Arne at :theunwired: broke a story yesterday that included upgraded specs on the upcoming HTC Athena. Today, he has released a ton of pictures that made my heart thump!
But first, some back-story…
Like many across the web, I was underwhelmed when I heard about Athena’s original specs. On December 15th, Boy Genius said, “Continuing in the tradition of world-exclusives here at BGR I would like to share something with everyone…the HTC Arthena (X7500). This thing is a beast! It is probably too early to tell if the specs will stick but so far it features Windows Mobile Pocket PC, 256MB of internal memory (finally!), a 400mhz processor, most probably a slide out keyboard, and the usual GSM. It doesn’t look like UMTS, or even EDGE but that has to change, right?”
The most undewhelming feature of all? It was supposed to have a 3.5″ screen. Feh. 
But then yesterday, Arne posted some updated information:
- Device is bit larger than the HTC Universal and more square, also it’s quite heavier than the Universal
- It’s about the same thickness
- It has a detachable keyboard which is partly made from clear plastic so when it works as a cover of the HTC Athena, you can still see basic information on the main screen like signal power or battery
- When keyboard works as a stand, the device stands on it (it’s communicating by the connector on the keyboard and connecting ‘pads’ on the side of the Athena when it stands on the keyboard and is kept together by strong magnets)
- Keyboard is kept in place by magnets in closed position as well
- Device has 5″ VGA 640×480 screen
- Further features includes:
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS
- Bluetooth 2.0
- W-LAN b/g
- 624 MHz processor,
- 8 GB drive
- 3 megapixel camera with flash
- GPS
- 2200 mAh battery
- G-Sensor
- VGA out
- Stereo speakers
- miniSD
These specs definitely caught my attention. 
Today came actual pictures of the rumored device – no more fuzzy renderings – on PDAclub. The pictures now seem to be gone, so I will repost the ones Arne had put on his site…
I am almost afraid to hear what the Athena will cost if and when it really comes out; but I would say that it looks like it could be an amazing WM5 tablet. I like the brown leather wrapper, too.
Of course this device will not be for everyone.
I have already seen comments saying that it is too big to be a phone and yet it is running phone software. Who would buy such a device? Who was it designed for?
I would say that it is designed for people like me: I like to carry a smart mobile phone, but I also carry a bag. That’s why I don’t mind also carrying a separate wireless device with a larger screen, one that runs WM5 instead of XP or Vista so it gets fab battery life (presumably), one that I can use to comfortably surf, email, work on business forms, and read eBooks on. I don’t always need a full computer with me, which is why my JasJar worked so well.
I have no idea if this device is truly coming out. I have no idea if the latest specs are correct. I also have no idea if the actual device, assuming it is released, will be configured for my needs. Will it have a thumbwheel? Will it be easy to navigate without a stylus? What will it’s actual size be? How much will it weigh? Will it be too heavy to use one handed?
Will I see one at CES, assuming it is real?
The waiting is the hardest part. :sigh:
Update: Chris managed to grab all of the pictures before they were pulled! Head on over to SlashGear. 
It looks nice and specs are great for WinMobile. But, I’m afraid it’s going to be to expensive for what it offers. After all it’s still underpowered compared to UMPCs. At least it looks that it’s going to be what I was hoping my Universal would be, fairly usable notebook replacement (for some light work)…
I am worried that since the Universal was ~$1,000, this one will be ~$1500…which will be well past my WM5 device purchasing comfort zone.
Maybe HTC will surprise us? Assuming the Athena is real, of course…
If it’s going to be more than $1000, than it will be too expensive. Compared to other high end PPCs I think it should be between $700 and $800 – still expensive though…
If those are truly the specs, then they’re amazing.
But I’m not liking the keyboard at all. Now don’t get me wrong – I want a keyboard in my PPC devices and won’t buy a device without one, but it has to be a slider. This keyboard is not integrated into the phone in any way, which means it will always be unusable unless you’re sitting at a desk. And even then, it still looks unusable because the keys clearly aren’t going to be anything that anybody could touchtype on, and you can’t thumbtype on a keyboard when it’s lying flat. For touchtyping, you need a Stowaway keyboard, and for thumbtyping, you need a slider, clamshell-style, or a Treo-style keyboard. And this Athena keyboard isn’t any of those, which makes it worthless, IMO.
Other than that, the specs are fantastic. But unfortunately, no integrated keyboard, no sale.
I’m waiting for an HTC TyTn with integrated GPS and FM radio.