HTC TyTN 'super 3G' smart phone
The ideal mobile wireless communicator?
Review HTC, the company behind the T-Mobile MDA, O2 XDA and Orange SPV mobile phones, not to mention a host of others offered by less well-known vendors, has broken away from its white label roots to offer its phones without operator customisation. The TyTN is one of the first...
It's a Windows Mobile 5.0 device that features Wi-Fi, 3G, tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and Bluetooth connctivity alongside a QWERTY keyboard and 2.8in 320 x 240 touchscreen display. The new model also includes two digital cameras, one for for video calling, the other a two megapixel job with macro mode.
Available in black and silver, the TyTN looks like T-Mobile MDA Vario, but features the specs of the operator's MDA Pro handset.
And its here that the TyTn shows it's winning hand, by melding the two models together. Now you have the functionality of 3G - it's also ready for HSPDA, the 3G-based data download speed booster. If you're only ever going to be typing long emails or checking the odd spreadsheet then this certainly saves having to drag the laptop with your on your journey.
In the real world, the TyTN is not only very easy to use but also comes with a number of nifty features. Examples include automatic rotation of the screen when you change from portrait to landscape to use the keyboard, and dedicated buttons for virtually everything from using the phone's web browser (Internet Explorer) to making a video call or checking your connectivity status.
Slide the unit open and it reveals that QWERTY keyboard. Although not the entire width of the unit - the slider's runners have to go somewhere - the keyboard is easy to use with plenty of shortcuts available via extra function keys. Keys are rounded enough to be separate from each other, and certainly bigger than those found on the Treo or a BlackBerry. In short, as long as you can type with your thumbs you should be fine.
The speed of the unit is fairly zippy - it runs a 400MHz processor - and certainly feels better than the company's previous MDA outing.
The TyTN offers 128MB ROM and 64MB RAM and you can expand its memory further via MicroSD cards. It's a shame a standard SD card slot wasn't available - for viewing images straight out of a camera for example - but then the TyTN packs so much into such a small unit (11.3 x 5.8 x 2.2cm) that this omission can be forgiven.
Verdict
Where the TyTN succeeds is in its connectivity options. The inclusion of Wi-Fi, EGDE, 3G and even the new HSPDA standard means there is bound to be some connection on offer wherever you are in the world. Combine this with an easy to use keyboard, a large screen and Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 - with push email support - and we struggle to find faults with the device.
If you're a road warrior and fed up of lugging your laptop with you wherever you go, this might just be the mobile for you.
Review by
COMMENTS
HTC TyTN
I just bought a HTC TyTN. First thing that happened with phone was it froze. I have done several soft reboots, and hard reboots, it still freezes after less then a minute. I don't know what causes the phone to freeze, but I suspect it's Windows 5.0 that doesn't work to well together with this handset. Anyone else with a similar problem?
screen res
I have an MDA at the moment mine locks up as well, i would hope that this one is better. also i wish they had gone for a 640x480 screen res like most of the other PDA's on the market , i'd love to get hold of one and take it for a test drive.
Ticks all the boxes, but how reliable is it?
It has all the features you could want (the microSD slot is not a problem), but I want to know how it actually performs.
I have the M500 which is an HTC New Jam running Windows Pocket PC 2003SE, and when it's good, it's good, but when it's bad, it locks up frequently, and twice has completely reset itself losing all data.
The pocket PCs have all of the functionality I want in my phone, but so far lack the reliability I require. Let's hope this TyTN is better.
Insufficient memory
If one is going to produce a small PC, one should expect it to be used like a PC. 64MB RAM is not nearly enough for that. A bare minimum is going to be 256 MB, and a 512 MB option would be extremely welcome.
The TyTn as-is will not get my money. Make it a functional laptop replacement by increasing the RAM, and give it backward-compatible cell phone functions (so I can use it in most of the USA and Canada), and add a microUSB port so an external modem or network card can be attached, and we have a winner. However, at 560 Pounds Sterling, it's already far too pricey to be realistic. For that money I can have a full notebook with cell modem *and* a portable DVD player.
So I guess that HTC is still thinking they're only catering to the "more money than brains " crown.
Lacking the SD slot will be a major blow? Me thinks not.
Swapping the SD for a MicroSD this device is going to be more than capable of working such things as GPS etc.
The world has been waiting for such a device for a long time. Unfortunately it is not that great for people that copy their friends in what they buy. It doesn't have the high pixel camera or as James has stated a SD slot but this is not a phone that you give to your mother. It is a perfect business replacement device compared to Blackberry and once people realise these "Bigsmall" devices can live up to it, it's going to be bye bye Blackberry and the possible addition of "Bigsmall" in our dictionary with the help of our friendly car manufacturer.
It's coming, and it's gonna be big!
