
Size (WxDxH): 51mm x 11.5mm x 102mm
OS: Windows Mobile 6.1
Weight: 110 g
Battery: 900mAh Li-on
Talk time (mfr): 5.5 minutes (GSM)
Standby time (mfr): 4.75 hours (GSM)
GSM frequencies: GPRS, EDGE, Tri-band /900/1800/1900MHz
3G: HSDPA/HSUPA 900/2100MHZ
Screen size: 2.6 inch
Resolution: 640 x 480 pixels
On-board memory: 256MB internal, 192MB RAM, 4GB storage
Memory card: None
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, GPS receiver (AGPS)
HTC was the first to respond to Apple’s iPhone with the introduction of the Touch, which introduced an interactive sliding interface on top of the standard Windows Mobile shell designed for fingers rather than a stylus. With the Touch Diamond the TouchFlo interface is wizzier than every, but a stylus still lurks in the bottom right hand corner and there’s no doubt that you’ll still be using it on a regular basis. At least taking the stylus out turns on the screen automatically, which is a nice touch.As far as specifications and features its hard not to be impressed with what the Touch Diamond offers - even more so when one actually sees the size of the device, which its dimensions of only 51mm x 11.5mm x 102mm. It also weighs only 110g, lighter than many regular consumer phones.In fact if anything, it’s too light. While it’s compact and smooth, the actual build quality does leave something to be desired and the cheap plastic finish doesn’t impart an impression of a solid business device. In fact, removing the phone from my pocket in the pub while testing garnered a reaction of, “what’s that, it looks like a toy!” from a colleague. However, there’s no arguing with the uber thin profile, which makes it easy to slip into a pocket and pleasant to hold.
Despite the size, the Diamond is brimming over features wise. It’s powered by Windows Mobile 6.1, the main benefits of which are concerned with the default Windows Mobile home screen. However, as TouchFlo 3D is present these benefits are rather redundant anyway. You do get threaded text messages at least, though certainly the presentation doesn’t match the iPhone.Perhaps to justify the name the rear of the phone feature a quite clever cover, split into multi-faceted, diamond style triangles. The 3.2 megapixel camera is surrounded by a silver triangle, just in case you haven’t spotted it. The only buttons are all oblong, one for power at the top and two for volume up and down at the side. The power button in particular has no travel to speak of making it awkward to turn on and off.The Touch Diamond is of course keyboard free, though there are four buttons that sit underneath the display and flush with it.As a whole, the Touch Diamond is simply not quite the great leap in usability HTC was promising and overall I find it hard to imagine that anyone who has a chance to play with both side by side will choose the Diamond over an iPhone. Only the front camera and video recording capability are significant features it has over the Apple.