HTC Touch Diamond first hands-on

Posted by Luke Peters on Tue 6 May 2008

So, a proper rival to the iPhone?

We've just hotfooted it back from the HTC Touch Diamond event with exciting news; that touch-screen sucks! Well, kind of.

A ten-minute squizz around the 3D TouchFLO 3D display didn't come within a hedgehogs nadger of the iPhone's. Menus appearing at random, haphazard scrolling, sometimes no response at all. In HTC's defense, a spokesperson did say that the screen's sensitivity wasn't properly calibrated and this would be rectified by the June launch. We hope.

It's smaller and lighter than the iPhone and the industrial design is stunning. The screen is pin sharp and the innovative digital Rolodex features look fantastic. Just as the HTC suits were keen to mention, the Diamond can be operated solely by one hand, although texting and emailing on the small keyboard may need a bit of practice before omni-control becomes second nature. The superfast HSDPA connection is, indeed, superfast. Web pages are loaded in a jiffy and, with Windows Mobile 6.1 chugging things along, the OS looks damn slick.

So, first impressions are mixed. It looks great, feels great and is a definite look-what-I've-got device for the pub. However, it's imperative for HTC to sort out that screen. Apple has set a marker with its touchscreen technology, so anything that falls short will be chewed up, spat out and kicked to the arse-end of nerdsville.

We've an exclusive interview with HTC's Chief Innovation Officer, Horace Luke, tomorrow. Perhaps he can shed some extra light.

If you've any questions you'd like answered, email us at t3@futurenet.co.uk