What is the point of this device?

[evilmonkey1987]

I'll ask the question? Other than a marketing trick called "re-release", what is the point of this device? Its specs seem identical to the original Elfin. Please enlighten me.

[kidnamedAlbert]

no point at all.
except for maybe the look of the newest htc devices(Diamond,Raphael,S740)

[guap]

elfin was't officially released in every country. In example here in Italy we don't ufficially had any "touchXL" (elfin), only generic "touch" that can be regular elf or elfin if you were lucky (or if you look for it by part number on box or turn on it, in fact i searched and found an elfin for myself :p)

so, this "new" device bring order in the chaos of world-wide mass market distribution :)

[evilmonkey1987]

Hmm, that makes sense I guess. I certainly won't be getting one of those. Touch HD, here I come. :D

[nanoflower]

The Touch 3G (OPAL) has a better CPU more RAM and it's GPS enabled :)

Technical Details

• Processor
Qualcomm® MSM7225™, 528 MHz
• Operating System
Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
• Memory
ROM: 256 MB
RAM: 192 MB
• Display
2.8-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with QVGA resolution
HTC TouchFLO™
4-Way navigation control with Enter button

• Network
HSDPA/WCDMA: Europe/Asia: 900/2100 MHz
Up to 384 kbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
(Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent)
• GPS
GPS and A-GPS ready
• Connectivity
Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for stereo wireless headsets
Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one)
• Camera
3.2 megapixel color camera with fixed focus
• Expansion Slot
microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
• Audio
Built-in microphone and speaker
Ring tone formats:
AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV
40 polyphonic and standard MIDI format 0 and 1 (SMF)/SP MIDI
• Battery
Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Capacity: 1100 mAh
Talk time: Up to 360 minutes for WCDMA / Up to 400 minutes for GSM
Standby time: Up to 450 hours for WCDMA / Up to 365 hours for GSM
• Dimensions (LxWxT)
102 mm X 53.6 mm X 14.5 mm
• Weight
96 grams with battery
• AC Adapter
Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz
DC output: 5V and 1A

[bomo]

The HTC Opal is not the HTC Touch 3G. The Opal is the same as the Eflin, only it has Manila interated, thats all.
Touch 3G (Jade) is much better!

[surur]

The HTC Opal is not the HTC Touch 3G. The Opal is the same as the Eflin, only it has Manila interated, thats all.
Touch 3G (Jade) is much better!

The point is obviously to be price competitive, and make a cheap low-range device.

With the recession going on it can only be a good idea, and shows HTC has been thinking ahead.

Surur