[HerpezP]

Monolithix (MVP), on Oct 2 2007, 01:21, said:

Either way hopefully we'll get a definitive answer in the next day or two...

I sure hope too. Engadget seems to have confirmation from HTC that it doesn't have WiFi?

I have no doubt when you say that the devices on show had WiFi. It just doesn't make me sure that the production units will have it

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[jblue]

O2 Germany will announce today the HTC Touch Slide as O2 Xda star WITHOUT Wifi! So they will be the second operator who change the hardware... Also they will have the keyboard with qwertz...

This post has been edited by jblue: 02 October 2007 - 06:57 AM

[Monolithix]

*Sigh* so it looks like the operators strike again?

[yoda6]

Would you credit it? Now HTC are saying it DOES come with WiFi, according to their product sheets.

I think they're trying to lay the blame firmly at the feet of the operators if this thing ships with WiFi disabled.

http://www.europe.htc.com/z/pdf/products/H..._Eng_250907.pdf

Rob.

[Jonne70]

yoda6, on Oct 2 2007, 10:12, said:

Would you credit it? Now HTC are saying it DOES come with WiFi, according to their product sheets.
I think they're trying to lay the blame firmly at the feet of the operators if this thing ships with WiFi disabled.
http://www.europe.ht..._Eng_250907.pdf
Rob.

That product sheet is not to be found if you navigate directly to europe.htc.com and go to the broschures for Touch Dual. The current spec sheet have no mention of wi-fi, and are dated about a week later. So it seems HTC removed wi-fi the the last minute. Such a shame, otherwise I would have bought this phone immediately, but with no wi-fi then absolutely not. I find it very odd that HTC make their phones worse, not better.

This post has been edited by Jonne70: 02 October 2007 - 10:52 AM

[paholman]

Jonne70, on Oct 2 2007, 11:51, said:

That product sheet is not to be found if you navigate directly to europe.htc.com and go to the broschures for Touch Dual. The current spec sheet have no mention of wi-fi, and are dated about a week later. So it seems HTC removed wi-fi the the last minute. Such a shame, otherwise I would have bought this phone immediately, but with no wi-fi then absolutely not. I find it very odd that HTC make their phones worse, not better.

I have to agree, if it's true and no Wifi, this really does remove itself from my wish list.

[yoda6]

Jonne70, on Oct 2 2007, 11:51, said:

That product sheet is not to be found if you navigate directly to europe.htc.com and go to the broschures for Touch Dual. The current spec sheet have no mention of wi-fi, and are dated about a week later. So it seems HTC removed wi-fi the the last minute. Such a shame, otherwise I would have bought this phone immediately, but with no wi-fi then absolutely not. I find it very odd that HTC make their phones worse, not better.

You're right, my mistake. I had that link in my browser history from yesterday so I assumed it was still valid.

[HerpezP]

Review: http://www.smape.com...h_Dual-rev.html

It says that is hasn't got WiFi:

Quote

Sadly enough some drawbacks took place as well - for instance, the lack of Wi-Fi and a price higher than the original Touch.

Monolithix, I'm afraid the original HTC version will also lack WiFi. Why would they do this?

[Monolithix]

We're still awaiting our own verification, whatever the deal was on Monday though, its looking increasingly likely that the production unit will be wifi-less!

I'd guess they assume Wifi is unnecessary when HSDPA is built in, unless you're on a plane, or roaming, in a tunnel, weak signal area......

[HerpezP]

Quote

The handset design differs depending on the country. For instance, the Japanese version comes with a regular numeric keyboard similar to most types of phones. Some of the countries will receive shipments of a particular version of the device that supports Wi-Fi. Quite surprisingly, The hardware part of the gadget is closer to that of TyTN II rather than of Touch. Here come the same chipset, the same RAM and ROM specifications and so forth... In the image and likeness of Trinity, Touch II includes a GPS module, however it’s not going to be activated unlike what we saw with the precursor model, most likely due to some other solutions expected to expand the Touch series in an alternate direction.

Also from http://www.smape.com...h_Dual-rev.html

From the reviews I've read on Smape it sounds like they know what they are talking about. It would be weird to have the HTC-branded solution differ from country to country, though? The GPS is curious though - could be enabled by some tweaking?

[HerpezP]

Quote

Furthermore HTC confirmed, that neither the original HTC Touch Dual nor any operator versions will sport WiFi as you might have seen rumored on the web. The explanation is simple: there was no space for WiFi or GPS so it's not an option which carriers can deselect but it's physically not built-in

Source: http://www.theunwired.net/?item=photoview-...bile-smartphone

"There was no space for WiFi or GPS" *cough* bull *cough*.

Did anyone say LG KS20?

[nitramk]

HerpezP, on Oct 2 2007, 16:04, said:

Source: http://www.theunwired.net/?item=photoview-...bile-smartphone

"There was no space for WiFi or GPS" *cough* bull *cough*.

Did anyone say LG KS20?

Yea, seems very strange to me...

Maybe HTC is about to do one of their biggest mistakes ever here! First going out in public saying that they are listening to customer demands (no WiFi: ???), and then not include WiFi in a WinMo phone (when people clearly wants it), which for many I believe is one of the better things with Windows Mobile.

The space is obviously there, the chipset too, so why HTC, WHY leave out WiFi?!?! We want GOOD reasons here!

[edit]
All the pre-production devices seen on or before the launch, seems to have WiFi? A last minute decision?

This post has been edited by nitramk: 02 October 2007 - 04:21 PM

[Metoo]

HerpezP, on Oct 2 2007, 15:04, said:

Source: http://www.theunwired.net/?item=photoview-...bile-smartphone

"There was no space for WiFi or GPS" *cough* bull *cough*.

Did anyone say LG KS20?

Hardly fair - the LG doesn't have to accomodate a keyboard. Though it does sound like Arne's made that one up (or didn't mean it literally).

This post has been edited by Metoo: 02 October 2007 - 04:30 PM

[nitramk]

Metoo, on Oct 2 2007, 18:26, said:

Hardly fair - the LG doesn't have to accomodate a keyboard. Though it does sound like Arne's made that one up (or didn't mean it literally).

Yepp, that's true...
But still I've a hard time understanding why to leave it out. Apparently (Paul & Mono) the device at display DID have WiFi! And so do the device mentioned on superiorgadgets' blog...

[Metoo]

nitramk, on Oct 2 2007, 17:19, said:

The space is obviously there, the chipset too, so why HTC, WHY leave out WiFi?!?! We want GOOD reasons here!

Simply because HTC marketing dept ensure that there is always something missing to make you want to upgrade to the next model. And running two variants to satisfy the network operators (like the Artemis) adds to production and support costs (and hence dents profits). So I suspect the range got rationalised at the last minute when the operators started to sign up.
Personally, I don't think the lack of WiFi is such a big deal on a device such as this. Since I had 3G/HSDPA on a flat rate contract, I can't remember the last time I had to search out an access point and mess about with finding keys etc., then make sure I stay within 30ft of the damn thing. Wherever I am, my phone just downloads whatever it needs OTA, period.

This post has been edited by Metoo: 02 October 2007 - 04:47 PM

[paholman]

Metoo, on Oct 2 2007, 17:44, said:

Simply because HTC marketing dept ensure that there is always something missing to make you want to upgrade to the next model. And running two variants to satisfy the network operators (like the Artemis) adds to production and support costs (and hence dents profits). So I suspect the range got rationalised at the last minute when the operators started to sign up.
Personally, I don't think the lack of WiFi is such a big deal on a device such as this. Since I had 3G/HSDPA on a flat rate contract, I can't remember the last time I had to search out an access point and mess about with finding keys etc., then make sure I stay within 30ft of the damn thing. Wherever I am, my phone just downloads whatever it needs OTA, period.

Some users are not on flat rate contracts, and don't need to be if Wifi is available.

[nitramk]

paholman, on Oct 2 2007, 19:17, said:

Some users are not on flat rate contracts, and don't need to be if Wifi is available.

Exactly! (like me )

But, hopefully there are more than just keypad differences in the two variants of the Touch Duo. Maybe there is one with WiFi and one without?

And btw; the HTC marketing dept thing, isn't a GOOD explanation in my eyes. Still they are talking against themselves...

[HerpezP]

Metoo, on Oct 2 2007, 18:26, said:

Hardly fair - the LG doesn't have to accomodate a keyboard. Though it does sound like Arne's made that one up (or didn't mean it literally).

I know - it was also mostly because I think I'll go with that phone instead now.

AFAIK the exact same reason was used a month ago when asked why the Japanese version didn't have WiFi, so I don't think it's something that Arne is making up. I think it's almost the exact words used by the HTC representative who told it.

I've found a picture of the Bluetooth/WLAN antenna in Nokia N95 8GB:



Is that what's so big that it couldn't fit into the case? Since Touch Dual already has Bluetooth, the same antenna seems to be usable for WiFi too (I'm no wireless expert, so I can't tell)? HTC must be able to find at least some excuses that are possible to be plausible. Makes me sad when companies' official words are close to being a direct lie.

[Metoo]

paholman, on Oct 2 2007, 18:17, said:

Some users are not on flat rate contracts, and don't need to be if Wifi is available.

Maybe not, but IME going on to one, and therefore not worrying about the cost every time it initiated a data connection, totally transformed the way I used my PDA/Phone. Now I rarely need to seek out a WiFi connection because most of the content I need has already been downloaded to my phone in the background, ready to read at my convenience, wherever I want. - i.e. Email, Calendar, News/RSS, Weather, Traffic info etc. And the for the time I need to view live content, 3G/HSPDA is plenty fast enough.

I realise that doesn't apply to everyone, but you can see how it's in the network operators' interests to pressure HTC into ditching WLAN - epecially if it then simplifies supply lines and gives HTC a demarkation between their low end and high end devices.

[HerpezP]

Not directly related, but pretty interesting:

The pre-production S730 Superior Gadgets has is GPS-enabled:

http://bp1.blogger.com/_Na8y0wPGxNE/RwKMgT...GPS+on+S730.jpg

I'm thinking loud now, but maybe, just maybe, both TyTN II, S730 and Touch Dual have got the exact same innards (besides only 64 MB RAM on S730, of course) so it's only a question of some skilled people (xda-developers?) to tweak the software and enable both WiFi and GPS on both S730 and Touch Dual.

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