Anything similar to Athena? [Archive]

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alui

19-06-2008, 02:20 AM

cktlcmd

19-06-2008, 03:49 AM

Where have you been? Look at it's successor HTC Advantage X7510: http://www.digitalburn.com/index.php/2008/05/21/review-of-htcs-x7510-advantage/

...

eaglesteve

19-06-2008, 05:27 AM

Is there any device in market or coming soon similar to Athena?

Important features included:
large screen (5" or above)
under $1000
long battery life
instant on
wifi, gps
weight about 1 lb

It should have more than one in this market segment.

Thanks!

Good question. I'm looking for it too. I was hoping that 7510 was going to be it, but no. It was a step backward instead of forward, from my perspective and based on the way I'm going to use it.

I would add FM radio, support High Capacity external memory cards, 5MB camera, fluid video recorder, television, more rounded and thinner than 7500/7510.

I would like it to maintain the existing aspect ratio and not move toward 480x800 for the sake of software compatibility. No thanks, I don't want a 2.8" screen.

As you can see, there is none in the market that meets my dream list. So I guess I'd be using my Athena for a long long time to come still.

kramerica2

19-06-2008, 11:59 AM

Is there any device in market or coming soon similar to Athena?

Important features included:
large screen (5" or above)
under $1000
long battery life
instant on
wifi, gps
weight about 1 lb

It should have more than one in this market segment.

Thanks!

question: All the things you've mentioned are included in the Athena, so why are you looking for something else????

cktlcmd

19-06-2008, 02:15 PM

eaglesteve

19-06-2008, 02:32 PM

Or if you don't mind a small screen and the absence of a keyboard, check out the Samsung Omnia: http://samsungomnia.com/

To be honest, if this had a better screen size, I would not consider saving up for the X7510, but nothing beats the screen of the Athena and Advantage as of now.

...

Indeed. You'd really appreciate Athena's (big) size when you're using e-reader program, pdf file viewer, SoftMakers (when in 92dpi especially), and internet browsing. You can see those otherwise too tiny fonts.

cktlcmd

19-06-2008, 06:12 PM

Indeed. You'd really appreciate Athena's (big) size when you're using e-reader program, pdf file viewer, SoftMakers (when in 92dpi especially), and internet browsing. You can see those otherwise too tiny fonts.

I am dying in waiting here... for the X7510. On The Go Solutions will have it in stock by tomorrow. I keep holding back because I am waiting for the price of the X7500 (brand new) to drop to at least $900. If I can't control myself, I'll be buying the X7510 by next week. But before I order, I still want to know that they have it in stock, because the release date keeps moving back. :(

I even purchased ahead of time the following: Brando Workshop's Ultra clear screen protector, LG HBM 700 BT Communicator, heck... I even ordered a customized belt holster from Nutshell in Horizontal Style that houses both the case and the X7510 with keyboard. I had to make sure I didn't messed up on the size specifications I provided, so I waited for some reviews to confirm it. I guess we'll know in a few days.

...

PBL1

20-06-2008, 03:39 AM

For my the Athena is the best device today even compared with with the newer devices about to be released, HTC had the chance to get out a much better device with the 7510 but they didn't deliver.
In my opinion the only better thing is they doubled the amount of memory to 16gb and that is solid state rather than a hard disk, so what (8GB micro SDs cost peanuts this days and 16gb will soon be out there) but not joypad or buttons.

I want my next device with a proper graphics chip and the most sensitive gps chip out there and a camera that actually deliver even in poor light conditions
I want the OS and applications as good as those made by Apple or better and for gods sake Athena it is a VGA device, I want VGA working out of the box.
a little more ram will hep too ( for speed) and the phone function should work flawless at all times.
transflective LCD screen any one?

those are the issues that if solved will make a difference to my, and yea they can be solved the proof is this forum and excelent roms and apps.

Is anybody from HTC reading this?

said this I still convinced than Athena+XDA develoers hard work is the best device out there even after a year.

right, I feel much better now:p

oh yea good try with the new keyboard but not good enough.

jetherson

18-09-2008, 11:45 AM

i was reading this thread... and i had the urge to bump it up.

lol.

ciao!

black--rider

18-09-2008, 05:32 PM

HTC SHIFT? A bit Bigger... but loses some of the mobile capabilities and batt life?

techntrek

18-09-2008, 09:57 PM

Three months later and the answer to this thread is still the same - the 7500 or 7501 are still the best on the market. 7510 gives up too much, and nothing else on the market has the screen size, battery life, instant on, wifi, bt, etc.

eaglesteve

19-09-2008, 12:05 AM

For me, the replacement model is the HTC Touch HD.

auramae

21-09-2008, 10:55 PM

jetherson

22-09-2008, 02:16 AM

touch hd lacks the hardware keyboard and gps, right? but atleast maybe they already fixed the graphic card issue in touch hd.

eaglesteve

22-09-2008, 06:54 AM

touch hd lacks the hardware keyboard and gps, right? but atleast maybe they already fixed the graphic card issue in touch hd.

They have not only gps but also A-gps.

Thank goodness there is no keyboard.

pdajoy

22-09-2008, 07:41 AM

Athena screen size attracted me most, though its a little bulky.
Xperia X1 is my prefer choice, if it is 1 inch more.

jetherson

22-09-2008, 09:08 AM

They have not only gps but also A-gps.

Thank goodness there is no keyboard.

i see, i must have misread that gps thingy somewhere.

eaglesteve

22-09-2008, 10:30 AM

While Touch HD is the best replacement today, I'm still waiting for a 4.5 inch minimmum screen, with FM and TV and joystick. I don't mind not having the other hardware buttons but I really really want the joystick.

I prefer no keyboard personally. Just want the same form factor as the Touch HD.

fards

22-09-2008, 12:35 PM

I'm intrigued by the t-mob G1

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/19/g1-appears-on-t-mobiles-site/

cmonex

28-09-2008, 03:52 PM

HTC SHIFT? A bit Bigger... but loses some of the mobile capabilities and batt life?

"a bit" bigger. nah, it is like several times bigger, i can take and post comparison photos :)

the truth is, while the shift is really small for a vista pc, the athena is incredibly small. (just don't compare it to normal phones :) )

haitiankid4lyf

30-09-2008, 11:44 PM

I am also intrigued by the Touch HD, but I can't see on its spec page if it has VGA out. I use my Advantage to hook up to a projector and run PowerPoint. (Maybe I need a pocket sized projector that takes an SD card instead?)
no the HD doesnt have a vga out you can look at its spec over here http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=64796

jetherson

01-10-2008, 05:39 AM

i also use the vga-out of athena. so it seems i can't find anything better (for my needs) than athena, as of the moment. besides, reading ebooks is so much better on a 5" screen. hopefully, the next version of athena will have 800x600 resolution on it's 5" screen, albeit this will be eye-straining. lol.

ciao!

will_990

01-10-2008, 10:46 AM

For other products, what about the Sony Vaio UX390 with GSM? It has no GPS though, the screen is somewhat smaller, and battery durance is rather short...or so it's said.

cmonex

02-10-2008, 06:57 AM

For other products, what about the Sony Vaio UX390 with GSM? It has no GPS though, the screen is somewhat smaller, and battery durance is rather short...or so it's said.

well maybe I can feel qualified to answer...
I use Athena as my main phone... and I am playing with a UX390 here... lovely device :D

these two devices are not directly comparable... they are good for so different things, even though they are both about the same size.

what the Athena is good at:
instant on, easy to grab to do some quick thing on it
ebooks because of the large screen and good battery life, and any other programs/applications that can take advantage of these two features.
full HSDPA and I guess, the full phone capability is also neat. (the UX can also send SMS and use EDGE internet)
better keyboard (not totally great, but more usable than UX's)
then of course it has the GPS built in.. and it seems that GPS programs are better on PDA's (more supported, more serious programs with good maps)

what the sony is good at:
full x86 compatibility (vista runs pretty smooth), which is several advantages in one.
for example, very fast internet browsing this way (though opera mobile is quite good on Athena too.)
better hardware, so for example better video playing of course..
you could even replace your normal laptop or PC with it (not me, but other people have done it), with an external monitor and keyboard.
again, I repeat, you can run all your PC apps, within this the advantages for me personally:
- I can use IDA Pro and any programming tools
- and basically, I have truly mirc in my pocket, what i've always dreamt of. (sure, I have irc clients on PDA's, but not mirc)
- you can sync the Athena to it and even flash it!
don't worry about the battery, spare battery is easy to carry with you (I have some even for athena too). I just found one for 26GBP, which is a good deal :)

so, two totally different profiles! maybe having both is best? :D
but the UX is definitely not an Athena replacement. it is different.
anyway, advice: if you do decide to get a UX, please do make sure you only go for a SSD model.

oh, and to complicate matters further, if you don't mind not having a phone module, then maybe take a look at Nokia's N810 too... yes am playing with one right now :D

will_990

02-10-2008, 08:18 PM

You have too much playing time, haven't you, cmonex? ;)

Many thanks for your input! I wasn't sure about buying a Sony, but now I will go for the X7500, I simply need the combination of phone, navigation and PPC; this board provides excellent hints and tips as well, so...

wkeller

05-10-2008, 09:14 AM

Benq S6 MID: 4.8inch touchscreen Linux/Firefox 350gr 3G etc for <500 euro

See
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/04/benqs-potent-mid-s6-headed-for-worldwide-release/

eaglesteve

05-10-2008, 11:00 AM

Benq S6 MID: 4.8inch touchscreen Linux/Firefox 350gr 3G etc for <500 euro

See
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/04/benqs-potent-mid-s6-headed-for-worldwide-release/

This looks interesting. Thanks for the info, wkeller.

tootallk2000

05-10-2008, 04:15 PM

This looks interesting. Thanks for the info, wkeller.

It's close, but a no go for me. No GPS, and only 2GB SSD. The Athenas have 8 plus as we already knows, and the fact that their's not phone built in either it's more leaning towards a UMPC. However, those Bands will work just great here in America on Tmobile's 3G network. I will have to just wait for somebody to hear our crys and make something we can all enjoy (You hear that HTC!) Oh on another note does the HTC Touch HD have a TV out on it Steve? If not that's not even close either.

Never mind the question Steve I saw the answer above.

Here's what I'm waiting to play with:
http://www.techgadgets.in/mobile-phones/2008/18/asus-zest-touchscreen-smartphone-in-the-works/