No one really knows whether HTC's
May 6 gathering will usher in the age of Android (our guess is still "no"), but let's look a little beyond that, shall we? We've just laid eyes on a handful of documents detailing HTC's efforts to ready the Diamond and Raphael models --
already known to be valid HTC codenames -- for Sprint later this year, and things are definitely looking up in the post-
Touch world. The Diamond turns out to be the successor to that very device, lacking a physical keyboard and relying almost exclusively on a large, glossy touchscreen for user input; the Raphael meanwhile (pictured) features a full QWERTY deal and is destined to replace the
Mogul. The paperwork's pretty blurry, but it appears that both Windows Mobile devices will feature WiFi, 3 megapixel cameras, and -- get this --
VGA displays. Goodness! The Raphael is currently lined up to be the first out of the gate, hitting the streets in September if everything goes well, with the Diamond following on in November. Surprised that these devices are CDMA-based and Sprint bound? Us too, we admit -- but we'd be shocked if there weren't GSM twins of both of these hotties getting cooked in the lab at the same time.
[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Justin @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:48AM
It kind of looks like that picture was taken with an HTC cameraphone camera...
Riley Freeman @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:17AM
awww thats not nice lol. htc cameras are good butttt theres no autofocus so thats why they are crappy from close but from far they do just fine
Josh @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:42PM
@Riley,
Just to clarify, many HTC devices have autofocus. :)
James @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:16AM
Wow, sweet! I'm not a huge fan of the slide out keyboards (wish it was already front-facing), but they both look great! The Treo 800w specs are looking dated compared to these two phones. Hopefully none of the specs get changed down the road.
--Conkers
Big R. @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:19AM
Wow that bad boy is looking might square. Almost TOO squared to carry in a pocket. Doesn't look it'd be that comfortable anyway.
AK @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:19AM
Of course, if HTC indeed makes the Xperia X1 hardware, they could be contractually prevented from making a similar GSM/WCDMA device. And the Raphael sure looks similar.
tim @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:19AM
VGA displays eh? Will they have drivers? I'm just asking, because their current QVGA phones don't have video drivers, and I'm assuming VGA displays need drivers even more. So, HTC, any drivers with this hardware? Huh? Did you think of that this time? What else did you leave off instead?
bearxor @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:31AM
I can't be the only one wanting a return to 3.5" screens on Windows Mobile devices can I?
I'm holding out for the Treo 800w because the Treo 700wx blows away every other phone currently offered when you actually try to sit down and do some serious work on it. Yes, I've tried the other phones.
But if this thing turns out as slick as it's looking and if it is basically the X1 for CDMA, it MIGHT get me to bite. If it had a top-slide keyboard it would be a no brainer on my end. I still have a great aversion to side-sliders. I much prefer the Treo-style form factor.
I guess what I'm asking for is a HTC Blue Angel with WM6.1, EVDO Rev A. and GPS. That would get me to go back to HTC for sure.
David @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:49AM
I too would like to see a return to 3.5" screens. The blue angel/sx66 with a full qwerty keyboard that slid down for the bottom was a great from factor. If they could only update the specs(VGA, GPS, 3.5G, Flash, proper drivers) and make it slimmer I'd be all over it.
Jason @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:46AM
Coming to Verizon..... in 2012!
:bowdown:
fyreblazer @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:58AM
HTC releaseding on CDMA first?!?! That blows my mind...but AK might be on to something. If this is a CDMA self branded version of the X1 then that would make perfect sense. I'd still like to have a GSM version of the Raphael though.
patleeman @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:59AM
Argh, i just bought a mogul two months ago too. I love it to death, will probably have to sell it to buy one of these!
Le Var Seymore @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:29AM
It bothers me that it's planned to have aGPS and not full GPS. Didn't we just go through this with the Mogul? Will we be forced to wait on a software update a year after release? I hope Sprint pushes out full GPS in these models!
Pawel @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:34AM
wow u really think the diamond and raphael will come from sprint before they come for gsm. if any of you would bother looking all over the net, the raphael and diamond leaked for gsm and are coming for gsm first. also, add 528mhz processor to that spec sheet for both.
John Aubrey @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:49AM
Going to email sprint and see if they can push the release up with my contract renewal in Aug..........
Do I hold out for these new devices or go with the exisiting ones, and hopefully should be able to pick them up cheaper. I wounder on price and size.
Evilecho @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:27AM
Wheres the GPS in this unit
adhood @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:29AM
About time that Sprint got some exclusive hot phones.
Give me the Rapheal on my SERO plan and PDANet and I am in Heaven.
Anonymous @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:41PM
is it just me, or does his thing look like a paint shopped T-Mobile MDA compact IV,if u pay close attention, it even looks like its got T-Mobile's logo on the front. Dont mean to speak out of line, but this is probably fake.
Kevin @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:44PM
It looks like the MDA Compact IV because the HTC Diamond IS the MDA Compact IV.
Jonathan @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:56PM
Where is my full GPS?! When you pay a few hundred bucks for a phone, I expect full GPS(such as my Tilt). Looking good otherwise.... Just don't forget those video drivers!
PeterF @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:20PM
To all the idiots complaining about the GPS, aGPS in HTC phones is just like normal GPS but WITH ADDED ASSISTANCE (a) by the cell phone network. It will still function normally!
IanSLTX @ Apr 26th 2008 6:24PM
I got the Mogul pretty much right when it came out. Now up to the latest firmware, and it rocks. However the Raphael rocks harder, IF it has Rev. A and GPS as well. If it has QChat PTT (as the 800w is rumored to have) you can bet your boots I'm getting this one, even with the paltry $75 upgrade credit that I'll be getting. Will need to talk to Sprint about that, but then again I could just...um...break my Mogul, get a closer-to-new one on insurance and sell that one on eBay for enough to make the upgrade price a bit less painful.
But yeah, coming from a Palm TX and also using an iPhone (not my main line though) a VGA screen would be awesome, and the styling looks "dressed to kill". Don't even mind the corners.
Genesic @ May 6th 2008 12:43PM
*sigh* lets hope there are GSM versions...im really getting tired of Sprint and ATT getting all of the good phones!! When i got my MDA TMobile was the ONLY carrier with that HTC model phone. No one else had any kind of slide-out win-mo phones, now 3 years later..everyone has "iphone killers" and other HTC models, and Tmobile has......the Wing A rubbery coated, winMo.6 upgrade..woo-hoo! /sarcsasim..I love the Tmobile service so i really dont want to switch..
~*.M.A.C.*~ @ May 8th 2008 2:05PM
IS THE RAPHAEL AND DIAMOND TWO DIFFERENT PHONES? BECAUSE THE PHONE THAT IS SHOWN ON THE PICTURE DEFINATLEY ISNT THE DIAMOND.. BECAUSE THE DIAMOND DOESNT HAVE A QWERTY KEYBOARD. UNLESS THE RAPH. IS LIKE THE TOUCH AND DUAL....TWO VERSIONS, ONE WITH AND WITHOUT THE KEYBOARD. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN FOR SURE ITS COMING TO SPRINT? IM SOOO EXCITED!