My Desire
HTC ups the ante with a new Android smartphone release
- Published: 20/06/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Brunch
Following the trend of naming its phones after what sound like '80s rock bands (Hero, Tattoo, Snap), HTC has released its best smartphone yet in the Desire, giving the Apple camp something new to chew on. The launch had the benefit of avoiding the media hoop-la that the Nexus One fell victim to, and has been getting nothing but praise on the internet. Employing the latest Android platform, the Desire emerges as the brother of the HTC Legend, released to acclaim earlier this month, and the similar but superior twin of the Nexus One that materialised in January.
Has HTC finally delivered what it has been threatening - an iPhone killer? Let's check.
OUT OF THE BOX
With similar dimensions, specs and platform, the Desire, Legend and Nexus One are certainly derived from the same smartphone ideology.
In terms of appearance, the race is won by the Legend, but the Desire emerges as the understated brooder with its rounded edges and suede-like finish.
It feels good in the hand, is easy to grip and houses very few buttons on its uncluttered shell.
The power/hold button is in the perfect position on the top edge (obvious but rarely executed), as is the microUSB port on the bottom.
The device slips easily in the pocket at only 12mm wide and 133g in weight (exactly same as the iPhone 3GS, coincidentally).
INSIDE
The deal-breaking feature of any smartphone is the screen, and the Desire sports a 3.7-inch AMOLED 480x800-pixel capacitive touchscreen that is up to the task. The reviews have been mixed, but it offers undeniably bright colours and clarity and is very sensitive to touch, if a little sticky at times. But once outdoors, the screen becomes useless, reducing your Desire to an expensive mirror.
Reflections aside, the secret of the quality Desire experience lies in the Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon processor and 576MB of RAM at the heart of the unit. The performance is, in one word, smooth, even while web browsing or viewing media.
The phone is crammed with features, including a five-megapixel camera that takes good photos and video, even at night, but still doesn't come close to replacing a compact camera, surely a goal on the horizon for smartphone manufacturers.
PERFORMANCE
The main fault in the design of the Desire is the button placement, which limits the possibility of single-handed operation, an ongoing problem I have had with all HTC models. Web browsing is solid with the clear and large multi-touch screen and virtual keyboard, although Flash performance varies from site to site.
The text input software is strong with a good auto-correct function, and the screen keyboard operates well in both portrait and landscape orientations, offering a quick typing experience.
The battery offers almost a day's use on a full charge, which is nicely manageable through a power app that tells you what is draining your power; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. But the phone could have excelled at the cost of a few extra grammes with longer battery life - an opportunity lost.
PLATFORM
The Desire, following the Legend, is the second HTC phone to use the Android 2.1 operating system, both enhanced by the HTC Sense interface.
In a duel similar to the Mac-PC dilemma, Android emerges as a highly customisable interface that may confuse some but excite others.
The home screens can be heavily customised, and other refinements include a thorough contacts list that groups contacts from a number of sources. The software handles push email well enough, but puts email from different accounts into different inboxes, causing minor inconvenience.
The platform offers good integration of social networking sites, and in terms of applications, Android Market continues to go from strength to strength, offering many free apps.
CONCLUSION
The Desire will continue to win hearts in the smartphone market. Users will like the smoothness of operation, the sensitive and lucid touchscreen and the intuitive software.
There is nothing really wrong with the Desire, except perhaps the average battery life, button placement and screen visibility when used outdoors.
As it has been threatening, HTC is really starting to put the pressure on Apple, which will release the iPhone 4G with OS 4.0 later this month.
In the end, such healthy competition between manufacturers is good for consumers, and whether the new iPhone will trump HTC or not, the Desire stands as an excellent value and high-performance smartphone for a wide range of users.
The HTC Desire is available for 17,500 baht from Power Mall, 4th floor, Emporium shopping complex; call 02-269-1000. Email
About the author
- Writer: Richard Mcleish
- Position: Reporter
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