Analysis of HTC Leak, Part 2

Chuong Nguyen | March 4, 2009 12:10 PM

In the first part of our coverage of the HTC 2009 Roadmap Leak, we gave you an overview of what the new HTC devices are and the corresponding code names. The latest leak from WMPowerUser covers seven devices, some of which we have covered in the past. Click on and let’s take a closer look!

The first device, the Maple, was previously covered on pocketnow.com. The device is a standard candybar QWERTY that is non-touchscreen, sports a trackball, and will give the BlackBerry Curve a run for its money. The device will fall nicely in HTC’s lineup, offering a Windows Mobile Standard alternative for the S743 with its sliding keyboard. Expect the Maple to hit T-Mobile in May as a BlackJack II competitor. The Maple will have a 528 MHz Qualcomm processor, 128/256 RAM/ROM, and a 2.4-inch non-touch display. Oh, did we mention that it will rock T-Mobile’s 3G network? That just makes your Dash look old, even with the recent black color refresh.

Up next is the Twin, which is expected to hit first on July in China, although it may hit Verizon Wireless or Sprint as well considering its a dual-mode CDMA/GSM phone, making the device a world CDMA phone. And who says VGA is going the way of the dodo bird? The device, unlike the higher end Diamond2 series, will sport a VGA screen instead of WVGA.

The Toth will follow in this lineup, and will be a beast in terms of functionality. According to WMPowerUser, “The Thoth features a 4.8 inch WVGA screen, a 5 megapixel camera, 256 MB RAM/512 MB ROM, run on a Qualcomm 8250 processor at 1000 Mhz (!) and be powered by Windows Mobile 6.5.” The 1000 MHz processor will surely put it in the same league as the Toshiba TG01. Do I smell a Snapdragon in the room? The Toth will actually be a nice device that fits between PDA and netbook, effectively replacing the Athena. This form factor has thus far not made it to the United States by any carrier, but we’ll see if HTC can sweet talk some big wigs. Maybe an Arnold endorsement may seal the deal?

I, for one, know that the Firestone will be a device that is near and dear to Brandon’s heart as the hopeful replacement to the Touch HD. Will the endearingly coined HD2 win the macho gift award again this year? Whatever the case, maybe Windows Phone with the HD banner will truly go HD this year with an 8-megapixel shooter on this device. August is the ETA on this one (read: Brandon, put your credit card away). A 3.6-inch WVGA screen, 256 MB RAM/512 MB ROM, and 600 Mhz Qualcomm 8250 processor round out the specs.

We leave the Firestone now for a little piece of Whitestone, a device that comes with what looks to be its own kickstand. Will this be the multimedia darling of smartphones? We already got the tilt on the Touch Pro2 for geeky business professionals, so if Verizon Wireless positions this device well, we may have VCast for Win Mo come this Fall! According to WMPowerUser: “The HTC Whitestone will have a 3.6 inch WVGA screen, 5 megapixel camera, 256 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM, run on Windows Mobile 6.1 and have a Qualcomm 7600 processor running at 528 Mhz. The device will have both GSM and EVDO and debut on the Verizon network in September.” Whether the device is more aesthetically challenged or more functional than the Firestone is your call as it looks like (from the picture) that the Whitestone eschews the Firestone’s touch sensistive buttons for actualy physical buttons on the bottom (notice the gap/spacing between the buttons). Firestone v. Whitestone, who will come out on top? All else being equal, that all depends if you want pure GSM global (Firestone) or CDMA/GSM dual-mode (Whitestone).

Next up is the Cedar, a cousin to the Maple, but without a trackball for traditionalists. The device will be rocking CDMA networks and is schedule for June on Verizon, a month after T-Mobile gets the Maple in May. For Stateside smartphone users who wanted the Treo 500 but weren’t able to sport that Europe-only device, here’s your chance.

Last, but certainly not least, is T-Mobile, being the leader in customer satisfaction in the US with its nascent 3G build out. The US GSM-based AWS 3G carrier will be getting its own version of the Touch Pro2, which is presumably headed to rival carrier AT&T. The Tungsten, the T-Mobile device sports a form factor that resembles a hybrid between the Touch Pro2 and the original Touch Pro in that it lacks a directional pad for hardware navigation like the Pro2 but doesn’t tilt like the Pro. This device reeks of T-Mobile USA’s 3G support, and we hope that more areas will be getting 3G love from this growing carrier. The Tungsten will come in May.

What is your HTC pick for 2009? Remember to not forget about the Diamond2 and Touch Pro2, which was announced by HTC at Mobile World Congress.

Update: It looks like the Cedar, which was scheduled for Verizon as the Maple competitor, has been “potentially cancelled” according to Engadget Mobile.

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