Can HTC's touchscreen Diamond outshine the iPhone?

Tue May 6, 2008 11:14AM EDT

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Just unveiled at a lavish event in London, HTC—maker of the sleek Touch for Sprint—has a new touchscreen gem on its hands, although the aptly-named Touch Diamond arrives in the rough that we call Windows Mobile.

But before I get all grumpy about Microsoft's tricky mobile OS, let's behold the Diamond's sparkling design and touch UI—and from this standpoint, there's a lot to like. 

First off, the Diamond comes in a sleek, and relatively light (according to the specs, at least) jet-black shell. Measuring 4 by 2 by 0.45 inches, the Diamond is a little shorter, narrower, and a hair thinner than the iPhone, and at 3.9 ounces, it's almost a full ounce lighter.

Then there's the touchscreen: 2.8 inches diagonally and at full VGA resolution, easily beating the iPhone's 480 by 320-pixel resolution. Whether one can appreciate VGA resolution on a 2.8-inch screen is an open question, although initial reports indicate that the Diamond's display is, indeed, dazzling.

And that brings us to the Diamond's TouchFlo interface—a sleek, easy-to-use touch UI that runs on top of Windows Mobile.

On the Touch for Sprint, TouchFlo looked like a 3D cube that you spun around with your finger. On the Diamond, TouchFlo boasts a row of icons at the bottom of the screen (for functions such as messaging, music, weather, photos, and Web browsing)—tap an icon, and the display spins and twirls to the appropriate application. Nice.

The Diamond also looks good in the spec department: HSDPA for 3.5G Web browsing and downloads, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 4GB of internal memory, a 3.2MP camera, and an accelerometer that turns the display to landscape mode when you turn the Diamond on its side.

For Web browsing, you get Opera for full HTML rendering and zooming in to Web pages, along with a separate YouTube app.

All very enticing, but lurking underneath it all is the professional version of Windows Mobile—and undeniably powerful OS, but tough to use when you're out and about. Indeed, with its intricate menus, the pro version of Windows Mobile is almost impossible to use without a stylus, so let's hope the Diamond has one.

Still, Windows Mobile Professional (the new version 6.1) means full compatibility with corporate Exchange servers, along with Microsoft's mobile Office suite (good for composing and editing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents).

So, can the Diamond take on the iPhone? On paper, it certainly wins out thanks to its HSDPA and GPS abilities (although the upcoming 3G iPhone will probably draw even come June). And I like the size and weight of the Diamond, plus the sheer capabilities of Windows Mobile (the iPhone has yet to get a true office suite).

But while the TouchFlo interface looks like a pleasure to use, Windows Mobile itself is a bear without a stylus—and with all its tweakable features and options, it's a tough nut to crack for a novice.

In any event, I'll hold off on any final judgments until I see one in person—which may not be for awhile. The Diamond is set to arrive next month in Europe and Asia, but it won't land here in the U.S. until the second half of the year. No word on pricing yet.

So, what do you think? Is the Diamond looking like an iPhone killer? Fire away!

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Comments on Can HTC's touchscreen Diamond outshine the iPhone?

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  • 46 Posted by rscone on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Its all about the interface, take a look a manual for a blackberry, good luck taking a few hours to figure out email. Take a look at a manual for an IPHONE, 2 pages, its because of the simple user interface, IPHONE is easy to use, a snap. Unlike these wanabes no one can match OSX, and IPHONE 2 is soon, it doesn't have every feature but its simple. Ipod on the phone is nice but not necessary, its all the other features, Maps is amazing, weather easy to add delete, contacts easy to add delete, evverything about the Iphone is easy, add/delete anything, easy, easy!!! THATS A BIG DEAL!!!

  • 47 Posted by raven1744 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    the iPhone was a pointless piece of crap and I refuse to put iTunes on my computer. If you care so much about having iTunes you must obviously have an iPod which means you don't really NEED a phone that plays iTunes anyway. Isnt that why you bought an iPod? zune rocks

  • 48 Posted by pokwangtherock on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    itsnot about the phone... its not about the service...its all about both!!!...go check out www.helio.com go check out the ocean! test it for 30 days....all of the companies have 30 days trial ... return it before 30 days then u get everything back.....try out all of hem first then go try out helio ocean. helio uses both verizon and sprint towers

  • 49 Posted by pokwangtherock on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    itsnot about the phone... its not about the service...its all about both!!!...go check out www.helio.com go check out the ocean! test it for 30 days....all of the companies have 30 days trial ... return it before 30 days then u get everything back.....try out all of hem first then go try out helio ocean. helio uses both verizon and sprint towers

  • 50 Posted by bizbag3 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    all you GEEKS don't get laid enough!

  • 52 Posted by shdwops on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    its only a matter of time before someone came out with a better iphone but i dnot care.. the iphone has everything i need in it i have my music, videos photos a camera and a phone with internet all in one not to mention its an apple...ive been working on computers for over 8 years now and i have to say hands down that apple builds quality products.. some windows based pc manufacturers are great too, such as asus and hp, but most are crap, gateway... but ive never had any problems with apple and my iphone has never had any hicups since the day i bought it.. i slept outside my local apple store from 6pm the night before just to get one and im glad i did, i wont be changing this phone for several years to come.. only complaint i have is that they only made it for att which...is not the most reliable service where i live for some reason but oh well the phone is great and thats all there is to say and like mikesoderstrom89 said apple will come out with an update soon with new little gadgets you can use

  • 53 Posted by jamesd077 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Looks like an Apple product with another name on it...they all do. When a company re-invents something it's better to stay with them and avoid the impostors. No matter how good a product is you'll always get those who have something bad to say and Apple will fix any "bugs" that come along with the iPhone to just prove themselves... ...again!

  • 54 Posted by jwarren_2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    sorry Apple haters and winblows shills, there's really only one simple equation in the smartphone market right now... iPhone everything else why else do we keep seeing article after article about makers who have been in the game FAR longer than Apple trying to release the latest "iPhone killer"? the same thing happened in the portable music player market, and the world is still waiting for the mythical "iPod killer". history is about to repeat itself when the 3G iPhone is unveiled.

  • 55 Posted by joshooi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is a very cool phone. With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5G Web browsing.. this is worth the money even if it is the same price of the iphone. I hope they sell it cheaper. I do not care much whether it connects to Exchange.. but corporate users will like it because interfacing to exchange at their office will be simple. I dont really care about music and videos unless they are free.. I don't believe in paying for itunes. Anyway no time for all these paid songs. I just listen to Pandora whenever I am on the computer. By the way the 3.2Mpixel camera could produce a good enough photo to print on my photo printer. I am waiting to get one.

  • 56 Posted by bizbag3 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    all you GEEKS don't get laid enough!

  • 57 Posted by addison242 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yahoo's writers have a serious obsession trying to always bring Apple down. I remember countless "iPod Killer" articles from back in the day as well as articles saying the iPhone was a flop. Now, they keep posting supposed "iPhone Killers" every month or so even though none of these phones have even grabbed any significant market share. You're comparing this phone to a year-old iPhone, and it's still not even comparable. After the 3G iPhone w/ videoconferencing and GPS is released, this phone will look even worse! Not too mention the hi-quality video games that are coming out for the iPhone in June. Think Wii for your phone. This author clearly doesn't get it.

  • 58 Posted by jwarren_2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    sorry Apple haters and winblows shills, there's really only one simple equation in the smartphone market right now... iPhone everything else why else do we keep seeing article after article about makers who have been in the game FAR longer than Apple trying to release the latest "iPhone killer"? the same thing happened in the portable music player market, and the world is still waiting for the mythical "iPod killer". history is about to repeat itself when the 3G iPhone is unveiled.

  • 59 Posted by dalece on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yep the sprint phone is a killer. It just killed me with further business with Sprint. I am moving my cell business elsewhere. Windozzz MobieDick is the killer app. Windozz buggy, MobieDick size memory and battery hog, and just plain a piece of crap to use.

  • 60 Posted by addison242 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yahoo's writers have a serious obsession trying to always bring Apple down. I remember countless "iPod Killer" articles from back in the day as well as articles saying the iPhone was a flop. Now, they keep posting supposed "iPhone Killers" every month or so even though none of these phones have even grabbed any significant market share. You're comparing this phone to a year-old iPhone, and it's still not even comparable. After the 3G iPhone w/ videoconferencing and GPS is released, this phone will look even worse! Not too mention the hi-quality video games that are coming out for the iPhone in June. Think Wii for your phone. This author clearly doesn't get it.

  • 61 Posted by usin08 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am nobody to say who is going to kill or get killed. But this looks like a serious competitor. Also, speaking of itunes, I think it is more of herd instinct than anything else. There are so many better alternatives but like animals, folks these days dont use their brain for thinking. Its easy to follow, I guess !!

  • 62 Posted by cuban_dudeca on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    The interface is where its at. If you can't use the smart phone with ease who is going to use it? Windows mobile blows just like windows vista. People want to be able to use there phone fast and not spend hours to shuffle through folders to get to the app you need. The HTC is all looks; you want a phone check out the Blackberry Bold. Blackberry has the best user interface on the planet. It has enterprise market under its belt and is moving in for the kill on the consumer side. I love apple's products but for my phone I can't seem to take the iphone to heart. The Blackberry is where its at.

  • 63 Posted by iae610 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is a copy of the iphone and they didn't even make it near as good. Every one has tried and Apple prevailed. That's it stop trying, you will never top the Iphone.

  • 64 Posted by alexandre1280 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    installer is pretty great for iphone, i have more apps then you can possibly dream off

  • 65 Posted by feu_follet66 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    Even if the Diamond has "some" better features than the present IPhone I'll hold off for the improved IPhone. I just don't like Microsoft Windows -- even if everyone else consistently opts for Windows based techtoys for "compatibility" reasons. Ironically, it is precisely for that reason that I refuse to follow the herd...it's a matter of personal philosophy and value....and taste.

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