HTC P3600i – D810 / HTC Trinity upgrade
An upgraded version of the Dopod D810 has been released by HTC.
The HTC P3600i features two main upgrades: Samsung 500MHz processor (vs. 400MHz) and 256MB ROM (vs. 128MB). All other specs remain the same.
Hong Kong — 28 August 2007 — HTC Corp. (“HTC”,
TAIEX Stock Code 2498), the world’s leading provider of Microsoft®
Windows Mobile®-based smart devices, today launches the newest PDA
phone HTC P3600i which provides the best quality of life with the
advanced technologies for smart executives. HTC P3600i combines
seamless connectivity and multi-functional features in just one device:
ultimate 3.5G HSDPA connectivity, Windows Mobile 6 Professional,
embedded GPS system, 500MHz CPU, 256MB ROM, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Windows
Live Messenger, Push mail, etc. All these cutting-edge technologies
promise a total solution to HTC P3600i users with a smart gadget that
allows them to live easy but with style. The tempting design of HTC
P3600i is available in Polished Black and Ceramic White with glossy
attractive exterior.
This unit is already for sale in various shops in Hong Kong for $5,480. Note that HTC is currently running a special: "Customers of HTC P3600i during promotion period can redeem a
MapKing GPS Map. Details of promotion will be announced later."
Further reading: HTC P3600i Press Release , HTC P3600i: Play Hard and Work Easy
WM6 for Dopod D810, 838Pro, U1000, P800w
Get ready – free WM6 upgrades are coming for Dopod/HTC D810, 838Pro, U1000, and P800w.
At this time Hong Kong users cannot download from the new HTC Asia website yet, but that is expected to be remedied as soon as possible. (Current countries supported as of now include Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam)
Click on the image below to be transferred to the HTC upgrade main page.
D810 GPS Rom Code available at DopodAsia Hong Kong
DopodAsia Hong Kong have finally released the GPS rom for the D810. A Chinese version is also available. It is mentioned that the rom code is valid for use in Hong Kong and Macau.
English Version:
Dopod D810 English version GPS ROM Code
ROM version: 1.23.707.6
ROM date: 02/08/07
Radio Version: 1.35.00.11
Protocol Version: 32.68.7020.10H
Chinese Version:
ROM: 1.23.708.4
ROM date: 03/06/07
Radio Version: 1.38.00.11
Protocol Version: 32.71.7020.12H
Updates:
1) Supports GPS functionality
To
enable the GPS function in your D810, please update the set with this
ROM code. The download is FREE but please note that navigation software
and maps are not included.
2) Display of HSDPA icon, H during data transfer in HSDPA mode. (Network dependent)
You will need to register your D810 to get the Rom. Get the Rom Code from here:
HSDPA on the D810
When I first signed up for the plan they mentioned that the speed was 1.8G, but you would have 3.5G speed if your phone was HSDPA enabled. I have used Fit4cat to enable it so I hope it is working.
My main reason for getting this plan is so the Dopod D810 becomes a modem for my laptop when I don’t have a wired broadband available. The D810 comes with a utility called Internet Sharing in the Programs folder. This allows you to hook up the D810 to the laptop so it can share the HSDPA connection.
When you start the program it disables Activesync. Xp may bring up a warning saying that Activesync is not working properly, but you can ignore this warning box and just close it. You will know if the laptop is connected properly to the D810 by seeing a "connected" status in the Internet Sharing utility on the PocketPC.
Internet Sharing with "Connected" status
Intitial impressions have been very good. Once online it feels no different to having a broadband connection. Pages are loading up very quickly. If I ignore the Dopod next to me I could swear I was still using my wifi connection.
One problem I did have was not having anything to monitor my data usage. There is nothing in XP to show any connection speeds or data usage. Smartone mentioned I could use *#123# which will sms me my data usage, but it is not real time.
I finally settled on buying SpB GPRS Monitor. This is a great program for tracking data usage and data speed. This program came free with my previous Atom, but unfortunately not with the D810. The program adds a handy summary on the Today screen plus they also added shortcuts to screen brightness, battery condition, gprs on/off, PIE and Messenger.
Since using GPRS monitor, the fastest data rate I have seen is 912kbits/sec. In the real world it means, so far I have not noticed any reduction in speed while online.
This morning I tried dslreports while using the HSDPA connection. I got a much slower speed of 536kbits/sec, but browsing online still felt very quick. Interestingly I compared the speed to my wifi-broadband connection in the office. I am using a 1.8M line at work. My results were even slower at 232kbits/sec! Once again though, I find online use at work is more than adequate.
dslreport and HSDPA
dslreport and Office wifi
Obviously another way of using this connection is on the D810 itself. My observations are that it feels no different to using the wifi connection on the PocketPC. It doesn’t fly at a cracking pace when the D810 acts as a modem for the laptop, but it still manages to check email and load up PIE pages reasonably quick. I do notice that the data rate on SpB does not get much faster than 100kbits/sec, but I also noticed data usage is much less as well.
So far my experience with HSDPA on the D810 has been positive. Wireless broadband is a convenient solution to connecting a laptop to the internet anywhere.
I can see that if I am not careful I will use up my 100mb very quickly. I am still pondering over the $488/mnth unlimited plan from Smartone. It is still a little expensive for a plan that requires a commitment. There are also limitations to VOIP and bittorrent usage on the unlimited plan, which may be annoying to some.
As with all things new, the price plans will hopefully start to come down soon. 3 has recently launched their HSDPA network so hopefully we wil see some price shuffling between the phone companies.
My data usage spike since acquiring HSDPA!
Dopod D810 (HTC 3600, Trinity)
In the past month or so the PPC phone shelves in the electronic stores of Hong Kong have become increasingly crowded. Not long after the Dopod 838Pro and O2 Stealth arrived, the Treo 750v showed up, and then the Dopod C720W. More recently, there have been sightings of the Asus 535 and Eten Glofiish X500. Now HTC has released yet another one of their products here in the guise of the Dopod D810. Similar in specifications to the 838Pro, but more in the Dopod 818Pro form factor, the D810 packs in a lot of features. The phone features include a large coverage of cellular networks and data standards including HSDPA.