While AT&T might have been the only carrier not talking about Google Android at this Fall's CTIA 2009 show in San Diego, there were AT&T SIMs showing up everywhere. The carrier is firmly onboard with Windows Mobile 6.5, releasing two somewhat conservative models, the HTC Pure and HTC Tilt 2, both closely based on their original HTC counterparts, the HTC Touch Diamond 2 and HTC Touch Pro2. In addition, the long-awaited Garmin Nüvifone G60 has finally found a home on AT&T's networks, after showing up under glass and unfinished at numerous trade shows before.
HTC Pure and HTC Tilt 2, a new breed of Windows Phone
The HTC Pure is almost an exact copy of the HTC Touch Diamond 2, with a very similar boxy style and a slight frame that keeps the phone feeling more compact than competing tablet phones, even the Apple iPhone 3GS. Though the HTC Pure ships running HTC's TouchFLO 3D interface on top of Windows Mobile, we also got our hands on this phone with the TouchFLO 3D interface turned off, so only the new Windows Mobile interface was visible. Either way, we found the HTC Pure to be responsive to our touch input. The high-resolution screen looks superb with either HTC's TouchFLO designs or the fashion designer themes Microsoft is bundling with the new WinMo OS.
As a sort of update to the original AT&T Tilt phone, AT&T has also released their own version of the HTC Touch Pro2 and they're calling it the HTC Tilt 2. Of course, the original had nothing on this phone, which gets the sharp TouchFLO 3D menu in addition to all of the high-end business phone features of the original. If the Tilt 2 performs as well as the other versions of this phone that we've already reviewed, it will be a solid choice for business users, with its great calling features and best-in-class business speakerphone.
The main difference will be the addition of Windows Mobile 6.5, and this will also bring some new features to the device. Though Tilt 2 users won't care as much about the new Today screen interface, the HTC Tilt 2 will also come with Microsoft's Windows Marketplace for Mobile software, which allows over-the-air downloads as competition for Apple's own App Store. In addition, the new Windows Mobile phones will also get Microsoft's MyPhone software, which offers some nifty backup and remote data wipe features for Windows Phones.
Garmin Nüvifone G60 finds its way home
We've been covering the Garmin-Asus Nuvifone G60 since before Garmin decided to bring Asus on board to help with their GPS Navigator phone lineup. Just before the Fall CTIA 2009 show, AT&T announced it would be the U.S. carrier for this phone. Strangely, Garmin decided to drop Asus from the label for the U.S. model, though phones like the Garmin-Asus Nuvifone M20 will reflect the partnership. In any case, we got a chance to spend time with the final version of the device that's now available to U.S. customers.
In our hands-on look, we liked the look and feel of the Garmin Nuvifone G60, but the interface and the touchscreen did not play well together. We found the device to be very unresponsive to our touch input, which made it difficult to perform fine detail tasks like typing or navigating a Web page. For GPS navigation, we weren't able to give the phone a proper test indoors, but the GPS interface seems to strongly resemble Garmin's standard GPS setup, and that's probably a good thing.
The Garmin Nuvifone G60 is already available from AT&T for a substantial $300. Of course, a portable navigation device might easily cost that much, or you could drop nearly the same paying for a monthly subscription to AT&T Navigator or some similar app. But if the phone isn't completely usable and finger-friendly, it might not be worth buying at any price. We'll have a full review soon.
Nokia Booklet 3G coming soon to AT&T?
Chalk this one up to rumors and hearsay, but we overheard a Nokia sales rep explaining that the Nokia Booklet 3G would soon be available at a less expensive, subsidized price if you buy it with an AT&T contract. Now, we already knew the Nokia Booklet 3G would be sold in the U.S. exclusively through Best Buy, and it isn't uncommon for Best Buy to make their own subsidy deals to sell devices through their channels.
Nokia reps were mum on the topic during our hands-on look at the device. We suggested a $300 price tag or lower with a 2-year agreement, and our reps made it clear they weren't saying nothing about nothing. In any case, it's a slick device with some nice features, even for a netbook. We checked out the Booklet 3G running Windows 7 (to read more hands-on impressions click here), and the OS seemed smooth and responsive. We like the easy access SIM card slot, and we can't wait to see how GPS performs and how location-based services will enhance the netbook experience.
Nokia Mural, RIM BlackBerry Bold in white; pretty, pretty.
The Nokia Mural on AT&T is a fancy looking flip phone, more stylish than feature packed, with color accents that glow from beneath a mirrored finish. The effect is pretty striking in person, with a bold, bright light glowing from the phone. Otherwise, it's a mixed blend of good and mediocre features, including a 2-megpixel camera that somehow nabbed itself an auto focus. Too bad AT&T couldn't have picked up a larger sensor for that auto focus lens. The Nokia Mural uses AT&T's 3G network for a similar combination of Web and messaging services. The Mural doesn't get GPS support, like the Nokia 3711 coming to T-Mobile, but it does get access to AT&T's push-to-talk network, which might strike a chord with the right niche audience.
We also got a chance to see the RIM BlackBerry Bold in white. Not much else to say except that the phone looks great in white. The strange mix of textures isn't so obvious on the all white shell. Still, we're pretty sure there is a new Bold just around the corner, so a fancy paint job won't distract us from the real prize ahead.
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