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Live from HTC’s London Press Event!

Published May 6th, 2008 5:58AM EDT
BGR

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Alright, people! We’ve touched down in London and we’re starting to head to HTC’s special press event. We’ll update this shortly from the venue.  

11:16 AM: We’re still waiting…

11:20 AM: Only a small amount of people here…not including the 100 HTC employees, of course.

11:30 AM: Still waiting…looks like there is a delay.

11:39 AM: A lot more press peeps just showed up — not our kind — the traditional media folks.

11:45 AM: Looks like it’s the HTC Touch Diamond. No surprises here. The goodie bags all say “HTC Touch Diamond”.

11:49 AM: Finally they are letting press in!

11:50 AM: We’ve pretty much confirmed Android will not be making an appearance here. Mmm.

11:52 AM: We’re seated. Cheesy music playing.

12:01 PM: HTC CEO Peter Chou is on stage.

12:02 PM: He’s introducing some VP’s.

12:03 PM: “More than 3 million HTC Touchs sold.”

12:04 PM” “Phones are difficult to use. You sometimes have to press 20 buttons.”

12:07 PM: HTC Touch Diamond. 4GB internal memory.

12:09 PM: It has a 3D animated touchscreen experience

12:10 PM: “More emotion.”

12:11 PM: “Breakthrough in innovation.” The HTC Touch Diamond has HSDPA/HSDPU

12:13 PM: It’s a “perfect form factor. Not too big, not too small.”

12:15 PM: He just said the design is museum-worthy. We’ll be the judge of that, fella.

12:16 PM: Showing off the phone’s interface now.

12:17 PM: Looks like HTC heavily customized the interface.

12:18 PM: This is actually pretty cool. We’re getting excited.

12:20 PM: Well, there’s definitely an accelorometer in here!

12:22 PM: Here’s what we’ve been waiting for — the internet browsing…

12:23 PM: This definitely doesn’t look like Pocket Internet Explorer. You can touch content in the browser and it comes up in almost a text editor for easier reading.

12:24 PM: Sort of like Mobile Safari, in a way.

12:24 PM: Web browser also rotates when device is tilted.

12:25 PM: HTC worked with Google to deveop a “killer YouTube experience.” One touch YouTube access. Scroll through videos like the iPhone with elastic scrolling. Nice, it has  VGA display and YouTube looks awesome.

12:26 PM: Marketing spin: “HTC Touch Diamond is Just Like Your Life.” What, sad and lonely?

12:28 PM: Vice President of HTC Europe speaking now. The phone will be available through all key operating partners. All 5 main networks in the U.K. — wow.

12:29 PM: Available in Europe and Asia in June. Rest of the world is later this year. What. In. The. Hell?

12:30 PM: “Operator-specific versions will be coming and will have key services and features from each specific partner.” They’re talking about the ability to work with they’re partners, etc.

12:31 PM: “Unique Orange Flavor.” Executive VP of Orange taking the stage now. He just said “a truely cool and exciting device.”

12:34 PM: Orange TV with 61 channels will be available on Touch Diamond. This is getting really boring.

12:36 PM: Peter Chou is back on stage.

12: 37 PM: Peter just said HTC screws up sometimes but they work hard to try and improve.

12:40 PM: HTC Touch Diamond is the first device to launch with Windows Mobile 6.1

12:42 PM: The new head of Microsoft Mobile Communications, Andy Lee, is on stage.

12:43 PM: 11 million Windows Mobile devices sold last year, blah blah.

12:44 PM: Oh my god. We came all the way here for one phone. Where is my slide-out keyboard, damn it!

12:45 PM: Peter Chou – “I believe the HTC Touch Diamond will change how people interact with their phone.”

12:46 PM: Think they are wrapping it up now. Nope. Question time!

12:47 PM: Someone just asked the Microsoft dude why Opera was used as the browser on the Touch Diamond. He said because Windows Mobile browser 6 is coming soon and isn’t done yet. “It will be the richest mobile browser experience.” Yeah, whatevz dude!

12:50 PM: People are asking about iPhone comparisons and texting and the keyboard. Touchscreen keyboard! Come on, guys! No 3.5mm headset jack. It still used the USB jack. Wack.

12:53 PM: An “8-21% improvement in battery life with Windows Mobile 6.1.” Uh, what kind of range is that, people?

12:54 PM: Aaaaand the lights went out. Think it’s over.

12:55 PM: Wow a 900mAh battery. That will last a good 6 minutes.

12:56 PM: Price point? Too early to tell…based on operator.

1:00 PM: That’s it! On to the demo.

Jonathan S. Geller
Jonathan Geller Founder, President & Editor-in-chief

Jonathan S. Geller founded Boy Genius Report, now known as BGR, in 2006. It became the biggest mobile news destination in the world by the end of 2009, and BGR was acquired by leading digital media company PMC in April 2010.

Jonathan is President of BGR Media, LLC., and Editor-in-chief of the BGR website.

What started as a side project at the age of 16, quickly transpired into 24-hour days and nights of sharing exclusive and breaking news about the mobile communications industry. BGR now reaches up to 100 million readers a month through the website, syndication partners, and additional channels.