Get Lost With HTC GPS Phone

Various companies have followed the footsteps of Apple by launching touch phones that have minimal keys. The Touch Cruise is HTC’s new touch phone that not only runs on Windows Mobile 6, but also comes with a built-in GPS receiver that can take you anywhere, so feel free to get yourself lost.

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Despite combining two devices, the Touch Cruise was still able to sport a small and thin profile. The device’s stainless steel and black finish gives the unit a classic appeal, with only a handful of important buttons present for ease of use.

The 2.8-inch screen is clear and bright, with users being able to see upcoming events, photos, and videos in a single glance. Right below the screen are four buttons (call begin, call end, GPS button, and Internet Explorer button) as well as a navigation wheel used mostly for browsing through the unit’s main and sub menus.

A volume adjustment slider and a voice command button can be found on the left side of the phone, while a microSD card slot, a dedicated camera button, and a stylus compartment can be found on its right side. HTC has also included two cameras on the Cruise: a 3-megapixel camera that can be used to take simple shots, and a second camera above the screen for video calls.

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HTC has bundled the Touch Cruise with a screen protector, a pouch, a car charger, and a phone mount in addition to the ‘usual’ accessories that come with any mobile phone package (AC adapter, USB cable, memory card, and application discs). These additional accessories will be useful, especially for those who plan to use the phone as a GPS device.

While the Touch Cruise runs on Windows Mobile 6, HTC was still able to ‘personalise’ the smartphone and give it a different feel. The Today screen displays the ‘HTC Home’ interface, upcoming appointments, and a CoPilot icon.

The HTC home is a plug-in that provides up-to-date information such as time, date and weather information at a glance. This plug-in also displays new messages and missed calls, comes with a customisable ‘Launcher’ that allows you to add your favourite programs without having to dive in to the Windows menu, and lets a user change the phone profile (Normal, Silent, Vibrate, and Automatic) on the fly.

In addition, the Cruise’s TouchFLO function made it easy for us to use the device. With a simple slide of your finger, users can scroll, pan, and even go to the previous or next stored message. The TouchFLO also features the Touch Cube where you can play music, view movies and photos, add up to nine favourite contacts, and launch e-mail, SMS/MMS, Internet Explorer, Tasks, Calendar, and Comm. Manager.

Another function well-worth mentioning is the Touch Cruise’s GPS navigation system. In our navigation test, we decided to put the Touch Cruise head-to-head with our Mio DigiWalker. Direction-wise, both plotted similar routes going to Wollongong and Bondi, with occasional turns that led us to our destination at an earlier time. Voice guidance was stellar, with the smartphone reminding us to turn left/right ‘just ahead.’

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Like most mobile phones with GPS function, the 2.8-inch screen was more of a driving hazard as we had to take a closer and longer look when the directions were unclear. While not essential, it could have been better if HTC added a text-to-speech function on its Touch Cruise, which can simplify navigation.

In terms of connectivity, the Cruise can connect to any network, stream videos effortlessly using HSDPA, pair to a headset using Bluetooth 2.0, and connect using a wireless home or office network using its built-in Wi-Fi. It also comes with a USB port for synchronising files using ActiveSync.

Battery life could have been better, with the unit lasting only for two days with moderate calls and texting, and only a day when using the phone as a navigation device. Of course, this could be shorter or longer depending on your settings (backlight, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth On/Off), so bring your charger along just in case.

Overall, HTC’s Touch Cruise is one of those smartphones that sticks out like a sore thumb. It makes do without the number/QWERTY pad, has a lot of connectivity options, is pleasantly easy to use, and even comes with a GPS function for added versatility. We highly recommend this smartphone for users who want an phone and a GPS device rolled into one simple device.

See page over for product specifications and final rating.

 HTC Touch Cruise Specifications:

Processor: Qualcomm MSM7200, 400MHz
Operating System: Windows Mobile 6 Professional
Memory: ROM: 256MB; RAM: 128MB DDR SDRAM
Display: 2.8-inch TFT-LCD with backlight LEDs, touch-sensitive screen

Network
HSDPA/UMTS: 2100 MHz (Europe), 850/1900 MHz (USA)
HSDPA: Up to 384kbps for upload and 3.6Mbps for download
UMTS: Up to 384kbps for upload and download
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: Quad-band 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz (The device will operate on frequencies available from the cellular network)

Device Control
HTC TouchFLO: 4-Way Navigation Wheel with Enter button

Connectivity
– Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP& AVRCP
– Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g
– HTC ExtUSB (11-pin mini-USB and audio jack in one), full-speed USB 2.0
– FM radio
– GPS navigation

Camera
Main camera: 3 megapixel color CMOS camera with auto focus
Second camera: VGA CMOS color camera

Audio: Built-in microphone and speaker

Battery
Standby time:
– Up to 450 hours for UMTS
– Up to 400 hours for GSM

Talk time:
– Up to 4 hours for UMTS
– Up to 7 hours for GSM
– Up to 2.3 hours for video call

Expansion Slot: microSD memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)

Dimensions: 110 mm (L) X 58 mm (W) X 15.5 mm (T)
Weight: 130g with battery

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HTC Touch Cruise | $1149 |  | www.htc.com/au

For: Small profile; TouchFLO; Intuitive interface; Built-in GPS
Against: Touch ‘keys’ may take some time to get used to; No TTS in GPS function; Heavy programs (like CoPilot) takes a while to load; Battery life
Conclusion: This ‘touch’ phone may just be the device you need to get to places.