Hello, my name is Nishanth Samala and I am the new editor that Brandon Miniman has employed to write articles for AllTouchSite.com. From XDA-Developers, AllShadow or AllTouchSite, you know me as ND4SPD. Some of my hobbies include playing basketball, doing TaeKwonDo, robotics, and modding Windows Mobile devices.

My first experience with Windows Mobile was when I got my first phone two years ago: the MPX200, the grandfather of all Windows Mobile smartphones. But most of the time, I customized my dad’s T-Mobile MDA after discovering XDA-Developers. Since then, I’ve got my Shadow and have been actively helping the Shadow community with releases like the first port of Windows Mobile 6.1 to the Shadow. I hope to take that same experience to deliver some quality apps and ROMs for the HTC Touch family of devices for the community that is springing up here.

I’m ready to take part in the exciting experiences that I know that AllTouchSite will bring. I know this will become a great base for the Touch Diamond, Touch Pro, and all future HTC Touch devices that are to come along.

For those of you getting ready to buy a Touch Diamond, make sure you know which version you are buying. HTC recently released model number P3702 with code name HTC Victor. The specs are different from the original P3700 with code name HTC Diamond. This new model sports a rounded back and loses the diamond-like look. The front is a lot cleaner and looks similar to the UK T-Mobile Compact IV. It retains the 3.2 MP camera from the original Diamond. At the same time, however, the new P3702 loses the RAM with only 128MB instead of the 192MB. GSMArena speculates that the video accelerator isn’t available because of memory constraints - 64MB of RAM is taken up by the accelerator in the P3700. Most other features are confirmed to be the same as the P3700, but there is no assurance that there is an accelerometer.

Be wary and make sure you know which version you are buying. You might get more(or less) than what you expected.

Via GSMArena

Remember that the Diamond Accelerometer API was hacked? Well, XDA-Developer susilange has developed an application to switch between different profiles by shuffling your phone. Sounds familiar, right? (Hint, hint: Windows Mobile 7). With a quick shuffle, you can switch between vibrate and normal profiles. Worried about it changing profiles when you don’t want it to? The program is sensitive enough to recognize a quick shuffle but will not change when you walk or shift position in a chair. Version 0.2 of the software adds on vibration feedback for switching profiles. One long vibration for vibration on, two short vibrations for volume on. Convenient, isn’t it?

Look here for the Diamond Profile Switcher. Login at XDA-Developers is required for download.

What’s more, susilange is offering to make more applications based off the g sensor at your request. Post your ideas here.

The Diamond and Touch Pro have VGA screens - but what does this really mean?

I remember that back in the early days of Windows Mobile when we finally got support for VGA resolution with the release of Windows Mobile 2003 SE; I thought that PDA’s to be released with WinMo would all have high-resolution VGA screens. Wrong! Read Full Entry

If you’re considering the HTC Touch Pro then it’s likely you’ve look at the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 - a similar device slated to be released in September. They are comparable devices both in terms of form factor (slide-out-QWERTY) and specifications, so the choice isn’t an easy one. We’ll help. Read Full Entry

The Diamond that is sold in European right now (and the absolute cheapest price I could find for it was $650) will allow you to get EDGE speeds in the US because it has the T-Mobile 900MHz band, and you still have WiFi if you want faster data. Since a lot of people on T-Mobile don’t even have a data plan, the lack of 3G isn’t an issue, unless you plan to get a data plan in the future.

That said, if you’re waiting to get a Diamond that is released by T-Mobile, you may be waiting for a long time. T-Mobile has given no indicated that they plan to release the Diamond in the US for a subsidized price, it’s just been a matter of speculation and rumor. That’s why picking one up now may not be a bad idea. =D

The Touch Diamond may not yet be sold in the US, but it’s already over in Europe. You can import one to the US for about $800, and the phone will work fine on T-Mobile (you’ll get EDGE internet), but won’t support future 3G bands. If you use it on AT&T, you will only be able to get slow GPRS speeds.

If you want to see a comprehensive review of the European Touch Diamond, check out the review at pocketnow.com.

The verdict of the review? To start, the Diamond has a great size - it’s the smallest Windows Mobile phone yet (at just 11mm thick), and even with this petite design, the screen is still a nice 2.8″. TouchFLO 3D is a welcomed addition to help spruce up the Today screen, but the animations are a bit slow (a recent ROM update has made them faster). Other innovative features like accelerometer usage (flip the phone over to silence a call, rotate phone and a photo will re-orient) and software enhancements (YouTube application, Opera 9.5) make this the highest-caliber Windows Mobile phone yet in terms of features, functionality, and design.