HTC Magic in-depth hands-on, with video!
By Paul Miller 
posted February 17th 2009 12:54PM
posted February 17th 2009 12:54PM
Hardware
The new curvy design language doesn't feel like a strict departure from the G1, despite the many differences, instead the phone seems like a continuation of the "friendly" design nature of HTC's Android phones. We like it plenty, with a shiny look that doesn't make the phone look or feel too "plastic."
The rollerball is hardly a departure from the G1, and in fact, none of the internals are different either. HTC has tweaked the camera slightly, so it should be more responsive -- along with the video recording functionality courtesy of Cupcake. That also means that the pesky ExtUSB jack has popped up again, since this phone has been in the pipeline since before HTC discovered that 3.5mm jacks are a Pretty Good Idea -- though we get the impression they've learned their lesson, and won't be bothering us with these adapters for too much longer.
Software
Cupcake is a good update, but might need some improvement, since we managed to crash the software keyboard without too much trouble. The keyboard's methods of notification for key-presses includes sound, vibration and these odd "fireworks" letters that pop up in seemingly random locations instead of directly above the keypress. The portrait keyboard is certainly cramped, but the inclusion of proximity correction and the word guessing games and auto-correction Android includes should ease the pain.
Cupcake also brings built-in video recording and playback. We tested it and it works fine, but playback of recorded video is not exactly awe-inspiring in the frame rate or quality department -- perhaps there was a reason Google didn't put video recording into the first generation. Still, it's video, and it works.
We weren't able to check out Cupcake's new Gmail app on the phone, since the phone hadn't been set up for a Google account, but we hear good things, including checkboxes in the list view for mass archive and delete functions.
Wrap-up
Regarding the letters popping up elsewhere, a video on Gizmodo, the HTC rep explains that the phone does that so your finger doesn't cover up if you hit the key or not.
Did he explain why they made an already thick phone even bulkier with that dumb jutting ramp at the bottom?
for Information Central: one of the gizmodo editors asked why it had a chin and the guy told him that it was to keep the ball in place or something like that.
The chin is supposedly there so that they don't need to depress the trackball as much. The chin acts to product the trackball if the phone is placed face down.
**Protect (not product). Dammit I need sleep.
It's to allow the trackball stick out more than usual while still receiving adequate protection from the chin when the phone is faced down.
Any word on what size battery is in this thing?
My experience with the latest builds of Android is that it's still far from being optimized for power. There's no way I can rely on it during 'travel' days without some sort of extra juice, even with mild use.
MAN DO I LOVE CUPCAKE(S)!
You guys sure know a lot about balls on chin.
That's OK, just try to compare it to the iPhone. Does it have this feature the same as the iPhone? Does it have that feature the same as the iPhone? Why bother to ask? Just get an iPhone and get all the features (except for the video recording until iPhone HD 3.0). Regardless, that is a nice looking handset. It seems snappy and a nice size to carry if you just want a basic touch cellphone. HTC should sell plenty of them.
Am I the only one bored sh*tless by this phone? It's a decent phone, but I thought Android was supposed to be innovative and bring a lot of crazy cool hardware and software.
You're not alone. It's as if HTC is actively working on killing the Android hype with its awful designs.... or lack of design.
Not bored sh*tless but I agree, so far Android's been somewhat underwhelming.
You're not the only one. I agree, mediocre hardware at best, software that has loads of potential but has been tied down (god knows why) and things like snail paced action are all just turning me away from this. Come on is it tough to cram android on to a touch HD, put all the possible frequencies on earth on it ( like the touch pro) and out it ? It does not take a scientist to know that this means profit. There is something much bigger preventing this from happening. Guesses anyone ?
I'm not bored. I'm just puzzled on why HTC/Google are tying these phones down to specific carriers. I thought Android was supposed to be "open". It would be nice if they sold these phones unlocked, and capable of running on any 3G network.
I can't really blame HTC for this.
Android NEEDS to become sexier if it wants to be competitive.
The foundation is there. Now they need to pull a windows mobile 6.5 and dazzle us with some glossy buttons and smooth animations.
Right now it is ugly, touchwiz by Samsung or the lg s-class ui are prettier.
Make it sexy and the hardware makers will see a reason to create devices for it.
"Not bored sh*tless but I agree, so far Android's been somewhat underwhelming."
Not Android... Phones running Android. Cell makers (and providers) really don't want to sell it because they feel like they lose control. Demand will be the only thing driving uptake and if they can kill demand with lackluster phones... they can go back to business as usual.
@Andir3.0
But I can't see why they wouldn't want it to sell. They do lose a certain degree of control, but Android's skinnable - i.e. Sprint could pick it up, turn everything yellow, preload Sprint TV and music services on the handset. The only thing I can think of is that people are worried about Google getting even more power in a new space.
Not really bored, but not as excited as I thought I'd be.
Phone companies wouldn't be able to charge for services like GPS Nav, image hosting, phone backup... etc. You'd have more competition because any low end phone company could create an Android phone that does exactly what the big boys do. It becomes a battle for hardware at that point. Providers wouldn't have you locked in for 2 year contracts. (Well, maybe some people would...but it gives customers the ability to take their phone elsewhere if the company is doing them wrong.)
@Andir3.0
Fair points, but WinMo and Symbian also have thousands of apps that can offer free alternatives to GPS and those types of services, and the cost of the OS isn't really what holds back the low end phone companies. I mean, WinMo costs $20, which is a lot less than the R&D and licensing for the GPS chips, Wi-Fi, etc. Symbian's going open source as well, which does undercut Google's open advantages.
I don't think Android has anything to do with the service lock-in, particularly in the United States. Due to spectrum allocation, you're pretty much locked in with a single carrier if you want the whole data and voice thing. Besides, you don't see a ton of G1 users unlocking to go to AT&T.
Two years ago, I would have been pretty damn excited by this phone.
We all know why now, not so much.
I know what you mean... I got incredibly excited about android when it was first announced, decided it was going to be on my next phone... but now i'm almost certainly going to get a Pre instead
As a coder, I'm not excited about the Pre or 6.5. Currently have a G1, hoping for the best. If not I'll hack it and run Linux on it.
Releasing a phone in the US that isn't locked to a carrier is almost unheard of.
Unlocking a G1 from T-Mobile and using it on any other carrier shouldn't be an issue. I'd put money on ability to run it on other simcarded carriers like ATT, possibly even overseas. It's the CDMA/GSM issue that typically keeps Sprint phones from working on ATT, etc. Not that each carrier owns its own exclusive spectrum.
seriously, with all the people bashing WinMo saying that andriod is a killer, right now.. just about every HTC phone running WinMo has looked better, both hardware and software wise, than the G1 or the Magic.
I want a keyboard dammit!
Buy a G1.
Although this is probably a good phone for those that like touch screen only devices, I agree with you. What makes the G1 so cool is that it packs the 3 punch for input: cap touch screen for casual use, trackball for precision, and full hardware QWERTY for less mistakes when typing.
The other Android phone HTC is working on appears to have gotten rid of at least the trackball, which makes me sad.
I really like this version. Its what I have been looking...need some change from the iPhone scene.
Nice job HTC....However, with that being said, the Touch Pro 2+Android love would be some juicy goodness...
N41
Hell yeah man, I was hoping the Touch Pro 2 would have android, but the phone will still be a lot better looking than most out there. But I totally disagree that any other HTC phone running WinMo looks better than the G1 or Magic. Your out of your head. The G1 is sleek unlike most other WinMo HTC phones, but don't get me wrong I would still use WinMo and like the phones that run it but they feel older now.
Again, it's clear that HTC has zero designers on its Android phones.
The phone is TOO FREAKIN' THICK for a phone without a keyboard, and such MODEST specs. The comparison with the G1 says it all.
And, due to the lack of designers, the phone has too much dead space, and looks like a bar of soap. Awful job, HTC. I am NOT looking forward to your coming Gphones.
Gizmodo has a video comparing the thickness to an iPhone 3G and they are damn near identical. The Magic is maybe a sixteenth of an inch thicker, but its front face is narrower so they are just about the same overall volume. I was shocked when I saw them side-by-side how close their thicknesses were.
I want cupcake on my G1 here in the states.
Still no 3.5mm headphone jack. What are they thinking?
Cripes, no kiddin.
On the other hand, once Cupcake w/ A2DP hits, I won't care since I have a BT headset.
Neither do the new Touch phones have em.
No 3.5mm socket = no thanks.
The audio quality with A2DP is extremely poor. :(
They're not thinking. They're not even designing. "It's a FREE OS with a lot of hype", Peter Chou is thinking. Slap it on the cheapest hardware even if it ends up looking like a bar of soap. Make copies and cash in millions.
On the other hand, with an expensive OS like WinMo, HTC dedicates its entire might to make the hardware appeal and the UI rock.
I am a google fan myself and expected great things from Android over the past year, but bitter truth to be told. Android is boring now.
Developers are split between RIM,WM,and the iPhone, where established handsets exist, and there is money to be made.
Android is too new, and too directionless to be more than a hobby platform. But it's open source, so it's up to its fans to help it break out.
That is true, but i think Android is competing against the all hyped iphone, a really well established (but unpolished ) Winmo and the corporate favorite b'berry. I think its upto google to take up the initiative to take it to levels that were expected and then leave it to the dev community to decide who to code for. Google just brought up the product and said "devs do ur job". Android needs HD playback, excellent media capabilities, 5 and 8 mp cameras. What HTC and google have now brought to the table is tiny considering what nokia, samsung and LG have. Doesn't google have a fair say in the hardware too ?
as everyone has been saying its such a shame that this has poor specs, i want to see android running on something like the omniaHD or the idou, then i'd be all over it, the OS appears to have such potential its just such a dissapointment seeing it on this hardware, i mean does this even have an accelerometer?
The predictive text feature is absolutely identical to the Apple iPhone patent drawing. Same keyboard below, text entry field above, with bar in the middle suggesting words from left to right. Exactly the same.
Apple didn't actually end up using it (so far) but they totally have a patent on it. Just sayin.
I'm praying that the next one will have a proper headphone jack. Even Sony Ericsson have learnt their lesson now. :)
there is a headphone jack adapter that comes with the g1 for those that use skullcandy lol.
Meh...I'll stick w/ my G1 happily. When ever they bring this to the states, they need to call it the G1/2 since it's the exact same thing sans a keyboard.
complete fail.... Android is going to be nonexistent in a year
If devices keep maintaining the same level of ugliness, then ABSOLUTELY.
WebOS, WM7 hell even S60 (which will become open) could easily kill it off.
So is this the rumored g2?