E-Ten glofiish X800

E-Ten glofiish X800

First take: The E-Ten glofiish X800 was first unveiled at CeBIT 2007. It created quite a stir among handheld enthusiasts because of the sheer number of features it managed to pack into its compact form factor. We managed to get our hands on a non-final unit. Here are our thoughts.

Why it's hot: E-Ten makes quite a number of GPS-enabled devices. This one even comes with a VGA display, something not common in PDA-phones even though they have been in dedicated Windows Mobile PDAs for ages.

O2 Xda Flame

O2 Xda Flame

CNET Asia rating: 7.4 out of 10

The good: VGA display; FM radio; Nvidia GoForce 5500 GPU; 2GB flash memory built in; USB On-The-Go; TV-out connector; decent stereo earphones; O2's extra applications.

The bad: No HSDPA; no GPS; display slow to turn on; fuzzy video during video calls; small stylus.

The bottom line: The Flame's design won't set the style-conscious user's desire on fire, but its great set of features including a VGA display makes it a useful business and entertainment tool.

Why it's hot: This is another PDA-phone with a VGA display. It's a powerful device that has a dedicated graphics processor. A pity we haven't seen a WM6 upgrade for it.

Dopod U1000

Dopod U1000
CNET Asia rating: 7.5 out of 10

The good: Fast 624MHz processor; large 5-inch VGA display; many wireless options; GPS for navigation; 8GB MicroDrive built-in; VueFLO motion-sensing feature.

The bad: Large and bulky; very heavy; no GPS application or maps bundled; extremely expensive; keyboard not backlit.

The bottom line: Feature-packed and powerful, the U1000 still isn't for everyone because of its sheer size and high price.

Why it's hot: Though it cost a princely sum of almost S$2000 at launch, the U1000 is still popular with the power users. Its set of features is second to none, though very few users will be able to put this monster of a handheld in their pockets.

Dopod U 1000

HTC TyTN II

HTC TyTN II
CNET Asia rating: 7.9 out of 10
The good: A host of data connectivity options including HSDPA; GPS with bundled maps; good battery life; 3-megapixel autofocus camera.
The bad: Heavy and bulky; still QVGA display; no camera light; no audio mini-jack.
The bottom line: It may not be a quantum leap compared with the 838 Pro, but the TyTN II maintains what power users loved in the previous iteration--with a few extras.

Why it's hot: In fifth place is the TyTN II, the successor to the Dopod 838 Pro. The month it went on sale in Singapore, this PDA-phone started to dominate our monthly Top 5 lists. No wonder it sits so high up on this Top 10 list even though it debuted just three months ago in September.

And again, thank you to those contributing daily to our HTC TyTN II website.

HTC Touch

HTC Touch
CNET Asia rating: 6.8 out of 10
The good: Very compact design; Windows Mobile 6 Professional; TouchFLO interface; attractive modified Home screen; good battery life.
The bad: Lacks 3G; slow processor; poor SIM card slot design.
The bottom line: Though the TouchFLO feature is very cool, the real reason to get the Touch is because of its stylish and compact design. That's if you can look beyond the fact that it doesn't have a keypad and, more importantly, 3G.

Why it's hot: The HTC Touch was accused of being a copycat because it was launched so close to the announcement of the iPhone. Whether or not it was, the fact is that it's one of the most stylish WM PDA-phones you can find, and reasonably priced for entry-level users switching over from regular mobile phones.

And again, thank you to those contributing daily to our HTC Touch website.

Dopod 838 Pro

Dopod 838 Pro
CNET Asia rating: 8.2 out of 10
The good: Range of connectivity options including 3G and HSDPA; slide-out QWERTY keypad; scroll wheel; support for Bluetooth stereo (A2DP).
The bad: Chunky size; heavy; microSD expansion slot.
The bottom line: An extremely well-equipped Pocket PC PDA-phone, Dopod has made sure that the 3G-enabled 838 Pro balances features with power so it doesn't leave you hanging when you need to access applications like Skype. Due to its size and weight, however, you'll need a bag if you're going to carry it around.

Why it's hot: For a very long time after its launch in Q3 2006, no handheld came close to the 838 Pro in terms of connectivity features. This gave it the momentum to become one of the most popular phones throughout the whole of 2007.

And again, thank you to those contributing daily to our Dopod 838 Pro website.

O2 Xda Atom Life

O2 Xda Atom Life
CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10

The good: Stylish design; 1GB flash memory; faster processor compared with the Atom Exec; plentiful connectivity features including 3G and HSDPA; proprietary software that enhances user experience.
The bad: Fingerprint magnet; sub-par audio quality; difficult to feel buttons on the sides; narrow viewing angle on LCD.
The bottom line: The Xda Atom Life is one of the most full-featured handhelds we've come across, but it does come with a premium price tag.


Why it's hot: Even without HTC to make devices for it, O2 still had quite a hit with the Atom Life. Its full set of connectivity features as well as extras like an FM tuner and entertainment software probably had something to do with that.

O2 Xda Atom Life

Dopod D810

Dopod D810
CNET Asia rating: 8.4 out of 10

The good: Many wireless options including HSDPA; GPS for navigation; good battery life; stylish design; compact and lightweight.
The bad: Lacks FM radio; fingerprint magnet; no software or maps included; speakers face backwards; lacks audio jack.
The bottom line: The D810 impresses with its host of wireless connectivity options. The presence of a GPS chip that works well sets it apart from the competition in this weight class.


Why it's hot: Though it was replaced by the HTC P3600i near the end of the year, the D810 remained popular. It was given a WM6 upgrade in July and one-upped the Atom Life, its close competitor, by having built-in .GPS

Dopod D810