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By John Chan
Sep 17, 2008

The term "HD" is used to describe high-definition video formats which are at least 1,280 x 720 pixels in resolution. So strictly speaking, even in landscape format, the HTC Touch HD doesn't quite meet that mark with its WVGA (800 x 480) display. But technicalities aside, this new handheld does make a leap forward from what's currently out there where QVGA resolutions are still more the norm than the exception.

Upside

As mentioned, the defining factor of the Touch HD is its widescreen display. This measures 3.8 inches diagonally, even larger than the iPhone 3G's 3.5-inch screen. With a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels when held in landscape mode, its aspect ratio is very close to 16:9. This makes it suitable for displaying movies which have been formatted for current-generation TVs and projectors.

All the features that you find in the Touch Pro are in the Touch HD. This includes a truckload of connectivity features including HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Satellite navigation is covered by the built-in GPS module and A-GPS is supported so you don't have to wait ages to get an initial location lock.

With all those features, you'd expect this PDA-phone to be a hulking beast. Well, it isn't. At 115 x 62.8 x 12mm and 146g, it's almost the same size and just slightly heavier than the iPhone 3G. The Touch HD may not be the smallest of devices but it sure is compact enough not to be a bother to most users.

One of our favorite additions in this new model is a 3.5mm audio jack. This will allow you to plug in your favorite headphones, which is always a good first step toward greater music and video enjoyment.

Downside

Having a huge screen makes this handheld a good alternative to dedicated portable video players, but unlike those devices or even the iPhone 3G, the Touch HD does not have gigabytes of internal storage. While it does have a microSD card slot, those are available only up to 8GB commercially, even though 16GB cards have been announced for some time now.

Given the specifications and form factor, it's plain to see that this device is meant to be an iPhone 3G competitor. The OS found on the Touch HD, Windows Mobile 6.1, has no lack of a developer community--that is undeniable. But what the Microsoft mobile OS lacks is the simplicity and user-friendliness of Apple's App Store which has made downloading and using third-party apps a thing for the common man and not just for the techie. Granted, this is not HTC's fault, but it could be a factor that might make the Touch HD slightly less attractive.

Outlook

The HTC Touch HD will be available in November in Asia Pacific, though no pricing details have been announced. It looks very promising indeed and may even attract those who are not traditionally Windows Mobile users. Check back with us regularly as we will be getting more information about it soon.

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