The official i-mate 9502 'Ask Paul' thread |
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 Apr 29 2008, 22:19
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#1
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 The Main Man  Group: Admin Team Posts: 18,165 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): MDA Vario III  |
If you've been into Windows Mobile for a while, you probably remember the i-mate 'glory days'. The days when they were the most sought after Windows Mobile devices - admittedly the days when they were reselling HTC kit. Since they parted company with HTC, their devices have been lacklustre... however they are now trying to regain some momentum with their 'Ultimate' range.
The latest device to arrive on my doorstep is the 'Ultimate 9502', that you see unboxed here. Priced at $899 and supplied to me by Smart Mobile Gadgets, the 9502 leaves little out of the spec sheet... • Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 6.0 Professional • 116mm(L) x 60mm(W) x 17.8mm(T) • 200g with battery pack • 400 MHz Qualcomm® MSM 7200™ • 256 MB ROM • 128 MB RAM • 2.8” VGA (640×480) Touch-screen • GSM / GPRS / EDGE Quad-band 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 • Tri-band UMTS / WCDMA, Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz) • HSDPA and HSUPA • Slider LCD exposes 39-key Qwerty keypad • 360° Jog wheel and OK / Back • Removable 1620mAH, Lithium ion-Polymer battery • 3.0 Megapixel auto-focus camera • LED Compensation light • VGA camera for Video Calls • WiFi 802.11 b/g • Bluetooth® 2.0 + EDR • TV + Audio out cable • MicroSD™ card slot ...the question is, is it the sum of it's parts? That's what I plan to find out! Check out the unboxing video (including a demo of the TV out functionality!), and if you have any questions, feel free to ask away  P -------------------- Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Read my Blog or get your own on MoDaCo! Free 2.25GB online backup from Mozy... Click here for details! MACHEIST IS BACK! Click Here to check out the uber-bundle of apps for you Mac! Check out MUPromo bundle too :D |
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Apr 29 2008, 23:14
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#2
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 Staff Team Leader Group: Admin Team Posts: 16,403 Joined: 24th November 2002 From: Southampton Member No.: 53 Device(s): Vario |
How easy is the keyboard to use ie similar to the wizard or the Universal?
Not a bad looking device though. -------------------- Smartphone and PocketPC History
SPV, E100, E200, C500, C550, C600 (MoDaCo Edition), MPX200, MPX220, MIO8380, Voq Pro, Lobster 700, JasJar, Vario  New and updated Smartphone History Life's too fast can I get off and walk for a bit? |
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Apr 30 2008, 01:01
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#3
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 Diehard  Group: Posters Posts: 463 Joined: 10th November 2003 From: Miami Beach Member No.: 20,522 Device(s): Sprint Touch |
Good looking device. I have a question about the TV out. I had a Toshiba E800 back in the day, and it had VGA out. However, it had a really slow frame rate, and wasn't any good for trying to watch video. How is the frame rate on this device? Can you watch videos with it?
-------------------- Device: HTC Mogul
Accessories: Aliph Jawbone, Sandisk 6GB microSDHC, Leadtek 9537 BT GPS |
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Apr 30 2008, 07:37
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#4
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 18,165 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): MDA Vario III |
QUOTE(awarner (MVP) @ Apr 30 2008, 00:14)  How easy is the keyboard to use ie similar to the wizard or the Universal? Not a bad looking device though. A little small, but pretty usable! P -------------------- Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Read my Blog or get your own on MoDaCo! Free 2.25GB online backup from Mozy... Click here for details! MACHEIST IS BACK! Click Here to check out the uber-bundle of apps for you Mac! Check out MUPromo bundle too :D |
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Apr 30 2008, 07:38
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#5
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 18,165 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): MDA Vario III |
QUOTE(smeg36 @ Apr 30 2008, 02:01) Good looking device. I have a question about the TV out. I had a Toshiba E800 back in the day, and it had VGA out. However, it had a really slow frame rate, and wasn't any good for trying to watch video. How is the frame rate on this device? Can you watch videos with it? Hmmm, haven't tried that, i'll give it a go! Incidentally, it's WAY faster than the Kaiser I think, despite sharing the same proc and having to drive a VGA screen! P -------------------- Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Read my Blog or get your own on MoDaCo! Free 2.25GB online backup from Mozy... Click here for details! MACHEIST IS BACK! Click Here to check out the uber-bundle of apps for you Mac! Check out MUPromo bundle too :D |
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Apr 30 2008, 08:24
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#6
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Addict  Group: MoDaCo Ad Free Posts: 605 Joined: 19th November 2003 From: London - UK Member No.: 21,445 Device(s): HTC TyTN II |
QUOTE(Paul (MVP) @ Apr 30 2008, 08:38) Hmmm, haven't tried that, i'll give it a go! Incidentally, it's WAY faster than the Kaiser I think, despite sharing the same proc and having to drive a VGA screen! P As muhc as we (the royal we) like HTC, I think their software could definitely use some tweaking. EDIT: Aesthetically, this device is like a hot poker in the eye. This post has been edited by Syphon Filter: Apr 30 2008, 09:14 |
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Apr 30 2008, 11:25
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#7
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Newbie  Group: Posters Posts: 1 Joined: 30th August 2007 From: Spain - Alicante Member No.: 294,471 |
Paul, if isn't a big effort for you, can you post a TCMP or CorePlayer benchmark? to see if VGA display isn't a dead load for that MSM7200
Thanks, great job! |
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Apr 30 2008, 11:29
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#8
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Newbie Group: Posters Posts: 44 Joined: 14th March 2006 Member No.: 177,482 Device(s): Touch Dual |
never seen a so ugly phone
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Apr 30 2008, 13:33
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#9
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Regular  Group: Posters Posts: 86 Joined: 18th October 2007 Member No.: 312,408 Device(s): Vodafone V1615 (Tytn II) |
It's an ugly beast, it has to be said. Looks better open I think, but at the same time, with the keyboard inset like that, it doesn't look particularly comfortable to use. I'm sure the spec is marvellous, but I suspect the looks will still put plenty off.
I don't think the Xperia X1 (or Raphael) has anything to worry about here. This post has been edited by Boinng: Apr 30 2008, 13:34 |
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Apr 30 2008, 13:39
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#10
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 18,165 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): MDA Vario III |
Boinng: Agreed...
P -------------------- Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Read my Blog or get your own on MoDaCo! Free 2.25GB online backup from Mozy... Click here for details! MACHEIST IS BACK! Click Here to check out the uber-bundle of apps for you Mac! Check out MUPromo bundle too :D |
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Apr 30 2008, 13:44
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#11
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Enthusiast  Group: Posters Posts: 267 Joined: 31st August 2007 From: Edinburgh Member No.: 294,928 Device(s): MDA Vario III |
Interesting 2.5 INCH headphones there Paul
 Pretty big jack compared to the 3.5mm you thought it was The keyboard looks a LOT like the kaiser's to me... |
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Apr 30 2008, 14:11
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#12
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 18,165 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): MDA Vario III |
Keyboard is VERY different to Kaiser...
P -------------------- Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Read my Blog or get your own on MoDaCo! Free 2.25GB online backup from Mozy... Click here for details! MACHEIST IS BACK! Click Here to check out the uber-bundle of apps for you Mac! Check out MUPromo bundle too :D |
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Apr 30 2008, 14:31
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#13
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Enthusiast Group: Posters Posts: 267 Joined: 31st August 2007 From: Edinburgh Member No.: 294,928 Device(s): MDA Vario III |
I suppose it's smaller, but when I first saw a pic of this phone open i instantly thought "That's the kaiser keyboard"
But I doubt there's much else you can do with keyboards this small without having weird-shaped keys. |
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Apr 30 2008, 19:45
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#14
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 Enthusiast Group: Posters Posts: 203 Joined: 3rd January 2005 From: Cambridge, UK Member No.: 104,315 Device(s): HTC Touch |
It's really not the prettiest device on the market is it!
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Apr 30 2008, 23:46
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#15
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 Hardcore Group: Posters Posts: 1,905 Joined: 10th July 2006 From: US, Washington, Everett Member No.: 197,656 Device(s): AT&T Tilt (Kaiser)!!! |
QUOTE(Paul (MVP) @ Apr 30 2008, 00:38) Hmmm, haven't tried that, i'll give it a go! Incidentally, it's WAY faster than the Kaiser I think, despite sharing the same proc and having to drive a VGA screen! P well i hope it shares the same processor, and not the 7200A! if it shares the same processor then theres more hope for drivers on our kaisers. i really do like this phone, it seems slim AND it has a keyboard. i would have prefered that it slid out the other way, for a right handed person, but thats ok. This post has been edited by mikeeey: May 1 2008, 00:07 -------------------- try my wmp skins for smartphone! | and my newest Pocket PC compatible skin!
Crystal Liquid Explosion MoDaCo Skin_____________Titanium Media PlayerNEW emerald chrome wmp11 skin______________________ Nokia 3395---Nokia 6010---Nokia 6230---Nokia 3220---Motorola V300---Motorola V360---T-mobile SDA---AT&T Tilt! |
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May 1 2008, 00:51
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#16
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 Diehard Group: Posters Posts: 318 Joined: 17th February 2005 Member No.: 111,413 |
Paul, could you check if the 9502 is compatible with MicroSDHC?
Thanks -------------------- CODE unlock the 2.18.1.9.14 "Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity" ( Al-Qur'an 3 : 104 )  |
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May 1 2008, 00:58
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#17
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 Newbie Group: Posters Posts: 6 Joined: 2nd September 2007 From: California Member No.: 295,437 Device(s): TyTn II |
QUOTE(Paul (MVP) @ Apr 30 2008, 07:11) Keyboard is VERY different to Kaiser... P Nice Video paul..  like your T.V I think the 9502 keyboard More Comfortable for typing long emails -------------------- www.smart-mobile-gadgets.com
____________________________ your pda superstore |
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May 1 2008, 02:47
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#18
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 Blackjack'd Group: Moderator Team Posts: 4,132 Joined: 18th April 2003 From: Mt Laurel, NJ USA Member No.: 4,796 Device(s): Motorola Q9h/iPhone |
Saw the specs via RSS and was excited to see the phone......then I saw it! eeesh!
c'mon....I need to come back to the fold! Gimme a nice looking, high spec'd, small device already!
-------------------- Nick Cornaglia blog | photos | twitter | location | geocaching | xbox |
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May 1 2008, 04:54
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#19
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 Diehard Group: Posters Posts: 338 Joined: 20th February 2005 From: UK Member No.: 112,171 Device(s): mda vario II :) |
not as nice as the kaiser, but i'd rather get this one co'z of vga display and tv out.
paul, how bout the performance of the inbuilt gps? cheers mate. -------------------- "don't be deceived by the looks, try to look under the hood."
"I love my MDA Vario and glad i upgrade to Vario II. Don't You?!!!"   |
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May 1 2008, 07:04
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#20
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Enthusiast Group: MoDaCo Ad Free Posts: 191 Joined: 3rd August 2007 Member No.: 284,804 Device(s): Palm T|X, HTC Kaiser P4550 |
QUOTE(hunyango_uk @ Apr 30 2008, 21:54) paul, how bout the performance of the inbuilt gps? cheers mate. If it's either using the Qualcomm GPSone, or the SiRFIII GPS chip that iMate traditionally used, it should be pretty good.Paul, got any benchmarks for us to compare to? From what I've been reading, it has some hardware acceleration in the video drivers in the same fashion as the KS20. -------------------- KaiserSimFix: soft-reset-safe sim contacts hiding
Creative 'Ware since 1992. |
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