Hrm, I think my Japanese HTC Desire is slightly modified from the UK release

[Ravlen]

I just got my HTC Desire here in Japan (hooray for pre-orders), and I noticed a few differences from the previews I've seen online... This is all by comparing to the videos I've seen posted online (which I watched while waiting for my pre-order).

First of all, and the most glaring, is the removal of HTC's keyboard. I was quite disappointed to see the HTC Sense keyboard replaced with one called "iWnn IME". This is required for input of Japanese characters (like あえいおう or 大丈&#22827. The downside is that I can't revert at all to HTC's keyboard... it seems like it has been completely removed. It looks very similar to the stock android keyboard (no numbers above the letters).

Another difference, based on some videos I've seen is the addition of Voice Search. On the google search bar widget, as well as the quick search box, there is the little microphone button that you can press, and it will record your voice and do a search using voice recognition. This button is NOT present on the default keyboard though, so you can't do it just anywhere.

I've heard tons of comments about apps not being available (copy protected apps, apps that use the camera, google earth). I saw that copy protected apps seem to be working for most people now, but I'd like to add that ALL apps seem to be working for me in Japan. Barcode scanner, copy protected apps, Layar, even Google Earth are showing up in the market for download, are installing fine and running fine.

That's what I noticed right away... It's hard to know what's different though, since I haven't used the original UK version... I'll keep looking though, and I'll check the posts/videos that show the differences to the Nexus One...

Firmware version: 2.1-update1
Baseband version 32.34.00.28U_4.05.00.30_2
Kernel version:2.6.29-f88b370f
Build number:1.18.762.5 CL159354 release-keys

EDIT: Here's a link to a page with a screenshot of the Japanese keyboard (which is usable, but not great) J. Maurice - Japanese IME (iWnnIME) on Android - T9 / qwerty

Ravlen

 

[lekky]

Thanks Ravlen interesting info here

 

[Ravlen]

It is pretty silly that I'm reading a post on how to install the HTC Sense keyboard on a Nexus one, so that I can install the HTC Sense keyboard on my HTC Sense Desire. Wierd.

Ravlen

 

[taioraknight]

Just got the call from Softbank 5 minutes ago too. (Which was done by an English speaking dude, whose Japanese wasn't that good; which was weird).

Anyhow, did you pay upfront? Or by the Super Bonus-something plan?

 

[Ravlen]

I got the super bonus plan... The way they do it (and explain it), can be confusing. Essentially, you pay for the phone over 24 months and they will deduct Y2200 or so per month from your bill. It amounted to around Y7000 per month for me (with the Y4400 ulimited internet + White Plan + Phone + fees - discount)

If you don't do the super bonus plan, you are missing out on a Y2200'ish a month discount, but then you aren't locked into a contract for two years I think.

ravlen

 

[taioraknight]

I was under the impression you still get the discount even though you pay up front. (So it'll be 1100-4400 unlimited internet + whiteplan + 通話料 - discount per month).

 

[Ravlen]

OK, I just installed the HTC Sense keyboard (by using the "Add Full Voice to Text" tip in the HTC Desire Tips thread up top), and wow. Just wow, it is SO much better than the iWnn IME keyboard. It blows it out of the water, to be honest. I just wish I could switch between the two a little easier so I can mix japanese and english a little faster.

@taioraknight:
I'm not sure if that's an option, but it's worth trying when you go get it...

Ravlen

 

[Ten10]

Well it's not super fast but you can hot swap by doing a press and hold on an input field and select input method

 

[MaTiCeK]

Does the japanese Desire support emoji? A lot of iPhone people use it a lot, so it would be quite a handy feature to have.

 

[martino]

Just a question for Japanese users; So the Desire works under Softbank, how about Docomo? Thanks.

 

[taioraknight]

@martino
Seeing as the X06HT aka HTC Desire is rebranded by Softbank, I doubt it will work on Docomo nor au. Unless you can unlock the sim-lock on it; you're stuck with softbank.

By the way, has anyone tried copying their phonebooks from old cellphones to the Desire (and iPhone apparently) using softbank's contact-transfer software? I can't get it to work, it keeps on showing a 'No Phone List' error.

 

[tomq]

Does the japanese Desire support emoji? A lot of iPhone people use it a lot, so it would be quite a handy feature to have.

ever since getting my desire yesterday ive been wanting emoji, as i had it back on my iphone

 

[Ravlen]

RE: Emoji

Yes, I've looked high and low and couldn't find emoji, at least for the desire. Turns out that Docomo has their own app called Imoni, used to send/receive messages, but only for docomo e-mail addresses. Actually, I just googled Imoni and found this post:

Softbank Sucks: Workaround for emoji on Docomo android phones

That shows some information and gives some ideas, even though it is for Docomo's e-mails.

Another point is that when I spoke to staff at Yodobashi Camera when I pre-ordered a few weeks, they told me I *might* not be able to use my softbank e-mail (like docomo's imode e-mail) on the Desire, saying I'll have to use a gmail or similar. When I went in and actually bought it, they said that they are now working on getting vodafone/softbank e-mails working with Android/Desire. How will they do this? No idea. My completely baseless guess is that they are writing their own app for softbank e-mails... and since they know that emoji are used in *every* japanese e-mail nowadays, they will have to include some emoji support. That's just my guess.

EDIT: By the way, if anyone here is in Japan, with an HTC Desire, send me a private message. English information is hard to come by, and I'd like to make a friend's list of people like me (English Speaking, living in Japan with HTC Desire on softbank). That way we can keep in touch (through the forum) and let each other know about any updates!

 

[Ravlen]

Just a question for Japanese users; So the Desire works under Softbank, how about Docomo? Thanks.

Japanese phones are all 100% locked. The government apparently have ordered them to unlock their systems in the future, but it hasn't happened yet.

Ravlen

 

[martino]

Well, the reason why I asked was because last time when I went to Japan I was roaming under Softbank (I couldn't connect to Docomo), and for some very strange reason I was unable to send SMS messages to my girlfriend who has Docomo (message was sent, billed for, but never arrived). So I probably put my question down badly, I more meant whether roaming under Docomo would work. My apologies.

 

[taioraknight]

Well, the reason why I asked was because last time when I went to Japan I was roaming under Softbank (I couldn't connect to Docomo), and for some very strange reason I was unable to send SMS messages to my girlfriend who has Docomo (message was sent, billed for, but never arrived). So I probably put my question down badly, I more meant whether roaming under Docomo would work. My apologies.

SMS in general doesn't work across carriers. If you want to send messages it has to be from and to email (like S-mail or imode, or any webmail works too).


Also regarding emails, the salesperson where I got my Desire said it was better off changing to Gmail and forgetting your S-mail altogether (I use gmail anyway so it wasn't much of a hassle to me).

 

[deletio]

By the way, if anyone here is in Japan, with an HTC Desire, send me a private message. English information is hard to come by, and I'd like to make a friend's list of people like me (English Speaking, living in Japan with HTC Desire on softbank). That way we can keep in touch (through the forum) and let each other know about any updates!

Hey Ravlen, thanks for starting this thread. I am in Tokyo, but just looking at different phones in decisions of which to get. Desire is my favorite so far, and I will probably get it pretty soon. However I did go to SoftBank to play around with the phone and was really surprised to have found out pre-installed voice-to-text and voice search and so on. And the keyboard was all Japanese which didn't seem so cool (I won't need it at all, for the first time at least).

So, for getting back to a normal Sence keyboard, you said you used that Tips thread up top. Did you just follow the "HTC Sence Style Keyboard Instructions Step 1" by downloading referenced keyboard apps, and got the regular Sence keyboard after all?

 

[lenik]

So, for getting back to a normal Sence keyboard, you said you used that Tips thread up top. Did you just follow the "HTC Sence Style Keyboard Instructions Step 1" by downloading referenced keyboard apps, and got the regular Sence keyboard after all?

after you get Desire, you may root it and change firmware to WWE (world wide english) version, and maybe install Japanese IME later if you need it.

Mine works perfectly.

 

[geqo]

My HTC Sense keyboard works perfectly as well. About to embark on rooting it now.

 

[Soulforger]

that qwerty thing for Jp desire is kool..i found out from this post..thanks a lot..

 

[phyre21]

@martino
Seeing as the X06HT aka HTC Desire is rebranded by Softbank, I doubt it will work on Docomo nor au. Unless you can unlock the sim-lock on it; you're stuck with softbank.

By the way, has anyone tried copying their phonebooks from old cellphones to the Desire (and iPhone apparently) using softbank's contact-transfer software? I can't get it to work, it keeps on showing a 'No Phone List' error.

Perhaps you have already found a fix but I just got my HTC desire last week and had the same problem. The thing is that I ended up with an iphone that had the address book completely wiped out. Not even sure how that happened. For anyone else trying to move contacts, be careful.

RE: Emoji

Another point is that when I spoke to staff at Yodobashi Camera when I pre-ordered a few weeks, they told me I *might* not be able to use my softbank e-mail (like docomo's imode e-mail) on the Desire, saying I'll have to use a gmail or similar. When I went in and actually bought it, they said that they are now working on getting vodafone/softbank e-mails working with Android/Desire. How will they do this? No idea. My completely baseless guess is that they are writing their own app for softbank e-mails... and since they know that emoji are used in *every* japanese e-mail nowadays, they will have to include some emoji support. That's just my guess.

I was told last Wednesday that softbank has an app available to create an email account. It's suppose to be called s!mail or s!メール but neither is available. I've tried searching under different names but nothing so far.

Has anyone else been able to make a softbank email?

 

[Ravlen]

Let me know what you find for e-mail, I'm still waiting to be able to use a softbank/vodafone e-mail and emoji...

Ravlen (back from a long vacation)

I was told last Wednesday that softbank has an app available to create an email account. It's suppose to be called s!mail or s!メール but neither is available. I've tried searching under different names but nothing so far.

Has anyone else been able to make a softbank email?