T-Mobile's myTouch 3G launch event: pre-orders now available
By Paul Miller 
posted Jul 8th 2009 11:08AM
posted Jul 8th 2009 11:08AM
- myTouch is about "self expression." Like when you did drawings with crayons for your mom: sure, it sucked, but it was the self expression that mattered. Apparently.
- Cole is talking up the Google love and the Android ecosystem. A "strong Google partnership."
- Cole says we'll have "more Android devices out this year."
- Denny sees it as a more desirable device and potentially more attractive to new adopters of smartphones. "Boundless possibilities" for individualization. They're showing a few videos, which seem to be app-centric as far as individualization goes. "If it could sweat for me, it would."
- A few apps being highlighted: Wikitude, Sherpa, a few exercise apps, imeem, YouTube uploads, Qik (my buddy's iPhone can't do that), Twitter, a ringtone editor. A few Google services mixed in, naturally.
- They're both showing off their own devices and how they've personalized them. Denny is a big fan of Zombie Run, which she plays with her 15-year-old son at the mall. Best mom ever?
- T-Mobile, in partnership with Google, will help put a "lens" on the Marketplace to help users find the good apps. Going to offer an "app pack" to highlight a particularly useful selection of apps. One of the highlighted application partners will be Sherpa. Also working on improved payment options: will include a direct bill option to post app purchases directly to your T-Mobile bill.
- Shipping the phone with a zippered case and a cloth screen-polishing sleeve (like we've seen already).
- Matching service plan warranty with device warranty, and working on retail experience / consumer training, including in-store appointments.
- No current plans to bring HTC Hero to the US.
O.O
"myTouch is about "self expression." Like when you did drawings with crayons for your mom: sure, it sucked, but it was the self expression that mattered "
LOL!...What does that mean?
Are they accepting that the myTouch sucks but you should buy it anyways for self expression.
@kkreiger
If it worked for the sidekick line, it will work again. All the sidekick kiddies will upgrade to this!
Meh, cool that there's another android device but I've always thought it's just not different enough from the G1...
I skipped the G1 I tend to avoid 1st gen products (not a much expendable income, being in college) , but I think this just looks like rehash of the same. I'm really looking towards the hero as my next device.
Hope they get HTC Hero soon. That could be my next phone. Don't care if I have to switch to T-mobile from AT&T.
From the pictures it looks identical to my hero, i suspect t-mobile have just given it a silly name.
Disregard that, I meant magic.
I dont think this phone will do too well, everyone will wait for HTC Hero.
I've had mine for a couple of weeks and i love it!,
i flashed the new hero rom on it and it works great!!
multi touch on my magic aswell as all the new HTC gadgets, it also has the added functionality for the camera.
If anyone is waiting for the hero thats a pretty low move, the only difference is that the hero has a headphone jack, better camera and higher price tag.
They both have the same screen, same amount of RAM, same processor-
512 MB ROM
Qualcomm MSM 7200A 528 MHz processor
20 x 480 pixels, 3.2 inches
@ unknown
Most people know by know that the Hero has 288MB of RAM (just like the Rogers' HTC Magic) meaning that it runs the HTC Sense user interface without much lag. The myTouch only has 192 MB of RAM (just like the Vodafone HTC Magic) and many of said that it is so laggy that its not worth to put it on your device. I doubt there will be an "optimized" version for the lower RAM versions since HTC has no incentive to do so really, with the Hero coming right around the corner.
@unknown: that's the point, better cam and real headphone jack. Both very important.
I'd have to disagree. "Most" people in the U.S. are just learning about the HTC Magic (myTouch 3G) even though the phone has been available in Europe for months now. We are a select few who know about all these new cell phones. Unless you tell your friends about it, the HTC Hero means absolutely nothing to 99% of the public.
http://htcsource.com
It's too bad the Hero is shipping with an ARM11 processor that's a full generation behind the A8 in the 3GS, Pre, and Omnia HD.
http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3595&p=4
" It’s the equivalent of Dell shipping a high end PC with a Core 2 Duo instead of a Core i7; after a certain price point, the i7 is just expected."
so why isn't this called the G2? way to confuse the heck out of the customers...
Because the MyTouch is not really an upgrade to the G1. Its more of an alternative phone. For the most part the MyTouch is basically the same specs as the G1 except it has more app storage, larger battery and small phone because of no hardware keypad.
yea but a hero would be nice on att too.. since it works... just buy the phone and use your sim.. it'll work fo sure!
WOW cutting edge news, it's not like this phone has been out everywhere else for ages.....
It's been out for ages, eh?
2 months and 9 days is ages?
Does that make you a senile geriatric?
Boring. Show the Sony Ericsson Rachael Android UI video. That will get them jumping.
Fine, I will. Real news: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UwcVlF5EUM
so seriously why hadn't engadget caught wind of this new news? i sent em a tip about it eearly eaarly this morning.. nothing... i guess the xperia rachael isn't as exciting as this ?
I know right. I too tipped them, then this article came up and I was all "WTF?"
That looks amazing, send it in to engadget. lol
Done, and now it's up.
Thanks. Thats the first time I've seen that. I'll have to watch that phone more closely. UI looks nice.
engadget doesn't respond or post tips from it's readers, I doubt that they even read them. I've sent dozens and I know others who have as well and at best a week later you'll see a story with a credit tag like "thanks for everyone for sending this in" Engadget is a great blog for info but they're a cooperation with little care over you or me.
Will wait for the Hero...
"Qik (my buddy's iPhone can't do that)"
What? Yes it can..what are you talking about?
seems the article creator didnt realize Qik is available via JB phones
The pre-order is only available to existing customers. At only $199 with a 2 year contract T-Mobile don't want new customers.
And, if you're a current customer and not out of contract (I, for example signed a 2-year contract about a year ago), then you don't get the phone subsidy. (It shows $399 for me.) Raw deal. I would've added $60 in data to my plan for both lines. I think the only people who are going to get this for $199 will be new customers (when available) and existing customers currently not under contract. Kind of dumb if you ask me. They would make an additional $1440 off me over 2 years if they let me upgrade now. I guess I'll just wait for the Hero to come to AT&T and then switch to that or iPhone.
If you are 12 months or more into your existing 2-year contract, just wait until the phone actually releases and buy one at a T-Mobile store. They'll give you the fully subsidized price in exchange for a contract extension, which basically just nullifies the remainder of your old contract and gives you a new ending date two years from that day.
Unfortunately you can't get that same deal on the website or a preorder, but the T-Mobile store employees have a lot more leeway at their disposal to get you to extend your contract. It works every time though; I've been doing it every 12 months for the last 5 years or so. They shouldn't give you any hassle.
If you ignore that fact that Tmobile has 3G coverage in 0.01% continental US (http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx?MapType=Data&WT.mc_n=3GMapCoverage&WT.mc_t=onsite) and the fact that iPhone 3G is only $99, this device could blow the $H!% out of iPhone and AT&T
ouch
If you ignore the fact that this phone is better than the iPhone 3G, your sarcastic comment might actually have a point.
"Like when you did drawings with crayons for your mom: sure, it sucked, but it was the self expression that mattered. Apparently."
Jeesus, what's with the snark?
@ legendary1022
The HTC magic has 288mb of ram...just fyi.
http://www.htc.com/www/product/magic/specification.html
http://www.htc.com/www/product/hero/specification.html
So really.. the only difference is the camera.
Only the HTC and Rogers branded Magics have 288mb of RAM (presumably so they can back-port Sense onto it). The Vodaphone and T-Mobile (and Google Ion) versions are stuck at 192mb. I guess either Google or HTC thought that 288mb was overkill for the standard Android system since it has pretty decent memory management going on.
I think the G2 was dropped because they don't want it to be known at the "Google Phone" and also, Gatorade has its new G2 marketing campaign already going and may have trademarked the name. Since T-Mobile is pushing the whole personal customization thing here, the myTouch 3 naming fits quite well.
http://htcsource.com
Who told you iPhone doesn't support Qik? I have been using it since a month or so now.
It would be in their best interest to get the Hero to the US soon. Unless a better one comes out in the meantime, that is the one I am getting and definitely not the touchmyself.
I think their current strategy is to keep the G1 around to appease the nerds and power users, and slip in the MyTouch to keep the image conscious folks happy. The Hero is pretty cool, but it is a seriously fugly piece of hardware that isn't going to attract teenagers with iPhone envy quite as well as the ultra-slick MyTouch will.
The Hero has slightly better hardware specs (especially with the inclusion of the headphone jack) and arguably better software (though they still run the same library of apps), but the hardware itself just doesn't have any sex appeal with its boxy shape and gigantic angled chin.
I think the MyTouch probably just fits into their roadmap for the year a little better right now, which is why they aren't in a big rush to get the Hero out the door. Kind of a bummer, because I'd like to see the Hero hit in the US sooner rather than later, but I think I see where they're coming from. Maybe we'll luck out and HTC will show up in a few months with a phone rocking the Hero's software and specs in a package as pretty as the MyTouch and everybody can get the best of both worlds.
I actually like the Hero's hardware better than the myTouch. It has some personality and isn't just another soap bar wanna-be iphone. The chin is awkward on the G1, and I was hesitant about not having a real keyboard, but if the Hero comes to tmobile, I'm in. The myTouch, not so much. As has been said, it seems kind of last generation when compared to what's out there and what's coming next.
NO HEADPHONE JACK = NO DEAL! NO DONGLES EVER AGAIN.
Get a f'cking Bluetooth headset, loser!
bluetooth headsets suck balls and battery life. I'll take a top dollar pair of corded headphones anyday
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAASE ask them about the availability of the Samsung Galaxy/i7500. While the HERO is an impressive device, the 8GB of internal storage on the Galaxy will make it more than likely a MUCH better device... ESPECIALLY once the developers community gets a hold of it and throws either the SENSE UI or the RACHAEL UI on it =X
The tiny internal memory on the G1 was pretty painful, but the MyTouch has about 4 or 5 times more internal storage available after a clean format and it really seems like enough. I've got tons of apps installed on mine and it's nowhere near 50% full yet. I think 8gb is overkill for app storage.
Don't get me wrong, more is always better in this case, but I don't think internal storage alone can qualify the Galaxy as a "MUCH better device" when it isn't really a major issue with the MyTouch or the Hero.
Actually the HTC Magic/MyTouch3G has 192 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM. The HTC Dream/T-Mobile G1 has has 192 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM, if I'm not mistaken. With both of them using 528Mhz processors, you're not going to notice THAT significant of a difference in their functionality with regard to speed. Keep in mind the difference between RAM and ROM.
I currently have a rooted G1 that I'm running a version of the HTC Hero ROM on; it performs well for the most part with certain optimizations and modifications, but it requires the apps to be run from the microSD, as well as some overclocking and a swapper application (similar to Windows' "page-file" usage). I can only imagine what would be possible with 8GB of internal memory and a faster processor, PLUS a 16 or 32GB of microSD support. Rooted with the SENSE UI or the new RACHAEL UI? Hello iPhone-Killer. =]
It's all about the Galaxy/i7500 for me, man. I want it all.