Gizmodo: HTC Shift

Hands On HTC Shift EV-DO

Adrian Covert — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:16:03 EDT

HTC had their Shift UMPC on display here at CTIA, which packs Sprint EV-DO, an 800 MHz Celeron processor, 1 GB RAM and a 40 GB SSD into a tidy $1500 package. After getting touchy feely with it for a few minutes, I found it wasn't half bad. I was especially impressed by the proprietary HTC SnapView interface that runs on top of Windows Vista, and provides quick access to weather, calendars and emails (similar to the Windows Mobile 6.1 homescreen that it's based around).

I wouldn't exactly call the Shift a mobile computing powerhouse, but I found that Vista more or less ran smoothly on the UMPC. While running Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer, I loaded a handful of webpages over EV-DO that weren't too resource heavy, but had dynamic content and graphics. The webpages took about 20-30 seconds to load and suffered a bit of choppiness with Word running in the background. But they did format nicely and looked good, which should be expected since its running a full blown OS.

One of the better features was the SnapView interface created by HTC specifically for the EV-DO Shift. The interface is built around a stripped down Windows Mobile 6.1, and made use of the platform's more attractive features to build a quick-launch screen. It looks a lot like the homescreen on the HTC Touch Dual and, as mentioned before, provides access to weather, calendars, emails in a quick and well-designed interface. The Shift has a dedicated button on its front bezel to access Snap View and it transitions between SnapView and Vista with smooth animations and no lag (Vista is put into a sleep mode while running SnapView).

The hardware felt sturdy, and the 7" screen offered plenty of viewing space, but the keyboard was on the small side (it's intended for standard touch typing) and the touchscreen could have been more responsive. And the carrying case/sleeve is permanently affixed to the UMPC, which is kind of lame. Not a bad outing at all from HTC, but it needs just a bit more horsepower.

HTC Shift Vista UMPC Coming in EV-DO Flavor

Jason Chen — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:59:05 EDT

It's only been a couple weeks since the Windows Vista-capable HTC Shift UMPC was just released in the US and it's already getting an EV-DO version for you to hook up to Verizon or Sprint (theoretically). LaptopMag's review of it mirrors what we've seen in European reviews of the device (it's been out there for a few months): it's got a cramped keyboard, slightly slow CPU, short battery life and weak Wi-Fi. It probably won't replace your normal laptop if you're traveling, but if you're packing light, it makes for a workable alternative. [Amazon via LaptopMag]

HTC Updates the Advantage X7510 With 16GB Flash

Kit Eaton — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:09:53 EST

The HTC Advantage has just received a hardware and software upgrade, and is now called the X7510. HTC has bumped the internal storage to 16GB of flash, and improved the keyboard as well as adding in Opera 9.5, and a "future version" of Windows Mobile. No price info yet, but the Advantage will be available in March. Expect to see HTC's other hiptop, the Shift, hit Europe a little earlier. Specs of the Advantage and pic of the Shift, after the jump.

The X7150 also has updated HTC VueFLO, so that it detects the device's orientation and rotates the screen. The rest of the hardware remains the same as the earlier Advantage: Marvell PXA270 624MHz and Qualcomm MSM 6275 processors, 5-inch VGA screen with 3-megapixel camera, 128MB of RAM and tri-band HSDPA. Looks like the new battery has about 5 percent less capacity, but we guess that the flash drive should make up for that difference. [ZDnet]

While the Shift also has GSM/GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA network support, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, it looks like if you buy it from Orange in the UK, you'll only be able to get a data plan with it. [Slashgear]

HTC Shift UMPC Finally Going on Sale in Europe on February 19

Jason Chen — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:30:53 EST

It's been almost a year since we first saw the HTC Shift, the fold-up Windows Vista and Windows Mobile-capable UMPC with a pretty decently-sized keyboard. The touchscreen device is finally getting a release date of sorts from the European Expansys retailer on February 19 at a launch price of 1185 Euros ($1720). That's right, it's about as much as an expensive laptop, which means the potential target of the device might only be getting it for its built-in 3G support. It's also four times the price of an Asus Eee, in case you were counting. [Reg Hardware via Slashgear]

HTC Shift Gets (Carbon) Dated?

Mark Wilson — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:35:10 EST

While the HTC Shift was supposed to be released in November, the world is still waiting anxiously for this quasi-UMPC device to show up in stores. Now the company has announced a January 11th launch date in Britain, and there's a good chance we won't see it until then. And by good chance we mean that your unfulfilled preorder may make your wife cry this Christmas, but only because it was for something she never wanted in the first place. [wired]

HTC's Shift Does Not Run Windows Mobile Says HTC

Jason Chen — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:00:30 EDT

Contrary to what we've been hearing HTC's Vista-capable, UMPC-like Shift will NOT run Windows Mobile, but only use WM as a data modem, provide push email while the device is asleep and run some of the same apps that you'd see in a Windows Mobile device. That sounds WinMo-ish to us, but we'll take HTC General Manager Kevin Chen's word on it. Plus, when you have Windows Vista Business and a three-hour battery life when in Vista mode, why would you use Windows Mobile anyway? It's like choosing the fat Britney of last night over the skinny, taut Britney of five years ago. [Kaz911 via JKontherun]

Dynamism has the HTC Shift on pre-order for...

gizmodo.com — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:25:28 EDT

Dynamism has the HTC Shift on pre-order for $1500. [Dynamism via jkOnTheRun]

HTC Shift Gets 60 Hours of Hands-On

Jason Chen — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:10:50 EDT

The dudes over at GottaBeMobile got to play with the HTC Shift, the upcoming Windows Vista-running UMPC from HTC. If you don't remember, this UMPC beats current UMPCs because it has an actual slide-out, fold-up QWERTY keyboard. What does GBM think about it? Best. UMPC. Ever. They even made a video of their experience.

Here are the specs, if you don't recall:
• Windows Vista Business (3 hrs battery)
• Intel Santa Rosa A110 Processor
• 1GB DDR2 RAM
• 40GB HDD
• HSDPA (Data only) ready
• Web Cam
• Biometrics
• Windows Pocket PC (over 5 days battery life when used exclusively)
• Qualcomm 400MHz Processor
• 64MB RAM

Yes, it has both Windows Vista and Pocket PC (PDA OS), but nobody wants to use anything but Windows Vista on this. Three hours seems pretty short for a portable device of this size, but we're still looking forward to seeing what this can do in our own hands. Head over to Gotta Be Mobile to see the video. [Gotta Be Mobile]