Review: HTC Touch Cruise T4242 aka HTC Iolite

Price: RM2,199

Available Date: 5th March 2009

Fresh Gear Rating: 7/10

Specification:

• Qualcomm® MSM7225™, 528 MHz
• ROM: 512 MB    RAM: 256MB
• 102 X 53.5 X 14.5 mm (4.02 X 2.11 X 0.57 inches) – 103 gram
• HSDPA – QUAD band
• Internal GPS antenna
• Bluetooth + WiFi
• 3.2 megapixel color camera with fixed focus
• Battery 1100 mAh with Up to 400 minutes for GSM and 330 Hours Standby Time

HTC Touch Cruise - Box

Un-boxing the HTC Touch 3G

HTC Touch Cruise - Content

Like HTC P3300, HTC Touch Cruise comes with load of accessories like below!

• Screen Protector
• 2 piece earphones
• Car-Holder
• Car Charger
• Extra Stylus
• Nylon Pouch
• Travel Charger (Adapter)
• USB Cable
• Manuals + Startup Guide
• Papago Registration Number
• 1GB memory card pre-loaded with Papago maps

First Impression

The HTC Touch Cruise looks quite small nimble compared to the previous HTC Touch Cruise. It did inherit the scroll wheel found the previous model, but that’s it. 

HTC Touch Cruise - Front

HTC Touch Cruise - Back

 

Following the design of Touch 3G, the volume/up down button is just a long sleek line.

HTC Touch Cruise - Side Profile

A 3.2MP camera sits behind and the back cover is made from a very rubbery type material with gold dust like effect, unlike HTC Diamond. 

HTC Touch Cruise - 3.2 MP Camera

Top of the PDA is the ON/OFF button

HTC Touch Cruise - Top

Using the HTC Touch Cruise

Touch Cruise Home Screen

Touch Cruise Weather Tab

Touch Cruise Setting Tab

HTC Touch Cruise isn’t running on Windows Mobile 6.5. So, there isn’t any much difference compared to say HTC Touch 3G in terms of OS. The Settings Tab however now include an additional “Location”. So what is so special about HTC Touch Cruise?

Footprint

Foot Print Tab

Footprint by HTC

What is “Footprint”? Simply put, Foot Print is a software develop by HTC whereby additional info can be stored on every photo taken using the HTC Touch Cruise. Information like telephone, audio clip, address, notes, coordinates and categories can be store in each of the picture so you know exactly when and where and why you took those pictures.

Step 1 - Take a picture

Step 2 - Set a Category

Step 3 - Add a Coordinate/Location

Step 4 - Enter additional info

Done! Picture appears in Footprint

The next time you open up your footprint, you can just click on the image and navigate to the place on the image. Easy and straight forward.

Map Search

Map search function is also new in HTC Touch Cruise. It is actually powered by Google Maps where you can search for nearby restaurant, petrol station and others. It is as accurate as what all other users in the world contributes.

Searching for Japanese Food

Found "Momo Japanese Restaurant"

Momo Japanese Restaurant on Map

Papago X3 GPS Navigation System 

Papago! X3

HTC  Touch Cruise comes pre-loaded with Papago GPS software. It also comes bundled with Maps of Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Maps of different countries

Very similar to my previous review on the Papago Z-820 GPS Navigation System, this map also comes with 3D building and landmarks.

Simulation Screen

More screen shots of the Papago X3 below. Click to enlarge.

        

Car Kit Mode

Another feature found specifically on Touch Cruise is the Car Kit Mode. Basically when you fix this PDA to the supplied Car Holder kit, it will automatically changes into Navigational Model catering for GPS. 

Comparing with HTC Touch 3G

So, the closest PDA (in terms of specification) would be HTC Touch 3G. They both about the same size, weight about the same and have almost the same functionality.

Lets compare!

	HTC Touch Cruise (T4242)	HTC Touch 3G (T3232)
Memory	ROM: 512 MB    RAM: 256MB	ROM: 256MB   RAM: 192MB
Processor	Qualcomm® MSM7225TM, 528 MHz	Qualcomm® MSM7225TM, 528 MHz
Battery	Battery Capacity: 1100 mAh	Battery Capacity: 1100 mAh
Size & Weight	102 mm X 53.6 mm X 14.5 mm (96g with battery)	102mm X 53.5mm X 14.5 mm (103g with battery)
Camera	3.2 MP (Fix Focus)	3.2 MP (Fix Focus)
Additional Accessories	Car Charger + Car Holder + additional stylus + 1GB memory card	– nil –
Additional Software	Papago X3 and Footprint	– nil –

Besides the obvious memory storage and button layout difference, everything between the HTC Touch 3G and HTC Touch Cruise is the same. Both have GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi and both don’t come with 3G camera. With HTC Touch 3G now selling at RM1,899, will the difference in RM300 worth all the additional accessories and software?

Other Screen Shots

     

Conclusion

Pros:

• Long battery life
• Light weight
• Comes bundled with all the necessary car holder, charger and additional stylus

Cons:

• Lack of 3G Video Camera
• Lack of Auto-focus function
• Sensitivity of GPS signal weak compared with HTC Touch Pro

Available at Fresh Gear Online Store. All major credit cards and Paypal accepted.

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