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More details on iPAQ K3 surface

HP iPAQ K3, the picture that's been floating around the net for the past 24 hours

Remember when details about the HP iPAQ K3 ‘Obsidian’ first came out precisely two months ago? Well, apparently someone got their hands on an ACTUAL iPAQ K3 with AT&T branding (instead of the computer-rendered images we first saw) and now pictures, like the one you see above, are flying around the net like crazy. Ignore the old details in the post in May, and check out the latest details over here – it’s now clearer that the iPAQ K3 will succeed the old iPAQ 900 Business Messenger, with the main changes being a swap from a touchscreen LCD to a new OLED touchscreen on the K3 (though the 2.46 inch diagonal still remains), upgrade to a 528 MHz processor, two separate ports for micro USB and 3.5 mm headphone jack respectively (replaces the yucky, old combo mini USB port) and of course, it’ll be HP’s first iPAQ to feature Windows Mobile 6.5. The iPAQ K3 will also feature a new, classier design, which looks like a gazillion times better than the all-gloss black plastic design of the old iPAQ 900.

In other areas, the iPAQ K3 will have WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, a microSD expansion slot, 3.2 megapixel camera – things you’d expect in a typical business-oriented Pocket PC device. It’ll also have 256 MB RAM and 512 MB ROM, but strangely, there’s no mention of HP’s own ‘Windows Mobile interface’… maybe later as K3′s release in November approaches.

HP bringing “Touchsmart UI” to iPAQs?

Upcoming iPAQ K3, is this the new 'Touchsmart UI' for iPAQs?

The current iPAQ Data Messenger is a decent Pocket PC device (though not the best, obviously, which is why HP needs to do better) – flush screen, 2.5 mm headphone jack, QWERTY keyboard – but one of the things that people were complaining about when it was first announced was the lack of a ‘custom’ Windows Mobile skin. Well, you know, things like TouchFLO 3D by HTC and Samsung’s Touch Wiz UI’s… I’ve recently been told (And found out from reading ‘late’ reviews on the net) that HP now includes a new ‘HP Menu’ interface on later iPAQ Data Messenger units.

The implementation isn’t as elaborate as the UI’s from HTC or Samsung as it only makes the Today screen more finger-friendly among a few other screens – while HTC, for example, have gone all the way to make almost the whole Windows Mobile OS more ‘thumb-able’). Nevertheless, that’s pretty good for starters (after all, this is HP’s first attempt at including a Windows Mobile ‘skin’ with their mobile devices). I’ve SEEN the interface, but haven’t tried it yet because as one of the early adopters of the iPAQ Data Messenger, mine obviously didn’t come with the ‘HP Menu’. I’m also perfectly content with the TouchFlo 3D-esque Throttle Launcher I installed on my iPAQ and updating the device’s ROM is a pain as it resets everything.

HP's existing Touchsmart PC; note the design cues and UI

Right. So what does all this have to do with TouchSmart UI? The next piece of the puzzle comes in the form of a product design image – specifically, the upcoming iPAQ K3 (which the whole world knows about). I’ve seen the user interface in the iPAQ’s screen before (see the picture above) – almost one and a half years ago when the bunch of rumored ‘Windows Mobile 7′ screenshots supposedly came out. I remember the big debate that followed; whether it was ‘for real’ or just a custom skin. It still remains to be confirmed at this point in time what Windows Mobile 7 really looks like, Microsoft has remained mum thus far as they concentrate on marketing Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows 7. The screenshot above looks suspiciously like the rumored WM7 interface (though it could just be a skin), save for the color scheme. Microsoft has a thing for the color blue, while the HP Touchsmart UI has a black color scheme – again, just like the screenshot above. There’s also a 3 x 4 grid of large icons there and the clock at the top of the screen uses a font which is surprisingly consistent with the one HP uses on their Touchsmart PCs. It all looks too un-Microsoft and more ‘Touchsmart’ than ever…

Is HP about to bring their Touchsmart UI to upcoming iPAQs? I have reason to believe so. First it was the all-in-one desktop Touchsmart, then late last year, HP brought out their first Touchsmart notebook (tablet form-factor)… so logically, the next step would be to create a ‘Touchsmart handheld’. I guess we’ll find out this fall, around September-October (aka iPAQ Season), which is when HP usually announces new handheld/mobile devices.

iPAQ K3 – Good job, HP, keep working on it!

Word about the new HP iPAQ K3 “Obsidian” came out today (courtesy of AT&T) and it looks like another step towards the better, I think. On paper and pictures, the new iPAQ K3 looks like the middle child of the iPAQ 912 Business Messenger and the recent iPAQ Data Messenger. There’s the iPAQ 912′s form factor here (if you’ve never seen one, think Nokia E71) along with a QWERTY keyboard… and from the Data Messenger’s genes come a 2.8 inch (supposedly touchscreen) LCD, microSD/microSDHC support and proximity + ambient light sensor. There are the usual culprits you’d expect to find on a smartphone – WiFi, Bluetooth, A-GPS, data syncing, etc.

The two key changes here are: Windows Mobile 6.5 and a 3.5 mm headphone jack (whew, thought I’d never see it again since the days of the iPAQ h6310). Congratulations HP, that’s a step in the right direction – bring back the standard 3.5 mm headphone jack!! It seems just about every phone nowadays has one, and I’m glad HP actually listens and is not ignorant to change (the reason why Sony Ericsson/Motorola = Fail). The only not-so-good item on paper I see here is a 2 megapixel fixed focus camera (Why oh why?!).

No, I won’t be surrendering my Data Messenger for the iPAQ K3 – I’ll be holding out until HP releases a full WVGA touchscreen, Windows Mobile 6.5 phone, when someone loans it to me, whenever that may be…

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’s future Pocket PC phones to run Windows Mobile 6.5!!

And it was officially confirmed last week; right from the horse’s mouth too! Now can we see some new stuff, which are more up-to-date, that will be competitive with those other manufacturers (or preferably, with absolutely kick-ass features/specifications) when they get announced?  And please don’t take months to deliver them to store shelves. And maybe we’ll see one of those Windows Mobile UI overlays/add ons…*ahem* use Touchsmart design team *ahem*

For me, even very tiny, subtle hints of future products like this one is good news! (Don’t we wanna see the ex- #1 Pocket PC manufacturer return to its former glory again?)