• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

HTC Touch Diamond coming to Sprint.

Status
Not open for further replies.
anyone with a touch diamond? i'm really thinking about getting it but really didn't want a windows mobile phone...

how do you like it overall? what are the negatives? and how is typing on it?

.
 
It's funny how this phone succeeds in the thing every phone maker wants to succeed in: be a iPhone rival.

Where I live, this thing is marketed really heavily, it has lots of buzz surrounding it, and I know a few people who bought/consider buying it.

Still, nowhere near the phenomena that the iPhone is, but it seems to be the first real contender.
 
sk3 said:
Believe it or not, they are the best now. I had to email them last week over a billing issue and I got a real reply within 2 hours. They solved my problem and gave me a service credit for the hell of it.

They are really desperate to hold onto their subscribers :lol
Click to expand...

Indeed they are, I used to work for them long ago as well. I got a call from them asking if I renewed by 2 year contract they would give me 2 months free. :lol PASS! I'm keeping my options open.
 
Joe said:
anyone with a touch diamond? i'm really thinking about getting it but really didn't want a windows mobile phone...

how do you like it overall? what are the negatives? and how is typing on it?
Click to expand...

I have one.

Before purchasing, I tried it out along with the iPhone and G1 as well. I thought that the iPhone was a bit more responsive, but the keyboard was terrible...lots of misses. It might have been a calibration issue, but it was the same with every sample they had. The Touch Diamond keyboard - while still more error prone than the keyboard on my wife's Pro - is much better than the iPhone (IMO). I considered moving to AT&T for the iPhone, but my wife hated the iPhone.

For the first few days, I got random lockups (I've read that this occurs sometimes if Sprint pushes an update to your phone), but it's gotten better now (one week) and the lockups aren't occurring as often. But just be prepared for it. Once in a while, the phone randomly resets as well :lol (but I still love the damn thing).

The Opera Mobile browser rocks; renders most pages as you would expect.

You hardly notice that it's a Windows Mobile machine since HTC does a good job of hiding it behind TouchFlo 3D.

The data connection is fast. Very fast. As an annoyance, from time to time, the data connection has to be turned on and off to get it to work. Of course, you may or may not know, the phone also supports WiFi. Interestingly, even with my FiOS, the data connection is as fast or faster than the WiFi (dunno...maybe it's my wireless router).

I debated getting a Pro (my wife has the Pro), but I like the size and I don't really type that much. The on screen keyboard is generally sufficient for what I need.

As far as Sprint goes, I've had to call them a few times after getting the new contract and new phones. Customer service has been excellent each time. Native English speakers every time and always friendly and patient. So...
 
Charlie - I'm on alltel and plan to get a Pro. I thought about getting the diamond, as I also like the smaller design, and am very comfortable using the on-screen keyboard on my iPod touch. I figure I'm going to go ahead with the pro, seeing as it will cost me $30 more than the diamond, and I feel like I'm just getting more phone for my money.

Anyways, I've been doing research on these, but have yet to encounter anyone that actually owns both. So, are they really identical, apart from the keyboard? Also, I've seen comparison pics (haven't held one yet), but do you feel like your diamond is significantly slimmer than the pro?
 
You will normally be ok with sprint customer service if you don't call after 5 pm or on weekends...otherwise it's all India, all the time. There service has been rock solid for me and has even bettered Verizon in the DC Metro area. Though, since they roam on each other's network, reception is evened out.

I've had the touch pro for a month now and it's a solid device. The Touch HD looks great too (though not out in the US) and the HTC Max 4G looks amazing. If they can cut the size down a bit to the touch HD and eliminate a little bulk it pretty much tops everything else out there.

I'm looking forward to some good stable ROMs though.
 
Vik_Vaughn said:
Anyways, I've been doing research on these, but have yet to encounter anyone that actually owns both. So, are they really identical, apart from the keyboard? Also, I've seen comparison pics (haven't held one yet), but do you feel like your diamond is significantly slimmer than the pro?
Click to expand...

They are about 95% identical.

The key difference is related to how it detects orientation.

On the Pro, when you slide out the keypad, it automatically switches over to the horizontal orientation. On the Diamond, it takes its sweet time or just plain doesn't do it :lol sometimes, I need to jiggle it for a while to get it to switch orientation. On the Pro, it's much more predictable.

The Pro also has an extra menu which takes place of TouchFlo 3D when you slide out the keypad.

Not much of a difference.

And while I don't have any actual data to back this up, I think my wife's Pro is like fractionally less responsive than my Diamond. I have no reasons to conclude this, but it feels fractionally less responsive.

The full keypad is nice, though. Some of the applications, like Messenger, are so much easier to use on her phone since you have much more screen real estate. In Messenger, the on screen keypad of the Diamond takes up most of the screen so that you can only see like 2-3 lines of text.

If you don't mind the extra bulk, I'd go with the Pro.

maximum360 said:
You will normally be ok with sprint customer service if you don't call after 5 pm or on weekends
Click to expand...

I called tech support last Friday night at about 10 PM (ET) and got a native English speaking tech. Called again on Saturday to retentions to move a line to their "emergency" plan and also got a native English speaker.
 
thanks for the posts charlie. i plan on typing a lot but i still think i prefer the diamond. the pro is just too much extra bulk for me.

another question i have, is the screen glass?
 
The Pro has:
Camera Flash
MicroSD slot
More ROM
Video Out

Those are the only differences aside from the obvious. The Pro also comes with a 1gb MicroSD card instead of the built-in 4gb like the diamond. This is also why it has more rom.
 
Joe said:
thanks for the posts charlie. i plan on typing a lot but i still think i prefer the diamond. the pro is just too much extra bulk for me.

another question i have, is the screen glass?
Click to expand...

Don't think so.

sk3 said:
The Pro has:
Camera Flash
MicroSD slot
More ROM
Video Out

Those are the only differences aside from the obvious. The Pro also comes with a 1gb MicroSD card instead of the built-in 4gb like the diamond. This is also why it has more rom.
Click to expand...

Yah, and this :D forgot all about the MicroSD card.
 
I have the Touch Pro(Sprint) if anyone has any additional questions in regards to it. I'm enjoying it and still getting used to it. Its my first touch screen phone.
 
oneHeero said:
I have the Touch Pro(Sprint) if anyone has any additional questions in regards to it. I'm enjoying it and still getting used to it. Its my first touch screen phone.
Click to expand...

1) Does it lock up once in a while?

2) Do you have to reset the data connection from time to time to get the Internet to work?
 
CharlieDigital said:
1) Does it lock up once in a while?

2) Do you have to reset the data connection from time to time to get the Internet to work?
Click to expand...

I never have any issues with data connection. Pretty solid and best of all, cheap.

Of all thw WiMo devices I've had, this one rarely locks up. Every now and again Touch Flo will randomly crash and restart but it's only a minor thing, it takes only a second to restart and doesn't happen very often.

I'm alo considering buying a 16GB card for it. There's also a great app on XDA developers that allows for slight feedback with each button press (a slight vibration).
 
Here are some videos of the HTC Max 4G:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lOZIsTK8H8&eurl=http://wmpoweruser.com/&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6FK...poweruser.com/?p=1670&feature=player_embedded


Here's the press release:

HTC T8290 gets real, now HTC Max 4G

HTC has released details of the much leaked HTC T8920, the Wimax device exclusive to the Russian Yota network. The device would be the best specced Windows Mobile device so far, featuring 8GB internal memory and of course the 4G WIMAX connectivity.
Press Release


SCARTEL AND HTC LAUNCH WORLD’S FIRST INTEGRATED GSM/WIMAX HANDSET



Designed and Optimized for the Russian market, HTC MAX 4Gä Will Be Available in Russia on November 26th

Moscow, Russia – November 12, 2008 – Scartel (brand Yota), Russian provider of Mobile WiMAX, and HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, today announced the HTC MAX 4G, the world’s first integrated GSM/WiMAX handset. Supported by a broad range of services based on Yota’s Mobile WiMAX network, the HTC MAX 4G delivers a rich multimedia and high quality telephony experience in a sleek and powerful touch screen handset.

“Yota was established to provide a unique set of mobile communication services to millions of people in Russia and today we have launched the first device and services to realise its full potential,” said Denis Sverdlov, General Director of Yota’s parent company, Scartel LLC (brand Yota). “We really believe that these innovative services, high-speed Internet and stylish HTC MAX 4G will completely change the communications industry, just as the introduction of cellular communications did many years ago.”
HTC MAX 4G: A New World of Entertainment

The Yota Mobile WiMAX network offers high-speed wireless Internet access that opens a new realm of entertainment and communication possibilities. The basic Yota Home package will provide subscribers with instant access to online games, maps, messaging and file exchange applications while on the move. In addition, the high-capacity Mobile WiMAX network with traffic prioritisation algorithms, allows online films, video and TV programmes to be viewed on the large WVGA screen.

Thanks to mobile WiMAX, high-quality multimedia entertainment is no longer limited.. With Yota Video, a full video on demand (VOD) service, users can watch their favourite movies and videos from their personal Yota catalogue anytime, anywhere.

Broadcasting 14 free channels at launch and 23 channels by the end of 2008, Yota TV introduces a powerful mobile television experience. The vibrant, 3.8 inch 800×480 screen of the HTC MAX 4G can display up to nine TV channels simultaneously, allowing quick and easy channel surfing and programme selection. Thanks to the device’s TV-out capability, users can also watch content on the big screen, putting the HTC MAX 4G at the very heart of the mobile entertainment experience.

For music-lovers, Yota Music offers an extensive online music catalogue of more than 50,000 titles, including a wide range of music from both international and independent music labels. Users can choose to either play the tracks direct from the online catalogue, or download them to the HTC MAX 4G’s 8GB of onboard flash memory.

In addition, a separate catalogue of electronic books is available, so users can download, read and enjoy a broad range of books while on the move. “The introduction of the HTC MAX 4G represents the culmination of a close partnership between HTC and Yota to develop the world’s first integrated mobile GSM/WIMAX handset,” said Peter Chou, CEO and President, HTC Corporation. “Russia is a key strategic market for HTC and Yota’s Mobile WiMAX network sets a new global benchmark for next-generation mobile services.”
HTC MAX 4G: Flexible Communication

The HTC MAX 4G supports GSM calls using a SIM card from any Russian network operator and when both callers are Yota subscribers, the call will automatically be routed as a VoIP call over the Yota Mobile WiMAX network. The Yota Phone service also supports more business applications, allowing users to switch between English and Russian contact records while providing functionality such as call holding, conference calling and video calling using the VGA camera on the front of the device.
HTC MAX 4G: Unparalleled Performance With Intuitive Usability

The HTC MAX 4G was created to take full advantage of Yota’s high-speed Mobile WiMAX network without compromising style or ease of use. The device is sleek and elegant and includes a vibrant, large 3.8 inch, 800×480 WVGA touch screen display. The HTC MAX 4G also integrates a 3.5mm headphone jack to create the best possible experience for enjoying movies, music and photos on the go. Running Windows Mobile 6.1, the HTC MAX 4G incorporates HTC’s proprietary Touch FLO 3D user interface, allowing swift and intuitive navigation to key applications such as dialling calls, listening to music, taking picture and more.
Introduction of Yota Yap-yap

HTC MAX 4G users can now record their lives through a lens thanks to Yota’s Yap-yap service. This allows contacts to be synchronised and edited through the Web and video clips and photos can also be uploaded to www.yota.ru. Images taken with the integrated 5MP camera can also be geo-tagged using coordinates from the integrated GPS.
Specs



* Processor: Qualcomm® ESM7206A™ 528 MHz
* Platform: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
* Memory: ROM: 256MB / RAM: 288MB / Flash: 8 GB
* Dimensions: 113.5mm X 63.1mm X 13.9mm
* Weight: 151 grams (with battery)
* Display: 3.8-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 480 x 800 WVGA resolution
* Network: Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:900/1800/1900 MHz Yota Mobile WiMAX 2,5-2.7 GHz
* Device Control: TouchFLO™ 3D
* GPS: Inbuilt GPS
* Connections: VoIP, Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth® 2.0 with EDR, HTC ExtUSB™
* Main camera: High-resolution with autofocus
* Second: VGA-camera
* Additional: Motion G-sensor (automatically rotating picture), Proximity sensor (saving energy while talking due to the switching the display off), FM-radio
* Audio: Ring tone formats:AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, 40 polyphonic and standard MIDI format 0 and 1 (SMF)/SP MIDI
* Battery: Li-Pol, 1500 mAh
* Talk time: GSM: up to 420 minutes, VoIP: up to 230 minutes
* Standby time: GSM: up to 350 hours, VoIP: up to 50 hours
* AC Adapter: Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz, DC output: 5V and 1A

My only gripe with the newer HTC devices is that they seem to be moving away from the d-pad option. I think a d-pad, an "ok" button, Home button, and your standard phone buttons are the best combo.
 
I have the Touch Pro on AT&T (the Fuze, but no way am I calling it that):

DSCF0127-1.jpg


any questions about it?
 
A few people at my work were given Diamonds, and they universally hated them. They really are crappy phones, and they look completely ridiculous to boot.
 
There was also someone from HTC on PPCGeeks that claimed HTC was tossing around ideas about brining the HTC Touch HD to the states while adding a thinner keyboard than what we got on the pro.
 
whoa i can't believe this thread is brought back from the dead.
anyways. i had the touch diamond for a while, i love it! the color is awesome..reddish maroon and black fits so well..i have custom rom on it too, very fast and internet browsing is smoooth
 
mint said:
whoa i can't believe this thread is brought back from the dead.
anyways. i had the touch diamond for a while, i love it! the color is awesome..reddish maroon and black fits so well..i have custom rom on it too, very fast and internet browsing is smoooth
Click to expand...


I've had my touch pro for less than a day and have already installed a custom ROM

Good God this phone is amazing
 
I just got the Touch Pro (alltel) last thursday and went to Orlando over the weekend (disney). As a phone, this thing is complete shit. Awful reception, dropped calls, etc. Now, I have been with alltel for years and have taken all the phones I've had to Orlando and they've all worked flawlessly.

ALso, the way the touch screen works means that I'm contantly answering/hanging up on people in my pocket. The battery life is also ttoally worthless. The phone is already thick, and I would imagine upgrading to a bigger battery would only increase the thickness.

Those complaints aside, I'm getting used to it, and starting to enjoy it. However, if I can't improve the reception or do something about the screen turning on in my pocket, I can't see myself keeping this phone. Any advice from other pro/diamond users?
 
Thinking about getting this phone...

<------- i am using a Treo 700WX now and want to make the switch.. But trying to figure out whether or not to jump ship to the Iphone or the G1 or anything else that may be on the radar..


Also can the touch pro send picmail and all?? my treo doesnt
 
Luckily, I'm still in my 30 day trial window with Sprint.

My Touch Diamond has been freezing up and randomly resetting itself with regularity. I would say that it resets itself (or I have to manually reset it after it locks up) about once a day.

Kind of a pisser for an otherwise awesome phone.

I dunno...should I exchange for another Diamond (bad hardware on this one?)? or get a Pro? My wife's pro has been nearly flawless. She's had to reboot it like 2-3 times since we got them at the end of November.
 
CharlieDigital said:
Luckily, I'm still in my 30 day trial window with Sprint.

My Touch Diamond has been freezing up and randomly resetting itself with regularity. I would say that it resets itself (or I have to manually reset it after it locks up) about once a day.

Kind of a pisser for an otherwise awesome phone.

I dunno...should I exchange for another Diamond (bad hardware on this one?)? or get a Pro? My wife's pro has been nearly flawless. She's had to reboot it like 2-3 times since we got them at the end of November.
Click to expand...

The Pro is pretty stable. Not much to complain about.
 
glistenm said:
Hows the battery life on this?

(on oem rom and "clean" roms alike?)
Click to expand...

The battery will last 1.5 - 2 days with minimal talk time (and I have my wifi on all the time).

< 1 day with any extensive talk time.
 
That is a fucking sexy phone. I have the HTC Touch + SERO ($37 because I did the replacement fee thing), does anyone know if you are a Sprint customer and you upgrade your phone to the Diamond they void the grandfathered SERO plan or anything?
 
gamerecks said:
This doesnt eliminate any of ATT's network stuff i.e. TV and browsing does it? Im trying to decide between a Bold and a Fuze.
Click to expand...

It doesn't have to. If you want the At&t software, just look for the .cab file in the thread earlier.
 
I just got a Touch Pro w Sprint and their $35 month SERO plan (500 anytime min, unlimited data, unlimited text etc...), thanks to my good bud Edwood. I fucking love it.

3G speeds via EVDO, easy as pie tethering, VGA screen, thumboard w swappable batteries. Ohhhhh Yeahhhhhhhhh.......
 
gamerecks said:
Thanks for the info. I know this is probably a dumb question, but how do you know if its GSM or CDMA. Does it depend on the carrier?
Click to expand...

yup:

GSM: At&t, T-Mobile
CDMA: Verizon, Sprint, Alltel
 
The Frankman said:
That is a fucking sexy phone. I have the HTC Touch + SERO ($37 because I did the replacement fee thing), does anyone know if you are a Sprint customer and you upgrade your phone to the Diamond they void the grandfathered SERO plan or anything?
Click to expand...

You won't have to change your plan.

I did have to call in the activation for a customer with a SERO plan (I work at BB) since the Sprint system we use wouldn't let me do it from there, however it all went smooth and no plan change was needed.

how's the horsepower on the pro? will it run opera's browser well?
Click to expand...

They run Opera great, it's actually the default browser.
 
gamerecks said:
Amazon has Touch Pros for 175 with contract. Looks like im jumping in.
Click to expand...

Damn, that's a hell of a deal. I went with the Diamond since the difference was $200+ when I was looking for them on eBay (not eligible for upgrade yet), I definitely would have went with the pro if the prices were closer.

Which carrier are you with? Not sure if you have looked into it or not but if you're getting a CDMA Pro www.ppcgeeks.com is an awesome resource, if GSM http://forum.xda-developers.com/ will be the place to go.
 
havent switched over to it yet... do i need to do anything to make the experience better before I start... also. any one with info on how to get ivolved with the sero plan
 
The Touch Pro is seriously full of awesomeness. There's a new app about every day and a way to tweak just about everything on the phone to your liking on top of all the custom ROM options.

I heard a funny story from a friend of mine though. He's with T-Mobile but I've been feeding him information on the Touch Pro over the last few months. As soon as it came out for Sprint I picked it up and he had a chance to play with it. He was sold on it and considered switching to Sprint but wanted to first see if his company would pay for the phone and plan. So a few weeks ago his wife mentions to me that she bought him the phone for Christmas (a surprise). I said "cool" and I'm almost certain sure I asked her if they were switching to Sprint to which she said yes.

So I tell her husband to hold out for a while and not pick the phone up on his own so his wife could surprise him. I then get a text message from him yesterday saying he was pissed because his wife mistakenly bought him the G1. :lol
 
Isn't that sort of like an awesome mistake though?
 
I had the touch pro for a week or so and took it back. I was not as wowed as I thought I would be. Back to my treo and I am now testing out an iPhone.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

The erosion of privacy: Federal Level Operating Age Verification System coming to US and Digital ID App coming to Europe
Social News 
45
547
Maiden Voyage replied
Original trilogy characters are coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
10
305
Fbh replied
Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere - a feature-length documentary, coming March 11th - Netflix
2
55
888
JORMBO replied
Major Job Cuts At Microsoft Coming, Between 11,000 and 22,000 Roles.
18
411
Bojji replied
Erebor - Palmer Lucky crypto bank coming soon.
4
384
AJUMP23 replied
Top Bottom