htc

More news from the HTC front, with the refresh of the Touch line back for more.

Windows Mobile Italy is reporting that the Opal code name will give way to "Touch Viva," though there may be a bit of a translation issue here.

Otherwise, we still have the same slightly underwhelming device as before. Quad band, Windows Mobile 6.1, 200 MHz TI OMAP processor, TouchFlo 3D, 256/128 RAM WiFI, Bluetooth, 1100 mAh battery, and no GPS. Can't wait to see how the CPU holds up to all that TouchFlo 3D power.

The Viva reportedly will go on sale in Asia on Sept. 15 - Monday - under the Dopod brand name, and with a slightly different paint job, as seen in the pic above.

Translated page here; original Italian for the hard-core.

Thanks, Diego, for the tip!

Speaking of pre-orders, you can now drop $699.99 on Best Buy for your very own unlocked HTC Touch Diamond. [via]

And it looks like you shouldn't have to wait too long for delivery. A quick click on the "Estimate arrival time" link gives an estimated date of Sept. 29 - Oct. 4.

More good news: U.S. 3G bands are confirmed, with 850/900/1800/1900 MHz supported. Sorry, T-Mobile customers. That 1700 MHz band is turning out to be a real pain, isn't it?

This should be an interesting exercise. The GSM Touch ($499) and Touch Dual ($549) also are available unlocked at Best Buy, but there's definitely a psychological difference between $550 and $700. Does "unlocked" status mean that much (or anything?) to most U.S. smartphone consumers?

And with that other keyboardless GSM phone on AT&T, and Sprint reportedly launching the Diamond next week at $300 or less, just what kind of demand will Best Buy ultimately see? And will AT&T bother picking it up? (Our guess is no. Probably not enough room in that stable for two keyboardless phones of that caliber.)

Anyhoo, if the GSM Diamond's your thing, head on over to Best Buy's Web site and throw down your cash.

The HTC Touch Cruise - the keyboardless follow-up to the Touch and precursor to the Touch Diamond - never managed to officially made its way into the United States.

And while that didn't stop people from importing the device, tempers have flared as we've seen other phones in the HTC family receive update after update, most noticeably the Touch receiving updates to Windows Mobile 6.1, and the Diamond getting multiple ROM fixes.

Finally, it appears that the Touch Cruise will get some 6.1 love, at least according to HTC's Twitter feed.

@danyw We're in the process of making sure the Touch Cruise upgrade is rock solid. It should be ready for release soon!

So congrats, all you Touch Cruise owners. Looks like you have just a little bit longer to wait.

Via Mobile Tech Addicts

My, my. Look at that. Just as quickly as we learn of the existence of the HTC S740 - think a slightly longer Touch Pro with a numeric keypad and no touchscreen - we now get some hands-on goodness courtesy of NewMobile.

Mentioned is that the screen doesn't appear to auto-rotate with the help of an accelerometer and instead only switches from portrait to landscape when the keyboard is open. Makes sense, seeing as how this is a Windows Mobile Standard device, though you might want to watch video with the keyboard closed.

Otherwise, you still pretty much get the Diamond form, complete with the multi-faced, fingerprint magnet back.

Check out the rest of the photos here.

Via Engadget and Coolsmartphone

Want more? Of course you do. ce4you has a full-on review of the HTC S740 (here's a Google Translation).

In London today, HTC has announced the S740, which essentially takes the Touch Pro / Touch Diamond look and feel and applies it to Windows Mobile Standard. It's a welcome upgrade to the relatively disappointing HTC Vox/S710. We're looking at spec upgrades all around here, but nothing to actually make a Standard-edition smartphone on par with the current touchscreen hotness from HTC. Here's the rundown:

• Windows Mobile 6.1
• Size: 116.3 x 43.4 x 16.3 mm
• Weight: 140g with battery
• Networks: WCDMA/HSDPA: 900/2100 MHz for EU and Asia (Read: No 3G in the US)
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Display: 2.4-inch QVGA screen
• Camera: 3.2 megapixel with fixed focus
• Internal memory: 256 MB flash; 256 MB RAM
• Memory card: microSD™
• WLAN: 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth®: 2.0 with EDR
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Interface: HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)
• Battery: 1000 mAh
• FM Radio

We're a little bummed to see the 240x320 screen and the lack of US bands for the 3G, but glad to see that HTC hasn't forgotten about Standard Edition.

HTC: S740

You still can't get hold of the Sprint-flavored Touch Diamond yet, but you can be the first on your block to know how to use it, all thanks to your pals at WM Experts and PPC Geeks.

A quick run through the document hasn't divulged anything we didn't really expect. No true MMS (boo), and it appears that Sprint's Pocket Express is on the ROM, as is RSS Hub, Sprint Instant Messaging, and other Sprint goodies.

We're still looking for an official launch in September, with a price of $299.99 after rebates or $549.99 sans contract.

In the meantime, bone up on your Diamond skills here and keep counting down until the big day.

Thanks to Doc31 for the tip!

Update: A slightly more thorough look through the manual after the jump.

Upon further review, here are some more treats:

• It looks like you can print through Bluetooth out of the box, so that's cool.
• An MP3 Trimmer to edit down and save files as a ringtone.
• You can switch between threaded and "classic" text messaging. (But why would you want to?)
• Windows Live is built in, with Live Search Bar, Live Messenger, Live Mail and Live Contacts.
• As mentioned above, Pocket Express, and RSS Hub.
• Built-in tethering (for that nice $15-a-month plan).
• The usual Sprint TV and Sprint Music Store options.
• Sprint Navigation
• That custom Opera Mobile build.

See anything else you like? Mention it in the comments.

Not that this is a huge surprise exactly what with all the leaked info from the past, but it sure looks like Sprint is getting ready to launch this in September for $299.99 (after MIR; MSRP is $549.99).

Nothing too shocking here, though the mention of Sprint's much derided MMS alternative (PictureMail) seems to be supported, though we wonder if this is the big update we've all be awaiting? Probably not.

via EngadgetMobile

For your consideration: Above, we have the HTC Touch Diamond and the, well, HTC Touch Diamond.

Static over at HowardForums has posted a series of photos showing the GSM version of the Touch Diamond atop its CDMA cousin, currently offered by Canadian carrier Telus.

While the Telus version is obviously thicker, Static notes that with the flat back it's more comfortable to hold, and it's not nearly the fingerprint magnet that Dieter showed us in his hands-on video.

This should give folks here in the U.S. a pretty good look at what's in store in a few weeks, when the "Victorized" CDMA version of the Diamond is expected to drop on Sprint.

Check out the rest of the comparison photos at HowardForums.

Sprint customers who have been waiting patiently for a CDMA version of the HTC Touch Dual to be released (hopefully still in early September) will have to look longingly at their Canadian friends for a few more weeks.

Bell Mobility has the the Touch Dual for just $99 with a three-year contract, including "fun bundle" discount (!). A two-year deal runs $249, and no contract takes the phone up to $399.

Now if we could just hurry up with the U.S. launch of the Touch Diamond ...

(And for a video review of the Touch Dual - albeit the GSM  version - check out Dieter's hands on.)

Via Engadget Mobile