PureMobile sent us in the most talked about recent HTC smartphone for a review, the TyTN-II (codename “Kaiser”). We give it a whirl and of course, we can’t help out ourselves by comparing it to the iPhone but also to the QTek 9100.The Kaiser is a tri-band HSDPA and quad-band GSM phone. This means that it will work almost everywhere in the world in either 3G, EDGE or plain GSM mode. It features a 2.8″ QVGA screen, 128 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM, a 400 Mhz ARM CPU, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, GPS, USB 2.0, microSD slot, 3.2 MP camera with autofocus and video-call camera. In its box we found a very nice case, CDs and guides, a 1350 mAh battery, a charger, a second stylus and USB-based heaphones.
The Kaiser feels amazing in the hand. It has a good construction and a good size. It’s a tiny bit longer than our previous QTek 9100 and heavier, but it is a bit thinner. It feels much bulkier than the iPhone, but on the other hand, you would appreciate its hardware keyboard that exposes itself after you slide the upper part of the device. The nice added capability of the Kaiser is that when you continue sliding it, the screen actually tilts, which makes it ideal for video-watching. The device has easy to reach button controls on the front with hand up, call, start menu, “ok” button, IE, Outlook and two softkeys buttons. On the sides you will find the voice dialing, camera, on/off buttons and a scroll wheel. The keyboard is easy to master, although I find the QTek’s 9100 keyboard easier to type because the keys are more spread out comparatively.
The device loads in about 30 seconds time. It’s got over 100 MBs of free RAM after fully loaded. The 400 Mhz CPU is very much visibly so faster than the 200 Mhz that my older QTek has. However, dialing and application loading is definitely not as spiffy as it is on the iPhone. I found the reception to be very so-so, about 1 bar where other phones have 2 or 3 bars. However, battery life proved to be adequate with over 4 hours of talk time, with 3G ON (which consumes more battery). Unfortunately, the video call did not work, even if we used an AT&T account, so this feature went untested. Voice quality was much better than on my QTek 9100 as the speaker seems to be of superior quality.
The GPS module is a bit flaky at first. The native version of Google Maps wouldn’t find any satellite because it wouldn’t hook up to Windows’ GPS libraries for some reason. We had to use a little trick. Run this application first to “wake up” the GPS, and then Google Maps worked perfectly. I was very surprised that this GPS module found my location within 2 meters from where I was standing, and the external SIRF-III Bluetooth module is precise within 10 meters only. So, props to HTC for including precise GPS hardware.
The autofocus camera takes “ok” pictures too, but it comes without a flash light. HTC forces the camera app to be in “night mode” automatically when it detects low light (there is no option to turn that on/off). The software for the camera allows for a number of preferences, which will please users who want more control. The phone also records 3GP and MP4 QVGA and QCIF videos that can later playback via Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. Unfortunately, the resulted mp4 videos are not compatible with Quicktime (other phones’ mp4 files are), but they are compatible with VLC.
Sample pictures: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Sample video (save as and playback via VLC, Quicktime has trouble): 1
The Bluetooth stack includes A2DP/AVRCP support among others, although the same bad usability as in older WinMob OSes exists: you can’t send multiple files via Bluetooth, and each time you send a file, you have to search for devices nearby instead of selecting off your current paired list. This just takes forever and it’s slow. I had to install Total Commander to do the job fast.
Regarding the rest of the software: There is Java MIDP-2 support where GMail and Opera Mini ran fine, voice memos, internet video streaming (for use with mobile youtube), Pocket Office, MSN IM and email, and the redesigned call screen as found on Windows Mobile 6. I like the Call screen of Windows Mobile, but it’s just not as spiffy as iPhone’s. More over, I was able to somewhat crash the phone when trying to call while in landscape mode! One more thing that bothered me was the fact that HTC shipped the Kaiser without VoIP SIP support. In fact, I don’t think that there is any WinMob6 phone that shipped with VoIP, even if that was a feature of the new version of the OS.
Finally, there are three additional software features that HTC added to the mix: one is a utility that allows you to close applications with a click instead of simply “minimize” them, and the second one allows you to use your finger to scroll up and down, just like with the iPhone. The third application is a “Today plugin”, and it takes up half the screen. It has tabs and allows you to see the time, missed phone calls, number of emails/messages, “quick dial” with pictures, weather, application launcher, and ringing styles. This Today plugin is really nice and useful, but it takes 2 full seconds to switch orientation, and this is a problem for me who likes things to be spiffy — at least on phones.
Overall, this is a great smartphone. Possibly the best Windows Mobile phone in the market today for the price. It is not as sweet as an iPhone, but it is a phone that can definitely “do more” as there are over 20,000 applications for that platform. And that’s a big plus.
Pros:
* Triband 3G
* GPS
* WiFi
* Good autofocus camera
* Plenty of RAM
* Handy Today plugin
Cons:
* No flash light
* No FM radio
* Keyboard not easy to type
* USB port for headphones is non-standard
Rating: 9/10
the screen does not look very nice. maybe if the brightness was adjusted it would look better.
The screen is fine, I always have brightness down to 25% for all my phones (including the iPhone btw).
I’ve seen this ne device and the screen is quite nice and incredibly sharp.
To be fair, I don’t think pictures provide the best representation of screens on mobile devices & phones. This is something you truly have to see in person to appreciate & be able judge for yourself.
A couple of co-workers recently upgraded to this phone with AT&T who re-branded it to the, “AT&T Tilt.” While the name may bring memories of old pin-ball machines this phone is incredible.
True, it has no (camera) flash like it’s predecesors (AT&T 8125, etc.) it still has a lot to offer. Especially in the increased ROM and storage capacities.
The only minor setback noted by both people is that when the screen is tilted, the top row of the keyboard is partially blocked by the tilt action. But since both had the AT&T 8125 & 8525, thise didn’t tilt, so they’re used to typing w/o the screen tilt.
The screen is superb and the speed of the device is faster than the AT&T 8525 which has a 400MHz ARM CPU but runs Windows Mobile 5, not Windows Mobile 6.
When you pick it up and palm this device, it feels very sweet. Then the envy starts. Followed by the number-crunching…..
Kudos to HTC.
but $822?!?! Good lord. I could buy a car for that!
I dunno…I want what is theoretically possible with a smartphone, but I also don’t like sluggish phones. 30 seconds to boot up? I just don’t think I could tolerate it. Do you just avoid turning the thing completely off?
I also hear that there’s no such thing as a smartphone that’s a good *phone*. My g/f’s Treo 600 is not (the Palm OS is nice, though I wish it had the Graffiti), and a couple friends with Crackberrys don’t like the phones in them, either. I have Verizon now, and their premier offering (the Motorola Q9m) has limitations as well (some of which Verizon put in to rip off^H^H^H^H^H^H^H “add value for” its customers). My contract is up, though
I don’t turn off my phone, no, so the 30sec bootup is not a problem. When traveling, you can use Flight Mode.
How was the GUI?
I use Nokia E61 and while I’m more than satisfied with the specs – the GUI really sucks compared to iPhone. And all the experiences with Windows Mobile platforms have been pretty much the same. Somehow, you just can’t seem to get “into the system”.
I don’t want a bulky button to dominate my experience with the device.
The GUI is the same as in all previous windows mobile phones I have reviewed. I can’t write the same things over and over on all my articles.
I personally like the UI of Windows Mobile touchscreen much better than all other touchscreen phones, except the iPhone which is the best. The non-touchscreen UI of Windows Mobile sucks. Symbian S60 is so-so. The worst touchscreen UI is UIQ’s (even worse than Motorola’s Linux). The best non-touchscreen UI is Sony Ericsson’s.
So basically it all depends what you need:
If you want non-touchscreen and apps, you go with S60. If you don’t want apps, you go with Sony Ericsson.
If you want touchscreen and apps, you go with Windows Mobile (which has better hardware feature than Palm phones).
If you want touchscreen and don’t care about apps, go with the iPhone.
Have you tried any recent Nokia S40 phones. If you have, how would you compare those to Soyn-Ericsson’s?
One omf my clients is using these for its field force. However, while Eugenia is correct in that the TyTN II is “Possibly the best Windows Mobile phone in the market today for the price” it severely lacks from one thing (as do the entire Windows Mobile family): resolution.
This is 2007 and 240×320 (or 320×240) doesn’t cut it anymore. The low resolution severely negates the fact that “there are over 20,000 applications for that platform”.
You are totally right. You just NEED VGA. Surfing with QVGA, reading PDF in 320X200, yeah right.
I still love my gigantic HTC Universal.
And i hope all phones will run Linux very well soon. The HTCs are on a good way.
The ability for users to build their own custom distros for phones would just amazing. ( some people do it for windows mobile atm, but without control over the source i dont really see a bright future for that )
Lets hope the google phone will push mobile linux in every respect.
QVGA is a good resolution. What you need is web sites to be more intelligent about it, like OSNews.com is. Even the iPhone is not fantastic from your point of view at 320×480. I would much prefer 640×360 or 848×480 (16:9 480p).
No, QVGA is not a good resolution even with adapted web sites. My Nokia N800 got what I consider to be a decent resolution of 800×480.
And the iPhone got Safari with “pinch -and-zoom” which somewhat compensate for the low resolution of 320×480.
Internet Explorer on Windows Mobile is laughable in comparison.
Actually, Internet Explorer on any platform is laughable in itself.
The difference is that you can run Opera Mini which does the zoom thing. On the iPhone you are stuck with Safari.
My coworker just bought one. Pretty nice device but HUGE (thick). I draw the line at something half that thickness. Would be useful by the local police for busting down the doors of criminals though.
Edited 2007-10-23 10:51
Ha? I say the phone is thick and someone chooses one of the top 3 options listed below:
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Yes, this comment includes personal attacks/offensive language
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Go back to Digg.
Edited 2007-10-23 11:44
Well I did not mark you down, but saying it could be used to batter down doors is rhetoric and utterly silly. The depth of the device does add come heft to it, but unless you have very small hands I can not see this being an issue in handling it. The main drawback is it makes it less “pocketable.”
Meh, got a chuckle out of me (reminded me of Douglas Adams’ line about the original Mac “portable”: “It was great for eating sandwiches on, and slightly lighter than carrying around a table”).
“It is not as sweet as an iPhone”
Care to define ‘sweet’?
The iPhone has a better UI. It just feels more to the point and clean.
Run linux on it? 🙂
I seems that all the iPhone competitors make these rather bulky mechanical devices… and they all seem to run windows (ick)… I am forced to use it at work. I’d rather not have windows in my car, my phone, etc. How about a phone that looks as nice as the iPhone (sleek, sexy, large screen, easy to interact with), and runs Linux? Why not? It is doable. yet they all build these things.