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HTC Touch HD, Touch 3G and Touch Viva Hands-On Impressions
Posted by Jason Chen at 2:43 AM on September 16, 2008
We got hands on time with the HTC Touch 3G, Touch Viva and most importantly, the Touch HD last week at CTIA. Although we didn't get to delve deep into its Windows Mobile guts, we did spend enough time fiddling with the TouchFLO interface up top that we know how it'll feel for you on a day-to-day basis. You'll be pleased.
The Touch HD has a 3.8-inch, 480x800 screen, plus other fancy pantsy specs like a 5-megapixel camera, 288MB RAM and a Quallcomm MSM7201a 528MHz processor. All this hardware comes together to bring a REALLY smooth feel to TouchFLO that's faster than the Touch Diamond, Touch Pro and even the Touch 3G. No glitches or holdups when scrolling horizontally through the menus here; it's the best TouchFLO interface we've seen yet. Typing with the onscreen keyboard wasn't as good as the iPhone's, but was doable with your fingertips because of the huge screen.
That 3.8-inch screen is gorgeous, and should be pretty amazing to watch movies on (we didn't have the chance to). It's also not too heavy and not too wide in terms of weight and size, but will most likely be pretty heavy on the price side. The HD will be a pretty good competitor to full screen touchscreen phones like the Instinct and Sony Ericsson Experia.
HTC's Touch 3G, on the other hand, doesn't look to revolutionise the lineup like the Touch HD, but works at improving the original Touch in every way. The form factor is almost exactly the same, but feels taller and thinner. The TouchFLO present on this device is also fairly fast—though not as fast as on the HD—and works well. If you enjoyed the original last year and just want a 3G upgrade, this is the phone for you.
The Touch Viva, which is for developing markets, is also pretty cool. The guts are exactly the same as on the Touch last year, but they've changed stuff like the screen (no longer hard glass, but the standard plastic film you see on other HTC phones) in order to make the price more affordable. It runs a 2D version of TouchFLO that's super fast, but keeps all the functionality intact. You most likely won't be buying or seeing this unless you live in a developing market, but it is a pretty neat smartphone that hasn't been gimped for the lower end. [HTC]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
phor11
Posted 3:14 AM 16/9/08
The HD looks incredibly good.
Why 288Mb of ram though? Isn't that a little low considering it has a 480x800 resolution screen?
phor11
Chromeo
Posted 3:06 AM 16/9/08
@hindsight2020: Well, I don't take my camera everywhere I go. I usually only take it to events or what not.
So I'm stuck using my iPhone's camera to take a picture of that hilarious condom wrapper outside of the gas station parking lot that for some unknown reason I thought was so damned funny...
Chromeo
hindsight2020
Posted 2:55 AM 16/9/08
@Ypoknons: i kind of find it hard to believe that people still use their cellphones for primary picture taking. there are some decent cameras out there that cost less than these HTC phones.
please advise.
hindsight2020
Joseph
Posted 2:55 AM 16/9/08
I really don't think these manufactures realize how hard it is to design a UI for a mobile application that will run on all mobile devices when they keep changing the screen resolution.
Joseph
DoMiNaTi0n
Posted 2:53 AM 16/9/08
Ah, my phone just took a crap and I wanted to get the Diamond...now do I just wait? Decisions, decisions...
DoMiNaTi0n
Ypoknons
Posted 2:50 AM 16/9/08
WinMo phones aren't that unstable. Quite usable, really.
I'm glad HTC decided to put a 3.5mm jack at last. But I wish they'd improve their cameras - 5MP cameras aren't handy at all without a flash, and whatever the MP count, HTC cameras tend to be pretty bad. I hope for improvement in this area, since the 2MP iPhone delivers pleasing photos, but nothing special.
Ypoknons
Nighthawkz
Posted 2:47 AM 16/9/08
"most likely be pretty heavy on the price side". Any estimate?
And does it hang or freeze up like most wi-mo phones do?
Nighthawkz
TheMurderer
Posted 3:43 AM 16/9/08
I can has HTC Touch HD?
TheMurderer
ppiddy
Posted 3:34 AM 16/9/08
@Joseph: Yeah, that's why I make all my calls from my Canon 40D.
I'm trying to recall the last time I saw a cell phone picture that looked non-shitty compared to a decent P&S shot. Living with a sub-par phone in order to have a crappy camera rather than a REALLY crappy camera seems weird.
ppiddy
Joseph
Posted 3:27 AM 16/9/08
@hindsight2020: I actually felt the same way until I talked to one of my friends. He loves taking pics from his phone as a primary method. One reason he dislikes his iPhone is because the picture quality sucks compared to his Sony phone.
Joseph
krisve
Posted 3:18 AM 16/9/08
@hindsight2020: STILL use their celphones? The gap between cellphone cameras and regular cameras has become smaller, not bigger. I for one do not really take alot of pictures, and I forget things everywhere, I can't wear a watch on mye arm, because I always take it of and leave it. So I really don't need another gadget I can forget like a camera. My phone on the other hand I never loose, even after 12 beers and a few drinks. So YES please, better cameras on smartphones...
krisve
golferal
Posted 4:02 AM 16/9/08
Me likey the touch HD! Bring it to Sprint ASAP por favor!
golferal
AndrewtheStudent
Posted 4:00 AM 16/9/08
I'm confused. Is the processor 528 MHz as it says in the press release or 825 MHz mentioned above. Or am I just misreading something?
AndrewtheStudent
ralphkaz
Posted 3:59 AM 16/9/08
any word if the Touch HD will be coming to CDMA (Sprint)?
ralphkaz
igneous
Posted 4:46 AM 16/9/08
@tangledweb16: I think it uses a stylus, so it must be resistive
igneous
tangledweb16
Posted 4:31 AM 16/9/08
Is the HD's screen resistive or capacitive?
Why has no one asked/said this? That's a pretty big thing on my book.
tangledweb16
Ike_Skelton
Posted 4:30 AM 16/9/08
Where is the HTC Dream already?!
Ike_Skelton
Jason Chen
Posted 5:05 AM 16/9/08
@AndrewtheStudent: Sorry that was me ham-fingering it up. It's 528.
Jason Chen
alter
Posted 4:56 AM 16/9/08
developing countries FTW!
alter
Rondogg96
Posted 6:22 AM 16/9/08
Indeed that screen will be amazing. And Touch Flo is also great interface. Windows Mobile is a great OS but from my experiences it's pretty unstable. I wish HTC would collaborate with Microsoft to make a Touch Flo 3D inspired version of Windows Mobile. As it stand this thing won't win me from my iPhone though, especially considering all the features iPhone lacks, I never used them on any other phone. I'd love to use this device though, it'll force all of the other manufacturers to come up with better designs, better software and hardware.
Rondogg96
Ron-Mexico
Posted 6:14 AM 16/9/08
RE: Touch HD - Kind of like my nubbin on my Thinkpad, I'm not sure I could go without a D-pad like I have on my current Touch. It just comes in REALLY handy for a lot of apps, especially when driving. It's also nice to have an easy-to-reach hardware button on the front for various things.
It does look beautiful though. At this point though, wouldn't it make more sense to try to hold out just a little bit longer for the WM7 and/or Android devices which should be just around the corner? Especially before shelling out the kind of dough you'll likely have to spend for the HD. By the time this thing hits (holiday season this year it sounds like) we'll already be getting glimpses of those. WM6.x is fairly late in its life cycle.
Ron-Mexico
mjmeyer
Posted 6:07 AM 16/9/08
Nice that HTC keeps cranking slick new stuff out but can anyone explain why it takes so painfully long for these things to make it to the carriers?
Sprint still does not have the Touch Diamond available, at least in LA. They dont expect it until November or December. Verizon doesnt seem to have it either.
What gives? Why such a long lag from manuf. release to distributor availability?
mjmeyer
Pacha
Posted 6:43 AM 16/9/08
HTC Touch HD on T-mobile please pretty please!!
Pacha
Exa
Posted 4:54 AM 16/9/08
WTF where is the FLASH for the camera? its not a deal breaker but it is super annoying that no one is using them anymore. your 5 megapixel camera will do you no good in dim light if you cant see what your taking a picture of.
Exa
Eavangel
Posted 4:51 AM 16/9/08
@golferal: I do the ordering at my current job for all blackberry's and what not. I talked to my "inside guy" at sprint and he informed me that they will be carrying the Touch HD. He couldn't give me an exact date or many other details but we got the info from someone pretty high up. No names sorry. =]
Unless he is pulling my leg. I'll let you guys know if i find out for sure though.
(Unless Gizmodo or Engadget find out before me :p)
Eavangel
vgart
Posted 10:21 AM 16/9/08
WOOOOW, that's actually pretty nice design. I like it. Much better than those Sprint Extinct phones and others i don't remember their names due to poor name choice.
Good job HTC!!!!
vgart
Tacos
Posted 12:06 PM 16/9/08
I see no flash. What a waste... 5-mp and no flash? really? really? Blackberry Bold here i come. Normal people cant afford the $600+ this thing is going to cost. But in all honesty, I'm really digging this high-resolution phone concept.
Tacos
secretasianmang
Posted 3:56 PM 16/9/08
@ mjmeyer: The carriers test the phones out with their own changes to the OS and radio roms. It takes a few months.
With that said... they should have plenty of time to get these ready by Christmas.
secretasianmang
bpapa9013
Posted 12:56 AM 17/9/08
@Pacha: Seconded!!! w/ 1700 3G!
bpapa9013
TheWerewolf
Posted 3:03 AM 16/9/08
My WiMo phone locks up about as much as my iPhone does - actually, I take that back - apps, even Apple ones like Safari - crash more often and always at the worst possible time.
TheWerewolf