The Touch HD is an exciting new phone from HTC which takes Windows Mobile to the next level. An attractive phone that features a massive VGA screen, the HTC Touch HD looks set to take the UK by storm. It will be available very soon for free on an Orange contract.
Design
HTC has a history of making serious-looking business phones that don't always inspire us, but the HTC Touch HD is beautiful. Everything we expected the HTC Touch to be but didn't quite see is encapsulated in the Touch HD -- it feels and looks superb.
Not too heavy and not too light, the HTC Touch HD houses a large VGA touchscreen that we found more responsive than any HTC device to date (not counting the T-Mobile G1) and is excellent for viewing pictures and videos.
The Touch HD is as thin as the iPhone 3G and fits comfortably in a pocket or bag. Thankfully HTC has added a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top so you can plug standard headphones in without an adaptor, cutting out all the cable mess.
On top of the smooth backside of the Touch HD lies a 5-megapixel camera recessed into a metallic bump -- we wanted it to act as a lens cover, which it didn't, so that's a shame. Overall, though, the Touch HD is HTC's most attractive device yet.
Features
While we'd like to say that the Touch HD runs Android like HTC's other phone, the T-Mobile G1, it actually runs on the less exciting Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. On top of the Windows interface, HTC has added its TouchFLO 3D menu interface.
TouchFLO 3D is HTC's attempt at making Windows Mobile more finger-friendly, and to some extent it works. But it's not as deeply integrated as we would have liked. You still have to use the stylus at times when you need more accuracy.
It's worth noting that Windows Mobile and TouchFLO 3D ran faster during testing than we expected, and felt slightly smoother than the HTC Touch Pro, which uses the same chipset and features the same amount of ROM and RAM.
At your disposal is all the Windows Mobile 6 functionality that you'd expect, including Exchange email support, Microsoft Office documents editing and viewing capabilities, and Windows Mobile media player, which supports various codecs.
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von dutch 18 June 2011
Comment: there is just one thing i'd like to say. IT'S A SMARTPHONE NOT A F@@@ING PDA
Casim Amin 16 August 2010
Good: everything especially youtube
Bad: too big
Comment: its a great phone and everyone should have one
PSiReN 5 November 2009
Good: The Screen
Bad: Operating System, Reliability
Comment: I've had this PDA now for just under 12-months and in that time it has only worked fully for about 2-months. During the course of my ownership SMS-Messaging has failed; on-line video rendering has failed; it has burned out two MicroSD Cards and required 2-battery replacements.
While the device is primarily intended for a touch-screen market; the sensitivity of the resistive screen (or lack thereof) can make some interactions very difficult without having to rely on the provided stylus. But, be warned - even with the lightest of touches with the supplied stylus; the screen is prone to scratching and will require the regular replacement of screen-protectors.
I don't doubt there are many delighted owners who have thoroughly enjoyed having this bright and shiny new toy; however, it's worth bearing in mind that there remain several question marks over the performance of some elements of its Operating System and general functionality. Windows Mobile 6.1 is problematic and while HTC attempts to mask those problems with their own proprietary interface; only so much can be done to make a silk-purse out of a sow's ear.
When it does work; it can be a real asset - but its reliability falls very much short of what one would expect for device in this price-range.
Of particular note is HTC's woeful Customer Support. In each of the faults I've listed above; HTC's only recommendation is to try a Soft Reset (which failed each and every time) followed by a Hard Reset, which unless you're very careful to back-up all your data and personal settings you will lose and can take in one instance up to 5-hours to reset. HTC seem to regard the proposition of replacing a clearly defecting piece of equipment as beneath them (I've been told repeatedly that it is not "policy" to replace their devices) and have insisted that the device go in for repair. Each time it has been returned to them it has come back (between 3 to 6 weeks lead-time) with the fault unresolved. What they must imagine you're supposed to do for mobile telephony while they're supposedly fixing the problem is anyone's guess.
For a device that allegedly thrives on its adaptability, connectivity and personal customisation; it promises a great deal... However; over time I have found it singularly one of the most frustrating pieces of kit I've ever laid my hands on and that frustration has only been compounded by HTC's ambivalent, incompetant and, dare I say it, complacent approach to Customer Relations.
Buyer beware - HTC's bid for mobile supremacy with this device has its flaws and in my experience; that bid comes very much at your expense - in terms of money; time and inconvenience.
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