myTouch 3G hands-on (with video!)

We just got a look at the myTouch 3G, and while it's great to see T-Mobile's next Android phone all official and everything, there are certainly few surprises for those of us already familiar with the HTC Magic / Google Ion. We found ourselves, despite the best knowledge otherwise, still looking fruitlessly for a 3.5mm headphone jack -- it was silly that the G1 didn't ship with it, but this year it's downright shameful. At least the included adapter is nice. Please, HTC Hero, come and save us from this madness. Fresh off our play time with the Hero, we found the stock Android 1.5 keyboard to be quite a bit of a step back. It's certainly usable, but we found ourselves missing the spacebar quite a lot, and the responsiveness just wasn't at HTC's level, though prediction was pretty good. The included zippered case is nice, though we don't know what we'd use it for, and the unboxing experience is generally pleasant and uneventful.

In a lot of ways, the phone seems like a last generation product, but it's obviously the only one of its kind available in the States at the moment, so we suppose T-Mobile would beg to differ. Every single cover we've seen so far looks completely horrible, and while it's nice to have "options" (T-Mobile's big marketing play with this phone) we'd think twice before putting a pic of our dog on the back of one of these. Perhaps the best news making the rounds is that T-Mobile is thinking about putting a visual voicemail app in the forthcoming app pack, though it wasn't pre-loaded on any of the handset we checked out, and apparently the app pack is more of a curated Market than a single app combo download. Peep an enthralling video of the hardware after the break.

Gallery: myTouch 3G hands-on (with video!)

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[M. @ Jul 8th 2009 12:39PM]

I don't know how I have could have lived on without a golfball pattern on my phone...

I think I'll skip this one

[Myke @ Jul 8th 2009 12:55PM]

dude im pretty sure it will come stock with a golf pattern it will probably be a accessory add-on ... tsssh

[Myke @ Jul 8th 2009 12:56PM]

will not^

[recharged95 @ Jul 8th 2009 12:44PM]

3.5mm jack?

Engadget, is that all you can ding the myTouch/Magic/Ion as a hint to a 3G S?

3.5mm (and proprietary data connector, \cough\) is old school, and yesterday's news. miniUSB power+data and AD2P is the future...

[Mark Anderson II @ Jul 8th 2009 1:05PM]

Stupid comment is stupid.

Any phone without a 3.5mm jack is a fail. Who the fuck wants to drain their battery listening to Bluetooth headsets which drop in and out all the time?

[papodaca @ Jul 8th 2009 1:07PM]

Proprietary data connector? I got one of these at Google I/O and have been using a mini usb cable to charge it and test out my applications. The port is not standard but the mini usb fits in there just fine and works. The charger that they gave us was mini usb, so....

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:11PM]

Why would I even care about listening to poor audio on a phone. I'll stick to my dedicated music player with great audio and equalizer thank...you.

[superfresh @ Jul 8th 2009 1:22PM]

I dunno. My enV touch sounds absolutely fantastic, both on headphones and over the speakers.

[Neoprimal @ Jul 8th 2009 1:28PM]

So the Iphone 3G S 3.5mm jacks are no longer proprietary/recessed into the phone? Or do you still have to buy a converter? - wouldn't that be in the same boat as using something to convert mini-usb to 3.5? Or is this a case where we're just focussing on the fact that the Iphone has a 3.5mm port, proprietary or not?

I personally don't like using wired earphones/headsets and have no problem charging my phone in the car or at home. I never, ever run out of juice, so I don't see the big deal with moving to bluetooth. I doubt it's a huge difference between listening on wired earphones anyway.

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:43PM]

@Neo

I'm with you. I actually leave my GPS on all day on my G1.
I don't stay out the house so much that I wouldn't be near a charger. So I would actually prefer bluetooth headphones...
If I actually listened to music on my phone that is.

[Martin @ Jul 8th 2009 1:46PM]

The first iPhone was the only one that had that issue. They learned. Imagine that.

[radarskiy @ Jul 8th 2009 3:25PM]

@Neoprimal: "So the Iphone 3G S 3.5mm jacks are no longer proprietary/recessed into the phone?"

That jack actually did conform to all specifications. The designs for the plugs that did not fit made assumptions about the mounting environment that were not specified.

[ddub @ Jul 9th 2009 4:15AM]

most of the world uses wired headphones. that's who is most important and they all have normal 3.5 mm jack headsets.

[booticon @ Jul 20th 2009 3:24PM]

@Neoprimal: The headphone jack hasn't been recessed since the 3G.

[rafa @ Jul 8th 2009 12:45PM]

Doesn't look too hot, but not horrible.

What I would really want is a Blackberry Bold form, with a touchscreen, running Android. Someone make this phone please.

[Dking @ Jul 8th 2009 12:50PM]

companies never make what customers want.. they just have to make few mistakes..

[rafa @ Jul 8th 2009 1:14PM]

The worst part is that the phone I speak of almost existed, and it was going to be around $200 unlocked: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/back-to-the-drawing-board-kogan-working-on-a-redesigned-agora/

[Tmacfan4321 @ Jul 10th 2009 10:52AM]

I visited my local T-Mobile store yesterday and I got to play with one of these. It was pretty sweet. Much lighter than the G1 and the lack of a keyboard didn't make too much of a difference. It was a much sleeker device overall.

[probablyhy @ Jul 8th 2009 12:49PM]

i searched for sherpa in the android market and nothing came up... :,(

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:11PM]

It's a MyTouch exclusive for now.

[digitallysick @ Jul 8th 2009 4:02PM]

I'm sure a rooted g1 will run it

[Byron @ Jul 9th 2009 1:30PM]

Basically a lighter G1 without a keyboard....I'll stick with my G1, no need to upgrade...

[shootingblue @ Jul 8th 2009 12:51PM]

I have a G1 which I love, except for the bulk and the battery. Was gonna pre-order one of these, but now that I've seen the Hero and Rachael I think I'm gonna wait and see what comes around the corner.

[Byron W. @ Jul 8th 2009 12:52PM]

Basically a ligher G1 without a keyboard...I think I'll pass...No need in upgrading from my G1, its practically the same thing.

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:12PM]

Ditto.
I was gonna switch if they had rooting options (which XDA has a somewhat way) and more RAM.

But they have no RAM...so no need.

I'll wait for Hero or Rachel (if it is indeed real)

[Greg @ Jul 8th 2009 2:59PM]

Or Kiki

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 3:59PM]

How dare you Greg. I'd never cheat on Rachel for Kiki

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 8th 2009 6:30PM]

Exactly..

The OS and software is definitely improving, What is up with having the same crappy hardware as the G1? Where are the Android phones with an ARM Cortex-A8 based CPU or Snapdragon? And a PowerVB SGX? And I can't wait for WVGA screens.

[RioRyan @ Jul 8th 2009 9:13PM]

A couple months ago I had the choice of going with, as Americans know them, the G1 or the myTouch 3G. They were the same price, so really it was just a matter of which I liked better. I went with the G1 and I'm happy I did. The only difference is the physical keyboard, which is nice to have.

[owenpd @ Jul 14th 2009 7:18PM]

except for the fact that the device has twice the processor speed and twice the ram, believe me this makes a huge difference to the user experience.

[lferguson @ Jul 8th 2009 1:29PM]

Maybe I'm an odd-ball but I love Live Search...Bing Search...whatever people call it these days. One of the things I don't like on my Pre is that I can't change where I want to search for things like you can do with your web browser. It's great that Android is all google-fied but some Yahoo search or Bing search would help make this more useful since Google isn't always the best option for everyone.

Chance Stevens
Editor, http://www.tvlampsnbulbs.com

[Wael @ Jul 8th 2009 12:59PM]

do you think the fact that I have crappy credit means I will have a hard time switching to AT&T? This is a let down

[Myke @ Jul 8th 2009 1:04PM]

lol AT&T so you leaving a T-mobile because they didn't bow down and give you the magic phone you want get a life or get a unlocked phone...

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:13PM]

Hmm...from my experience. My down deposit for trying to go back to ATT was $400. So that should give you an estimate.

[Art @ Jul 8th 2009 1:00PM]

your hero comment was spot on. it's fair to say the hero has ruined for all android devices that aren't it. they all simply pale in comparison to it

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:14PM]

Besides the beautiful 1Ghz Rachel (if it is real)

THAT is the handset to beat now theoretically.

But as far as literals go...yes, Hero is the device to beat. Or even maybe Huawei (when they start showing some UI screens and give us specs on flash and RAM)

[bullzeye020 @ Jul 8th 2009 2:49PM]

terrible video review, this phone is pretty sick

[Sandogg @ Jul 8th 2009 8:26PM]

Agree. It seemed pretty negatively biased from the start. Fanboy had to whip out his iPhone to compare the size

[prw @ Jul 8th 2009 1:03PM]

If anyone can figure out t-mobiles strategy on this, let me know.

1) Release product that is only a modest upgrade of your earlier offering (G1)

2) Release product so late into its life cycle that users can already see other, more attractive options just over the horizon.

3) Once you get around to releasing it, draw out the release and delivery process as long as possible.

4) Market the product so schizophrenically that no one group feels like a target audience. Is it a customizable teenager's toy? Is it a business user's device with exchange support? Is it a makeup accessory with that little zipper case it ships in?

5) Sell product for maximum dollar to non-contract holders.

6) Put stupid effeminate "my" badges across the entire thing.

Whoever is putting together Tmo's roadmap needs to get canned. I'm a loyal customer, but this is a big fail for them.

Next.

Blackberry Driftwood or Samsung Galaxy please.

[Patrick @ Jul 8th 2009 1:06PM]

Are you talking T-Mobile here or Apple iPhone?

[Myke @ Jul 8th 2009 1:08PM]

Only techies know about the options every single person i showed this to and that was over 20 never even knew it existed elsewhere. They label it the G2 and can't wait to get it just food for thought...

[redcard @ Jul 8th 2009 1:15PM]

It worked for Apple, now everyone else is jumping on the bandwagon.

Apple leading the industry yet again!

I take it that's what you were inferring, Patrick?

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:15PM]

Well as the above stated, only techies will realize a difference.

For the normal consumer...all touch is the "in" thing.
And the fact nobody knew it even existed til it reached american soil is another plus.

T-Mobile knows that the G1 is basically a test device. That's why they are putting this device (which is NO real type of upgrade) as its flagship Android device.

[Theli @ Jul 8th 2009 1:22PM]

I don't think the Hero will be on T-Mobile, to be honest. Looks more like it's going to be a Sprint phone.

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:44PM]

Actually...it passed thru FCC with AT&T bands...

So it's still up in the air on who's getting it.

[Bo Vaughn @ Jul 21st 2009 11:56PM]

Watch T-mobile get all the crappy low-end android phones and AT&T and Sprint get all the great android phones...

[chefgon_ign @ Jul 8th 2009 1:04PM]

For the record, installing HTC's virtual keyboard onto the stock version of Android included on this device is ridiculously easy and requires no hacking. You just copy an apk file from xda-developers onto your SD card and run it to install the keyboard app.

That said, I've tried both and I think the standard Android keyboard is better by a mile.

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:16PM]

Are you serious??? The Hero keyboard, IMO, has better spell correction, spacing, and prediction. And the fact that you can switch to Pearl-like QWERTY and a phone keypad is very nice. Options are always good.

[TehAndroid @ Jul 8th 2009 1:23PM]

Agreed I can't stand the HTC keyboard. It feels clunky and slow. I'm actually using Better Keyboard, only $3 from the market and can customize skins and fonts. Plus its a little bigger than the standard one, so its easier to use.

[iDavey @ Jul 8th 2009 1:45PM]

Well when you put it against the Better Keyboard, LMAO!

I've seen the demos of that...and I do have to say, that is the better keyboard =]

But I'm not ready to shell out for a keyboard just yet since the HTC one is doing me fine.