You can use a free online translation service to read this article in English. NTS company that produces Windows-smartphones, known as Qtek, i-Mate, T-Mobile, O2, Dopod, each year in the fall presents something of such things. Two years ago, we were struck by the first communicator, design and dimensions other than brick, a year ago - the device is equipped with all wireless interfaces, and keyboard. But this year, it seems impossible to set a plank high. HTC Universal, probably known to you through our news under the name T-Mobile MDA Pro, Vodafone VPA IV, and i-mate JASJAR, became the quintessential modern technological thought. The first official announcement of HTC Universal was held at the 3GSM congress and exhibition CeBIT. Future T-Mobile MDA IV shocked the public-form-factor tablet PC, a decent-sized built-in keyboard and VGA-display and support for UMTS. Besides, it was announced that the HTC Universal will be the first device with Windows Mobile 5.0 (Magneto). From that time began suspense, which is just resolved appearance on the shelves of the first production samples. Well, in anticipation of this moment it is possible to analyze in detail an instance of Engineers, who went to our editorial desk.
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| HTC Universal: it is T-Mobile MDA IV, Vodafone VPA IV, i-mate JASJAR |
Supplied
Definitive information on the complete unit yet. Nevertheless, a number of things clear. Includes AC Charger and a standard cable USB. On the HTC Universal is no non-standard connectors, so we are talking about the most common accessories that are compatible with many players, cameras and other microcomputers. But the cradle as standard equipment is not included. Given the fact that the USB socket is located on the side, hardly a convenient cradle at all possible. Probably in a box there and stereo a no carrying case. Well, of course, is not without driver disk, Outlook 2003 and the new version of ActiveSync - 4.0. As for other "goodies", then they will probably have to buy their own.
Appearance HTC Universal, design features
This section will be very long, because the HTC Universal has some solid features. Housing a large and massive. He was about an inch longer than the previous top model Blue Angel (Qtek 9090, i-mate PDA2k, T-Mobile MDA III), as well as slightly wider and thicker. In numbers, size and weight are as follows: 127.7h81h25 mm, 285 g (c battery). Acceptable methods of carrying such weighty apparatus can offer only three: Belt Holster, bag or pocket, a specialized vest, like those that are assemblers. Moreover, the belt holster would be indecent to stick out from under his jacket, sweater or jacket, so take advantage of it will be very few. So basically HTC Universal will be in the bag. Enclosure device is made of dark gray plastic, quite pleasant to the sight and touch. Build quality - traditionally high for the NTS, but plays a role plenty of moving parts, compression in some places building creaks.
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| HTC Universal: front side, in a closed form |
The front panel of more than terse - a single control alone slots dynamics on the edge. When the unit rings, it can not disclose, but just bring a speaker to your ear. Buttons with red and green pipe located on the long end (top in this picture), with certain skill they are easy to find without looking.
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| HTC Universal: key reception and reject buttons are on the edge |
Next to the phone buttons on the end of the lower sash, are mini-USB connector and a jack for headphones or headsets. It is done very competently - if you want to just listen to him to connect any standard headphones, but if you want to use imeeno headset (with microphone) - welcome, connect the "native" headset with an extended plug. To perform other operations to disclose housing halves. Hinge, revealing the HTC Universal, located at a long edge of the shell as on the laptop. No wonder that everything inside is also a classically configured, the notebook. On the right (lower) half of the body - the keyboard on the left (top) - the screen, another speaker, 4-way button, joystick and button choice in its center. Plus the camera lens.
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| HTC Universal: in expanded form |
Along the edges of the hinge is an indicator - left informs on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and the right - the presence of GSM-network, as well as missed events.
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| HTC Universal: Right indicator |
In order to use the "Universal" in besklaviaturny mode, you need to recline and deploy the screen as on a tablet notebook. As a result, the hands will be a classic besklaviaturny CCP, however, quite heavy and extremely poor control buttons. On the front panel - only the joystick, and everything else - on the ends.
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| HTC Universal: folded a la tablet |
The left side has already described the control buttons of the phones on his bottom - power button and the right - the slider to adjust the volume, and three additional buttons. Two of them are the default call voice dial and camera functions of the third remained unclear. In any case, their purpose can be changed.
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| HTC Universal: right end - the slider for volume control, voice dialing button and the camera, stereo speakers on the sides |
Concluding the visit, will tell you about slots and other "small things". Near the slider to adjust the volume and the three buttons on the edges of the right end is a pair of stereo speakers. They allow you to talk without bringing the unit to your ear, listen to music or watch movies. Stereo, frankly, could not hear, but the volume they have remarkably high. This is important when you are in a noisy place, and the phone rings from the bag. Between the buttons also lost its IR port. He is rather weak and inconvenient location, so to control home appliances is not appropriate. But to transfer files - very even. At the top end there is nothing but the stylus holder (it is unusually situated near the left edge of the shell) and the bottom, except off button, a slot is SDIO.
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| HTC Universal: the upper end |
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| HTC Universal: bottom end |
Finally, on the grooved rear positioned the camera lens and LED window, perform the backlight for night shooting. Wait, says the attentive reader - the camera was already! No mistake there - really two cameras.
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| HTC Universal: the back of the |
Corrugated panel is a cover under which there is a removable battery is a very decent capacity (1600 mAh). He locked the latch and fuse, so you do not accidentally fall out. However, even if it falls out, a little trouble about it below.
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| HTC Universal: the battery compartment |
Under the battery is comfortable foam for SIM-cards, and anything else interesting.
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| HTC Universal: a place for SIM-cards |
Ergonomics HTC Universal
This section - the saddest in our survey. Because for those accustomed to the HTC Blue Angel (Qtek 9090, i-mate PDA2k), or, even more so, HTC Magician (Qtek S100, i-Mate Jam), reconciliation with dimensions HTC Universal will be a very difficult process. Put the phone in your shirt pocket is problematic, and the belt, he will often be a burden. Therefore the most sensible would be HTC Universal in a bag and take it from there as needed. In view of the rotary design, screen protection will not be a problem, so no real need for a case I can not see. Respond quickly to calls, you can not revealing the body and feeling the answer at random. But the inconvenient fact that the phone buttons are small and well designed for oven fork apparatus of the right hand. The second way to wear - the screen facing out, as usual besklaviaturny microcomputer. It is in this mode, sadly, the HTC Universal is most satisfactory. Literally everything is not so, as usual for most other models of PDA. Stylus - top left. On / off button - bottom left. Ibid - memory card slot. All control buttons, except telephone - on the right side. Therefore, those who are accustomed to, for example, to read, holding the phone in his right hand, will have to rebuild the "left-handed" use. In this case, reach your thumb up button-joystick is almost impossible, the device is too thick and heavy. Turn off-turn it one-handed, too, is impossible. In short, we must accept the fact that basically use the generalists have, plying simultaneously with both hands. Often it is inconvenient.
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It is time to talk about the stylus, joystick and keyboard. The stylus is very short, flat, angular.His "prescription" is typical - the tip and tail are made of plastic, the central part of the aluminum. Do not feel cheap and uncomfortable delivers except that a small length. However, this quickly gets used. Joystick with a convex "OK" button in the center has enough space and well-chosen stiffness of depression. It's convenient, and the absolute absence of the other keys around, miss and hit something superfluous impossible. As gaming PC HTC Universal is quite acceptable - provided that its holding in his left hand, left hand fingers press a key additional game at the end, and right at the same time oruduesh joystick. Finally, the very tasty - the keyboard. It Contains 62 keys size of about 9x9 mm each. This is very good for such a small device size. With the keyboard, you can work in two ways: take body HTC Universal in the palm and thumb typing, but you can put the device on a flat surface and smartly wield a pair of index fingers. Typing speed is slightly higher than the micro-keyboard competitors such as NTS Blue Angel, BenQ P50 or a Palm Treo 650. The richness of the keys here is simply unprecedented: in addition to 26 letters, dozens of digital symbol and 4, there is a complete set of buttons for navigation (arrows, OK, delete, tab), the direct call button "Start" menu, mail, contacts, web, press Shift, FN and Caps, ending a call button, the button to start a voice or video conversation, and a pair of soft keys like on the phone. Thanks to Windows Mobile 5.0, device much better than before, controlled from the keyboard and just soft buttons allow for many (almost all) of the operation, without using the stylus. True, this will only work in new, specially finished programs, the old to the soft keys do not respond. More information about the operating system and software - below.
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| HTC Universal: Keyboard |
In general, the keys are comfortable, pleasant to you, and are well matched by the relief. But those who have a greater length (space, Enter), are under a two blades and sometimes work twice in one click. And sometimes - one time, but it remains an unpleasant tactile sensation of double clicking. Let's hope that this shortcoming of the engineering model. In the dark, the keyboard is illuminated in orange, signs are clearly visible and can be freely typing. Summarizing this section, we can say that the HTC Universal is sharpened by the use in the "laptop", but being minimized as besklaviaturny PDA is linked fail. Talking on the phone to your ear for a long time putting a hefty device, it is difficult (a hand gets tired after 5 minutes), and it looks ridiculous. The solution lies on the surface - very convenient to speak of Bluetooth-headset, the more that work with this accessory does not cause any complaints. However, about communication - and then.
The screen and sound system
And, both the novelty NTS is to the best Pocket PC and overtakes everything previously released smart phones, communicators. HTC Universal screen has a diagonal of 3.6 inches and a VGA-resolution (640x480 pixels). Its brightness is high enough, the clarity and color reproduction is not satisfactory. This is the first VGA-screen among communicators and it will be appreciated by those who look at the way different web sites or editing documents. In addition to high-resolution, in the dignity of the screen is written large viewing angles, and the color is practically not distorted. There is only one "zone dimming", but the portrait orientation, it is at the top, and when the landscape - the far right. Under these angles on the screen do not usually watch. In the sun light is almost useless, with and without it the screen looks almost identical, and color saturation significantly decreases. Nevertheless, the readability of information and the contrast is absolutely acceptable, the problem causes only viewing images and video. The disadvantages of the screen we put insufficient dimming range (a typical problem of modern screens - the minimum brightness is too high), as well as a glossy finish, due to glare and reflections which sometimes obscure the video.The latter, of course, removed the label of protective film, which in addition to getting rid of the flare, also protects the screen from dust, scratches, and partially - fingerprints. Sound system as a whole has already been described just above (remember, stereo speakers on the end?): It is interesting the presence of four speakers. Two - for the music and melodies, and two - to talk about. Volume - high sound quality is very good. Reserve volume allows us to speak on the phone even when there are very noisy. Noise does not interfere with and hear the call, however, he echoes the palpable vibration. In the headphone jack can be completely deafening.
Cameras
Two cameras in the HTC Universal - not a whim of developers, and the urgent need for organizing chats. One camera (near the screen) - allows you to transmit the image to the subscriber and the second is designed for routine tasks like photographing the surrounding reality. Accordingly, they are different - the inner chamber has only a VGA-resolution (for video calls will suffice), while the outer has a matrix of 1.3 MP. Of course, in itself, increasing the resolution does not guarantee better quality. Camera in the HTC Universal (external) allows daylight to get an acceptable picture, but no more. Fortunately, there is no atheist "peresharplivaniya" Kartika, Kojima different previous models NTS, but the overall picture detail and clarity of focus were mediocre, there are cameras in smartphones and better. But the color is pretty good, but in the dark can be a normal shot close-ups with "flash". It is suspected that no man's button on the side is responsible just for the flash, but the current firmware version is not so.
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To some extent, lack of quality sensors and optics compensated wealth settings. As usual, you can adjust the white balance, special effects, brightness, contrast and color saturation, choose a picture frame fun to do a series of shots, panning, and so on. Self-portrait done too easily, there is switching to the inner chamber.
Other hardware
In the "Other" Today we have all the fun and interesting to the HTC Universal is literally everything.The core of the system is a 520 MHz PXA270, the fastest of today's processors in smartphones (the same is equipped with Qtek 2020i).
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Deserves a separate story and organization of memory in Windows Mobile 5.0. In its structure it is closer to the organization of memory on the desktop. The fact is that RAM now performs the same function as on a PC - is used for applications. Thus, software and data installed by the user on a PDA, a RAM is no longer stored, they are allocated a place in the non-volatile memory locations and, therefore, to fear for their loss at discharge is not necessary. Total shared memory available to the user on board the HTC Universal, - 100 MB (specification 64 MB RAM + 128 MB ROM), of which about 50 MB of permanent flash memory (128 MB) and 50 MB of program memory (64 MB). Accordingly, the slider being redistributed ratio of memory in the settings there. In general, this approach negatively affects the performance of which we'll talk, but this is largely a convenient solution, and certainly a step forward.
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Communication module HTC Universal navorochen to the limit: support UMTS (3G), usually 3-range GSM / GPRS, Bluetooth 1.2 and 802.11b - all included. Well, almost everything. UMTS in Russia is not observed, but EDGE is already deployed. And just hedgehog is not required, since there is a 3G. On infrared port, and SDIO slot has already been said, there are no surprises, so the sooner we go to the most interesting - the story of the program stuffing.
Toppings - Windows Mobile 5.0
In fact, HTC Universal - the first device based on the new version of Windows Mobile, so in its software, there are important differences from previous communicators NTS. Creating a new version of the OSes, Microsoft's programmers are basically trying to do two things: reduce the differences between versions of Windows for smartphones and communicators (different type of screen - touchscreen communicators and non-touch smartphones), as well as deeper integration of telephony into the bowels of the OS. Well, of course, not without some work on our mistakes and wishes users. However, no shocking revelations here do not wait: on the whole, about the same as before, although there are some significant differences. The Today screen, which we are met by the system on the HTC Universal, very similar to what it was before. True, the service icon moved from the bottom row, where there was a menu on the line above - in the lower part of the configurable zone "Today." But the bottom line is busy most signatures for soft-keys. By default, they cause the Contacts and Calendar. "Here it is, a step towards a smart phone!
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| HTC Universal: Windows Mobile 5.0 |
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| HTC Universal: start menu |
Almost all applications have the left soft key HTC Universal performs the most useful and necessary function, while the right is a pop-up menu with all the other functions of the program. This design is intended to replace, and the application menu and toolbar. In practice, this approach makes it easy to control with the keyboard, but it slows down access to the features if you use the stylus. As mentioned earlier, to work with this interface, applications should support it, and the old program for WM2003 look and work as usual.
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| HTC Universal: Calendar |
These on-screen soft keys are also handy when you have to manage the HTC Universal, poking at the screen with your finger. They are large enough so as not to miss. For example, when the phone rings, soft keys are functions of "reply" and "reject", and if you earned an alarm clock, then this function "off" and "wait." Below are some screenshots from the program with a modified interface (we apologize, because of partial incompatibility with legacy applications a number of screenshots have received only a QVGA-resolution, real all the interfaces of programs prepared for the VGA-mode).
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Changes are scattered here and there, somewhere, they are more substantial, somewhere less. For example, when installing and running applications, a warning that the application is not signed, and the publisher does not know, just like in Windows XP. Also improved security in Internet Explorer. The system of HTC Universal integrated basic services MSN, so users of Messenger and Hotmail are in an advantageous position. But e-mail client Messaging virtually unchanged, except that the improved interface for sending SMS.
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Deserves the highest praise intelligent behavior manager of wireless communications. If he brought in a pack of typical profiles of wireless access, including the different points of access WI-FI, set all the cellular operators, and so on, depending on whether or otstutviya above, the best currently selected profile in the HTC Universal automatically. In particular, it can add to the configuration manager of Beeline, MTS and Megafon, and the desired profile based on SIM-card will be automatically selected. The situation is worse with Bluetooth. Worse, in the sense that the drivers have changed little externally, compared with WM2003, they are still extremely poor settings. But their work in conjunction with BT headset virtually no reprimands - all in exactly as it should work: voice dialing, answer calls, stop talking. At long run without any disconnection between the HTC Universal and headset volume control works, etc. In fact, the only glitch of all time testing - not once asked a recording device, all the time you receive a message that the password is not identical. Shutdown, plus the inclusion of a module reboot solved the problem. Incidentally, it is interesting to note that the "hard" reset the device failed to perform, only soft. However, situations requiring hard reset, during testing and did not arise. Calendar application is mainly a cosmetic change, but in the "Contacts" got a lot of useful information. Firstly, the field is Outlook 2003 (separate fields for ICQ numbers, etc.), and secondly, more importantly, the long-awaited picture and ringtone for each contact. They work, again, as they should - when an incoming call window will appear with the number, name and photo, well it sounds individually tune. True, teams can not assign a ringing tone, and it is bad.
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The file manager is still minimalistic, but navigation it is now more convenient (the left soft key displays a higher location), and, as in Windows XP, there were special modes for viewing music folders and images (as thumbnails ).
Word has learned numbered lists, and tables show (alas, to make them on the PDA can not).
In Excel, a number of useful options, such as the construction of charts and graphs.
Not to be missed and the emergence of a Pocket PowerPoint and a number of improvements to the Media Player 10.
However, more interesting things are implemented in a variety of add-ins, production of the NTS.
Filling - Supplements of the NTS
Engineering sample does not contain almost no "extra" applications that add very little. One of them - the camera, already described, and all the rest belong to the improvement of telephony. Include HTC Universal without SIM-card, you can admire the redrawn telephone program from Microsoft, and usually (with SIM-card), it replaces the much more powerful application of the NTS.
Firstly, it employs a set of intelligent, like on smartphones. When dialing numbers generated all the possible letter combinations on the principle of T9 and the contacts where the drive letters are found, displayed in a list. This allows you to find a contact in your address book by typing only 2-3 digits. In addition, the application allows for convenient voice or written notes during the conversation, as well as to video calls. Plus, of course, provided for every little thing like logging and filtering all calls.
Video calls are only in third generation networks.
Another important addition to the HTC Universal - voice control software production Cyberon. It takes practice, that is, record labels for each desired application and contact. Recognition quality is good, stupid questions voice dialing does not ask, do not enter into long dialogues. This - the dignity, but the disadvantage is that all of its hundreds of friends and acquaintances tags will be written is problematic. It's too tiring.
Very convenient Wireless Manager. This is an extremely simple program with a tremendous four buttons. Three of them can turn on / off GSM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (as well as show the current status), and the fourth button turns off all at once (as required by, say, safety in the aircraft). From the menu of available settings for each of the radios HTC Universal.
Surprisingly, the promised Skype in the memory of our specimen HTC Universal was not found. Perhaps not yet ready version with support for Windows Mobile 5.0.
Application Compatibility
As already mentioned, radical changes in the operating system is not so much. Nevertheless, new security system, a new methodology of work with the system registry, the new format of some system databases have led to that application compatibility is not complete. In general, the older programs run on the HTC Universal, but not all of them are functioning as intended. The more clever software, the deeper she manipulates the system, the greater the likelihood that it will not work. Those programs that install new drivers will have to change to newer versions for sure, because non-certified drivers for HTC Universal can not be set.
Russification
Windows Mobile 5.0 well "understands" the Russian language features, knows the encoding of the Russian language, contains Unicode-fonts with Russian characters, in general, can easily read Russian content. Problems arise with the introduction, all too common. While Russifiers for HTC Universal available, but, without doubt, they will appear soon. Official Russian supplies will also be Russified keyboard, although the "extra" Russian letters will again have to shove through digital and control keys. At the time of test, I solved the problem of input Cyrillic with Resco Keyboard.
Performance
One victim of an incomplete system compatibility has become popularly beloved SPB Benchmark. A number of tests simply can not run properly (in particular, tests with Word and Internet Explorer), some of them produce results, the reliability of which is questionable. In general, the performance of HTC Universal on SPB Benchmark looks very low, but in reality, the problems with her no. Slows down operations with large files or many small files, because they involved relatively slow flash memory.However, synthetic benchmarks do not give the show a caching system, which in typical applications not worked very well. Therefore, all the usual operations: opening applications, downloading web pages, manipulating your contacts and calendar, document editing, etc., are made quickly and annoying slow downs there. On the classic video test in TCPMP (formerly BetaPlayer) HTC Universal showed their best. Full-screen playback of dynamic mpeg-movie with a resolution of 240x320 for disabled sync gave 35 frames per second - 140% speed on required. Briefly summarizing, we can conclude that the real performance problems with HTC Universal no discomfort, users will not. Well, fans of synthetic tests and calculating per cent have to wait for the final version of the device and adapted to new conditions of benchmarks.
Runtime
Autonomous operating time - the most painful moment of all communicators, it is usually very small. HTC Universal in this sense - not the exception, it has a lot of energy-intensive components: a bright VGA-screen, GSM, and even 3G-module, a fast processor and, of course, Bluetooth c Wi-Fi. This is partly offset by a very powerful battery (as we have said, 1600 mAh), charging that, by the way, accounts for more than 3 hours. As a result, data on energy consumption look like. In the "just a phone" device clearly works 2 days - from morning till evening today, tomorrow. By evening, tomorrow HTC Universal is about 20-30% of the charge and the unit is clearly to be connected to the network. "Just the phone - it does not remove modules GSM, a dozen calls for 2 days, a few sent and received SMS, manipulation of the contacts. With continuous use in PDA mode (different load: reading, playing, viewing email and some web browsing) while operating GSM-module, battery, HTC Universal is discharged in about 5-5,5 hours of use. Indicator - a perfectly acceptable, in reality, this means that the active user to have enough battery from morning till night. And in the evening - in charge! Oh, and finally, in the "Cinema" (disable wireless modules, the average brightness and volume), HTC Universal video playback to fall - just over 4 hours. Very good indicator, that's enough for the most boring movies.
Summary
HTC Universal presents a new standard, raising the bar in the construction of communicators. Unprecedented technical characteristics make it a device out of competition for about a year. However, the question of buying a HTC Universal is uniquely difficult to solve. Compared with the previous top model, HTC Blue Angel, hardware changes are not so much: the new design, VGA-display, 1.3 megapixel camera, faster processor and support for 3G. However, because of all the improvements will only bring tangible benefits to an improved display. Oh, and for all its virtues HTC Universal - pretty heavy and bulky, so not very convenient for transportation. The ergonomics of this device is optimized based on the "notebook" use, as in the classic PDA-mode ("screen out") controls are unusual, and hence uncomfortable. Neobkatannaya OS HTC Universal also carries a number of surprises and unknown until the compatibility issues. In this case, the use of HTC Universal for talking on the phone did not cause any problems and if we forget about the size of the device, is not inferior to other types of smartphones. On this basis, we can recommend the HTC Universal for those who want maximum comfort surf and edit documents, not willing to part with their email on the road, but it does not want to resort to using a laptop and phone. Compulsory purchase of 'tied' will be a wireless headset Bluetooth. Yesterday, an online store Expansys has put up for sale its wagon called i-mate JASJAR. Communicator will be at its stores as early as 5 days. Its price is not connected (in terms of U.S. dollars) will be $ 1184. In Russia, the HTC Universal will be sold, probably not before October. In Russia, perhaps, its starting price will be slightly lower - something around $ 900-1000. The authors, translation:
