Log in

View Full Version : HTC Muse, No More?


Darius Wey
08-03-2006, 04:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060804-Muse.jpg" /><br /><br />This week has seen a lot of HTC-related news and rumours. Monday, it was the <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,11929">Excalibur</a>, and today, it's all about the Muse. I received a whisper of information from an insider today stating that the HTC Muse had recently been taken off the roadmap. Yes, that 4GB ROM-packed HSDPA wonder is supposedly vaporware, which means Qtek's planned delivery of the Muse as the S300 this quarter may never eventuate. Well, we love and hate rumours as much as the next person, so please, take it with a grain of salt. I guess we'll know for sure in the coming months.

alese
08-03-2006, 04:05 PM
If they come up with revised version, with 480x480 screen instead of 240x240 then this would actually be a good news.

Also, considering more and more rumors about Apple smartphone that integrates with iTunes, I think such device would have a lot of potential, so why would they kill it.

WillyG
08-03-2006, 05:02 PM
...so why would they kill it.

One word: Zune

Antoine
08-03-2006, 06:19 PM
One word: Zune
Exactly what I was thinking. This is wild speculation of course, but it would not be surprising of Microsoft to go with HTC for the manufacturing of their first Zune device.

Antoine

Jason Dunn
08-03-2006, 06:22 PM
This is unfortunate if true - I was looking forward to this device as being a good attempt at trying something different...

alese
08-03-2006, 08:04 PM
...so why would they kill it.

One word: Zune

Then it would not be killed, just rebranded/renamed...
I could imagine Zune beeing something like Muse.

noviur
08-03-2006, 08:19 PM
it is there...(roadmap) - just will be named differently :)

Jason Dunn
08-03-2006, 08:55 PM
Then it would not be killed, just rebranded/renamed...
I could imagine Zune beeing something like Muse.

While I have no idea who is making the Zune for Microsoft, I'm quite convinced it won't be much like the Muse - it will be a hard-drive based player, have a bigger screen, not run Windows Mobile, and probably have much more in common with the Xbox 360 than any Windows Mobile device we've seen.

MitchellO
08-03-2006, 10:37 PM
I never liked the Muse. I mean 240x240 screen + no keyboard = terrible input!!!

Paragon
08-03-2006, 10:45 PM
I never liked the Muse. I mean 240x240 screen + no keyboard = terrible input!!!

Yup. And I'll bet their marketing, research, and test groups verified the same thing so they scrapped it.

Dave

MitchellO
08-03-2006, 11:02 PM
I never liked the Muse. I mean 240x240 screen + no keyboard = terrible input!!!

Yup. And I'll bet their marketing, research, and test groups verified the same thing so they scrapped it.

Dave

I never understood how they expected that for any serious PPC user this could be an option?? I mean, you pop that SIP up on the screen, and you have maybe 20 pixels of viewing for the application behind it.

It they build a regular PPC Phone like the Jamin and crammed 4GB Flash into that, they would be gone in a "flash" :p

MitchellO
08-03-2006, 11:06 PM
Ok, maybe a little more than 20pixels, but still.....

http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/7827/nokbps9.png

And yes, I made that shocking screensh1t in about 2 seconds :p

Jason Dunn
08-03-2006, 11:08 PM
One reason why 240 x 240 seems so small is that the Pocket PC user interface is SO DAMN BIG. You can shrink the text, but not the toolbars and other elements...that has always bugged me. :?

Paragon
08-03-2006, 11:22 PM
Big is good. I like big. Finger friendly....no stylus needed

Paragon
08-04-2006, 02:20 AM
Ok, maybe a little more than 20pixels, but still.....



And yes, I made that shocking screensh1t in about 2 seconds :p

Agreed. 240x240 just doesn't offer enough real estate to be functional in many cases.

Dave

MitchellO
08-04-2006, 06:53 AM
One reason why 240 x 240 seems so small is that the Pocket PC user interface is SO DAMN BIG. You can shrink the text, but not the toolbars and other elements...that has always bugged me. :?

Exactly. I like the PPC UI, but as you said screen elements like the taskbar and menu bar are just too large. Palm OS got both those areas right.

hydrashok
08-04-2006, 12:26 PM
Now that we're on screen-size...

Why is it that no manufacturer (especially HTC) has announced a 3.5 inch and upwards PPC-PE device for the coming months? Everybody seems stuck on 2.5 inches (VGA or otherwise) or 240x240. HTC's roadmap (2 days back?) at bengalboy lists only 2.5 inch screen devices.

I'm getting bored with my O2 XDA IIi, and it looks like the only device I can upgrade to (with a BIG screen) is the JASJAR. No keboardless (or uh... un-transformer) device seems to be coming up anytime soon.

Does anybody know of any HTC or other devices coming up with EDGE, 3G, and a big screen (3.5 &amp; up), VGA or otherwise?

MitchellO
08-04-2006, 12:42 PM
Is their any particular reason that you want the larger device? I mean the new o2 Atom Exec has everything that your IIi has except its much smaller.

hydrashok
08-04-2006, 01:56 PM
Yep. A large screen is really important for me. I spend a lot of time browsing on my PPC. I watch a lot of movies on it too. A big screen really makes a whole lot of difference. In fact, outside work, these two are the things I do most frequently with my PPC.

And yes, the XDA Atom is a real pocket rocket of sorts. If I had to switch to a smaller device [over my dead body :-)], the XDA Atom would be what I'd take.

Frankly, the only 2 things I find lacking in my device (for my kind of use) are EDGE &amp; VGA resolution. And 3G (when 3G comes to India - in a year ughhhh).

MitchellO
08-04-2006, 02:44 PM
Frankly, the only 2 things I find lacking in my device (for my kind of use) are EDGE &amp; VGA resolution. And 3G (when 3G comes to India - in a year ughhhh).

For 3G all I can say to you is the JasJar :D

Paragon
08-04-2006, 05:15 PM
Now that we're on screen-size...

Why is it that no manufacturer (especially HTC) has announced a 3.5 inch and upwards PPC-PE device for the coming months?



I would love to see a Phone Edition Device in the same form factor as the 4100/1900 Ipaqs. They are very small and thin yet have a 3.5" screen.......PLEASE, some make such a device!!!

Janak Parekh
08-05-2006, 12:43 AM
Agreed. 240x240 just doesn't offer enough real estate to be functional in many cases.
Unless you have a thumbboard; I haven't used a SIP on my Treo in months...

--janak

Janak Parekh
08-05-2006, 12:44 AM
Big is good. I like big. Finger friendly....no stylus needed
... although the idea is that WM5 eliminates the need for fingering the screen for the most part, enabling one to use smaller displays with less issues.

I *rarely* finger my screen now.

--janak

Janak Parekh
08-05-2006, 12:46 AM
Why is it that no manufacturer (especially HTC) has announced a 3.5 inch and upwards PPC-PE device for the coming months? Everybody seems stuck on 2.5 inches (VGA or otherwise) or 240x240. HTC's roadmap (2 days back?) at bengalboy lists only 2.5 inch screen devices.
I'm guessing 2-2.8" screen-based Pocket PC Phone Editions sell much better. I personally wouldn't go back to a QVGA 3.5" display. Too darn awkward to hold up to the ear.

As for VGA, unfortunately, it's been pigeonholed as a niche product. And, having carried the JasJar for months, I can see why -- it's rather large and heavy -- so much so that it's a bit uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time.

--janak

Paragon
08-05-2006, 03:02 AM
I *rarely* finger my screen now.

I do. I shouldn't but I do. I guess I've just developed the habit over the years, and it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. ;)

Dave

Janak Parekh
08-07-2006, 04:20 AM
I do. I shouldn't but I do. I guess I've just developed the habit over the years, and it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. ;)
It took me a while to get acclimated to it, but I did so by forcing myself not to touch the screen. The only thing I still touch the screen for are features in the notification area and the folder dropdown in the Messaging applet -- neither is one-handable. I'm much happier not thumbing the screen; no more dexterous aiming!

--janak