GeekLimit

In Honor Of The SPV

Posted by taoski | Filed under Hardware

Before people knew what the iPod was, before iTunes and certainly before the ill fated mobiles like the ROKR that can pretend to be and iPod, there was a device that was an MP3 player, a movie player an eBook reader, a data storage device and a camera – and it fitted in my pocket!
Back in 2002, HTC manufactured a device called the HTC Canary – the first mobile phone to run Microsoft Windows Smartphone OS. It had a whopping 32meg of internal RAM with a slot that took SD Cards. It flew along at a cool 132mhz and sported a 176 x 220 pixel screen. The camera was a bit of a let down and was only VGA quality – but was removable – which was novel for the time.

The Smartphone OS allowed me to run applications such as Windows Media Player to listen to MP3 files copied to the SD Card via ActiveSync and even play WMV movies. Other, better applications like PocketMusic, Betaplayer and Pocket DivX Encoder (on the PC) allowed OGG support and playback of DivX formatted movies.

The portable revolution was here. I used to use my SPV on the train to watch converted episodes of the Simpsons and I also listened to the complete series of Harry Potter books on MP3 audiobook format. And when the train broke down on the way home I could fire up MSN Messenger to chat to my mates or email my wife to say I was going to be late. The other Nokia freaks on the phone would quickly hide their tinny ringtones while my converted WAV files of the latest dance tracks blasted out each time it rang.

No phone I have had since has come close to the SPV in terms of functionality, customisation and usability.

Forums and w
ebsites like MoDaCo and CoolSmartPhone were leaders in bringing the Smartphone community together and providing a place for supporting each other through the highs and lows of the device.
There have been several revisions of the device since then, the E100, E200 and the more recent C series models. The newer devices all spot higher resolution screens and increased memory and processor speeds. They also updated the version of the OS to Windows Mobile which became more stable and less taxing on battery life.

If you are looking for an all in one multi purpose device – the SPV model of phone coupled with Windows Smartphone / Windows Mobile is it!

Further reading: Orange SPV Wikipedia Article

Comments (4) | August 1st, 2006

4 Responses to “In Honor Of The SPV”

1. neoncheez Says:
   August 2, 2006 at 12:06 am

   “The other Nokia freaks on the phone would quickly hide their tinny ringtones while my converted WAV files of the latest dance tracks blasted out each time it rang.”

   LOL!!!!!!! you were pwning them with wav ringtones.

   yea HTC products rock, im currently using the MDA.. which is the coolest phone ive ever had.
2. taoski Says:
   August 2, 2006 at 12:42 pm

   It was the bomb!

   I gotta get another one…
3. E@zyVG Says:
   August 6, 2006 at 1:54 pm

   Just few days ago I got myself communicator HP Messenger hw6510. I have to say that I am very much satisfied with it, not mentioning I couldn’t find a better one for $400. Plus it has GPS, which is very handy.

   Before that I had Motorola mpx220 smartphone, and even before the previous version mpx200. Both were cool smartphones. These ones are what SPV is.

   Of course, my dream smart-smartphone will be one which is running Linux, with no probs when syncing in any OS and the availablity of applications. But for the time being I find MS Windows Mobile, even though my new hw6510 has 2003 SE, and not the latest 2005 version, more versatile than Symbian and Palm based OS. Actually I really like PalmOS, as most of my PDAs were Palm based.

   Gotta go sleep, can’t write much at them moment

   P.S. Also bought myself new digicam – Kodak V550 (first Kodak cam in ages, not only digital. Most were Canon and Olympus)
4. taoski Says:
   August 6, 2006 at 2:40 pm

   Ahhh… i remember the MPX200 – it was pretty good in its day.

   I think I am going to settle for a SE K350i for the moment. My old Nokia has bit the dust and the K350i is probably good enough for me at the moment. Camera, Bluetooth etc.

   Plus its cheap!