HTC Touch Diamond
The basics
HTC Touch Diamond (also known as HTC P3700) is a Pocket PC powered by Windows Mobile 6.1. It boasts of a 3.8in touch screen that has four times more pixels compared to other phones. The user interface is a Vibrant TouchFLO 3D that responds to finger gestures applicable when browsing and scrolling through the contacts list.
The good
HTC has come closer to the iPhone here than any other handset manufacturer. It's the best-looking Touch yet, with a more responsive touch wheel and five-way joypad, plus a handy stylus. Specs and features-wise, the Diamond is amply loaded - there's HSDPA for speedy 3G and WiFi for brisk web browsing and downloading, GPS, 4GB of integrated storage and a capable 3.2-megapixel camera with auto focus. It runs Windows Mobile 6.1 too, which meant we got to use lots of third-party software apps, and look at lovely flash-based videos.
The bad
The 2.8-inch touch screen, while compatible with HTC's TouchFLO interface (which lets you flick through screens or photos by swiping your fingertip) is still a fair way behind the iPhone's interface, and the touch sensitivity isn't as accurate either. Don't get us wrong, that's still way ahead of most touch-screen phones. We just strive for perfection.
The bottom line
If the aim is the iPhone 3G, then HTC so nearly struck gold. Or diamond. Only a few niggles meant that this just fell short of the ultra-phone.
User comments (4)
Leave a comment
This comment has been removed.
Alison (aka Pesky People)01 February 2010
I had the HTC Touch for all of a week - it was a disaster. The battery gets hot within seconds of being on the phone and despite a replacement battery the next day the problem continued. The rest of my issues were to do with accessibility as I'm partially hearing - it was not compatible with my digital hearing aids and couldn't be connected to my mac. Two of the stipulations I told the Orange when I upgraded from a HTC Tytan II. Also had no 3g signal where I live despite my old mobile connecting. Eventually it was taken back after by them after much complaining via Customer Services who agreed I'd been mis-sold it (after posting a very public blog on peskypeople a campaign for digital access). On top of this I found out from the Orange shop that the battery is known to get hot - so that is still a problem for everyone else.
Report as inappropriateMatthew Cundill02 February 2010
Can't understand why on earth this review has had 4 g's?!! It's the worst phone I've ever had. too small for a touch screen, the windows software on it is terrible and jerky-won't play my mp3's when they are stored in the 4Gb of the internal storage. Every time you come off a call and want to dial a number straight away you have to wait for the phone to catch up. It has got to be the most frustrating phone i have ever owned. I really won't be sorry to ungrade from it. Battery life is terrible. You can't forward texts, listen to your MP3's. It is a poor poor show. This phone has made me determined to never get a phone with Windows mobile software on it again. Hoping to get a Hero with Android next and poss eventually an iphone or hopefully the new version whenever that will be (not happy that you can't have apps open together on the iphone). Don't get this phone whatever you do, it's absolutely terrible.
Report as inappropriateThis comment has been removed.
Join Channel 5
Creating an account is free, will only take a few moments and will allow you to enjoy the full benefits of 5FWD and Channel 5:
Leave a comment