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Review: The ASUS P525 Pocket PC Phone Edition October 03, 2006 [Pocket PC phone] | By Lutzh Haedrich. If you are looking for an HTC alternative Windows Mobile device, the ASUS P525 may be the right thing for you. As always, ASUS has packed some very nice features into the P525 - the numeric keypad, a business card scanning solution, auto focus and 4 x digital zoom. Check out our review to learn the up's and down's of this device!  By Lutz Haedrich The ASUS P525 looks like the alternative device for all those who think that the HTC Hermes is just too big to be carried around as the everyday phone. The technical data of the P525 looks promising. It is powered by a 416 Mhz. CPU what makes it good enough to use skype in any wireless lan network.  Other specifications are: Manufacturer: Asus Name: P525 Size: 117 mm x 59 mm x 19 mm , Weight: 160 g OS: MS Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Band: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz Connection type: GPRS WAP-Version 2.0 Camera: Yes, 2 Megapixel, Auto Focus, 4 x Digital Zoom, Flash Light Camera resolution: 1632 x 1224 Pixel, Video: 320 x 240 Pixel Stand by: up to 150 h, Talk time: up to 5 h Display: 240 x 320 Pixel, 16 Bit, Touchscreen Voice Dial: Yes USB: USB 1.1, 2.0 Bluetooth: Yes (Broadcom stack, Profiles: A2DP, Serial, Server, Network, Dial up, ...) WLAN: 11 MBit (802.11b) Internal Storage: 128 MByte External Storage: miniSD MMS: Yes, max. 300 KByte E-Mail-Client: POP3/IMAP4/Outlook/MS Push Push to talk: No Videotelefonie: No HTML-Browser: Yes Java-Version: MIDP2.0 Others: Skype Client Question: Can a device without 3G or EDGE survive todays competition? Answer: That's pretty much up to you and the way you use your mobile device. See my personal conclusions at the end of this review! Lets do a virtual walk around the P525! As you can see, the ASUS comes with a numeric input keypad. It has some extra keys, like the "Modus switch" (left bottom with the circle symbol, you can tap this key and it rotates through symbols for applications that you have previousely defined. E.g. "close", "home", or an application you use often), the "C" key on the right is the backwards key to correct false input.  The standard mini USB plug can be used here - no need to buy any proprietary plugs or stuff that most windows mobile user don't have already. The 2.5 mm headset jack. You can use any available headset out there - or listen to music via A2DP...  Good idea - instead of using the key lock feature that comes with other windows mobile pocket pc's you have a hardware key that locks all keys!  Some people will be happy: It's miniSD - not microSD...  The left side of the ASUS: Camera key, voice notes key, volume up/down.  If nothing works anymore, put your stylus in here!  The cheapest part of the P525: The stylus is completely made of plastic - and it looks & feels exactly like this. Why do you save here, ASUS? That's the part that people hold in hands most of the time, it should feel better to make a more expensive expression to the costumer...  5 way navigation, very good made and easy to use: The action key. As you can see the "2" and the "5" keys are sticking out of the rest a bit. But are still the most difficult to use keys, since the action key is so close I often press the wrong one...  Auto focus, flash light and 4 x digital zoom! It looks like it is getting better with windows mobile devices and integrated cameras!  Now it is time to check out the applications and features that ASUS has packed into the P525. On the upper left screenshot (1.) you see the standard ASUS today screen. Unlike the HTC's it comes with the "wireless" feature enabled, so you see the network you use, BT & Wi-Fi status. Beside that you'll recognize the "Profile" tab and the icons in the task bar. Clicking the red A in the task bar brings up an information pane (2.), that includes system information about the cpu speed, brightness, USB mode, storage ressources and others, that can be defined by you (3.). Picture (4.) shows the CPU speed settings - "Automatic" speeds up the CPU as much as you use it or you choose "Turbo"/"Standard"/"Save"-mode. Prayers heard on image (5.): Now you can define profiles and easily switch them e.g. with the modus switch, see the settings in (6.).  The Modus switch in action on picture (1.) below. Pressing the modus key two times rotates the today screen as example. Nice to have: Adding your prefered song as ringtone made easy, no matter where the file is located (2.). On screenshot (3.) you see the sound amplifyer for more bass, treble and surround sound. Another nice feature: "Meine Geheimnisse" - a secret keeper application for passwords or very personal informations (4.). On screenshot (5.) the screen has been rotated with the built in application.  Lets check out the wireless options, the ASUS provides. First we take a look at the broadcom bluetooth application. See the variety of profiles you can use! From picture (5.): Wi-Fi made easy. Connecting to a Wi-Fi network is easy with the P525! You can use the ASUS as mass storage device (6.). Screenshot (7.): Choose your mobile carrier - the rest (gprs, mms, text message settings) is done automatically. GPS can be handled by windows mobile, so the use of GPS AND TMC together are possible.  The ASUS P525 comes with a business card scanning software. That allows you to photograph a business card, read it with the application and have the data directly copied to your outlook mobile. See how it is done in the screenshots! (1.) open the program, (2.) add a picture (brings you to camera mode), (3.) choose language (I did not know there is a european language...), (4.) shoot the picture, (5.) picture is transfered to the application, (6.) scan in progress, (7.) data ready for corrections (recognizing is definitly not perfect and depends much in the business card you scan - colour of paper & text, lenght of information, language of the card and so on - BUT: It's better to do some correction there instead of typing the entire business card into outlook!), (8.) data available in outlook mobile. The program is made by Hotcard Technology - but I saw this tool from Worldcard Mobile before.  No let's check how the ASUS P525 looks beside some competitors! Here are some shots side by side with the HTC TyTN (T-Mobile MDA Vario II in this case) and - TaTa - the Nokia E61!  Surprisingly the P525 is bigger than the TyTN!     Now we open the hood of the P525.   The battery of the P525 next to the TyTN battery.  What's in the box? Charger, USB cable, headset, add on software (FULL VERSION of SPB Backup, Skype and some trial software applications), a case and handbooks.    A closer look at the case. You can fix it on your belt - much better than the clip versions that make your phone drop when you get out of your car or stand up!   The camera comes with a very good working auto focus solution. The indicator shows the object you want to photograph, first in grey and then in green as soon as the auto focus has made it's adjustments.    Flash light in action.   Let's return to the opening question: Can a device without 3G or EDGE survive todays competition? My personal opinion is, that the ASUS P525 fits my own needs very good. I have some experience with 3G powered windows mobile and symbian devices and all I can say is, that 3G and exchange server sync with Microsoft push mail technology is something that I can't use - it simply drains the battery of the device too fast! So no 3G and MS push mail works much better for me, and I think it is totally stupid to buy a 3G device and then switching it down to GPRS or EDGE. ASUS has put some brain into the P525, I like the numeric key pad alot, profile settings, modus switcher, business card scanner, a 416 Mhz CPU, the auto focus of the built in camera - just some examples that let me say "Good job, ASUS!". What surprised me was the photo shooting side by side with the TyTN, when I saw that it is bigger than the TyTN! I did not expect that (hint: read the specs and remember it next time?) and I also have to say it doesn't feel bigger! So, if you don't need 3G or have the same battery drain issue in combination with MS push mail, if you don't text too much OR T9 is something you like and can use - GO BUY! In case of questions - you know the forum! I'll try to answer...  Post your comment (free registration is required to post, but if you register you can edit your posts later) [ 8 Comments ]
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