T-Mobile Dash review
By Ryan Block 
posted October 11th 2006 7:06AM
posted October 11th 2006 7:06AM
Even though Boy Genius managed to get his hands on the HTC Excalibur and the T-Mobile Dash like, way before we did, we still got a unit to take around the block ourselves. It's safe to say the Dash is probably the most T-Mobile anticipated device of the second half of this year, and with good reason. We've loved this thing ever since we laid hands on it -- don't let the pictures fool you, it's way smaller and sleeker than most photos let on. In all reality, the Dash is a fairly unphotogenic device -- which is why we had to make sure to take some bigger and better than usual photos of it. Those angled corners off the screen and the thinning metal bezel on the face makes it look pear-shaped and odd. But once you wrap your hands around it, you'll understand why this is the hottest Smartphone on the American market.
The device itself is rock solid. Like most current-gen HTC devices, it's built like a tank, and feels like it could withstand some serious abuse (though naturally it's purdy enough that you'd never want to test that theory). It's not without fault though; the select and back keys are dangerously close, causing jump-backs from apps a little too frequently. The touch-strip HTC originally envisioned for the Excalibur has been replaced with a touch-sensitive volume keys, which are horrid for in-call use without pulling the phone away from your head. No tactility -- no good.
The keyboard, arguably the most important aspect of this device, is so-so. It does have good tactility, but our unit didn't register all our keypresses when we were typing quickly (and that's not due to the usual Smartphone two-keys-at-once bug). The spacebar is a bit irksome, as depressing the right side (with our right thumb) would often yield the opposite of what we just mentioned: a space, but no feedback (thus causing us to hit space more than once between words). The addition of AKU3 in this phone gives it XT9 support (which is as useful as it is irritating), as well as hold-down alt keys. The XT9 predictive text engine for QWERTY devices would be welcome if it came with some easy mechanism for turning it on and off, but sadly it does not -- this was confirmed with a number of other Dash users. Our Dash's XT9 would turn on for entering addressees in emails, but would mysteriously turn off when moving to the subject or body fields. Despite a few resets, the problem persisted; it's impossible to engage and disengage at will, something we're hoping they'll fix sooner than later.
On the other hand, hold-down alt keys is a newish feature we can't live without. Instead of hitting alt and dialing a key to get its alternate character (say, alt-l for $), just hold down l for a sec and $ just shows up. Unless you're really into typing llllllllllllll... you'll be happy that now you don't have to hit that alt key as much. We thought it was a bit of a bummer that the only key to engage the camera is slyly placed to the right of the space bar -- not terribly obvious when most devices have side-mounted camera buttons to more quickly and intuitively engage one of the device's most used features.
XT9 in action.
The volume strip settings.
A quick tour through the Dash yields the usual Smartphone fare, generally unencumbered by a ton of operator-installed crapware. The Dash is pretty lean, coming out of box with myFaves, an Oz-based mutli-IM client, a convenient email setup wizard, a new version of the HTC comm manager (below), and the usual WinMo standard apps.
myFaves is pretty easy to setup and use on the device; the update for our Dash was rolled out over the air, and we didn't have to touch a thing. Unfortunately without unlocking the extended ROM, we have no way of removing the myFaves app from the phone and putting it on our other WinMo Smartphones, nor is Tmo making the application available to current devices like the SDA, even though the software obviously exists. (More on that another time.) If you don't want myFaves on your today screen, though, you can pretty easily take it off.
The email setup wizard is a very convenient way to add your server-based email -- it assumes the settings from a number of typically used presets (i.e. it guesses mail.yourdomain.com and tries your user/pass there, etc.) taking a bit of the legwork out of the email setup procedure. We don't really think setting up mobile Outlook email wasn't that hard to begin with -- especially if you're the type to actually use WinMo -- but hey, every little bit helps.
Otherwise the device is about what you'd expect; the EDGE is speedy (for EDGE, anyway, which we've grown disturbingly used to), and the WiFi is useful -- but not that useful. It does indeed lack an external audio port, but has the newish HTC-standard extUSB port (pictured above), which makes use of the otherwise bare bottom half of the mini USB connector for audio-out purposes. Pretty irritating to have to use an adapter, but hey, it's 2006 and you've got alternatives: this phone supports A2DP and AVRC, so you've really no excuse to be running some ugly cable out of a device as pretty as this.
We know what you're burning to ask, though: how does it stack up against the Q? Well, when it comes down to it they're actually two very different devices. Radios excepted, we find the Dash preferable; though it's only got a 200MHz OMAP processor compared to the Q's 312MHz XScale, but it comes equipped with an additional 64MB flash memory. The Dash only has a 960mAh battery compared to the Q's 1130mAh power pack, but under normal usage the Dash held up quite well. So those specs are kind of tit for tat, but the Dash is just so much less utilitarian looking and clunky feeling. It's the slim Smartphone perfected. No, what's really at hand here is your data usage. Do you need 3G, or are you content with Tmo's $30 per month EDGE and WiFi bundle? Both phones are priced at parity, so your buying decision is more likely to come down to data, and less likely to depend upon flash memory or a millimeter of thickness.
But in terms of aesthetics and the ever-powerful touchability, the Dash has it in spades. Its shape and soft touch finish make it far more comfortable to hold in the hand than almost any other Smartphone we can think of in the US market (though it'll have some real competition when the Treo 750 lands on Cingular). In case you couldn't already tell, we feel pretty comfortable recommending this phone to anyone willing to put up with the inherent pains of Smartphone, with or without Tmo's tweaks and myFaves calling service.
Hey... I just bought my Dash a few days ago, and I gotta say- this phone is really cool for the $ that I paid.. only 275 with tax, and it has a $50 rebate. the wifi DOES work without having a special plan, as far as I know. I didn't sign up for any additional plans, just my 5000 mins a month, and the wifi worked right out of the box. I downloaded movies via http://tinytube.NET... not COM, as listed previously.. also no www on that.
so anyways, the volume strip: it's somewhat hard to utilize, but if you double tap it with your thumb while up to your ear it works fine. it even gives you a varied pitch response based on what volume it's on.. higher pitched beep means you turned it up, lower, down.
on the wifi: i think this is a really cool feature. i don't have a wifi card here at my network, but it's more than happy to borrow from anyone else's open network. i even used it while traveling in the back of a limo the other day at 70 mph or so, out in a field. i give it thumbs up.
one the applications: if you didn't know this already, you NEED to. you have to go to the TASK MANAGER from the start menu, and cut off your processes that you're no longer using at that moment if you want good functionality. I read previously from "HATEDASH" member that your phone freezes up a few times a day, and you have to restart it to make calls. i don't know if you tried killing your processes after using them, but it might help.
i'll post another thread later on after i try this excel editor from www.z4soft.com it sounds pretty cool.
thanks for your time
I just read on Wikipedia that T Mobile has just unveiled Microsoft 6 for the Dash, to be released in the second quarter of 2007. It will allow you to edit word, powerpoint and excel docs without changing the format. It should be available to T Mob customers (new and current) between April and July.
Do I understand you correctly,that you are able to get the internet without purchasing the plan, simply by using the wifi?
yea the keyboard is really small. I had a hard time texting without hitting the wrong key. it really make me not want to get this phone...is this phone really worth it???
My Dash is locked up; the keyboard doesn't want to work. How do I reset it?
I love it so far, after less than 2 weeks. I find it easiest to copy files and move them to applications (like ring tones) using the synch from my desktop and "explore" the Dash.
Quick question can you connect to any wifi or just the ones that tmobile has?
I would have agreed that this phone was great when I first got it but after using it for a while my opinion has changed.
First.. the O/S is slow and unresponsive. You think Vista is bad? Try running Windows Mobile on a scaled down processor and 64MB of RAM.
Good luck on getting the camera to work. I bought the phone so I could have a camera on-hand.. but half the time simply pressing the camera button returns this error:
"Unable to start camera. Not enough memory. To free up memory close Unused application using the Task Manager in the Start Menu".
The Task Manager is usually blank so to correct the problem you have to shutdown the phone (several seconds), wait several seconds, turn the phone back on (wait several more seconds) then when its FINALLY booted up you have to wait to enter your password (another several seconds) and FINALLY you can click on the camera button (which takes several more seconds). So.. nearly a minute has gone by and you can finally take a picture. Most of the time your subject has moved on.
There are other quirks about this phone. If you set an alarm notification (either as an appointment or via the alarm clock) then it doesn't always forget the alarm when you set it to another time. Here is an example.. You have to get up at 5am one morning so you set the alarm at 5am. That night you set your alarm to 7am so you can sleep in. Now.. The phone will start going off at 5am AND 7am. If you happen to have a meeting appointment at 10am then the phone starts going off at 5, 7 and 10am until you download another utility (thankfully its free and NOT from Microsoft) so you can clear the notification queue. Now.. every so often the alarm notifier will crash and you won't get ANY alarms until you reboot the phone. Of course you won't know that until after you've missed a couple of appointments.
Occasionally.. Just for good measure.. the phone will lockup while you're on a call preventing you from ending it. or the phone utility will crash and you won't get any calls at all.
I dread even writing an email because the predictive text is so slow. You can't turn it off either. You can disable it for that particular email but then it turns itself back on automatically. To make matters worse the predictive text is enabled for everything which is annoying when entering names and it will even change entire words after you've typed them out. I mean.. It has a full sized keyboard so you have typed out the entire word but it still changes it. So.. now I have to proof an entire email before sending it.
Other problems: The time zone on the phone doesn't work right. My email server (Exchange) will report the correct time via webmail and my computer (Outlook or Evolution) will both report the correct appointment time but my phone will report an hour earlier or an hour later depending on its mood. There is no way of changing this because each time you sync the phone with a computer the internal clock gets screwed up. You can sync everything but NOTES with the phone. There is no NOTES section. Its completely missing from this O/S. The speed dial works but its incredibly slow.
Please note that 99% of these complains are directed towards Windows Mobile so they apply to any phone running Windows Mobile that meet these specs. Unfortunately I also have to give some blame to HTC for under powering the phone (considering their choice of O/S) and providing far too little RAM to make the phone functional. Now.. If you only use the phone for making phone calls, and you are okay with the phone app crashing occasionally (which prevents you from making and receiving calls) then this is a fine phone otherwise find an alternative.
How do you copy pictures to the computer without using e-mail?
can you use this phone without a sim card just for wifi and applications???
Scanning through the comments I see there is a LOT of misinformation - even from users that have the Dash (usually users whining and complaining even though their issues are caused by their own ignorance - read the manual before spreading your ignorance!) i.e. "predictive text can't be turned off" - I wish I could reach and and slap some sense into some of you.
You don't need to convert mp3's to use as ringtone. Simply save it to the root of the storage card (can also put in \Application Data\Sounds folder on device - but putting on storage card is much wiser).
You can always use wifi - even without a data plan or even with a non-activated sim card. And no, it doesn't have to be a T-Mobile HotSpot - It can be virtually any wifi.
There is nothing wrong with the time zones and syncing with computer. The user that claims this likely has issues with daylight saving time on his computer.
The same user complains about predictive text. You CAN turn predictive text off. Simply press alt space and choose ABC.
The same user complains about the camera app giving "not enough memory errors". He likely didn't set camera to store pics on the storage card vs internal memory - his intenal memory is filling up with pics. Email attachments are also stored in internal memory - google for hack to change all email, as well as temp internet files, to be stored on card.
Same user complains about phone "locking up". Likely due to low memory - see above.
To add song or video/ to your card, you DO NOT need to sync it. You can connect with activesync - and even cancel the "setup sync" then explore the device and open the storage card as you would any folder on the device.
And just to answer a commonly repeated question - even though it has been answered many times. It is NOT a touch screen. It is a Windows Smartphone - Not one Windows Smartphone has a touch screen. Windows Pocket PC's - now also known as Professional have touch screens. The screen on the Dash looks far better than any touchscreen I have ever seen. And, being glass, is far less likely to get scratched.
THIS PHONE HAS ME TOTALLY STUCK,I AM VERY NEW TO ELECTRONICS!!MORE PEOPLE USE IT FOR WORK THEN PLEASURE-IM 19 SO I MOSTLY USE IF FOR PLEASURE MYSELF IM HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES I MIGHT SAY-HOW DO I DOWNLOAD FILES FROM THE COMPUTER TO MY DASH SUCH AS IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS-PICTURES THAT I HAVE TAKEN WITH MY DIGITAL CAMERA AND MUSIC THAT IS ALREADY DOWNLOADED TO MY PC??? ANOTHER THING IS AM I ABLE TO DOWNLOAD MUSIC,RINGTONES,WALL PAPER,AND EXC.FROM MY DASH,IF SO HOW??? I AM IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP AND IF THERE IS ANY ADDITIONAL INFO I NEED TO KNOW PLEASE LET ME NO!!!DESPERATE TEEN IN NEED OF HELP :).....THANX IF U DECIDE TO SEND ME ANY EMAIL ABOUT MY CONCERNS AND U CAN ALSO BEFRIEND ME ON MYSPACE @ MYSPACE.COM/SYNIC001
Sadia, I just bought this phone too, Its a charm, all the MP3 ringtones that I download can be played as a ringtone, I have donwloaded movies and watched it, its not that hard to figure it out you need to be little tech savy..
So it doesnt have a touch screen??
So, I've read of all the posted comments, over a period of several hours, and I just had a question. Before posting it, however, I would first like to give a little background on my interests and whatnot when it comes to mobile devices, in case it makes it easier for you to give me an answer. I apologize ahead of time if it irritates or offends anyone...
I'm a TMobile customer, and have been since they were VoiceStream here in the States. Unfortunately, I think I'm stuck with them until I die, therefore, I'd prefer to not be told "switch to Verizon/AT&T, etc." If you're with them, great. I don't want to start a debate on which cell phone company is the best.
Anyway, I had a Nokia 6600, but felt that it was time to upgrade to a phone for grown-ups. I'm 29, a grad student, currently a reading tutor working on my thesis, and am looking to get a "real job" this summer after I graduate. Although I don't see myself being part of a coporation or even working in an office, I would like to be able to send and receive emails, and I consider myself to be an avid user of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
I bought a Sidekick LX on Saturday, only to have buyer's remorse the following day after realizing the LX was regarded in the online and tech world as a kid's phone. I don't use myspace, nor do I use Facebook. What's important to me is sending texts, calling people, sending/checking emails, being able to browse the internet when I need to, and being able to personalize the phone (my songs as ringtones, personal pictures as wallpaper, etc.). The latter is something that can't be done on the LX, and it really is the driving force behind my reconsideration of the device.
At the TMobile Store on Monday, I saw the TMobile Wing and Dash, and wondered if they were a better choice than the LX. I'm still within the 14 day return window, so I've been trying to gather as much information as I can to make a final decision about what phone to get.
After reading the posts here and the posts at several websites and forums, my head is spinning. The only reason why I would consider keeping the LX is because the data plan is cheaper at approximately $20 a month(and includes unlimited texts, emails, and web browsing), and I don't think I could personally justify paying $30 for a data plan for the Dash, plus another couple of bucks for a texting plan. I think the EDGE network is slow, and I have a router at my house. I would more than likely surf the web on my laptop or desktop, but sometimes someone is occupying the desktop, and I just wouldn't feel like walking upstairs to use my laptop. I carry my phone everywhere, so for quick things, I could use the wifi.
Before getting the LX and the required Sidekick Unlimited plan, I had a text messaging plan that was 500 texts for $3, but has now been taken off my account, as texts now fall under the SK Unlimited plan. Provided that TMobile would let me get that $3 text plan back, and I could get the $6 Tmobile Web plan, would it be correct to assume that I could use this phone with my current voice plan, be able to only pay an additional $9-10 for extra services like internet and texting? I have a 1000 min Family Share Plan, so any way to same money would be great.
Sorry for such a long post,
--Trina
Whatever you do, do not buy a T-Mobile Dash. I bought one June 26, 2007. I had to trade it in to the store on June 28. I had it replaced through the mail August 17. I had it replaced again August 31. Not one of the four handsets I received worked correctly. I have never once been able to send a video message. The internet works only intermittently. When someone calls and I am on the internet, it will kick me off and drop the call, instead of giving me a choice to take the call or not. With each new phone I got, I had to spend well over an hour on the internet downloading the updated software. I spent over 13 hours on the phone with their customer support in the first 3 months I had the phone. Their solution to my problem was to offer me either another Dash, a BlackBerry Pearl, or a BlackBerry 8700. Another Dash is just silly. The Pearl has limited internet, no video, limited blue-tooth capability, smaller keyboard. The 8700 doesn't even have a camera and is also limited by the BlackBerry internet. I finally wrote to their corporate headquarters and was given the name and number of a woman named Elizabeth Towers. I called her every morning and every afternoon for two weeks and never once reached her in her office. I then contacted the FCC. When relaying information to them, she omitted the first time I had to go back to the store to replace my phone. She told them that they had an upgrade program that I was welcome to take part in, and they dismissed my complaint. She did not tell them that the upgrade program means that I can pay an additional $289, sign up for 2 more years of service and finally get a phone where I may actually be able to use all of the functions that I paid for when I bought the Dash. Their technical support has been completely incompetent and unhelpful, except for one or two people. Their corporate customer support has been unpleasant, dishonest and completely useless. The stores have no authorization to do anything but loan me a phone when mine breaks. I have had my latest Dash for 3 months while I try to get them to do the right thing and they have adamantly refused. Now, it doesn't even ring or show a missed call. I only know if someone calls me if they leave a voice mail. My texts can take hours to arrive, even from across the living room. I cannot send pictures or video without locking up my phone. And, the internet still kicks me off whenever someone calls, but it drops the call as well and doesn't tell me who it was. I have never had a worse experience with a cell phone or with a customer support department and I have had a cell phone since 1997. I have used Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and Cellular One. I like the set-up of the T-Mobile plans, but since I cannot use half of the functions I am paying for, and they refuse to correct the equipment problem fairly, I will not renew my contract with them. And, I would advise anyone who really needs a phone that actually works NOT to use T-Mobile.
I got a T-mobile Dash when they first came out last Feb. I had a SK II and wanted something with faster internet, video capabilities and a music player just in case.
I purchased the Dash over the phone with a T-mobile rep and signed up for an additional 2 yr contract to get a $50 cheaper price. The selling points with the Dash was video capability, including Youtube and faster internet.
It is now almost a year later and I can honestly say I hate this thing. I received it Feb. 23rd and activated it March 10th due to my current contract being up then. That was after the 14 day return period. This is something I was never informed about. My first call to customer service was a week after I activated the phone and after numerous missed and dropped calls because of no coverage and various failed attempts at internet access. I contacted customer service numerous times until the Windows 6 upgrade was dropped. When that didn't help things, I called numerous times after that. I have talked to sales reps, tech reps, and managers. No one could help me. My biggest issue was the Dash just turning itself off even though my battery power was supposed to be 3 to 4 bars. My other complaint was not being able to access the internet, even with full 4 bar reception and not being able to download emails with graphics because of it turning off in the middle. Oh, and no, you can't view Youtube videos. In fact, the only time I can view videos is when I download them to my external 2G memory card. Otherwise it's impossible. I have never tried to watch a movie on here, as viewing full length features on a 3" screen seems a headache to me. The internet is still slow.
After going into my local T-mobile store and complaining about all these issues, FINALLY my Dash is being replaced. I do not know if it is my particular device, or just all Dashes in general, but i have never had it once work for a full day the way it's supposed to.
I love the screen and overall look of the dash. I would love the wifi if it ever received a network for me to access. The camera is decent and the video camera is great if you don't want audio.
Overall I would not recommend the dash unless a person is buying one cheap and only getting a phone/data plan. To me, $100+ a month for slow internet access, many dropped or not able to be made calls, and limited text and email access is not worth it.
As much as it is, when they upgrade the new iphone, that will be worth the price. The Dash is only worth headaches and misaery, imo.
Hi the microsoft office is not working does anybody know how to make it work? How do we listen to music?? by bluetooth!!!