Someone leaked HTC’s roadmap for 2009, and among the low quality slide images was this one:
Looks pretty good, I like the glossy screen – it looks a bit like a digital picture frame. It’s hard to tell if the keyboard is the same capacitive one or if HTC is back to mechanical keys. Camera is still there, and there appear to be no buttons on the front. Regardless, we’ll be on the lookout for more “Thoth” info. Perhaps HTC shoved an Intel Atom in there? Ahh, one can dream… The possibility of it running Android is always present however.
There is also a nice looking Whitestone W device. Again, waiting for more info.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:59 am
hmm, now this could get my of my N800 addiction.
that is, if the price is not HTC level insane
oh and here is the whole set on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14753338@N04/sets/72157612491271752/
January 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
The Athena is actually a pretty great device, the most annoying feature is the stupid clip on keyboard.
Sadly it seems they are sticking with that approach!
January 13th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I actually like the keyboard design – it allows me to use the device as a simple slate – smaller an lighter and only attach the keyboard if needed.
For what is worth even if it doesn’t have Atom, if HTC gives in at least 800×480 screen, keeps the size of the original and upgrades internals (16/32GB flash, 512MB RAM, Cortex CPU and video/3D acceleration) that would provide decent multimedia capabilities it would be good – oh yes and a FIE Browser – maybe the new mobile Firefox would be nice too…
Will Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Well we know that HTC have been playing with Snapdragon. This would be the perfect device to test it out with. A WVGA screen with IE6 (with flash and Ajax support) would be a good little internet tablet and messaging device.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I wonder if Whitestone is actually a MID, judging by the code name it could be “just” an upgrade of the current Touch HD (Blackstone) possibly with WM 6.5.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
There is some speculation that since the Whitestone is a media-centric device it will have a built in digital TV tuner. This also means a bigger battery which could explain why on the renders it looks thicker than the Blackstone.
The Thoth looks amazing, and it looks like it’s main upgrade over the Athena is an 800×480 screen.
The first Tegra devices perhaps?
January 13th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
That 16:9 display ratio on the Athena would interest me. 800×480 instead of 640×480 at last. Windows Mobile though….Mmm.
Steve
Marc G Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
640×480 is surprisingly usable on the Athena.
The problem, as you rightly point out is Windows Mobile. Unless it has some serious increase in processing power or it has WM7 and that does something clever then the browsing experience, whilst now pretty good with things like Opera, is a long way from the full internet experience we all want…
January 13th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I saw those slides and was surprised they’re doing a third iteration of that.
It has an absolutely insane price in the U.S., if you can even find it!
January 13th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
GSM Arena has some more speculation on it. Maybe some of these devices are Windows Mobile 7? More likely the new Win Mobile 6.5 when it comes out…
http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_2009_roadmap_leaks_in_pictures_seems_quite_promising-news-733.php
January 13th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I think that we will see it announced at Barcelona and I suspect that it will be based on snapdragon and will use WM 6.5. Unfortunately I think that the price will be disadvantage but I’d love to be proven wrong
Chippy Reply:
January 14th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I guess youll see many smartphones priced higher than mids and even some umpcs in 2009. How things have changed!
Wishmaster Reply:
January 14th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Thats a shame :/
If they would be at least similarly priced… but higher price is just ridiculous! Who would buy smartphone more expensive than mid/umpc
turn.self.off Reply:
January 14th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
it would depend on a couple of things, like not wanting to carry around two device (i see that comment alot about the nokia tablets so far not having a wwan radio), or that they find the mid/umpc to large to carry around all the time.
it all depends on what usage pattern one envisions…
January 13th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I wouldn’t mind seeing something like the HTC Shift, updated, with an ARM processor of some kind, and Android…
January 14th, 2009 at 3:10 am
Yes, I would like to see HTC Shift updated and at more reasonable prices running Windows 7
January 14th, 2009 at 3:16 am
Athena was seriously handicapped by lack of appropriate video drivers, so it performed inferiorly to Axim 51 and HX4700 in terms of video playback, despite having an amazing screen and more memory. What a waste.
I hope HTC does a better job with the software support this time around.
March 12th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Is there a way to recieve a review of this?