A video call cam resides right above the screen; the device fully supports 3G networks; V900 supports UMTS 2100/1900/850 MHz, HSDPA, GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 Mhz, GPRS/EDGE class 10. The wireless units used in the model are Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR + A2DP and Wi-Fi. A GPS unit is included, traditionally based off SiRFstarIII, the model will use Navitel software. E-TEN did their best (as usual) to get the GPS functionality on the highest level of quality – on par with Mio this solution stands among the best navigation device currently available on the market. However, we’d suggest switching from the Navitel software to something more powerful.

The seamless solid face panel of V900 is another point of interest: it makes it possible to use a TouchFLO-like launcher which doesn’t require a stylus. The implementation level of this feature in our case is average: better than the regular way seen in LG KS20 but worse than the rest of similar solutions (scrolling, menus and so on) like in HTC Touch. However that’s a significant improvement for E-TEN – the user will discover the familiar features switching from Touch to this one. However, there’s a long way ahead before E-TEN reaches the level of ergonomics witnessed in PDAs like XPERIA by Sony Ericsson. Also the pre-sale sample lacked smooth animations and a number of miscellaneous design features, which are expected to arrive with the final version.

The screen utilizes a traditional VGA resolution of 640x480 which has come to be a characteristic trait of the hi-end E-TEN PDAs. Beginning in May, HTC also switches to a new hardware platform providing for VGA support, so we clearly see a situation where VGA starts prevailing in the hi-end market segment (Gigabyte also uses it in GSmart MW998 which is a mid-end product, but this seems to be no more than a rare exception). The screen diagonal is standard 2.8’’, similar to the rest of glofiish models. The color palette is 65K just as expected. Traditionally, E-TEN uses the best VGA screens available – both in aspects of brightness and view angles, and this model doesn’t break the tradition as well. The model also comes with a nice 3 Mp auto-focusing camera, quite on a level with the rest of high-ranking WM PDAs by HTC, Mio or Sony Ericsson.

The ROM size amounts to 256 Mb, which is typical of the today’s market. The traditional microSD card slot with full hot swap support is right in its place. The bottom edge of the casing hosts a 2.5 mm audio jack and a miniUSB cable slot. V900 also sports a TV-out, also found in models from the Ultimate series by i-mate. The speaker is positioned under the back panel, but the protruding part of the camera prevents it from getting muffled when the phone is lying horizontally on its back surface. The stylus uses a telescopic (folding) design, quite the traditional type. The dimensions are rather moderate – 106x60.5x17 millimeters, V900 gives the hand rather a comfortable feel. The build quality is a thing a bit too difficult to assess when you deal with a pre-sale sample, which in our case seemed to be rather average – the device lost to screws while we were trying to remove the back cover. However no final judgment is possible until the commercial release. For the time being, the material and build quality is still lower than those of HTC products.

The guiding price of $850 makes E-TEN glofiish V900 a unique offer on the whole market, however rather expensive even judging by the standards of the VGA market sector. This is a new glofiish flagship, offering the maximum possibilities and asking for a lot of money instead. We hardly see this model hitting the bestseller chart, primarily due to the price, however things may change if E-TEN manages to get the model into the retail stores and cut the price down a bit prior to the HTC announce in May. In any case, if you are looking for a PDA capable of mobile television and an exhaustive functionality, the only alternative to this device is Gigabyte GSmart T600, which is both cheaper and simpler – an indirect competitor.

The M810 model is expected to be released simultaneously with M810. The latter is an inexpensive QWERTY slider, in a number of countries known as simplified M750 version lacking 3G support. The price is rather reasonable – around $700, one of the most affordable offers in its respective class. The main difference from the more advanced M800 consists in the use of an QVGA screen instead of an VGA one. The screen matrix quality is traditionally average for E-TEN, displaying not the highest brightness level around and limited view angles, the company obviously loses to HTC in this aspect. However the screen size and color palette are no compromise: the fair 2.8’’ and 65K respectively.

The key point of the model, the keyboard, can’t boast a high-quality implementation either. It looks like a flat panel (similar to RAZR handsets) and sports rifled buttons – from the aesthetical point of view, that looks rather appealing. Unfortunately, the buttons don’t utilize the touch technology, sticking to the traditional mechanical principle of operation, the feedback is rather low and the button segmentation could have been much better. The backlighting is of a blue color, bright and even, quite convenient. The navigation block traditionally consists of four buttons, the central button is large enough and quite usable, no problems here.

 

Another important difference from V900 is the camera – a 2 Mp module very characteristic of E-TEN mass products, sporting auto-focus capability (the same is used in X650, X800 and others) which offers only an average quality of image acquisition. Just like with V900, a flash and a self-portrait mirror are available. The model uses a Samsung SC3 2442 500 Mhz CPU, which is quite enough for a QVGA PDA, but the RAM size is somewhat limited – 64 Mb only, which is a pity. The handset is powered by a 1530 mAh battery. The dimensions are 109.5x59x17.5 mm, the weight is 179 g – quite decent results for a device with a QWERTY keyboard on board.

Let’s summarize the facts up, all what is known about E-TEN glofiish V900 and M810/M750. The models turned out quite interesting, especially compared to the rather ambiguous X800. The V900 model is remarkable for its exhaustive feature list involving an integrated TV receiver while M810/M750 sports good mobility/functionality/price ration. However, just like in the case of X600/X650, E-TEN products still lack balance, though remaining fair offers. For instance, regardless of all the advanced technologies and features it utilizes, the V900 is overpriced whereas M810/M750 has a weak camera and a mediocre screen. E-TEN is still unable to issue bestseller on a level with HTC Touch, but that doesn’t mean the situation is not going to change – the company’s potential is high enough to challenge their main competitor on par some day.