Way back on the 6th of October we told you that the XDA Zest was about to make an Entrance however at that time we were unable to really tell you anything about the handset as o2 were restricting the information. We still do not have a price as yet.
Small photo of XDA Zest
Today we can now tell you the specs ahead of a press release later today:
Lets start with what o2 lists are the handsets top features:
- High Resolution 2.8 inch VGA Screen
- Runs Windows Mobile 6.1
- Built-in GPS Receiver
- Expandable Memory Up To 32GB
- Free Two Week Trial of Co Pilot Sat Nav Software
Now lets look at the actual specs:
- 2.8 inch Touchscreen with 65k Colours
- 3 MP Camera with Auto Focus & Zoom
- Video Streaming Support
- Video Types: WMV, MPEG4
- Audio Types: WMA, MP3, AAC
- GPS (Integrated)
- Wi-Fi Class 802.11 b/g
- Stereo Bluetooth/A2DP Bluetooth Compatibility File Sharing & Headset
- microSD HC up to 32Gb
- Memory Size (up to) 128Mb
- Instant Messaging
- Integrated RSS feed application
- Picture Messaging (MMS)
- Supported Email Types: POP3, IMAP4, SMTP, Push
- XHTML Browser
- 3G
- HSDPA
- EDGE
- WAP
- GPRS
- SAR value 0.754 W/kg @10g
- 3G Standby Time (up to) 220 hours
- 3G Talk Time (up to) 3 hours
- Standby Time (up to) 260 hours
- Talk Time (up to) 5 hours
- Battery Type Lithium ion
- Weight 120g
- Dimensions (H/W/D) 120 x 60.5 x 16.5 mm
Admittedly these aren’t the most comprehensive and finely tuned specs we have ever shown but we do hope to have more on these later today and thought these would be a great start. Still there are no really good hi def photos so we need to make do with the one above for the time being.
If you have a PDF Viewer then you can see the online user manual which is already live on the o2 site.
Posted by: John
Motorola look to be releasing a new Linux based Smartphone which will be running on Linux Montavista 2.6.10 OS with an SCM-A11 500MHz processor to power it. Named the EM35 it is planned as the successor of the music based EM30 and will feature a rich music player and stereo FM radio with RDS support
Motorola EM35
So what we know so far is the following:
- 110MB built-in memory
- microSD card slot up to 8gb.
- Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
- Tri-band GSM
- GPRS
- EDGE
- NO 3G.
- 2.22" QVGA TFT display with 256K colours
- 3MP camera
- 107 x 49.5 x 16 mm
- 117 grams.
Posted by: John
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We have received word on the next wave of countries to get the Windows Mobile uber device – HTC Touch HD. Only a few days after its European premiere HTC brought joyful news to all its fans in Asia by announcing that the HD will be available on the World’s most populated continent as soon as the beginning of next month. Unfortunately for our American friends, there is still no word of when will the phone become available there
HTC Touch HD
The first two countries from the Asian tour of the HTC Touch HD will be Malaysia and Singapore. The prices of the multimedia powerhouse in those countries will be respectively 730 euro (930 US dollars) and 750 euro (950 US dollars). The twenty euro difference can easily be explained by the 8GB microSD card that will be included in the retail package in Singapore.
Equipped with a large 3.8" WVGA screen the HTC Touch HD is surely one of the most interesting devices to hit the market this year. Even though multimedia isn’t normally one of Windows Mobile devices’ elements the Touch HD has a specs sheet that can put much of the competition to shame. The large display, the 5 MP snapper and the 3.5mm audio jack are just some of the niceties it brings.
The connectivity includes all contemporary means of data transfers – 3G, Wi-Fi and of course the microSD card slot. There is also a built-in GPS to make the specs sheet on the HD almost as complete as it can be.
Posted by: John
Having switched from Windows Mobile to the iPhone nearly one year ago to the day I have been waiting for a device with a similar form factor without all the restrictions and frustrations that an Apple device brings along with it. Sure the iPhone does a fantastic job at making usability simple but with it comes a straight jacketed approach that really frustrates me. Welcome to the HTC Touch HD, can it live up to all the hype, is it really the device that can pull me away from the iPhone 3G and condemn it to my sock draw, read on to find out.
The folks over at Pocketnow have published a rather middling review of the T-Mobile G1. I spent a little time with this phone in the store yesterday and have to admit I felt it was a half baked offering. I may be be spoilt by the features available to a Windows Mobile user. In the months to come I hope the phone will have had several major updates as this is a work in progress.
“In talking about Windows Mobile 6.5, Steve Ballmer did not go in to specifics but did hint at an improvement in the interface and flow of the software. It is believed, however, that this will be the first release to contain the reported Zune software integration instead of the much delayed Windows Mobile 7 release. Though there was no specific date given for Windows Mobile 7, it was believed to be scheduled for as late as the third quarter of 2010, two years away.”
The European half of Sony Ericsson, Ericsson AB, has huge plans for mobile phones in the next couple of years. Does a 20-megapixel camera with full HD video recording capabilities, XGA 1024×768 screen resolution 1 GHz processor and LTE connectivity sound interesting enough for you?
The HTC Touch HD is yet another great new device from HTC that everyone seems to be waiting for. Many of you have send emails and messages asking if you should by the Touch Pro, the Omnia, the X1 or if you should wait for the Touch HD.
My HD arrived this morning from Clove Technology and after a quick unboxing (which you can see below) I’ve been playing with it most of the day so far.
SO what do I think? Well I am definitely impressed. The screen is fantastic, the OS responsive and the design is awesome. Loving it so far as it feels like the logical progression for me from the Diamond.
Touch HD vs iPhone
Inevitably the Touch HD will be compared to the iPhone, they have a similar design and are of a similar size. Many are hailing the Touch HD as a true iPhone killer. I’m not sure that I’d go so far as to say that, the success of the iPhone, in my opinion, isn’t just down to the hardware but iTunes and the AppStore have a great deal to do with that too. I’ll be talking about how they compare more when we got down to the full review.
Touch HD vs Touch Diamond
The Touch HD is quite a bit bigger than then Touch Diamond but that’s really down to a design choice with that large WVGA screen, which I have to say, is fantastic. The HD takes some of the design elements of the Diamond, such as the flush front design, and builds upon them where we now have a totally flat and button-less front on the HD.
Thank goodness HTC have finally included a proper headphone connector on the HD. You can now use any headphones with a standard 3.5mm jack plug and you wont have to splash out for nor carry one of those annoying adapters!
Touch HD top view
So on to the unboxing and preview video. The unit we have on review is an official UK retail model, kindly supplied by Clove Technology, so this is exactly what you’ll get if you buy one SIM-free today. The Orange version may vary slightly and is likely to have custom icons and screens but we’ll find out about that later next week when we hope to have the Orange review unit.
I’ll spend the rest of the weekend using the HD and will start the review off early next week. Please do drop me a line with any questions you might have and I’ll do my best to answer them for you!
Posted by: Matt
If you are looking for a Touch HD and are have already been to Clove & Devicewire only to find that they have all sold out then do not despair because eXpansys have just taken delivery of stock and they will be retailing at £524.99 including a free 8GB memory card.
HTC Touch HD
We received our Touch HD today so the review will be on the site pretty soon along with the video as normal.
Posted by: John
We all know that money is tight at Christmas and that especially this year things will be a lot harder however Orange have come up with a something for everyone at every price level which should help a little in lightening the load this year.
Orange Offers Something For All The Family This Christmas
- Exclusive high-spec handsets include – HTC Touch HD and Sony Ericsson C905 in Silver
- Exclusive low cost handsets – Pink LG KS360 and Pink Sagem my421z as well as the new LG KF300
- Connected laptops – New ultra portable Asus Eee PC with embedded 3G connectivity only on Orange
- Free Christmas gift box for new Pay-As-You-Go Customers
London, 6th November 2008 – Orange today announced its line of exclusive communication devices for Christmas 2008 with something for each member of the family.
From a handset designed for quick and easy access to your favourite social networking sites, to one with easy-to-use keypad buttons for the grandparents, Orange has a mobile phone to suit all ages, tastes and budgets. What’s more, Orange unveiled a new ultra portable PC with embedded 3G connectivity in its consumer ‘connected laptop’ range, whilst also offering all Orange Pay-As-You-Go customers a free Christmas gift box stuffed full of goodies when they buy a handset priced from £49.99.
Daddy Cool
For the discerning and stylish Dad, the HTC Touch HD™ is the must-have handset this Christmas, combining the stylish looks of HTC phones and the great features of Windows Mobile 6.1. Its extensive 3.8 inch, high resolution, widescreen WVGA touchscreen offers users stunning clarity and vibrant colours, providing an unrivalled experience when watching the season’s biggest blockbusters or using Orange’s mobile TV service, browsing the internet on Orange’s high speed data network (3G+) or even scanning through photos taken with its 5 megapixel auto focus camera.
However, if your dad sees himself as more of an amateur photographer, then why not put a smile on his face by giving him a cool new camera phone? Available exclusively to Orange in silver, the stylish Sony Ericsson C905 offers an 8.1-megapixel Cybershot camera with Xenon flash, great for photographing festive fun. Furthermore, with face detection technology to help you focus on facial features, perfect for capturing the smile on a loved one’s face as they unwrap their presents.
Other 8-megapixel handsets Orange will be ranging for a ‘picture perfect’ Christmas include the super-stylish Samsung Pixon and LG Renoir KC910.
For Mum
Say ‘thank you’ to Mum this Christmas with a the Sony Ericsson W350i exclusive to Orange in white. A slim flip phone offering a 10mm thin unique design, the W350i is sleek enough to fit into your purse or handbag… but if your mum is more of a ‘glam mam’, then the sleek black Samsung G600 is the perfect Xmas gift with A 5-megapixel camera phone that is perfect for capturing the family fun. The handset’s Image Editor also allows you to incorporate text, colour, cartoons and a range of other effects to add those comical finishing Christmas touches to personalise your photos…. and if she’s more of a shopoholic, then maybe the Nokia 6220, exclusive to Orange in Purple, will be more up her street with free, three months personal navigation, to help her find her way around the January sales.
Sons & Daughters
In need of a gift for the younger generation? Then why not give them the LG KS360. Available exclusively to Orange in candy pink, the LG KS360’s features a dedicated social networking shortcut to provide speedy access to Facebook, Bebo and MySpace. What’s more, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard makes it great for writing messages to friends, so they can share all the details of all their pressies with friends in an instant.
Also pretty in pink, the Sagem my421z is a low-cost, stylish slider which incorporates an MP3 music player, Bluetooth technology and 1.3-megapixel camera.
Boys fear not, as the LG KS360 and Sagem my421z are also available in a range of other colours!
For the Grandparents
Teach them to text this Christmas with the LG KF300 handset. This easy to use, low cost device is ideal for technophobes and tech-savvy grannies alike with larger keypad buttons for the spectacle wearing and a bright, clear 2.2-inch LCD screen.
Something for everyone
Last but not least, making access to the internet even easier than ever before, Orange unveils a new consumer laptop, the Asus Eee PC 901 with embedded 3G connectivity. Available in either black or pink, the new ultra portable PC makes connecting to the web on Orange a synch and comes with Intel’s latest Atom processor and a whopping five hours battery life – perfect for getting online whether you are at your grandparent’s or the grandchildren’s alike.
Free Christmas Gift Box
As a reward for new and upgrading Pay-As-You-Go customers who purchase any new phone from £49.99, Orange is offering a free Christmas gift box worth £25 when you order directly from Orange. The Christmas gift box includes stocking fillers and multimedia gifts to make staying in touch with loved ones even easier this year.
The Orange Christmas gift box includes:
- Multimedia gifts, including 30 free MMS, 5 free international minutes, 1 free ring tone, wallpaper and game – perfect for keeping in touch this Christmas or keeping busy on the way to Grandma’s
- A Christmas phone stocking, to keep your new phone cosy this Christmas.
- A magnetic photo frame
- Lip balm
- A watch
- Phone charms
Francois Mahieu, Director of Devices, Orange UK comments, ‘This Christmas, Orange has the perfect handset for any family member. From entry-level, low cost devices, to this Christmas’ must-have handsets, we have got a wide selection of gifts that will help customers capture and share special moments with friends and loved ones, as we believe together we can do more”
The new device range is available to Pay-As-You-Go and Pay Monthly customers (please see notes to editors below) from Orange shops and online via Orange.co.uk.
As you can see the list offers a phone from the entry to the high end market which is a great idea. Lets see if the other Network Operators come up with the same.
Orange Handsets – Christmas 2008
Pay Monthly
HTC Touch HD™ (exclusive to Orange) from £79.99 on £40 per month / 18 month contract
Sony Ericsson C905 (exclusive to Orange in Silver, also available in Black) free on £40 per month / 18 month contract
Samsung Pixon (available in Black) free on £45 per month / 18 month contract
LG Renoir KC910 (available in Silver) free on £45 per month / 18 month contract
Samsung G600 (available in Black) free on £15 per month / 24 month contract – also available on pay as you go for £99.99
Nokia 6220 (exclusive to Orange in Purple) free on £25 per month / 18 month contract
LG KF300 (exclusive to Orange) free on £15 per month / 24 month contract
Eee PC 901 (available in Pink or Black) £25 per month 24 month contract
Pay As You Go
Sony Ericsson W350i (exclusive to Orange in White) £59.99
LG KS360 (exclusive to Orange in Pink, also available in Blue) £79.99
Sagem MY421Z (exclusive to Orange in Pink) £39.99
Posted by: John
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