New Android Phone Ditches Physical Keyboard, Ships in July
New Android Phone Ditches Physical Keyboard, Ships in July
Posted 06/22/2009 at 6:30am
| by Paul Lilly
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Just over two weeks from now, T-Mobile will begin taking pre-orders for its second Android-based smartphone, the myTouch 3G. Like the G1, the myTouch 3G is being built by HTC, but there are a few key differences between it and the G1.
For starters, the myTouch 3G waves goodbye to the physical keyboard found on the G1, which helps the new phone sport a slimmer profile. It will, however, come with a virtual keyboard that will automatically switch from portrait to landscape mode in "most applications."
The myTouch also doubles up on internal memory with 512MB compared to 256MB - a good thing considering the G1's frustrating inability to install applications directly to SD storage without rooting the phone. And speaking of storage, the myTouch will also ship with a 4GB microSD card.
T-Mobile will first make the myTouch 3G available for pre-order to existing subscribers starting on July 8 for $200 with a two-year contract. Shipments will be begin in late July, with full national availability expected in early August.
Image Credit: T-Mobile via Engadget
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Carbon
June 22, 2009 at 1:19pm
I have the G1 already and dig it alot!
I have cupcake on it and play with the virtual keyboard for little text messages but when you have to write something serious I still pull out the keyboard.
Plus you can't use a Virtual keyboard and walk at the same time since you keep bumping into the screen.
I'll play with this new one but might wait for the G1 V2 instead
Queenof1
June 22, 2009 at 10:40am
Just got my G1 and I was worried that I was jumping the gun. I'll take my physical keyboard, thank you very much. The chin doesn't bother me. I almost wish it were one on the other side. Hey, what do you guys know about the G1 v 2? Wasn't it supposed to be slimmer WITH physical keyboard?
comptech08
June 22, 2009 at 11:29am
yes i much prefer the physical keyboard. There is not a soft keyboard out that can 100 percent emulate the physical keyboard. I like the soft keyboard on the new cupcake version to quickly reply to a text without having to open the phone up, but only do it for short responses.
Also is there anybody out there with root? I am running JF 1.51 and root is awesome lol.
foamcup
June 22, 2009 at 12:57pm
Yeah, I rooted mine and installed Debian. +1 on physical keyboard, that's basics, you have to have that.
neo1piv14
June 22, 2009 at 11:42am
I ran mine rooted for a while just for the multitouch zoom features, but I had programs just start crashing, the phone got buggy and slow, so I brought it back to factory firmware.
AntiHero
June 22, 2009 at 10:13am
This looks like the HTC magic...which has been in canada since June 2nd, when the google phone released here.
Correction, i think this IS the Magic. It's a decent phone, i know someone who has one of these, and someone else with the Dream. They're both decent. The chin on the Dream makes texting kinda awkward. The on screen keyboard is pretty good on the Magic though.
I don't like Microsoft, I associate with it.
neo1piv14
June 22, 2009 at 10:17am
I have the G1 (Dream), and honestly, I've gotten used to the chin on it. I'm not sure if it's because I have bigger hands so they just sort of fly over it, or I got used to it, but I can hammer out texts pretty quick. As for the "speed of sloth" guy down there, OSKs are like any other interface: once you get used to it, you can be decently fast. All my coworkers have iPhones and they can text/email fast enough to make it worth while. I do wish the Android OSK would get an overhaul though, I think it's a bit more cramped than its competitors.
comptech08
June 22, 2009 at 11:02am
I think the chin was a brilliant idea. You are able to lay the phone face down and the chin props the phone up just slightly so the surface does not make contact with the LCD thus keeping it from getting scratched. It also helps if the phone is accidently dropped. The chin keeps the LCD off of the surface as much as possible. I also think it fits in the palm of my hand better then a straight candy bar phone. But, eh thats just my two cents anyway.
r3dd4wg
June 22, 2009 at 9:41am
If one likes texting at the "speed of sloth", yeah, these and other touch-screen-only phones are for you!
neo1piv14
June 22, 2009 at 7:03am
Decent looking little phone. I just really worry about those apps that are coded to use the physical keyboard (Doom comes to mind)
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