vB Easy Archive - GX20 My Take On it

Pages: 1

GX20 My Take On it
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Synncere

So I have had my GX20 for a few days now-- I am sure what I will write here has been posted here before but I figured hey--- why not do it again

:P lol. It's a great fone and I had to throw my 2 cents in so here are my first impressions.

Well like many others I gotta start by saying at first glance the screen just shocked me when I first powered up the fone. No noticable pixelage at all. Feels like I am looking at my pc screen. Just amazing!! Second thing I noticed was the build quality... solid!!

RF wise I gotta say this fone really knows how to hang on to a weak signal. I was able to hold onto calls in areas where some of my other fones drop the call. Very impressive! IMO it's much better than my old GX10i I found the RF on that to be good but not great.

The camera takes amazing pictures!! When taking pictures indoors, outdoors and even when using the flash function in low light areas my pictures all turned out great looking. It's no replacement for your standard and/or digital camera but much better than other embedded cameras I have used in some of my past fones (IE. Samsung V200, S.E. T610, Mitac Mio, Panasonic Gu87, Nokia 3650) I can't comment on the video function yet as I haven't used it yet.

I wasn't sure what to expect size wise and all though it's not the smallest clamshell fone on the market it's not the largest either. I actually don't mind the size. I am not sure about other GX20 owners but I find the fone to be very light. Whether I have it in my hand or my pocket I often forget it's there.

The flashlight mode is handy...well to me anyways lol

personally I like the disco mode best... I just wish the fone flashed with the disco mode instead of the green light when there was an incoming call.

The Handset manager is really simple to use! Had no problem installing it at all and the only error I made in the beginning was I activated IR on the fone & couldn't connect it to the pc then I realized I had to go into the applications menu then choose pc link and activate IR from there instead of from the settings menu.
I sized my wallpapers for the main screen and the exterior screen. (I hid the clock and date so when people see a picture on the front they are amazed-- then I show them the inside.)

Call clarity is great and the ringtones sound great aswell. I have been able to put a good variety of midis, .mmf's and .wav files as ringers on the fone and they all sound great.

All in all I have to say I am pleased with the fone and it was definately worth the wait. It is pricey but a definate must for any mobile afficianado.

Here's to the GX20

Posted by: Crippen

Great review! You've convinced me to get one -- now if only Adam at GSMphonesource can get his hands on more!!

Posted by: rip

that's all i needed to hear

good review

ps @ crippen...milkboy from the marketplace also has the GX22

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by rip
that's all i needed to hear

good review

ps @ crippen...milkboy from the marketplace also has the GX22

Thanks for the heads-up Rip

I spoke to Sam but he only orders once he gets the cash and that means a 3-week wait (they are back-ordered at SmarTone

). Plus, there SEEMS to maybe be issues with the GX22 and NA use, so i'll play it safe and get the Gx20 that everyone else seems to be getting

Posted by: LVwireless

Quote:

Originally posted by Crippen
Great review! You've convinced me to get one -- now if only Adam at GSMphonesource can get his hands on more!!

I should have 10 more units in on Weds

Posted by: johnmoon

how much are they selling at pacificmall? damn i cant wait it

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by LVwireless
I should have 10 more units in on Weds

good stuff! I placed an order with your website already, under the name Charles --

I also wrote a feedback separately but I am not sure anyone at your company has seen it -- is it possible to mark the pkg 'Repaired under warranty' since it is heading to Canada and customs is quite evil ...

Thanks!

Posted by: rip

Quote:

Originally posted by Crippen
good stuff! I placed an order with your website already, under the name Charles --

I also wrote a feedback separately but I am not sure anyone at your company has seen it -- is it possible to mark the pkg 'Repaired under warranty' since it is heading to Canada and customs is quite evil ...

Thanks!

adam has his ways

but it's still a "crap-shoot" with customs

Posted by: LVwireless

Yea we take care of all our Canadian friends. Normally people dont get dinged badly or at all.

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by LVwireless
Yea we take care of all our Canadian friends. Normally people dont get dinged badly or at all.

That's what i like to hear!!

Phone can't come quickly enough now

Posted by: ranphi

Quote:

Originally posted by Synncere
I have been able to put a good variety of midis, .mmf's and .wav files as ringers on the fone and they all sound great.

This phone can use actual .wav files for ring tones?!

Dang! If that's true, I may have to get one. That's the one feature I *really* miss from the Nokia 3650 that I used to use.

Can it handle stereo .wav files for the ringers or just mono? Anybody know for sure?

Thanks!

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by Synncere
I sized my wallpapers for the main screen and the exterior screen. (I hid the clock and date so when people see a picture on the front they are amazed-- then I show them the inside.)

Hey Synncere, would you mind sharing the correct sizing for the inner and outer screens?

Thanks!!

p.s: Any new info/impressions after having used the phone everyday for a while now?

Posted by: haki

Inner display is 240X320 pixels. Outer display is 80X60.

I've had this unit for two weeks now and I totally agree with what haw been mentioned. The display, RF performance and build-quality are superb. The only thing that one misses is a larger memmory, or, ideally, the incorporation of a memory card.

We should not forget to mention the major handicap! The hideous Vodafone icons conceived and approved by some of the morons that Vodafone employs!

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by haki
Inner display is 240X320 pixels. Outer display is 80X60.

I've had this unit for two weeks now and I totally agree with what haw been mentioned. The display, RF performance and build-quality are superb. The only thing that one misses is a larger memmory, or, ideally, the incorporation of a memory card.

We should not forget to mention the major handicap! The hideous Vodafone icons conceived and approved by some of the morons that Vodafone employs!

Thanks a bundle

Did you have any problems with the iRDA? I've read on other boards that the Vodaphone versions come with iRDA DISABLED?? (but obviously not all since Synncere had no troubles) .. What do you think of the 16-chord polyphony of this phone? does it come close to Samsung's 40-poly ringers?

Thanks for the info

Posted by: Synncere

I am still loving my GX20. It is just a great overall fone. I wish it had speakerfone or Bluetooth as I haven't used a normal handsfree set in a long time but have gotten used to using one again.

I am still floored by the screen quality. When my co workers or customer come into the store and see my GX20 they are just literally in awe when I demo the fone for them. I have many people tell me that they want to ditch their Panasonic Gx8x fones and purchase a GX20.

I have taken this fone everywhere with me and still never dropped a call. All my calls regardless of where I am are loud, crisp and clear.

As for new impressions...besides loving the fone more and more every day not sure what to say lol.

I finally had a chance to try out the video function. The audio is quite good I was expecting alot of distortion so I was pleasantly surprised. Video quality was okay. Decent-- I prefer the video quality on my N3650 as the refresh rate on the GX20 is kinda slow. I look at the video as a novelty if I wanted a good video I would use my camcorder. (I could say the same for most integrated cameras on fones--- like I stated in my first thread tho the pics on this fone are amazing!! Won't beat a top notch digi cam but comapred to other integrated cameras on the market the one on the GX20 is astounding.)

IRDA on the GX20 isn't disabled like the GX10 and GX10i. I have been using IRDA to transfer wallpapers and ringtones all the time. The .wav tones are mono sounding but they sound pretty good if you tweek them a little bit using winamp. Midis and .mmf' both sound great!! It's 16 poly but still sounds great. I have to admit though that some of the 40 poly on my Samsung S300 do sound better some sound better but then again some of the tones I have on both sound pretty similiar. For me tho... I like the fact that it sounds great and I can hear the fone ring when it's in my pocket. 16, 32, 40 poly etc.... not very significant to me. I am more of an RF and overall performance kinda person

As for the Vodafone UI and logos... I really don't mind them. I have owned many fones from Vodafone and use Vodafone when i am in the U.K. so to me I am used to it and is insignificant. To some people it matters... in the end it's personal taste.

The GX20 is a great fone performance wise. It hasn't let me down yet; and all though I do use other fones from time to time I don't see myself getting rid of my GX20 at all. To be blunt I would have to say that it is just an awesome fone and I don't think I'll be buying a new fone for quite a while.

Posted by: Iagner

I agree also, whether its a GX22/21/20, its all the same, cuz they are all from the same company and technology. For me, its the same thing, I can never ditch my GX22 even when I am using another phone. I can't just leave home without it. Whether it is 262K or just normal 65K color, for not a lot of people really can see the difference, because of its CG Silicon (Continuous Grain) technology makes it outstanding in visual.

Posted by: 3.2vtec

between the gx20 and gx22....
is there a big difference in the menus? i know the colours are different, but are the icons different?

Posted by: haki

@ Crippen: The Vodafone phones are not locked in any way. I obviously despise Vodafone so I use all the other 3 Greek networks and the phone, besides the branding, works perfectly including mms, video-mms, and Internet-over-GPRS. After you select a different Internet profile, you just hit the Voda-Live key and it takes you to your own network services instead.

The IR works fine with my IBM notebook's IR. A friend uses it with the Mobile Action MA-620 infrared adaptor and it works OK, only that IR speed has to be set at 57600 Kbps ONLY! One can easily download and upload everything that the device has been designed for. The 640X480 photos taken with "high quality" settings give very acceptable results by all standards...unless you are freelancing for the National Geographic! The software provided with the phone is identical to the one that Mobile Action supplies. One CANNOT use the IR to transfer files to and from other phones though. But then again, why would you want a miserable 128X128 image from a Nokia or SE on your splendid 240X320 display?

The 16-Poly sounds are plain "very good". Not excellent like some factory installed Samsung sounds. My ex-T610 sounded a little better and louder as well. It does not have to do with the number of polyphony but rather with the design of the ringer. Besides, there are hardly any free 32 or 40-poly sounds available on the Net. My comparison is based on the exact same 16-poly ringtones uploaded to the three different brands above.

Posted by: Crippen

Thanks Haki and Synncere for your great info on the phone -- i simply cannot WAIT for mine to arrive now..!!!

I hope everything is on schedule with Adam's shipment!! I paid to get it overnighted it to me by FedEx, i want it this week!!! lol

Enjoy your phone guys, hope to be gushing about mine soon also

Posted by: joonlee

I am very interested in getting a GX20 and would like to know where the phone is manufactured. I do hope it is manufactured in Japan.

Thanks.

Posted by: ariba

I have to disagree with that. I got my gx20 from UK. The phone won't work unless there's a Vodafone SIM inserted. Need to call up CS to unlock the phone I suppose

[QUOTE]Originally posted by haki
[B]@ Crippen: The Vodafone phones are not locked in any way.

Posted by: haki

I bought mine at an official Vodafone shpp in Greece and, like all phones sold in Greece, is completely unlocked.

Sorry, but I assumed that Vodafone would follow the same policy worldwide.

Now you all know where to get your phones during your next vacation!

By the way, the unlocked GX20 retails for 583 Euros in Greece including 18 percent VAT. This, of course, is without a contract subsidy which ranges between 120-450 Euros depending on the plan.

I hope that you can get yours working by just keying-in the unlock code. Unlocking through software upgrades won't be convenient for a Sharp.

Oh, and yes, it is manufactured in Japan. I have not come across any other GSM phone manufactured there.

Posted by: Synncere

Quote:

Originally posted by Crippen
Thanks Haki and Synncere for your great info on the phone -- i simply cannot WAIT for mine to arrive now..!!!

I hope everything is on schedule with Adam's shipment!! I paid to get it overnighted it to me by FedEx, i want it this week!!! lol

Enjoy your phone guys, hope to be gushing about mine soon also

I hope you recieve it soon. You're gonna love the fone!!

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by Synncere
I hope you recieve it soon. You're gonna love the fone!!

Me too!! Adam is supposed to have 11 handsets today and shipping mine out

Haven't heard from him yet but crossing my fingers that it was sent out on time

Posted by: zl08

Quote:

Originally posted by ariba
I have to disagree with that. I got my gx20 from UK. The phone won't work unless there's a Vodafone SIM inserted. Need to call up CS to unlock the phone I suppose

[QUOTE]Originally posted by haki
[B]@ Crippen: The Vodafone phones are not locked in any way.

i've bought my fone in the UK when was there in the business trip,
it's a UK vodafone & fully unlocked, except that it have vodafone
flash-rom with vodalive! (wap icon replaced with live! and so on)

Posted by: fredlo

I have the phone (GX22), except two points I am very satisfied with the phone:

1-) no automatic on and off, this is quite backwards as i am used to having my phone to turn it off itself at night to save battery, can't do it! the alarm also won't function when the phone is off... you really cannot believe such an advanced phone do not have an essenital feature like this.

2-) there are no short cut keys to select groups on the contact list. if you wish to organize your contact list in group (so you won't scroll though all contacts everytime) it takes quite a few key press before you can select your group... a major hassle for me..

otherwise, a very solid phone!

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by Synncere
The Handset manager is really simple to use! Had no problem installing it at all and the only error I made in the beginning was I activated IR on the fone & couldn't connect it to the pc then I realized I had to go into the applications menu then choose pc link and activate IR from there instead of from the settings menu.
I sized my wallpapers for the main screen and the exterior screen. (I hid the clock and date so when people see a picture on the front they are amazed-- then I show them the inside.)

I'm having the same trouble -- can you explain where this 'application menu' is? I don't seem to have that on my phone?

Well, i found the pc-link inside the organizer menu ... but it still isn't connecting for me .. that blows.

anyone else with a GX-22 manage to make irda work?

Posted by: ducvader

I got it to work. It's not really that hard. Just press menu 3 6 2 point it to your irda and then start handset manager! Thats all there is too it. One thing I really hate about this program is that it always ask you to name the file when you try to send all files at once.... only one makes it through!

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by ducvader
I got it to work. It's not really that hard. Just press menu 3 6 2 point it to your irda and then start handset manager! Thats all there is too it. One thing I really hate about this program is that it always ask you to name the file when you try to send all files at once.... only one makes it through!

I tried that, doesn't work for me.
Which IRDA model are you using please?

Posted by: Synncere

When I first got my GX-20 I made the mistake of going to menu: 9-7 and trying to connect it to the handset manager but after a couple failed attempts I realized I had to go to menu: 3-6-2 and choose IR. (I am sure it's in the manual but my manual didn't come in English and I recently downloaded an english version-- all I gotta is finish reading it now

) so for me it was trial and error. I haven't had any problems using the handset manager program or conencting via IR at all since. As for the handset manager program... I give it an A+ rating. Very simple to use.

Posted by: Confused69u

can u use .wav as ringtones with this phone?

Posted by: bakesand

Quote:

Originally posted by Confused69u
can u use .wav as ringtones with this phone?

yes

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by Synncere
Call clarity is great and the ringtones sound great aswell. I have been able to put a good variety of midis, .mmf's and .wav files as ringers on the fone and they all sound great.

Hmm, I wonder if this is a difference between the GX-20 and 22 .. I CANNOT put in .mmf's, the handset manager tells me that type isn't support. I can only put .wav and .mid --

Any other GX-22 users having this problem?

Posted by: ducvader

Quote:

Originally posted by Crippen
Hmm, I wonder if this is a difference between the GX-20 and 22 .. I CANNOT put in .mmf's, the handset manager tells me that type isn't support. I can only put .wav and .mid --

Any other GX-22 users having this problem?

Nope! Everything works fine for me!

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by ducvader
Nope! Everything works fine for me!

You transfer with the GX-20 Handset manager?

When you look in the 'music' icon, do you notice that it doesn't display information and the # of tracks for an .mmf file? It's as if it doesn't recognize the format ..

Posted by: Jax826

how's the pic quality of gx-20/21/22 compare to Nokia 3650?

Posted by: Sl300

trust me the original is so much better

taken w/ medium size, fine qualty, no flash/lighting effects

gx-22 can tear up the 3650, i had both, and the p800 too

gx-22 is a clear winner.

Posted by: Confused69u

how about pics in the dark with flash on?

Posted by: Jax826

how's the pic size when you upload it to PC?
It wouldn't be something like gd88 right?

Posted by: Synncere

I have owned both the N3650 and the SE P800 and the GX-20's pics are so much better. IMO from the pictures I have taken the differences are blatenly obvious. It's like night and day. As for picture size it's not like the Gx8x at all... you can choose between:

Large: 480 x 640
Medium: 240 x 320
Small: 120 x 160

Posted by: Jax826

ok...great...then I am gettin that^^

Posted by: LiteSpeed

Okay, if u guys don't mind I ask the question again ...

The IR of the phone can indeed Transfer pics from the GX22 to PC right ?

I asked b/c I was reading some website it stated that pics cannot be transfer to PC using the GX22's IR ...

thanks

Posted by: Crippen

Quote:

Originally posted by LiteSpeed
Okay, if u guys don't mind I ask the question again ...

The IR of the phone can indeed Transfer pics from the GX22 to PC right ?

I asked b/c I was reading some website it stated that pics cannot be transfer to PC using the GX22's IR ...

thanks

Once again, hopefully LAST TIME, ***YES*** it can transfer pics via IR.

Posted by: wirelessandy

Really excited about this handset. A few questions before I plunk down the bucks:

1. Anyone know if the GX20 has blinking LED indicator for "signal present"? Or, is the external LCD readable when the backlight turns off?

2. If you change the WAP settings to suit your carrier's GPRS settings (homepage, IP, APN, etc) on an unlocked GX20, does the "Vodaphone Live" button default to the new homepage?

Thanks everyone!

Posted by: Sl300

Quote:

Originally posted by wirelessandy
Really excited about this handset. A few questions before I plunk down the bucks:

1. Anyone know if the GX20 has blinking LED indicator for "signal present"? Or, is the external LCD readable when the backlight turns off?

2. If you change the WAP settings to suit your carrier's GPRS settings (homepage, IP, APN, etc) on an unlocked GX20, does the "Vodaphone Live" button default to the new homepage?

Thanks everyone!

1. there is not service light. yea it sucks
2. ask carsmovies he got the wap/gprs working for rogesr and fido

Posted by: Confused69u

so how can the phone transfer pics via BT/IR? j/p

....

seriously, can u activate the LED light without opening the flip? is it possible just to turn it on by using the side keys?

Posted by: wirelessandy

How readable is the external LCD when the backlight shuts off? Can you still read battery and RF level?

Posted by: 3.2vtec

Quote:

Originally posted by wirelessandy
How readable is the external LCD when the backlight shuts off? Can you still read battery and RF level?

it's not that readable when the backlight it off.. it doesn't completely disapear like i've seen with some colour screens so you can kinda see it... but it's hard to make out...

but that's not a problem.. just press the side key once and the backlight turns on. to turn the torch light on, just hold down a side button for 2 secs... to cycle thru colours, keep pressing the buttons, and to turn it off, just hold it down again for 2 secs.

Posted by: Meercat

the torch is amazing, bright enough to see prettu much anything and saves turning the lights/fumbling around and waking the family on when you get home late at night

Posted by: bre

does someone has some cool wapsite to get free games ????

Posted by: b00tdata

few questions:
1. does gx2* have an áctive flip? (meaning: a call comes in, you open the flip, then the phone is answered automatically?)
2. the 2mb memory, will it be enough? my T610 - I have to delete some of old pics everytime....

thanx

Posted by: Confused69u

1. dont think there's active flip, i just press any key to answer

2. i find that it's enough... it fits 30 hi-res pics and 80+ medium res pics...

if u wanna install other games, then it'll obviously decrease the numbers.. .but the games for it are sweet

Posted by: LiteSpeed

Quote:

Originally posted by Confused69u
1. dont think there's active flip, i just press any key to answer

2. i find that it's enough... it fits 30 hi-res pics and 80+ medium res pics...

if u wanna install other games, then it'll obviously decrease the numbers.. .but the games for it are sweet

Hey Confuse

where can u get those sweet games ?

Posted by: Confused69u

only found paying sites...

u can check out the thread 'Games for the GX20/22'

Posted by: b00tdata

Quote:

no active flip? would be nice if it did!!!

Posted by: Confused69u

i'm okay without it.. phone is kinda similar to the basic functions of the panasonicgd88

Posted by: b00tdata

Quote:

Originally posted by Confused69u
i'm okay without it.. phone is kinda similar to the basic functions of the panasonicgd88

if you had to choose btw GD88 vs GX2*, which one would u go for?
I actually thinking of gettin N6600-> but I find it very 'fat' indeed
P900-> too big also, samsung e700-> dun really like the design, I prefer 'traditional'clamshell looks...
and as I'm tryhing to move away from 'nokia-stream', i'm in a market for non-nokia phone

Posted by: Confused69u

gx22 of course.. gd88 is an old phone now.. wait for sendo X or get p900 if u want a pda type phone..

Posted by: Holishi

I plan to get gx-20 for my own Christmas present. gx-20 has everything i want: descent built-in camera, large sharp screen, java game download capability, great RF, sleek solid design, and more.

I have one question to clarify, but whatever the answer is won't change my decision of buying this phone....DOES THIS CAMERA PHONE HAVE SHUTTER SOUND LIKE TELUS CAMERA PHONES?

Posted by: f2003

All phones now must have a shutter sound. It is required by the law. However, you get the choice of three different soudns!

Posted by: Confused69u

hopefully, someone can hack the firmware like they did with the panasonic gd87/88

u plan on taking perv pics huh?

Posted by: f2003

i think this is a very dangerous phone as it also has a flashlight..

Posted by: Meercat

i hate to think where this thread is going ...

Posted by: Jax826

this law sucks....