HTC Hermes (T-Mobile MDA Vario II, Orange SPV M3100, O2 Xda Trion, HTC TyTN, Vodafone VPA Compact III) Reviews
HTC Hermes is a generic Microsoft Windows CE portable device and Windows Mobile device manufactured by HTC. HTC Hermes is then later rebranded and sold under brand of other companies including several major major telecommunication carriers. Thus, T-Mobile MDA Vario II, Orange SPV M3100, O2 Xda Trion, HTC TyTN, Vodafone VPA Compact III, Vodafone 1605, Cingular 8525 and NTT DoCoMo hTc Z are all based on HTC Hermes with different brand. HTC Hermes Pocket PC phone features UMTS / HSDPA, 400MHz Samsung processor, 128MB flash and 64MB memory, 2.8-inch LCD display, integrated jog dial, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, MicroSD, 2.1 megapixel camera, and a secondary CIF videoconferencing camera.
msmobiles and the::wired review T-Mobile MDA Vario II here. MSMobileNews reviews Orange SPV M3100 and concludes that the Orange SPV M3100 is packed full of features, you’ll struggle to find another phone on the market that offers so much. You would therefore expect the M3100 to be a large device physically; this is not the case however. Granted, it is heavier and larger than your average mobile telephone but when compared to the SPV M5000, a device with a similar list of specifications, you’ll really appreciate the drastic reduction in size. This device is usable as a day to day mobile phone whilst also performing well as a PDA. The requirements of a mobile device are specific to each user, one thing is for certain though, you’ll not find yourself wanting more should you choose the SPV M3100. It has pushed its way to the front of the queue in terms of being my everyday phone and it will take something special to dislodge it, well until the next new Windows Mobile device is released anyway!
MoDaCo also reviews a variant of HTC Hermes of Orange SPV M3100 and concludes that it’s jam packed with features, thoughtfully designed, bang up to the minute in almost every way, and there is very little to say against it. It isn’t the smallest or lightest handset in the world, so if size is an issue for you, you might like to check one out in person. If you are a heavy T9 / Phone Pad user, bear in mind that it is missing, and can’t [legally] be restored.
Mobile Enterprise reviews T-Mobile MDA Vario II and concludes that “it’s the best Pocket PC device that I have used for a long time. It offers everything a user would need; excellent connectivity options, integrated keyboard, good selection of included and additional applications, latest version of Windows Mobile, and of course the killer application in the enterprise - Push Email. It’s difficult to see how this device could be improved, well until I discover what the battery life is like, oh and when Windows Mobile vNext get’s released.”
Shiny Media has a 1 minute video review on T Mobile MDA Vario II HSDPA and here is the video:
msmobiles early review on T-Mobile MDA Vario II concludes that for some people QWERTY keyboard that can’t be used with single hand is a deal-stopper, but for many others this small Pocket PC phone will be ideal and future-proof purchase! Main new feature of this phone is support for 3G - both UMTS and HSDPA - but since 3G coverage still is weak in many areas (even on the route between London city centre and Stansted airport there are problems), these problems with reception may be detrimental. The only hope is that HTC will release some software upgrades that will improve this dodgy 3G reception, but if the problem lies in hardware, it could be unresolvable.
the::unwired reviews O2 Xda trion aka HTC Hermes and concludes that “HTC Hermes isn’t a “uber device” at all but what it does, it does well and it offers a feature richness, we haven’t seen so far and sometimes it’s the small details like the jog wheel/Start button combination which works simply great to navigate through the device menus as well as for reading E-Mails and viewing web sites. Unfortunately - for me as a leftie - the wheel is on the left side and because I hold my device with the right hand (to hold the stylus in the left hand), it’s not that comfortable if it is, if you hold your device in the left hand but okay, I can not blame anyone for building a device for the right hand use. I really enjoy to use the Xda trion and seriously hope, I don’t have to give it back to O2 Germany too soon, since I would definitely miss something.”
ZDNet reviews HTC TyTN (pronounced Titan) and concludes that “I was seriously considering the TyTN as my next purchase, but I can’t afford the US$700+ at this time and without the certainty that the TyTN will work on T-Mobile’s 3G data network later this year or early in 2007 I didn’t want to sell my Nokia E61 to offset about half the cost. The only improvement I would like is a second shift key on the right side of the keyboard and the use of a standard 2.5 or 3.5mm headset jack. The TyTN is very well constructed, has a professional looking gray and silver finish, has a very usable keyboard that I was able to type very quickly on and just feels great in your hand. If you are looking for the latest and greatest Windows Mobile Phone Edition then you can pick up a SIM-unlocked HTC TyTN from David for US$739.”
Tech Digest reviews HTC TyTN and concludes that HTC Tytn is a good Pocket PC. The design is attractive and ergonomic, and it’s not heavy enough to make you walk with a limp when it’s in your pocket. Functions wise, it’s all fairly intuitive and doesn’t take long to set up ready to go. However, whilst HTC believe it should appeal to business and leisure users alike, the business functionality and the common sense design means that it’s unlikely to get in Paris Hilton’s handbag any time soon. It’s available on O2 for as little as 85 pounds (with a pretty bulky contract) but will set you back over 500 pounds SIM free. Ouch.
3G reviews HTC TyTN 3G phone and concludes with rating of 87% that TyTN is a good all round 3G capable Windows Mobile Pocket PC. It should suit business users and those who need a lot of information at their fingertips.
MTekk also reviews HTC TyTN and concludes with rating of 9 out of 10 that small, light weight, stylish, feature packed with 3G, hardware keyboard and more buttons then any user ever dreamed, the HTC TyTN is certainly a dangerous rival in the marketplace. It could be called the Atom of 3G devices, and certainly offers users a viable pocket pc entrance into the 3G realm.
If you want a pretty lady to review HTC TyTN for you, Shiny Media has prepared a video video on HTC TyTN too:
4WinMobile reviews Vodafone V P A Compact III v1605 (HTC Hermes) and concludes with overall rating of 95% that if you’ve got a Mini S, K-Jam, Vario etc this really is a much better machine , in almost every way, and certainly the most important ways. If this is your first ever WM5 Phone edition device, you’ve joined the party at just the right time. All gain, no pain….. that’s worth worrying about…..
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Entries (RSS)
October 24th, 2006 16:36
I have recently chosen the Orange SPV 3100 for my girlfriend’s business, as it purports to provide all that she needs for business on the move. Talk about over promise and under deliver; this takes it to a new level. The phone is less than a month old and the following problems have occurred: -
Very regular loss of call, which often requires removal of the battery to restart.
e-mail has only worked for 1 day, despite numerous calls to help desk and hours on the phone (e-mail provided via the Orange subsidiary Wanadoo).
Regular freezing of the phone in most programmes, again needing removal of battery.
Complete loss of phone service currently running at 18 hours and not expected to be fixed until a new phone arrives in a promised 10 hours.
Massive phone bills to get through to Orange as when the phone doesn’t work you have to use a landline to phone an Orange mobile number (67 minutes on hold without being connected last night).
Orange has admitted that there are a lot of problems with this phone and although they are replacing the phone today, they have so far resisted our requirement to provide something fit for purpose.
If this phone worked it would be great, but then if my Ford was a Ferrari that would be good as well (and at least my Ford has been more than fit for purpose).
In conclusion, I recommend that you do not get this phone until there is clear eveidence that the extensive problems have been resolved. I would also suggest that you don’t get a phone from Orange, but maybe the other networks are as bad.
November 6th, 2006 21:13
I have had my SPV 3100 for over a month. It has worked faultlessly, never crashes…no problems with phone use, 3G reception or battery life. I have installed 3-4 programs including e-wallet and a launcher program. The launcher provides the option of having large icons on the desktop for easy access to commonly used programs and functions, which is very useful. Installation and use of the programs caused no problems.
I have only 3 niggles on the design side 1) the keys surrounding the D-pad are too small and are positioned too close to the bottom of the PDA for comfort 2) the on off switch should be more prominant, it could still be recessed to prevent accidental activation 3) the scrool wheel is on the wrong side…for me 4) the camera is truly rubbish…its slow and the sensor is so insensitive that the built in flash is insuficient to illumate a subject (at all!) in a moderately dark room.
For me, these are minor issues, I never use phone cameras anyway. As a combined 3G phone and PDA this is a major step in the right direction. On the whole the technology works, unlike the SPV C700 (HTC MTEOR), which has not yet been released by orange. Rumours abound that the MTEOR has serious problems with batetry life in 3G mode. If it worked, and i’m sure it will this time next year, the smaller form factor of the C700 would be attractive, although I do like the keyboard on the 3100.
So on balance, yes…….buy the 3100 if you need phone + PDA functionality. The review above seems mostly about a malfunctioning unit.
November 20th, 2006 04:26
Where can I purchase the Hands-on with the HTC Hermes / T-Mobile MDA Vario II? And how much is it?
March 6th, 2007 03:54
I’ve just had an alarming incident with this phone. I sent a fairly small text to a colleague, and it appended some text from an email I had received 2 weeks earlier. Thankfully there was nothing sensitive in the email or text, but this incident has destroyed any confidence I had in the phone and is very worrying.
September 4th, 2007 05:02
I have an Orange SPV M3100 but have lost the Companion CD. If you nhave one can I borrow it? Let me know iain_wish@yahoo.co.uk
This device is a minor mircale and uses samsung components. Yes, from time to time it feeezes esp. if 7 progs all on at once but for me it is a life chnaging device with push email, Excel, Outlook, photo, video, Word etc etc etc - it makes a Blackberry look like a very one dimensional offering and has made my notebook very redundant!.
August 3rd, 2008 00:01
Need CD key for using microsoft Outlook 2 for synchronising the phone to computer