What Features do you want in a PDA phone?

**Elrendhel** · 04-19-08, 03:00 PM

This thread was originally started as a News Item on MobilitySite.

Smartphones generally favor the smaller form-factor: smaller screens that generally have no touch-sensitivity on the screen. But those of us who use PDAs prefer the opposite: a larger screen sizes that are touch-sensitive, but still have voice and data connectivity.
With that thought in mind, I think that the bulk of society only needs basic PDA functionality (Calendar, Tasks, Contacts, etc), and would be best utilizing them on a SmartPhone. This is obviously the reason for the prominence of SmartPhones. But what about those of us who are power users, who desire more of an actual PDA with more features than just a SmartPhone? Let’s discuss the benefits of what programs or technology are best kept relegated to one platform or another. Here are the basics that I see in each of the two categories at this time:

SmartPhone (where smaller size is better) for most of Society:

WM5 or WM6,
Regular PIM Functionality (Contacts, Calendar, Tasks),
E-mail,
Mobile Media,
Cell/PCS Phone,
Data Plan.
Bluetooth 2.0

PDA-Phone (where larger screen is better) for the Techies among us:

Larger Screen size (3.5″ - 4″), preferably VGA resolution of 640×480 (or better),
Much Larger Memory capacity: 1GB ROM and 2GB Flash RAM minimum,
SDHC Card slot,
Biometric Finger-Print reader for added Security,
Mini USB connector for data exchange and charging.
- Should meet all of Rad's Laws (tip of hat to Radimus).
  - All devices should charge via USB (where possible).
  - All devices should have more than one function or interface with other devices
  - Bluetooth LEDs are at least 50% too bright and should only be lit when an error is present, when searching, or when charging.
Full QWERTY Keyboard (Slide-out)
Regular PIM Functionality (Contacts, Calendar, Tasks),
WM6 (or better) with PDF & Office for PDA + Image Viewer native.
E-mail, preferably via WebIS' FLEXMAIL application.
Mobile Media Player with support for all the known media formats (including AJAX and Flash),
3G/4G/GSM Cell/PCS Phone service available through your favorite Carrier,
3G/4G/GSM Data Service capability available through your favorite Carrier,
WiFi A/B/G/N with Quick-Connector for External Antenna,
Consumer InfraRED, with Bundled TV Remote software,
Bluetooth 2.0 w/EDR (enhanced data rate), full support for Stereo Audio
GPS (SiRFStar III or better), with bundled "on-road" and "off-road" Applications for getting you from point-a to point-z.
Barcode scanner, with bundled Database manager (for your DVD/CD collection).
3MP+ Camera in back for quality snaps & video, and a 2MP front-facing camera for Video Conferencing/Calling, with built-in Flash.
Video Out connectors (for Video presentations, etc).

What else would you like to see added to either phone category?

EDIT: A third category to reflect the "other stuff" that is outside the two categories in question:

Miscellaneous Stuff:

ActiveSync 4.6 (or whatever version#) w/OTA WiFi Synchronizing for non-Exchange (i.e. Single user Outlook) and Sync'ing w/Mac systems.

sgtommyc · 04-20-08, 10:35 AM

"Bluetooth LEDs are at least 50% too bright and should only be lit when an error is present, when searching, or when charging. "

How true is that, on my iPAQ210 it's not only very bright, it's also pointed straight at the midle of my eyes, almost blinding me

"Full QWERTY Keyboard (Slide-out)"

Full QWERTY yes, but slide out? Hmmmm a foldable exterior one is better for me, and my adult size fingers

"WM6 (or better)" Well, yes, if I can get the look and speed of WM2003(SE) back.

"Mobile Media Player with support for all the known media formats (including AJAX and Flash)," Oh yes, that would be soooo nice

"3G/4G/GSM Data Service capability available through your favorite Carrier" Wouldn't last a day without it

"Consumer InfraRED, with Bundled TV Remote software" It's a toy, I have learned to live without it.

"Barcode scanner, with bundled Database manager " Realy, how often do you need it?

"3MP+ Camera in back for quality snaps & video," Now, if you need a camera, use one, for snaps on the go, 1,3Mpix is all you need, better optics and cencors however, that would be realy nice, and a bigger improvement, than added pixels.

"Video Out connectors (for Video presentations, etc). " Oh yes, that we realy need as standard equipment, to finaly make the Laptop obsolete

And as an added goodie: Please give us "Sync via WiFi" back, we want it badly

**Elrendhel** · 04-20-08, 10:56 AM

I concede that I wouldn't use the InfraRED or Barcode scanner EVERY day. Nor even the Video Out connector (I don't give presentations). But some people would. That's why it's included. But I do have a DVD collection of 1000 plus titles. And 1500 or so VHS. And about 500 CDs... these would be nice to be able to catalog and keep track of...

This isn't so much of a "and the kitchen sink" angle, so much as it is "anything a technical person could use".

Qwerty was mostly about ensuring the masses of existing PDA-Phone users have a reason to jump to this kind of device. True, people could use fold-out externals (or the projected keyboard if they're really geeks), but someone pointed out in the news item (from whence this new thread came) that they never seemed to have their fold-out keyboard when they really needed to do some serious typing.

Oh, and the ability to use ActiveSync WiFi was covered in the miscellaneous category at the bottom.

larrywms45 · 04-20-08, 12:56 PM

X51 form factor with latest processor, max memory. It must have SD slot at minimal, VGA, BT, WiFi; WM 6.1 or WM 7.

In other words, X51v with phone capability updated to what the X51v would have evolved to if Dell hadn't stepped on it's d**k.

**Elrendhel** · 04-20-08, 05:52 PM

Good point about the SD slot. Consider it added! It'll have to be High Capacity (SDHC) though... (I don't think you'll argue the point)

sgtommyc · 04-21-08, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by Elrendhel

This isn't so much of a "and the kitchen sink" angle, so much as it is "anything a technical person could use".

Oh well, my bad, Engrish is not my main lingo

Well then add (as mentioned by larrywms45) Standard SD size SDHC port and CF Type II port

SD for program and file storrage, and the CF for add on external hardware, like TV reciever, true USB-Host, Scanners, Video out, and all those other nice things, which I can think up, if I get an other hour

Also most high end cameras uses CF cards, add that to an average PDA, and you can edit your snapshots on the go, using a nice size screen, and mail/upload them in an instance, with GPS tags inserted

Oh and could I make one whish, it would be, to reinvent the Compaq backpack system

**Elrendhel** · 04-21-08, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by sgtommyc

Well then add (as mentioned by larrywms45) Standard SD size SDHC port and CF Type II port

Already did the standard SDHC port. I'm not yet convinced about the need for the CF slot. Anyone else vote for this too?

Originally Posted by sgtommyc

Oh and could I make one whish, it would be, to reinvent the Compaq backpack system

You mean the Sleeves? Hmm...

sgtommyc · 04-22-08, 06:29 AM

Yes, sleves

Imagine a one size fits all PPC, you buy a medium size/spec cheap PPC, and adds what ever extras you want/need, like USB Host, FM radio, TV tuner, (S)ATA plug, camera, multi card reader, you name it. Wouldn't that be nice?

Ofcource the more you have build in, the better, but since no two persons have the same needs, you can have one, that meets the most of them, and add on what ever needs, the future might bring, and still have a normal size PPC, which actually fits into a shirt pocket (Which my 210 does not).

The last sleve/backpack I bought, was for my HTC Himalaya, it had CF slot, VGA-Out and a build in 750mAh additional battery, to compensate for the power use, during the slideshow pressentation, and I loved it. No need to carry a bulky heavy machine, just plug on the extra functions when needed, and drop them back in the briefcase, when done, no Laptop needed

A backpack could also be a docking station, like the ones for Laptops, turning your PPC into your PC, with a 19" screen, full size keyboard, mouse, and LAN connected, just place the PPC in the slot, and you are up and running

**Elrendhel** · 04-24-08, 02:39 PM

Well, the sleeves were pretty much proprietary to the Compaq/iPAQ series, so phones made by other carriers or OEMs wouldn't work. I doubt you'd be able to leverage this as an industry-wide endeavor. Nor do I expect that Compaq/HP will ever produce sleeves again in the future.

sgtommyc · 04-25-08, 07:28 AM

Yeah, I know, but afair they were all produced by HTC, so maybe?

I just thought it would be a nice/cool feature, to make PPC's and smartphones more flexible, so you don't have to compromise every time you need a new device, and don't need a PPC for each feature you might want/need :?

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