Camera Phone Reviews

E-TEN G500 Pocket PC Phone

The G500 is also the first PDA phone with an onboard receiver allowing it to support Traffic Message Channel (TMC) functions in available countries when using the popular GPS application, Destinator™. When traveling, the G500 can receive regularly updated reports of the traffi c conditions ahead and so alert drivers to problems (such as sudden traffi c congestion) that could cause delays on a planned route. TMC’s advanced warning system enables users to make on the fl y changes to their journey, avoiding traffi c jams and holdups and giving them an advantage to reach their destinations on time.

The G500 has been optimized to support many of the popular GPS software packages available for the Pocket PC. Its large touch screen display is ideal for using fingertip
navigation controls, while the large storage capacity lets users store roadmaps for
multiple countries and destinations directly on the device. E-TEN also includes several
unique, in-house developed or licensed software applications that add even more
value to the G500 package. For example Location SMS integrates GPS and phone
functions to enable users to send SMS text messages including their precise GPS
coordinates to any other SMS compatible phone or device.

As a phone device, the G500 supports GSM quad-band 850/900/1800/1900MHz and GPRS standards allowing users to make and receive voice calls, send SMS text messages, and access data services including email, mobile Internet, and MMS wherever they travel. The G500 also supports Bluetooth® 1.2 enabling wireless connectivity with other Bluetooth devices and accessories. Installed on the G500 are E-TEN exclusive applications that offer enhanced functionality over other Pocket “Building upon E-TEN’s proven record as a successful Pocket

The G500 is the first Pocket PC Phone from E-TEN to have PC Phones including; Voice Commander to enable complete hands-free voice dialing capabilities, Advanced Speed Dial which makes dialing frequent contacts even easier, and GPRS Wizard which simplifies the task of configuring data services such as GPRS, MMS, and WAP.

Based on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system, the G500 includes a number of software applications designed to add value for mobile business or mobile entertainment focused users. Support for Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) lets G500 owners work with their important documents even while traveling, while Windows Media Player enables them to watch movies and listen to music.

The G500 has been ergonomically designed for handheld operation. Comparable in size to traditional mobile phone handsets, the device’s combination of large (2.8��) touch screen display, intuitively positioned hardware buttons, and easy to customize software interface, offers users multiple opportunities to personalize the G500 to match their unique usage requirements. Also, as an added benefit to both business users and travelers, the G500 features a 1.3M pixel CMOS camera and built in microphone allowing them to capture digital images and voice memo recordings.

Combining PDA, phone, GPS, camera, and digital entertainment functions all in a single pocketsize device, the G500 represents E-TEN’s most integrated and highly refined solution to meet the needs of business professionals and frequent travelers. The G500 will be available in most markets worldwide in March 2006.

PocketNow reviews the ETEN G500 and concludes, "Over all, this is a great device. Yes, it does have its quirks and issues, but most devices do. While I would like to see ETEN work on the 850MHz band issue, and get it resolved (I was quite disappointed with its initial cell phone performance.), I'd also like to see an ETEN device with some kind of keyboard. Using Spb Full Screen Keyboard to respond to e-mail is NOT easy. Color me spoiled by the HTC Wizard if you want, but I've really gotten used to an external, permanently attached QWERTY keyboard that tucks neatly away when its not in use."

MobileTechReview reviews the E-TEN G500, and comments on the phone's camera: "The camera app offers a wealth of settings, including white balance, special effects, timer and continuous shooting of photos. The camera viewfinder takes up the entire screen and you can change between portrait and landscape orientation with the tap of a button. If you tap on the wrench icon, large, mostly intuitive settings icons appear circling the screen's perimeter� an interesting and friendly user interface. The camera offers a wizard option which allows you to immediately do a variety of things with an image you've just taken: send it via MMS, edit it using the included Image Maker application, trash it, view it in Multimedia Manager or Frame it using Image Wizard.

Image quality is decent by camera phone standards. it's better than the E-TEN M600 but not as good as the Nokia 6682 or LG VX9800. The camera doesn't do well in low light, which is true of many cell phone cameras. Unlike the M600, the G500 doesn't have a flash. Video quality is quite good by mobile standards and the accompanying audio is decent. "

Trusted Reviews reviews the E-TEN G500 and comments, "I don�t like the fact that mains power and synchronising is provided by a proprietary connector. The converter from the round-pin mains power adaptor is on the USB sync cable, and E-TEN doesn�t provide a separate mini converter, so you need to carry the USB cable when you want to charge the G500 on the road, or charge it via the cigarette lighter cable from your vehicle."

PocketPCThoughts reviews the E-TEN G500 and comments on the phone's useability: "The G500 was a perfect fit in my hand. No matter whether I was holding it in my right or left hand I was able to reach any button on the device. Score 1 for one-handed navigation. Score 2 is the fact that E-TEN has graciously provided two dedicated soft key buttons. In the words of Little Red Riding Hood, this guy was just right. Not too big to be awkward against the face, and not too small to render the touch screen unusable. Part of me wished for another pair of application buttons, but I know that would only add to the phone’s length. So I make do."