Monday, September 15, 2008
My views with the HTC P3300 (Artemis)
For comments on previous entries I have seen that there is interest in knowing the performance of the HTC P3300. Surely many're valuing do with Windows Mobile team, so that the views of someone who knows well the teams Palm os helpful. Try not too restricted to special equipment, so that the information is applicable to other HTC, and in general to Windows Mobile.
HTC P3300 Windows Mobile Professional
The HTC P3300 has the following hardware features:
- Processor: Texas Instruments OMAP850 to 201MHz
- RAM: 64 MB
- Memory ROM: 128 MB
- Display: 240 x 320, 16-bit (64K colors), 2.8 "TFT active matrix.
- Wireless Connectivity: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0
- Telephony: GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Quad
- GPS: SirfStar III
- Camera: 2 megapixel CMOS
- Battery: 1500 mAh Lithium-polymer, 200 hours in standby, 300 minutes in conversation.
- Expansion slot: 1 MicroSD
- Action: 127g, 10.8x1.7x5.8cm
Operating System
The team was originally sold with Windows Mobile 5. The one I bought a few months ago and comes with an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6, which is installed when you first run the team. Later I installed Windows Mobile 6.1 through an unofficial ROM. This topic will try it in a later post.
Windows Mobile is a capable system. It is very stable, enduring heavy use without ever hung. Its design multitasking with memory protection will close out the application without the rest of the applications are affected, as in operating systems "major". Moreover, when the RAM is full, rather than hang up your computer, displays a menu that allows you to choose which task to close.
HTC for its part, has developed programs and many more Plugins that improve the functioning and appearance of Windows Mobile. For example, the HTC Home Plugin completely change the look of the main window, or home screen.
Startup screen of an HTC, with its multiple tabs
Processor and memory
In this aspect the team is somewhat limited due to its 200MHz processor, which was carrying his predecessor, Qtek S200, HTC and many others. Fortunately there is any program that dynamically overclockea the processor, increasing the frequency only when necessary, and even underclockeando (less than 200MHz) when it is not necessary, thus extending battery life. A 266MHz computer is stable and there is a lot more fluently, which makes it completely usable.
I want to stress that the P3300 (and other Pocket PC with a 200MHz processor, not overclocked) feel a little slow to navigate through menus or switch between applications, but once in an application have power to. You can watch movies, listen to music, play games or more powerful, without any problem.
What the HTC P3300 can do, once optimized
The memory at first glance does not seem excessive, 64MB of RAM for the remaining 24Mb free after boot. However, it is enough to run any program, and even many in parallel. In my daily use I never run out of memory, it seems that Windows Mobile makes efficient use of memory, plus a program usually takes about 500KB of RAM, the largest not spend 5 or 6Mb, so it is 24Mb lots of memory (compared with 4MB of free DBCache the E2, so that gave me headaches).
The internal memory storage is about 50Mb. However, all applications can be installed on the microSD card, so it is irrelevant. I emphasize that the team with the appropriate drivers, acknowledges cards micro SDHC, which can expand the storage 8Gb, 16GB, 32GB or more when they appear on the market.
GPS Receiver
Although the team is very small, the antenna is fulfilling its task with great ease. By starting the TomTom or any other program that requires GPS, the task of finding and satellite positioning equipment was not delayed more than a minute long ago that was not used, or a few seconds if the information from satellites is recent. Once in motion detected many satellites. I have made long trips with him and never lost the signal, recovering quickly after leaving the tunnels, and so on.
Connectivity
I am very satisfied with the coverage you get the computer, almost to match that of a laptop. The search for WiFi networks in the city is very effective with this team, which detects pray to tens of meters away. The bluetooth also works well with the hands-free car or synchronize with your computer. It supports A2DP, so the wireless stereo headsets are fully compatible.
As for telephony, the speaker is heard loud and clear, and the coverage is good, I have not noticed much difference with my previous Nokia, which was already very happy.
I tried the GPRS and check the mail or similar tasks is more than enough. The team has no 3G, something to keep in mind if you are going to use to navigate using the network much, or were thought to use as a modem for your laptop.
Multimedia
As a music player works perfectly. Windows Media Player goes well, but is limited in terms of audio formats (WMA almost exclusively). With it you can even listen to Internet radio streaming. HTC player has a lot more comfortable, similar to the iPod interface, which I will speak in another post (can be installed on many computers that do not come by default).
As for video, with the player and proper files converted to PDA format (320 pixels wide), the films are very well in the PDA apaisada. The processor has no problems in that regard.
CorePlayer allows sail for YouTube since the PocketPC
You can also listen to FM radio, using headphones as an antenna. The quality is good.
The camera is normalita, with many choices in software and resolution of 1600x1200, but only decent quality. It will not sustitur my Lumix. While it is interesting to take pictures using the GPS Geo, a topic that we will see in another post.
Software
As applications of information management (PIM) application that brings use the Windows Mobile default. Fulfill its mission, as they did on the Palm, though perhaps with more complexity in terms of menus to deploy. For those who want something more advanced, the Agendus and other suites are popular for Palm or PocketPC version.
The ecosystem of software for Windows Mobile, both pay-as-free, is today very complete, and I have not seen yet never in the position of not finding a program that does something that existed for PalmOS.
Summary of pros and cons
To highlight points of this team:
- Windows Mobile 6 is pretty lightweight, stable and well finished.
- The GPS receiver SiRF Star III is the best that we can find on a PocketPC.
- Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi and EDGE
- Using comfortable with one hand
- Integrated FM radio
- Small and lightweight
- Expandable through microSD cards
Weaknesses of this team:
- Slow processor (arranged by overclocking)
- Without 3G connectivity
- Non-standard audio output (instead of mini jack 3.5mm)
- House of medium quality
- The trackball is a little strange to use
- No infrared port
Conclusion
This is what I think of the HTC P3300 in comparison with my Palm Tungsten E2:
- The interface and philosophy of Windows Mobile is different from Palm. Apart from this, all the needs for which it was useful to my E2, can be filled with the new Windows Mobile.
- The team is more stable, especially when running large programs. there is no need to do a soft reset every night to free memory, but it is good to do regularly.
- The processor of the E2 and the P3300 is exactly the same, being necessary overclocked for Windows Mobile is more fluid, though in the E2 is also necessary overclocked to run some big programs, which in Windows Mobile processor speed to normal, it running smoothly.
- As a player for music, movies, GPS navigator, information manager, casual Web browser, and many other tasks, the P3300, and I assume that the contemporary HTC in general, teams are exceptional. They are going to be many things to talk about in future posts.
By: Mark Gonzalez Troyes in Windows Mobile Analysis
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I suppose it is a matter of taste but in my opinion, Symbian or Palm OS is a much better finish than Windows Mobile (for use as a telephone), which is quite low "logical" and intuitive and also has very serious shortcomings applied to a mobile and not only to use only as a pda (eg not being able to easily retrieve calls made within a couple of clicks or how to "localize" contacts or triple and four times if you sync on multiple computers simultaneously). The programs are housed permanently in memory, I was shattered several SD cards and has options fairly important "hidden". With regard to the stability of Windows Mobile you comment, at least in a htc diamond and a P3600 which I had previously is not real in 3-4 weeks and spend a few things you have installed. If you use any heavy or game publisher of the mobile phone you're hanging around 2-3 times a day, and bearing in mind that it is a phone seems to me quite serious. As the device HTC P3300 looks very good to me, but the software that carries, like any HTC, which makes for much prefer to opt for other gadgets like an iphone, blackberry, treo or some nokia. Android from Google is probably good for this great brand, for the moment my HTC are in the drawer and I prefer the intuitive interface, timing and speed of the iphone.
This means that you spend the "dark side"? HTC devices are fairly well designed and interesting you have made improvements to WM. In fact the HTC TyTN II seems to me ambsolutamente desirable, like the Treo Pro, although the latter will probably be much delayed in arriving at my hands.
My wife is interested in the iPhone 3G, so I will probably take over the Treo 750 and begins to give more "cane" to Windows Mobile. Greetings.
raul @: Thanks for your comment, it sees that comes from experience.
Symbian is an operating system that is designed from the outset to run on phones, something that did not happen with Windows Mobile. Thus has a more polished performance as a phone.
However, I do not know whether it is by using WM6.1, I've seen very capable at this point. For example, pressing the call, shows the predictive keyboard that allows you to search contacts by name, family name or number. Once selected, a window appears with an option to call home or mobile phone, send an SMS, an e-mail, view your recent calls or your date of cumpleños. In that sense I feel easier to use the HTC my previous Nokia.
As for crashing, the HTC already has infinite things installed and removed, for months and remains "rock solid". I repeat, may be the WM6, but it is my experience. Is a 'my work for me "against another, so I can not get much further along this path.
Do not hesitate if at some point the P3300 starts to become unstable, detail everything that happens on the blog.
I am not convinced by the appearance of the processor, but is solved with a more powerful device HTC, however this aspect shows a lighter WM 6.1 (which is assumed in their palm devices) mmm bone that a 400 mhz as the HTC TyTN II should be one another's experiences jajajaja world. I am not convinced by the display of the TX because I had lost, I would like to know that other teams have with WM 6.1 has a resolution so that it is not even phone.
In short your pileup seems to me very interesting and the objectivity with which you have always treated the subjects already beginning to favor the dark side, no longer be the resistance palm os poko a poko.
Marcos greetings.
MrAnderson @: After these months, either by Windows Mobile 6 or the proper hardware HTC, I am delighted with the team. Perhaps it's time to forget the disaster that was Windows Mobile from its inception until recently, we will see where it goes.
Another thing I noticed is that the worlds Palm and Windows Mobile are very similar in substance. I have found that similar programs easily missed less than my Palm. What we learn in one hand, is almost directly useful and applicable in the other. So it is not a change too traumatic, and if it were not for the abandonment of a Palm PalmOS, could be changed in both directions as we can convince a Palm or Windows Mobile team in particular. And it would be a very good thing for the freedom of choice. Too bad.
I love that you've switched to Windows Mobile when I did. Frankly I am very proud of my iPAQ 111, which came to replace my Tungsten E2, which was my first PDA, and which I have my fascination with this type of platforms. The change was simply unbelievable. It all came to maximize a high percentage, so I am happy because I'm fairly demanding in terms of capabilities of the device is concerned.
Very good post and I expect you to follow the case.
David
Hi Mark,
It's good to see you back and forward to post new entries.
I guess you have your reasons to change their platform, same as many here may have.
But while some do not even have the option of considering a jump from platform would be interesting to give us at least one last mud good tips (there are already many on this site) for the nostalgic and even not-so-affluent users of Palm OS (I Also use a Tungsten E2).
Or at least more options (which too many already) to continue to find good tips and tricks for using these almost obsolete PDA's.
Congratulations on your reunion with your bloggeo and new equipment, we will continue your steps carefully.
A greeting,
Juanjo
@ pp: Windows Mobile devices are VGA (640 x 480 pixels) as the HTC Diamond. We should not be restricted to 320 × 240.
The processor is the same that carries the HTC Touch, for example. So it's something we have to endure many users. Overclocked to 266MHz, however, the machine is going very well. I will explain how I do it in a future post.
@ David: you can not judge a platform until it is tested thoroughly and without bias. I also gave a harsh by Windows Mobile, but after these past months I acknowledge that it is completely usable on a daily (maybe I've been lucky so far, do not discard).
Juanjo @: I did not say who will leave for users of Palm, is only an "extension of view." As long as there are interesting things related to the Palm to speak, still appear on the PDA of tungsten. My stop these months has been due to lack of time rather than lack of content.
In addition, many of the themes that will try to be of interest to all, changing only the program to be used specifically for Windows Mobile or PalmOS.
hello frames. I seem to have filtered my comments that I can not do either, so I do ptra of mind ...
T want to ask and yet say that the page Dimitry Grinberg are the drivers of the TX and LD of FAT32 and these are already available for the pda as the Z72 and the T5 ... e2. That the world is now left palm of your frequently but according to this you can have 4 gigs in the PDA ... T humbly ask if you can test whether this is true because I am about to buy an SD of 4 gigabytes for my e2 and there is someone ke I provide an sd to test it before you buy
I thank in advance for your reply, thank you
I ask an apology, and I saw my own comments made in good times when I write something that I voted and did not see the comments reflected that he had done until today. Marcos thousand apologies