Gizmodo: htc touch

Leaked HTC T8290 Has Touch HD Resolution, WiMax, Sharp Corners

John Herrman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:47:59 EDT

These images of a new HTC handset from Nedge2k reveal a surprising addition to the Taiwanese company's line: a half Touch HD, half Touch Diamond handset for which WiMax — of all things — is the most salient feature. Such a product might not make sense in most places, but Russia already has more than 20 million people soaking in their WiMax networks and other compatible phones in the pipeline.

You can see from the screens that the connection speed is over 13Mbps, and the front camera indicates (predictable) 3G capabilities to complement just about every other type of connection a phone could have. With the relative newness of America's WiMax infrastructure it's unlikely that we'll see this phone here, but it would be an awfully good way to atone for depriving us of our Touch HD. [Nedge2k via Modaco via Slashphone]

HTC Touch HD Pretty Much Never Coming to the US

John Herrman — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EDT

No amount of oohing, aahing or drooling can convince HTC to bring this 480x800 monster to American shores, according to the Taiwanese company. That's a shame, because it was looking pretty good. The company passed the news on through Twitter, which is the corporate equivalent of breaking up with your girlfriend with a text message:

Sad news, US. we looked into it- by the time we could bring Touch HD to the States, it would be old news. We do have other cool stuff coming.

The G1 is admittedly more exciting, but this thing is set to be one of the best Windows Mobile phones available. Import options will be available sans 3G support, which nobody will want anyway. [Twitter via WMExperts]

Family Portrait: HTC Touch Phones

Mark Wilson — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:15:00 EDT

From left to right: HTC Touch HD, HTC Touch Diamond, and HTC Touch Pro. Note that while the Touch HD's footprint isn't much bigger, the screen appears ginormous. [CNET]

Actual HTC Opal Spyshots Surface (Touch's Twin)

John Mahoney — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:40:00 EDT

The Touch-like HTC Opal we saw renderings of earlier this week looks like it definitely exists, according to these leaked shots. Yeah, if you're having a hard time seeing a difference from the original Touch, so are we. We saw some specs too that indicate it's very similar (still no 3G, same processor), but here it is, in the wild. The Touch HD we saw definitely still holds the title of HTC leak-of-the-week, though, and if anything's going to be a true successor to the original Touch, it's that, not the Opal. Another shot post-jump. [Pocketpt.net via Boy Genius]

HTC Touch HD Looks Big and Beautiful

Mark Wilson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:29:00 EDT

It's all rumor and speculation, but a picture paints a thousand internet links. This alleged HTC Touch HD is a fullscreen touch device with WVGA (800X480) resolution—essentially taking, say, the Touch Diamond's razor-sharp screen and making it longer. As another metric, if you think the iPhone looks nice, realize that screen runs in 480x320.

Other specs include 528MHz processor, 256MB RAM, 512MB, HSDPA, GPS and just 12mm of thickness. It's supposed to be "in stores for Santa." [Modaco Thanks everyone!]

HTC Opal Leaks, The Sequel to the HTC Touch

Mark Wilson — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:56:00 EDT

We've already seen phones like the HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro, but according to some legit-looking internal documentation, the HTC Opal is the official sequel to the original HTC Touch. Word has it that the Opal will ship with the 3D TouchFLO interface we've seen in the latest HTC products (which makes sense), but unfortunately, the spec sheet dated from July shows that the Opal still lacks 3G and features the same 200MHz processor as its predecessor.

[What A Smart Idea]

Giz Explains: The Magic Behind Touchscreens

matt buchanan — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Touchscreens. They're everywhere, as if electronics makers aren't cool unless their phones or media players have them, and soon that will be true for laptops as well. Touchscreens aren't going to completely replace the mouse and keyboard in the next year or two, but we're hurtling toward a future where they're the dominant way we interact with devices. The catch is that "touchscreen" can describe a few very different technologies that all perform a similar function. Here's a breakdown of the most popular techniques for making touchscreen magic happen—and the crazy new techniques that will succumb to your caresses in years to come.

At a basic level, they all perform the same function—sensing a disturbance in the force when your finger or stylus or whatever pointy object you've got touches the screen, and then extrapolating that into knowing where you're touching it and relaying that to the software. The differences lie in how each screen detects a touch.

Resistive touchscreens are the ones you've probably put your greasy fingers on more than any other kind, mostly because they're the cheapest and oldest. They're in most touchscreen cellphones, many tablets and the Nintendo DS, to name a very few.

How it works: On the bottom you've got a layer of glass, and on top of that, you've got two more: a conductive and a resistive layer. They've got a sliver of space between them. And on top of that you've got one more layer, which is the one you touch. So, when you push down on the screen, the conductive and resistive layer touch each other, which changes the electrical current running through 'em, and the device can tell from that where your finger or stylus is touching.

Good and bad: While resistive is a good deal cheaper to manufacture at the moment, one downside is that it's hard to do multitouch, because of the constraints and shortcomings of a pressure-based system. Another problem is that the multiple layers of touch technology on top of the LCD block an awful lot of light—think of how much dimmer the DS's bottom screen is than the top one.

Capacitive touchscreens are a bit fancier. They used to be really expensive, but the costs are coming down, so you're seeing them in more stuff, like this touchscreen phone from Apple you might have read about, or Dell's Latitude XT tablet.

How it works: At its most basic level, you've got a layer on top of the actual display panel that has an electrical charge running through it. Since you've got your own electrical mojo going on, when you touch the screen (presumably with your finger), it registers an electrical change. By measuring how much you're mucking up the electrical field and where the biggest disturbances are, the device can determine where you're touching it.

Good and bad: It's far easier to do multitouch with capacitive, and fewer added layers mean more light comes through for a brighter display. Still, because it's all about electrical fields interacting and conductivity and stuff, a hand with a mitten on it will have a hard time making stuff happen, and if you wanna use a stylus, you'll need a special one.

Infrared touch sensing, currently most famously used by Microsoft's Surface table, takes a slightly different approach. Because it works well with larger products, you might end up seeing this one quite a bit, especially from Microsoft.

How it works: Basically, the image on the surface is projected from underneath it, along with infrared light. Also underneath are infrared cameras that can see when the light is reflected by objects (like your fingers or cellphones or whatever), and those images are processed and translated as you move and gesture with pictures and virtual objects.

Good and bad: The good thing about this is that it uses existing technologies that come very cheap; the bad news is that the apparatus itself can be bulky, hence the need for Surface to be hidden inside a table, or at least a large globe. Also, it's sensitive to light, so flash photography or strong sunlight can throw off its game.

More, more, more!! There are some \way more advanced touchscreen technologies that aren't yet in wide use. The surface wave acoustic system uses tranducers and reflectors that detect if the ultrasonic waves being sent between them are disturbed (absorbed, actually), meaning something is touching it. Upside is that no metal crap in the panel means 100 percent brightness and awesome clarity. But apparently dust and crud can affect it, so not good for anywhere dirty.

Sharp and others have released prototype touchscreens with optical sensing tech built directly into the display. They are sensitive enough to detect your finger rubs right down to the pixel. Besides making multitouch easy, it can also double as a scanner because of the whole optical deal. Right now it's for small screens like phones—it can scale to notebook size, but not any larger. Of course, they, like infrared, can be affected by undesired light fluxuations.

Mary Lou Jepsen—the engineering honcho behind OLPC's original XO Laptop and founder of the Pixel Qi LCD development firm—told us recently she is pushing for in-cell touchscreen tech, which would make touchscreens cost the same as regular LCDs and be the same thickness, since touch sensitivity would be part of the LCD's own matrix. The issue is that it'll only work with devices specifically coded to use it; it's not a plug-and-play touchscreen like you could order online for your home DIY fake iPhone. If you're wagering that this secret sauce will help achieve the impossibly low pricetag on OLPC's next baby, the XO-2, you win a cookie.

And that's just about everything you need to know about touchscreens to get by. Resistive and capacitive are the major two to know for now, though you might start hearing a lot more about the other ones soon enough.

Something you still wanna know? Send any questions about touching, feeling or screening to tips@gizmodo.com, with "Giz Explains" in the subject line. Top image from David Nguyen, featured in this Giz Photoshop contest.

HTC Releases Windows Mobile 6.1 Update For Touch on Sprint

John Mahoney — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:04:09 EDT

Mr. T told us about the Win-Mo 6.1 update back in April, but Sprint and HTC have finally gotten around to releasing the official update for the Touch. It brings support for EV-DO Rev. A, improved GPS, an Opera browser and a full-screen QWERTY keyboard. [HTC via BGR]

HTC Touch Diamond Available on CompUSA For $779

Jason Chen — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EDT

If you really want to get your hands on an HTC Touch Diamond before the official US launch, CompUSA has one available for $779. The good news is that it's unlocked, so you can use it on both AT&T and T-Mobile, and quad-band, so you can take it just about anywhere where GSM goes. It's a nice phone, though kinda slow in our first impressions. Might want to wait until some more reviews hit before making your decision. [CompUSA]

HTC Touch Diamond Impressions (Verdict: It's Kinda Slow)

Jason Chen — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:01:00 EDT

Addy fiddled with the HTC Touch at the official unveiling about a month ago, but we've just got our own units delivered to us for extensive in-home testing. The exterior looks as nice as we've already seen in unboxing shots, and the TouchFlo is much more refined than the previous incarnations in HTC's ever-expanding Touch line. The problem? TouchFlo is slow as balls. And that's kind of an insult to balls, which are actually pretty fast from our past experience.

Even the "Tap here to launch TouchFLO 3D" intro screen that launches the TouchFLO interface is not very responsive. Here are the two biggest problems here with the interface that we can see. (Spoiler: it's pretty much the same problems as the original HTC Touch.)

One, the screen is the same hard screen that was introduced back when the first HTC Touch a year ago. It's harder than normal HTC screens like the AT&T Tilt (HTC TyTN II) because there's no raised ridge around it to protect the screen, and is a compromise made between using the stylus to touch the screen and using your finger. This makes it feel not ideal for your fingerpad (the way the iPhone works) and better for your fingernail (like the crazy Singaporean gal likes). Don't even try it with sweaty hands.

The other problem is that the processing power is not fast enough to keep up with natural gestures. Sweeping through the list of available applications on the bottom of the screen in the app strip often gets locked up halfway through, when some app decides it wants to slow everyone down and load up its icons. It's unclear whether it's because the Touch Diamond doesn't have the graphical capacity and processing power to keep up with the fancy 3D TouchFLO they rigged up, or if it's a problem with the touch sensor not registering inputs well enough when you use your finger. We think it's the latter, since it works fine with a stylus or a fingernail. Cycling through the same apps one by one using the hardware D-Pad is also excruciatingly slow as well, taking two seconds each to bring up the next menu item.

The good news is that the virtual BlackBerry-esque SureType split-key keyboard is much better than the built-in one Windows Mobile sticks you with, and can actually be used with your finger tip. The bad news is that it takes up 60% of the screen, so when you're sending an SMS, you've got only one line of text visible at a time. Ouch.

Other things we like are the improved dialer screen and call screen (it's very, very iPhone-like), the fancy weather app, the very bright screen, the size, the glowing circle inside the D-Pad, the magnet on the right side that grips the stylus, and the general prettiness of the UI. Look for a full review in the near future.

Update: The new UI fix is a lot faster.

HTC Touch Diamond Unboxed, Looks Diamondy

Jason Chen — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:48:55 EDT

We got hands-on time with the HTC Diamond when it was released, but nothing beats taking photos at home under optimal lighting conditions. EPrice in Taiwan got a unit for themselves (HTC is from Taiwan) and took loads of shots, some of which illustrate why this thing is called the Diamond. Go on, check the gallery to see what we mean. [Eprice]

HTC Touch Diamond, Raphael, Titanium and Find to Be Released Soon?

Jason Chen — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EDT

Following up on the news of HTC launching its most important product of the year next month, GSMArena dug up some more info on two phones they think will be unveiled there, the HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch Find. According to MSMobiles, the HTC Touch Find seems to a version of the HTC Touch Cruise, which is out already, but this seems to be a rounder, more ergonomic version. The HTC Touch Diamond is actually the T-Mobile MDA Compact IV shown at CeBIT 2008, and will have a 528MHz Qualcomm CPU and GPS. It'll also have an accelerometer (like the iPhone) to rotate the UI when you go horizontal.

The Raphael seems to be pretty interesting as well, and GSMArena says it's a successor to the HTC TyTN II (AT&T Tilt). It'll be sold as the Touch Pro, further illustrating how much junk HTC is shoving under the Touch brand, and still have a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

And last, the HTC Titanium, will be probably the HTC Touch Dual Pro and have a 12 or 20 key slide-out keypad. [GSM Arena and MS Mobiles]

T-Mobile 3G Rollout in NYC Could Come as Early as May 1st

Sean Fallon — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:15:00 EDT

Sources for Boy Genius are confirming an earlier rumor stating that T-Mobile's 3G network will get a May rollout in NYC. The sources also update the rumor pointing to May 1st as the actual drop date. [BGR]

HTC's First Big Ad Push Focuses on Fingering

Jason Chen — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EDT

This is HTC's first big TV ad in the US. Rather than focus on their devices individually, HTC's going for a general "brand" awareness. Seeing as how they've previously marketed their phones under the four big providers' own names (AT&T TilT, T-Mobile MDA, Verizon 6700), it's a smart step in breaking away from their control. This particular ad, one of a few that will hit print and online outlets, is underwhelming. It wants compare the HTC Touch with the iPhone (implicitly), but if you've read any of the many reviews of the device, you'll see that it's nowhere near as usable. If we were HTC, we'd focus more on their slide-out QWERTY devices that are like Sidekicks, but for businessmen.

T-Mobile's 3G Network Rolling Out May in NYC, Coincides With 3G HTC Touch Dual?

Jason Chen — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:52:26 EDT

We've been waiting for 3G on T-Mobile longer than we've been waiting for The Police to get back together, and it looks like May will be the month that all this patience finally pays off. TmoNews is pegging the first launch to be in NYC, and spreading to the rest of the country's major cities throughout the rest of 2008 (list after the jump). Of course, it's just a rumor so far, but it does seem to coincide with this HTC Touch Dual Into Mobile found on the FCC, which is supposedly headed toward T-Mobile and features 3G HSDPA. We'll post as we learn more, though we're hopeful that this could finally be it for T-Mobile users to not pull down mobile data at 1996 dial-up speeds. [FCC via IntoMobile - TmoNews]

New York City
Austin
NJ and Long Island
Las Vagas
Minneapolis
Miami
Dallas
Chicago
Houston
Philadelphia
Denver
Detroit
Orlando
Kansas city
Atlanta
Los Angeles
New England
Portland
Sacramento
San Diego
Seattle
Washington DC
San Francisco
Birmingham
Memphis
Tampa
Phoenix

Lightning Review: Verizon XV6900 (aka HTC Touch)

matt buchanan — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:34:36 EDT

The Gadget: Verizon XV6900, their version of Sprint's Touch by HTC, which is a pretty compact Windows Mobile 6 smartphone overlayed with HTC's custom TouchFLO for finger touchiness.The Price: $299.99 online after $100 rebate with two-year contract.

The Verdict:

For a phone known in its past life as the "Touch," the touchscreen should be way more responsive. You've gotta actually put some weight behind your pokes, or maddened multi-tapping will be the order of the day (typing can be a serious calorie-burning exercise in frustration). Fingernails seem to work better than fleshy nubs, but it means swiping to get to the slick 'n' schmancy 3D Touch Cube navigation screen can occasionally turn into a massage for your phone.

The UI is basically the same as Sprint's sans Sprint logos, so if you liked your friend's, you'll feel at home. This is a Windows Mobile 6 phone, so all the usual pains (and glories) apply. Verizon's media toys, like V Cast mobile TV are still MIA on the WinMo front. The EV-DO Rev. A's blazing speeds are sweet, but unfortunately the browser doesn't match the awesomeness of the pipe—Gizmodo looks like an unreadable train wreck, for instance.

The size, shape and weight are great, but that doesn't exactly make up for the rest. Touch at your own risk. [Verizon Wireless]

Verizon Sets Date For XV6900 Availability

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:20:17 EDT

Verizon's version of the HTC Touch, the XV6900, will be available online and in B2B channels on April 16, and will hit stores by April 30. [Verizon Wireless]

Verizon's CTIA Phone Lineup: Remakes and Sequels

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:00:00 EDT

CTIA comes but twice a year, and it gives the telecoms and phone makers a chance to show off their coolest stuff. Verizon Wireless apparently has its hands full with the whole open-network thing, because instead of unveiling something potentially sweet like the LG VX9700 or VX8560, its lineup of CTIA phones looks pretty ho-hum. Yes, there's a new BlackBerry Curve 8330 and a slimmer enV, but even those and the other handsets from HTC, Motorola and Samsung suffer from a re-heated leftover vibe:

• enV2 by LG - The most legitimately new phone of the line is a sequel to the original enV, a bulky but fun text-messaging phone with QWERTY keyboard. This one is slimmer, with bigger keys, SDHC support for 8GB MicroSD cards, and better Bluetooth connectivity. Comes in "sophisticated" black or maroon - $130 after a $50 (mail-in?) rebate

• BlackBerry Curve 8330 - I love a good Curve as much as the next guy, especially one with EV-DO and SDHC support for MicroSDs up to 8GB. But it's going to be a hard one to squeeze in between the $200 Pearl and the $300 8830 World Edition - $270 after a $50 mail-in rebate

• Motorola Q9c - A less-colorful business-minded version of the supposedly media-friendly Q9m, this Windows Mobile 6 smartphone makes use of its aGPS chip by bundling in VZNavigator - $250 after a $50 mail-in rebate

• Windows Mobile XV6900 aka HTC Touch - Yes, the newest of at least 10 Windows Mobile devices in Verizon's lineup, is the one Sprint calls HTC Touch, which brings a marginal amount of touchy-feely finger navigation to the so-over-that WinMo interface - $350 after a $50 mail-in rebate

• Alias by Samsung - A silver version of the existing dual-flip-action SCH-u740, this one has an "updated easy-to-read full" QWERTY keyboard although the original one had some kind of QWERTY action, too - $130 after a $50 mail-in rebate

Don't tell me this is all you got, VZW!! If it is, well, at least you're soon gonna let us port phones from Sprint and Helio.

More info for the genuinely interested:

VERIZON WIRELESS AND LG INTRODUCE THE SLIM enV2™ BY LG
Successor to the Popular enV by LG, the Slim, Stylish enV2 Comes in Two Hot New Colors Along with Larger External Keys and Internal Display

LAS VEGAS, BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SAN DIEGO - Ahead of CTIA WIRELESS 2008, Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) today announced the enV2™ by LG will be available in April, online at www.verizonwireless.com and at more than 2,400 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the nation, including those at Circuit City. The successor to the popular enV by LG, the new enV2 gets a makeover with a new slim redesign and sophisticated black or maroon finish.

The enV2 supports a number of features and services that customers have come to expect in wireless phones from LG and Verizon Wireless, including V CAST Music and Video, VZ NavigatorSM, Bluetooth® capabilities, dual speakers and a 2.0 megapixel camera. The phone's spacious QWERTY keypad with large sized external keys makes messaging easy, while its 2.4-inch internal screen offers crisp, crystal-clear videos and images.

The enV2 is the ideal multimedia device for music and video lovers. Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music store gives customers access to more than 2.8 million songs from both well-known and independent artists to download and blast on the phone's dual speakers. Music aficionados can enjoy the rich, full sound of their favorite tunes anywhere, anytime by simply pairing the enV2 with a Bluetooth Stereo headset or accessory. Customers can also record and save a variety of video clips that can easily be shared with family and friends by using the video recording capabilities on the enV2. A separately purchased external memory microSD™ card allows customers to store their own music or video clips on their phones and move them from their PCs to their phones.

"We are addressing the burgeoning texting trend by spending time asking what consumers want and expect from their mobile devices," said Mr. Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of product strategy and marketing for LG Mobile Phones. "We know the texting audience wants a mobile device that is compact enough to slide easily into pant pockets and handbags without compromising the integrity of the phone's features. The slimmed-down enV2 offers everything consumers loved about the enV with the added benefit of a larger, more spacious internal screen with large easy-to-text keys."

Equipped with access to VZ NavigatorSM, enV2 is also a great companion when on-the-road.

VZ Navigator uses location-based services (LBS) to provide audible turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to find more than 14 million points of interest, from ATMs and gas stations to restaurants and tourist destinations. The enV2 by LG also offers the following features and capabilities:

* Mobile Web 2.0SM-capable - customizable, enhanced wireless access to the latest in news, sports, weather and more
* Get It Now®-capable - download games, ringtones, wallpapers and more
* Wireless Sync E-mail (BREW® e-mail Client) capability
* Instant Messaging using AIM®, WL Messenger®, and Yahoo!®
* 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder:
o Self-Portrait capabilities and external LCD for self-portraits
o Camera Resolutions: 1600 x 1200 (default), 1280 x 960, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 pixels
o Image Editor - rotate, zoom, crop
o Digital Zoom: up to 10x (zoom varies by image size; camera setting of 1600 x 1200 pixels does not support zoom function)
o Video Resolutions: 320 x 240, 176 x 144 (default) pixels
o Video Player for WMV, MP4, 3GP, 3G2 formats
* Music Player for .mp3, .wma, and unprotected .aac and .aac + files
* microSD memory port with up to 8 GB support - store music, customer generated pictures and video (not all downloaded content may be moved to the microSD card)
* Supported Bluetooth Profiles - compatible with devices that support headset, hands-free,* dial-up networking, advanced audio distribution (stereo), phone book access, basic printing, basic imaging, object push for vCard and vCalendar and file transfer
* Auto view and Text to Speech, so text messages can be heard aloud
* 1,000 address book contacts with five numbers, two e-mail addresses and a Picture ID for each entry (Picture ID is dependent on photos stored in My Pictures)
* Function Key - customizable for 10 shortcuts
* Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA (Digital Dual-Band)
* Dimensions: 4.00" (h) x 2.13" (w) x 0.65" (d)
* Weight: 4.23 ounces
* Standard Battery: 950 mAh Li-Polymer
* Up to 320 minutes of usage time or up to 520 hours of standby time
* TTY/TDD support
* Hearing aid compatible (M3/T3-Rating)

The enV2 by LG will be available for $129.99 after a $50 rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

VERIZON WIRELESS INTRODUCES THE BLACKBERRY CURVE SMARTPHONE
Sophisticated Full-QWERTY BlackBerry Curve 8330 Delivers Uncompromising Communications, Rich Multimedia Features, VZ Navigator and Broadband Speeds

LAS VEGAS, BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and WATERLOO, Ontario - Ahead of CTIA WIRELESS 2008, Verizon Wireless, the owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, today announced the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 smartphone will be available in May. Packaged in a liquid silver-colored finish with chrome highlights, smooth edges and soft curves, the BlackBerry Curve 8330 is backed by Verizon Wireless' high-speed Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network. This small and light smartphone has rich multimedia capabilities and is VZ NavigatorSM-capable. VZ Navigator is Verizon Wireless' location-based service that offers customers mapping, audible turn-by-turn navigation and access to information on more than 14 million points of interest.

The BlackBerry Curve 8330, RIM's smallest and lightest full-QWERTY smartphone, combines stylish looks with the tools people need to manage their professional responsibilities, maintain personal communications and entertain their senses.

The BlackBerry Curve 8330 offers the following capabilities and key features:

* Small and light design that is easy to handle and use; measures 4.2" x 2.4" x 0.6"and weighs only 4 ounces
* Large, vibrant 320 x 240 display, with light sensing technology that automatically adjusts brightness for optimal viewing in outdoor, indoor, and dark environments
* Responsive, highly-tactile full-QWERTY keyboard and RIM's intuitive trackball navigation system
* Premium phone features including: noise cancellation technology to offset background noise, Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), dedicated "send," "end," and "mute" keys, low-distortion speakerphone, and Bluetooth® 2.0, with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets (Bluetooth stereo audio profile A2DP/AVRCP), car kits and other Bluetooth accessories
* 2.0 megapixel camera with support for video recording*, self-portrait mirror, enhanced flash and 5X zoom
* Easy access to the popular Facebook® for BlackBerry® Smartphones application
* 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack and dedicated volume controls
* Advanced media player and enhanced desktop media manager software that makes it easy to move media files between a PC and the BlackBerry Curve 8330 - USB Data Cable comes in-box
* MicroSD™/SDHC memory card slot, providing plenty of additional storage (up to 8 GB)
* HTML web browser delivers a fast, rich browsing experience and supports streaming video from sites like m.youtube.com (3GPP RTSP streaming protocol over EV-DO)
* A removable, rechargeable battery, rated for up to 260 minutes of talk time and up to 11 days of standby time
* In-box accessories include: a stereo headset, travel charger and premium tote sleeve

The BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone is supported by BlackBerry® Internet Service that gives customers access to up to 10 supported POP3 and IMAP personal and corporate e-mail accounts, including most popular ISP e-mail accounts. It is also supported by BlackBerry® Professional Software for small businesses and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for enterprise deployments, enabling advanced security and IT administration within IBM® Lotus® Domino®, Microsoft® Exchange and Novell® GroupWise® environments.

The BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone will be available at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City, for $269.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the handset is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase. Customers who purchase a Verizon Wireless Nationwide voice plan can also subscribe to the E-Mail and Web for BlackBerry plan for an additional $29.99 per month while those opting for a data-only plan can pay $34.99 per month for unlimited e-mail and access to the Internet.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Business customers should contact a Verizon Wireless Business Sales Representative directly at 1-800-VZW-4BIZ.

* Video recording requires a microSD memory card, sold separately.

VERIZON WIRELESS EXPANDS ITS MOTO Q LINE-UP WITH THE ADDITION OF THE MOTO Q 9C
Sleek MOTO Q 9c Smartphone Keeps Busy Professionals on Track with GPS Navigation

LAS VEGAS, BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. - Ahead of CTIA WIRELESS 2008, Verizon Wireless, the owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) announced today the April availability of the MOTO™ Q 9c, the newest addition to Verizon Wireless' MOTO Q family, that comes equipped with Verizon Wireless' popular VZ NavigatorSM service. Customers may purchase MOTO Q 9c in April through Verizon Wireless business sales channels, at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, and online at www.verizonwireless.com.

Similar to its predecessors - the exclusive MOTO Q 9m and the original MOTO Q - the MOTO Q 9c from Verizon Wireless offers professionals an indispensable productivity tool wrapped in a sleek and fashionable design. The MOTO Q 9c is the ideal smartphone for business professionals who are on-the-road and offers powerful capabilities, including access to more than 14 million points of interest with Verizon Wireless' VZ Navigator service. Customers can receive visual and audible turn-by-turn directions to a destination, locate business meeting destinations, ATMs, restaurants, and other places in an area, get a map of a location, bookmark favorites and recent searches, and even share locations with others - all from their MOTO Q 9c smartphones.

MOTO Q 9c operates on Verizon Wireless' wireless broadband network and features Windows Mobile® 6 Standard software, which offers customers a robust and familiar experience to help manage their lives by staying connected to their contacts, calendar and entertainment. With Windows Mobile 6.0, customers are able to easily configure virtually any POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts, and they can read, edit, and create Microsoft® Word®, Excel® and PowerPoint® documents via the Documents To Go® application.

"Verizon Wireless has embraced the MOTO Q family, recognizing that not all smartphone users have the same priorities. Verizon Wireless customers can find the MOTO Q that meets their multi-tasking needs, while on-the-go," said Juergen Stark, corporate vice president of Productivity, Mobile Devices, Motorola, Inc.

MOTO Q 9c offers all of these features wrapped in a sturdy design. The optimized QWERTY keyboard on MOTO Q 9c has been engineered for fast and accurate typing, with dedicated "hot keys" for shortcuts to popular applications, including e-mail, multimedia and Internet. The handset's large 2.4-inch color display boasts innovative adaptive technology to automatically adjust for optimized brightness in indoor or outdoor lighting conditions to maximize battery life. MOTO Q 9c also offers a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash and fixed focus as well as video capture and playback. With MOTO Q 9c phone's 128 MB of on-board memory and optional removable memory future-proofed up to 32 GB, sold separately, customers have plenty of room to store their photos and other multimedia.

MOTO Q 9c also combines advanced phone capabilities, such as voice-activated dialing, smart contacts dialing, speakerphone, and Stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology supporting both Bluetooth A2DP and AVRCP profiles.*

Pricing

MOTO Q 9c will be available online and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City, for $249.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the handset is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase. Verizon Wireless Nationwide E-mail plans for MOTO Q 9c begin at $79.99 for 450 anytime voice minutes and unlimited e-mail. VZ Navigator is available for $9.99 for monthly access.

VERIZON WIRELESS UNVEILS STYLISH, INTUITIVE XV6900 FOR MOBILE PROFESSIONALS
The XV6900 Features an Easy-to-Use Touch-Screen, Simple User Interface, and Quick Access to Games, E-Mail and More

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Ahead of CTIA WIRELESS 2008, Verizon Wireless, the owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, today announced the XV6900 will be available in April through Verizon Wireless business sales channels, at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. The Verizon Wireless XV6900 is a stylish, compact and versatile touch-screen phone, optimized for easy navigation with the swipe of a finger and runs on Verizon Wireless' network, which gives the pure white XV6900 fast Internet and e-mail connectivity.

The XV6900 from Verizon Wireless takes touch to the next level with smooth navigation. Whether customers are accessing local weather reports, navigating to the Internet, flipping through photos, or one-touch dialing of loved ones, they can interact with a myriad of the XV6900's features with just a flick of their fingers.

The Verizon Wireless XV6900 leverages the broad functionality and communication capabilities of Windows Mobile® 6 Professional with access to Outlook Mobile® for smooth e-mail integration, Office Mobile and the ability to run a bevy of third-party applications. Verizon Wireless customers will also have the ability to surf the Web through Internet Explorer® Mobile, send and receive e-mails or chat on popular Messenger services including AIM®, MSN®, Yahoo!®. Designed with the sophisticated customer in mind, the Verizon Wireless XV6900 allows customers to view and edit Microsoft Word® and Excel® files, as well as view Microsoft PowerPoint®, Adobe® Reader® LE PDF Viewer and view, extract and create new ZIP files and attachments. The intuitive home screen on the XV6900 provides one-touch access to e-mail, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.

Additional features of the XV6900 include:

* Built-in speakerphone
* Bluetooth® v. 2.0 with support for stereo, hands-free, and headset profiles
* microSD™ memory card slot with support up to 8 GB
* 2.0 megapixel camera with video capture
* 256 MB ROM / 128 MB RAM
* 2.8" TFT-LCD touch-screen with LED backlight
* 3.98" (l) x 2.35" (w) x 0.56" (d)
* Support for Office Outlook Mobile and Microsoft Exchange® with Direct Push

The XV6900 will be available online and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City, for $349.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the handset is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase.

VERIZON WIRELESS INTRODUCES THE ALIAS™ BY SAMSUNG
Slim, Dual-Hinge Flip Phone Gets Updated Full-QWERTY Keyboard and Stylish Silver Finish

LAS VEGAS, BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and DALLAS - Ahead of CTIA WIRELESS 2008, Verizon Wireless, the owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung) announced the Alias™ by Samsung will be available in mid-April. The successor to the popular Samsung SCH-u740, the Alias will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com or in any of the 2,400 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City.

The Alias sports the familiar dual-hinge design of the SCH-u740 but is packaged in a cool silver finish and features an updated easy-to-read full-QWERTY keyboard, making the phone ideal for sending text messages and e-mails. When customers open the Alias vertically, the phone is a sleek and stylish clamshell phone.

When the Alias is opened horizontally, the QWERTY keyboard is revealed to show its new color-defined numbers and letters. In addition to sending text messages, customers can use Wireless Sync, Verizon Wireless' proprietary personal information management solution, to synchronize their phones with their home or office PCs for easy access to e-mail, calendar, contacts and task information. The horizontal view is ideal for using the Alias' multimedia features, including Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music and Video services. With V CAST Music, customers can choose from more than 2.8 million songs from well-known and independent artists to download over-the-air directly to their phones or transfer their own music collection from their PCs to their phones. With V CAST Video, customers can download or stream video clips from the best names in news, sports and entertainment.

Additional features of the Alias include:

* 1.3 megapixel digital camera with flash
* Camcorder
* Get It Now® - downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services and more
* Mobile Web 2.0SM - customizable, enhanced wireless Internet access to the latest in news, sports, weather and more
* Instant Messaging using AIM®, MSN®, Yahoo!®
* Text, picture and video messaging
* Bluetooth wireless technology - Object Push Profile for vCard, headset, car kits, serial port and certain dial-up networking profiles
* Expandable memory with external microSD™ card slot
* Dimensions: 3.8" x 2.04" x .58"; 3.65 ounces with standard battery
* Bilingual user interface: English and Spanish
* TTY/TTD Capable
* Personal organizer with Calendar, Calculator, Notepad, Currency Converter, Alarm Clock, World Time and Stop Watch

The Alias will be available in mid-April for $129.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com.

Toshiba G810 Windows Mobile Smartphone Looks Like the HTC Touch

Jason Chen — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:35:46 EST

Toshiba's no stranger to Windows Mobile devices, but their latest G810 touchscreen handset looks more similar to the HTC Touch than their previous HTC-like phones. It's got Windows Mobile 6 on board, 3g HSDPA, 3-megapixel camera with auto-focus, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM radio 2.8-inch touchscreen display, 256MB internal memory, GPS, and a late Spring European launch. It's got enough features to be a good phone, but it's nothing revolutionary. [Toshiba Europe via Tech Digest via The Unwired]

HTC Touch Windows Mobile Smartphone Coming to Verizon

Jason Chen — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:32:28 EST

If you Verizon customers were peeking enviously over the fence at the HTC Touch on Sprint, you won't have to peek much longer. According to a Howard Forums user (who apparently took this shot at the UT Starcom booth at CES), the HTC Touch will be headed to Verizon as the XV6900 soon. It'll be white, and it'll be slightly thinner than the Sprint version of the phone. In the end, however, it's still the same Windows Mobile phone that's not all that great to use (unless you load PointUI on it.) [Hofo via Crunchgear]

HTC Touch Clone Has GPS, But Still Runs Windows Mobile

Jason Chen — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:00:02 EST

If we were a Chinese company that made knockoff phones, we probably wouldn't make a knockoff of the HTC Touch. Not that the phone is bad—it's somewhat usable—but putting Windows Mobile 5 on any phone when WM6 is the standard now is kind of a bad idea. However, we would follow in their footsteps and beef up hardware features to include a GPS, a 2-megapixel camera and fingerprint security. We just wouldn't put Windows Mobile 5 on it. [EC51 via Uber Gizmo]

HTC Touch vs iPhone: 25 Minute Head to Head Video

Sean Fallon — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:20:36 EST

If you have been on the fence about picking up an HTC Touch or an iPhone, you owe it to yourself to check out this 25 minute comparison from the guys at WM Experts. If your attention span is limited to 15 minutes and under, I can tell you that the verdict was mixed...sort of. In the end the battle was really between Windows Mobile and the iPhone. Not surprisingly, the reviewer felt that WM was a better choice for him personally because of its productivity features (WM Experts, go figure).

However, he conceded that the iPhone was far superior in its media capabilities and browser — so if that is what you are into, it is definitely the better choice. Not all that surprising, but the video does offer a good side by side visual perspective. [WM Experts via Mobile Magazine]

T-Mobile HTC Shadow Finally Emerges Looking Damn Good (Gallery)

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:01:00 EDT

The long-rumored T-Mobile Shadow (aka Juno) officially launches now. It hits stores Wednesday for $200 with voice-plan or $150 with $20-per-month unlimited data plan. (Both require two year contracts.) With it, T-Mobile and HTC have done the impossible: they have made Windows Mobile look good. Great even.

Like other WM6 devices including Sprint's recently launched HTC Touch and Verizon's Motorola Q9m, it has an interface skin that shields the user from the immediate effects of the Windows Mobile UI. But unlike those other two, this one goes a little deeper, letting you do quite a bit without ever seeing Windows Mobile.

Best of all, it manages this feat of user-friendliness without a touchscreen, just a comfortable click wheel. I'm a fan of the beautiful 2.6" screen as well, and in this case the BB Pearl-style QWERTY keypad/numpad worked great combined with solid predictive typing software. Check out the physical attributes first:Let's face it, the star of this show is the UI, so have at it:While there's no way for me yet to call it a pure 100% victory for T-Mo and HTC—my previous Windows Mobile wounds run too deep for that—I am willing to say that there's a sea change, better interfaces are being designed for WM6, and this is without a doubt the best one we've seen yet. [T-Mobile]

T-Mobile HTC Shadow Sizemodo vs iPhone vs Palm Centro vs BB Curve vs Sprint HTC Touch

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:59 EDT

See how T-Mobile's new smartyphone shapes up next to your current favorites in the gallery above. [T-Mobile]

Sprint Launches HTC Touch [Updated With Video]

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:00:00 EDT

Sprint launched its version of the HTC Touch today, aimed not at business users (that most of the Windows Mobile platform devices target) but at consumers. The hope is that the flip-happy TouchFlo skin over the more familiar WM6 interface will draw in people with iPhone envy. The Touch will cost $250 with a two-year contract and $100 mail-in rebate, and will be available on Nov. 4. Photos by Jennifer Hooker

Video and press release...

Sorry it's a bit blurry—we had some technical difficulties. But you can still see the TouchFlo action, which is the point.

Press release:

FIRST HIGH SPEED WIRELESS DEVICE TO OFFER FULL, INTUITIVE TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGY EFFORTLESSLY BALANCES WORK AND PLAY
With an easy finger swipe, Touch by HTC™, exclusively from Sprint, offers both business and personal essentials with an easy-to-use interface

Available November 4; Sign up to be first in line at www.sprint.com/touch

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and BELLEVUE, Wash. - October 17, 2007 - Combining a dynamic touch screen experience with industry-leading network speeds, Sprint (NYSE: S) and HTC Corp. (TAIEX: 2498; "HTC"), today announced the upcoming availability of Touch by HTC™, a full touch screen wireless phone integrating Windows Mobile 6 with advanced entertainment features. Operating on the Sprint Mobile Broadband network, the stylish Touch by HTC brings together email and other essential business applications with Sprint's exclusive multimedia content including over-the-air music downloads, live TV and more.

With a nearly 3-inch display, Touch by HTC features integrated TouchFLO technology, developed by HTC, leveraging smooth navigation through menus with a finger swipe. In addition, the innovative TouchFLO cube brings a 3D cube interface allowing quick access to entertainment, communication tools and a "Dial-by-picture" photo caller ID screen.

Touch by HTC leverages the broad functionality of Windows Mobile 6 with Outlook Mobile for smooth email integration, Office Mobile, Windows Live and the ability to run thousands of third-party applications. It also allows users to surf the web with Internet Explorer®, send and receive emails, chat on Messenger and send files to their own web space through Windows Live®. The home screen provides one-touch access to email, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.

Versatile and compact, Touch by HTC provides quick and easy access to Sprint-exclusive content, including:
Sprint Music StoreSM, powered by Groove Mobile, which allows users to browse and wirelessly download full-length songs directly to their phone from a selection of more than 1.8 million songs
Sprint Exclusive Entertainment (SEE), the industry's only made-for-mobile sports and entertainment video programming network
Sprint TVSM with more than 50 channels of live and on-demand video and audio.
More than a dozen streaming radio stations , including Sprint Radio and SIRIUS
On-Demand with up-to-date information on sports, weather, news, money and more customized by zip code.
(Standard data charges apply to all downloads from Sprint.)

"Our customers appreciate the ability to have one device that seamlessly balances both personal needs and business demands," said Danny Bowman, vice president of product development for Sprint. "Touch by HTC is unlike any other wireless device because it brings together the power of Windows Mobile with easy access to our entertainment applications. This attractive device easily lets you watch news as it happens, respond to email, download your favorite songs and stay connected with the office, family and friends."

"This device provides a broad set of consumers with the benefits of a smartphone with the style and ease of use they demand," said Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC. "Touch by HTC presents a new, more intuitive touch experience that simplifies access to the most commonly used smartphone features such as dialing, messaging and Web browsing. It also improves the video and music experience with the addition of Sprint TV and the Sprint Music Store."

"People want an easy-to-use companion in a mobile phone, freeing them up to leave the office or home and get more done while on-the-go," said Pieter Knook, senior vice president, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft Corp." The Sprint Touch is the result of the strong relationship between Microsoft, HTC and Sprint and offers customers a fun user experience, the power of Sprint's network and the ease-of-use of Windows Mobile which makes it easy to browse the Web, send email or enjoy your digital entertainment."

Touch by HTC offers MicroSD card slot that supports up to 4GB - a 512MB card is included with the device. Additional features include a 2.0 MP camera/camcorder with up to 5X zoom, advanced stereo Bluetooth® and Voice-activated dialing.

Touch by HTC measures 4.0" x 2.4" x 0.6" and weighs just 4 ounces. This device will be priced at $249.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement and a $100 mail-in rebate. Standard data rates apply for music and other content downloads.

Touch by HTC will be available on November 4 in all Sprint channels including www.Sprint.com and 1-800-SPRINT1. Customers can register to be among the first to purchase Touch by HTC at www.sprint.com/touch.

Customers purchasing Touch by HTC as a replacement for an existing mobile phone are encouraged to donate their current phone, battery and accessories to Sprint Project Connect. Donated equipment, regardless of make, model or service provider, will be recycled in an environmentally friendly manner or refurbished and resold. All net proceeds from Sprint Project Connect help to keep kids safe online through Sprint's 4NetSafety program in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the NEA Health Information Network, and others. More information, including a prepaid mailing label, can be found at www.sprint.com/projectconnect.

HTC Touch Dual Slider Video Walkthrough

Jason Chen — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:40:40 EDT

If you're at all interested in HTC's Touch Dual, also known as the sliding version of the HTC Touch, you should take a look at eXpansys's video walkthrough of its features. The top TouchFlo interface is the same as the HTC Touch, which you've seen before, but the slide-out keypad is gives a really satisfying *click*. The narration is in a very dry British monotone, so you may have to slap yourself a few times after watching this to make sure you're not falling asleep at work. [Expansys via Mobility Site]

Sprint's Q4 Lineup Leaked?

Mark Wilson — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:32:16 EDT

Sprint's Q4 lineup looks to have leaked to the public. They'll be offering the LG Rumor, HTC Touch, Palm Centro and Blackberry Pearl 8130. You may remember the 8130 on Sprint from when it was still called the Pearl 2, and it's on track to be released at the same time as original intel reported.

Sprint customers have long gotten the shaft on new phones, so what do you think? Are technology offerings looking better for subscribers? And is it me, or is the Centro getting less ugly by the day? [engadget]

HTC Touch Upgraded, Coming to Sprint

Brian Lam — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:15:10 EDT

WThe HTC Touch, with it's gesture based UI tweaks on top of a WM6 OS was a cute concept, but flawed. Sprint's picking it up, giving it CDMA/EVDO superpowers, doubling the processing speed from 200MHz to 400MHz to deal with Bill's Bloat, and eventual revision A. speed, and assisted GPS, once they software update it. The finger gesture menus invoke a set of commands for messaging, and one set for Sprint's multimedia functions, like TV and the music store. Sprint says this is likely coming in November. [GearLog]

Sizemodo: Helio Fin vs. Ocean vs. iPhone vs. HTC Touch

Jason Chen — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:47:57 EDT

Here's how the Helio Fin, the thinnest clamshell in the US, stacks up against other equally thin phones. As you can see, it's pretty much the same thickness as the iPhone, which is amazing since the Fin actually flips open. It's slightly thinner than the HTC Touch, and is dwarfed by the bulge-tastic Helio Ocean. More Sizemodo after the jump.

HTC Nike Touchscreen Slider

Jason Chen — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:50:17 EDT

This HTC Nike (P5500) Windows Mobile 6 smartphone found in HTC's roadmap looks almost exactly like the HTC Touch we reviewed before, except it has a slide-out numpad. Our thoughts? Genius. One of the big complaints about the Touch was the fact that you could only use the onscreen keyboard to dial. And as you know, the Windows Mobile on-screen keyboard isn't so great.

The preliminary specs for this are a 2-megapixel camera, GPS, HSDPA/UMTS and a touchscreen (obviously). That GPS does sound pretty great, and if they can cram all of that into something only slightly bigger than the HTC Touch, this could be a pretty great phone. [Unwired View]

HTC Touch Roundup

Jason Chen — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:49:40 EDT

If our early morning HTC Touch reveal left you hanging for more on this fancy finger-touch phone, look no further. Well, a little further. Here's some coverage of the Touch from around the webernet.

• Tracy and Matt have a video up as well. I think it was Matt this time.
• Shiny Shiny has an interview with HTC's Wang.
• Unwired view has some videos of the phone. Site's loading a bit slow though.
• Crave has some photos.
• Finally, HTC has an online demo of the UI.

– Jason Chen

HTC Touch Adds Finger Groping to Windows Mobile 6

Jason Chen — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 07:00:00 EDT

Previously known as the Elf, the HTC Touch is the next generation in the Taiwanese company's line of Windows Mobile phones. The Touch takes Windows Mobile 6—which is already pretty usable—and integrates what everyone's fawning over the iPhone and the Prada for: finger touching.

The base OS is still the same Windows Mobile 6, but on top, HTC's added TouchFLO, their own touchscreen app. It can tell whether you're using your stylus or your finger, and if you're using your finger, you can activate a "three-dimensional interface" with "three screens" made up of your contacts, your media, and your apps. It's hard to tell what this involves exactly until we get a hands on, but it sounds like a fancy 3D menu system on the top level that you can spin around by swiping your finger horizontally.

In addition, you can use finger swipes to scroll through web pages, documents, messages, and contact lists. There's also a new HTC-styled home screen that replaces the Today screen which lets you access your email, text messages, calendar, contacts, and weather.

Now for the specs: 2.8-inch touchscreen at QVGA resolution, 128MB ROM, 64MB RAM, 1GB microSD card (included), 2-megapixel camera, Windows Mobile 6, tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, and dimensions of 99.9mm x 58mm x 13.9mm (3.9in x 2.2in x 0.5mm). It's also available in two colors, soft black or wasabi. Yes. Wasabi.

The Touch is on sale now in the UK and should be available in the US in the second half of '07. Stay tuned for more. – Jason Chen