Review of Garmin-Asus A10 GSM/UMTS smartphone
We have to start with the fact that Garmin-Asus A10 is a unique device. It has no rivals in the segment of Android based crossbreeds between smartphones and navigators. A navigation smartphone always comes with preinstalled navigation software, car charger and holder. Besides, almost all apps and the menu ensure quick access to navigation features from any section of the menu or interface itself.
Rivals
The official price of Garmin-Asus A10 is around $520. It is easier to name a dozen of more expensive solutions than provide detailed information on models, which cost similarly or less. Subsequently, A10 has many rivals, but all Android smartphones have 3 main features: platform, screen resolution and design. We should not forget about OS version, camera resolution, and amount of RAM, but all Android models are standardized more than other handsets: WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, etc.
Due to this Garmin-Asus A10 has only one distinctive feature, which is underlined by the manufacturer and can still provide a competitive advantage. Here I mean a complete package for navigation from the box: car holder and charger, preinstalled navigation software and its integration into the interface.
I have been using A10 for a month and I didn't experience any problems with speech recognition or signal reception. The volume is average, while the same can be said about the vibro too.
Conclusion
What I have mentioned above is not an attempt to justify Garmin-Asus A10, but a mere fact. Modern day Android segment is not rich with solutions, which can be labeled music, navigation or other specialized ones. Unfortunately, the trend offered by Sony Ericsson (if I am not mistaken) when companies came up with models centered around one key feature is being ignored. Garmin-Asus A10 is a good example of a navigation smartphone with an exaggerated price explained by its ability to operate from the box. Do we still have a paradigm where users could look for a music, photo or navigation model?
Description:
Rivals
The official price of Garmin-Asus A10 is around $520. It is easier to name a dozen of more expensive solutions than provide detailed information on models, which cost similarly or less. Subsequently, A10 has many rivals, but all Android smartphones have 3 main features: platform, screen resolution and design. We should not forget about OS version, camera resolution, and amount of RAM, but all Android models are standardized more than other handsets: WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, etc.
Due to this Garmin-Asus A10 has only one distinctive feature, which is underlined by the manufacturer and can still provide a competitive advantage. Here I mean a complete package for navigation from the box: car holder and charger, preinstalled navigation software and its integration into the interface.
I have been using A10 for a month and I didn't experience any problems with speech recognition or signal reception. The volume is average, while the same can be said about the vibro too.
Conclusion
What I have mentioned above is not an attempt to justify Garmin-Asus A10, but a mere fact. Modern day Android segment is not rich with solutions, which can be labeled music, navigation or other specialized ones. Unfortunately, the trend offered by Sony Ericsson (if I am not mistaken) when companies came up with models centered around one key feature is being ignored. Garmin-Asus A10 is a good example of a navigation smartphone with an exaggerated price explained by its ability to operate from the box. Do we still have a paradigm where users could look for a music, photo or navigation model?
Description:
- Class: OS Android smartphone
- Form factor: candybar
- Rivals: no direct competitors
- Body materials: matte plastic(with soft-touch)
- OS: Android 2.1
- Networks: GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS/HSDPA 900/2100
- Qualcomm MSM7227 platform, 600 MHz processor
- RAM: 512 MB
- Memory for data: 4 GB + microSD cards slot
- Interfaces: WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (A2DP), microUSB (USB 2.0) jack for charging /synchronization, 3.5 mm jack for a headset
- Screen: capacitive TFT of 3.2″ with 480x320 (HVGA) resolution, automatic backlight adjustment
- Camera: 5 MP with autofocus, QVGA resolution for video recording
- Navigation: GPS on gpsOne chip of Qualcomm platform (with A-GPS support)
- Add-ons: accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
- Battery: adjustable 1500 mAh Li-Ion
- Dimensions: 110 x 58 x 14 mm