The Touch Diamond 2 officially available! ![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3778293369580805437-7833110889164649214?l=itmobility.blogspot.com)
We had the opportunity to test the latest phone Windows Mobile handhelds, and I called the Palm Treo Pro. As its name suggests, it is primarily aimed at the professional market with a full keyboard in front, giving it an air of great BlackBerry
Packaging
The package is really neat, the box is small and quite pretty. It includes the phone, battery, stylus, charger, micro USB cable (discussed later), and textbooks. By no cons
bag, pouch or "sock" is provided to protect the unit. This is the only thing missing really.
Design The phone, manufactured by HTC, is rather thin but large enough to cause the physical keyboard. We enjoyed the central directional pad surrounded by four buttons (Windows, OK, calendar and email) and also the possibility of having two soft buttons on the screen.
It should be emphasized that the functions of the physical buttons are doubled with the use of the white button at the bottom left of the keyboard. In fact, pressing the white button followed by pressing a function button then brings another function. Ex: Windows button, which opens the Start menu of the device button turns into "File Explorer" when combined with the white button. The solution is practical, even if it requires storing the dual function of each button.
top, next to the power button is a switch for switching very rapidly vibrate mode button, which is often found on phones designed for professionals.
On the right side Palm has chosen to release the infrared port and a button to directly activate WiFi. Good thinking, but unfortunately a bit hard to engage, the latter being a little too deep in the hull.
be found on the left side volume keys and that of the camera. These cons are very pleasant to use, just over the device.
At the rear is the objective of the camera, and a big logo "Palm". The black paint, gloss type, is proving to be a magnet for fingerprint, which hinder the most manic.
Finally, below the unit are the mini stereo jack and micro USB port. And yes, no mini USB port as one can find a very large majority of Windows Mobile device, but a micro USB port, a port that should, in future, imposed as a standard. However, at present, it is more an inconvenience than a more micro USB cables are not yet commonplace.
Use
After about a week of use, our opinion is quite mixed. Indeed, We believe that this phone is actually between a Smartphone and a PocketPC.
A Smartphone since it has the advantage of having a physical keyboard just below the screen and a PocketPC as it features a touch screen. Unfortunately, due to the small size of the touch screen, it is often found to use the pad rather than directly touch interface, the phone does not have an overlay allowing finger scrolling.
Indeed, despite a good resolution of 320x320 pixels (that is to say more than most Windows Mobile devices of previous generation) Palm has chosen to increase the DPI to get a bigger display. Basically, we are left with an image so close to what you may have with a 240x240 screen.
Regarding the keyboard, again my opinion is mixed. It is indisputable that a full keyboard directly below the screen is typically the most ergonomic back of the text. In contrast, the Treo Pro from Palm leaves something to be desired, mainly because of the size of its keys, which are too close and too small.
The space is, for example, slightly more sensitive than the other keys. Therefore, often you type two spaces instead of one.
Finally, the stylus is difficult to remove from its site. Fortunately, thanks to the pad, we have not had to use it regularly for our use.
The locking system of the phone is really well thought-cons. Simply press either button or hang up the power button. Displayed time and date on the screen. Cons by unlocking is done by pressing any button located above the keyboard or the power button, then pressing the submit button on the pad center. Pressing the Windows buttons, calendar, or mail are not very sensible because then open the applications associated with the button knowing that he will still press the Center button to unlock the PSA unit.
To use the built-in GPS, Google Maps and Webraska were installed by default on the phone. Both software solutions are Offboard, forcing the use of a data plan. Neither can compete with real navigation software like TomTom.
Conclusion As you can see, the conclusion is also mixed.
The excellent idea of integrating a full keyboard is marred by the smallness of the keys. No overlay is added to Windows Mobile, which in its version 6.1, it must be confessed, is sorely lacking in ergonomics for use on the finger. Maybe it was strategic, Palm preferring to focus on the development of Web OS to be released soon with the Palm Pre. Autonomy, however is quite good, with about three days of use (with push email enabled).
This phone will probably meet a professional, which once mastered the small keyboard, will have a stand-alone phone, and proposing all possible connectivity today.
Most
Keyboard too small but can be useful for professional use once mastered
wifi button, mute button and four buttons around the central pad plus two soft buttons
touchscreen
GPS
when turning off the screen, display time and date
3.5mm jack
no micro SD card provided