What's Next for HTC?

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3408' target='_blank'>http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3408</a><br /><br /></div>"<i>HTC has positioned itself as the largest manufacturer of Windows Mobile devices in the world. It has seen incredible growth this past year, and has made moves to sell directly to customers. After the incredible success that HTC has experienced this past year, what’s next for them? Here are some suggestions from yours truly. HTC is growing rapidly, but except for the highly politicized purchase of Dopod has not made a move to improve its position with strategic partnerships or mergers. There are 2 areas in which I believe that HTC can make strategic moves that will significantly improve its position: first in the area of mobile cameras and second in the area of branding.</i>"<br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/augusto-20061016-htc.gif" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br />Lately I have been feeling as if HTC has dropped the ball as far as product design and usability are concerned. Personally, this is something I feel should be nipped in the bud before they focus on designing a better camera. The difference in usability between a Cingular 2125 (HTC Faraday) and Cingular 3125 (HTC StrTrk) is ridiculous. To give you a better idea of what I'm referring to, try opening up the Comm Manager on both devices. For an even better example, try adjusting the volume on both devices. What was once a very simplistic action has instead turned into a round of Twister with my fingers. Smartphones were designed to make our lives easier, but lately I have felt as if my device is becoming more difficult to use everyday. Which each new device, I feel as if I’m taking a step or two backwards. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but the other day, I actually missed my MPx220. Sure the ROM was a mess, but it was so easy to use! Hopefully, I'm not the only person who feels this way! Hop inside and let us know how you feel! Who knows, maybe I'm just crazy! ;)

[Paul Kay]

On the StrTrk, what can be simpler than pressing and holding the Home button and selecting Comm Manager. Likewise, the volume can be adjusted using the side buttons even when the StrTrk is closed! Or is it the Faraday you are complaining about?

[Mike Temporale]

Yeah, you're not alone. I wasn't sure what phone to get next and part of my decision was around getting another HTC or something new and different. I'm pleased with the Samsung i320 and I think the build quality is better than my past HTC devices. It's faster and feels more solid in my hands - despite the fact that it's thinner.

[mbranscum]

Rocco...

I've had the Mpx220 and the Cingular 3125 and like the 3125 much better.

What processes do you feel are easier to complete on the 220?

[cinimod1000]

I too have had "useability" issues with HTC phones. I have had the MPX220, T-Mobile MDA, then the SDA, Then the MDA again. Today I am back to my 220, just to enjoy a day or two of simplicity!!
The MDA is great when at work, for e-mail, or for surfing the web in the evenings, but it's just too darn big to stick in your pocket when you go out....and sometimes it seems that either having to pull out the stylus (or make 10 or so moves with the 5 way) just to do one thing, is rediculous. I can do the same thing with two or three button presses on my 220. Besides, the 220 has great signal strength, and works well with the 1.47ROM. Anyone want to buy a very nearly new MDA?!!!!!

[Jerry Raia]

I actually missed my MPx220.

Did you skip your medication today?

[jimfee]

You can always count on Jerry to pile on the MPX220.

Any of you insiders know what Moto is up to since the Q? are they still in the WinMo bussiness Smartphone or otherwise?

Maybe they don't think they can catch up to HTC ;)

[Jerry Raia]

I just like to give it its just due. 8)

Have you seen this?

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=78597

[J4yDubs]

"
To give you a better idea of what I'm referring to, try opening up the Comm Manager on both devices. For an even better example, try adjusting the volume on both devices. What was once a very simplistic action has instead turned into a round of Twister with my fingers.
Can you expand on this thought? Having not used a 2125, I don't know how it handled Comm Manager and volume.

Just for reference, as stated above, you can hold the home button and then hit 2.

Or even easier is, if you using the Windows Default theme or have enabled it in another theme, you can just select the data/time bar. That will bring up Comm Manager.

You could also remap a key to do it.

I don't seem to have any issues with setting the volume?

John

[jfreiman]

I've been a 2125 user for a year -- yea, that was me who purchased the phone for $399 when it FIRST came out. ;-) Before that I had the ATT/Audiovox 5600.

I so wanted to get a new phone hoping that a new phone would be a new 'nervana' for me.

I scouted around town and stopped at 4 stores before I found a 3125 -- I returned it a week later.

Some things I didn't like were because of it's form factor -- I'm a bar phone shapped man.

Other reasons were it WAS harder for me to do things on the phone. Maybe I didn't look into enough or give it enough time, but the 2125 for me was easier to get to the menus and features I used daily.

The 3125 wasn't the phone for me, but lots of my friends liked it, it got oohs and ahhhs, but in the end I like the 2125 more and am still actively seeking my next Smartpone.

[Rocco Augusto]

On the StrTrk, what can be simpler than pressing and holding the Home button and selecting Comm Manager. Likewise, the volume can be adjusted using the side buttons even when the StrTrk is closed! Or is it the Faraday you are complaining about?

The problem is you have to hold the home button on the 3125. On the 2125 it was a simple key press, holding the home key down is just a tedious process which gets incredible annoying when you use the Comm Manager a lot.

Also the volume buttons on the 3125 are in a very difficult to use place making them hard to press. It would have been a better design if they were located on the bottom portion of the device and not the upper portion. Even leaving them on the upper screen, it would have been easier to place them below the Voicetag button. :(

Rocco...

I've had the Mpx220 and the Cingular 3125 and like the 3125 much better.

What processes do you feel are easier to complete on the 220?

Everything was a lot simpler to get to. Also, using the directional pad on the MPx220 was a lot less frustrating due to its larger size. I'm just not a huge fan of how many key presses it takes to do most tasks on the 3125.

I actually missed my MPx220.

Did you skip your medication today?

i ran out :(

Can you expand on this thought? Having not used a 2125, I don't know how it handled Comm Manager and volume... You could also remap a key to do it.

It handled them very easily. They were both simple button presses which were located in a way that it wasn't awkward to press them, the problem with the 3125 is that it is so long and thin, it makes hitting the side keys difficult.

While I could remap them, I shouldn't have to. I personally feel this is something that should have been taken care of when they were designing the device. Someone should have noticed that it was taking at least one extra keypress to do a fair amount of tasks

Other reasons were it WAS harder for me to do things on the phone. Maybe I didn't look into enough or give it enough time, but the 2125 for me was easier to get to the menus and features I used daily.

This is the same problem i am having. I loved the phone to death when I purchased it, but each new day that rolls around I find myself hating this device more and more. The device looks nice and thin and very fashionable, unfortunately I just can't be as productive on this handset then I could on my previous WM devices.

EDIT: sorry it is taking me so long to respond, i started a new job and have very little downtime during the day. :)

[Ballgame106]

You dont have to hold down the home button and then select comm manager. On the 3125 all you have to do is hold down the center of the navigation button and it opens. It is that simple! :D

[Jerry Raia]

You dont have to hold down the home button and then select comm manager. On the 3125 all you have to do is hold down the center of the navigation button and it opens. It is that simple! :D

The only thing that starts when you hold that button down is whatever is highlighted if you are are on the home screen for example. It is like the enter key on your PC keyboard.

[Pete Paxton]

So do you think the Dash will help HTC? I'm a wifi kinda guy so the i320 just won't do for me. I sure hope the Dash delivers. It's the only upcoming phone I see worth buying.

[Ballgame106]

Sorry. When I posted that, I had the homescreen layout "Windows Simple" enabled. In this case, the comm manager does open if you hold down the center of the navigation button. Sorry for the confusion.

[Jerry Raia]

Sorry. When I posted that, I had the homescreen layout "Windows Simple" enabled. In this case, the comm manager does open if you hold down the center of the navigation button. Sorry for the confusion.

Oh no worries at all. Welcome to the site! :D

[Rocco Augusto]

So do you think the Dash will help HTC? I'm a wifi kinda guy so the i320 just won't do for me. I sure hope the Dash delivers. It's the only upcoming phone I see worth buying.

It depends, if executed properly, the Dash could be an incredible device. Then again, if the Dash receives as little attention as the SDA did as far as ROM upgrades are concerned, I could see that being a problem :(

[J4yDubs]

It handled them very easily. They were both simple button presses which were located in a way that it wasn't awkward to press them, the problem with the 3125 is that it is so long and thin, it makes hitting the side keys difficult.

While I could remap them, I shouldn't have to. I personally feel this is something that should have been taken care of when they were designing the device. Someone should have noticed that it was taking at least one extra keypress to do a fair amount of tasks

Seems like you have you have an issue with the ergonomics, which might be partially because of the flip-phone design. I'm finding the ergonomics to be fine, but I'm also coming from a flip-phone centric history. It's actually something that attracted me to this phone (instead of the 2125 or similar device).

As for the button mapping, that's a pretty subjective topic. I don't find myself going into Comm Manager very often and wouldn't like it if they dedicated a button to it; I'd remap it. I don't like that they mapped a button to notes and have remapped it. I don't use the device to take notes, but that's me.

I actually wouldn't mind a couple of more hard buttons to map things to though.


EDIT: sorry it is taking me so long to respond, i started a new job and have very little downtime during the day. :)
What?! You have a real job and don't just post on here??? :wink:

[Jerry Raia]

What?! You have a real job and don't just post on here??? :wink:

He has some nerve doesn't he? :turn-l:

[Rocco Augusto]

What?! You have a real job and don't just post on here??? :wink:

yep, had to go back to the wonderful world of working. all joking aside, the layout seems poorly put together. for instance, the notes button is below the volume button which makes the volume buttons harder to press if you have smaller hands. it would have made more sense to add the volume buttons below the notes button or better yet, add both sets of buttons to the bottom portion of the clamshell where your hand is already hanging out! :)

[promano]

On the StrTrk, what can be simpler than pressing and holding the Home button and selecting Comm Manager. Likewise, the volume can be adjusted using the side buttons even when the StrTrk is closed! Or is it the Faraday you are complaining about?

I think both of you guys need to play with your phone some more.
This couldn't get any simpler on the Cingular 3125...

Comm Manager:
Open Phone
Press center of Circle.
Comm Manager will open.....

Volume Control:
On left side of cover there is a rocker switch.
Press UP for louder, down for lower.
DUH...

[Rocco Augusto]

I think both of you guys need to play with your phone some more.
This couldn't get any simpler on the Cingular 3125...

Comm Manager:
Open Phone
Press center of Circle.
Comm Manager will open.....

Volume Control:
On left side of cover there is a rocker switch.
Press UP for louder, down for lower.


I'm sure we are all aware of how to open the Comm Manager as well as change the volume, the discussion was about the poor button placment on the part of HTC as far as the volume is concerned. As for the Comm Manager, the point that was being made there was the amount of steps it takes to open it up compared to a model such as the 2125.

DUH...

We try to refrain from flaming here, this was uncalled for.

[Jerry Raia]

Comm Manager:
Open Phone
Press center of Circle.
Comm Manager will open.....

I think a DUH back at you is in order. Pressing the center of Circle (called the Enter Button in case you are interested) activates whatever is highlighted. It is not the default Comm Manager button....

DUH

[promano]

I think a DUH back at you is in order.
Pressing the center of Circle (called the Enter Button in case you are interested) activates whatever is highlighted.
It is not the default Comm Manager button....

DUH

I'll accept your DUH only because I forgot to mention one tidbit.
I have my Home Screen set to Windows Simple.
It is a clean screen with NO icons.
When you set this Home Screen, the center button then defaults
to open the Comm Manager.