HTC's 2009 haul seemingly leaked, packs all sorts of gorgeous

It's no secret that HTC wants to step up its Android game, and if this new stuff is to be believed, 2009's shaping up to be a banner year. Some cat over on PPCGeeks seems to have leaked a pretty believable '09 roadmap for HTC, showing tons of glorious hardware that appears -- at least on the surface -- to go toe-to-toe with the best Palm, Apple, and the rest of the gang can bring to the table. AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint all have dedicated stuff in here, including a "Jasper" that looks to combine the Touch HD with the Touch Pro, a successor to the monster Athena called "Ihoth," and this little guy, a garishly pink Android handset dubbed "Hero." We'd expect at least some of these to be announced at MWC next month, so we don't have long to wait -- assuming they're real, of course.

[Via wmpoweruser.com]

[ijyt @ Jan 12th 2009 12:43PM]

Still keeping that chin then...

[nerdtalker @ Jan 12th 2009 1:02PM]

Is it wrong that I read "Android Hero" as "An Hero?"

I'm wrong in the head. I'm sorry. /facepalm

[nerdtalker @ Jan 12th 2009 1:08PM]

Because PPCGeeks requires registration for attachment viewing, I downloaded all the images and stuck 'em on mediafire here: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=55b03fb2ec2209c791b20cc0d07ba4d2243f6a133c3c4e10

Props to PPCGeeks! I can't tell which one is the HD Pro.

[TareX @ Jan 12th 2009 2:06PM]

Apparently they misunderstood the message from the G1 success.

The G1 was a sales success DESPITE of its design, not BECAUSE of its design.

FAIL FAIL FAIL Android phone design. WTH HTC.

[vitriolix @ Jan 12th 2009 3:08PM]

Some would say that you are wrong. I was very much excited to get a G1 because of its hardware design, its a great phone.

[Theli @ Jan 12th 2009 3:51PM]

I fear that all the grown-up phones will be running Windows Mobile while the "Android Hero" comic relief phone will be the only one running Android.

Let's just pray these are fakes.

[makoto42 @ Jan 12th 2009 4:00PM]

Am I the only one that actually likes the chin? At least one specific aspect of it: Keeping the trackball in a nice position regardless of the screen being open. Sure, shrink it, but I love the trackball's position under the screen closed and just to the right of the keyboard when open.

(Still hoping for a G1-alike to come to a carrier better for my needs than T-Mobile)

[Pdusk @ Jan 12th 2009 5:41PM]

Another thing about the chin is when you have the phone screen down it keeps the screen off of the table so it doesn't scratch. So i like the chin as well.

[Theli @ Jan 12th 2009 5:54PM]

I suppose the biggest problem (for some people) with the chin on the G1 appeared when typing on the keyboard. If this product doesn't have a physical keyboard, then it should be less of a problem. It looks like it has a very "plastic" look to it, though.

[auricom @ Jan 13th 2009 6:49AM]

In other news,

Jay Leno is considering lawsuit..

[ILoveApple @ Jan 12th 2009 12:43PM]

Get rid of that damned lip!

[Jon Nelson @ Jan 12th 2009 1:35PM]

I agree, the level of snarkiness on this blog is just--

Oh. That's not what you're talking about.

[Peter D. Lai @ Jan 12th 2009 5:58PM]

It seems like only a few of their models have a 3.5mm audio jack.

y o y HTC y o y...

[Sisyphus @ Jan 12th 2009 12:45PM]

I hope it has a "travel through time" feature.

[Blastar @ Jan 12th 2009 1:35PM]

Who made that phone ?
Bender ?

[Kris120890 @ Jan 12th 2009 12:47PM]

The pink hero in the above picture seems to me it could be the G2.

[termcck @ Jan 12th 2009 12:47PM]

Is it just me, or do you have to register on that site to see the pictures?

[absinthe party @ Jan 12th 2009 12:50PM]

Click on the wmpoweruser.com link instead.

The Rhodium seems so damn delicious.

[Chris @ Jan 12th 2009 12:49PM]

Fabulous!

[o29 @ Jan 12th 2009 12:52PM]

Does anyone have a link to the pictures that don't require registration on PCGeek's forums? wmpoweruser.com has a few of them, but I'd love to see all of them.

[Blastar @ Jan 12th 2009 1:37PM]

Did you bend that Phone ?

[Arkenklo @ Jan 12th 2009 12:52PM]

"and this little guy, a _garishly_ pink Android handset dubbed "Hero.""

Typo.
Correction; gayish

[melloncollie @ Jan 12th 2009 1:08PM]

No, it's garishly.
Fucking moron.

[Kendal @ Jan 12th 2009 12:53PM]

How can it go toe-to-toe with the best the others can bring to the table when 1) HTC's model isn't out, and 2) we don't know what the others are bringing out? What a silly comment.

[JL @ Jan 12th 2009 12:58PM]

So, does this mean we can call it the An Hero, for short?

[pingu3000 @ Jan 12th 2009 1:07PM]

first, this is great news. i love to see more and more android based mobile phones being announced. Another one from HTC, but someone has to push it...

But WTF is wrong at the HTC design division? I don't care much about the colour, i am sure they will sell this device in standard black as well. What annoys me is that damn banana shape. Didn't Motorola fail with this about 1-2 years ago miserably? It's called a MOBILE phone, the name allready implies that it's being carried around, most comfortably in a pocket. In my opinion a mobile phone doesn't have to be small in the first place(i prefer features), it just has to be flat because i carry that damn thing (who guessed) in a pocket and this curve adds some unnessecary inconvenience

Summary: The shape looks terrible, the shape has no visible reason to give a more comfortable handling to the device, the shape doesn't add better voice quality. Why the @*ç%&)=*£ is it there then?

I hate to be a design nazi, but since i would love to own an android phone this is another huge disappointment design wise and not explicable by any logical reason.

Damn you HTC...

[dhytspam @ Jan 12th 2009 1:22PM]

Calm down matey, there's a few others that might have Android and since these devices aren't officially announced yet I'm sure there's no bound to be a few surprises.

I don't think Htc would put all their eggs in the WM basket now, would they?

[vitriolix @ Jan 12th 2009 3:08PM]

So get one without the little chin, there are going to be a bunch of choices of form factor this year. Personally, I like the chin. Its functional (when you put the phone face down on your desk it doesn't jam the trackball up into the device), and no, not a single time have I ever even felt the 1mm bump that it is in my pocket. Not once. Such a non issue.

[L @ Jan 12th 2009 1:12PM]

In all honesty: meh.

After the cool design of the Diamond, these things mostly look typically generic HTC...b-o-o-o-o-ring

[Jon Nelson @ Jan 12th 2009 1:58PM]

Haha, I think you may change your tune when the specs come out for these delicious little morsels

[Matt @ Jan 12th 2009 1:14PM]

"...including a "Jasper" that looks to combine the Touch HD with the Touch Pro"

Nothing in the world will keep me from this phone.

NOTHING.

[Félix @ Jan 12th 2009 1:19PM]

agreed.
Touch HD pro (i.e. touch HD with physical Keyboard totally buys me)

[Verythrax @ Jan 12th 2009 1:16PM]

I would like too jaded if I say that I really lost my interest in android after Palm's presentation?

But I would like to have an android alternative until I wait.

Android will be the new WinMo, I think - not fancy, but it's what will run if you need the apps for work.

[Félix @ Jan 12th 2009 1:18PM]

I call lame photoshop fake.
And even lamer engadget journalist who publishes total crap.
next time I'll send you my little bro's painting from kindergarten, it will most likely be more resembling to the next HTC designs to come than this crap !

[SlappyWag @ Jan 12th 2009 1:21PM]

Looks like Jay Leno wearing a pink dress.

[Galley @ Jan 12th 2009 1:41PM]

Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, banana phone!

[Brian @ Jan 12th 2009 1:44PM]

Oh, c'mon. That's a total photoshop.

[absinthe party @ Jan 12th 2009 3:18PM]

Your face is a photoshop.

[TareX @ Jan 12th 2009 1:58PM]

If the Rodium is Tegra-equipped, that's my next phone.

As for the alleged G2.... FAIL FAIL FAIL DESIGN. What an incredible letdown if it turns out to be true.

[superhobo @ Jan 12th 2009 2:05PM]

It's going to be the best phone ever, including a new brain wave reading technology.

But only available in pink.

[Gibson @ Jan 12th 2009 2:39PM]

Beautiful phones, but nothing truly unique or revolutionary. Also, compared to other mobile OSes out there, Android feels like it's still in beta... and webOS has reminded us what innovation is.

[3rdman @ Jan 12th 2009 2:48PM]

What's with the chemical elements and names?

[boe @ Jan 12th 2009 3:03PM]

Any word on if they will have a non keyboard edition for Sprint like the Touch HD (non pro)?

I'd like something like my current Touch (I had the Diamond but returned it because the battery life was dreadful).

I'd love for them to make a slimmer (non keyboard) edition like the Touch HD but put the flash on it as I REALLY miss the flashlight function on my mogul.

[DssTrainer @ Jan 12th 2009 3:14PM]

a lot of them look like duplicates

Topaz looks like the Citrine
Rhodium looks like the Tungsten
Willow looks like the old fat blackberry of 2 years ago
Cedar looks like it's mom was a fat TREO 800W and its dad was a Moto Q
Beryl looks like a rounded version of the topaz/citrine
firestone looks like the topaz but very rectangular
Whitestone looks like the Beryl
Saphire looks like G1
Jasper looks decent
Hero looks like the saphire
Memphis looks like the AT&T tilt.. but could be close to a G2

So there's only like 6 or 7 phones here, but they have similar siblings that they renamed

Maple is the only thing that really interests me due to its thinner body. All these fat ass phones are killing me. I guess a few of the larger screeners are gonna be the touch hd equivalents but unless they all get an upgrade in proper finger scrolling, they will suffer the same wrath new look, same problems

[Fred @ Jan 12th 2009 3:50PM]

I can name at least one thing that would keep me away from the TouchHD Pro: WinMo.

I'm tired of having a phone that crashes after every other call!

Only Android or WebOS for me. The best hardware can't fix the OS FAIL that is WinMo.

[Scrotum @ Jan 12th 2009 5:33PM]

Crashes after every other call?? You know I see a lot of comments on engadget about WinMo crashing but have yet to see it. I have been using WinMo phones exclusively for two years now, and aside from my MotoQ I have not had any problems with it crashing. Also I do sometimes forget to close programs, and will see a list of 10-12 programs running, it does make it sluggish, but still crashing is not common at all.

[mike @ Jan 12th 2009 3:58PM]

I like that kickstand on the Whitestone.

[shugg @ Jan 12th 2009 5:07PM]

i know im gonna be called a troll or applefanboi.,but i guarantee this pink htc,will not be the next iphonekiller.,guaranteed!!!!

[nicolaslondeix @ Jan 13th 2009 9:31AM]

more Bannana phone !
yay!

[captain_duck @ Jan 15th 2009 2:49PM]

Yeah i wonder if theres any Tegra equipped phones in this set. If there is please let it be one with a slide out keyboard and not the ugly blackberry ones.