Introduction

Since the announcement of Google’s in 2007, to want to conquer the market of operating systems for mobile devices, with the free operating system Android, the number of Android smartphones increased steadily. In addition to Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and other HTC stands out however particularly. It has already developed eleven own models based on this platform, also produces on behalf of the “nexus one” Google HTC.

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HTC desire: King of the “free” smartphones?

Enough experience so, to address the development of a perfect Android Smartphone? Many advance praise were received prior to the launch in April of this year in any case the HTC desire. There is competition in this segment mostly from in-house production or in the form of Samsung Galaxy S and the Motorola milestone, which was the first device that was shipped with version 2 of the Android operating system.

In our test, we want to find out how it is ordered to the qualities of the HTC desire. We place particular attention here on its use in everyday life from different points of view – productivity in the University, usefulness on the bike and pastime on long train journeys.

We are examining what has to offer the HTC desire in this respect and in addition, on the following pages.

Scope of delivery

The HTC desire reaches the buyer in a predominantly white cardboard box, which encloses a box therein in same colour. The device itself is on the top in a cut-out and is covered with a protective film, which is to protect the display from damage. The accessories are packed in small purse hidden along with the quick start guides behind it.

Apart from the Android Smartphone, the following things are included:

• a microSDHC memory card with a capacity of 4 gigabytes (is already in the device)
• a micro-USB to USB cable (not shown)
• an AC adapter to the USB cable (not shown)
• Quick start guides in German, French and Italian
• Earphone headset with integrated FM radio antenna, as well as a separate clip for mounting of the cable

An also beliegenden brochure refers to additional accessories, which can be purchased in addition. Is also a cover will be promoted in addition to a Bluetooth headset or a car adapter. This could have included in the light of the price range of HTC desire also. The Taiwanese manufacturer has refused to appear.

Properties

The main focus is on the HTC desire on the feature to display. It is based on the Samsung AMOLED technology, is a capacitive touch screen, and supports pinch-to-zoom – zoom in and out the display by a “pinch” movement of the fingers. The resolution is 800 × 480 pixels, and meets the WVGA standard.

The relatively high computing power of desire is at the “Snapdragon” chipset from Qualcomm with a processor clock speed of a gigahertz. 576 MB of RAM available to it are also.

As the ability to save the manufacturer HTC has settled a microSDHC card 4 GB capacity the device, which is already in the appropriate slot. She may be replaced by corresponding cards up to 32 GB capacity. The internal memory is 512 MB capacity and houses also the apps in addition to the operating system. Those with high memory usage, such as for example navigation software with maps, draw however in most cases by itself to the microSDHC card, so that bottlenecks in terms of free space be avoided.

The following table provides an overview of all the features of HTC desire. On various details, we enter the next few sections more precisely.

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Design and processing

According to the manufacturer, the color combination of this copy is called “black & Brown”. While the black on the face is recognizable, arises the question of which part of the case to have a brown colour. The appearance of matt shimmering borders is in any case rather tantamount to a bright, silvery purple or bronze. On the picture, a Brown can be an idea though, during the day, this is not, however, to recognize. In the other form, the HTC desire in Germany is not available so far, although there was speculation about a version in black and anthracite before publication. These are not confirmed until now however. A silver version is distributed in the Netherlands. Some specimens can be found in auction platforms.

The HTC desire is however very chic because apart from this small irritation with regard to the colors. The large and surrounded by clearly defined lines display inserts good into the case, so that at any point, it appears, something it would not fit. Everything else is of course in the eye of the beholder. In the case of HTC desire, the very high-contrast display is par excellence the design element. It is enabled, built-in housing components role anyway hardly matter. The common opinion, today’s smartphones would see out anyway all the same, has caused by this circumstance which concerns not only the desire.

The openings of the speaker and the function keys positioned under the display, as well as the optical TrackPoint insert well into the overall picture.

Noble is the reverse in Matt Black. In combination with the simple manufacturer logos and the tiny “with HTC sense” lettering, it acts very high quality. The appearance however is also the purpose, because the HTC desire for better grip in the hand easily gummed is coated on the back of the case.

Still, HTC has done very good work in the design we feel – also for Smartphone relationships-.

The processing is good but not excellent. How well-founded in this type of device, to remove the cover on the back, is similar in our eyes always too much a crowbars method. It crack and crunches this abundant and sculptors at the top lever to release the cover brought the desire to never again have to open the door occasionally. This is needed however to change the battery, SIM card or the microSDHC card.

Sharp edges not found on the desire, the individual housing components secreted also almost seamlessly. The only component that protrudes a little out of the case, is the lens of the camera at the back. This and the micro USB socket on the bottom edge are also the only bodies which itself could stuck, for example, to own clothing or in a bag. A cover therefore recommended, but in our view is not strictly necessary, since both elements protrude no more than one or two millimeters out of the case.

Display and camera

The lack of a real keyboard requires a so better display since apart from the function keys and the optical TrackPoint everything on the screen of the HTC desire.

And this display can be seen perfectly. Samsung’s AMOLED technology here is used. It is primarily an OLED display where each pixel individually is addressed on a transistor (AM = active matrix).

Now, it is not so easy to make a judgment about the display of the HTC desire these days. The reason for this is a dispute entbrannter in different forums and blogs about what number of pixels have the Smartphone Google nexus one and HTC desire. Both set to the same the manufacturer Samsung AMOLED display. Instead of the usual three horizontally side by side arranged sub pixels in the colours red, green and blue, it is based on a so-called “PenTile matrix” (detailed explanation of the example nexus one in English).

One must approach the AMOLED screen on a certain distance, to be able to capture this matrix with the camera. The photo shown is therefore a little out of focus. However, upon closer inspection, to realize that much of the area of red and blue subpixels is covered. The Green, however, are much narrower. Why the Red subpixels are also larger, can be explained probably by the desired visual perception here, there is still uncertainty. In the blue, however, the reason is known: this light-emitting diodes are not as durable as green or red, which is why you enlarged the area, to reduce the luminosity in return. A longer life for the blue diode – and for the eye resulting a harmonious image eventually.

Obviously, this does not has an effect visible to the human eye even if some owners of such displays report slightly blurred margins to text. We have not seen this in the test.

The screen however poses a problem in the open. During the day, but especially in direct sunlight, hardly anything is on the display. In the highest level, you can outline though upon closer inspection and recognize pale colors, efficiently use the HTC desire in this situation cannot be however. Blame is the mirrored surface that reflects light very strongly.

What still remains is an excellent overall impression of the display. To compare the system HTC hero with a standard TFT LCD was looking up in all aspects. The black is black, the white white and the color for each maximum brightness level clearly brilliant. It’s really a pleasure on the HTC desire screen view photos and videos – …when that Sun does not shine.

By default, the camera takes photos in 5: 3-format based on what is the aspect ratio of the display (800 × 480 pixels). From the configuration menu (see below) can the full resolution in 4: 3-enable format. In width, there are constant 2592 pixels, the vertical pixel count increases thus however from 1552 to 1952 pixels and the total size of the photos from four to five Megapixels.

The image quality of the photos we are not surprised or disappointed. It is just the level of quality that one would expect from a Smartphone. In the dark, the LED flash saves what goes down in other instruments totally in black noise. However, is not recommended, taking pictures in dark environments, since very much want the quality in low light leaves. Because taking photos but not to the general power of this device class, is to not much criticism – on the camera of HTC desire is expected after all not all too much. A sample photo is found in the course of the test.

Basic functions and software

Also dealing with the Android or sense interface is especially fun next to the display. This can be controlled using the fingers on the display and in addition some function keys as well as the optical TrackPoint.

The latter control caused us some difficulties in the test. It requires considerable sensitivity, hereby precisely navigate to. In some situations, this is quite necessary. While still a trackball was used with other models such as the slightly older HTC hero, the user besaitete for less tender allowed accurate targets, you chose this new model the optical sensor. Hereby we shot beyond unfortunately too often the goal, just when it came to the exact placement of the cursor when editing text.

A real keyboard was not powered the HTC desire, are therefore to make all entries on the screen. Come here to train Android 2.1 and the fast Snapdragon processor: there still often unpleasant stalling in writing, which caused duplicate letters or accidental deletion, in combination of operating system version 1.5 and a less powerful chip is now significantly more typing by hand. If you installed apps in the background, play video, or edited it at all, exists also in our test unit occasionally times short delays. With the described state that prevails in the HTC hero, this is however no way to compare.

Also the kinetic scrolling is useful for the operation. It allows, through a more or less quick finger movement to the top or bottom in either direction to very far scroll – until the screen is touched again or it reaches the end of the page. Very useful for long license agreements, clogged E-Mail mailboxes and also in the Android market.

The buttons at the bottom of offer some important features. The home button leads within a program or menus back to the home screen. It is already there, an overview of all seven work surfaces can be hereby open. Holding down the button for a short time, the six of the most common used applications are displayed. The ‘ menu ‘ button explains itself, there is a button, to return to the last menu level and a button for the search. The latter opens a corresponding search depending on what menu it is currently. During the desktop view, you can start, for example, a global search that.

The standby button on the upper edge is unfortunately too shallow and sensitive advised. Although the General key lock for this, that to not accidentally activate the device in your Pocket (the capacitive display would respond anyway not to touch by substance) holds. However, the device has been powered down, it happens very easily, that comes up is by pressing the standby button.

That one with the HTC desire also calls execute and write MMS and SMS can, comes under almost between the many other features. The voice quality is although not excellent, but pretty good. On a second microphone for active noise reduction, as it was built slightly on the Google nexus one, HTC here has refused. This is however also not strictly necessary and is used in the competition often to justify a higher purchase price. Even not so badly so, that HTC considers the ball flat here.

On the front also a proximity sensor is installed (probably the device uses the optical TrackPoint) which turning off the display while to keep the HTC desire to calling on the head. This prevents accidentally unwanted inputs on the touchscreen to be made.

Android 2.1 and HTC sense

More and more Android devices are in the HTC portfolio in addition to numerous smartphones based on Windows Mobile. Known as “Google G1″ marketed HTC “Dream” marked the beginning of end of 2008. The then shipping Android version 1.4 forced the user to use a Google account. This strongly criticized circumstance was promptly removed with Android 1.5, which currently is the still prevailing release of mostly freely available operating system in addition to a short time later nachgeschobenen version 1.6 – not least because enjoy the HTC “Magic”, “Hero” and “Tattoo” is still very popular.

Android 2.0 and 2.1 have been greatly improved in particular with regard to the performance. And interesting not only for business people: contacts, appointments, and other data you can synchronize with Exchange accounts. In addition, you can – provided a “text to speech” package downloaded from the Android market – also read texts from any input fields. Many elements of the keyboard, which is now better able to handle high tip speeds, via an improved global search, which were live search now also content of SMS and MMS messages up to HTML5 support for the WebKit browser added or improved.

On the Android platform we will enter soon even more detail in a separate article. The open nature of this project and the countless free as paid apps in the “Android market” constitute a very great potential.

The virtual desktop could be quite familiar to Windows Mobile users. Essential design elements as well as pre-installed widgets onto the perform special functions and any arrange themselves, are part of the HTC interface “sense“, a kind of “Add-On” to the already well equipped Android. Include the animated background, the menu navigation held mostly in black, and even closer linking of the own contacts with Facebook and Flickr profiles, go to your account. Intensive users of these social networks have reason for joy, because the corresponding Facebook or Flickr profile can be any contact map. Some apps allow but also the link to Twitter or similar services.

In everyday life

Power and battery

With the 1 GHz processor the Snapdragon chipset the HTC desire provides impressive performance. The most important thing: All inputs are recorded immediately, the software react to all input, loading times are not available or at worst very shortly.

In the “neo-core”-Benchmark (available in the Android market), the Smartphone average offers 26.1 frames per second. Run the games from the virtual marketplace also liquid – in view of the fact that the desire of one of the most powerful Android devices on the market is, it will still take a while to appear in games for this platform, which overwhelm it.

The built-in battery is interchangeable and offers a capacity of 1400 mAh. Thus, a pure talk time of approximately 400 minutes or a pure standby time of up to 15 days is to be achieved according to the manufacturer.

Scenarios like these date from the prehistoric times of mobile phones. Today’s mobile phones and smartphones in particular allow for completely different user profiles, which is why the information while a coarse indication somewhat similar; under real load the battery life of different devices can differ however still greatly significant. Instead to verify this information, we focus here on areas that make up a Smartphone.

The desire played in our review a in H. 264 encoded video at a resolution of 800 × 480 pixels at 2000 kBit / s about six hours, then was the battery at 5 percent.

In regular use for Web, email, navigation and phone calls, a battery recharge approximately every two days was necessary. This is a good, but not superior value.

Productivity and pastime

Of course, you can do all the things that allows the HTC desire, with almost every other Smartphone already running on the Android version 2.1. The question whether you can or not, realize a certain thing with such a device can usually answer by a search in the respective software repertoire.

Here, the Android market competes with the Apple’s app store, which at the current time to a multiple is greater, but not in each category has the better apps on offer. In a wider range is to expect a greater number of high-quality software, in the other direction it behaves exactly so. Real analysis is whether the huge number of tools available and games – in the Android market are currently already over 50,000 and each month more around 10,000 add – in the context of this test impossible. We look at on the positive and negative influences that can exercise the manufacturer HTC with the own Android addition “Sense” as well as with the hardware components here.

Productivity includes many very individual aspects. For me it means for example, to be up to date and to respond to current events,-messages, emails, calendar events in the short term. In this respect, the HTC desire leaves no wish unfulfilled.

In particular the very intuitive operation is useful. The mail client of the HTC interface “Sense” has still looking up here over the app for Gmail, because for example, no IDLE extension for IMAP to the “pushing” e-mail is supported. However alternative apps such as “K-9″ workaround do here.

Also the contact management is very convenient. It has missed an own painting HTC and at the same time, it extends to some features. They have more in private use, given that the link from contact with Facebook and Flickr profiles rather rare for business use their strengths.

Contacts, E-Mails and appointments can be only with the corresponding Google services or a Microsoft Exchange account to synchronize from House. A function to export this data is not initially implemented, several apps in the Android market make this possible, however – also for SMS and MMS content and the like.

Although the HTC desire Android typical grants access to the file system, no access to the file manager is installed. Here too, we must seek the Android market. Also the way to the video playback is somewhat cumbersome and difficult to find. Although the content of popular video portal on the “YouTube”-App use, video files on the memory card, however, can take place only on the “Photos” app. Listed there also the moving image.

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The compilation and arrangement of the widgets on the 7 desktops can be individually adapted – while one in the professional environment, at school or at University wishes may quickly access the calendar, E-mail, and notes, can be one more for the holidays without losing this profile, create the weekend or other situations.

Also playing on the HTC desire is fun. Although only the skill of “Teeter” is installed, which makes use of the installed G-sensor, but countless games are available in the Android market.

Particularly practical support for multi-tasking may be during the reassembling. Although incoming calls to have priority and are displayed at the highest level, but they can be easily minimized so that you can prove to yourself during the phone call in terms of multi-tasking.

Bicycle tour

In a somewhat unusual test, I led with the HTC desire on my bike. To test the energy consumption and the long-range capability, the ride to the next discounters insufficient course. Wind and weather I have around 60 km on the wheel covered together with the desire, 50 of which when enabled GPS tracking.

The free tool “Endomondo” to the same name athletes community has done good service. It offers the ability to record routes like many other apps. In the Android version of the software, it is even possible to transfer this data live on the Internet. Friends and acquaintances that are active in sports also close, can follow the own route on the website and may also be on the way make – or inspire themselves, to beat its own performance.

That is on the way back from Lubmin to Greifswald, a playback between the forest park on the coast and a small community called Kemnitz is not an error of the software or device. After a brief pause on the cliffs, I simply forget to continue the GPS tracking and noticed it until half an hour later in the said place.

The tracking works perfectly and the available in the connection profile was consistent with the actual course of the journey with the exception of small “time jump” primarily. Only the heights are hard to use. Because neither the hardware or software, however, is but rather blame the inaccuracy of the GPS height measurement.

The battery was separated about six hours prior to the start of this screenshots in fully loaded condition of the power supply. The GPS was actively used two-thirds of that time, to submit the current position on the Endomondo platform “live” via GPRS, EDGE or UMTS.

During the tour, two photos have emerged, seen well in terms of image quality for Smartphone ratios can. You are at least evidence that the HTC desire for vacation photos or similar, less ambitious recording is suitable. The original resolution of the photos shown here was 2592 x 1552 pixels because they were included in the wide-screen format (5: 3, by default).

There to climbers GPS tracking, the use of the camera for 12 photos, sending two upload this images via MMS, as well as the GPS data in real time around half of the battery charge left was, should an extensive day trip – no matter, not overwhelm this unit whether on foot or on wheels – in intensive use of HTC desire. The user interface in the case of desire-to-use liquid also prevents frustration in hasty situations if you would like to find a shorter route visibly exhausted, for example, on the way back.

Conclusion

It has surprised us very much, what good overall impression left the HTC desire in our test. The negative qualities in our final table appear visually also to have a certain weight, essentially, these are however from the ideal liquid handling and the feeling, you could do on the way everything with this Smartphone, much in the shadow.

Anyone who bothers to one of the criticized things, a look at the Android or maemo-based competition to the heart is placed. Assuming no great value at the liberties which offer such completely or at least partially open platforms, would come as alternatives of also Windows Mobile phones or Apple’s iPhones in question. However, can compete at the moment only the latter in terms of usability and diversity with the Android devices.

&Lt; div > HTC desire < div > positive properties

• AMOLED display with high contrast, good black level and bright colours
• Combination of Android 2.1 and fast processor ensures liquid handling and easy multi-tasking
• HTC sense user interface with practical additional widgets etc.
• over 50,000 apps in the Android market
• Pretty generous battery (10 hours of running time during GPS tracks)

The desire by HTC is a device that represents a reliable companion in everyday life as well has that “certain something”, to want to put it no longer out of hand. Above all the display and the performance offered under the hood are worth the price of desire.

Prices and availability

The HTC desire is available in Germany since the beginning of April and can be ordered with or without a contract. The network operators, T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2 is the model in combination with different fares available. If a deposit is payable, depends on the respective tariff.

Who ordered that the unit at one of the listed mobile operator, it gets with software adapted easily to the system operator. A so-called hardware-branding – a housing bearing the logo of the provider – has been not discovered so far according to reports from various forums.

The HTC desire is available without a contract from about 435 euros in Germany.