Video demo after the cut

Android’s hardware control requirements have been mapped to the Diamond’s front panel keys, and – while some users are experiencing issues – the accelerometer seems to be doing its thing too, flicking the screen between portrait and landscape orientation.  Audio is also functional, though at least one person has reported some stuttering when using Bluetooth A2DP headphones.

All in all, it’s not perfect but then the Touch Diamond was never intended as an Android device.  Tweaking is ongoing, but if you want to see how the project is progressing so far check out this video by c4software:

[via HDBlog.it]

Under the terms of the agreement, One & Co’s designers will work more closely with the HTC product team, and hopefully assist in creating devices with beauty more than just skin-deep; conversely, HTC designers will be working with One & Co’s team on non-smartphone products.  Current and previous clients include Adidas, K2, Kensington, The North Face, Salomon and Sony.

Exact details on the terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, and it’s unclear how much HTC paid for the privately-held design firm. 

Press Release:

HTC Bolsters Design Credibility With Addition of One & Co

Leader in lifestyle design will be cornerstone of HTC’s design capability and philosophy while continuing as an innovative design consultancy

Taoyuan, Taiwan and SAN FRANCISCO, December 3, 2008 – Furthering its reputation as a global leader in mobile innovation and design, HTC Corporation today announced the continuation of its design focus with the acquisition of San Francisco-based lifestyle design firm One & Company Design, Inc. (One & Co). Recognized for its award-winning work with some of the world’s best known and most design-savvy lifestyle brands, One & Co will maintain its name and client base while it joins forces with HTC to create an unparalleled force in global mobile design.

“Design is key, it is why you love or hate something,” said Horace Luke, Chief Innovation Officer, HTC Corporation. “Integrating iconic design into HTC products is an inspiring and dynamic challenge that requires a unique combination of consumer insight, creativity, innovation and an appetite to take risks; attributes that embody One & Co.”

HTC and One & Co first began collaborating in 2006 on the initial incubation and creation of the HTC Touch Diamond, a highly touted phone with iconic design that blended unprecedented use of material and industrial design.

“One & Co is excited to bring our lifestyle, user focused approach to HTC and we look forward to creating iconic, compelling products together,” said Scott Croyle, partner of One & Co. “Knowing about HTC’s cutting edge technology and proven track record of innovation, we are excited to collaborate with HTC as a global lifestyle brand.”

In addition to its work with HTC, One & Co has broad design experience in a variety of industries that range from footwear, snowboarding and skiing, furniture, packaging, houseware, timepieces and more. One & Co has been recognized by the design and business communities by winning numerous BusinessWeek/IDSA IDEA Awards, the Good Design Awards, CES Innovation Awards, and ID Magazine awards.

About One & Co
Privately held, One & Co is an internationally recognized design leader that delivers design and engineering services to some of the world’s best known and most admired companies. With expertise in areas ranging from ethnographic research and design forecasting and manufacturing technologies, One & Co is committed to bring the highest level of creative talent to every endeavor and provide an unmatched attention to detail.

About HTC
Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) designs innovative, feature rich smartphones. Since its establishment, HTC has developed strong R&D capabilities, pioneered many new designs and product innovations and launched state-of-the-art PDA Phones and smartphones for mobile operators and distributors in Europe, the US, and Asia. These machines are available as HTC devices and as products individually customized for operator and device partners.

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.

Check out the Sprint HTC Touch Diamond video unboxing after the cut

In the box, Sprint provide the handset itself, a US AC adapter, USB charge/sync cable, wired stereo handsfree headset, belt case, spare stylus and an adaptor to use 3.5mm or 2.5mm headsets.  They also include a screen protector and both printed quick-start and full manuals; ActiveSync is supplied on CD

Compared to the original GSM Touch Diamond, the Sprint version is fatter and loses the unusual faceted rear-panel.  Both have 4GB of internal storage, but only the GSM Touch Diamond has a front-mounted camera for video calls.

We’ll have the full review of the Sprint HTC Touch Diamond very soon, so until then enjoy the unboxing video!

Check out hands-on feedback on the Touch Pro and S740 after the cut

The Touch Pro, also fresh to Sprint, has the same super-speedy EvDO Rev.A data connection, together with a keyboard that is one of the better hardware QWERTY’s on the market today. In fact, having more time with the smartphone than we did with our initial hands-on, we take back the few criticisms we initially made – the Touch Pro is solid, this latest iteration of TouchFLO 3D does the best job yet of masking Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro, and there’s little lag or stalling in use.

As for the S740, this was perhaps HTC’s surprise device – surprising in that, while you might assume a Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard smartphone would pale a little compared to its touchscreen brethren, the S740 is actually a very nice handset. The design and feel is reminiscent of a B&O device, being sturdy and feeling high-quality; the keyboard slide is firm and precise, with no evidence of looseness in the mechanism, and the front panel buttons are tactile and responsive. Unfortunately HTC still don’t believe the market in the US is looking for a device like the S740, and so they have no plans to distribute it outside of Europe.

We’ll be taking a closer look at Sprint’s new handsets over the next few days, so keep reading SlashGear for the full reviews.

(Left: Eric Lin, Middle: Keith Nowak (formerly with Nokia, now with HTC Americas) and me.

The Sprint version of the HTC Touch Diamond was recently reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, who criticised Windows Mobile 6.1 but generally had good things to say about the HTC hardware.  As with other recent handsets from the company, both smartphones use the HTC TouchFLO 3D GUI, a more finger-friendly overlay that attempts to hide most of Windows Mobile’s native UI.

The HTC Touch Diamond will be available in September and will cost $249.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate. The HTC Touch Pro will be available in all Sprint retail channels beginning October 19, for $299.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.

The biggest complaint was the device’s inability to disguise Windows Mobile’s flaws as well as some other company’s software. The TouchFLO 3D software and touch screen are nice and rather attractive, it’s simply not enough. Windows Mobile menus constantly interrupt the sleek interface. For instance, the mail program opens with a preview function that incorporates clever animation. But if you wish to open the mail client, it’s the standard Windows Mobile email program.

The touch capabilities were also a bit “sticky.” However, the device itself is nice to look at and is smaller than the BlackBerry and the iPhone. The Diamond’s browser is based on Opera and opens websites in such a way so that they reformat specifically for the phone. It also has an accelerometer called a G-Sensor, which had a tendency to get stuck when flipping from horizontal to vertical, delay for about 3 seconds or not flip at all.

All in all, the WSJ feels the HTC Touch Diamond makes a valiant effort, but it falls short of covering up all that Windows Mobile lacks.

[via The Mossberg Solution at All Things Digital]

Dubbed as the “hottest Windows Mobile device,” the HTC Touch Diamond from Sprint sports a 2.8-inch touch screen, TouchFLO 3D user interface and a 3D graphics processor. This phone makes it easy to move through websites, media and more with simple finger gestures.

The Diamond also has EVDO Rev A, a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus, 4GB of internal storage, and GPS. This phone will really put all of your information in the palm of your hand, plus it will run on Sprint’s CDMA network. All in all, we’re looking forward to this one.

[via Bluefish Wireless]

In place of the touchscreen, the company gave the S740 a traditional 12-key numeric keypad.  Underneath the hood is HTC’s signature sliding QWERTY keyboard those who prefer a two handed messaging experience.

The HTC S740 will be available in Europe from September 2008, and may possibly have its first appearance at IFA in Berlin early next month.  The lucky folks in Europe will enjoy Internet speeds up to 7.2 Mbps, that’s up to 18 times faster than our 3G networks!  The price was not revealed at the time of writing this article.

Other features include a 2.4-inch QVGA screen, GPS/aGPS, 3.2 megapixel camera with fixed focus, 256 MB flash; 256 MB RAM, microSD slot for memory expansion, GPS, Bluetooth, FM radio, all powered by Qualcomm MSM7225, 528 MHz.

Key HTC S740 product specifications:

• Size: 116.3 x 43.4 x 16.3 mm
• Weight: 140g with battery
• Networks: WCDMA/HSDPA: 900/2100 MHz for EU and Asia
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Maximum speed: UL = 384 kbps; DL = 3.6/7.2 Mbps**
• Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard
• Display: 2.4-inch QVGA screen
• Camera: 3.2 megapixel with fixed focus
• Internal memory: 256 MB flash; 256 MB RAM
• Memory card: microSD™
• WLAN: 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth®: 2.0 with EDR
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Interface: HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)
• Battery: 1000 mAh
• Talk time: WCDMA: Up to 320 minutes*** / GSM: Up to 380 minutes***
• Standby time: WCDMA: Up to 400 hours*** / GSM: Up to 280 hours***
• Special features: Sliding QWERTY keyboard, FM radio, Google Maps, RSS Hub
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM7225, 528 MHz

This week, we discussed in random order a number of different products ranging from the new Motorola ROKR E8 to a new screen cleaner called Surface.  There’s a little bit of everything for everyone including a review of the ASUS Eee PC 901, Kyocera KR2/KPC 680, Toshiba Satellite Pro U400, and first look of the Samsung Z400 and T-Mobile @Home.  We also discussed the purchase of Helio by Virgin Mobiles for $39M.  This in my opinion is a sad thing because my friends will be out of a job soon.

Ashley was thrilled with the Voodoo laptop and really like the Wiimote concept.  I on the other hand got an exclusive first hand look HTC Touch Pro, but am not too impressed with its thickness.  It’s a big shame HTC ruined it by not slimming the handset down closer to the thickness of the HTC Diamond.  And speaking of being impressed, I was totally blown away by awesomeness of the Sony Ericsson C905 8.1 Cybershot 8.1-megapixel camera phone, Blackberry Bold and Nokia E71.

The Touch Diamond may have the smallest display – measuring just 2.8-inches compared to the Instinct’s 3.1-inches – but with VGA resolution it blows the Samsung (and, it has to be said, the iPhone) out of the water for image quality.  Meanwhile both promise amazing mobile internet access, courtesy of the Instinct’s EV-DO Rev.A and the Touch Diamond’s HSDPA/HSUPA and WiFi b/g.  Would-be users will be looking closely at the GUI on offer, too, with the Samsung’s being in-house and HTC having recently fettled their TouchFLO overlay (that sits on top of Windows Mobile 6.1) with some particularly slick 3D animations.

Of course, tomorrow we’ll be at WWDC 2008 for what’s expected to be the official announcement of the 3G iPhone.  Apple’s current cellphone is still holding up pretty well against rivals, in terms of usability and eye-candy at least, but the specs are looking increasingly tired.  A new model could certainly change all that.  Join us at 10AM San Francisco time on Monday morning for our Live Blog of the Steve Jobs keynote, at http://live.iphonebuzz.com/

To recap, the Touch Diamond is a Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone with a VGA touchscreen, 7.2Mbps HSDPA/HSUPA, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 and GPS.  Instead of the standard Microsoft interface, HTC have slapped their latest TouchFLO 3D GUI in place.  That offers CoverFlow-style graphical browsing of contacts, video, images and audio.  The whole phone is full of neat animations and transitions.

In the video demo, you can also see the Opera 9 browser being put through it paces.  It looks particularly fantastic on this high-res, 640 x 480 display.  We’ll have more fresh content from the London event later on today, so make sure to bookmark PHONE Magazine!

Supposedly in development since the original HTC Touch was launched, the Touch Diamond has 4GB of internal memory and is described by the company as “the perfect form factor … not too big, not too small.” The D-pad on the front doubles as a touch-sensitive scroll wheel, for skipping through the new row of animated icons on the home-screen. The screen itself is VGA resolution.

“The most important challenge [in developing] the Touch Diamond is the simplicity of using it” Horace Luke, CIO

The Touch Diamond also has an accelerometer orientation-sensor, similar to that of the iPhone, which changes the screen orientation as the handset itself is rotated. HTC also demonstrated a new music application with album-image navigation very similar to Apple’s CoverFlow. This is definitely the device that HTC are hoping to take down the iPhone with – everything has been given a gloss of animation, creating the feel-good factor that has helped make the Apple cellphone such a success. The weather app, for instance, is fully animated, with a windscreen wiper on rainy days.

As for internet access, HTC have included the Opera 9 browser in the Touch Diamond’s ROM, promising the full desktop experience but with HTC’s own skin on top. Content can be zoomed on by touching it, and the scroll-wheel can also be used to more accurately manage the level of zoom. Both portrait and landscape orientations are supported, courtesy of the accelerometer, as is YouTube Flash-video playback thanks to a custom video app that HTC are claiming offers “the best YouTube experience on any device.”

Set to be available through all HTC’s operator partners and, in an HTC first, all five UK operators, the Touch Diamond will be released in Europe and Asia in June. The rest of the world will have to wait until later on in the year. HTC did not suggest the estimated price-tag.

Check out the full live image gallery of the HTC Touch Diamond here. We’ll have hands-on video for you at our sister-site PHONE Magazine later on today!

HTC isn’t releasing what the press event will entail, but if what’s been rumored over the past weeks are indeed true, then we will witness the birth of the HTC Diamond, HTC Touch Pro and perhaps Mr. Chou will dazzle us with the highly anticipated Android-powered Dream phone.

HTC isn’t releasing what the press event will entail, but if what’s been rumored over the past weeks are indeed true, then we will witness the birth of the HTC Diamond, HTC Touch Pro and perhaps Mr. Chou will dazzle us with the highly anticipated Android-powered Dream phone.

Overview of the HTC Diamond and Touch Pro

Earlier unconfirmed reports have revealed many of the Diamond’s specifications. The Touch Diamond is expected to be officially called the HTC Touch Diamond, and replace the very popular original HTC Touch.
Similar to its predecessor, Touch Diamond won’t have a physical keyboard but instead be focused on its 2.8-inch touchscreen. But it will supposedly have a number of upgraded features, like a VGA display, a 3-megapixel camera, Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro, and an updated version of this company’s fingertip-oriented application launcher, TouchFLO.

Recent leaks revealed what seemed to be plausible specifications and images of the HTC Diamond. According to the site, there is a 3.2 megapixel camera, 4GB of internal storage with MicroSD expansion still on the table, FM radio and a 2.8-inch VGA display. Obviously it will run Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, and has the hardware to back it up, with a 528MHz CPU. Connectivity is a sure thing, with HSDPA 7.6mbps, and WiFi. It’s still unclear whether the Diamond will also sport a slide out QWERTY (similar to what has been reported for the Touch Pro), and there are rumors of an accelerometer, but it’s believed to be quad band GSM and just 10.7mm thick.

Earlier unconfirmed reports have revealed some of the Touch Pro’s specifications. The Touch Pro or Raphael is expected to be officially called the HTC Touch Pro, and replace the very popular original HTC Touch Dual. Touch Pro will have physical QWERTY keyboard in addition to a 2.8-inch touchscreen. But it will supposedly have a number of upgraded features, like a VGA display, a 3.2 megapixel camera, Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro, and an updated version of this company’s fingertip-oriented application launcher, TouchFLO.
HTC will definitely release both GSM and CDMA versions of the Touch Pro with 3G support, and some of these will include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 and/or GPS.

Overview of the HTC Dream

The HTC Dream is speculated to include many of the iPhone features, such as the full touch screen interface and keyboard. It should measure 5-inch long and 3-inch wide. The picture below was shown on BB video, and has been undergoing tests at Google. Right now, this device is the closest thing we have to what the Dream phone looks like.

The newly launched Touch Accessories store is the one stop shop for everything HTC accessories. Make sure to drop by and check it out when you get your very own HTC Touch Diamond, Touch Pro or other HTC handsets.

NOTE: Event time is local time zone which is GMT + 1:00. [CHECK YOUR LOCAL TIME]