The Titan
The HTC Titan is one Windows Phone smartphone that truly lives up to its name, with a massive 4.7-inch display that gives Microsofts mobile OS its first standout device. And while Dells already tried to go this big with the 5-inch Android-powered Streak, theres never previously been a device combining the Titans ample Super LCD screen and minimal physical footprint. Measuring in at 130.6 x 70.6 x 9.9mm, the Titan poses a legitimate threat of actually being able to fit inside a standard-sized pocket.
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As far as software is concerned, HTCs latest will come preloaded with Windows Phone Mango and all the improvements that brings, along with the HTC Watch service that had heretofore only been available on a limited number of Android devices. HTCs also built out its HTC Hub application with a few new features, although its nothing like the extensive skinning its done on Android with Sense.
The Titan will ship out to distributors at the tail end of this month and will be widely available across Europe in October.
No carrier exclusives are anticipated and theres sadly no word yet about when and where US buyers might be able to get one.
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Although tall and wide, the slight 9.9mm thickness enables the Titan to slip easily into the front pocket of even the skinniest jeans. However, its dimensions could overwhelm hands less generously proportioned than our own: although the Windows Phone Metro UI keeps things relatively centered and easy for one-handed usage, its still not necessarily easy to reach the top of the screen with your thumb when holding the device in one hand, and accessing the power button required a bit of in-hand shuffling in order to climb a finger up to the button located along the top-right edge of the device. People with smaller hands will find the Titan to be a challenge.
Software-wise, the Mango build we saw loaded on the Titan was obviously not final yet, but WP7 was running fast and looked great on the massive screen. HTCs ability to tweak the OS is limited by Microsoft, but
there are still enhancements scattered throughout, including a nifty panorama mode for the camera and HTCs slick speakerphone implementation that kicks on the speaker when you place the device face-down on a table. HTCs also pre-loading Tango video-conferencing software to make use of that front-facing camera, although wed imagine Microsoft has plans to integrate Skype into Windows Phone 7 rather soon as well.
The Radar
The second of HTCs two new Windows Phones announced today, the mid-range HTC Radar comes equipped with a 3.8-inch Super LCD display, a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon SOC, 8GB of storage, 512MB of RAM, a 1,520mAh battery, and a 5-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor paired to an f2.2 lens for camera duties. Its external design is intentionally tailored to match that of HTCs 7-inch Flyer tablet, with one single aluminum shell wrapped around the electronics inside.
The Radar will come in white and silver variants when it launches in October, a white and a silver option, though be forewarned that neither of them will have a user-replaceable battery. The particular physical design of this phone looks to have made that a necessary sacrifice.
HTC has informed us that its aiming to price the Radar somewhere below the typical $199 on-contract levy, however weve no word yet on which carriers will be picking the phone up when. Europes getting it in October, presumably right alongside its bigger brother, the Titan.
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The Radar immediately reminded us of the 3.8-inch HTC Trophy with regards to specs and styling (albeit, with a front-facing cam, beefier battery, and 1-mm thinner chassis). And like the Trophy, the Radar fits perfectly in the hand thanks to its softly contoured exterior.
Unlike the Titan, the Radars display isnt a standout feature although its Super LCD, its not laminated like the Titans screen and theres a mildly noticeable air gap between the glass and LCD that detracts from the overall solid quality of the panel itself. Such is the burden of the mid-range phone.
http://t.co/pt1yo4r (no, mango is NOT releasing tonight! Seriously!)
