HP iPAQ Data Messenger still rocks in some ways

by Brad S | Mar 9, 2009

HP iPAQ Data Messenger still rocks in some ways

Sure, it may not be the best darn Pocket PC phone out there (though HP may change that with newer phones later this year), but the HP iPAQ Data Messenger still has several reasons for existing iPAQ 612 or 912 owners to drop those models for this one. Even I’ve got to admit, coming from the iPAQ h6310 and hw6515/hw6915 phones, within my first DAY of using the iPAQ 612c, I thought “the iPAQ 612 sucks compared to previous HP Pocket PCs” (but you can’t really complain much if you’re loaning a phone and don’t have to pay for it; beggars can’t be choosers). When HP announced their iPAQ Data Messenger late fall last year, it’s specifications weren’t very impressive but still, it did offer me some compelling reasons to try it out…

The Data Messenger is essentially the fusion of the hw6915′s quick typing abilities (QWERTY keyboard) and “faux music jack” (2.5 mm headphone jack, adaptable to 3.5 mm) with the 612c’s plus points; the candybar form factor, vibrate/silent mode switch and more traditional 4:3 screen (Well, versus the hw6915′s weird square screen; not good for gaming on the go).

I’ve been using the iPAQ Data Messenger for a week now (it’s a retail model) and I do not regret, at all, dumping my iPAQ 612 for this new Pocket PC. This final, retail version fixes most of the issues I had with the pre-production version I used in November; namely camera autofocus not working, the keyguard button not working and a few software incompatibilities. The only incompatibility that remains is you CAN’T use the TCPMP player with the Data Messenger… an error constantly appears when you try to start up the player (you’ll have to use Core Player instead, which offers similar functionality).

So what plus points does the iPAQ Data Messenger offer over the iPAQ 612/912 phones?

  • 2.5 mm headphone jack (YEAH!) – you can use an adapter to plug in your own 3.5 mm headphones.
    Instead of the mini USB port for headphones, where you get stuck for life with those crummy in-the-box earbuds.
  • Separate micro USB port; -means you can now charge/connect the phone to your PC while continuing to listen to music at the same time.
  • Larger, FLUSH 2.81 inch screen (yeah, not a big deal compared to the 612′s 2.8 inch screen, but a nice difference versus the 912′s 2.6 inch screen)
  • Ambient light sensor; the screen automatically adjusts its brightness based on surrounding light
  • EXCELLENT outdoor/bright light screen visibility – I can actually view the display outside on a bright sunny day now (dare I say, this rivals the Apple iPhone)
  • Proximity sensor – this detects when the phone is against your ear/face when making a phone call and the Data Messenger will automatically turn off the screen
  • Vibrate/silent mode switch – you can activate/disable silent mode any time (versus none on the 912; on the 612, you had to turn the phone on, press the button, and turn it off)
  • HP Keyguard – this isn’t the standard Windows Mobile device lock… when the phone is locked, you can turn on the screen to check for any missed calls/messages and then just stuff it back into your pocket; the phone will turn the screen back off after several seconds
  • Better camera image quality – the Data Messenger is no digital SLR but the colors it produces now are much more vivid and realistic; pictures are a tad sharper too
  • Louder earpiece and loudspeaker units – now I can finally be able to hear the caller when I’m in a crowded place (malls, tradeshows and conventions, etc)
  • Better sound quality – with the iPAQ 612c, music and sounds were kinda “tinny” but the Data Messenger’s sound is much deeper, louder and better (one of the factors is probably the design of the battery cover over the speaker)
  • QWERTY keyboard – it’s awesome, period (the 612 had none, the 912′s keyboard was tiny and slippery)
  • Improved battery life – I’m loving this as well… it’s not the best out there, but for a Pocket PC phone, battery life is very good (Data Messenger lasts for 2-3 days of my standard usage, 612c only lasts for 1 day) and I tend to heavily use feature phones.
  • Very stylish design – this is my personal opinion

Some of the features like the sound/music department, QWERTY keyboard and battery life of the iPAQ Data Messenger were HUGE to me… I have even tried typing a 1,000 word article using the phone’s keyboard when I was out last weekend.

The iPAQ 612 and iPAQ 912 phones were probably fluke shots by HP… but the Data Messenger goes back to the roots of HP iPAQ design and functionality (Well, sort of). For those with bad impressions or experiences with the 612/912, I would advise you to not strike HP off your “phone shopping list” forever – the new models they’re releasing, like this one, are much better already… and I can foresee more, even better things coming…

I suspect I’ll be a very happy user of the iPAQ Data Messenger for at least the next 9-12 months… until something newer and better comes along…

HP iPAQ | Comments: 18 comments

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18 Comments

  • By Manish, August 2, 2009 @ 5:37 pm

    Hi Dude,
    Where did you get that Today screen…i am looking for this screen everywhere but can’t find any where…is there a ROM update for this? Please help to send me the link if there is any to get this screen/ROM…

    Thanks much,
    Manish

  • By Brad, August 2, 2009 @ 8:30 pm

    Hi Manish, the Today screen I use for my iPAQ Data Messenger is in fact a 3rd party skin (not provided by HP). There are various ‘skins’ out there to choose from; in my case, I’m using Throttle Launcher, a HTC TouchFLO 3D interface lookalike by throttlelauncher.com

    Regards
    Brad

  • By Manish, August 3, 2009 @ 9:07 am

    Thanks so much Brad…i am downloading it now!!!

  • By Luke, August 31, 2009 @ 10:51 pm

    Hi Brad, great article. I’ve been using my Data Messenger 2 weeks now, and for the first week… I loved and hated it at the same time. Here’s why: The buttery life was tragic (6-10 hours on standby, and dead). HP even send me a new one but the problem remaind. I also had problems with the GPS system, BUT after downloading and instaling a ROM and GPS update from HP’s website everything works fine. Now, I ONLY love it;P The battery lives for 3-4 days and after installing a new interface (PSB Mobile Shell 3.3 – gotta love it) its my best purchase after the Pavilion tx2000z TabletPC (what can I say… I’m an HP fan;P).
    When it comes to KeyGuard I have a different opinion than you. I prefere S2V2 (SlideToView 2) and would recommend you installing it. I’m not a fan of app changing your Pocket PC into an iPhone (if I’d like to have an iPhone I wouldn’t buy a PPC – simple as that), but S2V2 is only an iPhone-inspired locker. It’s not a brutal copy of the iPhone locking app.

    I also have a question – do you have to enable Proximity sensor and if so where do you do it? I think main’s not working ’cause whenever I make a call my screen is always active and as you can imagine that can be a problem. S2V2 disactivades my screen after a minut of conversation but still I’d prefere using the Proximity sensor you talk about.

  • By Brad, September 1, 2009 @ 6:47 am

    Hi Luke, glad you’re liking your Data Messenger. I used to use S2U2 Slide2Unlock when I was using the iPAQ 600 series but stopped when I went over to the Data Messenger. The main issue I faced was the fact the Data Messenger combines the Hang-up/On-Off/exit functions into 1 button (the hangup button). I chose to stick with HP’s default KeyGuard so I didn’t need to exit an app everytime I wanted to switch the phone off. That may have changed with the new ROM though, so I may just give it a shot.

    The proximity sensor is located on the upper left side of the phone (near the indicator light, above the ‘Start’ icon of the screen). I don’t see any option to enable/disable it but it only turns off the screen when the device is very close to your ear. Try making an outgoing phone call using loudspeaker and putting your thumb over the sensor (to the left of the HP logo at the top) and see if it turns off the screen. There’s also a possibility of an app conflicting with the sensors operation?

    Brad

  • By Luke, September 1, 2009 @ 7:41 am

    I tryied using a mirror to see will it work, and you were right – everything works just fine (the sensor I mean). So it seems that I just didn’t put the phone close enough to my face XDDDD Thanks for your help though.

    The hangup button has all the functions you’re writing about even when the KeyGuard is disabled in Settings. For example – I can watch a movie in CorePlayer, hold the hangup button for a second what activated the S2V2 app. After “Sliding to unlock” I’m still in CorePlayer. I think S2V2 may have released a new version, which works more efficiently then the version you were using on your iPAQ 600. The current update is from July 2009 (and that’s the one I’m using).
    I really love that S2V2 lets me see a huge image of my current battery life and that sliding to unlock takes less time then holding the centre button on my iPAQ. But that’s me

    Also I really like your website (you’re HP obsessed just like me;P) and I’ve added it to my SPB Insight:)

  • By Brad, September 1, 2009 @ 8:07 am

    Hmmm, that indeed sounds like a big improvement from the old version. I’ll have to try it this evening and write about it then =). Thanks for your compliment as well.

  • By Bersanzi, September 15, 2009 @ 8:25 pm

    Hi Dude,

    I want to ask you , will it be able to install wm 6.5 on Data messenger ?.I used to have hp 614c and installed unoffical wm 6.5 was quite good.Data messenger absulately need wm 6.5 .I wonder do you know bootloader of this device.

    Thanx for all

  • By Brad, September 15, 2009 @ 9:34 pm

    Hi, I’m not too sure about the Data Messenger’s ability to run WM6.5 but you’re most welcome to try. Personally, if you have not bought the Data Messenger yet, I would hold out a little longer for HP’s iPAQ announcement season (Which is typically around late Sept to November every year) for better devices.

  • By Bersanzi, September 15, 2009 @ 11:21 pm

    Thanx for yur reply .I already have Data messenger.As long as realise wm 6.5 gonna try .Sure that will run but , need obviously rom.

  • By Luke, September 15, 2009 @ 11:28 pm

    Bersanzi, let us know did wm6.5 worked fine on DM or did you had any problems with it

  • By Bersanzi, September 16, 2009 @ 4:11 pm

    Will let you know but wm 6.5 should be build.If I can manage to do how TO enter bootloader mode ,I got people who will build wm 6.5 for DM

  • By Brad, September 17, 2009 @ 4:20 pm

    Great, let us know how your Windows Mobile 6.5 installation goes

  • By Dirk, October 16, 2009 @ 8:40 pm

    I am also interested in a functioning wm65 rom for the “ipaq dm” ;-)

  • By Dirk, October 17, 2009 @ 3:27 am

    we are waiting for you

  • By Keith, October 31, 2009 @ 3:04 am

    Let us know if you figure out how to upgrade the DM to 6.5. I can not find anyone even working on it.

  • By Bert, November 27, 2009 @ 4:33 pm

    also intrested in the wm65

  • By Alberto, August 22, 2011 @ 10:54 pm

    any news? looks like he didnt success…

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