The Rise of the TyTN (1/3)
HTC TyTN II with WM6 Professional
INTRODUCTION
It's been a while since
a Windows Mobile device has been as long awaited
and as well anticipated as the HTC Kaiser, which has
now been released as the HTC TyTN II. I don't think
there's been as much excitement about a Windows
Mobile Pocket PC since the XDA II, four years ago. Back then, we just wanted
a Pocket PC Phone that could connect to the internet
and a Bluetooth headset. These days everyone wants
a device that does everything: high speed HSDPA
multi-band internet, fast processor, large keyboard,
small body, large amount of storage and memory, WiFi,
Bluetooth, finger touch screen, GPS Navigation, MP3
player, quality digital camera, etc. We want it all,
and the TyTN II is the first real attempt at giving
it to us. Hence, HTC's tagline in their
marketing materials reads "The Ultimate Mobile
Companion." We'll give the TyTN a very thorough look, and determine whether it should be added to your phone wish list. Read on!
WHAT'S HOT
You would think it might be enough to
masterfully incorporate every type of current mobile
device technology into one device, which is
essentially what the TyTN II does... but the most
innovative feature is the flexibility. The TyTN II
actually has four different usage methods.
Maybe you like to use it with one hand, maybe you
like to type with two thumbs, maybe you like to
write on the screen, maybe you like to set it on the
table and watch YouTube videos. No other phone
includes such a variety of usage configurations.
I'll explain them below in pictures:
(all images link to high resolution)
The third option is to slide out the keyboard and use two thumbs to navigate the interface as well as input text.
The 4th way to interact with the TyTN II is to tilt up the screen and set it on a desk or table. You can use your fingers on the keyboard to navigate and input text while still being able to see the screen without holding it up or hovering above it.
Now, Apple would have you believe that the finger-touch-screen usage configuration is the best, but obviously (in using the TyTN II) having the flexibility to switch between usage configuration modes is much more valuable to the user. Of course, we can't forget the TyTN II's spectacular list of specifications.
It's got Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi b/g, 400MHz Qualcomm MSM7200 CPU, 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM, Windows Mobile 6 Professional, a 2.8" QVGA screen screen, quadband GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900Mhz), Triband UMTS (850/1900/2100Mhz), HSDPA, HSUPA, USB 2.0, built-in GPS (NMEA 0183), front-facing VGA camera, and a 3.1MP rear camera with autofocus. That is an extremely impressive list of specifications. You might expect some of the features to be unreliable or not so great. On the contrary, the TyTN II, in my opinion, currently has the best Bluetooth radio, best GPS implementation, best keyboard, and the fast processor and extra memory makes everything run very smoothly.
Device |
Size (inches) |
Weight (grams | ounces) |
4.44" x 2.47" x 0.52"
|
132 | 4.65 |
|
4.44" x 2.27" x 0.63"
|
156 | 5.61 |
|
4.74" x 2.63" x 0.43"
|
157 | 5.53 |
|
4.33" x 2.09" x 0.59"
|
117 | 4.12 |
|
4.66" x 2.48" x 0.47"
|
130 | 4.58 |
|
4.56" x 2.33" x 0.67"
|
188 | 6.63 |
|
4.64" x 2.36" x 0.48"
|
129 | 4.55 |
|
3.96" x 2.34" x 0.67"
|
133 | 4.76 |
|
4.68" x 2.44" x 0.67"
|
188 | 6.63 |
|
4.58" x 2.42" x 0.47"
|
120 | 4.20 |
|
4.56" x 2.33" x 0.65"
|
178 | 6.28 |
|
3.92" x 2.41" x 0.60"
|
137 | 4.83 |
|
4.24" x 2.09" x 0.53"
|
117 | 4.12 |
|
4.17" x 2.00" x 0.85"
|
151 | 5.34 |
|
4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
|
122 | 4.30 |
|
4.57" x 1.70" x 0.64"
|
140 | 4.94 |
|
4.88" x 2.44" x 0.53"
|
130 | 4.56 |
|
4.21" x 2.20" x 0.55"
|
120 | 4.20 |
|
4.53" x 2.47" x 0.47"
|
146 | 5.15 |
|
4.63" x 2.19" x 0.67"
|
158 | 5.57 |
|
4.35" x 2.07" x 0.67"
|
158 | 5.57 |
|
4.56" x 2.41" x 0.51"
|
125 | 4.41 |
|
4.44" x 2.36" x 0.55"
|
133 | 4.69 |
|
4.01" x 1.98" x 0.55"
|
124 | 4.37 |
|
8.28" x 4.67" x 1.08"
|
640 | 22.5 |
|
4.48" x 2.52" x 0.59"
|
154 | 5.43 |
|
4.17" x 2.38" x 0.68"
|
147 | 5.18 |
|
4.01" x 2.00" x 0.71"
|
165 | 5.82 |
|
4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
|
122 | 4.30 |
|
4.41" x 2.28" x 0.73"
|
140 | 4.94 |
|
4.01" x 2.00" x 0.45"
|
110 | 3.88 |
|
4.56" x 2.36" x 0.70" |
200 | 7.05 |
|
4.30" x 2.40" x 0.60" |
120 | 4.23 |
|
4.20" x 2.30" x 0.60" |
136 | 4.79 |
|
3.70" x 2.30" x 0.60" |
126 | 4.44 |
|
4.48" x 2.39" x 0.51" |
116 | 4.09 |
|
4.60" x 2.60" x 0.50"
|
134 | 4.70
|
|
4.10" x 2.10" x 0.60" |
150 | 5.30 |
|
4.40" x 2.32" x 0.75" |
190 | 6.70 |
WHAT'S IN
THE BOX
The HTC TyTN II comes with a USB sync cable, AC
adapter, stereo headphones with talk button/mic/volume
control, belt pouch case,
screen protector, software CD including ActiveSync
and a trial version of Microsoft Outlook 2007,
software CD with GPRS Monitor, SPB Backup, and
TomTom 6 Taster Edition,
extensive full color
manual, Getting Started guide, and an extra stylus.
Unfortunately it sounds like the newer editions of
the TyTN II are not including the Taster Edition of
TomTom 6, which means you'll have to find and
install your own GPS Navigation program.
For those that missed the unboxing I posted about a week ago, here it is again.
The packaging for the HTC TyTN II uses similar branding to the HTC Touch.
THE DEVICE
One of the most innovative features of the TyTN II is it's slide out keyboard and tilting screen combination. This allows the device to transform from a touch-screen phone to a table-top mini-computer. Other devices with slide-out keyboards still need to be held up with two hands so you can see the screen. With the TyTN II, you can just set it on the table and tilt the screen up to watch a movie or read through email while poking at the keyboard with your fingers.
The GPS on the TyTN II is the best I've ever used. Unlike the HTC P3300, the QuickGPS actually works providing for much improved time-to-fix speed. And with the cool new tilt-up screen you can just set it on your dashboard in your car. Also note I've got an audio/charging adapter plugged in so that the TyTN II's Media Player music and navigation voice instructions play through my car stereo. Yes, the music will pause when a phone call comes in.
There's a bunch of hardware buttons on the front for navigating the device while the keyboard is closed. You've got answer and end buttons in the far upper left and right, Start Menu and OK keys in the far lower left and right respectively. Then on the inner area are left and right soft key buttons, and an Internet Explorer and Messaging application buttons below. Then in the middle is a directional navigation pad and an action button. I would have preferred to see the Start Menu and OK buttons on the inner area next to the soft keys since those functions are most often used in conjunction with each other.
The TyTN II has a VGA front facing camera for use with video phone calls.
I kind of wish HTC would brand their devices a little better. All this has is an HTC logo. No model name or anything like that.
Just like the HTC Herald and T-Mobile Wing, the TyTN II has little LED lights on the keyboard indicating which modifier keys you've enabled (Capitalization or Function). This makes knowing what you're going to be typing much easier.
On the left side, there's a voice command button, thumbwheel (spin to scroll, press for action), and OK button.
At the bottom, you'll see a lanyard hole, the ExtUSB connector, soft reset hole, a microphone hole, stylus silo, and in the upper part is a flap covering the MicroSDHC slot. The ExtUSB connector is used for everything including Audio, Charging, and Syncing.
The right side includes a camera button, power button, and the stylus silo at the bottom.
The top end of the HTC TyTN II is completely void of hardware buttons.
On the back is the 3 Megapixel Autofocus camera, along with the speaker grill, and a piece of rubber covering the GPS and GSM external antennae jacks.
The MicroSD card slot is underneath a flap on the bottom.
The SIM card slot is on the back of the screen and is only accessible when you slide the keyboard out. There's a metal "lock" switch that holds a metal flap over the SIM card slot.
Similar to the T-Mobile Wing, the whole rear of the TyTN II slides off with some significant pressure. This is where the battery goes. Luckily you don't have to remove the battery to access the SIM card slot or MicroSD memory slot on this model.
Here you'll see from left to right, the i-mate K-JAM, HTC P3300, HTC TyTN II, and UBiQUiO 503G.
From top to bottom: HTC TyTN II, HTC P3300, i-mate K-JAM, UBiQUiO 503G
From top to bottom: HTC TyTN II, HTC P3300, i-mate K-JAM, UBiQUiO 503G
From top to bottom: HTC TyTN II, HTC P3300, i-mate K-JAM, UBiQUiO 503G
From top to bottom: HTC TyTN II, HTC P3300, i-mate K-JAM, UBiQUiO 503G
Here's a close up comparison between the i-mate K-JAM (HTC Wizard) thickness and the HTC TyTN II. The TyTN II looks pretty slim compared to the Wizard.
