| HTC Universal | |
 |
|
| Manufacturer | High Tech Computer Corporation |
|---|---|
| Type | Pocket PC phone |
| Connectivity | GSM/GPRS, Bluetooth 1.2, WiFi 802.11b, USB, IR, WCDMA / UMTS (more commonly known as 3G) |
| Retail availability | Q3 2005 |
| Media | SD (with SDIO, but not SDHC), 128 MB internal flash storage |
| Operating system | Windows Mobile 5.0 |
| Input | Keyboard/Touchscreen |
| Camera | 1.3 Megapixel + VGA |
| Power | 1620mAh Lithium Ion Polymer battery |
| CPU | Intel Bulverde 520 MHz |
| Display | 3.7" 64k-color 640x480(VGA) Transflective TFT |
| Touchpad | Sensitive Touchscreen |
The HTC Universal is a Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC phone, manufactured by High Tech Computer Corporation. It was the first 3G/UMTS-enabled Pocket PC phone, and also the first to come with Windows Mobile 5.0 pre-installed. Sold by many different vendors under the names of O2 xda Exec, Orange SPV M5000, Dopod 900, Qtek 9000, T-Mobile MDA Pro, I-mate JasJar, Vodafone v1640, Vodafone VPA IV, E-Plus PDA IV, etc. Despite all the different model names and housing appearance, they all have identical hardware specifications with small differences in the external color and branding. The most eye-catching feature of this device is its 180-degree swivel screen, allowing a quick swap between portrait mode and landscape mode. The GUI automatically adjusts screen orientation accordingly.
Contents |
SIM Lock
Most network-supplied versions of the Universal are shipped SIM-locked, although the O2 XDA Exec is a notable exception. There is a free SIM unlocking tool released by buzz_lightyear on http://www.buzzdev.net/. This process involves flashing a new Radio ROM onto the device, and may invalidate the warranty.
Detailed Specifications
- Screen Size: 3.7 in (9.4 cm) Transflective LCD
- Screen Resolution: 640x480 VGA at 216 ppi
- Input: 62-key QWERTY keyboard
- Cameras: 2
- 1.3 MP CMOS Camera with LED "flash" mounted on the reverse of the keyboard section
- QVGA (320x240) CMOS Camera for 3G video calling, mounted beside the screen, close to the hinge
- Processor: Intel Bulverde (PXA270)520 MHz CPU
- Memory: Flash ROM: 128 MB, RAM: 64 MB SDRAM
- Memory expansion: SDIO/MMC card slot (unofficial SDHC support from Xda-Developers)
- Network Standard: Tri-Band GSM/GPRS (900/1800/1900) + WCDMA(UMTS) (2100 MHz)
- GPRS: Class B Multi-slot standard class 10 PBCCH MO/MT SMS over GPRS
- Connection interface: Client only Mini-USB connector, USB charging, USB 2.0 protocol
- Wireless connectivity: Infrared IrDA FIR, Bluetooth 1.2 Class 2 compliant, WiFi 802.11b IEEE 802.11b compliant, Internal Antenna, 11, 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbit/s per channel, 64-, 128- bit WEP & WPA standard data encryption
- Standard battery capacity: 1620mAh
Extended batteries
There are many high-capacity "extended" batteries available for the HTC Universal. 2600mAh, 3150mAh, 3200mAh, 3800mAh, and even 4800mAh and 5200mAh(!) models have been sold by various retailers, which allow the device to run for more than a week in many cases on a single charge (with light to medium use). All extended batteries have one big drawback though, they are all supplied with a new plastic back to hold the battery, which considerably increases the size and weight of the device.
Some additional features that can be enabled on the Universal
With registry editing and/or ROM re-flashing (both of which should only be done by people who are confident and experienced with these processes), substantial extra functionality can be added to this device. A few examples follow (there are many more):
- Wireless G (802.11g) connectivity. This only allows the device to communicate using the 802.11g protocol instead of 802.11b, it does not give a speed increase beyond 11Mbit.
- Full emulation of an "SD card reader" (USB mass storage device class).
- Full VGA (640x480 resolution) graphics, as opposed to the "QVGA (320x240) emulation/compatibility mode" which the Universal runs in by default. The two main downsides to this are that some software cannot handle "true VGA" mode, which usually results in corrupted graphics, and that it can be quite difficult to see (and use a stylus with) such small screen elements like text.
- Emulation and mapping of additional keys not found on the Universal native keyboard, such as CTRL & ALT.
- Support for SDHC cards. 8GB and 16GB cards have been tested successfully, and there is no logical reason to doubt that 32GB cards of the future will also work. This is only made possible via a third-party hacked driver, and works only on Windows Mobile 6, which itself requires the installation of a third-party hacked ROM image. Virtually all of the third-party ROMs now include this driver by default.
Linux
It is possible to install a custom version of Linux on the HTC Universal. But due to lack of cooperation by HTC (and most other smartphone/PPC manufacturers for that matter), drivers for various pieces of hardware are incomplete or non-existent. Nevertheless, this does open up a whole new world of open source software development to a very versatile device.
Windows Mobile 6 (Crossbow)
There are numerous "unofficial" builds of Windows Mobile 6 (Crossbow) which have been made to run on this device, and now even some tools which allow users to create their own custom WM6 ROM images (a process commonly known by the term "cooking ROMs"). There is a thriving semi-underground community of people dedicated to improving these WM6 builds (and associated tools) on the Universal.
External links
- xda-developers Probably the largest community of Pocket PC phone users out there. The majority of "unofficial" WM6 ROM development/hacking for the Universal & many other PPC phones is located here.
- The supported hardware page of the Openmoko project
