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All posts tagged "diamond"


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

No Longer in the Rough: A Review of the HTC Touch Diamond 2

Posted by Don Tolson in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 07:00 AM

Product Category: PDA phone
Manufacturer: HTC
Where to Buy: Expansys [Affiliate]
Price: $524.99 USD
System Requirements: Comes with Windows Mobile 6.1 and HTC's TouchFlo 3D interface. Sorry, no word from HTC on 6.5 or 7 upgrade at this time.
Specifications: Qualcom MSM7200A running at 528MHz; 512Mb ROM, 288 Mb RAM; 3.2 inch TFT LCD screen in 480x800 resolution; Quad band GPRS/Edge + dual band (Europe/Asia only) HSPDA/WCDMA; 117.5g (4.1 oz) with battery; 108mm (4.3 in) x 53mm (2.1in) x 14mm (0.6in). Full specifications from HTC are available here.

Pros:

  • Huge, bright screen with vibrant colours;
  • Sleek, professional look; good feel in the hand and very pocketable;
  • TouchFlo 3D interface is very smooth, responsive and finger-friendly -- little need to use the stylus for most functions;
  • GPS Receiver is Phenomenal!

Cons:

  • Soft reset button is located inside the unit so you have to take the back cover off if things get 'stuck';
  • Really wish HTC would add a Tasks tab to TouchFlo.

Summary: Right from the top let me say I LOVE the Touch Diamond 2. It has a very classy look; the size and weight are very comfortable in the hand' and the WVGA screen is clear, vibrant and huge! HTC's TouchFlo interface is quicker and smoother in this version, with new features and greater depth into the Windows Mobile GUI. As a whole, everything about this phone just works exactly as you'd expect it to. Easy, Expected and Reliable is exactly what I'm looking for in a personal digital assistant and the Touch Diamond 2 has it all. I really hated to have to return this at the end of the review period. Read more...


Friday, September 5, 2008

Resco Bubbles Released for Touch Diamond/Pro

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 05:50 AM

http://www.resco.net/pocketpc/bubbles/default.asp

"Resco Bubbles is an action puzzle game where the idea is to clear the grid of bubbles in order to advance to the next level. You are given a sequence of bubbles, which should be quickly and efficiently popped. Numerous explosive, speed-up, slow-down and damage bubbles keep the game play exciting and challenging."

Got a Touch Diamond or Touch Pro? Resco Bubbles is for you. It costs $14.95, but there is a free trial version, if you prefer trying before buying. Oh, and in case you're wondering, the game supports gravitational sensors, which is why the list of compatible devices is ever so short.


Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Details About Sprint/Verizon's HTC Touch Diamond/Pro Surface

Posted by Janak Parekh in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 07:00 AM

http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Mor...cle-a_3021.html

"...we posted an article saying that the Sprint variant of the Touch Diamond may launch this month, but now we have slightly different information...First, HTC Touch Diamond will be called HTC Victor for Sprint and HTC Diamond for Verizon. Sprint's variant runs on Qualcomm 7501A chipset with 528MHz processor, 256MB ROM, 256MB RAM and 4GB internal memory. Verizon's runs on Qualcomm 7500 chipset with 400MHz processor, has half the RAM (128MB) and has microSD cards slot instead of 4GB NAND flash...The CDMA equivalent of the HTC Touch Pro will be called HTC Herman for Sprint and HTC Raphael for Verizon. They are QWERTY variants of respectively the Victor and the Diamond and have similar specifications, but twice the ROM memory (512MB for both). Herman trades Victor's 4GB for memory card slot and Raphael's frame is also made out of aluminum instead of steel...A few of our readers report that the Victor will be available with Sprint on September 02, 2008, and the Herman will come one month later. There is no exact information when Verizon Wireless will release the Diamond and the Raphael, but it is expected that Sprint will have 30 days exclusivity."

Picture of Touch Diamond

Details started leaking out about these exciting pair of devices for Verizon and Sprint last week. I'm rather surprised at how different the models are for the two carriers, especially with regards to memory, but both look like great devices (small battery notwithstanding; let's hope it gives good battery life on EVDO). As usual, Verizon users will have to wait a little bit longer than the Sprint folks, but at least there's some hope!


Wednesday, August 6, 2008

HTC Touch Diamond Sales Nearing 1 Million

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC News" @ 06:35 AM

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20080805PD206.html

"Unit sales of HTC Touch Diamond handsets are expected to reach the one-million mark by mid-August, less than three months after High Tech Computer (HTC) began to ship the handsets at the end of May, HTC CEO Peter Chou told reporters on August 4. It took about five months for HTC to ship up to one million units of its first touch-screen handset, the HTC Touch, noted market sources. Chou also reaffirmed that HTC is definitely able to reach its goal of shipping two million Touch Diamond handsets by the end of 2008. However, sources at the Taiwan handset industry speculated that HTC will eventually revise upward its shipping target for this year, and that HTC is likely to ship 2.5-3 million Touch Diamond handsets before the end of the year."

One million this month. Two to three million by year's end. That's a lot of Touch Diamonds floating around. Think the Touch Pro will do any better?


Friday, July 25, 2008

Diamond Loses Angles, Renamed Victor

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 11:45 AM

http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/pda-king...=3868&next=3828

If you dig everything about the Touch Diamond, but its F-117 looks, the Victor offers hope. Word on the street is that it packs the same specs as the Diamond. The only feature separating the two is the design of the rear. The Victor's is noticeably flatter, which should play nice with tables, dashboards, dishwashers, washing machines, and whatever else you love placing your phone on. So, the question to you, dear readers: which of the two do you prefer?

Tags: touch, htc, diamond, victor

Monday, July 21, 2008

Touch Diamond, Omnia, and iPhone 3G Eye-Candy

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 02:38 AM

http://www.portalppc.com/forum/foru...5128&PN=1&TPN=1

More eye-candy for you, courtesy of the folks at portalPPC.com, who have unboxed and compared the HTC Touch Diamond, Samsung Omnia, and Apple's iPhone 3G. Click for a look, and try not to drool too much.


Monday, July 14, 2008

HTC Touch Diamond Approved, Extended

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 06:40 AM

Despite PC Pro's slamming, the HTC Touch Diamond continues to move forward. First, there's good news for our US readers: the FCC has given the CDMA version two thumbs up, so now it's just a matter of the carriers announcing when and where you'll be able to hand over the dollar bills. In other news, those of you who already have the device may be interested in more juice, because, you know, that 900mAh battery included in the box isn't exactly anything to write home about. Our affiliate hardware store (Expansys) has a 1340mAh version (cover included) available for pre-order, so if you value uptime over girth, be sure to take a look.


Saturday, July 5, 2008

Samsung Omnia and HTC Touch Diamond In the Ring

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Articles" @ 11:00 AM

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_touch_d...-review-262.php

"It's PocketPC playoffs and HTC are giving Samsung a match at the GSM Arena. With two of the stars of the season arriving in our office all at once, we thought it's a heck of an opportunity for some Diamond-Omnia-Diamond-Omnia-Diamond-Omnia game-set-match with a pinch of iPhone flavor. We got two aces up to the challenge, so sit back and stretch out. Ah well, get that six-pack too and join us for the kick-off."

There's plenty to love about the Samsung Omnia and the HTC Touch Diamond. Both are very capable, but which one trumps the other? GSM Arena attempts to answer that in nine pages. Take a look!


Thursday, July 3, 2008

Camera Comparison: HTC Touch Diamond, HTC Touch Pro, Samsung Omnia, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 06:00 AM

http://www.theunwired.net/?item=rev...mera-comparison



Our pal, Arne, over at the::unwired, has stress tested the cameras of four of the latest and greatest Windows Mobile devices: the HTC Touch Diamond, the HTC Touch Pro, the Samsung Omnia, and Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1. If camera quality means a lot to you, hit the link to see what Arne has to say.


Friday, June 27, 2008

Vodafone UK Lists the HTC Touch Diamond

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 04:00 AM

http://www.vodafonebusinessshop.co....amond-3021.html

"Feature rich Windows Mobile 6.1 device utilising HTC's new Touchflow UI. This device is in a tablet form factor meaning it is touch screen only. It comes loaded with Vodafone Email Plus and the Vodafone Sat Nav program. Launch expected in July."

If you're a Vodafone UK customer, keep your eyes open for an HTC Touch Diamond release in July. You will have the option of paying $0 for the device, with some unspecified pricing plan. And each purchase includes a free Bluetooth hands-free car kit. More information on the Vodafone Business Shop webpage.


Tuesday, June 24, 2008

HTC Touch Diamond on Telstra's 850MHz Next G Network

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC News" @ 11:30 AM



A little birdie flew in today to tell us that Telstra will drop the HTC Touch Diamond into the hands of Australian consumers as early as next month at $999 AUD outright or free on a two-year, $80 AUD/month plan. In addition to that, we can confirm that this version of the Touch Diamond will support Telstra's Next G network, which operates on the same 850MHz band used by AT&T, so there is hope for those of you in the US.

And a note to anyone in Oz, unless you have this huge desire to take advantage of (or be burned by?) Telstra's contract, don't purchase it from them outright. Shop around locally and you'll probably find it for $200 AUD less, sans 850MHz support, of course. Although, you may very well find the 850MHz version to be the same price before too long.


Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Coolsmartphone: "A Week with the Diamond"

Posted by Janak Parekh in "Pocket PC Articles" @ 09:00 AM

Gears, of Coolsmartphone.com, got his hands on a prerelease Touch Diamond for a week, and decided to cover it from every angle. First off, Coolsmartphone's Special Report on the Touch Diamond has been updated with a ton of pictures and thoughts.



However, they didn't stop there. Gears has uploaded 8 videos, one for each day plus a weekend special, covering many different aspects of the unit. If you've got some time to burn, here's quick links to the videos: [ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ]. I haven't watched the videos, but I do love the pics of this unit. I'll be looking forward to feeling one in my hand if (when?) it comes to the US.

Tags: touch, htc, diamond

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Benchmarked: HTC Touch Diamond vs. 50 Others

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC News" @ 04:25 AM

http://www.solopalmari.com/content/view/4985/298/



If you're one of the few who loves a good benchmark, head over to SoloPalmari (translated version) to see how the HTC Touch Diamond fares against a whopping fifty other devices. You may find the results surprising.


Monday, May 19, 2008

HTC Touch Diamond Unboxed... Again

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.eprice.com.tw/mobile/tal...090&tid=3698565



Yet another HTC Touch Diamond unboxing, except the folks behind this one (ePrice) know how to work a camera. Head over there to check out the entire gallery. Read more...


Thursday, May 15, 2008

Battle of the Touches: HTC Touch Diamond vs. iPhone

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 02:00 AM

http://chinese.engadget.com/2008/05...s-apple-iphone/

"Our brethren over at Engadget Chinese had the chance to size-up HTC's new Windows Mobile 6.1 Touch Diamond with Apple's iPhone this morning in Taiwan. We have to admit, HTC's CEO was dead-on when he claimed that the Diamond's "not too big, not too small" after seeing it side-by-side with Microsoft's left-coast nemesis."



You've all seen the Touch Diamond (which, by the way, has now received the FCC's tick of approval) in renderings. Now, see it in the flesh. Here it is next to the iPhone. The Touch Diamond is quite a bit smaller, although fortunately, not too small that you can't hold it without losing it. How will it compare with the next-generation iPhone? I guess we'll find out in the weeks ahead.


Thursday, May 8, 2008

Not Everyone Is Wowed By The Diamond

Posted by Ed Hansberry in "Pocket PC Articles" @ 04:00 AM

http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2008/05/0...fatally-flawed/

There has been a ton of press in the past few days on the new HTC Diamond. It has a slick interface, a ton of mouth-watering specs and is sure to be a successful device for the Windows Mobile family. Not everyone is wowed by the product though. It doesn't seem to be aimed at corporate users, which is fine. I think it is about impossible to design a device that works well for the enterprise and is desirable for consumers. The Diamond was clearly designed for the consumer, but some feel that at a consumer device, it falls short.

"HTC just announced their newest smartphone, the Diamond. The successor to the Touch, the Diamond offers some amazing hardware and software innovation that should have made it an iPhone-killer, but as with seemingly every Windows Mobile device, it suffers from a few design flaws that keep it from reaching its full potential."

Jeff goes on to largely criticize the 4GB limit on storage and the USB audio connector. I personally have an 8GB mini-SD card in my TyTN II and it is about 80% full, but honestly there is about 20-25 hours of video on there that I keep on the device rather than my laptop. I'd never need all of that, or even half of that, so for me the 4GB seems reasonable for the average person. I am not a huge fan of the USB audio though, and agree with Jeff on that. In fact, I wish the device makers would just wake up and stick a 3.5mm jack on these things, even if that meant a slight hump. It is certainly better than these huge adapters hanging off of them just so we can use our favorite headsets. Read the rest of Jeff's thought's on the device. Do you agree with him?

Tags: diamond

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

HTC Touch Diamond: You've Seen Pictures, Now See Videos

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 09:05 AM

http://www.youtube.com/user/HTC



HTC has gone gaga on YouTube by uploading nine HTC Touch Diamond video demos. Check out the one above, and then jump the break to see the rest. Read more...


Coverage of the HTC Event in London

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Events" @ 06:45 AM



A handful of sites were in London today to live-blog the HTC event from start to finish. If you're interested in seeing what went on, head over to Engadget, MoDaCo, and BGR for triple the fun. And in case you missed the big HTC Touch Diamond announcement, click.


HTC Announces the Touch Diamond

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 06:15 AM

http://www.htc.com/uk/product.aspx?id=46038

"Re-defining the perception of advanced mobile phones… the HTC Touch Diamond™ signals a giant leap forward in combining hi-tech prowess with intuitive usability and exhilarating design. Featuring a sharp 2.8-inch touch screen housed within a stunning formation of brushed steel and flawless faceted edges, the HTC Touch Diamond is as beautiful to behold as it is to use. With HTC’s vibrant touch-responsive user interface, TouchFLO™ 3D, and ultra-fast HSDPA internet connectivity… the HTC Touch Diamond offers a rich online experience to rival a notebook computer, allowing you to interact with Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia as freely as you would with a broadband connection. Your contacts, favourite music, videos and photos are no longer an uninspired line of text. With TouchFLO 3D, album artwork, video stills and snapshots of your friends’ and family’s faces are brought to life for you to interact, play and launch at your fingertips."



As widely speculated, HTC unveiled the Touch Diamond today at a press event in London, and you have to hand it to the company - they sure know how to craft a kick-ass UI. I'm not going to comment on whether it knocks the socks off the iPhone's, since each and every one of you will have your own opinion, but suffice to say, it's definitely a huge step forward toward making Windows Mobile look and feel impressive.

Of course, this Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional device isn't all just eye candy. Inside, you'll find a Qualcomm MSM7201A 528MHz processor, 192MB RAM (yes, that ought to make a few of you happy), 256MB ROM, 4GB of internal storage, a 2.8" VGA touch screen, Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, A-GPS support, an FM tuner with RDS, an accelerometer, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and a secondary VGA camera for video telephony. Read more...


Saturday, May 3, 2008

HTC Diamond Specs Leaked: Nice!

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 10:49 PM

http://gizmodo.com/386880/htc-diamo...density-display

"The first "official" photos and specs for the HTC Diamond have been leaked, complete with a 2.8-inch 640 x 480 pixel screen (twice the lines of the iPhone in smaller surface,) Windows Mobile 6.1 and 3G connectivity. Could this be the most important product of the year HTC said it would reveal in London on Tuesday? The fabled iPhone Killer? Addy will be liveblogging the event, so we will discover it then. It certainly seems like a good cellphone, judging from the specs."



VGA, WM 6.1 Pro, Wifi, Bluetooth, 3.2 Megapixel camera, FM radio, 4 GB internal memory, and perhaps most importantly: GSM (Until now we'd only seen rumors of a CDMA version). Not a bad looking device either. Perhaps I've found my annual "Jon's Device To Lust Over All Summer", unless HTC announces something even nicer on Tuesday! Anyone else want one?

Tags: diamond

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