HTC Touch Pro Announced (a.k.a. the Raphael) [Archive]

View Full Version : HTC Touch Pro Announced (a.k.a. the Raphael)

Jason Dunn

06-04-2008, 07:01 AM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.htc.com' target='_blank'>http://www.htc.com</a> </div><img border="1" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1212554161.usr1.jpg" alt="" /> If you looked at the HTC Diamond and thought "Nah, I need a keyboard", heads up: this might be the phone for you. Featuring much of the same look and feel of the HTC Diamond, the HTC Touch Pro boasts HSDPA and HSUPA connectivity (up to 7.2 mbps - glorious!), the same 2.8 inch VGA screen as the Diamond, a 1350 mAh battery, 512 MB of flash ROM storage, 288 MB of RAM (what a curious number - why not 256 MB?), microSD expansion, GPS capabilities (no real GPS, only AGPS? Really?), built-in TV-out functionality, and a 3.2 megapixel camera. The full press release is below, followed by a bunch of images of this beautiful device. So what are your impressions? Is this your next device, or does it fall short in some way? "Taipei, Taiwan — June 4, 2008 — HTC Corp., a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, today unveiled its advanced next generation business phone, the HTC Touch Pro™. Bringing a beautiful new angle to mobile business productivity, the HTC Touch Pro utilizes similar styling and functionality of the highly anticipated Touch Diamond™ and introduces a variety of business-focused enhancements that make getting work done on the go quick and easy. “The HTC Touch Pro and Touch Diamond have created a new generation of HTC touch devices that make the promise of the one-hand, one-touch mobile Internet a reality,” said Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corp. “HTC Touch Pro is for those customers that demand the ease of use and enjoyment of TouchFLO™ 3D and want the styling of the Touch Diamond but also need the powerful mobile business experience that HTC delivers.” <MORE /> "A New Dimension To Touch – One hand, one touch HTC has taken a great leap forward in touch screen innovation with its 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. TouchFLO 3D provides a stunningly intuitive way to zip through common tasks like messaging, calendar appointments or making calls with just one touch. Delve a little deeper to find that your music, photos, contacts and surfing the web are also responsive to the touch. In addition, the Touch Pro includes a new innovative touch-sensitive control for device interaction. Making The Mobile Internet Useful and Fun With the introduction of Touch Diamond and Touch Pro, HTC delivers an entirely new mobile Internet experience that utilizes broadband-like speeds with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA wireless connectivity. Committed to improving Web browsing, HTC provides a new customized mobile Web browser that enables easy viewing and effortless navigation of Websites in the way they are designed to be viewed on a PC. As part of this browsing experience users can zoom and pan Websites with one-hand and automatically view optimized content that has been specially created to fit the display. Turning the device sideways automatically rotates the web page view from a portrait to landscape view. In addition to Web browsing, the Touch Pro includes an HTC-developed, YouTube application for watching a variety of user generated video content as well as including Google Maps for mobile for mapping and traffic data. Unmatched Style With Complete Productivity Like the Touch Diamond, Touch Pro is crafted with precision to fit comfortably in a user’s hand and brings together elegant touch screen response with the direct precision of HTC’s trademark sliding keyboard design. Introducing a new five-row QWERTY keyboard layout that makes typing-intensive tasks like composing email or working on Microsoft Office® documents quick and easy. Built-in TV-out functionality means users can deliver the perfect PowerPoint® presentation from the Touch Pro. Bursting with Innovation The Touch Pro delivers an unrivalled combination of features and functionality. The 2.8 inch display provides near-print quality viewing that enables beautiful Web browsing and viewing of photographs. The built-in camera includes an optical auto-focus lens that ensures the photos you take will be clear and consistent. Advanced wireless and auto sensor screen pivoting are just a few of the features that make the Touch Pro experience a stand out. Availability The HTC Touch Pro™ will be available to customers across all major European, Asian and the Middle East markets in late summer. The North American and Latin American versions of Touch Pro will be available later in 2008. Key HTC Touch Pro Specifications • Size: 102 x 51 x 18.05mm • Weight: 165 g • Connectivity: WCDMA / HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA • Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional • Display: 2.8-inch VGA touch screen • Camera: 3.2MP, with video calling • Internal memory: 512 MB flash, 288 MB RAM • Expansion Slot: microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible) • Keyboard: Slide-out 5 row QWERTY keyboard • Bluetooth: 2.0 with EDR • Wireless: WiFi 802.11b/g • GPS: GPS/AGPS • Interface: HTC ExtUSBïƒ¤ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed) • Battery: 1350 mAh • Talk time: GSM: up to 8 hours • Standby time: GSM: up to two-weeks • Chipset: Qualcommïƒ’ MSM 7201Aïƒ¤ 528MHz HTC Introduces New Accessories Also today, HTC announced multiple accessories will available for the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro including a similarly designed desktop cradle and travel charger accessory pack as well as an extended battery and slim collapsible case for the Touch Diamond. About HTC Founded in 1997, HTC Corp. (HTC) designs, manufactures and markets innovative, feature rich smartphone and PDA Phone devices. Since its establishment, HTC has developed strong R&D capabilities, pioneered many new designs and product innovations and launched state-of-the-art PDA Phones and smartphones for mobile operators and distributors in Europe, the US, and Asia. These machines are available as HTC devices and as products individually customized for operator and device partners. HTC is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile device market. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com." And here are some more high-resolution photos for your enjoyment: <img border="1" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1212553867.usr1.jpg" alt="" /> <img border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1212554017.usr1.jpg" alt="" /> <img border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1212554044.usr1.jpg" alt="" /> <img border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1212554071.usr1.jpg" alt="" /> <img border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1212553977.usr1.jpg" alt="" />

l0wey

06-04-2008, 07:44 AM

Duncan

06-04-2008, 10:15 AM

Question though

the GPS: line in the specs

GPS: GPS/AGPS

I'm looking for a new phone and this looks like it but I want full GPS with maps.

Can anyone explain what the GPS specs actually are on this beauty..

It has full GPS capabilities (provided as part of theQualcomm chipset) and should run any WM 6.1 compatible GPS software. The 'a' in aGPS stands for 'assisted' and simply means that it can, potentially, download extra information from your mobile network to make for a faster and more accurate GPS connection.

The Touch Pro won't come with full GPS software. In some markets it may come with a taster of TomTom 7, and some mobile networks may bundle GPS software. The Touch Pro will come with Google Maps though.

PS This must be why the Diamond doesn't have expansions card support.

It's more that internal storage and no SD slot enabled the consumer aimed Diamond to be as thin and light as possible. The Touch Pro can have a MicroSD slot because it has to be bigger, and so has the space for a slot.

Duncan

06-04-2008, 10:31 AM

288 MB of RAM (what a curious number - why not 256 MB?),

I've seen the T-Mobile Vario IV (a slight variation on the Touch Pro but otherwise identical) in action. Not personally I'm afraid, but a short video of it in operation. From what I saw the speed of the TouchFlo is noticeably faster and smoother (vitually no lag). Makes me wonder if the RAM is actually just 256 MB, with the extra 32 MB simply there to speed up the graphics intensive interface.

GPS capabilities (no real GPS, only AGPS? Really?)

Yes, real GPS. Standard Qualcomm GPS, with the possibility of getting a network assist. Exactly the same as the Diamond which operates as non 'a'GPS running TomTom just fine. T-Mobile in the UK say there will be an option of a bundle with the CoPilot software.

So what are your impressions? Is this your next device, or does it fall short in some way

I've been waiting for this for a while, and it is absolutely my next PPC. Oddly I was told it wouldn't be out until Q1 2009, so quite what happened to enable it to be pushed up to end of Summer 2008 I don't know. Perhaps it has some connection with HTC managing to ship the Diamond early? Beating the 3G iPhone to the punch? Worry about the Experia taking their sales maybe?

alese

06-04-2008, 10:57 AM

This could be my next device, depending on availability. Either this or Experia, diamond is nice, but I want bigger battery, keyboard and SDHC slot and iPhone2 almost certainly won't be available (officially) in my country...

firsttiger

06-04-2008, 11:46 AM

I think the phone looks great and could be a real potential upgrade to my Tytn II. It does improve on the few things that I find cumbersome about the the Tytn II. The first is that from the pictures, it looks like you no longer have to press the function key to access the number keys and the second is that the screen is flushed. When I'm not using my keyboard, I like to use Cootek's TouchPal for one-handed use and the Tytn's edges make it difficult to access the keys at the edge. I think having an expansion slot is key. Especially since micro sdhc memory can go up to at least 8GB today. Also the additional memory will be an extra boost. However, since I'm still happy with my Tytn II, I probably won't rush to get it from abroad as I did with the Tytn II. Let's see what happens when the unit is actually available ;)

wmm

06-04-2008, 02:20 PM

Hmm. I don't want the keyboard (never use the one on my 8525) and I really like the form factor of the Diamond, but I might be willing to put up with it and the extra bulk for the better specs here -- notably, the flash for the camera and the microSD card slot. I wish I knew what the pricing on this and the Diamond were going to be when they hit the U.S. (and especially whether AT&T is going to resell them with a contract subsidy).

cgavula

06-04-2008, 02:23 PM

You really need to point out that this device is ONLY tri-band. Once again, the 850MHz band is missing so no go for a lot of potential U.S. users unless they modify it and bring it over officially.

Once again - I fail to understand why ANYONE is manufacturing a GSM phone that isn't quad-band!

Eventually they will release these for the U.S. market, but who knows exactly when "later this year" really is? Why even change production? Why not start out with a quad-band device in the first place?

Jason Dunn

06-04-2008, 04:58 PM

You really need to point out that this device is ONLY tri-band. Once again, the 850MHz band is missing so no go for a lot of potential U.S. users unless they modify it and bring it over officially.

You're right - I always forget about that particular issue because I use all sorts of European only phones and never have any trouble. But for someone that's living in a place with ONLY 850 band coverage, it's an important issue.

Once again - I fail to understand why ANYONE is manufacturing a GSM phone that isn't quad-band!...Why not start out with a quad-band device in the first place?

I've been curious about this issue myself - last week I submitted a question to HTC to get a direct answer on this issue from them. I'm hoping it will provide some insight - because I'm sure there's a reason for it and it's not just that HTC is ignorant about the desire that people have for a GSM phone that works everywhere.

tap0utt

06-04-2008, 05:06 PM

Once again - I fail to understand why ANYONE is manufacturing a GSM phone that isn't quad-band!

***long quote trimmed by mod JD***

isnt the US release going to be CDMA? i thought i read that somewhere...

cgavula

06-04-2008, 05:09 PM

I understand that they could just release the U.S. version with a different tri-band configuration in the U.S. than in Europe/Asia, but I have to believe there are manufacturing costs to producing 2 different versions, so I have to believe it would ultimately be cheaper/easier to produce only 1 version of the device. I keep feeling I must be missing something, though, since quite a few manufacturers do this. I'm just not getting it.

efjay

06-04-2008, 05:09 PM

I've been curious about this issue myself - last week I submitted a question to HTC to get a direct answer on this issue from them. I'm hoping it will provide some insight - because I'm sure there's a reason for it and it's not just that HTC is ignorant about the desire that people have for a GSM phone that works everywhere.

This was asked by another site and you will probably get the same answer they did, that there wasnt enough space to fit a quad band radio.

Jason Dunn

06-04-2008, 05:17 PM

isnt the US release going to be CDMA? i thought i read that somewhere...

Well, there will likely be a CDMA version, but I'm certain there will be a US-band GSM version as well.

netboy

06-04-2008, 05:17 PM

u still want this iphone clone?
this phone looks like a toy! just like the iphone!

take a look at Sony X1 with 3" WVGA compare this 2.8" 640x480!
the X1 is a man's phone, not some toy or iphone clone!
after i look at X1 in more details, X1 makes my heart pumping!!

this is not advertisment for Sony X1.
just letting people be more inform and decide what is worth their money!
and also to encourage more competitions!

BengalBoy.com - Forum - Microsoft - BengalBoy Reviews the Sony Ericsson xPeria X1 the S.E.X1 Windows Mobile Professional 6.1 Smartphone! (http://www.bengalboy.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=1107&forum=8&post_id=6593)

Jason Dunn

06-04-2008, 05:18 PM

This was asked by another site and you will probably get the same answer they did, that there wasnt enough space to fit a quad band radio.

Interesting - I guess I'll see what they have to say to me then. :)

kanzlr

06-04-2008, 05:42 PM

the X1 is a man's phone, not some toy or iphone clone!
after i look at X1 in more details, X1 makes my heart pumping!!

lol :)

I wonder what you will do if the X1 doesn't live up to your expectations, really.

regarding the "man's phone": I do really recommend you read a Nancy Fraser book or two.

the Touch Pro looks good, as great specs and a 2,8" VGA screen is a good option, really.
of course I would be happy if the XDA Flame II turns out to be good (it will offer a 3,5" screen, like the original Flame).

no go and google Ms. Fraser :)

QYV

06-04-2008, 09:25 PM

What is going on with softkeys not being present on the QWERTY keyboards of these new devices?

When the XPERIA X1 was announced, the absence of softkeys on the keyboard was one of the first things I noticed, and now the Touch Pro seems to have followed suit. The softkeys are pretty important for accessing menu options, and even if you don't use the keyboard all the time, there are certainly plenty of occasions where you'd need them while typing. I'm really confused by how this will work...

bigray327

06-04-2008, 10:12 PM

This looks like a killer device, and I'll definitely be getting one the first day they hit the streets, but I'll miss all of the exterior buttons that my 6800 has. They're very useful to me.

Darius Wey

06-05-2008, 03:09 AM

What is going on with softkeys not being present on the QWERTY keyboards of these new devices?

The displays are now flush with the surrounding edges, making it less awkward to tap on the display to access menus. With regard to the Touch Pro, HTC probably took this into account and replaced the soft keys on the keyboard with a dedicated number row, which I consider to be a better use of space.

rookcnu

06-05-2008, 04:06 AM

***long quote trimmed by mod JD***

isnt the US release going to be CDMA? i thought i read that somewhere...

I thought I read the same thing about a month or two ago. I need this phone to be on the Sprint/Nextel network. My work provides the phone using this carrier. Can anyone confirm?

Also - I find it strange that some of these pictures show a front facing camera, while others in this same post do not. Hmmmmm.:cool:

David Tucker

06-05-2008, 05:15 AM

I gotta have this phone!

Jorlin

06-05-2008, 06:56 AM

Since I am looking for a new cellphone anyway, this might be the first smart phone that actually can live up to my expectations :D

I am really looking forward to this 8)

One question though:
Does anyone know how to connect headphones/ a cable headset to the HTC Touch Diamond/Pro... the USB connector on the Diamond shows a USB and headphone icon. But I wonder how that works...

Regarding the X1 from SE: It looks like a nice device. Two things that bother me very much though: 1st) The display resolution with 800*480 pixels is nowhere standard for PPCs and might cause a lot of trouble with 3rd party applications. 2nd) This is the first smartphone coming from SE and I honestly doubt that their first generation with the integration of the Windows Mobile OS will hold up to standards you can see with HTC smartphones...

Jorlin

06-05-2008, 08:21 AM

Finally a smartphone that might live up to my expectations of one... :D

Anyway, from what I read and saw about the HTC Touch Diamond the TouchFlo 3d UI seems to make the device laggy when changing views and power it on and off. I hope this will be fixed soon.

Regarding the SE X1, I have some doubts that SE can deliver very well with its first Windows Mobile based SmartPhone... but who knows. Another problem I see is the very uncommon display resolution with the X1; there might be a lot of problems with common PPC applications.

Dyvim

06-05-2008, 01:37 PM

u still want this iphone clone?
this phone looks like a toy! just like the iphone!

take a look at Sony X1 with 3" WVGA compare this 2.8" 640x480!
the X1 is a man's phone, not some toy or iphone clone!
Funny ... my first thought when the Sony X1 was announced was: uh oh, another iPhone clone.

with its sophisticated and distinctive design, XPERIA™ X1 redefines premiumness.
Hmmm ... since "premiumness" doesn't appear to be a real word, I think the X1 must define it rather than redefine it.

From a design perspective, I think the Touch Pro is a great looking device. Better than the X1 IMO. As is the Touch Diamond. If, as Duncan suggests, the Touch Pro has solved the lag problems that plague the Diamond's implementation of the Touch Flo 3D interface, HTC could have a real winner on their hands.

netboy

06-05-2008, 02:20 PM

From a design perspective, I think the Touch Pro is a great looking device. Better than the X1 IMO. As is the Touch Diamond. If, as Duncan suggests, the Touch Pro has solved the lag problems that plague the Diamond's implementation of the Touch Flo 3D interface, HTC could have a real winner on their hands.

get real here! Diamond and Diamond Pro with that black plastic!
and sony X1 with metel and chrome. how many toys do u see made with metal and chrome.
and how many toys do u see made in plastic and in black? haha

Dyvim

06-05-2008, 02:55 PM

how many toys do u see made with metal and chrome.
and how many toys do u see made in plastic and in black? haha
I see a lot of toys in both actually. Besides, what's wrong with toys? I like toys. My iPhone is a toy and I'm enjoying the heck out of it this year, more so than I have with any WM device since I got my Toshiba e830 in early 2005. Next year I'll buy a different toy (if I can wait that long)- maybe iPhone, maybe WM, maybe Android- who knows?

Janak Parekh

06-05-2008, 03:44 PM

get real here! Diamond and Diamond Pro with that black plastic!
and sony X1 with metel and chrome. how many toys do u see made with metal and chrome.
and how many toys do u see made in plastic and in black? haha You're kidding me, right?

If you're not, are you going to throw out your monitor on your desk because it's got lots of plastic? Or your keyboard? Or your mouse? The ones you're using to type this response?

If you prefer the feel of metal, that's fine, and you're welcome to state that. But please don't ridicule the opinions of those who find interest in this device, it's really not cool. Both plastic and metal have their advantages; plastic is lighter, while metal has a more rugged feel. However, depending on the design, plastic devices are often more resistant to damage during a fall; metal has a tendency to be dented.

Please continue the discussion on its merits. Thanks.

--janak

netboy

06-05-2008, 03:52 PM

You're kidding me, right?

If you're not, are you going to throw out your monitor on your desk because it's got lots of plastic? Or your keyboard? Or your mouse? The ones you're using to type this response?

can you please tell me where can i buy a monitor, keyboard or mouse in metel? so i can replace all my computers equipments!

But please don't ridicule the opinions of those who find interest in this device, it's really not cool.

u still be using 56k dialup if nobody compare it to DSL or Cable internet. or no people complaing how slow is 56k dialup!

jgrnt1

06-05-2008, 05:47 PM

u still be using 56k dialup if nobody compare it to DSL or Cable internet. or no people complaing how slow is 56k dialup!

I don't think Janak was suggesting you not make comparisons. He was suggesting you could do it without putting others down.

Regarding the two devices being discussed -- I think they both have great potential. I'll have to play with them when they become available. The Xperia is longer and slightly wider, but a hair thinner. I'm not sure I'll like the interface on either one. We'll have to see. For me, it will come down to performance, keyboard feel, screen quality, etc. I'm not going to prejudge either one, even with a glowing review of the Xperia from BengalBoy.

As far as SE not being able to get it right on the first try, I believe they're doing Xperia with help frim HTC. I'm not sure that HTC still gets it right, despite several generations of WM phones. Just ask all the TyTN II owners with video driver problems.

kiwi

06-06-2008, 01:34 PM

ncie device.. this is the first device in a while that would make me consider WM again..

possmann

06-06-2008, 06:00 PM

So many new phones and so much selection... But seems like in the US we only have T-Mo or ATT in my area - sigh... Still, I think for adoption of new devices, moving to the GSM network would be best - any advice?

Kirkaiya

06-11-2008, 05:12 PM

Well, as much as I would like having a slide-out keyboard (and the Touch Pro's looks nice), after two years with my HTC/Dopod S300 (aka "Star Trek") flip-phone, I think I'm going to get the Diamond.

I was leaning heavily towards an iPhone 3G, after constantly envying my wife's iPhone (original) which she's had since last fall, but the thing I always come back to, is that it doesn't really fit into my pockets. I played with the new Diamond today (it's already on sale in Thailand for waaay too much money), and the form-factor really is amazing. Much like my Star Trek HTC flip-phone, it's seductive, really.

The Touch Pro looks to be about the same size, except for like, 80% thicker or something.

As for the Experia X1 - no way. It's waaay too chunky, and I really dislike the looks. The only phone I've seen with elegant use of metal on the body lately is the iPhone 1.0, in my opinion ;-)