HTC OMNI - first pictures...

[galt]

Originally Posted by dreamtheater39 Unfortunately, theres no other device worth upgrading once you're used to a Uni. Theres nothing quite close to it. The keyboard is sooo perfect for me, i cant use any other device....its either too small, or has the button layout not well designed, or too few buttons etc. The uni is a show stealer, and only a new version of the same device is worth it

Agreed. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, they've left us high and dry on the upgrade path.

Seriously, 12-18 months ago all they needed to do was bump the basic specs and offer it in the same form factor, but if we don't see anything until 2008 (and we wont) , it really needs to be damn hot to justify the wait. I'm thinking not only the specs we've seen in terms of GPS, WVGA, 125/256 RAM/ROM, but it really should be running a next-gen processor like the Marvel "Monahan" PXA310 or PXA320 (read here: http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.a...tno=365&pgno=0 ) and it should include a few gigs of flash memory for storage.

What is perplexing is that HTC is otherwise doing a great job of upgrading and adding to the rest of their product lineup, but the gap between what they offered us over two years ago via the Uni, and what they have made available to us today for replacement (go small = Kaiser, go larger = Advantage) is still too distant - no device really offers the particular balance achieved in the Universal between overall device, screen, and keyboard sizes and between the phone & data form functionality.

Did the Omni just not make the cut in terms of projected revenue due to the larger data devices being more of a niche market? If so, then why the Advantage? Did they delay the Omni in order to wait for better technology to be incorporated? If so, that's the best scenario for those of us dedicated to this kind of device, but it means we're stuck struggling with aging Uni's or making undesirable trade-offs for lesser devices in the mean time. There could be a thousand reasons it hasn't made it out, and our speculation really serves no really purpose, but ultimately it has become very frustrating and very sad to be a Universal/Omni fan.

Saddled with an uncertain future, stuck between waning enjoyment and a reluctance to give in and accept certain disappointment; the Omni fan waits.

[greatestkelvin]

I used to spend weeks after weeks waiting for the new Omni, but I later realize why am I making myself so unhappy. I bought the Dopod U1000 instead. This is such a cool device. The screen is large, right now I do so many things with it, I watch videos, I surf the internet using HSDPA, I play games...... its well built. Don't wait any longer for a device that doesn't exist... life is too short.

[patrickl]

I second the Dopod U1000 (or HTC Athena / X7500/ T-Mobile Ameo). It really is a great device. It's not that much bigger than the Universal actually. It has some disadvantages compared to the Uni (calls only work as speaker phone or with headset, size, keyboard not truly integrated), but the screen is just awesome and so is the 8GB storage (great for movie viewing and with the TV out even on a TV)

[dreamtheater39]

Originally Posted by galt Agreed. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, they've left us high and dry on the upgrade path. Seriously, 12-18 months ago all they needed to do was bump the basic specs and offer it in the same form factor, but if we don't see anything until 2008 (and we wont) , it really needs to be damn hot to justify the wait. I'm thinking not only the specs we've seen in terms of GPS, WVGA, 125/256 RAM/ROM, but it really should be running a next-gen processor like the Marvel "Monahan" PXA310 or PXA320 (read here: http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.a...tno=365&pgno=0 ) and it should include a few gigs of flash memory for storage. What is perplexing is that HTC is otherwise doing a great job of upgrading and adding to the rest of their product lineup, but the gap between what they offered us over two years ago via the Uni, and what they have made available to us today for replacement (go small = Kaiser, go larger = Advantage) is still too distant - no device really offers the particular balance achieved in the Universal between overall device, screen, and keyboard sizes and between the phone & data form functionality. Did the Omni just not make the cut in terms of projected revenue due to the larger data devices being more of a niche market? If so, then why the Advantage? Did they delay the Omni in order to wait for better technology to be incorporated? If so, that's the best scenario for those of us dedicated to this kind of device, but it means we're stuck struggling with aging Uni's or making undesirable trade-offs for lesser devices in the mean time. There could be a thousand reasons it hasn't made it out, and our speculation really serves no really purpose, but ultimately it has become very frustrating and very sad to be a Universal/Omni fan. Saddled with an uncertain future, stuck between waning enjoyment and a reluctance to give in and accept certain disappointment; the Omni fan waits.

Hi galt!

very well put, great post! it states our frustration, good to know many more of them out there like me going crazy waiting for an upgrade.....wonder how long the wait would end up being.

The advantage is way toooo big for normal use. It wont fit in any of my pants, and has no decent cover to clip it on to your belt. Its like a gadget tumor which you want to weed out....too large, a complete NO. I tried several times to convince myself, but it just doesnt cut it.

I guess the sickening wait continues.....bloody htc, beginning to hate them for going the commercial path and leaving out the true fans behind. The HTC touch has made them great revenues, and they're pumping all their budgets into the touch and its future platforms....sad. The least they can do is, expand their team and get an uni upgrade on a parallel, least to say....

Screw htc, isnt there any other company who can make something similar with bumped up specs??? what happened to Imate? Sad! I'm just losing it here eventually :-/


San

[ng]

I completely agree with Galt! Nothing really cuts it compared to my uni, I simply want an upgrade HTC!!!

Kaiser:I'm tempted, but afraid the screen and keyboard won't cut it, if nothing comes out, I think it will be this device as phone and uni for making notes.
Athena: way too big!The uni is pushing it for size and weight, I'm not gonna walk around with something that isn't even a normal phone, has a small keyboard and that will kill all my bank cards in my purse! (yes, in my purse ;-)
xda flame: great, but has no own keyboard and will force everything into portrait (more of a landscape person), plus I don't live in an O2 country, so importing would be too expensive.

sigh...I guess I'll wait and see what comes out in 2008...

[Johny58]

Anyone considering the ETEN Glofiish M800 yet?
http://msmobiles.com/news.php/6768.html

[cktlcmd]

Originally Posted by Johny58 Anyone considering the ETEN Glofiish M800 yet? http://msmobiles.com/news.php/6768.html

Nice specs. But I still prefer a clamshell device, so I am waiting for the HTC Omni or the IMate 7150, if they both cancel it. Then I'll probably look into the ETEN.

---

[Zuber]

Sounds good.

Could not spot the camera specs.

also hope they add 128MB ram in there.

Zuber

[mo3ulla]

eten m800 ---- suxx
1/ they have only 64mb ram
2/ its eten ... their assembly is not in comparison with HTC

[Huck33]

Originally Posted by cktlcmd Nice specs. But I still prefer a clamshell device, so I am waiting for the HTC Omni or the IMate 7150, if they both cancel it. Then I'll probably look into the ETEN. ---

i saw that the 7150 is planned for february 2008