DIamond review/new info camparsion

[nmhusa]

iPharts are just that... a lot of gas with little substance. I'll take windows mobile over a lot of hot air any day. Now where is my Diamond !!!

[Chef Ben]

Originally Posted by Draiko

I don't really agree with the review. They said that HTC's TouchFLO 3D causes the user to constantly rethink the interface. Em, I've used the iPhone and the iPhone 3G... I don't see how TouchFLO 3D causes the user to rethink the interface any more than the iPhone OS does.

They're talking abou the continuity of TouchFLO throughout the device. They're complaining that it's just basically a shell on top of WM6.1 and that certain tasks and procedures dance in and out of the interface...and some are not "finger-friendly". The best example is the E-mail. You can see the preview through TouchFLO but to read the e-mail you have to go into the old boring WM6.1 view. At least the iPhone carries its graphics throughout the phone. Not to mention there are no hiccups or stutters. The graphics transition and navigate seamlessly.

[Tiberius85]

I find it funny and silly how iPhone users act like its the first touch screen device ever developed thats actually usable, and that its a cardinal sin to have to use a stylus at any time. Personally i dont mind using a stylus at all. Its much more precise, harder to make mistakes with, and there are many many times when my hands are dirty and i dont want to dirty up or scratch the screen over something silly. I think WM devices, including those of WM7 should always come with a stylus.. believe it or not, there are many of us who like the touch interface, but also use a stylus.

In addition, the WM6.1 interface isnt all that bad.. its just not designed for efficient finger use. Overall this review is accurate, if you are talking about getting Mr. Joe Average to figure out how to navigate between the different UIs without being confused.. but really for what? He might be confused for the first minute until he understands it. I think people have really high expectations now of devices 'dumbed down' enough for people to be able to pick them up and figure it out completely within a minute.

[[sammich]]

more pics

[clockcycle]

Originally Posted by Draiko

I don't really agree with the review. They said that HTC's TouchFLO 3D causes the user to constantly rethink the interface. Em, I've used the iPhone and the iPhone 3G... I don't see how TouchFLO 3D causes the user to rethink the interface any more than the iPhone OS does.

.....

How is that harder and/or more confusing than the iPhone?

I am thinking they are talking more in the sence of the full picture, not just touch flo itself. Meaning because of the lack in MS mobile windows and it's small menus etc and the HTC interface relying on it. The user tends to have to rethink the interface and inputs at every turn. I personally find myself having to switch between on screen keyboard, finger gestures, stylus and button/dpad control often, when doing anything with my phone.. But then again.. I like it.. I call them options/features lol

-CC

[Draiko]

I just disagree...

TouchFLO does only go so deep but for all primary functions of the phone (appointment information, time, phone functions, contact list, email, SMS, pictures, weather, media playback, internet browsing, Sprint TV, and Program launching), the user doesn't have to rethink the UI. Once you go into the more advanced settings, features, and programs... yes, that's when the UI breaks away to the standard windows mobile UI. The only time it really rips the user out of TouchFLO during basic use is when viewing a list of emails, an email, or a text message.

Other than that, unless the user goes to access the more advanced features of the phone, they are not going to break the flow of the UI.

Another thing that is often left out when guaging the iPhone is the difficult/annoying nature of actually using it as a PHONE.

TouchFLO 3D does a much better job than the iPhone for all major smartphone functions... appointment information, time, phone functions, contact list, email, SMS, pictures, weather, media playback, internet browsing, Sprint TV, and Program launching.

I do see HTC either updating TouchFLO 3D in the future to include email/SMS composition in the UI or releasing an update to Windows Mobile 7 that will update the entire UI.

I just wished that the Diamond would've had a microSD card slot instead of that fixed 4GB storage space. With Cloud Computing, WiFi, and Sprint's 3G network, I'm probably going to stream most of my media anyway (or just get the Touch Pro).

I could care less about multi-touch, I'd much rather use the phone with the same hand I hold it in (which is what TouchFLO 3D is designed for).

Some people complain about the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack. I have a Jabra BT8010 comvertible stereo bluetooth headset that I think blows any cabled headset out of the water. The sound quality is awesome.

It is 2008, wired headsets need to go away already. This is an advanced mobile device, not just a phone. People need to expect it to promote and use more advanced technology and phase out older tech. (microSD card slot excluded)

The iPhone 3G may offer a slightly smoother, less confusing interface and more storage space, but the unstable AT&T 3G network, unstable 3G/2G connection switching, unstable operating system, crappy GPS, outdated camera, lower-res screen, lower battery life, media-type restrictions, and company-imposed software limitations just completely trump the flow of the UI.

"But the iPhone is Apple's first phone!"... yeah, but they were late to the game. Like every other company, they know the capabilities of the competition and therefore should be expected to match the capabilities of other devices. Apple had the benefit of 5+ years of smartphone history to study and learn from, but they really didn't study it well.

Software can always be fixed with updates and patches. Bad corporate policies, defective data networks, and crappy/outdated hardware cannot.

Even if all software issues on the iPhone 3G were fixed, it would still have HSDPA 3.6, 2 MP camera, crappy GPS, lower battery life, lower-res screen, and AT&T's crappy network.

If the menial UI gripes are smoothed out, the Diamond and the Pro have the potential to be the ultimate phones.

Which scenario has the best chance of actually happening and which end result will make most users happy?

[BROOKNAM]

Originally Posted by Draiko

I just disagree...

TouchFLO does only go so deep but for all primary functions of the phone (appointment information, time, phone functions, contact list, email, SMS, pictures, weather, media playback, internet browsing, Sprint TV, and Program launching), the user doesn't have to rethink the UI. Once you go into the more advanced settings, features, and programs... yes, that's when the UI breaks away to the standard windows mobile UI. The only time it really rips the user out of TouchFLO during basic use is when viewing a list of emails, an email, or a text message.

Other than that, unless the user goes to access the more advanced features of the phone, they are not going to break the flow of the UI.

Another thing that is often left out when guaging the iPhone is the difficult/annoying nature of actually using it as a PHONE.

TouchFLO 3D does a much better job than the iPhone for all major smartphone functions... appointment information, time, phone functions, contact list, email, SMS, pictures, weather, media playback, internet browsing, Sprint TV, and Program launching.

I do see HTC either updating TouchFLO 3D in the future to include email/SMS composition in the UI or releasing an update to Windows Mobile 7 that will update the entire UI.

I just wished that the Diamond would've had a microSD card slot instead of that fixed 4GB storage space. With Cloud Computing, WiFi, and Sprint's 3G network, I'm probably going to stream most of my media anyway (or just get the Touch Pro).

I could care less about multi-touch, I'd much rather use the phone with the same hand I hold it in (which is what TouchFLO 3D is designed for).

Some people complain about the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack. I have a Jabra BT8010 comvertible stereo bluetooth headset that I think blows any cabled headset out of the water. The sound quality is awesome.

It is 2008, wired headsets need to go away already. This is an advanced mobile device, not just a phone. People need to expect it to promote and use more advanced technology and phase out older tech. (microSD card slot excluded)

The iPhone 3G may offer a slightly smoother, less confusing interface and more storage space, but the unstable AT&T 3G network, unstable 3G/2G connection switching, unstable operating system, crappy GPS, outdated camera, lower-res screen, lower battery life, media-type restrictions, and company-imposed software limitations just completely trump the flow of the UI.

"But the iPhone is Apple's first phone!"... yeah, but they were late to the game. Like every other company, they know the capabilities of the competition and therefore should be expected to match the capabilities of other devices. Apple had the benefit of 5+ years of smartphone history to study and learn from, but they really didn't study it well.

Software can always be fixed with updates and patches. Bad corporate policies, defective data networks, and crappy/outdated hardware cannot.

Even if all software issues on the iPhone 3G were fixed, it would still have HSDPA 3.6, 2 MP camera, crappy GPS, lower battery life, lower-res screen, and AT&T's crappy network.

If the menial UI gripes are smoothed out, the Diamond and the Pro have the potential to be the ultimate phones.

Which scenario has the best chance of actually happening and which end result will make most users happy?

wow... i agree with most if not all of this (lot to remember) but at the end of the day its a business and they sell more iphones than HTC could ever dream, they could care less about schooling the general public on out dated technology ( i also use the same headset as you)they made it eye catching, promoted the hell out of it, and gave it an interface that most of the public did not think existed, they made the average phone user want to know how to use it, which means every new device they bring forth with moderate improvements will bring them users with it,good business.

[bhawke01]

Originally Posted by Mr_wrong_0

The instinct and the vu are great iphone comparisons. But some people are trying to compare the touch and the iphone. That's just wrong- but the worst part is that they like the iphone more because "it suites what they want to do better than the WM based touch". OF COURSE IT DOES because you don't need a smart phone you want a multimedia phone. (Can you tell I sell phones?)

i do agree with you how the iphone and the touch should not be compared. BUT you also have to think that macs and pc's get compared EVERYDAY. so shouldn't a apple phone and a windows mobile phone be compared?

[Chef Ben]

Originally Posted by Draiko

I just disagree...
Once you go into the more advanced settings, features, and programs... yes, that's when the UI breaks away to the standard windows mobile UI. The only time it really rips the user out of TouchFLO during basic use is when viewing a list of emails, an email, or a text message.

Other than that, unless the user goes to access the more advanced features of the phone, they are not going to break the flow of the UI.

Exactly, now if we could just keep everyone from going into the more advance features of their top of the line smartphone then the Diamond would be perfect!! I mean, how dare their actually use their entire phone and be disappointed when TouchFLO doesn't shine it's pretty lil graphics in those area! The AUDACITY!

Well, at least other than that the UI only breaks away when getting into e-mails and texts. Good thing those are hardly ever used!

[Exil3d]

I liked that review, nut bad at all. One thing ppl keep saying that I disagree with is that they wished htc would put a capacitive screens rather than a resistive. Theres pros and cons on both type but I rather have resistive like what we currently have. The iphone has a capacitive screen, thats why its so sensitive and brighter. But one flaw is you cant have gloves on or use a stylus on it. And honesty I rather use a stylus than my big finger. Anyone else feel the same way?