How would you change HTC's Advantage X7510?
By Darren Murph 
posted August 8th 2008 7:20PM
posted August 8th 2008 7:20PM
posted August 8th 2008 7:20PM
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or, maybe, just MAYBE, you could use the fantastic TouchFLO 3D as the UI... seeing as they own it already...
I'm I going to get paid to help HTC make improvements to that piece of shit?!
Overpriced toy with a useless keyboard. It's only good for techies with money to burn.
I would make it reside with me! That would be a vast improvement ;-)
A little more on the personal preference side, but if this (or something like this) was out on Sprint, I'd buy it. I use two phones - my main, personal phone (an N76 w/ T-mo) and my secondary, pda-phone (Mogul w/ Sprint). My set up of T-mo first/Sprint second isn't changing anytime soon because of the way my price plans are laid out.
So, w/ Sprint indefinitely set as my secondary phone, since I don't use the secondary phone all that often, I wouldn't mind having to use speaker or the bluetooth headset for calls. I'd care more about the data-driven stuff I could do on it and this device seems like it it would do it.
I would also like WiMAX on it since WiMAX is coming soon (or out already?) to Baltimore and DC this year.
How do you improve upon near-perfection?
Well, HTC, Aston Martin, Ferrari et al listen to my advice:
Give me one
haha I checked his history and all, it is hilarious, all but two (including this one) had the phrases iPhone and 3G in it, damn trolls and fanboys
Flooding their mailbox is one way to stop them, guys :P
've had my Ameo (T-mobile) branded x7500 for just under a year now and it's the best device I've ever owned. Get one, get over to xda-developers and stick any of the 10 or so user made roms on it. This device is great for everything. As for phone calls I have A2DP headset so no problems there. For on-site technicians it's a must and you'll find lots of doctors using them too. Video play back is fantastic on the large screen (As are all the emulators you can get on this eg. Snes, Mame, Final Burn)
I have the 8gb version and use the drive for storage and the 8gb microsd for programs and music files. This helps the battery go much further.
What I would change is the case. It should have been supplied with a wallet style neopreen case with a windowed front, not the very dated filofaxish leather mess.
I cannot finish without saying that I have used an iphone before and they are so different that no comparison should be done. The Advantage was never intended as a consumer phone, it's a work horse that just happens to do a lot more.
Hope this helps.
Oh and get one....sod the price. Mine cost 550usd (bnib.) a year ago off ebay.
As an owner (though not very frequent user) I can say this: it's a nice device, especially when you want to do email and browsing on the road, and when you don't want to pack your laptop (e.g. train ride). Plus, you can read Office documents... I mean, really, really read them.
What I would change:
1.) Better browser: even with Opera 9.5 it is so far away from what mobile Safari delivers. Can nobody write a decent browser for WinMo ? Please !
2.) The device is heavier than one would expect fromt he photographs. If you consider buying it, make sure you hold it in your hand to get an idea.
3.) The keyboard is useless and should be dropped. Either slider or stylus only
4.) The magnetic latches of the keyboard are pretty powerfull, and I am always worried that my credit cards don't get too close to the device. So, one could really do without the keyboard.
5.) Has anybody already mentioned that WinMo in it's current version sucks? I have exprimented with the various shells you can buy, but in the end you always come to the WinMo level, so you might just stick with it and hope for WinMo 7.
Still, when you need the power of a laptop (more or less) to put in a coat pocket, there is nothing beside the OQO out there, so it is definitely a device that has its place and should be considered if these are your needs.
It looks like the center of gravity is off.
I have been using an O2 XDA Exec (HTC Universal) for almost 5 years about as happily as you can be when you are trying to get one device to do the job of about three, Outlook extension, push email with blackberry connect, VGA web-browsing over 3G/WiFi, alarm, diary, phone, SMS. I have tried the TyTN II and various other devices including the infamous Apple 2.5G pretty pretty. I must say the iPhone got close to knocking the Advantage out until I got the roaming bill during my extensive travels. I have just received the 7510 after a lot of consideration, having to pay for this box, almost full price, meant it was a big decision. Most other toys we get subsidised by the carriers in the UK, not this one.
Observations.
Bad
I could use the HTC Uni as a real phone when needed. Would I hold the 7510 to my head, maybe, in emergency or if the Jawbone had flat batteries. No clear push client (Blackberry Connect on HTC Uni) is around, need to do more work to find it and install it as old version I had on HTC Uni does not install.
Keyboard is not optimal, needs a lot of work. I understand it is a compromise for size/weight however it is not fish nor fowl. The HTC Uni I could use as a thumboard really fast with good movement and feel. The 7510 craptic feedback and size are ALL wrong. At home I use a B/tooth keyboard twined with it. Bad compromise, back to the drawing board on this bit, I agree with several others, slide out and use the width to better provide for function keys and direct access keys that you had around the edge of the HTC Uni.
SD card should be micro and accessed without having to yank the battery cover. Annoying.
Brown leather for the carry case - are you kidding me, whats wrong with black, goes with everything, take a count on the number of business cases in black and in brown and work it out. Quality is okay, we will see about the hinges following others comments. Still it will last whilst I work out what I do need, hip, bag etc etc
In your pocket - who are you kidding, in my bag and using the A2DP/AVCRPXYZ OLED display on a newly ordered Nokia BT headset to display the number - Yes. More than practical.
Good Stuff
Screen is stunning. Size is good considering I loose three or four devices into one. That’s the sort of consideration I would paint, not a big phone but about 3-4 devices collapsed into one and so actually a good compromise.
GPS and TomTom has saved me cash on cab fairs in alien cities a few times already, lots of laughs and all in one machine. 16Gb local storage is plenty for travel. VGA output to powerpoint is excellent and watching the crowd as you just plug your phone in is no end of fun. Using it for a main machine is almost practical for general meetings if you fixed the keyboard. I might find a B/tooth kbd which is portable.
Watching reformatted video on the plane using S9 headphones makes it practical even on short flights. Battery life is surprisingly good as long as you drop the WiFi and watch your data use, I carry a spare in my wallet, it is small enough. Lets face it you are not going to turn of bluetooth unless you want to use a speakerphone, not good.
I have got all my toys chargable on USB/ USB-5pin now and so carry a CAPDASE 4 port USB charger allowing one charger and a couple of cables to replace a ton of power garbage blocking up my bag.
Most of this is only really practical due to the 5" display, without this it would just be a phone and so you "could" do all the video and “tomtom" stuff but you probably would not. With the big display you "DO" do those things on the same box.
I like the WM6.1 functionality, "always-on" beats Aero graphics pretty pretty for me everytime. Long life and acceptable speed beats two hundred software abstraction layers.I also like the HTC home interface, it is a good implmentation and does add value to the system for general use.
Opera on the display is excellent, you really can do serious web browsing and buying like on a small laptop or UMPC. I have used many UMPC and I would say this equals them using 3G or Wifi using the Opera interface and excellent display.
I love Apple, I used to be a field engineer for an Applecentre in the days of MAC, FatMAC and MacPlus etc but I basically accept that for my business purposes I need tight outlook integration and document format interchange. (Yeah MS that means you as well so fix the 03-07 file format type burps before you release to the wild in future, and we won’t go into Home Server). In an open world with roaming-charge-free tariffs I would probably carry iPhone 3G and be content.
Whats gets changed for 7520,
Make the keyboard thumb sized with additional direct access keys.
Make it slideable not clip on, I do like the magnet idea but it is not "better" so forget it. Dead horse, stop flogging.
Ship it with blackberry connect software
Make it cheaper, BIG inhibitor.
Make the external VGA output 1280x1024 for good projection on external displays and projectors even if the display doe not support it
So what do I do now I have the 7510 ?
All of the HTC Uni (minus Push until I fix it)
GPS/TomTom
Video and Audio player
VGA Presentations
Less clutter to carry on long trips
Less power chargers and gubbins for all the missing clutter
Less eyesite stress using it heavily
A lot better user experience
Overall I am glad I paid the cash, I don't think it is a MASSIVE step forward from the Universal but it is a significant step forward. I also want to thank HTC for having the furry manhood parts to make something different and trying to stretch the boundaries. With Intel doing "big" ATOM stuff and UMPC really showing a future at last I think we will look back on oddballs like this as milestones in the future. I did not realise what switcher was the first time I used it (how long ago ?)
Genuine advance and good to use, well done HTC.
I have the X7501:
- I like the idea of the sliding keyboard, but that would add to the size of it so no. i just don'y use the keyboard
- it does fit in all my shirt pockets, I only carry in there and carry it all day, not a problem
- the X7510 seems to have lost all buttons at the front (OK, Menu, joypad,...) i think they need to come back
- GPS needs to find a lock a lot faster.
- Camera could be better.
- i really do not want linux.
- should be in "realvga" by default.
- Processor should be faster
i have a 7501 and use it daily as a pda/phone.
it needs:
a better browser.
winmo 6.0 is kinda weak.
a touch style ui front end would be nice.
i wish it was better at playing media, movies are really choppy
I too have the 7501. Use it every day. I have tomtom Nav 6 running as a auto GPS, Excellent as a reader. Hold my latest pics of the kids, mobile audio, Internet browsing.. oh yeah the phone . . . beats the hell out of my friends iphone for total usability.
Would like to see dual FULL SCALE SD card slots. . . . . 64 GB any one?
I would attach the keypad to the ppc. I have an advatage and I love the thing. Its a nice split umpc/ laptop (no Vista Mobile thank god!!) device come in handy all the time. The keyboard should attach to it (slide, hinge or something).
In my humble opinion this device is just... not worth it. For the same price you can get a really great laptop with HSDPA modem.
About the device - 5 inches and VGA - thats a problem. XGA (1024x768) or higher would do the trick. Yes, its easily made reality with 3D accelerator, that eats 1w power. Nvidia Tegra.
Well then what else? Windows XP, more more more storage, a good CPU and so on and so on but it will suddenly feel like UMPC/MID device, and those have half the price. So I really think that HTC Advantage X7510 is... well... a device for people with tons of money and a huge wish to spend it all.
How else would I change it? Cut the price to $500.
Keep the hardware buttons on the bezel from the X7500/X7501. Had the X7510 had that, I would have bought it. Haptic feedback. 7.2 Mps HSDPA instead of the 1.8. Full video/graphics. This is supposed to be the flag ship device after all. ENABLE THE FRONT CAM for SKYPE and WINDOWS LIVE MESSENGER (i.e. don't just follow the carriers wishes - serve your end customers, HTC!!). Camera with xenon flash and excellent lens is wish list although not necessary.
Yes, Needs to be either a hi-res or a pocket fit(the screen can be edge to edge). More interactive like the finger touch. Other colors.
I have the 7501 and didn't upgrade because of lack of joystick and OK buttons.
What I would change on the 7510, in order of importance:
-Video performance need much improvement
-32 or 64 GB SSD, then it can be a laptop replacement
-joystick, OK buttons
-drop the toy keyboard and useless magnets
-include Netfront 3.5 browser as standard, this is Steve Job's wet dream of what a browser should be!
-Tomtom maps and software as standard (I use it almost everyday since the screen is large enough to see in the car)
-refine the tilt sensor for more applications
-silicone case as standard
-if you really want to get fancy put 4 or 5 buttons on the reverse side of the screen and then you can type as you hold it!
-xda forum has an Android project going already
-Real VGA mod as standard
I use this as my only phone and it does fit in my pocket (I dumped the useless KB). With a bluetooth headset that runs stereo A2DP, it is great.
For those people who don't get it, what can I say? Go back to your lame 1990's flip phones. For those people who say it is more expensive than an Eee PC, they just plain don't understand the capabilities of the HTC - the Eee is an etch a sketch to the HTC feature wise...
This is a convergence device and I am glad that HTC makes it. I hope they evolve the design and people will see that this is the future. It is a small step away from being a laptop replacement (and makes calls).
Power PDA that will satisfy any Sony Clie or Palm addict.
Phone and media player.
Tether a bluetooth KB and mouse and video out, you have what the Foleo only dreamed it could be.
One more thing would be to get rid of the magnets, or shield them somehow, so they don't have to warn their users not to put the device close to their wallet/credit cards, or even in one's purse.
How about vibrate alert?
Now that it's running flash memory instead of micro-drive (as in x7500, x7501) shouldn't pose a problem.
Oh, and documents to go rather than Pocket Office
Glad to see it's busting Opera rather than poxy ie...
Model it after Psion 5mx.
It had the best pda keyboard in history and was pocketable (barely).
I would consider the new epoc os (as in SE P1, N95), when the bugs have ironed out.
About the only thing I'd do is put the 7500's joystick back on and, since I switch phones often depending on what I'm doing, make it possible to take the SIM card out without having to take out the battery.
The thing really is pretty cool, and it's replaced my Fujitsu P1610 as a traveling laptop (I use a Redfly if I need a bigger keyboard for serious input).