You’re About to Experience the AT&T Fuze Revolution
It’s almost here and it made me think about what applications I really need to put on the Fuze (aside from the posting I gave earlier today:) ). And then it dawned on me just how much of a change the Fuze represents. Let’s just step back for a minute. The iPhone 2.0 and the Bold were considered revolutionary in their respective families. And I’m not going to go into what platform is the best but the iPhone 3G for the most part was the first 3G iPhone and the Bold was the first 3G Bold (plus a better screen). Regardless, these revolutions brought them on par with Windows Mobile of 3+ years ago. So what’s so special about the Fuze? Is it revolutionary to Windows Mobile? Let’s just compare the Fuze out of the box to the phone it’s replacing – the Tilt (out of the box as of its release – I know some of these were available when 6.1 was introduced). A lot of this is really the benefits of TouchFlo3D but I don’t think it should be overlooked:
- Emails and text messages appear on the today screen and can be easily viewed and with a single soft button you can start writing a new email or text
- A smart stylus that is practical (like launching the note pad if it is removed while a call is on progress).
- Google search built into the home screen to save time launching the app
- Built in YouTube viewer. We’ve discussed this on Tilt Mobility giving a series of ways but now we have a built in method
- Aside from Pocket Internet Explorer, the full version of Opera is included which is a complete browser
(there’s more…)
- A ridiculously sharp screen and no more bevel (so you can actually hit the ‘x’ in the corner with your finger)
- An FM tuner. Not huge by itself but if you’re carrying something on you all day it may as well have it
- Eliminating the need to get software to have photo contact quickdials from the today screens whereas in the past we experimented with third party software
- Built in weather on the today screen
- Program quick launch from the today screen
- Photos and videos can be viewed from the today screen
- Viewing photos is now done with the HTC Album application which lets you slide through photos and zoom in with your fingers in an iPhony way
- Music player (with a graphical interface) is located on the today screen
- Software ability to print over a network
- Accelerometer is another great toy but also saves time and gives us features like muting the phone by turning it face down
- Remote desktop built in to allow connections to networked computers
- Built in tv-out which is a great toy but for a business user it really adds the ability to bring your presentations with you
- Business card reader. Just take a photos and it converts it to words and imports it into your contacts on both your phone and it syncs with your computer
- A large power button (you know – one that works so we don’t need to lock all of the other keys and use S2U2)
- Contacts redesigned to make it faster to jump to a letter
- A better on-screen keyboard that is finger friendly so you can choose to use the keyboard (I will miss you Happy Tapping Keyboard)
- A flash for the camera (like the 8525 had).
So what do you think? I’m sure I missed a lot of other items but the fact that I don’t have to go around installing 10 Today plugins and all of the software that I always thought should be standard is a game changer for me. You?
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Comments
Gus I hope I’m not jinxing it, but I went to may AT&T store in San Jose, CA today and I was told that the Fuze is really coming on Tuesday. The salesperson even went ahead an offered to initiate the porting of my T-Mobile number to AT&T – to be completed on Tuesday when I’ll go there to pick up my already reserved Fuze! I asked him if he was sure the Fuze would be available that day, and he reassured me saying that he would put one aside for me. Still, seeing is believing. Have my fingers crossed until Tuesday!!
Gus A little more on the topic than my previous post…
Great summary, David! The Fuze is atremendous evolution on most if not all of the existing smar phones around.
All we need now is the next HTC Touch HD to come with a 5-row keyboard, hehe! But if we haven’t even gotten the current HD in the U.S. yet, let alone the next one! BTW, let me be the first one to spread the rumor that the HD will come to the U.S. in the third quarter of 2009. No… I’m not an insider unfortunately, just my intuition… And hope! Oh, that gorgeous 800×480 screen…
SCDavis @Gus,
I could really see HTC NOT coming out with the Touch HD because of what their message said… http://twitter.com/htc/statuses/948774282
BUT they may come out with different things…
The US has always been on the short bus when it comes to new devices… and that could be because of the FCC or other things, but Europe seems like the testing ground for new toys and the US gets the hand-me-downs after the bugs have been worked out. Which is good for the US because if we got all the new toys, people would complain about getting “not finished” equipment…
So … I can see HTC planning for new US items, like the G1 for other carriers… probably Verizon since AT&T has the iPhone…
we’ll see…
-SCDavis
Gary Thanks for that analysis, but you left out what is one of the most important factors-battery life! What’s it going to be like? The Tilt has been a battery life hog, forcing many workarounds to save battery life, and I still often can’t make it through the day.
Gary well, I may have answered my own question. According to the review posted on wmexpers.com, “Battery life is only barely adequate” That is disappointing.
David K @ Gary- the numbers never add up for me. They always tell me 50 hours of phone calls and in the end it’s always the same- battery life is one day and towards the end of the day you start to think about whether going on the web is a good idea… To get better battery life TF3D and 3G need to be turned off
@ Who – i am referring to the on screen keyboard. They replaced the standard Windows keyboard with their own which is larger and better. The physical keyboard is debatable but i do like the extra row of keys personally.
Excellent post David!