HTC (Ace) Desire HD - Future Proof Mobile?

[dmc900]

A 24 month contract is a big deal. I've been sorting through deals endlessly the past couple of months to try and find a future-proof phone which will last me preferably beyond 24 months.

I looked into the somewhat outdated iPhone 3GS included free on the $35 cap with Virgin. Really thought about it, the deal felt great but I was thought about it too long as the three months free access deal diminished I was easily deferred what looked to be such a great deal but then really thought about it.

For anyone tech-savy it seems an iPhone really doesn't cut it. It's all show and once you got your hands on this little gem you begin to realize how much the iPhone OS4 really limits it's usage.

Then I began researching Symbian, Windows Mobile and Android OS's. Although Andriod may sometimes be considered unsafe it offers much more customization without Apple Gods trying to control our world. It feels Google is giving us complete freedom and I'm loving it!

Andriod obviously is quite popular and is increasingly being used in Samsung, HTC, Motorola and various other brands.

So I took a look at the Samsung Galaxy S which looks pretty decent. It's free on a $49 cap, doing all the sums and comparing specifications to the iPhone it's a great deal. But can I trust a samsung? there reputation hasn't been considerably great than looking at the specifications it's great but is it future proof?

It's a hard call, not really trusting other brands but the reputable HTC boosting a close relationship with Google seems a big plus to me. Checking the GSM models available in australia the latest being the Desire it feels as if where a little behind wishing we could get our busy fingers onto the EVO 4G.

Later I come across leaked specifications of the new HTC Desire HD. Expecting a possible release in October 2010. It's specifications lacks in internal memory (4GB) where Samsung include 16GB in their variation. HTC come out winners with 8MP Camera, 4.3" Display and a aluminium unibody design. Obviously we cannot confirm the quality until the phones release but I believe HTC has a much more experience and reputation under their belt with the Andriod OS.

According the information listed in the leaks the Desire HD could potentially come packed with a dual core 1.5Ghz Qualcomm Processor running Andriod OS 3.0 expecting release in October 2010.

It's a big market out there, all the phones and the deals. Considering them all is way too confusing leading un-savy consumers towards the highly commercialized iPhone.

I'm guessing the HTC Desire HD is worth waiting for. I'm leaving that up for discussion!

---

References:

http://topnews.co.uk/29345-uk-retailer-l...e-hd-specs
http://www.gadgetsdna.com/htc-desire-hd-...ding/4870/
http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/22026...re-hd.aspx

I'm hoping Telstra don't try to exclusively carry this mobile as they did with the HTC Desire.

Around Mid-December I would expect it'll be available on cheaper plans for example $0 on Virgins $49 Smart Cap which would offer 2Gig Data and $270 worth of calls a month. I believe this would be great value compared to other carriers plans only offering 500MB. But probably unlikely, just have to wait and see what the future brings in store for us.

----

I believe Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are more likely to brand the phone with all their own uninstallable apps. Virgin seem to keep their phones outright style. Plus virgin don't charge for tethering and allow users to unlock their phones after 6 months in the contract for free.

But it seems HTC doesn't seem very popular, only Telstra has been selling a few and Vodafone only has the Magic. I'd say these phones are top of the range better than most other brands. Except the new Samsung Galaxy S. Which I think the new HTC will become a leader with a phone similar to the HTC Evo in America and hopefully all carriers will sell it like they are for the Samsung.

[rabbitt]

Any high-end handset should last 24 months and still work, but I doubt any phone would have available software updates for 24 months. 1 year old Apple devices don't fully support their latest software updates (iPhone 3G and iOS4) so i doubt you would want an iPhone. Android OS is already fracturing so i doubt any phone you buy running on Android will be updated for anything longer than 7 or 8 months.

I could go through the points for all the phone makers, but basically what I am trying to say is; almost no phone will last 24 months of up to date software. From the hardware longevity standpoint, HTC seems like they have great build quality and design.

I recommend only signing onto a 12 month contract, I am on a 24 month one at the moment, my bundled phone was out of date within 2 months, and now I'm stuck on a crap contract while others are really cheap and have better features.

[dmc900]

Oddly enough my old phone Nokia 5800 received software support for almost a year and half which was pretty good considering.

I understand 24 months is a long time and support for phones diminish quickly. Sadly 12-month contacts are rare and unnecessary expensive.

I have lots of faith in the next HTC if it's anything like the EVO and believe if this is the case I will wait. The Samsung Galaxy S does seem a leader at the moment over the Desire but the flimsy plastic design, bland looking interface, no camera flash and the fact I cannot trust Samsung to support the phone as long and as quickly as HTC.

I'm also really hoping Telstra don't get exclusive rights, I love Virgins Smart Caps and hope within the first couple of months it gets released on the free on 49 Smart Cap like the Samsung on Virgin.

[rabbitt]

(08-02-2010 05:15 PM)dmc900 Wrote:  Oddly enough my old phone Nokia 5800 received software support for almost a year and half which was pretty good considering.

I understand 24 months is a long time and support for phones diminish quickly. Sadly 12-month contacts are rare and unnecessary expensive.

I have lots of faith in the next HTC if it's anything like the EVO and believe if this is the case I will wait. The Samsung Galaxy S does seem a leader at the moment over the Desire but the flimsy plastic design, bland looking interface, no camera flash and the fact I cannot trust Samsung to support the phone as long and as quickly as HTC.

I'm also really hoping Telstra don't get exclusive rights, I love Virgins Smart Caps and hope within the first couple of months it gets released on the free on 49 Smart Cap like the Samsung on Virgin.

Haha. The phone I was talking about was actually the 5800, but mine was buggy as all hell and couldn't be relied on to even put under a rickedy table.

Good luck finding a great phone.

[dmc900]

(08-02-2010 05:44 PM)rabbitt Wrote:  Haha. The phone I was talking about was actually the 5800, but mine was buggy as all hell and couldn't be relied on to even put under a rickedy table.

Oh yeah!, were awesome

But I'm awesome-r cause I got a variation from Hong Kong and got all the updates and got them instantly Over the Air. My friend who got a 5800 on a contract couldn't get the updates because their provider or maybe the Australian variation of the phone stupidly didn't support them. I think I got the latest v50.0.005!

v40 gave the greatest speed improvements and v50 gave it a sorta X6 homescreen feel just only had limited widgets like Music Player, Emails, Contacts. Actually it looks exactly the same home-screen.


Thanks for the luck (:

Lol, I wished HTC would get a move on for this new model. But I think it'll be better if they release it later with Andriod 3.0 (gingerbread) when it's released. If there one of the first could turn out to be a really popular phone.

I just have HTC sizzled in my mind. Overall I am for the performance and steal-like design. I believe HTC will nail it on their HTC Ace (Desire HD).

[Buzz]

4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen
Android 2.2
8MP camera
1Ghz processor
720p video recording
4GB of storage built in
Aluminum case
e-book reader

[dmc900]

oh, I'm inlove
Instant attraction, where do I insert it? I want it now

Just kinda wished they would have at least a 1.4Ghz Processor and 16gig internal memory. But I guess you cannot have everything the way you want. Not perfect but is exactly what I asked for. Lookin sexy!

I do hope they can put Gingerbread on it for it's release if it's going to be released after Google develop Gingerbread. Seeing that Gingerbread requires the minimum system requirements of this mobile is a bit of a let down. So I hope they release an Gingerbread update and it's performance stacks up well.

Anyways I'm happy
Thanks for the update. It made my night Mr. Awesome Buzzlez!!!

[TieNN89]

(08-02-2010 04:48 PM)rabbitt Wrote:  Any high-end handset should last 24 months and still work, but I doubt any phone would have available software updates for 24 months. 1 year old Apple devices don't fully support their latest software updates (iPhone 3G and iOS4) so i doubt you would want an iPhone. Android OS is already fracturing so i doubt any phone you buy running on Android will be updated for anything longer than 7 or 8 months.

Although its not an Android

My last phone a Nokia 5800 just had another new firmware released a week or two ago and it's a few months away from reaching 2 years since it was first available (November 2008 according to GSMArena).



-EDIT I should read replies next time lol

---

(08-02-2010 08:56 PM)dmc900 Wrote:  But I'm awesome-r cause I got a variation from Hong Kong and got all the updates and got them instantly Over the Air. My friend who got a 5800 on a contract couldn't get the updates because their provider or maybe the Australian variation of the phone stupidly didn't support them. I think I got the latest v50.0.005!

You thought wrong version V51.0.006 is out

My 5800 was on a contract with Virgin which I signed up at an Allphones store

I could updated it to v50.0.005 as soon as it came out no problems
OTA for all firmwares from v20 to v40 but v50.0.005 I had to plug it in because I didn't want to wait for the OTA to become available

No I didn't update to v51.0.006 because the phone was sold at the time

[rabbitt]

Hey. Been doing some reading. Theres some speculation that HTC's Sept 15th event in the UK will release the HTC Evo as the HTC Desire HD and the HTC Incredible as HTC Desire Z. This is just one strand of the rope that is the speculation (tactical face palm for awkwardly embarrassing metaphor.

Another theory is that the HTC event invite has actually got a cut up new HTC phone on its smoky graphics.
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-...ite-709852

I've gotta say, I'm looking to this event in anticipation for something magnificent.
Long live the High Tech Computer Corporation.

[ghengis]

This might be slightly OT, but with regards folks trying to decide which plans they want to go on, weighed against risks of being locked into something for 2 years and not being able to upgrade when they want... I was in this position about three months ago, I was using an SE G502 and wanted to eventually upgrade. Slowly that want became more urgent, so I started looking around at which phones came with what contracts. Nothing seemed to appeal, simply because I hate contracts (the 502 was on Prepay).

In the end I just went out and bought my Desire outright. Then I went searching for a carrier that gave me what I want, eventually settling on LiveConnected. No contract and great deals.

Now, handing over ~$800 may not be possible for everyone (in fact, I ended up using the credit card, just so I could afford the phone), but as far as future proofing myself, and knowing that I will want to upgrade soon (that DesireHD is SEX!), I reckon this is the way to go. Buy whatever phone you want, outright, and then find a plan to suit...


jm2c. Back on topic, now