[review] HTC TyTN II

[Unimatrix Xero]

Well yesterday i took delivery of my new Pocket PC mobile phone, its a HTC TyTN II on the UK network '3'. First impresions of the mobile was very pleasing, the phone is light, nice to hold, and also very user friendly, as it uses Windows Mobile version 6. after the unboxing, i powered the phone up and i was greated with the '3' setup screen, after a few minutes configuration with the screen and sim card i was ready to go.

The first thing i looked into was unblocking the phone as when i tried using my Orange simcard i was greated with the 'service lock' so after a quick google search i found out how to unblock the handset and after around 20-30 mins of messing around with settings and various programs, the phone was unlocked and ready to work with Orange UK.

After my Orange simcard was in the handset the phone picked up that i had a new simcard installed and asked me if i wanted to auto configure the phone to the operator, this included all settings, including gprs, and mms settings by itself, which i thought was very cool, plus it saved a phone call to Orange asking for the settings

Inside the box you will find:

The HTC TyTN II (obviously)

Suede effect case

Mains Charger

USB Sync/Charge cable

Application CD with ActiveSync,

Sprite Backup,

GPRS Monitor and

TomTom 6

ExtUSB hands free headset

Battery

Clear screen protector

Spare Stylus

Manual & getting started guide

TyTN II Hardware Specification:

<LI>Windows Mobile 6

Tilted 2.8" 240*320 QVGA touch screen

Sliding QWERTY keyboard

built-in GPS

3 mega-pixel auto focus camera

VGA camera for 3G/UMTS video-calling

HTC Home menu screen

Tri-band UMTS with Quad-band GSM/GPRS/Edge

HSDPA up to 3.6 Mbps HSUPA

ROM 256MB and RAM 128MB

360 degree 3 way jog wheel paired with OK button

microSD card slot

WiFi 802.11 b/g , Bluetooth 2.0

TouchFLO Technology

So after i got the unlock sorted i set about installing Windows Live, this included WLM and Windows Live Mail, this process was so easy it was unreal, all i had to do was enter my MSN Passport info (normal stuff) sign a User Agreement, and then tick 3 radio buttons, asking me if i wanted to import my WLM contacts into my phone book on my handset, the setup process even auto configured my MSN Mail settings. Another great little feature was when i added my G-Mail account it retreived the settings from the web, so no messing with pop3 settings.

A little word of warning if your thinking of getting these handset, get your opperator to disable gprs as the handset has a dynamic weather update program that will auto connect the gprs and download updates, 'thats a great thing i hear you cry' ohh but it isnt as when its finished, the updates doesnt disconnect, i found out the hardway as since im as PAUG it decided to eat all of credit.

The keyboard is nice to use, it doesnt feel cramped or rescticted in its use in anyway, i was using it with WLM messesger via the wifi connection last night and with the screen tilted to 40 degree's it felt nice and comfortable.

The phone features two 3 mega pixel camera's which are located at the rear, and the front of the handset. A took 2 photos in a semi out door area to show the camera quality

One of the slight little niggles which im finding at the moment its that the built in gps reciever is a little slow at locking onto the satilites, at the moment its taking around 30-45 seconds (as i timed it) to find a working signal.

I know this aint been the best review, but if you have got any questions i'll be happy to answer them

[DaveLegg Developer]

I have the same phone, and I agree, it's a great phone. The weather feature does not update itself in the background constantly, it only does that when you click to the weather tab to view it, so you can easily avoid that by not clicking it! Have you downloaded and installed the WM 6.1 ROM from HTC onto it yet? If so, what do you think of it? I find 6.1 to be slightly slower, and I disabled the threaded messaging feature as it was refusing to display some of my messages when that was enabled.

[Unimatrix Xero]

ive installed a few updates (esp the photo bug one) but i havnt seen a update for the rom as yet, i was really comfortable with unlocking and flashing my handset the first time round, plus when you flash you loose all data, so i dont really wanna flash again if i can help it.

In case i do it in the future.. what the link?

[DaveLegg Developer]

ive installed a few updates (esp the photo bug one) but i havnt seen a update for the rom as yet, i was really comfortable with unlocking and flashing my handset the first time round, plus when you flash you loose all data, so i dont really wanna flash again if i can help it.

In case i do it in the future.. what the link?

I don't know the direct link off hand, if you register the phone with their "owners club" or whatever they call it, you can get the rom from a download page on that site.

[Unimatrix Xero]

aye ive done that, im there now actully and nothing is showing in the 'Device updates' section, i get 3 updates in the 'drivers and applications' section but thats it.. i'll check the US site, as im on the UK one atm

[General Disarray]

does the phone have quickgps? does that speed up the satellite discovery time?

[Unimatrix Xero]

yes it does, as far as i know the data is still valid for the next 6 days

EDIT: aye just checked, the data is valid for the next 6 days and 8 hours

[Rob Veteran]

Nice review :) I had this phone for a few months. I enjoyed it, and found it a very capable device. But decided in the end it wasn't suitable for my needs.

[MMaster23]

Really nice review .. however ... light?

Did you just call the TyTn II light?

The thing is a massive 200gr+

I tought my Wizard was heavy at 160gr

Loving my new Touch Dual at 120gr

Call me picky but I. and all the people I personally know, don't call the TyTN II light ;)

[Unimatrix Xero]

well its light compaired to my XDA LOL

[Oblivion]

How much does HTC TyTN II cost?

[Unimatrix Xero]

i got mine free with a '3' contract, but according to the reciept ?415

[Echilon]

I bought one from Rob (moderator) a few months back for a friend, but ended up keeping it myself. Very nice phone, once you've debranded it with a coin.

[+BeLGaRaTh Subscriber¹]

Sorry, but you said you got it on a three contract (minimum of ?30 a month over 18mnths on this phone) and you are just using you're own orange sim instead? Wouldnt it have been cheaper to buy the phone fro the carphone warehouse or direct from three? (three sell the phone for ?279 a saving of ?265) I have seen the phone and it is great, but I would rather purchase it outright for that price than spend nearly twice as much and have it brand:( :(

[Unimatrix Xero]

well its what i wanted to do.... and besides its no branded to '3' either is say HTC on the phone

[+BeLGaRaTh Subscriber¹]

but the issue here is you are using a pay and go sim in a contract phone, thus you are paying the contract ?30 a month (minimum) as you mentioned, 30x18 (min contract length) ?540 plus your payg minimum payments of ?10 per month (?180) which is ?720, as I said it would be cheaper to just purchase the phone. If you cancel the contract you will have to send the phone back, and they will ban the IMEI so you cant cheat and not send it back, and thus continue to use it, unless you can change the IMEI number!!! I know I spoke to you about this earlier and you said you had a plan, then promptly signed off, but I think it is foolhardy to think that you can get a contract phone and continue to use it when you cancel said contract after a month, albeit on a seperate network and on payg. We will:)ee :)

[Unimatrix Xero]

i signed off as i was going to bed, any way my plan has nothing to do with you, if you must know my dad is paying the line rental so meh!

[Cormier6083]

Looks bigger than a European car.

[Raa]

I've got one of these puppies (its sitting just to my left as I type)

I must say it's one of the BEST phones i've ever owned, really!

I havent registered my phone though, I should get onto that. Bought it off ebay (brand new) ~4 months ago.

[Echilon]

Looks bigger than a European car.

You mean it's not a pink clamshell? No, it's not, but if you want a full qwerty keyboard you have to make sacrifices. ;)