HTC Touch Now Available Through T-Mo Germany and Orange France

[Paul Martin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/archive/2007/07/26/t-mobile-germany-make-the-htc-touch-available.aspx' target='_blank'>http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/arch...-available.aspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"T-Mobile Germany have just made the HTC Touch Available on their website to purchase! This device is proving very popular due to its minute size and touch screen interface. T-Mobile (like HTC) are also including a 1GB MicroSD card. You can get more details (and translation) <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tmobile.de%2Fshop%2Fhandy%2F0%2C4855%2C2963-_7259-0-1-0%2C00.html">HERE</a>."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/0%2C3465%2C95606%2C00.jpg" /><br /><br />The HTC Touch is now available in <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tmobile.de%2Fshop%2Fhandy%2F0%2C4855%2C2963-_7259-0-1-0%2C00.html">Germany</a> and <a href="http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Festore.orange.fr%2Fstores%2Fcommun%2Fpopup_fiche_terminal.jhtml%3Fid%3Dprod3600002%26nom_fiche%3Dpresentation&langpair=fr%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8">France</a>. Personally, I like the looks of the device, though I'm not sure if I could be completely comfortable with the fingers-only input instead of a stylus option. So, if this device is an option, are you planning on replacing your current phone with the HTC Touch/Orange P4350?

[aNiMeMaN14]

No buttons? No way.

My i-mate Jam had like, foiur hardware buttons, and it was about 40 keys short of what I need (i.e. QWERTY keyboard). I personally think the iPhone is barely maneuverable, and I think this one-button concept would be a disaster with the feature rich programs Windows Mobile users load their phones up with.

The two years I had my Jam, it was much too difficult for me to input text the way I desired. After blowing $700 on it, just two years after, I knew I needed some sort of hardware input. This is why I will keep my distance far from these touch only devices. I am a power user, I use my phone for email, messaging, games, and music. Taking buttons away from me would be the last thing I would like.

[virain]

Personally, I like the looks of the device, though I'm not sure if I could be completely comfortable with the fingers-only input instead of a stylus option. So, if this device is an option, are you planning on replacing your current phone with the HTC Touch/Orange P4350?
Actualy, it does has a stylus, it is WM6 Professional, after all., I've seen it in action, it seems to be working fine, fast and easy to scroll, up, down, find a needed item from a menu etc. So, stylus would be used for text entry pretty much. see here: http://www.htc.com/#
I like that it doesnt have too many buttons, keyboard, etc.. It leaves more room for a bigger screen. I've been using WM devices for few years already, and that type of interface is what I was praying for :lol: , I don't miss keyboard, for short text input such as password, email address, I would use onscreen keyboard, for long text such as email, presintation, Excel worksheet. I use transcriber, and faster than typing even with slideout keyboard. But that's just me.

I am a power user, I use my phone for email, messaging, games, and music. Taking buttons away from me would be the last thing I would like.
I would call it a entartainment user, most of these tasks you could do with "dumb" phones, such as Motorola RAZR, ROKR, etc.. and iPhone would be perfectly suited for that.

[alese]

Touch is very nice device in person, it looks good, it's small and thin, just beautiful to hold.
Also it's TouchFLO interface is really nice, works well and it's usable without any additional buttons, so again no real objections here.
When you use "ordinary" WM programs, it's the same as any other WM Professional device - you do need stylus for some programs and tasks, but for the most part you can use soft/hard buttons.
Of course if you want/need real keyboard, then Touch, like all other such devices is not a good option, but you can use all software input options available on WM.
I use Wizard as my main device and even though it has keyboard, I still use Fitaly more...

The main problem, at least for me, with Touch is not lack of hardware keys, but slow CPU (it works OK if you use device as it is, without any/much 3rd party SW) and too little RAM. Also lack of 3G connectivity is a bad idea.

I really loved the size and design of the device while I was testing it, but the fact that it has the same specifications as my 2 year old Wizard means all the same problems and I really don't want that.

[hamishmacdonald]

I've got one and I'm loving it. And I used to be a big screen, "it's gotta be VGA" person.

The slower CPU was a surprise, along with the scant RAM, but in practice, I don't notice it at all. I'm doing my regular work on it, too, writing articles and chapters in Word Mobile, and it feels completely comfortable. I just can't run TextMaker, but I'm managing without.

I installed a hack I found somewhere that adds back HTC's "phone pad" T9 input panel, so I'm not having any input problems -- certainly not when compared to my old Samsung D900, which I hated (nice form factor, horrible, horrible UI). The touch layer does mean you have to use solid taps, though.

I love not having to wear a stupid belt holster anymore, because the Touch fits so nicely into my pocket -- no weight or bulk. And finally integrating all my phone and messaging activity into one device is bliss.

Three-G would have been nice, because even though I read that Orange supposedly offers the best EDGE network in the UK, I don't see it in Edinburgh. All I get is GPRS. So surfing is a bit clunky, though fetching RSS feeds and e-mails is a snap. (Anyone have any insight on the EDGE situation here?)

[Nightflyer]

Just a comment because the HTC's T9 input-software has been mentioned: I don't understand the company's decision to leave this software out of the touch, because I like it on my Jam and it would have fitted perfectly to the touch concept, as this device is aimed to be usable without the stylus.

So they design a new "interface" to enable the use of the device with the finger, but they leave out quite a good method for text entry with your fingers. mmhhh, I don't really get that... 8O

[Yata]

Give up the HSDPA and real keyboard on my HTC Hermes for a gimmicky interface and slow-ass GPRS? I think not. :)

[hamishmacdonald]

To each his own. I didn't want one of those thumb-board thingies making the device twice as thick in my pocket. I'm happy either typing onscreen or using my Stowaway keyboard.

[juni]

I wonder if the "TouchFLO interface" is skinnable. :)

[bnycastro]

It seems that the Orange and T-Mobile versions will have bigger send and end keys than the HTC Touch sold in Asia.

[Sniff]

To those that are hardcore must-have-hardware-qwerty-keyboard users, this is not a keyboard vs no keyboard thread. HTC Touch has no keyboard. End of discussion. Please keep comments relevant to those who have an interest in a touch screen interface.

I use a Eten M600 WM5 PocketPC phone and the Touch would almost be a perfect upgrade if it had one or two more extra hardware button like the M600. This is because my M600 is setup almost perfectly for one handed operation and thumbing. No stylus required. The extra hardware button would be setup to be the "Ok/Close" button. I also use the other hardware button for a Eten utility that sorts my phonebook alphabetically. All other frequently use programs are available via Eten's Quick Link utility which offers big icon shortcuts on the Today screen. For keying short emails, I use Eten's big button on-screen keyboard called Easy Keyboard.

So this setup is currently usable to me. But what's bothering me about the M600 is what the HTC Touch can fix; size and bulk. The M600 is too thick and too heavy to carry around in my pocket. I'm also not a belt pouch user. I find myself carrying my phone around less and less these day because of the hassle. Luckily I don't get many calls but I still do miss a few calls here and there.

I applaud :clap: HTC for coming out with this phone that differs from the usual bulky slide-out keyboard phone or the slightly thinner but still bulky phone minus the keyboard variety. The HTC Touch is in my future, although I'm also considering the Sony Ericsson P1i. :twisted:

PS Power keyboard user doesn't always equal Power user. I'm a power user too but without keyboards. I sync with a Exchange server, check my Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail, and ISP's POP mail on my phone. I listen to MP3s via stereo Bluetooth headphones and check my stocks at the same time. blah blah blah :nonono: