Thrashing Stinks

After my lowly voice-only Samsung phone’s charging pin finally died this past weekend, I had a decision to make: Go for another low-end voice-only phone or step up finally to something with data transmission and storage capabilities?

I’ve never purchased a portable MP3 player. I’ve never purchased a portable or car-based GPS unit. I don’t own a laptop.

I purchased an HTC Mogul.

The basic reasons and features are:

• Existing Sprint contract.
• Sprint high-speed data network.
• A history of excellent Sprint voice service. I’ve lost maybe 5 calls in 2 years.
• Remember The Milk is available for Windows Mobile
• Music playback (video as well, but I don’t care too much about that)
• GPS (when an additional HTC “puck” is purchased)
• Bluetooth
• 2MP camera
• Wifi
• Voice memo recording and voice-dialing
• Physical QWERTY keyboard
• Landscape screen presentation when keyboard is slid out

My First Impressions

I realize this smartphone has been out for a year or so, so this is certainly not meant to be anything more than my experience with this new device coming from a voice-only phone.

Windows Mobile’s UI Sucks : If the screen was 5″ or more, the WM6 UI would be far more tolerable. As it is, and I am sure it has been said many times before, it’s just an adaptation of the typical Windows UI. Zero innovation and zero real effort put into making a sensible UI for a device of this size. Keep in mind that I’m comparing the WM6 UI to nothing. It simply sucks on its own when evaluated by anyone with half a design clue.

The Keyboard Works Well Enough : I’ve only put in around 5 minutes of continuous typing (if you added it all up), but I’m making very few mistakes at my current typing pace. I could probably rock out 25WPM if I had the hands of a 6 year old.

Wifi Works Fine : Simple to configure. Toggles on and off via a slider on the side of the phone. Zero problems with my home WPA-PSK/TKIP network.

No 2.5mm Headphone Jack : To use a set of headphones with a normal 2.5mm male plug, you must use the included mini-USB to 2.5mm adapter. There is no 2.5mm jack on the device.

Speakerphone? Hello? : During normal voice calls there is an onscreen button for speakerphone. During calls to my voicemail there is no such button and I have to select “Menu” then “Turn speakerphone on”. Um…. ooookaayyyy.

Anything not mentioned so far has not been evaluated enough to make a statement. That’s all for now. I’ll post again when I have something further to add. Update: Part 2 of N is now available.