Say hello to the new HTC Advantage
You know how much I love my HTC Advantage and how well it does the things it does for me. If someone asked me how to improve it I would have to think awfully hard to come up with areas to improve. It turns out that I don’t have to come up with anything because HTC has announced the new Advantage which will be available in Europe in March and the improvements they have made look awesome. First off the bat HTC has improved the keyboard to make it more functional. It is still using the unique magnetic attachment which means the new keyboard can be detached just like the current one but the keys are bigger to make typing easier. The most innovative change of the keyboard is the use of haptic technology which means you will be able to feel when keys are pressed, at least that’s typically what haptic technology is used for- to provide tactile feedback.
The new Advantage also includes 16 GB of flash memory to update the 8 GB microdrive that is found in the current model which makes this one of the highest memory PDAs on the market. HTC is also including the TouchFLO software on the new Advantage and will install Opera Mobile 9 which is not released yet. Press release after the jump.
BARCELONA — Feb. 11, 2008 – Today at the 2008 GSMA Mobile World Congress, HTC Corp. (TAIEX: 2498; “HTC”), the world’s leading provider of Microsoft Windows Mobile® smart devices, announced an updated version of the HTC Advantage™ that introduces new software, increased storage and an improved keyboard. The HTC Advantage™ is an ideal companion for the business traveller who needs a powerful and portable device that includes constant connectivity.
Developed from the ground up to be extremely portable, yet powerful, the HTC Advantage™ integrates a broad set of features into a compact and innovative design. Based on a future version of Windows Mobile, the updated HTC Advantage™ includes a customized HTC Home today screen that provides one-touch access to emails, text messages, missed calls, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.
The HTC Advantage™ features HTC’s TouchFLO™ software which enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists. The Advantage™ will also include Opera Mobile 9 and Google Maps for mobile.
In addition to the many software enhancements, the HTC Advantage™ also adds a variety of new and improved hardware features including 16GB of storage, a new improved keyboard with haptic feedback and an updated version of VueFLO™ using a G-sensor that recognises the screen orientation of the device for optimal customer usage.
“Having established broader boundaries for mobile computing with the first HTC Advantage a year ago, we are introducing a wealth of new enhancements focused on improving the overall touch screen and keyboard user experience,” said Peter Chou, president and CEO of HTC. “Our goal with the HTC Advantage is to provide a small connected mobile computing device that will replace notebook PCs on daily commutes or short trips.”
With its innovative built-in video output capability, the HTC Advantage™ empowers its users with freedom to make presentations anywhere. Users can run presentations directly via the projector and TV output. Its 5-inch VGA colour touch screen and innovative, magnetic QWERTY keyboard are ideal not just for editing Microsoft Office documents, but also for enjoying leisure time. Users can watch videos, browse the web, use instant Outlook push e-mail, synchronize their contacts, tasks and calendar, and navigate anywhere with inbuilt GPS and TomTom NAVIGATOR 6.
Offering a complete package of connectivity, the HTC Advantage™ offers a wide variety of Wireless connectivity options such as Tri-band HSPDA, Wi-Fi® and stereo Bluetooth® 2.0 connectivity.
The updated HTC Advantage™ will be available in March in select countries across Europe.
The Full product spec is as follows:
Product name HTC Advantage™ (X7510)
Size 133.5 x 98 x 16 mm (additional 4.75mm for keyboard)
Weight 290g + 85g for keyboard
Networks WCDMA/HSDPA: 850/1900/2100 MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Operating system Future Version of Windows Mobile®
Display 5-inch VGA with touch screen
Camera 3.1 megapixel with auto focus
VGA for video calling
Internal memory 256 MB + 16 GB flash; 128 MB RAM
Memory card miniSD™
WLAN 802.11b/g
Bluetooth® 2.0
GPS GPS
Interface HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0
High-Speed); HTC 16 pin port (USB 1.1 host, TV/VGA out); 3.5mm audio jack with microphone
Battery 2100 mAh
Talk time WCDMA: up to 300 minutes*
GSM: up to 360 minutes*
Standby time WCDMA: up to 300 hours*
GSM: up to 300 hours*
Special feature Detachable QWERTY Keyboard with Haptic feedback; document printing; G sensor
Chipset Marvell PXA270 624 MHz; Qualcomm® MSM6275
About HTC
Founded in 1997, HTC Corp. (HTC) designs, manufactures and markets innovative, feature rich smartphone and PDA Phone devices.
Since its establishment, HTC has developed strong R&D capabilities, pioneered many new designs and product innovations and launched state-of-the-art PDA Phones and smartphones for mobile operators and distributors in Europe, the US, and Asia. These machines are available as HTC devices and as products individually customized for operator and device partners.
HTC is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile device market. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com. a
What a huge waste.
Still only VGA on that ginormous screen? Argh.
Just taking it to 800×480 would have been a huge step forward, but VGA on a lunchbox sized device like this just sucks, pure and simple.
Ah well, maybe I’m just being cranky, but really… my 3.5 inch VGA screen is perfectly readable even when used with a keyboard, so you’d think a device this large could include a decent high resolution screen for that money.
A nice incremental upgrade to a device I never found in the least compelling due to that flawed screen resolution… bah humbug?
I think the 640×480 suits this size screen nicely, especially using a ‘real VGA’ hack.
Hmmm, now, wonder if it’s going to be worth an upgrade from the old model.
I just hope they would include a vibrate capability for the phone part. This device is great indeed, but not inclusion of vibrate is a serious oversight IMHO.
Is it missing the ATI Graphic Chip compared against the previous version ?
I too was looking forward to a different res screen. I think that making a 5″ WVGA would be ideal, and could allow for better phone use as well. narrower, but a tad longer (ala N810 for size/shape) One thing for sure, is by not changing anything on the outside, they made it work with all current accessories. it’s the same size. That will make some current users more open to upgrading, without losing out – Nice HTC. Heck, they even stayed with MiniSD instead of the now more common MicroSD. Thankfully, there are adapters for us with multiple phones. Interesting, tho if I am understanding it correctly, they replaced the MD with flash (nice) but still have VueFlo. Hm, i thought the G-Sensor was in the MD (or did I miss it, and there is both????)
Opera 9 with WM6.1 will be pretty cool on this display, tho – NO Doubt
Can’t wait to see it.
Ricoks
@Fernando
It’s exactly the same chipset as before.
Gavin
Why can’t they bump up the resolution to at least 800×480. This is such an amazing device. Even a $228.99 Nokia n800 can play flash and have a 800×480 screen.
Mobiletechfan.com
i used the advantage for about 3 months. it was great, but it was just too large. my previous XDA EXEC was better in the fact that you could at least put it in your pocket and use it as a phone in a pinch. if you have to carry something you might as well carry a umpc or sub notebook.. but it was a great device. i also found the battery options for the xda exec a little better as well. the advantage used more juice than the charger was able to give it to keep it charged in the car.
I wonder how easy it would be to swap out the drive for a higher capacity one?
Man, it would be kool to have the Advantage in a Tilt/Shift form factor. Sliding/tilting keyboard with a WVGA screen that is in a 5″ screen – WOW. Basically take the Tilt and Advantage, marry them, propogate them, and I’ll buy their offspring anyday!!!
>>>my 3.5 inch VGA screen is perfectly readable even when used with a keyboard
Ha! Is that with your naked eyes or with glasses?
>>>which makes this one of the highest memory PDAs on the market
Ahem. 32GB iPod Touch.
And, jk, you know I have to say this after you again torment me with an HTC Advantage post: I. Hate. You!
JK, do you ever use your Advantage keyboard? If so how? While holding the device in your hand or always on a table or other flat surface?
And will HTC swap out your current Advantage for this new one? (BTW, I still hate you!)
>>my 3.5 inch VGA screen is perfectly readable even when used with a keyboard
>Ha! Is that with your naked eyes or with glasses?
With the glasses I always wear to correct for nearsightedness.
The thing about WM is that it compensates nicely for the higher resolution with increased character size. :p But yeah, even just a bump from 640 to 800 would have made a huge difference – from my experience with the Nokia devices, that step means the difference between scrolling web pages sideways or not doing it.
>>>With the glasses I always wear to correct for nearsightedness.
See, I haven’t had to wear glasses til about two years ago for reading, which is why I ask. Had this come out, say, 4 years ago, the screen res would have been fine for my-then still-good eyes.
I have enough trouble getting all the software to run on the VGA screen (as the developers write for the much larger QVGA market share.) Imagine the trouble if it were an even less common resolution. I had QVGA for so long, the VGA is a real treat. (I tried using my old HTC Trinity the other day and the 2.8 inch QVGA felt torturous!)
I have yet to make a dent in the 8GB I have; no need for me to upgrade, but I think the evolutionary changes might entice some new users to give it a try.
I’ve argued before that the Advantage is more a UMPC alternative. The great thing as well is with USB host you can plug in any USB keyboard and I love the fact when you plug in a USB mouse you get a little mouse pointer on screen.