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announced its latest personal navigation handset with inbuilt GPS - The new HTC Touch Cruise. The handset is an update to 2008’s HTC GPS device of the same name. This one however, boasts a new, more compact design and a host of new capabilities.


The new HTC Touch Cruise is the first mobile phone to offer HTC Footprints, an application experience that enables people to permanently chronicle their special moments by capturing a digital postcard on their phone. Once captured, Footprints provides the ability to take notes and an audio clip of a favorite restaurant or special place while identifying its specific geographical location. In addition to identifying each postcard with its specific GPS co-ordinates, Footprints also auto-names each postcard with its general location or area. Geo-Tagging in a whole new way!

Flipping back through their photos, HTC Touch Cruise users will be able to retrace their steps to that exact location in just a few touches. Unlike other devices with geo-tagging functionality, HTC Footprints works effectively outdoors and indoors, offering a more accurate record of location for future reference and navigation.


"Just as we have seen GPS technology transform how people navigate to new places, we are now seeing location-based applications like HTC Footprints changing how we interact and carry our memories," said Peter Chou, President and CEO, HTC Corporation. The HTC Touch Cruise is also an advanced in-car navigation system. When placed into its accompanying car cradle, the HTC Touch Cruise automatically transforms its user interface into an easy-to-use, one-touch interface that provides seamless turn-by-turn directions.

The handset's features include -

• Connectivity: WCDMA/HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
• Operating system: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• Qualcomm Chipset MSM7225, 528 MHz
• 512 MB flash ROM, 256 MB RAM microSD memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
• 2.8-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with QVGA resolution
• 4-Way navigation wheel with Enter
• 3.2 megapixel camera with fixed focus
• Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR
• Wi-Fi
• Mini-USB 2.0

The new HTC Touch Cruise will be available to customers across all major global markets in spring 2009. There’s no pricing mentioned yet.

September of 2008 we had informed you of two possible E-Series handsets the E75 and E72. The images that were out back then were not too great and the video soon disappeared as well. The latest scoop is in the form of leaked images of the handset.


The source of the images – Dailymobile.se somehow managed to get a hold of the device and has showered us with plenty of good angles. Take a look –


The handset features -

• 2.8-inch QVGA TFT LCD
• Symbian S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 (FP2) OS
• Slide out QWERTY Keypad (not very unlike the E90’s)
• 3G, Wi-Fi, EDGE/GPRS, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• USB 2.0
• MicroSD card support

There’s no official word on when the handset will be out and no price tag either.

The W595 is a simple upgrade to some of Sony Ericsson’s other Walkman handsets. In fact you might say it’s the same as an earlier model the W890, only in a different form factor. The Specs are almost identical with a few minor distinctions. Take a look.

Form Factor
I’m not crazy about the color of the handset I got in for testing. The glossy red lines and white body give it a very distinctive girly feel. But thankfully, if you’re of the same opinion, the handset is also available in Jungle Grey, Lava Black, Active Blue, and Peachy Pink aside from this Cosmopolitan White. The design is sleek and slender with a smooth slider mechanism. The W595 is equipped with a 2.2-inch TFT LCD display with a light sensor (that’s quite erratic) and a 240 x 320 pixel 256K color resolution. The navigation system and keys are a little too close together on the same level. This is a bit of an issue as you’ll sometimes end up hitting the wrong key if you have pudgy fingers like me. I also believe that the keypad could have been a bit larger although I have no problem with the design.

Once again Sony has gone with their proprietary USB/Charging/handsfree port that will allow you to use the handset for one function at a time. It’s a good thing that the handset charges through USB in this case. There’s no dedicated camera key for the 3.2 megapixel camera, just a Walkman button for shake control. If you’re under the impression that the same key will activate the audio player you’d be wrong. I even held it for few seconds and it did nothing. A set of volume/zoom keys are located on the same side.

The W595 is a decent looking handset, and I can only say that because I have seen the other colors, but one of the biggest pains is that it has no hot swap for the M2 card (2GB included) and removing the rear panel for ANY reason is not something I recommend as it has the highest potential for the plastic clasps to break. It’s tough enough to break a nail. I think this is what SE hopes will be your final mobile that you’ll never ever want to change. The panel is so tightly wedged in that it’s a deterrent for anyone who could ever have the inclination of removing the battery for one reason or another.

Features and Performance
Interface
There’s absolutely nothing new with the interface. It’s still quite vibrant, colorful and animated as any of the other SE handsets. So I can say, in compassion, it’s not slow but it’s not fast either. One of the biggest problems was, as I mentioned earlier, the very erratic light sensor. It seemed like all the ambient light surrounding our world was going a little nuts and hence caused the display to constantly become brighter and dimmer alternatively. Although the handset has an accelerometer, it’ll only function for web pages and the media menu. That means you’ll be constantly turning the handset one way or another for viewing.

video and multimedia generation of today, a large screen is a pre-requisite and with large displays, 'touchscreen' is exactly what you’ll need for navigation. So, for you mobile maniacs interested in multimedia handsets designed with that specification in mind, here are few choices under a Rs. 20,000 budget.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic– Rs. 19, 990


Nokia’s answer to the iPhone craze was to create one of their own from their loyal fan base and the 5800 XpressMusic was the answer. Stirring up hype before the official launch and making an appearance in the Dark Knight movie made it all the more appealing. The handset features a 3.2-inch touch screen display, microSD card support and a standard 3.5mm earphone socket. It's also equipped with an accelerometer for auto-screen rotation, handwriting recognition and a 3.2 megapixel camera. For connectivity the 5800 is also stocked with Stereo Bluetooth, USB (micro) 2.0, GPRS/EDGE, 3G (HSDPA) support, Wi-Fi, GPOS with A-GPS and TV out.

Samsung F480 – Rs. 18,300


The F480 TouchWiz handset is a slim sleek device that’s equipped with a 5 megapixel AF camera LED flash and a range of camera features that include – Face detection and anti-shake. The handset is equipped with a 2.8-inch touchscreen display and uses Samsung proprietary UI that won’t really require the use of a stylus. It offers full multimedia capabilities that include audio and video playback, voice recording and an integrated FM radio. It’s ready for 3G when it gets here and in the meantime supports GPRS and EDGE. Other connectivity features include Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and USB 2.0. MicroSD cards can be used for external memory.

Form Factor
The 9500’s build quality exudes a certain sturdiness with slim chromed lines and who can miss that brilliant 3.5-inch SurePress touchscreen display that is anything but conventional and clearly visible even in broad daylight. It sports a resolution of 360 x 480 (184ppi) pixels and 65k colors with an accelerometer for screen rotation. Though it's 3G ready, video calling might be a bit of a problem considering there’s no secondary camera. The 3.2 megapixel AF camera comes with a single LED for a flash and is located at the back.


On one side of this slim device (that we thought to be a lot thicker from the previews) is a 3.5mm standard earphones socket, volume keys and a dedicated camera key. A customizable key that’s usually set to Voice Command is located on the other side with a micro USB port. Even though there seemed to be plenty of place for a hot swap slot, the Storm, like all other BlackBerry devices has its microSD card slot located under the rear panel (1GB card included with support for up to 16GB). It seems that RIM just refuses to do it any other way. Below the display are the traditional BlackBerry menu and Escape keys in between the call take (also used to access the dial pad) and the call end keys.


It’s a bit on the heavy side though (155g) and if you shake it, you actually hear the display move. There’s also a slight visible gap all around the screen. I’m not entirely sure how we feel about that. Nevertheless it’s still a good looking piece of hardware.

Features and Performance
Interface
Running on a BlackBerry OS with a 624 MHz CPU the Storm is decently quick, but like most other touchscreen handsets, it does have a few kinks that need to be worked out. There’s sometimes a bit of lag when it comes to typing in certain fields. The display uses what we’d like to call ‘Tap-Screen’ technology that basically implies you’ll have to actually press keys on the screen just like you would a normal physical keypad with buttons. You can still swipe your finger over the screen for navigation though and this is one of the better features of the handset.


It has no support for handwriting recognition as it has no stylus for the same but there are three types of keypads – Sure-type, alphanumeric and QWERTY that will by default show up when the handset is held in landscape. The accelerometer is not erratic but it is a bit too sensitive and there’s no control for that. It took us a little while to get used to the tap-screen display when using the keypads and like other similar touchscreen handsets you WILL end up hitting the wrong keys quite often till the action is mastered. The screen orientation will shift to landscape if turned to the left or the right.


We like the kind of technology the display on the Storm employs, though we do feel it could have been perfected by maybe having a larger screen. The 3.25-inch screen will do for now