HTC Magic Thread

AGD · 18 Apr 2009 at 00:50

The second android phone is now available to pre-order from vodaphone. Pricewise the phone is free on a £35 a month contract (edit and now £30 from phones4u) which comes with unlimited internet and webmail. For anyone who doesn't know, the specs are almost identical to the g1 but the battery is slightly better and it has double the rom so more apps can be installed. It has no keyboard though!

It runs on android firmware 1.5 and the full list of improvements can be seen here but some things to note are:

-soft keyboard in portrait and landscape orientation
-video recording
-much faster acquisition of GPS location

Watch a video of the phone in action here.

Ordering mine tomorrow, I've been wanting an android phone for ages but the g1 seemed too big and clunky. The phone should be released on May 1st.

Any g1 owners going to make the change or is it too similar to be worth the effort?

Reppyboyo · 18 Apr 2009 at 19:34

I`ll prolly order one tomorrow sometime.

Janesy B · 18 Apr 2009 at 20:06

Is it a rule that all Android phones have to look awful?

Peve · 18 Apr 2009 at 20:08

Wish you could get it in black.

Glaucus · 18 Apr 2009 at 20:09

Janesy B said:
Is it a rule that all Android phones have to look awful?

exactly what I thought.

why can't we have an iphone copy.

Tute · 18 Apr 2009 at 20:29

Janesy B said:
Is it a rule that all Android phones have to look awful?

I also thought this. I found the G1 to be really ugly, didn't like the bend in it.

Hopefully this will come in colours other than "stale white".

wesley · 19 Apr 2009 at 11:26

nice but you will never be able to type fast on touch screen, i got G1, i have option to use the keyboard or the touch screen. i always find the keyboard is nicer and much faster to type.

so G2 is no good for me

Tobes · 19 Apr 2009 at 12:36

bibalasvegas said:
Any g1 owners going to make the change or is it too similar to be worth the effort?

What does this phone offer that my G1 doesn't? Apart from a lack of physical keyboard.

AGD · 19 Apr 2009 at 15:29

Tobes said:
What does this phone offer that my G1 doesn't? Apart from a lack of physical keyboard.

It has more rom but mainly it's smaller, sleeker and looks a lot better in my opinion.

Tobes · 19 Apr 2009 at 15:31

bibalasvegas said:
It has more rom but mainly it's smaller, sleeker and looks a lot better in my opinion.

But nothing to really make a G1 owner make a switch.

Reppyboyo · 19 Apr 2009 at 16:27

Not really no.
Will probably introduce more people to Android though (like me).

AGD · 29 Apr 2009 at 15:42

For anyone who's interested, phones4u now have a better deal on this phone with 600mins,3000 texts and unlimited internet for £30 a month on an 18 month contract instead of £35 a month on vodaphone for basically the same thing. As soon as I get mine I'll post some nice pics.

scooby555t · 30 Apr 2009 at 21:19

am due an upgrade on my other number with vodafone so am tempted to get this

Gaijin · 1 May 2009 at 00:34

I'd probably wait for the Samsung l7500:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/samsungs-i7500-android-phone-shreds-in-first-hands-on-video/

Rumoured for June.

Reppyboyo · 1 May 2009 at 05:14

Any ideas when they will start shipping these?

AGD · 1 May 2009 at 10:45

Reppyboyo said:
Any ideas when they will start shipping these?

Some stories suggest vodaphone put up may the 5th to cover themselves and it does seem that they've removed that from their website so some people might get them today (I'm hoping!), otherwise it'll be tuesday.

Edit: It appears that phones4u have removed the coming may 5th text on their website too implying it is available to be shipped now...

Tunney · 1 May 2009 at 13:08

Janesy B said:
Is it a rule that all Android phones have to look awful?

No, the Samsung I7500 looks OK.

The problem with the Magic is that it's a spin-off of the G1. The G1 was in development for 3+ years, hence the dated look of the device.

I expect that the general trend will be towards ugly Android devices though. Most of the manufacturers using the OS are cheap and cheerful Asian OEMs.

Reppyboyo · 1 May 2009 at 13:33

bibalasvegas said:
Some stories suggest vodaphone put up may the 5th to cover themselves and it does seem that they've removed that from their website so some people might get them today (I'm hoping!), otherwise it'll be tuesday.

Edit: It appears that phones4u have removed the coming may 5th text on their website too implying it is available to be shipped now...

Vodafone is no long showing them as pre-order too.
Was hoping for it today but it was a long shot, not received any email from voda regarding it.

EDIT:

Just got dispatch email now.

Hopeing for it to arrive tomorrow but I doubt it.

scooby555t · 2 May 2009 at 12:11

the upgrades people where suposed to phone me not heard a cheap from them yet maybe i should give them a phone

Strikeforce · 2 May 2009 at 12:22

Here's a video of it http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/05/02/video_htc_magic_demo/

Think i'll get this phone next.

***HTC Magic Thread***

HTC Magic Thread