It has been a busy start here in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress 2010. We just saw the HTC's new 3 models, Desire (aka Bravo), Legend, and HD Mini (photon). The event itself was hosted by Peter Chow, CEO of HTC along with it's colleagues.
HTC has introduced the new HTC Sense, improved and ready to ship with these models as well as some older ones (confirmed for HTC Hero). As far the specifications go, you allready know everything, we had them first
Sony Ericsson has announced that it will be launching first smartphone sporting 6.5.3 version of WinMo. It is equipped with 2.4" QVGA (240×320) touchscreen display, QWERTY keyboard, 3.2 megapixel camera (sadly, no flash), WiFi, microSD slot (again, sadly, with up to 16GB support), micro USB connector, A-GPS and quad-band GPS/EDGE support. It has GreenHeart label, meaning, it will be energy efficient. Phone comes in two colors, Iconic Black and White Silver:
Software bundle is really rich, as you can see from Sony's press release. Windows Mobile 6.5.3 brings support for capacitive screens, multitouch, and more finger-friendly layout.
Memory: 512MB ROM, 256MB RAM, expandable via microSD cards (up to 32GB)
Camera: 5MP, Auto Focus, LED flash
GSM: Quad-band GSM support, triband 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA
OS: Windows Mobile 6.5
Battery: 1350mAh Li-Ion, up to 5 hours of talk time, up to 400 hours of standby
Other: GPS receiver, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor, FM radio with RDS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth + Enhanced Data Rate, miniUSB, 3.5mm stereo audio jack
There has been a lot of rumors considering the next version of Windows Mobile. WM7 is definately late, as all of us were dissapointed with versions 6.5.x. It feels like Microsoft is loosing it's ground, by letting everyone take a shot at them. With a large consumer base, and tons of available applications, Microsoft still has the advantage among the corporate customers. However, iPhone and Android apps/consumer base is growing very fast.
HTC and Samsung have been saving Microsoft in the last years by implementing customized user interfaces that covered obvious flaws and dull screens. Recent models HD2 and Omnia II are prime examples of the recipe this companies had: hide as much as you can and develop your own UI.
At CES Robbie Bach from MS says (on WM7): And when you look at the product, I’m sort of like, I have the luxury of having seen it, to be able to look at it and played with it a little bit, but I’m certainly confident people are going to see it as something that’s differentiated and something that really does move the bar forward, not in an evolutionary way from where we are today, but it’s something that feels, looks, acts and performs completely different.
One major event is finished (CES), two to go: Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and (less likely) Cebit in Hannover. It looks like we'll have more info at MWC, from 15-18. february.
Remember Xperia X1 and tragic UI panels made by Sony Ericsson (we saw it on MWC 2008)? Although they did not move much from X1 in terms of specs, and Xperia X2 does not seem like anything special, the guys from SE have realized that there is alternative to WM stock UI right there on the market. We had a review of the great SPB Mobile Shell a while ago and could not agree more that this was the best solution for the X2. Check out the image from the Boy Genius Report's coverage of CES 2010.
But, SE is terribly slow, they waited 2 years to update X1 to X2 and they bring us what ? Same processor, same screen resolution, 4-row keyboard (Touch Pro 2 has 5, with separate number row).
Oh we do expect a lot from X10 with Android platform, but SE needs to move fast and be competitive with the price. Can they do it ?
We are back from our holidays, and, since this is our first post this year, we wish everybody Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and lots of cool gadgets
For the last few days, we have been testing Samsung Omnia Pro B7610 (who comes up with these kind of names???). It is a splendid little smartphone, and we enjoyed playing with it. You can read our impressions about the device here.
We have already published a lot of screenshots of Samsung's I8000 Omnia II. Now we have a final build of the software and it looks like Samsung has tried to cover Microsoft flaws as much as possible with it's TouchWiz interface. The device itself is very fast, and build quality is excellent. After a quick check of the specs we present you a vdeo tour and a ton of new screenshots:
While we wait for the final HTC HD2 ROM to appear (16. october 2009), lets have another quick look at the test sample in action. General impression is -- HD2 is fast! Even with many programs in the background it completes every task flawlessly. We are eager for the final ROM and new version of TouchFLO 3D (or HTC Sense UI as it is now called).
Update: There has been an interest in photo quality. Here is one taken with our test HD2 model.
As promised, we presented the very first video review of HTC Leo, the first capacitive Windows Mobile device from HTC. Stylus is gone and 1GHz Snapdragon processor is in. So long 528MHz… Check out the gallery with few more screenshots of the WM 6.5 on this model (developer screens included).
Video is now back online. Expect a new video review tomorrow (11. october 2009).
Ok, this is the moment we have all been talking about. HD2 is now officially announced. All we have to wait for now is the final ROM build and it will hit the streets. Check out the complete specs on HTC website, and we would like to point out:
1GHz Snapdragon processor
4.3" WVGA (480×800) screen
512MB ROM & 448MB RAM
5 MP autofocus camera with dual LED flash
Windows Mobile 6.5 with HTC Sense and Opera browser
Tethering (present on WM since … ever)
Wi-Fi Router mode
Digital Compass and all the sensors we need
Social networks integration
3.5mm audio jack
1230mAh battery
As you can see, HTC is presenting to us that TouchFLO 3D is to be known as HTC Sense, UI that was first announced in the HTC Hero unveiling (although the two do not have that much in common).
Be sure to follow our RSS feed and stay tuned for our extensive HD2 video review…
