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Just wondering what opinions are of the XDA Stellar?

Got an chance to get one in a trade and wondered whether its worth it?

BAsically keep my P990i or trade for Stellar?

Any comments would be great.

Thanks

[ This Message was edited by: SEP990i on 2008-10-06 19:09 ]
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Posted: 2008-10-06 19:11:03
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The XDA Stellar is just o2's rebadging of the HTC Tytn II, also known as the Vodafone V1615, Orange Tytn II, and the AT&T Tilt in the US - all the same phone, except the Tilt doesn't have the front facing camera for video calling.

This time last year, it was THE Windows Mobile phone to have. It's still a good phone, with lots of features (GPS, HSDPA etc) but the screen is only QVGA (the same as your P990) and is starting to look old fashioned now compared to the Iphone and more recent WM phones with higher resolution VGA screens like the HTC Touch Diamond, Touch Pro, and SE's own Xperia X1 (just being released now).

I've had mine a year now (a Vodafone V1615, upgraded to the latest generic HTC firmware) and it's been a good phone, but I'm looking forward to something new now. It has various faults - the graphics are poor and lack proper hardware acceleration meaning video isn't great (although it can be made to view proper Youtube etc with the right downloads), and it's a bit glitchy at times, although it's very stable and has never crashed on me. The keyboard's okay but not great, and the camera's not what it should be, and particularly laggy and poor in low light. On the other hand, it's solidly made and dependable for all the usual WM stuff, and the GPS is quite good - I seem to remember the Stellar was supposed to come with a full version of Copilot, which is probably worth having - with decent software installed you can use it in the car quite happily (I have TomTom on mine).

If I'm honest, I would shop around and try to get something newer/better if I was in your position now, but then I've had this phone for a year already. If it's really just a choice between the Stellar/Tytn II and the P990, then I'd take the Stellar, since with Windows Mobile you get a much more capable platform with tons of software support, GPS built in, much faster internet (HSDPA is many times faster than the 3G on the P990, assuming you can get it where you are), and it's probably a lot more reliable and stable than your P990 too (plenty of memory built in).

You would be losing the FM radio and a little of the battery life of your P990 though (the Tytn II needs a charge most days depending on your usage).

[ This Message was edited by: Boinng on 2008-10-08 12:14 ]
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Posted: 2008-10-08 13:11:57
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Boinng,

Thank you very much for that. Was very helpful actually. I have seen many mixed reviews for the phone but none of them have actually come from a user of the phone and especially having used it for about a year.

It has changed my mind alittle though and maybe if nothing else comes along then I will trade but until then I think I will wait alittle longer.

Many Thanks again.

James
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Posted: 2008-10-08 13:20:50
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There is even a nice Esato member selling one here

I recommend him

Ofiaich
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Posted: 2008-10-08 14:54:05
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Oh I heard he might be alittle dodgey

Im only looking to trade unfortunately as funds are alittle low

Thanks

James
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Posted: 2008-10-08 15:03:00
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No! That's his twin !

OK ! Good luck with your trading...

Ofiaich
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Posted: 2008-10-08 15:17:38
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@SEP990i, no problem at all, happy to help. I don't mean to sound like I'm running the Stellar/Tytn II down too much, it's a solid high quality device and was considered pretty cutting edge until very recently. As a business phone it's great and makes the most of all the enterprise support built into Windows Mobile (with full Exchange support for your work email, contacts, tasks etc), and in most respects it would be a good upgrade to your P990. It's just that the last year has seen newer WM phones upping the ante a fair bit, and the Tytn II's showing its age more than it probably should.

Although I'm about to switch to an Iphone, I'm keeping the Tytn II for use as a TomTom in the car and as a general backup phone, because it's a reliable "swiss army knife" of a phone/PDA that I know I might still find useful. Usually I'm very quick to ebay off my old gadgets, so the fact I'm keeping it is a testament to something.

[ This Message was edited by: Boinng on 2008-10-08 14:42 ]
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Posted: 2008-10-08 15:32:43
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Hi!

that's what I am likely to do.

I have found it great! Was lost in Japan and used Google Maps to find my way, use Tom Tom, Exchange Server email, Japanese and Chinese support etc etc.

Ofiaich



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Posted: 2008-10-08 16:33:03
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It has been a good phone over the last year - in fact it's amazing how quickly you take things like GPS and Googlemaps for granted! Compared to the SE M600i I had the previous year, the Tytn II has been light years ahead, and a real boon for work too.
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Posted: 2008-10-08 16:44:57
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