Remember when HTC devices used to look like they were all business and no fun? As we all know, they’ve recently taken a turn with more elegant, classy and sexy designs. Can anyone really say that the Touch Diamond or the Fuze are ugly phones? One & Company Design, Inc. is the San Francisco-based lifestyle design firm responsible for the latest crop of HTC beauties, and HTC is seemingly so please with the firm’s work that it has just announced an acquisition. One & Co. have won several awards for its designs, packaging and products so there is no doubt that this new venture with HTC is going to do well for the latter’s mobile handset line. After a few years working together and bringing the Touch Diamond to life, the two have decided to continue their relationship but will keep their names independent of each other. One & Co. will keep its client base and retain its name while working closely with HTC. If HTC keeps up the innovation and quality it has become known for, it will surely rise pretty quickly with functional and attractive handsets for the future.
Today the HTC Touch from Verizon is making its way into the hands of the people. Surprise, surprise, one arrived on our doorstep as well and we did a quick unboxing for you! The Verizon Touch Pro differs a bit from its Sprint, Alltel and AT&T cousins. The Verizon version has a different keyboard layout that features a top row of numbers and directional arrows whose location breaks up the letters on the keyboard. The up arrow falls right in between the “n” and the “m” key. No, seriously. This does make it a little difficult to type at first but we found that we got used to it rather quickly. The Verizon Touch Pro also has a flat back cover instead of the faceted diamond style cover that is seen in the Fuze. Unfortunately, our concerns about the Touch Pro being crippled have been confirmed. The device does ship with only 192MB RAM which gets eaten up pretty quickly. The OS takes up 78.71MB, other startup programs and TouchFlo 3D takes up another 67.68MB, leaving you with a mere 45.60MB left for your own applications! Yes, we know that it is more RAM than is found on the xv6800 but still 192MB instead of 288MB is a bit disappointing.
The other disappointing, but not surprising, revelation is that the GPS appears to be locked down to VZ Navigator. We installed Google Maps and it just searched and searched for a GPS satellite connection. It finally gave up and told us that “Your GPS receiver is having trouble tracking GPS satellites”. No worries, though, as the folks over at XDA developers are probably already hard at work trying to unlock the GPS for us. The one good piece of news is that phone includes both an accelerometer (rumored to have been absent) and Wi-Fi. Overall, the device is still an improvement over the xv6800 but with its dumbed down specs, you cant help but focus on what you are missing and overlook all the good things you have. It is like eating cake without the frosting. It still tastes good but you know it could have been so much better. Definitely check out our unboxing gallery, but not before you hit the jump for some screenshots showing the Device Information and the GPS failure.
Right on schedule, the HTC Touch Pro made its debut on Verizon’s website and is now available for ordering online or via telesales. The Touch Pro from Verizon is a bit pricier than its Sprint and AT&T counterparts, coming in at $349 after a $70 MIR and 2-year contract, $419 after $70 MIR and a 1-year contract or $539 for full retail. Current customers eligible for an NE2 upgrade can take $100 or $50 off those prices. Those who prefer to try before they buy will have to wait until the Touch Pro hits Verizon Stores on December 1st. Happy ordering!
The CDMA world is still waiting on a firm release date for Verizon’s iteration of the sleek HTC Touch Diamond and a new rumor might not exactly be the news we were hoping for. Initially it was thought that HTC’s sexy touchscreen handset would be headed to Big Red in October, then back in September we learned that internal training might not even take place until December. The latest rumor now puts the release date at some point in January of next year. Let’s hope we’re still looking at a December release which would make the Touch Diamond a holiday option, though its omission from the latest rebate sheet covering now through January 31st isn’t a promising sign. Well, at least we know the Touch Pro will be released in time for the holidays.
Hey folks, it looks like the HTC Fuze, which was release just last week, is making its way to Best Buy. If for some reason you prefer buying your phones through the mega-electronics-retailer, the Windows Mobile phone will be arriving shortly. Oddly, it’s not coming on Black Friday but December 7, to be exact. We’re not quite sure, but the last time a Best Buy stock screen said “Not Carried by Loc”, it meant that it was going to be available online only. Unfortunately, we don’t know what pricing will be like but don’t expect it to be any cheaper than what you can find at AT&T, and since the screen is showing it as the “AT&T HTC Fuze” don’t expect it to be unlocked, either. Still, if the AT&T site or corporate stores weren’t enough channels for getting this awesome new phone out, there is now another source for getting your hands on AT&T’s latest and greatest.
How’s this for some weekend watching? It looks like a couple of excited Russian mobile enthusiasts managed to get their hands on HTC’s recently-announced WiMAX gobbling Max 4G. You know, the ridiculously hot handset that we won’t be getting our mitts on here in the US. The reviewer gives it a pretty thorough run-through in the video above and despite not being able to understand a word of what’s being said, we certainly came away wanting one. Or three. The only real strike against this handset, provided you can cope with Windows Mobile, is the bogging. The UI definitely looked pretty boggy at several points during the video but it’s hard to tell if the bogging is normal or if it has to do with the fact that they’re streaming NINE videos at the same time in the background while doing the review. Damn. Towards the end of the video the demonstrator also lines the Max 4G up next to the iPhone 3G to give youa good idea of the size and look. Seriously HTC, we want.
If you’re reading this, we hope you’re sitting down because this news is gonna blow you away. HTC today announced its plans to launch the HTC MAX 4G, the world’s first GSM / WiMax integrated handset! Judging from the looks of that picture along with others floating around the net, it looks like it’s going to be a hell of a gorgeous phone. Of course, HTC rarely disappoints but this is definitely going to be high up on the “want list” for us. The only problem? Well, hear it is straight from HTC PR:
While the HTC MAX 4G is being announced with Russia’s Scartel on their ‘Yota’ brand WiMAX network, and is not slated for introduction in the US market, the HTC MAX 4G represents the commitment to cutting edge innovation that HTC is bringing to consumers around the world.
Not slated for introduction in the States? Come on, HTC! First the Touch HD and now this? We’re sure that for those of you desperate enough (and who can blame you?), you’ll find a way to snag one unlocked and use it here where WiMax is available. So, just to continue with the tease, here are some specs for the new device:
3.8″ TFT-LCD flat touchscreen with WVGA 800 x 480 resolution
Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
TouchFlo 3D
528MHz Processor
GPS
WiFi
5 megapixel auto-focus camera
Secondary VGA camera for Video Calling
VoIP
Accelerometer for portrait/landscape modes
Is anyone frustrated beyond belief yet that this isn’t hitting the US? Not only does it have video calling but when two users are on Russia’s Yota Mobile WiMax network, calls are automatically routed as VoIP - how cool is that? Anyway, before you start turning green with envy, just remember how much you’ll have to sacrifice in Mother Russia when snagging the latest and greatest devices.
We actually weren’t even going to do an unboxing / first impressions post. Seen one HTC Touch Pro, seen ‘em all, right? Wrong, guys. In a rare example of AT&T not scumming down their devices (adding crapware, horrible themes, removing features, blocking stuff), we think they’ve actually made the device better! For starters, one of the most important things is the connectivity. The regular Touch Pro does not have tri-band UMTS/HSDPA support. The AT&T Fuze does. Also check this… on the original Touch Pro, there were no “OK” and “Start” buttons. A complete meltdown of necessary Windows Mobile functionality. Well, AT&T’s Fuze has both. Instead of the numbers being laid out across the top row of keys, they are in classic number pad format on the left side of the keyboard, and we’re actually really feeling the default AT&T TouchFLO theme here. They even made it so the Start menu was always visible on the home screen, too. We approve. How about a short, short summary? The AT&T HTC Fuze is the best Windows Mobile Professional phone on the market. Good? Make sure you hit the gal-gal for all the shots!
Note: we haven’t reviewed the Sprint Touch Pro, so we’re not sure if the key layout is the same, etc.
Have you had enough of this AT&T Fuze flurry hitting you left and right with constant updates? Didn’t think so. Just hours ago, we let loose some pics of the HTC Fuze in its official packaging in all its glory, and now it’s live on AT&T’s website. First AT&T stores have started receiving some early shipments and now this? Is anyone going to start losing sleep over this or perhaps sleep in their cars in the AT&T store parking lot? If you’re hauling your piggy banks with you, remember that this is going to set you back $299.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate. But hey, we all know the good news and that’s that if there are no corporate stores in your area, you can order yours online now!
Rest easy, HTC fans - it looks like AT&T is starting to get its first shipments of the HTC Fuze. We got a hold of some of pictures showing the Fuze sitting pretty in its AT&T packaging, just waiting for its launch date so it can officially go on sale. It’s so close you can practically taste it. How many of you will be hitting AT&T tomorrow morning to see if you score one of these bad boys for yourself? Hit the jump for a few more shots of the Fuze!
