First Impressions of the HTC Universal

This unique and very exciting form factor is a real attention grabber to anyone that sees it being demonstrated. I had the opportunity to play with a pre-production version of the HTC Universal that was in the booth at Microsoft’s Mobile Embedded Developers Conference and at the Gartner Symposium ITxpo. People would stop immediately after their eye caught the 180 degree swiveling VGA screen in action revealing a QWERTY thumb keyboard. The hinge design allows the screen to be protected by folding flat over the keyboard (Fig 1.)

This was running Microsoft's recently announced Windows Mobile 5 software. (See fig 4) This latest version of Windows Mobile has lots of internal changes to the software but the obvious ones are the look and feel. It is now more uniform to what you have on a Windows Mobile Smartphone so that one handed operation is more easily accomplished.

Unfortunately the device didn’t have a functional SIM card so I wasn’t able to test phone or data connections. The design idea is that you can still answer a phone call without opening the cover by simply pressing the talk button on the hinge (Fig. 1 again). There is a speaker accessible through the cover for your ear and the microphone is located at the bottom near the SD slot.

Fig. 1: In clamshell mode, you can close the device to protect the screen. The Call and End buttons on the edge of the device let you answer calls with the clamshell closed.

Lift up on the cover to expose the QWERTY keyboard and the beautiful VGA color screen automatically starts in landscape viewing mode. The screen looked amazingly bright, matching the brilliance of the Dell X50v’s VGA screen. PowerPoint presentations viewed on this screen were stunningly sharp and clear.

The keys were plenty large for my fat thumbs to handle but it did take a little time to adjust to the flat feel of these keys. In addition, I had to adapt to the position of the keys. Although it is a QWERTY layout, the keys are aligned on a horizontal/vertical grid—different from the vertically staggered alignment of a traditional keyboard. I think they could have made the keys a little smaller and staggered them, or raised them a little for a better tactile feel (like you find on the Samsung i730).

The clamshell mode with the landscape display above the keyboard is ideal for managing e-mail, documents or simply browsing the Web using the Wi-Fi or 3G/UMTS data connections. It’s also probably the best way to take advantage of the video conferencing capability of the device. The Universal has two cameras built into it. The one on the back of the unit captures pictures and video, which can be attached to e-mail and sent to friends or associates. The small built-in flash to the left of the lens (Fig. 2) helps improve picture quality.

Fig. 2: You can take still images or short videos with the digital camera on the back of the HTC Universal. Note the built-in flash to the left of the camera aperture.

The second is a VGA-capable video camera which can be used for video conferencing. It’s located on the front of the device adjacent to the display and navigation pad (Fig. 3). It’s well positioned for video conferencing with the Universal in clamshell mode sitting in front of you on a desk or table. The Universal has a camera application built into it, which lets you switch between and control either camera. Although the camera on the front of the device is designed primarily for video conferencing, it can also be used to take pictures or video.

Fig. 3: The HTC Universal in clamshell mode fits easily in the palm of your hand. Note the small black circle next to the lower right corner of the display. This is aperture of a VGA-capable video camera that can be used for video conferencing.

Again, since I didn’t have a SIM card, I couldn’t test the video conferencing. However, I did test the Universal’s Wi-Fi capability. It was easy to find and connect to the Wi-Fi network at the show. But because so many people were using the network, the data transfer rate was a little slow.

As mentioned, the display can be rotated 180 degrees and folded back over the keyboard, allowing you to use the Universal as a more traditional Pocket PC. The screen automatically switches to portrait viewing mode when you do this.

Fig. 4: The HTC Universal (left) is only a little larger than one of HTC ’s more traditional Pocket PCs (right). The new Excel Mobile with charting is shown on the HTC.

A little larger, but packed with power

Opened in clamshell mode, the HTC Universal is larger than most Pocket PCs. And weighing in at 10 ounces, it’s one of the heavier Windows Mobile devices around. But we’re talking inches and ounces here. Close the clamshell or fold the screen into portrait viewing mode, and the size difference isn’t that striking (Fig. 4).

The truth is, the HTC Universal needs the extra room to accommodate two digital cameras, a QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth transceivers, and a 3G-capable GSM/GPRS phone. All in all, an extra couple of ounces is a small price to pay for the features built into this baby.

As is usual with new HTC phone devices, the Universal will be marketed overseas first. T-Mobile will release it as the MDA IV, Orange will release it as the SPV 3G), and Vodaphone as the VPA IV.

No word yet on which U.S. wireless carrier will offer the HTC Universal. When we find out, we’ll let you know.

Comments

[Scott F Williams]

OK Dale so are you back we Missed you.

Are you going to start regular updates here soon?

[arebelspy]

Sweet device, been looking forward to it for a while.

Ditto on Scott's comments in the first post. ;)

-arebelspy

[Donovan Dillon]

It's great to have you back Dale! Very nice, "Dale Coffig signature pre-view" of the Universal. Can you comment on performance of standard apps? I know the demo unit was pre-production, but I am curious about the speed and responsiveness of the unit. Thanks!

Donovan.

[JAmerican]

Wouldn't T-Mobile USA offer it since its a T-Mobile phone??

JAmerican

[Marugorun]

Just for your information. According to the T-Mobile Germany web page below, the HTC Universal is now called MDA Pro when released by T-Mobile there.

http://www.t-mobile.de/shop/handy/1,4855,2963-_3679-0-1-0,00.html

Thank you for your review, and I really envy you that you could try the device hands-on.

[Michael]

Dale, what about the hinge design? is it durable? also the swivel? I kinda worry that it's gonna get loose after a while, just like the slide-on keyboard on xda IIs.

[Henk]

Strange things in picture 4, a GPRS-icon and a caller volume-icon. I thought there was no working SIM-card?

[Dale Coffing]

I can try to answer some of the questions.
-Scott, my heart is to get a real discussion board going again. This blog doesn't allow for lots of things vBulletin let me do like keep track of responses like these or do simple searches in the threads.
-Donovan, the standard apps ran very fast based on my perception.
- JAmerican, T-Mobile USA has a history of not getting the same devices that T-Mobile Germany has. I don't know their reason for that.
- Marugorun thanks for the update calling it MDA Pro.
- Michael, the hinge seemed fine as far as a sturdy enough design but of course it will be the "weak link".
- Henk, good eye catching the icons but don't let that screen fool you. The icons look as if it were working but it really is "dead" unit. I couldn't make or recieve calls nor get a data connection. I can assume that it is simply a non-working SIM installed in the device? That is what Microsoft does at events in all the smartphones on display is to install a non-working SIM card.

[Andrea]

I thought that it was bigger... I have to change my mind about this PPC... It looks really good

[passing_by]

The design is nice! Let's hope someone puts Linux mobile and it will truly be a dream machine.

[S1MB4D]

i hate to rude but can u tell us about the full specs for the machine like apps processor memory camera resolution for both

thanks

[earl e adopter]

Are they going to offer a version compatible with CDMA/Ev-DO?

[jblon]

will it be available on standard t-mobile gsm here in the uk, or woill be exclusively for 3G. i sincerely hope NOT the latter.

thanks and superb review

[TheLostSoul]

First, my opinion as far as USA goes, I would say it would have to be released on T-Mobile US if released in US at all because its a triband device (assuming it uses 900/1800/1900), otherwise they would have to make a whole new device for Cingular to include the 850 band as that is what most of Cingular uses.

Second, does anyone know what processor it uses?

[Chris Leckness]

Wow Dale, welcome back!

Congrats on getting to play with the device I am most ready to buy!

[LK Chong]

Dear Mr. Dale Coffing,

What a great preview.

Let me introduce myself, I am working as a webmaster for
mobile88.com which is a malaysia (between Singapore and Thailand) mobile
phone website would like to seek your permission to carry it at mobile88.com.
Hope you will consider my request. Thanks you.

Warm Regards
Chong Lee Kean

[Solnyshok]

Dale, none of reviews so far have ever mentioned display diagonal. Is it 4"? Or less?

Solnyshok

"I don't have the unit now for exact dimensions but it is less. Look at the photo comparision -Dale"

[confucious]

jblon - the HTC Typhoon is sold as various things in the UK it's the C500 on 900/1800/1900 and in the US it's on cingular as the Audiovox SMT5600 on 850/1800/1900 the hardware changes seem to be minimal. T Mobile in Europe sell a version as the SDA but T-Mob in the USA don't so I wouldn't be suprised to see it on Cingular rather than T-Mob in the states.

[Adam]

You click on the actual screen in order to go through the menus right? With an including pen?

What would you think that the estimated cost would be?

Is there some sort of screensaver when youre not using it? (A graphical effect for plain "fun" I mean)

Would you consider it as too heavy and big in order for carry it in your pocket?

I saw another model with silver keys instead, I liked that one even more, do you know anything about that?

So the quality of the picture was good huh? Did you see any actual stream, like a movie etc.? Maybe you said it already, sorry in that case.

Is it possible to upgrade the RAM if one wants to? I guess..?

Im really interested in buying this phone, therefor all the questions ;) .

********** 6/10/2005
Adam, it is like any other Pocket PC Phone Edition in terms of operation but Windows Mobile 5 software does make a few changes to it. You can read about ver 5 software at Pocket PC Magazine. All your other questions would be total speculation on my part about the hardware, cost, upgrading RAM, etc. Remember it is a pre-production so we will have to wait for some answers when the unit actually starts shipping.

[Adam]

And sorry for all the typos. =P

[Adam]

Yeah I know, I just gave it as a shot as its probably easier to speculate when you have actually had the phone in your hand.

Thanks for taking time answering though. =)

Im in Sweden and it will probably be released here under the brand name of Qtek in October or something like that.

[Solnyshok]

Dale

Did you try to use it with one hand only? It lacks standard hardware buttons on front panel (Calendar-Contacts-Inbox-Tasks)? I mapped those to the functions that I use most on my ipaq (alt-tab, startmenu, close window, etc) and I am afraid that this device might be difficult to use with one hand (even with all WM5 one-hand developments).

Solnyshok

[Robert Elliot]

Thoughts:

1) Why no "normal" phone operation on the blank front cover? I'd have thought it would make sense to include a small screen, number pad & menu navigation keys so that it can be used as a bog ordinary phone with the cover closed. Nokia have a phone like this...

2) When are they going to make one of these things that has two phone tuners? Like most people I have a work phone & a home phone, and I don't want to carry two handsets (particularly if one is this size...). I can of course use one of those SIM-switcher hacks, but I'd rather have a phone that can cope with both being able to receive calls and allow me to choose which network I call on without needing to switch it on and off.

3) Hard drives are just emerging for PDAs... OK, probably a big size issue but again, I want a real all in one solution that acts as an MP3 and MPEG player as well.

Close, but it's still not the all-in-one solution I'm looking for - and if I'm going to shell out as much money as this wil cost, that's what I want!

[TheCentauress]

Sorry, boys. I do believe that the first to get this will be Sprint, in the GPRS/EV-DO flavor....

[Amer Kawass]

Dear Sir,

Hope your doing fine, kindly advise when this mobile will be available in the Middle East market.

Best regards,

Amer Kawass