HTC just made their
"major" announcement. Are you ready for it... wait... it's the
Elf now official with its "Touch" street name. Right, the Windows Mobile device we first saw six months ago and already formally announced by O2 Germany as the
Xda nova. HTC's big surprise? Well, the Touch is the first device to feature TouchFLO touchscreen technology "developed by HTC" -- though we think
Microsoft had a little something to do with it. It's not multi-touch like the iPhone, but it does offer a "new and unique" way to sweep a finger (or stylus) across the screen to control the 3D interface. To recap, the diminutive 99.9 x 58 x 13.9-mm Touch runs Windows Mobile 6 with TouchFLO UI on a 2.8-inch display and OMAP850 processor while packing tri-band 900/1800/1900 GSM with EDGE, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, 1GB microSD expansion included, and a 2 megapixel cam. Best of all, it's available now in the UK, later this month around Europe and Asia, and then North and Latin America in the 2nd half of the year.
Read -- press release
Read -- TouchFLO interactive
posted Jun 5th 2007 7:21AM
wow, they really couldn't have been more creative at all with a name like Touch could they? woulda preferred elf OR nova over that but oh well
Didn't the Neonode do this sort of interface about 5 years ago?
Yes, indeed they did. The Neonode was increadibly buggy and sluggish though. But the finger sweeping seems to be very close to what the Neonode had. I _think_ they had some kind of patent on that technology and UI, but maybe htc uses something else. Or they have just picked up the pieces of Neonode and used them in a new product.
Interesting. It's missing a sliding keyboard though.
disappointing.
the interface looks alot like SPB Mobile Shell
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/?en
Currently available (for end of month shipment) at Mobile Planet for around $596. What? Is that the early adopters price? If I'm going to pay that much I'll wait for the Windows Mobile version of the LG Prada... in fact, forget it. I'll keep toting my seperate cellphone & PDA. Yeesh.
Actually it is a nice change because most of HTC's stuff is pretty much the same. The fact that they left off UMTS & HSDPA is very, very sad. If it was 3G, I would but one, but alas, I will buy the HTC Kaiser instead.
Mkay, so ... It's like an iPhone but less innovative? *yawn*
oh, there's the stupid iPhone comparison. We were waiting for it in the main Engadget article. We missed you, man.
What's stupid about it? Both are rather spendy devices. The HTC has pretty much the standard bearer smart phone features. So does the iPhone, with the minor exception of free push e-mail (look out, RIM), an apparently better web browsing experience, that video v-mail thingy and OSX running the show. If the price point after buy-down for the Touch is less (a distinct possibility), consumers who value push e-mail are still getting a better deal going with the iPhone. Remember, the cheapest Blackberry add-on is $19.99/month.
I think MasterCKO's point was there's always some j@ck@ss that pops in and needs to compare EVERY phone to the iPhone.
Personally, I'm going to wait to pass judgement on any new phone until someone has an ACTUAL hands on review, instead of just gushing over something that no one in the public has even touched yet. I don't care how innovative something is if it turns out to be crap, I want something that works not something that's pretty.
Far from impressive, but still its not half bad.
will this be available in the us? if so, when and through what service provider?
I think Apple made a mistake by pre-announcing the iPhone a bit too early.
So, if it has real 3G, and a removable battery...it's at least and iPhone competitor...
No quad-band 850 and the same tired Windows Mobile OS. The Touch is a poor iPhone knockoff.
Running on an OMAP850? It will die a horrible death.
Decepcionante!!!! Esperaba algo mejor y con una pantalla grande ( como mnimo 3,5 pulgadas)Parece algo sacado con prisas para amortiguar el impacto del i-phone. Espero que los prximos dispositivos de HTC incorporen pantallas ms grandes...( el teclado no tiene sentido).
Chieze!
brad_suessmith thinks "Apple made a mistake by pre-announcing the iPhone a bit too early"
wow.... its a shame you slept through Marketing 101! they have highest demand of any electronic device this year (despite the fact its not worth it), and you think they made a mistake? yeah, creating hype isn't important....
as far as this HTC, i think i'll keep my pre-order status active with my i-Mate Ulimate line and choose which one i want when they become available!
This is the secret announcement?
Nnnnnnnnext.
I think Apple made a mistake by pre-announcing the iPhone a bit too early
--
Douche, they did it because the FCC would publish the specs. This is news?
SO it's not an iphone, oh well! have you heard the bad press it is geting in the US? iphone, looks great, touch, looks good. I have one coming as it does everything I need. No keyboard! good they just add bulk. Windows mobile! Good, it does all that I want better than SE and Nokia. I think it will be a nice small Wm device that looks funky and works with my corporate netwoork. I wil let you all know how it performs when my one is delivered.
I have one.
It isn't an iphone copy, it is a PDA. It feels amazing in the hand and works pretty well. It can be a bit slow at times, but then I do tend to run one to many applications on it.
I am constantly connected with this, and that is what I was looking for.
No problem with lack of 3g as the network is patchy in the US as it is!
hello Gareth Evans,
how did the screen look? sharp enough? 240x320 seems a bit low on 2.8" screen. how slow is web access?does it allow java plugin?
thanks.
I am a proud HTC Touch owner and I cannot say enough good things about it. I bought one unlocked (my carrier is T-Mobile USA) to replace my HTC Prophet (aka i-mate jamin) which I really, really like, but the Touch is definitely a better machine.
I simply don't understand how anyone can compare this with the iphone. As a businessperson who travels extensively to Europe and Africa, there is NO way I will ever buy the iphone - way to Mickey Mousey for me - whereas the HTC Touch is simply wonderful:
+ size-wise it compares well with the iphone and is extremely sturdy
+ the screen is quite sharp (better than the HTC Prophet which itself isn't bad)
+ synchronization with my company's MS Exchange server (iphone doesn't do it unless you configure its clunky IMAP)
+ great improvement in UI, especially to access frequently called contacts and sending SMS, etc.
+ most improved dept compared to other HTC phones: the speakerphone for impromptu conference calls with my colleagues while on the go
+ wifi to Edge seamless transition (ok! I wish it were 3G for my Europe trips but T-Mobile doesn't have a 3G network in the US so no big deal here!)
+ replaceable battery - when the iphone battery finally wears out , you will need to send it back to be replaced. Are you kidding me? So what will one do in the meantime? Get a loaner?
+ I am not one to use my phone for music playback (I own 2 ipods - a 60GB for extended travel and a 2GB nano for working out) but the music setup on the Touch was quite simple. I crammed a couple of songs on my SD card and the sound is surprisingly good
+ AT&T/Cingular is the iphone carrier - that right there is a super deal breaker. I ran away from Cingular a while back because of their spotty coverage and atrocious customer service. Nothing will ever make me go back.
To be fair, there is one iphone feature I wish my cellphones would have, and that is the visual voicemail. That's pretty nifty.
All in all, I am very pleased with the Touch and love the form factor. When Apple decides to make a REAL cellphone for businesspeople and work with other carriers, MAYBE I will look at what they have to offer. Until then, WM devices make the most sense for me and HTC is definitely at the top of my list.
I totally agree with all your points about the Touch compared to the Iphone. I waiting for my Touch to arrive via FedEx. HTC makes great smartphones. I'm currently with T-mobile service and it's the best. I have experience AT&T and Sprint they both suck big time. My wife has the T-mobile dash which is made by HTC and it's excellent smart phone. I not a Apple product hater I just want them to make a phone for business and play I think they can do it. In the meanwhile HTC looks like the future for the real world. I'm a business man looking for true value for my dollars.
i'm an apple user but oh, it's beautiful
Hi am with George
I was a bit confused between I phone & HTC but after George comments I agree with him
All you people who have something bad to say about the touch obviously don't own one,this phone is just as good as the iphone mabey even better but can't really even be compared,the 3-D navagation screen is ingenious its easy fun and it looks cool!!!!Granted there is no actual buttons which might make texting a little difficult at first but everyone who is up on theri phone game knows that the touch dual is coming right behind the touch with a full keypad which is something that the iphone does not have...