HTC updates Sprint Touch: faster 3G, Opera browser, WinMo 6.1
HTC is showing the Touch some love… if you’re running Sprint’s CDMA version that is. The official ROM is right here and brings your firmware up to 3.03.651.4 for the morbidly curious. The real meat isn’t in the version number, it’s in the firmware itself. According to HTC, upgraders will see these five benefits:
1. Upgrades the operating system from Windows Mobile® 6.0 Professional to Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
2. EV-DO Rev. A functionality for faster download and upload speeds when utilizing data services wherever EV-DO Rev. A coverage is available
3. Advanced GPS functionality including the Sprint Navigation application
4. Adds the Opera browser
5. Adds a full Qwerty on-screen key Qwerty keyboard
Obviously the faster Rev. A functionality will only be seen in an area where there’s appropriate coverage and you’ll experience more of an increase on the upload side of the house. Adding Opera Mobile brings two questions to mind: is this version 9.5, which just came out in public beta? Some earlier HTC devices had this version, so I suspect it is. Question number two: does this firmware make Opera Mobile the default browser? If I had an HTC Touch, I’d try it and let you know but I’ll have to rely on a guinea pig loyal reader for that info.
(via WM Experts)
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HTC is a dollar short and a day late, as usual. Dollar short: They’ve done nothing to fix the video issue with the Touch and the Mogul. The “official” HTC fix is “buy the next phone”. Seriously. Day late: I finally said enough of HTC’s buggy hardware, threw away the Touch and bought an iPhone over a week ago.
Anyone knows if HTC plans to upgrade 7501 to WM6.1?
I’ve had the Touch for over a month now, and love it. It’s still got more capabilities than the new iPhone. Not sure why the previous post above is complaining about video; the iPhone doesn’t have live TV, and cannot take videos. The Touch can do both.
@Bob
I think Mark is referring to the poor chipset drivers for video playback, common to many HTC devices which struggle with higher res/bitrate video because of it.
@Playcentric
Have a look here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=380
Love my HTC Touch, can’t wait to get this download. iPhone is overhyped and lame.
I updated my Mogul on Friday and have been testing and playing all weekend. Very nice job this time around.
A friend of mine who did the update said that the Opera browser included with the new ROM is an older version. In any case, Sprint Touch is a pretty awesome deal at $99 after MIR.
I’ve been waiting for HTC update forever. Opera is not default. I’ve upgraded to the latest beta and its nice.
GPS works nice. Google Maps works with it perfectly. Its pretty accurate.
The Keyboard sucks as it takes up half of the screen. When on a web page entering information Internet Explorer doesn’t scroll the form and so you have to type blindly into the fields behind the keyboard. I’ve changed my keyboard to the standard (Old) version that is to be used with the stylus.
I haven’t seen too many benefits to the EVDO but i just updated as of yesterday afternoon.
Chris
I’ve noticed something about the Firmware update. My battery life has decreased 50%. I don’t know what it is that is eating at the battery but its killing me. I missed out on a bunch of calls and pages that were very important.
The only thing I can think that is the issue is the GPS since there is no place to turn it off at.
Bluetooth is a heavy battery eater as well and I typically have that turned off too unless specifically using the bluetooth.
I think I’m going to have to purchase the extended battery which sucks because it increased the width of the phone. Bummers.
Chris