Making Windows Mobile Funky – Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Htc Lead the Way

In the second half of 2008, a glut of mobile phones are on the way, all based on the Windows Mobile operating system… but with a twist! Find out how HTC, Samsung and Sony Ericsson are leading a new wave of Windows mobile phones that don’t LOOK like Windows Mobile phones…

Samsung – takin’ on the iPhone with the i900 Omnia

First on today’s list of mobile phones is the slim, sexy Samsung i900 Omnia, a mobile phone designed with one purpose in mind: to try and beat the iPhone at its own game! And what a phone it is, with 5 megapixel camera, GPS, super fast web access and a unique touch-based interface built on top of Windows Mobile. You see, this beauty from Samsung is part of a new wave Windows Mobile phones that have a complete interface built on top to make them… well… less Windows-ish. What we have here is a phone that lets you customise what’s shown on the phone’s screen, to an unprecedented degree, moving shortcuts about, adding widgets to show the time, or a photo album link, or whatever. It’s back up with bags and bags of power, and the Samsung i900 Omnia really is a gorgeously put together, beautifully powerful mobile phone. Of the three mobile phones we’re going to look at today, this beauty from Samsung is undoubtedly the looker of the bunch.

HTC – not one, but two, with the Diamond and Touch Pro

HTC have always been known for making Windows Mobile phones… and let’s face it, it is what they’re best at. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find an HTC phone that ISN’T built on Windows Mobile. But, as with Samsung, in their latest releases, the Diamond and the Touch Pro, HTC seem to have decided they don’t like the Windows Mobile interface any more. And that’s why, in these brand new, ultra-modern mobile phones, you get a totally new interface (again, on top of Windows Mobile) called ‘TouchFLO 3D’. Optimised for touch controls, or prodding it with our finger, in other words, these two mobile phones are actually the nicest that HTC have ever made. The specs are more or less identical to the Sony Ericsson X1 (more on that, and those, in a minute), but the interface and design differ radically, going for ultra glossy surfaces, sleek edges, and 3D animations in the menu system. Both mobile phones are a joy to use, although, if I’m honest, I prefer the Touch Pro to the Diamond, since HTC have given THAT one a QWERTY keyboard, as well.

In this list of Windows Mobile phones, the two HTC babies are ‘the middle ground’, halfway between a powerhouse phone, and a fashion phone.

Sony Ericsson X1 – a world of experiences

Sony Ericsson have taken a different route, when it comes to Windows Mobile phones by, you guessed it, adding on a completely bespoke interface on top of Windows, in this case, their ‘panels interface’, whereby you have 9 panels up on screen, and tapping on one of them lets you jump straight to that feature of the Sony Ericsson X1. It’s a neat idea, and all reports seem to suggest that in the X1, the first device in the new Xperia range of mobile phones, Sony Ericsson have pulled it off beautifully. Of course, the whole software side of things is wrapped up in a premium metal body, with a full QWERTY keyboard, and in terms of features, Sony Ericsson have given it a 3 megapixel camera, HSDPA, GPS and WiFi (so, the same as the HTC Touch Pro, then). In conclusion, if you want a mobile phone more for its looks, then you’re going to pick the Samsung. If you want a phone for a mix of sleek looks and b features, you’ll go for the HTC. And if you want the serious powerhouse, the mack daddy of them all, you’ll go for the Sony Ericsson X1!