HTC TyTN II

It might be called the TyTN II, but this is actually the third generation of HTC's slide-out keyboard phone, and it's crammed with just about every mobile technology possible.

With tri-band 3G and quad-band GSM, the TyTN II will operate on almost any digital phone network, and data-wise it copes with everything up to and including HSDPA at 3.6Mb/sec. You'll also find 802.11bg Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

As is the fashion, the TyTN II includes a GPS receiver, and ships with a cut-down version of TomTom Navigator 6 (you get to download the map for a single city only). In use, we found the GPS slightly less sensitive than rival devices using the SiRF III chipset.

The 3-megapixel camera has a proper moving lens, coupled with a half-press shutter button. The picture quality is excellent, although the lack of a flash limits indoor use. As the phone supports 3G video calling, there's an additional lower-resolution video camera just above the screen.

Ergonomics and controls are superb - as well as a full complement of buttons and a five-way navigation control, there's a scroll wheel, plus, of course, the excellent slide-out keyboard.

Being a Windows Mobile 6 Professional device, there's a touchscreen, which can be tilted up for desktop use. HTC enhances WM6 by providing a very functional home screen and adding a TouchFLO application that enhances screen-prod-based navigation.

Each successive generation of this phone is slimmer than the last, although the TyTN II looks big because of its "brick" styling. Put it beside a more conventional smartphone, though, and you'll find it's almost the same size. The new model may be slimmed down but it's heavier, now weighing 190g. Much of that is the battery - you can expect two to three days' life with frequent real-world usage.

This is a brilliant device, packing lots of leading-edge technology into a compact package. It deservedly joins its forebears as our A-Listed smartphone of choice, and will appeal to both business users and gadget freaks alike.

Author: Paul Ockenden