MWC09: HTC Releases the Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2

Posted on 16 February 2009 by


All of a sudden I am feeling massively warm and fuzzy towards HTC. Not only have they released significantly sexy upgrades of their Touch Diamond and Touch Pro models, they are making them with bigger and better resolution screens. Feast your eyes on these babies…

touchdiamond2_left3-4

The HTC Touch Diamond2
Building upon the iconic design of the first HTC Touch Diamond, the HTC Touch Diamond2 is a full touchscreen device with a 3.2 inch WVGA display that incorporates a new touch sensitive zoom bar. The device uses HTC’s latest HTC TouchFLO 3D technology which has been even more deeply integrated into Windows Mobile 6.1. Additional specifications are below:

Processor: Qualcomm® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz
OS: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
Memory: 512 MB ROM, 288 MB RAM
Memory Expansion: microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
Dimensions: 4.25 X 2.09 X 0.54 inches (HxWxT)
Weight: 4.15 ounces (with battery)
Display: 3.2 inch TFT-LCD WVGA (480×800) touchscreen
Camera: 5 megapixel autofocus camera
Battery: 1100mAh LiIon

touchpro2-htc-per02

HTC Touch Pro2
Also building on its namesake, the HTC Touch Pro2 incorporates a sizeable 3.6 inch WVGA touchscreen and a large QWERTY keyboard for heightened productivity. In addition to using the latest HTC TouchFLO 3D technology and people-centric communication approach, the HTC Touch Pro2 is the first device to use HTC’s new Straight Talk technology which makes transitioning between an email to a call a breeze. With Straight Talk, an endless email string can be converted to a quick conference call with the push of a button. Additional specifications are below:

Processor: Qualcomm® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz
OS: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
Memory: 512 MB ROM, 288 MB RAM
Memory Expansion: microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
Dimensions: 4.57 X 2.33 X 0.68 inches (HxWxT)
Weight: 6.17 ounces (with battery)
Display: 3.6 inch TFT-LCD WVGA (480×800) touchscreen
Camera: 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera
Battery: 1500mAh LiIon

OK…is it just my imagination? Or did both of those beauties have metal bodies?

Here’s another shot of the Touch Pro2…

touchpro2-htc-per03

Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my chin…!!

Update: Arne Hess managed to get a video of Eric Lin (HTC) demonstrating the Touch Pro2. He also managed to get confirmation on something that seemed like it should have gone without saying…but hearing it confirmed was great!

While this pre-release device is running Windows Mobile 6.1, it was confirmed earlier that Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional will be available for the Touch Pro2 as well.

Click here to watch video of the Touch Pro2 in action.

Read on for the full release…

new HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 SIGNAL a new wave in communication
New phones simplify information access with HTC Push Internet and unify personal communication with single-view contact integration

BARCELONA — Feb 16, 2009 — HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile phones, today unveiled two new flagship devices, the HTC Touch Diamond2ä and HTC Touch Pro2ä.  Integrating innovative simplicity with unique style and an intuitive interface, the devices balance function, form and cutting-edge technology to personalize the communication and mobile Internet experience.
“The HTC Touch Pro2 and HTC Touch Diamond2 introduce a mobile communication experience that simplifies how we communicate with people in our lives whether through voice, text or email,” said Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corp. “HTC is delivering the latest, cutting-edge sophistication in a broad portfolio of mobile phones that improve how people live, work and communicate.”
HTC TouchFLO 3D Integrated with Windows Mobile
The HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 utilize HTC’s latest TouchFLO 3D interface. TouchFLO 3D has been more deeply integrated into a customized version of Windows Mobile 6.1 to deliver more consistency throughout Windows Mobile applications and menus. Focused on making navigation easier and more intuitive, TouchFLO 3D brings important information to the top-level user interface, including quick access to people, messaging, email, photos, music and weather.  As part of this improved Windows Mobile integration the touch focus areas have been enlarged to be more finger-touch friendly.
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
With the HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2, HTC is introducing a new people-centric communication approach, providing a single contact view that displays the individual conversation history of contacts regardless of whether voice, text or email were used.  This can be viewed from the contact card or the in-call screen during a phone conversation, ensuring the latest communication contact-by-contact is always at hand.
SIMPLIFYING HOW PEOPLE ACCESS THEIR INFORMATION
Continuing its commitment to making the mobile Internet easier and more enjoyable, the HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 introduce HTC’s Push Internet technology.   HTC Push Internet alleviates slow downloading and rendering of Web pages on a mobile phone. Users can preselect their favorite Websites to get immediate access to them when needed.
HTC Touch Diamond2
The HTC Touch Diamond2 is the next step in the evolution of the successful HTC Touch Diamond. Crafted to fit perfectly into the hand, the Touch Diamond2 evolves the compact design and iconic style of the original HTC Touch Diamond. It incorporates a larger 3.2-inch high-resolution wide-screen VGA display for a greater viewing area in a design just 13.7mm thick. The phone also includes a new touch sensitive zoom bar for even faster zooming of Web pages, emails, text messages, photos or documents.
Leveraging HTC’s TouchFLO 3D experience combined with a people-centric communication approach and HTC’s new Push Internet technology The Touch Diamond2 offers an advanced touch experience that is optimized for one-hand use.
With fifty-percent better battery life, a five mega-pixel auto focus camera, expandable memory, gravity sensor and an ambient light sensor, the Touch Diamond2 brings the most sophisticated capabilities to a broad consumer audience looking for the professional benefits of a smartphone without sacrificing size, looks or functionality.
HTC TOUCH PRO2
Designed for business professionals, the HTC Touch Pro2 is architected with distinct style and strength while delivering the most powerful productivity experience available on a mobile phone.  Leveraging HTC’s TouchFLO 3D, people-centric communication and Push Internet technology, the Touch Pro2 features a high-resolution 3.6-inch widescreen VGA display for an expanded viewing area and large finger-friendly QWERTY keyboard. With improved battery life, expandable memory, a touch-sensitive zoom bar as well as gravity, proximity and ambient light sensors, the Touch Pro2 is optimized for touch as well as heavy email use.
Introducing HTC Straight Talkä for HTC Touch Pro2
The new HTC Touch Pro2 leverages voice in a new way to create one of the most sophisticated communication experiences found on a mobile phone.   HTC’s new Straight Talk technology delivers an integrated email, voice and speakerphone experience. Users can transition seamlessly from email to single or multi-party conference calls and turn any location into a conference room.

In addition to the new simplified calling experience, Straight Talk includes an innovative mechanical and acoustic design that features a sophisticated speakerphone experience similar to those found in corporate boardrooms. Straight Talk delivers a high-fidelity voice and sound experience enhanced by asymmetric speakers and advanced noise suppression with full duplex acoustics. When the Touch Pro2 is flipped over it automatically turns into a conference room speakerphone system.

Availability
The HTC Touch Diamond2 will be available to customers across major European and Asian markets in early Q2 2009 with broader global availability coming later in the year.  The Touch Pro2 will be available across major global markets beginning in early summer.
About HTC
Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) is a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design.  Since its establishment, HTC has developed strong R&D capabilities, pioneered many new designs and product innovations and launched state-of-the-art mobile phones for mobile operators and distributors in Europe, the US, Asia and around the world.   HTC is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile device market. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

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- who has written 1699 posts on Gear Diary.

I started Gear Diary on September 30, 2006, and my goal was that this not be an easily labeled site. We all have gear that we use daily – some of it electronic and some of it organic. I think it is fascinating to explore the equipment that makes our lives easier, more entertaining, more productive, and more manageable. My hope is that Gear Diary visitors will find this site to be a comfortable and friendly place to discuss interesting topics – and not only those that are tech related, as well as a location to discover various types of gear – whatever that term may end up implying – that they never knew existed. My specialty is in-depth reviews written in a layman’s terms, because everyone can understand technology, sometimes it just takes a little translating. +Judie Stanford

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  • http://raymondumbara.wordpress.com/ Raymond

    Hmm…. interesting… I wonder if this is the first phone to woo me back to Windows Mobile after the iPhone…

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/breley breley

    That Touch Pro2 looks pretty sweet. Of course I just picked up the Touch Pro (Fuze) a couple weeks ago and was wondering why it didn't have a tilt screen like the, er, Tilt. Curious the depicted design has a more than passing resemblence to the iPhone…

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Judie Judie Lipsett

    Yeah, it only makes sense that a more Tilt-like form factor would eventually appear; that device has certainly been popular!

    If you take a look at MANY of the releases that will be coming out today, I think you will find that more than a few devices bear a striking resemblance to the iPhone. I am not sure that it is a good thing, but there is no arguing the iPhone form factor's popularity…

  • Pingback: Judie Lipsett

  • alese

    I really like the new Pro, although I have no problems with my Diamond, the Pro is now on top of my gadget wish list…