The first HTC Touch device to come equipped with built-in GPS, the Touch Cruise features a similar feature set to the TyTN II, minus the slide out keyboard. The Cruise boasts HSDPA-connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 3-megapixel camera with autofocus and a 2.8in display.
Aesthetically, this is a smaller device than the TyTN II, but it's still quite large for a smartphone without a keyboard. It's not the most attractive of devices we've seen, but the chrome surrounding the display and sides gives it a nice touch. Below the screen is a five-way navigational pad that doubles as a scroll wheel – it's quite convenient for scrolling through long lists. The most disappointing aspect of the Touch Cruise is its display. It's a standard VGA screen which doesn't do the TouchFLO interface justice.
The Cruise is quite easy to use. Though it's a standard Windows Mobile 6 device, HTC's TouchFLO interface means you won't have to use the stylus as often as usual. It allows quick access to functions like favourite contacts, weather, an application launcher and sound profiles. Unfortunately, the finger panning and scrolling feature, used to scroll through long lists and documents by sliding your finger up and down the screen, is a mixed bag and does take a while to grasp. We found it is often a hit and miss affair, sometimes requiring a firm and uncomfortable press on the display to activate.
The Touch Cruise comes with a built-in GPS receiver and ships with the latest CoPilot Live 7 software, containing Australian maps. The Cruise managed to maintain a relatively stable signal throughout our journey, though it did tend to drop out at various points where there was not a clear view of the sky. You can read more about CoPilot Live 7 in our stand-alone review. The great aspect of a mobile device is its flexibility – as it runs Windows Mobile, you can purchase and install any number of mobile GPS applications on the unit should you wish.
The Touch Cruise features Office Mobile, consisting of mobile versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint applications. There is also Windows Live, Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player programs. Both the built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and HSDPA-connectivity mean the Cruise is a solid e-mail device. Connectivity comes in the form of Bluetooth 2.0 (with support for A2DP) and USB 2.0. Unfortunately, the media support is let-down by a mini-USB headphone jack instead of the standard 3.5mm jack. The included headphones are average, but you'll need them to us the FM radio.
A 3-megapixel camera with autofocus takes reasonable, but not outstanding photos. The lack of flash means night-time photography is out of the question. A front mounted VGA camera handles video calling. Users can save their images on the Touch Cruise's 256MB of internal memory, or the included 512MB microSD card.
References
-
Nokia N97 smartphone
RRP: $1129.00 -
Apple iPhone 3GS (32GB)
RRP: $1040.00 -
HTC Touch Pro 2 smartphone
RRP: $1499.00 -
HTC Magic smartphone (3 Mobile)
RRP: TBA -
Motorola MOTOSURF A3100 mobile phone
RRP: $849.00
-
Nokia N97 smartphone
RRP: $1129.00 -
Apple iPhone 3GS (32GB)
RRP: $1040.00 -
HTC Touch Pro 2 smartphone
RRP: $1499.00 -
HTC Magic smartphone (3 Mobile)
RRP: TBA -
Nokia N85
RRP: $919.00
GPS Nokia Phone
Is the GPS device from the Nokia 5800 able to receive data (coordinates) from my ...
Has anyone tried a good car radio with iPhone support?
I'd love to be able to play music and use it as a hands-free kit. Everything out ...
Your favourite GPS
At the moment there is plenty of choice in regards to in-car GPS units. What is your ...
Parrot MKi9200
Hello. I read your excellent review on this latest Parrot device. However I'm experiencing ...
-
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
RRP: TBA -
Topaz Simplify
RRP: $39.99 -
Trine
RRP: TBA -
Plantronics .Audio 995 wireless headphones
RRP: $199.95 -
Sony Bravia KDL46WE5 LCD TV
RRP: $3199.00
-
Panasonic TH-50VX100W plasma panel
RRP: $7138.00 -
Lenovo ThinkPad T400s notebook
RRP: $3599.00 -
QNAP TS-119 Turbo NAS device
RRP: $519.00 -
Sony Bravia KDL40ZX1 LCD TV
RRP: $7399.00 -
Belkin Powerline AV+ Starter Kit F5D4075
RRP: $269.95
-
Bush BR10DAB digital radio
RRP: $169.00 -
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FS7 digital camera
RRP: $389.00 -
Sapphire HD 4770 graphics card
RRP: $184.00 -
Canon PowerShot SX200 IS digital camera
RRP: $649.00 -
Samsung 2243BWX LCD monitor
RRP: $449.00
-
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
RRP: TBA -
Trine
RRP: TBA -
Plantronics .Audio 995 wireless headphones
RRP: $199.95 -
The BIGS 2
RRP: $99.95 -
Genius Traveler 915BT Laser mouse
RRP: TBA
Kordz Releases "immortal" HDMI Cable 2009-07-09 14:26:00+10
Synterra and Verizon Business Sign Agreement to Provide Customers Direct Network Connectivity to Russia and the World 2009-07-09 11:04:00+10
Lexar Media expands its JumpDrive line up 2009-07-07 19:04:00+10
AVG (AU/NZ) ANNOUNCES RECORD GROWTH; ADDS STAFF DESPITE 'GFC' 2009-07-07 14:38:00+10
Symantec Unveils New Model of Consumer Protection Codenamed “Quorum” 2009-07-07 09:30:00+10














