Hello everyone!

I would like to ask a few technical questions about this model (easier to answer for a person selling or owning that model), that I unfortunately haven't been able to find full answers for:

1) What is the GPS chip implemented in this PDA ? (many sources speak of Qualcomm gpsONE, but this one is _supposedly_ acting chaotic according to tests done on HTC Trinity (in comparison to 3 models with SiRF Star III) ; some sources claim it could be SiRF Star III)

2) IF the chip implemented is gpsONE, what is it's speed (in seconds) in finding a fix after a cold star (4+ hours), how much is it accurate, how many satellites does it see per average, etc. - ie, what's it's efficiency ?

3) Is HSUPA present per standard ? (again, some sources claim that yes, it is present ; some does not ; and some, on the other hand, claim it will be present after a firmware update
(because it is enabled on the hardware level, but not software level) )

4) Is Bluetooth also EDR enabled ?

5) An easy (?) one: it push-to-talk present in this device ? (I assume so, as it is present in WM 6.0 Pro)

6) Is this device equipped with a light sensor ?

7) Another easy one: What is the maximum resolution and frames per second number of videos recorded by the camera ?

8) Are You aware of any adapters / cable/wired remotes/headsets with the possibility of connecting 3,5 mm (mini-jack) headphones and simultaneously controlling the call/volume/music tracks (ff/rewind/pause/play) ?
AFAIK there are some wired headsets with mic embedded with 3,5 mm jack and one button for answering calls etc.

9) Is it possible to transfer data (eg photos) from/to digital camera using two sides miniUSB port ? (that would in theory involve USB Host, but I'm not 100 % sure) 

Thank You in advance for answering as many questions as possible, I am awaiting Your answer.

Best regards,
Kamil Zalewski

Hi Kamil,

Thanks for using devicwire for this post. I am waiting for a response from HTC but will try and answer some of these questions for you.

1. It uses a SiRF star iii.

2. Most GPS units take around 5-15 minutes to find a satellite fix from cold and I have heard this unit takes a similar amount of time.

3. This unit does not have HSUPA the upload speed is only upto 384Kbps.

4. The Bluetooth is 2.0.

5. I will wait for HTC !

6. I believe it does have a light sensor which lights up the keyboard only when it is dark.

7. I will wait for HTC.

8. Currently only available for P3300 i am sure HTC will release one for the TyTN ii but accessories always follow a bit later when a device is launched.

9. No its not able to use the USB post to pass images to a digicam.

I hope this helps and I will wait pass you the HTC response as soon as I have it.

 

Thanks

Alex 

Hello again!

Thank You Alex for answering.

I've checked a few forums and some blokes actually DO have the phone bought, so some questions could be answered earlier:

1) I'm afraid You're wrong on that one, it uses the gpsONE chip from Qualcomm (actually, it's the same chip which is embedded into the processor itself). Almost everybody agree on that.
Waiting for HTC's final answer though...

2) From the test I've read, A-GPS help GREATLY to find a fix after a cold star (as it's a cellular network service) and the lowest time to find the fix is even 5 seconds! In other cases it's ALWAYS below 4-5 minutes. So 5-15 minutes could be applicable to older GPS models (eg SiRF Star II, maybe even I), or version III _WITHOUT_ A-GPS.
But apart from that, all GPS SiRF STAR III units find fix after a cold start quickly - rarely exceeding the time of 5 minutes. This chip (gpsONE) seems to work very well though, on par with SiRF STAR III, as confirmed by many people, some also using SiRF STAR III devices, so having a sensible comparison.
Some sources claim it's a bit worse, some it's a bit better - so at the end of the day it's almost the same as SF3.

Apparently something was fixed after HTC Trinity test (comparison to 3 SiRF STAR III devices - http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/articles.asp?id=175&page=6 ) , where gpsONE was a bit slow (201 seconds to find a fix after a cold start, comparing to 5, 15 and 55 seconds (the first two SiRF STAR III's was A-GPS models, the third was not), not very regular or precise ( http://www.pbase.com/gpspassionbis/image/75816283/original.jpg ) and also less sensitive ( http://www.pbase.com/gpspassionbis/image/76048658/original.jpg ). Hopefully every other bit is fixed, too.

One more thing - it supposedly DOES have A-GPS, so if the network has the service enabled, we should be able to find a fix after a cold start VERY quickly - maybe 3-5 minutes MAXIMUM.

3) Currently yes - but it is said future ROMs are to fix that (HSUPA is supposedly hardware enabled ... still looking for a clear answer to this one. Maybe HTC will help).

4) AFAIK EDR is not enabled (nothing is mentioned about it), so I think You're right.

5) Still no clear info on that one.

6) Thank You for Your answer, I haven't been able to find anything SURE.

7) I'm afraid it's only QVGA/30 fps (not VGA, which I've counted for), and it's not at it's best - a bit 'underwater' (waves on screen, at least recording in a car driving) movie - hope they'll fix it in near future (either HTC or xda developers ;) I'm afraid it's a normal practice with HTC - when the camera had 1,3M, the video was recorded at 176x144... so it's a 'normal' thing.
Also, the quality of the photos is not great - but I think we're used to that with HTC. I would rather see a GOOD (comparing to my old Canon S1, which is 3,5 years old, and is 3M) photo in 1,3M (really), than see a lousy 3M (sensors are not improved, so why the photo quality should be better...) Waiting for HTC's answer though :P

The conclusion ? Always carry your digicam with you ;)

8) I found quite an astonishing selection of devices... on HTC'c main page :) Just go to Products -> Accessories -> HTC TyTN II and You'll find lots of it :) I can only say: my wishes have been answered :)

9) I'm almost positive on that too ; logically, it would need an USB Host or such.

Your answer sure helps, thank You :) Also thank You for forwarding my questions to HTC.
Of course I'll be awaiting their answer, hope it'll come ASAP, as some matters are still foggy (like #2, #3 and such) and some don't have any real answer for (like #4 - the EDR matter, #5, #7).

Best regards,
Kamil

I'm back with more info.

Ad 1 & 2 (GPS matter): It's 100 % gpsONE, but...

it works like a charm. Why ? Because of improvements in the chip itself (not mentioned on the manufacturer's site!), because of better compatibility with GPS software, and because of greater raw processing power of the processor.

The previous test was done with HTC Trinity - that contained an older Qualcomm processor (MSM 6275, not 7200) ; and from the time of the test some time passed, and some updates was released - that allow the Trinity's GPS to find a fix much faster after a cold start, they also affect the capability to see satellites (more on average are seen) AND the quality of the tracking (more precise, quicker navigation).

Simply said, this GPS chip is comparable (on par) to SiRF STAR III, if not _better_. (Actually, I wouldn't go that far, but in the worst case it's almost the same quality :)

The chip also contains A-GPS (for sure).

Ad 3: OFFICIALLY, HSUPA is not present (no mention in manual ;). Still, it is possible in future.

Ad 4: The BlueTooth 2.0 _IS_ EDR ENABLED, information taken from the Kaiser HTC English Manual. (also available online).

Ad 5: On the other hand push-to-talk is NOT on this device. No mention in the manual, so even if the software (WM 6.0 Pro) provides it, it doesn't mean a thing :/

Ad 6: Supposedly, there is no light sensor. No mention, no place to spot it on the device and also no confirmation from the owners. That's almost sure there is none.

Ad 7: Most users record QVGA/30 fps (although is looks a bit like 15 fps to me, also quality is not too good), but the maximum capability is CIF/30 fps (that is, 352x288 ; the manual also points that out). Even though the secondary camera can transmit VGA while videocalling, it cannot record VGA movies. Maybe a future fix, ROM, or something from xda-dev will help ;) (I'm counting on it, as with the HSUPA matter - no new info about the last one this time, though). Also, the processor itself ( http://www.cdmatech.com/products/msm7200_chipset_solution.jsp ) supports VGA/30 fps recording, so it should technically be possible, if the camera also supports that.

Ad 9: It's not possible to transfer anything to any device other than the PC, period. (no USB Host = no working with eg digicam etc.).

Hi Kamil,

Thanks for getting back to me again I appreciate the level of detail you go into.

 
1) I am suprised to hear its not a surf star iii device as HTC answered this directly! I will get back to you on this and other points.

3) I am sure HSUPA wont be available with a simple software upgrade. We are also direct with the likes of Sierra, Novatel and option all of whom release new HSUPA products instead of offering software upgrades - so i am sure it is a hardware requirement. 

Thanks

Alex
 

Hello again Alex.

Don't mention it, I just try to clear things up :)

As for 1), I'm hugely surprised - almost every source claim it's gpsONE. But with all the details above, I'm sure it won't be much of a problem. Of course a spokesperson (high enough in the hierarchy of HTC) would be a good person to ask about it.

As for 3), today I've read a news here : http://www.mobinaute.com/79888-haut-debit-mobile-orange-sfr-debutent-phase-experi.html which states that most probably Kaiser WILL have HSUPA - up to 1,4 Mbps (5,8 Mbps upload will be possible in Orange/France, but not in case of this device). The firmware would be probably available no earlier than second quarter 2008. Also, as for the companies You mentioned, I have no real experience, so I can't argue, but on the other hand I am aware that some PCMCIA or Express Card modems (already UMTS/HSDPA enabled) have the possibility to enable HSUPA via a firmware update - that's all that's it's needed. The same situation applied to some of them, when they were only UMTS enabled, and a firmware update added the HSDPA option - that's a fact.

So I truly hope this will be the case with Kaiser :)

Thanks,
Kamil