finally a new phone!

After almost 2 years with the same phone I finally got a new one yesterday. My old phone, bought in January 2008, really was awesome with GPS, multiple input methods such as a scroll, D pad, and touchscreen, as well as solid hardware. I was happy with the unofficial support and hacks that were available online. I had slick updates such as Windows Mobile 6.1 and unlocked GPS many months before Verizon released it. Actually Verizon never did release an update to unlock the GPS. Anyway, the thing weighed a ton with a full keyboard and with all the new sweet phones now on the market I was set on getting a new one. Having the HTC Touch Pro2 for a few weeks as a demo phone for work sealed the deal for me. I bought the HTC Touch Diamond2 which is the same phone without the keyboard. Verizon calls it the HTC Imagio. The other major difference with the Touch Pro2 is that yesterday was the official release of Windows Mobile 6.5 and this was the first Verizon phone with the new OS. I got it online and Verizon shipped it out overnight. It was only $99 after the 2 year upgrade discount, online discount, and $100 rebate. I’m diggin’ it. It is very slick.

The only reason I was hesitant to get the phone is that I’d rather have an Android phone (Google’s OS). Unfortunately Verizon doesn’t have any at this time. There is solid unofficial information that a Motorola Android phone will be released on Verizon next month but I don’t like that phone with the full keyboard. And I’m a fan of HTC over Motorola. Also, the Verizon’s Touch Pro2 sold out in a few days and is still out of stock. I didn’t want to wait on getting the HTC Imagio. Of course the day after I purchase my phone it was leaked that Verizon will be releasing the HTC Hero in November with Android. So now I have 30 days to decide if I want to get the HTC Hero next month and return my new phone for a full refund. I would love to get away from Windows Mobile but I’ve read that the HTC Hero is lacking powerful hardware and can be slow. Maybe Verizon will give it an upgrade. But will the specs be leaked before my 30 days is up?