Touchscreen titans: HTC Touch Diamond vs 3G iPhone vs Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 vs Garmin nuvifone
HTC Touch Diamond
The HTC Touch Diamond isn't, as the name suggests, a mystic gem -- but it is a rather fancy phone that takes Windows Mobile to the next level of touchscreen goodness. Rather than settle for the stodgy old Windows Mobile 6.1 interface, HTC decided to add its own finger-friendly interface.
Almost everything can be done by just using your digits and there certainly is plenty to do. GPS, Wi-Fi and HSDPA mean that staying connected and on the right path is a cinch. It's compact, so you won't need extra-large pockets and it doesn't look bad at all, so you won't need to hide it when you meet your mates at the pub.
Pros aside, when we first used it the interface seemed rather slow at times, but this was perhaps because it was a prototype model. Another issue we had is that the screen requires more pressure on it than the iPhone does. There's no built-in 3.5mm headphone jack either, so you have to use an adaptor or the provided headphones.
It's due out in June on all the major networks. Pricing has yet to be announced, but we imagine that it will cost over £300 SIM-free and most likely be free on a contract.
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AnonymousWed 21 May, 2008 9:40am
I am wondering if the samsung i900 will be another one to watch out for. Their interface is usually good. But Will anyone compete with apple for 3rd party apps? At least until we see the Nokia Tube any way!
AnonymousWed 21 May, 2008 12:39pm
I have been trying my best to avoid apple but no one seems to be bringing out a phone to rival it. My experience of Win Mobile is that they are slow and tend to be buggy. It sounds like 6.1 is not going to be any big improvement. Almost every review of a 6.1 device states that they were slow to respond. The s60 symbia I have at the minute has put me off Nokia for life I fear. It is soooo slow. It sometimes takes about 30 seconds to open an text message! No one seems able to match the Iphone UI. If Iphone 2 matchs the features of the N95 I fear that I might just have to begrudgingly join the Iphone camp.
AnonymousWed 21 May, 2008 6:50pm
hey, why isnt the LG KS20 in the fight, too? It's a great phone.
AnonymousWed 21 May, 2008 6:52pm
and garmin nuviphone isnt really same category, its not a smartphone
AnonymousMon 2 June, 2008 1:53pm
You can't blame windows 6/6.1 for the phone being slow. It's more than likely the Phones processor's so blame the manufacturer. I have the htc touch and i too thought it was slow. Then i found a tool that lets you over clock the processor and bag! now its faster. You have to remember the Iphone was made by Apple and so was software and UI. They can tweak the software to match the hardware and get top performance. HTC and the others can't tweak windows 6/6.1
As for the phones im stuck between HTC Diamond and Iphone 2.
AnonymousMon 9 June, 2008 11:45pm
I'm currently in HK for the the week and tested the dimond phone at Wah Chai Computer. The interface is slow even when compare to my existing HTC Diamond with WM6.1.
AnonymousSun 15 June, 2008 9:38pm
HTC Diamond and Specially the TouchPro with the QWERTY keyboard can't be compared with these phones.. Well, SE Xperia is fair enough to be compared with here. But the IPhone is just "GUI" nothing more. Its for the standard kind of user, not a professional PDA user.
I always use windows mobile, others find it slow because they don't seem to understand the function of the RAM when it runs out of memory from opened programs. I never found any of my PDA phones slow, not even the ones i started with 4 years ago.
TIPS:
1- choose the right registries to tweak.
2- Install third party softwares that boosts the processor and empties the RAM automaticaly.
3- Add latest user interface from a third party software like www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/
Works like a charm and will never be compared with any other phone out there.
AnonymousThu 19 June, 2008 12:37am
I'm awaiting the HTC Touch Pro. Along with the QWERTY, you get 8GB of storage on the microSD card... also more memory with 288MB RAM. But I fear what the reivews are saying about the time lag. I've avoided apple before, but now it's down to the Touch Pro vs 3G iPhone... can't make up my mind... yet.
AnonymousFri 20 June, 2008 9:36am
I have been a pocketpc phone-based user for 5 years, and after getting the right tweaks and registry settings in place, and feeling quite confident about doing so; I am struck with the sudden realisation - why do I as a consumer have to do all of this work? misplaced time or self-accomplished geek- I wonder where the time would have been better spent? I am looking forward to watching how the iphone space and the tools that the large range of developpers will bring out.
AnonymousWed 2 July, 2008 12:23am
I've been using Windows Mobile based phones for 5 years now. And I've had it, done, kaput with Windows Mobile. I started out with the ill fated Motorola MPx and my last phone was the HTC TyTn. I'm giving the new iPhone 3G a try. Overall, I enjoyed the vesatility of Windows Mobile based devices with so many programs to choose from and so many ways to customize programs and user interfaces. At the same time, I loathe the frequent crashes, resets, OS reinstalls, poor graphic drivers, and frequent software failures of Windows Mobile devices. Some people are saying the iPhone is for "standard" users only, and not for PDA professionals. I think this is a bit of an overstatement. Yes there are some programs that are excluse to windows mobile, but the available software for the iPhone has been booming and is about to explode again once the 3G iPhone is released. With the addition of gps and 3G, as well as the speed enhancements, the iPhone 3G is looking more and more like a viable options for business men and women. My main worry is with the touch screen keyboard. Having a dedicated QWERTY keyboard with every single phone I've owned for the past 5 years has spoiled me a bit, and I'm worrying about adapting to touch screen only. I've read the complaints about the touch screen keyboard, but almost everyone I know with the current iPhone says it just takes some getting used to and works just as well once you are through the learning curve.
AnonymousSat 12 July, 2008 8:09pm
to >>Anonymous Fri 20 June, 2008 9:36am>> you're an agent for iphone dealers.
once u tweak your pda's settings u feel the same as the pc overclockers - your device is working faster and better than the rest, that's why you tweaked it. and by using windows mobile you know you've got an access to a ridiculously broad range of applications, differently from iphone, and if you know where to look, you can find most of them for free. also, regarding gps - you're stuck with 2D image on google maps, while with ppc you can get tomtom, igo, garmin.. you name it!
anyway, it's like the pc users - some tweak their pc's themselves, others take them to the technicians. yes, iphone is better for the general user which doesn't really get how the OS works, ppc on the other hand is for techies, and no, it's not worse, it's more sophisticated. so if you're capable you will have a charming device that can't be topped.
sorry, i might soun oldschool but i've been using ppc's way before iphone and at the time they were already doing more than the new iphone will do; and the recent hype on how advanced it is is funny. apple does brilliant marketing though
AnonymousSun 13 July, 2008 8:50am
Just to add, iphone's interface did nothing to me. I can run a server on my windows mobile device, use multiple apps at the same time.
Iphone is just a phone with a nice interface, that's it. PDA is beyond a phone
AnonymousThu 31 July, 2008 12:04am
Iphone 3g is friendly use, while HTC touch pro is for Techs? If you ask me, I just refunded my 3g, and am waiting for the touch pro to come out. Anyone know when's coming out or where to buy it? I'm an ATT user.
AnonymousTue 12 August, 2008 3:59am
iPhone 3G Rules. So does HTC Touch Diamond and Pro with extra memory and larger screen!
AnonymousThu 28 August, 2008 4:35pm
i am currently using iphone, its quite nice, very smooth touch, amazing, i can use many third party applications as well. there are plenty of them out there. no other touch devices can compare with it. and iphone screen is the best for watching video. others look very odd
AnonymousMon 22 September, 2008 12:41am
I bought the iPhone 3g and touch pro just to compare. The only advantage the iphone has over the touch is the GUI then that's it nothing more.
AnonymousMon 29 September, 2008 2:21am
basically all these other offerings are merely an attempt at clamoring to catch up with the true innovation that is only EVER offered by apple. So these other pieces of garbage will have a touch screen for sure, and that is where the similarities will end, they will of course never have the functionality that the mac phone has but they will look similar, and of course uneducated people will be tricked by this farce and buy these other phones because they will be cheaper, that's how it will work.
AnonymousThu 9 October, 2008 7:32am
go for HTC DIAMOND!!!!! its awesome... iphone is no match!!!!!
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AnonymousTue 20 May, 2008 11:49pm
It's funny how in the photo it's like 'odd one out'......clearly iPhone.... the only reasonable objection to that would be made by someone still stuck on some windows (ie. Sony memory stick) format...