I read the specs, and what a shame. What could've been a first class device ends up losing any chance to shine from obvious omissions:
- Who thinks of making a WM phone these days with only a tri-band GSM radio and one band of 3.5G? That's just completely idiotic.
- No GPS?
- 64MB of RAM?
- And only USB 1.1?
For $900 ???
They don't even mention anything about the processor.
This phone may have a nice VGA screen and biometric access, but what it lacks above in connectivity and memory makes it an absolute no-go, especially when considering the price.
Manufacturers have to understand that if they're going to develop do-it-all phones and charge $900 for them, they have to have EVERYTHING, or they can forget making any notable impact.
Why would I spend $900 for this when I can spend less and buy an HTC Kaiser when they arrive? Granted, the Kaiser doesn't have a VGA screen or biometric access, but it trumps this Toshiba in every repsect - the areas that truly matter.
A do-it-all phone has to have the following:
- Fast (Samsung 400MHz) proc - 2.8" or larger touchscreen - WM 6 Pro - Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE - Tri-band HSDPA/HSUPA (hopefully we'll see quad-band here, too, when T-Mo's 3.5G networks go hot). - Wifi b/g (and "n" if we can get it) - BT 2.0+EDR with A2DP and AVRCP support - SiRFstarIII GPS w/TMC/A-GPS functionality (and preferrably with SiRF Direct) - 128MB of RAM/256MB of ROM - 3mp Camera with autofocus, a BRIGHT flash, and video functionality - microSD slot - USB 2.0 - Scroll Wheel, 5-Way D-Pad, and dedicated Send/End/Soft-Menu buttons - Slider Keyboard
Only after integrating everything above, would manufacturers get extra credit for including the following:
- VGA Screen - FM Radio (but this could be automatically implemented with TMC functionality on the GPS side of things) - Stereo speakers and/or mics - Biometric access
Make a phone with all THAT above, and THEN they'll have something to sing about.
For those looking for a device strictly for reading, the new Kobo is a nice little option. It's small enough to slip into a pocket, can do more with a PDF than the competition, and at $129, it's $10 cheaper than both the Nook and Kindle WiFi.
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
I read the specs, and what a shame. What could've been a first class device ends up losing any chance to shine from obvious omissions:
- Who thinks of making a WM phone these days with only a tri-band GSM radio and one band of 3.5G? That's just completely idiotic.
- No GPS?
- 64MB of RAM?
- And only USB 1.1?
For $900 ???
They don't even mention anything about the processor.
This phone may have a nice VGA screen and biometric access, but what it lacks above in connectivity and memory makes it an absolute no-go, especially when considering the price.
Manufacturers have to understand that if they're going to develop do-it-all phones and charge $900 for them, they have to have EVERYTHING, or they can forget making any notable impact.
Why would I spend $900 for this when I can spend less and buy an HTC Kaiser when they arrive? Granted, the Kaiser doesn't have a VGA screen or biometric access, but it trumps this Toshiba in every repsect - the areas that truly matter.
A do-it-all phone has to have the following:
- Fast (Samsung 400MHz) proc
- 2.8" or larger touchscreen
- WM 6 Pro
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
- Tri-band HSDPA/HSUPA (hopefully we'll see quad-band here, too, when T-Mo's 3.5G networks go hot).
- Wifi b/g (and "n" if we can get it)
- BT 2.0+EDR with A2DP and AVRCP support
- SiRFstarIII GPS w/TMC/A-GPS functionality (and preferrably with SiRF Direct)
- 128MB of RAM/256MB of ROM
- 3mp Camera with autofocus, a BRIGHT flash, and video functionality
- microSD slot
- USB 2.0
- Scroll Wheel, 5-Way D-Pad, and dedicated Send/End/Soft-Menu buttons
- Slider Keyboard
Only after integrating everything above, would manufacturers get extra credit for including the following:
- VGA Screen
- FM Radio (but this could be automatically implemented with TMC functionality on the GPS side of things)
- Stereo speakers and/or mics
- Biometric access
Make a phone with all THAT above, and THEN they'll have something to sing about.
You've just described the Eten X800, coming this summer (or M900 for integrated keyboard, Q4). It ticks ALL your boxes...