Blue Angel II - Where is it?

[rambo6]

Why doesn't HTC make a Blue Angel II?

It seems that many of us have other devices like Wizards, TyTNs, etc. but we keep hanging on to our Blue Angels. Why is this?

Is it the Big Screen (for me this is the biggest item)?
Is it the fast speed?
Easily accessible Battery?
Is it the Rugged Build?

It seems to me that HTC is long overdue for a Blue Angel II with the Following Specs:

1) HSDPA & HSU (whatever it's called)
2) High Res 3.5" to 4" screen
3) Keyboard (and maybe a mouse of some kind)
Size like I-Phone (maybe a little thicker with keyboard)
4) FM and AM Radio (AM for the older folks like me who listen to talk radio)
5) Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
6) Charges with mini usb
7) TV receiver also????
8) Can still play music when turned off.

The Omni has similar specs but there's not much data on it. It looks like a mini laptop which folds open.

What do you all think?

[Mihail-Klr]

HTC Shift (http://www.htc.com/product/03-product_htcshift.htm) and that is not all!
But you are right, BA is the top model!

[Xeon]

Blue Angel rulesss

[DevisionHUN]

It really is amazing how I'm still sticking with my BA since it was released.
Every year I look around to find a PDAphone to replace the old fellow, but I have to realize, that there isn't a better one.

I would accept the same device with 640*480 and 3G/HSDPA

Been thinking about the Kaiser, but since WM6 is running on my BA now... =)
Why throw the good cash out the window?

[flyboy_____]

Same thought here. Best money I've spent in BA!!

[wilsacan]

Why doesn't HTC make a Blue Angel II?

It seems that many of us have other devices like Wizards, TyTNs, etc. but we keep hanging on to our Blue Angels. Why is this?

Is it the Big Screen (for me this is the biggest item)?
Is it the fast speed?
Easily accessible Battery?
Is it the Rugged Build?

It seems to me that HTC is long overdue for a Blue Angel II with the Following Specs:

1) HSDPA & HSU (whatever it's called)
2) High Res 3.5" to 4" screen
3) Keyboard (and maybe a mouse of some kind)
Size like I-Phone (maybe a little thicker with keyboard)
4) FM and AM Radio (AM for the older folks like me who listen to talk radio)
5) Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
6) Charges with mini usb
7) TV receiver also????
8) Can still play music when turned off.

The Omni has similar specs but there's not much data on it. It looks like a mini laptop which folds open.

What do you all think?

That will be a beauty, i would surely go for it. BlueAngle rules.

[gsx66]

noob @ xda....but a loooong time BA user (Dec2004)

I love the BA...the only things it lacks are a good built in GPS & HSDPA/UMTS/EDGE (can never have enough fast options for net access). Even without these two things I still am able to use it to impress people (even iphone fanatics...no custom apps).

TyTN II looks good but the only thing that keeps me away is the sideways keyboard, I wish they would put out a TyTN II with a slider KB like the BA. Single handed KB is great when you really need to multitask...multitasking is the reason I got a HTC.

Rugged Build story: I dropped it from 5ft+ (I had it chest level & I am 6' 3"), on a SF sidewalk...it died..or so I thought took it back home and all that happened was the backup battery reset and once I synced it with my pc everything was back to normal. This wasn't the first time its been dropped so I figured it was time to get a new device, but the build is awesome in this. But since it was a hard reset I finally decided to put WM6 on it (thank you all the great xda developers here), now its faster and more useful.

[life owner]

Why doesn't HTC make a Blue Angel II?

It seems that many of us have other devices like Wizards, TyTNs, etc. but we keep hanging on to our Blue Angels. Why is this?

Is it the Big Screen (for me this is the biggest item)?
Is it the fast speed?
Easily accessible Battery?
Is it the Rugged Build?

It seems to me that HTC is long overdue for a Blue Angel II with the Following Specs:

1) HSDPA & HSU (whatever it's called)
2) High Res 3.5" to 4" screen
3) Keyboard (and maybe a mouse of some kind)
Size like I-Phone (maybe a little thicker with keyboard)
4) FM and AM Radio (AM for the older folks like me who listen to talk radio)
5) Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
6) Charges with mini usb
7) TV receiver also????
8) Can still play music when turned off.

The Omni has similar specs but there's not much data on it. It looks like a mini laptop which folds open.

What do you all think?

and a 3.2 MP camera ...

I would sell my house to get some thing similar !!!

[putchi]

I Love it! Blue Angel is the top for me.. Every time a look around for new PDA, look at new release from HTC, never found all i have in BA. Best thing - Size is exactly what a device like this must be! 3.7 display - not too big, not too small. I broke my lcd+touchscreen, replaced from e-bay, and I am still using it.
Don't like the idea of GPS in the unit. Better on Bluetooth - in your car mount BA don't have clear view to the sky.

[April 1]

Blue Angel II (if any) should not have key board.

I love my Blue Angel, after upgrading to WM6, I dont like to buy any other available in market.

[EmZvr]

I like Blueangel the way it is, but wanted it to have a better processor (520mhz would be nice), VGA Screen, Accelerated video, 3G and landscape keyboard.

[vma]

I like Blueangel the way it is, but wanted it to have a better processor (520mhz would be nice), VGA Screen, Accelerated video, 3G and landscape keyboard.

Hmmm...

Wouldn't that be *exactly* a Universal?

I have both of them! They do rock, indeed!

Cheers,
vma

[xykosomatik]

Hmmm...

Wouldn't that be *exactly* a Universal?

I have both of them! They do rock, indeed!

Cheers,
vma

exactly... i wanted to upgrade to a universal, but since wm6 came out i stayed on with it. its nice to have a dinosaur that can rock along the newer models.

[EmZvr]

Hmmm...

Wouldn't that be *exactly* a Universal?

I have both of them! They do rock, indeed!

Cheers,
vma
That's right but I don't like it's design, only if there were buttons in the front.. :( And I think it's not video accelerated which is very important to me. Or is it ? :confused:

[vma]

Hi,

I am not sure if it is videoaccelerated or not, but I can tell you that all applications I like work as good or better on my Universal as on my BA:

- Emulators
- TomTom
- TCPMP

The Universal is slightly bigger than the BA and one has to get used to the tilting screen.

On the other hand, it is much nicer to have the Universal in the back-pocket of your trousers than having then BA attached to the belt, where it get's hit by doors or other things, when you move to close to walls...

And believe me: the VGA screen is suberb!!!

Cheers,
vma

[kilocharlie11]

:D BA is the best. Love it very much although i was given a gift of HTC TyTn.

[robal]

E-TEN X800 or M800 seems to be my current candidate for BA replacement.

BA is a really good dinosaur. Hard to let it go.

However, remember that there are some awfully crappy things about it. It's not perfect.

- somewhat power hungry
- awful cradle connector
- audio out funtion in cradle connector newer worked for me (for any carkit)
- has confirmed hardware issue with buttons (loss of response - makes gaming hard)
- has crappy WM2003SE (because, face it... no WM5 WM6 ROM is stable and bug free enough)


I agree, that it's hard to find a decent replacement for it.
All model have too small screens...

[kcguy]

I checked out all the other models, older and current, before I bought the BA. I have a Wizard, which now resides in a drawer, only as a back-up, in case something happens to my BA. The only criticism I have of the BA is that they no longer manufacture it, so I too hope HTC comes out with something to replace it. From what I've seen of the newer models and what I read on this forum everyday, I'll stick with the BA.

BTW, robal, take a look at the rom I,m running. Since upgrading from 2003se to this rom, I have had 0 issues. It's fast, stable and battery life is acceptable.

[XtreMe_G]

i've since moved on from my BA to a hermes and now a kaiser......i miss my BA.

[xplode]

well BA has its design faults

1.the cable which connects lcd to motherboard is weak and after some sliding it cracks - this effect can be solved (extend the durability) with Polyethylene Foam Tape on the cable
2.after sliding there there are sme scratches below the hardware keyboard - repainting
3.the stylus pin (inside the device) which hold the stylus from falling off also cracks after too many usage - i fixed it with silicone (as i lost the pin) and it works fine over a year now

other than that the device is pretty solid and had no problems with it

most are the new WM problems but without proper drivers it is almost inpossible to be solved

in comparission with kaiser the BA has better video acceleration for the moment (this will change when the proper kaiser drivers are released)

What BA miss (the things i miss in it):
internal GPS
54 mbit wireless
better camera (2 mpix)
OpenGL ES hardware acceleration
larger rom space (32 mb right now if it was larger we can create more complete rom images for BA)
larger storage space 60 mb (everyone needs more space)

What BA miss (the things i do not miss in it):
3G/3.5G/HSDPA etc - high speed data connections - due to high proces of this types of connections i do not really need them
Video Call - the same as above

the CPU speed and the amount of ram in BA are enough for WM 6 and 6.1 even if it was released in 2004...

but maybe proper replacement is the Universal or the Kaiser (for now)

we will see what will happen in near future

[April 1]

I am looking for a device with big screen like BA but without keyboard. I have never used my keyboard in 4 years.

[khanem]

I am looking for a device with big screen like BA but without keyboard. I have never used my keyboard in 4 years.
you have the alpine but no wm6.0.

[April 1]

you have the alpine but no wm6.0.

No, Alpine is not attractive, my BA is a better choice. I am looking for interface like iPhone but with WM.

[xplode]

http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=498

this is the latest one with big screen

[April 1]

I am impressed by Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1, but unforunately that too has key board.

http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/x1?lc=en&cc=us

[rambo6]

I've have had the Kaiser, Hermes, Mogul, Wizard, and BA. Most of them at the same time. I use the BA to browse the web when my computer isn't nearby. I love it's larger screen.

Here's what I really want:

1) Big high resolution screen. At least the size of the I-Phone. Few if any hardware buttons on front of the device.
2) Almost as thin as the I-Phone but with slide out keyboard and roller mouse type thing.
3) Removable flat battery like the BA, but one that stays attached better.
4) Fast processor and Video processor. (I'm want to watch movies and TVon this bad boy).
5) AM Radio (I like to listen to talk radio. I guess I'm getting old.)
6) Add TV to this while your ad it.
7) That rubbery type of grip like on the T-Mobile Wing.
8) OS that's light and quick but can do everything.
9) Internal GPS.
10) BT 2.0 with EDR.
11) A camera which actually takes a decent picture. Cheap flash also. (Nice to use as flashlight sometimes).
12) Removeable memory microSD.
13) Attachable to USB external hard drive.


HTC and MS are working on devices called "MID". These may be the ticket. See http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/10/intel-explains-mid-vs-umpc/

I love my Kaiser but I'm getting real tired of the 2.8" screen. I've been messing around with my friends Advantage. That's quite cool but too fat and stupid keyboard?

BTW, what ever happened to HTC's Omni?

[Cooky!]

What do you think about the Toshiba G900. I'm thinking of buying this one because there is something that tell me to change my BA.

I think that the camera is very weak and that makes me cry because I use to much the camera. I love to go to classic music concerts and I have always to bring with me a camera in my other pocket. I think that 2MP camera is enough for me. What do you think? here is the link for the G900:

http://www.quesabesde.com/noticias/2_3011

[chunkymonkey]

The biggest 'missing' feature of all the post-BA HTC devices has been diagonals on the d-pad.

I've got 2 hermes (soon to be 1) and a Universal and either would be twice as useful with that.

Always surprised me that no diagonals became the default for HTC when so much of an entertainment market opens up with its inclusion.

I love the BA, I really do think it's a brilliant device. I'll be gutted when it (my third one) gives out as that'll probably be it.

[Bird_FAT]

If the BA was a person, it'd have to be Elvis! No matter how old they get, they're still known as the Ultimate!

I've used and abused 3 of the little chaps now, and like a lot of you have mentioned, have yet to find a decent replacement for it, not that I haven't been looking! I love the fact that I can still show up all the little blighters around me, and especially love the fact that I can show up the iPhone users with the old dragon.

- MacSPAM: 'Well, my snazzy, wonderful (and bloody expensive) iPhone can do THIS!' sneer!
- BA Boy: 'Is that all?' snigger, DOUBLE sneer! 'Oh well, maybe people will write more apps for it...one day!' P-P-P-POW!

Yes, there are some things that could be better, but who cares, it's still the best machine on the market - BAR NONE!

[rambo6]

What do you think about the Toshiba G900. I'm thinking of buying this one because there is something that tell me to change my BA.

I think that the camera is very weak and that makes me cry because I use to much the camera. I love to go to classic music concerts and I have always to bring with me a camera in my other pocket. I think that 2MP camera is enough for me. What do you think? here is the link for the G900:

http://www.quesabesde.com/noticias/2_3011

I've seen the G900 and it's pretty good. I also like the G920 which looks even better. See http://www.mobilewhack.com/toshiba-g920-and-g910-fcc-approved.

I'd prefer to have an HTC device primarily because of the support given by this forum and the continual stream of new ROMs which make it like Christmas every month for those habitual flashers like me.

If HTC doesn't come up with a larger screened device with a keyboard in their big May announcement, I might buy either a Toshiba G900 or G920 or the 3G i-phone (Idiot Phone).

I might even buy the i-phone (aka Idiot Phone) if they come out with a 3G version in June. I won't even consider it if HTC builds something with a decent screen between now and then

I wouldn't even mind having a device almost exactly like the BA but with 3G. HTC has the TyTn II and the Touch and (touch II slide). HTC, let's get some BA action going.

[wakhoma]

I wonder why HTC does not make a better BA for us. I think we have the best device in our hand. This causes the bad thing to HTC because we have not bought any another device for a long time. The best thing is the bad thing for their trading. hahah.

[watcher01]

And what about this:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/82869/o2-xda-flame-vga-pocket-pc-phone-with-goforce.html
http://www.mwg.com/xda-flame.aspx

If specification tells true this phone rocks.

[rambo6]

And what about this:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/82869/o2-xda-flame-vga-pocket-pc-phone-with-goforce.html
http://www.mwg.com/xda-flame.aspx

If specification tells true this phone rocks.

The XDA Flame has some great specs. NVIDIA graphics card, etc. But it has no keyboard. It's also a tad thick.

[rambo6]

Engadget reports a some new HTC devices for Sprint. They look thinner and with a higher resolution screen but still 2.8". What is HTC thinking?

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/23/htcs-raphael-and-diamond-coming-to-sprint-and-looking-good/

[singer12]

if this ppc had a built in gps and 3g. it would totally be the winner of all.
I happen to own a xda iis and a xda exec and even though i thought that the xda exec was the best wm device, this pocket pc the BLUE ANGEL proved me wrong.
The big screen not the huge screen that the xda has. the 3d chip ideal for gaming, the 128 memory when the xda exec has only 64:eek:and that you dont feel that you carry a laptop all the time,but a ppc phone without beeing too big,then what more can i say?
i wish they rebuilt the BA with these 2 features above and with the TOUCH FLO and then WHO NEEDS AN IPHONE:)

[robal]

Hi,

I had BA too, and it was hard to switch to anything else from it.
Finally I switched to Touch PRO.

I see most people have nostalgia concerning screen size.

Well... by today's standards, BA is a huge brick :)
Really.. it's hard to wear it in pocket. It's large and thick.

On the other hand, it is possible to have a comfortable'ish phone with larger screen than 'tiny' 2.8". (i-phone, anyone ?)
Still, I'm happy with 2.8" phone right now. I got used to it.
And the rest of features convince me enough.


Cheers

[sschrupp]

I spent the last few months researching pda/phones. My requirements were a touchscreen of at least 3.2", windows mobile, GSM, wifi, and some buttons that could possibly be used for emulator gaming.

The XDA Flame looked promising, but it sounded like there are some issues with it. The iPhone is sexy, but no buttons and no windows mobile. The Sony Xperia looks nice, but way too expensive and not big enough screen. The Samsung Omnia has a 3.2" screen, but again is way too expensive.

It finally came down to a Chinese import, the Daxian T32/X999+, and the Blue Angel. Well, the BA has a bigger screen, has buttons, is from a respectable source, possibly more powerful, and about half the price using Ebay. Ta-da! The BA is mine and I'm loving it!

[tim273]

How about a Nokia N800 or N810, it doesn't get much better than that...

http://www.nseries.com/products/n800/
http://www.nseries.com/products/n810/

[tim273]

How about a Nokia N800 or N810, it doesn't get much better than that...

http://www.nseries.com/products/n800/
http://www.nseries.com/products/n810/

I should also mention, it's not a cell phone...although it does have VOIP capability.

[sschrupp]

Not a phone, and doesn't run Windows Mobile. If I didn't want a phone and Windows Mobile I'd go with the Pandora gaming device coming out soon.

It's amazing that after 4 years or so nobody has improved on this thing's design yet. If anything I'd say everyone has taken a few steps back. Obviously the processors have gotten more powerful, but what's with all the dang 2.8" screens? Let's IMPROVE our tech gadgets, not throw them back in time!

Take the BlueAngel and:

1. Keep the screen size, although I wouldn't mind a 3.5"ish widescreen instead of QVGA. iPhone has a nice 3.5", even Chinese knockoffs have screens larger than 3". Get rid of the 2.8"!!

2. Get rid of wasted space around the edges to make it smaller. I bet you could shave a half inch off the width and like an inch off the length!

3. Make it thinner using today's available technology. I personally don't mind the thickness, but a little thinner wouldn't be bad. I'd take the thickness if it meant an awesome battery!

4. Keep the buttons, although it'd be more gaming friendly if there were 4 buttons on the top so that you could use the directional keypad as a joystick and then the buttons would be handy for the right hand. I love the sexy look of the minimalistic iPhone, but some buttons can always come in handy, especially for gaming.

5. Use a bare-bones install of Windows Mobile with Office. Don't spend so much time/money on developing interfaces when there's so much awesome development done by the users!

6. Add an accelerometer like the iPhone and others. Plenty of potential there as far as new applications and games.

7. Adopt the multi-touch idea from iPhone. Again, lots of potential there!

Ok ok, so I guess I'm saying that a great upgrade/replacement of the BA would be an iPhone that had some buttons, directional toggle, and Windows Mobile. The Samsung Omnia is a step in the right direction, but it needs a little bigger screen and it lacks the non-touchscreen controls to make it gamer friendly.

[Atramhasis]

I was looking for a successor for my Blue Angel and almost did get an iPhone. But now I think there will soon, finally, be a good device:
http://www.pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=1469

The HTC Touch HD does not have a keyboard, but I can live with it, it's even not slimmer this way. It seems to be a perfect device.

[RMSe17]

The screen is small :( I like the high rez, but it's physical size is smaller than BA which will make it harder to read small font at that resolution.

[wuzy]

The screen is small :( I like the high rez, but it's physical size is smaller than BA which will make it harder to read small font at that resolution.

If you've used a VGA/WVGA device before you would've noticed everything is set at 192dpi. i.e. HTC Universal 3.6" VGA same sized font
Unless you're using SE_VGA/ozVGA (true VGA) which would mean you're retaining 96 dpi.

No matter how small/large the screen size is, there's no alternative to higher resolution when viewing webpage on your PDA. Using Opera 9.5 on Touch Pro's 2.8" VGA is sheer joy! :D
There's a technique you can use when you can't see things, hold it closer. :p

[Atramhasis]

... it's physical size is smaller than BA ...

3.8" > 3.5"
Maybe you read it wrong?

[sschrupp]

Wow, 3.8". That things a monster! SDHC slot, G-sensor, 480x800 WVGA.. ok yeah, I'm drooling just a little bit. Now I just need to sell my left kidney and maybe a testicle or two in order to afford it when it comes out.

It's lacking in buttons, but it's sure nailing everything else!

I'm glad you mentioned the HTC Touch HD, Atramhasis. I was assuming it'd have the same 2.8" screen as the other ones.

HTC product page here (http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=64796).

[jiogoal]

Blue Angel looks ossam I think It is HTC best modal

[hnyuk49]

I'm sticking with Symbian for about 3 years before moving on for a change with a Windows Mobile phone. I need something with qwerty keyboard and low price. Definitely, BA is the best and my smartest choice. I got it for about 100$ (I think it's a n-hand fone, but everything is okay). The thing I love most about BA is it big screeen, stable (almost never die) and fast! I lost it once then bought another one right away, cannot live a without it. :)
What I would die for is an BA II with GPS, Hi-res screen (something like 16M color!),Full keyboard, running on WM7 & that's all! :D Long live BA!!!

[Takiyon]

Since I have upgraded to a kaiser I have no need for my BA so I am gonna hook it up permanently to my Carputer maybe as a prepaid phone or internet. Not sure, I do know this there is none other like it. If my kaiser had a bigger screen I would love it. My wife has a BA also with the camera. And she looks at my kaiser with some disappointment. So I would say the biggest benefit of the BA is big screen. Now i have to steer her to upgrading to a kaiser because she wants an iPhone :mad: (What a sell out!) I think the iPhone is just cool factor. No functionality. Anyone got any suggestions at to what I should turn my BA into?? I was also thinking about some kind of media center control. Like nail it to the wall and turn it into a kiosk. Need some advice.

[obingkong]

the title says it all...

[sschrupp]

Well, I think I'm going to pony up and get the HTC Touch HD. I'm not overly enthusiastic about no buttons, but the device has everything else right.

The only thing else coming out is the Pharos Traveler 137 and Asus Galaxy 7 which both have a 3.5" screen instead of 3.8", but they do have a toggle stick or trackball as opposed to the HD's nothing. Considering they're projected for March I think I'll just go with the HD.

[rambo6]

It's funny, the Palm Pre really has the same form factor as the 5 year old Blue Angel. The new Touch HD looks like it's coming to Sprint and Verizon. I hear the touch HD is pretty awesome but if I didn't want a keyboard, I'd buy an i-Phone.

I'd love to see the HD with a keyboard which slides out. Sooner or later someone's going to get the form factor right.

I love the idea of the Noki 97. It's like a larger version of the Kaiser. It runs some version of the Symbian.

I'm not buying another phone until one comes along with a bigger screen period.

[xplode]

i was about to say the same thing :), the new palm form factor looks awesome :)

[hagsted]

Personally I would not live without the qwerty keyboard, but in the leaked photo's of what it supposedly HTC's 2009 lineup, I think that there just might be what many of us is looking for. But of course, the specs are not known yet and they have to be good to convince my to ditch my good old BA, now that there is a good WM6.1 up and running on it.

Check the photos here http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=52811

[egzthunder1]

Very Nice!!! It seems kinda funny (to me at least) how they have so many new models resembling the BlackBerry, and yet RIM seems to be desperately trying to get away from that form factor (and closer to PDA style)...
Nice nevertheless.... I am looking forward to those. Hopefully, they will be much more affordable than they currently are. Make no mistake, they can make them out of solid gold with a supercomputer the size of a fingernail, but if people cannot afford them, it is kinda pointless... (ie Touch HD, Athena).