What the
Snap lacks in flair, it makes up for in sheer, unadulterated function -- and having an utterly awesome keyboard certainly helps in that regard. It's easy to pass off HTC's latest portrait QWERTY handset as a bit frumpy from photographs, but trust us when we say that it's totally passable in person (some might even call it insanely attractive) -- think of it as the anti-
8900, if you will. Pictured on the Snap above is the configuration screen for Inner Circle, which HTC also introduced this week. There's really not much to it -- you can add email addresses from your address book or from incoming emails, and when Inner Circle is enabled, only emails from those contacts will be visible in the Snap's unified account-agnostic inbox. It's a great idea for shutting out the electronic noise most of us experience in our day-to-day lives, and we're hoping this little feature finds its way to HTC's full WinMo lineup going forward. Follow the break for a video tour of the phone (and pay close attention, Yanks, 'cause it'll be coming your way as the S522 in the next few months).
posted Apr 1st 2009 6:50PM
I want it!!!
It's nice, got to admit but not better than Nokia's E71. IMO, but nice finish.
It looks so Blackberry-ish.
NICE!
Is this another shitty HTC phone with no headphone jack?
If so, DON'T VOTE FOR DEFECTIVE DESIGN by buying it.
Oh Snap!
It looks like a cheap Blackberry prototype. Like the one Android was tested on 2 years ago. It looks fugly.
I'll stick with my HTC Touch Pro thank you.
This is a step backwards IMO, but to some old timers I could see the attraction.
Step backwards?? Touch screen isn't the solution to the world's problems you know. Besides that there are probably just 2 touch screen based phones on the market with a decent on screen keyboard. As for the Touch Pro the fold out keyboard does make it bulky and prone to glitches. The Snap has a highly durable and functional form factor that suits people who favour functionality before multi-media. I had the Nokia E71 a while back and absolutely loved the efficiency in typing texts on a phone like that, so I'm definitely interested in the Snap.
touch screen is def not the answer, at least not until battery technology drastically improves.
I love my touch Diamond but having it die on me when i need it and having to constantly charge it make me want something like the Snap..
Cute, I like the brushed metal around the control keys
Is it me or does it still kind of look like a render...
Just when you thought PDA phones were starting to get some decent styling...
dear god, that is hideous.
You hit it right on the head. This is thing is hideous.
If this ends up being priced like the Touch Viva, I could easily see myself picking one of these up.
In all honestly, someone should come out with a zune pad-like creation for the central navigation button. I like the five-way directional key my Motorola Q has for navigation, but I also like the idea of the Blackberry-esque touch-nub. I think a Zune Pad thing would be a perfect combination of the two.
ugly = uncomfortable = fail
in my opinion, ergonomic mice and keyboards are pretty damn ugly. But they are weird shape for a reason.
However, I don't see ergonomics in this phone.
i agree
It should be a 'Snap' to run.
oh snap!
Yes, and typing seems to be a snap.
I'll stick to my iPhone
Stick to it, marry it, no cares, seriously.
Can I suggest WHERE you can stick it?
Looks a whole, whole lot like the original Android qwerty-bar prototype.
http://www.engadget.com/photos/google-attacks-android-at-mobile-world-congress-1/634521/
(which would explain why its so ugly)
This looks like T-Mobile's Dash...
Windows Mobile, too.
It certainly does look like an updated version of the Dash. The real question is what sets the two apart (other than the obviously faster processor and minimally improved camera)? I've had my Dash for over 2 years now, and other than a battery that's constantly needing charged, it's been a great phone. I just wonder if there's enough compelling features to the Snap to warrant Dash owners to upgrade.
This thing is extremely fast.
It just goes to show you that VGA/WVGA on the Quallcomm processor is a recipe for disaster (Touch Pro owner).
May I suggest Mighty ROM 4.16
Problem solved. It's way faster than stock ROMs
Oh, Ive gone through Juicy, Mighty, Silence, Conflippers, etc...
Trust me. The Touch Pro is inherently slow because of the VGA screen and terrible Quallcomm processor. No custom rom will fix it.
Wow, impressive. But I don't really like the pink salmon color on the number and function keys. They should have kept the green from the cavalier. Or maybe a greyish-silver to match the trackball area. Just kind of takes away from the all-business look it has going. But otherwise this is my next phone!
booya
that keyboard looks seriously usable.
the screen could be a little bigger.
htc has seriously made a name for itself recently.
this is a phone i wouldnt be caught dead with....,.,
Good news, it wouldn't be caught dead with you either.
ugly buttons
yes it is fugly... but that qwerty looks oh so comfortable...
It should be called the HTC Berry
I prefer the HTC Diamond 2. Does anyone know when the Diamond 2 is going to be in U.S. stores?
*cough* knock-off *cough*
"It's easy to pass off HTC's latest portrait QWERTY handset as a bit frumpy from photographs, but trust us when we say that it's totally passable in person (some might even call it insanely attractive)"
People said the same thing about the HTC Dash and I still found it fugly in person.
looks like a E71+Bold mash up
I can't get the audio at all thru firefox - any issues ?? Anyway I think this is by far the best keyboard I have seen and if the phone functions well and has excellent battery life then its probably the best WinMo phone. Its gonna make waves if it performs well. It has a name too - Inner Circle - very classy !! Great work by HTC !
Can anyone say EPIC FAIL?
yes, anyone can, including yourself; it's the most overused meme in the internet. Might I suggest a more eclectic phrase, like " that's wack," "that's booty, son" or something more descriptive, like "I do not like this phone for a particular reason, that being (insert reason here)." That way, you can work your way up the internet ranks from purveyor of internet drivel to engadget editor. yes the differences are subtle, but they're there. For example, people will then have to read your drivel first, instead of having to click on the comments button.
Windows Mobile Standard FTW! Seriously, this is the *only* version of Windows Mobile that is completely finger-only for input. This is like a merge of the Shadow and the Dash.
it is a plausible device for business. it can defintely replace the aged moto Q
Function over looks people when it comes to business tools such as a SNAP. So many of you with the Multimedia this and the Multimedia that are short sighted as to the reason this phone came out.
Blackberry charges over 4K to get sync to work with Exchange for more than one person. To get a blackberry style phone which is not a bad design and make it Windows Mobile is very smart!
I will be recommending this phone to many of my clients as they have had frustrations with re-director on their desktops and more so of BlackBerry Enterprise's cost to sync email. What a joke!
I can't wait.
Very agreed,
I have use winmo smartphone ever since Orange SPV and never look back for my business needs, that I need to access more than 1800 people in my address book winmo definately better than Symbian (I am currently using e71).
Blackberry offers the similar concept with winmo smartphone in terms of organizing contacts, but still I prefer winmo synchronisation over Blackberry or symbian.
The only reason for me to switch from winmo to symbian only because there was no winmo device capable of having everything in one device.. GPS, WIFI, HSDPA, which is my necessity at the moment. But this SNAP will definately be my primary phone, and moving my E71 to my shop shelf. (I own a mobile shop).
Blackberry bold is my 2nd choice phone because lack of internet speed when browsing (I tested opening the same website only to have Bold 3 minutes later than nokia E71) bah.
the only question I have is : "why not 1 or 2 years ago you release this HTC??" instead you pile stupid windows 6 touchscreen variant, and those are basically the same thing... :(