O2 Xda nova/HTC Touch Review:: Things to consider Pros and Cons

HTC caught some attraction when the Taiwanese device maker announced the HTC Touch earlier this month for some good reasons - with the HTC Touch; HTC introduced the TouchFLO technology to their Windows Mobile device platform and I'm sure most of you have read everything about TouchFLO and the HTC Touch already. Nevertheless, since O2 brings up the Xda nova on sale from tomorrow, it makes sense to have a closer look on both devices again, identifying the similarities as well as the differences.

Both, the HTC Touch and the O2 Xda nova are based on HTC's Elf reference design platform and with the Elf, HTC tried to create a simple to use but stylish device to attract the consumer market better. Therefore the Touch/nova misses some of the latest but greatest technologies while on the other hand it sports new features. The HTC Elf platform is powered by Microsoft's latest Windows Mobile version - 6.0 Professional which means it's a smartphone. Both devices supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE at 90/1800/1900 MHz while 850 MHZ is left. This is pretty unusual for HTC devices, were all the latest devices quadband GSM. Nevertheless, leaving 850 MHz makes the device cheaper in production and therefore it's cheaper on sale. Also left is UMTS, not to talk about HSDPA but this isn't a big problem today - not for the segment HTC and the carriers try to target with the Touch. On the other hand, the Touch/nova features Bluetooth 2.0 and WiFi b/g which makes it a mobile broadband connected device anyway - as long as a HotSpot is in range. Powered by a TI OMAP850 CPU at 201 MHz, the Touch/nova includes 128 MB ROM and 64 MB DDR RAM and both - HTC and O2 Germany are giving a free 1 GB microSD card with their versions of the HTC Elf.

On the back, the device features a 2 megapixel CMOS fixed focus camera for photo and video recording. And at a compact size of 99.9 mm x 58 mm x 13.9 mm the HTC Touch/O2 Xda nova weights 112 g only.

While the O2 and HTC designs are pretty similar, they have their differences. For instance O2 Germany decided to give the Xda nova housing a high gloss black finishing while HTC has given the HTC Touch a soft-touch like finishing:

Another difference,...........................

Read the full comprehensive review after the jump»