HTC's QWERTY-packin' Maple rumored for April release
By Darren Murph 
posted Mar 18th 2009 3:22AM
posted Mar 18th 2009 3:22AM
posted Mar 18th 2009 3:22AM
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This looks a lot like the prototype that was shown off at the early android conferences, I wonder if there will be an android build of this phone, or if that phone was scrapped...
I agree about the Android thing... this doesn't seem right. There is a trackball and a little chin, the now well known identifiers of an HTC android device. There is a home key, mandatory to Android devices, as opposed to the windows key, which would seem to be more useful for a windows device seeing as upgrading to 6.5 requires one. Why would this "BlackBerry Competitor" come out now when there are plenty of other windows phones of the same type that draw absolutely no attention from blackberry customers. It's not the form factor of the berry, but the berry in general that makes it so addicting so this just doesn't seem like something a company like HTC would do to a windows phone, especially with a phone like cedar in the 2009 lineup as well.
It does however seem like they would LOVE to get a form factor like this out for Android... put two and two together and somebody had to have messed up somewhere... either the ninja or HTC, one fo the two.
That doesn't look like a chin, just the rounded bezel at the bottom of the phone like you see on the Dash.
How is anyone missing the fact that this has the Andriod Home button, along with all the other typical Android interface keys?
hmmm...I am not that excited about the location of the number keys - they are not aligned - meaning, I will have to look at it to dial - not desirable for me.
Also, i wonder if this is the slated 3G update for the Tmo Dash (meaning will it be packing the 1700 frequency)
Also, it has the same home and back buttons as the "Dash/Excalibur"- and the same two buttons with "-" on the left and the right of the D-pad, which is now replaced with a trackball.
Looks like a newer "Dash/Excalibur" to me!
ugly as sin
The Dash has nearly the exact same buttons as the "Maple." Don't get all excited about Android (as much as I would like to see that happen). The old Dash has the same Home button, "
The Dash has nearly the exact same buttons as the "Maple." Don't get all excited about Android (as much as I would like to see that happen). The old Dash has the same Home button, arrow back button and the two "-" dash buttons (genesis of the name?) on each side of the D-Pad. It was (is) still a Win-Mo Smartphone. I am certainly not speculating on the OS, just pointing out that the buttons don't really indicate much. The only difference in button labeling is the lack of the "T-Zone" button present on the Dash. Not sure what it was on the Excaliber, so since this is the HTC, non-branded model I don't know what that lower right button would be for.
As for the numerical buttons for dialing, I prefer the new "Maple" layout as the #1 button is on the top left corner rather than one key in. IMHO I think it would be easier than the Dash/Excaliber to find that and use it as a starting point to dial.
But the truth here is that this is not an Earth shattering release. It's a re-hash at best. An offering to the Smartphone denizen. If it were to be introduced with an alternative OS, it might generate some serious buzz. I would get one even if it was Win-Mo 6.5 just because I have just about worn out my second Dash in 2 years. Love the phone and form-factor. Hate the M.S. glitches. Just a quick aside, I had it sitting on the table next to me at lunch one day and a cute college girl walked past, turned to her friend and said "Hey that's the phone I had like 2 years ago." Ego shattered, hardware outdated, age showing. Time to upgrade.
GIVE ME ANDROID! I WANT APPS!