Zaurus-descendant Htc Athena Aka T-mobile Ameo

[Zuse]

Hi everyone,

just hit some news about a new PDA and since I didn't found much about it here on the forum I like to post about it.
First of all the good news. AFAIK, compared to many other good prototypes and ideas we saw the last years on different tradeshows or read about it on articles this one will really be available in Europe within this year.
At least in Germany, T-Mobile will sell them as T-Mobile Ameo [1].

The bad news, the initial OS will be MS Windows based, but hey bigger problems was solved here already.

I just like to post the specs (which I just copy from [2]) here for all the crazy hacking people out here.
I guess many people from the PocketPenguin forum will like it .
Many of the specs which are heavily discussed in the PocketPenguin forum already.

Digital camera, GPS, VGA-out, TV-out, GSM, WIFI, Bluetooth, etc.
 

Thus, the question is will there be a Linux-based OS ....
I guess yes  

the  Intel Bulverde processor is Linux friendly already [3].
and this from [4] shows that the umts-chip Qualcomm MSM 6275
is recognized at least by Gentoo.

umts1 ~ # lspci -v
02:00.0 Network controller: Option N.V. Qualcomm MSM6275 UMTS chip
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 11
Memory at 12000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=2K]

Finally, the ATI chipset is in early progress by other projects.

# Platform

    * Mobile Power Pad with detachable & thin QWERTY keyboard
    * Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition

# Dimension

    * 133.1x97x20 mm (4mm for KB)
    * Less than 350g with battery

# Processor/Chipset

    * Qualcomm MSM 6275
    * Intel Bulverde 520 / 624 MHz
    * ATi Graphic Chip 2282

# Memory

    * ROM: 128 / 256 MB
    * RAM: 64 /128 MB SDRAM
    * HDD: 8~10 GB with G sensor

# LCD Module

    * 5” 480x640 VGA resolution
    * 262K-color TFT LCD with LED backlight
    * Sensitive Touch Screen

# UMTS/HSDPA/GSM/EDGE Function

    * Internal antenna
    * HSDPA/UMTS Tri-mode (2100MHz for Europe and 850/1900MHz for USA) and GSM/GPRS/EDGE quad band (850/900/1800/1900)
    * HSDPA/UMTS
          o 850: 824-849, 869-894MHz
          o 1900: 1850-1910MHz, 1930-1990MHz
          o 2100: 1920-1980MHz, 2110-2170MHz
    * GSM / GPRS/EDGE
          o 850: 824-849, 869-894MHz
          o 900: 880-915, 925-960MHz
          o 1800: 1710-1785, 1805-1880MHz
          o 1900: 1850-1910, 1930-1990MHz
    * HSDPA / UMTS
    * UMTS: 3GPP Release 99 compliant
    * HSDPA: 3GPP Release 5 compliant UE category 12, QPSK, 1.8Mbps peak rate  DL up to 1.8Mbps and UL up to 384Kbps

# PS RAB on HSDPA channel and CS data call (VT call) simultaneously will be supported
# Global roaming
# Auto band switching
# Handover and cell selection between GSM/EDGE and UMTS
# Generic Services

    * Call Holding, Waiting, Forwarding
    * Call Barring
    * CLI (Calling Line Identity)
    * SMS (Short Message Service)
          o SMSMT, SMSMO, SM Reply, SM Replace, SM Acknowledgement, 8 Bits SMS Data
          o Concatenated messages, up to 640 characters
    * Display own number, telephone number storage capability in terminal and SIM card
    * Network selection
    * Cell broadcast
    * Multi-party conference capability
    * Phase 2 Unstructured Supplementary Service Data
    * Audio Codec: AMR/EFR/FR/HR
    * Network Lock
    * CPHS

# E-GPRS Function

    * EGPRS class B
    * Multi-slot standard class 10
    * MO/MT SMS over GPRS
    * PBCCH

# USIM/SIM
# 1.8 / 3V of UICC

    * MegaSIM
    * USIM Application at least according to 3GPP TS 31.102
    * SIM Application Tool Kit release 96, 98 class 3 and 99
    * Over the Air (OTA) programming
    * Fixed Dialing Number (FDN)
    * Abbreviation Dial Number (ADN)
    * Security Pin 1 & 2 control

# Standalone GPS [MFG. Option]

    * Internal GPS antenna for UMTS & EDGE
    * Support NMEA 0183 version 3.0 or above
    * 12 parallel channel GPS receiver
    * Acquisition time
          o Hot start: 8 seconds, typical TTFF
          o Warm start: 35 seconds, typical TTFF
          o Cold start: 45 seconds, typical TTFF
    * Update rate: user configurable once/1sec, once/10sec and once/30sec continuous
    * GPS Accuracy
          o Position: < 15 meters, 95% typical
          o Velocity: 0.05 meter/sec steady state

# Digital Camera (Manufacture Option)

    * Main Camera
          o Color CMOS 2 Mega pixel with fixed lenses
    * 2nd camera
          o Color CMOS VGA camera
    * High Power LED for camera flash

# Keyboard/Button/Switch

    * POWER button (Side)
    * Short Press: Power On/Off
    * Long Press: Turn off system power totally
    * Comm. Manager / Voice Recorder
    * Camera capture button (Side)
    * Volume Up / Down control (Side)
    * 5-way Navigation button (Left front in landscape)– key orientation shall be adjusted after view changed
    * Send & Hands-free button
    * End Key
    * Video Telephony Key
    * Portal Key / G control Key
    * Short Press: Launch IE control keys)
    * RESET switch (Back)

# Notification

    * 1st lens - one-color (amber) LED for new message and notification
    * 2nd lens - bi-color (green and blue) LED for WiFi and bluetooth notification
    * 3rd lens –bi-color (green and red) LED for 3G & 2G network status
    * 4th lens – bi-color (green and red) LED for charging status & low power indicator
    * Notification by Sound, and Message on the display

# Audio

    * Built-in Microphone
    * Dual speakers with 3D surround sound
    * Loud speaker for Hands-Free supported
    * Audio sampling rate
          o 16-bits with 8KHz, 11KHz, 22KHz, 44.1KHz AMR/AAC/WAV/WMA/MP3 codec

# Connectivity & Interface

    * Bluetooth
          o Compliant with v2.0 without EDR
          o Class 2 transmit power
          o Supported profiles:
                + GAP (generic access profile)
                + SPP (serial port profile)
                + OPP (object push profile)
                + DUN (dial-up networking profile)
                + GOEP (generic object exchange profile)
                + ActiveSync (legacy application via SPP)
                + HSP (headset profile)
                + HFP (handsfree profile)
                + A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution profile)
                + AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote control Profile)
                + Service Discovery Application Profile
                + SIM Access Profile
                + HID (Human interface device profile)
          o Co-exist with WiFi
    * WiFi (manufacture option)
          o IEEE 802.11b/g compliant
          o Internal WLAN antenna
          o 11, 5.5, 2, and 1 Mbps per channel, auto fallback for extended range ELP mode
          o Security 802.11i and AES (OS not supported yet)
                + WPA authentication – WEP, WPA, PSK, EAPTLS, PEAP, LEAP,
                + Signaling interfaces between the terminal device and the servers: mutually authenticated and encrypted utilizing TLS (RFC 2246) with RC4 encryption with SGA1 used as the message integrity check
          o QoS
                + 802.11 WME QoS
                + 802.11e
                + Fast AP to AP handover
    * 11-pin mini-USB / audio jack in one
          o USB 2.0 client
          o USB charging
    * mini SD card slot with hotswap feature
    * External Antenna (UMTS/GSM/CDMA) Connector
    * 1.8 / 3 V USIM/SIM card slot
    * HTC Proprietary 16 Pin Port
          o USB 1.1 host (Support USB low power)
                + Thumb Memory
                + Card Reader
                + Keyboard
                + Mouse
          o VGA Out – VGA
          o TV Out – Composite & S-Video (4 pin)
    * 3.5 mm stereo audio jack with mic

# Power

    * Battery
          o Removable and chargeable Lithium ion polymer battery, 2100mAh
          o Charging time: less than 4 hours
    * Battery life
          o Playing WMV: 8 hours
          o Playing WMA: 12 hours
          o Talk time: > 360 minutes for GSM
          o Talk time: > 180 minutes for UMTS
          o Video Talk time: >120 min
          o Standby time: 300+ hours for GSM
          o Standby time: 300 hours for UMTS

# Stylus

    * Lock Type in the main unit

# Accessories

    * AC adapter w/ mini-USB power plug
    * Carrying Case
    * Sync. Cable (mini-USB/USB)
    * Battery (rechargeable and replaceable)
    * Stereo wired headset with microphone (button for voice command) for 3.5 mm
    * HTC Proprietary 16 pin cable (one to many ports)
          o USB Standard A female port
          o VGA (15pin) port
          o Composite Video Out
          o S-Video (4 pin) Out
    * User manual, Quick start guide, & Sync. software CD
    * Cradle
          o VGA (15pin) port
          o Video Out port
          o S-Video (4 pin) port
          o 3.5 mm Audio jack (for External Speakers & Headset)
          o One miniUSB port for power charging
          o One miniUSB port for synchronization
          o 2 x USB Standard A female port (USB Host)
          o 2nd Battery charging slot
          o 3 LEDs Indicators – 2nd Battery, Power & Sync
    * Mono Bluetooth headset with microphone [optional]
    * Stereo bluetooth headset with microphone [optional]
    * Car Adapter [optional]
    * Car Holder [optional]
    * Car Kit with car stereo mute function [optional]
    * TTY adaptor for USA market [optional]

# Value Added Applications
.... many many MS Windows stuff .... who cares....


[img]http://www.mobile-review.com/uploads/Thumb560x420-htc_athena_1.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]
[img]http://www.mobile-review.com/uploads/Thumb560x468-htc_athena_8.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]
©by [2]. More pictures will be on [2] as well.

[1] http://www.mobile2day.de/news/news_details.html?nd_ref=6761
[2] http://mobile-review.com/pda/articles/htc-athena-en.shtml
[3] http://www.embeddedstar.com/press/content/...edded11302.html
[4] http://www.stonki.de/Web-n-Walk-Linux.174.0.html


Lets see what happens in the next months... maybe a new Linux-Port project.....

Greetings
Zuse

[speculatrix]

I think we already started a thread about this (but it was quite possibly not clearly named if memory serves correct).

However, this is the first time I've seen the specifications, so that's quite interesting.

Hopefully enough of the chipset will be known (HTC seem to reuse a lot of their technology in producing their 101 variations on windows mobile devices) in order to get linux up and running quickly.

If predictions are correct, this will be an expensive device, rivalling the OQO or UMPC such as the Sony UX150/180 series.

I think a Nokia N800 and a tailored keyboard would be much cheaper combo than the HTC 7500... but not quite as well integrated, it'd also run linux out of the box with reasonable vendor support for drivers etc!

[danboid]

As Speculatrix says, I already started a thread on this device and the topic description could hardly be more to the point than its current

HTC Athena

and it is still very much on the first page of the General Discussion forum listing, about 12 from the top

[Da_Blitz]

thanks for that info, it should hawever bee in the other thread but the PPP stuff is intruiging.

wlan, g-shock and making calls however will be the bggest problems but the xda dev guys have the radio part covered at least

ati card may be a problem but gps should just work, once its worked out how it was wired (i bet the seriel part )

camera may be a problem, it depends if there is a video for linux driver for the intel camera interface and the ati one (as there are 2 cameras)

sound and bluetooth should work as i bet its a standard chipset htc uses, leds might need a driver as they are normally connected to the gpios or the ati card

only thing that may be difficult is if there is an asic or cpld in there we havent encountered before but i bet its bassed off the htc tytn (hermes) as it has all the same features (apart from gps but there are roumors that its just been disabled and will be activated by new firmware in a couple of months) and chipsets

only bad thing is the audio via usb plug, its a PITA, as you cant charge and listen to music and unless this thing has 2 sockets i bet you cant have an external drive attached at the same time

ohh and vga out+videa out should work with only minor driver updates

anyway thats my assesment, thanks for the info

[Da_Blitz]

forgot to add that there is a good chance the keyboard is usb bassed or serial, as there isnt enough pins to use the xscale keypad scanning hardware

[SNi]

Keyboard on this looks like the one on the Samsung Nexio S160... for me was almost impossible to use while walking around... On the Z the heft is in the keyboard and you can thumb-type with the display open at an angle, on the HTC it's backwards...
SNi

[BarryW]

Uhh, how the hell does it stay attached to the keyboard??  Looks like it just balances there, not very functional.

[nilch]

Also looks like you can change the angle with the keyboard, since the way the unit balances on the keyboard, changing the angle will disconnect the pins from the keyboard plate. That is not very convenient either. Making the unit sit on the kyboard at a single angle makes it more constricting.

Really, it just gets so difficult to get a good Zaurus replacement, that it would have been so much better in the first place if Sharp just upgraded he Zaurus for us users and others.