TechTalk

I recently obtained a brand new HTC Touch, and I have to say it rocks!

This is my first Windows Mobile phone, I had a HP Ipaq for a short while and it was great, In my opinion the touch screen interface is a godsend, it is so intuitive to operate, some tasks will take some getting use to, like sending of email and sms, via the on-screen keyboard, but I am already sending messages at full speed using it. The only thing that I didn’t like about the HP was that it was a PocketPc in the true sense of the word, and thus not a mobile phone, so that meant that I had to carry two devices with me at all times, that was the reason I stop using it.

When I got the touch however things changed for the better! It is a very slim device and very easy to handle, if I would guess I would have to say it is about the size of a Motorola Razer, pretty impressive considering what is under the skin, WiFi, Edge, Touch Flo UI, and some more impressive abbreviations enough to impress a leek, and of course all the other windows mobile goodies like media player, mobile office applications like word and excel and even solitaire!

This phone has everything I needed in a replacement for my Nokia N70, well there are some “want-to-have” features that is lacking like HSDPA, but the WiFi makes up for this partially, and a keypad like the touch dual has but I am already operating the stylus like a pro, so the lack of finger input is not a major issue!

One thing is certain this is a very well rounded device, and I use more of the features on this device than I did on the N70, which had most the features, I don’t know why this is, probably something to do with the fact that this feels like a PocketPC with a Phone and the N70 Felt Like a smart-ish phone.

I will definitely be buying more windows powered devices in future, I think the interface is very good and all the core features from my desktop is right here at my fingertips! Symbian is more responsive and battery life is a bit better, or so I have read, in terms of user feel and experience I believe that Symbian vs Windows Mobile is a very closely contested battle and with regards to navigation, operation and responsiveness, they are about equal.

As I mentioned in a previous post the development aspect of the windows mobile devices are just a cut above, there are so many support channels in the form of forums and documentation, that it outshines most desktop development platforms. Because it runs .net it is also very easy to develop applications for it if you have some desktop development experience, but it also provides you with native support so you can develop unmanaged code in C++. The Mobile Development team and compact framework guys, have done a great job on this, even the names of methods, classes and name spaces are the same as their desktop counterparts. Obvious restrictions do apply, hence the “Compact” part of the name.

So all in all I am very pleased with this Device, and it has established it self as a worthy addition to my ever growing gadget collection!