O2 HTC Polaris - New Artemis January 26th 2008

[oliversettle]

O2 HTC Polaris


[B]HTC SimFree 12th November
O2 Sim **** Delayed *** 26th January 2008 B]

HTC Manual - PDF Link
http://www.htc.com/support/pdf/htctouchcruise/Polaris_HTC_English_Manual.pdf

Specifications
Processor
Qualcomm® MSM7200™, 400MHz

Operating System
Windows Mobile® 6 Professional

Memory
ROM: 256MB ; RAM: 128MB DDR SDRAM

Dimensions
110 mm (L) X 58 mm (W) X 15.5 mm (T)

Weight
130g with battery

Display
2.8-inch TFT-LCD with backlight LEDs, touch-sensitive screen

Network
HSDPA/UMTS: 2100 MHz (Europe), 850/1900 MHz (USA)
HSDPA: Up to 384kbps for upload and 3.6Mbps for download
UMTS: Up to 384kbps for upload and download
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: Quad-band 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz (The device will operate on frequencies available from the cellular network)

Device Control
HTC TouchFLO™
4-Way Navigation Wheel with Enter button

Connectivity
Bluetooth® 2.0
Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g

HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB and audio jack in one), full-speed USB 2.0
Camera
Main camera: 3 megapixel color CMOS camera with auto focus
Second camera: VGA CMOS color camera

Audio Built-in microphone and speaker
Ring tone supported formats:

MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, WAV, and AMR-NB

40 polyphonic and standard MIDI format 0 and 1(SMF)/SP MIDI


Battery 1350 mAh rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Standby time:

Up to 450 hours for UMTS

Up to 400 hours for GSM

Talk time: Up to 4 hours for UMTS

Up to 7 hours for GSM

Up to 2.3 hours for video call
(The above are subject to network and phone usage)
Expansion Slot microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)

AC Adapter Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC,
50/60Hz

DC output: 5V and 1A




http://www.theunwired.net/media/news/o2_xda_polaris_leak.jpg


http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/11/htccruise_frontleft_hi.jpg


HTC Press Release HTC Touch Cruise / Polaris
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONDON — November 12 2007 — HTC Corp. (TAIEX: 2498; “HTC”), the world’s leading provider of Microsoft Windows Mobile® smart devices, today launched the HTC Touch Cruise™, the third member of the HTC Touch product family and the first to feature in-built GPS for personal navigation. Building on the popularity of the HTC Touch™ and the HTC Touch Dual™, the HTC Touch Cruise also includes 3G-HSDPA wireless connectivity.

Users on the move will easily be able to interact with the HTC Touch Cruise’s navigation functionality and can take advantage of HTC’s TouchFLO technology, which enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists, controlled by simply sweeping a finger across the screen. TouchFLO also offers the ability to view photos and photo slideshows using on-screen controls and to zoom and rotate images with only one hand.

Stylish and sleek in design, the HTC Touch Cruise is a further illustration of HTC’s commitment to innovation and to building a suite of touchscreen devices that cater to a variety of customer needs and styles. The HTC Home screen will provide one-touch access to emails, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world. Users then simply sweep their finger up the display to launch an animated, three-dimensional interface comprising three screens: Contacts, Media and Applications. The interface can be spun by swiping a finger right or left across the display, providing efficient access to the features consumers use most.

The new Touch Cruise boasts super fast HSDPA/3.5G connectivity plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making it a highly connected device for consumers on the move. Its 2.8” screen is great for enjoying mobile multimedia and because it runs on Windows Mobile 6, the built-in Windows Media Player is ideal for music and movies.

Florian Seiche, VP of HTC Europe, commented, “The original HTC Touch has already been a phenomenal success, and the HTC Touch Cruise™ with fully integrated GPS adds another dimension to our leading touchscreen device family. We firmly believe in the importance of choice – one device does not fit everyone’s needs – and we’re proud to have been able to launch three HTC Touch devices since June.”

The HTC Touch Cruise utilizes mapping and navigation solutions from TomTom. This navigation software comes complete with a taster city map or the option of full maps of Western Europe. Other key features include a three megapixel auto focus camera, FM radio and Micro SD memory card slot for adding to the 128MB RAM. The device will be available form both retailers and SIM free from HTC from this month.

Launched in June 2007, the HTC Touch was the first member of the HTC Touch family and has proven to be a massive hit since it launched. The HTC Touch Dual, which features HSDPA connectivity and a sliding keypad, was launched in October 2007.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Images from "coolsmartphone.com"
http://www.coolsmartphone.com/images/stories/Polaris/compare1.jpg

http://www.coolsmartphone.com/images/stories/Polaris/polarispose3.jpg

http://www.coolsmartphone.com/images/stories/Polaris/compare1.jpg

Polaris Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfc8CllDk2U&eurl=http://www.coolsmartphone.com/news3630.html

[glam]

Hm... not enough good stuff to make me want to upgrade. Thanks for the info, though.

[manaaa]

htc polaris : )

[Gustopher]

Hm... not enough good stuff to make me want to upgrade. Thanks for the info, though.

Oooooooo! Don't know about that!

I might just have to get onto this one. Orbit with attitude!

[petervbeck]

sdhc sounds cool and access to the storage card is nice.
but everything else isn't that impressive to me.
think faster cpu will decrease batterylife, don't you think guys ?....
no fm radio anymore ?

[oliversettle]

I will find out, rumors of RDS at HTC Press will find out from O2 development

[RSchris]

Yeah Polaris is there ! Woooo !

Any information about his price ??

[jikanv]

A-GPS is almost worthless for navigation

[jikanv]

Ooops, Sorry that was stupid

[mike996]

I thought that the Polaris was supposed to have a VGA screen! Some nice improved bits, but nothing to major enough to worth trading my Artemis in.

[Twiggerdingo]

Looks bigger! Any info on the size of this device, is it bigger then the artemis?

[mikron15]

Looks bigger! Any info on the size of this device, is it bigger then the artemis?

About same size (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=10074368) as kaiser

[LondonDweller]

Overall, yes please!!! It is a huge improvement in connectivity, storage and processing power. Two issues though:


It appears that the one thing that I hate on the Orbit is still there: the wheel! Why, o why don't they get rid of this useless gimmick and put direction buttons instead?
It looks like that one of the things I like most in its current form is missing: the trackball.


Does the insider know more about these issues?

[paalkr]

Overall, yes please!!! It is a huge improvement in connectivity, storage and processing power. Two issues though:
It appears that the one thing that I hate on the Orbit is still there: the wheel! Why, o why don't they get rid of this useless gimmick and put direction buttons instead?
It looks like that one of the things I like most in its current form is missing: the trackball.Does the insider know more about these issues?

Hi!

Well, it looks like you got both. Take a look at post 7 in the original thread http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=10074368

Original thread over on the PPC forum says it is BOTH directional dpad and rotating wheel. http://70.87.72.152/default/images/smilies/eek2.gif

Regards,
PK

[LondonDweller]

Well, it looks like you got both.

Thanks PK,

I do hope that the "leaked" images of the O2 version are not 100% accurate and we do get more buttons. Buying the subsidised O2 product instead of the generic HTC makes the difference between paying £30 :cool: or £400 :eek: ( 45 € or 600 € )

[DAS2000]

What happened to the VGA screen? The early rumors all indicated that this was going to be VGA. How are they going to compete with the E-tens?

[uniqueboy]

Slightly shorter than the orbit, double the storage, double the ram, at least twice as fast a processor, and a really nice flush screen like the touch, oh and better camera and 3g, who said not much of an improvement, looks awesome to me. I think it will be a choice of vogue or polaris for me this xmas, the extra hardware buttons on the polaris could just swing it, but the vogue is a bit smaller hmm...

[manaaa]

HTC POLARIS PRE-ORDER (http://www.clove.co.uk/viewProduct.aspx?Product=666DFF46-2EFD-4152-A6A7-B263F0A44F99&Category=03222E2A-4C22-4A14-B631-30922A91A1E0)

[Tsuioku]

Updated specs from Unwired:
• Quad Band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 Mhz)
• Triband UMTS (850/1900/2100) ,
• HSDPA and HSUPA connectivity
• 400 Mhz MSM7200 Qualcomm CPU,
• 128 RAM and 256 ROM
• 2.8″ 320×240 px QVGA display
• 3 megapixel camera with autofocus
• 0.3 mpx front camera for video calls
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Built-in A-GPS
• micro-SD/micro SDHC memory card slot


Recent article from intomobile:
http://www.intomobile.com/2007/10/19/htc-polaris-specs-leaked-renamed-as-htc-touch-cruise.html

[MaskedMarauder]

Slightly shorter than the orbit, double the storage, double the ram, at least twice as fast a processor, and a really nice flush screen like the touch, oh and better camera and 3g,

You missed the external MicroSD slot off your list!

[DMAND]

^ Thats reason enough , Id rather get this to replace my Orbit than pay £269 for an iPhone which apparently will be replaced by a 3G version soon after, just like the whole iPod thing new one every few days lol

[EazyVG]

For me it was either Kaiser or Touch Cruiser, but since Touch Cruiser got no VGA and as I expected a little bigger screen, then I am with Kaiser, packing full QWERTY keyboard.

Let's see what price difference will be between the two models.

[finesse]

what is a-gps?

[rthomas]

I thought O2 and HTC had parted ways.

[zen123]

Looks like my Orbit can be retired soon. Its an improvement in everyway over the old one, except maybe no VGA screen. Faster processor, 3G, more memory, SDHC support, flat touchsreen & better camera all in a small compact form factor. Don't need or want a keyboard which will only add to the size.

I used a Kaiser for a week & couldn't get on with the size most notably the thickness.

[Lejuxx]

hi...

very good PDA...
This is the ideal successor for my Artemis...:D

[WolfDac]

It's seems to be one of the best PocketPC in 2007.
Just can't wait to have one...

[Tsuioku]

what is a-gps?

Assisted GPS.
http://www.globallocate.com/A-GPS/A-GPS_Frameset.htm


I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for this phone... until I get addicted to sending txt again... =)

[honest]

it's very good htc polaris :)

[wywywywy]

Anyone knows whether it is going to have a proper real transflective screen like the Hermes, or a crappy transmissive screen like the Kaiser?

[finesse]

Assisted GPS.
http://www.globallocate.com/A-GPS/A-GPS_Frameset.htm


I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for this phone... until I get addicted to sending txt again... =)

So i am guessing there is going to be a network operator charge to collect the data?

http://www.globallocate.com/A-GPS/AGPS_diag_2.jpg

[drpiety]

Aeah someone please ecplain the good and the bad with this AGPS, better or worse than it was without the "a"??

[thegadgetman]

Aeah someone please ecplain the good and the bad with this AGPS, better or worse than it was without the "a"??
A-GPS uses an internet connection to get satelite data so it can get a quicker fix then GPS alone - much quicker.
But it means downloading from the internet regularly to keep the satelite data correct.

[thegadgetman]

I think the most important question is...
Will it have any of the interface features of the touch and touch dual?
i.e. the finger friendly interface add-ons.
This is my only bugbear with the microsoft mobile OSs - having to get the sylus out all the time when a finger tip should do.

[Gustopher]

A-GPS uses an internet connection to get satelite data so it can get a quicker fix then GPS alone - much quicker.
But it means downloading from the internet regularly to keep the satelite data correct.

I think this is already in place in the native O2 ROM, if memory serves. There was a utility that could be set to run periodically that was designed to do just this. It didn't have to be run all that often and was fairly quick when it did run.

This isn't part of Tom's BB4.2 ROM that I can see and yet GPS still works OK. This would tend to suggest that the 'assisted' bit is optional.

[dutchrhino]

Apparently it has the 'improved' touch-flo interface.
Improved in a sense that it now adds rotation and zooming capabilities. No work however, how this would work (without the multitouch interface apple uses)

I hope they have increased the areas the touchflo interface works on. You still need to get out the stylus too often, while on an iPhone you can do without the whole thing all together.

R

[thegadgetman]

Apparently it has the 'improved' touch-flo interface.
Improved in a sense that it now adds rotation and zooming capabilities. No work however, how this would work (without the multitouch interface apple uses)

I hope they have increased the areas the touchflo interface works on. You still need to get out the stylus too often, while on an iPhone you can do without the whole thing all together.

R
I think it'll have to be a try before you buy then,
As the full TouchFLO interface gives you big buttons even for things like the volume control and network contol on the top bar.
But I spose we don't know if it'll happen or not...

[oliversettle]

HTC Polaris Released 12th November 2007

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/11/htccruise_frontright_hi.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/11/htccruise_back_hi.jpg


HTC Webpage
http://www.htc.com/product/03-product_htctouch_cruise.htm

!!!! Check first post for update !!!!

[mastelos]

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2673/image002um7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
with my Artemis a few days ago

i will buy one for sure.


i hope meschle make rom for polaris too....:D

[Mr.Feelgood]

I like RADIO FM skin
and audiobooster

[alfiejts]

I'm a bit confused about all the hype on this thread.

Apart from a slightly better resolution camera (that's still nowhere as good as a proper digital camera, so I'll still need to use that for "proper pictures") and a 400mhz processor, I can't see that this has anything going for it better than an Artemis with one of the new Roms (such as Meschle's 3.01 Touch).

Yes it has more memory, but I can do all I need with the memory on the Artemis...

And it seems to lose the two extra buttons that I find so useful on the Artemis - Start and OK.

So apart from being a bit faster (and at 400mhz that's still only the speed of my very old XDA2, which I've only just replaced by the Artemis...), I can't find a single solid reason to justify any expenditure...

[kaiso]

Then keep your discretionary income in your pocket. No one's begging you to buy it. Geesh

[cttransnb]

I have to s i love my Artemis
1 the new Polaris does not have a Mouse:(
2 nor does it have OK Buttons :(
3 A-GPS :mad:
4 And big thanks to Meschel i have the same software :D
I think i stay Artemis

[mpr_ger]

:confused:
Did the orbit have HSDPA/UMTS? - No. That was a feature I really missed w. my Orbit.

The mouse feature was nice, but sometimes a pain to use. I think the improved Touch Flo is better.

A faster processor is perfect for this device.

Nearly the same form factor. Also perfect.

You can finally access the memory card slot. Perfect.

Who really needs a VGA Screen? I used the Toshibe e8xx series. It was nice, but not every application used the VGA resolution.

I think the orbit was nearly perfect. The orbit 2 IS perfect. Which other HTC device has Quad band GSM, 3 band umts, Touch Flo, a-gps (orbit already had SIRF3+AGPS, which worked perfectly), FM radio, fast processor???

I think the only device that can beat this is the new i-mate ultimate series.

... The O2 device seems to have a touch pad + wheel, the htc a enter button + wheel....

[ingenious]

Hey guys, a quick but very important for me question:

Can anyone confirm that the O2 Germany version of the device will have the same 4-way-nav-wheel/pad as the HTC's Polaris? I have always hated the rotate-only wheel of the old version and that's the only reason I didn't buy it back then. Will the XDA Orbit 2 have 4-way navigation button (I don't care about the rotation option)?

Thank you very much in advance!

If it does, it is a must -buy for me!

[dzign-it]

ooooh, i was just about to buy the htc version of this.....now im gunna wait for this o2 version...very sexy

[dzign-it]

oooooh actually..i dunno....i dunno which one i think looks nicer.... the rounded o2 version, or the squarer htc version...bugger.. what does everyone else think?

[shawndh]

:confused:
Did the orbit have HSDPA/UMTS? - No. That was a feature I really missed w. my Orbit.

The mouse feature was nice, but sometimes a pain to use. I think the improved Touch Flo is better.

A faster processor is perfect for this device.

Nearly the same form factor. Also perfect.

You can finally access the memory card slot. Perfect.

Who really needs a VGA Screen? I used the Toshibe e8xx series. It was nice, but not every application used the VGA resolution.

I think the orbit was nearly perfect. The orbit 2 IS perfect. Which other HTC device has Quad band GSM, 3 band umts, Touch Flo, a-gps (orbit already had SIRF3+AGPS, which worked perfectly), FM radio, fast processor???

I think the only device that can beat this is the new i-mate ultimate series.

... The O2 device seems to have a touch pad + wheel, the htc a enter button + wheel....

I don't think the guy who said that this isn't much better than the current Artemis was really thining about all that this phone has to offer. The wheel on the Artemis is nice but a pain to use with games because you don't have a regular d-pad! (I had to learn how to play tetris all over again and I'm still not as good as with my iPaq) So now it has BOTH! That's awesome to me.

Also, the scroll ball was novel at best, especially with the mouse. I don't hear anyone raving about it. I rarely ever use it and doubt many others do too. Also, eventually, the same thing will happen to that ball that happens to the balls that were in our PC mouse. It gets all dirty and needs to be opened and cleaned. Not a good design for reliability.

And although the phone has lost two keys, we have to remember its a touch phone. The screen is flush with the device so it wont be difficult to push the OK and Start Menu keys like it is on our current recessed screens (that collect crud along the corners). So you really don't need them.

400Mhz means you can run stuff like skype and video smoothly without overclocking. That means a lot to me. And the touchflo and prog like Album will be so much smoother (if this thing is optomized right) with the extra speed.

Also a big plus is the extra RAM. 128Meg. Now I would thing that would speak for itself. You can run stuff like M$ Voice Command (which I like but hate how much memory it takes up), screen plugins, ect without worrying about available memory. That's the main thing we worry about with new ROMs. "How much available Prog Mem is available?" 17Meg? Forget that!

The camera is now 3MP which is not a replacement for a digital camer but it's great just to use for random shots. I was satisfied with the 2MP camera. 3G connectivity. The internet experience will be awesome! No need to elaborate here.

Lastly, my battery life isn't worth a crap anyway with the Artemis. At best, I get 2 days of normal use. So how much worse can the Cruise be? If it can get 2 days with the stock ROM, it's all good in my opion.

So is it worth it to upgrade? Definitely yes for those still on the OEM ROMs. Maybe, maybe not for those with cooked ROMs. Unlike when they replaced the T-Mobile MDA with the Wing, this is a real upgrade.

[thinkit]

i think a lot of people are forgetting that the new device has a 3mp AUTO-FOCUS camera which ifs infinatly better than the fixed focus one on the artemis (which i personally think is crap)

[cttransnb]

info over the Qualcomm gpsOne the is A-GPS that is in Polaris

[morph80]

Why the hell do i need to have super accurate GPS - I don't work for the secret services.

For a while now companies have tried to find a way in, to make money from GPS data. See the N95. With the orbit GPS is free and works well enough I'm not convinced of the benefits of assisted esp. if I have to pay every time I use my GPS. If you can't disable this shit then the Polaris is most likely a no go for me.
Plus the battery life is sure to be worse - for a start all 3G phones are power hungry its also the reason the i-phone ain't 3G but this Qualcomm processor at 400mhz ain't gonna help the situation either.


"Enables position-location application development and revenue-generating
opportunities" - taken from the brochure in that zip

[TheOnly1]

Actually from the brochure the GPS is not that bad. The Artenis GPS is working in a similar way getting assistance from QuickGPS :eek:
On a closer look the chipset of the Polaris is exactly the same as found in the Trinity, incl. the GPS. Maybe a newer revision of the motherboard but basically the same. I've played around with a Trinity and I can't really say I would exchange my Artemis for this device. Running Meschle's Touch 3.0 ROM the speed of the Artemis is even superior to a Trinity with factory HTC ROM :p As I don't play intensive 3D games CPU speed is not that important to me. Videocalls are rubbish too. I'm still to meet a person that actually makes videocalls on a regular basis.
So at the end for me there is no need to upgrade.

[benzo8]

It looks to me like the GPS will function in Standard Mode without any problems. QuickGPS, as supplied by HTC, will only cost you the data transfer over GPRS/3G once a week if you choose to use it. The A-GPS is additional stuff that your ISP may or may not provide uses for, and which you can choose whether to pay for or not. But out of the box, it looks to me like you could switch on your Touch Cruise, wait the initial few minutes to get a fix and use your GPS as normal. Or fire up QuickGPS to spend a cent on 3G to speed up that initial fix.

Anyhow, I have a Touch Cruise on order from eXpansys now - shipping next month it seems... Looking forward to getting my hands on it!

[zandadoum]

i would not change my P3300 for this phone and even if it breaks or i lose it i would try and get another P3300 over this one...

however, there's one thing i inmediately LOVED from this phone when i saw the pictures: the screen crystal is "on top" of the phone. not inside a border like P3300... it's annoying to clean the screen on my P3300 properly, i would love to have a screen like this phone ;)

[dzign-it]

Anyone know when this 02 version is out? Seems the HTC version release has been put back to late december.

Im going to wait and buy this version from 02 as i like it better than the squarer HTC version.

[nickbro]

December for O2 germany, 2008 for O2 UK

[dzign-it]

Bugger..so much for the xmas pressie then lol

[finesse]

From Expansys UK

Handset Only Price: £389.95 (331.87 exc.)



Availability: Due Friday 14th December

[nickbro]

That's not as a package o2 deal, ie from O2

[oliversettle]

O2 Germany end december 2007
O2 UK January 26th 2008 - delayed from 28th november

[nickbro]

Woo out just in time for my contact renewal

[finesse]

According to O2, release data : 21 January 2008

:mad: What about t-mobile customers......

[dzign-it]

Wooooo!

21 Jan 2008 is good for me! Just in time for my contract renewal aswell!