It seems as if HTC HD2 never gets enough of its snapshots and reviews. Now it gets reviewed by areamobile, who find the multi-touch device quite better considering the Windows platform. Grab the quick synopsis: “The remains unmatched advantage of Apple is the perfect software ecosystem that was created by the company during the past two years. Download and buy music and programs from iTunes and App Store are simply unbeatable. But if one sees the gigantic high-end mobile phone from HTC besides the iPhone, then it is suddenly aware of the many drawbacks of compulsory binding to the PC's iTunes software, the rudimentary Bluetooth support, the rigid arrangement of the user interface, the camera without flash that is not replaceable battery - but especially the high price and the adhesion contract with a network operator. It has been approvingly accepted with the knowledge, the best phone in the world in your hand and hold. But the competition is the development deficit made up. The HTC HD2 marks the beginning of a new generation of high-end smartphones, the Apple phone can suddenly look very old. The user can rejoice, because he is finally faced with a choice between different smart phones and operating systems, even if he has high standards.” [...]

AT&T gets its first Windows Mobile 6.5 phone for sale and before the official release of the new OS. HTC Diamond 2 presented as HTC Pure by AT&T is on the floors of AT&T at $150 with a 2-yr contract and after a $50 rebate. The same price rebate is available on HTC Tilt 2(codified version of HTC Touch Pro2)  as well, making it cost around $300 with a 2-yr agreement. The Tilt 2 release is said to be in the queue for a bit more weeks.

The Touch Flo 3D and the new mobile OS are the highlights of the devices. AT&T’s official site is updating itself for now.

Have a look at some tit-bits from the press release:

Marketplace

AT&T will support Windows Marketplace for Mobile in 2009 for access to a variety of applications on new AT&T devices, including the HTC PURE and HTC Tilt 2. Additionally, AT&T customers’ purchases from Windows Marketplace can be added to their monthly statements. After Microsoft delivers Windows Marketplace later this year for other versions of Windows Mobile, AT&T will make it available to customers using those versions.

Windows Mobile 6.5

Windows Mobile 6.5 received several upgrades that enhance ease-of-use, such as a touch-friendly user interface and improved browser with Flash support. Content and applications are just a fingertip away on the redesigned Start Menu and Internet Explorer Mobile will support the rich experiences that many Web pages offer for desktop computers.

HTC Tilt 2
Designed for the business professional, the HTC Tilt 2 is designed with distinct style and strength while delivering the most powerful productivity experience available on a mobile phone. The HTC Tilt 2 features a high-resolution 3.6-inch widescreen WVGA display which can be easily tilted for an expanded viewing area and a large QWERTY keyboard, which is optimized for heavy email use. A quality speakerphone experience is enabled by dual speakers and dual microphones with advanced noise cancellation, and HTC’s Straight Talk™ which allows for simplified conference calling and activation of the speakerphone by simply turning over the device. The HTC Tilt 2 also features a 3.2 megapixel camera.

HTC PURE
Leveraging HTC’s TouchFLO 3D experience, the all touch screen HTC PURE offers an advanced touch experience that is optimized for one-hand use, which further evolves the compact smartphone design. Incorporating a large, brilliant 3.2-inch WVGA touch screen, the HTC PURE is crafted to fit perfectly into the hand and accentuates one’s sense of style. With a crisp advanced five megapixel auto-focus camera with video capture, expandable memory, gravity sensor and an ambient light sensor, the HTC PURE brings many of the most sophisticated features to a broad consumer audience looking for the professional benefits of a smartphone, without sacrificing size, looks or functionality.

Pricing and Availability
The HTC PURE is available at AT&T retail stores nationwide and online at www.wireless.att.com for $149.99. The HTC Tilt 2, will be available in the following weeks for $299.99. (For the HTC PURE, pay $199.99 and receive $50 mail-in-rebate, for the HTC Tilt 2, pay $349.99 and receive a $50 mail-in-rebate. Two-year agreement on a minimum $69.99 plan required.)

Small business customers also can subscribe to AT&T’s new, industry-first BusinessTalk voice plans, which start at $60 a month for five users and 700 Anytime Minutes and can be expanded for $9.99 a line to accommodate up to 40 users and 20,000 Anytime Minutes. AT&T Music, AT&T Navigator, Video Share, Push-To-Talk and MobiTV all require separate monthly subscriptions.

Read the full release here.

[...]

While the producers of operating systems divide the market of smartphones, the software industry produces more new programs and updates to them. Indeed the existence of quality programs for a particular operating system determines the popularity of this OS. Elecont has released a new version of the Elecont Weather for Windows Mobile. Users of this program appreciate the quality of a 10-day weather forecast, hourly forecast for 36 hours, barometer, current conditions, weather and UV alerts etc. In previous versions the user interface of the program was ascetic and simple. New major release introduces new user interface including rich graphics, animation, multiple color themes, Vibro-effects, gesture oriented interface and other features Currently retailing at a discounted price of $9.95, we think that it is not a bad deal at all! [Elecont Weather official webpage] [...]