The HTC Universal: What do you want to know?

Man, if there was ever one gadget we were definitely not expecting to have fall into our laps this week, it's the HTC Universal. It's definitely big for something you're supposed to use to make phone calls, but with great size comes great power, right? (There's a good chance you have the spec sheet for this one memorized: this baby has Windows Mobile 5.0, WiFi, Bluetooth, a one megapixel camera, QWERTY keyboard, a VGA touch screen, a 520MHz processor, 96MB of ROM, 128MB of RAM, and an SD memory card slot.)

Normally we'd take a week or whatever and pump out a review, but we thought it'd be more fun to just ask you guys what you want to know about. Post your questions in the comments below and we'll do our best to answer as many of them as we can in a future post.

UPDATE: Yikes, that's a lot of questions! In fact, a lot more than we'd anticipated, can't guarantee that we'll be able to answer all, or even most, of them, but we promise we'll do our best. Now just give us a few days, ok?

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Any chance its Mac, and preferably iSync compatible?

[tewks @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

OOPS sorry about last one. Just how big is it?

[t @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

How's the keyboard for typing?

[tim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Was wondering if you could get skype up and running on HTC universal?
or maybe google talk?

[Scoobydoo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

How is the Bluetooth implementation? Is is a Widcomm stack or the terrible Microsoft version?

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Will it work with T-Mobile in the US? Price? Availability?

[tim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

What about battery life if you surf a wifi network?
Wifi 11mb or 54mb?

[Freddy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

How much? which carrier?

[Joel Purvis @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Is it coming to the US at all? On an actual network, i.e; anyone but T-freakin'-mobile?

[Dave Weinstein @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Does it actually work on T-mobile or Cingular's network here in the US?

Can you get data to work at all? UMTS or GPRS? or something faster?

Does Exchange sync actually work? Does it at least seem like push e-mail/calendaring? Does the Windows Mobile 2005 client work/look like desktop outlook?

How long does the battery last? With and without push ActiveSync.

How good is the browser? Does it handle java/javascript? Can you use it like a desktop browser or is it crippled in some way?

And most importantly... WHERE CAN I GET ONE!?!

How's that for questions?

-dw

[error404 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Who cares, considering it's ass-ugly?

[Fat Tony @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I'd like to know if this phone is a quad band or not. Also, is there IR on it? 'Bout the camera: does it take video? Does the phone come with a cradle? Any news on the launch date? Thanks a bunch

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

USB 2.0? My SMT5600 takes too long to transfer simple mp3 files to the miniSD card.

[num10ck @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

* how solid does the swivel neck seem? would you trust it to last a couple years?
* whats the millamps of the standard battery? is the battery exchangable?
* is there a USB (host?) (2.0?) connector?
* does the joypad input change along with landscape/portrait screens?
*how long does it take to boot?
*see if you can speed test the sd slot -is it fast enough to stream vga mpegs?
*does the webbrowser support flash? javascript? tabbed browsing? i'd highly suggest throwing minimo (0.07+) on it and seeing how it performs.

[xej @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Cost?

[Bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

The Treo 650 is a widely known device and I was wondering when the Universal is closed in "phone mode" how big is it compared to the Treo?

[James Hare @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Can it run Doom? Maybe Quake?

[EnricoSwave @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Bluetooth 2.0?

[retro @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

How fast will it load up Engadget?

[Caldwell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Do they really need a windows button. How many times do you really use that besides windows d. And do you really need to minimize all windows on a pda cell phone thing? Never!

[tpp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

How does it actually feel like when used as:

a) a phone
b) a PDA

[Larry @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Is the keyboard backlit? And if so, how brightly? Thanks!

[Jimmy C @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Really, I'd just like to see some shots size-wize next to a Treo 650...

[brandon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

1. Which mhz of umts will it use (1900, 2100 or both)
2. Will it be coming to america
3. Does it support HSDPA
4. Battery Life
5. Ability to use Wifi & UMTS or GSM at the same time.

[FuzzyMan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

We all know it's big (yet crammed full of features!), but is it sill usable as a phone? Is it practical to be able to carry it around in your pocket with you all the time and still be able to whip it out and quickly make a call without it feeling like you are talking into a brick? Also how’s the screen for watching films, particularly viewing at different orientations (some PDA’s it can be awkward viewing in landscape). Is the keyboard worth the space, and actually reasonably easy to use? Lastly, is it possible that dedicated, but impoverished (and possibly deluded) gadgeteers can receive a free unit as a rewarded for…um…well…. There must be some reason I deserve one of these!
Thanks!

[JS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

will it get me dates with women? Im looking for a gadget that makes me cool with the ladies. Does it have what they call bling-bling?

[Howard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

does it cure cancer?

[Rudy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

*How smooth and solid is the swivel? Is it a frustration or do you not notice it?

*Does it have a usb or mini-usb jack?

*Can you easily make/respond to calls without having to open the thing up?

[Chris B @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Is it hard to type while only holding it ("blackberry thumb style")?

[RF @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Some of these questions/ replies are the most idiotic posts I have read anywhere in a long time. Morrons!

- Please post more pictures so we can judge the size of this thing (in a hand, compared to otherphones....)

- Is it already selling somewhere in the world? In the positive, it probably means it will be possible to get it from people like www.mobilebee.com or www.importgsm.com ...right?

- How did you get your hands on one?

Thank you for this great web site. Keep up the good work.

[.mCr. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Does it smell good? I live for the smell of new Apple products...

you know what i'm talking about.

.mCr.

[Armin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

half of these questions have been answered, do a search....

[Pete Kottmann @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Here's what I want to see.

I am in a real estate broker office and we already have video profiles of a number of properties (wmv format).

1) I want the ability to push these files to multiple devices (e.g. sync up while in office). Thus info be same/replicated to multiple agents.
2) Have each video associated with attribute database to make searchable (e.g. Bed/Bath/Price and other basic attributes, plus address related fields). If there are any mobile device developers, feel free to contact me on needs. I can work with to develop basic app. (Think "generic", one can relate different attributes to other video types and meet multiple users needs).
3) Ability to subsequently receive newer info via network (e.g. I've not been to office for several days to sync, but I too want complete inventory)

Basic objective is agent with client, could seach among matching video clips to preview property. Save need to come into office and eliminate need to drive to property that preview would rule-out. [Bonus, let me identify those that are within given radius of inputted address]

The devices are now coming, I need some one to offer me the support/solutions that go along with them!

[Andre @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

To its rather: How good is the Bluetooth implementation, esp. with headset (also stereo?) and in the car. Can you still write one handed sms somehow? Still usable as a normal hand phone?
And besides being still a phone: To which extent can it replace a Laptop on the Go?
Outlook? Viewing of Word/PDF/Excel? Changing of the before mentioned? Any Chance for VoIP? Battery Life when used as micro Laptop?
Thanks folks!

[eric @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

gosh, if only the writeup gave a link, that would be as futuristic as this gadget.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

1. I understand that it has a 3.5mm headphone port. How does this coexist with phone functionality?

2. What is the sound quality like (e.g.compared to a recent ipod)?

3. Is windows mobile 5.0 an improvement over the previous iteration?

4. what is the stability of the device like?

5. could you get a scale and tape measure and actually measure the device? The specifications for size-weight online do vary.

Thanks! :D

[TakeAway Shop GUy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Does it toast sandwiches?

[Bob @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I'd like to ditto the quad-band question. Some sites say tri, others say quad. For the love of all that is gadgety, which is it?

Oh, right, and the phone's sound quality: how is it?

Thanks a bunch, you dear, dear nerdlingers.

[Wash_Jones @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

[silk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Test pictures from the camera please?

[Roland Dobbins @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Can it run Linux?

[Galt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

How are the stereo speakers? Are they decent, are they loud?

Can you use a ThinkOutside Bluetooth Mouse with/without drivers on the Universal?

Are there any good options for holding it in one hand and scrolling down web pages, documents, rss feeds, other than the D-pad? Can you remap any buttons to scroll up/down?

Release date anywhere in the world?

[labamba @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

version w/o camera???

[marc @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Thanks for opening the floor to questions, here's mine:

*can you use it with VNC (access another computer screen)

*how well does it function as a pda while using it simultaneously as a phone (thinking of using a bluetooth headset)

*is it worth waiting for the next big thing (six months) or is this the holy grail of convergence

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Is this phone bigger than the mpx(300)?

[Nizam Rahman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

USB Host? Can it run Opera? Can I use my USB mouse with it? Can I use any USB gadget with it?

[www51 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

it sizes? its sound quality?

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

1. When it's closed, tablet mode / screen inside, can you answer calls - hear them ok, them hear you ok? Is there a small external screen in this mode so you know the number of who's calling?

2. Can you describe how it feels when in your shirt pocket?

3. Is the keyboard good enough that it's truly faster and easier to use than skillful screen typing with a stylus?

4. The JAM has a fine pixel mesh, but it's only 240x320. I know the Uni screen is much bigger, I think 640 x 480, but is the resolutio as fine as the JAM's?

5. Is it thicker than the JAM when closed?

6. Can you describe - and show in pix - how much better a Word or Excel document looks on this screen compared to the much smaller screens of earlier generation ppc phones?

Thanks - good idea to solicit questions!

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

1. When it's closed, tablet mode / screen inside, can you answer calls - hear them ok, them hear you ok? Is there a small external screen in this mode so you know the number of who's calling?

2. Can you describe how it feels when in your shirt pocket?

3. Is the keyboard good enough that it's truly faster and easier to use than skillful screen typing with a stylus?

4. The JAM has a fine pixel mesh, but it's only 240x320. I know the Uni screen is much bigger, I think 640 x 480, but is the resolutio as fine as the JAM's?

5. Is it thicker than the JAM when closed?

6. Can you describe - and show in pix - how much better a Word or Excel document looks on this screen compared to the much smaller screens of earlier generation ppc phones?

Thanks - good idea to solicit questions!

[RW99 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

How does videos run on this device? Does the 640x480 screen do it justice?