The HTC launch event - my thoughts |
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 Oct 1 2007, 15:47
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#1
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 The Main Man  Group: Admin Team Posts: 19,559 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage  |
Today's HTC lanch event was somewhat manic, Lots of announcements, liveblogging, webcasting etc. etc... so i'm sitting on the train back home as I start writing this post (MacBook + T-Mo 3G USB dongle) with a view to sharing my thoughts on the day's events.
First off, the major announcements... - HTC Shift - HSDPA equipped UMPC - HTC S730 - 3G evolution of HTC Vox - 3G equipped sliding QWERTY Smartphone - HTC Touch Dual (x2) - 2 new touch based handsets, 3G slider. One has a 9 key (conventional) keypad, the other has a 20 key 'SureType' style keypad - HTC Software Keyboard update for HTC Touch - new software keyboardS for the HTC Touch device. Because i'm like that, i'm going to go through the announcements in reverse order  First off the HTC Software Keyboard update for the HTC Touch. You'll have seen it described elsewhere (and even by HTC) as HTC's own 'full screen keyboard', but that's a bit misleading, as it's not full screen at all. We've used it, and we've snapped some pics of it too. You know how the new Touch Dual has lovely 9 key (T9) and 20 key (SureType) keyboards? Well, this is an implementation of those in software. Yes, BOTH! Finally we can lay 'Phone Pad' to rest, and finally there is a decent input mechanism (or two) for Pocket PCs... well, for the touch at least. As I say, i've had a play, and they both work GREAT, and are an awesome addition to the Touch. Something that should have been there from the start, and indeed something I hope HTC bring to ALL of their Pocket PC devices. Paul's verdict: This is HOT stuff!   Secondly, let's talk about the HTC Touch Dual(s). Think of them as an evolution of the original HTC Touch handset (which, incidentally, has sold 800,000 units!). Add 3G / HSDPA, a 9 or 20 key keypad on a slide, and you know what i'm talking about. Both seem very nice indeed, but I think the 20 key version feels nicest for me (I played with both, despite there only being a 9 key version on display). Lack of GPS is something of a disappointment (since the device is sporting the Qualcomm chipset as found in the TyTN II), but the overall coolness of the device makes that forgiveable. The nifty soft keyboard mentioned above is also included. At the event HTC, confirmed that Orange will be their first Operator partner. Paul's verdict: Surefire hits! Next, the HTC S730. Wow, where to start with this one  . To be honest, i've been waiting for this one a while. Yes, it's only an evolution of the Vox, but it adds the Qualcomm 400MHz chipset, 3G/HSDPA and rumoured GPS. Except, there's no GPS  Argh! The wait for a GPS equipped Smartphone continues!On this basis, the S730 is something of a disappointment for me. It feels fatter and chunkier than the Vox, and although the keyboard is improved by the 'rounded' key caps, there's just not enough new for it to really float my boat. Paul's verdict: Hot but not that hot... Finally, the HTC Shift. Today was my first look at the HTC Shift, HTC's forthcoming UMPC. I won't dwell on it too much, but I liked what I saw! It felt fast, was compact with sensible design, and should come in at a competitive price point. HTC mentioned that they expect the majority of Shifts to be sold via Operators (!), so that too should help bring them in at a killer price. Paul's verdict: I want one 
-------------------- Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Check out my Blog! £10 off a £20 spend at eXpansys - click for details |
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Oct 1 2007, 15:58
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 Peanut Brain Group: MoDaCo Plus Posts: 6,105 Joined: 10th September 2004 From: Surrey, England Member No.: 56,072 Device(s): Athena, Qtek 8500 |
Paul, have you ripped the 'HTC Software Keyboard update for the HTC Touch' so we can use it on our devices yet?
-------------------- He who asks a question looks foolish for 5 minutes. He who doesn't ask a question remains foolish forever.
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Oct 1 2007, 16:02
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#3
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Regular  Group: Posters Posts: 52 Joined: 23rd October 2004 Member No.: 61,766 |
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the great coverage earlier! Do you happen to know what version of the Touch Dual will be heading to Orange? I hope it's the 20 key version! Cheers, Oli |
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Oct 1 2007, 16:02
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#4
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 19,559 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage |
Confucious: Er, no.
RE: which version is heading to O, unknown, I hope it's the 20 key version too! P -------------------- Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Check out my Blog! £10 off a £20 spend at eXpansys - click for details |
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Oct 1 2007, 16:20
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 Moderator - Boing! Group: Admin Team Posts: 8,545 Joined: 12th December 2002 From: Guildford, UK Member No.: 993 Device(s): HTC TyTN II |
The soft keyboard was really nice, great to see HTC have finally caught up with themselves! As for the Shift, wow, a fantastic device and as a student it would be perfect (we the price more affordable!). Its the size of an average hard-back book and about as heavy. With a Touch-esque protective sleave you could throw it in your bag and have full Vista (or XP!) functionality in lectures or working on assignments! At roughly £800 its just too pricey unfortunately
The Touch Dual i was unsure of at first, but it quickly grew on me, a fantastic small (!) device. Definately my next handset. The S730, as Paul said, was a disapointment. Not as sexy as the Vox and lacking GPS, all in all a bit of a let down! -------------------- This months MoDaCo WinMo Week device: the MWg Zinc II! Ask your questions HERE and download the show here! 2.25GB of backup storage online for free with Mozy! - https://mozy.com/?ref=VQ664H |
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Oct 1 2007, 16:28
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#6
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 19,559 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage |
Don't forget tho Mono, the Shift will be operator subsidised... 24 month data contract?
P -------------------- Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Check out my Blog! £10 off a £20 spend at eXpansys - click for details |
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Oct 1 2007, 16:31
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#7
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Regular Group: Posters Posts: 72 Joined: 30th January 2005 Member No.: 107,542 Device(s): T Mobile Vario III |
So for people that have a touch without the software keypad (the gf gets one tomorrow) - any way we can get hold of it?
--------------------  |
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Oct 1 2007, 16:33
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#8
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 Regular Group: Posters Posts: 65 Joined: 9th June 2005 Member No.: 133,887 Device(s): HTC Trinity, HTC Diamond |
My problem with the HTC Touch was the poor stylus-free data entry options. This keyboard goes a long way to making the older model a much more attractive option.
The HTC Touch Dual is a bit mixed. They add 3G but take away WiFi. That said, if Orange had the SureType version (and finally came up with an unlimited dataplan which was reasonably priced) I might be willing to forgo the convenience of WiFi. |
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Oct 1 2007, 16:38
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#9
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 19,559 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage |
I think this is a misconception, I saw WiFi on the device's Comm Manager today!
P -------------------- Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Check out my Blog! £10 off a £20 spend at eXpansys - click for details |
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Oct 1 2007, 16:44
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#10
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Moderator - Boing! Group: Admin Team Posts: 8,545 Joined: 12th December 2002 From: Guildford, UK Member No.: 993 Device(s): HTC TyTN II |
Indeed, and tested it by loading MoDaCo.com!
As for carrier subsidies on the Shift, i assumed that price included them? :/ -------------------- This months MoDaCo WinMo Week device: the MWg Zinc II! Ask your questions HERE and download the show here! 2.25GB of backup storage online for free with Mozy! - https://mozy.com/?ref=VQ664H |
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Oct 1 2007, 16:45
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#11
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Newbie  Group: Posters Posts: 12 Joined: 2nd December 2003 Member No.: 23,107 |
Paul, did you happen to notice if the 2mp camera has autofocus on the Touch Dual? Cheers
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Oct 1 2007, 16:54
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#12
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Newbie Group: Posters Posts: 12 Joined: 2nd December 2003 Member No.: 23,107 |
the official brochure links from coolsmartphone include WIFI as a connectivity option.
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Oct 1 2007, 17:25
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#13
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Regular Group: Posters Posts: 129 Joined: 12th February 2005 Member No.: 110,204 Device(s): SPV C500 |
QUOTE(mrpearson @ Oct 1 2007, 18:54)  the official brochure links from coolsmartphone include WIFI as a connectivity option. Direct link? I can't seem to find it in any of the brochures...
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Oct 1 2007, 17:33
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#14
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Newbie Group: Posters Posts: 17 Joined: 1st October 2007 Member No.: 306,215 Device(s): SPV M600 |
I have to say that I feel so strongly about today's announcements that I signed up to reply lol. I'm on Orange, and was planning on having a Kaiser as my next handset, but to be honest, there has been a niggling doubt in my mind telling me it was too big for my needs. I absolutely love mySPV M600 (HTC Prophet), but sometimes wish it had a keyboard, hence the Kaiser idea. I've looked at the touch and liked it, but the reviews have put me off, so what do HTC do, bring out the Dual, which in my opinion would be ideal for me!
Paul, when you tried it, did it turn on automatically when sliding the keyboard out? Also where was the stylus (top right or bottom right)? and what type is it? More importantly, was there any indication of prices for the 2 versions of the Dual? I really hope that Orange take the 20 key version. Although I can't see many operators in the UK taking the 9 key to be honest, why have such an outrageously cool phone, and stick a normal keypad on it? Methinks the 9 key version will be destined for emerging markets. Oh and if Wifi were left out, it would be a deal breaker for me, love to sit in bed and chat to mates on msn lol. Rog |
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Oct 1 2007, 17:55
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#15
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Newbie Group: Posters Posts: 12 Joined: 2nd December 2003 Member No.: 23,107 |
QUOTE(HerpezP @ Oct 1 2007, 18:25) Direct link? I can't seem to find it in any of the brochures... re: Wifi - this link definitely mentions WiFi :-) http://www.europe.htc.com/z/pdf/products/H..._Eng_250907.pdf |
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Oct 1 2007, 18:10
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#16
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Regular Group: Posters Posts: 129 Joined: 12th February 2005 Member No.: 110,204 Device(s): SPV C500 |
QUOTE(mrpearson @ Oct 1 2007, 19:55) re: Wifi - this link definitely mentions WiFi :-) http://www.europe.htc.com/z/pdf/products/H..._Eng_250907.pdf Thanks. But here's something odd: http://www.europe.htc.com/z/pdf/products/H...H_EN_300907.pdf It's almost exactly the same, but doesn't have WiFi listed? It's seems to be updated 5 days after the one you link to (30th vs. 25th of September). Call me paranoid, but I fear HTC has decided not to put WiFi in the final model and the models presented today (and the model which leaked on the net some days ago) were pre-production units which still had WiFi enabled... 
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Oct 1 2007, 18:10
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#17
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Moderator - Boing! Group: Admin Team Posts: 8,545 Joined: 12th December 2002 From: Guildford, UK Member No.: 993 Device(s): HTC TyTN II |
ror100: The Touch Dual opened a new touchflow screen when you slide it up, giving a list of finger-friendly options: messaging, internet etc.
Wifi: it has it, its possible for the operators to remove or disable it, personally i doubt they will (to date they only have in Smartphone devices iirc?) -------------------- This months MoDaCo WinMo Week device: the MWg Zinc II! Ask your questions HERE and download the show here! 2.25GB of backup storage online for free with Mozy! - https://mozy.com/?ref=VQ664H |
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Oct 1 2007, 18:29
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#18
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Regular Group: Posters Posts: 129 Joined: 12th February 2005 Member No.: 110,204 Device(s): SPV C500 |
Thanks for your tireless effort, Monotholix, but I think I'm just afraid to believe that this really nice handset really has WiFi, just to be let down by some official announcement that it actually doesn't. I really need to see some bulletproof evidence - not just a hint in some brochures and none in others.
PS. Nokia is usually champions at this contest by writing false specifications on their initial spec sheets only to confuse people for months. Usually the wrong English spec sheets get translated into several languages before they are corrected, thereby leaving the wrong specifications listed several official places. Is it really so hard to get it right the first time. It's just a page or two, not a whole novel! |
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Oct 1 2007, 18:46
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#19
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Moderator - Boing! Group: Admin Team Posts: 8,545 Joined: 12th December 2002 From: Guildford, UK Member No.: 993 Device(s): HTC TyTN II |
Well hopefully we'll know for sure once the devices become available in 6ish weeks time!
-------------------- This months MoDaCo WinMo Week device: the MWg Zinc II! Ask your questions HERE and download the show here! 2.25GB of backup storage online for free with Mozy! - https://mozy.com/?ref=VQ664H |
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Oct 1 2007, 18:48
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#20
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 Always confused  Group: Posters Posts: 169 Joined: 21st November 2004 From: Chester, UK Member No.: 65,881 Device(s): O2 Orbit 2 |
According to an Engadget post you can find here, they've had it confirmed by HTC that it has no wi-fi. It says:
QUOTE Update 2: We just received confirmation direct from HTC: no WiFi unlike its Japanese twin. Yes, we're also surprised. I trust Paul and Mono more than Engadget however so I'm still on the fence with this. I'm also conscious of the fact that we could be getting the same build as the Japanese whereas the States may be getting a dumbed down version.  Here's hoping! -------------------- |
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