The video footage of what might be the HTC Dream looks mighty pleasing and could possibly be the first-ever iPhone 3G killer.  How and why you might ask?  It’s simply because the Dream offers every single features on the iPhone 3G and more.  By more, I mean a slide out QWERTY keyboard, same 3.5-inch touchscreen, GPS, and did I mention the goodness of Android OS?

HTC recently reaffirmed that the Dream phone is on schedule for Q4 launch, debunking rumors of a delay by analyst Trip Chowdhry of Global Equities Research.  According to Chowdhry, HTC is “having structural problems to incorporate Google’s demanded feature set”, while Google “is not able to attract enough developers because toolkits offered by Microsoft, Apple, RIM and Nokia’s Symbian software group have sucked up software developers’ attention.”  HTC reached out to sister site Android Community to set the record straight, and reiterate - as Google themselves did back in June - that Chowdhry’s information is incorrect and that HTC are still on track for a Q4 launch.

The interface is amazingly sleek and streamlined. Instead of going the all out flashy 3D effects interface style, Android keeps it simple, and functional. Personally, I feel it was an excellent decision, and one that will enable the platform to be compatible on a whole truckload more devices than if the platform was a memory nightmare thanks to effects.

Whats more, the interface it completely original. Google modeled from no one, and has made a very solid interface because of it. The home screen is all about customization. The status bar on the top there, pulls down to allow you to view notifications, and other important information about the device. The screen flicks to a shortcut widget esque screen, and if none of all that is your style, than a blank screen can be there instead.

The browser on the device is based off of WebKit. This is the tried and true browser found on the iPhone, and the default browser on S60 powered device. During the demo, the device was using a 3.6mbps HSDPA connection, so everything loaded what is almost ridiculously quick. The live video demo is below.

A Q&A session with Google was then put on after the demo. There was a ton of information revealed, including specifications on mystery device shown in the video. Specifications include a 528MHz Qualcomm CPU, with 128MB of RAM. High end, but not too high end to prevent the platform from being a viable operating system. The device also had a capacitive touch screen thanks to Synaptics.

An interesting point that was in the demo was that the platform can run on all sorts of devices. There is no need to have a touch screen device. Google says that touch screen, D-Pad, and trackball driven devices are all fair game for the platform. Again, this is Google thinking big, and wanting to get the software to as many devices as possible.

Google also said that anyone can use their software. It will be released as open source, so manufacturers, and savvy consumers alike can load it onto devices. Basically, the answer to the question of can my device run it is, go for it. There are minimum specifications of course, but anything reasonable, may just run the software. Check below for a video of the Q&A.

[Via Android Community]

HTC Touch Diamond Hands-on video!

HTC Touch Diamond briefing with HTC Chief Innovation Officer

HTC TouchFLO 3D Video on HTC Diamond

HTC Diamond Touch Case

HTC Touch Diamond Mobile Internet Video Demo

HTC Touch Diamond Launch Event

HTC’s focus for 2008 is going to be mobile internet usability, according to HTC CEO Peter Chow. It starts here, with the Touch Diamond. It has true desktop quality browsing. This is owed to the fact it uses Opera and not Internet Explorer. The browser supports zooming using the navigation pad, and also rotating thanks to the accelerometer.

The date of availability for the device will be June for Europe and Asia. With more markets to follow later in the year. The price of the device was not mentioned at the time of the press event. Head on over to Phone Mag for the full gallery of the event.

[Via PhoneMag]

On the device, you will find a 2.8 inch VGA display, Windows Mobile 6.1, quad band GSM with 7.2mbps HSDPA, WiFi, FM radio, 528MHz CPU. For storage, there is 4GBs of internal memory, with an option for MicroSD expansion. It is very thin, at only 10.7mm. It has a slide out QWERTY, 3.2 megapixel camera, and rumored accelerometer to round out the feature list. Be sure to visit Everything Dream and PHONE Magazine for live up to the minute coverage on May 6, 2008. There will be plenty of Touch Diamond love going around so be there or be square.

The device was approved for a second time, as some technical problems held the project back.
The 2010 census was supposed to held using this device. Looks like this bad boy will have to wait until 2020.

[Via SlashPhone]

First, there is the new member to the Touch family that is rumored to be released. We are not the only ones excited about this new device, as HTC said it hopes the device will pick up their sales numbers. As you would expect, 70% of HTC’s sales come from their high end 3G devices.

The pictured device, the HTC Rapheal, is also expected to debut at the May 6th event. This device was leaked as coming to Sprint in the near future. The event will most likely show off the GSM version, however. After all, the lack of CDMA in London, or Europe for that matter, makes it difficult to demo a CDMA device. This device will feature a VGA screen and Windows Mobile 6.1.

Next up we have this screen shot. It is rumored to be a screen shot of the HTC Diamond, as the text in the image implies. This screen shot is too bug to be QVGA, so that is a good indicator it is going to be a VGA device. Now, the image could be a Photo Shop job, but I will let you judge.

The now infamous picture depicting these HTC phones has been talked about a lot. The first, third, and fourth devices in the bottom row are unknown. It has been speculated this is the new MDA Compact IV, but this has not been explicitly proven. There are a few aesthetic differences. It is rumored that the device will be announced at the event. Though it looks similar to the Dream, the interface is clearly not Android.

The Diamond lacks a physical keyboard yet sport a 2.8-inch touchscreen. The Raphael on the other hand features a full QWERTY keyboard, 2.8-inch VGA displays. Both handsets are expected to have a 3-megapixel camera, CDMA Rev A., WiFi, aGPS, Windows Mobile (version 6.1?) layered with enhanced version of TouchFLO technology.

Engadget says we can expect the Raphael in September, with the Diamond following on in November. There are references of “EVDO” in the documents, which lead me to believe future release on Verizon Wireless is highly possible.

10 December 2007 Chris Davies for Google-Phone.com

HTC’s CEO Peter Chou has confirmed today that the company is developing a whole new range of Android-powered handsets that, despite having a number of successful designs already in their portfolio, will be distinct from the current Windows Mobile powered range. In an interview with Engadget, the company CEO discussed HTC’s move from producing OEM handsets for carriers to promoting their own brand, and how their development of software interfaces which, so far, have run on top of WM6 has prepared them for the opportunity to build unique devices based on Android.

“HTC is trying to differentiate ourselves in terms of user experience. Not just features or functions or tags, just really trying to design the product from the user’s perspective, because we care about the user. So our vision is that we want people to enjoy that mobility, which comes from user-focused design. Touch Flo is one such technology, and we are very proud of. And we are actually trying to innovate from the software user experience, that point of view. Definitely, the Android platform has a lot more flexibility to do more in this area” Peter Chou, CEO, HTC

As designers of the reference and demo platform credited with bringing many Open Handset Alliance members onto the scheme, Chou revealed that Google has in fact been working closely with HTC for the past two years developing the open-source Linux-based OS. Previous interviews with Chou have seen him reveal a few details regarding HTC’s Android roadmap, including their plans to release 2-3 handsets in 2008 that are based on the OS, and it’s rumored that one such device will be a consumer version of the demo design, codenamed the HTC Dream.

“Well if we want to be successful or successful products, we have to think of things holistically - the whole thing. You need it to really impress people. Instead of just doing things here or there - I’ve never seen a product that was very successful in that fashion. So I think there are no worries about that. We are actually very disciplined and professional and try to do these things separately” Peter Chou

When pressed on the subject of whether HTC would recycle existing models, Chou confirmed they would not, although they would of course leverage existing hardware development such as wireless capabilities and mobile CPUs. Similarly, they will still be building WM-based devices and there is unlikely to be an option for cross-device OS installation given Chou’s push for holistic design.

At first glance I assumed the keyboard folded somehow, but it’s actually one solid piece: the screen only covers the top two-thirds, with the bottom, numeric keypad portion uncovered for using the handset in portrait mode. Push the screen to the side and it slides, diagonally, so as to be central above the QWERTY keyboard when held in landscape orientation.

Of course, the buttons needn’t just be numbers and letters: HTC’s patent suggests they could be anything from a “standard keyboard, a video play key, numeric keys, dialing keys, navigation keys, hot keys, speed dialing keys, a Windows key and an ending key”. It might be interesting to see gaming controls, too, with the handset operating as a phone in portrait and as a handheld games console when the screen is flicked across.

[Via PHONE Magazine]