No one really knows whether HTC's
May 6 gathering will usher in the age of Android (our guess is still "no"), but let's look a little beyond that, shall we? We've just laid eyes on a handful of documents detailing HTC's efforts to ready the Diamond and Raphael models --
already known to be valid HTC codenames -- for Sprint later this year, and things are definitely looking up in the post-
Touch world. The Diamond turns out to be the successor to that very device, lacking a physical keyboard and relying almost exclusively on a large, glossy touchscreen for user input; the Raphael meanwhile (pictured) features a full QWERTY deal and is destined to replace the
Mogul. The paperwork's pretty blurry, but it appears that both Windows Mobile devices will feature WiFi, 3 megapixel cameras, and -- get this --
VGA displays. Goodness! The Raphael is currently lined up to be the first out of the gate, hitting the streets in September if everything goes well, with the Diamond following on in November. Surprised that these devices are CDMA-based and Sprint bound? Us too, we admit -- but we'd be shocked if there weren't GSM twins of both of these hotties getting cooked in the lab at the same time.
[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
posted Apr 23rd 2008 12:24AM
It kind of looks like that picture was taken with an HTC cameraphone camera...
awww thats not nice lol. htc cameras are good butttt theres no autofocus so thats why they are crappy from close but from far they do just fine
@Riley,
Just to clarify, many HTC devices have autofocus. :)
Wow, sweet! I'm not a huge fan of the slide out keyboards (wish it was already front-facing), but they both look great! The Treo 800w specs are looking dated compared to these two phones. Hopefully none of the specs get changed down the road.
--Conkers
Wow that bad boy is looking might square. Almost TOO squared to carry in a pocket. Doesn't look it'd be that comfortable anyway.
Of course, if HTC indeed makes the Xperia X1 hardware, they could be contractually prevented from making a similar GSM/WCDMA device. And the Raphael sure looks similar.
VGA displays eh? Will they have drivers? I'm just asking, because their current QVGA phones don't have video drivers, and I'm assuming VGA displays need drivers even more. So, HTC, any drivers with this hardware? Huh? Did you think of that this time? What else did you leave off instead?
I can't be the only one wanting a return to 3.5" screens on Windows Mobile devices can I?
I'm holding out for the Treo 800w because the Treo 700wx blows away every other phone currently offered when you actually try to sit down and do some serious work on it. Yes, I've tried the other phones.
But if this thing turns out as slick as it's looking and if it is basically the X1 for CDMA, it MIGHT get me to bite. If it had a top-slide keyboard it would be a no brainer on my end. I still have a great aversion to side-sliders. I much prefer the Treo-style form factor.
I guess what I'm asking for is a HTC Blue Angel with WM6.1, EVDO Rev A. and GPS. That would get me to go back to HTC for sure.
I too would like to see a return to 3.5" screens. The blue angel/sx66 with a full qwerty keyboard that slid down for the bottom was a great from factor. If they could only update the specs(VGA, GPS, 3.5G, Flash, proper drivers) and make it slimmer I'd be all over it.
Coming to Verizon..... in 2012!
:bowdown:
Argh, i just bought a mogul two months ago too. I love it to death, will probably have to sell it to buy one of these!
HTC releaseding on CDMA first?!?! That blows my mind...but AK might be on to something. If this is a CDMA self branded version of the X1 then that would make perfect sense. I'd still like to have a GSM version of the Raphael though.
It bothers me that it's planned to have aGPS and not full GPS. Didn't we just go through this with the Mogul? Will we be forced to wait on a software update a year after release? I hope Sprint pushes out full GPS in these models!
wow u really think the diamond and raphael will come from sprint before they come for gsm. if any of you would bother looking all over the net, the raphael and diamond leaked for gsm and are coming for gsm first. also, add 528mhz processor to that spec sheet for both.
Wheres the GPS in this unit
Going to email sprint and see if they can push the release up with my contract renewal in Aug..........
Do I hold out for these new devices or go with the exisiting ones, and hopefully should be able to pick them up cheaper. I wounder on price and size.
About time that Sprint got some exclusive hot phones.
Give me the Rapheal on my SERO plan and PDANet and I am in Heaven.
is it just me, or does his thing look like a paint shopped T-Mobile MDA compact IV,if u pay close attention, it even looks like its got T-Mobile's logo on the front. Dont mean to speak out of line, but this is probably fake.
It looks like the MDA Compact IV because the HTC Diamond IS the MDA Compact IV.
Where is my full GPS?! When you pay a few hundred bucks for a phone, I expect full GPS(such as my Tilt). Looking good otherwise.... Just don't forget those video drivers!
To all the idiots complaining about the GPS, aGPS in HTC phones is just like normal GPS but WITH ADDED ASSISTANCE (a) by the cell phone network. It will still function normally!
I got the Mogul pretty much right when it came out. Now up to the latest firmware, and it rocks. However the Raphael rocks harder, IF it has Rev. A and GPS as well. If it has QChat PTT (as the 800w is rumored to have) you can bet your boots I'm getting this one, even with the paltry $75 upgrade credit that I'll be getting. Will need to talk to Sprint about that, but then again I could just...um...break my Mogul, get a closer-to-new one on insurance and sell that one on eBay for enough to make the upgrade price a bit less painful.
But yeah, coming from a Palm TX and also using an iPhone (not my main line though) a VGA screen would be awesome, and the styling looks "dressed to kill". Don't even mind the corners.
*sigh* lets hope there are GSM versions...im really getting tired of Sprint and ATT getting all of the good phones!! When i got my MDA TMobile was the ONLY carrier with that HTC model phone. No one else had any kind of slide-out win-mo phones, now 3 years later..everyone has "iphone killers" and other HTC models, and Tmobile has......the Wing A rubbery coated, winMo.6 upgrade..woo-hoo! /sarcsasim..I love the Tmobile service so i really dont want to switch..
IS THE RAPHAEL AND DIAMOND TWO DIFFERENT PHONES? BECAUSE THE PHONE THAT IS SHOWN ON THE PICTURE DEFINATLEY ISNT THE DIAMOND.. BECAUSE THE DIAMOND DOESNT HAVE A QWERTY KEYBOARD. UNLESS THE RAPH. IS LIKE THE TOUCH AND DUAL....TWO VERSIONS, ONE WITH AND WITHOUT THE KEYBOARD. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN FOR SURE ITS COMING TO SPRINT? IM SOOO EXCITED!
I agree with Genesic. I purchased the T-mobile MDA 3 years ago. I love the slide out keyboard and T-mobile service. I would hate that only Sprint and ATT would sell this phone. Does anyone know if T-mobile Europe or USA will have access to a version of this phone with a slide out keyboard?
I want a T-mobile version!
If you have T-Mobile you can use virtually any GSM phone. I used an Imate JasJar when I was with T-Mobile. And that was never released for an US carriers. (By the way, great phone if you had a stong back...it was huge) In fact, I got a sidekick when I signed up for T-Mobile, and never used another T-Mobile phone after that. Most were either Cingular (AT&T) or overseas models. And they worked great.
There are already Diamonds available that will work with T-Mobile here in the US. You will just need to fork over a fair amount to get your hands on one.
http://www.smart-mobile-gadgets.com/welcome/cart.php?target=product&product_id=1287&gclid=CJyJzIGX7ZMCFQKfnAodNBxXVg