iPhone vs. HTC Touch Diamond vs. Xperia X1... Fight!

Would you look at that: a thick slab of iPhone meat in a Sony Ericsson and HTC sandwich. The iPhone's big screen is nice and all but the device is starting to look a bit portly given that the Xperia X1 sports a QWERTY with chewy HSDPA data, the latter shared with the Raphael Touch Diamond. Tasty, regardless.

Update: Er, that's not the HTC Raphael, it's their Touch Diamond.

[Via WMExperts, thanks Al]

[clak @ May 29th 2008 2:11AM]

Blasphemy!

People trying to convince people to NOT get an iPhone are about as effective as a preacher standing outside the door of a strip club and screaming: "Don't go in, there's breasts inside!"—Clak

[craig#2 @ May 29th 2008 2:54AM]

More like the preacher standing outside his own church, saying "Don't go in, there's salvation!" Or breasts. Or something. Whatever. I hear you though, and I completely agree.

We see right through you, fanboys!

xoxo

[Nohone @ May 29th 2008 4:13AM]

My 3rd iPhone broke this week.

The first one would constantly freeze, leaving the spinning "wheel" (or whatever you call it) on the screen, and the only way to fix it was to let the battery drain. The Seattle "Genius Bar" could not repro the problem, and by the time I would get there the battery was drained, so they would not replace it even though it was under warranty. Because I still had 22 months on my contract, I had to buy a new one or pay a few $100 to get out of my contract.

With the second one, when I tried to install the 1.1.4 update, it froze and would not reboot. I went back to the "Genius Bar" where they said I tried to run a tool to unlock it, and would not fix it. I never ran any unlocking tool, and did nothing other than use the latest version of iTunes to communicate with my phone. They would not replace it even though it was under warranty. Because I still had 23 months on my contract, I had to buy a new one or pay a few $100 to get out of my contract.

Yesterday I was expecting an important call for a new job (I am an independant software contractor). When I got the call, every few seconds the audio would drop out. I pulled my sim card, put it into my old Blackjack, and called back without a problem. A few days ago I noticed that I was not hearing the click when I pressed the button at the top, nor was I hearing the "boop" sound when I plugged into the charge block. After playing around a bit, I discovered that if I used the iPod part of the phone, it would play a few seconds then the > arrow would switch to the pause icon and would not hear audio. Right now, I am thinking of paying the cost to get out of my contract. While the web browser was a great tool over my Blackjack (IE on mobile is not good), at least the Blackjack was reliable.

I have been critical of Apple products in the past. I have had 3 iPhones, 1 Touch (sold to a friend when I got an iPhone), and bought a Touch as a present for the GF (a Mac fan). The present will not connect to an older Mac Book because she is not running a newer version of OSX, and iTunes will not install.

The only problem with my Blackjack, was when my GF, while driving 70MPH, threw it out of the car during a fight and broke the screen. I am not impressed by Apple quality control. But I am sure you will say I am an Apple hating fanboy, and I am just ranting because I hate Apple.

[Wii60Warrior @ May 29th 2008 8:03AM]

Well I guess you can classify me as one of those blind fanboys of the iPhone.

The screens on those other phones are just too damn small and neither of them look as visually appealing to me as the iPhone.

The Xperia comes close and I may give it a chance if I see one in stores. However judging from those pics it looks like a hefty b*tch compared to the iPhone.

[Matt @ May 29th 2008 9:09AM]

Nohone, your first phone broke with 22 months left on your contract, and your second broke with 23 months left on your contract? Please tell me where you can get such amazing phones that travel backwards in time!

And I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe that an independent software developer like yourself didn't install *something* on his iPhone that he wasn't allowed to...

I also find it unbelievable that one would shell out full price for another iPhone TWICE after they kept breaking...

I call fake.

[FordGTGuy @ May 29th 2008 9:26AM]

@ Matt:

So his a liar because he might have made a mistake typing?

You ever think that maybe he just likes the phone?

Also the "Genius Bar" are the stupidest people I have ever talked to and I wouldn't doubt if you walked into the Apple store and told them it was a firmware problem the first thing they would say is "Maybe you shouldn't have hacked it.".

The funny part about you assuming he hacked it is the fact that hacking it probably would have fixed it. Also would you think a software developer would be dumb enough not to unjailbreak it before taking it back?

[Mikey @ May 29th 2008 9:30AM]

@Matt

Wow, way to focus on his typo (the 22 months-23 months left on his contract). And your comment about his phone being able to go back in time was sooooooooo witty.

And I'm sure he just made up this whole story just to "get" Apple, when the much more plausible explanation would be that this is exactly what happened to him. I've had very similar experiences with the iPods I've owned. I have had 4 iPods completely crap out on me for no explicable reason, and all the people at the Genius Bar have done is send it in for a replacement.

[happy_penguin @ May 29th 2008 10:23AM]

I've had my iPhone for about a year now and while it has crashed a few times, (yes, they do occasionally crash) it has NEVER shown me a spinning wheel. I think nohone is talking about the spinning beach ball you see when a Mac freezes and I have never seen that on my iPhone. I don't believe nohone.

[Idlemind @ May 29th 2008 10:36AM]

Software guys seem to have all the problems...
why cant you just be dumb like the rest of us?
My iPhone works fine... (until AT&T gets involved)

[BluesK1d @ May 29th 2008 10:51AM]

@ Wii60Warrior

How can you make that judgment? Both the Diamond and the X1 have a MUCH higher resolution than the iPhone so how can they not be as "visually appealing" (especially having not even SEEN either one)? Your blind faith based on lemming-like loyalty and not even as much as a personal observation or a quick peek at the specs personifies the term Fanboy.

[Nick Ritch @ May 29th 2008 12:21PM]

Every time you activate a new iPhone you resigning that 2 year contract. So his first one would have been after owning it for 2 months. Then he replaces it with a second one activates it (thus resigning the 2 year contract) and it breaks a month later with 23 months left.
His statements made sense to me.

[Qugeist @ May 29th 2008 1:38PM]

@FordGTGuy

yeah, how ironic with their job title. Genius. But you know, you don't have to be a mac fanatic to work there. You have to make money for Apple. But from the comments (and elsewhere), sounds like they're kinda arrogant, haughty, know-all and rude towards the customers, which I haven't experienced that - I'm not in the US. I think if they're accusing customers of unlocking their phones, the customers can probably speak directly to the store manager to sort the problem out.

[Nohone @ May 29th 2008 2:17PM]

Nick is correct and it is not a typo. Every time you activate a new phone, your contract starts over. I am really starting to see this as a unfair business practice and anti-consumer. They sell you a product that does not work long enough to get you through the 2 year contract, so you are perpetually locked in a contract. With other phones, I just pop out the sim card, and put it in another phone.

@Matt: No, I did not install anything on it. I like hacking things, but something as vital as a phone, when I do not have a land line, is not something that I want to mess up. They said they would not fix it because it was supposedly hacked, and was no longer under warranty. If it were the official SDK, then I would write software for it (which I can't, because I do not have a Mac). But as usual, attack me rather than saying maybe they have problems.

I was able to fix my latest problem, though. I had to restore the device, which lost a lot of text messages since I have not done a sync in a while.

[Nohone @ May 29th 2008 2:40PM]

@clak: have you ever thought that maybe I am turned off from apple because of the experiences I have had with their products? Yes, I like my zune, yes, I prefer windows over mac. But because I have had a bad experience with apple products, I am making it up?

I uploaded a screenshot of me typing this message to http://www.flickr.com/photos/27139051@N07/2533779589/ as proof

[Nohone @ May 29th 2008 2:51PM]

@happy_penguin: The wheel that I am talking about is that spinning fan thing letting you know that it is doing work - much like the hourglass cursor on windows. It appears in the middle of the screen, and when it has frozen it appears like it has drawn its self over and over. Holding the button on the top does not offer to poser down, pressing and holding the home button and the button on the top does not clear it. The good thing is the screen stays fully lit, so the battery drains quickly.

[T-Bone @ May 29th 2008 3:18PM]

@nohone:

Are you talking about that thing that appears when you turn off the phone? That's literally the only time I've have ever seen it in the middle of the screen. and I've had my iPhone since October.

[Abuzar @ May 29th 2008 4:04PM]

Clak, oh he got you bitch!

Seriously man, I hate you clak.

[clak @ May 29th 2008 6:50PM]

Awww, COME ON, a picture on Flickr doesn't prove he owns an iPhone. All it proves is he knows someone who owns a iPhone. Probably someone at his job at McDonalds. I'm supposed to believe that he took the Sim card out of his iPhone and put it into another phone, took a picture with that phone, uploaded the picture, pulled the Sim card out again and then finished his message after adding the url to the picture on Flickr?

A more plausible explanation is that he asked the deep fry girl if he could borrow her phone on break and then took the iPhone into a broom closet and took a picture of it.

And even if he is telling the truth, is Nohone really this desperate to prove he's had a bad experience with Apple? Damn, your hate is deep, my friend. Hell, the iPhone has the highest approval (%79) rating of any smartphone. Higher than even the Blackberry.

BTW, Nohone, does your manager at McDonalds know you've been on break all this time?


You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for a buck fifty in late charges at the public library—Will, Good Will Hunting

[Nohone @ May 29th 2008 7:06PM]

And now start the personal attacks. Clak, you truly are first class all the way. Attacking me for being the #1 Apple hater, when you, yourself are the #1 Microsoft hater, and a lying one at that. Now I work at McDonalds? But how would I know how to do all that SIM card stuff if I am a stupid, Apple hating, Microsoft loving, fry cook?

I know that not all Apple fans out there are not like you, but you give every single one of them a bad name.

[happy_penguin @ May 29th 2008 7:28PM]

Nohone @ May 29th 2008 2:51PM
@happy_penguin: The wheel that I am talking about is that spinning fan thing letting you know that it is doing work
T-Bone @ May 29th 2008 3:18PM
@nohone:
Are you talking about that thing that appears when you turn off the phone? That's literally the only time I've have ever seen it in the middle of the screen. and I've had my iPhone since October.

I think I remember seeing it when I had the hack installed, like restarting springboard or something but other than that, I only remember seeing it only on power down. As I said, I didn't even see it the few times my iPhone crashed.

Nohone: I have no idea why you would see that at any other time because in the year I've had my iPhone I don't remember any incidents of it other than when I mentioned.

[Nohone @ May 29th 2008 8:04PM]

@Abuzar, I appreciate the support, but don't go down to Clak's pathetic level. Many people around here know what a little nothing he is, and he is only digging himself deeper.

[Abuzar @ May 29th 2008 10:40PM]

Man, I'm not trying to do down to his level. Reading his comments makes me so angry though. Seriously, I'm a difficult person to piss off, but this random dude here(clak) only has to write one sentence.

Seriously, his logic is SO DAMNED FLAWED. I hate people like that.

[waiownsyou @ May 29th 2008 2:15AM]

Diamond is a much better name than Raphael.

Any would you please stop comparing everything with an Apple product? I'm serious. I'm very interested how an Xperia X1 will go against a toaster.

[gabe @ May 29th 2008 2:15AM]

i like turtles!

[Erik @ May 29th 2008 3:13AM]

As far as bread toasting goes, you'll be disappointed to find that the Xperia X1 could only work once, before needing replacement...and a fire extinguisher.

[Jesse S @ May 29th 2008 3:23AM]

That toaster is probably more technologically advanced than an iPhone.

[Patriks7 @ May 29th 2008 5:28AM]

but Apple dosnt make toasters so u wont find it here :x

[Shinigami @ May 29th 2008 6:41AM]

Xperia goes toast, Toaster wins xD

[Matt Vanandel @ May 29th 2008 6:10PM]

I think "Raphael" has a rather affluent ring to it. Very dignified. It's also hard NOT to love a Diamond with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

[crow610 @ May 29th 2008 2:28AM]

i

[phanbouy @ May 29th 2008 3:31AM]

The fanboy force is strong with Jesse

[StealthMonkey @ May 29th 2008 11:06AM]

Yeah! And stop breaking the RSS feeds! You made me have to actually navigate to your site, bastards.

[Greg @ May 29th 2008 12:24PM]

Didnt' you hear??

Apple is introducing the iToaster next week!!

w00t!

[chickenator @ May 29th 2008 2:16AM]

but that looks like Touch Diamond to me

[Surur @ May 29th 2008 2:38AM]

It is the Touch Diamond, not the Raphael.

Here is the source of the pictures on CNET Asia. There are plenty more here also.

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhelds/0,39001709,62041882,00.htm

For a handheld device that must be carried in the pocket, the iPhone (and iPhone 3G) is starting to look rather large.

[helloUser @ May 29th 2008 2:16AM]

Tactile keyboards are best. None of this touchscreen crap.

[Ivar Mattuhsurup @ May 29th 2008 2:07PM]

not unless it has hapatic and audio feedback

[phanbouy @ May 29th 2008 2:19AM]

Donatello is pissed

[Andrew Ries @ May 29th 2008 3:47PM]

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/ninja_turtles.png

[o rly @ May 29th 2008 2:19AM]

Why bother have the iPhone there, it's not even at the same level as the Raphael or Xperia X1 (from specs and early previews)
...oh wait, this is Engadget; carry on.

[Richard Lai @ May 29th 2008 2:31AM]

That's like saying why bother putting a 50 cent coin next to phones.

[absurdio @ May 29th 2008 3:06PM]

What the hell are you whining about?
The post characterizes the iphone as "portly" and lacking. It's pretty weighted in your favor, buddy.
You that nervous about Apple's presence?

[o rly @ May 29th 2008 11:17PM]

Exactly absurdio, so why have it there?

[Wiigee @ May 29th 2008 2:26AM]

i say iPhone for now because im more used to the apple UI. but once Android comes around, HTC for sure.

[HitTheCity @ May 29th 2008 2:26AM]

Yep, that's the Diamond with no keyboard, no way is that the Raphael!

[DP @ May 29th 2008 2:26AM]

Are you sure that's not just a Touch Diamond? Whatever... excellent phones this year.

[Tyler @ May 29th 2008 2:26AM]

The Xperia X1 is obviously the better choice in that sandwich, i mean look at how thick that slab of plastic, i can already taste it.

[DP @ May 29th 2008 2:28AM]

Which US carrier is getting the X1 anyway?

[anabouboula @ May 29th 2008 2:29AM]

Take that Nokia!

[Engadgetluvsappl @ May 29th 2008 7:26AM]

LOL, Nokia's 14 month old N95 still trumps all of them on specs.

Disgraceful.