Mobile News: Presentation of the Toshiba Portege G500 and G900

Late last week, Toshiba has officially unveiled in the Russian market two devices are not on Windows Mobile. Toshiba Portege G500 Smartphone and PDA Toshiba Portege G900.

Smartphone Toshiba G500, oddly enough, running the operating system Windows Mobile 5.0. According to the company, though it's timeless version, however, it is more stable and has all the necessary capabilities. Adoption of the somewhat controversial, in this case to work with office documents will need to use third-party applications. The situation looks even more strange, considering that during the presentation repeatedly pointed out, as new items are useful for business users. Here, according to Toshiba, a major role to play built-in fingerprint reader, simply put, a fingerprint scanner, and an application to lock your computer via Bluetooth. Learn more about these options will be discussed in the review of Toshiba G500, and while first impressions.

The smartphone is made in the slider form factor with a numeric keypad, external device is somewhat cumbersome, the feelings, the classic candy bar would look smaller. The keyboard is comfortable, the keys are easily distinguishable to the touch, the display quality of conventional, standard resolution of 240x320. Communications capabilities to match the current models, a tri-band GSM / EDGE module, support for UMTS and HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Two cameras, one for video calls, the second for a photo-resolution 2 megapixel video. Of the extra features worth noting increasingly popular to use VoIP over Wi-Fi networks. The rest is the usual Windows Mobile smart phone, the caller of interest primarily to its form factor. Already, Toshiba G500 can be found on sale, the cost is about 17,000 rubles, however, is likely to reduce prices 14000-15000 rubles in the coming months.

Operating system: Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone
Processor: Intel XScale PXA270, 312 MHz
Memory: 64MB RAM, 64MB ROM
Display: 2,3 "320x240 65000 colors
Mobile networks: GSM / GPRS / EDGE 900/1800/1900, UMTS / HSDPA 2100
Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g, Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR), USB 1.1
Expandable memory: miniSD up to 2GB
Camera: 2 megapixel main, optional VGA for video telephony
Battery: removable Li-Ion 1100 mAh
Dimensions and weight: 96 x 49 x 22,9 mm, 135 g

The second device, shown at the presentation was the communicator Toshiba Portege G900. This slider smartphone with a QWERTY-keyboard. However, the main highlight of the device is a display resolution of 800x480 at 3 inches diagonally. Picture quality is simply amazing! However, due to the non-standard resolution of difficulties may arise with some programs that work with graphics. For more details we'll talk about this in the upcoming review.

The unit itself, as well as his younger brother, it seems cumbersome, there is some discrepancy between the dimensions, mostly because of the thickness of the device - more than two centimeters. In spite of this device lies in the hand thanks to rounded and smooth corners. With regard to the functional, the G900 a bit not up to the versatile all in one, as there is no built-in GPS-receiver. In other device repeats the current trends, we will not dwell on the technical features you'll find them below, tell only about the main "trick".On one we have already mentioned - this permission, the second - a biometric sensor, loaded the full program. In addition to protective functions, it is still and the launcher on each finger can "hang" launch any application, and also performs the function of the scroll (scroll) in the contacts, browser and similar applications. Not without its support VoIP over Wi-Fi and USB-host, supported by advanced communications with a computer, for example, use of a keyboard device, and locks the computer. More details about these and other possibilities will be discussed in the review of Toshiba G900, now sum up the brief preliminary results. Communicator Toshiba G900 is interesting primarily because WVGA display and 520MHz processor, for viewing movies and other entertainment options are the most attractive features. The keyboard is comfortable, typing with two hands comfortably, despite the size. On the other possibilities is difficult to say anything specific, we will wait for test results. With regard to the cost of the device, now it is at around 22,000 rubles. Although it is no secret that during the first week of sales price for such devices are often overstated, and gradually a reduction in cost.

Operating system: Windows Mobile 6 Professional
Processor: Intel XScale PXA270 520 MHz
Memory: 128MB RAM, 128MB ROM
Display: 3 "800x480 65000 colors
Mobile networks: GSM / GPRS / EDGE 900/1800/1900, UMTS / HSDPA 2100
Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g, Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR), USB 1.1 (client / host)
Expandable memory: miniSD up to 2GB
Camera: 2 megapixel main, optional VGA for video telephony
Battery: removable Li-Ion 1320 mAh
Dimensions and weight: 119 x 61 x 21,5 mm, 196 g

In addition to the presented models, the director of the European division of Toshiba, told a bit about the plans for digging. Before the year is likely emergence of another model, beginning with her, all communicators Toshiba will be equipped with a GPS-receiver is likely to chip Qualcomm, examining the use of video accelerators, since the resolution in many models will be 800x480. The company plans to release several QWERTY-communicator, G920 should appear early next year, and the model G930 in the fourth quarter of 2008. In addition, in mid-2008 scheduled to release one-piece models - G800, and BlackBerry-like smartphone with support for GPS, supposedly the model will be called the G710 and G720. Indicative roadmap (with a bizarre Russian translation), you can see below.

As can be seen in the diagram is no model with an index of G910, but the mystery remained hidden for long, after the first few questions about the GPS-models, Mr. Okamoto took from his inside pocket a prototype device Toshiba G910. Unfortunately, the photograph the machine at close range was not possible, our distinguished speaker quickly put the prototype in his pocket, but the general idea of the dimensions of the model can be obtained by looking at the photo.

Later, Mr. Okamoto, who kindly showed the apparatus and allowed to look at the corner of his eye his specifications, but again, no pictures. Thus, G910 is a clamshell QWERTY-communicator, similar to the HTC Omini and i-Mate 7150 Ultimate, the display model is similar to G900, 3-inch 800x480, there is support for GPS (chip, Qualcomm). It is likely the emergence of the apparatus by the end of this year. More detailed information, while unfortunately not.

After almost three years Toshiba has decided to return to the European market for Windows Mobile. Plans, the company is far-reaching and, apparently, to depart from them the company does not intend to, indirect evidence that serves as a casual demonstration prototype. One can only hope that the management company and the developers have something else in the inner pocket of his jacket. At least managed to intrigue the public, can only wait. The authors, translation:

Alexey Murzin