The official HTC Shift 'Ask Paul' thread |
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 Feb 29 2008, 18:12
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#1
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 The Main Man  Group: Admin Team Posts: 21,038 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage  |
Well they don't come much better than this... i'm excited to say that I have in my possesion a retail build and packaged HTC Shift, which I have unboxed for your pleasure and i'm ready to answer any tricky questions you can fire at me
 For those who don't know, the Shift is HTC's first foray into the UMPC (UltraMobile PC) market, and has a very unique selling point with it's 'SnapVue' Windows Mobile based secondary interface! The full product deets are on the HTC site and i've included the tech specs below, but I know there are a TON of questions people want to ask that aren't answered in the official pages... so ask away!  Official Specs:
-------------------- 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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Feb 29 2008, 23:32
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#2
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Newbie  Group: Posters Posts: 4 Joined: 1st July 2007 Member No.: 272,975 Device(s): Dopod C730 (waiting for 503G) |
Congrats Paul....and hello from New York! A few quick questions for you to start with:
1) In the video, it appears that the Shift is a bit slow....a fairly long delay from when you launched applications to when they finally came up and were usable. Is it a bit sluggish at 800Mhz? Or was it just me? 2) I noticed you performing all of your interactions on the Touch Screen with the Stylus. I am hoping to be able to use this without the stylus...all with my fingers. Pointing, tapping, swiping, etc. So, two questions relating to this a) do you think this will work well as a finger-only touch device, and  does it have TouchFlo 2.0 or some sort of multi-touch on it?3) From a typing stand-point, how exactly are you doing this? Just like on a regular keyboard? Are you thumbing it? Two-fingers? What seems to be the best way to achieve accurate, fast typing? Thanks in advance....as always, you guys are terrific. Best, Adam |
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Mar 1 2008, 01:14
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#3
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 Hardcore Group: Posters Posts: 1,984 Joined: 10th July 2006 From: US, Washington, Everett Member No.: 197,656 Device(s): AT&T Tilt (Kaiser)!!! |
Paul, can you please take a picture of you talking on this phone. showing it up to your head, lol. (im actually half serious, how big is that?)
-------------------- try my wmp skins for smartphone! | and my newest Pocket PC compatible skin!
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Mar 1 2008, 03:06
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#4
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 Regular  Group: Posters Posts: 59 Joined: 4th December 2004 From: SW London Member No.: 100,397 Device(s): MDA Touch Plus / MDA Vario III |
QUOTE(mikeeey @ Mar 1 2008, 01:14)  Paul, can you please take a picture of you talking on this phone. showing it up to your head, lol. (im actually half serious, how big is that?) It's not been designed as a phone - it's been designed as a UMPC. Given that it's been designed as a UMPC, how can you say it's big? Paul, or other members, will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the cellular capabilities of this device are data-based rather than voice-based. There are a great many phones out there to satisfy all kinds of requirements, but this really isn't a phone - and the fact that it runs Windows Vista (and a very cut-down version of Windows Mobile that isn't even marketed under that brand in this device (they call it SnapVUE rather than Windows Mobile) makes it pretty clear that it's not a phone. -------------------- "There will be an answer, let it be."
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Mar 1 2008, 10:33
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#5
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 Learning all the time!  Group: MoDaCo Plus Posts: 152 Joined: 16th January 2006 From: UK Member No.: 167,746 Device(s): Ameo |
Wow thanks for the video Paul, I have been avidly waiting for this video as you know!
I love the finger print recognition, can it be used as finger launch too, to launch applications? Am I right in thinking it doesnt have GPS? How does the size compare to the Ameo? The keyboard looks fab! Your homescreen said T-Mobile, please corrent me if im wrong but I thought this was only coming out for Orange business customers, I am sure you probably got it from Expansys so do you know if it will be available at some point on T-Mobile? (God I hope so!) While watching the video there were a million questions I wanted to ask but have completly forgotten now since I am so bedazzled by the device so I will ask them later when I remember! Or bombard you on Palringo at some point. Edited to ask... With it being vista, does it sync ok with XP, does it still sync via Activesync? If not how? This post has been edited by squilla: Mar 1 2008, 10:41 -------------------- XDA Exec, Ameo, Experia X1
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Mar 1 2008, 10:48
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#6
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 Addict  Group: Posters Posts: 746 Joined: 13th January 2005 From: Eire Member No.: 105,252 Device(s): HTC S740 |
QUOTE(thelondonthing @ Mar 1 2008, 03:06) Paul, or other members, will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the cellular capabilities of this device are data-based rather than voice-based. Correct, it doesn't have cellular phone capabilities although you could of course add skype etc This post has been edited by gerryr: Mar 1 2008, 11:36 -------------------- 1111100111
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Mar 1 2008, 11:25
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#7
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 Moderator - Boing! Group: Admin Team Posts: 8,590 Joined: 12th December 2002 From: Guildford, UK Member No.: 993 Device(s): HTC TyTN II |
I can't help not getting excited about the Shift every time i see it, it's just a real shame about the price though
-------------------- 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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Mar 1 2008, 11:52
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#8
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 Diehard  Group: MoDaCo Ad Free Posts: 439 Joined: 1st June 2004 From: Ipswich, UK Member No.: 45,194 Device(s): Samsung i600, SE X1 |
QUOTE(Monolithix @ Mar 1 2008, 11:25) I can't help not getting excited about the Shift every time i see it, it's just a real shame about the price though I think the battery is the problem for me. I like the look of this but if I ended up using it mostly in 'WM' mode to preserve battery I think I'd be better off with something like the Redfly which will hopefully be about half the price too. This post has been edited by spacerace: Mar 1 2008, 11:53 -------------------- - spacerace -
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Mar 1 2008, 12:12
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#9
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Addict Group: MoDaCo Ad Free Posts: 744 Joined: 19th November 2003 From: London - UK Member No.: 21,445 Device(s): HTC TyTN II |
Vista must be dog slow on that sucker surely?
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Mar 1 2008, 12:37
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#10
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Regular Group: Posters Posts: 107 Joined: 10th October 2005 Member No.: 153,169 Device(s): T-Mobile MDA Compact IV |
Just like to say that your unboxing video was fantastic Paul.
Very informative but not too long, keep up the great work. Thanks -------------------- Guy
Check out my blog 'Guy Adams on Technology' here |
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Mar 1 2008, 17:02
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#11
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Newbie Group: Posters Posts: 3 Joined: 7th July 2007 Member No.: 275,140 |
hmmm... paul contact me if u like to have full wm6 on their. its all there just hidden.... check xda's shift forum to see what im talking about. its Pawel062 from xda btw.
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Mar 2 2008, 14:09
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#12
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Hardcore Group: Posters Posts: 1,369 Joined: 10th May 2004 Member No.: 42,906 Device(s): E200 2xC500 SP5m Vario |
Paul - its been a while!
blimey! Have we evolved that much already in the space of 2 years? WOOHAAAA!!!! Thats bloody fantastic..... shame about the size though. I mean how on earth would you really make a "mobile" call? Really its a laptop PC at the end of the day isnt it?
-------------------- http://www.spapps.co.uk
Visit the Spapps UK Forums!!! Spapps UK Forums [new] Spapps UK Forums alternative link ^^^ CLICK ME ^^^ Current Projects: DAR~ling update tba* WMP Remote** (need new ideas!!) TV Remote codenamed meetu (postponed) mini PC Controller codenamed mawk |
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Mar 2 2008, 20:28
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#13
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 21,038 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage |
1) It doesn't really seem sluggish. It's not super fast like my Core Duo 2 machine, but it's perfectly usable!
2) I use my finger more actually. It doesn't have TouchFlo or Multitouch. 3) I am using the keyboard for touch typing (getting used to it now) on a surface, just about thumb typing when holding, or using Vista's excellent built in handwriting recognition. P QUOTE(adamzeit @ Feb 29 2008, 23:32) Congrats Paul....and hello from New York! A few quick questions for you to start with: 1) In the video, it appears that the Shift is a bit slow....a fairly long delay from when you launched applications to when they finally came up and were usable. Is it a bit sluggish at 800Mhz? Or was it just me? 2) I noticed you performing all of your interactions on the Touch Screen with the Stylus. I am hoping to be able to use this without the stylus...all with my fingers. Pointing, tapping, swiping, etc. So, two questions relating to this a) do you think this will work well as a finger-only touch device, and does it have TouchFlo 2.0 or some sort of multi-touch on it?3) From a typing stand-point, how exactly are you doing this? Just like on a regular keyboard? Are you thumbing it? Two-fingers? What seems to be the best way to achieve accurate, fast typing? Thanks in advance....as always, you guys are terrific. Best, Adam -------------------- 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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Mar 2 2008, 20:29
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#14
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 21,038 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage |
Data only!
P QUOTE(mikeeey @ Mar 1 2008, 01:14) Paul, can you please take a picture of you talking on this phone. showing it up to your head, lol. (im actually half serious, how big is that?) -------------------- 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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Mar 2 2008, 20:31
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#15
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 21,038 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage |
The fingerprint reader is for logging in, and authentication for stored credentials.
No GPS (yet!) Keyboard is FAR better than the Ameo! I didn't get it from eXpansys, and I have no info on operator releases other than Orange! P QUOTE(squilla @ Mar 1 2008, 10:33) Wow thanks for the video Paul, I have been avidly waiting for this video as you know! I love the finger print recognition, can it be used as finger launch too, to launch applications? Am I right in thinking it doesnt have GPS? How does the size compare to the Ameo? The keyboard looks fab! Your homescreen said T-Mobile, please corrent me if im wrong but I thought this was only coming out for Orange business customers, I am sure you probably got it from Expansys so do you know if it will be available at some point on T-Mobile? (God I hope so!) While watching the video there were a million questions I wanted to ask but have completly forgotten now since I am so bedazzled by the device so I will ask them later when I remember! Or bombard you on Palringo at some point. Edited to ask... With it being vista, does it sync ok with XP, does it still sync via Activesync? If not how? -------------------- 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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Mar 2 2008, 20:31
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#16
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 21,038 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage |
Battery life is more of an issue than price IMHO!
P QUOTE(Monolithix @ Mar 1 2008, 11:25) I can't help not getting excited about the Shift every time i see it, it's just a real shame about the price though -------------------- 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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Mar 2 2008, 20:32
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#17
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 21,038 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage |
The redfly is exciting too, we have a great interview with them in the next Podcast!
P QUOTE(spacerace @ Mar 1 2008, 11:52) I think the battery is the problem for me. I like the look of this but if I ended up using it mostly in 'WM' mode to preserve battery I think I'd be better off with something like the Redfly which will hopefully be about half the price too. -------------------- 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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Mar 2 2008, 20:32
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#18
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The Main Man Group: Admin Team Posts: 21,038 Joined: 6th November 2002 From: Norwich, UK Member No.: 1 Device(s): HTC Advantage |
Au contraire, it's not bad! I'll shoot some more video when I get a chance
P QUOTE(Syphon Filter @ Mar 1 2008, 12:12) Vista must be dog slow on that sucker surely? -------------------- 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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Mar 2 2008, 20:50
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#19
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Diehard Group: MoDaCo Ad Free Posts: 439 Joined: 1st June 2004 From: Ipswich, UK Member No.: 45,194 Device(s): Samsung i600, SE X1 |
QUOTE(Paul (MVP) @ Mar 2 2008, 20:32) The redfly is exciting too, we have a great interview with them in the next Podcast! P awesome, look forward to it. (did they mention any release dates?) -------------------- - spacerace -
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Mar 2 2008, 20:54
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