Toshiba TG01 hands-on and video walkthrough

While we weren't originally cheering fans of the Toshiba TG01's somewhat odd "stripey" interface, checking it out in person tells a different tale. It actually makes sense and works surprisingly well, and really, there is a reason why we've seen so many Windows Mobile skinning efforts, the shipped interface needs it. Most functions you need can be found in Toshiba's homescreen UI or can be added -- the video demos some of the options for making changes and panel color choices if the default isn't tickling your fancy. This handset is thin and light and makes the iPhone we used for some scale pics look positively chubby -- it's like having a PSP-sized display in your pocket. The 4.1-inch Regza-inspired screen is clear, the resistive touchscreen is typical hit and miss with fingertips, video and gaming are fast on the 1GHz Snapdragon processor and look gorgeous. You know, if Toshiba sees fit to add some 3G bands other than the 2100MHz included in the first effort, we could easily see this living -- almost unnoticed -- in our pockets. We're still pretty far out from the rumored summer launch of the TG01 so we're expecting to see some changes between now and then, and we also have some concerns about battery life while driving a screen like this, but for now, wow. Video walkthrough, some gaming action, and a big gallery are just past the break.

Gallery: Toshiba TG01 hands-on and video walkthrough

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[Amon @ Feb 17th 2009 5:40AM]

i hope winmo does its job here, tosh has dine its part!

[Brian @ Feb 17th 2009 12:20PM]

heh, shaking...

[Jimmy Jones @ Feb 17th 2009 5:50AM]

Nice phone.....Hopefully they can upgrade this to 6.5 before they launch it. I'm either shooting for the Pre or this one here...


Hopefully they'll announce the price soon so I know how much of my bank i have to break...

[David @ Feb 17th 2009 6:42AM]

If that home button changes to the now mandatory Windows physical button, WM6.5 could be on this device.

[Gnormie @ Feb 17th 2009 5:52AM]

The screen position is really off putting, being so low with such a huge bezel above it gives the impression that the phone is constantly upside down.

[Hamidxa @ Feb 17th 2009 6:10AM]

Impressive.
Hope this come out for Sprint.

[Aaron @ Feb 17th 2009 6:11AM]

Agreed!

I would ditch my HTC Touch Pro in an instant if that happened. I'm really liking the hardware specs on this thing, especially that processor speed! However, it does make me wonder how good the battery life is, with all that horsepower under the hood.

[Calagan @ Feb 17th 2009 6:15AM]

Yet another beautiful piece of hardware (the black one) spoiled by WinMo.

Are these touchscreens really meant for "nail tapping" as this lovely-handed women was demonstrating? I can't help to wonder how long they would bear such heavy crab-killing treatment?

[drill @ Feb 17th 2009 7:19AM]

I don't have a stance on WinMo, but the nail-tapping... it reminded me of all things wrong in the world. :( I feel so insecure inside just thinking of the screen scratches.

*sob*

[yG @ Feb 17th 2009 6:27AM]

The only problem I'm concerned of is if it can fit in our jeans's pockets

[muyiwa @ Feb 17th 2009 6:36AM]

dude I was thinking the exact same thing

[bob @ Feb 17th 2009 6:42AM]

not how unresponzise the screen is?

[deyanimay @ Feb 17th 2009 9:53PM]

Uncomfortable maybe but what about battery life.

[ai4281 @ Feb 17th 2009 6:47AM]

I'm totally amazed at the gaming ability of Snapdragon. That looks fantastic. Better than PSP, better than iPhone... It may be at the level of the original Xbox??

Oh and also, I can hear the music from the Watchmen trailer near the end of the video haha. March 6th!

[Oss @ Feb 17th 2009 12:42PM]

Better than PSP? There's no hadheld to match PSP! (God Of War Chains Of Olimpus is a bright example, ad there is a lot of great games) Have u ever try to play without joystick, d-pad and any buttons? As for gaming on the phone - there is great playstation emu - FpseCE 0.96 for Windows Mobile.(for those who has phone with buttons :P ) I play Wipeout on my 3.5" screen at 25-30 fps and with joystick (HTC Blueangel) I hate all those modern smartphones with decent hardware inside and lack of any tactile controls!

[GroovDude @ Feb 25th 2009 12:16AM]

Agreed with OSS, even IF this phone had excellent 3D graphics for games, I can't really see much innovation since it doesn't support multi-touch. Itll be good eye candy with some single finger based games, but I can't see myself using one finger just to play a nice 3D game.

[PoisonWolf @ Feb 17th 2009 7:22AM]

I'm guessing that battery life is going to be a big issue on this phone. Is the back cover even removable? And by golly, that lady looked like she was purposefully trying to break the phone with the armageddon-like screen jabs and the crazy port insertion.

[MaxSMoke @ Feb 17th 2009 9:17AM]

PLEASE tell me Sprint is going to pick that up! I like my HTC Touch Pro, but I never use the keyboard. The lack of a joystick is gay (they never heard of games?), but otherwise it's a dreamy device. Too bad WinMo device designers don't rip off that great trackball on the Blackberry/Android phones. That sounds really cool for games.

[TareX @ Feb 17th 2009 9:23AM]

All I can think of are the scratches this resistive screen will get from a single level of this game.

[FILA @ Feb 17th 2009 10:17AM]

gay and terrible UI

[the real Brad @ Feb 17th 2009 8:39PM]

gay and terrible comment

[H4MM3R @ Feb 17th 2009 10:40AM]

He flips you off at 00:37.

[Nelagster @ Feb 17th 2009 9:18PM]

haha i thought i was the only one that noticed that

[ghost @ Feb 18th 2009 7:02AM]

You caught that too eh?

[iKurt Mark III @ Feb 17th 2009 11:48AM]

It doesn't look like an iPhone or the iPod touch.

There I said it, am I cool now?

[Hamidxa @ Feb 17th 2009 12:03PM]

You're right, it looks better.

It's thinner, it's slicker, has a screen that is much larger, a resolution 2.5 greater, and doesn't waste half of its real estate on a useless large bezel.

[iphonerulez @ Feb 17th 2009 12:50PM]

She ran out of juice. I'm sure that will be a problem of every major high performance handset. Oooh, look at my 1GHz Snapdragon processor-equipped smartphone pump out those graphics. Look fast because in ten minutes it's due for a recharge. Of course, they can always make it as thick as a standard brick for long battery-life. These poor smartphone users are going to have to compromise on some features.

[sr @ Feb 17th 2009 12:57PM]

WinMo is so disgusting that they will do anything to hide the actual interface from the user, but at the end of the day you will still have to deal with shitty WinMo menus and settings menus. It's at that point you will need a stylus or very sharp finger nails. They keep coming up with new ways to jazz it up and make it acceptable, but it still stinks underneath.

[Hamidxa @ Feb 17th 2009 2:01PM]

No you don't.
TF3D, Point UI, make all of what you claim totally unnecessary.

People like you still live in the past, iPhone user by any chance?

[GroovDude @ Feb 25th 2009 12:18AM]

WinMo 6.5 has redesigned menu's for finger friendly interface. WinMo was originally designed as a stylus based phone, it was until Apple made a finger native device, people wanted that.

I actually like WinMo, and how customizable it is. I actually can't wait for the new Microsoft Marketplace for WinMo to come out so more developers will feed their apps to a more centralized location. I don't think you can find a more customizable OS (besides Android, although I have seen a major drought of developers).

[ark_v2 @ Feb 17th 2009 9:35PM]

I must say I'm impressed. Well done Toshiba.

[cf292007 @ Feb 17th 2009 11:34PM]

i hate the resistive touch screen overall one of the greatest hardware implementations i have ever seen

[boe @ Feb 18th 2009 11:23AM]

This looks AMAZING!!! I really really really hope they consider making a CDMA version. After trying the Sprint Diamond by HTC I'm really hoping Sprint starts carrying better brands. The Diamond has crappy reception, the worst battery life I think I've ever encountered on ANYTHING in my lifetime, a small screen, not too slim - it just is a POS in my opinion.

[Zack @ Feb 22nd 2009 5:07PM]

Nice phone but this girl is killin` me with this nails.If my chick do this to my phone i`m gonan snap off this nails instantly