HP iPAQ 914 review

This week I was asked to review the HP iPAQ 914 From Hewlett-Packard, the phone is HP’s latest offerings, trying to fit every possible function in to a device no bigger then the Blackberry Curve.



Introduction

The HP iPAQ 914 is packed with features such as quad band GSM, tri band 3G, a GPS receiver with external aerial connector, 7.2Mbit/sec HSDPA support, a good 3 mega pixel camera with flash and the latest version of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, version 6.1.


What’s in the box?

The box itself is a mind of information, as you open the lid, there you will find the Quick setup guide, and guide showing you what all the buttons do. There is also the setup disc which easily lets you set your device up, assigning speed dial, email accounts, preferences etc. Again very helpful, on starting up the device there are loads of hints and tips sections as well as the usual automated network, email set up procedures, it is recommended that the set up CD is used. The one thing that grabbed my attention is a sticker on the device itself that states ‘cracked screens due to improper handling are not covered under warranty. Do not compress, hit, bend or drop your HP iPAQ. Remove your HP iPAQ from pants pockets before sitting down. Always store your HP iPAQ in its protective case’. Alas, however, no free screen saver or protective case that I could find.

Included in the box is a USB type connector and charger, there is a plug socket with adaptors of different regions around the world. There are the usual manuals and also the important start up disc. Mini usb connecting headphones.


HP iPAQ 914 Specifications:

* Windows Mobile 6.1 professional
* 2.46-inch transmissive TFT 320 x 240 pixel touch panel display
* Built-in Assisted GPS
* Integrated Quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Tri Band HSPDA
* WiFi 802.11 b/g
* Bluetooth V2.0
* UMTS (3G)/HSDPA Connectivity
* Marvell PXA270 Processor 416 MHz
* 128MB SDRAM/ 256MB ROM
* 3 Megapixel Camera (614c)
* MicroSD Slot
* 1940 mAh Lithium Polymer battery
* 113 x 64 x 16 mm (4.45” x 2.52” x 0.63”)
* v146g (5.15 oz)

HTC Update Diamond ROM (again!)

No this isn't a mistake or a repeat-post but in fact HTC just released another ROM update for the HTC Touch Diamond. This time it's version 1.93 and is available for the UK and other European countries.

As with other HTC ROM updates, in order to download the update you must have an HTC Touch Diamons and have registered it's serial number through your e-club account. Once you have done this then the download will be available as a "Phone Software Update" in the "My Downloads" section of your account.



The download is just over 98MB in size and the update process takes around 20 minutes to perform. This is a full ROM update so EVERYTHING will be wiped from your Diamond (Internal Storage is Safe) during the upgrade so be sure to backup all of your important data before you begin the update process!

Updated in this ROM:

* Camera navigation
* Improved TouchFlo response
* Updates to weather
* text alert speed

HTC Touch Pro coming to Vodafone

Today we discovered that Vodafone are going to carry the HTC Touch Pro and, a little earlier than we expected, are due to launch the device some time this month!

For those of you that don't know about the Touch Pro (where have you been hiding?) this is the new device from HTC that's very similar to the HTC Touch Diamond in terms of size and specification but the Touch Pro looses the 4GB of internal storage in favour of a MicroSD card slot and also sports a sliding QWERTY keyboard which has given the Pro the unofficial nickname 'TyTN III'.

I suspect that the Touch Pro will have a great deal of appeal to business customers and wonder if the imminent launch of the Touch Pro is why Orange are not offering the Touch Diamond to corporate customers?



You can see more of the HTC Touch Pro on the Vodafone Business Shop site.

Android Still on Course to Debut this Year

Getting a new mobile operating system on the market isn't a simple task, as Google and its partners are learning. Still, despite problems HTC says the first device based on Android will definitely debut during the fourth quarter of this year.


According to previous reports, the initial Android model -- made by HTC and released by T-Mobile USA -- was originally scheduled for release in the third quarter of this year. Now, however, a statement from HTC's CFO Hui-ming Cheng confirms that this introduction has been moved back to the fourth quarter.

Dreaming about Android Smartphones

Google, the company heading up development on Android, has been quite willing to talk openly about it. It will be based on the open-source operating system Linux and strongly encourage third-party development. It will offer robust multitasking, and many of it's bundled applications will tie in to Google's services, like Gmail.

On the other hand, companies have kept a very tight lid on information about the hardware that will be running Android. T-Mobile's first device will be the HTC Dream, which has been described by those who have seen it as being similar in size and shape to the HTC Tilt, a tablet shaped device with a sliding keyboard.

The delay in releasing the Dream isn't because of problems with the hardware, but the Android team is still putting the finishing touches on it.

Samsung InnoV8 Will Push Multimedia Smartphones to a Higher Level

Samsung's next smartphone, the Symbian S60 powered InnoV8 (i8510), will take direct aim at Nokia's N95/N96 models by having the most features that can be packed in a device and still be made pocketable.

First, the Specs

The Samsung InnoV8 will start with Symbian's S60 operating system. It will have the latest release, Feature Pack 2 (version 3.2) which streamlines some user interface elements, addressed wireless access point management, and improved battery efficiency among other changes.



In addition, the InnoV8 will pack 16 GB of internal flash memory, identical to the recently announced Nokia N96. However, unlike the N96, the InnoV8 will also come with a microSD memory card slot, taking its potential internal storage to levels previous found only on dedicated MP3 players.

Also topping any current smartphone device to date, this model will feature an 8 megapixel digital camera. Offering face/blink/smile-detection, image stabilization, and the ability to geotag photos using the internal GPS, the InnoV8 will match other current top offerings by Nokia and other manufacturers.

In shape it will be a slider, with a 2.8-inch QVGA sliding aside to reveal a numberpad.

Rounding out the feature set, the InnoV8 will have Wi-Fi (802.11g), Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, a built-in FM tuner, 3.5mm headphone jack, and stereo speakers. It will even have an accelerometer and optical mouse.

Availability

The Samsung i8510 InnoV8 is slated to be available in Europe and Asia in September of this year. Though a quad-band GSM device (850/900/1800/1900MHz), lack of North American 3G compatibility might keep it as just a novelty import, similar to the way the N95 was originally.

It does feature compatibility with European 3G networks (900/2100MHz) in addition to the aforementioned Wi-Fi for high speed wireless access.