Review: Thin communicator GigaByte GSmart S1200 with a great WVGA display and Windows Mobile 6.5

Communicator GigaByte GSmart S1200 is the current flagship of communicators GigaByte. It is a slim modern communicator, which has a similar appearance as the iPhone, unlike him is smaller. Can boast top WVGA display and fast processo,r that can handle up to 528 MHz frequency. Powered by the latest version of Windows Mobile (6.5), which has been optimized for better kontrol by finger. Our impressions and findings of the monthly use can be found in today's review.

Description of communicator GSmart S1200

Communicator GSmart S1200 is newest communicator from the GigaByte. We tested it for about a month, so now you can share our impressions and findings. It is a communicator, who excels in its small size, and display the top fine WVGA resolution. There is also a certain similarity with the Apple iPhone.

GSmart S1200 goes hand in hand with all new modern communicators, his whole front is glossy and in one plane, most of it takes up screen, which will discuss that in a separate paragraph. Below the display are 3 buttons, the middle is a silver, used for confirming. Beside him, on each side, the buttons for receiving calls and hang.

Above the display is an speaker, camera lens for video calls and a light sensor.

Communicator is turned on by pressing the button on the upper side, its long hold him completely off /on, short press is used to turn off the display and switch to standby mode. On the left you will find a pair of buttons, applications can use them to move up and down. On the right side of the camera shutter and a slot for memory card, on the bottom of the mini-USB connector. If you rotate the communicator, you find that on the back is only a camera lens. Stylus (touch pen) is located on the right side, pulling the downward.

Display

Display of communicator GSmart S1200 has a 3.1 inches diagonal, is touchable, you'll see up to 65 thousand colors (restriction of the operating system, Windows Mobile). It has a top resolution of 480 x 800 pixels (WVGA) images and is therefore incredibly sharp, and very good. Display technology is resistive, or contact surface of the display responds to the pressure (either a finger or stylus). Standard Windows Mobile 6.5 with minor exceptions can be operated with your fingertips. You will appreciate that the display is flush with the body communicator and have easier access to the finger side scrollbars and confirmation icon in the corner of the display.

Backlight can be adjusted to nine different intensities, or automatically control the backlight on the light sensor.

And what about compatibility with applications and games that were made for lower resolution (QVGA)? Many of them I managed to run just was not working the entire display area, running in its lower resolution.

Processor, Memory

GSmart S1200 is equipped with a Qualcomm 7200 processor, which runs up to 528 MHz frequency. Not a bad value, you may be running multiple applications at once without having to be slowed down with each other, also appreciate a fast processor for rendering pages in web browser. If you think that the full processing power is not used, you can have it in Performance mode switch to Standard mode, save a little battery capacity. Application that cares about this, see the system settings.

In addition to fast CPU is still for the smooth running of applications need enough RAM, then there is 288 megabytes (191 megabytes of available user). Flash ROM memory for storing user data is present 512 MB user available is 306 megabytes, of course, you can extend it using the microSDHC cards, the card is inserted into the slot on the right side, it can be changed on the fly.

Windows Mobile 6.5

If you are in communicators with Windows Mobile a little more interested, then surely you know that the mobile operating system Windows Mobile is in terms of appearance and manner of control, more or less the same. It can not be reasonably controlled simply finger to the user 'Friendly' him too much missing. It has planned to correct the Windows Mobile 7, Microsoft released the meantime another "sixth" version (6.5), which aims to control at least a little finger pleasant.

Recast the screen "Today", where you go in the list displays the most common functions, move your finger up and down between them, rotate, push to see more details and start dialing. Changes also register by clicking on the "Start", when it appears "slide" menu, but a flat panel with icons. On one line three, are arranged in rows beneath it, but the middle icon is always half a line lower than two others. What is the reason I do not know, maybe Microsoft wants to be distinguished from all other systems that have the icon next to each other symmetrically.

The third novelty visible to the Windows Mobile 6.5, the revised application menu, which now have larger font and larger gaps between elections. Again, it is directed to make better choices were selected finger.

It is a pity that the dimensions of "OK" and "Closed" icon in the top bar remained unchanged, the smaller displays at the finger very badly feeds, you must use your fingernail or the stylus.

Custom User Interface Pack Smart GSmart UI

The new version of Windows Mobile (6.5) with Microsoft had tried to make the system was user friendly, but still comfortable finger control is not nearly as large as we expected. Therefore, it's customary that each producer communicators integrates into the operating system has its own environment, which aims to simplify control. Neither GigaByte is no exception, the GSmart unveiled S1200 GSmart Smart Interface Pack AI. It contains six different possibilities of editing the main screen, all are fully interactive and responsive to your touch. If you liked any of them, you can have a classic view of the Today screen, Windows Mobile 6.5, but its usefulness in comparison with the Pack GSmart UI zero.

Environment that you can pack in Smart GSmart UI activate

• Chinese Painting - the basic theme are dynamically animated black and white image forested mountains. The display is also shows the date, time, weather, information about signal strength and battery at the bottom are icons for quick access to phone features and reports. If, after you cross the screen in horizontal or vertical direction of the finger takes you to a screen with icons to access additional features and applications.
• Live nature - the theme is similar to the previous one, with the only difference is that black and white image is replaced by a photo-landscapes, which lives its life. The sky changes depending on the time of the day, after flying the birds, butterflies, airplanes, kites and the like. The grass sometimes appears Frog, snail and other small beasts. If you cross your finger over the display, you get to the next screen, but the display will show some bubbles, which moves follow the finger, and soon disappears.
• Smart Zone - a great theme for those who want a smartphone mainly used for work. Dominated by large-screen analog clock below shows the current weather conditions and date. At the top of the screen are status information about the communicator, the bottom icons for quick access to frequently used functions. The display responds only to the horizontal and vertical strokes with your finger, you can run after him and diagonally. At each movement is shown another screen with the other icons.
• Meng-Landscape - the same functionality as Chinese painting, but with another image
• Meng-People - the same functionality as Chinese painting, but with another image
• Meng-Folk - same functionality as Chinese painting, but with another image

Which environment is best? I think that clearly Smart Zone, come to me as the most comprehensive and most usable.

Pre-installed software

As in most previous versions of Windows Mobile communicator, just turn on, and is immediately ready for work and play. You will find, among other things a mobile version of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, some of those games and the like. Products have added to the Tools section of the full version of Spb Backup to backup.

Power, battery life

GSmart S1200 is charged through the universal miniUSB port, which serves both to connect to PC. When synchronization via cable and therefore recharge. Of course you are not forced to use the cable to a computer can also connect wirelessly via Bluetooth. In this case, then shipped to recharge using mains charger, that is the same as for the GSmart MS802. Again here is that charging through the USB cable is much slower, on the other hand, kinder to the battery.

Battery of communicator is hidden under the rear cable is easily removable, has a capacity of 1010 mAh, the Li-Pol. During normal use the communicator lasted 2 to 3 days. We tried it on and play video up to full discharge, first under the Standard processor mode, the second time under Performance. Here are the results we obtained:

• Performance - communicator handle video playback over 203 minutes
• Standard - communicator handle video playback over 216 minutes

GPS

The communicator is for integrated GPS navigation module from Qualcomm, a chip with sensitive SiRFstar III. No navigation program in the communicator can not find, it is a pity that it is not preinstalled at least a trial version.

Camera, Video Recording

Application for taking photos and recording video by pressing the shutter button to activate. The camera has autofocus, gently pressing shutter-release trigger is focusing and push down take a picture. I tried to take pictures under different lighting conditions, but the quality of photos I GSmart S1200 disappointed. All images are obvious big compression, if not well-lit scene, then the pictures and a lot of noise. In the dim light and darkness can not take pictures, the communicator is missing flash or LED.

Photo resolution is 3 megapixel, photos may be a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. Video can be recorded up to 640 x 480 pixels.

Another camera lens on the front side is smaller than a pinhead, is designed for video calls. Its resolution is 0.3 megapixel, a video for the 3G networks enough.

Benchmarks

For stress tests, I chose the application SPB Benchmark. Complete series of tests (except for opening Office documents) lasted 15 minutes, the screenshots you can see the results.

Multimedia

Communicator fails to natively play DivX files, the required conversion to some other format, preferably in MP4. When playing video GSmart S1200 on the back slightly warm. You can either listen to the sound of the integrated speaker or headphones. Headphones are connected via mini-USB connector, one headset can be found in the package. Headphones with 3.5mm jack can not be used, first you need to buy reduction.

Telephone Module

You do not have to worry about when traveling at home and abroad, somewhere had a problem they call a smartphone supports GSM 850 /900 /1800 /1900 MHz and 3G UMTS 900 /2100 MHz for connection to the Internet can be used HSUPA, HSDPA, EDGE or GPRS (Class 12). SIM card is inserted into the space under the battery, you can easily insert and extract.

Connectivity

Possibilities for further communication with other devices are very good for wireless internet connection, there is primed Wi-Fi specification 802.11b /g . Sensitivity to signal was compared with my Nokia E71 slightly lower. Then there is the Bluetooth version 2.0 with EDR support, making it also connect Bluetooth headphones to listen to stereo, or via Bluetooth you can connect to a wireless communicator keyboard. The infrared port is missing, the connection to the PC it would probably say none of us are not used, but threw the remote control to control the TV.

Connecting to PC

If your operating system Windows Vista and higher, you do not need to install any PC application, the communicator will be found automatically, and for synchronization and communication is used Sync Center. When using the cable in the communicator, you can choose whether you want to join the scheme ActiveSync or Mass Storage (memory card, then you will see as another disk).

Conclusion

GigaByte GSmart S1200 is a communicator with a pleasant modern rounded design, excellent display and fast processor. The latest version of Windows Mobile 6.5 will help you control your fingers, thanks to the user environment GSmart Smart Pack UI is the orientation in the system fast and intuitive. The communicator has virtually no reservations, will serve very well for work or for entertainment.