HTC's Android-driven Dream revealed in glorious spy photos

Sure, we've seen some blurry videos and managed a few stolen glimpses when Andy Rubin demonstrated this beast, but now we've gotten our hands on a slew of pictures showing off a very real T-Mobile-branded Dream in all its Android-running glory. Not only does this confirm the design spied in those FCC docs as well as show off that nearly-done version of Android, but it seems to confirm the fact that this will be headed to T-Mobile, and sooner rather than later judging from the looks of the above device. Needless to say, our inner-geeks are completely geeking out right now. Hit the gallery below for a handful of other views of the phone. [Warning: read link is a forum, requires registration, and is in Chinese]

[Thanks, Michael]

Gallery: HTC's Android-driven Dream revealed in glorious spy photos

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[DestroyerMTL @ Aug 30th 2008 12:29PM]

I'm kind of on the fence on this one, but I think I'd like it better in black.

What about the obligatory thickness shot?

[thedesolate1 @ Aug 30th 2008 1:19PM]

As oppose to the obligatory "zomg comparison to iPhone wtfbbq!!1!111!!!"

[OnlyShawn @ Aug 30th 2008 1:34PM]

mmm...I hope to be having some wtfbbq this weekend, in fact....yummy grilled wtf...

[fm @ Aug 30th 2008 8:22PM]

It'll be in white black and brown if the rumors are correct. Also from the fcc specs, people have estimated it'll be around 16mm compared to 12.3mm for the iPhone 3G

[Paul Chapel @ Aug 30th 2008 1:41PM]

I don't care how it looks, but I wish people would stop telling me that Android is going to cure cancer. No one has answered how Google is going to keep apps that border on malware from getting into their store. Apps that phone home or give away your GPS location. And what happens when something malicious gets loose on the phone networks?

And I just can't believe that the cell phone providers are so desperate to beat AT&T that they would give up all their bandwidth to Android. I think if you have an app that sucks up just a little bandwidth, they'll make you pay for it. It's not going to be this open source utopia that everyone dreams about.

[kccboy2004 @ Aug 30th 2008 1:37PM]

question: why do they show a T mobile phone right next to a Japanese mobile phone (Softbank). That does not make sense, I would have guessed that the comparison shot would be a Korean carrier phone or a North American.

Are we sure about the authenticity of this ?

[Andy TGD @ Aug 30th 2008 1:43PM]

Hmm, it looks like a bit of a chunky fella to me. Suppose that's the price you pay for a slide-out keyboard. I guess I just imagined something more light and thin when I heard that they decided to call it the "Dream". Looks more like the 'HTC Lump'.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Aug 30th 2008 1:50PM]

Mr. blurry-cam died...

[avester @ Aug 30th 2008 3:33PM]

@Paul, S60v3 has a good solution, apps that can "call home", get network info, and use other possibly bad features, need to be Signed by Symbian (they check that if the app is legit, and doesn't do bad stuff).

And you can do the signing yourself if you trust the unsigned app.

Also, like always, don't ever install stuff without looking up about it.

[Matthew C @ Aug 30th 2008 4:45PM]

I absolutely love the rad warning on this one.

[JJV @ Aug 30th 2008 5:14PM]

WOW that is one ugly ass phone..... i really prefer my dreams to be nice ones.
this should be called the HTC Nightmare....

[Cassini @ Aug 30th 2008 5:18PM]

I have to agree... black would've been much better. White is always a poor choice. I love the idea of Android, but that is one ugly phone, IMO. Black definitely would've helped. And the keyboard leaves much to be desired.

I also don't understand why they have an "Alt" button, but no "Fn" and "Ctrl" buttons like we see on the HTC Touch Pro. Seems those additional buttons would also help and add functionality to the phone. Maybe they're not as necessary because it's running Android as opposed to WM - who knows? (But I doubt it).

The OS is really slick from what I've seen so far, but that phone isn't enough to make me sign a contract with T-Mo. My experiences with this phone are most likely to remain in the "vicarious" file.

[iv @ Aug 30th 2008 8:25PM]

Anyone thinking Symbian Signed is a good thing needs to remember that it's practically killed small-scale 3rd party developers for the platform (not only open source but one-man-band style developers) by including this costly and annoying step for any non-trivial applications. This is the same problem Java ME has.

As history has shown repeatedly, the less control the manufacturer (or the telecom company) has over the device and its software, the better for everyone. Just compare the number of applications for Win Mobile and those for J2ME and Symbian. The same situation was with Palm with their original PalmOS where there was a huge community hacking away on it without anyone interfering (there are many PalmOS applications people want to run even today, thus the many emulators out there).

[Samuel @ Sep 14th 2008 12:24AM]

The act of "signing" is silly too. I find it utterly incredulous that we've had an impenetrable security system since at least the 70s (read up on "object capability" systems) that we continue to ignore as though it doesn't exist. Meanwhile, we're all just sitting ducks, waiting for the next virus to infect the device, so that someone, somewhere, can make a few bucks on anti-virus software or an OS upgrade.

[Pimp Lucious @ Aug 30th 2008 12:32PM]

No thanks, I'll wait for a better looking Android OS running phone. WTF HTC?

[Flashpoint @ Aug 30th 2008 12:37PM]

It looks like it could be a serious device. Problem is, sidekick buyers won't switch to it unless theey stop making Sidekicks.
What they should probably do is use the Sidekick 3 or Slide's body and add the components neccessary to run Android.

This thing is just downright ugly. Looks like a doctor's tool.

[Shyam D @ Aug 30th 2008 12:37PM]

I agree. It would be nice to bring out Android on a High end phone just so we can see more of it's potential. Touch Pro w/ Android would have been a good choice.

[Ryder @ Aug 30th 2008 1:03PM]

i'm a sidekick user, and i am going to switch to this phone when it comes out. the sidekick is nice but it's just kind of junky. and the battery life sucks so bad.

[Quix @ Aug 30th 2008 12:52PM]

My kid has a cheap little handheld device she got from her grandma for Christmas - I think it came from Toys-R-Us. It looks a lot like this thing - no lie.

This turd is no way to welcome Android to the party.

[kccboy2004 @ Aug 30th 2008 1:22PM]

i agree. this looks like an iPhone with a slider.

the iphone does look a lot like the Dell Axim 5Xv

it is not good looking.

[TRLK @ Aug 30th 2008 1:43PM]

It really is fugly, but then again, it's ANDROID!
Hoping for more, cheaper, diverse android phones in the near future

[OneLove @ Aug 30th 2008 4:20PM]

That's what i said. How about a HTC touch pro android phone. WTF?

[diego cruz @ Aug 30th 2008 5:08PM]

i think the best phone to suit the android in is a helio ocean with a scroll wheel, better screen, touch "sensitive gaming butons" + a sidekick os-like version of android, making it easier to navigate, + a 5mp camera

[Quito @ Aug 31st 2008 4:32AM]

This phone suffers from a severe case of mingingitis.

[Alex @ Aug 30th 2008 12:33PM]

I like it. I think it will look great in black. cant wait for it to come out in a month!

[TareX @ Aug 30th 2008 2:06PM]

rendered in black:
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/45/fdc41tmobiledreamuv8.jpg

[Seanross @ Aug 30th 2008 3:45PM]

Looks far better in black, but im still waitin for somethin better

[Apple @ Aug 30th 2008 10:19PM]

Grey???

[TareX @ Aug 31st 2008 7:13PM]

Specs list so far, courtesy of Androidguys.com:

# 528Mhz Qualcomm 7201 processor
# Data kit for USB connectivity in the box
# 64MB Internal RAM
# 128MB Internal ROM
# 1GB MicroSD card
# 5 Row QWERTY keypad
# Trackball
# Dedicated camera button
# 3.1MP camera (no flash) 2048 x 1536
# Video playback files - H.264, streaming, 3GPP, MPEG4, and Codec 3GP
# Dedicated YouTube Player
# Audio playback files - MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, MPEG4, WAV, MIDI, REAL AUDIO, OGG
# Wallpaper supports JPG, BMP, PNG, and GIF
# Speakerphone (mono, natch)
# Ringtones (MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA)
# HTTP, WAP Push, xHTML
# Bluetooth (class 1)
# Picture Caller ID
# SMS and MMS support (Take that Apple!)
# POP, IMAP, and SMTP, AOL, and GMAIL email
# AIM, MSN, YAHOO, and GTALK messaging
# Quad Band (850, 900, 1800, 1900)
# 3G
# aGPS
# 802.11b & 802.11g
# UMTS (1,4), HSDPA, SUPL
# 1150mAh battery
# Screen size is 3.17″ with HVGA (480 x 320)
# Handset 117 x 55 x 16mm
# 5.6 oz weight
# Sync capable with Google Calendar
# Downloadable content via Android Marketplace
# Google Streetview with built-in compass

[TareX @ Aug 31st 2008 7:14PM]

Sorry I forgot to correct something:

# 128MB RAM
# 256MB ROM

...and not 64/128.

[TareX @ Aug 31st 2008 7:15PM]

Sorry I forgot to correct something:

# 128MB RAM
# 256MB ROM

...and not 64/128.

[Daniel @ Aug 30th 2008 12:33PM]

Is the keyboard anything like the Sidekick?

[Ryder @ Aug 30th 2008 1:03PM]

i just looked at the picture next to my sidekick and it looks EXACTLY the same. im not sure ab the placement of the symbols but it looks very very similar

[i89 @ Aug 30th 2008 2:41PM]

Sorry this has nothing to do with your post, but everything to do with my dream yesterday - HTC Dream was actually in my dream. But this is not a dream design. I will continue to dream on!

[Michigander @ Aug 30th 2008 12:35PM]

Who cares about the thickness when it has a such a nice keyboard.

[Heshmati4 @ Aug 30th 2008 2:47PM]

I think the Touch Pro keyboard is better than this

[Flashpoint @ Aug 30th 2008 12:40PM]

They also need a great, trendy street name for the phone.

"Sidekick"
"iphone"

those are great names which immediately present images in the mind of exactly what the device is when you say it to others. That's an element of marketing.

They should call it "Hipster" or "Slidekick"

[Alex Padilla @ Aug 30th 2008 1:11PM]

I rated you down because your suggestions are horrible.

I also rated you down because the current name (or, at least, the name we know this device as) is already so epic and kickass that no other name could compare.

"Hey, what kind of phone is that?!"
"It's the Dream."
"Dude, that's badass. I want one!"
...or...
"Hey, what kind of phone is that!?"
"It's the Slidekick."
"Dude, you're a tool."

[rre4 @ Aug 30th 2008 6:06PM]

obviously the sarcasm went over alex and khris's heads

[KilgoreTrout @ Aug 31st 2008 6:55PM]

Dunno 'bout the phone, but I do know what they shall call you. And I'm afraid it is'nt flattering in the least.

[Richy @ Sep 1st 2008 4:16AM]

I'm afraid it's going to be called the G1. Not exactly the coolest name out there...

[Muhammed @ Aug 30th 2008 12:42PM]

Even if it's not very pretty, there's more to it than the looks.
I still like Android and I think that - in a few years - it will kick ass.

[TareX @ Aug 30th 2008 2:13PM]

The first WM was bad.... it evolved really slowly into something usable.
The first S60 was ugly.... it hardly evolved.
The first iPhone was.... well in Andy Rubin's words: "A magnificent 1.0 device, I own one myself".

Now the first Android, well it looks lacking. I'm not talking function here. You Android will get better in a few years? I say make that a few months. It was designed to evolve.

The hardware, however, is a disappointment in design. It looks like Andy Rubin (a self confessed robo geek) designed it, and HTC just "built" it in the midst of its busy Diamond season.

Now i understand what Peter Chou meant when he said, "The Diamond is our most important device this year"...

[martin @ Aug 30th 2008 12:42PM]

i really like the design of that, i hope it comes to t-mobile uk as im due an upgrade soon..white looks a bit old hat tho

[Flashpoint @ Aug 30th 2008 12:42PM]

shyman

Right now, the iPhone has probably the most powerful CPU on the phone market. They should test Android on a phone with specs like those. That is, unless they custom build CPU's to take full advantage of Android and go even further by giving it things the compeition doesn't have.

[Robert @ Aug 30th 2008 12:49PM]

those devices indeed has some hardware acceleration for the Java based applications, see http://www.arm.com/products/multimedia/java/jazelle.html

[Shyam D @ Aug 30th 2008 1:02PM]

The iPhone probably has the highest clockable CPU, but it does keep it at 400Mhz. The Touch Pro is clocked at 528Mhz by standard. There is also the fact that the Touch Pro has more memory which is likely to be more important to Android which is Java based. So Android would very well likely run better on a Touch Pro then the iPhone.

Jazelle would be very useful for Android, especially Jazelle DBX. The problem is that ARM is very protective over the initialization code for Jazelle DBX. So, although Android would benefit greatly from Jazelle DBX, it is unlikely to get it because it's open source nature would make it difficult for ARM to protect their code. That being said the new Cortex generation of ARM cores includes Thumb EE aka Jazelle RCT which does help a bit with things like null pointer checks but does not run byte code directly on the core.

[Ali @ Aug 30th 2008 5:34PM]

This is not what i pictured when i thought ANDROID....

[blitzkrieg999 @ Aug 30th 2008 12:44PM]

The Touch Diamond completely trumps the G1 in the comparison shot. The G1 just looks like too much of a toy, despite its obvious perks.

[raymond @ Aug 30th 2008 12:44PM]

man i want one, i was thinking of getting the shadow soon but i want to wait for a higher end phone with more features.