The HTC Sense UI for Android is supposed to be pretty special. Every review at the moment is raving about it.

It was a question!

You can't just say " best hardware in the world"

The Omnia HD has a great touch screen, plays and records HD video on an 8 Megapixel camera. Has great speakers, and has Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

So again I ask, whats so good about this HTC Desire.

JTL

HD on a 3.7 inch screen is a case of diminishing returns. It may have a great camera but it will never be as good as a dedicated camera and if I was taking pictures that is what I would use. I have never used a mobile phone camera yet that actually takes great pictures.

The fact is the Omnia HD uses the Symbian operating system which is obsolete. It's also made by Samsung and they have crap build quality. My current mobile is a Samsung U900 and I would never buy another one again. Great speakers and Dolby 5.1 surround? That's a complete gimmick on a mobile and an absolute waste of time. I can't imagine when you would ever use 5.1 surround sound on a mobile and if was to listen to surround sound, in order to get the best results it would need to be hooked up to a dedicated surround sound receiver and real speakers. If you were going to do that it completely defeats the purpose as you would then end up getting content from something like Blu Ray and then watching it on a HD TV.

What's so good about the HTC Desire? Everything! Have a read of the reviews. There's a reason why every single reviewer is stating that this is the best mobile on the market right now, bar none.

The Samsung Omnia, though a technically good phone, doesn't have the applications base to support it like the iPhone and Android phones have. This really limits the expansion and usefulness of the phone.

Smartphones are all about the 'ecosystem' (christ know's who coined that phrase), which is all about how well the applications that people write for the phone integrate with it and add value to its operation. A closed source phone is going to suffer from the very outset, as developers are going to be hamstrung by the development terms that are imposed by the IP owner.




I think you should take another look at the new Android phones, and see how far they have come in the last 12 months. I have an HTC G1, which I admit is a clunky old piece of technology now, and it is ancient compared to the Nexus 1 or the Desire. Like comparing the 1977 Cylons with the 2003 ones.

We have a couple of Nexus 1s at work - and they really are slick pieces of technology. Very fast, with seamless integration of apps, plus multitasking and eyecandy for the more superficial amongst us. Remember also that Android has only been a reality for a couple of years, and that much of the marketing for it has been viral - It's not on the side of buses, the backs of taxis etc. Google haven't placed ads for the Nexus 1 beyond the initial press release, and yet they claim to be selling 60,000 Android units a week. So many people I know have a Nexus 1, yet they haven't even been officially released in Australia yet, so there must be something good about it to go to the effort of getting one from overseas.

The thing that makes Android more attractive for me is the fact that it is infinitely more configurable than the iPhone - you really can make it work and run the way that you want it to, not the way that the phone manufacturer wants you to.

I really do think that Google are on to a winner with this approach.


S

Acorn, that's a blast from the past but did you know the spin off of that company is British company ARM, they are responsible for the cpu in nearly every mobile, smartphone plus iphone and the new ipad.

Symbian s60 is getting a bit long in tooth but (open source) Symbian^3 handsets should see the light of day in the next few months.

That's disgusting ... oh sorry, I was thinking Sybian.

Yes, I used to do ARM coding - owned several Acron models - tha A5000 and the RiscPC. Fantastic computers, but very poorly marketed.

RiscOS is still trundling along - up to version 6 now I believe.


S

Just had a look at the HTC in the Telstra shop (they got it today). Not a bad looking phone, about the size of an iphone, maybe slightly bigger. It's got a rubberised case rather than metal. Display looked okay but nothing special (could have been the shop lights). Had a good feel to it. Telstra offered me a good business deal on the Desire - I might get it as I am just about out of contract with 3. Only thing is I'm wary of HTC as a brand. I had an HTC phone until recently and it was without doubt the worst phone I have ever owned.

Yes, fully aware of that. Acorn did well with the ARM processor. I have a soft spot for Acorn and the old BBC Micro...

Yeah, it could have been the shop lights. The AMOLED display is supposed to be twice as bright as the iPhones.

HTC have come a long way with the latest models.

Unless I am much mistaken, HTC now offer an international 2 year warranty on their smart phones.

If you don't want the bundle deal from Hellstra, then have a look at either Clove or Handtec in the UK. Their outright costs will no doubt be substantially less than they will be here.

Clove - HTC Desire = UKP330

Handtec - HTC Desire = UKP348


S

Actually (and surprisingly) Telstra have offered me a very good deal - including an $150 'signing on' bonus after I lied to them amd told them that had had to buy out the last 2 months of my 3 contract.

Telstra have great national cellphone coverage - including a lot of remote areas where other networks have none.

About 8 months ago I dropped my Omnia and broke it, so when I was in Hong Kong I went to a really reputable electronics store and asked them for the best new phone.

After giving my requirements, i.e. good phone reception, good screen, good speakers, plays any audio or video format, he gave me his recommendation.

Thats why I now have another Omnia HD.

I don't give a stuff about ecosystems. As long as I can send the odd email and look at the Bom website for weather thats fine.

So it is horses for courses.

JTL

Only watermelons care about ecosystems. Oh and Apple fanboys!