HP iPAQ Voice Messenger Smartphone
Photo submission
The HP iPAQ Voice Messenger comes with a charger, sync cable (connectors owner in both cases), handsfree kit wired (stereo), and a set of foams for your earphones. Unfortunately, for the price, you will need to undertake to buy a bag. On another note, we would have appreciated to have a GPS navigation solution. These two elements are not the things we will see later on.
Thing to Remember:
- Touch Pad navigation impractical;
- Function keys touch confusing (at first);
- Contact of the 20 comfortable keyboard;
- Design successful outside (according to taste);
- No lighting of the backlight of the keys during a call (very annoying at night).
- We must remove the battery cover to access the micro SD slot;
- USB owner.
Manufacturer specifications
Manufacturer specifications;
- Quadband GSM / GPRS / EDGE and Triband UMTS / HSDPA / HSUPA;
- Twenty hits (two letters per key);
- Qualcomm MSM7201A processor @ 528 MHz;
- QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) 6 cm (not touch);
- Navigation touch key;
- Two tactile function keys;
- Circuit Wi-Fi b / g;
- Chip Bluetooth 2.0;
- GPS;
- Slot Micro SD not SDHC (up to 8 GB);
- 3.1 Megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash;
- Dimension of the body of the camera: 136 x 50 x 11.4;
- Weight: 107 g;
- Memory: 128 MB RAM and 256 MB ROM.
About GPS
Caution: Before going into detail on the GPS, it may be worth recalling that some "big" navigation programs are not compatible with Windows Mobile Smartphones (non touch). For example, Navigon 7 runs without problem, but navigation within the various menus is impossible (the arrow keys are not supported).
GPS performance
It is strange that HP does not provide any information about the GPS chip is equipped with the iPAQ Voice Messenger. The official website is content to announce the support of the a-GPS. Fortunately, one fears about the performance of this chip fade quickly. After you have put this to the test with Google Maps (using GPS), we found that the positioning occurred after a relatively short time (between 25 and 45 seconds).
The GPS software provided
The iPAQ Voice Messenger integrates Google maps, the famous navigation program from Google. For prices, we would expect that a more complete navigation is integrated into the pack, but unfortunately, this option was not retained by the manufacturer.
This small application is provided by Hewlett Packard. With it you can download information from geo location to speed up the GPS. These data can be acquired via a Wi-Fi, or GSM (in this case, fees may apply). Note: To access this utility, it will go in the tree menu follows: Parameter / Connections / GPS connection utility.
Testing technical performance of the device
Autonomy seen in normal use
The iPAQ Voice Messenger is not a power monster, but in return, their autonomy is rather good. The presence of a utility energy-saving HP signed (power save mode) also helps improve battery life.
Technical performance
The main software benchmarks (SPB Benchmark, Gxmark) do not work on devices without touch screen. We will simply state our feelings overall. At the end of a prolonged period of use, we found that the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger had sufficient power to run most applications without too much hassle. On the other hand, despite the ergonomic problems associated with the directional touch navigation through menus will relatively quickly (responsiveness is in a good average for this type of device).
- Starting time of the machine:
Without adding additional programs (apart from those offered by the manufacturer), the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger is 47 seconds to get started! This time lag between when the product is launched (after a soft reset) and ends when the unit is fully usable (screen now correctly displayed and start menu actions). This performance is honest.
A word on the digital camera.
The HP iPAQ Voice Messenger is equipped with a 3.1 megapixel photo. In dark environments, the latter will be supported by a small flash (it will not expect miracles). The capture program you can make shots can wait a resolution of 1600 * 1200. Some options are available, but this time you will not qualify for traditional effects gadgets and related fantasy. You can simply change the resolution, capture small videos (3GP format), adjust brightness, adjust the zoom level (digital only), or use a timer. Of course, we should not count on the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger to replace a conventional camera: the photographs are of adequate quality.
Re: HP iPAQ Voice Messenger Smartphone
Details about the bundled software
As with most Windows Mobile smartphones not touch, bundled software is not bloated. Apart from some utilities GPS that we have listed in the chapter, users will not have much to put the tooth.
HP power save mode
As its name suggests, HP power save mode is an application that specializes in energy saving. The latter gives access to a range of options, allowing the mobile and / or the screen voltage.
Voice command
Voice command is a small application of voice recognition. With this small program you can perform various actions by saying a series of commands. The primary goal is to enable the composition of telephone numbers by saying the name of the contact. Voice command is familiar to users of Windows Mobile devices and for good reason, this application is often integrated as standard. Despite this, we would have preferred that the manufacturer opts for Voice Command from Microsoft.
Jetcet Print
Jetcet Print is a printing program. It allows support for a network printer, Bluetooth, or USB (subject to compatibility). For many years, Hewlett Packard is one of the few manufacturers who care about the management of printers on PDA. This quality is rare enough to be stressed.
Jetcet PDF
Jetcet PDF is other than a small mobile PDF reader. The program runs slowly with relatively light materials. Should therefore not count on him to open large files. Among the various options proposed, it is just a zoom tool, to scroll to see the full document and a print function.
Voice Notes
As its name suggests, this is a utility that lets you make voice notes. Attention, the latter can not be synchronized with Outlook.
Worldmate Pro
A trial version of World mate Pro (utility fee for a passenger) is provided on the CD of Outlook. Unfortunately, this program does not work on Windows Mobile smartphones, it will therefore not have to use with this device!
For businesses
According to Hewlett Packard, companies using Exchange will use a speech synthesis module. The latter will be able to dictate the content of the texts of e-mails. Unfortunately, we were not able to test this feature.
Conclusion
In the end, with the iPAQ Voice Messenger, HP delivers a Windows Mobile Smartphone classic. We note that some innovations are supposed disadvantage of the product. For example, for use, we see that the small tactile wheel navigation is really not practical. Yet, unpacking, a number of points might suggest that there is a notch above the competition. As usual, the manufacturer offers a robust device to the finish. We also appreciated the design. The sleek and modern lines of this little Smartphone will not let indifferent.
Unfortunately, past the good impression, the latter is likely to fall. First point that angers: As we have said, the choice to opt for a touch navigation wheel like this is not really appropriate. With such an input device, navigation within the various menus is not as obvious as if we had a cross directional contacts classics. In terms of connectivity this time, it is really unfortunate that here, the traditional mini USB port leaves his place to take a format showing the owner of the famous standard fixture ... The choice will require you to carry your sync cable and / or your charger with you everywhere. Finally, concerning the technical part, we may mention the obligation to dismantle the shell of the device to insert a memory card format Micro SD.
Let us now position tariff ... At the time of writing, this Smartphone exceeded the 400 euros ... Needless to say at this price, it is expected to at least have a carrying case and a browser that works. In short, the iPAQ Voice Messenger is not inherently bad, but in this price range, it comes into direct competition with mobile much more attractive.
Re: HP iPAQ Voice Messenger Smartphone
What a revolution! You can call with? ;)
Frankly it is truly to the streets this phone compared to its competitors that use more open OS like Android or S60, the Iphone has a great future ahead of it ...
Re: HP iPAQ Voice Messenger Smartphone
I have the old model, namely, the iPAQ 514 and I always use this, I even installed a GPS software that locates my position using GSM terminals around 200m which is not as precise as GPS but it is free and does not kill my battery :)