The year 2008 was surely the year of Touch. The touch magic which caught consumer attention with the unveiling of iPhone in 2007, continued to dazzle in 2008. Phone manufacturers across hue, from elitist BlackBerry to affordable HTC, launched a slew of touchscreen models. The two Google phones unveiled so far also sport a touchscreen.
The world's biggest phone manufacturer Nokia too made a long-awaited entry into the touchscreen market in October with Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The company recently announced adding a touchscreen model to its NSeries also.
While many of these launches pose tough competition to iPhone with their better specs, others fall pale. Here we bring you a wrap up on some of hottest touchscreen phones unveiled during the year.
Apple 3G iPhone
July 2008 saw the launch of second-generation Apple iPhone. Called 3G iPhone, the gadget got rave reviews for its unique design, touchscreen interface and other features, though many lamented lack of common features like higher megapixel camera, flash support, message forwarding and MMS capability.
In looks, the phone's black plastic skin back has been replaced by silver-aluminum back. While the 8GB model comes in black only, the 16GB version is available in both black and white. Weighing 4.8 ounces, the 3G iPhone measures 0.48 inches.
The 3G technology gives iPhone fast access to the Internet and email over cellular networks around the world. The new version also makes it possible to surf the Web, download email, get directions, and watch video -- even while users are on a call.
The touchscreen phone promises 5 hours of 3G talktime, 10 hours of 2G talktime, 5 hours of 3G Internet time, 6 hours of Wi-Fi Internet time, 7 hours of video playback, 24 hours of audio playback, and 12.5 days standby time.
In India, the phone is offered by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone, who sell the 8GB model for Rs 31,000 and 16GB for Rs 36,100.
Samsung Omnia i900
To dampen the iPhone-effect, Korean giant Samsung launched its iPhone look-alike, Samsung Omnia i900, days ahead of 3G iPhone debut in India. The touchscreen smartphone comes with a 5 megapixel camera, 7.2Mbps HSDPA connectivity, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.
Measuring 112 millimeters by 57mm by 12.5mm, the phone has a 3.2-inch display that has 240 pixel by 400 pixel resolution (Wide QVGA). Like iPhone, Samsung's Omnia aims to make Internet browsing easy, and also has a wide screen for viewing video.
The smartphone runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile software and comes with choice of 8GB or 16GB models. In looks, Omnia resembles the earlier version of iPhone in its dark, shiny finish, curved edges and slim form.
HTC Touch Diamond
Taiwan-based HTC was the first company in India to launch a touchscreen phone. With Touch, HTC officially debuted touchscreen phones in India.
Touch Diamond, launched in May 2008, is the company's fourth touchscreen launch in India (for GSM), after HTC Touch, HTC Dual and HTC Cruise.
This iPhone wannabe offers the new 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D, which provides animated access to messaging, email, photos, music, weather and other features. Measuring 102 x 51 x 11.33mm, Touch Diamond operates on WCDMA/HSPA (900/2100MHz) networks, capable of boosting mobile Internet speed up to 7.3 Mbps using HSDPA and HSUPA.
Key features include, a 2.8 inch VGA touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera with an optical auto-focus lens, video calling capability and auto sensor screen pivoting.
It runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, comes with 4GB of internal storage with 256MB flash and 192MB RAM. Other features include Bluetooth with EDR, minUSB, integrated GPS and Wi-Fi.
Sony Xperia X1
2008 saw Sony Ericsson too jumping on the touchscreen bandwagon with the launch of full QWERTY 3-inch touchscreen phone, Xperia X1.
The phone has a black or silver metal-and-plastic body with a 3-inch touchscreen. There is assortment of 11 buttons on the X1's face, including a center button that can select items or work as an optical joystick, which scrolls with a finger swipe. Users can navigate the X1 by tapping its screen with finger or with a stylus.
The X1 uses Windows Mobile 6.1 as its operating system, but Sony Ericsson has developed a variety of customised enhancements that run on top of it. Most notable is the stylish panel interface, which consists of up to nine small rectangles that users can customise and use to view different applications or media on the device in different ways.
X1 packs a 3.2 megapixel camera with face recognition feature that focuses on a spot when taking photos. The phone also has a video calling option.
First business phone from Sony Ericsson, X1 has HSDPA and HSUPA, both 3.5G (wireless broadband) connections that allow for fast Internet access. Xperia can play Flash videos from Youtube or other sites that use it by opening a different video application.
Business users can synchronise the phone with their PCs and get email from their Microsoft Outlook account pushed straight to the phone -- something that can make it difficult to switch to a more consumer-friendly phone like the iPhone or the G1, which uses Google Inc's Android operating system.
Asus P320
This year Taiwan-based Asus launched a touchscreen PDA in the Indian market in shades of pink and pearlescent white. With rounded corners and curved edges, the Asus P320 has a circular navigational key.
Based on the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional platform, the P320 features GPS navigation, EDGE/GPRS, WiFi for Internet access, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It comes pre-loaded with Asus Today suite that includes applications such as Time, Mail Box, Calendar, News, Weather and Music Player available to users via a single window.
Some other key features are a 2.6 inch TFT touchscreen with 65K color, 240 x 320 pixels resolution, OMAP 850 (Texas Instrument's Open Multimedia Application Platform) 200 MHz processor, 128MB Flash ROM + 64 MB DDR RAM and business applications. The phone boasts of 2 megapixel camera and microSD support. The phone is priced at approximately Rs 12,900.
Samsung TouchWIZ F480
After Omnia, another touchscreen contender came this year from Samsung's stable in India -- TouchWIZ F480.
The phone has a 2.8-inch TFT LCD (240x320) touchscreen, integrated FM radio, multi-format video playback (MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, Real), MPEG4 video recording and editing functions.
The phone also comes with face detection technology, image stabiliser, CMOS video lens and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) features. There are also a few customisable features like Drag `n' Drop and Auto Smile Shot coupled with full touch navigation.
TouchWIZ F480 has a 5 megapixel auto-focus-LED Flash camera, equipped with 240MB of internal memory, which can be expanded up to 8GB. Positioned in the lifestyle segment, the phone come with a host of entertainment features and is compatible with GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA (7.2mbps) networks and functions on GSM 900/1800/1900, and WCDMA 2100 bands.
Priced at approximately Rs 20,990, Samsung TouchWIZ F480 comes in a metallic body casing.
LG 1000
LG too refreshed its touchscreen line-up in the country with LG 1000. The touchscreen option for CDMA users, LG 1000 is available on Reliance network. The Nokia Communicator look-alike features a 2.8-inch external touch sensitive LCD and an internal display of the same size along with a full QWERTY keyboard.
LG 1000's key features include a media player (playback for MPEG 4 formats), a 2 megapixel camera with video recorder, expandable memory up to 8GB and Office mail applications for corporate users access (Push mail through Microsoft Server, Pull mail - IMAP and POP3).
The phone also features a full HTML browser, voice recorder, dual stereo speakers. It also supports Bluetooth and external memory via microSD cards. The phone has battery life of up to 240 minutes (talktime) and up to 480 hours stand-by time. It is priced between Rs 22,000-25,000.
HTC P3000
Here's another option for CDMA users, HTC P3000. Available on Reliance network, HTC P3000 is a sleek, stylish phone weighing 130 gram, in a slim 18-mm body.
HTC P3000 is powered by Reliance's CDMA 1X technology which provides high-speed mobile internet access up to 144 kbps.
The Windows Mobile 6.0 phone includes complete suite of business applications with Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, Outlook Mobile, PDF viewer and more. It has a 2 megapixel camera that includes a preview mirror to ensure quality imagery.
The phone comes with 64MB RAM, 128 MB ROM and also features a SDIO/MMC card slot for extensible storage. It has a 2.8 inch TFT touchscreen and supports Bluetooth.
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The world's biggest phone manufacturer Nokia too made a long-awaited entry into the touchscreen market in October with Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The company recently announced adding a touchscreen model to its NSeries also.
While many of these launches pose tough competition to iPhone with their better specs, others fall pale. Here we bring you a wrap up on some of hottest touchscreen phones unveiled during the year.
Apple 3G iPhone
July 2008 saw the launch of second-generation Apple iPhone. Called 3G iPhone, the gadget got rave reviews for its unique design, touchscreen interface and other features, though many lamented lack of common features like higher megapixel camera, flash support, message forwarding and MMS capability.
In looks, the phone's black plastic skin back has been replaced by silver-aluminum back. While the 8GB model comes in black only, the 16GB version is available in both black and white. Weighing 4.8 ounces, the 3G iPhone measures 0.48 inches.
The 3G technology gives iPhone fast access to the Internet and email over cellular networks around the world. The new version also makes it possible to surf the Web, download email, get directions, and watch video -- even while users are on a call.
The touchscreen phone promises 5 hours of 3G talktime, 10 hours of 2G talktime, 5 hours of 3G Internet time, 6 hours of Wi-Fi Internet time, 7 hours of video playback, 24 hours of audio playback, and 12.5 days standby time.
In India, the phone is offered by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone, who sell the 8GB model for Rs 31,000 and 16GB for Rs 36,100.
Samsung Omnia i900
To dampen the iPhone-effect, Korean giant Samsung launched its iPhone look-alike, Samsung Omnia i900, days ahead of 3G iPhone debut in India. The touchscreen smartphone comes with a 5 megapixel camera, 7.2Mbps HSDPA connectivity, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.
Measuring 112 millimeters by 57mm by 12.5mm, the phone has a 3.2-inch display that has 240 pixel by 400 pixel resolution (Wide QVGA). Like iPhone, Samsung's Omnia aims to make Internet browsing easy, and also has a wide screen for viewing video.
The smartphone runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile software and comes with choice of 8GB or 16GB models. In looks, Omnia resembles the earlier version of iPhone in its dark, shiny finish, curved edges and slim form.
HTC Touch Diamond
Taiwan-based HTC was the first company in India to launch a touchscreen phone. With Touch, HTC officially debuted touchscreen phones in India.
Touch Diamond, launched in May 2008, is the company's fourth touchscreen launch in India (for GSM), after HTC Touch, HTC Dual and HTC Cruise.
This iPhone wannabe offers the new 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D, which provides animated access to messaging, email, photos, music, weather and other features. Measuring 102 x 51 x 11.33mm, Touch Diamond operates on WCDMA/HSPA (900/2100MHz) networks, capable of boosting mobile Internet speed up to 7.3 Mbps using HSDPA and HSUPA.
Key features include, a 2.8 inch VGA touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera with an optical auto-focus lens, video calling capability and auto sensor screen pivoting.
It runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, comes with 4GB of internal storage with 256MB flash and 192MB RAM. Other features include Bluetooth with EDR, minUSB, integrated GPS and Wi-Fi.
Sony Xperia X1
2008 saw Sony Ericsson too jumping on the touchscreen bandwagon with the launch of full QWERTY 3-inch touchscreen phone, Xperia X1.
The phone has a black or silver metal-and-plastic body with a 3-inch touchscreen. There is assortment of 11 buttons on the X1's face, including a center button that can select items or work as an optical joystick, which scrolls with a finger swipe. Users can navigate the X1 by tapping its screen with finger or with a stylus.
The X1 uses Windows Mobile 6.1 as its operating system, but Sony Ericsson has developed a variety of customised enhancements that run on top of it. Most notable is the stylish panel interface, which consists of up to nine small rectangles that users can customise and use to view different applications or media on the device in different ways.X1 packs a 3.2 megapixel camera with face recognition feature that focuses on a spot when taking photos. The phone also has a video calling option.
First business phone from Sony Ericsson, X1 has HSDPA and HSUPA, both 3.5G (wireless broadband) connections that allow for fast Internet access. Xperia can play Flash videos from Youtube or other sites that use it by opening a different video application.
Business users can synchronise the phone with their PCs and get email from their Microsoft Outlook account pushed straight to the phone -- something that can make it difficult to switch to a more consumer-friendly phone like the iPhone or the G1, which uses Google Inc's Android operating system.
Asus P320
This year Taiwan-based Asus launched a touchscreen PDA in the Indian market in shades of pink and pearlescent white. With rounded corners and curved edges, the Asus P320 has a circular navigational key.
Based on the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional platform, the P320 features GPS navigation, EDGE/GPRS, WiFi for Internet access, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It comes pre-loaded with Asus Today suite that includes applications such as Time, Mail Box, Calendar, News, Weather and Music Player available to users via a single window.Some other key features are a 2.6 inch TFT touchscreen with 65K color, 240 x 320 pixels resolution, OMAP 850 (Texas Instrument's Open Multimedia Application Platform) 200 MHz processor, 128MB Flash ROM + 64 MB DDR RAM and business applications. The phone boasts of 2 megapixel camera and microSD support. The phone is priced at approximately Rs 12,900.
Samsung TouchWIZ F480
After Omnia, another touchscreen contender came this year from Samsung's stable in India -- TouchWIZ F480.
The phone has a 2.8-inch TFT LCD (240x320) touchscreen, integrated FM radio, multi-format video playback (MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, Real), MPEG4 video recording and editing functions.
The phone also comes with face detection technology, image stabiliser, CMOS video lens and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) features. There are also a few customisable features like Drag `n' Drop and Auto Smile Shot coupled with full touch navigation.
TouchWIZ F480 has a 5 megapixel auto-focus-LED Flash camera, equipped with 240MB of internal memory, which can be expanded up to 8GB. Positioned in the lifestyle segment, the phone come with a host of entertainment features and is compatible with GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA (7.2mbps) networks and functions on GSM 900/1800/1900, and WCDMA 2100 bands.
Priced at approximately Rs 20,990, Samsung TouchWIZ F480 comes in a metallic body casing.
LG 1000
LG too refreshed its touchscreen line-up in the country with LG 1000. The touchscreen option for CDMA users, LG 1000 is available on Reliance network. The Nokia Communicator look-alike features a 2.8-inch external touch sensitive LCD and an internal display of the same size along with a full QWERTY keyboard.
LG 1000's key features include a media player (playback for MPEG 4 formats), a 2 megapixel camera with video recorder, expandable memory up to 8GB and Office mail applications for corporate users access (Push mail through Microsoft Server, Pull mail - IMAP and POP3).
The phone also features a full HTML browser, voice recorder, dual stereo speakers. It also supports Bluetooth and external memory via microSD cards. The phone has battery life of up to 240 minutes (talktime) and up to 480 hours stand-by time. It is priced between Rs 22,000-25,000.
HTC P3000
Here's another option for CDMA users, HTC P3000. Available on Reliance network, HTC P3000 is a sleek, stylish phone weighing 130 gram, in a slim 18-mm body.
HTC P3000 is powered by Reliance's CDMA 1X technology which provides high-speed mobile internet access up to 144 kbps.The Windows Mobile 6.0 phone includes complete suite of business applications with Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, Outlook Mobile, PDF viewer and more. It has a 2 megapixel camera that includes a preview mirror to ensure quality imagery.
The phone comes with 64MB RAM, 128 MB ROM and also features a SDIO/MMC card slot for extensible storage. It has a 2.8 inch TFT touchscreen and supports Bluetooth.
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