Okay, well, only for the first few seconds at the very beginning when Dieter proves HTC pretty much made a point of matching the iPhone 3G form factor exactly. Same height. Same width. Same depth. Of course, it’s plastic resistive screen isn’t the same as the glass capacitive screen of the iPhone — it’s 800×480! (Compared to the iPhone’s 480×320), and it packs an auto-focus 5 megapixel camera… (Along with TouchFlo 3D, about which we’ve done video all our own…)

Now, HTC has said that this device isn’t coming to the US, but TiPb is still hoping Apple rises up an matches at least some of the Touch HD’s specs with an iPhone HD of their very own. HTC’s already shown the hardware can fit the package, and Apple’s already shown they can deliver the content…

We’re just saying…

(Make sure you watch the video through to its bitter-sweet ending. We laughed, we cried, we created a new beverage game around watch-spotting…)

WMExperts just relayed the following: looks like HTC won’t be releasing the Touch HD in the US. What kind of illogical, inexplicable, incomprehensible BS is this?

sad news, US. we looked into it- by the time we could bring Touch HD to the states, it would be old news. we do have other cool stuff coming

Shenanigans, we call! They have like 37 other Touch sub-brands landing on earth (and who knows what other planets!), and this was the one device we hoped would really push Apple — in its biggest market — to ramp up the screen size and media playback abilities of the iPhone for rev 3.

Memo to HTC brain-trust: next time build a world phone from the get go, b’okay?

Now excuse us as we go talk Dieter out of burning his Diamond in protest…

Today on the forums we have a few good topics we would encourage you to check out.

First up, is Apple giving us the run around regarding 3G signal strength in firmware 2.1?

Next up we have yet another thread that revolves around which future gadget or device can compete well with the iPhone 3G? We are seeing more and more devices emerge out of the woodwork every day. The latest one being the HTC Touch HD. That looks to be a impressive device to say the least. Competition is a good thing. Remember that.

Then we have a thread started by forum member cjvitek who wants to know how you surf the internet on your iPhone?

Lastly I would like to remind everyone about our Lightning Reviews, keep reviewing all the apps that are released on the App Store for your chance to win a coupon for the TiPb Store! Check them out and post your own!.

So join us in our growing community!

See you on the forums!

Confession: My secret, innermost desire for the iPhone 3G was a 420p display. I knew Apple wouldn’t do it yet — there was nothing in their simultaneously released SDK to support any other resolutions — but still… I wants-ded it!

Imagine my fanboy chagrin, then, when HTC goes and not only makes a device in exactly the same dimensions as the iPhone 3G (obvious much?), but slaps a monstrous 800×480 display on the beast! (Not to mention a 5(!) megapixel camera)

The HTC Touch HD (which we’re pretty sure means “Hi Dieter!” — see the afore-linked WMExperts for why…) represents the next expansion of HTC’s Touch brand — something spread so thin Asus’ Eee marketeers are wincing. It may seem questionable to show the HD off this early (it’s not expected to land until 2009, and doesn’t even seem to support US 3G frequencies yet) since, frankly, who’s not gonna put off Osbourne-ing a Touch, Touch Duo, Touch Diamond, Touch Pro, etc. when this baby’s around the bend, but we’re guessing the announcement was aimed more at Apple’s gut than any potential customers’ wallet.

And in that regard — ouch!

Sure, it doesn’t have the Apple/iPod ecosystem behind it and it’s still using TouchFLo 3D to try to hide the UE (user exasperation) that is Windows Mobile 6.1, and multiple layers of OS are never a Good Thing, but this is the first iClone that’s actually got us worried.

Apple, you’ve got almost four months until Macworld 09, and we’ve got three newly urgent words for you: iPhone HD, b’okay?