HTC Launches Latest iPhone Competitor

[TMay]

Nothing against you TMay, just using your quote as an example to others.

This last part of the statement is pretty much vaporware. There is potential, you are right, and I know Apple may take advantage of it, but it's not here yet, and it hasn't announced anything about it.

So, the statement should read: With HTC, you get a substantial phone, and lots of cutting edge features. With iPhone you lose out on some of the features, but you gain a much more stable operating system and fully touch interface.



Sometimes is just doesn't work Archie. In a few more posts they will start telling you that your tone is foul and start insulting you for doubting Apple's superiority.

Fact is the iPhone is doing very well, but it's not going the way Apple wanted it to in the "other" countries. As if those that didn't fall into the trap didn't already speculate. Nokia and HTC have the technology and the features that make phones true mobile devices. The iPhone is the best phone you can get, but it's not a smart phone when looked at by the toughest critics.

And there is still the question of whether Apple will tie it to a faster network, which so far is the biggest thing holding the iPhone back.

For the record, there isn't a question of whether Apple would tie in to a faster network. Steve Jobs said that Apple would in late 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gyq0lTubjk&feature=related

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/confirmed/jobs-confirms-3g-iphone-coming-2008-300900.php

The question is when, and most speculation is that it will happen in June.

It's not a difficult extrapolation for me to understand that the iPhone has the potential to be a brilliant smartphone. Lots of indicators point to that. The question is whether that potential will be realized in June.

 

[Digital Skunk]

For the record, there isn't a question of whether Apple would tie in to a faster network. Steve Jobs said that Apple would in late 2008.
The question is when, and most speculation is that it will happen in June.

It's not a difficult extrapolation for me to understand that the iPhone has the potential to be a brilliant smartphone. Lots of indicators point to that. The question is whether that potential will be realized in June.

Not disagreeing with you, just saying that we can't use that as prove to support the iPhone or any future unannounced products. I would hope that the iPhone and iPod Touch become platforms for much more capable devices with much easier and simpler to use interfaces... but they aren't here yet, and Apple hasn't announced anything.

There is potential, but no hard evidence, announcements, or products.

 

[L3X]

Apple will step it up

Apple knew probably a year ago the features they wanted to include in the iPhone2. They will go over and above our expectations with the new iPhone and this Diamond will be merely in the shadow of the iPhone2.

 

[Archie-]

Please go back and listen to the last three earnings calls where Apple stated they hope to sell 10m units in 2008.

OK, Ive checked and you are right. This means there's quite a way to go however, and brisk competition might scuttle their chances.

 

[TMay]

Not disagreeing with you, just saying that we can't use that as prove to support the iPhone or any future unannounced products. I would hope that the iPhone and iPod Touch become platforms for much more capable devices with much easier and simpler to use interfaces... but they aren't here yet, and Apple hasn't announced anything.

There is potential, but no hard evidence, announcements, or products.

At some point, your protestations begin to look of denial, but they are yours and welcome to them.

Six weeks from now, Apple will provide an answer, and speculation can start on the next iterations.

 

[TMay]

Not disagreeing with you, just saying that we can't use that as prove to support the iPhone or any future unannounced products. I would hope that the iPhone and iPod Touch become platforms for much more capable devices with much easier and simpler to use interfaces... but they aren't here yet, and Apple hasn't announced anything.

There is potential, but no hard evidence, announcements, or products.

No hard evidence, but lots of inference based on data, including the SDK.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/04/08/sdk.leaks.iphone.plans/

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/04/10/iphone.beta.hints.gps/

 

[Digital Skunk]

At some point, your protestations begin to look of denial, but they are yours and welcome to them.

Six weeks from now, Apple will provide an answer, and speculation can start on the next iterations.

No hard evidence, but lots of inference based on data, including the SDK.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/04/08/sdk.leaks.iphone.plans/

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/04/10/iphone.beta.hints.gps/

Dude, NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU!

On another note....

http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=46286

I hope the iPhone has these features in it. Otherwise I might just have to deal with the small 4GB of storage and buggy WM6. I am still trying to find out if it has a full web browser like the Instinct or the iPhone though, that may keep me saving for the iPhone.

 

[Archie-]

I am still trying to find out if it has a full web browser like the Instinct or the iPhone though, that may keep me saving for the iPhone.

It definitely has a full web browser, Opera Mobile 9.5

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cmbdu-YLZsM

 

[DMann]

Web Browser

Dude, NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU!

On another note....

http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=46286

I hope the iPhone has these features in it. Otherwise I might just have to deal with the small 4GB of storage and buggy WM6. I am still trying to find out if it has a full web browser like the Instinct or the iPhone though, that may keep me saving for the iPhone.

Web browsing on Opera 9.5 was conspicuously omitted from all demos. The touch screen is quite unresponsive - huge delay and lacks the flow of the iPhone's touch screen. I'll have a great time trying to reading web pages on the 2.8 in screen, although 480 x 640 is quite impressive. Perhaps it's the ultra high res which creates drag to the response time on this Swiss Army Knife of a PDA.

Apple knew probably a year ago the features they wanted to include in the iPhone2. They will go over and above our expectations with the new iPhone and this Diamond will be merely in the shadow of the iPhone2.

By way of the Zune.

 

[Project]

Web browsing on Opera 9.5 was conspicuously omitted from all demos. The touch screen is quite unresponsive - huge delay and lacks the flow of the iPhone's touch screen. I'll have a great time trying to reading web pages on the 2.8 in screen, although 480 x 640 is quite impressive. Perhaps it's the ultra high res which creates drag to the response time on this Swiss Army Knife of a PDA.



By way of the Zune.

I think the unresponsiveness comes from it having a resistive touch screen. This generally doesn't work as nicely as capacitive screens like in the iPhone.

 

[Ironduke]

I have had several windows smart phones and enjoyed the speeds of 3g with them, I gave that up simply because the iphone is a joy to use, the biggest problem with windows smart phones is the mobile OS, it puts you off using it.

And that is why company's like htc are building their own front ends, but even these are not upto the iPhones class yet.

Once the iphone becomes 3G and the app store is open apple will dominate all life in the mobile phone arena......

not bad for a company who didnt have a product 1 year ago.

Dont get me wrong I aint no fanboy, if another company truely brings a better allround device im there, but they aint that close

 

[DMann]

Touch

I think the unresponsiveness comes from it having a resistive touch screen. This generally doesn't work as nicely as capacitive screens like in the iPhone.

Thank you for that - this explains the PDA quality responsiveness of the HTC.

 

[Archie-]

Web browsing on Opera 9.5 was conspicuously omitted from all demos. The touch screen is quite unresponsive - huge delay and lacks the flow of the iPhone's touch screen. I'll have a great time trying to reading web pages on the 2.8 in screen, although 480 x 640 is quite impressive. Perhaps it's the ultra high res which creates drag to the response time on this Swiss Army Knife of a PDA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbdjvTSG23g
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0G5vNVmPF_A

 

[DMann]

Internet

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0G5vNVmPF_A

Thank you. Opera 9.5 performs well overall - screen response still seems inconsistent and sluggish - likely due to the resistive touch screen as noted above by 'Project.'

 

[Bad Ash]

Wow, I didn't intend for my thread to turn into this... Sorry guys. In all honestly, the Diamond does look like it is going to be a winner. The only thing that remains to be seen is exactly how smooth it runs. I've read reports that is seems sluggish at the moment but I'm sure some tweaking will fix that. Only time will tell.

 

[TMay]

I think the unresponsiveness comes from it having a resistive touch screen. This generally doesn't work as nicely as capacitive screens like in the iPhone.

I did a search and the consensus is that capacitance gives better clarity and light transmission than resistive. Resistive requires a slightly flexible surface and an air gap below that surface. Capacitance works well with a rigid and optically transmissive surface, and can be configured with slight curvature do complement designs.

Capacitance is generally more expensive. I did get the impression that performance was not better in one than the other.

 

[Project]

Capacitance is generally more expensive. I did get the impression that performance was not better in one than the other.

I've used several resistive phones and its generally not as responsive as the iPhone. That might be down to the vendors implementation or the screen technology, but there is a noticeable difference between the HTC Touch and the iPhone for instance.

 

[TMay]

I've used several resistive phones and its generally not as responsive as the iPhone. That might be down to the vendors implementation or the screen technology, but there is a noticeable difference between the HTC Touch and the iPhone for instance.

I would argue that it is the implementation. I would agree with those that suspect it will be better upon delivery.

 

[DMann]

Resistive vs Capacitive

I've used several resistive phones and its generally not as responsive as the iPhone. That might be down to the vendors implementation or the screen technology, but there is a noticeable difference between the HTC Touch and the iPhone for instance.

A very noticeable difference - with resistive touch, there will always be a slight delay, due to the nature of the design. Capacitive touch feels like power steering by comparison to the rack & pinion responsiveness of the layered resistive screen.

 

[bloodycape]

Just wait untill htc release the HTC Raphael(or whatever the real name would be). It should pretty much this device with a actual slide out keyboard and for some that is going to be big as they want an actual hardware keyboard. The HTC Elf(Touch to us), Touch Dual and Touch Cruise are very nice devices, but I think this takes it a step forward.

 

[bloodycape]

Thank you. Opera 9.5 performs well overall - screen response still seems inconsistent and sluggish - likely due to the resistive touch screen as noted above by 'Project.'

You have to remember that opera 9.5 is still in beta so it going to be slow.

 

[DMann]

Swiss Army Knife

Just wait untill htc release the HTC Raphael(or whatever the real name would be). It should pretty much this device with a actual slide out keyboard and for some that is going to be big as they want an actual hardware keyboard. The HTC Elf(Touch to us), Touch Dual and Touch Cruise are very nice devices, but I think this takes it a step forward.

Hope it has a cork screw, and a magnifying glass for all those tiny buttons.

 

[bloodycape]

Hope it has a cork screw, and a magnifying glass for all those tiny buttons.

I don't get what you are referring to. The upcoming device Raphael is suppose to have an actual keyboard that should be big enough like most slide out keyboards are for texting and such.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I don't get what you are referring to. The upcoming device Raphael is suppose to have an actual keyboard that should be big enough like most slide out keyboards are for texting and such.

I think he means the size of the keys on the board. If the new phones coming are going to be the same size as the Diamond then even a slide out keyboard will be smaller than most of the ones on the market.

 

[DMann]

Keyboard

I don't get what you are referring to. The upcoming device Raphael is suppose to have an actual keyboard that should be big enough like most slide out keyboards are for texting and such.

The keyboard will, indeed, have smaller buttons, even though it is a slide-out. With the four navigation buttons surrounding the central toggle button, we have quite the array and redundancy one would expect from a Swiss Army Knife, and the addition of a slide-out keyboard ought to add to the feeling of holding a packet of utensils.