Hello kids, HTC is famed for their increased presence in Asia. If you live in the SEA region, here are some very important numbers to take note of for warranty purposes:

Singapore 1800 238 7788
Malaysia +603 5569 8878
Thailand +66 2640 3399
Indonesia +62 21 380 7668 / +62 21 5695 4393
Philippines +632 728 3388
Vietnam +84 8 3862 0720 / +84 4 3974 3988

[photo c/o author]

Alongside the new HTC Diamond2, the Touch Pro2 is essentially HTC’s take on the Nokia N97 with a sliding keyboard and Windows Mobile 6.1 to boot. What it does have that the N97 doesn’t — a more sophisticated conference call solution allowing multiple users within conferences. The Touch Pro2 also comes with StraightTalk technology which is similar to Motorola’s Crystal Talk feature allowing noise cancellation during calls. The unit is essentially a portable conference call device, which you can prop upside down in the middle of the table for exactly that purpose.

Specs include:
Windows Mobile 6.1
Bluetooth
HSDPA connectivity
WiFi 802.11g
3.2MP camera
1500 mAh battery
microSD expansion

[image c/o TeamAsia PR]

Had the chance to play around with the HTC Diamond 2. Despite the high price point, I’d like to mention two really interesting things about the device. First off, kudos to the Diamond 2 for being the fastest Windows Mobile phone to date in terms of user interface. It barely has any lag and it compares to the iPhone’s haptic scrolling and sliding using the zoom bar / sliding menu at the bottom of the screen. I am very impressed. Looks like the iPhone’s UI will soon just be a commodity. No joke.

On a second note, the Diamond 2 implements “its own version” of Windows 6.5 which is essentially a user interface upgrade as well. Pressing the Start button doesn’t lead to a drop down menu. Instead, it leads to a grid view of applications, which is similar to how Windows Mobile 6.5 implements the new touch screen features.

[Photo c/o author]

I didn’t really enjoy the HTC Touch Diamond. The Touch HD was more to my liking. But it seems that Canadians are really happy with it. Does this mean when they get to play around with the Touch HD, the experience will practically be orgasmic?

Oh wait. The video isn’t user generated. It’s PR material. Sry!

It’s really been bugging me. When I set my eyes on the cool and slick real estate of the HTC Touch Dual, I experienced one of those moments that could only be described as an epiphany - finally understanding that thing that has been bugging me at the back of my head. The HTC Touch Dual reminds me of a device that didn’t sell very well and yet was almost brilliant enough to change the way Windows Mobile smartphones were developed. And I’m talking about a blast from the past — the O2 XDA Stealth. Remember me:

O2 XDA Stealth Review from 2006
O2 Stealth: Probably my next smartphone

The HTC Touch Dual capitalizes on a very loud audio experience (regional PR companies are going with the whole musical bandwagon via party, party, party) and this my friends is going to be the Dual’s main selling point. Truth be told I feel that the Touch Dual is an in-between release for the new HTC Diamond as it doesn’t really add anything new to the table. The TouchFlo interface is present, as this is a Touch device. It hasn’t really innovated since the early release of the Touch back in 2007.

What’s rather sad is that the O2 Stealth comes with WiFi and the Touch Dual doesn’t. Wow, two devices almost 2 years apart and this is what we get? Although to be fair, HTC did not manufacture the Stealth - it was made by their OEM competitor, Gigabyte.

Not a lot can be said about the Dual. It definitely got its real estate design right, and the screen is oh so bright, but the device lacks that sort of integration we were hoping for. It’s pretty much the same thing we’ve seen with the Stealth (which by the way did not get stellar reviews). Don’t get me wrong - the Touch Dual is still, all around, a decent phone for someone who has always wanted an up to date Windows Mobile device sporting a pseudo QWERTY thumb board and numerical keypad.

This is definitely it — the tipping point for companies to catch up with the iPhone. Not that we didn’t see this coming. Offering traditional marketing vids that show off the updated TouchFLO 3D animation, HTC is surely on its way to boasting another Windows Mobile hack. As for usability, well, only time will tell.

The HTC TouchFLO 3D on Photos:

The HTC TouchFLO 3D on Contacts:

The HTC TouchFLO 3D on Music:

Looking back, HTC released the Touch mere hours before the iPhone was released and this was due to a time zone difference no less! This is version two.

HTC, formerly just another one of those OEM’s have gone a long way. After releasing such devices as the HTC Touch a mere hours before the iPhone, HTC is back with a new winner - the HTC Diamond.

From a technical perspective, the HTC Diamond offers an ultra bright high definition glass touch screen and a fluid user interface. Yes, it looks like the dawn of the iPhone competitors has reached its peak ladies and gentlemen. The smartphone is meant first and foremost for browsing the Internet and HTC did a good job of overlaying their own UI platform above Windows Mobile. This is a similar “hack” which they did with the Touch and since I’ve played with one, I am confident that HTC will make UI navigation much simpler and less “corporatey” with the traditional Windows Start screen.

In a nutshell: the HTC Diamond combines several great technologies to come up with one kick ass product. High definition screen, 3.2MP camera, WiFi, click wheel navigation ala iPod and “deck o’ cards” form factor are all in. The only con? Well it doesn’t seem to run on Google’s Android platform yet.

Here is a video demonstrating the HTC Touch TouchFLO technology. Notice the similarity to the “Cube” transition effect which you find in Apple’s Keynote application. Special thanks to Juned for taking this.

Here are some afterthoughts about the HTC Touch and the iPhone hype

• The iPhone will have to reinvent itself soon as a lot of other tech companies are saturating the market with these touch-enabled phones
• Not that Apple will be “just another player” but the competitiveness of other phone companies will shine if Apple doesn’t try to improve several other features on the iPhone. The Touch’s UI make it easy to do one hand acrobatics
• The iPhone is still a champion when it comes to making an integrated keypad work
• $600 is still the price for an innovative smartphone

Contrary to what everyone else says, Apple was beaten by HTC to come up with the very first smartphone with innovative touch features. With the iPhone set to launch last week, HTC beat Apple only by a few hours (in Asia that is). I was able to extensively try the TouchFLO interface which basically allows you to flick a proprietary menu up and down from the bottom of the screen.

One thing you will notice about the device is that the screen extends to the very edge of the real estate, unlike all other Windows Mobile devices that has its screen boxed into the metal finish. The Touch’s borders are still part of the screen which allows you to flick your thumb up, down, left and right to access special menus.
Read more