HTC Touch Diamond vs. iPhone, fight!
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 13th 2008 6:49AM
posted May 13th 2008 6:49AM
posted May 13th 2008 6:49AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
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Great phone - would like to see it on Sprint tomorrow.
Hopefully it has better bluetooth than previous HTC phones, GPS enabled on release and better battery life - better have better battery life - it looks thick.
it looks thick.
---------------------------
Its thinner than the iPhone.
In The Netherlands you can pre-order the Diamond for € 529,- without a plan. It's about € 50,- cheaper than the Nokia N95 8GB.
With the cheapest Vodafone plan it probably will be less then €300,-
ugh enough about 3G iPhone. It won't change anything. Goddamn fan boys. An yes this post was done on a iPhone. I make so many spelling errors with this phone.
That's why it has a really good autocorrect feature. If you're going back and correcting spelling errors rather than letting the phone do it for you, you're doing it wrong.
ONLY 4GB? :(
IS MEMORY CARD SLOT CONFIRMED?
From what I have heard on the Diamond, 4GB no card slot it would ahve added 2 mm and the raphael (dimond with a hardware Keyboard) will have the same stuff but no 4 GB of memory. It will however have the card slot. It's thicker of coarse though with a sliding KB. I personally liked my HTC touch more than the 1st GEN IPhone, more features and I do use all of them. I really like the diamond though I'm hoping some one gets the display drivers worked out on the touch and then someone ports this UI to it. If not I might pick up a diamond at some point.
I want my POS WM to work like it should and I wouldn't be reading reviews with envy about other phones with different OS's
Im just glad some companies are still trying to make a decent phone that the rest of us uncool people can use for other things than ipod like functions and youtube and actually load it with the applications we need. for as we all know, apple = cool progressive people, really, really cool progressive people.........dont argue with them, they know best.
Applications you need like what, exactly?
Interesting - some iPhone fans automatically dismiss features that the iPhone doesn't offer as frivolous, even though most other smartphones include the features, and they are used frequently. Maybe the missing features would not be used by the iPhone fan, but the missing features are used daily by users of other smartphones. The iPhone was missing too many features that I use for me to consider purchasing one. I did purchase an iPod touch so I could have extensive experience using the best interface every made according to the Apple fans. The interface is ok, but I am not overly impressed. Every Palm OS device ever made had icons large enough to select with your finger rather than a stylus, and even many of the maligned WM devices included a Home application with big icons that could easily be selected with your finger. Most of my WM, and Palm OS use has been with finger navigation rather than the included stylus. The included stylus is nice when viewing the web when links are too close for finger selection. In 2001, I used a Visorphone which had a virtual dialpad large enough for finger use. In 2004, the Clie TH55 PDA was introduced. The iPhone has the same size, and resolution screen as the TH55, and looks very similar. When Mr. Jobs showed the iPhone at MacWorld, I originally thought he was holding up a TH55. The included NetFront browser on the TH55 could display 2004 full internet pages fine. It would have a problem displaying pages with some newer web standards, but did a fine job with the pages available when the device was introduced. NetFront on the 2004 Clie was also the first device I used that showed a snapshot of the full web page that many iPhone fans claim their device is the first to incorporate.
I am not saying the 2001 VisorPhone, and 2004 Clie are as good as, or better than the iPhone. Apple definitely refined, and improved the experience with the iPhone, and incorporated advanced technology that was not available when the other devices were released. However, the iPhone was not the first mobile device that offered a full browser, not the first device you are able to use finger navigation with (although the increased spacing between menu items is certainly welcomed), and not the first mobile device with a nice 3.5", 480 X 320 screen. Improvement yes, new, no.
For me, finger scrolling, and the multi-touch zoom got old very quickly, and are designed more to impress rather than get the job done efficiently. You may think differently, and I certainly respect your opinion. The more I used those features, I actually started to dislike them. I will take a page down button (real or virtual) any day over the finger scrolling.
Every user's needs are different. The iPhone may be a good fit for some users. If the iPhone meets your needs, congratulations, you have a sexy, sleek device that is indeed impressive. For other users, myself included, the iPhone just doesn't do what I need a smartphone to do, at least version 1. I know about the SDK, and the rumored 3G iPhone, but they are not here yet.
The new HTC device looks nice, but I will reserve my opinion until after I have hands-on time with the device.
Comments like this reaffirm my faith in intellectual discourse.
Really? because intellectual discourse usually wouldn't use as many straw men as "engadget" does. For example: "the best interface every [sic] made according to the Apple fans."
Really? Which Apple fans would those be? Can you name them? Strawman arguments for the super lose. If you can't make a point without reverting to the strawman, then you don't have a point to make.
"Maybe the missing features would not be used by the iPhone fan"
Which iPhone fan? Can you point him out to us? Again, if you have to use a strawman to say it, then don't say it at all.
As for the rest of your post, it's full of inaccuracies and false assumptions. You go on for a paragraph about how Apple wasn't the first to do this or that. Did Apple ever claim they were the first to use a touch interface? Can you show me where they said that? No, you can't, because they didn't say that.
In fact you seem to have missed the point of the iPhone completely. The iPhone IS an improvement. That's exactly what Apple does. They take existing technology... and IMPROVE it. They improve its functionality and how it works. Along they way they usually improve its design as well.
And seriously, did you just compare the Palm OS to the iPhone OS? Really? Oh, and you think finger scrolling and multi-touch zoom are just there to impress? Are you serious? You mention efficiency and then you say you'd rather have a hard page down button. So you apparently think moving your finger from the screen, down to a button then back to the screen is more efficient than simply sliding your finger down the screen. I mean never mind that on the iPhone you can simply double tap at the top or bottom of the screen to go to the next page.
I don't think the problem is the iPhone, I think the problem is you. Specious arguments, inaccuracies, strawmen, assumptions... this isn't intellectual discourse, it's character defamation.
According to the link, the Diamond will be priced around $850. Jesus!
I'm not an iPhone hater at all but the Diamond looks really sweet. I don't care much for the comparisons. I'm a Sprint user so the iPhone is not my option. The Diamond is looking really sweet though!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for a real-world review.
The iphone has alot of hype, but as engadget has been explaining....practical terms for everyday use is a must on high use cell phones.
I like the minimalistic style, but being a pc user, I would like cooperation with syncing outlook (without a data plan, if possible). If apple can do that, I bet they would get the business users as well.
Plus, its not possible to easily sync your calender, email, and download several great java games (i know its in the works, still..). It's a great multimedia device, don't get me wrong. I would just rather buy a cell phone that does what its supposed to do, work for the consumer, not the other way around.
I can have the best of both worlds with the diamond, a screen with better resolution, smaller dimensions, and best of all, not have to pay for a special expensive plan for an iphone. I don't know about call quality and the other aspects yet so I'll reserve my judgement until I can compare the two myself.
Btw, I am not a fanboi, I just use what works best with me.
And don't forget, WinMo phones can be used as a modem. Internet wherever you go. iphones will never connect your lappy's to the internet. How sad. But on the lighter side(for iphone users)I will share my WinMo phone's Wi-Fi to you for free. OK?
All these touch screen phones coming to the market... It's amazing what Apple has managed to do -- even if you don't buy an iPhone, but instead some other 3" touchscreen phone, it's partly thanks to Apple.
WD Mr.Jobs, keep up the great work
I can read a little bit of chinese, and if im not mistaken it says 24,000 New Taiwan Dollars? thats pretty much 800 bucks. Thats supposed to compete with the iphone? Even with a contract it doesn't seem like it will be comparable price wise, at least in the US
According to a Sprint rep, The diamond will be available by august. Just months after the release of Samsung instinct on june.I can't wait to play with it on the store!
jethro_static,
I doubt your Sprint rep knows anything we don't know. I doubt they know anything a 3rd grader doesn't already know. Your average Sprint rep wouldn't know a Sprint phone if they were being pelted by Sprint phones. I guess I don't really know if I'd know what brand a phone is if I was being pelted by it either.
I guess the moral of the story is that it is fun to pelt Sprint reps with phones (or rocks or snapping turtles if phones aren't handy).
Whatever dude.LMAO!!!
Try to be nice, and civil, and you still get flamed. I related my opinion of the iPhone, in fact said it is a sexy, slim impressive device, it just does not meet my needs. I also said "Apple definitely refined, and improved the experience with the iPhone, and incorporated advanced technology that was not available when the other devices were released", so I did not miss the point that the iPhone is an improvement.. I never stated that Apple said the iPhone is all the things I included in my original posts, but many comments made by self-proclaimed Apple fans do include the points in my first post. There are many comment postings (not by Apple just to clarify) on the net about the iPhone being the best device ever made, has the best user interface every made, is the first to use finger navigation, has the best mobile browser, and is the first mobile device to display full webpages. I do not record the poster's name for every post I read, it would be too time consuming, and I personally don't care what their names are. Unless we visit totally different websites, it is difficult to avoid comment postings about how the iPhone is the first device to do the items I included in my original posts. My post was based on comments posted for various iPhone articles I have read, not just the comments for the current article. Do a search with you favorite search, and I am sure you will find hundreds, if not thousands, of comment posts that affirm what I have said.
Did Zak really read my post? I did not compare Palm and Phone OS's. I did indicate that the Palm OS has always included icons that could be selected easily by finger, and most of my navigation with both Palm OS, and WM devices utilizes finger navigation. I also included "I am not saying the 2001 VisorPhone, and 2004 Clie are as good as, or better than the iPhone" If I was comparing, I would have to say currently that Palm OS (or WM) are better for my needs ( I said my needs, not everyone's needs) due to the plethora of 3rd party apps that I use daily, although I switched to WM about 3 years ago which also has a plethora of fine 3rd party apps that I need, and use. There is more to a phone or mobile device than how sexy, or sleek the UI is. For me, it is more important that the device does what I need even if the UI is not as sexy, or hip as the latest device which does not meet my mobile needs. At least in version 1, the iPhone is not even close to meeting my smartphone needs. Maybe a future version will meet my needs, but we won't know until it is available.
I am definitely not a fan of finger scrolling, and multi-touch zoom, and I say that after using both extensively. I do believe they are more to impress, than navigate. When a web page is zoomed to a readable level for me, about 12 lines are displayed in landscape mode. I do not want to finger scroll every 12 lines, and interrupt my line of sight. I know you can double tap the bottom of the page, but at least on the touch, it does not advance a full page. On the touch, with the page zoomed to a readable text level, double tapping the bottom of the page advances the page only 4 or 5 lines. Double tapping the bottom of the screen every 4 or 5 lines is just as annoying as finger scrolling every 12 lines. You may find it hard to believe, but yes, I do want a page down button that actually advances a full page, and does it without blocking the line of text I am trying to read. Multi-touch zoom seems awkward, and unnatural to me. I am not talking about the double tap zoom, I am talking about the pinching/expanding your fingers. I don't like it, if you do fine.
Zak's post stipulated my original post has inaccuracies, and assumptions. Where are they Zak? It would be inaccurate for me to say the iPhone does not have multi-touch, but not inaccurate to state I don't like it after using it. I am relating my opinion after using the iPod touch, Palm OS, and WM devices extensively. I know the touch is not the iPhone, but the touch interface is similar. Assumptions - no, I just related the claims included in many comment posts on various gadget websites that have practically claimed verbatim what I included. Again, I never said Apple made these claims, but some comment posters certainly did, and some of these post did include the fact they were Apple fanboys. If you haven't seen posts about the iPhone being the first device to be navigated by finger, that features not included are unnecessary, that Safari is the first browser to display full internet pages on the mobile web, that the iPhone interface is the best interface ever made, then you, and I visit different webpages. I have seen comment posts that claimed everything I included in my original post, they are not assumptions, they are almost verbatim quotes from various real posts, not strawmen. The posts were in favor of the iPhone, unless you meant to indicate iPhone fans are strawmen;) I don't record the name of every post I read. If the name is important for you, I am sure a good search will find them.
Zak has a different opinion of the iPhone than I do. I included in my original post that I respect other opinions. All I ask is the same in return.
i just can't living without iphone.
reason: i have a macbook
zak is mad coz you compared his iphone to a 2001 and 2004 device. LMAO!!! is that how good his iphone? atleast compare it to HTC Touch. LMAO again!!!
I know a smart phone is also quite good: Daxian X999 with Windows Mobile 6, WIFI, Java...
http://www.kinlu.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=60&zenid=b733ee7123c5fb105cd593d46df7bc1a
@jerry
Dude, That's a fake iphone! LOL! But Hey, Thats the best of both worlds. LMAO! My only question is why these chinese cloners can make a device with larger screen displays for WinMos. I don't understand.
I am Sure Zack Sleeps with his iphone under his pillow, So it was a mistake comparing his iphone with 2001 and 2004 devices. That sure spooked him to hell.
The only phone that interests me when it comes to competing with the iPhone as far as features and user interface is the Android. All these other phones are just around so we have something to talk about in the morning.
Hmm, i see all these talks about how the iphone was a innovation for whatnot, but i still fail to see how it does? and also these iphone users are argueing for the 3g iphone to be released to compare it to the htc diamond? what is there to compare? bottom line between the 3g iphone is that 3g will be added to it, doubt new software or features will be added to it, but if they do add it, wouldnt it be also fair to compare the so called 3g iphone to maybe a 2nd htc touch feature wise? but yes those who have an iphone, can you please post a list of all the features iphone has that makes it such a "wow omg i give my life to apple phone"?
I know this might be old but when "Zak" said:"In fact you seem to have missed the point of the iPhone completely. The iPhone IS an improvement. That's exactly what Apple does. They take existing technology... and IMPROVE it. They improve its functionality and how it works. Along they way they usually improve its design as well."
Reason i brought this up, is mainly because Zak seems like a die hard apple fan and would back them all they way. Even thought my post has no merits on this article but i would like to comment on what he said above.
"In fact you seem to have missed the point of the iPhone completely. The iPhone IS an improvement. That's exactly what Apple does. They take existing technology... and IMPROVE it. They improve its functionality and how it works. Along they way they usually improve its design as well." .... it is okay for apple to do this but when MS does the same to apply mainly, apple and its consumers has to jump of MS because of this? Whats the deal with this? I think everyone say the comparsion for apples os to vista, about its spotlight search and what not? so whats the deal apple fan? why do you guys seek to pick a fight and instigate topics about something very new and maybe even better than what apple has to offer?
Will Smith said it best - [pointing at the iPhone] Old and busted. [pointing at the diamond] New hotness.
This is a stereotype and does not apply to everyone.
So generally:
The iPhone is for the not so bright people who can style and want to look good. They dont understand 2mp camera is not the best, dont understand uses for Bluetooth A2DP sync, they still dont know there is no MMS and copy paste ability.
Its competition such as the HTC Diamond, Sony 905 (8Mp cam), Samsung i900 Omnia are clearly better phones than the iPhone in terms of features and functionality implemented. People who want these are mostly smart/nerdy people who are dorks and have no sense of fashion.
Altho the HTC Diamond looks nice and is prolly the best choice.
n00bs... will people PLEASE stop looking at the iPhone, seeing it has a bigger screen and thinking they will fit more on it? the diamond has a smaller screen but is higher resolution... you fit more on it and it is more crisp, and less pixelated.
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Apple iphone 16gb..$350usd
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