Best Buy preps unlocked Touch Diamond for retail

So the good news here is that Best Buy's getting ready to open its arms to yet another HTC product that's impossible to find by wandering into the brick-and-mortar store of the US wireless carrier of your choice; the bad news, though, is that it doesn't seem to be the version we wanted. The Touch Diamond now has a Coming Soon page all its own on Best Buy's site, which is just fantastic considering that neither AT&T nor T-Mobile have yet bothered to pick it up -- but the problem is that the specifications make no mention of US 3G despite the fact that we know there's just such a version floating around. Our hope is that we've just caught the big box with its pants down (wouldn't be the first time) and they'll look into carrying the real deal by the time "coming soon" switches to "in stock," especially since they've given the Touch Dual the same courtesy.

[Thanks, Mark]

[Sudo @ Sep 7th 2008 6:02PM]

Nice looking phone.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 7th 2008 7:20PM]

I agree. this is a great looking phone.

does anyone know how much space is required for iTunes software. Some body told me that it was over 60 MB.

Anyone else think that that is bloated ??? !!!!

[Mike @ Sep 7th 2008 7:48PM]

@kcc
It has several GB in it, besides, it's not iTunes. It's Windows Media Player because it's a Windows Mobile phone. ANd I'm sure it's under 20 MB.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 7th 2008 8:29PM]

@Mike,

It's 66 MB. Bloated.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 7th 2008 8:41PM]

@Apple fan boys.

My guess is that none of you are involved in the Large Hadron Collider. Right ?

Did you know that the principle software used is not OSX. Do you want to guess what it is ?

Stunning idiots.


@Apple rep.

Some advice from some one older and definitely wiser than you.. finish school, try to read - real books (with paper in them), read a good independent newspaper each day and if you must comment on the support for the troops in Iraq, then please ask them how they would most like to be supported; ... every single combat personnel that I have asked, replies "Bring me home now".

[Mike10010100 @ Sep 7th 2008 9:01PM]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that everyone who sets their profile to private is a fanboy. I don't understand what you are responding to kccboy, maybe it's a malfunction in the commenting system.

People who have set their profiles to private for no reason:
kccboy
Apple Rep.
clak

The list goes on and on...

[Aaron Wanker @ Sep 7th 2008 9:20PM]

@kcc

I do not see the relevance of the iPhone to this article... it's about the HTC Touch Diamond (a worthy competitor to the iPhone)...

But, a couple points:

One: your posts, were the first ones that I saw, that mention the iPhone. So that leads me to believe that you are using the comment section to make sure that people see your comments first (incorrect use of comment system strike 1).

Two: You did not directly confront Apple Rep., which leads me to believe that you either don't know how to use the comment system (we'll add another strike for that offense too), or your comments are nothing more than flamebait (another strike for baiting)

So far thats 3 strikes against you...

Three: are you really older than Apple Rep.? How do you know? The word "boy" in your screen name would suggest you're a kid, and the way you are so viciously attacking people whose opinions differ from yours jives with that exegesis.

Another strike, for really... in short I guess I would call it stupidity.

Four: How much would the most economic plan (that still allowed you to utilize all of the functions of the Touch Diamond) cost per year? I bet it's very close to the same price. While I couldn't find the price for an adequate plan, I did find that the price of the phone alone is $699.99... yeah, iPhone is cheaper.

So YET ANOTHER STRIKE for failing to quote a price for the 'better phone'.

And one more...

Five: Who prices a wife? STRIKE!
Final score:
kcc: 6 strikes for six comments!

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 7th 2008 9:38PM]

@Mike 10110101

You make a good point;

However if I am a 'fanboy'. then what I am a fan of is not clear. I certainly don't think that the object of my attractions are located in cyberspace or locked to a provided of hardware or software.

Truly I could not care less whether I run on Windows or OSX, nor could I care whether I use an iPhone or an HTC. I have had some terrible experiences with OSX abd happen to really like Vista. (I can't relate to blind, unspecific comments made about any system - but it does seem that the most stupid comments of the latter type do come from Apple supporters).

I am interested in reading the legitimate well thought-out contributions from educated well-informed, balanced persons who are skilled in communication.

The contrary persons out there who make less than objective comments... well.... they must be destroyed.

As for the profile, clak did it, so I did.... maybe I am a fanboy?

[curtisrutland @ Sep 7th 2008 11:33PM]

*Comment Abuse*

I'm going to do every sane person a favor and just warn you: don't even bother scrolling down any further. One of the most pathetic iPhone vs. WinMo flamewars that I've seen in a long time awaits. You've already gotten a preview of it. Sad, pathetic little people doing their best to make total tools of themselves; it sickens me!

If you must read further, please do your best not to feed the trolls, as this is obviously what they want. Just try to laugh, and try not to lose too much faith in humanity. Honestly, these people feed off your logical, on point comments and vomit fanboy excrement back in your face. They truly get a kick out of you trying to make sense of their nonsense. Don't let them win any more than they already have.

[[e-mail] @ Sep 8th 2008 12:50AM]

Who really gives a shit?

[John @ Sep 8th 2008 9:24AM]

I'm just glad I won't miss Jasmine's birthday party!

[brandon @ Sep 7th 2008 6:04PM]

I want!!!
Gimme gimme gimme!!!

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 7th 2008 7:25PM]

Oh Man !!!!

How can anyone call Microsoft a "me too" company ? Is it not a fact that Microsoft came out with Mobile phone software way way way before Apple ?


Doesn't the iPhone look just like a Dell Axim 50v ? Did Apple not think to change anything ? Talk about a me too company.

[Sly Fox @ Sep 7th 2008 6:04PM]

Well, even though best buy has it for retail I still doubt it will boost sales very much because the price will be high, and they won't have the marketing that att or verizon would give it. If HTC really wants to boost sales they should selling exclusives to att or verizon.

[Yuriy @ Sep 7th 2008 9:06PM]

they don't need too, its sold much more and faster without help of phone providers than iPhone (exclude USA market). You see - difference between real world and USA is that - that the everybody there knows what company makes and here people only know from TV adds.

[Peen @ Sep 7th 2008 11:08PM]

Before posting this reply I will openly admit I have an iPhone.

However, my friend got one of these phones the other day, and the touch screen on these things is USELESS. I completely forgot how hard you have to push in to set normal touch screens off! It looks good, and has removed a significant amount of bloat from an otherwise bloaty operating system.

Also, on these phones, they have a seperate keyboard for people who preferred the keypad and T9 thing. Sure, it's kinda slow and useless, but they have hte option available.

[OneLove @ Sep 7th 2008 6:09PM]

you (troll) = epic fail

[Jubei @ Sep 7th 2008 6:10PM]

Why is he a troll? He is simply stating the truth, the obvious truth that MS cannot innovate without copying Apple. They are the pinnacle of a "me too" company.

[Haikibutsu @ Sep 7th 2008 6:16PM]

I am an Apple fan, and I say WimMo is totally usable.

I think Mac vs PC is useless. The best OOS is whatever suits you best, and whatever compliments your workflow best.

[Haikibutsu @ Sep 7th 2008 6:16PM]

Sorry, OS, not OOS

[Zulu Edison @ Sep 7th 2008 6:20PM]

sorry to disrupt the stupid fanboy chat, but more dissapointing is the fact that as Sly Fox pointed out the pricing on this at Best Buy, is going to be outrageous.

which it is...

699.99

[ByronGman @ Sep 7th 2008 6:53PM]

@ Apple Rep.

How much are Iphones unlocked again?

[Niz @ Sep 7th 2008 6:55PM]

err that would be with a contract! this is sim free is it not?

[Yuriy @ Sep 8th 2008 11:12AM]

i think you can find cheaper on eBay:-)

[grull27 @ Sep 7th 2008 6:21PM]

Oh how I love that black diamond back. Why did Sprint have to ruin it with that red back?!

[Brian @ Sep 7th 2008 7:11PM]

iphone unlocked is more than 700 apple rep. shouldnt you know that?

[grull27 @ Sep 7th 2008 6:22PM]

You're like a bad joke!

[grull27 @ Sep 7th 2008 6:24PM]

$700 is way too much for a phone.

[Sahil Malik @ Sep 7th 2008 6:31PM]

Crap, I haven't even gotten the phone, and I've already missed 2 calls.

[Wormbolt @ Sep 7th 2008 8:42PM]

Too bad, Jasmine's birthday party was awesome!

[famm113 @ Sep 7th 2008 6:33PM]

@ grull27 I'm pretty sure you'll be able to change out the back if you prefer black instead of red.

[Tigocarvalho @ Sep 7th 2008 6:34PM]

Touch diamond and pro are available in Portugal muahahah
I had it in my hands today :D

[Mike C @ Sep 7th 2008 8:52PM]

in it you say??

[Albi @ Sep 7th 2008 6:39PM]

For $700 I would just go for a nokia n96.

[madmatt079 @ Sep 7th 2008 6:47PM]

Roughly the same price, but confirms this is the US 3G version.

http://www.expansys-usa.com/d.aspx?i=172644

[grull27 @ Sep 7th 2008 6:51PM]

It has US 3G?!

Ok. It's either I save $900 for books to pay for in college or I buy the HTC Touch Diamond and buy apps for it and stuff.

You decide! :D

[Reader @ Sep 7th 2008 6:55PM]

As long as that 900 bucks isn't from government grants do whatever you'd like...

[1234321 @ Sep 7th 2008 6:52PM]

I don't know what you mean by touch grid, but iphone is by far not the first touchscreen phone
and as for multitasking WinMo kills OSX (for iphone), the only program you can multitask is the iPod app, everything else closes with no minimize, WinMo on the other hand by default the x button is minimize, and programs can work with each other much more easily, not to mention copying and pasting is a nice thing to have, and screw app store, the number of warez for WinMo is still unmatched

[allislost @ Sep 7th 2008 6:53PM]

@AT FAT EMO

Poor Eric... How many different names have you gone though?

How pathetic must your life be that the only way to confirm your existence is by getting reactions to your asinine comments...

Such a sad time in the life of an iphone troll. Get some help, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline... or join the Army! You'll be the perfect soldier stupid and suicidal!

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Sep 7th 2008 6:54PM]

I really like the looks of this phone. I love my iPhone from a UI, PMP and Browser POV, but from a aesthetics standpoint, this is much more masculine.

This thing is $700. Granted, it's unlocked, but it's only GSM(2.xG) and only has 4GB for that price. The iPhone will retail for $600/$700, too, but that is for 8GB/16GB models, respectively. To it's credit, it does have WiFi and 3.2mpx camera, but the battery life is only 7.5 hours of talk time on GSM. Convert that for PMP and internet use (with Opera or Skyfire) and you have a pretty low total usage. Symbian's revamping by Nokia with Firefox included and a viable version of Android can't come fast enough.

[Darkfire @ Sep 7th 2008 7:17PM]

Only GSM? I thought there was a CDMA version too, which would support EV-DO.. Yea, here, http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/HTC-Touch-Diamond-CDMA-phone-p_2847.html

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Sep 7th 2008 10:39PM]

This one is clearly GSM, but I'm guessing, like Engadget, it's also HSDPA since I doubt they would remove those radios just to sell it unlocked.

[Yuriy @ Sep 8th 2008 11:15AM]

Its has 3G no worry, and the Touch PRO that will come under AT&T has slot for microSD up to 16Gb!

[letstakeawalk @ Sep 7th 2008 7:03PM]

@ Newsguy - Please don't associate our military with that @ssclown. Our service people deserve our respect.

@ Apple Rep. - Would you please provide the ISBN for the computer book you referenced? I'm curious to see what it's like. I'll bet it has lots of pretty pictures - have you finished coloring them in?

[Jamesy @ Sep 7th 2008 7:41PM]

Pretty awesome, I really want this phone, but it's $700. Fuck that.

[The Dude @ Sep 7th 2008 7:10PM]

Apple Rep. and Jubei circle-jerking each other is quite the obnoxious spectacle. Grab that bottle of Astroglide and get a room already.

[Jubei @ Sep 7th 2008 7:11PM]

"multitasking WinMo kills OSX (for iphone)"

That is why WinMo is such a bloated obsolete piece of OS. An inefficient archaic OS, with improper power management features. What you stated alone is the biggest blunder for a mobile OS. Once again Apple does it correctly.

Expect the biggest "me too" company to follow Apples lead in mobile power management.

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 7th 2008 7:12PM]

I will keep my serene :)

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 7th 2008 7:13PM]

However its not that bad Hummmmm hope its smaller the the iphone:)

[SteveoftheDead @ Sep 7th 2008 7:22PM]

@Haikibutsu

I agree 100%.
I use both Windows Vista/XP
Mac OSX Tiger/Leopard
iPhone
WinMo.

Just depends on what YOU want.
So stfu or gtfo fanbois :D.