Choosing a Windows Mobile device isn't easy. If you have the luxury of not being tied into an operator contract, then there is a huge array of SIM-free options, and weighing up their features can be a challenge.

Unless, that is, you decide to (and can afford to) opt for the device with everything. That's the category HTC's new TyTN II fits into. And if you wait a while you'll see it being offered by some operators on contract too. It is, for example, already announced as T-Mobile's MDA Vario III.

The most striking thing about the HTC TyTN II is its screen. This is, initially, a fairly standard, 240 x 320-pixel, 2.8-inch display. When you slide out the miniature keyboard that rests inside the right long edge, the screen forces itself into wide format so that you are ready to start typing.

That's not a new feature. What is new is the way the screen can be tilted towards you when the keyboard is showing, to an angle of about 45 degrees.

This might sound fairly slight, but in fact it is a really clever innovation. When the TyTN II is sitting on a desk you can view the screen easily and tap it to get at information. And when you are out and about and typing out a text or short e-mail, the viewing angle change can make a real difference to ease of use, as you can get the best non-reflective angle for the screen easily and without hunching yourself over.

That innovation aside, much of the rest of the HTC TyTN II is familiar. The device runs Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional, the latest incarnation of that operating system. It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in. The camera on the back of the casing shoots stills at up to 3-megapixels, though it lacks a flash or self portrait mirror.

The TyTN II is a quad-band handset with 3G and HSDPA and there is a front-facing camera for video calling. And putting it at the forefront of other Windows Mobile devices in terms of features, there is a built-in GPS antenna.

HTC adds a couple of nice touches including a Home screen which displays the time in large numerals and can show today's weather, photo contacts and allow you to switch profiles easily. There is also a button that will actually close applications rather than just minimise them, and doubles as an application switcher.

These features make it easy to get to different aspects of the device. And there is a business card scanner that uses the main camera, which could come in handy.

It is the tilting screen that steals the show as far as the HTC TyTN II is concerned, but there are other factors that draw us to it as well. The plentiful features, good mini keyboard and software extras all add up to make the TyTN II a strong contender in today's mobile device arena.