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HTC S710: The Balance between Form and Function |
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Form and function. These sometimes conflicting goals have driven manufacturers crazy ever since the first mobile device was on the drawing boards. Manufacturers want to market compelling, feature-rich devices, but every feature they add to a device increases its size and weight, thus decreasing its portability. The most recent attempt to find this "sweet spot" comes from HTC in the form of their recently announced S710 Smartphone (a.k.a., HTC Vox).
Smartphone with a slide-out keyboard
The S710 runs the Windows Mobile 6 Standard software and sports a non-touchscreen display. One of the more interesting features of this device is its slide-out QWERTY keyboard. A number of Pocket PC Phone Edition devices have this type of keyboard, but this is the first Smartphone to have one. This is a cool feature"-"the keyboard springing out never fails to elicit gasps or comments from onlookers. As it slides out, the display automatically switches to horizontal view. All this makes responding to e-mails a joy rather than something to be postponed.
The HTC S710 is the first Smartphone to include a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for text entry.
The S710 is also packed with wireless capabilities, including Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), Bluetooth 2.0, and a quad-band, EDGE-capable GSM/GPRS phone (without 3G data capability). The device is powered by a 200 MHz TI OMAP processor, which is slow for the tasks it's expected to handle"-"HTML e-mail, multimedia, and any other app run simultaneously will severely bog down the OS. Factor in the rotating display, and you have a definite processor speed issue. I would've expected a 312 MHz CPU at the very least.
Weighing in at almost 5 ounces, the S710 is heavier than most Windows Mobile Smartphones. However, I didn't really mind the weight. In fact, it gives the device a substantial and comfortable feel. A soft rubber coating adorning the back and extending over the top and bottom portions helps prevent the device from slipping out of your hand. The top edge has the power on/off button. Two LEDs at the top of the face of the device will blink when the phone is active or when the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth is active.
TIP: When the phone is on, press this button quickly"-"don't hold it down"-"to display a "Quick List" of options and the user profile changer.
The button that activates the built-in 2 megapixel camera is located on the right edge. A mini-USB port is located on the bottom edge, allowing the device to connect to a power/sync cable or to a headset. Located on the upper left edge are volume up/down buttons and a voice dial button. Unfortunately, the device does not include the powerful speaker-independent MS Voice Command software"-"instead, we get Voice Dial, which requires you to "tag" actions with specific commands. Located on the lower left edge is the opening to the microSD card slot.
As mentioned, the S710 is a GSM/GPRS phone, which means that you can swap SIM cards to use it with different GSM carriers. Ingeniously, HTC placed the SIM card slot under the QWERTY keyboard, which means you simply slide out the keyboard to access the SIM. Note that opening the SIM card slot automatically shuts off the device.
A great e-mail machine
The HTC S710 is the first Windows Mobile 6 Standard device to ship, and WM6 has some eye-catching enhancements over WM5"-"particularly with regards to e-mail. These include the ability to receive and view HTML-formatted messages, flag messages with a follow-up icon, simplification of the e-mail account set up procedure, and more.
As mentioned, the device comes with a QWERTY keyboard, which makes it easier to respond to messages. The keyboard slides out smoothly from the back of the device. As it does, the display automatically rotates to landscape viewing mode. Typing on the small keyboard is slow at first, but after about a week I was pecking out about 30 wpm. The keys do need a little more "give" to them, but you get used to it.
TIP: The default text entry mode is xT9 (an offshoot of the popular T9 method), which is used in conjunction with the 12-key pad on the face of the device. Should you want to change this to the standard ABC method, either cycle through modes by pressing the "*" key, or press and hold it once for a quick list.
A quality device, but some design sacrifices
In terms of build quality, HTC is at the head of the pack. This is a well crafted device with tactile number buttons, a smooth sliding mechanism for the keyboard, and responsive Voice Dial and camera buttons. I did have to give the S710 some points off, however, for the D-Pad; every fifth or sixth press ended up in a no response. I also occasionally had this problem when typing quickly on the number pad. Most users will probably not notice because they will be using the slide-out keyboard for text entry.
To keep the S710 small, HTC made some sacrifices with the design. The number pad on the face of the device was cramped and difficult to use, occasionally leading to mistakes. In addition, I did not like the placement of the call and end keys. The latter, in particular, required an odd positioning of my right thumb to end a call.
A large and clear display, but
The S710's screen blew me away! Measuring 2.4 inches diagonally, this is one of the largest screens available on a Smartphone. It displays e-mail and graphics beautifully. There is, however, a 1-3 second delay in the rotation of the display when you slide the keyboard in and out. The rotating screen also has another hidden problem for people who use custom Home screen themes. Most of the current Smartphone themes are designed for one viewing orientation; either landscape or portrait. Because of this, a custom Home screen may not display properly in one of the orientations. It is possible to create a theme that displays properly in both orientations. I'm sure that, as the S710 gains popularity, others will become available.
Windows Mobile 6 Standard, but not much else
The HTC S710 runs the Windows Mobile 6 Standard software, which includes Microsoft's mobile OS and software suite for non-touchscreen devices. I wholeheartedly confess to my infatuation with Windows Mobile 6. In particular, I love the new Smartfilter search feature associated with Messaging. I use it on a daily basis to find messages"-"it never ceases to prove its worth. Unfortunately, there does seem to be a problem using the QWERTY keyboard with it. When you type X, S, or E, it keys in the function characters associated with the keys (#, *, or 0), making the search difficult to use with the QWERTY keyboard.
Windows Mobile 6 Standard also includes Mobile versions of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint for Smartphones, which allow you to view and edit documents for these programs. Unfortunately, Microsoft did not include a way to create new documents. Fortunately, this is pretty easy to fix. You can create blank Word and Excel documents with the PC version of the programs, name them "New" and save them as templates, and copy them to your Smartphone. In addition, you can go to http://www.Modaco.com, search for and download a .cab file named "Donew," and install it on your device.
The S710 includes Adobe Acrobat Reader LE, which allows you to view .pdf files on the device. Also included is Quick Notes (a simple .txt file editor/creator), Audio Manager (an MP3 player/playlist manager that also allows easy settings of ringtones), BT Explorer, SIM Manager, Clear Storage, and SAPSettings. The device also includes a camera application that is in need of a major overhaul; it seems to have ported directly from the Pocket PC touchscreen version, and usability was a nightmare. Pictures came out fairly well, although low-light snaps did poorly. Also of note is Windows Live, a redesigned version of the old MSN Messenger. Overall, however, I was disappointed by the bundled software"-"HTC needs to include more!
A personal and business phone
The HTC S710 has not yet been picked up by a wireless carrier in the U.S. It is, however, available from http://www.OnTheGoSolutions.... and other online vendors for approximately $569.99. I got the review unit from On The Go Solutions, a reliable online retailer of HTC and other Windows Mobile devices.
Bear in mind that the S710 is an imported device and has not been officially released in the U.S. Make sure you check with the retailer of your choice and verify that the device they sell you is supported under HTC's international warranty.
The criticisms I mentioned in this article were minor"-"no device is perfect"-"and I can easily cope with them. However, I am a relatively knowledgeable user. Less advanced users, especially those migrating from a "dumb" cell phone to the Windows Mobile platform, might have some issues coping with the bugs and slow processor. Overall, I am quite happy with the S710, which has replaced my Cingular 3125 as my everyday phone. It's small and flashy enough to be used as a personal phone, and functional enough for my business needs. I give it a score of 7.8 out of a possible 10.
PROS
* VERY small device with integrated slide out QWERTY keyboard
* Integrated WiFi and Bluetooth
* Windows Mobile 6 Standard
* Stunning Screen
CONS
* Slower processor, although usable
* Meager selection of add on software
Spec Sheet
Model: HTC S710 Smartphone
Price: $569.99 MSRP
Contact: Info: HTC.com; Purchase: OnTheGoSolutions.com, MobilePlanet.com, other online vendors Hardware
CPU: 200 MHz TI OMAP processor
Display: 2.4" diagonal, 240X320 pixel, color TFT (non-touchscreen) capable of portrait and landscape viewing
Memory: 64 MB RAM, 128 MB flash ROM
Input and control: Built-in 12-key dial pad on face of device, slide-out QWERTY keypad for text entry, directional navigation/select button, Call and End Call buttons, Home and "return to previous screen" buttons, buttons to activate the two soft keys displayed at the bottom of the screen; On/Off button; camera button, voice dial button.
Built-in wireless: Phone: quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), Bluetooth 2.0.
Camera: 2 megapixel without flash, with self-portrait mirror
External ports: Mini-USB/audio jack combo
Card slots: Externally accessible microSD
Battery: 1,050 mAh Li-Ion rechargeable; Talk time 7 hrs. Standby 175 hrs (mfg. est.)
Dimensions (closed) / weight: 4.02 x 1.97 x 0.73 inches (10.2 x 5.0 x 1.86 cm); 4.94 oz (140 g)
In the package: S710 with battery, USB sync/charging cable, Travel adapter, Battery charger, Microsoft Companion CD, Getting Started guide
Optional Accessories: Replacements for standard accessories, travel charger, vehicle charger, carrying cases, Bluetooth headsets, Bluetooth GPS receiver, microSD storage card Software
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Standard (for non-touchscreen devices)
Application and utilities: BUILT-IN FROM MICROSOFT: Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Messaging, Speed Dial, Call History, Internet Explorer Mobile, Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, Voice Notes, Camera and Video Recorder, Task Manager, ActiveSync, Calculator, Bubble Breaker, Solitaire, Pocket MSN, Pictures & Videos, Windows Live Mobile, Modem Link, Download Agent, File Manager. ADDITIONAL FROM HTC: Acrobat Reader LE, . Quick Notes, Audio Manager, BT Explorer, SIM Manager, Clear Storage, SAPSettings, camera application.
Submitted Date: Jul 06, 2007
Source: Pocket PC Magazine
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