HTC's Android-driven Dream revealed in glorious spy photos
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Aug 30th 2008 12:25PM
posted Aug 30th 2008 12:25PM
[Thanks, Michael]
posted Aug 30th 2008 12:25PM
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The UI is really starting to mature. When we got our first look at Android, I was worried that it looked a little chintzy; which would have been especially worrisome since Android is going to be constantly compared to the iPhone OS. Now, I'd say the UI looks about as classy as what the iPhone offers. Also, the resolution of the text in the browser error screenshot really is outstandingly sharp. I think Google really got the message from Apple that when it comes to cellphones, "it's the interface, stupid!" Hopefully the rest of the industry follows suit behind these two leaders.
OK, seem that they've worked out the software UI somehow, with SDK iterations. But, doesn't people see that the hardware design of this HTC Dream is a PIECE OF CRAP? To me it looks very much like a small brick, I would say the HW design is somewhat from '80s. And this keyboard? Huh?
UI is definitely showing improvements over the last time that Is aw it. Which is nice, Google always releases quality software and I'm happy to see this mantra maintains with their first phone OS. On a side note, I am questionable about the actual phone's design. While I don't necessarily think it's ugly (although I do hope it will come in black) I am worried that typing with the right hand will get cumbersome.
Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait until I get my own come October. :)
Its about time t-mobile stepped up in providing some nice PDA phones. From what I hear you won't have to get a new phone plan to get this phone at reduced costs. You can stiil keep your grandfathered phone plan, and just pay for the increase cost for internet services (like $20-$30) with new contract. My contract is up but will still be able to keep my $39 1500 whenever minutes and get this phone for $!50. Niiiice !!!
Am I the only one dissappointed in the look and form factor of this device? White, clunky, bigger than older HTC WM devices. Android looks very promising, but this hardware bores me to tears.
I agree with you completely. The design of the phone itself definitely clashes with the polish of Android. It looks very toy-like and uninspired. Let's hope future Android devices get better treatment than this one.
Agreed.. Totally fulgy design. Though, HTC doesnt just throw a device together.. they design and make what Google is looking for or the carriers are looking for in their handset, and build it to spec.
I actually think it looks interesting (white aside) but what concerns me is the bulk on the right side left from the buttons not sliding. Seems like it'd be hard to hold comfortably since one side is thin & the other thick.
it is actualy going to coming in 3 different colors not just the white .... i beleive it is white, black , and brown
Yu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-uck! yuck, this thing looks terrible! C'mon, how is Android going to succeed when this is the best they can come up with for the debut. I how this is just a proto and the real one is better.
Meh!
looks like a toy phone.
exactly what I thought when the iphone came out.
This is only the first Android phone, guys. There will be many more to come in more appealing form factors and designs. I'll wait to see any that come out for Sprint or AT&T
--James
AT&T will not get an andriod phone since they are not a member of the open handset alliance .. sprint will be the other united states carrier that will get one .. no time table in when of cours at this time ... t-mobile should have 2 or 3 andriod phones before sprint or any other carrier has a andriod
Yummy. Dreamy. Me loves. Although it looks bizarrely 1980s for some reason. Or am I the only one who things that?
http://androidforums.com
There's a black one, and a brown one coming up.
Here's the black render:
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/45/fdc41tmobiledreamuv8.jpg
Looks miles better in black.
Slightly dissapointed? Sadly, yes.
Where'd you get that black render?
I must admit, it looks very nice in black, but I'm still worried about just how usuable the keyboard will be with that big ass chin on one side. I guess I'll have to wait and see... I'll probably be waiting a while, considering I'm waiting for an android device to be released in Australia. We got nothing in Aussie-land.
The black does look better, but to be honest the color of the device is not the problem I have with it. The problem is the extremely toy-like design that looks like it was created in 2001.
I like the form factor but I'm predicting there are going to be issues typing on this qwerty keyboard. It doesn't look spaced out enough and on top of that, the keys don't look raised enough either. Hopefully future Android phones will have better hardware. I am curious to see what the big fuss was about with Android though. I'll probably just get my brother to buy this the day it comes out since he is with T-Mobile.
You've obviously never typed on a sidekick keyboard... it's the best mobile to type on by far and this looks exactly like it.
Wish we could have seen photos showing the thickness. KB looks huge for a phone. The function buttons sitting that low might make one-handed operation difficult.
Why T-Mobile though? And I agree that it's not the most attractive device- but I can get down with the black version.
Oh wow!!!! Is this device targeted to the Sidekick users? 'cause it sure looks like one.This is such a bad design from HTC.
I'm entirely underwhelmed. By no means am I an apple fanboi but come on, while the picture quality is great the design is tired and kinda hideous... I'm more excited about Android than the phone itself. It just looks slapped together...
It looks like it'll be difficult to hold and type comfortably with that chin sticking out on the right. When I have the charger plugged in on the bottom of my Tilt (the left side when the keyboard is open), it makes things very awkward for me, and it looks like the chin may have the same effect for the Dream.
looks like a Sidekick O_o
Yea, I concur. They could've done a much better job on this phone. The 4 buttons doesn't even match the architect of the phone. Plus, the chin is way too big. I would've been happy with just a 1 push-button analogue wheel. I expected alot more from HTC. I hope this isn't truly the final production model, cuz it's crap.
I like more about that TouchFlo 3d interface than this one. It could be also be difficult to use right hand on G1s keyboard because of those navigation buttons on the right-side are on your way. Touch Pro's slide-keyboard is better as far as you can see from the pictures.
I'm very disappointed to HTC. They could have done better work, even Touch Pro with TouchFlo 3d UI on Android could be much more better. Touch Pro was revolutionary device when it was introduced but only minus is that it's running on old and unstable WM OS.
They said that Android OS could be modified to meet any manufacturer's requirements but this product looks not to have any ideas why I should buy this. If this is going to be the real 'Dream' I'm going to wait until Nokia Tube gets launched and then I will compare it to Iphone. Then the better and most revolutionary phone will be mine.
What I find interesting is, if this same phone were made by Palm it would be universally bashed.
Obviously designed by someone named Bud Tuggly!
Meh... Looks cute, I still lust for the touch pro diamond, which will now obviously not be coming to USA on tmobile... :(
I guess the price is the key and I wonder whether it will synch with outlook, but so far the look doesn't have me excited...
looks consumer oriented ...
see it in action and in black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2llGxzWXudw
Sprint will get the HTC Palm Treo Pro simply because they are the masters of treos , the HTC Dream should be metal
The keyboard is so ugly! I bet it's hell uncomfortable to type on it. The design is ugly as well. The device is too thick. And this should be the killer of iPhone? Guys, are you kidding? This is 100% a geek device, especially for the fat ones with aquarium-like glasses! No, no, Googie. Not this time.
Besides this, as I see there are many Android apps out there at http://www.android-freeware.org/ Does anyone know whether they will work with a real Android phone? I guess no, because they all were compiled with different SDKs! Or maybe executables are somehow compatible between each other?
Im tellin you t-mobile is on top of there game, is this phone touch screen as well .. are there any confirmed specs released on this yet
If a Zaurus and an iPhone had a baby, this is what it would look like.