vB Easy Archive - My Review of the HTC Touch Dual

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My Review of the HTC Touch Dual
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Posted by: frankyB

This is my first phone review, so if I missed something, please ask.

IN THE BOX:

Once again, HTC did a nice packaging, like the HTC Touch, everything is well presented. In the box you have:

1) 1 Screen protector
2) 1 Extra Stylus
3) 1 Stereo headset
4) 1 USB Cable
5) 1 Charger
6) 1 nice colored user manual
7) 2 CD

START UP:

Pretty much strait forward, put the SIM in the phone, power it up.

Went through the usual WM setup.

I was then ask if I wanted to auto-configure based on my network, which I accept and everything was setup and working.

No problem with synching with USB. But setting up the bluetooth synch was a bit more difficult, but there a good reference here to make it work.

FORM FACTOR:

This phone as a great form factor. It hold great in the hand, it feels solid. And ruberish finish is great.

The Dual is slider, again it feels solid when you slide the keyboard in and out. More about this feature later. I have the 16 touch keypad.

You never though this is a WM/Smartphone, you won't look geeky with this phone

BLUETOOTH HEADSET:

I linked 2 headsets to my phone. The motorola H700 and the Plantronics 590.

One thing that I find anoying is when you have a headset connected you don't have any visual confirmation unless you start a call.

But outside that, everything is working fine.

Software Bundle

Well there is the Touch Flow and all the other HTC software that everyone try to have on their phone that come with this one.

HTC Home
HTC CommManager
HTC AudioPlayer (great add-on)
Touch Flo features

And one great add-on for our expensive data plan, it comes with SPB GPRS MONITOR, free. And very useful

Micro SD

Yes, 6G micro SDHC are compatible, this is what I'm using. Plenty of room for music and video files...

MUSIC

You can synch with Windows Media player, but it was crashing. I now simply copy the files to my SD cards and HTC Audioplayer automaticaly detect it.

Creating you own ringtone from one of your MP3 files has never been easier, when you listen to your song, you can decide to use as ringtone and you can even select the area of the song you will use.

for HTC Audioplayer.

Video

I didn't use the camera much yet, so I'll comment based on actual movies I rip from my DVD. I ripped 3 movies, and I must admit I was amazed of the actual play back quality. Now, the quality is more related to the software you use. I tried a few and the 2 runner up were SPB Mobile DVD and Pocket DVD Studio, I settle for Pocket DVD Studio. Encoded @ 30FPS and 700kpbs and except sequence packed with action and the play back is smooth and the sound quality is great.

Camera

That is my biggest deception, I still have to play with the setting but if you put a camera that bad better not put one, the front camera (for video call) actually is better then the one in the back. Good thing I didn't buy this phone because of its camera.

Software I installed since I got it:

Google MAP v2.0: Works great and I now have approximate positionning even if I don't have GPS.

spb GPRS Monitor: Great tool

Opera Mini: Didn't work 100% and I don't like the fact that Opera MINI mask the phone User agent. So I removed it.

Stopwatch: for training

MySportTraining: for training

And soon something to manage my winecellar.

Overall, I am very happy with my phone. Just too bad the HSPDA is not working as it's only the UMTS frequency that is supported.

As expected I don't use the physical keyboard much and I mostly use the softkeyboard that came with the Dual.

If you are someone with a busy schedule, wants some more then just a phone but don't want to cary around a bulky Blackberry or other WM devices, this is the phone for you. If you are used to a full keyboard, you will find the transition hard.

That's it, thanks for reading.

Posted by: chasehx

Sweet. Can't wait for that one.

Posted by: JwY

Good review. I see you're a fellow Rogers user.

Posted by: frankyB

Just install Remote Display and I will post a few screen capture

Remote Display

Sorry for french screen, but my OS is in french.

Posted by: epsilons

Nice, where'd you order the phone from?

Posted by: frankyB

From Expansys...

http://www.expansys.ca/p.aspx?i=156006

Posted by: frankyB

Here are some pics taken with the camera, as you will see, it's very basic and the quality isn't there. (Yes we did get some snow lately

)

2M resolution

Zoomed in

1M resolution + 2X zoomed in

Posted by: theenglishviet

I agree, i'd rather no camera than a poor camera i won't even use!

Posted by: h3LO

FrankyB, where are you located? I love the picture.

Posted by: frankyB

Quote:

Originally Posted by h3LO

FrankyB, where are you located? I love the picture.

My profile says Montréal... That's up North, in Canada

Posted by: Minarets

so this is only a GSM phone? no plans on any specific carriers with this one?

Posted by: omaralt

hey, just wondering where you got ur stopwatch program from.. i'm looking for one to use on my tilt, thanks

Posted by: frankyB

Quote:

Originally Posted by omaralt

hey, just wondering where you got ur stopwatch program from.. i'm looking for one to use on my tilt, thanks

Here:

http://www.avantvision.com/EN/solutions.html

I'm using version 1.2, but I just saw there is a version 1.3 as well.

Posted by: rezilient

Thanks for the review frankyB.

How is typing e-mails or SMS messages on the 16 button keyboard? Any idea how the 20 (i think?) button keyboard is different, like what the extra buttons provide?

I also need to use the phone for e-mail and SMS lightly, so I was wondering if it will be a total headache or just some getting used to.. I'm currently using a Treo 750 and appreciate the physical keyboard..

Thanks again..

Posted by: frankyB

If you like physical keyboard/full keyboard, then the touch Dual is not for you.

The 16 keys is basicaly typing like any normal phone with XT9. But I don't use it much for typing text. I just use it to dial a # not in my contact list.

For text messages, I use the softkeyboard.

FYI, the 20 keys is using the same principles of the blackberry pearl, which I hate.