HTC Touch challenges iPhone
updated 08:20 am EDT, Tue June 5, 2007
HTC Touch
HTC today unveiled the Touch, a new smartphone directly aimed at the iPhone's audience. Previously known as the Elf, the Touch earns its name through its natural input: owners control calls, media playback, and programs solely through the 2.8-inch touchscreen. Also similar to the Apple device is an intuitive navigation method that lets users swipe through media libraries and provides scrolling for web pages or documents. HTC's phone, however, relies on Windows Mobile 6 Professional and includes Office Mobile for bulit-in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word editing.
The touch relies primarily on its microSD card slot for storage and ships with a bundled 1GB card for storing media, including photos snapped from the phone's 2-megapixel camera. Wireless networking is provided through 802.11b/g Wi-Fi on local networks and through EDGE for cellular-only access.
Availability will vary by region. Currently only a 900/1800/1900MHz device, the Touch is shipping today in black and green to UK providers and will be available to Asia and Europe by the end of June. A version for the Americas with the requisite 850MHz support is planned for the second half of the year and should receive its pricing through individual carriers.
Get real
06/05, 08:46am reply
First off, its ugly as sin. Second, ANYTHING that runs MicroSHIT software is NO COMPETITION to Apple. Not even in their farthest or wettest fantasies. The clueless will buy this and only use it to talk.
jarod
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2005
This is unfair!
06/05, 08:48am reply
How come, when a new MP3 player comes out, its called an ipod-killer. But a new phone comes out, and its just a 'challenger'. I think people need to start using the term 'iphone-killer'!
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
patents?
06/05, 09:05am reply
Does Apple have patents on gesture-based UI for phones? Styli are SOOO 20th century...
OtisWild
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
re: unfair
06/05, 09:14am reply
This is basically the abortion debate... can u kill something that doesnt technically exist yet?
I say, once the iPhone sells and becomes the top selling phone, then.. and only then, can there be an iPhone killer.. :)
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004
Just one of many to come
06/05, 10:26am reply
By locking themselves into a multi-year contract with Cingular, Apple has given reason (and lots of time) for all other carriers to create and sell iPhone competitors. The end result will be good news for all types of users.
The power users on Windows Mobile will get cuter interfaces, and Apple will have to update the iPhone capabilities as well.
Win-win for everyone.
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
Hit the gas to stop
06/05, 10:50am reply
Let me guess.... to shut this baby off I have to press "Start".
I don't think I'll ever get over that.
wings_rfs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2002
shut you off.
06/05, 11:30am reply
wings, you have never used a Windows Mobile device if you suggest the Start menu has the same functionality as on desktop Windows.
I am not a huge fan of Windows Mobile, but I get the feeling that most of the commenters have never even tried it, and that makes you blind followers of his Steve-ness.
The truth is that the space that the iPhone is about to make a huge splash in would not even exist if not for Palm and Microsoft.
Casper Crane
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: May 2002
Re: shut you off.
06/05, 11:43am reply
"The truth is that the space that the iPhone is about to make a huge splash in would not even exist if not for Palm and Microsoft."
And the space that the iPod made a huge splash in wouldn't have existed if it weren't for Sony. What's the difference?
Apple never makes anything the creates its own market. They always capitalize on poorly done markets, and make something that is 100x better than anyone else. And based on Apple's track record alone, I'm betting the iPhone will be a big success.
And it wont be because of features. It will be because of user experience. The iPod doesn't have a single feature that is unique. h***, there are players that do a lot more than the iPod. But the iPod is still #1. Anyone care to guess why?
::maroma::
Addicted to MacNN
Joined: Jan 2002
Competitor???
06/05, 11:45am reply
How is this device any more of a competitor to the iPhone than every other Windows Mobile Pro or Pocket PC phone released? Yes, this and the iPhone will compete for buyers, but a true competitor should only be classified as one which can determine "gestures" like the iPhone can. Otherwise, this phone is just an extension of a continuing submarket. Whereas Apple is on the forefront of a new submarket category IMHO.
csimon2
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Re: Shut you off
06/05, 12:51pm reply
"wings, you have never used a Windows Mobile device if you suggest the Start menu has the same functionality as on desktop Windows. "
Oh yeah, I am using it right now. It is called SDA with Windows Mobile 5.0. It is so technical advanced... It has so many buttons and different ways to achieve a simple task, so it doesn't even know that I have 2 Gb card in it. It always tells me "running out of memory and you have to go to the task manager to quit the applications.
It is so unintuitive and very hard to use. I am a geek, I can figure out any device, but that's the point - Apple products are created for normal people, not for geeks, programmers or engineers.
Gepard
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2000