http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/ Engadget Comments for HTC Rhodium spotted in Sprint 'compatible phone' list, Touch Pro2 definitely maybe imminent http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 2:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 9:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 11:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 3:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 3:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 9:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/
The processor (which needed upgrading the most) is the same.
The video chipset (which ABSOLUTELY NEEDS PROPER DRIVERS) remains the same.
The amount of RAM remains the same (not that Im complaining, the RAM in these things is more than the iPhone 3GS or Pre, and makes multi-tasking a pleasant experience, but still it wouldn't have killed them to double it or something)
The shipping OS remains the same (upgrade to 6.5 OTA or via a ROM d/l available....although Im already on 6.5 on my Touch Pro and HD)

So they basically upgraded the screen and the speakerphone while doing away with the LED flash, which was convenient when used as a flashlight, and super bright at that.

It also tilts now, which I must admit is super cool (and is a feature that they should've never gotten rid of in the first place after they introduced it in the Tilt).

But at the end of the day, for those people with Touch HD's or Touch Pro's, I really don't think this update is worth the upgrade.

Had they included a Snapdragon processor, or a Tegra chipset in there, and maybe even boosted the RAM, and given it an OLED screen, then I'd gladly fork over the cash for the upgrade, and just install 6.5 on it myself.

As it stands however, a larger screen is not enough to make most upgrade.]]>Aug 4th 2009 3:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 3:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 4:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 4:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/
Reviews are also indicating a significant increase in speed which is welcome.

The improvement in the speakerphone is significant.

There is no question that this user will upgrade.]]>Aug 4th 2009 8:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 8:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/
Thank you for saving me the time of typing that. =)]]>Aug 4th 2009 11:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 3:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 11:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 3:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/The SuperStar will get my money the second it hits Sprint.

Can't wait for the Tegra based WinMo phones to hit the market such as the SuperStar, plus throw in the 3.7/3.8" OLED WVGA screen, and we are talking about one hell of a handset.]]>Aug 4th 2009 5:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 11:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 4:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://sprintusers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2180572&postcount=574]]>Aug 4th 2009 5:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 5:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 7:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 8:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/
I am not talking about incremental updates on an annual or biannual schedule, which is normal.

How did Apple come into it by the way, who have only two models and release once a year. Whatever.

Nah, I am talking about the Nokia strategy, new phones every month, not with incremental improvements but simply swapping features around. Add a light, take it away, change the button pattern, bring it back next year, move the port, add another, take it away, a voicemail button, no button, only certain models now have the button, bigger screen, smaller screen, nope its big again. And for the special ultra release of the same features and the same software for another year swapped around a bit between models there's one with sparkles!!!

HTC seems to have researched this strategy solidly and implemented it well. Nothing wrong with that, its an excellent strategy, low cost, fast churn, fill up the shelves with 10 models of the same thing, tweak and twiddle so the fashion buyers (who include IT spec heads) keep all starry eyed.]]>Aug 4th 2009 11:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/
Like across the MBP range where they have the cheek to give the 13" only one audio port, the 15" has no Express card and the 17" has everything. The recent removal of FW and its return on the unibody 13" was arguably feature shuffling but given it wasn't a "Pro" and then it became one, it's still more a stratification approach than feature shuffling.

The iPhone is in the process of stratification as happened to the iPod over the years, though now the stratification is looking to be less across product groups and more across the whole range. Which appears to be a tactical change, shrug. The XBox SKU's are a great example of stratification but limited to a single product. Sony went further by keeping the PSOne alive.

Feature shuffling is most apparent in the mobile phone market, maybe the camera market also, shrug. It's a fashion industry approach, Heels are in, heels are out, heels are back. Stripes, plains, two tones and wow new this season stripes!!!! Stratification is for products with a longer lifecycle, it lets buyers at different price points buy in. Shuffling is for products that last up to a year, usually shorter.

That is why Nokia is an important example of feature shuffle in a seemingly tech related industry which mobile phones actually aren't, they are a fashion industry. Apple's fashion sense is approaching that of a metal brick, namely bugger all, they have great industrial design sense though which is not the same thing. Actually decisions like 5 year batteries (remains to be seen) and annual product launches clearly indicate Apple isn't in the fashion industry.]]>Aug 4th 2009 11:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 10:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 9:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 9:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/
http://mcguireslaw.com/2008/07/16/psst-have-you-heard-about-everything-plus/#comment-1789 how stupid is it to bann 95% of your customer base from getting a phone activated and locking for an extra 2 years? When Sprint only has 3 Million people on Everything Plans and 46 Million on Legacy plans

#2. The Touch Pro 2 will be tread just like the Palm Pre, only for those 3 Million customers on Everything plans the other 46 Million on Legacy plans can F'off according to Sprint



]]>Aug 4th 2009 11:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/
#4. I hope the FCC got my email and certified letter exactly on this point, you can forget about SERO, I am talking about Legacy plans you have one with Sprint any type of plan,, Sorry you can not get a new phone with Sprint, and commit to another 2 year contract. Heck I would forgo rebates all I want ti sto use the phone of my choice on my Legacy plan. But Sprint will from now on treat All future Smartphones like the Palm Pre, if your plan does not say "everything" you cannot activate it. This will back fire and blow up in Sprint's face]]>Aug 4th 2009 10:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/
Where is that link did you post suggest that the Touch Pro2 was going to be banned from SERO, or any plan?

95% of the customer based on SERO or legacy plans? Where the hell did you pull tha...never mind, I have a pretty good idea. The 3 million customers are on SIMPLY Everything plans, not Everything plans overall. Along with that, as with any smartphone besides the Pre, you can add a data add-on of $25 - $30 per month for smartphones.]]>Aug 4th 2009 10:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/

This 2 pronged strategy of destroying the reputation with customers most of their customers. Plus changing the rules of the game mid stream, sure sign up for our plans oh guess what that plan is not good enough for our cool phones, you need a new plan which cost more. Who thinks down the line in 2 years Sprint will pull the same thing and now the Palm Pre 2 can not be activated on the Everything plans but needs a new Elite Plan.

This will back fire and blow up in Sprint's faces when shareholders find out this is Dan's plan for success. ]]>Aug 4th 2009 10:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/Aug 4th 2009 6:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/htc-rhodium-spotted-in-sprint-compatible-phone-list-touch-pro/
It's already out on Telus. Has been for several days.]]>Aug 4th 2009 6:20PM