Mobile Origins

The device was originally named as the HTC Bravo, a flagship handset in a series of Android mobile phones that was originally released in a roadmap. The device was supported by the HTC Legend. While both smart phones reached the production phase, the Bravo took a slight adjustment in details: a name change which was made public when the smart phone first appeared at the Mobile World Congress. Aside from the change in the name, the phone’s hardware features remained the same. The Desire name is now a standard for HTC, with the HTC Desire Z and HTC Desire HD on their way.

Hardware Specifications

In terms of hardware, the HTC Desire is one of the most powerful handsets to have ever been released. In fact, the device matches up to the specs of Google’s Nexus One. With a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display, 5 mega pixel camera and a Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 processor, the handset practically set the new basis for what can be considered as a high end device.

Running at 1GHz, the HTC Desire is fast, stable and powerful enough to handle every single existing Android app and feature. In fact, unless the user is running multiple applications, one should expect to have no slowdowns at all when it comes to this handset.

It also runs Android version 2.2 Froyo, which is a significant upgrade over the previous versions of the OS. Thanks to better resource handling, the user interface and web browsing on Froyo is faster and smoother than even before.

A Legacy

The HTC Desire HD has quite a legacy to live up to. As mentioned earlier, the original Desire was a highly successful device and the Desire HD hopes to build on this success. This also means that it has some big shoes to fill as consumer will be expecting a lot from a device that bears the same name as the legendary HTC Desire.

Fortunately, the HTC Desire HD is able to live up to these high expectations. It possesses all the cutting edge features one would expect from a Smartphone of this calibre. This includes 3G HSDPA compatibility, EDGE & GPRS connectivity, and of course, Wi-Fi.

The device even comes with an amazing 8-Megapixel camera that captures excellent quality photos. As expected, this Smartphone still sports the famed Google Android mobile OS and its version 2.2 or Froyo that’s equipped on this Smartphone. To back up the operating system is an equally powerful 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor under the hood.

High Definition

As its name implies, the HTC Desire HD’s claim to fame is its ability to deliver high definition image outputs. The venue of this feature is the mobile’s gigantic 4.3” screen which shrinks even the biggest of screens in the Smartphone scene today.
The resolution is at an astonishing 480 x 800 pixels and it can display up to 16 million colours. The display also features an AMOLED capacitive touch screen which guarantees flawless touch responsiveness.

The device that has most recently been low on availability is the HTC Desire. While the product is not completely absent from the shelves, it has been reported that HTC still needs to make more of the impressive Android device.

The Desire comes with a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display which provides users with 480 x 800 pixels of resolution. It shows images and videos clearly, a great choice for users who are picky about the visual quality of the handset. It also has a 5 mega pixel camera that can take great quality images and videos. Running it all would Qualcomm’s Snapdragon CPU at 1GHz, this processor provides enough speed and power to handle even the most resource intensive of applications without much problems.

In other HTC news, the Taiwan based company is keeping quiet in regards to the Apple emergency conference held a couple of weeks ago. A spokesperson for HTC did defend the antenna technology used by the company. With HTC’s impressive track record with all of their devices –and the fact that no HTC handset requires a casing to be used properly, it is pretty safe to say that whatever accusations that Apple had are most definitely unfounded.

HTC is also currently preparing new handsets for the upcoming Windows Phone 7 operating system, it has been rumored earlier that the Mondrian and the Mozart will be among the first HTC made WP7 smart phones.

Not surprising, despite news of legal issues being thrown back and forth between HTC and Apple, the smart phone manufacturer has been able to establish itself as an industry leader in the development of the Android smart phone. For one thing, their HTC Desire, Hero end Legend trio are continuously reigning on top of the Android charts –only giving a slight way to the Motorola Milestone when it came out during the holiday season.

Of course, HTC’s strong Android presence is also backed by the fact that they have been part of the development of the OS since the very beginning. HTC is among the founding members of the Open Handset Alliance and has been the manufacturer behind many Android smart phones –including the G1 and even the Google Nexus One.

More than just an Android leader, HTC has also been a prominent figure for Microsoft’s mobile platforms. The HTC HD2 is the best selling Windows Mobile handset and the company is now working on the recently leaked HTC Gold (formerly the Mondrian), a high end WP7 smart phone that is expected to come out later this year.

Speaking of the Gold, the handset has been leaked along with two other HTC devices, the Ace and the Vision. While little is known about the Ace at this point, the HTC Vision will be taking a page out of Motorola’s book by introducing the very first HTC Android that comes with a slide out QWERTY keyboard.

HTC isn’t exactly a household name in the UK just yet. However, with the likes of the new

Mobile Phone Features

The HTC Desire is definitely a feature-packed device. As a mobile, it has everything you’d need and more. It is a dual band device over the 3G network and is compatible with four different networks for 2G. HSDPA, EDGE, GPRS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity options are all on board which means that the device offers excellent alternatives for both voice and data connectivity.

Other prominent features include a 5-Megapixel camera, a GPS receiver, an FM stereo, and a long-lasting battery which will give you up to 360 hours on stand-by and approximately 6 and a half hours of talk time. All in all, this is an extremely impressive array of features, considering the great HTC Desire deals available.

Eye Candy

The HTC Desire is one of the coolest looking Smartphones we’ve encountered in a while. Sure, it also has the same candy bar form factor, but somehow, the device is able to stand out. Perhaps it’s because of its larger than usual 3.7” AMOLED capacitive touch screen display. At an amazing 480 x 800 pixels, it can display up to 16 million different, vivid colours. If not, then maybe it’s due to the fact that it comes in three different colour schemes (black, silver, and brown) which all possess a subtle elegance.

If that’s still not it then maybe it’s because of the compact design of the Desire which only weighs 135 grams and has the dimensions of only 119 x 60 x 11.9 mm.

Soft Touch

To top things off, the HTC Desire has a very impressive software list. Not only does it sport the highly regarded Android mobile OS (version 2.1 or Eclair), but it also comes with HTC’s famed Sense UI. The 576 MB of internal memory teams up with the Desire’s super powerful 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor to deliver unrivalled clock speeds and virtually limitless multitasking options. Plus, there are even pre-installed social networking apps which automatically connect to Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr – a definite treat for all social butterflies.

While no specific date has been given, estimates place the launch around or right before the June 23 –which is the announced launch of the Android 2.2 Froyo update for the HTC Desire.

Speaking of the Desire, the high end Android smart phone is actually included in the list of HTC handsets that will be receiving the update. So far, the list contains four smart phones: the HTC Hero, HTC Legend, HTC Desire and the HTC EVO 4G. So far, it has not been confirmed if the HTC Wildfire will be compatible with the software update, but since it already runs version 2.1, it may not need the patch at all.

With version 2.2 already out for the Nexus One and coming soon for the Desire, the move to release version 2.1 on these handsets may seem a little unnecessary, as it would have made more sense to just release a patch for the latest version of the OS instead. With all the new features and capabilities of Android Froyo, many HTC users will certainly feel that they have been left out of the new update.

In many ways, this is one of the main reasons why Google’s Android has yet to beat the iPhone OS. While they are providing Apple with plenty of competition, the compatibility issues and the fact that not all Android phones are running the same version of the OS is a serious issue that Google has to cope with if they are to compete with the iPhone and Windows Phone 7’s performance.

Taiwanese manufacturer HTC has always been at the forefront of Android smart phone innovation and the Desire is a testament to that. Originally announced as the HTC Bravo last 2009, this Android device later served as the basis for the Nexus One (the Google branded smart phone that HTC made). This is why the two Android device share similar specifications.

Of course, as with HTC’s other Android devices, they use the HTC Sense custom user interface (as opposed to simply using the Android OS as is). While not necessary, the Sense UI provides a bit of a graphical face-lift to the Android; though some purists still prefer to do without (ironically, there are apps for the Android that emulate the Sense UI for non-HTC devices).

This handset virtually screams high end with its specs. The 5 mega pixel camera provides high quality videos and images that can be displayed on the 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display. With a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, viewing videos and the web in wide screen mode is visually appealing.

As an Android device, the Desire is not lacking with additional features as the large library of apps from the Android Market will give users a wide range of tools and functions that they can add. The device’s 1GHz Snapdragon CPU will take care of any resource extensive app to ensure that phone performance stays smooth and fast.

For those who feel that the HTC Desire is a little too high end for their tastes, the HTC Wildfire has also been released.

The device first appeared last year in the leaked HTC 2010 roadmap that featured the HTC Desire (which was at that name, was still named Bravo) and the HTC Legend. The two devices would once again re-appear in the Mobile World Congress last February, but the other devices in the roadmap were never heard about in any news updates (the Tide, Salsa and Buzz). There are many HTC Desire deals already to be found online.

The HTC Desire is well known for impressive hardware that very closes matches that of the Google Nexus One –this similarity comes as to no surprise as it was HTC that manufactured both devices, and last December, when the Nexus One was still a rumor, the two phones were often mistaken for each other.

Packed with a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, the Desire is fast and powerful enough to handle many of the resource heavy apps as well as the new 2.2 Froyo update that is scheduled to arrive by June 23. With the addition of native Flash and AIR support, there will be plenty of chances for the Desire to show off how smoothly Flash works on an Android handset. This impressive HTC smart phone also comes with a 5 mega pixel camera and a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display.

Speaking of the Desire, it seems that HTC might just be working on a second version of this Android handset and this time, they will be adding in a slide out QWERTY keyboard –making it one of the first Android devices to have a 1GHz CPU and a keyboard. The new device is rumored to be named as the HTC Vision and it is expected to come out later this year.

Considering HTC’s product line alone, it makes sense that they are one of the biggest names in the industry. The involvement that they have with the development of the Google Android operating system has been very significant since the beginnings of the Open Handset Alliance.

HTC was not only among the first members of the group, they were also the very first manufacturer to produce a smart phone that used the new Android mobile platform. The HTC Dream quickly became a favorite device among mobile phone users who saw the great potential in the open source Android OS. This level of involvement with Google continues until today with the January launch of the Google Nexus One smart phone –the very first to carry the Google brand.

Aside from that, HTC’s own previous smart phones such as the HTC Hero and HD2 are also among the most sought after devices. According to reports, HTC’s sales profits from 2009 have reached up to 800 million GBP, far surpassing the company’s own initial estimates. They also earned almost 20 percent more in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to last year. Many expect these figures to rise for the next part of the year as the HTC Desire and Legend will be available on store shelves this April.

Find out more about the sales performance of HTC during Q1 of 2010 at GSM Arena.

The 35 Pound monthly tariff will nab you the Android smart phone for a low offer of £50 (though we have seen some better contracts with the phone offered for free). Carphone Warehouse has all the details on acquiring this little handset and it has been confirmed that the Desire will also be available on Orange, Vodafone and more.

For those who missed out on the many cool things about the HTC Desire, this new Android smart phone comes with the latest 2.1 Éclair operating system and specs that match that of the Nexus One. And it should, it is already known that the Nexus One is based on the HTC Bravo –which was the original name of the Desire. The Bravo details got leaked last year along with several other HTC devices right before all attention turned to the upcoming Google Phone.

When the device finally came out at the Mobile World Congress last month, HTC revealed that the Bravo would have a new name, the HTC Desire. The phone comes with a large 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen that delivers excellent graphics and accurate touch control, a 5 mega pixel camera with 720p video recording and a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU. Many are already saying that this phone would serve as a better alternative to the Nexus One (which can only be bought through Google’s Online Store).

Get to know more about the HTC Desire at Mobile Choice UK.