Son of a Dash: The Dopod C730 is here!
Jul 4, 2007 | 2:48 pm
#16
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Please let us know your impressions of the phone, especially relating to stability. My chief problem with the Moto Q is it's dramatic instability, requiring multiple reboots and battery pulls throughout the day, a radio that turns itself off without warning and other idiosyncrasies that has me dreaming of throwing the thing against the wall.
Keep in mind, this is a virgin Moto Q without any hacks or changes and just Google Maps and the Opera Browser installed, so it's obviously inherent instability due to either the OS, the phone itself or the changes to the OS done by Sprint.
Perhaps a clean install of WM on an unlocked smartphone/pdaphone would be more stable than the hacked and modified versions installed on most US phones. If so, I would happily pick one of these phones up pending the S730 release - even if I would need to migrate to Cingular
I have a contact in HK and KL who could buy one locally and send it to me, but the 'where to buy' websites listed at the link did not have any pricing information...I hope it's available locally (without agreement) for less than the importer's price.
Keep in mind, this is a virgin Moto Q without any hacks or changes and just Google Maps and the Opera Browser installed, so it's obviously inherent instability due to either the OS, the phone itself or the changes to the OS done by Sprint.
Perhaps a clean install of WM on an unlocked smartphone/pdaphone would be more stable than the hacked and modified versions installed on most US phones. If so, I would happily pick one of these phones up pending the S730 release - even if I would need to migrate to Cingular
I have a contact in HK and KL who could buy one locally and send it to me, but the 'where to buy' websites listed at the link did not have any pricing information...I hope it's available locally (without agreement) for less than the importer's price.
I think it must be either a Moto or Sprint (or both thing). I have a TMobile Dash, which I have upgraded the ROM to WM6 on and it runs flawlessly. No freezes, etc in the few weeks I have had it. Im starting to really like it. Im pretty happy with TMobile so I will probably wait out their incredibly long awaited deployment of 3G. I should add that I also have a Treo 700w which has EVDO but I end up using TMo EDGE more, even though the network is slower, because of hangups etc with the Treo. As much as I like the Treo form factor, it just is really a pain to use sometimes because of the Treo. It is better if I get rid of all the extra software, but that is somewhat the point of having a smart phone.
Jul 4, 2007 | 4:58 pm
#17
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I'll post a review as soon as I get my hands on it, along with a comparison to the Jeez-a-phone.
My Dash has never had stability problems, not one. Then again I don't load it up with a bunch of crap - a couple of Java apps and Live local search. I do, however, have problems with HTC phones durability. My TSM520 rubbed all the paint off the case and the keys within six months. My 8320 cracked the screen within three days. The Dash lasted about five months before I cracked the screen by getting into the car with the phone in my front pocket.
I'm giving them one more try, and it the screen cracks on this one, I'm going to either have to get a new car or switch back to SE.
My Dash has never had stability problems, not one. Then again I don't load it up with a bunch of crap - a couple of Java apps and Live local search. I do, however, have problems with HTC phones durability. My TSM520 rubbed all the paint off the case and the keys within six months. My 8320 cracked the screen within three days. The Dash lasted about five months before I cracked the screen by getting into the car with the phone in my front pocket.
I'm giving them one more try, and it the screen cracks on this one, I'm going to either have to get a new car or switch back to SE.
Jul 4, 2007 | 6:14 pm
#18
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I use an HTC Touch (on the T-Mobile USA network) and an HTC Prophet aka i-mate Jamin (on non-US networks) but that Dopod/Son of Dash sure looks sweet. 3G support? That's perfect.
My only issue with the "old" Dash is that it has a non-touch screen. It seems that's the case with this "new"one. Also, how come it doesn't appear on the HTC website? It shows up on www.mobileplanet.com as the S630. Bizarre!
If I can get my hands on one, I just might ditch the Prophet and use the S630 for my non-US use. But the Prophet served me really well. I used and abused it but it never broke.
ON EDIT:
Found it on the Asian version of the HTC website. I was looking at the US version (my default) which doesn't showcase it. http://www.asia.htc.com/asia/product..._c730_fea.html
My only issue with the "old" Dash is that it has a non-touch screen. It seems that's the case with this "new"one. Also, how come it doesn't appear on the HTC website? It shows up on www.mobileplanet.com as the S630. Bizarre!
If I can get my hands on one, I just might ditch the Prophet and use the S630 for my non-US use. But the Prophet served me really well. I used and abused it but it never broke.
ON EDIT:
Found it on the Asian version of the HTC website. I was looking at the US version (my default) which doesn't showcase it. http://www.asia.htc.com/asia/product..._c730_fea.html
Last edited by gwc67; Jul 4, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Jul 5, 2007 | 2:00 am
#19
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HTC are not currently selling this handset under their own name, only the Dopod brand. It is rumored that they will announce it outside of Asia as the S630 but this isn't confirmed yet.
Jul 7, 2007 | 9:03 pm
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Jul 11, 2007 | 12:25 pm
#23
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It has arrived. (Thanks, ScottC!)
First impressions:
It's exactly what I expected, a DASH with HSDPA and a much better camera.
It feels faster as you zip around in the OS, zero lag switching applications, etc. The screen is quite a bit brighter. The keyboard is essentially the same, though the keys are slightly reshaped. I don't notice any difference in typing speed/accuracy.
With HSDPA it is FAST! Speed test of 302K/sec.
This I love: there is an option to turn off HSDPA but leave UMTS, presumably to trade off battery life and speed without resorting to EDGE/GPRS.
There is also a band selector with three options: US, Europe, and Japan.
It comes with a nifty RSS reader built into the home screen.
I'll post more once I've had a chance to play with it. My iPhone arrived today also so I'm quite busy.
First impressions:
It's exactly what I expected, a DASH with HSDPA and a much better camera.
It feels faster as you zip around in the OS, zero lag switching applications, etc. The screen is quite a bit brighter. The keyboard is essentially the same, though the keys are slightly reshaped. I don't notice any difference in typing speed/accuracy.
With HSDPA it is FAST! Speed test of 302K/sec.
This I love: there is an option to turn off HSDPA but leave UMTS, presumably to trade off battery life and speed without resorting to EDGE/GPRS.
There is also a band selector with three options: US, Europe, and Japan.
It comes with a nifty RSS reader built into the home screen.
I'll post more once I've had a chance to play with it. My iPhone arrived today also so I'm quite busy.
Jul 11, 2007 | 12:29 pm
#24
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It is already advertised as the S630. Just go to http://www.mobileplanet.com/p.aspx?i=149749. Cheers.
I think the differences are subtle, but some of the reviews I read about this phone seem to favor waiting for the S630 - while others figured the Dopod version was close enough in quality and function so one didn't have to cough up an extra $150 or so to buy the S630.
Jul 11, 2007 | 12:46 pm
#25
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When I was at an office in Geneva recently they had their WiFi access point operating on channel 13, which is not a legal frequency in the US. My laptop had no problem connecting, but my Dash would not connect. (The Dash had no problem with the European cellphone frequency band, of course.) So it is not only the cellphone band you need to worry about, but also the WiFi channels. Do you think the 630/730 band selector also controls WiFi frequencies?
Sep 9, 2007 | 9:54 pm
#27
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So Alan, how do you like it? I broke my 8125 and I'm thinking about this to replace it. Either that or the Q9 when it comes out.
Also, does it have a manufacturer's warranty? 1stshopmobile has a warranty option, but I highly doubt it's worth it.
Also, does it have a manufacturer's warranty? 1stshopmobile has a warranty option, but I highly doubt it's worth it.
Sep 10, 2007 | 1:32 am
#28
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It's great, basically. The software is stable and the touch strip is less fussy than on the Dash (but still a bad idea). I leave it in GPRS mode most of the time, though, because 3G eats the battery too fast.
HTC will repair it under warranty; I've had to send my 8310 back to them before with no issues.
HTC will repair it under warranty; I've had to send my 8310 back to them before with no issues.