In case you needed yet another reason to nerd out with Android developers for a couple days in scenic San Francisco, here's a doozy: every attendee is getting hooked up with an unlocked
HTC Magic in black plus 30 days of voice and 3G data service. While the carrier isn't specified, we certainly wouldn't be surprised if it ended up being T-Mobile, which would make this an
AWS version of the phone -- and a probable precursor to the presumed
myTouch 3G release (or whatever they end up calling it) later this year. In the meantime, I/O attendees -- and yes, that includes you,
Ross Miller -- we hate you out of sheer, raging envy.
Update: Confirmed -- it's a T-Mobile SIM, hence AWS 3G!
Update 2: It seems Google is calling this phone the "Ion," but make no mistake, it's an HTC Magic.
posted May 27th 2009 3:48PM
i'm thinking if trading in my iphone for a PRE, but not sure about losing the ipod function
And what does this have to do with Google I/O attendees getting free HTC Magics?
how do you get an invite?
Damn it damn it son of a bitch; I'm all tenured up but nobody told me about this opportunity to GET A NICE PHONE FOR $50.... :(
You don't "win" the phone or get an invite. All you had to do was register for the Google I/O 2009 conference. I attended and got one, this phone is awesome. Cupcake seems to be more responsive with everything. GPS fixes seem quicker, but I can't say that for sure. Although these are going for $600+ on eBay, I'm gonna keep mine.
aww damn whoever won those i/o conference tix are lucky!!
You didn't have to "win" the tickets. You purchased the tickets to the conference and every attendee to the conference got one for free. I went to the conference and this phone is really awesome. Android 1.5 (Cupcake) is even better with video support and I feel like it even gets a faster GPS fix than the previous release (not saying that's a fact, but it seems like it). Although this phone seems to be going for $600+ on eBay, I'm gonna keep mine. And yes, it is called the "Ion", saw that in the phone settings.
do they take rainchecks?
And after 30 days, can I used it with any GSM carrier?
That's what they mean by "unlocked."
They say it's unlocked
Android And Me has a ton of pics of the unboxing, live from Google I/O, check it out:
http://www.androidandme.com/2009/05/news/unboxing-the-google-ion-free-htc-magic-phone-from-google-io/
did i win that contest?
i would really appreciate an "you did not win our contest" email
so i can stop checkin my friggin email
+1
+2
You should be checking your e-mail regularly anyway. What if a Nigerian prince needs your help again and can't get a hold of you!?
Dont worry i already helped the Nigerian prince, just awaiting my money.
It's cause Timothy Geithner already got to the money.
well, looks like loads of ppl just got lucky
classy move google.
So, its a T-mobile sim for an HTC magic that works on T-Mobile's AWS bands. We saw a Magic with T-Mobile USA branding clear the FCC... It is already out in Europe and Canada is getting it (freaking canada!) in the first week of June. Leaked T-Mobile roadmaps show a release window which we are almost exactly half way through. The two biggest USA competitors to Android are releasing or are (rumored to be) announcing their next gen phones next week...
T-Mobile, JUST ANNOUNCE THE PHONE ALREADY you are killing me over here. I'll jump carriers the second I can get my hands on one!
instead of AT&T supplying weird-azz SIMs for the iPhone (likely at Apple's request), T-mobile SIMs are generic.
When I got my G1, my old SIM from 2000's Handspring Visor worked right off the bat on my G1. 3G worked as well. Bravo Google and Tmo better get this phone out ASAP.
WHEN will T-Mobile release this????
Seriously I'm so jealous I shat my pants...
You mean you jizzed in your pants, cause that is what I just did.
If one were to, say, hop the next flight to Cali, could they just pay a entry fee and wander in for their free HTC Magic, or are there criteria for attendance?
I understand that's not a possibility, but how hard is it to get into this event?
google
plane ticket + entry fee > than cost of phone?
If you had to get those paid for you, then you really don't belong there.
I mean't if you didn't have those paid for you. Doh!
for me it's just a half-hour drive, but without knowing if I can even get in, I can't really justify taking the day off work, damnit!
-Taylor
It would have been nice to know this a little bit more in advance so I could have actually made it to the conference. The registration fee is really reasonable considering you get a frigging phone when you check-in but it's a little late to hop on a plane and head to San Fran.
Then again, who wants a phone without a real keyboard that runs an open-source OS? Not me, that's for sure!
Ok, maybe I want one just a little bit...
Considering the first Android dev phone was $499 (if I remember right), a free one just for being at the conference was pretty awesome. Hey, and Lego even gave us 8 free 2x4 blocks! Woot! Also, I really hope you were joking, because I think Android will blow away other phone OS'. Mainly because it's open source and there are TONS more features you can access on this phone than you can on other phones, ESPECIALLY the iPhone. Also, I have a dev phone G1 (firmware 1.1), a T-Mobile G1 (firmware 1.1) and now the Ion (firmware 1.5 - Cupcake) that I got from the conference. All 3 of these Android phones blow the iPhone out of the water in terms of speed/performance.
They even told us some of the next release (Donut) features. Text-to-speech in other languages (type in English, the phone can speak it in Spanish, French, etc) is just one of these, utterly amazing.
They also gave everyone at the conference a free "Google Wave" account. If you are any kind of nerd at all, this WILL blow you away guys.
Registration is $400 plus plane ticket so no its not worth.
again. if you were paying...
for most people our work simply sends us to these things. so it's free.
thus 100% worth it
For students it's apparently $50, but I'd rather not go to SF today. Too lazy.
Is it on ebay yet?
Is that trackball ginormous or what?
My roommate went...maybe he will be super generous!
That reminds me of when my old roommate got a Palm Foleo (he worked there). Even though it sucked, I wanted it so badly!
-Taylor
According to ZDnet, they gave away a good 4000 of these.
are they still giving them away? or was there a limit? cuz i will go down there right now!
If you missed the first day can you get the phone tommorow?
damn cant baleave i missed out on this. im a student. can i still go?
If I can go still and get a phone, I am a student and I fly for free, I'll fly up 2 the bay 2moro for a chance @ magic :). I think these should be a new recession antidote! PLEASE :)
Works with my AT&T sim card, but no 3g (only EDGE). Still, its a pretty cool phone. Browser is way more stable than the POS iphone safari. Scroll wheel is extremely nice.
The HTC Magic is awesome!!!
By far one fo the best phones I've had.(and I've had a lot)
I needed it unlocked because I use fido, but Rogers refused to give me the unlock code
so I asked around and was recommended to unlock my Rogers Magic at www.Cellphoneunlockingonline.com
I just want to give them a shout out here, they really came through for me and unlocked my magic in about an hour,
now I'm using it with Fido :)
I am so happy with this phone,
it's like apple os and windows mobile mixed in one, with all the great google apps
Just Great!
will this unlocked phone work in Bangkok, Thailand. Please let me know as I am going to buy one from Ebay.