Guest jesse9 Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 I am as excited as you all are about the Touch HD. I am planning to buy one when it comes out in my country. However, I came across this site http://jakeindustries.blogspot.com/ . After reading what it wrote, I am now half-hearted about buying the device. Help anyone? B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TerriblePerson Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 If you are going to use it for video playback or taking photos then it might not be the best buy. I use it for the phone, email and GPS on a bright, big screen and for these applications you can't buy anything better, in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gibson99 Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 If you are going to use it for video playback or taking photos then it might not be the best buy. I use it for the phone, email and GPS on a bright, big screen and for these applications you can't buy anything better, in my opinion. May I ask what people's opinions/experience is on the ease of entering text, whether long emails or text messages? I have the Blackberry Storm currently, though it is a bit hit and miss....and am considering returning it. I wonder how the HTC Touch HD input is? I am a previous user of an HTC with a hardware keyboard so I am hesitant in losing a hardware keyboard. Thanks! B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MikeWard1701 Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 I am as excited as you all are about the Touch HD. I am planning to buy one when it comes out in my country. However, I came across this site http://jakeindustries.blogspot.com/ . After reading what it wrote, I am now half-hearted about buying the device. Help anyone? B) The blog draws on some issues which can simply be rectified with firmware/software updates, others like hardware shortcomings are the more serious ones that you need to consider if you're going for the Touch HD. Lack of Video file support, is partly due to WM and its antiquated Media Player (which going on the version in my ROM is v10.3 build 18125 copyrighted 2006!). HTC could have thrown Core player in their ROM but from what I've heard Core player is frequently being updated and always in some sort of beta. On a side note it’s probably the aging WMP that’s keeping on demand TV from WM users due to DRM support. Video performance judging by benchmark figures is a bit of a slippery slope. The figures alone won’t give you any idea of quality, and watching a web video of a file playing on the device is no good either as it replies on the recording camera being up to spec (FPS, resolution, encoding format/quality etc). Even if it is, the transition from the camera to the browser can take its toll. Lastly, the benchmarks don’t take into account the human factor, that within our cranium is one of the most advanced and powerful computers known to exist. The brain can interpret optical stimuli in many ways and can factor out discrepancies. Screen and direct sunlight. I’ve read many peoples’ gripes about the HD coming with a resistive screen instead of capacitive one. I’m personally glad they stuck with resistive and I’ll explain why. Capacitive screens aren’t practical in all devices. They require electrical capacitance to register input, this means that bare skin must be used to make contact with the electron field. A capacitive touch device becomes unusable when wearing gloves or anything comes between the skin and screen. Conventional styli are unusable with also, some kind of powered stylus would be needed like those used with tablet PCs which in turn would need a way to be recharged whilst in the device. Powered styli would cost significantly more to replace over conventional ones, if you grumble at paying £10 for 3 styli now, imagine paying at least £25 for each! Then there’s the charging, it’s not the most efficient way of power transfer and it will eat into your talk/text/web/video/music time. Resistive screens on the other hand aren’t prone to this and offer the versatility of finger touch (bare and covered skin) as well as the precision of a stylus, which as we know for some functions in WM is a must. The direct sunlight mirror problem is one more and more devices are encountering. We as consumers are swayed by highly polished, shiny things, which although look nice, are impractical in high ambient or direct light. There are two options for this, one, increase backlight power, or two, used a screen protector that takes some of the shine off. Camera. Yep, HTC’s only half delivered again and it’s the camera (again) that suffers. Personally this isn’t a deal breaker for me as I carry a 12MP (Casio Exilim EX-Z1200) ultra compact with me. What I may use the cam for though is getting quick snaps of documents or text that I need, so quality above a certain point becomes irrelevant. Its 5MP is quite good (trounces the iPhone) but with no flash its only good for well lit subjects, so those after a quality camera in their phone should look elsewhere. I predict it will be a long day before we see HTC sporting cameras with fancy lenses and high end optics, primarily because HTCs consumer base probably doesn’t use the camera all that much, or is tech savvy to the point they have a digital camera. Well there you have my views on the ‘supposed’ shortcomings of the Touch HD. Remember no product will ever be perfect, if a company ever did release “the” perfect product they’d be shooting themselves in the foot so it’s not within their interest. They just add this, upgrade that, and ship it on out, leaving us consumers wanting for more so we eagerly await their next product. Finally, my only concern with the HD is if I can readjust to a virtual keyboard, the one on my original MDA Compact (HTC Magician) was horrid and I’m hoping significant improvements have been made. I tried one in my local Orange store the other day, but a 10 minute hands-on isn’t the same as 8-16 hours a day, every day, for the next 18 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gibson99 Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 Finally, my only concern with the HD is if I can readjust to a virtual keyboard, the one on my original MDA Compact (HTC Magician) was horrid and I’m hoping significant improvements have been made. I tried one in my local Orange store the other day, but a 10 minute hands-on isn’t the same as 8-16 hours a day, every day, for the next 18 months. Same here...I have a blackberry storm, and the keyboard is great. However, due to various issues I am thinking of returning it. Touch HD is a possibility, but the ease of screen entry via the screen is vital in view of the lack of hardware keyboard. I might test one in shop tomorrow, but a few minutes is really not enough, esp as they pressure you tu purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MikeWard1701 Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 Same here...I have a blackberry storm, and the keyboard is great. However, due to various issues I am thinking of returning it. Touch HD is a possibility, but the ease of screen entry via the screen is vital in view of the lack of hardware keyboard. I might test one in shop tomorrow, but a few minutes is really not enough, esp as they pressure you tu purchase. Haven't yet tried a BB Storm, though I would like to. I've tried an Xperia X1 and for me, it idn't live up to the hype. The build quality is rock solid don't get me wrong, but the keyboard just doesn't feel right under my (chubby) thumbs. Also, the resolution on such a small display is a problem for me (being partially sighted). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gibson99 Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 Haven't yet tried a BB Storm, though I would like to. I've tried an Xperia X1 and for me, it idn't live up to the hype. The build quality is rock solid don't get me wrong, but the keyboard just doesn't feel right under my (chubby) thumbs. Also, the resolution on such a small display is a problem for me (being partially sighted). I have one (Storm) and like it....but many people are not happy with various problems (physical and software based). Mine seems fine tho! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest freekster Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 Haven't yet tried a BB Storm, though I would like to. I've tried an Xperia X1 and for me, it idn't live up to the hype. The build quality is rock solid don't get me wrong, but the keyboard just doesn't feel right under my (chubby) thumbs. Also, the resolution on such a small display is a problem for me (being partially sighted). hop on over to omio (http://blog.omio.com/handset-news/htc-touch-hd-video-review) The video review is interesting plus he has spb keyboard installed which might help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kaaeed Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 (edited) All in all really love my new Touch HD after about 10 days HTC HD inbuilt screen keyboard are OK but not great for large or very fast input. I have installed Touchpal 3.5 on my HD (which I had on my Touch) and its brilliant I can type fast and efficiently and really improves the whole process. Screen size & quality is great and performed well in winter UK sunshine GPS is great for the car but not so good in the house and Google maps does an adequate job of getting me from A to B. Opera is brilliant and am really enjoying it ..... even managing to do online banking with it on sunday Camera not really tried out but not a heavy user so not bothered although the auto focus does make a positive difference. Battery life is pretty good I use my phone constantly probably 90 minutes a day, blootooth 45 minutes, plus all the pda functionality .... even on the worse days limp home at 10pm with 20%-30% having been charged at 7am. Touchflo 3D is a little clunky after SPB Mobile Shell 2.0 and I could not get it to work so decided to stick with Touchflo and am getting used to it. Overall thoroughly recommend it Kaaeed Edited November 20, 2008 by Kaaeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wam7 Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 (edited) Ah this is the beauty of WM phones.. 3rd part apps. B) Definitely give TouchPal 3.5 a go, I've been hearing great things about it from a lot of users. Coming from a hardware keyboard this was my greatest concern about getting the HD but I have faith in the WM community to solve this. If you think Opera is good then try Skyfire (it's open to all not just U.S as previous). Currently the best browsing experience on a WM device. Edited November 29, 2008 by Wam7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kaaeed Posted November 30, 2008 Report Share Posted November 30, 2008 Ah this is the beauty of WM phones.. 3rd part apps. B) Definitely give TouchPal 3.5 a go, I've been hearing great things about it from a lot of users. Coming from a hardware keyboard this was my greatest concern about getting the HD but I have faith in the WM community to solve this. If you think Opera is good then try Skyfire (it's open to all not just U.S as previous). Currently the best browsing experience on a WM device. I tried to download skyfire but unfortunately it is not compatible with the Touch HD its a real shame as it looks like an awesome browser. Kaaeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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