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opal posts

T-Mobile launches downmarket HTC Touch Viva as MDA Basic

by Sean Cooper posted Jan 15th 2009 @ 7:35AM

T-Mobile Germany's MDA Basic is just that friends, a no muss no fuss affair for those looking for more than a feature phone -- at least in some regards -- can offer, at bargain basement prices. We've covered all the details on the HTC Touch Viva set, but to refresh it includes a 2 megapixel camera, GSM / EDGE, TouchFLO 2D, WiFi, and even GPS. It's a bit mad that basic sets now includes things we only could dream about a couple years ago, GPS in a $6 Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro device is always OK with us. This set should stumble into retail in early February for about €4.95 (roughly $6.50) on a two year contract.

Update: I guess adding Germany would help folks figure out where they can pick this thing up, huh? Thanks Matt.

Gallery: T-Mobile launches downmarket HTC Touch Viva as MDA Basic

Touch Viva: the "Opal" materializes as HTC's low-end champion

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 15th 2008 @ 11:40AM

Billed as an "affordable touch phone with the benefits of HTC's TouchFLO," the Touch Viva picks up where the original Touch left off and move things just a little bit downmarket for the benefit of smartphone lovers in emerging markets. To that end, the screen stays low-end with QVGA resolution, the radio tops out at EDGE speeds, and the camera's a mere 2-megapixel piece -- but by the same token, the Viva hangs onto WiFi, 256MB of ROM, and GPS. It also gets blessed with a tweaked version of TouchFLO that doesn't rely on 3D acceleration found in HTC's higher-end units. It'll be available starting next month for what we can only imagine will be a pretty reasonable price; backup smartphone, anyone?

HTC's Opal to be launched as Viva?

by Sean Cooper posted Sep 12th 2008 @ 10:18AM

Remember HTC's maybe-it'll-replace-the-Touch Opal? Well, it would seem if the rumors of this set existing are true -- and hey, they can be -- it'll not be replacing anything if it only features GPRS / EDGE. Specs potentially feature the same 200MHz OMAP CPU, a 2 megapixel camera, no 3G, and apparently TouchFLO 3D, too. No dates, prices, or anything else here, though we'll hopefully hear something either way soon.

[Via Cellpassion]

HTC's Opal set to replace the aging Touch?

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 9th 2008 @ 7:53AM

Is this supposed HTC Opal the followup to last year's trailblazing HTC Touch? According to what looks like an internal HTC document gone viral, the Opal will run HTC's newest TouchFLO 3D UI band-aid for WinMo 6.1 atop the same TI OMAP 850 proc already powering the Touch. Looking a bit deeper reveals quad-band GSM / EDGE with the same WiFi, MicroSD slot, Bluetooth 2.0, 2 megapixel camera, and 2.8-inch 240 x 320 pixel touchscreen found in the aged Touch handset. Only HTC, with its Touch Diamond, Touch Pro, Dream, and Xperia X1 can force a flagship device down-market so quickly.

[Via coolsmartphone]