Hands-on with NVIDIA's APX 2500, and yeah, it plays Quake
In one word or less: wow. NVIDIA's MWC announcement of the APX 2500 cellphone applications processor was a stunner and we expect the cellular community is going to welcome them with open arms. We've covered what the hardware is all about, but we've also found out it'll be packin' 7.2 Mbps HSDPA in many flavors, quad-band GSM, WiFi, Bluetooth, and it frickin' plays Quake 3, like a monster. While gaming doesn't mean it'll be a successful device, the 2500 certainly seems to have the grunt to get some serious work done and with its Windows Mobile 6 underpinnings, it'll play well with current software. The current developer reference sample is a bit on the fat side, though we expect the likes of HTC will put this thing on serious diet before it gets out to and into our pockets. Follow the link to see the admittedly -- by NVIDIA -- iPhone-esque GUI experience -- and bezel, earpiece, face.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
duffiecochran @ Feb 13th 2008 10:17AM
Wow, finally something to actually go crazy about. This has the specs to back it up and not just some pretty interface and a name with an "i" in front of it.
storino03 @ Feb 13th 2008 10:25AM
HTC to put it on serious diet...? What, like not releasing video drivers? LOL
--James
fyreblazer @ Feb 13th 2008 2:31PM
*yawn*
The Angry Intern @ Feb 13th 2008 10:29AM
nice, except it's another one of these phones with immense potential that will be stuck on a crap GSM network
Dave @ Feb 13th 2008 11:41AM
crap GSM? you mean like the network that 90% of the world uses beside "CDM Gay"?
Don't be jealous cause your verizon and sprint phones suck balls :0
periks19 @ Feb 13th 2008 1:20PM
True to that. GSM phones are really nice but whats the point on having one when you won't get a signal inside buildings.
Ryan @ Feb 14th 2008 9:20PM
Yeah! And because everyone else is doing we should too! Even though it's inferior technology, it's still better!
PeterF @ Feb 13th 2008 4:10PM
@periks19
Its not GSM vs CDMA for building penetration, but the frequency it runs on. GSM at 850MHz will penetrate buildings WAAAY better than CDMA and 1900MHz and vice versa.
@Ryan
3G is the next stage of GSM, which most of the big carriers have moved or will be moving to. It is based on CDMA but with all the advantages of GSM. So when run in 3G HSDPA mode, there is no way you can compare Verizon CDMA to this.
Magnulus @ Feb 13th 2008 10:30AM
I kind of feel that the gaming aspect of it is useless as long as it doesn't have a set of controls to make it worthwhile, and while I don't doubt that at some point, someone will figure out how to do single-touchscreen gaming interesting and fun, I haven't seen it yet.
Lord_von_Punx @ Feb 13th 2008 1:37PM
i have a samsung yp p2 and i just updated to the recent firm ware.. it might not have quake 3 on it.. but it has 3 little games.. one called bubble smile.. a car puzzle game and little shooter game ... and guess what there is no key pad or key board i play them with nothing but a single touch on the screen pretty kool i say
Mr. Picklesworth @ Feb 13th 2008 4:23PM
Ever heard of the Nintendo DS?
Resistive touch screen. There have been games for that system using absolutely nothing /but/ the touch controls. (Zelda Phantom Hourglass, for one).
Frankie @ Feb 13th 2008 10:38AM
Holly Molly, I would dish out $1,700 for that device. It looks like a 3.5" display (I hope). Why are so many phone manufactures afraid of exceeding the 2.8" the display size with at least VGA (Besides the HTC Universal, The XDA Flame, and the iPhone)? Can anyone answer that? It boggles my mind. I for one am a lover of the larger display and am willing to dish-out for it too. But no one will accommodate.
Juice @ Feb 13th 2008 12:46PM
I agree. An HTC Touch with a 3.5 screen would rock. But this looks sweet too.
Syrrys @ Feb 13th 2008 1:24PM
The big reason for not moving to bigger displays would seem to be cost. since there are lots and lots of plants (or at least a few big ones?) that can pump out tons of tiny 2.8" panels, they're cheap. Bigger ones are (slightly) more difficult to make reliably, and also being newer, there just isn't as much capacity to make them, thus more $.
If you don't like that answer, then I'd suggest the battery life is still an issue. Big screens suck battery and it's hard to sell people on a device that'll only go for an hour or so.
Joel Stephen @ Feb 13th 2008 2:08PM
you are so right why do they fear the largeness....thanks to this new chip it looks I can start finally developing the phone design that I've had shelved for the past 2 1/2 years
Ivan @ Feb 13th 2008 10:39AM
cool, now i can play crysis on the go! thanks nvidia!
Calvin Townsend @ Feb 13th 2008 11:08AM
I was misled by the headline. Playing Quake is QUITE different than playing Quake III. This hardware kicks much ass. Any guesses on how bad the battery life would be? Also, lets not have HTC make this thing and sell it to us sans drivers :(
SP @ Feb 13th 2008 11:25AM
OOOOOO my god finally some thing that kicks assssss!!!! with out turning into a fag iphone user.!!!!! FINALLLYYYYY
epi117 @ Feb 13th 2008 11:43AM
seriously dont count on HTC to put out nothing but the initial device, after that you are on your own. I just recently got my HTC advantage to the point where it will play acceptable video. how did i do it? was it a updated driver? nope, had to install a old version of TCPMP to get it working.
Juice @ Feb 13th 2008 12:47PM
Chill chill. iPhones are for wives...
fyreblazer @ Feb 13th 2008 2:33PM
+1 for the Nas reference.
Paul @ Feb 13th 2008 1:01PM
Yeah what ever. Well get the same old crap for the next 2 years till apple or nokia get there hands on it.
Lord_von_Punx @ Feb 13th 2008 1:38PM
i have a samsung yp p2 and i just updated to the recent firm ware.. it might not have quake 3 on it.. but it has 3 little games.. one called bubble smile.. a car puzzle game and little shooter game ... and guess what there is no key pad or key board i play them with nothing but a single touch on the screen pretty kool i say
Asim Fareed @ Feb 13th 2008 1:42PM
BESTBESTBEST way to use this phone would be a tactile d-pad for movement and... wait for it... tilting action for view! Curious looks on public transport aside, how intuitive would tilting up to look up and tilting left to turn be?? Admittedly the movements would have to be very small so as not to induce vertigo but still.. Are you hearing me Nokia???!!
kingof9x @ Feb 13th 2008 2:02PM
A thought pooped into my head when i read a write up on the new mobile nvidia chip. http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6595510999.html
Then look at the demo of google's android. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FJHYqE0RDg (look at timestamp 4:30)
The two devices look smiler to me, and they both play quake.
Just food for thought. Nvidia is a part of the open handset alliance yet no word on linux support... yet...
Nick @ Feb 19th 2008 12:20AM
it pooped into your head? Interesting.
OneLove @ Feb 13th 2008 5:58PM
can it play cod4? it has HDMI? :0
TareX @ Feb 13th 2008 10:27PM
Unbelievable. I just forgot the XPERIA existed for a while there.
I'm waiting for this one.
rokwell @ Feb 14th 2008 1:54AM
WOW!!! iwant!! not only does it play a sick game, but the ui looks slick also! this is the reason why i am a phone junkie!
your right TareX! what is the XPERIA........
Adam @ Feb 14th 2008 11:41AM
What handset is that running on??
Alan Strangis @ Feb 15th 2008 2:10PM
WOW! I've been wanting to upgrade my Wizard for a while now, but I think I can live with it for another year for this thing. Can't wait to see what happens when manufacturers get there hands on the platform.
VP @ Feb 16th 2008 1:04PM
anyone know how much this phenomenal gadget will cost? I am guessing over a thousand bucks
Moongoggles @ Feb 21st 2008 10:32AM
That is huge. I don't think playing quake is enough of a trade-off for that brick.