A number of leaked documents pertaining HTC’s Raphael and Diamond handsets have surfaced and we can confirm now that the ones showing the HTC Diamond are indeed the real deal. Base on what I see, it’s not looking too good that HTC will introduce the Dream phone at May 6th get together. Don’t be too disappointed! Diamond and Raphael are no chop livers – especially when they’re successors to the current HTC Touch and the Mogul, respectively.
The HTC Diamond is a compact touchscreen device running Windows Mobile 6.1, HTC have developed a new version of their GUI overlay called TouchFLO 3D that introduces CoverFlow-style navigation to contacts, audio, video and images. The HTC Diamond Phone’s usability is backed up with a 528MHz Qualcomm processor, 4GB of storage together with 256MB ROM and 192MB RAM, and 7.2Mbps HSDPA/HSUPA.
That high-speed mobile internet is coupled with WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 and GPS. As for software, the HTC Diamond Phone has Opera 9 with a custom HTC skin, offering full internet access and dynamic zoom. Sections of the page can be automatically re-scaled with a tap, or alternatively the touch-sensitive scroll-wheel (built into the D-pad) can give more hands-on control. The HTC Diamond Phone has also been given a custom YouTube app that, like all the apps on the device, works in both portrait and landscape orientations courtesy of the accelerometer.
Imaging on the HTC Diamond Phone is via a 3.2-megapixel main camera, complete with auto-focus, and a front-mounted VGA camera for video calls. Battery life from the 900mAh power-pack is quoted at 270 minutes talktime or 396hrs standby for WCDMA, or 330 minutes talktime or 285hrs standby for GSM. The dimensions of the HTC Diamond Phone are just 102 x 51 x 11.33mm and it weighs 110g.
Europe and Asia will get the HTC Diamond Phone first, in June 2008, with the rest of the world having to wait until later on in the year.
These two forthcoming HTC handsets are definitely heading to Sprint in Q4 of 2008. However, as hot as they are, it makes sense that GSM versions are bound to exist for other parts of the world not on CDMA. There are references of “EVDO” in the documents points to a possibility of future release on Verizon Wireless.
The Touch Accessories store is the one stop shop for everything HTC accessories. Make sure to drop by and check it out when you get your very own HTC Touch Diamond.
HTC Touch Diamond videos taken in London at the HTC Innovation press event on May 6, 2008.
HTC Touch Diamond Hands-on video!
HTC Touch Diamond briefing with HTC Chief Innovation Officer
HTC TouchFLO 3D Video on HTC Diamond
HTC Touch Diamond Mobile Internet Video Demo
HTC Touch Diamond Launch Event
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HTC already has a smartphone series called the Touch family. Could the Diamond series be a refresh with updated hardware and an updated version of TouchFLO?
The Dream will be announced on May 6th. It just doesn’t need the hype whereas the Raphael and Diamond DO need it.
I bet that the Dream will not be announced eheheh
Raphael comes to Sprint Q4 2008 that means it may come to Verizon Q4 2010… I’ll be waiting! Maybe Verizon will make good on that “any device” promise for this year and I can get one early