To change the image of future handsets HTC Team-Up With One & Co

While HTC phones have always looked “ok” in the past, the company’s new deal with San Francisco-based lifestyle design firm One & Co is set to change the image of future handsets.
An example of past HTC’s lack of aesthetics can be seen in the T-Mobile G1, which is very functional but just isn’t… pretty. Put it next to an iPhone in the TATE Art Gallery and I can tell you which handset the crowds would be gathered around.

One & Co has previous design experience ranging from footwear, snowboards, and furniture. Perhaps not very relevant credentials, but they did team up with HTC in the past to give birth to the HTC Touch Diamond which was arguably one of HTCs best looking handsets.
The Touch Diamond combined an innovative use of material and industrial design and looked superb.
After seeing what a beautiful marriage these companies have had in the past, it will be interesting to see their future offspring- top design and excellent functionality? I can’t wait.

HTC Shift suspended till January 2008

Digitimes reported that HTC will delay mass shipments of its ultra mobile PC HTC Shift till January 2008. Initially the date for scheduled for 4Q 2007. According to the source, the problem is rooted in compatibility of HTC Shift hardware and software. Digitimes hints at some flaws, this UMPC can work under either Windows Vista or Windows Mobile (I’d note that the company hasn’t unveiled this capability during the official announcement). HTC Shift was announced this March at CTIA WIRELESS. The device is equipped with a 7” wide touchscreen display with variable viewing angle and a QWERTY-keyboard. It is designed for GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA networks.

Windows Mobile 6 for HTC Herald now

The European unit of HTC has release an official OS upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 for its QWERTY-communicator HTC P4350 (Herald). I’d remind you that O2 operator rolled out this April a version of the Herald platform with Windows Mobile 6 – Xda Terra. This time the vendor itself decided to offer a respective ROM-upgrade for the European users.

The WM 6 upgrade for HTC P4350 is free for download at My Downloads section after the registration at HTC eClub. The registration doesn’t require any payment and offers the users some additional advantages.

HTC Shift: two OS on one device

Early this year HTC announced its ultra mobile PC HTC Shift. The device features a sliding and flipping 7” screen and a QWERTY-keyboard. According to the previous info the UMPC would be powered by Windows Vista. Now we’ve got the info that HTC Shift can also work on Windows Mobile 6 Professional. This info has been shared by Hugo Ortega in his blog.

In addition, the source mentions UMPC Shangri-La X9500 with two operating systems: Windows Vista and Windows Mobile 6 Professional. According to Ortega, who tested the device, HTC Shift can last for 3 hours offline on Windows Vista Business and over 5 days on Windows Mobile.

The specs of HTC Shift by Hugo Ortega:

• Windows Vista Business
• CPU - Intel Santa Rosa A110
• 1 GB DDR2 RAM
• 40 GB HDD
• HSDPA (for data transfer only)
• Web-camera
• Biometric reader
• Windows Pocket PC
• 64 MB RAM

Here you can download a clip demonstrating HTC Shift in action (34-minutes).