A little more on HTC's Touch Diamond

We've got a few more details on the Touch Diamond to keep your motor running. Check it out!

• The Touch Diamond makes use of GPU accelerated procedural graphics, so you will not see a backward-compatible TouchFlow 3D update for the current Touch. It's capable of doing 7-8mil polygons per second (not that many games or apps will make use of that right now).
• HTC has made hiding WinMo away something of a priority; CMO John Wang stated, "You wouldn't even know this device was Windows Mobile. You would just think it's TouchFlow 3D."
• HTC totally reworked the WinMo virtual keyboard (as you can see above). Definitely not the best laid out we've seen (okay, it looks kind of messy), but it's instantly lightyears ahead of what WinMo had before.
  
• Opera "reflows" web formatting, which HTC is pitching hard. Basically it just reformats and wraps text on zoom -- unlike, say, the iPhone.
• Unfortunately, the device still uses a resistive touchscreen, while the controls below are capacitive. That really ought to be flipped around.
• And of course, we had to ask about Android: the first device is (still) coming later this year, but it will not br in the form of the Diamond.

Oh, and don't forget to check out the hands-on (with video).

[YpoCaramel @ May 6th 2008 12:06PM]

Reflow is a key reason why I'm still using Opera Mini instead of the leaked Opera Mobile 9.3 beta. It's vital for reading. Good thing Opera decided to postpone Opera Mobile's new release until they got it right, I guess.

[James Cameron @ May 6th 2008 1:05PM]

Totally don't like their TouchFlo 3d at the moment. I preferred the TouchFlo 3d to be in real time instead of a delay.

I surprised they are way ahead of SE Xperia X1.

[amdou @ May 6th 2008 12:06PM]

nice

[Eric M. @ May 6th 2008 12:07PM]

OMG! The keyboard has all the same letters as the iPhone's keyboard! They must be copying Apple..

[larcen007 @ May 6th 2008 12:12PM]

2 posts in and already an iPhone reference.

I think HTC should come out with a new phone called the uPhone - a phone made just for you. It will be like the iPhone, except yours will have - ah forget it - I just gave up on the joke.

[John @ May 6th 2008 12:25PM]

It's actually a lot uglier than the iPhone because they put numbers and punctuation on top of the keys, and then decided that using a "shift" key highlight wouldn't be enough for people to know that the text was going to be uppercase. The way the descenders touch the bottom of the keys (in the q,y,p,g, and j) is really distracting. They should have kept the keys uppercase with no punctuation.

[Hung @ May 6th 2008 8:33PM]

@ larcen007 & John

Reading your posts reminded me of this. It should be relevant to your interests.

http://www.prezzybox.com/data/media/11814.jpg

[Michel Jansen @ May 7th 2008 4:21AM]

Seriously guys, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm

[Todd @ May 6th 2008 12:09PM]

Awesome how the iPhone has forced everyone to raise their game, to the point where handset makers are willing to blot out poor GUIs with their own in-house designs. Huge win for use gadget consumers!

[Jubei @ May 6th 2008 2:17PM]

Agreed. These competitors are quite desperate now in emulating the iPhone. The fear of infringing Apple patents are resulting is half hazard designs for UI workarounds with WinMO deficiencies and hardware designs to emulate the look of the iPhone. Case in point with this article. Look at the image closely. It's a commendable attempt, but laughable at best in comparison to the iPhone. The high caliber UI from Apple is not easy to copy.

[bob cobb @ May 6th 2008 12:09PM]

We need information about the raphael! when is that coming?

[Drew @ May 6th 2008 12:10PM]

-Unfortunately, the device still uses a resistive touchscreen,

in other words, GARBAGE...

[Ike Tuner @ May 6th 2008 12:12PM]

"GARBAGE"

Isn't that what your moma said when she first saw you ?

[Kizorblade @ May 6th 2008 12:24PM]

Nah Ike, you're just confusing things from your own birth with others.

[Drew @ May 6th 2008 12:34PM]

Instead of beating women, why don't you go and read on the cons of resistive touch screen technology? Ike Tuner...

[J. R. @ May 6th 2008 12:45PM]

Have you ever tried to use a capacitive touchscreen with gloves on?

[riggs @ May 6th 2008 12:51PM]

the real question is why would u have gloves on.

[Phoenix @ May 6th 2008 1:54PM]

Like... the cold maybe?

[Al @ May 6th 2008 2:46PM]

Driving gloves? Or your O.J. and you have to wear 2 gloves.

[monkfishbandana @ May 6th 2008 2:58PM]

@ Al

I am NOT ORANGE JUICE!! It was one time in Vegas...ONE TIME!

[Anonymoose @ May 6th 2008 3:28PM]

this now concludes the romper room segment of this broadcast.

[Mark @ May 6th 2008 3:38PM]

Agreed 100%. Resistive touchscreen = unresponsive crap, same as the current HTC Touch which I have.

[James @ May 6th 2008 4:49PM]

The OP has a point, Resistive screens suffer from reduced light due to the resistive layer, and they are pressure dependent. And most people who can buy this type of device have a car, so using this with a glove make so point, especially when you are trying to activate a small icon on a small screen.

[Abuzar @ May 6th 2008 10:40PM]

Yeah I'm not a fan of resistive touch screens after years of Using HTC devices and then switching to an iPhone. I will be glad to go back to Windows Mobile, but seriously they should have learned and put a capacitive touch screen on there.

Oh well, at least it still has a glass screen.

[substance90 @ May 6th 2008 12:10PM]

I thought we saw pictures with a qwerty keyboard? What happend to that part?!

[Phoenix @ May 6th 2008 12:28PM]

Different device

Probably gonna be released in a few months or weeks

[Wayde @ May 6th 2008 12:14PM]

Yeeesh, that keyboard is aweful. I remember when that came out for orig Touch. There are better third party touch keypads out there. Otherwise, the HTC Touch Diamond is looking good!

[Phoenix @ May 6th 2008 12:29PM]

This isn't the same thing the released for the original touch ;)

[Max @ May 6th 2008 12:17PM]

Can't wait for a propper video walkthrough.

[ShortFuse @ May 6th 2008 12:20PM]

you can complain all you want about the onscreen keyboard but HTC has a couple of other keyboard styles. also, you're forgetting this is a windows mobile device, so you're not locked into one type of keyboard. you can use handwriting recognition or if you really want an iphone copy: http://www.pocketcm.com/keyboard2.php
Download & Install (Free)

[techFTW @ May 6th 2008 12:21PM]

I really like the look of this device! Great looks, Great UI, Great feature set!

Only thing is... it runs Windows Mobile :(
As far as i know Windows mobile won't sync with a Mac so im out lol

Would have been great to see this made with Android at it's base but oh well :)

[Ike Turner @ May 6th 2008 12:25PM]

Well you don't know much...;-)

http://www.eltima.com/products/syncmate/
http://www.markspace.com/missingsync_windowsmobile.php

[DP @ May 6th 2008 12:27PM]

Oh, but it can. SyncMate.

[techFTW @ May 6th 2008 12:35PM]

It can? Great! I really had no idea lol

Might have to be my next phone! That Sony Ericsson Xperia looks great too though, hmm... decisions :D

Thanks for the links!

[JerryA @ May 6th 2008 12:36PM]

Look up "The Missing Sync" or alternately just virtualize Windows.

[techFTW @ May 6th 2008 12:41PM]

@JerryA

I tried the whole parralels / vmware fusion thing, its good, but yeah i prefer running things native to OS X if possible :)

(btw im no mac fanboy as this all depicts - no stereotyping me please! :D)

[Chris @ May 6th 2008 12:23PM]

The touch keyboard looks nice. Above that it looks like you are back in Windows 3.1 land.

[Jeff @ May 6th 2008 12:36PM]

exactly...

this newest Touchflow3D is some great looking lipstick, but every once in a while it reminds you that it's lipstick on a pig.

"HTC has made hiding WinMo away something of a priority"

In my opinion, it shouldn't be a priority, but rather, a ABSOLUTE NECESSITY. that was one of my problems with the HTC Touch... it was only skin-deep, and WinMo kept popping up everywhere (like 70% of actual use time) and stinking it up.

Randomly dropping back to Win3.1 land totally breaks the deal for me. (that wold be like the iPhone having a few screens here and there that look like OS8)

...Attention to details, people!

[DP @ May 6th 2008 7:22PM]

I hear you Jeff, but does this really look like WinMo to you?

http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2008/05/htc_touch_diamo.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y26btrJAy54

When HTC said they made it a priority they weren't kidding. It's freaking art, this UI.

[DP @ May 6th 2008 12:24PM]

Uh, that keyboard is mighty ugly, but everything else is mighty sexy, which is why I'm waiting to hear more about the Touch Pro. Now that device will have me skeeting for DAYS.

[Will Static @ May 6th 2008 12:24PM]

For all you whiners about the keyboard... remember even though they are trying to hide it, this is still WinMo and you can install...

Get this! 3rd Party Programs!

[Jeff @ May 6th 2008 12:37PM]

sweet! i can buy a brand new device and then fix it myself?

awesome.

:P

[Will Static @ May 6th 2008 12:40PM]

Or you can buy an iPhone and live with-in the walled garden of Steve...
So cry me a river... if your not capable of making your own decision that is exactly what you'll do.

[Ike Turner @ May 6th 2008 12:42PM]

"sweet! i can buy a brand new device and then fix it myself?

awesome.

:P"
Hell yeah!! You can hack it to install third partie apps...oops no Apple already has a patent on this "feature"

[Abuzar @ May 6th 2008 3:54PM]

Ummm, there any MANY more third party programs available for Windows Mobile then there are for Jailbroken iPhones.

[ekimagem @ May 6th 2008 12:30PM]

Idiots. It doesnt have a Slide out keyboard so the onscreen keyboard is what you get. If you actually own A Windows Mobile Phone or an HTC youll find that underneath that keyboard theres a button to select from half a dozen other keyboard styles.

No need for 3rd party stuff..

[Phoenix @ May 6th 2008 12:35PM]

Well actually, I for one use mainly third party keyboards, when i;m not using my slideout physical. But with this i wouldn't need to.

Don't call people idiots for having a different, but still perfectly valid, preference to you

[Chad @ May 6th 2008 12:40PM]

"HTC has made hiding WinMo away something of a priority; CMO John Wang stated, 'You wouldn't even know this device was Windows Mobile. You would just think it's TouchFlow 3D.'"

Yeah, they almost fooled me... then I noticed the big Windows logo in the upper right-hand corner.

[Phoenix @ May 6th 2008 12:43PM]

It's not like that's intrusive. They're just keeping one of the few attractive bits. They've even prettied up the start menu!

[Ike Turner @ May 6th 2008 12:44PM]

Left