For a company with as rich of a reputation for landscape QWERTY sliders as HTC has, you'd think they'd be tripping over themselves to release a truly high-end Android phone with a keyboard, but not so much -- the closest they've come so far would be the midrange
myTouch 3G Slide, and that puppy ain't even out yet. We broke the news last night about three seemingly new names for upcoming HTC devices --
Vision, LED, and Glacier -- and Dutch site
Tweakers.net is now reporting on a user agent profile for the Vision that lists the device featuring that mythical holy trinity: WVGA display, QWERTY, and Android. Furthermore, they've got the director of HTC Benelux on record saying that they're planning more Android phones with keyboards -- so that's a Good Thing to hear at a time when huge slates seem to be stealing the show in every segment of the market. With the
Nexus One,
Desire,
Droid Incredible, and
EVO 4G all alive and well, we think these guys would be well-served to play with other form factors for a minute or two, yeah?
posted May 21st 2010 2:02PM
software keyboards are infinitely easier and faster to type on once you get them down. there is no debating this.
@brookey86
oh, ya?
So, why didn't the laptop computer get replaced by touchscreen tablets that have been out for YEARS ?????
Professionals require QWERTY keyboards.
Tochscreens are for toys and Apple sheep.
@brookey86 Exactly. Hardware keyboards are so 2002.
@Nunya Bizness "So, why didn't the laptop computer get replaced by touchscreen tablets that have been out for YEARS ?????"
Because they were all Windows XP or other desktop OS-es jammed into a smaller box. Same craptacular experience + smaller screen = HP Tablet level FAIL.
@brookey86 No debate, huh?
@Nunya Bizness
talking about for mobile phones, here. without having to actually press down each key, you can type much faster on, say, the iPhone for example.
@brookey86
Hardware keyboards don't have true text preiction/correction for some reason. If they had this they would be better than software keyboards. Don't lnow why nobody implements it, you would have to ask a programmer.
@unf8605
Some have completion on the keyboard, but I have yet to see correction. The OS could take care of that, though, if it was programmed to.
Actually, WM might have correction, but I can't remember.
@brookey86 I don't know what world you live in, but pressing down a physical key doesn't take any longer than pressing a key displayed on a screen. The only difference is that with a physical keyboard you can actually feel the key that you're pressing.
@brookey86 I would like to debate your contention but I don't have time because it takes too long for me to press down the weighted piano keys on my Touch Pro 2.
Obviously the muscles in your fingers have atrophied from years of iPhone abuse, I suggest you start using a device with buttons at once for your own health.
@unf8605 I cannot speak for Android but WinMo has text prediction available for hardware keyboards. At least on the Tilt 2 you can enable/disable it with fn+up arrow. Personally I find it far more trouble than it is worth, but it is there.
My E63 has it...
I think it has to do with prestige a key is more deliberate than tapping the screen. Which is why I want a hardware keyboard. I much prefer the tactile feel of actual keys. And this is coming from someone that had an iPhone for over a year and a half.
@brookey86
No, "you" can't. Maybe *you* can, but you can't speak for everyone else.
I have used many touch-screen phones, including my current one that has a virtual keyboard in addition to its qwerty keyboard (as all hardware keyboard phones do). I can literally bang out 80wpm on my hardware keyboard - seriously, I've tested it. I can type almost as fast on my phone as I can on my computer. (I do 96wpm on my computer.)
On a virtual keyboard, it sometimes takes me five minutes to get a single sentence, there are so many mistakes. And don't tell me about correction - my wife's got an iPhone and half the time I can't understand what the hell she's writing because it hasn't corrected her mistakes. (Remember, typing speed takes mistakes into account, so if you're not accurate, you're not fast.)
Example, the other day I got a text from her that said "big fire at 14th and ave." Then I got a second text that just said "AAVE". I had to surmise that she meant Avenue A - the iPhone obviously tried to correct the "A" out. Or how about "Comig soon. Need aythong?" Yes, these are actual texts from the iPhone, I'm looking at my received texts right now.
I make the same kind of mistakes on a virtual keyboard. After playing around with my iPhone for a while when I had one, I think my first text to her was "i tink i made a bog mistake". My second text was "bog". My third text was "BIG". This is what happens when you can't feel the keys you're typing on.
GIVE US AN EVO WITH A QWERTY KEYBOARD !!!!
Professional users want a Touch Pro 2 running a 1.3ghz processor and Android.
Well its about time..the wait I hope is worth it...a nexus one with a keyboard?!?..Naw.
Please have the ability to be unlocked for use on Rogers. I have been waiting for such a combination for far too long.
This could be what I've been waiting for.
I just want to know what processor it's got... but *my* holy trinity's been android, qwerty, and 1ghz snapdragon, so this looks like the best chance at that yet.
Samsung Moment 2 please!
@Desik eww no.
We are still missing from QWERTY phones from the roadmap that leaked last December.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/htcs-2010-roadmap-goes-on-display/
oh i was just getting ready for that official droid release in turkey... oh well...
If this is true and supports AT&T 3G, it will be my next device. Using Android 2.1 w/ Sense on my Touch Pro2 kind of makes me long for an official Touch Pro w/ Android.
Until a device comes out with a portrait/vertical keyboard I don't have to pay attention to Android. I've realized that that is the one key feature that I demand.
Love my nexus one but it can get frustrating at times trying to type. It's the only thing I would change about this device. Hopefully this will be released in the next few months as HTC devices that get leaked have come out pretty quickly.
@Twoleaf Oh my YES! I'd love to get some video game emulators running in this thing!
I'm typing at about 50 words a minute right now on my iPhone :)
who the hell needs a physical keyboard?
@Reagy
people who post on engadget while driving =p
@Reagy
Only 50? Such are the limits of a virtual keyboard :)
It's crazy to think that HTC makes ALL of those top of the line Android phones, no wonder they didn't buy Palm, they're doing more than fine dominating the Android market.
Sadly they're not going with the original moment's keyboard. The staggered rows are what really make it better than the droid's and other. Square cut keyboards.
Well if the project emerald or sidekick twist from t-mobile is true that might be the 4.3" 1ghz qwerty htc we have been waiting for.
So now the question is who will see the light and get the vision.
The Motorla Droid isn't high end QWERTY?
Let me guess. Verizon only. *gnaws off his arm and beats someone to death with it.*
@N900
AT&T doesn't deserve it.
I'm jumping ship from AT&T to Verizon and I want me my high-end Android with keyboard. Screw you AT&T.
:p
Only M. Bison can capture the words that needs to be said about this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0j0lO7uQBo
@Denimourson
what about the old drunk guy from "Big Daddy"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_v9RUE2nrw
Umm the first thing that comes to mind for me is uh T-Mobile Sidekick.... HTC Android Version...
FINALLY! Jeez HTC, what's taking so long?! Even though I have a Nexus One, it doesn't feel like a complete replacement for my G1 without a physical keyboard.
That would be nice, it is a shame that the first android device is still the only android device with a decent 5 row qwerty. It will take me a while to get used to not having a keyboard on the EVO I am getting, my G1's keyboard will be missed.
Tegra2 please. I think if we get enough people to petition tegra2 htc will listen. They are known for listening to people's demands.
What would be great: with full top-of-the line specs & dimensions and a re-movable e.g. clip/slide-on/off keyboard that can be used in portrait and landscape mode. (Similar idea to HTC Advantage, better ergonomics)
I've been using an HTC HD2 for about 2 months now. I really want the Android 2.2 Froyo, the Qwerty Keyboard, a Snapdragon Processor, a good camera with a Flash. Also, the screens size should be 4.0" not 3.7. I have the Rhodium also and after using the 4.3" screen of the HD2, I cannot go back to that small a screen.
Sticky substances every where!!!!!!!!