The Pure may be the first Windows Mobile 6.5 device that brings mass appeal to what at best is a finicky touch screen market. To qualify that I will simply just say that I have been sorely disappointed with previous Windows Mobile touch screen devices on the market. To be fare I didn’t know I was disappointed until I picked up an iPhone last year; yes I was late to the iParty. Until then I was a blissfully happy schmuck with my HTC Fuze. What the iPhone had that made it superior was its capacitive touch screen; the HTC had a traditional resistive touch.

The HTC Pure still has a resistive touch screen however the response and feel are smooth and crisp. HTC includes a stylus for serious detailed on screen work, something an iPhone lacks being a capacitive touch screen. That said I think both devices have their own niche to fill even if they overlap in features.

While I only had a short time to preview the device I was impressed with the unit’s size. It was slim and comfortable in the hand sporting a very light weight frame. Haptic feedback was a nice surprise as well providing reassuring vibration feedback.  The 5 megapixel camera adds some interesting options as a convergence device especially when you consider the the WiFi and GPS. I guess I will wait and see if the new application Marketplace will feature apps to take advantage of these powerful features.

Here is a picture taken with the 5 megapixel camera, click photo to be able to select other sizes:

All is not honey and milk with the HTC Pure however. The screen has a certain glossy look that only a plastic screen can produce. A matte screen protector might be able to reduce this. The missteps do not end there however; HTC seems married to the idea that a dedicated headphone jack is the devils playground. They have yet again implemented that USB to headphone adapter nonsense found in the Fuze and other HTC wares. I shouldn’t complain too much, at least they use mini USB and not some proprietary plug like Samsung devices.

All gripes aside, I think HTC has a solid product in their new Pure Smartphone featuring WinMo 6.5. If you’re looking for something that is a bit more of a workhorse hang tight for the HTC Tilt 2. Only time will tell if the new Marketplace for Windows Mobile will bring these devices in to a cohesive application ecosystem of simplicity and usability.

—Bill Landon

Support page for AT&T: http://www.wireless.att.com/support/setDevice.do?make=HTC&model=PURE%20(ST6356)