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HTC 6800 hands-on
We got a chance to play around with a Telus-branded HTC 6800 tonight -- we are in love. Significantly thinner and lighter than the TyTn and 6700, the 6800 has a spring-assisted slide and a keyboard with a slightly rubbery soft-touch finish that's probably the best we've ever seen on a portable device. This is the new handset to beat -- we can't wait to see the GSM version.P.S. -We saw the 6800 on Sprint, but the executive who left it out snatched it out of our hands before we could take shots of it. Like you're so surprised it's coming. Gallery: HTC 6800 hands-on
HTC 6800 / Titan hands-on
We got a chance to play around with a Telus-branded HTC 6800 tonight -- we are in love. Significantly thinner and lighter than the TyTn and 6700, the 6800 has a spring-assisted slide and a keyboard with a slightly rubbery soft-touch finish that's probably the best we've ever seen on a portable device. This is the new handset to beat -- we can't wait to see the GSM version.P.S. -We saw the 6800 on Sprint, but the executive who left it out snatched it out of our hands before we could take shots of it. Like you're so surprised it's coming.%Gallery-2308%
HTC Shift in person, in a glass case
As expected, HTC was showing off a Shift UMPC today at CTIA. Unfortunately for us it was behind a glass case, but you can get a good look at the early prototype in our gallery. Check it out!%Gallery-2304%
HTC's throwback "Panda" in the wild
Ring any bells here, folks? This one goes way back -- think back to the early days of all-in-one devices, when Windows Mobile 6 was nothing more than a twinkle in Microsoft's eye, GSM 1900 was all you needed to get a decent signal in North America, and telephony support was a hacky graft in the form of Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition. That's right: the "Panda" from HTC appears, for all practical purposes, to be the true successor to the one and only "Space Needle" released on T-Mobile many, many moons ago (and later, the "Alpine"). Features are said to include a generous 3.5 inch display, 256MB ROM / 128MB RAM, 802.11b / g, Bluetooth 2.0, EDGE data (no 3G here -- throwback, indeed!), and a 2 megapixel cam. The release schedule is unclear -- in fact, it's not even clear whether HTC will release it at all -- but for once, that's not breaking out hearts.
Cingular's Treo 750, Blackjack and 8525 get WM6 treatment
We had a chance to peep an "eyes-only" presentation from AT&T with the dirty details on WM6 for current and future devices, with the newly-branded Cingular apparently poised to introduce patches for three of its hottest handsets. The word is that the Treo 750, 8525, and the Blackjack will see downloadable updates released for current owners, and that WM6 will be pre-installed on all devices launched in 2007. In a separate tip, our peeps tell us that the Blackjack update should be in Cingular's hot hands by May 26; with an expected eight week soak period for testing, this could hit by late July this year. We suppose that if the ROMs prove bulletproof, the cheering masses could theoretically get this update sooner, but until then we can only sit and wait. No word on timing for the other two devices, but we are seriously hoping that Blue has its ducks in a row and that they are on an similar schedule.
Hands-on with the HTC Advantage
So we happened to get our hands on an HTC Advantage last week, and damn is this thing ready to rumble. The keyboard (which we just weren't that fond of) snaps into place from a good inch away, and feels more like an industrial magnet than something you'd find on a consumer device. The VGA screen is fantastically large and bright, and played back full-res video without a hiccup. It even has an idle mode with a couple mini-widgets and an email ticker when the keyboard is magnetically latched onto the body to protect the screen (that VueFLO nav, we think). Check out the gallery to get a better sense of what you're in for, but be warned: this is a machine by and for handheld computing enthusiasts and cellphone nerds. So even though HTC wants you to replace your laptop with an Advantage for short trips, it's still a beast of a connected PDA at heart. Gallery: Hands-on with the HTC Advantage
HTC Advantage coming to US... under the HTC brand
Another from HTC we saw coming, but that's still a pleasant surprise: HTC's Advantage (codename Athena) will in fact be making it Stateside! Noice, but even better, HTC will be releasing the Advantage (now camera-free) under its own brand. In other words, the little ODM we all watched grow up in the last couple of years has finally broken free of designing handsets for others and the perpetual carrier rebadges, and is officially launching devices under its own brand in the US. Perhaps they finally have the cachet to play the game outside of the normal carrier / device ecosystem (or, equally likely, no US carrier was brave enough to sell the Advantage), but either way users can look forward to: 5-inch VGA touch display Tri-band UMTS / HSDPA, quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 GPS navigation 8GB drive, 256MB flash memory, 128MB RAM miniSD card slot, HTC VueFLO nav 3.5mm audio jack Coming this summer -- hard price and date not yet established.
HTC Shift -- the cellphone company finally goes UMPC
It's been a long time in coming, but after HTC's long, gradual feature buildup all the way from the very first Pocket PC phone in 2002, they're finally putting the "computer" in High Tech Computer by making the jump to ultraportable PC-maker. That's right, HTC's first foray into the UMPC market, the Shift (codename Shangri-La), is officially announced today. We don't yet have hard details on release date or price, but we do know it should be available in Q3 (we'd estimate for under $2,000). As for features, we know not to expect anything out of the ordinary (except lots of 3G), although the form factor is pretty notable: not too many UMPCs have a sliding keyboard, and none that we can recall have a tilting display in this orientation. Some specs: VIA CPU (the one we tried had a 1.2GHz chip) Vista business (yes, it was running Aero) 7-inch sliding, tiling wide-touchscreen 30GB drive Tri-band UMTS / HSDPA, quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 Biometric reader, front-facing camera We got a chance to play with an engineering sample of the Shift the other day; while we couldn't take any shots of it, we could say that the slide and tilt screen felt rock solid. Unfortunately, the full keyboard just had way too many keys packed in to type remotely accurately on. Stay tuned for more on this one; from today on HTC's playing a whole new game.
HTC Kaiser poses for a press shot
To capture the true essence of a handset, we typically like our visual footage in-the-wild style -- but there's something to be said for the clean, refined appearance of a good press shot, too -- and on that note, well, here ya go. The shot clearly shows what could end up being the HTC Kaiser's revolutionary feature, a flip-up screen that adds another dimension (literally) to the form factor popularized by its predecessors, the venerable Wizard and Hermes. Of course, with HSUPA data on board, the trick screen is far from being the only hotness here, so it pretty much goes without saying that we're a little excited for the (planned) mid-year release in "P4550" HTC-branded trim.
Orange to unveil the SPV E650 WM6 handset in April?
Orange doles out some pretty decent OEM'd HTC handsets in the British realm, so we were glad to peep the first decent close-up pics of the new (but unreleased) Orange SPV E650 WM6 Standard device, known as the "Vox" in HTC parlance. Rumor has it that the E640 will become available in the UK sometime in April, with that standard phone-like numeric keypad sporting hidden, twisting QWERTY sweetness underneath. With the goodie bag including a 2 megapixel cam, microSD, Bluetooth and WiFi, we're jonesin' to try this handset out and we can't wait to feast our eyes on a production version.
HTC S621 (Excalibur) now official on Rogers
Every once in a while, the anticipatory wait for that new handset to launch is blissfully short, and we're delighted to report that this is one of those cases. The S621 from HTC is now available all official-like through Canada's Rogers Wireless, offering the same glorious QWERTY experience (and somewhat controversial "JOGGR" touch strip experience) that T-Mobile customers have been enjoying for a little while now. Grab it now for a cool $250 CDN (about $213) on three-year agreement.[Thanks, psxp]
HP shows the HTC of yesterday as concept of tomorrow
We've seen concept phones galore over the years, but a recent prototype spotted at the If Design Awards at this year's CeBIT convention piqued our interest a bit more than usual. Purportedly envisioned by Teague, the sure-to-be-renamed "Data Center Communications Vision of the Future Server" for HP looks to be a Pocket PC / rugged handheld hybrid with a slideout QWERTY keyboard, oversized touchscreen display, and quite a chunky motif. Of course, we doubt this will turn out to be your average PDA / phone, as it reportedly boasts "integrated hardware / software mobile technology to allow IT personnel to monitor data center equipment, diagnose and track problems, and perform system services" as well. Essentially, this presumably beastly device is intended to interface with HP servers and data centers rather than catering to the typical style-conscious consumer, as it even touts RFID / Bluetooth connectivity options to assist administrators in resolving outstanding issues sans wires. As with most products still stuck in the Photoshop stage, there's no word on whether this thing will actually hit the market, nor if it'll show up primarily through enterprise channels if it makes it that far, but it looks like the diagnostic handheld market is just starting to get interesting nonetheless.
HTC Kaiser in the wild
Whoa, what's that HTC Kaiser doing there? Don't whip out your Wizard or Hermes and try this, folks -- you'll only end up with tears and a broken Pocket PC -- it's a hot new trick HTC's Hermes follow-on has up its sleeves. Besides the wacky flip-up action, the Kaiser ups the camera to a full 3 megapixels (an extra million pixels over its predecessor), adds HSUPA support for crazy fast uploads, GPS, and the now-obligatory Windows Mobile 6 Professional. No word on release, but we know with certainty that HTC wants this thing in users' hands in 2007, so we'd expect it to start showing up on European networks before too long. Click on for plenty of gorgeous photography.[Via Howard Forums]
Rogers to get HTC Excalibur as "S621"
Seeing how a user's guide for HTC's most QWERTY of smartphones -- the Excalibur -- has shown up on Rogers' site, we take that as a pretty strong indication that the carrier's Windows Mobile lineup is about to get one device stronger. We haven't gotten a date on just when this thing might get a "buy" link next to its picture, but with the 3G-capabile Cavalier waiting in the wings and Rogers' nascent HSDPA network slowly taking shape, we're thinking they're going to want to push it out the door sooner rather than later. Anyway, whenever the 1.3 megapixel Smartphone does drop, it'll do so as the "S621," sporting the same 128MB ROM, 64MB RAM, and quadband EDGE radio as the rest of the world's various renditions. Not a bad foil for the Nokia E62 already in Rogers' stable, if we do say so ourselves. [Warning: PDF link][Thanks, treatz]
Hands-on with O2's Xda terra
While O2 announced two new Windows Mobile handsets yesterday -- the Xda terra and nova -- sadly, we were only able to get our mitts on one of them this morning at CeBIT. It seems the Nova part of the "Terra Nova" duo was missing in action, as the device is apparently still being tweaked to perfection by the gents at O2. Unlike its HTC Herald-based twins known as the Vodafone VPA Compact IV, Dopod C800, and the original HTC P4350, the Terra flies out the door rockin' Windows Mobile 6 Professional. Thinner than the TyTn and sporting that full QWERTZ keyboard we all love, you can expect it to hit O2 retail in May.%Gallery-2119%
O2 Germany announces new HTCs as Xda "terra" and "nova"
Though O2 spends plenty of time getting cozy with Quanta for its Windows Mobile needs, that doesn't mean they've thrown HTC to the curb. The latest two HTCs to get the O2 treatment -- in Germany, anyway -- will be the Herald and Elf, released as the Xda "terra" and "nova" respectively. As you might recall, the Herald is the facelifted Wizard, replacing O2's own Xda mini S and offering all the same slide-out QWERTY action in a 17 millimeter shell; 3G data is sadly missing, though O2 is going to one-up the competition here by rolling out Windows Mobile 6 Professional on this bad boy out of the gate -- expect it in May for €150 (about $200). Meanwhile, the Xda nova (also a 2.5G device) brings Windows Mobile to the masses with a relatively low price point -- €100, about $130 -- while still managing to pack 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, microSD expansion, and version six of Microsoft's ubiquitous platform. Look for it a month after its Xda terra stablemate in June.Read - O2 Xda terraRead - O2 Xda nova
HTC slides in with "Nike" P5500
We don't generally associate the terms "HTC" and "slider" -- at least in the traditional, numeric keypad sense -- but it seems the Taiwanese patron saint of all things Windows Mobile would like us to have a change of heart in that regard. The rumored HTC "Nike" (these code names of theirs keep getting weirder and weirder, we swear) should bow as the P5500 when it becomes available this fall in HTC-branded trim, rolling deep with a 400MHz Samsung core, 128MB ROM / 64MB RAM with microSD expansion, integrated FM tuner, Bluetooth 2.0, a 3 megapixel cam, and a 2.6-inch QVGA touchscreen. Best of all, it'll pack GPS and industrial-strength data via both 802.11b/g and HSDPA (no word on bands, though) -- and yes, that is Windows Mobile 6 Professional you see there, hence the touchscreen.[Via Navigadget]
HTC S710 (Vox) reviewed and loved
Seems the HTC design depot is kickin' out new handsets fast and furious of late and if you believe everything you read, the Vox's replacement -- the HTC Wings -- is coming before the proverbial ink has had a chance to dry on this page. The Vox is a treat -- and a tasty one at that -- with goodies like a quad-band GSM radio, EDGE, Bluetooth and WiFi data connectivity, 2 megapixel camera, 201MHz OMAP CPU, and according to what we hear, a killer display. Love your TyTn's keyboard but hate the size? No worries, the Vox is packing a QWERTY keyboard too. But sadly, while sweet in oh so many ways, there is no HSDPA or any other 3G goodness for that matter. While not a deal breaker, the extra-fast connectivity would have rounded out this otherwise exceptional little handset. [Via Smartphone Thoughts]
Yahoo! gets cuddly with all of HTC's Windows Mobile handsets
As Yahoo! and Google battle it out old-style to find out who is king of the mobile web these days, Yahoo! had already stepped it up a notch from offering its Yahoo! Go service on Nokia phones via Symbian's S60 to offering the same experience on that Windows Mobile handset -- but now, it'll be on quite a few WM handsets. With that notion, Yahoo! signed on HTC (maker of a healthy dose of WM handsets) to embed Yahoo! into almost every HTC Windows Mobile device -- including recent models (we guess via a firmware update) and all new and upcoming HTC models as well. So, in addition to Yahoo! Go on Symbian-powered handsets and Windows Mobile handsets made by HTC, the California company is embedding Yahoo! services into standard handset models from Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and LG as well. Google -- you got a comeback for that?
HTC Herald makes its FCC debut
There's not a whole lot left to learn about the HTC Herald, otherwise known as the P4350, but those keeping track of the QWERTY-concealing handset's every move will no doubt be pleased to hear that it's finally made its way through the FCC's hands, making it one step closer to landing in yours. For those less-than-obsessed with the device, it boasts a 2.8-inch touchscreen, 200MHz TI processor, 2-megapixel camera, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, a microSD slot for additional storage, and quad-band and EDGE capabilities to keep you connected -- all in a 17-millimeter thick package weighing in at just under six ounces. Those looking for a little light reading can click through on the link below to check out the full FCC report on the device.
