MAGIC smartphone boasts 8GB HDD, 512MB RAM, dual QVGA

Malaysia's Advance Tech Communications is set to make a big splash in the Windows Mobile smartphone market with the MAGIC (Mobile Advanced Global Integrated Communicator), a 10.5 ounce behemoth that has specs to make even the most devoted HTC fanboy jealous. The quad-band GSM phone includes an 8GB hard drive, 512MB RAM, dual QVGA displays, dual 2 megapixel cameras, QWERTY keyboard, GPS, Bluetooth, EDGE, WiFi, VGA output, and a microSD slot. Not surprisingly, Advance Tech is positioning this as an ultra-premium device; the company doesn't even call it a smartphone, billing it instead as a "laptop computer miniaturized to the size of a handheld device." One thing that hasn't been miniaturized is the price: Advance Tech envisions selling the MAGIC for $1,000 when it rolls out next quarter. That price will likely drop through service provider subsidies, but we don't expect to see this baby in the bargain bin anytime soon.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[invaderluj @ Mar 8th 2006 12:32PM]

2 cameras?!?

i wonder how much this will cost

[Camp @ Mar 8th 2006 12:33PM]

Why didn't they put a numeric keypad on the front instead of those buttons? You already have a full qwerty inside...

[Per-Erik @ Mar 8th 2006 12:36PM]

I'll glady give up my HTC for this one. But, please.. make it just a thad thinner.. please..

[Tim Buckingham @ Mar 8th 2006 12:37PM]

I want a VGA screen. Lame.

[Zex_Suik @ Mar 8th 2006 12:38PM]

All I can say is WOW

I hope BOTH cameras do video. A good video rate too not that 15fps junk out there now, and a good resolution as well. That'd be awesome.

Does it do my laundry too?

[vipari @ Mar 8th 2006 12:41PM]

ugly like hell...

[Matt @ Mar 8th 2006 12:41PM]

Seems kinda odd to duplicate so much...TWO screens the same resolution (both touch screen!), TWO 2mp cameras, 8gb storage, yet has space for SD slots...seems silly really and will just push the price (and weight!) up loads!

Still, no one seems to have noticed/mentioned that it has a finer-print reader on the front. In the spec it says "Secure Bio-Metric Entry" so I guess thats it - seems like a kinda sensible thing to have on phones to prevent theft, although not sure how practical it would be!

I just wish they'd make PDA with integrated phones smaller and lighter! :(

[Pete M @ Mar 8th 2006 12:44PM]

who cares if it's kinda ugly! 8Gb HD 512Mb and dual displays sets this way above the rest. However, if it had the all-important VGA screen then it would be way way above the rest...

[Pete M @ Mar 8th 2006 12:47PM]

who cares if it's kinda ugly! 8Gb HD 512Mb and dual displays sets this way above the rest. However, if it had the all-important VGA screen then it would be way way above the rest...

[Sean M @ Mar 8th 2006 12:49PM]

But does it play Doom?

[Gunesh @ Mar 8th 2006 12:52PM]

Dopod is very popular in Malaysia & the market is just the tip of the iceberg. Heres another player making a mark.

Looks good for a prototype, hope the production version isnt as bulky.

[TZK @ Mar 8th 2006 12:53PM]

With all that tech in it, I dont care how heavy it is :) Only thing, WinMo5 is a pan in the ass. Gimme S60, 80 or 90... or linux :)

Heck, give me the Danger OS v.3!

[Atanas Boev @ Mar 8th 2006 1:09PM]

Come on! Is that a finger-print reader under the joystick?? :) Does it encrypt the data before sending or not? :)

[Malatesta @ Mar 8th 2006 1:11PM]

Battery life: 4 maybe 5 minutes.

But oh that's some rockin' 5 mins.

[Shaun @ Mar 8th 2006 1:20PM]

Uh, where's the 3G speed, bluetooth 2.0,That what I'm waiting for

[boe @ Mar 8th 2006 1:22PM]

Don't bother with new mobile devices that aren't QVGA - that would be like coming out with a PC that has USB 1.x ports on it - in my opinion.

[E71 @ Mar 8th 2006 1:40PM]

Super phone but a few problems:

802.11b??? (I don't want to have to disable G-only mode on my router, that'll slow everything down)

Two QVGA screens seem like a waste when I'd rather have ONE VGA screen.

I'd complain about lack of UMTS or 3G but what the hell, I'd probably be too busy playing THPS2 for PocketPC.

Otherwise:
Love the CPU
Love the RAM/ROM/HDD
Love the Video Acceleration
Love the GPS and the attempt to stick all other wireless features in there.

I just wonder how long the battery life lasts on this baby.

Now we're getting somewhere!

[gtox @ Mar 8th 2006 2:12PM]

way too bulky

[Cynicdave @ Mar 8th 2006 2:20PM]

You shouldn't have to disable G mode on your router e71... most routers have mixed mode that works seamlessly. My linksys, d-link, and hawking routers all supported it.

[Adam Don @ Mar 8th 2006 3:13PM]

No VGA? Looks like the HTC Universal still pwns all!

[siobahn @ Mar 8th 2006 3:42PM]

seems a bit like overkill. i agree with everyone who says two screens is overdoing it. i'm assuming that the front does not need a keypad because it will be a touchscreen front? still, it seems clunky to use. how hard can it possibly be to have a pda/cell/mp3 that is the size of the new ipod? planned obsolesence just makes things like this phone.

[Z @ Mar 8th 2006 4:32PM]

The specs in this phone are very impressive and almost perfect. Almost.

1.) They should have put in at least one VGA screen on the inside, or better yet, two VGA's. But two QVGA screens? Lame. You'd only be running one screen at a time, anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem to have VGA.

2.) They also should have put in a standard SDIO slot, not microSD (and not even miniSD).

3.) They should have enabled WiFi-g, not just WiFi-b.

4.) They also should have added a keypad to the front of the device for dialing without having to fold it open.

5.) And if the GPS isn't based on the SIRFstar III chipset, then forget it. But who knows, maybe it is.

6.) While they're at it, why not add in an FM tuner and PTT?


If they made those four changes, made sure that the GPS was SIRFstar III, and added in an FM tuner and PTT, then that phone would be perfect.

The only other two components beyond all of this that could come later would be a DMB/DVB-H OTA TV tuner and dual-band 3G/HSDPA.

[Z @ Mar 8th 2006 4:55PM]

After more consideration and reading, I have to add:

- I read the specs, and the screen on the outside is a touchscreen as well, so it looks like an outer keypad is not needed.

- I would prefer standard SD, but I can live with microSD because the device has 512MB RAM/512MB ROM/8GB HDD. And finally a manufacturer with a brain who got the memory right!!!!!!!

- I can live without an FM tuner and PTT, but at least it has internet-ready-PTT.

- 3G probably isn't the biggest issue quite yet, and neither is digital TV for many places around the world, so I can hold off on this as well.


- But they definitely need to add VGA screens and WiFi-g. Those are two things that I would definitely want in a device like this.

- And I still don't know if the phone has SS-III for GPS. That's something that would be absolutely necessary.


But my hats off to Advance Tech for making such a killer device! Insane!!!

[NeonLeon @ Mar 8th 2006 5:23PM]

Oh hell yeah...

About time someone pushed the other sissy manufacturers in the right direction. HD and decent RAM for the OS...wonder why nobody ever thought of THAT before?

[Z @ Mar 8th 2006 5:28PM]

And one last thing...

I WANT ONE NOW!!!!!

When will it be available and where can I buy one???

[TJ @ Mar 8th 2006 9:06PM]

For those of you that want to know the price, it will be $1000, and be due out during the 2nd quarter(April, May, or June).

[Vincism84 @ Mar 9th 2006 12:12AM]

Wow, i'm surprise that my homecountry could actually produce such a gadget like this. However, from past precedent, i reckoned it will be full of bugs. Anyways, good try. Malaysia boleh!!!

[Ken @ Mar 9th 2006 7:04PM]

1000 buk for QVGA? 1000buk for surfing internet at dialup speed? that' like 56k modem, this thing is..like 5 years late! give me VGA with EVDO or UMTS, then i dont mind spending 1000$!

[john @ Mar 17th 2006 2:24PM]

NICE.
who will carrying this unit? Tell me its SIM with t-mobile or cingular and it will be mine.

I just bought the new Tmobile MDA aka HTC wizard.. and I love it

[john @ Mar 17th 2006 2:27PM]

NICE.
who will carrying this unit? Tell me its SIM with t-mobile or cingular and it will be mine.

I just bought the new Tmobile MDA aka HTC wizard.. and I love it

[foojc @ Mar 17th 2006 9:30PM]

I hear MAGIC has :
Video conferencing/Push to talk ready.
Hifi audio codec intergrated microphone.
3.5mm Stereo h/phone jack.
Power saving device.
Come with high price tag of USD 2000.

[E71 @ Mar 20th 2006 11:55AM]

Cynicdave, I didn't say I have to disable G-mode. I said I'd have to disable "G Only" mode by switching back to "B/G mode" which will slow down the network in general.

802.11b is practically obsolete, I don't know why manufacturers still only support B-mode.

[zboruri @ Apr 20th 2006 4:41PM]

I think it is a little bit "fat" and 1Gb Ram would be better for it.