Home | Stories | Reviews | TreoCast | Treo Store | Accessories | Software | Discussion at PreCentral.net | Mobile | About | Search   treocentral.com >> Stories >> Commentary Microsoft's Smartphone Tue Jan 6, 2004 - 12:44 AM EST - By Michael Ducker Table of Contents Introduction> Microsoft Smartphone...Wireless Data, Smart...Microsoft’s Market? Microsoft Smartphones, and Motorola’s MPx200 After the general talk about what a smartphone is, Jason demoed two Microsoft powered smartphones. The first was a large Samsung model that ran on Verizon’s network, the other was Motorola’s little black MPx200 running on AT&T. For this article I will use the MPx200 as my reference device. For those of you (probably most of you) that don’t keep track of EVERY PDA and phone on the market, here are some brief specs on the MPx200. Size: 3.5 x 1.88 x 1.06 inches Weight: 4.16 oz. Screen: 65k 176 x 220 pixel internal color display, 96 x 32 pixel two line external display for caller ID. 5 way navigator Number pad SDIO slot 32 MB RAM TI OMAP710 ARM processor (TI documents state a max. speed of 132 Mhz.) Tri-band GSM 4 hours talk time (says Jason) It is an incredibly small device, even putting my Treo 600 to shame. However the functionality cannot compare to a Treo. The hardware is not that special - it really looks like a modern color flip phone, and it’s only when you turn on the screen and see a Microsoft interface that you wonder what’s up. The software has some cool features to it that the Treo lacks. For example, depending on your calendar it can automatically change the volume of your device. So if you were in a meeting it would know to turn the sound off, but at times that you are not scheduled it can turn volume back on. That is a pretty cool idea for integrating the PDA and the phone functions if you ask me. It can also do voice recording, and even reply to email with just a recording. (The email is sent with a .wav attachment to it). Another big difference between a Treo and a Microsoft smartphone is that smartphones are insanely customizable. The entire home, or Today screen of a smartphone is an xml document, and the interface can therefore be dramatically changed. Not just color, but the actual layout and features of the opening screen are customizable. This is one of the features that Microsoft claims makes this device a smartphone. Again, I was impressed, and after the conference I called Handspring to ask why they didn’t have such cool customizability built in. I do not remember my exact conversation, but the wallpaper feature of the Treo 600 was brought up for comparison. The wallpaper feature of the Treo 600 is a joke compared to Microsoft Smartphone’s customizability. Wallpapers, and xml interfaces are all glitz and glamour compared to how the device actually works as a phone, for wireless features, and as a PDA. As a phone, I thought that it worked ok; it has almost the exact same keypad as a phone, so any person can use it. Looking up phone numbers is not as easy as in the Treo, but it is fairly close. Once you found the person you want, you can switch which number you want to call by going right or left. Next Page: Wireless Data, Smartphone Problems >>   References Links > Windows Mobile Home Actions > Print this page > Cases Chargers Bluetooth Headsets Keyboards Memory Protectors Cradles Styli More Treo Accessories Smartphone Experts Spare Clip Lost or broke your belt clip? Just $4.95 BUY More Spare Clips Palm 1800mAh Battery for Treo 700p, 700w|wx, 650 Always stay powered Just $24.95 BUY More Batteries Palm Charger Kit for Centro, Treo The charger kit for the jet set crowd Just $9.95 BUY More Wall Chargers Seidio 2600mAh Extended Life Battery for Treo 700p, 700w|wx, 650 More power for your Treo! Just $42.95 BUY More Batteries SPE Leather Hardcase for Treo 755p, 750, 680 Sturdy and reliable Just $12.95 BUY More Hard Cases SGP kuel H10 Stylus Pen Just $12.99 BUY More Styli Samsung EHS60 3.5mm Stereo Headset Just $22.95 BUY More Stereo Headsets Samsung EHS63 3.5mm Stereo Headset Just $42.95 BUY More Stereo Headsets iBOLT ProDock Alumina Just $34.95 BUY More Car Mounts Qmadix Performance Mobile Earphones Just $26.95 BUY More Stereo Headsets OverBoard Waterproof Pro-Sport Arm Pack Just $31.95 BUY More Weather Resistant Cases OverBoard Waterproof Smart Phone Case Just $31.95 BUY More Weather Resistant Cases SGP kuel H12 Stylus Pen for HP TouchPad Just $19.95 BUY More Styli

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