HTC announces the HTC Desire

This is the third and final handset announced by HTC at MWC today and one that maybe slightly more of a surprise than the other two already mentioned. True, you may recognise the form of the HTC Desire, previously codenamed the HTC Bravo, looking an awful lot like the excellent Nexus One (see our Nexus review), and for good reason, they are essentially the same device.

The HTC Desire has a few hardware differences that you can see, an optical trackpad in place of the trackball and an additional set of hardware buttons at the bottom. The other change you may not immediately notice is the lack of dual-microphone noise cancelling. HTC say that the reason for this change is cost, wanting to make the handset as accessible as possible.

So specs for the Desire read much the same as the Nexus. Still Andoid 2.1 but HTC include their latest Sense UI and their own updated web browser. The browser features Flash Lite 4 (pre installed) and the excellent text re-flow system that we first saw on the HTC Touch Diamond where text is re-rendered in the browser to fit the screen area when you zoom. All HTC Android devices will have Multitouch from now on too.

HTC has also added some of their own features elsewhere in the OS. Tabs in email for unread messages for example and a calendar with agenda view are just a few examples.

Of the new handsets announced I certainly think this is the one for me! 🙂

Video and photos should be along soon but for now the official press release follows.

HTC UNVEILS ENHANCED HTC SENSE EXPERIENCE ON NEW ANDROID SMARTPHONES

 

HTC Legend and HTC Desire take Android 2.1 to a new level with HTC Sense

 

BARCELONA, Mobile World Congress – February 16, 2010 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, today introduced an enhanced HTC Sense experience that will be available on two new smartphones that take Android to the next level, the HTC Legend and HTC Desire.

 

“At its essence, the mobile phone is the most personal item you have in your possession. HTC Sense was created to magnify your ability to create and define your own unique mobile experience,” said Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC Corporation. “HTC Legend and HTC Desire take Android to another level in both substance, with HTC Sense, and style, with HTC Legend’s revolutionary crafted aluminum unibody design.”

 

HTC Sense

HTC Sense is a user experience focused on putting people at the centre by making phones work in a more simple and natural way. This experience revolves around three fundamental principles that were developed by observing and listening to how people live and communicate. These core tenets of Make It Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected continue to be the key to the new HTC Sense experience. 

 

The new HTC Sense experience continues to focus on improving your interactions with your most important people.  This begins with a new HTC application and widget called HTC Friend Stream that seamlessly aggregates all of your social communication including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr into one organised flow of updates. This simple aggregation makes it easier than ever to focus on what friends are doing as well as to view the images and links that they share.  In addition to Friend Stream, people can be organised into specific social circles, such as groups of friends, colleagues or any other way that makes sense.

 

The new HTC Sense experience also introduces broad improvements to applications including the browser, email client and others. In addition, the new version of HTC Sense includes a new newsreader application and widget, as well as a new seven-screen ‘Leap’ thumbnail view for quick and easy access to specific screens. 

 

HTC Legend

Built around a newly enhanced HTC Sense, the HTC Legend boasts a unique design with a smooth, continuous surface, machined from a single aluminum block into a seamless compact frame.  To complement its looks, the HTC Legend includes a stunning 3.2 inch, AMOLED HVGA display.  The traditional trackball has also been replaced with an optical joystick, surrounded by a narrow button to improve usability without interrupting its unique design.  

 

HTC Desire

HTC Desire is the richest way to visually experience news, friends, photos, favourite places and whatever else is important on a mobile phone. With one of the most advanced displays available on a phone today, HTC Desire is designed with a large 3.7 inch AMOLED WVGA display to enhance and maximise content, whether it is pictures and videos, browsing the Web or checking on friends’ status updates. HTC Desire is powered by a one gigahertz Snapdragon processor and is Adobeâ Flashâ 10.1 ready. As with the HTC Legend, the HTC Desire also includes an optical joystick.

 

Patrick Chomet, Group Director of Terminals for Vodafone said, “HTC is a valued partner for Vodafone and has made a strong contribution to the growth of the mass market appeal of smartphones. Vodafone endeavours to offer our customers the widest and most compelling choice of smartphones and to that end the HTC Legend, the HTC Desire and the HTC HD mini will be ranged in selected Vodafone markets across our footprint. I’m particularly pleased that through our collaboration with HTC, Vodafone customers will experience a differentiated experience on the HTC Legend which will come customised for them with pre-loaded Vodafone 360 Internet services.”

 

Availability

The new HTC Legend will be available in Europe through Vodafone and in the direct channel beginning in April.  It will roll out to other parts of the world including Asia in early Q2.  HTC Desire will be broadly available to customers across major European and Asian markets in early Q2.  The HTC Desire will be exclusively available in Australia through Telstra. The enhanced HTC Sense experience will also be offered as a free upgrade on the HTC Hero in Europe and Asia.

Posted by: Matt