11 replies to this topic

[PaulOBrien]

[teaser]Here at MWC 2009 in Barcelona, HTC have today announced the Touch Diamond 2 and the Touch Pro 2!

Both models feature significant upgrades over their predecessors, with the Touch Diamond 2 gaining a WVGA screen and the Touch Pro 2 seeing the return of the Kaiser´s tilting screen.

The full press release is below... which one takes your fancy, or will you stick with your current device? Perhaps something from another manufacturer appeals more? Share!

Check out more pictures at the HTC site!

P

[/teaser]

Quote

new HTC Touch Diamond 2 and HTC Touch Pro 2 SIGNAL a new wave in communication

New phones simplify information access with HTC Push Internet and unify personal communication with single-view contact integration

BARCELONA — Feb 16, 2009 — HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile phones, today unveiled two new flagship devices, the HTC Touch Diamond 2 and HTC Touch Pro 2. Integrating innovative simplicity with unique style and an intuitive interface, the devices balance function, form and cutting-edge technology to personalize the communication and mobile Internet experience.

“The HTC Touch Pro 2 and HTC Touch Diamond 2 introduce a mobile communication experience that simplifies how we communicate with people in our lives whether through voice, text or email,” said Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corp. “HTC is delivering the latest, cutting-edge sophistication in a broad portfolio of mobile phones that improve how people live, work and communicate.”

HTC TouchFLO 3D Integrated with Windows Mobile

The HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 utilize HTC’s latest TouchFLO 3D interface. TouchFLO 3D has been more deeply integrated into a customized version of Windows Mobile 6.1 to deliver more consistency throughout Windows Mobile applications and menus. Focused on making navigation easier and more intuitive, TouchFLO 3D brings important information to the top-level user interface, including quick access to people, messaging, email, photos, music and weather. As part of this improved Windows Mobile integration the touch focus areas have been enlarged to be more finger-touch friendly.

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

With the HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2, HTC is introducing a new people-centric communication approach, providing a single contact view that displays the individual conversation history of contacts regardless of whether voice, text or email were used. This can be viewed from the contact card or the in-call screen during a phone conversation, ensuring the latest communication contact-by-contact is always at hand.

SIMPLIFYING HOW PEOPLE ACCESS THEIR INFORMATION

Continuing its commitment to making the mobile Internet easier and more enjoyable, the HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 introduce HTC’s Push Internet technology. HTC Push Internet alleviates slow downloading and rendering of Web pages on a mobile phone. Users can preselect their favorite Websites to get immediate access to them when needed.

HTC Touch Diamond 2

The HTC Touch Diamond 2 is the next step in the evolution of the successful HTC Touch Diamond. Crafted to fit perfectly into the hand, the Touch Diamond 2 evolves the compact design and iconic style of the original HTC Touch Diamond. It incorporates a larger 3.2-inch high-resolution wide-screen VGA display for a greater viewing area in a design just 13.7mm thick. The phone also includes a new touch sensitive zoom bar for even faster zooming of Web pages, emails, text messages, photos or documents.

Leveraging HTC’s TouchFLO 3D experience combined with a people-centric communication approach and HTC’s new Push Internet technology The Touch Diamond 2 offers an advanced touch experience that is optimized for one-hand use.

With fifty-percent better battery life, a five mega-pixel auto focus camera, expandable memory, gravity sensor and an ambient light sensor, the Touch Diamond2 brings the most sophisticated capabilities to a broad consumer audience looking for the professional benefits of a smartphone without sacrificing size, looks or functionality.

HTC TOUCH PRO 2

Designed for business professionals, the HTC Touch Pro 2 is architected with distinct style and strength while delivering the most powerful productivity experience available on a mobile phone. Leveraging HTC’s TouchFLO 3D, people-centric communication and Push Internet technology, the Touch Pro2 features a high-resolution 3.6-inch widescreen VGA display for an expanded viewing area and large finger-friendly QWERTY keyboard. With improved battery life, expandable memory, a touch-sensitive zoom bar as well as gravity, proximity and ambient light sensors, the Touch Pro 2 is optimized for touch as well as heavy email use.

Introducing HTC Straight Talk for HTC Touch Pro 2

The new HTC Touch Pro 2 leverages voice in a new way to create one of the most sophisticated communication experiences found on a mobile phone. HTC’s new Straight Talk technology delivers an integrated email, voice and speakerphone experience. Users can transition seamlessly from email to single or multi-party conference calls and turn any location into a conference room.

In addition to the new simplified calling experience, Straight Talk includes an innovative mechanical and acoustic design that features a sophisticated speakerphone experience similar to those found in corporate boardrooms. Straight Talk delivers a high-fidelity voice and sound experience enhanced by asymmetric speakers and advanced noise suppression with full duplex acoustics. When the Touch Pro 2 is flipped over it automatically turns into a conference room speakerphone system.

Availability

The HTC Touch Diamond 2 will be available to customers across major European and Asian markets in early Q2 2009 with broader global availability coming later in the year. The Touch Pro 2 will be available across major global markets beginning in early summer.

HTC Touch Diamond 2 Specifications

Overview

The HTC Touch Diamond 2 is the next step in the evolution of the successful HTC Touch Diamond. Incorporating a large 3.2-inch high-resolution wide-screen VGA display, the Touch Diamond 2 offers an advanced touch experience that is optimized for a powerful and easy to use mobile Internet experience.

Key features

· People centric-communication: allows users to view the entire history of conversations with every contact, whether by voice, SMS or email

· Zero-waiting Push Internet

· Enhanced TouchFLO 3D

· Compact design and iconic styling

· Large widescreen display

Operating System

Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional

Processor

Qualcomm® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz

Memory

ROM: 512 MB

RAM: 288 MB

microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)

Dimensions (LxWxT)

107.85 X 53.1 X 13.7 mm (4.25 X 2.09 X 0.54 inches)

Weight

117.5 grams (4.15 ounces) with battery

Display

3.2-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with 480 X 800 WVGA resolution

Network

HSPA/WCDMA:

· Europe/Asia: 900/2100 MHz
Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:

· Europe/Asia: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

(Band frequency, HSUPA availability, and data speed are operator dependent)

Device Control

TouchFLO™ 3D; Zoom bar

GPS

Internal GPS antenna

Connectivity

Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless stereo headsets

Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g

HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one)

Camera

Main camera: 5.0 megapixel color camera with auto focus

Second camera: VGA CMOS color camera

Audio supported formats

AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, MIDI, M4A

Video supported formats

WMV, ASF, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, M4V, AVI

Battery

Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery

Capacity: 1100 mAh

Talk time: (subject to change)

· Up to 300 minutes for WCDMA

· Up to 340 minutes for GSM

Standby time: (subject to change)

· Up to 500 hours for WCDMA

· Up to 360 hours for GSM

Video call time: Up to 150 minutes

(The above are subject to network and phone usage)

AC Adapter

Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz

DC output: 5V and 1A

Special Features

FM Radio, G-Sensor

HTC Touch Pro 2 Specifications

Overview

The HTC Touch Pro2 delivers the most powerful productivity experience available on a mobile phone. Architected with distinct style and strength, it features a high-resolution 3.6-inch widescreen VGA display and large QWERTY keyboard. The device is the first to include HTC’s Straight Talk technology, a sophisticated speakerphone experience that delivers high-fidelity voice and sound.

Key features

· People centric-communication: allows users to view the entire history of conversations with every contact, whether by voice, SMS or email

· Zero-waiting Push Internet

· Enhanced TouchFLO 3D

· HTC’s Straight Talk: an integrated email, voice and speakerphone experience

Operating System

Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional

Processor

Qualcomm® MSM7201a™, 528 MHz

Memory

ROM: 512 MB

RAM: 288 MB

microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)

Dimensions (LxWxT)

116 X 59.2 X 17.25 mm (4.57 X 2.33 X 0.68 inches)

Weight

187.5 grams (6.61 ounces) with battery

Display

3.6-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with WVGA resolution

Adjustable tilt screen

Network

HSDPA/WCDMA:

· Europe/Asia: 900/2100 MHz
Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:

· 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

(Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent)

Device Control

TouchFLO™ 3D; Zoom bar

Keyboard

Slide-out 5-row QWERTY keyboard

GPS

Internal GPS antenna

[ferryrich]

Both will be available on T-Mobile, as the MDA Compact V and MDA Vario V, launching by June.


Press release

[NuShrike]

Finally!  A release that isn't the hack job of the Touch Pro where all the side buttons were on the slider causing immense and useless wiggle -- besides blocking buttons with the keyboard slide out!

It's also nice they removed the time-worn d-pad design they broke with the Diamond/Touch Pro, but also seems to remove all possibility of the potential emulation of the Palm Pre's gestures area that the Diamond/TP had.

Specs are still incremental, and no improvement on the hardware limitations since the Kaiser.  No magical Scorpion either except the occasional PR puffs.

[Mr.Clark]

Oh hell yes. Something I can upgrade my Vario III with.

Since this has been announced as T-Mobile already, I think we can safely assume they're not getting the Touch HD... a shame, but providing the Pro 2 has a 3.5mm headphone socket, it'll finally be the worthy successor of my beloved Kaiser

[Menneisyys]

Guys and gals, you may also want to take a look at my Diamond 2 shots at http://www.modaco.co...iamond-2-shots/ and TG01 shots / benchmarks / videos at http://www.modaco.co...ife-situations/

[l3v5y]

Since you've probably had a go on one of these, what's the keyboard on the TP2 like? It seems to have more separated keys than the Raphael/Kaiser. Also, is it VGA, or WVGA? Some review site is saying VGA, even though all the renders, pictures and specs say WVGA!

[exilis]

Whats the chances of T-Mobile offering the upgrade to WinMo 6.5 for the Compact V and the Vario V?

[crazyc]

Gotta be honest, I have got used to the form factor etc of the Touch Pro2 - first time in years I have had a phone that feels and resembles a normal phone.  I quite like the funny dpad thing.  I don't like the look of the new buttons on the front of the TP2.

The TP2 does indeed look like the sucessor to the Kaiser, not the Raphael.  As I only got my TP a month or two ago, perhaps I will wait and see what else there is or maybe for the TP3......Given that WM6.5 is already available (in a beta form) for the TP, am not fussed about the whole thing of existing devices not being upgraded.

[fatmcgav]

Nuts, just as i've upgraded to a Vario IV (Touch Pro)..

Dammit... lol...

Hmm, wonder if i can break my fone...

[pd.ryder]

ferryrich, on Feb 17 2009, 15:03, said:

Both will be available on T-Mobile, as the MDA Compact V and MDA Vario V, launching by June.
Press release

Personally, I can't see it. They've only just released their Vario IV despite every other operator having had it in customers hands months ago. The're hardly going to kill it off within 6 months by releasing its successor.

exilis, on Feb 18 2009, 10:36, said:

Whats the chances of T-Mobile offering the upgrade to WinMo 6.5 for the Compact V and the Vario V?

IMO, more chance of hell freezing over

[Phil John]

pd.ryder, on Feb 18 2009, 15:02, said:

Personally, I can't see it. They've only just released their Vario IV despite every other operator having had it in customers hands months ago. The're hardly going to kill it off within 6 months by releasing its successor.

wasn't part of that the whole "aww shucks, we've got no money for new phones or upgrades until the new year, unless you want the g1" rigmarole?

[pd.ryder]

Phil John, on Feb 23 2009, 07:50, said:

wasn't part of that the whole "aww shucks, we've got no money for new phones or upgrades until the new year, unless you want the g1" rigmarole?

Maybe. But this all started last October. At that point I was told "Wait until the New Year, sir. We'll have deals to blow your sock off come January..."

Socks are still firmly on my feet and they still expect me to pay £176 for a Vario IV on a Flext35 18/12 contract. Not likely. That makes the cost of owning the device over £800! Hardly a canny purchase.