The gigantic "HTC Magnum" is convenient, inconspicuous

We're not really sure what to make of this supposed HTC "Magnum" that's been doing the rounds today. Sure, it looks like a gigantic, touchscreen HTC phone -- but we'd be hard-pressed to say this has any use outside of demo purposes and party time hijinks. Our guess is that this is a hilarious prank meant to thrill the interblogs, but it is possible that HTC has decided to move away from the tried-and-true handheld market to a more robust, manly line of products. Like a participant in a cat-fight, we won't "go there" on the specs, suffice to say, they make it sound really, really real. Check the video after the break to see the "phone" doing its thing, Ten Commandments-style.

Update: Yep, not real.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[ShadowMaker @ Feb 5th 2008 5:46PM]

I have to admit it's great to see the 'autogain' of this webcam/camcorder that they used respond to the lightness of the screen, whatever it is. That does add to the realism. On the other hand this movie is the best evidence that digital video doesn't equal quality. I got better resolution and colors on my Amiga 2000 back in 1991.

[Chebwa @ Feb 5th 2008 5:59PM]

The Amiga 1000 was where it was at. 13 disk Monkey Island 2 was trouble, though...

How does that pertain to digital video, btw?

[ShadowMaker @ Feb 5th 2008 6:50PM]

It was sort of an off-tangent ramble. I don't know how things are where you live, but here they are selling 'Digital TV' as a replacement for regular cable. "And because it's digital the quality is great" - that's the slogan more or less. I never get tired of pointing out to TV salespeople that Youtube is digital as well. People have to learn to stop equating 'digital' to 'high quality'

[Dualboot @ Feb 5th 2008 5:50PM]

I would rather buy a better pair of glasses rather than have to carry that thing around...

[skulldriveshaft @ Feb 5th 2008 6:14PM]

hell even "laser" eye surgery would be cheaper

[FreeRange @ Feb 5th 2008 8:27PM]

Was this an intentional post designed to go directly above r3loaded's car avatar?

[Abuzar @ Feb 5th 2008 8:30PM]

Nope, it was a joke from Family Guy. Kinda ironic though, that it's right above that car avatar.

[michael @ Feb 5th 2008 10:04PM]

Yeah, but I really think WinMo phones ought to have bigger screens. Well not THAT big, but bigger so the UI doesn't seem so crammed, and you could touch it with your fingers instead of a stylus.

Too bad that most WinMo phones have rather small screens.

[Abuzar @ Feb 5th 2008 11:19PM]

It's not that the screen are small, the buttons are TINY as well.

This is why I switched to a non touchscreen winmo Phone. I love my Shadow!

[r3loaded @ Feb 5th 2008 5:53PM]

Is that an HTC smartphone in your pocket or are you pleased to see me?

[Brandon @ Feb 5th 2008 6:42PM]

Clearly I'm happy to see the (Bugatti?) on your avatar.

[r3loaded @ Feb 5th 2008 6:51PM]

Also, Microsoft announces the new "mobile" edition of their Surface platform.
Yes, Brandon, my avatar's a Veyron :)

[Ryan Trevisol @ Feb 6th 2008 7:51AM]

My favorite is how he STILL HAS TO USE A STYLUS!

[PGP-Protector @ Feb 5th 2008 5:54PM]

Reading pocketpt.net (Img on the photos) it's a Carnival Prank.

QUOTE "esta foi a nossa partida de Carnaval. vejam como a fizemos aqui (this is our Carnival prank biggrin.gif see more here "

[Mark @ Feb 5th 2008 5:54PM]

It's clearly a fake. That's just a really, really small man with a PDA.

[w00t @ Feb 5th 2008 7:11PM]

OMG, the shrink ray is ready!?!

[brokenkeyboard @ Feb 5th 2008 8:58PM]

"We had to go through all that crap just so you could show us the shrink ray? Now what you're saying is interesting!"

[Shane @ Feb 5th 2008 5:55PM]

Magnum...For those who need bigger...

[Darrell @ Feb 5th 2008 5:55PM]

HTC Magnum? is this a Trojan reference?

[Ricardo @ Feb 5th 2008 5:57PM]

Wow, that is almost as portable as an iPhone.

[Samo @ Feb 5th 2008 5:57PM]

I call fake on this... No way can that be real!

...Now where can I buy one????

btw, LOL@ r3loaded

[PGP-Protector @ Feb 5th 2008 5:57PM]

Yea they've got a thread on how they did it.
http://www.pocketpt.net/forum/index.php?s=0731bcec9267dc0240efd759240dbed7&showtopic=20527&st=0&p=129781&#entry129781

[Pedro Lamas @ Feb 5th 2008 5:58PM]

Hope you liked the prank, we sure liked on doing it!!! ;)

In Portugal, we have a saying "No Carnaval, ninguém leva a mal", that roughly translates to "On Carnival, nobody takes it the bad way"!

[Pedro Lamas @ Feb 5th 2008 6:02PM]

Ho, and just a small correction, here is the ORIGINAL link to the fake (wich is not the one indicated at the Engadget entry :P )

http://www.pocketpt.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=20509

[Deoki @ Feb 6th 2008 8:28AM]

O dia das mentiras ainda vai longe, não? :P

Good prank guys. Sure it was weird listening to in in Portuguese, but even weirder watching a uber-HTC "working".

Thank God HTC Shift is almost here. It will be breath taking, ¥€$ it will.

[Pedro Lamas @ Feb 6th 2008 9:28AM]

No Carnaval, ninguém leva a mal!! ;)

[Sirocco @ Feb 5th 2008 6:02PM]

Finally, a phone for grandma.

[Sirocco @ Feb 5th 2008 6:04PM]

It's a surfboard.

[skulldriveshaft @ Feb 5th 2008 6:15PM]

something to really surf the internet with

[Skullfighter @ Feb 5th 2008 9:23PM]

A digital surfboard for your Wii! It's a combo of the Wii Fit and Windows Mobile. While pretending to surf, you can make a spreadsheet on your companies potential profit margins in the 4Q with your toes.

P.S. It also helps toe, eye coordination!

[TS @ Feb 5th 2008 6:05PM]

Really? No one recognizes that as an HP monitor (22")? Look at the rounded bezel and the 4 silver buttons on the upper right of the device on that picture, and then compare to this link:

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8661/8661646cv1a.jpg

[Pedro Lamas @ Feb 5th 2008 6:08PM]

True, you have a good eye, my friend! ;)

[BigDaddyM @ Feb 5th 2008 6:11PM]

We needed an Update to tell us it wasn't real?
M

[Gremlin @ Feb 5th 2008 6:13PM]

Yeah, I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with your title on this one Joshua...

[josh @ Feb 5th 2008 6:21PM]

"Quick call the cops!"

"BRB gotta go press the 9 key then come all the way back for the 1's, ARGH"

[Ronald McD @ Feb 5th 2008 6:23PM]

But is it thin enough to fit in an envelope?

[Bullitt @ Feb 5th 2008 6:38PM]

JESUS CHRIST!!!!

[Xultar @ Feb 5th 2008 6:41PM]

If it were real, I slather oil all over my body and I'd slide all over it. I'd make love to that bad boy.

YES. YES, I would.

[w00t @ Feb 5th 2008 9:04PM]

oooooo.......kaaaaayyyy..... IS THAT A THREE HEADED MONKEY?!?!?! *points*
*runs*

[DeoWulf @ Feb 5th 2008 6:55PM]

Finally, a real tablet PC. Nice Moses reference.

[Tiffany @ Feb 5th 2008 7:11PM]

It may not be real, but I know how to make one of those in real life. You are aware that it's possible to run CE on X86 hardware, right?

[bob @ Feb 5th 2008 7:33PM]

no i was not . how would you do that ? and would it consume less power and be instant on?

[sinjinn @ Feb 5th 2008 7:34PM]

obviously this isnt a prank.

[Tiffany @ Feb 5th 2008 7:37PM]

@bob: use a pc (cepc) and load the rom over ethernet using ce platform builder

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa448756.aspx

[aaron @ Feb 5th 2008 7:39PM]

"That's a huge bitch!"

[Captain Crunkled @ Feb 5th 2008 7:53PM]

and unto the Israelites did Moses email the Commandments.

[josh @ Feb 5th 2008 8:00PM]

Commandment 1. Thou shalt not text message thy neighbors wife.

[Johan S @ Feb 5th 2008 8:08PM]

A shrunk down version of this would be a good form factor for a phone. But they would need to lengthen it and also get rid of the thick side margin/frame. Why is it that very few phones have a thin side margin?

[webon @ Feb 5th 2008 8:17PM]

holy guacamole, just imagine playing doom on that, that is if it does play doom

[Matt T @ Feb 5th 2008 8:27PM]

Yes, of course it's a fake.
Yes, I desparately want one.
So sue me.