touch diamond

HTC may be amping up for its big debut of the first cell phone to use Google's android platform later this year, but let's set that aside right now. Why? Because HTC is unleashing its sleek and sexy Touch Diamond on US territory — Sprint territory to be exact — this Thursday! It has been reported that the phone will cost $299 on a two-year contract or $549 if you buy it outright. To jog your memories a bit, the Touch Diamond is the elegant, visually stunning little phone I checked out in London this past May.

I know, we're all wrapped up in the iPhone 3G mania, but here's a phone that deserves just as much love as the iPhone — HTC's Touch Diamond. Last month I got to witness the official launch and unveiling of this sleek handset and was very impressed with it's overall design, user interface and performance.

Weeks before it is set to go on sale in Europe (and months before the US), I got my hands on the Diamond to see how well it's features actually function. The most noteworthy (and my favorite) feature about this phone is it's TouchFLO 3D interface which makes basic tasks like emailing, viewing photos or contacts and checking out the weather fully animated. Web browsing is made easy with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, as the Diamond will automatically adjust web pages to perfectly fit the display screen (you can also turn the phone sideways).

To get an idea on size, have a peek at the pics below. No word on US pricing just yet.

The highly anticipated HTC Touch Diamond can now be purchased online from DechoWireless, PopularElect and Welectronics. To us US'ers these stores probably don't sound very familiar, because they're all European. But considering you can get them earlier than their expected June release date, and chances are they'll probably ship phones to the US, it's still some "good to know" info. Now for the fun price tag which ranges from $780 to $900. . . Hey, that's the price you have to pay to get a phone before anyone else!

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• Engadget Chinese did a size test with the iPhone and the Touch Diamond, and as you can see, the Touch is the perfect size for the palm of your hand. — Engadget
• Steve Jobs will be kicking off the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address starting at 10. — Switched
• First the BlackBerry Bold and now this?! It is rumored that a touchscreen BlackBerry, called the BlackBerry Thunder, will be hitting stores by the end of the Summer. — The Boy Genius Report
• Google has just launched a new tool called Google Friend Connect, which enables nonsocial networking sites to easily add social features to their website. — Shiny Shiny
• Now you can check out all your RSS feeds on your iPhone because Google has just launched a beta version of Google reader for the iPhone! — Lifehacker

Thanks to HTC, I've just witnessed the Touch Diamond launch in London, and I must admit, this is definitely a handset that warrants bragging rights. Unfortunately, the Touch Diamond doesn't come encrusted in diamonds like its name may imply, but it does boast flawless faceted edges, which distinctly resemble that of a perfectly cut diamond, adding an elegant touch indeed. I couldn't help but notice certain features that certainly resemble that of the iPhone, but all in all, there's enough distinction to put the Touch Diamond in a league of its own.

The user-friendly Touch Diamond is tiny and mighty. It fits comfortably in one hand and can easily slide into a back or front pocket. Designers of the Touch Diamond wanted to create a phone that is "real to life" in the sense that you can check your email like flipping through real mail, you can view photos like shuffling through a roll of film, and for listening to music, it's all done with one touch. This handset is the first mobile device to offer Mobile 6.1 by Microsoft and uses Opera with zoom and scrolling capabilities for the full net browsing experience. Internet Explorer 6 is said to be on they way (wasn't ready at the time of launch).

To learn about other great features of HTC's Touch Diamond and to view a gallery of "unveiling" photos, read more

No it's not the Android SDK phone (so sad!), but the rumors were right on the mark — HTC has just announced its innovative Touch Diamond cell phone. Thanks to HTC, I'm in London in the heart of all the unveiling action and got an up close and personal look at this vibrant and tiny new cell phone. Here's a teaser video to give you a sneak peek at the overall user experience. It's sleek, simple, and best of all, it features a 3D animated touchscreen interface. More pics and a full spec rundown to come!

HTC is gearing up for a big announcement on Tuesday, and rumor has it that the unveiling may include the Touch Diamond handset. Pictures and a rundown of specs have already surfaced on the internet, and I must say, it's sounding pretty hot. With 4GB internal flash, a microSD slot, eGPS, WiFi, a FM tuner, Bluetooth and a sleek 2.8-inch VGA display, this phone is certainly a lovely piece of technology, if it is in fact real.

Well I've just touched down in London, as HTC has invited me to the "big reveal," so I'll be right in the heart of all the action. Can't wait to see if this is going to be the VGA Touchscreen everyone has been talking about . . . Be sure to stay tuned for all my updates from the event!
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