HTC Unveils Smartphones with Google Android, Microsoft Windows Mobile

by Nathan Eddy

Boasting a high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display, this ultra-thin smartphone is the first capacitive touch display on a Windows phone. It utilizes Qualcomm’s new 1Ghz Snapdragon mobile processor and gives users the ability to zoom and resize Websites, Microsoft Office files, PDF documents and pictures with the pinch of a finger.

HTC’s people-centric communication approach provides a single contact view that displays individual communication snapshots of conversations regardless of whether a call, text, Facebook status update or e-mail was used. While in the midst of an e-mail exchange with someone, users can transition to a call by pressing the “call” button. HTC has also included a new Windows-based version of its Twitter application, HTC Peep, and pictures taken with the 5 megapixel camera can also be shared via Facebook or Twitter.

Built around a newly enhanced HTC Sense user interface — which features a widget called HTC Friend Stream that aggregates all of a users social communication including Facebook, Twitter and Flickr into one organized flow of updates — the Android-powered Legend features a 3.2 inch, AMOLED HVGA touch display and optical joystick. It will be available in Europe through Vodafone in April.

The battery on the Legend provides up to 440 minutes of talk time for WCDMA and up to 490 minutes for GSM networks, with standby times of up to 560 hours and 440 hours for the respective networks. Also included is an expansion slot for a microSD memory card, which is SD 2.0-compatible.

The Desire will boast a 3.7-inch touch-sensitive AMOLED screen, a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU from Qualcomm and the Sense UI. It is Adobe Flash 10.1 ready. Also expected to be included is FM radio, Android Version 2.1 (aka “??½clair”), a GPS with internal antenna and four sensors (proximity, ambient light, G-sensor and digital compass). The Desire will be available to customers across major European and Asian markets early in the second quarter.

The Desire also boasts Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity with FTP/OOP for file transfers and PBAP for phonebook access from a car kit. As with the Legend, the Desire also includes an optical joystick. The new version of the Sense UI also includes a newsreader application and widget, as well as a seven-screen “Leap” thumbnail view for access to specific screens. Rounding out the package is a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and a flashlight.

The HD Minis compact form factor doesnt prevent this Sense-based Windows Phone from reaching a high degree of usability, as well as a stylish design cue under the battery case: A bright yellow internal structure offers an unexpected surprise when the phone is opened. Precision fasteners used to assemble the phone are externally visible, displaying a high level of craftsmanship.

Like the HTC HD2, the HTC HD Mini continues the same focus on people-centric communication with complete Outlook integration and HTCs Windows-based Twitter application, HTC Peep. The HD Mini also includes capacitive touch for viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft Office files, PDF documents and pictures. HTC said the HD Mini would be available to customers across major European markets in April.