HTC Touch hands-on

by Ryan Block, posted Jun 5th 2007 at 11:54PM

We snagged ourselves HTC's new Elf, er Touch device -- that new ultraslim soft-touch phone with the TouchFLO sweep launcher / shell that sits atop of Windows Mobile. We love the way this thing feels, it's easily the slickest, most caressable keyboard-free device HTC has produced to date. In fact, it's not only keyboard free, the thing is practically devoid of any buttons -- you get a volume rocker, d-pad, call / end, camera, and power. It's still a Windows Mobile phone beneath the hood though, you'll know as soon as you drill down into the apps, but we think the unraised bezel and solid glass face is a very positive sign of things to come from future touchscreen (HTC) devices.

Gallery: HTC Touch hands-on

Filed under: HTC, Windows Mobile, GSM, GPRS, EDGE

Tags: features, hands-on, htc, touch

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

davidc @ Jun 6th 2007 12:04AM

wow, that thing looks gorgeous and seems like a pretty intuitive UI

Highest Ranked

Nando @ Jun 6th 2007 12:08AM

Yes, this phone looks so sexy...

Highest Ranked

Andres @ Jun 6th 2007 12:10AM

definitely waiting for the full review from you guys. From a couple of videos i've seen looks very disappointing.. specially on one occasion it took three attempts by the user to close a window.

Neutral

Scott @ Jun 6th 2007 12:13AM

Who would the carrier be?

Low Ranked

Owen V @ Jun 6th 2007 12:27AM

how did you guys get one so fast and how can I!!!!

Neutral

Bryan @ Jun 6th 2007 12:31AM

what kind of weather software is that? it looks similar to SPB mobile shell, but better

Neutral

Steve @ Jun 6th 2007 12:34AM

I hope the iPhone comes with at least some sort of protective skin/pouch too...

Neutral

thegrey @ Jun 6th 2007 12:35AM

Let us know first impressions on how it feels to use a virtual keyboard.

Neutral

Mike @ Jun 6th 2007 12:42AM

wow, sexy... well maybe if you're blind, the graphics, lets not even go there.

Neutral

illone @ Jun 6th 2007 12:57AM

Too little Too late.

This is what HTC needs to keep up. ( And Im hoping they do so quickly)

quad band
3MP + camera with flash
at lease 2gb built in memory
3G data
Better implementation of TouchFLO
Better use of front real estate (like ad a bigger screen)
and built in GPS

Neutral

Waylan @ Jun 6th 2007 1:11AM

Judgeing by the Windows/MS packaging...this seems to be the closest thing to the so called "Zune Phone"....and by the way HTC...perfect timing, right before the Jesus Phone....

Neutral

lotech @ Jun 6th 2007 1:16AM

Yeah - under the hood you hit good ol' WM6 - meaning its time to get your stylus out... I have a feeling it will do basic stuff really well but as soon as you need a 3rd Party app or even the crap that comes with WM6 - you'll be pecking away.
We need this idea - but done to 100% of the OS, oh wait.... someone has already done it.

Neutral

Andrew Fong @ Jun 6th 2007 1:34AM

If they gave this treatment to the Kaiser, it would be sweet.
Some other nitpicky things:

1) Get rid of the HTC logo on the front of the phone. It works against the Apple-esqe minimalist look they want. Raise the direction-pad up a little into a mildy more comfortable position.

2) Speaker on back + "feet" also don't work well aesthetically -- they should find some way to work that towards the front

Neutral

Eric @ Jun 6th 2007 1:37AM

That looks pretty sweet to me. I wonder if people will hack the software to make it work with older HTC phones...

Neutral

Jeff Lewis @ Jun 6th 2007 2:20AM

Wait wait - no one's actually said it yet (although at least three people have hinted...)

IT'S NO iPHONE SO IT HAS TO SUCK!

(There. Now I are an Apple fan too. :)

Neutral

Cole @ Jun 12th 2007 1:30PM

The iPhone sucks. It lacks so much its not even funny. Apple was so stupid they didn't even put 3G or GPS on it.

Neutral

tim @ Jun 6th 2007 2:27AM

It does look like SPB Software House programs. SPB is easily the best developer house for Windows Mobile - and I suspect if they wern't based in Russia, Microsoft or HTC would buy them!

Neutral

Eddie @ Jun 6th 2007 3:51AM

Looks pretty sweet, their site's slick

Neutral

some farker @ Jun 6th 2007 3:57AM

i can has faek ifone?

Highest Ranked

E71 @ Jun 6th 2007 4:04AM

Running on an OMAP850? It will die a horrible death.

Neutral

Jono @ Jun 6th 2007 4:14AM

What I don't understand is how keyboard input is going to work. It seems as of now that inputting contacts and appointments letter by letter (touch by touch) will be painstakingly time consuming and not efficient. I have yet to see a picture of how TouchFLO deals with this... so I suppose time will tell.

Neutral

Jonathan @ Jun 6th 2007 5:21AM

What does the onscreen keyboard app look like? I'm dying to know if you use your thumbs or if it's the small onscreen keyboard in most smartphones.

Neutral

Alex @ Jun 6th 2007 5:23AM

Ryan do you have any idea if this software is specific to HTC branded phones? For example if I bought an O2 Xda Nova would it have this functionality?

Neutral

Erik @ Jun 6th 2007 5:30AM

I would have thought this thing would have 3G data on it.

Neutral

Jeff @ Jun 6th 2007 6:07AM

Real talk I need this modded to work on a 8525. Apple has all mobile phone makers steppin their game up. This is good for the modding/rom cooking community...Bring It!

Neutral

Marc @ Jun 6th 2007 8:07AM

I've posted a video of me using the new TouchFLO software here: http://www.msmobilenews.com/videos/video-using-the-htc-touch.html

Neutral

AyeGuy @ Jun 6th 2007 9:32AM

I must say - the gang here at engadget rocks - but you guys take some sorry photographs. lol Theres never anything next to the gadget showing a sense of scale, no pics actually holding it to show how it fits in the hand, etc.. Theres no need for 15 close-ups of USB ports and keyboards all the time.

As far as the device goes, its definately an awesome lineup from the impressive HTC. Unfortunately I agree with the above comments, its a little too late. Had you shown me this phone last summer I would have been very impressed. Right now it just looks like something to keep Windows Mobile afloat before iPhone comes and spanx it.

Neutral

Matthew @ Jun 6th 2007 9:55AM

I'm curious about the solid glass flat-bezel touchscreen. How does that work? It seems that it would make the screen much more durable and scratch resistant, especially for a device operated with your fingers instead of a stylus. I assume the iphone uses something similar. Any other touchscreen devices with solid-glass flat bezel screens (other than something like that MS computer table that uses cameras to identify where you've touched)?

Neutral

Jeff @ Jun 6th 2007 10:11AM

The BBC have a quick report, and shows the HTC Touch in operation. Very slick interface!

See it here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6722629.stm

Neutral

chris @ Jun 6th 2007 10:53AM

I think TouchFlo is way more useful on a phone then apples multitouch. Face it, the only think you would use multitouch for for is image browsing and looking at google earth. Probably 2 of the lower usage applications on a phone. Having TouchFlo enables a totally more natural way of using a phone for almost all main applications, not just a couple.

Highly Ranked

Call me Kenneth @ Jun 6th 2007 11:17AM

There is no 'keyboard app' - just the usual Windows Mobile pop-up keyboard, block recogniser, etc. TouchFLO is little more than a program launcher and once you launch the program, say hello to the usual Windows Mobile suckfest -- and the teeny tiny stylus.

Neutral

TechCF @ Jun 6th 2007 12:49PM

I have had the Qtek (HTC) S100 and the S200 and you don't need a protective skin.. not for the Touch or the iPhone. Keyboards are useless, handwriting recognition is much faster and easier + the touchscreen has many other advantages.

Highly Ranked

SGI Tim @ Jun 6th 2007 1:20PM

Sorry if this has already known, but i can't find it.

I want to know WHEN? WHERE? and How much this phone will set me back.

I want one NOW!

iWhat?

Neutral

vaguelyamused @ Jun 6th 2007 4:17PM

I would guess the first operator in the US to get this will be T-Mobile. I'm basing this conjecture on a couple things:

1) AT&Tingular wouldn't want to launch this direct of a competitor with iPhone (and his Steveness may not approve)

2) It doesn't have 3G and wouldn't need it for T-Mobile

3) T-Mobile would have an interest in having an iPhone competitor and has in the past worked with HTC on the Wing and Dash

4) It's not CDMA per the listed specs although I wouldn't be suprised if that changed.

Neutral

sprint MAN @ Jun 6th 2007 5:25PM

does it have a slide out keyboard?

Neutral

bobbypenguin @ Jun 7th 2007 9:47AM

the HTC touch looks actually very good! have you guys seen the Touch screen implementation with the new WM6? from what i've seen here http://www.htctouch.com/viral/ it seems to me very easy to use and efficient! and even if it doesn't look as good as the jesusPhone..let's not forget that the Touch will cost half the money!

Neutral

Stig M. Nilsen @ Jun 7th 2007 1:18PM

Wonder if anyone have seen the sms function on this?

Neutral

David Myrow @ Jul 16th 2007 5:04PM

We're now out of contract. If Verizon is going to keep us, they'll need to get this one (or something also with similar capabilities to the iPhone) out in a hurry!
DM

Neutral

Sid @ Aug 4th 2007 6:39AM

The phone ROCKS. All the problems can be easily solved. For speed issues, overclock the processor. I easily achieved 273Mhz, making it a snappy phone. Install HTC Phonepad for quick typing. The current videos that show people attempting to use the TouchFLO interface 2-3 times doesn't do it justice, since it takes a bit of getting used to. You have to press a bit hard for the swipe to get registered.