The Android 2.1 smart-phone HTC Desire scores with the powerful Snapdragon processor with 1 GHz clocking and 576 MB RAM, the operating system Android 2.1 (Eclair, there is already an update to Android 2.2 aka Froyo), a wide range of functions, a large AMOLED touch-screen, high-speed connectivity to the Internet via HSPA 7.2 mbps (download) and WiFi, multimedia functions such as 5-megapixel camera and a media player, up to 32 GB of storage capacity, and an integrated GPS receiver. With such an extensive feature list the HTC Desire qualifies for all standard smart-phone applications: for mobile telephony belonging, for sending text messaging (SMS), MMS and emails, to chat with friends and to communicate with them via social networking web portals, for taking of snapshots or short video clips, for listening to music on the road or for using navigation and other location based services.

Android Smart-Phone HTC Desire, Pictures: Phone Guide Germany

In addition, it is easy to operate because of the HTC Sense user interface with seven customizable homescreens, widgets, multi-touch support and a social media application called “friend stream”. The friend stream application integrates and automatically updates information on all activities of friends in social networks like Facebook, Twitter or Flickr. The phone’s address book is the contact center in which the user can send emails, SMS and status updates. By help of a widget on one of the homescreens the user of the HTC Desire can create contact groups in order to get faster access to important friends or family members. To cut it short: The user of the HTC Desire can easily keep an eye on all communication processes.

Furthermore, operating the HTC Desire is fun. This is not just because of the Android version 2.1 and the Sense user interface, the powerful processor and the comparatively large memory. This ensures multi-tasking, prompt response of the programs, fluid scrolling and smooth video playback. It is also because of the large, capacitive AMOLED touch-screen which shows sharp images and vibrant colors and supports multi-touch finger gestures to zoom in on images or web pages.

Software

The software package of the HTC Desire includes Google services such as Google Search, Google Mail, Google Talk, Google Maps and a YouTube client. Setting up a Google account is a prerequisite for using all the services the smart-phone. Installed on the HTC Desire are also applications like a PDF viewer and QuickOffice package for editing office documents, the Twitter client Peep, a Facebook client, the program footprint and access to the app store Android Market with currently over 90,000 applications. Due ot the icon-rich menu, Android-beginners probably need time to get along with the HTC Desire. Nice effect: The Android version 2.1 supports animated or live wallpapers on the startup screen. When touching the display’s surface or shaking the mobile phone you will see grass swaying in the wind, for example.

Mobile Internet

For data transmission over cellular networks the HTC Desire supports only GPRS, EDGE, UMTS and HSPA with up to 7.2 mbps (download) and up to 2 mbps (upload). It also supports WiFi for accessing the Internet at hotspots. It is possible to cut off all mobile Internet connections fast and easily which is convenient for users without a mobile data flat rate tariff. As soon as the HTC Desire is connected to the Internet, it synchronizes email and contacts of the user’s Google Mail account. The smart-phone also supports Microsoft Exchange. The Webkit browser supports Flash. Thanks to the great resolution, a relatively large part of a website is displayed on the screen. To zoom in, you knock on the display’s surface twice or you make multi-touch gestures like on the Apple iPhone.

Camera and Media Player

The fast-working 5-megapixel camera of the HTC Desire offers an auto-focus, a touch-focus, a face detection, geo-tagging and an LED-flash. The cell phone camera delivers a very decent image quality, but sharpness, contrast and color intensity could be better. There are no motif programs in the photo menu of the HTC Desire and there is no release button on the side of the phone’s body so that it is hard not to shake when shooting. Via USB connection photos, videos and songs can be copied from a computer to the phone and vice versa. The music player of the HTC Desire some more features than the Android-standard player. Playlists can be created, equalizer presets missing. And the smart-phone has a 3.5-millimeter headset jack.

HTC Desire versus Google Nexus One

There is a strong affinity between the two Android 2.1 smart-phones Google Nexus One and HTC Desire: However, the HTC Desire does offer more memory, a somewhat more enduring battery, a touch pad instead of a trackball, more photo features in the camera’s menu, an FM radio and more ease of use because of the HTC Sense user interface with more customizable homescreens. One the other hand, the Nexus One offers voice dialing and search and has a noise reduction feature. When making a mobile phone call the user of the HTC Desire always hears some background noise. Nice gimmicks of the HTC Desire: The ring tone for an incoming call is automatically lowered when the HTC Desire is led close to the ear. And you can stop the ringing of the cell phone by placing it upside down on table or some other surface. The Li-Ion battery with 1,400 mAh must be refreshed every two or three days.

Pricing

The HTC Desire is certainly one of the best Android smart-phones available right now. It offers a large number of functions and applications as well as a powerful processor, and it is easily operated. On the other hand, camera, music player and battery performance could be better.

German operator Vodafone is selling the HTC Desire for € 479.90 without contract. At O2 Germany stores the HTC Desire is available for € 509.00. At Telekom (T-Mobile) stores buyers will have to pay € 449.00 for the Android smart-phone when he or she does not agree to a new cell phone plan with long term commitment. German web stores offer the HTC Desire for purchase prices beginning at around € 450.00.

Product Summary of the HTC Desire:
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon with 1 GHz and 576 MB RAM
Operating System: Android 2.1 with HTC Sense user interface
GSM Networks: 850, 900, 1,800, 1,900 MHz
Data Transfer: GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA 7.2 mbps, HSUPA 2 mbps, WiFi (b/g)
Connectivity: Bluetooth (A2DP), USB 2.0
Screen: Capacitive 3.7-inch AMOLED-touch-screen with 800 x 480 pixels
Keyboard: virtual QWERTZ
Camera: 5-megapixel with autofocus, LED light and video capture (800 x 480 pixels at 20 f/s)
Other: Media Player with 3.5-mm headset jack, A-GPS
Storage: 512 MB + 32 GB MicroSD
Size: 119 x 60 x 11,9 mm
Weight: 135 g
Speaking Time: 6.7 hrs (GSM) or 6.5 hrs (UMTS)

Read more about the HTC Desire at www.teltarif.de (in German).