T-Mobile myTouch 3G box art comes out to play

It's no big secret that T-Mobile was going to get a version of the HTC Magic at some point, but this box art confirms a couple very important things for us. First, it's going to be called the myTouch 3G -- not the Magic, Sapphire, or G2 -- and the imagery conjured on the packaging is a good deal more exciting than that found on the G1. Second, it'll be available in three colors, just like its older, QWERTY-equipped brother -- but unlike the G1, the wildcard third color will be a dark red marketed as "merlot." Of course, white and black will also be available, and we've got the proofs for all three in the gallery below, so have a look while you wait for launch; our documents here say that T-Mobile expects to bring this sucker into retail stores on August 5 -- but given the carrier's "early summer" statement for its next Android device, we're cautiously optimistic that date has been pushed up.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Gallery: T-Mobile myTouch 3G box art comes out to play

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[adil @ Jun 4th 2009 11:24PM]

name fail.
hardware/software win.

[Demo @ Jun 4th 2009 11:30PM]

Agreed. The name is just awful. Why wouldn't they just use the name Magic? It doesn't make sense. If there were focus groups involved, they really struck out on this one.

[weems @ Jun 4th 2009 11:46PM]

"Why wouldnt they use the name Magic?"

because they arent going to win the finals

[TareX @ Jun 4th 2009 11:47PM]

The name is awful, but it's definitely better than G2, because it is a phone inferior to the G1.

[justin @ Jun 4th 2009 11:59PM]

@TareX

on every G2 discussion on every site you say that the G2 is inferior because it doesnt have a keyboard but thats a serious matter of opinion and spec wise the G2 is superior with 2x the ram/rom and a 5mp cam.. Frankly I am just happy to see more Android devices being such the fan I am, and I myself prefer a keyboarded device....But you seem to take offense to that factc that the magic has been called the G2 thus making it seem as a successor to the G1, when really its probably not, the G1 and "My touch 3G" can coexist on the same carrier running the same platform becuase its more of a "different strokes for different folks" type deal.. If Android had it your way they would only make devices that had keyboards (alot like apple makes phones that only dont have them) which will isolate alot of people who want the sleek slim design of an all touch device and thus keeping android out of the hands of possibly millions of people, which for me is horrible becuase I love android but what i love about it is its open source nature and why would devs wanna write an app that only selling so many phones becuase the hardware makers were only trying to appease one type of crowd (diehard hardware keyboardist)..

[m3tric @ Jun 5th 2009 12:22AM]

Agreed on the name. I certainly won't be telling my friends that I have a "myTouch". I'm just going to call it HTC Magic.

As for the article, AUGUST???! WTF

[Setnev @ Jun 5th 2009 2:10AM]

They need to release it soon cause AT&T is right on their asses with a summer launch of the HTC Hero/Lancaster which is their first Android device. T-Mobile needs to do a release date ASAP to get a leg up on the competition.

[Sam @ Jun 5th 2009 9:01AM]

im just getting confused with all these HTC phones and their different names. I dont actually know how many there are

[chambo622 @ Jun 4th 2009 11:26PM]

what the f*ck are birds and zebras doing on a phone box? geez people.

there's nothing really wrong with the G1 box I think it looks cool. Frankly I don't see the big whoop about this. It's just a G1 without the keyboard, in more bubbly plastic, with a tacky name. To me my G1 is the best android phone and this doesn't change it. neither does the lancaster.

[Dafrety @ Jun 4th 2009 11:30PM]

The G1 is the best android phone because it's the only android phone. You can't exactly go out and buy this right now. Besides, the G1 still needs a LOT of work. Mine creaks, which makes it feel really cheap. There is no headphone jack built in (thanks HTC!). It runs through it's tiny battery like nothing. Overall it's an okay phone, but it has it's shortcomings. Android does help make it worth it though.

[chambo622 @ Jun 5th 2009 12:04AM]

fortunately I have usb headphones plus bluetooth stereo, which definitely solves that problem. I also have an extended battery and cover, which, while making it fat, does help a lot. and i can switch it our partway through the day if needed.

this isn't the *only* android phone as the Ion and G2 from Vodafone are available.

I know what you mean, mine does creak a little, but doesn't bother me at all. overall a huge upgrade from my Tilt and I'm extremely satisfied with it (running on AT&T). definitely not perfect. but gets a lot of "wows" from people I was surprised how much recognition it has.

[Greg @ Jun 5th 2009 12:15AM]

The box art of this phone is both breaking and featured...?

[Setnev @ Jun 5th 2009 2:14AM]

@Dafrety

Well, if people took care of their G1's they wouldn't have hardware problems. I have had my G1 for almost 6 months now and nothing is creaking on it. The headphone jack you can't really change, but that is why HTC included the adapter for the 3.5mm jack. My battery life last a lot longer than it did than when i first got the phone. The constant radio updates have improved network performance and clarity on the G1 and also boosted my battery life by 40% in the newest 1.5 update.

[Nando @ Jun 4th 2009 11:27PM]

Hawt

[adam @ Jun 4th 2009 11:32PM]

is it really necessary to include the 3g... besides the first iphone and maybe some of the lame blackberries, there hasn't been a smartphone (or prettymuch any phone) without 3g in the last few years...

[poematik14 @ Jun 4th 2009 11:55PM]

Blackberrys are not lame. Take that back :(

[Epsilon-Not @ Jun 4th 2009 11:33PM]

Phone looks good, but the name is terrible...

I mean, just name it the G2 or something along those lines and build on the heritage the G1 name has, if for nothing else to make it clear that this is an Android phone to the average consumer... even if this won't be a "Google" branded device, IIRC T-Mobile, not Google, owns the rights to the G1 brand.

[Hardin @ Jun 4th 2009 11:37PM]

The black one has black buttons as opposed to the silver ones on the ion. I definitely like the look better.

[abram @ Jun 4th 2009 11:41PM]

I was hoping they wouldn't stick with the whole "with Google" part. Id prefer to have HTC's Microsoft Exchange like Rogers did.

[chefgon_ign @ Jun 5th 2009 7:18AM]

Well, according to the new "with Google" rules, this branding means that T-Mobile is not allowed to block tethering apps from the market anymore, so that's a plus.

[Adrian @ Jun 4th 2009 11:50PM]

I read this as T-Mobile TouchMyBox 3G. Gadgets get me hot.

[weems @ Jun 4th 2009 11:58PM]

its what u get inside the box that's the BIG surprise

[WIS @ Jun 5th 2009 1:03AM]

The box-art is just terrible - looks like somebody ran amuk with "vector" brushes and skillz.

[richb93 @ Jun 5th 2009 7:44AM]

OMGZ! Lyk chek out ma amazing brushes I downloaded into my Photoshop! These tutorials r well gd, I'm so good at Photoshop I should be a graphx designr!

[m3tric @ Jun 5th 2009 12:24AM]

Will this have 5MP Camera or what? I can't tell from the box ..

[dillmac @ Jun 5th 2009 12:25AM]

please dont call it MyTouch, that is so Fn stupid!

[ManoloDF @ Jun 5th 2009 12:30AM]

Should I be Worried that there is no mention of UMA (Hotspot@Home) on the Artwork?

[chefgon_ign @ Jun 5th 2009 7:07AM]

The G1 doesn't support it, so I assume that this doesn't either.

[ghozt @ Jun 5th 2009 1:20AM]

Idiotic name choice, T-Mo.

Hurry up and release, ok, so we can get closer to the Samsung Android phone release.

[chefgon_ign @ Jun 5th 2009 7:07AM]

This is one of those rare cases where the name of the product is so horrible that it might actually turn me off from getting one just to save myself the embarrassment of telling everybody what it is.

[nutzareus @ Jun 5th 2009 7:17AM]

Who really pays attention to the box art after taking the phone out and tossing the box in the trash? It's the phone that sells, T-Mobile! Hello, McFly!

[Deedubbadoo @ Jun 5th 2009 8:18AM]

Now if only their 3G service would come out to play in more markets!

[mdmadph @ Jun 5th 2009 10:50AM]

Yeah, I'm still waiting for the regular T-Mobile EDGE to come out in more markets.

For that matter, I'm still waiting for a consistent regular cell phone connection inside my house. >_<

Other than that, I love my G1. Can't make any calls on it, but it's great now that Sipdroid lets me call Skype and Ekiga users over WIFI.

[nial @ Jun 5th 2009 11:46AM]

August 5 is in the first half of the actual season of summer, although barely.

[keener31 @ Jun 5th 2009 1:58PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer

definitely in the last half of summer. summer starts on june 21. august 5 is pretty much the last third of a 3mo. season.

[shotdisc98 @ Jun 5th 2009 12:28PM]

There was word before that it included UMA/HotSpot@Home on the TMo version and now the box makes no mention. Can anyone confirm?
http://www.cellphonesignal.com/htc-magic-passes-fcc-heads-to-t-mobiles-shelves/

Better be there or iPhone for me!

[Victor Stuber @ Jun 5th 2009 5:35PM]

GAAHHH just realease it already. And holy crap stop changing the name and just keep it at MAGIC. theres no way in crap im going to say "hey i just bought a htc mytouch 3g" ughh.

[coolbho3000 @ Jun 6th 2009 10:10PM]

Look, I hate Apple as much as the next guy, but T-Mobile is totally capitalizing on the iPhone's name.

i == my
Phone == Touch

myTouch 3G... iPhone 3G.

HTC Magic FTW.