HTC Touch Diamond with keyboard

The Touch Diamond hasn't even gone on sale in most countries and already, another new version has been announced. T-Mobile Germany launched three new MDA phones (its name for the HTC devices) and one of them is the MDA Vario IV, which is the rumored HTC Raphael. The other two are variants of the Diamond and Advantage.

This PDA-phone is largely similar to the HTC Touch Diamond, but comes with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard like the TyTN II. According to Netherlands-based site Mobile Phone Helpdesk, the Vario IV has all the features of the Diamond but comes with 256MB of RAM instead of 192MB. There's no indication if it will sport TouchFLO 3D like the Diamond. But looking at the flat front surface, it certainly looks ready for HTC's custom interface.

The T-Mobile MDA Vario IV will go on sale in Germany at the end of September. We have contacted HTC regarding its availability in Asia and are awaiting an answer.

Via ZDNet | Image credit: Mobile Phone Helpdesk Europe

WM6.1 upgrade for TyTN II available for Europe

We've gotten used to Europe getting the good stuff from HTC first, so this comes as no surprise. TyTN II owners there are now able to upgrade their devices to Windows Mobile (WM) 6.1 from WM6 through the company's Web site. This is intended for those with the "vanilla" version of the TyTN II, which means those that do not have customized software from the operators.

We contacted HTC but the company was not able to pin down an exact date for an Asian release at the moment and still maintains it will be in Q2. Which means, at worst, users will be able to download it at the end of June. We'll keep you informed as more concrete information becomes available.

Via WMExperts

Touch Diamond priced for Asia--cheaper than Cruise

The HTC Touch Diamond was first announced in Europe earlier this month, and in its press release the company said the device will be available worldwide this quarter. Today, HTC officially announced the new PDA-phone for Singapore and gave it a retail price of S$1,098 (US$809).

Hitting the stores in June, the Diamond will debut at S$100 less than the Touch Cruise which was launched at S$1,198. Considering their feature sets, it's inconceivable that the Cruise should be priced higher than the Diamond. We expect that HTC will have to make some price cuts soon, so look out for that. The rest of Asia Pacific will also be getting the Diamond in June. As of now, CNET Asia blogger Victor Cheung has already informed us of its impending Hong Kong release, and you shouldn't have to wait long for your local HTC office to make a similar announcement.

Diamond vs X1: Round one, fight!

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 announced earlier this year at the Mobile World Congress and the recently-unveiled HTC Touch Diamond are arguably the most anticipated Windows Mobile devices at this point in time. When they are both commercially available later this year, surely comparisons will abound. For now, WMExperts has a quick and dirty (by that, we mean full of fingerprints) hands-on with both devices with some photos of them side by side. Both PDA-phones weren't fully operational when the shots were taken, but this should at least give everyone some indication of how different they are in the form factor department.

Via Boy Genius Report | Image credit: WMExperts

Touch-screen BlackBerry coming soon?

Research in Motion has a touchscreen BlackBerry in the works that should be out in the third quarter, according to a recent report. The Wall Street Journal has echoed a previous report from The Boy Genius Report that RIM's BlackBerry Thunder will arrive later this year exclusively on Vodafone and Verizon's networks. The device is seen as an answer to Apple's iPhone, which will likely be running on AT&T's 3G network by the time the Thunder arrives.

RIM is by far the leading smart phone company in the US, but Apple has come out of nowhere to take second place, and the competition should intensify with Apple's plans for business-friendly software and RIM's continued advance into the consumer market. RIM has started advertising the BlackBerry during consumer-friendly shows such as the NBA playoffs, and Apple's getting set for The Second Annual Month of iPhone Ridiculousness in the coming weeks.

Via Crave CNET | Picture is of BlackBerry Bold

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