HP iPAQ Mobile Messenger to get spec bumps in hw6900?

Even though we all caught 'em red-handed with that hw6700 a while back, rumor has it that the hw6500 minus SDIO, plus WiFi, more flash memory, and Windows Mobile 5.0 -- aka the hw6700 -- is being scrapped and re-upgraded and badged the hw6900. What's being changed? Well, apparently it won't have the 802.11g of the hw6700 (instead it'll use 802.11b), but it should keep that GPS, have 128MB flash memory, 64MB RAM, get bumped to a 416MHz Xscale CPU, and finally pick up Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU 2.0 (the version upgraded for push email support). Will and when will it happen? We've no idea, but we're hoping so, and soon, respectively.

[werk @ Jan 9th 2006 4:20PM]

I will buy this.

[Mike @ Jan 9th 2006 4:34PM]

I'm in for one! Hopefully it won't be as outrageously priced as the 6515 is on the Suckular website.

[Nick Gailloux @ Jan 9th 2006 4:53PM]

Oh man I've been waiting for this for so long. I've got the 6315 but never upgraded to the 6515 because I wanted to wait for WM5.

[Lexington Steel @ Jan 9th 2006 5:28PM]

No thanks, miniSD for compact cellphones = makes sense... miniSD for PDA/Smartphone = huh?!

[RTimaging @ Jan 9th 2006 7:07PM]

man i hope they will get this out quickly... i have been holding out on buying the 6515 because i want windows mobile 5.0 - and i am glad they are bumping the processor up a bit. HURRY UP HP!

[Nick @ Jan 9th 2006 7:27PM]

Okay, I own the hw6515.



I wouldn't trade the SDIO slot for an integrated 802.11b radio. I have a 1gb in the MiniSD and a 2GB in the SD...without that kind of storage I wouldn't be able to carry around my music and whatnot.



I have the SDIO 802.11b card for those VERY few times that I need wifi (otherwise, EDGE is fast enough for everything else).



As for WM5, well I'm on too many of those forums that debate whether WM5 TRULY is better than WM2003SE, and I'm on the side of the fence that agrees that WM2003SE is (for the moment) the more stable of the two processors.



Oh, and one more thing, using the latest XCPUScalar, the processor on the hw6515 goes up to 520 MHZ when I need it to, and down to 208 MHZ when it's in standby mode. That's why they call it Xscale...cause it scales!!!

[Nick @ Jan 9th 2006 7:35PM]

duh...I meant to say that between WM5 and WM2003SE, WM2003SE is the more stable of the two OPERATING SYSTEMS.



Sorry for the half-asleep post.

[Tommy @ Jan 9th 2006 10:23PM]

I agree! I don't browse the web on my phone, if I do, that's what EDGE/1X is for! Give me back the SDIO, wifi on PDAs is for idiots.

[werk @ Jan 9th 2006 10:27PM]

Nick,



WM5 AKU2 is definitely more desirable for business users, true push email is a MUST for me.



Also, is everyone sure they're killing off the slot or just removing SDIO functionality (ie, memory cards will still work, but not network cards, etc)? I can't tell from the post. I'd prefer that it took SD as I have a couple 1 gig cards, but its not a dealbreaker for me, with edge, I could just stream whatever I want to watch/listen to through Orb. I have my Gigabeat for real music listening for now.

[Ratteler @ Jan 9th 2006 11:38PM]

I too want a real SD card for storage since I've picked up a couple of 4GB cards recently.



If the specs and price are "right" this my be the replacment for dead Tungsten C.

[E71 @ Jan 10th 2006 7:19AM]

Keep 802.11g, SD->MiniSD, 240x240->240x320 (get rid of that stupid keyboard if you have to), increase CPU speed, maybe add Radio to make your PDA the Specs-King!

[badonkadonk @ Jan 10th 2006 9:16AM]

Werk - based on the specs, they're running a 416MHz PXA270, which only supports two SD/SDIO devices, and one of those is the integrated WiFi (the other being the miniSD). So yes, they are only keeping support for one removable SD device.

[Nick @ Jan 10th 2006 9:39AM]

werk,



I agree with you that WM5 AKU2 (with IP based push email) is more reliable than SMS triggered email on WM2003SE, but as an owner of the hw6515 that uses my handheld for my business email, I can say that I have never once NOT had an email from my office pushed to my device (usually within 30-60 seconds). The only advantage to the push system in AKU2 is that it is more reliable "on paper" (as in, more companies will officially be trading in their blackberries for WM5 devices), but in terms of actual usage (in my experience and the experience of other employees in my company), the push system in WM2003SE is just as reliable.



And I was able to get it confirmed from a rep at HP that the inclusion of WIFI will be taking the place of the SD/SDIO slot (leaving only the miniSD for enhancements).

[Kernel Panic @ Jan 10th 2006 9:46AM]

This product cannot get to market fast enough.



Must... have... release date.



Blackberry killer anyone?



Kernel Panic

[Samt @ Jan 10th 2006 10:55AM]

I think the new hp will be amazing, however i have a feeling it's gonna be very expensive, and when it comes out prices for the 6515 will drop. With the major differences being WM5 and wifi, i think someone will hack WM5 from the new hp to make it work on the 6515. As for wifi, i heard spectec is coming out with a sd wifi that doesn't stick out of the phone. Anyone have any ideas about other sd wifi's that don't stick out??

Also the increased processor speed will cause lower battery life.

[JimJam @ Jan 10th 2006 11:14AM]

The form factor of this device compared to the other cells/pdas being shown at CES beats the others for me - if hw6900 is same size as hw6516 then it's a lot easier to use than the TREO 700 for instance.



I spoke with a couple of guys on the M$ booth at CES about WM2003SE vs WM5 - key difference - WM5 includes a provision that if your battery dies, you won't lose the data on the device. WM5 with a compatible device should/will mean some battery life is always left available to keep data even when there's insufficient power to run the device. Also WM5 has some beneath the hood upgrades (fixes)



vs Motorola Q - Q was a very nice cell - thinner and lighter than this model - but initial version will be CDMA (Verizon) and no stylus / touch screen.



Thing to watch when choosing device - there seems some real confusion with WM2003SE / WM5 versions on different devices when sending emails using the Messaging app. Some devices support sending attachments from device and some don't. But if the Messenger on your device doesn't support sending attachments then you can still send files by using the file explorer to find file on the device and then choose the send file option.

[Uni @ Jan 10th 2006 1:53PM]

You guys suck



I sent this info in as a tip to you quite a while ago, from the FCC site. The title of the tip I sent in even said "Codename Sable: Successor to the 6700??"



The FCC ID for 6700/6900 is: NM8HHH06CWL



The internal HP codename for the project is: Sable



(If you check the properties of the PDF below, it says the original document that it was made from was: Sable_BOM.xls [BOM = Bill Of Materials] made by Cathy [Someone at HP�s PDA division?] back in July. Also one of the components in the parts list was "Sable_Cover")



If you go through the parts list here:



https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=588113&native_or_pdf=pdf



You will find a list of all the components for the 6700/6900.



(*NOTE*: In order to view this PDF I needed to install the Chinese language support for Adobe reader, even though it contains no Chinese characters, otherwise it just comes up with a purple box)



If you click through you will see that it lists a 416 Mhz Intel processor, as well as the type/amount of RAM/ROM, what GPS module it uses, and the exact 802.11 chipset and antenna, as well as everything else, down to the resistors.



All the internal/external photos are available, as well as the users manual, which prove that this is def. the 6700/6900.



I'm very disappointed. What's the point in sending tips to you guys if you don't even check them out? If you did, you would have seen I was on to something.