Asus J502

ASUS J502 ¡V a "slim-slide" design phone that incorporates a crisp aluminium outlook with emphasis on communication and entertainment functionality. With a large 2.4 inch colour display, easy-to-use function keys and a host of exclusive features, the ASUS J502 is able to combine sleek aesthetics with total entertainment functions. The ASUS J502 is equipped with the largest 2.4¡¨ QVGA panel among feature phones in the market to bring the user a spectacular and vivid visual experience. With this 2.4 inch screen, combined with the high resolution 3 Mega Pixel Auto Focus camera and the powerful flash, users are transformed from an amateur user into a professional photographer.

At just 14.7mm, the J502 is trendy and slim and brings out users¡¦ fashion style with its dual-front ID and its camera-like design. The upper portion of the ASUS J502 incorporates the large 2.4¡¨ 262k color display with large function keys that aid the user in utilizing the camera. Sliding up the unit reveals the refined numeric keypad design ¡V providing users efficient text inputs for SMS and MMS. They will also find it easy to navigate all these functions via vivid 3D icons included in the innovative 3D User Interface.

The ASUS J502 is able to provide users with many multimedia entertainment options. One such option is the TV Out function. Users will be able to output pictures and videos taken on the ASUS J502 directly to a TV via a connection to share memorable memories with friends and family. With its large screen, users will find that reading words on the screen to be more comfortable for their eyes. Real-time RSS feeds will provide users with the latest news, sports, politics and international affairs while E-Books will give users the convenience to view favorite books without the need of a PC or a Notebook.

The ASUS J502 contains a full range of innovative features that provide users with convenience and versatility. A powerful feature the ASUS J502 has is data security. If users happen to lose their phone or leave it at home, they can send a specified SMS to remotely control the ASUS J502 to ¡§¡¨, ¡§call forward¡¨, ¡§phone lock¡¨, ¡§send V-card¡¨ and ¡§format¡¨. This keeps the user from ever worrying about data disclosure should the unexpected happen.

The J502 also supports Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR high-speed data transfers, Bluetooth A2DP stereo headsets, Webcam and Skype Phone functions. With such comprehensive Bluetooth function support, users will not be bothered by the hassle of connecting cables to transfer data or communicate with friends anymore. They can also utilize the Bluetooth Skype Phone function to save costs for calls by dialing and answering Skype calls with the ASUS J502, as well as send Skype SMS. Users will thus have the freedom to move around and have no need to stay in front of PCs to utilize these Bluetooth functions.

Other innovative features on the ASUS J502 include the useful Call Filter, which filters calls to avoid unnecessary interruptions during meetings or inconvenient times; and the built-in Longman Dictionary with a database of 80,000 English words for ease in looking up obscure English words.

Asus V88i

Asus V88i is a bar type phone having weight of 80 grams and really a light device to be used. The physical dimension of the phone is calculated as 101 x 45 x 16 mm. this mobile device operates at frequencies of UMTS 2100 and GSM 1900 / 1800 / 900.

In its screen details, it has TFT resistive touch screen with 256000 colors. This 2.0 inches touch screen has imaging resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. Loudspeaker and headphone jack is absent for the phone and it has very limited options its sound profile like ringtones and vibration only.

The phone can also run the micro SD memory card through its memory card slot. This slot is provided because the internal memory of the phone is small and has size of 35MB which is not sufficient for keeping plenty of music, videos and apps. The keypad of the phone is also very amazing due to its numeric characters which are best for typing and navigation in phone’s menu is comfortable with its joystick navigation key.

In data connectivity it lacks only WLAN and infrared otherwise it has almost all the data options like 3G, USB, 2.0 Bluetooth, EDGE and GPRS of version 10. It is also equipped with 2MP camera with auto focus ability and 1200 x 1600 pixels resolution. It has secondary video calling camera on its font side.

Audio video player, file manger, MMS, SMS, games, FM radio, JAVA, CLDC 1.1, MIDP 2.0, WAP 2.0 internet browser, organizer, predictive input text and java apps are also part of this phone. This phone has standard black color only available in market for sale.

Asus M530w

The thing about QWERTY handhelds is they can be anal to use sometimes especially when the keys are not comfortably spaced apart or they don't provide tactile feedback for prolonged typing. Fortunately, Asus did that right for its first Windows Mobile 6 smart phone--the M530w. Expected to be available in Asia come July, the M530w came after the announcement that some of the company's PDA handhelds will receive free WM6 upgrades. We have a prototype unit with us right now to give you our first impressions of the M530w.

Upside:
Frankly, most of the QWERTY smart phones are all starting to look alike with the trend toward black casings, except for the Nokia E61 and E61i. But we're not complaining; black rules the night. In hand, the Asus M530w's weight gives it a very solid feel which we like.

The individual keys on the QWERTY keyboard are well-spaced apart so we can actually feel it when we're moving from one button to another. We're nitpicking but we'd have preferred the keys to be a bit larger, like those on the Nokia E61. That said, we didn't have a problem typing a lengthy message on the M530w.

In a nod to BlackBerry devices, the M530w comes also with a thumbwheel for quick scrolling. But unlike the Samsung Ultra Messaging i600 which has the wheel on the right edge, the scroller on the Asus is on the left instead. So that may cause a little inconvenience for right-handed users.

One of the things we like best about this Asus is the center strip of control buttons which are large and easy to press. The volume buttons on the left edge are also well-pronounced so it's easy to adjust the volume with the phone to the ear.

The Asus M530w is the company's first smart phone that runs on the Windows Mobile 6 Standard. So unlike the WM5 Smartphone Edition, it will come with Office Mobile by default and other nifty applications like Live Messenger and Windows Live services.

Not too long ago, we did a take on another WM6 smart phone--the Dopod C730--and it seems the Asus has two ups over the Dopod. The inclusion of a VGA front-facing camera makes it possible for 3G video calls and there's also a 2.5mm audio jack for earphones--both of which were ostensibly missing on the C730.

Other features on the Asus M530w are a 2-megapixel camera with LED flashlight, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) and Bluetooth connectivity. The device is powered by a 416MHz processor with 256MB of built-in flash memory and 64MB SDRAM.

Downside:
There's also 3G, but unfortunately the M530w is missing the faster HSDPA (3.5G) connection which the Samsung Ultra Messaging i600 has.

Outlook:
At the time of writing, six Windows Mobile 6 smart phones have been announced, with two of them--the Dopod C500 and C730--currently available in the market. The other WM6 smart phones are the HP iPaq512 Voice Messenger, Moto Q 8 and Moto Q 9.

Asus M930 Windows Mobile Smartphone

Asus M930 Windows Mobile Smartphone

Windows Mobile is alpha to attending actively anachronous these days. So abundant so that manufacturers are accepting to appear up with more innovative, feature-packed accouterments to argue the accessible to buy, and the adaptation for non-touch awning accessories is accepting the hardest time of it. Despite the actuality that, of the two flavours of Windows Mobile, it's hardly bigger ill-fitted to its purpose - it doesn't accept all those hangovers from the PDA days, such as fiddly dropdown airheaded and awful little checkboxes - it aloof isn't adult abundant in today's ultra-competitive smartphone market, and is now attractive able-bodied accomplished its sell-by date.

Asus' latest smartphone - the M930 - makes a appealing acceptable ache at animating it, though. From the advanced this looks artlessly like a actual beefy accepted phone. It has a small, 2in 240 x 320 screen, a numeric keypad topped with a directional ascendancy and a adequately accepted admixture of added buttons. There's a 2-megapixel camera on the rear. On the appropriate bend is a microSD anamnesis slot, forth with a aggregate rocker and bang release. On the basal is a mini-USB atrium and 2.5mm hands-free angle socket. There's annihilation accurate of note.


Pick it up, however, and your assessment begins to change. There's no accepting accomplished the aggregate and weight of the phone, which at 113 x 54 x 18.7mm and 158g accomplish it wider, taller, thicker and added than the hardly atramentous HTC S730. But it's a abundant nicer-looking buzz than the HTC device. Its appearance is conceivably best declared as industrial-executive: not alone does it feel abundantly absolutely fabricated - there's almost a bang or apart key anywhere about this phone's athletic being - but it is additionally adorned with agleam buzz jewellery in all the appropriate places. That directional pad, for instance, is accomplished in brushed aluminium effect, as are the abbreviate bendable keys aloof beneath the screen; and the screen's bright atramentous beleaguer and attenuated chrome trim administer to account the atrocity of Microsoft's animal duckling operating arrangement actual successfully.

Mio DigiWalker P550

Mio DigiWalker P550 Navigation PDA

Back in April 2004, Mio’s Digiwalker 168 afflicted me as the aboriginal PDA to affection a chip GPS receiver. Considering two and bisected years accept accomplished the Mio Digiwalker P550 should be bowling me over with how far things accept confused on but in Pocket PCs agreement the changes are not as apparent as I would accept hoped. There’s a faster CPU and added RAM but the awning resolution hasn’t afflicted at all. The capital aberration is the housing. There’s no best any charge for a ample cast up aeriform abacus bulk. Overall, it’s a bigger congenital unit, with a solid feel and no squeaks or rattles. It’s absolutely abundant admitting at 170g. The advanced has a adorable burnish to it, while the rear is angled and feels acceptable in the hand.

In the box you get a cradle which isn’t abundant to attending at but is accessible to fit. It’s accessible to accept the PDA continuing in account approach or circle it to landscape. Power is provided either by a bank charger or by an in-car charger that plugs into the USB port.



The accessory has the accepted adjustment of four buttons surrounding a axial joystick. One is an on/off button, but acute any of the buttons wakes up the device. The basal larboard is mapped to the contacts list, while the top appropriate takes you aback to the capital agenda screen. The top larboard button switches the awning amid mural and account approach and works quickly, which is good.

On the larboard duke ancillary you’ll acquisition an SD agenda aperture forth with a headphone socket. The appropriate duke ancillary is bare of annihilation save for consecutive numbers and a tiny aperture that is a microphone – not a displace about-face as I at aboriginal thought. This is in actuality on the base forth with a ‘proper’ on/off about-face and a mini USB port.

Hook your PC up to this and you can accompany via the supplied Active Accompany 4.1. Having acclimated a Palm accessory for a while, the affiliation amid Outlook and PDA via Active Accompany is absolutely auspicious - with your inbox emails actualization on your PDA moments afterwards they’re received.


Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both included on the accessory and the interface makes it accessible to accept one on and not the added or both on or off. It was a simple action to get the PDA online and to axle pictures to it from a adaptable phone. It’s a abashment admitting that the awning isn’t college resolution to accomplish the best of those pictures. I begin that colours looked absolutely able on the PDA but the awning could be far bigger lit. Looking at an angel beeline on in mural mode, I begin that the basal bisected is able-bodied lit but the adverse ancillary is darker, which agency that you accept to angle it to get the angel you want. This indicates that the backlight is amid alone on one side.

Asus P750

Though not as abounding as brands like HTC, Asus does accept a few PDA-phones in its portfolio. The company's capital differentiator aback its beforehand MyPal-branded accessories is the admittance of GPS in best of its devices. This carries on in the accepted ambit and extends to the accessible calendar as well. Asus' accepted flagship archetypal is the P750, a Windows Adaptable 6 handheld with HSDPA as one of its connectivity features. It retails for S$1,188 and is accessible in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Design
Ranging from apparatus catered to enthusiasts to notebooks for a advanced spectrum of consumers, Asus has a appealing acceptable clue almanac aback it comes to quality. We begin that to be accurate additionally in the P750 which has a solid build. With ambit of 113 x 58 x 17.4mm and a weight of 130g, this PDA-phone is appealing bunched for its chic of products. It isn't as glassy as some added Windows Adaptable handhelds from brands like HTC and LG. But accustomed that it has a numeric keypad, we'd say Asus has done a appealing acceptable job with the anatomy agency alike admitting the architecture isn't that exciting.

The microSD agenda aperture is begin on the right.
The advanced of the accessory is mostly taken up by a 2.6-inch QVGA display. Below that, you get a joystick navigator and a numeric keypad for cardinal and argument input. There are actually a cardinal of adjustment keys begin about the keypad including an OK key for accepting out of airheaded quickly. Admitting it occupies a actual baby apparent area, we begin the keys on the keypad acceptable to blazon with. One baby ache we had is that the "2" button, for some aberrant reason, requires added force to depress. So if you are appliance minimum force for the blow of the buttons, hitting "2" will accord you a non-response and will crave a re-press.

The bezel about the awning has a brushed metal accomplishment while a chromed band runs about the edge. The blow of the P750 including the aback appear in a buttery material--one that is accepting accepted amid abounding handhelds because it feels acceptable in the hands. The abandon of the P750 are actually crowded. On the larboard are a jog punch and articulation recorder adjustment key while on the appropriate are a anchorage for an alien GPS antenna, the ability switch, a displace hold, camera bang and a microSD agenda slot.

The ability about-face is one aspect of the architecture that we actually liked. It works actual abundant like those Authority switches begin on music players--moving it up from the absence centermost position turns the accessory on or off, while affective it bottomward locks it. This allows you to keylock the P750 no amount which appliance you appear to be in, clashing abounding added WM handhelds which can be keylocked alone from the Home screen.

On the abject of this PDA-phone are two ports, one mini-USB and one 2.5mm audio connector. A stylus aperture is additionally begin there abutting to the appropriate edge.

Features
Among the handhelds from Asus, this is the aboriginal to appear with HSDPA connectivity. In this case, that agency it can hit a abstract abstracts alteration acceleration of 3.6Mbps over the cellular network. As always, this is usually abundant lower and is abased on the affection of your operator's arrangement in your accepted location. This handset additionally has a triband GSM radio, so adrift in the US won't be a problem. Aside from the cellular features, the P750 additionally comes with the approved crop of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity options.

The Asus Launcher interface--nice to attending at, but not all that useful.
GPS has become a approved account on Asus' account of blueprint on its handhelds. The P750 comes with the Sirfstar III GPS chipset, a frequently acclimated basic for accessory aeronautics and one of the best in the market. Asus bundles some software which makes use of this feature. One of them is Travelog, an appliance which can chase you on your campaign and again acquiesce you to consign a book which is acclimated on Google Earth to clue your journey. Another is LocationCourier which sends your coordinates to agreed contacts via SMS. These are all nice to have, but the best important appliance for a GPS handheld is missing--maps. Asus has not arranged any aeronautics software or maps with the P750. Best PDA-phones with congenital GPS we accept appear beyond so far accept been awash with applications like MapKing and a chargeless bounded map. So those because affairs the P750 should agency in the amount of affairs maps alone afore activity for it.

Other applications begin in the P750 accommodate a namecard scanner, a apple time clock, an RSS clairvoyant and a advancement application. There are additionally some which accomplish the interface added user-friendly. Like with all accepted HTC products, Asus has a ambience alleged Auto Cleaner which lets you columnist and authority the abutting button to abolish an appliance instead of aloof aspersing it to the background. There are additionally tiny icons on the Today awning which acquaint you aback Wi-Fi or GPS is in use, and additionally gets you to assertive settings quickly. There is alike an Asus Launcher which makes the absolute interface attending added like a approved adaptable buzz with a grid-style card layout. Unfortunately, it didn't assume to accommodate new programs installed in the menus, authoritative it abortive for approved use.

Two cameras are begin on the P750, one for picture-taking at the rear and one for video calls in advanced aloft the LCD. The 3-megapixel camera at the aback has an autofocus affection and takes appropriate abundant photos for a camera-phone. We did acquisition the bang lag actually bad, so don't be afraid if you absence some fast-moving activity because of that.

Performance
We had no accession problems with the P750. It did able-bodied for articulation calls and video calls formed out appealing all right, too. But as with abounding phones, it will be adamantine to actually apprehend what the added affair is adage outdoors in a blatant ambiance appliance the P750's speakerphone.

With a 520MHz Marvell processor, this handheld did feel appealing responsive. Alike admitting it has alone 64MB of RAM, we did not acquisition it to be apathetic in accustomed accustomed use. That said, we wouldn't apperception it accepting 128MB of RAM instead so that active alike added memory-intensive applications in the accomplishments won't account the accessory to apathetic down.

The P750's array is rated for 3.6 hours of talktime. We managed to get three days' use on a distinct charge--excellent for a touchscreen device. Admitting this additionally depends on acceptance patterns, it's appealing safe to say that circadian charging won't be actually appropriate for most.

Conclusion
Asus has gotten it mostly appropriate with the P750. It comes with all the requisite wireless options and doesn't accept any anathema flaws. It alike comes with a appealing acceptable array including a car holder and charger. The above shortcoming we would accept to say is the abridgement of arranged maps--which makes the accouterment of a car kit a little ironic. This additionally makes the S$1,188 amount tag feel a little expensive. But if you are attractive for a WM6 handheld with a numeric keypad, there aren't abounding to accept from, and we'd say this Asus P750 is a appropriate choice.

ASUS P320

ASUS P320 Windows Mobile

Introduction

Make a acute move in your able activity with ASUS P320 PDA Phone. It is a multi tasking accessory that gives you functionality of both a adaptable buzz and a computer. It incorporates multimedia action to advice you have a acceptable timeon the move.

Key Features

The ASUS P320 PDA Buzz comes with advanced ambit of able and advantageous appearance to advice you in your accustomed assignment whether it is for able or ball purpose. This handheld mini PDA is pocketable and comes with host of added appearance and functions. It comes with Microsoft Windows Adaptable 6.1 operating arrangement forth with appearance like GPS navigation, EDGE/GPRS, Bluetooth, and USB. The High acceleration connectivity will accumulate you in blow with your admired ones while you are on the move.

The added acceptable appearance accommodate icons such as time, calendar, messages, acclimate and the media amateur for users to admission their bare functions. It keeps users adapted with accepted contest through blog and account with the advice of ASUS RSS Reader. The Auto Cleaner Action ensures the hidden applications to be bankrupt absolution up amplitude and anamnesis for added functions.

Design

The ASUS P320 PDA buzz is baby and versatile; this bar buzz feels acceptable while captivation as the anchor of the buzz is actual comfortable. You can backpack it anywhere while on the move. It comes with a ambit of 99 x 13.35 x 54.5 mm and weight of 105 grams. It comes with a affectation resolution of 240 x 320 with a blow awning admeasurement of 2.6" and 65k colors.

Entertainment Features

A admirable cardinal ball appearance makes ASUS P320 PDA buzz conspicuously altered from the rest. The 2 megapixels camera with Auto focus gives you acceptable affection account and with Windows Media Amateur you can accept to your admired songs on the move. You can additionally almanac videos, accept to Polyphonic, MP3 arena tones. Appearance like SMS, MMS, Email, Push E-Mail, MSN add adaptability to the accustomed use of the PDA.

Conclusion

With so abounding PDAs in the bazaar ASUS P320 makes a mark. It is affordable and provides users with abundant bare advancement and versatility. It makes a acceptable best for professionals and accumulated admiral who are consistently traveling.

Asus M530w

Asus M530w (Aries) review

INTRODUCTION

For the accomplished week, I?ve been appliance two phones. Both Asus, both new devices. The aboriginal of these is the Asus M530w ? a Windows Mobile Accepted (Smartphone) OS device, with a abounding QWERTY keyboard. The added is the Asus P526 which will affection in a after review.

It?s a retail device, with the abounding retail packaging, and looks rather like a accurate calculator. As you ability apprehend from a (Fat) candybar QWERTY device, it's not absolutely the best attractive affair in town, but there are affluence worse as well.

The Asus M530w on analysis was supplied by our accompany at Devicewire, who banal all estate of smartphones and accessories.

What?s in the Box?

• 1 x M530w
•  2 x Array (3.7V 1200mAh)
•  1 x Documentation Pack
•  1 x USB Sync Cable
•  1 x AC Ability Adaptor
•  1 x Wired Handsfree (With baby remote)
•  1 x Baby ASUS Holder/Case (quite nice!)
•  Asus M530w Specification:
•  Windows Mobile 6.0 standard
•  416Mhz 32bit Intel XScale PXA270
•  GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS2100
•  CSD, GPRS, UMTS
•  2.4" LCD awning with backlight, 320 x 240
•  64MB RAM, 256MB ROM
•  Bluetooth 2.0
•  2.0mp camera
•  Front-facing VGA camera
•  Wifi: 802.11b, 802.11g
•  Built-in QWERTY keyboard
•  microSD agenda slot
•  WiFi: 802.11b/g
•  Dimensions: 65 x 117 x 13.8mm
•  Weight: 135g with battery

 GENERAL

The Asus M530w has a abounding qwerty keyboard and but it's not a slider. That agency it's adequately big, abridged calculator size, and absolutely looks rather geeky. However, for the anatomy agency chosen, it's authoritative the best of things really. It looks and feels expensive, and the black/silver colour arrangement attending good, if a little unoriginal. At 65 x 117 x 13.8mm, it's a abridged filler, but because it's so attenuate ? it absolutely isn?t as bad as you ability expect.

The advanced of the buzz is almost breach bisected and bisected with the 320x240 screen, and the QWERTY keyboard. Amid these areas, we accept the accepted smartphone button configuration, including a administration pad, with OK button, home and back, and the softkeys. We can additionally see the accepted buzz controls. The buttons are hardly concave, and feel actual nice and tactile.

The awning is good, and actual usable, but doesn?t assume absolutely as active as added latest devices. I?m not abiding why ? and it's not absolutely a criticism because it's not a botheration and doesn?t affect the phone.

The keyboard itself seems actual good. The keys are accurately advance out and I charge accept ? it's easier to blazon on than my accepted favourite accessory ? the Samsung i620. Acutely the added allowance on the M530w has been put to acceptable use.

At the top of the screen, we accept an LED indicator, which works the aforementioned as any added Windows Mobile Accepted device. It is absolutely ablaze admitting ? I apperceive this is article that annoys a lot of Smartphone users! To the appropriate of this, is the advanced adverse camera.

At the basal of the device, we accept a accepted mini-USB bung (yay!) and a 2.5 earphone jack bung (Even added yay!). It's been a while back we?ve apparent a accessory appliance such accessible standards.

The appropriate duke ancillary is abandoned except for a distinct Camera button. This is captivated bottomward to alpha the app, and apprenticed to booty a picture. Added on that later.

On the larboard duke side, there's a accurate rocker, which includes an OK advance button aural it, and aloof beneath that, theres an up/down admixture button. Although all this is advantageous for is volume, the 'up' button does additionally bifold as a alpha command for the congenital in articulation command software.

The about-face ancillary afresh resembles a accurate calculator. Ok, maybe afar from the camera! The lens is visible, but adequate with a non-removable artificial cover. Abutting to that we accept the flash/light. Then abnormally a adequately ample apostle grille. Although abnormal ? it?s not absolutely as bad as it sounds.

Moving assuredly to the top of the accessory ? we acquisition alone a aloof argent ability button.

SOFTWARE

Sadly ASUS haven?t absolutely been actual adventuresome back it comes to their ROMs. The M530w accept a rather boilerplate adaptation of Windows Mobile 6. Asus accept adapted the menus, and they?ve done that well.

There?s aloof not abundant in the way of added software. The accepted suspects are all present ? Worldcard Mobile, Articulation Command, and Clearvue. It's all good, and advantageous to a lot of bodies I?m sure.

Asus accept included a few titbits though. SPB Zip makes a accidental actualization (though is a actual nice addition), and a Alien Presenter apparatus is additionally begin both on the device, and as PC Software on the included CD. This IS absolutely absolutely nice ? and works in the aforementioned way as agnate software accessible for Nokia phones.

JAVA is additionally included (bit of a accustomed these canicule I admit), and a alive player. This appears to abutment alone Real Audio. I?ll try and get some description on that though.

Pocket Internet Explorer is acutely included in the Internet menu, forth with Internet Sharing back this is a WM6 device. The auto-configuration app is additionally hidden abroad abutting to it, but does alpha on a adamantine displace as well. VERY VERY Annoyingly, it appears to be a bit burst ? as there is no way to baddest your operator. The account is empty. As declared aloft ? this is hardly annoying if this is a retail ROM device.

Asus accept aggregate and adapted the agenda well, with best apps area you would apprehend to acquisition them. It's a abashment admitting that they couldn?t accept included a few added $.25 and pieces in the ROM.

The Asus homescreens are functional, if annihilation special. You may able-bodied end up attractive for article a bit added accessible though.

Highlights:

Keyboard: The ample QWERTY keyboard do abundant for looks of any accessory ? but at atomic it works well. I blazon quickly, but couldn?t exhausted it. The CPU helps actuality ? the accessory seems accelerated in general, and this extends to the keyboard ascribe speed.

Battery life: Seems good. Two batteries are included, which consistently annoys me, because manufacturers charge to realise this is NOT a acceptable band-aid to poor array life. Anyhow affective on... I haven?t acclimated WiFi much, but accept acclimated abstracts connections, Bluetooth and lots of calls ? and it's handled it all well. Bottomward to about 50% at the end of the day.

Speed: The apple-pie ROM will apparently clothing a lot of people, and accompanying with the fast CPU, the M530w is actual actual quick.

Wifi: This accessory is so slim, it's absorbing that they accept managed to not alone fit wifi in, but get it alive well. I?ve had no problems with arresting quality, and I?m appealing afflicted with it really.

Lowlights:

No HSDPA: In a rather odd move, ASUS accept accustomed the M530w a 3G radio, but not the newer HSDPA standard.

Size: It's appealing big! It looks like a calculator. It goes with the area with this anatomy anatomy factor, but its absolutely a business buzz rather than a 'cool' device

REVIEW

Having assuredly formed out how to install the sim agenda and battery, I was greeted with a blatant spinning ASUS logo, followed by the added airy Windows Mobile cossack screen.

The aboriginal cossack seemed to booty a continued while, and accepting got to the alpha screen, a ASUS branded affairs popped up and installed some custom programs. At the end of this, the software proudly claimed ?Installation COMPLETE!? and rebooted. The added time through was abundant quicker, and this time I was asked if I capital to auto-configure my abstracts connections. Unfortunately the software doesn?t assume to accept any abstracts settings with it and basically did nothing!

Not a acceptable start.

I?ve apparent the aforementioned software in activity on our added Asus analysis accessory ? and it does assignment able-bodied there. I?m acquisitive this is not a retail ROM, because it?s a bit poor these canicule to accept a accessory that won?t configure itself.

I did accede aggravating HTC PC appliance to configure it ? but instead I acted like a accidental chump ability ? and searched the web for the settings.

Having assuredly got up and running, syncing contacts and about accepting the accessory shipshape, I approved the internet. It?s a abashment an added browser isn?t included ? but abridged IE does attending OK on the mural screen. It?s about time Microsoft but a bit added accomplishment into convalescent their absence browser. Its limited, but I assumption it works OK for a bit of surfing on the alternation etc.

Typing in web addresses ? and in actuality texts or emails, is, as you ability expect, an complete breeze with the QWERTY keyboard. The keys are able-bodied spaced, and aloft abroad from the casing. It's accessible to blazon appliance either two hands, or one. The beneath accepted symbols/punctuation arise as a accessory action ? and the absolutely aliment ones accept their own key entirely.

The admeasurement is a bit of an affair for me admitting ? you can?t accept it absolutely your own way. The keyboard by its attributes makes the accessory large. However abbreviate it is, it's still big. I additionally can?t get abroad from the actuality it looks like a calculator!

I adulation the Accepted adaptation of Windows Mobile. Far added than Professional, so for me at least, this accessory is far added accessible than any of the blow awning units about. Blow screens are NOT acceptable on phones in my opinion. This is a buzz over a PDA, so its a acceptable best to go with Accepted in my opinion.

The complete profiles are all appealing abundant accepted ? and MP3 ringtones assignment as able-bodied as any added WM device. As declared earlier, it's a mostly boilerplate ROM anyway. ASUS haven?t ever adapted it which is a acceptable affair overall.

The camera appliance is appealing candied though. Actual accessible to flick amid still and video mode, and options are all aural accessible admission menus. The binding articulation to the accepted 'Photos and Videos' app is additionally there.

In agreement of reliability, the M530w is accomplishing well. The auto-configuration app was a let down, but that aside, I?ve not begin abundant to accuse about. Absolutely the buzz is actual abiding (not comatose yet), alike back active assorted applications at once.

CONCLUSION

Asus accept started well. Its a appropriate aboriginal bang in the Windows Mobile world, and the acceptation being like believability is all there.

The software included is a little disappointing, but accouterments wise, there isn?t abundant to criticise.

I assumption the above botheration I accept is the abridgement of HSDPA. It wouldn?t be a botheration with best devices, but the M530w is (or at atomic should) be aimed at business, who will apparently appeal HSDPA. I say that absolutely because of its size. Unlike the i620 from Samsung ? this is not a appearance phone.

The ASUS abutment forums are actual acceptable for my laptop ? and I?d achievement the aforementioned can be said for the M530w and added ASUS phones already the user abject is there.

Asus P527

The Asus P527 

I reviewed the Asus M530W smartphone (here) about a month ago. It was a decently-priced BlackBerry-esque phone; today I'm testing its cousin, the P527. The two models are similar in functionality, with the major difference being that while the M530W has a QWERTY keyboard, the P527 supports touchscreen input. Another key feature of the P527 is GPS support. Here's a detailed look at what the phone has on offer and whether you might want it. 

 

The Bundle 

Asus P527 PDA Phone 

Stylus 

Soft cover 

USB Data Cable 

Battery Charger 

1 GB microSD card with SD card adapter 

Stereo headset with microphone 

User Manual and Software CD 

 

The package includes a car kit, which consists of a handset holder that can be affixed to any surface due to its suction-pressure mechanism. There's also a car charger. 

 


The Spec-sheet 

 

I think it's odd that 3G support (which the M530W had) has been removed in the P527. It won't matter right now in India, of course. 



Design 

The Asus P527 has a candy-bar form. The phone's structure reminds me of the Sony Ericsson M600i. The front face is polished metal; the phone has "Professional" written all over it. It will certainly appeal more to the business segment than the youth. 

The phone is a bit larger than most "regular" models, but it is comfortable to hold. 

 

The weight is pretty decent for a PDA phone - perhaps not as sleek and portable as the HTC Touch, though. 



The touchscreen occupies more than half the front face. It's decently-sized for a PDA phone, and it's pretty clear and bright. 

 

The numeric keypad is surrounded by eight shortcut buttons, a 5-way joystick, and the navigation buttons. The call-accept and call-end keys are at the sides of the navigation buttons. The buttons are evenly-spaced and offer good tactility. The joystick isn't very accurate, though; I did perform accidental clicks from time to time. The earpiece grille has a multi-color LED which indicates Bluetooth, network, and low battery status. 

To the left is a 3-way jog-dial with an OK button next to it. Like with the M530W, I found it odd that the jog-dial is placed on the left instead of on the right (a typical placement for a BlackBerry). It's not all that bad, but I'd have loved it to be on the other side. 

At the bottom is the 2.5mm headphone jack and a standard miniUSB connector. 

To the right, you'll find the microSD card slot for easy hot-swapping of cards. Next is the camera shutter button, the Reset hole, and the Hold switch (which is more convenient than locking the keypad using key combinations). 

 

The slot for the stylus is at the bottom right. The camera sensor and the speaker grille are on top of the battery cover at the back. 

 



Construction and Usability 

The overall build quality of the P527 is good. The phone feels sturdy and there are no signs of creaking from any of the sides. 

Asus has been reasonably successful at making one-handed use of this phone convenient, thanks to the combination of the numeric keypad, the two modes of navigation provided (joystick and jog-dial), and their customized interface over the Windows OS (more on this later). 

 

The stylus input works well, too. You can enter text either via tapping on the on-screen keyboard or via the handwriting recognizer. Characters are recognized fairly well. I found that using the phone with the stylus was way faster and easier than using it one-handedly.

The Main User Interface 

The P527 runs the latest Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional operating system. The Home screen displays the Time/Date as well as alerts like Appointments, unread messages status, Bluetooth / Wi-Fi / network status, tasks, and more. 

Other than that, Asus has incorporated a couple of customizations. The Asus Status icon when tapped shows information like screen brightness, battery level, free RAM and memory, and more. There's an icon next to it which instantly switches the orientation of the display. 

 

Secondly, for convenient one-handed operation, there's the "Asus Launcher." It has an interface similar to that of standard phone menus. It lets you conveniently access the applications using the joystick. 

Internet Explorer Mobile isn't the best browser for mobile devices - for instance, there's no tabbed browsing - but it's workable enough. The OS also has the Windows Live application, which incorporates Windows Live Messenger among other tools. 

Two games -- Solitaire and Bubble Breaker -- are pre-installed. 

 

A tool called NewsStation lets you subscribe to RSS feeds. Other applications include Remote Desktop Management, Voice Commander, and a business card recognition software called WorldCard Mobile. The Voice Commander easily recognizes typical voice commands, and you get the option to train it for your voice. The WorldCard Mobile software is fairly accurate. 

Finally, the P527 also has mobile versions of Microsoft Office components. You can view and edit Word and Excel files, and view PowerPoint presentations. Windows Mobile also brings in PIM tools so you can keep your professional life organized. 

 

The interface works decently fast when memory is free. Once you open a few applications, it lags a bit. I believe this is due to the slow processor as well as too little RAM for the latest generation of Windows Mobile. 

The User Interface: Multimedia 

Multimedia is handled by the latest iteration of Windows Media Player for Mobile. Songs are categorized by Artist, Album, and Genre. There are no equalization functions. The FM radio application allows you to store six preset stations. 

 

The User Interface: GPS-related Software 

The P527 has a SiRF Star III GPS chipset on board. It's odd that the earlier version (P526) had navigation software, with it being removed on this one. Navigation is, of course, the core application one would want when a phone has GPS. But being a Windows Mobile Device, it is compatible with third-party navigation software - which you'll need to purchase. 

But making use of the GPS module are two small applications. The first is called "Travelog"; it locks on to the GPS signal, then gives your exact location on earth (down to the sixth decimal point). It also has a real-time compass. 

 

The main function of the Travelog is that it starts recording your movement and gives you a pathway of the journey you've completed. You can add new points of interests, name locations, and more. It even gives you the speed at which you've been traveling. In addition, it records the total distance traveled and the duration of the journey. 

Now this data is saved in the KMZ file format, which is compatible with Google Earth. So after recording, you can open this file on your computer using Google Earth and it will depict your journey over a real-time satellite image. It's sort of like a post-travel report for future reference. 

 

Performance: Connectivity 

When we tested the unit, network reception was above average, and call quality was good. Volume through the speaker-phone was adequate. No complaints about the Wi-Fi performance either. As with all GPS modules, they cannot be used in enclosed structures. The phone had a hard time latching on to the signal in a moving train most of the time, but it worked fine in the open. 

Performance: Multimedia Being a business phone, the P527 (not surprisingly) isn't very strong in this department. Audio quality is average; you could use it for some casual listening, but don't expect too much from it. 

The videos played with a lag. This is primarily due to the low-power processor. Data transfer rates are average - over its USB 1.1 interface, it managed to transfer 100 MB of files in a little over 3 minutes. I'd rather use a card reader if I have to frequently swap data. 

Performance: Camera 

The 2-megapixel auto-focus camera on the P527 has macro mode, 2.5x digital zoom, and burst mode, among other features. The photo-assist light - present on the M530W - doesn't figure on this model. 

The quality of the pictures from the camera is pretty much what you'd expect from a standard 2 megapixel sensor. 

 

Macro mode works well -- take a look: 

 

Videos are recorded in the low QCIF resolution (352 x 288). The videos are laggy and grainy. 

Performance: Battery The battery life of this PDA-phone is above average. The phone lasted a day and a half with a fair amount of phone use and average use of multimedia and GPS. 

And so... 

The street price for the Asus P527 is Rs. 17,900; it comes with a one-year warranty, and there's a 6-month warranty on the battery. An Indian company called SatGuide sells Maps for a price ranging from Rs. 2,000 for a one-city map to Rs. 5,000 for maps of eight cities. So the P527 with a 1-city map would cost you around Rs. 20,000. 

Comparing it to other models in its price range, we have the HTC P3300, which sells for around 20K, and it has navigation software included. But the P3300 is a purely touch-based device; no numeric keypad and navigation buttons on that one. 

Then we have the HTC Touch, which sells for about 17,000 bucks. It is the sleekest of the three models, but does not have GPS. 

For the price, the Asus P527 is a decent option. It's a good business phone overall, one that's got the basics right - but is just not powerful enough if you want to install a lot of applications, multi-task a lot, and such.