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View Full Version : HTC Raphael Makes an Appearance as the T-Mobile MDA Vario IV


Darius Wey
05-28-2008, 05:02 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.gsmhelpdesk.nl/en/read.php?id=2918' target='_blank'>http://www.gsmhelpdesk.nl/en/read.php?id=2918</a><br /><br /></div><img border="1" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1211989389.usr2.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />Touch Diamond? That was so yesterday. The long-awaited HTC Raphael has finally made an appearance as the T-Mobile MDA Vario IV, and it's packing some serious horsepower. Check it: a Qualcomm 528MHz processor, 256MB RAM, 512MB ROM, HSDPA connectivity, a 480 x 640 touch screen, 3.2-megapixel and 0.3-megapixel cameras, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, an FM radio, a microSD slot, and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Also note the top row of keys on the keyboard - that's right, a dedicated number row! But alas, only tri-band GSM (no 850MHz), although I'm willing to bet that we'll see a quad-band version elsewhere in the near future.<br /><br />And err... your keyboard is wet. You can stop drooling now.

rzanology
05-28-2008, 05:28 PM
this is a much needed refresh to tmobile's line up. im glad to see them finally upt o snuff. i dont know they were thinking when they pushed out the wing!

perhaps im wrong..but didnt this phone have 4gig mem onboard?

in any case....this is going to be sweet for tmobile users. they finally get some 3g on a wm device

Phillip Dyson
05-28-2008, 05:48 PM
Does triband mean no 850?
What about ATT's 3G?

I've about had it with these HTC short circuits.

Darius Wey
05-28-2008, 05:57 PM
Does triband mean no 850?

Good question. It means no 850MHz. I've updated the original post.

What about ATT's 3G?

I believe it's 850/1900MHz.

cortez
05-28-2008, 06:36 PM
small, functional and sexy... i know wifey would be jealous of me "playing" with this device on a daily basis. good thing it's not ready for the USA yet (e.g., no 850/1900 bands). i might opt for this one over the Diamond.

mwfielder
05-28-2008, 07:44 PM
Wait, I thought the Diamond was coming out GSM and the Raphael was CDMA. Do we think we'll see CDMA versions of either?

yawanag
05-28-2008, 07:56 PM
I've been drooling over the Xperia XI. The September date seems so far off. Now all I've been seeing is devices equal to or better. I'm really going to have a problem deciding. One thing I can say after using the T-Moble Vario for two years now is that it is mighty damn durable. I've dropped that thing so many times and it's like the Energizer Bunny - it just keeps on ticking. I've got it loaded with programs and the only thing I could wish for that it doesn't have enough of is memory. Well, speed too, but I get connected quick enough.

netboy
05-28-2008, 08:14 PM
Touch Diamond? That was so yesterday.


and 2.8" VGA 640x480 is not so yesterday? haha
get with the program and get Sony X1 with 3" WVGA at 800x480!

Jason Dunn
05-28-2008, 09:50 PM
get with the program and get Sony X1 with 3" WVGA at 800x480!

Why do you think that resolution is somehow the ultimate resolution? Wide-screen devices mean longer/taller form-factors, and that's not the best solution for everyone. Have you see the Experia in person? I have, and it's not exactly small - fine for some people, but probably too big for some people. Just because you prefer 800 x 480 doesn't mean that 640 x 480 is somehow garbage.

Jason Lee
05-28-2008, 10:48 PM
This one looks very nice.. Why no US band... that ticks me off. Most likely due to US carriers. :(

Jason Dunn
05-28-2008, 10:52 PM
This one looks very nice.. Why no US band... that ticks me off. Most likely due to US carriers. :(

It's likely because this is a European release - and it seems that HTC doesn't really do quad-band, world-traveller devices...so you'll have to wait for the US-based version to come out. :(

Tell you what: I'll ask HTC directly and see what they say. :)

netboy
05-28-2008, 11:20 PM
Why do you think that resolution is somehow the ultimate resolution? Wide-screen devices mean longer/taller form-factors, and that's not the best solution for everyone. Have you see the Experia in person? I have, and it's not exactly small - fine for some people, but probably too big for some people. Just because you prefer 800 x 480 doesn't mean that 640 x 480 is somehow garbage.

if u going to talk about size, this iphone clone is too big for some people too! y not just get a motorola razr!
i have not seen x1 in person, i currently using imate 9502. going by spec, x1 is even smaller then imate 9502!
just cus some people will buy anything with htc on it, it doesnt make it not junk!

Duncan
05-28-2008, 11:30 PM
It's likely because this is a European release - and it seems that HTC doesn't really do quad-band, world-traveller devices...so you'll have to wait for the US-based version to come out. :(

Tell you what: I'll ask HTC directly and see what they say. :)

A while back I asked the people at Fujitsu-Siemens about why they only went for tri-band. The answer was that only a very small fraction of their user base would ever get the use from it and the demand simply wasn't there.

I don't know if this was based on customer feedback, research or what, but there it is.

JKingGrim
05-29-2008, 02:41 AM
Why do you think that resolution is somehow the ultimate resolution? Wide-screen devices mean longer/taller form-factors, and that's not the best solution for everyone. Have you see the Experia in person? I have, and it's not exactly small - fine for some people, but probably too big for some people. Just because you prefer 800 x 480 doesn't mean that 640 x 480 is somehow garbage.I guess to each his own, but I played with the X1 for a few hours and I think it feels great to hold. It feels more compact than my mogul. I think the WVGA screen is the way to go. It will be great for viewing web pages and remote desktop. If you have good eyes, with Opera Mobile 9.5 you will probably be able to read text on web pages while viewing at full width. I dont think VGA is garbage, but to me WVGA is definitely an advantage.

I've been drooling over the Xperia XI. The September date seems so far off. Now all I've been seeing is devices equal to or better. I'm really going to have a problem deciding. One thing I can say after using the T-Moble Vario for two years now is that it is mighty damn durable. I've dropped that thing so many times and it's like the Energizer Bunny - it just keeps on ticking. I've got it loaded with programs and the only thing I could wish for that it doesn't have enough of is memory. Well, speed too, but I get connected quick enough.
I see many that come close to the X1, but I can't agree that any are equal, let alone better IMO. This comes very close, but the X1 wins for the screen.

If this is tmo branded, does that mean it supports UMTS 1700?
*edit* Nevermind. German Tmo. Probably no chance then.

kanzlr
05-29-2008, 03:28 PM
if u going to talk about size, this iphone clone is too big for some people too! y not just get a motorola razr!
i have not seen x1 in person, i currently using imate 9502. going by spec, x1 is even smaller then imate 9502!
just cus some people will buy anything with htc on it, it doesnt make it not junk!


well, you probably know that the Toshiba G900 (and the new G910 and G920) have 800x480 screens. and you probably also know the problems non 320x240 multiples bring in terms of compatibility?
I think the X1 will most likely be a great device, and as soon as PocketPCs with this resultion gain momentum, the applications will catch up. the G900 was just too small a niche to be important for developers.

On the other hand, pixel density on these small 640x480 screens is already incredible

netboy
05-29-2008, 04:27 PM
well, you probably know that the Toshiba G900 (and the new G910 and G920) have 800x480 screens. and you probably also know the problems non 320x240 multiples bring in terms of compatibility?
I think the X1 will most likely be a great device, and as soon as PocketPCs with this resultion gain momentum, the applications will catch up. the G900 was just too small a niche to be important for developers.

On the other hand, pixel density on these small 640x480 screens is already incredible

i know about G900, or G910 or G920, i just have 0% interests in it! i will not buy anything without USA 3.5G!

frankenbike
05-29-2008, 05:20 PM
I'm just a little disappointed that they haven't broken the width barrier for slide out keyboard PDAs. They shaved off just .5mm from the Mogul, which is insufficient. I'd like to see a thinner keyboard phone at maybe 15mm ;)

Looks like I'll be skipping another phone generation :(

OTOH, a phone generation is now just one year, so I won't need to wait much more than an extra year.

cbf
05-30-2008, 01:41 PM
So they're at the MDA Vario IV in Europe and T-Mobile USA doesn't even offer the Vario III (aka Kaiser/Tilt/AT&T 8925)!

I'm getting tired of waiting. I wonder if they're planning to skip a generation?

The TMobile Wing is annoying -- less user memory available than the origina USA TMobile MDA and slower for many functions -- like playing video.

jamijam
05-30-2008, 05:28 PM
I'm just a little disappointed that they haven't broken the width barrier for slide out keyboard PDAs. They shaved off just .5mm from the Mogul, which is insufficient. I'd like to see a thinner keyboard phone at maybe 15mm ;)

I was about to ask... So how thick is this device? The TyTn II is 21mm I believe, and the iphone is 11mm. I was hoping for something around 15mm as well. Is this 17-18?