There’s no denying HTC is on a roll in the smart phone sector, their new devices handling both Windows Mobile and the new Android operating system with aplomb.

Filling the gap on their roster for a mid-range Android handset is the HTC Tattoo, bringing Google’s web-loving platform to a stylish and cute candy bar device. Does the Tattoo have enough to make a permanent mark on social networking teens? Let’s find out!

Design and specs

The HTC Tattoo is a gorgeous and compact device upon first impressions, with a simple touch screen interface complimented by the full suite of keys seen on other Android phones.

A large central action key is surrounded by a 4-way navigation d-pad, flanked by three buttons on each side. A call and end/power button nestle below the familiar ‘home,’ ‘menu’, ‘back’ and ‘search’ keys, rounding out the set.

The HTC Tattoo’s 2.8″ resistive touch screen dominates much of the display, in a form factor with much in common with the Taiwanese manufacturer’s earlier HTC Touch.

The matte black finish of the frame is understated, but this can be changed in an instant as the Tattoo invites all manner of personalisation, as the name suggests.

Both the front as well as the two rear faceplates can be removed, with all manner of uniquely styled alternatives available from HTC.

Whilst the stock cover has a cute depiction of the Android mascot peeking off the back, the alternative we were given was covered with a cyclist in full garish HTC garb. Needless to say, we plumped for the original.

Whilst a good idea, the classic Nokia Xpress-On covers from yesteryear were very successful due to the thousands of fake ones found in markets and car boot sales, which were far more quirky, fun and importantly cheaper than the few made available via official channels.

Thankfully, HTC's 21st Century solution comes in the form of TattooMyHTC.com, a site that allows users to purchase a host of unique covers, or even upload photos and design their own!

The meat of this device is undoubtedly the Android operating system, Google’s open source operating system that brings a host of smart phone quality services to a bargain device.

The HTC Sense user interface that makes the Hero so popular has been transplanted onto the Tattoo, an intuitive swipe-based set of menus that offer mail, messaging search and even Twitter feeds at a glance.

The graphics-heavy interface seems to find a bit of trouble running on the Tattoo, even the boot sequence for the device feels like an interminable wait. Once it is booted up, it is a feast for the senses, with just the action of navigating the menus proving satisfying.

Add to that a completely customisable icon layout, menus and options, and you have a phone that can truly be made to look unique.

The resistive screen is a bit of a challenge, with the spongy level of give making things tough for those used to the deft fingerwork on the glass of a capacitive display.

Whilst those with fingernails and narrow fingers might find the virtual keyboard a breeze, those with slightly bigger digits will certain find the infrequent slow response time a frustration.

The in-built accelerometer makes life easier, affording a little more real estate for the QWERTY keyboard and making texts and mail a lot more manageable. The real problem is the screen’s low 240 x 320 resolution, but we’ll get to that later…

The rear of the Tattoo is also home to the 3-megapixel camera, an autofocus affair which is lacking an LED flash but sports some mean picture taking skills. Photos came out fine for daily Facebook/Twitter use, but this wouldn’t be the camera for a photographer at your wedding.

Multimedia

The biggest fault to level at the Tattoo in the multimedia department is the phone’s lowly resolution. The 240 x 320 display does present things nicely, if more than a little blocky.

The worst side effect of this cost-cutting decision is that the Android Market supports a minimum resolution of 320 x 480.

What does this mean? Well, that the thousands of apps that you wanted to enjoy on your Android phone simply aren’t there. Including Spotify.

All we found were a couple of Reversi and Su Doku games, whist the apps consisted of a torch and Wikipedia companion…a shockingly poor turnout given the wealth of decent content out there.

It beggars the question why HTC didn’t splash out on a screen that could make use of one of Android’s greatest assets. The disappointing few apps available is almost as bad as nothing at all.

Vodafone’s music store goes some way to redress the balance, with a robust offering of songs from the latest artists.

The video and music playback are far more interesting, available as working widgets that can be placed on one of the many home screens as well as accessible as an application.

The smooth use of cover art and simple layout makes firing up music an easy process, whilst the video playback is decent, with a good range of formats supported.

The multimedia credentials of the Tattoo are about equal to other handsets in this price range, the big advantage of Android being hamstrung by a lacklustre display.

Calling and Connectivity

A department well serviced by Google’s operating system, the browser and Maps and digital compass powered GPS are a rarities for a phone in this price range.

Quick and easy to navigate, the Tattoo’s tiny screen still keeps up with the best, the resistive screen perhaps needing a little too much pressure to register taps and swipes.

HTC’s Sense UI makes messaging a joy, with the ability to scroll through a stack of virtual e-mails and the HTC Peep application making Twitter fun, if no more useful.

The mail client allows accounts to be set up in minutes, with support for many services including Gmail and even Microsoft Exchange.

The phone functionality is pure Android however; so don’t expect anything new in this respect. Call quality is great, whilst texts are presented in the now popular ‘threaded’ message style.

The presence of 3G connectivity makes light work of surfing most websites, whilst the Wi-Fi is a welcome addition for those that don’t want to hammer their data packages.

Verdict

The HTC Tattoo is such a great opportunity to bring smart phone technology in a mid-range package, and the device largely succeeds. Android as a platform is leagues ahead of the proprietary offerings on equivalent handsets, and combined with the Sense user interface, it is nothing short of a revelation.

However, the concessions made and corners cut to bring it to market might be a little too many to keep the phone competitive.

The resistive touch screen is forgivable, but at a resolution that Android Market becomes a shadow of the experience on other Android phones beggars belief.

The customisation, mail functionality and Twitter integration are all great features, and ones which will be welcomed and then expected on handsets at lower price points in due course.

The Tattoo might be blazing a trail in bargain web-savvy handsets, but with the T-Mobile Pulse doing all of this on prepay and with a huge 3.5” display that takes full advantage of Android, it makes HTC’s device more difficult to recommend.

For the user experience, fun factor and wealth of personalisation features, the HTC Tattoo comes top of the class. What this mini smart phone loses in an effort to get into that youth oriented, impulse purchase bracket might be too much…