At the end of the last year, E-TEN Information Systems has presented the Glofiish X800 communicator. This model became the first where have been combined the VGA-screen, the GPS module and 3G support. All this has made Х800 not only the leader among the E-TEN communicators, but also one of the best devices on the market. Later, after more than half a year, the company has prepared a replacement for Х800. It became Glofiish Х900.
The Exterior
Unlike the predecessor, Glofiish Х900 looks strictly enough. The communicator is completely black, except for the silvery frame on the case perimeter, the joystick and the receive/reject call buttons, located on the front panel.
The other management keys of Х900 are located on the communicator’s sides. There is the volume key, the functional button to which the dictophone is by default assigned, the screen block/unblock key and the digital camera key. Besides, on the right side of the communicator, we see the microSD slot and the reset button drowned in the case.
The stylus is hidden in the bottom right corner. The feather is of a standard telescopic form and does not impress with its thickness. There are no problems with the stylus extraction.
At the bottom left corner, there is a sliding antenna. It is required for the built in radio, and also for mobile TV reception. Also, the antenna allows you to use Х900 as a FM-transmitter.
In spite of the fact that the front panel’s plastic is varnished, it practically does not retain the finger prints. The only thing that spoils the "face" of Х900 is the screen, which is getting decorated with fingerprints surprisingly quick.
The X900 touch screen is covered with protective glass, located at the same level with the case. Such a decision is effective and practical (the dust does not gather in corners), but it is not convenient. For example, during the work in the first couple of days, we not always was able to point the icons located at the very edges of the screen.
The communicator’s back cover is executed from rough plastic, due to what, the device lays in hands as forged in. Here we have the window for the 3MP digital camera, the mirror for self-portraits and the diode flash.
However, there is a "no". The back cover, under which the battery is located, can be very easily removed. It is quite good. However, the problem is that the cover often casually slides off when Х900 is extracted from the pocket.
The Interior
Inside Glofiish Х900 it is installed a 533 Mhz processor - Samsung S3C6400. The volume of operative memory of the device is 128 Mb. The flash memory capacity for data storage is 256 Mb. As operational system on Glofiish X900 it is installed Windows Mobile 6.1.
The basic “cherry” of the communicator is the SPb Mobile Shell program environment, which allows to operate the phone with the fingers. Besides, this interface is visually much nicer than the classical Windows Mobile desktop.
The truth is that the fingers can be used only for the menu, to start applications and to dial a number. To work with programs, or to search for records in the book of contacts without the stylus it is practically unreal.
The SPb Mobile Shell environment consists of three screens: the main, the list of programs and the contacts.
The basic screen includes a bar where it is indicated the battery meter, the operator’s name, the signal strength and the information about wireless networks. Below this bar, there are icons of the weather status, mail box, SMS service and calls. Near to it - an icon displaying the active profile: silent, vibration, normal. In the same window we can see a large enough clock, calendar, alarm clock and the list of active tasks.
To navigate to other windows of the environment and also to exit from it and work in the classical Windows Mobile interface, you can use the icons at the very bottom of the window. Besides, it is possible to be switched between the windows with finger slashes on the screen - from right to left and from left to right. Visually it looks quite interesting and reminds the pages browsing of a book.
The programs list consists of six sections: organizer, Internet, multimedia, service, programs and settings. When an item is clicked, it starts to grow and, resembling a cube, is turning to the user a side containing shortcuts of various programs.
The built in GPS-receiver from X900 is based on the SiRF Star III chip and works under the “Navitel-Navigator” program. To find the shortcut of this program was not so simply – the “Navitel” icon is not present in GPS section. It has been found among the other shortcuts which are located in the "Programs" section. But, when exiting the SPb Mobile Shell, you can find the “Navitel” shortcut in the "Today" screen on the Windows Mobile desktop.
The GPS cold start has taken about 7 min. The maps loading and place location demanded from the system no more than a minute.
All the maps have pleased with a quite high grade of details. In particular, there are displayed POIs, semaphores, traffic directions, entertaining centers, restaurants, shops. It’s mentioned the houses’ numbers with the blocks and structures designation and also the buildings’ perimeter is visible. When installing a new map in the phone’s memory or on the memory card, no additional loadings from the Internet are required.
The "Navitel Navigator" program includes such standard functions, as route calculation to the specified address, automatic route recalculation in real time, night and day modes of displaying the information (a less contrast mode of the screen is chosen at night, which is more comfortable for the dark time of the day). When connected to the Internet, the program integrates with the Smilink service that allows to plan a route considering the traffic congestions on the roads.
In rest, the set of Glofiish X900 programs is standard. For example, the Internet Explorer browser, the Mobile Office package (MS Office, intended for mobile devices), the standard Windows Mediaplayer, games as Solitaire and Bubble Breaker, Live Messenger.
Not all the preinstalled Х900 programs can be considered an ideal choice for the user. But this lack is eliminated within five minutes by installing the software you need, which for Windows Mobile are available a great variety.
The important part of any communicator is the battery. Glofiish X900 has a Li-Ion battery of 1530 mAh. At modest usage - no more than 10 minutes of conversations per day, mail check and music listening for an hour - the battery has sufficed almost for two days. At a more active use of the Internet through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth-sets and GPS module, Х900 needs to be recharged daily.
By the way, on the Glofiish X900 screen, which has a 640х480 pixels resolution, is quite comfortable to watch videos. The truth is that as a videoplayer, the communicator works not longer than 4,5 hours. The same goes for the working time as a GPS-navigator.
To Buy or Not?
An unmistakable answer to this question after all the performed tests was not possible to give. If the first day of work with E-Ten Glofiish X900 has left, generally, negative impressions, than in the following days, the communicator caused us only positive emotions.
So, in the first half an hour of work, the device has shown a terrible slowness. Most likely, it is explained by the fact that at its first loading, the phone performs the installation of the additional programs chosen by the user. Furthermore, Х900 has worked operatively.
The main minus of Х900 can be considered its joystick, we still haven’t get used to work with it. Besides, an irritating factor is the often sliding off back cover.
Perhaps, Х900 it is pleasant to those who got used to work with devices under Windows Mobile. Those who will decide to "move" on this communicator from a compact and thin mobile phone, most likely, will experience disappointing. At least, for the first days.
On sale, E-TEN Glofiish Х900 will appear up to the end of September this year.
Source: GSMpress ®
