Windows Phone Thoughts: A Truly Pocketable All-In-One Package - The Pharos Traveler GPS 525 (Part 1)

Looking at the front of the unit, we have a power button with integrated power/WiFi/Bluetooth/GPS LEDs located at the top, above the screen. There are four application buttons located just below the screen, with the two middle ones pre-mapped to run the Ostia navigation software, and the Today screen, respectively. Because of WM5 standards, the left and right outmost buttons are defined as ‘soft’ buttons, whose function is determined by the current application running. (In the case of the Today screen on WM5, these are mapped to Calendar and Contacts, respectively). Unfortunately, none of these will automatically turn the unit on. You have to press the power button at the top first. Below the buttons is the speaker (on the left) and a five-way joystick control, whose function is, again, determined by the currently operating application. Just to the right of the joystick is a little tiny hole for the microphone.


Figure 8: Front shot of Traveler 525.

On the left side (as you view from the front), is the button for activating the Notes recording function and the IR port. Unfortunately, pressing the Notes button also doesn’t turn on the power to the Traveler, so you can only activate audio Note taking while the unit is already on. I’m not exactly sure why the IR port was put on the side of the unit, but maybe that was the only available place.


Figure 9: Left Side view of Traveler 525.

The other side of the Traveler 525 holds the stylus compartment. There are no other buttons, controls or ports on that side.

The SD/MMC card slot is located at the top of the unit, along with the antenna for the GPS and WiFi. There is also a connector for attaching an external GPS antenna located near the top at the back of the unit. You can see the stylus compartment in the lower left of the picture.


Figure 10: Top of the Traveler 525.

A mini-USB slot is provided at the bottom of the unit, which acts as both external power and interface. To the left of the slot is the soft reset button (which is only accessible using the stylus or other small, pointed object), and the headphone jack.


Figure 11: Bottom view of the Traveler.