OnlyGizmos

T-Mobile HTC Dream

Android has leaked time and again, and here is the T-Mobile Branded HTC Dream, expected to launch soon. See full Android Coverage here.

HTC Dream, the first Android handset to be released later this year has leaked time and again.  And if the leaked video wasn’t enough, the latest info from FCC gives away its dimensions. Dream’s dimensions are 115 x 55-mm, smaller than the iPhone 3G (115.2-mm x 62.1-mm). However its marginally bigger than the HTC Touch Pro and the Xperia X1.

The long rumored and leaked and awaited Android powered HTC Dream has finally gained the FCC approval. This means that the device is ready for launch soon.

The device is said to be labeled as (model) ‘DREA100‘. And the features and physical specs seem to be inline with the leaked video we saw earlier. So would we see a October November release as rumored?

Android rumors are a daily affair now, and again this time the rumored device is HTC Dream. The big touchscreen device with a sliding QWERTY (yes the same one we just saw in a leaked video). So what is it this time?

According to fresh reports, T-Mobile is all set to start a Pre-Sale of the Android powered HTC Dream from September 17th. The device will be priced anywhere between $150 and $399, and the presale might be limited to exisitng Tmobile customers only. Also adding to the rumored features is a 3Mp camera & three colour options (brown, black and white).

Not sure if these persistent rumors are enough to keep up with the hype iPhone created before its launch, but Android sure looks promising!

When Google announced the open source Android, they kicked off a developers challenge to create apps for the Android platform. And they promised a whooping $10 million to be distributed for the best apps. So why does Google care so much for the apps? Why such a big amount? Its not that 10mln is too big for Google, but it is a significant amount.

My questions were answered by Apple’s Appstore for the iPhone! Apple recently launched the iPhone v2.0 with Appstore enabling 3rd party apps. And accorging to a WSJ report, Apple has already sold apps worth $30 million in the first month. If this trend continues, Apple takes home atleast $360 in revenues (offcourse a good part of that will go to the developers). But still, with the impending release of iPhone in many other countries, the figure will only rise.

iPhone is a close platform. Everything that comes in goes through a firm check, and anything that displeases Apple, won’t make it there. Still we see such good figures. This only makes me wonder, what is the real potential of Android?

Full coverage of the Android product launch!

image source

Hers is a suspected leaked video of the upcoming Android platform, running on the HTC Dream. The handset is a touchscreen with a QWERTY (in Sidekick design). Though not sure if this really is genuine, but interesting. Video Downstairs

We have previewed Android several times in the past, and just a little update from HTC confirms that they are still on track to ship out Android powered devices before year end. Not sure if its the much rumored DREAM, but its surely good news for the masses who are waiting to get their hands on it!

UPDATE: The Gphone Aka Android has launched, here is all you need to know abou the First Android Phone HTC G1

Since almost a year we are speaking about the Google Phone aka Android platform. Google realizes that the handheld’s market will offer tremendous growth in the coming years, and Android will ensure that it holds a good share of the mobile market. Data usage on mobile devices is on a rise and most telecom companies estimate that in coming years the Data revenue would be much more than what it is today.

Google recently demoed the HTC Dream at a conference which highlighted the potential of Android platform. The HTC dream is a big device with a 5″x3″ touch screen, a slider keyboard and a accelerometer like the iPhone which lets your tilt the device for navigation or scrolling. But that shouldn’t give you the impression that all Android devices are going to be high-end touchscreen. In a previous demo we have already seen (Video Downstairs) that the Android would come in different types ranging from QWERTY, normal number pad with trackball or a touch like iPhone. Many manufacturers are developing devices for the Android and by 2008 end we would start to see the announcements. The heart of a Android device is its Open Source nature. The hardware is merely a facilitator of what is being developed, the software offers the real GOLD. We also hear rumors that Google would offer a app store for Android users to get their hands on the latest applications and innovations.

The potential offered by a open source venture like Android is tremendous, imagine a game where in you and four of your friends playing counter strike using GPS+Camera powered Android devices which makes your own neighborhood a virtual battle ground. GPS location along with Google Maps offer your the terrain and details of the nearby enemy, you shoot the enemy with your Android’s camera, server images would confirm the identity of the enemy. Yes there are exactly the kind of crazy ideas we are hearing. See more

Integrate: existing Google code’s like the Google Maps with the browser and get the maximum utility.

Expand: the functionality of existing Google codes, like using the Maps to locate a taxi cab near you.

Replace: Android will offer handheld devices to be customized by the users to the core. So don’t be surprised if you see two Android devices which appear the same but offer completely different interface and OS features. Eg: In case you don’t like the default contact manager, you can easily replace the same with a third part contact manager (not just adding a new contact manager, but to completely replace the existing one!)

The original Android demo video by Google:

The Android Demo at Google I/O (using HTC DREAM):

As you would see in the video above, locking your mobile device using numeric and alpha-numeric passwords is a thing of the past, Now you can lock your device using customized patterns and combinations. Expect much more innovation…