Dopod D810

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Features
A 400MHz Samsung processor powers the D810. While that may seem lacking compared with the 624MHz Intel processor in the O2 Atom Life, we found the D810 to be responsive in operation and handled applications without problems.

Windows Mobile 5.0 is installed on this handheld, complete with office applications which allow you to open Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. Adobe Reader LE is also included by default for opening PDF files. The Today screen is slightly modified to include a few icons near the bottom of the screen. This gives quick access to commonly used settings like screen brightness and battery information. Note that while the D810 is capable of running Windows Mobile 6 Professional, Dopod currently has no plans to provide an upgrade for this model.

One of the additional applications installed on the D810 is My Connect. This allows users to download extras like themes and ringtones. It is accessible only to members, though that can be easily resolved by registering on Dopod's Web site.

Text input options on the D810 include the common block recognizer and onscreen keyboard. For one-handed use, a helpful Phone Pad option brings up a numeric keypad which acts like a regular mobile phone's typing method complete with T9 text input.

Connectivity options are aplenty on this tiny handheld. The most prominent one is HSDPA, allowing high-speed Internet access when available from the operator. Aside from the cellular options, it also comes with Wi-Fi built-in for use at hotspots. In fact, the only wireless feature we missed on this Dopod is the FM tuner, something that is present on the O2 Atom Life.

While it is great to use these wireless features on the device itself, one of the best things about having so many options is to be able to use them on a laptop computer. With either a mini-USB cable or a Bluetooth connection, HSDPA speeds can be achieved in Windows making use of the D810 as a modem. We tested this in an area with HSDPA coverage and found surfing the Internet comparable to having a broadband modem attached to the computer.

	The only I/O connector on the D810 is this mini-USB jack.

One glaring omission on the D810 is an audio jack. This makes it impossible to plug in a set of regular headphones for music. A pair of headphones which ends in a USB connector is included with this handheld, but this is scant relief for those who would rather use their own headphones. The A2DP wireless stereo Bluetooth profile is supported for pairing a set of Bluetooth stereo headphones.

A GPS chip can be found in the D810 for navigation. Originally, when the device was first announced, the GPS feature was disabled. A later firmware upgrade then activated this feature, and all that is required is the GPS software. We tested the unit using MapKing and found that navigation was good. It generally took less than 30 seconds to get a GPS lock, and from there, the D810 did well to pinpoint location and traveling speed when navigating in a moving vehicle. Do note that no software or maps are included with the device, so factor the extra cost in if that is important for you.

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