Images
Symbian fans are currently spoilt in the hardcore business smartphones department thanks to the Nokia E90 Communicator. It features a luxury full QWERTY keyboard, speedy HSDPA speeds, a 3.2MP camera and all the PIM functionality a roving exec could wish for.
But what of the Windows Mobile OS? Well, Microsoft fanboys shouldn’t despair – smartphone specialist HTC has just unveiled a mighty challenger in the guise of the HTC TyTN II. It’s a thought too frightening for some, but this hunk of business love matches the E90 pound for pound.
The beast in thee
The TyTN II is a big step up from the original in both features and tonnage. Cosmetically, its redesign isn’t radical but its swankier lines and darker battleship grey finish make it look very prosaic.
But in order to house the new powerful feature squad it’s gained some flab and, unless you have industrial line-up pockets, the 190g TyTN II will be shunted to the briefcase.
To compete with the E90’s laptop-esque form, HTC has fitted a tilting display mechanism. Slide open the phone (the display automatically switches to landscape) and discreet integrated hinges let you angle the screen up to 45 degrees.
It’s designed to make web browsing more ergonomically pleasing via the pen-driven 2.8in touch-screen and if you have dainty digits you could even get away with touch-typing using the incredibly spacious keypad.
Full fat web surfing via Pocket Internet Explorer browser is also swift thanks to 3.6Mbps flavoured HSDPA (operators are upgrading their networks to handle these new speeds as we speak) and the Wi-Fi express. Either way the TyTN II is highly conducive for World Wide Web perusing on the hop.
Right direction
As expected, this device is powered by the latest Windows Mobile 6 OS, so Salarymen are privy to the wonders of push email with attachments, Outlook Synchronisation, Word, Excel, PowerPoint document reading and editing amongst other new tweaks and small refinements.
Be warned though, email set-up is still isn’t BlackBerry-easy.
Built-in GPS is the obvious bunk-up from the TyTN, and HTC embeds a taster package from reliable and renowned sat navers TomTom. You will have to shell out for the complete Navigator 6 solution but we were particularly impressed with the sputnik fix times from a cold start. We timed it at under a minute which is outstanding.
RAM raid
Other advancements on the original giant is a RAM boost to 128MB – making it faster than its predecessor at firing up and running programs and apps – while the camera is now three-megapixel large, packing autofocus, white balance, self timer and a smattering of photo effects. Unfortunately, there’s no flash but the pictures are just about printable, if suffering at times from over exposure.
It’s also worth noting, if you can’t afford the TyTN II’s wallet bashing SIM-free price, then T-Mobile has it own version, the MDA Vario III, free on selected tariffs. Both the HTC TyTN II and Nokia E90 are powerful mobile mammoths – choosing between the two will really come down to your OS allegiance and whether you have a soft spot for touch-screens.
Related reviews
Nokia E90 Communicator
Sony Ericsson P1i
HTC Touch
Tech Specs
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Dimensions
- 112x59x19mm
- FM radio
- No
- Main camera resolution
- 3MP
- Memory card slots
- Yes
- Memory card type
- Micro SD
- Operating system
- Windows Mobile 6 Professional
- Screen resolution
- 240x320
- Standby time
- 350 hours
- Storage
- 256MB
- Supported music formats
- MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA
- Talktime
- 4.4 hours
- Triband
- Yes
- Weight
- 190g
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
- Xenon flash
- Yes
Comments
pamelaann681
13 weeks ago
uptil I looked at the paycheck four $6284, I be certain that...my... sister actualie receiving money part-time at there computar.. there uncle had bean doing this 4 only 16 months and as of now took care of the dept on their mini mansion and bourt a top of the range Mini Cooper. this is where I went, =============bit90.com=============
thomascrown
4 years ago
well i have been trying to find a phone thats suits all my needs and think i have def found it ok the cons to this baby are its a lil bit of a chunky monkey but thats it the pros well im not gonna be oooh so predictable n go on about that other fone and compare it to this there very different accept choose which 1 ya like and live with it and stop the com wars btween micro n apple what can it do everything the tytn 2 is a dream even with my stubby fingers i can type on this machine my mates @ work have all drooled over it but the only thing that put em off is size yet everytime they borrow my whizz of a machine there amazed by what it can do and does and and load up depends on complexity of web pages but i can tell ya now its no slouch the media players cool aswell my only gripe no radio which seem pretty standard nowadays I set up my gps and dwnloaded google maps its awesome to the point of jaw dropping yu wanna go somewhere or just look @some point on the planet your there it battery life is not too bad but would recommend if your surfing then to conserve energy if in the office or on the train plug it in it dont whack it too much but prolonged use would and the choice btween on screen keyboard and actual slide out both are excellent in quick 4 typing but please read the manual my friend got his before and didnt and i had to show him how to work phone and another thing get the tytn2 not a third party copy like orbit its finish is not as good and dont just bung this phone in your pocket with your change and keys cause you,ll ruin a nice phone if i upgrade the only other fone i could see i may like would be an nokia e71 its a sexy bit of kit too so if you like your women like yur phone skinny dont get this phone you want reliability,functionality,stylish and a workhorse or for play and like a martini its good 4 anytime,anyplace,anywhere a real lads gadget whether your a journo or jo bloggs i would recommend it