HTC Touch Diamond

Full specifications | Add your review

Review

It's a tough job overcoming the failings of Windows Mobile, but HTC has done a better job than most in recent times with its seriously sexy and potent smartphones. From the well-engineered Touch and Touch Dual to the all-singing, all dancing TyTN II, it has a strong record. But times change, and with the iPhone 3G just around the corner, can HTC keep it up?

The Touch Diamond, with its new TouchFLO 3D interface, tries as hard as any handset out there to mimic the iPhone's sleek, swish, multi-touch design. And unlike many other Windows Mobile devices, TouchFLO 3D completely replaces the Windows Mobile’s front end, making the traditional list-based design of the Today screen is a distant memory. Even our favourite Windows Mobile shell enhancement, SPB Mobile Shell, doesn't go as far as that. 

A large digital clock dominates the Home screen, complete with attractive animations – the numbers flip over from one to the next, just like an old-fashioned office calendar. Beneath this is information about alarms, a call history and upcoming appointments, plus you can expand on the display with a flick of a finger. Entries can be accessed with the tap of a digit, too, but this is where TouchFLO 3D steps aside for Windows Mobile.

TouchFLO 3D isn't just about the home screen, though – it successfully masks other important aspects of the Windows Mobile front-end, too. Stick your finger on the icon menu running along the bottom of the screen and drag it left or right, and you'll see similar pages for Contacts, Mail, text messages, Internet, Photos & Videos, Music, Weather, Programs and Settings fly by in a blur.

• 1
• 2
• 3

We couldn't find any prices for this smartphone. Click for our full smartphone price comparison