Comparing the Kaiser (TyTN II/MDA Vario III) with the Hermes (TyTN/MDA Vario II)
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...October 1, 2007 by mike
Thanks to a friend at T-Mobile, my Kaiser arrived on the day of it’s official launch in the UK. There are many reviews of both these devices, so I will settle for explaining the differences between the two rather than a detailed review of either.
I’m only going to cover the main areas of difference, and those points missed by all the other review sites (and they missed a lot - maybe they all had pre-production reference models?).
Introducing the TyTN II
Both the TyTN and Kaiser are Windows Mobile devices, produced for a large number of resellers under OEM by HTC. This means that although the device might be called something else, their real model names are the “HTC Kaiser” (new) replacing the “HTC TyTN” (old).
The other official names you might know these devices as are the:
HTC Kaiser
HTC TyTN II
T-Mobile MDA Vario III
Vodafone 1615
AT&T Tilt (8900, 8915, 8925)
SFR v1615
Swisscom XPA1615
HTC Hermes
HTC TyTN
T-Mobile MDA Vario II
Vodafone 1605
Vodafone VPA-Compact III
Orange SPV M3100
O2 XDA Trion
AT&T 8525
i-mate JasJam
Dopod 838 Pto
Telus P4000
Qtek 9600
Softbank XO1HT
Cingular 8525
So, what’s changed?
The HTC TyTN was a phenomenal phone/PDA combination. It was the first ever to provide HSDPA (broadband-like speeds) in a mobile phone. It is small, light and powerful. Early editions shipped with Windows Mobile 5.0 - but later editions contain the additional “Messaging and Security Pack” or Windows Mobile 6.0. I won’t go into the software comparison here, that’s another story.
The HTC TyTN II builds on HTC TyTN and makes improvements right across the board. These improvements are:
The Size
You can tell these two devices are related, they’re basically the same size. The TyTN II is slightly smaller than the TyTN, and doesn’t protrude as much. The newer materials and finish feel of a much higher quality, the plastics feel more solid and the metallic sections have a brushed aluminium design. Side by side, the TyTN II has a distinctly upmarket feel.
The buttons are more defined than the TyTN and give a good response when pushed.
Take a look at these pictures (click for a detailed view):
TyTN II (left) and TyTN (right)
TyTN II buttons are all on the lower portion of the device. The D-PAD is 2mm wider and 2mm taller than previously. The enter push-button on the center of the D-PAD is no longer attached to the D-PAD. These are slight attention-to-detail improvements that make the device easier to use, and more attractive 
TyTN (left) and TyTN II (right)
TyTN II has a 3.0mp autofocus camera and GPS unit
TyTN has a 2.0mp camera with manual macro mode and flashlight
You’re unlikely to miss not having a flashlight on the TyTN II since neither camera performs particularly well indoors or in low light situations. What you will definately miss on the TyTN II is a graphics accellerator chip. Taking a well timed and clear photograph with an unmodified TyTN II is like trying to thread a needle whilst completely drunk. It’s not going to happen until HTC provide the proper hardware support for this device.
TyTN (left) and TyTN II (right)
The TyTN II has a cool trick, it can tilt the display so that it operates like a laptop. This is particularly useful as it allows the screen to be visible whilst on any surface, without using a dock. So it can show you your email, allow you to type a document, or just be an expensive alarm clock
It is also worth mentioning that the sliding mechanism is much more elegant than the TyTN. The TyTN just slides on the rails, but the TyTN II springs closed and springs open and feels altogether more solid. It feels like this is done with magnets, but without opening it up, I can’t see how - it must be magic 
TyTN (top) and TyTN II (bottom)
Note that the TyTN II is thinner than TyTN
Although it weighs more 
TyTN (right) and TyTN II (left)
TyTN does not come with an IR port, but does have a proper stylus (compared to the TyTN collapsable stylus).
There are only two negatives - no IR port and the TyTN II weighs more. Other review sites say the TyTN II weighs less than the TyTN. My kitchen scales show 180gms for the TyTN II, and 160gms for the TyTN. This means that you can more easily fit the PDA into your pocket, but you’ll feel it pulling a bit more. The lack of IR port is no big deal it has been depricated by bluetooth, wireless networking and mobile internet connection technologies.
Beauty is only skin-deep
Because the real changes are under the skin. HTC has done away with the Samsung 400mhz chip and replaced the entire chipset with a Qualcomm 7200 400mhz dual CPU with integrated Imageon hardware 2D/3D graphics accelerator.
What does this mean? Well, the Qualcomm is about 8 times faster at processing according to published benchmarks, and up to 20 times faster at graphical drawing. This makes the device feel fast and responsive when web browsing, composing emails, playing games, using the camera or remote desktop and other business applications. It even gives a substantial boost to TomTom GPS navigation software.
Speaking of GPS - this device has a built in receiver, which can be used as a feed to show your location in Google Maps, Live Search, TomTom or any other GPS software. It comes with a software utility called “QuickGPS” which downloads satellite information from the internet - up to 7 days in advance - which speeds up fix time dramatically. Without any modifications, I was able to get my first satellite fix into Google Maps within 10 seconds, and it was even able to track me around my garden. Very accurate.
Memory is doubled on the TyTN II - it now packs 128 MB RAM and 256 MB ROM. That’s plenty for almost everything, you don’t need to close down pocket internet explorer, opera, email or word to still use a GPS software application and make a phonecall without slowdown. This is a stark contrast to earlier Windows Mobile devices, which made even a simple google search take forever.
USB 2.0 support - the TyTN was just a USB 1.0 device. Faster sync rate means faster web browsing (if you use your TyTN II as a mobile data modem card) and faster ActiveSync.
Improved Camera - In addition to the front mounted VGA camera; It’s now got a 3.0 mp camera with autofocus. But no flash for night shots - this isn’t a big deal, since the device isn’t meant to replace your existing camera. Be aware that there are some press reference early-model TyTN II’s floating around, probably on eBay. These are the model 100, 110, they both are either missing the main camera or both main and front cameras.
.NET Compact Framework 2.0 - This is meant as a benefit for application developers who provide you with all those wonderful life-saving convenient Windows Mobile applications that make your life easier expect to see more software for these devices over time.
HTC TouchFlo - This device came preloaded with the HTC TouchFlo software. It works by allowing finger-style navigation on lists of information. For example, your email can be navigated by running your finger over the emails and “spinning” the list up and down. It takes getting used to, but is a much easier way to navigate when you only have one hand free. Pocket Internet Explorer also supports HTC TouchFlo, allowing website navigation by allowing “flying” around the page using a finger. This has definately been inspired by the iPhone multi-touch interface, and there is a possibility that “Safari Mobile” might make it to Windows Mobile devices in the future. Microsoft are already working on their own mobile device web-browsing technology, “Deepfish” - but this project appears to have stalled as there haven’t been any updates in a while on this..
Better than an iPhone? Better than a Blackberry?
Absolutely! The iPhone doesn’t have 3G. Both TyTN and TyTN II have 3.5G - that’s broadband fast. EDGE is poorly supported and in the UK at least, the alternative to 3G is GPRS - which is slower than a slow dialup modem.
TyTN and TyTN II are both Windows Mobile devices. So you can use them to pick up your email from Exchange (direct Exchange integration). For businesses these devices can be locked down remotely (and even wiped remotely). For others, you can pick up your Hotmail, Yahoo Mail or Gmail directly with this device as it also supports the POP3 and IMAP protocols.
Should you need to work on a Word document, view a PDF, browse the internet, use MSN Messenger or Skype - you can. If you need to use your laptop - simply connect to it via bluetooth or USB cable and you’re instantly connected to the internet at broadband speeds.
What is not to love about these devices? Comments please!
edit: Thanks to jonc and drummer10630 from xda-developers for corrections on the above post!
hi, ive got the vario iii and it does not allow you to use msn messenger or hotmail as the vario ii did. any ideas?
Hi David,
I didn’t touch on software, since the Extended ROM (which contains all the extra software) is different, depending on the manufacturer.
You’re right that T-Mobile (who supply the Vario brand) doesn’t contain Windows Live Messenger/Hotmail.
You can still integrate the built-in Pocket Outlook email application with your Hotmail account and use third party software, such as Agile Messenger for your MSN Messenger needs.
If you want MSN Messenger desperately, I’ve seen several downloadable .cab files on the internet which will give you MSN Messenger on a Vario. Does anyone know of a reliable place to download this from?
The Kaiser is in principle a great device. But the 3D hardware dosen’t work currently and that makes it much less great to use.
Also maybe the 3D will never work, HTC are far from forthcoming on this.
Still, no doubt better than Hermes.
It’s an awesome device, but the fact that there is no proper driver for video chip is a shame. Hermes greatly outperforms Kaiser in video tests, but hopefully HTC will release a new ROM to fix this.
Thanks for your info in this, was very helpful. Could you give me any reliable sites that can give me msn messenger?
I tried using installing Falshplayer 9 as promted by yahoo messenger’s download page, but that did not seem to even start the download..
Just now I found one for Yahoo Messenger but its charging $34.95 on http://t-mobile-mda-vario-iii.handster.com/software.php?id=91&for=T-Mobile+MDA+Vario+III but I am not sure whether this will work in UK. Tmobile customer services said I have to get the higher Web and Walk package (£12.50 pm) … although their technical division claims that they do not support 3rd party clients so it will not work anyway. I may try and do this when I get home tonight (they have a trial version) and let you know how it goes.
Hi,
It’s clear that “in principle” it has amazing features. I’ve got one since two monthes (I had a Treo 650 before) and I can say that it’s very painful to use wrt to an iphone or a simple Treo. GPS is slow to acquire satellites, and software is unefficient as possible. I would only recommend to use it as a modem; in this case the data speed becomes really amazing ….
Hi guys, i work for T-Mobile and i have the Vario 3. I have located the cab for messenger and and it allows you to use hotmail on your device as an email account without any issues. works fantastic. download from: http://www.live-messenger.nl/download/WindowsLive.PPC2005_ARM.CAB.
Hope this works for you guys and hope i was helpful.
Hi
You can also try downloading from this site:
http://www.4shared.com/file/13938307/9581b07b/WindowsLivePocketPC_50_arm.html
Just to let you know, T-Mobile does not support Hotmail, which is why it is very difficult to locate this file, but i always find a way.
Also you do need the £12.50 web n walk package for msn messanger to work without T-Mobile breathing down your neck.
hi, I got mda vario, and I want to update my msn messenger because I want to Be able to see icons and be less boring and change of colors, and I tried agilemessnger but isn’t working, do you know any website to download direct into my phone? thankyou .
Hello Andrea,
Have a look at the message above from Jet Gill. There’s a link to download MSN Messenger directly to your device: http://www.live-messenger.nl/download/WindowsLive.PPC2005_ARM.CAB
David - I really agree with you - the iPhone looks a lot easier to use. I won’t have one until they ship a 3G version (which I hear rumours that a 3G prototype is already available), and hopefully they’ll come to T-Mobile too
Regarding your GPS issue, try downloading and installing QuickGPS. It downloads satellite positions from the internet (in advance) so as to speed up the time to first fix. It works incredibly well - did you have any problems with it?
Hope you all have a very happy new year!
Mike
hi again, well I tried that but it doesn’t work, I tried to download but it just appers letters and numbers, if you know any other site to update my messenger to my mda vario into my phone let me know, cherrs, Andrea. happy new year!
Andrea,
Try above. The links work and you need to run the .cab file on your device, not your PC.
Hope this helps,
Mike
hi, oh It doesn’t work, I’m running it in my device at won’t work, Andrea, thanks anyway.
hey all,
i would like to the use this device with a golf gps software.
does any one know the accuracy of the gps on the HTC TyTN II / Mobile MDA Vario III? <3m? <5m? 10m?
do you need a data plan with tmobile to use the gps?
thanks
Hi mike b,
Firstly: you don’t need a data plan to use GPS. The GPS receives radio signals from the orbiting GPS satellites and doesn’t transmit anything. So, yes it’s free
It’s certainly more accurate than 10meters, and I would say between 3 and 5 based on testing with Google Maps. I’m sure custom positioning software could determine a higher accuracy.
What golf software are you looking at?
Thanks for the response mikelwilson.
golf software i am looking at is by intelligolf. i would like to get software which include map with it. you have any suggestion? what are some custom positioning software out that could have a high accuracy?
mike b
Hi mike b,
I’ve seen that software before, someone at my local golf course was using it I think to track each shot. What a good idea!
The GPS in the HTC Kaiser should be more than good enough for this use.
Mike
Hi to ALL,
Is there any sites that can give free downloads for TyTN II ?
regards
Quite a few sites. What software are you looking for?
Hi all,
I just got myself an MDA Vario III. The helpful guy in the store told me I could watch youtube vids on it (well from the m.youtube site), which is cool as it would pass idle hours on my daily commute.
However it doesn’t work. I just get a message of ‘failed to find network’ (or words to that effect).
Subsequent chats with T-Mobile customer support told me:
1) yes the phone will do it, “I’ll reset your account. Switch you’re phone off and on again and it should be fine.” (to be honest he sounded like a YTS kid, but I did as requested, sure enough it still didnt’ work.)
2) No, the Vario III isn’t compatible with you form of video streamed on m.youtube. The lass I spoke to on the second occasion even checked it with her workmate, who also has the phone and got the same error.
I’ve seen on other sites that, yes it will do it, but a higher version of wnw is needed (something neither phone to T-Mob suggested)
Can any of you guys shed any light?
Thanks
Hello Damien,
Your MDA Vario III will play YouTube videos if you have Flash Player installed and you use the conventional http://www.youtube.com site URL.
Many people have reported difficulties using the http://m.youtube.com site. This site is different to the standard YouTube site in that it does’t use flash. The movies are in .3gp format and stream using the “Real Time Streaming Protocol” (RTSP) directly to your device. The connection problem is that unless your device is in a DMZ on whichever network you are using, then you will see errors like the above.
Unfortunately, on T-Mobile WNW - and almost all wireless networks (that haven’t been explicitly configured) - you won’t be able to access the RTSP movies on http://m.youtube.com.
If you’re bored on the way to work and want movies, try this site: http://www.streams4pda.com/ - it’s a portal to all a selection of TV live streams which use the Windows Media Player streaming technology. If you want YouTube badly, see the link below for Flash Player and access the main YouTube website using Pocket Internet Explorer.
I hope this helps?
Download Flash Player for Windows Mobile here: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/pocket_pc.html
I’ve blogged about the hardware device driver issue here.
HI again,
I think I’ve missed something somewhere. I downloaded and installed the flash player you linked to.
But I can’t stop my Vario from going to the m.youtube site, even if I type in the video url directly, it will divert to the m.youtube url. Is there anyway I can force it to stay on he main youtube url?
Thanks
If you’re being redirected, it’s because your browser is identifying itself as a pocket/mobile browser and then YouTube redirects you to a mobile URL.
On the mobile YouTube page, select “menu”, then scroll to the bottom of the page and select “View Desktop Version”.
Hope this helps,
Mike
I’ve just contacted T-Mobile and i’ve been informed that you need the web ‘n’ walk ‘plus’ to access the windows live messenger service. I previously had access to Instant messenger with web ‘n’ walk on my Vario II ,I now have a Vario III.
I guess they are trying to make more money for nothing… the charge for the plus service is an extra £7.00 per month.
None of the links work otherwise.
Mike,
Thanks I’ll give that a shot…
Teejay,
I spoke to T-Mob three times over the last few days and have been
told 3 different things. None of which included anyone from their staff saying anything about wnw+
1) It should work, I refresh your account.
2) Your phone doesn’t have that capability
3) You can do it, but you need 3rd party software to do it.
You’re reply from T-Mob is in addition to what I’ve been told.
Needless to say I’ll be going back to the store on Saturday to demand straight answers, and some measure of payback…
PS
Mike - Just checked- that works fine. You have my deepest thanks.
Teejay - follow what Mike said to do for me - it works fine for me.
Damien, glad it worked for you
Hello,
For some reason, when I try to install the file WindowsLive.PPC2005_ARM from my Vario III it always says installation unsuccessful. Does anyone know a solution for this?
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Hi
I too am receiving the same message as Chee…
‘Installation of WindowsLive.PPC2005_ARM.CAB was unsuccessful’.
Anyone got any ideas?
With thanks
Simon
Chee (and anyone else with this problem)
Just solved my own problem (issue 30 above)
Follow this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334621&highlight=WLM+build+1400.CAB
You will need to register for the xda forum (free). Download the cab file listed as LATEST.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=53535&stc=1&d=1191879542
Install on phone and the e-mail just like it used to, only the sync is better!
Hope this helps.
Simon
Thanks Simon and Mike!
Please could someone help with information with regards this phone on the Orange network. Firstly is it possible to run MSN messenger and secondly i have seen videos of this phone using slingbox. I assume to use slingbox, you must have a slingbox in your home?
Craig: Yes it is possible to run MSN messenger on this device (see comments above), and to use Slingbox on your device you do need access to a Slingbox. Basically, a Slingbox makes your home live TV signal available across the internet.
There are live TV streams that you can watch for free on your device, and you can also use ORB or Winamp Remote (nice GUI for ORB) to access your movies, pictures and music across the internet on your device.
Make sure that you have the appropriate data plan for your intended usage, however, or it could get expensive.
Simon: Thanks for the tips above!
hey does anyone have a link for messenger as seen in this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if4UgITBpcY
would really appreciate it
Gurj,
Please read the above comments or use the search facility, there is a direct link to what you’re looking for already on this page. I’ll give you a hint, it’s between comment 8 and comment 12
Hi,
Does anyone know a free chess software I can download onto my Vario III? I have tried quite a few but none of them work.
Thanks,
Dorian
[...] other hand, some of my blog posts have been massively more successful than others. My review of the HTC Kaiser and my tutorial on building an energy efficient and silent compact server have been very well [...]
i just awaiting delivery of the mda vario III, how ‘unlimited’ is tmobile £7.50 web n walk, and where would i find a site with applications for the Vario III? is it possible to get yahoo messenger without upgrading to the £12.50 web n walk.Many thanks everyone, really appreciate the help
Dorian, there are free chess programs out there for Windows Mobile/Pocket PC. Quite a few, in fact: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/s.php?querywords=chess
Hope this helps.
Colm, The t-mobile £7.50 web’n'walk package is fairly unlimited. It has a restriction on VOIP, so Skype is out. I haven’t tried Yahoo Messenger, but it probably works fine on the £7.50 tariff - MSN Messenger does.
Hi,
I have a MDA vario iii and i have tried all the download links available in this site for MSN messenger. But when i attempt to install the .cab file it is always unsuccessful..
Any reasons why? Im using opera Mobile to download the files.
Chris
See my comment, number 31 for the answer.
The download referenced worked like a dream for me.
Regards
Simon
thanks a lot for the program .
Hi, I have bought new MDAII to replace old MDAII. I wonder if someone can help with:
1.Transfer information from old to new vario (esp contacts).
2.I don’t like default calender, does any one know of a good calender , one that shows a week at time?
3. Any good database mangers for MDA III out there?
Hi Shalid,
1. Use Windows Mobile Device Center
2. Use the default calendar application, but change it to week-to-view
3. Explain a little more?
Hope this helps.
I would like to upgrade this phone from my old Vario. I’m curious as to how to use this phone as a ‘modem’ for a laptop via the USB cable or bluetooth. Are there configurations that I need to do on the phone and laptop?
Hi Desmond,
Assuming your laptop runs Windows XP or Windows Vista, activating “Internet Sharing” on your Windows Mobile phone and connecting it to your laptop by USB will work.
The easiest way is to use the “Wireless Modem” application if your phone ROM supports it:
Start->Settings->Connections->Wireless Modem.
Activate, then connect via USB (or bluetooth).
Good luck!
Hi! thanks for the link to the messenger-program. I installed it properly on my MDA Vario III.
But I would like to receive my hotmail-emails to my emailprogram on the Vario. I can’t get it together. Does anybody know how to do that? What mailprovider should i insert in the options, etc.?
Thanks!
Hi PieterK,
A couple of points for you:
1. Your PDA can pick up email from POP3 or IMAP services and send through any SMTP service. That’s pretty much all of them. The trick, as you have found is finding the right settings.
2. Hotmail don’t provide POP3 or SMTP mail for their free service. I understand from my colleagues that GMail and Yahoo mail on the other hand DO provide this.
If you’re on the paying Hotmail account, go ahead and search Hotmail to find the right pop server address for collecting email (it will look like: pop.hotmail.com) and smtp server address for sending email (such as: smtp.hotmail.com), and you’re basically done. Remember to use IMAP instead of POP3 if you want to retain copies of your email online as well as on your phone (and use POP/POP3 if you’re wanting to download [and remove] email from the server]).
I hope this helps.
Mike
ok w/o a doubt i really hate tmobile right now i’m a u.s. customer and the tmobile mda vario 3 is not even in u.s. markets we are stuck with the tmobile htc wing which has a 200 mgz processor we all know what happens with a crappy processor and an o.s. made for faster ones quite annoying as it freezes alot germany has the iphone in the tmobile market at&t has the iphone and made a contract with apple so that if you buy an iphone 2 on july 11 you need to stay with them 2 years b4 you can keep the device…ugh…germany gets the mda vario IV which is basically an htc diamond with a keyboard awesome phone…oh better yet the u.s. tmobile is the only carrier WITHOUT 3G we are stuck with edge until this summer good thing is tmobile is investing in wifi cloaking cities which is about as fast as 3g no complains even though at&t and verizon are starting on 4g technology…what i did is i bought an unlocked at&t tilt (basically the mda vario 3 with a different shell) had it unlocked and installed a new rom taking out all the bloatware commercial companies put in their phones it runs fine but it need attention to detail for example if you use a ringtone for messages you have to listen to the whole thing even if you opened the message the phone seems to have alot of trouble loading i’m sure it’s because of the hacked “dutty” rom the at&t shell is quite attractive compared to the european version alot more sleek no complains here the spring loaded screen is awesome and the fact that half the time cpu/rom percentage usage values never go above 50% is a plus overall the phone is a 9 only thing missing to make it a 10 is the front video call camera is taken out reasons unknown oh and the phone…needs a camera stabilizer its like taking pictures while you’re drunk but when you can hold the phone steady and wait the 10 seconds it takes to actually take the picture the view is gorgeous