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HTC Victor gets de-glitzed, unboxed
We actually rather like the Tumbler-like stealth rear surface of the HTC Touch Diamond, but if you're trying to roll a little more Wayne, a more straightlaced edition dubbed "Victor" announced back in May with a flat rear end is now shipping. Apart from that it doesn't look like there's anything new going on here, so we'll see if any Stateside carriers offer this version any time soon.[Via Boy Genius Report]
Keepin' it real fake, part CXXV: Touch Diamond gets aped sans luster
Not that we'd view the actual Touch Diamond as IF or anything, but the Diamond J6 is more along the lines of I3. In all seriousness, this thing isn't too far from being spot-on identical (maybe it's an HTC thing?), with a 2.8-inch display, built-in camera, multimedia player, Bluetooth and a microSD card slot. And for $160, we're almost inclined to fall in love here... almost.
HTC Touch Diamond gets FCC clearance, smells like CDMA
Well, looky here! Not happy with the Touch Dual or Touch Pro, you saucy CDMA lovers, you? Try this one on for size then: the last piece in HTC's EV-DO puzzle for 2008 has now hit the FCC, the Touch Diamond -- and though only Telus has managed to announce it so far, we're feeling good about plenty of other carriers on the CDMA train recognizing the importance of this device and signing on before too long. We see test reports for WiFi, too, though we imagine it'll be at carriers' discretion to disable it if they're so inclined. Let's get a move on, Sprint. You too, Verizon, don't think we don't see you whistling over there in the corner.
Diamond TF3D Config adds the TouchFLO 3D configurability HTC forgot
As slick as TouchFLO 3D looks on the Touch Diamond (especially on that VGA display), users don't have much capability to fiddle with the way it looks and acts out of the box, and for the anal among us, that can be a huge hassle. A member of German forum PPC-Welt is doing what he can to ease the pain, though, releasing a "Diamond TF3D Config" utility for changing the order and visibility of tabs and modifying the way the date is displayed on the home screen. Not a huge deal by any means, but it's a step in the right direction -- and let's be honest, it's something dead simple that HTC should've had the forethought to include up front.[Via the::unwired]
HTC Touch Diamond gets extended battery, bigger butt
The Touch Diamond's controversial rear-end styling not bold enough for you? Well, that's an easy fix, mate -- just make it stick out a little bit more. HTC has now detailed an extended battery kit for the Touch Diamond which includes a 1340mAh pack (up from 900mAh out of the box) and a larger battery cover to help you contain all that go-juice. Looks like it's still on pre-order at this point, but once it pops, it'll run £40.95 (about $81).[Via MoDaCo, thanks Ward]
Samsung i900 Omnia vs. HTC Touch Diamond... fight!
At this point, neither the HTC Touch Diamond nor the Samsung i900 Omnia need any introduction, but we're happy to announce that these two have stepped into the squared circle and faced off in an epic nine-page battle. Reviewers manhandled both phones for an extended time and broke down the UI, hardware, features and overall usability, so if that sounds like something you'd be interested in, cover your face and head on down to the read link. We're warning you though, it gets ugly.[Thanks, Chavdar]
Telus announces HTC Touch Diamond for a summer release
Though the Sprint version is the most well-scooped CDMA variant thus far, Telus is actually becoming the first carrier 'round these parts to announce the Touch Diamond imbued with a little EV-DO for your data-consumption pleasure. The phone will run $149.99 CAD (which is just about a wash in US dollars) on a three-year contract, accompanied by data plans ranging from $15 for email and instant messaging to $30 for email, IM, and web browsing. Sprint, Verizon, we anxiously await your press releases.
HTC's Touch Diamond gets spotted in Sprint attire
Right, so it's not like we didn't know a CDMA version of HTC's hotly anticipated Touch Diamond was headed to Sprint, but who can honestly argue with in the wild photos proving that said assumption is true? What we have here is a bona fide Diamond in Sprint garb, although eagle-eyed readers will likely notice the mildly tweaked TouchFLO interface (which reeks of Bold there at the bottom, no?). At any rate, you can peek one more (blurry, of course) image of this bugger in the read link.
Elite ROM for Touch Diamond promises dramatic speed boost; new official ROM, too?
Sluggish Touch Diamond performance got you down? We can think of at least a few Americans that wish they had to worry about it, but HTC's infinite wisdom in leaving out GSM 850 and HSDPA 850 / 1900 leaves that crowd with bigger problems on its hands. The rest of you, though, might want to have a look at one of the latest fruits to fall out of the xda-developer tree -- the "Elite 1.0" ROM image for the Touch Diamond, featuring a handful of tweaks to streamline things (Welcome Center gets the boot, for instance), enabled HSUPA, and a newer version of the .NET Compact Framework that allegedly all but solves the crappy performance some owners and reviewers have been complaining about. This is about as unofficial as it gets, of course, so proceed with your own risk.Separately, it seems that Touch Diamonds now hitting shops should be loaded with a slightly newer official ROM than the build passed around on the first batch of review units, and Coolsmartphone reports that it's faster. Not quite as streamlined as the Elite ROM seems to be, but hey, if you prefer to roll on the straight and narrow, it sounds like HTC has you covered.[Thanks, Aaron K.]Read - Elite ROM thread on xda-developersRead - Newer official ROM?
HTC Touch Diamond surfaces at CompUSA
Oh, snap. Just the other day we were bemoaning the fact that the Touch Diamond sent to us courtesy of HTC lacked both HSDPA 850 / 1900 and GSM 850, but according to the product page at CompUSA, the version it's selling has all of those. Yep, a purported quad-band Touch Diamond is seemingly in stock right now for Americans willing to part with $779.99, but remember, all those bills nets you a 2.8-inch VGA display, HSDPA 7.2, Windows Mobile 6.1 and oodles of sexy. Go on, help HTC get one closer to two million this year.[Thanks, Tom] Update: Hey look, UKers can get in too. Just £463.99 including VAT. Thanks Leigh! Update 2: For shame! HTC just pinged us and said this thing is the same as every other Touch Diamond, meaning that North American 3G is not supported.
HTC Touch Diamond lands on Vodafone's "coming soon" page
Sure, we may have run the HTC Touch Diamond into the ground in recent memory, but seeing as we're not remorseful bunch, here's a bit more. Vodafone's business shop has dropped the Touch Diamond on its pages, tangible proof that a real carrier launch is just around the corner. While still slated as coming soon, we now know it will be priced from £free and they're even throwing in a free Bluetooth car kit. Good on ya Vodafone, now hurry up already, we're awful tired of waiting.[Via CoolSmartPhone]
Sizing it up: iPhone 3G vs. the rest
We thought you'd like to see how the new iPhone 3G stacks up against the ol' EDGE-based iPhone, Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1, and HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro handsets. To QWERTY or not to QWERTY, that is the QWEstion.
HTC Touch Diamond hands-on, up close and personal this time
The good folks at HTC left this little gem (pun totally intended) on our doorstep today, but as cool as it sounds to have one of the world's great Windows Mobile torchbearers just drop off its hottest new handset to us like it's an extra large pepperoni and mushroom, it's a bittersweet gift at best. Why? The Touch Diamond lacks both HSDPA 850 / 1900 and GSM 850 in its current incarnation, leaving it to cling to what 1900MHz EDGE towers it can find. That makes it an untouchable product for all but the hardest-core North Americans who are willing to throw both high-speed data and maximum signal coverage out of the window just to be able to put the pinnacle of WinMo 6.1 engineering in their pocket. Are you in that one percent? Or perhaps even better, are you in Europe where the usable 3G flows like running water? Click through to Engadget Mobile's hands-on to get the lowdown!
HTC Touch Diamond store spotted in Malaysia
The HTC Touch Diamond is hitting shores world-round, and this store in Malaysia is making a big deal of things with a full selection of accessories, alluring attendants, and what appears to be a permanent address. If the touchscreen and Opera browser don't get you, the shiny displays certainly will. Follow the read link for more pictures of the new store.[Thanks, freedomzaft11]
HTC Touch Diamond boot video, for your eyes only
For those of you who absolutely, positively can't wait to see more of the Touch Diamond in action, the folks over at pocketnow are giving you a taste of what it's like to hold one in your hands. Apparently, when you boot up the phone you're greeted with a helpful video showing you how to navigate the heavily-skinned version of Windows Mobile (AKA Touch Flo 3D) that it sports. Needless to say, it's smoother than a baby's bottom. Not that we'd know. Video after the break in its full 640 x 480 resolution.
HTC ships first batch of Touch Diamond handsets
DigiTimes has it that HTC has already shipped its first batch of over 10,000 Touch Diamond mobiles to Hong Kong CSL, which has consequently sent our saliva glands into overdrive. The report continues on to say that deliveries to European / Asia-Pacific operators should get going in June, though no further details were mentioned. Meanwhile, North Americans are left to weep softly to keep from embarrassment.[Via SlashPhone]
iPhone vs. HTC Touch Diamond vs. Xperia X1... Fight!
Would you look at that: a thick slab of iPhone meat in a Sony Ericsson and HTC sandwich. The iPhone's big screen is nice and all but the device is starting to look a bit portly given that the Xperia X1 sports a QWERTY with chewy HSDPA data, the latter shared with the Raphael Touch Diamond. Tasty, regardless.Update: Er, that's not the HTC Raphael, it's their Touch Diamond.[Via WMExperts, thanks Al]
T-Mobile Netherlands taking names for MDA Compact IV
We know the wait's hard, guys, but look at it this way: one wait is actually ending -- the wait for an official waiting list -- while another is beginning. T-Mobile Netherlands customers are now welcome to put their name down to express interest in the lovely MDA Compact IV, T-Mobile's branded version of the HTC Touch Diamond WinMo superphone. There doesn't seem to be any indication here as to exactly when the retail floodgates are going to open up over there in Amsterdam, but it's a start.[Thanks, Yoeri]
India picks up HTC Touch Diamond, 3G not included
HTC's leaving no stone unturned in making sure that its Touch Diamond reaches a global audience, and Bharti Airtel is all lined up to be the exclusive provider of the hottest thing going for Windows Mobile 6.1 (for the moment, anyway) in India. HTC chief Peter Chou himself was on hand for the announcement, saying that he'd like to sell 50,000 Touch Diamonds in India this year -- a reasonable goal, perhaps, though our excitement's tempered a bit by the fact that the local flavor of the device will apparently lack any sort of 3G radio. Pricing comes in at 27,500 rupees (about $642), so if you can bear the tortoise-like browsing on the road, this should end up being one of the best VGA values on the market.[Via Cellpassion]
HTC's Touch Diamond gets early review
It's been about two weeks since we first got our hands on HTC's hot little Touch Diamond, set to displace the vanilla Touch as the sexiest Windows Mobile device in the States. Since then, other than a look in the box and some bold predictions of success, we haven't seen much of the thing. Meanwhile Russian gadget site mobile-review certainly has, posting a thorough hands-on with a pre-release. The size is apparently good, slightly smaller but noticeably better than the already svelte Touch, and the 2.8-inch VGA screen impressive. However, the reviewer seems a bit worried about the magnetic stylus falling out on its own accord, and indicated battery life will fall short of HTC's other models (without mentioning any specifics). That's unfortunate, but given the 528MHz CPU is twice the speed of the chip in the earlier Touch and the battery within the thing's faceted back is smaller, shouldn't come as a surprise. [Thanks, Marios]