HTC seems to just keep on pushing the PDAPhone world down the tracks. Other vendors have played in this space at different times, but HTC has continued to be the driving force for converged devices. As the dust settles on the worldwide rollout of their current Wizard platform, we are starting to see what will come next - the Hermes platform.
French website Mobinaute.com has published an early preview of the device, and lots of pictures comparing it with the Wizard. Even though the site is in French, it is worth a visit just to see the pictures.
Early speculation is that the Hermes will likely be marketed internationally as the Qtek 9600, I-matt JASJAM or JAS K-JAM and the MDA Vario II. In the US, it is likely that either Cingular or T-Mobile will pick it up. Since Cingular is currently selling the Wizard platform, they would be the most likely candidate. The Hermes was officially shown for the first time at CeBIT of Hanover, making it the first device with HSDPA (3.5G).
The HTC Hermes will use Windows Mobile 5 and MSFP, quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), GPRS, EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA. It will use the a 400Mhz Samsung processor and have 128MB or ROM and 64MB of RAM. It will have a MicroSD expansion slot and a 1350mAh battery. The display will be a 2.8" QVGA, 65K color LCD. The Hermes will also have Bluetooth 2.0 and WiFi 802.11 b/g.
Two features that will make this device interesting are the integrated camera and input devices. The camera will be 2.1 megapixels and have a built in flash and macro modes. Lets hope they spend some time making it take good quality pictures. While the form factor is very similar to the Wizard, the keys are designed quite differently making it seemingly easier to use with the wider keys. In addition, for the first time since the Hitachi G1000, we have a new Windows Mobile device with a "jogdial". I am hopeful that HTC and Microsoft will work to integrate this into the OS so that it is useful in supporting one-handed use. This is an area where the Palm based Treos have excelled and its about time that Microsoft figured this out. The "jogdial" on the G1000 was a nice feature.
The jogdial "should" allow one handed operation of some things. Rather than using the stylus to scroll up and down and make selections, you should be able to scroll with the wheel, then push it in to make a selection. It really depends on how they implement it... but think of it in a similar way to the wheel on a mouse.
Since it looks like T-Mobile is going to have the MDA Vario, I was wondering if an unlocked would work on Cingular's system. Will I lose some of the functions if I try to switch carriers?
I don't want to switch to T-Mo just to get the phone (coverage is bad) but it doesn't look like Cingular will have the Vario anytime soon.
Since it looks like T-Mobile is going to have the MDA Vario, I was wondering if an unlocked would work on Cingular's system. Will I lose some of the functions if I try to switch carriers?
I don't want to switch to T-Mo just to get the phone (coverage is bad) but it doesn't look like Cingular will have the Vario anytime soon.
Hard to tell. Cingular and T-Mo use different bands, but these are supposed to by Quad band so that shouldn't be an issue. It is possible that the different firmware could enable or disable something... but I would think that most likely it shouldn't be an issue. Of course, you'll have to be able to get it unlocked.
Are we gonna have a forum for this device?? I'm waiting to hear whether it will run Skype. The Samsung 300mhz (400mhz?) processor seems slow, but it's faster than the latest Cingular 8125, which we now know will only do chat on the skype system unless it is routinely overclocked. The 300mhz Samsung is in the I-Mate PDA-n, along with preloaded Skype. When we get a user report on that combination, we will get at least a hint of how it will do on the Hermes.
Are we gonna have a forum for this device?? I'm waiting to hear whether it will run Skype. The Samsung 300mhz (400mhz?) processor seems slow, but it's faster than the latest Cingular 8125, which we now know will only do chat on the skype system unless it is routinely overclocked. The 300mhz Samsung is in the I-Mate PDA-n, along with preloaded Skype. When we get a user report on that combination, we will get at least a hint of how it will do on the Hermes.
Of course we'll have a forum for that device. We don't usually start them up until there starts to be some discussion about them in the PDAPhone general discussion forum.... otherwise the forum sits empty for months until the device gets out into user's hands.
What do you love about it??? Have you got one to try out yet?? Will it run Skype or any other VOIP program??
No, I don't have this device. I won't be purchasing one any time soon either, unless 3G GSM coverage shows up. I meant that I liked the version I posted a picture of better since it has start/ok buttons aswell as the two softkeys. Much nicer in my opinion, though I do prefer the aboves color scheme.
I just purchased the K-JAM in Bahrain. It is great. The size is more compact than my PDA2K was or the Jas Jar, but not as small as the smartphones. The keyboard is good. Mine has the Arabic symbols, which I don't need and it makes the rest of the characters small for my old eyes, and there is no dedicated number row, but i have sent sms and email and it is super. very light, and so far the battery life seems excellent.
BTW how do I get programs requiring embedded VB to work?
I just purchased the K-JAM in Bahrain. It is great. The size is more compact than my PDA2K was or the Jas Jar, but not as small as the smartphones. The keyboard is good. Mine has the Arabic symbols, which I don't need and it makes the rest of the characters small for my old eyes, and there is no dedicated number row, but i have sent sms and email and it is super. very light, and so far the battery life seems excellent.
BTW how do I get programs requiring embedded VB to work?
Bertever
Except the Hermes is not a K-Jam. The K-Jam is an HTC Wizard. The Hermes is next generation phone. Has a nicer camera + a .3 megapixel one, new keyboard layout, jog dial, faster processor, better bluetooth, better wifi and most importantly 3G.
hi, I'm confused about which phone service provider will pick up this phone. Is it Cingular or T-mobile. One say that it is Cingular, while other says that it is T-mobile. I really like to know which one is it. Hopefully it is T-mobile as I am locked with them.
Both sources indicate that it should be available by the end of August.
With regard to the download speeds you might get right now:
GPRS: 30 KBPS
EDGE: 100 KBPS
but once 3G/3.5G networks are available in your area of the USA:
UMTS: 300 KBPS
HSDPA: 700 KBPS (claims Cingular)
I, too, wish HTC had chosen to upgrade their Universal with its better display and larger keyboard, rather than put out this new version of the Wizard.
Last edited by David Couch : 08-10-2006 at 07:55 PM.
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