I got hold of a UT Starcom PPC6700 from UBC to evaluate (May 2006).
This is from a program with Bell Canada.
Overall Impressions
This is a really cool device. You can browse the Web anywhere there's
digital cellphone coverage, snap pictures and upload them instantly, download
music (or video) and play it, check email etc. - and if there's a WiFi hotspot,
it will use that and go faster. It probably represents the future of the cellphone.
Or the PDA. Or something.
However, I have serious concerns about security risks to and from this device.
It is not easily updatable, has little apparent protection, and has multiple
networking paths.
The most annoying thing about it was the display - I could not read it
in sunlight, which kind of cramps your style when you are trying to
work from the beach, or deal with panic calls when out hiking etc.
(why else would you buy one?)
Had to phone Bell to get setup instructions;
"number to dial" is #777, no username/password, once they
understood what I was asking about. Similar to Rogers.
More "finger trouble". Menus show multiple connections
under "Connections"
with typical Microsoft "friendly" names - "My ISP", "My Work Network".
The unit was probably already configured with "CDMA Network" but
I messed it up. Note that "modem connection" will not
connect to a regular 56k analog modem. (If I understood correctly, my Nokia
phone is technically capable of doing this, but it is not supported by
Rogers.)
Download speed appears similar to EDGE on Rogers (as in "time to display a page").
I didn't measure it formally.
The camera - being able to take a photo then immediately upload it
over WiFi is cool. And the picture quality is a big improvement over my
Nokia phone, though the 640x480 image can't compete with a "real" camera.
The screen. Nice crisp display (with the light on, anyhow) bigger than
a cellphone's.
It runs PocketPuTTY (an SSH client)
Charges on any USB port, not just on cradle.
WML works
wtai works for dialling, add to contacts
The integration of features is generally cool.
Dislikes/Gripes
The screen is unreadable unless backlit. (unlike every other LCD display I have)
In battery mode, the screen goes black (backlight level reset to zero)
and the power button tends to turn the unit off (actually, make it hibernate) instead of turn the backlight on
Talked to UTstar support. Looks like "finger trouble". Tapping the power
button toggles the power; holding it for 3 seconds toggles the backlight.
However, in sunlight it is impossible to tell whether the unit is off or just dimmed.
I recall that Garmin overloaded the power button on my GPS, too. Tapping that pops
a backlight selector while holding it toggles the power, which I think is a better design choice
The battery doesn't last very long (one can get an optional battery pack)
The keyboards lack keys:
The keyboard has no ESC key (can use ctl-[ on the virtual keybboard instead)
The pull-out keyboard has no CTL key
The pull-out keyboard has no digits - hard to enter strong passwords
using two different shift keys while unable to see results
This is just being greedy - my Nokia keyboard has no control or escape, either. But the
PPC6700 offers the possibility to do actual work via SSH, or Web portals, so that
having the full ASCII set is important.
Word has no "open file" feature;
tapping random files has no "open with" dialogue - impossible to read
random textfile with "wrong" suffix e.g. SSH key
Selecting a zipfile to delete it runs unzip instead. Then the file is busy
since unzip is backgrounded, and the file can't be deleted
Maybe more RTFM (or the demo that appears if you reset the device,
as when I was clearing it in order to return it...) Holding the stylus down
is like Windows right-click, and includes a "delete", which would work
if you didn't get unzip running first
Tapping "X" backgrounds tasks instead of killing them. Task manager
to actually kill them is 3 levels deep in start menu
Stupid "twiddle-pip" noises when the unit is supposedly turned off.
Can't get it to work with Linux over USB. Haven't really tried.
Does not appear on USB as a "memory device" like my MP3 player or as a USB serial line like my Nokia phone.
3 out of 3 pocketPC apps from download.com don't work - say "not a valid Windows application".
Hard to blame the 6700 for this, but it suggests that apps are not really "universal"
Headphone jack is non-standard. The supplied earbuds are fine, but if you lose them
you won't pick up replacements at the dollar store. (This was pointed out by another reviewer)
It's not running Linux (hey, gotta put that...). That's not a serious concern, it's just that
I'm way more familiar with writing software on Linux, administering Linux and generally using it.
* A correspondant reports there is a Linux port under development -
HTCApache
System update is all-or-nothing, requires a Windows PC, requires restore of all user features
from backup
System runs at elevated privilege all the time
This is Windows (i.e. a very widely deployed OS; I don't believe
Linux, MacOS, Symbion etc. are inherently more secure than XP
in user mode ). I assume malware and viruses are possible
and will become common. There appears to be no firewall, no antivirus, and no active update of
vulnerable components such as IE, at least out-of-the-box.
Plus the device has automatic network connections via 5
different methods (WiFi, EV-DO, USB, Bluetooth, IrDA). It has the
potential to become a
security nightmare. Apparently various vendors have antivirus for Windows Mobile, and
Microsoft has e.g. a "Messaging & Security Feature Pack".
Google it.
I needed reading glasses to use it (yeah, my eyes are going, but I don't - yet - need
them to use my GPS in daylight).
Not a lot of memory. You can insert a memory card, though what it
really needs is a minidisk to render iPods obsolete.
Running Cost
It was pointed out that these devices have the capability to become
a huge financial liability, if EV-DO (cell data) use is not properly managed.
Unless on an unlimited data plan (currently unavailable in Canada, and
between $60-$100/month in the US), the byte charges can really add up
if the unit is used for surfing modern graphic-rich websites, downloading
MP3s or video, etc. There may be some risk from automatic software
updates if triggered when on cell rather than WiFi.
There are stories of kids running up hundreds of dollars in charges on
the old WML (wireless web) cellphones; with a "real browser" it could get much worse.
Comments from Brannon Russell:
The ScanDisk 1GB Mini SD Memory Card works fine with this model and allows for more loading of programs,
files, MP3, etc, but resident memory on the phone still lacks considerably when running multiple programs
(limit yourself to three or four). CompUSA seems to have the best selection of memory cards readily on-hand
for about $80. You can find them at a much lower price ($40 / $50) on the web.
Bluetooth Headset works (Motorola 300 Headset/earpiece), but don't walk out of range of PPC6700 with the
headset or you'll have to refresh or completely reset the headset with the PPC.
It is easy to not remember you
have the Lt. Uhura communication device attached to your ear.
Works with Microsoft's Voice Command software; but you can go to www.UTStar.com/handsets/ and download the
latest update that has some type voice command software built into the software update at no charge.
Sync's with Outlook 2003 with Microsoft's Active Sync 5.0 with no problems.
I have even created some of my own Ring-tones as well using the information at this website:
Stop Paying for Ring Tones (Wired.com)
Comments from John DiMarco:
You mention on your page that the PPC6700 doesn't run Linux. That's not
quite true. This machine is actually the HTC Apache (HTC is the original
Taiwanese manufacturer), and there does seem to be a linux port under
development.
I've also found a nice metal case for it. I have the equivalent for my
current PDA, and I got it after paying through the nose for a broken screen.
No broken screen in the years since. Here's a review:
It's available in silver or black, and there's a version that can
accommodate the extended battery:
case
HTC has recently (May 2007) come out with an update to the Apache
called the HTC Titan (they're comparable CDMA/EV-DO Windows Mobile units).
Telus now (as of the last week or two) carries it in Canada as the HTC P4000.
It's carried in the US by Verizon as the XV6800. It is similar to the
Apache, but is 6.5mm thinner, 10g heavier, 256MB ROM instead of 128MB,
a 2.0Mpixel camera instead of 1.3Mp, microSD instead of miniSD, and BT2.0
instead of 1.2.
