Saturday, June 23, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Hands-on with the HTC Touch Photos
Is this an iPhone killer? HTC seems to think so -- it claims it's as revolutionary as the mouse was to the PC. The HTC Touch runs on Windows Mobile 6 Professional and comes with a large colour touchscreen, a 2-megapixel camera and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Unlike any handset HTC has made before, the Touch features a new application called TouchFlo, which gives you access to a variety of different options via a three-dimensional interface. You swipe your finger up on the screen to activate TouchFlo and then swipe left and right to navigate through the different menu sections.
TouchFlo works well and looks great but there's a huge problem -- try clicking on any of the applications or options in it and you end up going straight back to Windows. For all its fanciness, TouchFlo is just a well-designed Windows Mobile 6 skin.
What we have isn't a revolutionary device but an attractive Windows Mobile handset. No, it's not an iPhone killer, it's not even the best Windows Mobile handset out there. There's no 3G or HSDPA connectivity and HTC only put in 64MB of RAM, so don't expect it to run smoothly all the time.
Overall, we really like the Touch's design, but we're perplexed by the specs. HTC has made some of the most cutting-edge phones out there, so why didn't it add all the things the iPhone lacks? We don't know, but HTC hinted at a new and improved version of the Touch at some point in the future.
Here's a full list of the Touch's innards for all the spec fan boys:
Dimensions: 58mm wide by 100mm tall by 14mm deepWeight: 112g
Memory: 1GB microSD storage card included / 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM
Display: 71mm (2.8-inch) LCD touchscreen with backlight, 240x320-pixel resolution with 65,536 colours
Standby time: Up to 200 hours
Talk time: Up to 5 hours
Camera: 2-megapixel
Software: Windows Mobile 6 Professional with Direct Push Email and HTML email support
Wireless connectivity: GSM/GPRS/EDGE; Tri-band: 900, 1800,1900; Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.0
On the back there's a 2-megapixel camera that takes reasonable photos, but don't expect high quality shots.
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This is the new and improved homepage that displays the time in a large, easy-to-view format. It also gives you easy access to the weather and your daily appointments, among other things.
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This is one side of the TouchFlo interface menu system, which gives you easy access to a variety of apps. Unfortunately, once you've selected one then the cool interface disappears and you're back to Windows Mobile.
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Via : Crave.cnet
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
PREVIEW: O2 Xda nova / HTC Touch Windows Mobile 6 Professional Smartphone
Thanks to O2 Germany and HTC Europe, I've recently received their versions of the HTC Elf. From O2 Germany I got a German Xda nova and from HTC Europe I got an English Touch. Since both devices are the latest and final hardware but neither includes all accessories nor came in the final sales-boxes, I'm not going to call it a review but preview only.
HTC caught some attraction when the Taiwanese device maker announced the HTC Touch earlier this month for some good reasons - with the HTC Touch; HTC introduced the TouchFLO technology to their Windows mobile device platform and I'm sure most of you have read everything about TouchFLO and the HTC Touch already. Nevertheless, since O2 brings up the Xda nova on sale from tomorrow, it makes sense to have a closer look on both devices again, identifying the similarities as well as the differences.
Both, the HTC Touch and the O2 Xda nova are based on HTC's Elf reference design platform and with the Elf, HTC tried to create a simple to use but stylish device to attract the consumer market better. Therefore the Touch/nova misses some of the latest but greatest technologies while on the other hand it sports new features. The HTC Elf platform is powered by Microsoft's latest Windows Mobile version - 6.0 Professional which means it's a smartphone. Both devices supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE at 90/1800/1900 MHz while 850 MHZ is left. This is pretty unusual for HTC devices, were all the latest devices quadband GSM. Nevertheless, leaving 850 MHz makes the device cheaper in production and therefore it's cheaper on sale. Also left is UMTS, not to talk about HSDPA but this isn't a big problem today - not for the segment HTC and the carriers try to target with the Touch. On the other hand, the Touch/nova features Bluetooth 2.0 and WiFi b/g which makes it a mobile broadband connected device anyway - as long as a HotSpot is in range. Powered by a TI OMAP850 CPU at 201 MHz, the Touch/nova includes 128 MB ROM and 64 MB DDR RAm and both - HTC and O2 Germany are giving a free 1 GB microSD card with their versions of the HTC Elf.
On the back, the device features a 2 megapixel CMOS fixed focus camera for photo and video recording. And at a compact size of 99.9 mm x 58 mm x 13.9 mm the HTC Touch/O2 Xda nova weights 112 g only.
While the O2 and HTC designs are pretty similar, they have their differences. For instance O2 Germany decided to give the Xda nova housing a high gloss black finishing while HTC has given the HTC Touch a soft-touch like finishing:


Another difference, as you can see from the pictures above, is the button-layout. First of all both devices are reduced to the max. They neither have soft-keys nor application shortcuts or anything else most other Windows Mobile Professional/Pocket PCs have today but all you have are the two call buttons and the D-PAD. The soft-keys are not necessary because the screen is designed to be used with the thumbs and the application keys are left in favor to give the device a simplistic design. However, O2 decided to use bigger call keys for their device while the HTC keys are pretty minimalistic as well. I like both designs and it's always a decision everybody has to make himself.
On the back there is no difference and here you have the camera as well as the loudspeaker which is used for Media Player playback, etc.:


On the left, both devices only have the volume slider (no voice notes button):


On the right you have the camera button and in the middle the flap under which the device hosts the SIM and micoSD cards:


On the bottom, both devices features the HTC typical propriety mini USB port which is used for sync and charging the device as well as connects to the stereo headset, with right to it the soft reset whole and left to it the microphone:


On the top you have the power button only:


Most impressive anyway is the used TouchFLO technology, HTC is developing for 2 years now. It might be a coincidence that the first TouchFLO devices are launched just in the moment, Apple is going to launch their iPhone as well, but HTC hadn't find a better timing anyway since so many publications wrote about it since it was announced. How is HTC's TouchFLO working? Unlike the standard touch screens as used so far for Pocket PCs, TouchFLO features a steady acrylic glass which makes the screen rocking solid. On top of this acrylic glass, HTC added a thin clear film which takes the touches and unlike standard touch screens, this film reacts on wider pressure as well. However, it supports both kind of pressures - fine stylus and thick thumb pressure which makes this technology so unique. But this allows using TouchFLO displays with both - finger thumbs and stylus.
Also different from previous touch screen is the fact, that a TouchFLO display isn't counter-sunk in the frame but flat and the touchable area isn't the screen only but the whole glass area (like on the photo bellow where the area where the O2 logo is, is also used for navigation):


With this concept, HTC had in mind to make the use of the HTC Touch as easy as possible and making the HTC Touch/Xda nova a real smartphone. Therefore HTC also developed a new Today screen plug-in and a TouchFLO optimized user interface which includes access to the most important functionalities.
The Today screen plug-in is optimized to be used with the thumb and includes a big clock, weather information (including forecast of a given city) and a launcher:




Unfortunately O2 Germany left this Today screen application out of their Xda nova but reduced the overall Today screen look and feel and uses a slightly different launcher only:

The TouchFLO optimized user interface (which is used by both - HTC and O2 Germany) is a kind of virtual cube with three pages. As soon as the thumb slide from the logo bellow the screen up to the top, the main page of the UI opens which includes shortcuts to predefined (unfortunately to customizable or changeable) applications. Unfortunately, O2 (bellow right) changed this screen a little bit and replaced the Comm Manager shortcut with a Comcenter shortcut (O2's Comcenter allows to synchronize the device over the air with the Comcenter service by using SyncML), as well as replaced Calendar and Tasks with Wecker (alarm) and Notizen (notes):


While not part of O2's TouchFLO page, both - HTC and O2 are also using a thumb-improved Comm Manager with bigger icons for their versions of the HTC Elf which makes the thumb-use of the Comm Manager easier as well:

Sliding the finger from the right to the left changes opens the media page:

While Videos and Photos opens the Microsoft Pictures and Videos application, Music opens HTC's self-developed music player interface called Audio Manager. Sitting on top of Windows Media Player Mobile, this interface provides an easier to use interface to use the device as a MP3 player:


Sliding left again opens the call and contacts page:

Here you can add 9 contacts to the quick-dial buttons as well as you can switch to the phone interface or the call history and open the contacts application. The phone interface is also reduced since it doesn't include the call start/end button anymore but here you have to use the hardware keys instead. This leaves more room for the other buttons, like the number pad:

So far so good and the new TouchFLO interface is a pleasure to use and well optimized for thumbs. However, the biggest problem is, that most other applications makes no use of this anymore not to say that all other applications are the standard Windows Mobile 6 applications which means a user has to use the stylus sooner or later again.
While it might be possible to scroll through the Inbox to pen and read a received SMS or E-Mail, latest if you want to reply you cannot use the thumbs anymore because the HTC Touch/O2 Xda nova only provides the standard user interface including the standard SIP keyboard:


I wouldn't go that far to call this implementation ineffectual since we have to keep in mind it's still a Pocket PC/Windows Mobile Professional smartphone but new users which are not used to use the Windows Mobile platform (or PDAs in general) might get lost and irritated if PDA-like applications opens which have nothing to do anymore with the nice previously seen thumb-optimized GUI but which requires the use of the stylus. At least for the basic phone applications like SMS and E-Mail I would like to see a thumb-optimized GUI as well, for instance using the Phone application to read and create SMS and MMS applications since this would be the similar user experiences as on traditional mobile phones.
While we are talking about all the other applications - these are the standard Microsoft Windows Mobile Professional applications including Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile (but not the latest version with support for Office 2007 XML-based files which is expected to be supported with a later ROM update) and Windows Live and Windows Live Messenger.
For some reasons one application is left again - Remote Desktop. While it's part of Windows Mobile 6 Professional, the manufactures seems to leave it now (for instance also E-Ten left it in the Glofiish X500+). And while most users will never miss it, hardcore users will miss it for sure, especially because it's not available as a separate download from Microsoft to be installed after.
Final Conclusion
Both, the HTC Touch and the O2 Xda nova convinced me as a mass-market consumer device. The overall ID and look and feel of both devices is simply great and you cannot believe how small and the device is until you hold it in your hand. It fits perfectly into a pocket or hand-bag and I'm sure HTC, O2Germany and any other carrier which will sell this device will attract many customers.
Is it an Apple iPhone killer? By far no, it's not but this was never the intention to be. It might be coincidence (or not) that the release date of the Touch/Xda nova was so close to the iPhone launch. Also we have to keep in mind that the device isn't (officially) launched in the US yet, where the iPhone is launched next week while the iPhone will take until end of this year before it hits Europe (and even later Asia).
So what does the Europeans and Asians get today? A great Pocket PC Phone Edition, maybe the best consumer-oriented so far.
It's definitely not made for hardcore techies and geeks since it misses too much functionality, even if the TouchFLO technology will also attracts these customer type. While I can easily live without UMTS supports at such a device, it's a pity that it hasn't GPS included. Not that I'm a hardcore GPS user on Windows Mobile devices (I have a inbuilt navigation in my car anyway), the HTC Elf with its TouchFLO could be the best GPS Windows Mobile device yet thanks to the new screen technology. TouchFLO is indeed pretty inventive and it's a pleasure to use - as long as you are using the TouchFLO optimized applications. As soon as you are back to the standard applications, you don't have any benefit of it anymore but again you have to use the stylus. Might not be too dramatic if you don't wrote SMS, MMS or E-Mails but since I'm writing 10 - 15 SMS per day, for me it is dramatic because I don't want to use a stylus for such an easy task - not if I have a device which was design with thumb-use in mind.
Nevertheless, it works great as a (smart)phone as long as you are used to use PDAs. It might not be ready for the mass-market today but it's a start into the right direction and I'm sure, the next generation of TouchFLO devices will become even better. Hopefully TouchFLO is a technology HTC is going to make as a standard feature of its future range of devices; it's definitely worth.
The HTC Touch is already on sale across Europe for roughly 400 Euro without a contract. The O2 Xda nova will be available from today from O2 Germany from 49,95 Euro only - with a 24 month contract.
Via : the unwired
HTC Touch: Bald bei o2 als „Xda Nova“
Neugierige werden aber schon ab dem 25. Juni einen ersten Blick auf das Gerät in jedem Geschäft des deutschen Netzbetreibers o2 werfen können. Denn ab diesem Zeitpunkt soll der HTC Touch dort erhältlich sein. Vertrieben werden soll er unter dem Namen „Xda Nova“ und zusammen mit einem Genion-L-Vertrag rund 49,- Euro kosten. Ohne Vertrag schlägt das Smartphone mit Gestensteuerung hingegen mit 449,- Euro zu Buche. Die ersten 14 Tage wird o2 exklusiv den Vertrieb des HTC Touch übernehmen. Danach werden auch T-Mobile („MDA Touch“) und Vodafone (Name bislang noch nicht bekannt) das Gerät anbieten. Bereits im Juli wird das Smartphone also bei jedem der drei großen deutschen Netzbetreiber käuflich erwerbbar sein.
Im Gegensatz zu bislang erhältlichen Smartphones kann das HTC Touch zwischen Berührungen mit dem Finger und dem Stylus-Eingabestift unterscheiden. Dies ermöglicht es dem Besitzer des Geräts, dieses auch mit simplen Gesten steuern zu können. So kann eine bestimmte Geste des Fingers mit einer bestimmten Funktion – zum Beispiel dem Aufruf des Kalenders oder dem Schließen einer Applikation – verbunden werden. Darüber hinaus lassen sich die eigens für den Touch kreierten Menüs mit solchen Gesten durchsteuern. Erste Tests des Geräts zeigen, dass das neue Steuerungskonzept auch ganz gut funktioniert, jedoch aber noch einige Kinderkrankheiten hat.
Als Betriebssystem kommt eine spezielle Version von Microsofts Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional zum Einsatz. Das Touchscreen selbst ist 2,8 Zoll groß und liefert bei einer Auflösung von 240 x 320 Pixel bis zu 65.536 Farben. Alle weiteren Details zu den technischen Leistungsdaten des HTC Touch gibt es in der dazugehörigen Vorstellungs-News.
Via : ComputerBase
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
HTC Touch™ Delivers New Touch Screen Experience
HTC Device Signals New Direction In Finger Touch Navigation
LONDON - June 5, 2007 - HTC Corp. (TAIEX:2498; "HTC"), the world's leading provider of Microsoft® Windows Mobile®-based smart devices, today announced the global launch of the HTC Touch™, a deceptively small and stylish mobile phone that ushers in an innovative new concept in intuitive touch screen navigation. The HTC Touch™ brings a new level of simplicity to the powerful and function-rich device experience that today's mobile consumers demand.
Building on its rich ten year history of mobile phone innovations, the HTC Touch™ represents extensive research and development and the conviction that fingertip control will enable more efficient, natural and intuitive touch screen navigation. The groundbreaking HTC Touch™ offers a new and unique way of controlling touch screen-based devices by recognising and responding to the sweep of a finger across the screen. It is even intelligent enough to distinguish between finger and stylus input and then respond accordingly.
"With the HTC Touch™, access to your most commonly used content, contacts and features is only a simple finger flick away," said Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC. "Mobile phone makers have done a great job of cramming ever-more exciting features into ever-smaller phones. But the way in which one accesses these increasingly sophisticated features has not kept pace. That ends today with the HTC Touch."
Smart, stylish and versatile, the HTC Touch™ brings together a wide variety of communication, entertainment and professional capabilities that enable mobile consumers to balance work and play. The new HTC-designed homescreen provides one-touch access to emails, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.
The HTC Touch is the first device to feature TouchFLO™, the new underlying touch screen technology developed by HTC. Consumers simply sweep their finger up the display to launch an animated, three-dimensional interface comprising three screens: Contacts, Media and Applications. The interface can be spun by swiping a finger right or left across the display, providing efficient access to the features consumers use most. TouchFLO™ also enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists.
Leveraging the broad functionality of Windows Mobile® 6 Professional, the HTC Touch™ includes Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile, Windows Live™ and the capabilities to run thousands of third-party applications. Users can surf the web with Internet Explorer®, send and receive emails, chat on Messenger and send files to their own web space through Windows Live™. Other HTC Touch™ details include:
- Dimensions: 99.9mm (L) x 58mm (W) x 13.9mm (T)
- Weight: 112g with battery
- 1GB microSD storage card included / 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM
- 2.8" LCD touch screen with backlight, 240 x 320 dots resolution with 65,536 colours
- Battery Life: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 1100 mAh
- Standby time: Up to 200 / Talk time: Up to 5 hours
- Camera: 2.0 mega-pixel CMOS colour camera
- Windows Mobile 6® Professional with Direct Push Email and HTML email support
- Wireless Connectivity: GSM/GPRS/EDGE Tri-band: 900, 1800,1900, Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth® 2.0
- Choice of two colors at launch - elegant soft black or alluring wasabi green
The HTC Touch™ is now available in the United Kingdom and will be released later this month in Asia and throughout Europe. The North and Latin American version of the HTC Touch™ will be available in the second half of 2007.
Via : HTC
Monday, June 18, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
HTC TOUCH TAKES ON THE IPHONE
HTC’s Touch is a brand new smartphone design with a very cool touch-screen navigation system – similar to what Apple has reportedly developed for their soon-to-be-unleashed iPhone.
But one of the big differences here is that HTC’s device is built on – and has improved upon – a sixth-generation operation system. The iPhone will be Apple’s first-generation in-house designed smartphone.
HTC, the manufacturer behind some of the best smartphones on the market today (like the terrific T Mobile Dash), has been working on their revolutionary touch screen device for two years – and the pedigree is reflected in the Touch.
HTC based their phone on Microsoft’s just-released Windows Mobile 6 OS. They developed a number of improvements to the standard (boring-but-functional) WM smartphone home screen by, among other things, adding a big digital clock or local weather display as the main focal point. The new screen is not only beautiful it’s also user-friendly.
(MSNBC.com is a Microsoft-NBC Universal joint venture.)
Touch and slide
Touch’s hottest feature is their next-generation touch screen and the software which controls it. HTC calls their underlying technology TouchFLO. It’s a new way of controlling your phone by recognizing and responding to the sweep of your finger across the screen. The system is even smart enough to know the difference between your finger and stylus input. I find that the phone’s touch screen is actually a little less rigid/more compliant than other smartphones I’ve tried.
All you need to do is slide your finger up the display to launch the animated interface. You are then greeted by Touch’s new 3D screens: ‘Contacts’, ‘Media’ and ‘Applications’. The interface is spun by swiping your finger right or left across the screen. You can also use your finger to open and close menus, move from one screen to another, easily scroll up and down through contact lists and actually move documents and Web pages.
Does it work? You bet! It takes a minute or two to get used to the system and perfect your screen sliding skills. Once you do, it begins to be second nature.
The rest of the device ain’t bad either. It’s very small: 3.9 by 2.3 by 0.55 inches and weighs a hair less than 4 ounces with the battery. The 2.8-inch backlit touch screen is capable of reproducing 64K colors. The 1100mAh Lithium-ion battery is said to provide up to 5 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby.
My Touch sample came with 64MB of RAM and a 1GB microSD memory card to store – among other things - your music and photo files. There’s also a 2.0 megapixel camera on the back which uses the entire color screen as its viewfinder. Very cool. My sample is black but I’m told there is also a “wasabi green” model.
Touch has Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) and Bluetooth (2.0) built inside. My test sample was a GSM/GPRS/EDGE world phone – but the HTC people said they can also make CDMA models to work on North American (Verizon, Sprint) networks.
The on-screen, software keyboard is not as usable as the hardware keyboard on other smartphones. Using the included stylus is an absolute necessity. The iPhone has a software keyboard too. Personally, I do more e-mail reading than sending. But, I’m hoping someone comes up with a much better method in the near future.
HTC has begun rolling out the GSM version in the United Kingdom and will release the Touch, later this month, in Asia and other European countries. North and Latin American versions are expected later this year. I’ve been told “early fourth quarter” is most likely for the United States. U.S. pricing has not been announced.
My first impression: this is one small, lightweight, feature-laden, action-packed, next-generation smartphone. How does it compare to the iPhone? We’ll know more soon.
GARY KRAKOW
Via : MSNBC
Friday, June 15, 2007
HTC Touch Specification
Processor : TI's OMAP™ 850, 201 MHzOperating System :Windows Mobile® 6 Professional
Memory : ROM: 128 MB / SDRAM: 64 MB DDR
Dimension : 99.9mm (L) X 58mm (W) X 13.9mm (T)
Weight : 112g with battery
Display : 2.8" LCD touch screen with backlight 240 X 320 dots resolution with 65,536 colors
Network : GSM/GPRS/EDGE Tri-band: 900, 1800, 1900 (The device will operate on frequencies available from the cellular network.)
Device Control : HTC TouchFLO™ / 5-Way navigation control
Connectivity : Bluetooth® 2.0 + Wi-Fi® IEEE 802.11 b/g + HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB and audio jack in one)
Camera: 2.0 megapixel CMOS color camera
Audio : Built-in microphone and 3-in-1 speaker
Windows Media Player supported formats: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MP3, WMA, WAV, QCELP,
MPEG4, AMR-NB, AMR-WB
Battery :Rechargeable Li-lon battery
Capacity: 1100 mAh
Standby time: Up to 200 hours
Talk time: Up to 5 hours
Expansion Slot : microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
AC Adapter : Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60Hz / DC output: 5V and 1A
HTC Touch Un téléphone Windows Mobile 6 qui devient enfin grand public
Windows Mobile simplifié
Le Touch innove ici en proposant en plus d'un système de navigation tactile, une navigation faussement 3D composée de grosses icônes élégantes et surtout évidentes pour qui cherche à effectuer toutes les opérations que ce téléphone propose. D'un coup de doigt – du bas vers le haut – vous basculez de l'interface classique de Windows Mobile vers cette interface inédite et ludique. D'un coup de doigt – vers la droite ou vers la gauche – vous faites défiler les écrans à l'instar de l'effet « cube » de Mac OS X. D'un clic de doigt vous sélectionnez l'une des multiples options proposées pour atterrir au cœur de Windows Mobile 6.
Un téléphone Web
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) embarqué oblige, une grande partie de ce téléphone use et abuse d'une connexion à l'Internet pour récupérer des informations sur la météo du jour (et des quatre jours à venir) ou vous connecter aux services de Windows Live à commencer par l'incontournable Windows Live Messenger (ex MSN Messenger). Attention à ne pas user et abuser de ces derniers hors Internet, car si c'est votre téléphone qui est sollicité via GPRS ou EDGE, il faut impérativement disposer d'un forfait data adapté. L'Internet mobile est comme d'habitude : incompatibilité avec les portails Wap des opérateurs oblige, vous n'avez ici accès qu'à un nombre restreints de sites Internet et pas toujours adaptés à la taille de l'écran de ce téléphone. En revanche, la gestion des e-mails – par exemple un compte Hotmail – ou l'accès à Outlook Web Access (pour peu que votre responsable informatique sache le configurer) est assuré sur ce téléphone. Vous avez ainsi accès à l'ensemble de vos e-mails en « Push », c'est-à-dire en mode consultation à distance. Le Blackberry n'a qu'à bien se tenir.
Le multimédia stocké en standard
Côté multimédia, le Touch ne démérite pas. Si son capteur photo de 2 mégapixels permet de réaliser des photos plus que satisfaisantes, on regrettera qu'il ne dispose pas d'un petit flash pour compenser sa faible sensibilité. N'escomptez pas non plus shooter en rafale avec cet appareil. Même si l'option « salve » est de la partie, le mode photo n'est pas d'une vélocité redoutable. En revanche, on trouve différentes options pour appliquer des effets spéciaux, voire adapter le format de la photo à son usage comme l'envoi d'un MMS ou la création d'une photo pour la gestion des contacts. Livré avec une carte mémoire d'un giga au forma micro SD, on a aucun soucis pour synchroniser – depuis un PC sous Vista avec Windows Media Player 11 – une partie de sa bibliothèque musicale. Restent quelques petits soucis que nous avons rencontrés lors de nos tests tels l'incapacité de gérer les DRM 10 avec cet appareil.
Des petites options repensées
Là où Windows Mobile 6 séduit c'est sur la multiplicité de petits détails qui ont été repensés. Ainsi il est possible d'un seul clic de décharger la totalité des applications présentes en mémoire. Il est également proposé de sélectionner depuis le lecteur multimédia du HTC un fichier WMA ou MP3 pour le désigner en tant que sonnerie du téléphone. C'est là où parfois on se demande si Microsoft à bien réalisé que Windows Mobile, c'est aussi un système d'exploitation pour des téléphones. La gestion de la bibliothèque musicale a été légèrement modifiée – afin de gérer indifféremment sans se poser de questions – les fichiers présents sur la mémoire du téléphone ou sur la carte de stockage. Côté Outlook Web Access, on devrait bénéficier de petites retouches comme la gestion à distance de l'indicateur d'absence de son bureau. Mais pour bénéficier de cette ultime option, il faut pour cela que le serveur Exchange bénéficie de la toute dernière mise à jour. Là on n'est clairement pas dans une option grand public. Cela dit, reste à chacun d'apprécier ou non le caractère professionnel ou personnel de la synchronisation des données (agenda, contacts et taches à réaliser) issue de Microsoft Outlook. Fonction qui reste à bien des égards « l'application killer » de ce Windows Mobile 6 vu sa simplicité. Enfin, n'oublions pas de signaler les applications embarquées comme la suite mobile d'Office, le lecteur Adobe Reader ou encore l'outil de décompression des fichiers au format Zip.
Bons et mauvais côtés
Côté autonomie : bonne nouvelle, le Touch tient la route une journée durant. Mais vu le nombre incroyable d'activités que l'on est à même de réaliser avec ce smartphone, il est préférable d'être prudent et d'avoir son chargeur à portée de main. Restent quelques petites critiques qui n'en sont pas réellement comme la lenteur toute relative de l'appareil lorsque l'on charge trop la mule, l'absence de GPS embarqué (vu la taille de l'appareil on se demande où ils peuvent encore faire tenir une telle option) et l'absence de gestion des modes 3G et 3,5G.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Présentation et sortie du HTC Touch à Bruxelles
Ce matin, HTC nous a convié à une petite conférence portée principalement sur la présentation du HTC Touch par le Country Manager Benelux de chez HTC, Mark Moons.
C’était en comité restreint que HTC nous a invité au K-nal à Bruxelles pour nous présenter le HTC Touch, une véritable innovation sous Windows Mobile : on avait plus vu ça depuis quelques années.
Mais avant cela, Mark Moons, nous a présenté l’entreprise, HTC, qui, bien que n’ayant pas un impact significatif sur la mémoire du grand public, n’en est pas moins un grand constructeur qui rappelons-le fabrique des appareils majoritairement basés sous Windows Mobile depuis 1998. Et ce pour plusieurs grands groupes comme Orange avec les SPV, Dopod en Chine et certains constructeurs comme HP et feu Qtek. Après ce petit historique de la société, l’audience était impatiente de tâter le « saint graal ». L’ayant enfin en main, nous avons pu commencer à apprivoiser ce petit pdaphone.
Premier choc visuel, et ce dans le bon sens, c’est la finesse de l’engin, nous avons vraiment été étonné de sa finition surtout avec cet habillage noir orné d’un pourtour métallique. D’apparence, cet HTC Touch est une réussite, passons maintenant à l’interface en elle-même.
Par défaut, c’est l’interface Touchflo qui est proposée. Une « petite » pression du logo HTC vers le haut de l’écran active l’interface et nous amène vers un menu proposant trois thèmes « Music », « Photos » et « Videos ».
Un pouce de haut en bas nous mène vers l’interface originale proposant un plugin avec une horloge numérique, un autre proposant la météo et un accès rapide vers un launcher. Un autre geste du doigt de gauche à droite nous amène, lui, vers une interface proposant des raccourcis vers certains programmes comme les « SMS/MMS », « Le comm Manager », etc.
Il est cependant un peu dommage que ce menu révoltionnaire ne soit que des raccourcis vers cesdits programmes. En effet, c’est un magnifique menu menant vers l’interface classique de Windows Mobile qui, entre nous soit dit, commence à se faire quelque peu vieillissante... Mais rassurons-nous, HTC et Microsoft ne vont pas se gêner, et proposer bientôt d’autres améliorations comme ils en ont pris la bonne habitude. Ceux qui se rappellent des premiers SPV ne peuvent qu’acquiescer... N’empêche, ce nouveau type de menu est bien joli et bien pratique, on y prend vite goût.
On serait vite tenté de le comparer à l’iPhone d’Apple, mais ce serait une erreur que de comparer un appareil qui sort aujourd’hui à un téléphone qui ne se trouve encore être qu’au stade du virtuel... HTC se paie le luxe de sortir le Touch bien avant l’iPhone !
Il est à noter cet HTC Touch fera l’objet d’un test bien plus approfondit dans les jours qui viennent de notre part. Restez à l’écoute.
S’il vous plait déjà, ce qui ne nous étonnerait pas du tout, le HTC Touch est dès à présent disponible en 24h via notre boutique en ligne. Une carte mémoire microSD de 1 GB est fournie avec l’engin !
HTC Touch Officially Unveiled

Today, HTC unveiled its competitor with the iPhone: the Touch. Known formerly as the Elf, the Touch features Windows Mobile 6 with a finger-touch display that uses HTC’s TouchFlo technology. Like the iPhone, you can use your fingers to navigate the phone’s menus and such or you can use a stylus if that’s to your liking. You can interact with a 3D-interface via your fingers and explore whole new worlds. Or at least your contact list.
The specs are pretty nice too. You’ll find a big, bright 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen, 128MB of ROM, 64MB of RAM, a 2-megapixel camera, 1GB microSD card included, tri-band GSM, EDGE, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, and Windows Mobile 6. Not bad at all. Top it off with the TouchFlo technology and you have one of the best looking Windows Mobile devices out there. The Touch is currently available in the UK with plans for a US launch by the end of the year. We’re getting one later tonight to play with, so keep a lookout for a gallery of pics and a video review.
Via : Crunchgear
HTC Touch challenges iPhone
The touch relies primarily on its microSD card slot for storage and ships with a bundled 1GB card for storing media, including photos snapped from the phone's 2-megapixel camera. Wireless networking is provided through 802.11b/g Wi-Fi on local networks and through EDGE for cellular-only access.
Availability will vary by region. Currently only a 900/1800/1900MHz device, the Touch is shipping today in black and green to UK providers and will be available to Asia and Europe by the end of June. A version for the Americas with the requisite 850MHz support is planned for the second half of the year and should receive its pricing through individual carriers.


Via : Macnn
HTC Touch New
Featuring an easy-to-use touch screen and simple user interface, the HTC Touch with TouchFLO™
makes quick dialing, navigation and selection a breeze. Stylish, smart and versatile, it opens up a world of media, communication and social interaction.

Surf the web with Internet Explorer®, send and receive email from accounts like Hotmail® and Yahoo!®. Chat on Messenger and send photos to your own web space through Windows Live™.
Optimised for entertainment, the HTC Touch lets you enjoy your favourite music and movie clips through the integrated media suite. You also have the versatility to upload, store and share your media files with microSD™ removable memory.
With Windows Mobile® 6, the HTC Touch also provides instant access to your Outlook® email and the most popular Microsoft® Office applications.
Experience a whole new sensation. The HTC Touch.
Highlights
- Feel the difference with intuitive TouchFLO™ screen technology for finger and stylus input.
- Simple user interface for quick dialing, navigation and launching applications.
- Surf the web with ease on the large 2.8” touch screen with Internet Explorer®.
- Enjoy music and movie clips with HTC's Audio Manager and Windows Media® Player.
- Chat on Messenger, send and receive Hotmail® and send photos to Windows Live™ Spaces.
Full specification
Download the product sheet for further insight into key features and specifications.
via : HTC Smart MobilityWednesday, June 13, 2007
HTC Touch - Price : 594$
Via : Laptopmag
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
HTC Touch™ to Make Asian Retail Debut in Taiwan
"With the launch of the HTC Touch, HTC has officially emerged as an instantly-recognizable global brand," said Peter Chou, chief executive officer at HTC. "Since Taiwan is HTC's home base, it is only fitting that it be the first country in Asia to sell the HTC Touch."
Furthermore, given the long-standing relationship between both companies, HTC has selected Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan's largest telecommunications operator, as its exclusive partner in retailing the HTC Touch, and the device will be made available to consumers island-wide beginning in mid-June.
"Chunghwa Telecom is very pleased to be HTC's exclusive partner in distributing and retailing the HTC Touch," said Hochen Tan, chairman of Chunghwa Telecom. "As Taiwan's leading communications operator, we look forward to strengthening our relationship with HTC and providing our customers in Taiwan with the latest and most innovative smart devices on the market. "
Smart, stylish and versatile, the HTC Touch brings together a broad variety of communication, entertainment, and professional capabilities that enable mobile consumers to balance work and play. The new HTC-designed homescreen provides one-touch access to emails, text messages, calendar appointments, and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.
The HTC Touch is the first device to feature TouchFLO™, a 3-D user interface that allows users to move through on-screen options by sweeping their fingers across the screen, or scrolling up and down using a fingertip. Consumers simply slide their finger on the display to launch an animated interface comprising three screens: Contacts, Media, and Applications. The interface can be spun by swiping a finger right or left across the display, providing efficient access to the features consumers use most. TouchFLO also enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists. The interface has even been programmed to intelligently distinguish between finger and stylus input and then responds accordingly.
Leveraging the broad functionality of Windows Mobile 6 Professional, the HTC Touch includes Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile, Windows Live and the capabilities to run thousands of third-party applications. Users can surf the web with Internet Explorer®, send and receive emails, chat on Messenger and send files to their own web space through Windows Live®. The HTC Touch brings a new level of simplicity to the powerful and function-rich device experience that today's mobile consumers demand.
HTC Touch Specifications:
*
Suggested Pricing:NTD. 15,900 dollars
*
Dimensions: 99.9mm (L) x 58mm (W) x 13.9mm (T)
*
Weight: 112g with battery
*
1GB microSD storage card included / 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM
*
2.8'' LCD touch screen with backlight, 240 x 320 dots resolution with 65,536 colors
*
Battery Life: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 1100 mAh
*
Standby time: Up to 200 / Talk time: Up to 5 hours
*
Camera: 2.0-megapixel CMOS color camera
*
Windows Mobile 6 Professional with Direct Push Email and HTML email support
*
Wireless Connectivity: GSM/GPRS/EDGE Tri-band: 900, 1800,1900, Wi-Fi® : IEEE 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth® 2.0
*
Choice of two colors at launch -- elegant soft black or alluring wasabi green
Via : HTC
Monday, June 11, 2007
Presentado en su fecha, HTC Touch

Es 5 de Junio y como HTC dijo, ha presentado su nuevo terminal, y como se pensaba, es la competencia del iPhone, el nuevo HTC Touch.
Por lo que se puede ver es un terminal basado en Windows Mobile 6 con una aplicación propia que interactua con la pantalla táctil. Usa una nueva tecnología llamada TouchFLO desarrollada por HTC que te permite usar la pantalla del HTC Touch com si fuese un iPhone, es decir, mueves el dedo hacia arriba y hace scroll hacia arriba.
Vendrá en dos colores, en un verde oscuro y en negro. con 1GB de memoria en tarjeta microSD, 64MB de RAM y 128MB de ROM, pantalla de 2.8 pulgadas LCD con una resolución de 240×320 píxeles, bateríad e 1100 mAh li-Ion, puede estar en espera unas 200 horas, en uso unas 5 horas seguidas.
Incluye cámara de 2 megapixeles, conectividad GMS/GPRS/EDGE tribanda (900, 1800 y 1900), WiFi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0. Un peso de 112 gramos y unas medidas de 99,9×58x13,9 milímetros.
Esta disponible en Reino Unido, este mes en Asia y el resto de Europa. En América (todo el contienente) una versioón del HTC Touch estará disponible a mediados de la segunda mitad del año.
Fotos promocionales



Via : Gizmologia
Sunday, June 10, 2007
HTC Touch - Photos
HTC added its own homebrew application called TouchFLO to differentiate the uses of finger and stylus. The Touch has “three-dimensional interface” that behave like three screens consist of your contact, media and applications.

Just like the Apple iPhone, you can use your finger to scroll through the screen. HTC has customized the WM6 home screen for easy access to your email, text messages, calendar, contacts, and weather.
As for the handset hardware itself, HTC Touch sports a 2.8-inch touch screen (QVGA), 128MB ROM, 64MB RAM, 2MP camera, tri-ban, 802.11 /b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0. HTC is being generous by including 1GB MicroSD. The Touch is now available in UK and will be coming to US in the second half of this year.
Come back soon for our unboxing and hands-on reviews.





Saturday, June 9, 2007
HTC Touch Kohokohdat, Tärkeimmät ominaisuudet:
Huippu-uutuus HTC Touch mullistaa älypuhelinten käytön! Touch on ensimmäinen älypuhelin, jossa on intuitiivinen sormiohjaus kosketusnäytön avulla.
HTC Touchin TouchFLO™ tekee puheluiden pikavalinnoista, valikkojen käytöstä ja valintojen tekemisestä erinomaisen mukavaa helppokäyttöisen kosketusnäytön ja yksinkertaisen käyttöliittymän avulla. Tämä tyylikäs, älykäs ja monipuolinen puhelin avaa sinulle median, kommunikaation ja sosiaalisen kanssakäymisen maailman.
Webissä surffaaminen onnistuu Pocket Internet Explorerin® avulla, sähköpostia voit lukea ja kirjoittaa suoraan muun muassa Hotmail® ja Yahoo!® -sähköposteista (tukee myös muita palveluntarjoajia). Chattaile Messengerillä ja lähetä valokuvasi omalle Windows Live™ -sivustollesi.
Viihteeseen optimoitu HTC Touch antaa sinun nauttia lempimusiikistasi ja videoleikkeistä integroidun Media Suiten avulla. Sinulla on myös monipuoliset mahdollisuudet ladata, tallentaa ja jakaa tiedostojasi microSD™-muistikortin avulla.
Uuden Windows Mobile 6® Professional -käyttöjärjestelmän avulla voit myös käsitellä Outlook®-sähköpostiasi ja suosituimpia Microsoft® Office -tiedostoja.

Kohokohdat:
- Uusi edistyksellinen käyttöliittymä, jota voi käyttää sormin tai ohjainkynällä
- Puhelimen pikavalinta, valikkojen käyttö ja valintojen tekeminen on erittäin helppoa
- Suuri 2.8" LCD-kosketusnäyttö helppoon webin surffaamiseen
- Nauti musiikista ja videoleikkeistä HTC:n Audio Managerin ja Media Playerin avulla
- Chattaa Messengerillä, lähetä ja vastaanota sähköpostia ja siirrä kuvasi Windows Live -sivustoille
Tärkeimmät ominaisuudet:
Prosessori | TI's OMAP™ 850, 201 MHz |
Käyttöjärjestelmä | Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 6 Professional |
Muisti | ROM: 128 MB |
Mitat | 99.9 mm (L) X 58 mm (W) X 13.9 mm (T) |
Paino | 112g akun kanssa |
Näyttö | 2.8” TFT-LCD, 240 X 320 pikseliä, 65.536 väriä |
Verkko | Kolmitaajuus GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 900, 1800, 1900MHz |
Käytettävyys | HTC TouchFLO ™ |
Yhteydet | Bluetooth® 2.0 |
Kamera | 2.0 Mega-pikselin CMOS värikamera |
| Audio | Sisäänrakennettu mikrofoni ja 3-in-1 kaiutin |
| Akku | Litium-ionipolymeeriakku |
| Laajennuspaikka | microSD™ muistikortti |
| Laturi | Jännite/taajuus: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60Hz |
Friday, June 8, 2007
Uudenlainen Windows Mobile -käyttöliittymä
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Useat valmistajat yrittävät nyt hyödyntää kesäkuun lopulla USA:ssa markkinoille tulevan Apple Iphonen kosketusnäytön hehkutuksen.
HTC:n laitteessa on Applen Iphonen ja LG Pradan tapaan useiden yhtäaikaisten painallusten tuki, ja se pystyy reagoimaan esimerkiksi sormen heiluttamiseen reunasta toiseen. Näin käyttöliittymässä voidaan toteuttaa esimerkiksi kuvien tai web-sivujen selailua.
Laite perustuu perinteiseen Windows Mobile 6 Professional- eli Pocketpc-käyttöjärjestelmään, mutta uusi sormin ohjattava käyttöliittymä on rakennettu tämän päälle. Tämän ansiosta kynäohjausta ei tarvita ja mukaan on saatu isohko 2,8 tuuman lcd-näyttö. Se toistaa 65 000 väriä qvga-tarkkuudella (240 x 320). HTC Touchin fyysiset mitat ovat 99,9 x 58 x 13,9 millimetriä ja 112 grammaa.
Teknisesti siinä ei muuten ole mitään ihmeellistä, neljän taajuuden gprs- ja edge-verkkojen tuki, bluetooth 2.0, 802.11b/g wlan ja kahden megapikselin kamera, mutta ei 3g-verkkojen tukea.
HTC Touch tulee heti saataville operaattorikauppaan Britanniassa, ja myöhemmin muualla Euroopassa ja Aasiassa. Hintaa ilman operaattoritukia ei vielä julkistettu.
Via : tietokone
HTC Presenta… HTC Touch!
En este momento en Londres, HTC esta presentando oficialmente la nueva HTC Touch con su lema “Remember Your First Touch?”: Un dispositivo que representa una gran evolucion en la forma en la que los usuarios intercatuan con un dispositivo Windows Mobile.
La novedad en este equipo es la nueva tecnologia llamada TouchFLO, que incluye una pantalla tactil que permite una excelente navegacion usando los dedos de las manos.

Las especificaciones generales de este equipo son las siguientes:
Como podemos ver, tiene el diseño del HTC Elf, trae un procesador Texas Instruments a 201 Mhz, tiene 13.9mm de grueso, pesa apenas 112 gramos y tiene una bateria de 1100mAh para durar hasta 200 horas en modo de espera o 5 horas en modo activo. Tiene 64 MB RAM/128 MB ROM, incluye una tarjeta microSD de 1GB, tiene obviamente Windows Mobile 6, tiene una camara de 2 megapixeles, ademas de venir en color negro y un color llamado “Wasabi Green”…
Via : Zonapda
Thursday, June 7, 2007
HTC Touch Delivers New Touch Screen Experience
Building on its rich ten year history of mobile phone innovations, the HTC Touch represents extensive research and development and the conviction that fingertip control will enable more efficient, natural and intuitive touch screen navigation. The groundbreaking HTC Touch offers a new and unique way of controlling touch screen-based devices by recognising and responding to the sweep of a finger across the screen. It is even intelligent enough to distinguish between finger and stylus input and then respond accordingly.
"With the HTC Touch, access to your most commonly used content, contacts and features is only a simple finger flick away," said Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC. "Mobile phone makers have done a great job of cramming ever-more exciting features into ever-smaller phones. But the way in which one accesses these increasingly sophisticated features has not kept pace. That ends today with the HTC Touch."
Smart, stylish and versatile, the HTC Touch brings together a wide variety of communication, entertainment and professional capabilities that enable mobile consumers to balance work and play. The new HTC-designed homescreen provides one-touch access to emails, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.
The HTC Touch is the first device to feature TouchFLO, the new underlying touch screen technology developed by HTC. Consumers simply sweep their finger up the display to launch an animated, three-dimensional interface comprising three screens: Contacts, Media and Applications. The interface can be spun by swiping a finger right or left across the display, providing efficient access to the features consumers use most. TouchFLO also enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists.
Leveraging the broad functionality of Windows Mobile 6 Professional, the HTC Touch includes Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile, Windows Live and the capabilities to run thousands of third-party applications. Users can surf the web with Internet Explorer, send and receive emails, chat on Messenger and send files to their own web space through Windows Live. Other HTC Touch details include:
- Dimensions: 99.9mm (L) x 58mm (W) x 13.9mm (T)
- Weight: 112g with battery
- 1GB microSD storage card included / 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM
- 2.8" LCD touch screen with backlight, 240 x 320 dots resolution with 65,536 colours
- Battery Life: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 1100 mAh
- Standby time: Up to 200 / Talk time: Up to 5 hours
- Camera: 2.0 mega-pixel CMOS colour camera
- Windows Mobile 6 Professional with Direct Push Email and HTML email support
- Wireless Connectivity: GSM/GPRS/EDGE Tri-band: 900, 1800, 1900, Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.0
- Choice of two colors at launch - elegant soft black or alluring wasabi green
Availability
The HTC Touch is now available in the United Kingdom and will be released later this month in Asia and throughout Europe. The North and Latin American version of the HTC Touch™ will be available in the second half of 2007.
About HTC
Founded in 1997, High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) designs, manufactures and markets innovative, feature rich smartphone and PDA Phone devices.
Since its establishment, HTC has developed strong R&D capabilities, pioneered many new designs and product innovations and launched state-of-the-art PDA Phones and smartphones for mobile operators and distributors in Europe, the US, and Asia. These machines are available as HTC devices and as products individually customized for operator and device partners.
HTC is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile device market. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.
Via : Mobileburn
HTC Touch: The iPhone "clone wars" start
A new hope has dawned for Microsoft and Taiwanese cell phone maker HTC, responsible for plenty of Windows Mobile powered smartphones under a range of different brand names, with HTC these days deciding their own name is good enough to go on the box.
HTC or High Tech Computer has just launched the “HTC Touch” in the UK, less than four weeks before the iPhone launches in the US, and as you’d imagine with its rather indicative name, the HTC Touch is controlled by your finger, letting you make gestures on screen, or use a stylus, to control fingertip enhanced on screen interface.
HTC make no specific mention of ‘multi-touch’ technology where you can use forefinger and thumb to enlarge photos or perform other tasks as Apple describes, seemingly giving Apple the upper hand, for now, in the real ‘multi-touch’ stakes.
Although HTC say that the Touch brings a “new level of simplicity to the powerful and function-rich device experience that today’s mobile consumers demand”, some have already commented that the touch experience is just a shallow overlay onto the more traditional Windows Mobile 6 Professional interface underneath, especially given the need to draw out the included stylus to type text or email messages and enter data on the small keyboard common to Windows Mobile devices – it is a shame this device doesn’t have a keyboard which slides out from the the phone as with other (much thicker) smartphones on the market, many of which come from HTC already.
HTC claim to have been working on their new touch screen technology called TouchFlo for quite some time before Apple’s iPhone announcement back in January. HTC say that consumers only need to sweep their finger up the display to launch an animated, three-dimensional interface comprising three screens: Contacts, Media and Applications.
In an attempt to offer some ‘cool’, or perhaps in Microsoft parlance some ‘wow’, HTC say that the interface can be spun by swiping a finger right or left across the display, providing efficient access to the features consumers use most, with TouchFLO also enhancing finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists.
The touch screen system has been programmed to intelligently distinguish between finger and stylus input and then respond accordingly.
Peter Chou, HTC’s CEO, says that “With the HTC Touch, access to your most commonly used content, contacts and features is only a simple finger flick away. Mobile phone makers have done a great job of cramming ever-more exciting features into ever-smaller phones. But the way in which one accesses these increasingly sophisticated features has not kept pace. That ends today with the HTC Touch.”
The HTC’s new ‘homescreen’ is also somewhat iPhone like, although not an exact copy, providing “one touch access” to emails, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.
So, what else does the HTC Touch offer in its quest to offer a viable alternative to the iPhone? Please read onto page 2's conclusion to find out!
By Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Via : ITWire
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
HTC Touch launches; first impressions and thoughts as an iPhone rival
The details:
Announced today for the United Kingdom (foiled again!), the HTC Touch features a technology called TouchFLO that allows you to operate the smart phone just by swiping your finger on the device's 2.8-inch, 65,536-color touch screen. The motions are preprogrammed to perform certain actions. For example, swiping your thumb in an upward motion launches a page where you can access contacts, media, or applications; sweeping left to right rotates through the various functions; while you can close out of apps by swiping downward. In addition, the screen knows the difference between the touch of a stylus and your finger and will act accordingly, and there's a new HTC-designed home screen where you can get one-touch access to your messages, calendar, contacts, and weather conditions.
Aside from the advanced touch screen, the HTC Touch looks different than any other smart phone we've seen from the company. Known as the HTC Elf in some circles, the Touch is certainly petite at 3.9 inches long by 2.3 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick and weighing 3.9 ounces. One observer said it resembled the Rio Carbon MP3 player, and I'd say that's a fair comparison. It actually also kind of reminded me of a Tamagotchi toy--is that bad? HTC says the Touch is targeted more toward consumers who want to make the leap from a regular cell phone to a smart phone. Oh yes, this is a full-blown smart phone. It runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional Edition and has support for push e-mail, integrated Bluetooth 2.0 (A2DP supported) and Wi-Fi, a microSD slot, and 128MB ROM/64MB RAM. It's also equipped with a 2-megapixel camera and is rated for 5 hours of talk time and up to 8 days of standby time. While today's announcement was for the U.K., the HTC Touch is expected to cross the pond and ship in the United States during the second half of the year, though pricing and carrier have not yet been determined.
First impressions:
Fellow Craver Nicole Lee and I actually got some brief hands-on time with the HTC Touch, as the company paid us a visit last week. Personally speaking, I have my doubts about the smart phone. First, using the touch screen was a frustrating experience. I could never get it to work right. Swiping left to right didn't do much, and I couldn't really close out of apps by using the downward motion. I also noticed the screen held a lot of smudges, which bugged me. That said, I'm sure I could learn to use the Touch with more time. The HTC reps had a good handle on the workings of the touch technology (but one would hope so, since it is their product), and there's always a bit of a learning curve when you get a new device. No, my biggest gripe is there isn't an easy way to enter text. Given the compact design, a full QWERTY keyboard is clearly out, but are you telling me I'm left to peck out messages with a stylus and tiny virtual keyboard? I understand it's not a machine for the power business user, so composing e-mail isn't the issue here. But what about text messages or IMs? The phone may be great and the multimedia capabilities top-notch, but I'm a huge texter and if this is my only method of sending messages, I'll have to pass. BUT this is all after spending maybe 20 minutes with the device, so I'm not passing any final judgment yet. HTC is throwing an event tomorrow here in San Francisco for the global launch of the HTC Touch, and I should be getting one of my very own to test, and I'll give it a fair shake. So be sure to check back Thursday for our full review.
iPhone competitor:
Of course, with its touch screen capability, some are bound to wonder if the HTC Touch will rival the Apple iPhone. Come on, you know the comparison is bound to happen. So will it give the iPhone a run for its money? I don't know, and we won't know till the iPhone comes out at the end of the month. As far as HTC is concerned, the company said the Touch was in development long before the Apple announcement and it welcomes the competition and attention it brings to the smart phone space. How's that for a safe answer?
What are your initial impressions of the HTC Touch?
Via : crave
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
HTC Touch Phone Beats iPhone To Market With Touch-Screen Navigation
It walks like an iPhone and quacks like an iPhone, but it isn't an iPhone.
It's an HTC Touch, a touch-screen wireless handset unveiled today that can access the Internet via GSM Edge and wifi networks
The HTC, manufactured by Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp., is scheduled to be available for sale within days through the Orange service provider in France and the United Kingdom. The device will be available in North America during the second half of the year, HTC said.
Like the iPhone, which is scheduled to debut in the United States on the AT&T Edge network June 29, the HTC Touch has a finger-sensitive touch screen. "With the HTC Touch, access to your most commonly used content, contacts, and features is only a simple finger flick way," said High Tech Computer CEO Peter Chou in a statement at the formal unveiling of the device in London.
The 2.8-inch backlit touch screen features 240 x 320 resolution with 65,536 colors. The screen uses HTC's TouchFLO touch-screen technology, which lets users launch an animated, three-screen, three-dimensional interface activated by a sweep of the finger. The finger-driven interface features touch scrolling and browsing of Internet pages, documents, and contact lists. The three screens are contacts, media, and applications. The screen also responds to a stylus.
The HTC Touch contains a 2.0-megapixel digital camera and a 1-Gbyte microSD storage card. The device operates on Windows Mobile 6 and features Microsoft's Outlook for e-mail and a mobile version of Microsoft officeVia : Informationweek
HTC Touch, a la estela del iPhone

No sabemos todavía cómo será la experiencia táctil en el iPhone, pero debemos recordar que antes de este teléfono las pantallas táctiles ya se andaban por el mundo. Tenía que decirlo.
El HTC Touch, antes conocido como Elf, es el siguiente que pasa por el mercado para plantar cara el iPhone de Apple.
Lo hace con poderosas armas: Windows Mobile 6, pantalla de tipo táctil de 2.8 pulgadas, tarjeta microSD de 1 GB incluída para completar los 128 MB de memoria interna, WiFi, bluetooth, tribanda y cámara de 2 megapíxeles.
La novedad de este teléfono es que hace uso de TouchFLO, aplicación de la compañía para las funciones táctiles, que permite navegar en menús en 3D, o al menos es la sensación que quiere transmitir.
Habrá que ver cómo funciona para valorarlo.
Via : Xataka
HTC Touch: sensibles Smartphone
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| HTC Touch: Smartphone mit einfacher Bedienung |
Immer mehr Funktionen haben in immer kleineren Smartphones Platz. Die komfortable Bedienung konnte mit der Fülle an Funktionen nicht mithalten, so Peter Chou, CEO von HTC. Das Windows-Mobile-6-Smartphone HTC Touch soll das ändern. Mit nur einem Klick sollen E-Mails, SMS, Kalendereinträge und Kontakte erreichbar sein.
Das HTC Touch verfügt über eine Touchscreen-Steuerung, basierend auf der von HTC entwickelten TouchFLO-Technologie. Mit einer Fingerbewegung kann schnell auf oft genutzte Anwendungen zugegriffen werden. Auch das Scrollen von Webseiten soll durch TouchFLO einfacher werden. Dank der Technik kann das HTC Touch laut Hersteller zwischen Eingaben per Finger und per Stift unterscheiden.
Das HTC Touch wiegt nach Herstellerangaben 112 Gramm und ist 100 x 58 x 14 Millimeter groß. Eine ein GByte große microSD-Karte legt HTC bei. Das Display stellt 240 x 320 Pixel und 65.536 Farben dar. HTC hat eine 2-Megapixel-Kamera integriert. Für die drahtlose Datenverbindung stehen GPRS, EDGE und W-LAN zur Verfügung. Per Bluetooth 2.0 kann eine Verbindung zu anderen Endgeräten hergestellt werden.
In Großbritannien ist das HTC Touch laut HTC bereits erhältlich. Es soll noch Ende Juni im restlichen Europa und in Asien auf den Markt kommen.Via : Connect.de
HTC Touch: the iPhone spoiler?
Depending on your level of cynicism, HTC's new Touch smartphone, which received its global launch in London's Leicester Square this morning, either marks a 'revolutionary inflection point between button-centric and touch-centric devices', or it's a moderately-featured Windows Mobile 6 device with a bit of touch-screen eye candy bolted on top.
Our initial impressions are of a neat and compact PDA-style smartphone, but scratch the iPhone-like surface and the gloss soon wears off the new TouchFLO interface, leaving you with a device that, crucially for business users, lacks both a slide-out keyboard and 3G/HSDPA connectivity. That makes us pretty cynical, we suppose.
The launch was fronted by HTC's CEO and President Peter Chou, endorsed by senior representatives from Orange and T-Mobile (both operators will be carrying the Touch in the UK) and featured a typically forthright prerecorded video appearance by Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer. This well-attended event marked another stage in the emergence of HTC as a highly visible brand in its own right, rather than an OEM whose kit is rebadged by all and sundry: the Touch is the first HTC product that Orange will not slap its SPV (Sound Pictures Video) moniker on. T-Mobile, meanwhile, will continue to use its MDA brand for its customised version of the Touch.

As far as specifications are concerned, the HTC Touch measures 58mm wide by 99.9mm deep by 13.9mm high and weighs 112g with its battery. The 16-bit TFT touch-screen measures 2.8in. across the diagonal and has a standard native resolution of 320 by 240 pixels. The device is powered by a Texas Instruments OMAP 850 processor running at 201MHz, with 128MB of ROM and 64MB of RAM. Our device reported 32.6MB of free storage space for programs and data over and above the preloaded complement; a 1GB microSD card is also provided in the box. The operating system, as noted above, is Windows Mobile 6 — specifically, the Professional edition with Direct Push Email and HTML email support. There's a 2Mpixel camera on the back with a self-portrait mirror but no flash unit.
Connectivity comes in the shape of tri-band GSM with GPRS and EDGE support, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0. Battery life is rated at 5 hours talk and 200h standby. As noted above, 3G/HSDPA connectivity and a slide-out keyboard are noticeable by their absence from this device. At the launch, HTC wouldn't be drawn on the likelihood of these features appearing in future models, but we wouldn't bet against it.
TouchFLO
So what of HTC's add-on user interface, TouchFLO? You get a nice customised Home screen, with a big digital clock, and icons leading to Weather and Lancher applets. The bottom half of the screen lists your upcoming appointments. You sweep your finger up the screen to open what HTC calls the Touch Cube, the first side of which shows a 3x3 grid of your main contacts, with icons beneath for initiating a call, viewing your call history, opening Contacts and deleting a favourite contact. Slide your finger from right to left and the second Touch Cube screen shows large icons for opening email, SMS/EMS, Internet Explorer, Tasks, Comm Manager and Calendar applications. Another right-to-left gesture brings up even bigger icons for accessing your music, photos and videos. You rotate the cube the other way with a left-to right sweep of the finger, while a top-to-bottom sweep takes you back to where you were when you launched the Touch Cube. If you want to see TouchFLO in action, take a look on HTC's web site.
HTC may well steal a little of Apple's iPhone thunder with the Touch, but we're still keen to get our hands on the former so we can compare the two head to head. Given that the HTC Touch is, at heart, a Windows Mobile device — albeit a customised one — we suspect that the iPhone will give it a run for its money.


via : ZDNet
HTC's New Touchy-Feely Cell Phone
Taiwanese handset maker HTC today announced the HTC Touch, a new GSM Windows Mobile smart phone that--like Apple's soon-to-be-released iPhone--depends heavily on the fingertip as an input device.
But U.S. shoppers will have to wait to buy the HTC Touch: In announcing the handset's United Kingdom availability today, company officials said it would be available later this month in Asia and the rest of Europe, but won't appear in the U.S. until "later this year"--which could mean a release as far off as the holiday season.
Cool Looks, Technology

Coated with the same nice-feeling soft-touch paint (in either black or "wasabi green") used on the T-Mobile Wing (another HTC-designed handset), the HTC Touch is small: a shade under 4 inches in height, 2.3 inches in width, a scant half-inch thick, and not quite 4 ounces in weight. Its 2.4-inch touch screen stretches across most of its width--but unlike the iPhone, the Touch isn't button-free: A single navigational pad and button sits below the display.
However, HTC's new TouchFlo technology builds on Windows Mobile 6 Professional (the version of Windows Mobile 6 for touch-screen devices) to let you perform many common tasks using the tip of your finger. Swipe upwards from the navigation button to center screen, for example, and a scrollable list of contacts appear. Swipe left and they're replaced by buttons for multimedia applications; swipe left again, and you get a collection of preset application launchers.
A customized home screen is also more finger-friendly, with software buttons that bring up the application launcher, a weather report, or the traditional home screen. Finger swipes can also be used to lock and unlock the device (so that it won't accidentally turn on and waste power while being jostled in your purse or briefcase).
There's no iPod-esque software keyboard, unless you count the standard Windows Mobile software keyboard. There is also a slide-out stylus for text input and navigation that you can't perform using your finger or the single button.
Not iPhone-Inspired
Asked about the iPhone similarities, HTC's Jason Gordon (formerly of Microsoft and Motorola) stated emphatically that the Touch had been in the works for quite some time when Steve Jobs announced Apple's stylish, touch-based handset at MacWorld in January. "It takes years to develop this kind of technology," Gordon said of HTC's TouchFlo. Gordon couldn't comment on how the Touch will stack up against the iPhone in price, but typically even expensive HTC-designed handsets have topped out at $300 to $400 (the iPhone will go for $500--and only with a new AT&T contract--at launch).
Also, HTC throws in an unusually generous 1GB Micro-SD card (on top of the device's 64MB of RAM and 128MB of ROM)--useful if you intend to load lots of music for the media player or make heavy use of the built-in 2-megapixel CMOS camera.
The U.S. version of the Touch will support GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks on three GSM bands (900, 1800, and 1900 MHz), but that means you can't use it as a phone in Europe or the rest of the world, or on high-speed HSDPA networks (HSDPA is the much-faster successor to EDGE on GSM-based networks).
The Touch isn't without broadband support, however: Its built-in 802.11b/g adapter will enable plenty of speed at any Wi-Fi hotspot. However, expect heavy Wi-Fi use to shorten life between charges of its 1100-micro-ampere-hour lithium ion battery. HTC rates the battery as supporting up to 5 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby time.
More in the Pipeline
HTC, which for years created Windows Mobile handsets sold under other brand names in North America--including HP's IPaqs and, more recently, the T-Mobile Wing and Dash and the Cingular 8525--has only recently started to promote devices under its own brand.
The company earlier announced the HTC Advantage, a Windows Mobile 5-based HSDPA data device that looks a little like an ultra-mobile PC and is expected to show up in the U.S. by midsummer. Due later this summer or in early fall is the HTC Shift, a true UMPC that runs Windows Vista and supports quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks.
Via : PC World
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
HTC e-Club
"Register once and get access to all HTC sites! As an HTC member, you can look forward to these benefits:
- Download updates
- Tips and techniques
- Special offers and promotions
About HTC
Our mission is to become the innovative supplier of mobile information and communication devices by providing value-added design, world-class manufacturing, and logistic and service capabilities.
About HTC
Founded in 1997, High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) designs, manufactures and markets innovative, feature rich Smartphone and PDA Phone devices.
Since its establishment, HTC has developed strong R&D capabilities, pioneered many new designs and product innovations, and launched state-of-the-art PDA Phones and Smartphones for mobile operators and distributors in Europe, the US, and Asia. These machines are available as HTC devices and as products individually customized for operator and device partners.
HTC is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile device market. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
HTC Announces Global Branding Strategy
HTC will start to launch "HTC" brand products in Asia. Furthermore, HTC is committed to providing a full range of support services to existing Dopod products and Dopod International consumers through original distribution channels and service/call centers.
Dopod International has been accumulated rich sales and marketing experiences in Asia market and it do provide great advantages on HTC brand management in future. By leveraging HTC's sales and marketing experiences in Europe and the United States to the Asian market, the acquisition will reinforce HTC's position as the world's leading provider of smart handheld devices. To maximize the synergies of the acquisition and to implement new joint business initiatives, Dopod International's entire workforce will join HTC.
"Well-performing brands enjoy strong awareness amongst consumers, so it is extremely important for HTC to enhance brand recognition by communicating a consistent global brand image," said Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC. "In the future, HTC will provide consumers with consistent global marketing services under the 'HTC' brand name. This comprehensive global marketing strategy will build up real, long-term brand value for HTC and will boost the company's overall competitiveness."
"Dopod International has been the leading PDA Phone and smartphone distributor in Asia since its inception in 2004. By joining forces, Dopod International and HTC can now work together on business development and brand marketing throughout Asia, allowing consumers to choose from a comprehensive range of products and services," said Jack Tong, chief executive officer of Dopod International.
Via : HTC
Saturday, April 14, 2007
HTC Touch
Featuring an easy-to-use touch screen and simple user interface, the HTC Touch with TouchFLO™ makes quick dialing, navigation and selection a breeze. Stylish, smart and versatile, it opens up a world of media, communication and social interaction

Surf the web with Internet Explorer®, send and receive email from accounts like Hotmail® and Yahoo!®. Chat on Messenger and send photos to your own web space through Windows Live™.
Optimised for entertainment, the HTC Touch lets you enjoy your favourite music and movie clips through the integrated media suite. You also have the versatility to upload, store and share your media files with microSD™ removable memory.
With Windows Mobile® 6, the HTC Touch also provides instant access to your Outlook® email and the most popular Microsoft® Office applications.
Experience a whole new sensation. The HTC Touch.
Highlights
- Feel the difference with intuitive TouchFLO™ screen technology for finger and stylus input.
- Simple user interface for quick dialing, navigation and launching applications.
- Surf the web with ease on the large 2.8” touch screen with Internet Explorer®.
- Enjoy music and movie clips with HTC's Audio Manager and Windows Media® Player.
- Chat on Messenger, send and receive Hotmail® and send photos to Windows Live™ Spaces.
Full specification
Download the product sheet for further insight into key features and specifications.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
HTC and Yahoo! announce strategic mobile partnership
~ Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0 to be delivered on a variety of HTC devices ~
Sunnyvale, Calif. and Taoyuan, Taiwan - March 7, 2007 - High Tech Computer (TAIEX: 2498; "HTC"), the world's leading provider of Microsoft® Windows Mobile®-based smart devices, and Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO), a leading global Internet company, today announced a new strategic global partnership to preload and distribute Yahoo!'s industry leading services on millions of HTC devices.
Yahoo! services, including Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0 and Yahoo! Mail will come pre-loaded on many of HTC's smart devices. The recently launched Yahoo! oneSearch®, an entirely new search experience designed to give consumers instant answers on their mobile devices, will also be included.
"HTC is always seeking new ways to keep people connected to their community of friends and personalized content while mobile," said Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC. "With high resolution displays and breakthrough designs, HTC's products are the ideal platform for Yahoo! Go. We are pleased to offer users the ultimate Yahoo! Go experience on our innovative devices.
"Since we launched the Yahoo! Go 2.0 less than two months ago, there has been strong demand from the Windows Mobile community to get this innovative service on their mobile devices," said Marco Boerries, senior vice president of connected life, Yahoo!. "By partnering with HTC to put Yahoo! Go 2.0 on its mobile devices, we are bringing the true mobile Internet to an even broader audience around the world."
The recently launched Yahoo! Go 2.0 service redefines the mobile Internet experience for consumers through a unique product design, ability to personalize with content from across the Internet and a reinvention of search for the mobile phone through Yahoo! oneSearch. The innovative carousel design of the service makes it simple for consumers to navigate the selection of Yahoo! Go widgets, personal channels for email, local information and maps, news, sports, finance, entertainment, weather, photo sharing and search. As a result, users of HTC's smart devices will be able to easily use Yahoo!'s innovative services to stay informed, entertained and in touch with their Internet community.
Through this new partnership, the companies will focus on extending their leadership in the mobile industry. HTC mobile devices with Yahoo! services will be available to consumers through both mobile operators and direct distribution channels.
About HTC
Founded in 1997, High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) designs, manufactures and markets innovative, feature rich Smartphone and PDA Phone devices.
Since its establishment, HTC has developed strong R&D capabilities, pioneered many new designs and product innovations, and launched state-of-the-art PDA Phones and Smartphones for mobile operators and distributors in Europe, the US, and Asia. These machines are available as HTC devices and as products individually customized for operator and device partners.
HTC is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile device market. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global Internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo!'s mission is to connect people to their passions, their communities, and the world's knowledge. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Yahoo! and the Yahoo! logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Apple iPhone
Sweet, glorious specs of the 11.6 millimeter device (that's frickin' thin, by the way) include a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 touchscreen display with multi-touch support and a proximity sensor to turn off the screen when it's close to your face, 2 megapixel cam, 4GB or 8 GB of storage, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP, WiFi that automatically engages when in range, and quad-band GSM radio with EDGE.
Perhaps most amazingly, though, it somehow runs OS X with support for Widgets, Google Maps, and Safari, and iTunes (of course) with CoverFlow out of the gate. A partnership with Yahoo will allow all iPhone customers to hook up with free push IMAP email. Apple quotes 5 hours of battery life for talk or video, with a full 16 hours in music mode -- no word on standby time yet. In a twisted way, this is one rumor mill we're almost sad to see grind to a halt; after all, when is the next time we're going to have an opportunity to run this picture?
The 4GB iPhone will go out the door in the US as a Cingular exclusive for $499 on a two-year contract, 8GB for $599. Ships Stateside in June, Europe in fourth quarter, Asia in 2008.
via : Engadget

















