From a form-factor perspective, my fave Windows Mobile phone was my Dash when I used it on T-Mobile’s network. It only got better when it saw the upgrade to WinMo 6.0. I later unlocked the device because it worked just as well on AT&T and I didn’t need a second GSM voice line. Since the Dash didn’t have 3G connectivity, there was really no loss in the functionality it provided. But I always wished it had more functionality to begin with. I figured that would happen when HTC got around to building a successor to the Dash. After long last, they have with the HTC Snap, officially announced today.
The Snap looks far more refined on the outside, for starters: The buttons have a rounded, bubbly look to them. You can’t miss the new jog-ball for navigation, either. But under the hood is where it really gets interesting. Here are some of the specification comparisons between my ol’ Dash and the new HTC Snap:
HTC gave most specifications a solid bump, making the new device a supercharged Dash. I was initially disappointed in seeing the same display, but at 2.4-inches, QVGA ought to be more than enough. Had the display size been increased, I might feel otherwise. Basically, HTC took the Dash form factor, size and weight but crammed in more memory, a faster CPU, additional radios and over 50 percent more battery capacity.
That’s not all, which should come as no surprise to anyone who follows HTC devices. The company has a history of tweaking functionality for a better end-user experience; their TouchFlo customizations come to mind, for example. The Snap offers just such function called “Inner Circle” and it’s supposed to bring focus to one of the biggest productivity Jekyll & Hyde tools: email.
According to an HTC-commission study by Harris Interactive, 44 percent of U.S. adults are overwhelmed by the email they receive; 55 percent of those surveyed tend to focus on email from five or fewer contacts. That’s where the “Inner Circle” feature on the Snap enters: Hit the Inner Circle button and email from five contacts you’ve identify will float to the top of your Inbox and presumably to your attention as well.
The Snap starts rolling out in worldwide markets sometime during the second quarter supporting 900/1800/1900MHz bands with 900/2100MHz for 3G. Here in the U.S. we’ll see an unlocked model called the HTC S522; that device will offer the same tri-band voice but use 850/1900MHz for 3G data, i.e.; you’ll get 3G support on AT&T’s network. Since Microsoft is stating that devices capable of Windows Mobile 6.1 can run version 6.5, I think there’s hope of such an upgrade for the Snap. Since the upgrade will be ODM-/carrier-dependent and we’ll see an unlocked Snap, odds are favorable, especially with these hardware specs on the Snap.
I’ll be sure to swing by the HTC booth here at CTIA and get a better touchy-feely impression. On paper, it’s exactly what I’d expect a good Dash successor to be.


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