This post was published 2 years 10 months 2 days ago which may make its actuality or expire date not be valid anymore. This site is not responsible for any misunderstanding.

Author: Jack Cook
Vender: i-mate
Price: $599.99 (prices may vary with provider)
Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Choices – Choices – Choices. 
There are so many devices out there that it is often difficult to decide just what device is the best to fit your needs. No matter what device you pick, ultimately it has to perform the basic functions that you need and hopefully will have those extras that will reaffirm the decision you made for a particular device.

I have been fortunate to have had a myriad of devices, all shapes, all sizes, different form factors and different unique characteristics that make them terrific (and some not so terrific) but none have had the JAQ3 super sleek design that provides all of the functions I want combined with a very slim form factor.

The only devices I have used in the past that have had this slimness have been Smartphones and a few using the Symbian operating system. All have been nice but I really like the functionality of a device that uses Windows Mobile for Pocket PC. As much as I like Smartphones, the Pocket PC OS gives me just a little bit more of the ability to make choices on what and how I will perform tasks. 

My first impression is that the JAQ3 is a device made for the mobile road warrior that wants the ability to perform all of those daily tasks quickly and easily like you can on a Smartphone but yet have that extra ability to perform more in depth functions provided by the typical device that has the Pocket PC OS incorporated in it. The JAQ3 uniquely incorporates a QWERTY keyboard, a landscape touch-screen and 4-way navigation/action button as well as a JOG Dial and an OK key on the left side to make one handed access easy.  

Contents
Just before you open the box you can’t help but notice a well designed outer sleeve to “get the juices flowing” as you are removing the contents. I did see however a remarkable difference once I had the device in my hand versus looking at the picture prominently displayed on the box. Based on pictures, I thought the device would be shorter and slightly wider than its actual size. After several days of using the device I am still amazed at it size in comparison to the pictures … a slight twist, a change in perspective can change the view you expect.

I was very happy to find that the JAQ3 uses a mini-USB connection for charging and syncing. How long will it take before all device manufacturers decide to use one standard? Along with an AC charger, there was a USB to mini-USB cable for synching and a nice headset with a 2.5mm stereo jack.

For those that are new to devices, there is a Quick Start Guide to get you up and running quickly as well as a few diagrams with explanations to help even the most experienced user with a quick overview of the device. I would have liked to have seen better images to illustrate the keys on the keyboard … my old eyes had some difficulty.

The install was smooth and easy

The 160 page User Manual was extremely well done (and the images were excellent). Eight chapters outlining the device, personalization, using the phone, getting connected with data, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and beaming, a comprehensive messaging section, how to synchronize your device, and 40 pages dedicated to applications and multimedia. The manual ends with a brief discussion on maintenance and a comprehensive appendix providing information on the battery, PC requirements, regulatory info and the all important device specifications.

There was a multi language leaflet on the i-mate Suite, EULA, warranty information booklet and a getting started CD containing active sync and some supplemental programs for installation. Using the CD is a very smooth, intuitive and easy process for getting up and running.

I was really happy to see that i-mate included a very well made leather belt clip case for protection and ease of carrying. The smooth black leather case with a black felt interior and magnetic closure will protect your device from those unexpected happenings.

The Device
Lastly and most importantly, the JAQ3. Holding the device in my hand for the first time, I was really pleased with the thin form factor but was stunningly surprised at its length. The Dimensions are 5.0" x 2.6" x 0.6" inches (126 x 67.5 x 14.5 mm) and it has a weight of 5.6 oz (160 g). The LCD screen, wider than its height, is rated in the specs as being 2.4 inches but my ruler only measured 2 1/16 inches of real estate. The height of the screen measured just slightly less than 1.5 inches so the net effect is a wide screen appearance.

Just above the LCD is a hole for the ear speaker and to the right is an LED the blinks when the device is powered on. The LED glows red when charging and turns off when fully charged. Below the screen you find 8 buttons (start menu, left soft key, right soft key, OK, messaging, Talk, hang up, Internet Explorer) and a 5-way navigation pad. What was particularly noticeable was that all were placed perfectly for access by your thumb for one handed operation.

Below these buttons is a full QWERTY keyboard and although the buttons seen small, the shape allows for easy text entry. In my time with this device, it was rare that I would make a mistake in text entry and if I did, it was because I was trying to enter text at a high rate of speed.

The keys are backlit and can be seen quite well in dark conditions however in moderate light I have difficulty seeing some of the characters. I believe this could have been avoided with larger lettering (which there is ample room for). However, this is a minor issue because for the most part I was always in appropriate lighting and had little or no difficulty seeing individual keys.

When you glance at the left side of the device you smile because there is a scroll wheel and an OK button … I liked that! Clearly these were there for those that want that smooth one handed operation. I found them very convenient and placed perfectly for ease of use. About two thirds down the side you find the camera button. Its location sort of forces you to adjust the position of the device in your hand which results in not having a finger block the camera lens.

The right side has the plug for the earphone jack and surprisingly the USB input for charging or synching located near the top. At first I was taken back its position but in use, I found it very convenient on two fronts. First, while synching, the cord went off to the side rather than toward me and secondly, when it was sitting in my car cradle, the bottom support of the cradle did not interfere with it like it does with devices that have it centered in the bottom of the device.

The top of the device has a rubber plug covering a micro-USB card slot and the infrared port. The bottom of the device has the stylus located to the side.

The back of the device has the 2 MP camera which can be set from 160X120 to as high as1600×1200 pixels. I’m not sure how many folks use these devices for taking self portraits but the absence of a mirror certainly precludes taking too many self portraits.

The back cover slides off easily where you find a 1250 mAh Li-ion battery, the SIM slot and the reset button. I guess they are pretty confident that doing a reset will be rare so they placed it under the battery cover. In my limited use (2 weeks) with the device, no resets were needed.

The sides and back have that rubbery black covering that you are now finding on many devices. I like it because it affords protection from nicks and scratches from normal use. The front has a shiny black plastic.

What’s first?
I suppose I should go through the process but I really wanted to see how well it worked right away so I inserted my SIM and powered on the device. It went through its boot process and then I got a message that the “i-mate configurator” could not configure my settings and that I had to download the setting or do it manually … bummer. But all of a sudden the Cingular logo appeared and I was making calls … yea!! And the signal … typically it is horrible at my home but not with this device, I had 4 bars and that has pretty much remained constant (3 or 4 bars) for my usage here! So with a strong signal, I manually entered my data settings and I was off surfing the web to Mobilitysite and Experience Mobility. Both sites came up quickly and the 65K color TFT touchscreen was crystal clear. I was very pleased! (Please note that the screenshot below was taken while in Maine … signal strength varies from 0-2 bars as a rule.)

Of course in Maine, I am lucky to get a signal and I was pleased that I always had one (although it was weak) during testing.   My surfing was short lived however because I got a low battery warning so it was time to shut it off, charge it for a while and look through the manual.

Programs
As thin as this device is, don’t let its size fool you because it is feature packed! When you turn on the device and navigate to programs you find 25 icons representing some pre-installed programs. Most are included programs and a few were trials but there was plenty to get you started. The list is as follows:

Five games (Bubble Breaker, i-mate Blackjack, i-mate Jam Jammy, i-mate pool, and Solitaire), 1-View, ActiveSync, Backup, CA Install, Calculator, Camera, ClearVue PDF, Club i-mate, Download, Excel Mobile, File Explorer, i-mate Configurator, Internet Sharing, Java, Notes, Pictures and Videos, Pocket MSN, PowerPoint Mobile, Search, SIM Manager, Tasks, Terminal Services Client, Voice Commander, and Word Mobile.

Settings
As you would expect, there were three tabs under Settings: Personal, System and Connections. There were a few items that were different and I liked each. Under Personal, i-mate has their own profile controller with four pre-sets (Normal, Meeting, Silent, Outdoor and Headset). The interface was intuitive; easy and simple to use.

Generally I use Microsoft’s Voice Command but I decided to try i-mate’s Voice Commander and have been really happy with it. Initially, I had an issue with the device recognizing my voice but that problem was short lived … it just ended up working and there were no issues after I got the hang of the commands.

In the system tab, there was a Master Clear. I liked the fact that I did not have to remember what combination of buttons I would need for a hard reset. When I was through using the device I tried this feature to clear out my personal information and it worked very well. I was asked to enter a code then push a reset button … it was fast, cleared everything and then began the initial setup process. After a hard reset, you are asked to align the screen, set the time zone and time, enter a password(if wanted), then the device installed the cab files in memory. Within a few minutes, the JAQ3 was up and ready to go.

Enabling Wi-Fi is a breeze. Pressing the Wireless manager in the Connections tab gives easy access to the Phone, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings. Enabling Wi-Fi is quick and easy and most importantly, it works and works well! There is a nice Wi-Fi configuration tool that gives you the current configuration with the signal quality and means to adjust power settings. It is a nice tool to have.

Enabling Bluetooth was just as easy and connecting to devices is painless … oh, how I remember the pain and aggravation from the early Bluetooth days. No more … it just works!

The Camera
The 2 megapixel camera works fine for outdoor pictures in strong backlit sun light and will be OK for interior shots if there is sufficient light but remember, it’s a camera phone and you won’t get that “perfect shot” but you will get a memory and I suppose that is what it is all about. As you play with the camera and its settings, you can achieve some very acceptable pictures

The camera offers three settings (brightness, saturation and contrast) that you can easily adjust with the D-pad as you align a shot. If needed, there is a 4X zoom which works surprising well but there are a few finger strokes to achieve a zoom level. If you are in a hurry to zoom … it is not going to be easy. There are a variety of effects that you can choose from to add that little extra to your pictures … some might well enhance an otherwise poor picture.

The video can be set to one of two resolutions (mp4 or 3gp) and you have the ability to limit your captures (15 or 30 sec) if storage is an issue. You can set your zoom level, environment and effects so that does add a little creativity to an otherwise limited video. Good lighting is essential to get the best possible capture although I did get some reasonable video in a well lighted room.

Here are three example pictures.  All were taken late afternoon using the automatic setting.

Overall, I was reasonably pleased with the quality of pictures and video. I am sure that if given the time to play around with it in a variety of settings, I would be able to get some very reasonable shots.

Phone and Data
I was pleased with the ability to connect to the Cingular Network virtually everywhere I went. The call quality was good on my end and reports from those I chatted with were just as good. I did get one complaint of an “echo” while using the speakerphone but it may have been the phone on the other end.

My ability to get a data connection was almost perfect although there was some difficulty in Maine at night. The speed of downloads varied depending on where I was but in strong signal areas, it was very good.

Battery
The JAQ3 comes with a user-swappable 1250 mAh Lithium Ion battery. With “normal” use, I would have expected that the battery life would have been superior on this device but I was rather disappointed in how fast it drained throughout the course of the day. Of course, using the Phone, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios throughout the day will drain a battery quickly but I was finding that I would limit my use if I was not near a charger.

Overall Performance
This device is not meant to be a workhorse but rather a device to make calls, check email, keep appointments and use a few programs necessary for your daily routines. If you are looking for a “power device” then you need to look elsewhere. The ARM926T OMAP 850 processor running at 200MHz is not quite up to speed for a full fledged Pocket PC. Don’t get me wrong, it works but …. It sometimes lags in performance and multi-tasking can definitely have an effect on performance.

Conclusion
I have sort of mixed feelings about this device. I like the thinness but dislike the length. The design for one handed use is spectacular yet the size of the numbers and letters on the keys can cause some frustration especially in poorly lit areas.

I was pleased with the ability to use Wi-Fi. It worked fine for me at home and in a few coffee shops I visit. How fast did it work? I don’t know and I don’t care … it worked and I didn’t have to wait.

For me, a device is first a phone then what I get in addition is the icing on the cake. Clearly this device is a mid-range Windows Mobile device designed to appeal to a lower price point audience. There are enough features on this device that would make me look closely at it if I wanted a basic pocket PC. However if your needs are for a workhorse, then this is not the one for you.  

PROS:

• Thin and Lightweight
• Excellent design for one-handed operation
• Keyboard feels great
• Good software
• Leather belt-clip case

CONS:

• Device is too long
• Battery life
• Small screen
• A little slow

RATING: 4.3 out of 5 
COST:  $599.00

You can visit the i-mate website here:  http://www.imate.com/

Specs at a Glance:

• Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0
• PC AKU 3.2
• GSM/EDGE/GPRS
• Quad band 850/900/1800/1900
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• 128 MG ROM
• 64 MG RAM
• Stereo Bluetooth 1.2
• Micro-SD Slot
• 2.0 mega pixel camera
• 2.4 inch 65k LCD Touch-screen
• Scroll Wheel

Rate Post

(No Ratings Yet)   

Similar Posts

• Win an i-mate JAQ3
• Video 1st Look – i-mate JAQ3 Pocket PC Phone
• A first look at the world’s thinnest Pocket PC Phone
• JAQ3 Pocket PC Phone Edition – Officially Released
• i-mate JAQ3 Preview

Jack Cook (2693 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook