HTC Unveils New Touch Cruise with Footprints [Archive]

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Darius Wey

01-22-2009, 05:55 PM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.htc.com/www/product/touchcruise/overview.html' target='_blank'>http://www.htc.com/www/product/touc...e/overview.html</a> </div>"HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, today announced its latest personal navigation handset with inbuilt GPS. The new HTC Touch Cruise, an update to 2008's popular HTC GPS device of the same name, boasts a new, more compact design and a host of new capabilities to offer a richer and more intuitive experience in one powerful package."<img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/ppct/auto/1232640786.usr2.jpg" />HTC has taken the covers off the <a href="http://www.htc.com/www/product/touchcruise/overview.html" target="_blank">new Touch Cruise</a>, which boasts a new design and new software. With HTC Footprints, the Touch Cruise takes geotagged pictures a step further by embedding notes and audio clips and packaging them into postcards. If you ever have the urge to look at a previously-created postcard, Footprints allows you to retrace your steps to the exact location the postcard was created.On the hardware side, the Touch Cruise includes a Qualcomm MSM7225 528MHz processor, 256MB RAM, 512MB ROM, a 2.8" QVGA touch screen, quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band HSDPA (900MHz/2100MHz) connectivity, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, aGPS, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and a microSD slot. And to top it off, there's an in-car cradle in the box, too.The Touch Cruise will be available in all major global markets, but alas, not until the second quarter.<MORE />"Taipei, Taiwan - January 22, 2009 - HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, today announced its latest personal navigation handset with inbuilt GPS. The new HTC Touch Cruise, an update to 2008's popular HTC GPS device of the same name, boasts a new, more compact design and a host of new capabilities to offer a richer and more intuitive experience in one powerful package.<img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/ppct/auto/1232640698.usr2.jpg" />Introducing HTC FootprintsThe new HTC Touch Cruise is the first mobile phone to offer HTC Footprints, an application experience that enables people to permanently chronicle their special moments by capturing a digital postcard on their phone. Once captured, Footprints provides the ability to take notes and an audio clip of that favourite restaurant or special place while identifying its specific geographical location. In addition to identifying each postcard with its specific GPS co-ordinates, Footprints also auto-names each postcard with its general location or area.Flipping back through their photos, HTC Touch Cruise users will be able to retrace their steps to that exact location in just a few touches. Unlike other devices with geo-tagging functionality, HTC Footprints works effectively outdoors and indoors, offering a more accurate record of location for future reference and navigation."Just as we have seen GPS technology transform how people navigate to new places, we are now seeing location-based applications like HTC Footprints changing how we interact and carry our memories," said Peter Chou, President and CEO, HTC Corporation.<img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/ppct/auto/1232640704.usr2.jpg" />HTC Touch Cruise Car CradleThe HTC Touch Cruise is also an advanced in-car navigation system. When placed into its accompanying car cradle, the HTC Touch Cruise automatically transforms its user interface into an easy-to-use, one-touch interface that provides seamless turn-by-turn directions.Boasting a compact and sleek design with a 2.8 inch QVGA display, the HTC Touch Cruise is a further demonstration of HTC's continued commitment to innovation, providing consumers with a variety of devices designed to meet their individual needs. Using HTC's TouchFLO technology, the HTC Touch Cruise provides fingertip access to phone, contacts, email, messaging, calendar and GPS applications, making it a strong all-around device.The new HTC Touch Cruise will be available to customers across all major global markets in spring 2009.Key HTC Touch Cruise Specifications<ul><li>Size: 102 x 53.5 x 14.5mm</li><li>Weight: 103 grams</li><li>Connectivity: WCDMA/HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps</li><li>Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional</li><li>Display: 2.8-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with QVGA resolution</li><li>Control panel: HTC TouchFLO, 4-Way navigation wheel with Enter and HTC Footprints buttons</li><li>Camera: 3.2 MP, with fixed focus</li><li>Internal memory: 512 MB flash ROM, 256 MB RAM</li><li>Expansion Slot: microSD memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)</li><li>Bluetooth: 2.0 with EDR</li><li>Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g</li><li>GPS: GPS/A-GPS</li><li>Interface: HTC ExtUSB (mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one)</li><li>Battery: 1100 mAh</li><li>Talk time: GSM: up to 400 minutes</li><li>Standby time: GSM: up to two weeks</li><li>Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM7225TM, 528 MHz</li></ul>About HTCFounded 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."

Cattle-Dog

01-22-2009, 06:46 PM

QVGA? That's soooo passé. :D

efjay

01-22-2009, 09:30 PM

Because of HTC's dominant position in the WM market they can release totally forgettable devices like these. What does this device offer over models like the Diamond and even the original Touch Cruise? It doesnt even come with PIE6 which was supposed to be released by the end of 2008 and will undoubtedly not receive any kind of upgrade to WM 6.5 either.

Seems HTC has realised they can release any old device, slap on a new shell and call it a new device. I saw this question posted elsewhere and it makes sense, why not release updates to current phones instead of cranking out subpar devices like this? They really are starting to do more harm than good to WM and one hopes that some competitor will emerge to bring some real choice to the WM market.

Jason Dunn

01-22-2009, 10:31 PM

Seems HTC has realised they can release any old device, slap on a new shell and call it a new device.

Yeah, I have to agree - this is a bit disappointing. :( HTC is releasing new devices too often, they should pool their design teams and focus on fewer, but better, designs.

Pony99CA

01-24-2009, 02:04 AM

I saw this question posted elsewhere and it makes sense, why not release updates to current phones instead of cranking out subpar devices like this?
What exactly is "subpar" (meaning below average (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/par)) about this?

You can say it doesn't have much new (probably true), you can say HTC is releasing too many devices (also probably true), but I don't see anything subpar about it.

Steve

P.S. If you thought that getting fingerprints on your device was bad, HTC is now putting Footprints on them. :D

JesterMania

01-24-2009, 06:36 AM

What exactly is "subpar" (meaning below average (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/par)) about this?

You can say it doesn't have much new (probably true), you can say HTC is releasing too many devices (also probably true), but I don't see anything subpar about it.

Steve

P.S. If you thought that getting fingerprints on your device was bad, HTC is now putting Footprints on them. :D

I don't know what your definition of subpar is but my opinion of "subpar" would be the QVGA screen. Many devices nowadays have a minimum of VGA with other devices such as the Touch HD and Xperia X1 having higher 800x480 sizes. Thereby, my "average" would be a VGA screen whereas this has a QVGA, thereby being "below average" or a.k.a. "subpar"...:rolleyes:"

Pony99CA

01-24-2009, 11:17 PM

I don't know what your definition of subpar is but my opinion of "subpar" would be the QVGA screen. Many devices nowadays have a minimum of VGA with other devices such as the Touch HD and Xperia X1 having higher 800x480 sizes. Thereby, my "average" would be a VGA screen whereas this has a QVGA, thereby being "below average" or a.k.a. "subpar"...:rolleyes:"
"Many" isn't "most", though. Most Windows Mobile devices released are QVGA even today. There are obviously several exceptions, but QVGA still dominates. Therefore, it's "normal" and par, not subpar. :)

Even if you feel the resolution is subpar, does one subpar feature make the entire phone subpar? I don't think so; it's just another tradeoff. Things like a 528 MHz processor, 512 MB Flash, 256 MB RAM, WiFi G and a 3.2 megapixel camera are definitely not subpar in a Windows Mobile phone. Personally, I also think it looks kind of cool.

If somebody wants to be disappointed that the resolution isn't higher, that's fine, but there's no need to exaggerate things by using inaccurate (IMHO) descriptions. If you consider any phone with less than VGA resolution to be subpar, that would include the iPhone, Samsung Omnia, T-Mobile G1, etc.

Steve

V-iPAQ

01-27-2009, 02:24 AM

the most important question everyone's missed?

does this come with video acceleration Enabled or Disabled?
:O