Windows Phone Thoughts: Let's Glofiishing with the X500

Figure 6: The left side of the X500, with (1) volume controls and voice command button, and (2) headphone socket.

The sides of the X500 contain some positive and negative design choices. The volume controls and voice command button are clearly visible on the left. Unfortunately, their close proximity and similar size and shape make them difficult to operate blindly (for example, in the car). It's not uncommon to accidentally press the volume controls while attempting to press the voice command button, and vice versa. Further to that, the volume control buttons are too sensitive. On any other device, a single tap of either the + or - button typically adjusts the volume by one notch, while holding either button down typically adjusts the volume by multiple notches. At times, a single tap of a volume button on the X500 will adjust the volume by two or three notches, which is quite a departure from the desired effect. A complete transformation of the device volume from mute to the loudest setting (or the other way around) can be achieved by holding a volume button down for less than a second, which is far too quick. It seems that E-TEN probably would have benefitted by retaining the very functional volume slider of the M600, though I'm adamant that the aforementioned issue is software-related, and a future ROM upgrade may be able to correct it.

The headphone socket is of the 2.5mm input/output type, and unlike the M600, does not feature a rubber cap. I view this as a positive move as I found the M600's rubber cap to be an annoyance to fiddle with on every occasion of headset use.


Figure 7: The bottom edge of the X500, with (1) a microSD slot, (2) Mini-USB port, and (3) stylus.

Moving to the bottom edge of the X500, we see a microSD slot, which is a departure from the SD slot utilized in the M600, and the miniSD slot utilized in the G500. Months ago, this may have presented an issue for the many of us who invested dollars in SD and miniSD cards, though with microSD cards now increasingly affordable and available in relatively large capacities (to date, up to 2GB), it's a moot point.

The advantage of the X500's side-loading microSD slot is that it's easily accessible, but there's a catch. A protective rubber cap is noticeably absent, which I guess is ironic as I previously cursed it as an annoyance for the headphone socket, though we're dealing with two different worlds here. In the past, there have been reports of cards accidentally ejecting from devices with side-loading slots (more so when said devices are dropped). While I have yet to experience this with the X500, I think it would have been in E-TEN's best interests to include a rubber cap for that extra piece of mind, especially when dealing with a card as miniscule as microSD.


Figure 8: The use of microSD has become increasingly common in the past half year.

Perhaps the biggest change E-TEN has made with the introduction of the Glofiish series is the move from its proprietary sync/charge connector to the standard Mini-USB connector. This is nothing but a thumbs-up move as it opens up a whole new world of accessories for the X500. Similarly, it's a dual-purpose sync/charge connector, but with the supplied accessories, you cannot sync the device to your computer and charge via AC simultaneously. You can sync and charge off the USB port simultaneously, though this is noticeably slower.


Figure 9: The X500 features a bottom-loading stylus. Will this face wear and tear issues? Only time will tell.

Slots and ports, we now move to the stylus. Like a lot of Pocket PC Phones, it's of a bottom-loading design. Time and time again, we hear people express frustration over the wear and tear that takes place on the small lip of the head of the stylus. This is what holds the stylus in its slot, and wear and tear can only lead to one thing: missing styli. From personal experience, I've never lost a stylus. They've become loose from wear and tear, but not loose enough to slip out of its slot on its own. Whether this will hold for true for the X500 is something I cannot answer this early in the game, though I will mention that the X500's stylus appears structurally solid and I have great faith in it staying in its slot for as long as the X500 remains my primary device. Fingers crossed.


Figure 10: In its compact form, the stylus measures 68 millimetres or 2.68 inches. An SD card is featured in the picture for size comparisons.

The stylus is telescopic in nature, measuring 68 millimetres (2.68 inches) in its compact form and 93 millimetres (3.66 inches) when extended. Its size automatically modulates when inserted and removed from its slot. Overall, it is of the right length and weight to warrant comfortable use, though it probably could have been a little thicker to help eliminate that fragile feeling.


Figure 11: In its extended form, the stylus measures 93 millimetres or 3.66 inches. An SD card is featured in the picture for size comparisons.

Finally, we focus on the right side of the X500 (there's nothing on the top edge), and it's quite bare. There is a power button located in the upper corner, a camera button located in the lower corner, and a soft reset hole in between. The positioning of the camera button is perfect for landscape shots. It follows conventional camera design, so it feels natural to hold the X500 in landscape mode for a quick point-and-shoot.


Figure 12: The right side of the X500, with (1) a camera button, (2) soft reset hole, and (3) power button.