Hands-on with the HTC Touch Diamond

Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:05PM EDT

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Talk about a red-hot phone: Small, light, gorgeous interface, and the sharpest display I've ever seen on a cell phone. Watch out, iPhone.

I finally had a chance to paw the HTC Touch Diamond at a New York City trade show, and ... whoa, it's nice. With its VGA-resolution screen, the Diamond's razor-sharp display is really something to see, and I was shocked by how thin and light (just 3.9 ounces) the phone felt in my hand—much lighter than the 4.7-ounce iPhone, I might add.

HTC has clearly gone to great pains to perfect its animated TouchFlo interface, and the effort has paid off. A row of icons at the bottom of the screen lets you switch from one function to another (such as music, photos, messaging, and calling) by just swiping your thumb back and forth—and as you do so, items twist and twirl into view. Pretty awesome.

Especially impressive was the messaging interface, which lets you preview e-mails that slide out of an animated envelope. I also loved the weather widgets, complete with moving clouds and dripping rain that "splashes" onto the screen; don't worry, windshield wipers appear to wipe off the drops. It makes the iPhone's weather widget look pretty plain in comparison.

Of course, if you dig deep enough, you'll eventually find the Pro version of Windows Mobile 6.1, which is a bit of a buzz kill. Reps confided that HTC did its best to "bury" Windows Mobile, and indeed—there's a lot you can do on the Diamond's TouchFlo interface without ever dipping into Microsoft's tricky mobile OS. Still, you can always use the spinning, four-way navigational wheel to help you navigate any Windows Mobile menus you stumble across.

Just to recap, the Touch Diamond also comes with access to North American HSDPA networks for 3.5G Web browsing and downloads, plus Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 4GB of flash storage, a 3.2MP camera (pretty nice compared to the iPhone's 2MP snapper) and accelerometers that flip the screen when you turn the Diamond on its side.

So, when will the Diamond arrive stateside? September, I'm told—both through carriers and unlocked. No official word on pricing, although the unlocked Diamond goes for about US$500 in Europe, so we can probably expect the equivalent come September.

Related:
Can HTC's touchscreen Diamond outshine the iPhone?

 

Comments on Hands-on with the HTC Touch Diamond

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  • 6 Posted by norreggy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    Now THIS is a phone that can be an iPhone killer. They still need topnotch marketing though. All the other wannabe phones fall far short from the mark.

  • 7 Posted by michellepeh2003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    Well, you just conveniently left out smaller screen; and you sounded like the spinning wheel is more than what it is, a spinning wheel. And how much did you it'll cost?

  • 8 Posted by shvproductions on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    (michellepeh2003: With a smaller screen at the same resolution or the same size screen at a higher resolution, the pixels are smaller, and thus sharper. With this phone, the screen may be smaller, but the resolution is the same or better as the Iphone, so the screen on the HTC has a much finer display, which is good when you are reasing text or viewing pictures. Also, He said it should be something like what it is going for in Europe: About $500 US dollars)

  • 9 Posted by tehmysthg on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    If they're talking unlocked phones selling in europe, figure its the SIM Carriers in the US, ATT and T-Mobile would be the major ones. Most likely going to launch with T Mobile, ATT is addicted to the iphone

  • 10 Posted by searchingscorpio on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sprint will likley be the first to get this...followed by ATT/T-Mobile. Or...so I hope!

  • 12 Posted by macker1316 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    yeah except the HTC diamond runs windows. pity really.

  • 13 Posted by excaliburlives on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    Looks nice, but i think i'm going to grab the new iphone instead. I can't complain for $199. This one is more than double the price. Too steep for me. Maybe i'll grab it when it comes down to $199 in 2 yrs.

  • 14 Posted by senogy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have an HTC phone now through t-mobile, and it is the only phone I hate next to any motorola. I would NOT buy HTC again exspecially one that cost 500. Mine is slow and retarded, and does what it wants. DONT BUY HTC!!!!

  • 15 Posted by ricky_2104 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    rumor has it T-mobile has a exclusive version of the diamond called compact iv

  • 16 Posted by hyperlite09rider on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    I know its been said to hold out on that 3G iPhone, but something about Windows makes me want to vomit slightly...

  • 18 Posted by briantomassetti on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    And the biggest reason of all why I would NOT buy this phone?... The Windows icon in the upper left corner of the display. If it is running Windows Mobile OS it is complete GARBAGE! No thanks, I'll stick with the only operating system that truly just WORK... I'll keep my iPhone.

  • 19 Posted by cruchief98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why do you have to hate. Every article I read from you bashes the iphone. If it isn't reaching for excuses like woman who complain about not being able to use their nails, it's using words like puney and boring. And you talk so much about waiting for a 32 GB iphone, yet you seem all to willing sell your soul for a 4 GB phone. For $500.00 bucks, you can have it. Windshield wipers and all.

  • 21 Posted by hdcdabui on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    so which better? should i get iphone or this?? it wouldnt be realistic if i get both.

  • 22 Posted by jbodz666 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    handerson cant say one good thing about the iphone....every time i look on yahoo's front page, theres something negative about the iphone. is yahoo owned by microsoft??????

  • 23 Posted by jstbcul on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ugly shape, no matter what the software, windows mobile 6.1, thats sucks ordinary shape, ordinary design, horrible colour easily switch between items with your thumbs...isnt that also for the iphone new and old ipod - the new generation is no way threatened by this crap. apples knows what people wanted, an ipod one can use as a phone as well not come as boring as the htc touch diamond....tell it to get its own name and leave out Touch copying Ipod Touch. its not stylish, people wont look at you if you go around with this, with the iphone they definitely will brothers and sisters peace Mr. Khan - High Technology Director.

  • 24 Posted by beeramulet on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Touch Diamond : Great Smartphone It has everything you want from a smartphone with a simple look. It's very sturdy in built. I dropped the phone once and the back cover and battery fell out but It booted up without any problem afterwards.... read more

  • 25 Posted by perroenano69 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Looks like Ben Patterson will be turning gray until he decides to settle for a phone to buy. The truth is that while holding off on the 1st generation iPhone was wise because of the price AND bugs on it, the second generation by now has fixed those bugs and updated some nifty new apps. There WILL be new iPhones coming out in the upcoming years, but Mr. Patterson, how long are you going to wait until the "perfect" iPhone arrives? You're not buying a child, so don't take it as if you were. Plus the diamond phone you so adamantly advertise looks primitive and lackluster to even compete with the iPhone. Thanks but no thanks.

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