HTC's 2007 Roadmap Revealed

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.hpc.ru/lib/arts/2258/' target='_blank'>http://www.hpc.ru/lib/arts/2258/</a><br /><br /></div>It looks like HTC has a busy year ahead of itself with a slew of new devices - some we have heard of before, and some we have not. On the Pocket PC front, there's the Omni (the rumoured HTC Universal upgrade) with a 3.6" VGA display and a QWERTY keyboard, and most likely, a powerful CPU and a good handful of wireless radios. There's also the Kaiser, which should have a similar set of features and form factor to the <a href="http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/M700.php">E-TEN Glofiish M700</a> (integrated GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and QVGA display), but with the added bonus of 3G support.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20061230-htcelf.jpg" /><br /><br />Moving on, there's the Panda and its 3.5"-3.7" QVGA display, 400MHz CPU, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and support for GSM/GPRS/EDGE (note, no 3G). And then there's the Elf (we think HTC's designers have been watching a few too many Will Ferrell films as of late), pictured above - a low-end Pocket PC Phone with a touchpad, Bluetooth, a 200MHz CPU, and notably, no Wi-Fi. Lastly, we can't forget the Athena. You know what it's <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53157">capable of</a>. Expect it in the first quarter of the new year at a price point of $1700... which I'm guessing is money better spent elsewhere. Laptop or UMPC, anyone?

[Frankie1]

Yeah right, I would galdly dish out $1,700 for a PPC Phone edition, over a UMP or a laptop. I mean the choice seems clear. A PPC, you just pull it out of your pocket or off your belt clip and you simply do your tasks while your on the go. I cant imagine wipping out my laptop driving (I've done it before would not suggest it) or walking throught the mall with a UMPC :lol: how freaking dorky and pathetic is that. I can see it now I'm walking through the mall with my UMPC in hand, and then I get a phone call, have to put down my UMPC, talk, when I'm done I'll put my phone back in it's holster power on my UMPC, wait for it to boot up, and finally continue doing what I'm doing. Sounds a bit imparactical in comparison to a Super PPC (Like a Jasjar). I'll say like many other people say, "I'll will pay top-dollar for a device with an HTC Universal form factor that has comparable specs to a UMPC". $1,700 is money well spent to practically have your office in your pocket. 2007 is going to be an exciting year and I hope HTC remains to be eccentric and I hope to see the successor to the HTC universal, which is in my opnion the best device on the market right now.
I also look forward to developers wrting excitng applications (as they've been doing). I mean the applications like "Mobile Secratary, and "Pocket Breeze" combined with "PocketRSS") really clarifys the dividing line between the impracticalities of a UMPC versus a WM5 phone edition device.
I'm bursting in anticipation.

[alese]

Athena for $1700 - they definatelly added a $1000 too much... I don't know if I would go for it at that price even if it would be full XP UMPC.

Much more interesting are other devices, especially Omni, if it's really smaller/slimmer, maybe with external screen and keyboard (I can dream).
Also of interest, at least to me is Kaiser, especially if it's the Hermes hardware in Heralds case (slim) + GPS - that would be an awsome replacement for my aging Wizard.
Then there is the Cavallier and the flip smartphone - something (one of them) I would probably get for my girlfriend if I could afford it...

[netboy]

Yeah right, I would galdly dish out $1,700 for a PPC Phone edition, over a UMP or a laptop. I mean the choice seems clear. A PPC, you just pull it out of your pocket or off your belt clip and you simply do your tasks while your on the go. I cant imagine wipping out my laptop driving (I've done it before would not suggest it) or walking throught the mall with a UMPC :lol:

no, the choice is clear! for 1700$, u expect to get a device that will do EVERYTHING! Windows Mobile just cant compete with XP, lots of websites is not accessible on windows mobile, ie. ameritrade.com, citibank.com, and etc. And since this Athena is about the same size as a UMPC and cant fit in pocket, i rather get UMPC running windows XP.

but i will get Omni since it' VGA and CAN FIT in my pocket

[JesterMania]

I've not heard of the Omni before but if it's going to be the HTC Universal successor then they have my attention 8O . Seriously, my dream device would be the HTC Universal with the specs of the TyTN (with VGA + 624MHz CPU + USB host). For me, not even dual-slots, GPS, FM/TV tuner, and 3D acceleration matter as much. If the Omni can fill those requirements, it's a sure winner for me. It's times like these I'm half thankful I didn't dish out for the TyTN just yet. 0X

[pocketpcadmirer]

There are still no leaked pics of Omni..right?

[UltimatePDAQuest]

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