ETEN G500 Review - Page 1

By: Saravana Kumar Paulraj

September 01, 2006

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Introduction

First of all a very great thanks to Mr Noor from Samir Digital Technology, for providing PPCD with the E-TEN G500 device for testing / review. This review is LONG delayed. Late better than never

E-TEN is not new to Dubai. It is not new to PPCD as well. We have recently posted their press conference held in Dubai which is revealing much more new devices for us. (News Here)

The device this time is a WM5 PPC with Phone, with GPS built into the device (more specifications and details will follow). Just to highlight in this place is, the GPS is the latest one with TMC support – to get the traffic updates and plan your travel (short / long distance). Once UAE starts (full) supporting this, we will understand the real use of TMC.

First things first

We have seen that the UAE (and the Middle-East market as a whole) is catching up with the latest gadgets and technology. PDA / Pocket PC is not exception here. Off late we are seeing the Pocket PCs with GPS accessories for MAP and travel related applications. For a city like Dubai, we definitely needed one. Off late vendors understood this urge, and then started combining this feature into the PPC itself.

One such device entering into the GPS + PPC with Phone is E-TEN G500. This is not the first device of this kind, but definitely well ahead compared to the other leading device manufacturers who are yet to being the PPC phone with GPS.

In the beginning stages of usage of the device (along with I-Mate PDA-n) I was very new to WM5. So, at some I might highlight more of WM5 features.

Specifications

(simply stripped from the specification pamphlet of the device)

• Processor: Samsung S3C2440 400 MHz
• Memory: 128 MB Flash ROM / 64 MB SDRAM
• Display:
  • 2.8” screen
  • 240x320 display resolution
  • 65, 536 colors
  • Transmissive TFT-LCD
• Camera:
  
  • 1.3 mega pixels (1280x960 pixels)
  • Support images formats: JPG, BMP
  • Support Video Formats: 3GP
  • Frame Rate: 15 fps
  • Digital Zoom: 4X
• GSM/GORS:
  • GSM qual band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
  • GPRS Class B / Multi-slot Dlass 10
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth v2.00 + EDR, Class 2
• Expansion Slot: mini SD card slot
• Ergonomic Design:
  • Touch Screen for stylus or fingertip
  • Navigation button
  • Power button
  • 4 quick application buttons
  • Send / End button
  • Record button
  • Volume control
  • Left soft-key
  • Right soft-key
• Power:
  • 1440 mAh Li-Ion rechargeable, replaceable battery
  • Talk Time: 3.5 – 4 hours (depend on usage)
  • Standby: 120-150 hours
  • Pocket PC Usage: 10-15 hours
  • GPS usage: 2.5 – 5 hours
• Audio:
  • Hands- free supported
  • Full duplex
  • MP3 stereo
  • 2.5 mm audio out socket
• Operating System: Windows Mobile 5.0
• Dimensions: 119 x 62 x 23 mm
• Weight: 191g

Contents in the Package

Actually we received the test device for our review. The contents given below are again extracted from the pamphlet.

• E-TEN G500 (received for review)
  
• Stylus (received for review)
• USB Sync Cable (received for review)
  
• AC Adapter (received for review)
  
• Headset (received for review)
  
• Leather case
• Getting started CD
• Quick start guide (do you really read this, I don’t)
• Standard battery (received for review)
  
• Here you can see the battery LOCKED in the device. Better for the normal user.
  
• Car-charger
• Car-mount

Ergonomics

All said and done the device looks fabulous. Its pretty simple model with buttons placed in right positions. Even though this is a 2.8” screen, the device is almost same size as the PDA2k. This is because of the buttons in the bottom. But it doesn’t look that odd. The buttons have filled the space in such a way that they are perfectly arranged.

Front Up

It has two buttons in the top. Both are (as usual) configurable buttons using the settings. By default they are mapped to Contacts and Navigation. Other than that there is nothing much to describe in the top part. The words ETEN and GPS are so placed to cover the gaps.

The LEDs for indications are here in the top. Blue LED for the Bluetooth in the left and one multi-colored LED for status indications (battery, notification etc).

Front Below

The device comes with buttons mapped to the soft keys for the usage. It also has the Answer Call and End Call buttons below them. Just in between is the 4 way navigation hey with an ‘action’ key in the center.

Back

The back portion is just filled with the 1.3 mega pixel camera. As usual, it has a small mirror to take self-picture. Nothing much than the cover for the battery that can be removed from the back side. That’s all in the back side also.

Left Side

This side has the buttons arranged for various actions. The buttons are so arranged inside a small grove which doesn’t make you feel that there is buttons arranged there. Seems like the same set of buttons as in my PDA2k. From top in the list is Camera button, Volume Slider, Record Button. Yes, there is one more there. It’s not a button but a reset hole, for soft-resets.

Right Side

So simple and sweet is the right side. The device has the slot for mini-SD card. Yes. The device comes with mini SD card. It comes with a shutter for the mini SD card. So, no need to carry a dummy card to cover the hole. Smart just above the card slot is the power button. It’s a odd place compared to other devices, but I assume there is not clear cut standard for this button’s position.

Top

Clean slate here.

Bottom

As usual, the bottom part has the USB slot. Nothing more here.

How It Looks & Feels

The design of the device is quite unique in nature. I can say it in many ways. One UNIQUE factor is the blue color display on the screen surface when it rings. The screen has the blue border just covering the LCD screen and the buttons; this lightens up when a call is received. This dances like disco light in the dark. It is something attractive when I saw this first time.

Also the Bluetooth LED is so bright and attractive. I can see the Bluetooth indicator without any problem in the sun light also.

The other indicator LEDs are also bright and clear. One thing I mistook on the first day is the charging indicator. The device showed with RED color glowing. First I thought the device has a faulty LED indicator. But later I convinced myself after seeing the device booting etc. Other colors of this LED are as regulars only. No problems at all.

The device cannot be placed in such a way that you can see a video in it. It has to be rested in the cradle only for viewing, else held in the hands.

Accessories

Thought we didn’t have the full list of accessories from the package, I will put my views on the contents we got for review.

Charger & USB Cable

The wall charger unit is almo0st merged with the USB SYNC cable. What I mean by this is, the point connecting to the PDA is only one and this can be extended to a wall-unit part of to the USB part. Looks clumsy sometimes. Else, it looks as a better option when we say about the space saving near the PC (charging and syncing)

Photos & Comparison

The images will speak for themselves:

Software List

Plenty of images for you to look into. But lots to talk about. Lets go on the way it comes (mostly images). I have missed something which I feel they are basic, or is available as default in any other windows mobile device.

     

Something special about the ETEN is they tend to give most of the software as a part of the device itself. They are placed as a part of the ROM or they are installed after the hard-reset by the device itself. This made me think twice before I could search for any application.

For those who feel that they want to have their own software, nothing to worry. These software are installed in the device memory. So, you can simply uninstall these software and proceed with the personalized (free / commercial) software .

Multimedia

You name it, you get it. It has the following applications shown below. Its really cool to have all the applications pre-loaded in the device.

Camera

This is a settings applet for the camera. This can be better reviewed in the camera section.

Image Maker

A simple image utility. I have said this as a simple image-utility. But this performs more than the ‘paint’ application that comes in the Windows (in PC). The idea of saying is, to highlight the power of the PDA that we see here. I agree that there are third party applications providing these software (may be more that this); but you can trust these applications that comes pre-loaded with the device.

Image Wizard

A photos viewing utility. This displays the images in the device (taken by the camera or transferred to the device via other source). A simple but elegant look in the software.

Multimedia Manager

Images apart, others in the multimedia are taken for a ride in the application. This provides a audio recording, editing (to a small extent) software. Not a great application for the full fledged multimedia experience.

Utilities

Some utilities for the device are grouped in this section. Not a big list; but I wonder why the Bluetooth came in this section.

Backup Utility

This is not the regular backup that comes with any windows mobile. Its different with some extra functionality. Ok, this is a WM5 device but we are still in need of backup utility for our own reasons. The backup utility comes with the auto-backup option for the device to backup every day in the specified time. Quite preferred option for people who are in PDA-development environment.

Bluetooth Manager

Just an interface to the BT manager from the ‘utilities’ menu. I doubt that this was added just to fill the ‘utilities’ menu. More details about the Bluetooth are to come below.

M-Desk

This is an application that has all the shortcuts in one place. Also to mention that it has some settings interfaced to the relevant apps integrated. The M-Desk allows to add / remove / adjust these links to the application. Few snapshot of pictures for a better idea is shown here.

Voice Command

Cool! The device comes pre-loaded with the “Cyberon Voice Commander 1.6”. Is we start writing about the voice command, it will be a separate review altogether. So, a simple roundup on the software is revised here.

This is so integrated to the OS that, all the applications (pre-installed and new installed application) comes with a voice tag. This allows the user to just listen to the existing tag and proceed. No need for the tedious process of recording tags for every application. The same applied for the contacts, where as all the contacts are assigned with a voice tag on the way they are pronounced.

We may have to do the ‘training’ with the software. A few minutes of talking with the device (To avoid embarrassment, do it when you are alone.) will result in faster learning of the digit / word patterns that the device uses.

Wireless Manager

Nothing really special. Again here, Bluetooth is added. A simple interface for the Phone / Bluetooth ON/OFF switch. (Should the FM radio also added here??)

Phone

This has a bunch of software collected below it. All are not discussed, but only the one which I felt as special is discussed. Anyway, a picture on what is there in the phone section, is here for your view.

• Add Ring Tone
• Call Filter
• MMS Composer
• Scenarios
• SIM Toolkit
• SMS Sender
• Speed Dial

Call Filter

One of the cool features, I liked in the device. ‘Call Filter’.

You can setup the list of allowed numbers to call your number. If you have the numbers added to the ‘block’ list, the device JUST disconnects the call when any call comes from that number.

The problem I had is, you cant add the numbers from the contacts. So, if you want to add the number to blocked list, you will have to simply key in the number manually, and give a name to it. I wish, this could have been better than this.

Scenarios

Profiles. Yes, ‘Profiles’ are called as the scenarios here. Not much of options, I would normally from the ‘profiles’ kind of application. But, it does some basics. Should I say ‘Something is Better that Nothing’??

Speed Dial

Speed dial gets a separate screen apart from the ‘speed dial’ we see in the normal PDA phone. This has quite more features than the default ones. But still needs more things to be added. Its like the same speed dial with some extra touch up. Not fully satisfied. I would be more satisfied with the normal / default one itself

Quick Links

The list of the links in the today-screen is managed in this quick link section. Its quite impressive to see some settings and more ways of displaying the same.

Phone & Functionality

Nothing to blame with the phone functionality. The RADIO part of the phone is really good. One thing I should appreciate when compared to my PDA2k. Better signal strength than the iMate. I haven’t had chance to compare with the other latest iMate devices (like the JJ / JAMin), but definitely the phone is a great part.

Dial-pad Skins

The device as such comes with two skins for the phone pad. The default one is very impressive with some works in the graphics. The other skin can be used as a change from the normal life. When I thought of the SKIN I first felt it was a change in the colors (which is what I wanted), but the layout is itself changed. It really sucks when the keys are (miss) placed from the default positioning. So, it’s a little (actually more) frustrating when we try a new one.

One touch Speaker Phone

Something I was really attached with this phone is the speaker phone functionality. The speaker phone is invoked by the software. I mean, the touch on the screen makes your phone come to speaker phone mode. This is unlike the iMate and other PDA devices where we are forced to press the answer button for 3 seconds for speaker-hone.

Really Cool!! It comes back to normal phone on similar touch. This is really nice.

Index Dial

One more dialing option. But why. This screen gives a index of all alphabets, and then numbers too. This then goes to the index of the numbers in the address book. But why? The normal PIM itself will do this. Not my favorite again.

Settings

Others

All others are same and what you can expect from any phone. This lists to the auto-answer, sound settings etc etc.

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