Comments on: 6 WVGA Smartphones that Push The Mobile Web Envelope.

By: Chippy

Chippy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:04:34 +0000

There's a pulldown menu here.

By: squirrel

squirrel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:42:23 +0000

Chippy, where did you see “Archos 5 Android Internet Tablet 8GB version selling for 240 Euro”? I cannot find it anywere (not in Archos.com nor in Amazon.de)

By: xemone

xemone — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:24:55 +0000

If only the droid had a HSDPA version. . . .maybe soon? But the HTC HD2 looks like the best choice right now….well except the price. I haven’t used a WVGA smartphone with 3.5″ or larger screen size but most users say web browsing is unbearable on such displays. One issue (as pointed out by rustle) is how the processing power in certain devices are curbed because of their form factor or a missing piece of hardware. It’ll be unthinkable at this stage to make a snapdragon device with a VGA screen…..why would anyone do that?!

The Dell Streak does look very promising though, not just because it looks like its 5″ screen wouldn’t offer anything less than WVGA but because it’s styled like a smartphone and I can imagine holding one up to my ear….I’ll probably look like a nerd but definitely not as nerdy as a square-ish OQO 02 or S5 glued to my cheeks (same 5″-ish screen).

I wouldn’t even bring the SE Xperia X1, X2 and HTC Touch Diamond 2 into this cuz the sub-3.5″ screens just ….. one thumb and there’s barely 40% of the screen left

By: squirrel

squirrel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:12:26 +0000

Dell Steak is just an idea, isn’t it?
When will it come? Is it based on Cortex or Moorestown?

By: Chippy

Chippy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:12:21 +0000

Don’t forget that Dell Streak!
http://www.umpcportal.com/2009/10/dell-streak-5-inch-3g-android-mid-with-3g/

By: Omnia

Omnia — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:46:33 +0000

Where is OMNIA 2??

By: squirrel

squirrel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:09:13 +0000

I want smth 4,8″ on Tegra 2

By: TareX

TareX — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:59:37 +0000

Also, for web browsing, it’s important to have smooth flash rendering, which again Tegra seems to offer with hardware accelerated flash… So yes while all these devices currently available are a great step forward, it’s difficult to make a purchase when the next evolutionary step towards near perfect handheld browsing is a few months away…

By: TareX

TareX — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:56:12 +0000

Netbooks based on Tegra 2 (Cortex based) have already been demoed http://armnews.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/tegra-2-netbook-unveiled/

So till these make it in devices by April 2010, I think I need to hold off any purchases… Simply because as you’ve pointed out, with more functionality, comes a more dire need for better battery life… These devices offer near-laptop fucntionality, and are always in your pocket…

By: Vakeros

Vakeros — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:31:40 +0000

Interesting ordering. We might have to agree to disagree. For me 800×480 is the minimum res. for web-browsing. I don’t care about speed, if I am having to move around or zoom in and out. This is where size of the screen also becomes important, and PPI should be taken into account. The higher the res. the bigger the screen needs to be (at least if you see things at native resolution.) There is an argument for having higher res. and just bump up the dpi to 125%. The disadvantages of a bigger screen is size (obviously) and battery life.
I don’t make many phone calls. I don’t receive many phone calls and I wouldn’t have a phone on me at all if it didn’t also have the Pocket PC feature set.
Also HD2 compared with iPhone 3GS – I expect they will be of similiar speeds (if HD2 isn’t faster), it also has multitouch (which I don’t care about – I would probably prefer resistive, especially as the icons can now be large enough to be operated with your finger properly).

By: squirrel

squirrel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:19:45 +0000

“anything less than WVGA is useless for browsing the web”
Vakeros, next statement is “much more” true: “iPhone is the best MIDPhone for web-browsing” – because its fast and has multitouch and 800*480 is only the third requirement for good web-experience

By: Vakeros

Vakeros — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:17:30 +0000

Sorry Squirrel but have to disagree about the OmniaHD with 640*360. Older websites are aimed at an 800 width resolution. But PPI is important too, which is the prime reason I am interested in the HD2 more than the Omnia2.

By: Vakeros

Vakeros — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:15:21 +0000

No, it is excluded because it isn’t WVGA.
I agree you need to have a line somewhere. Personally I think anything less than WVGA is useless for browsing the web. I have a phone which is 3 years old. I could browser it then using mobile IE. But it is hard work and I hated doing it and was only for emergencies.
With the new, higher resolution (and quicker) phones that are coming out, they start to be usable by consumers and not just geeks. When the iPhone becomes WVGA I would consider buying it, but not before then.

By: squirrel

squirrel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:44:40 +0000

Of course Chippy, that’s your right to define borders. But its too formally. The subject of the article is _mobile web_ and iPhone is still one of the best for fast web browsing; and there is a little difference between WVGA and OmniaHD 640*360 screen
I’m not for placing all Cortex phones here. I think Blackberry has too small screen

By: Chippy

Chippy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:56:23 +0000

As the article was about WVGA phones, they didn’t quite make the article!