device to succed the HTC Uniersal / XDA Exec.
We would like it to have:
GPS
Touch Flow 3D
Accelerometer
3.5 Audio Jack
full 62 QWERTY Keybaord
Bluetooth
WifI
GPRS
3G
Wireless Router Setting
SD/SDHC Card Compatibility
ROM: 512 MB
RAM: 256 MB
5gb Internal Storage
5mp Camera
Video Calling Camera
2.8-inch TFT - LCD touch screen =]
If you could do this, We would all be very greatful
Thannk You
Mr Simon Lee
Simon_WM - Xda-dev user name
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why???
i love it because of the 3.7"
internal storage?open for discussion
i would prefer a sd card instead of the micro sd...because of digital cameras(compact and SLRs) etc
but the biggest must have is the EXCELLENT 62key keyboard(the same if possible)

mc_fish said:
why???
i love it because of the 3.7"
internal storage?open for discussion
i would prefer a sd card instead of the micro sd...because of digital cameras(compact and SLRs) etc
but the biggest must have is the EXCELLENT 62key keyboard(the same if possible)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I would prefer micro SD. Why? Because it can fit into any other device either by itself or with adaptor to take it to full SD size. SD, on the other hand, cannot be reduced to the size of micro SD and therefore will be useless in anything else other than SD device. At this point my Uni and Magician are the only full SD devices.

its small, its unpractical, it has smaller capacity and you dont have the adapter always by hand...where are the pros? its inside the phone so you dont see it... = the form factor for you doesn't meter, but someone who changes the cards often...its a totally different story

Gooapple i5S (p)review with pictures!

I don't know where to post this thread...
This will be my first ever kinda proper review. It's still incomplete, and I will amend it later. The text corresponds to the image below it. It may be a bit hard to follow, but you can pair them up judging from the context.
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The Gooapple i5S, as can be deducted from the name, is an Apple iPhone 5S knockoff that runs Android, hence Goo(gle)+apple i(Phone)5S. I bought it with the intention of using all those fancy iPhone accessories like cases and stuff. It is more or less 1:1 to the real iPhone, and has a nice aluminium construction (although it is obviously not as well made as the real thing). And although not explicitly stated by the seller, this phone also looks like it uses the real, reversible lightning connector found on the newer iOS devices (which is true). The cost was $122.55 + $26.61 EMS postage, making it a total of $149.16 (all in USD).
Specifications at a glance:
MediaTek MT6572 chipset @ 1.2GHz, dual core (the highest I've experienced is 1 GHz)
Android 4.2.2 heavily modified to look and work like iOS 7
512 MB RAM
4.0" 854x480 LED backlit display (looks like TFT judging from the viewing angles)
Glass (not plastic) touchscreen with 5-point multitouch
8 GB internal storage (more on this later)
8 MP back + 1.3 MP front cameras with dual LED flash (front camera is probably 5 MP digitally upscaled to 8 MP)
1400 mAh battery (quoted, actually 1200 mAh)
Uses a single nano SIM, supposedly operating at GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz and WCDMA 850/2100MHz (it can make phone calls fine)
Has WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth (2.1) and GPS
FM radio (doesn't work)
Feel free to ask about other stuff!
In the box: knockoff Apple EarPods, Lightning to USB Cable, SIM eject tool and a fake iPhone 5 Quick Start Guide.
Outside of the box (posted in the same parcel, but wrapped outside of the box): A cheap AC to USB adapter with plug that probably corresponds to the country of your postal address.
This knockoff iPhone 5S uses the real Lightning connector! It charges fine, and can probably use non-iOS 7 compatible Lightning cables. Chances are the one bundled is not iOS 7 compatible.
When you first turn on the phone, you are greeted with the Apple boot logo. To be specific, it is the one with the black Apple logo and the white background that is found on the white and champagne gold iPhone 5S and the white iPhone 5 running iOS 7. The developers of this heavily customised version of Android were probably too lazy to differentiate the space grey boot logo with the black background and white Apple logo from the other, maybe because this Gooapple is available in three colours; space grey, white and champagne gold.
When the phone finishes booting, the iPhone Tri-tone message tone can be heard as the boot sound, then you are met with the iOS 7 style lockscreen. Unlocking it laggily (if that's a word) transitions to the iOS 7 style launcher. It scrolls with a lot of lag. Dragging down on the homescreen reveals the spotlight search bar, just like in iOS 7.
Some of the apps you see in the picture below were installed by me (the file manager, root checker and iLauncher).
The layout of the Settings app is unlike what you normally see in Android. Instead, it has been modified to look and work just like the one in iOS 7.
Double tapping the "home" button on the homescreen reveals an iOS 7 style task manager than swipes both up AND down to kill an app, as opposed to the swipe-up-only one in iOS 7.
Interesting thing about the home button; single tapping it actually sends the "back" command to Android. Double tapping it sends a "home" command, and long pressing it sends a "menu" command. Single tap then long pressing it will bring up Voice Command. It does not have Touch ID.
Pretty much all the system applications are stylised to look like iOS 7, such as the dialer, calculator, stopwatch, calendar, music player, gallery (or photos, as named in this system).
It does not have root out-of-the-box, and I can't say when there will be a method to root it.
Pressing the home button+power button does indeed take a screenshot.
This phone has one especially handy feature - a working silent/vibrate toggle switch. I don't know any Android phone that have one.
The touchscreen has 5-point multitouch. Plenty for a 4" screen, if you ask me.
If you know me a bit, then you'll know how much I like taking things apart. It took me a while to figure out how to disassemble this knockoff. I tried undoing the two pentalobe (yes, real star-shaped pentalobe) screws on the bottom and prying the screen's frame from the aluminium shell just like you would on a real iPhone, to no avail. The top and bottom seemed to be especially stuck, and I almost broke the phone trying to open it by force.
Then I tried heating it up using a hot air gun and separating the glass itself from the frame. The home button fell out, then I lifted the bottom of the screen away from the frame, and I saw that the cables were connected along the top edge. I also saw one other thing; screw holes that corresponded to screws on the other side of the frame.
So instinctively, I pryed off the glass inserts on the back of the Gooapple, and they turned out to be plastic held in place by double sided sticky tape. As it turns out, there is one relatively large screw in each corner of the phone holding it together. Unscrewing these made the disassembly a sinch (cinch?).
The seller said in the product description that this phone has a 1400 mAh battery. Tearing it down proved that it was a lie. 1200 mAh is clearly printed on it, and there is empty space above the battery, probably to accommodate for a 1400 mAh battery.
The silent switch is much simpler than the real thing. All it is is an open/close circuit switch that closes the circuit when the switch is switched to vibrate, and opens when it is not.
Oh, what's this? A Micro SD slot?
Yes, it is! It's not cheapo, either. It's a Kingston 8 GB SDHC Class 4! Which means I can upgrade it! I'm guessing the maximum is 32 GB, the SDHC limit. I will try 64 GB though, when I backup my existing one.
Putting it into a computer showed that the system does not reside here. It has its own real internal ROM separate from the Micro SD.
I only had a 64 MB Micro SD lying around at the time, so I put it in and restarted the phone (as it was not designed to have a hot-swappable SD card). It was revealed to me that the capacity stayed the same regardless of what card you put in, but the 'Available' storage is accurate.
This concludes my "review" for now. I know it wasn't much; all I did was play around with the phone and take pictures along the way, then commenting on them here. I didn't intend to write a review, so as a result, it didn't flow very well and wasn't very comprehensive. So please feel free to ask away!
Thanks for reading up until the end!

I thought review was awesome with all the pictures, but when I got to the part where you took it apart - holy crap!!! Much respect!!!

Nice review. Thanks for that! So are you actually using the phone?How does it feel? Any roms you can flash?

vectron said:
I thought review was awesome with all the pictures, but when I got to the part where you took it apart - holy crap!!! Much respect!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Anything that I own has or will inevitably be taken apart.
Hanzo.Hasashi said:
Nice review. Thanks for that! So are you actually using the phone?How does it feel? Any roms you can flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My primary phone is the Galaxy Note 2, and after using the Gooapple, it makes my Note 2 feel faster than before. I'm just experimenting with the Gooapple for now, and trying out all those fancy iPhone 5 cases (bluetooth gamepad, here I come!). I'm probably going to use it as a GBA emulator and stuff like that.
I'm looking for ROMs I can flash. I recently discovered that although running 4.2.2, it doesn't use MTP, but USB Mass Storage Mode! It only charges using the Lightning cable, but for some reason I can only connect it to the computer using a 30-pin to 8-pin Lightning adapter. It looks like this:

OMG
No triggers/bumper buttons though
Update: I just bought it for $45. It should arrive in a week or so.

To that data-phenomenon - maybe it works with a lightning to usb-adapter?

Daemonarch2k said:
To that data-phenomenon - maybe it works with a lightning to usb-adapter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the problem - the phone doesn't pop up with 'USB Mass Storage Mode' if I use a Lightning to USB cable, but it does when I use a USB to 30-pin then a 30-pin to 8-pin Lightning adapter.

Time to upgrade the storage!
Aww yiss

its amazing how far people will go to make fakes look like the real thing!

exscume for the up , you can extraction the apk ??

Man that was really interesting to see it in detail, inside and out! I'm actually slightly impressed, the software look especially.