Meet the second Android phone: HTC's Magic

Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:11PM EST

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Slimmer and sleeker than T-Mobile's clunky G1, the Google Android-powered Magic is set to arrive in Europe this spring, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it arrive in the States shortly thereafter.

Unveiled earlier today in Barcelona—site of the annual Mobile World Congress wireless trade show—the HTC-made, touchscreen Magic jettisons the slide-out keypad on the bulky G1, the first Android phone that debuted on T-Mobile last October (check out my full review).

Vodafone—which will carry the Magic in the U.K., Spain, Germany, France, and Italy in the spring—and HTC have only released a handful of details about the handset so far.

Here's what we do know: It'll come with a 3.2-inch touchscreen (slightly bigger than the 3.17-inch display on the G1), a 3.2-megapixel camera (still no LED flash, unfortunately), GPS, Wi-Fi, 3G data access, and a full suite of Android OS-powered Google services, including Gmail, Google Maps (along with the cool "Compass View" mode, which automatically changes the orientation of Street View images as you wave the phone in the air), YouTube, and Google Talk.

Engadget has a hands-on video, which shows a slimmer, sexier shell than on the boxy-looking G1; you'll also see the new, virtual touch keypad, which replaces the G1's slide-out physical keypad. (For those of you Android geeks out there: Yes, we're talking the long-rumored "Cupcake" update.)

So, how's the Magic shaping up compared to the likes of the iPhone, the Palm Pre, and the touchscreen BlackBerry Storm? Hard to say at this point, given that I haven't had the chance to see the Magic up close and personal yet. Based on the chatter coming out of Barcelona, it sounds like the Magic isn't a gargantuan leap over the T-Mobile G1; indeed, the virtual keypad aside, the Magic's Android interface appears to be essentially the same as on the G1 handset. So if you've tried both the G1 and the iPhone and found yourself leaning toward the iPhone, you probably won't find much to change your mind; then again, if you loved the G1's interface but hated its clunky shell, the Magic might be the ticket.

OK, but when will the G2—oops, I mean the Magic—be coming Stateside? No word from HTC for now, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that the handset will land in T-Mobile's handset lineup in the next few months. Stay tuned.

Related:
Vodafone and HTC unveil Android-powered HTC Magic [Vodafone]

 

 

Comments on Meet the second Android phone: HTC's Magic

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  • 6 Posted by inotps on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    it has a sleeker design abd looks more attractive. I'm with {T Mobile} customer and I am very happy when the product becomes avaliable. However, what would be the price?

  • 8 Posted by tree12376 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Is this someone's exercise in maximalist design? Why not just give it 10 or 12 huge buttons that my grandma could easily see?

  • 9 Posted by mdestra on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I hope this is alot better that the 1st G1. I was really disappointed with it. I guess i expected alot more from it.

  • 10 Posted by caalvarado on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it's time for Google to partner with Microsoft and give the IPhone some overdue competition.

  • 11 Posted by evonnanana on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    These new phones are only going to be purchased by those who want to loook good. Verizon isn't the network that has liable service. You can't call in caertain places and 3g deadzones.

  • 12 Posted by evonnanana on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    These new phones are only going to be purchased by those who want to loook good. Verizon isn't the network that has liable service. You can't call in caertain places and 3g deadzones.

  • 13 Posted by soonerr24 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    still waiting for at&t to catch up. i like all other carriers phones and thinking about changing cell phones carriers. at&t still in the dark

  • 14 Posted by bhchllc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    i got rid of my phone last month and operate strictly by email. wow,what a difference a month makes in my peace of mind. can't we just get back to the basics. let's face it, if the economy continues to tank, we will all be back to beating on tree trunks anyway.

  • 15 Posted by ilac81 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    They need to do something about the battery life!!! I swear I get 3 texts and a 3minute phone call and the battery is dead!!!

  • 16 Posted by xtenpeben on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I find it ridiculous when ppl say it looks ugly and iphone looks better. In this day and age, I dont really care how my phone looks like anymore. Its more of what's gonna be the software of tomorrow. See, when Android was released for open source, its not just professional apps developers that can develop their apps for it. Linux has gone way beyond and I think would continue to grow. In fact, some of microsoft's softwares have gone open source too. If the iphone goes open source, then maybe i'll join the fan club. But until then, I see the Android powered phones as an Iphone killer.

  • 17 Posted by moira.d on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    Verizon is an authoritarian company that is abusive to its employees, and donates significantly to the republican party. They also engaged in illegal wiretapping of US citizens. I'm surprised some of you are fans. T-Mobile is really good to its employees, making sure to avoid mass lay-offs in this depression economy.

  • 18 Posted by blevi24 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    It doesnt look ANY different to me. I have the white g1 and my husband has the black. I dont know where he gets that it is "clunky and boxy" that would be the Blackberry storm...it is CLUNKY and boxy! My phone is very slim and it beats the heck outta the iphone, you have to PAY FOR ALL THE APPS ON THE IPHONE and on the android g1 they are ALL FREE!

  • 19 Posted by nhan_hien_do on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is the most ridiculous thing ever! They release the G1 and in a matter of a few months a new Android phone is released (dubbed by some as the G2?). What happened to the cupcake update? I wonder how many G1 users (me included) are in dismay over the shear amount of crap that HTC is pulling.

  • 20 Posted by justjenny111 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Great, just what we need...Another complicated phone for some jacknut yuppie trash to use in traffic while trying to run me off the road. Wonderful. Whatever happened to having a phone that just makes calls? I opted last upgrade for a Palm Treo just so I wouldn't have to carry my PDA and my phone, but next go around, I'm going back to simple. I have to "figure out" how to make a call every time, and I'm very tech savvy. They need to go back to basics and at least offer a few nice phones that just have basic functions. Seems like nowadays, they all do tricks. I miss the days when a phone just sent and received calls.

  • 21 Posted by djjohnnygroove@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    Im a proud owner of a G-1 phone and i have to say it is one of the best phones I have ever owned. (This from a person who has a palm treo and an I phone in the past.) for yahoo calling it bulky it is not it is a great phone and major respects to the Android people. This phone has more potential than the iphone can ever do. The G-1 Android applications are the key on this phone as they keep adding more funtions to it including video which it didn't have when I first bought it back in Nov. I can honestly say that I got my wife and family into the G-1 and now they own it and are very satisfied. Thank You Goole for a great phone.

  • 22 Posted by just_do_it_jay on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    bottom line: Stick to what u can afford and be happy with it. Because there are many cellphones and other gadgets that are coming up on the next few years with better features than these cellphones.

  • 23 Posted by naces3000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Verizon supports free apps with the storm

  • 24 Posted by adamaggour on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    The G2 will be avialable late q2 or early q3 and will have the same hardware as the HTC magic but will be T-mobile branded rather than Vodaphone.

  • 25 Posted by s_zeches on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    The Open Handset Alliance? What happened to the idea of being open? The only thing to be seen is G-1 and now Magic - limited handsets in limited regions. Looking like a whole lot of jockeying going on before the ponies are even in the gates. Standby, more customers under hoof. Take off the saddles and let the horses run already!

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