If you thought that machining a phone from a single block of aluminum might cause RF issues in a phone... well, you can apparently think again, because HTC just went there with its freshly-introduced Legend. The rumored and leaked device becomes a proper successor for HTC's time-tested Hero by upgrading the LCD to a 3.2-inch AMOLED display (while still carrying over the old HVGA resolution) and moving up from a trackball to one of those newfangled optical trackpads, though this one's got a bit of a twist: it's surrounded by a clickable button. The phone runs Android 2.1 with a series of brand new Sense enhancements, most notably the addition of a "Friend Stream" widget that aggregates friends' status updates across services (a trend we've been seeing a lot of lately). We're not hearing about North American availability at this point, but it'll hit Vodafone and direct sales channels in Europe in "early" second quarter.
Update: Check out the promo video after the break!
"900 / 2100MHz 3G"? WTF? So no US release then? See, this is what bothers me ever since the Nexus One is released. It's like nobody wants to release their Android phones in the US anymore.
The US are the the 3d most sought after market for cell phones (after the EU and China) but to release your device in the land of the free means to be obliged to to kiss some carrier's orifices; Nokia and Google tried to avoid the obscene tribute required by american telcos but they had to forgo sales in order to keep their virginity.
@r3loaded I believe it's more like T-Mobile. the 850Mhz and 1900Mhz bands are also used in many countries in the Americas (including here in Brazil, which uses both American 850Mhz and European 2100Mhz)
@r3loaded Wrong. The 850 band is also used in Australia, NZ, S.America, and parts of Asia. On the other hand, the 1700 is only for T-Mobile US (and 1 Canadian provider).
Great generalization there. I am fully aware that all phones will have a bezel - having said that, a bezel need not be as big as the one on the legend - think the HTC HD2.
On the legend, the bezel on the sides are very well done, but the bezel on the bottom seems a bit too large for my taste, then again every one has an opinion - and that's why the comment system exists.
NICE! Why didn't they make the Desire in aluminium too? That would have been awsome! Personally, I think 3.2" is too small. But i LOVE the Aluminium frame!
what i don't get is that there's the bezel at the bottom of the screen, and the chin... surely one or the other? i mean it makes the screen look way smaller than it should be..
That's a sexy phone, and @ Engadget or anyone please TELL ME IF THIS is coming to AT&T? I'm dying for a HTC ANDROID phone. IF AT&T doesn't get this phone, I'm canceling my contract moving straight off to prepaid.
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posted February 16th 2010 5:30AM
"900 / 2100MHz 3G"? WTF? So no US release then? See, this is what bothers me ever since the Nexus One is released. It's like nobody wants to release their Android phones in the US anymore.
@pika2000
The US are the the 3d most sought after market for cell phones (after the EU and China) but to release your device in the land of the free means to be obliged to to kiss some carrier's orifices; Nokia and Google tried to avoid the obscene tribute required by american telcos but they had to forgo sales in order to keep their virginity.
@pika2000 It's because AT&T has a liking for frequency bands that no one else in the world uses.
@r3loaded I believe it's more like T-Mobile.
the 850Mhz and 1900Mhz bands are also used in many countries in the Americas (including here in Brazil, which uses both American 850Mhz and European 2100Mhz)
@r3loaded Wrong. The 850 band is also used in Australia, NZ, S.America, and parts of Asia. On the other hand, the 1700 is only for T-Mobile US (and 1 Canadian provider).
I like the design of this phone much better than the Desire or HD mini
looks ace. But not that interesting for me as a Hero owner.
@turkification
Mainly for new customers, like all new devices are if you already have quite new device.
Enthusiasts are ofcourse different story.
DEATH TO THE BEZEL!
Otherwise looks like a great successor to the hero, just wish it had a faster processor.
@DangerRabbit
you guys are one of the worst kind of commentors. face it, every phone is going to have a bezel (although i would love to be proved wrong on that)
@glenskey
Great generalization there. I am fully aware that all phones will have a bezel - having said that, a bezel need not be as big as the one on the legend - think the HTC HD2.
On the legend, the bezel on the sides are very well done, but the bezel on the bottom seems a bit too large for my taste, then again every one has an opinion - and that's why the comment system exists.
Looks very nice but it'll have to be really cheap to sell with the slower CPU and reduced resolution compared to the N1 and others.
@Geozec
No shit Sherlock.
NICE!
Why didn't they make the Desire in aluminium too?
That would have been awsome!
Personally, I think 3.2" is too small.
But i LOVE the Aluminium frame!
Htc is falling prey to RIM! So many phones that all do the same thing!
HTC product page for the legend:
http://www.htc.com/europe/product/legend/overview.html
what i don't get is that there's the bezel at the bottom of the screen, and the chin... surely one or the other? i mean it makes the screen look way smaller than it should be..
I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I'm vehemently opposed to those chins HTC seems to love. Maybe it's pocketability.
It's honestly not a problem. Not noticable when in my pocket and it makes it quite comfortable to hold in one hand. Speaking as an Hero owner.
So, nothing for the US?
Motorola and T-Mobile already have the Droid/N1, so they are great. But those of us locked into Sprint are still stuck with the Hero?
Is there not one new good phone for US Sprint US?
That's a sexy phone, and @ Engadget or anyone please TELL ME IF THIS is coming to AT&T? I'm dying for a HTC ANDROID phone. IF AT&T doesn't get this phone, I'm canceling my contract moving straight off to prepaid.
@Inspector Gadget80 Didn't you read the spec? This is NOT coming to the US.
man i love HTC..
it says "unibody style." Style's a big qualifier there.
This matches a Macbook Pro better than an iPhone ever will.
im liking the unibody design