The HTC Touch Dual, and its brief sojourn into an inexperienced user’s hands (namely yours truly), marked my first in-depth experience of the Windows Mobile 6.0 user interface. More accurately, it was my first time really delving into a mobile device powered by the Microsoft software. This potentially confusing process was helped along immensely by HTC’s good design, layout, and features.

                                             The touch dual with a representation of the TouchFlo interface.
 

We covered the Touch Dual during its official launch locally, and had a grand time trying out the most prominent features demonstrated, such as the TouchFlo Interface that used gestures for navigation, the keyboard action on the slide-open handset, and the Windows Mobile software. We finally had the chance to get our mitts on a sample product, and the past week-and-a-half has both been a revelation and a confirmation for us somewhat smitten editors here in the HWZ offices.

                                             The HTC Touch dual launch.

To start off, we were pleasantly surprised with the material used on the device; it has none of the shiny smudges associated with other glossy-looking devices. It uses a matte black, somewhat rubbery-feeling material that feels silky to the touch and does not collect fingerprints like a flunkie in a CSI Miami episode does. The device can be described as “slim”, although it does not come close to being Razr-slim, it on the other hand displays a nice heft to it and still slips unobtrusively into a jeans pocket. There are no blatant design cues to mar the simple lines of the device, both front and back. In fact, from a techie’s view, the device seems a bit stark; it has none of the appeal of say, a Casio G-Shock with its protrusions and buttons. And that’s a good thing.

                                             Clean looks and a compact frame.

Slide up the front portion, and the similarly stark keypad is revealed. The key design is “crystallized”, and this is one portion of the phone that’s as shiny as some of its contemporaries (best example would be Samsung). Thankfully, smudges here are not very noticeable, and after all are usually hidden when the phone is in its “closed” configuration. A small pinhole camera adorns the front right part of the face, while a central d-pad plus the usual red and green buttons are the only other residents on the front face, aside from the speaker / indicator lights. Power, volume and camera buttons are strategically located around the edge of the device. All other controls are accessed through the touch screen interface.

                                             Mug shot. Thansk to www.expansys.com for the pic.

The touch screen is the defining feature of the phone, added to the keypad becomes appropriate bullet points in support for the name Touch Dual. As it was my first experience with a Windows Mobile – powered device, I was fumbling around like my first time booting up a Linux distro. I got the hang of it eventually though, the trick was simply discovering the equivalent actions of a normal desktop mainstay – like left clicking for a menu and right clicking to select – translated to stylus actions to mimic the same results. The keypad was right there to provide a backup in case you couldn’t figure it out, and when eventually one got used to the control scheme(s), it was a cinch getting around using both input devices.

                                             A different keypad design (qwerty) for the European market.

The TouchFlo interface is much hyped and much admired for its super-logical gesture system, but it in fact simply comprise a handful of transition effects and picture manipulation controls. It may have future updates to bolster its functionality, but for now it gives me one of the few disappointments of the device – not that I don’t enjoy showing it to my friends the first time I whip out the Touch Dual. In other words, it’s cool, but pretty shallow at the moment, as the only thing it does now is to transfer you from the Home screen to a series of windows for quick contacts, media access, and common tasks (with accompanying transition effects), as well as serve as next, previous, zoom and pan controls for when viewing photos.

                                             Handshot. Thanks to LetsGoDigital.com.

Windows Mobile 6.0 works well enough with a stylus (or with bare fingers), but with limited experience in handheld computers that use said software, the only absolute I can give is that the interface is quite intuitive for anyone with even a modicum of experience on a windows desktop, once you figure out which actions equate to which desktop equivalent. I have to say though, some of the functions are jarringly out-of-place; a little bit of digging through menus is required. Phone functions and PDA functions are well integrated into a common “Mobile” shell, which could be part of the problem – but a small one. HTC adds some quick menus and the actual Home screen is customizable for buttons and functions, so given enough time, the device can be set up to work efficiently and to the user’s preference. For example, sliding up the front portion will make a “quick tasks” list pop up – with entries like new message, email, appointment, task, note or contact. The window disappears momentarily to reveal the normal Home screen, which by itself harbors notices for missed calls, messages, and upcoming appointments. All within the span of 5 seconds upon sliding up the screen.

                                             Rear view. The Dual was known as the "Touch Slide" before commercialization.

There was no sync cable included in our test kit for the Touch Dual, sp we were not able to test this feature out. I imagine it would be similar to other PDA’s – offering quick compare-and-sync, backup, upload, and download services through a USB cable. Charging and syncing uses the same connector on the Dual. Meanwhile, I used a microSD card (2GB is supported, but we weren’t able to test higher capacities), slotted it into the lower left side of the device, and transferred some pics and music into the device. Playback presented so special difficulties, and performed similarly to desktop apps. Video is another matter though – most popular formats would not play. Perhaps if a “codec pack” was released for the device – through innumerable online forums dedicated to Windows Mobile devices. This is of course an advantage for a mainstream product like Windows Mobile, since it has an established user base and multiple apps that are compatible with it – enabling you to perform many normal desktop functions on your handheld.

                                             microSD and power/data connector tucked away at the left side.

Using a 1120mAh battery pack, the Touch dual lasted a touch under two days – but that was with simple texting and just a few calls coupled with occasional internet usage and media viewing. With heavy usage, estimated battery time is probably closer to less than one day, based on experience with this battery capacity and the multiple functions of this PDA. For the camera, middling pictures is the norm and proves a tad disappointing in the quality scale – then again this device never claims to be a multimedia device, and the 2.0 MP rating on the camera proves it. Regardless, pictures under good lighting conditions were adequate, picture taking did not exhibit excessive lag and is pretty forgiving of sudden movements, although any picture taken like that definitely won’t deserve printing up.

                                             Three cables all conenct through one port. 

Overall, the HTC Touch Dual is a PDA novice’s delight, giving the neophyte multiple control schemes and more than one way to accomplish any certain task. This is partly thanks to the Mobile 6.0 software, but in main is a result of HTC’s thoughtful integration of software into normal phone functions with simple, intuitive, no-nonsense and clean design that looks good and possesses a timeless grace that will not easily age. Hopefully the much hyped Touchflo interface will soon be better utilized; such a unique gesture – based system can do much more than menu transitions. With an accomplished design and the obvious utility and usability inherent in the well-designed software integration, the HTC Touch dual is a winner.