The cutting-edge Android-powered cell smartphone to end up broadly available within the UK has arrived at the Vodafone network – which may suggest it is a splendid time to see what it has to provide.
In February, these 12 months, Vodafone introduced a partnership with the HTC Corporation that might deliver the HTC Magic cellphone to its clients inside the UK and throughout Europe.
Exclusive to Vodafone in Britain, Spain, Germany, and France, the handset is now to be had to pre-order and will be full to be had throughout the nation from May fifth – to date, it’ll be the second tool on general launch in the UK that runs on Google’s Android working gadget (OS) – the primary being the T Mobile G1.
However, it isn’t simply the progressive OS the HTC Magic has to provide. The machine is equipped with several features to make it a real contender for rivals just like the BlackBerry Storm and Apple iPhone 3G, in addition to its G1 predecessor, which has also been manufactured by way of HTC.
The Magic offers 3G, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity in addition to GPS navigation and quadband generation. Also, onboard the model is a 3.2-megapixel camera and a host of multimedia functions consisting of an audio and video player – all on hand, of the route, through the unit’s three—2-inch QVGA touchscreen with integrated person interface.
Patrick Chomet, worldwide director of terminals at the Vodafone Group, said the reason the community appeared to get this modern Google Android tool in its series to become primarily based on its commitment to getting the great available technology to its clients.
“Following our becoming a member off of the Open Handset Alliance, we’ve got worked very intently with HTC to bring this cool new telephone to the marketplace. Our customers need to get admission to a huge variety of the most attractive cellular devices to assist them in making the maximum of their time – the HTC Magic allows meet that want,” he brought.
Peter Chou, president and chief govt of the HTC Corporation, said the partnership with Vodafone turned into something the company became proud to have launched into and might serve the corporation well in getting its cellular phones out to customers in Europe. Also stated become the synchronicity of the Magic with the Android OS.
“The HTC Magic embodies the compact fashion and sophistication for which HTC has to turn out to be recognized, with the powerful and intuitive net enjoy for which the Android platform changed into designed,” he concluded.
Since then, Vodafone has also introduced the details of what price lists the HTC Magic will feature on whilst its miles launched in May. The firm found out on April 20th that it’d make the device free on -12 months contracts priced at £35 according to month, and for this, buyers could anticipate unlimited cell net, as well as six hundred unfastened calling minutes and limitless texts. In addition, the phone could include a 2GB reminiscence card for storing music, images, and different information files.
The cool white design of the tool is likely to evoke reminiscences of the Apple iPhone 3G or even the T Mobile G1 in some -, and with new additions coming to the marketplace, which includes LG’s modern-day – the Arena KM900 – as well as the imminent Nokia N97, the HTC Magic can have its paintings cut out.
Ahead of the telephones release subsequent month, a few reviewers have had the risk to get a bit of a hands-on with the HTC Magic and feature offered their thoughts on how it compares to the above cell phones – particularly, the G1.
In an article for TechRadar, Gareth Beavis stated half of an hour spent with the telephone lately gave him the hazard to place the device via its paces. The first element he noticed turned into the lightweight and thin design of the tool – which he indicates may be possible thanks to HTC’s selection no longer to equip the cellphone with a complete qwerty keypad.
In comparison to its predecessor, the piece stated the touchscreen itself became additionally something that had gone through a few positive adjustments, stating it had more in commonplace with the sensitivity one would possibly see on an Apple handset or even the brand new Palm Pre.
“The interface, which makes use of today’s Cupcake version of Android, is absolutely better,” Mr. Beavis delivered. “With little tweaks like being able to mark messages in Gmail after which assign them to a label or delete them making the whole experience a touch bit nicer.”
A little irritation with the handset’s display screen configuration whilst the mobile net usage became noted. Still, with Google functions and the Android Market integrated with the same level of care as they had been inside the G1, the reviewer added it became well prepared to preserve its personal against Apple and its online App Store.
Another factor raised changed into the omission of the qwerty keyboard, which, although making the unit as an entire extra “svelte,” does mean you need to depend on an onscreen keyboard that isn’t always as simple to function HTC would really like you to believe.
“The keyboard covers numerous the display, now not leaving you plenty to text into, and if you’re working on something which you need to look as you type, this is not high-quality,” it became counseled. However, Mr. Beavis concluded that each one in all of the HTC Magic is “simply a step up over the G1 and is probably going to be the quality Android cellular smartphone out there for some time”.
When IT Pro’s Maggie Holland was given the possibility to check out the device, its right seems were another time highlighted, as was its “very lightweight and narrow” body. The consumer interface was noted as “awesome,” and the contact sensitivity of the display became praised for being set to just the right level of sensitivity.
Although rumors abound that producers such as Samsung, LG, and Sony Ericsson have a slew of Google Android-powered handsets at the way, the HTC Magic is right here and now – it is probably time to test it out.
