| It's been a while now since the first phone to use | | | | The Hero also is the first phone to use HTC's |
| Google's revolutionary Android Operating System, the | | | | innovative 'Sense' featuring seven individual, |
| T Mobile G1, was released and the concept seems to | | | | customized home screens which can be changed with |
| have gathered pace somewhat, with a host of new | | | | the sweep of a finger. |
| Android mobile phones and smart phones now | | | | HTC Tattoo |
| available. Here's brief review of each of the past and | | | | The latest offering from HTC is aimed, primarily, at the |
| current Android phones released so far. | | | | budget and pre-pay market. A slightly smaller and |
| T Mobile G1 | | | | more compact handset with a 2.8" screen and some |
| The original 'Google Phone' released after much hype | | | | trimming down in the feature department, the idea is |
| in October 2008, the G1 was touted as the big threat | | | | clearly aimed at bringing Android to the masses and |
| to the established iPhone. It has to be said that the G1, | | | | who would bet against it? |
| manufactured by the Taiwanese mobile specialists | | | | Motorola Dext |
| HTC, was something of a disappointment. The phone | | | | It's been a while since Motorola were connected with |
| itself was bulky and the slide-out keyboard drew | | | | anything that could be described as innovative but the |
| complaints for being unwieldy and impossible to use | | | | Dext may well change a few perceptions of one of |
| with just one hand. | | | | the original and oldest mobile handset manufacturers? |
| The G1 did, however, include some innovations, most | | | | In addition to the Android operating system, Motorola |
| notably, the seamless integration of many of Google's | | | | have included their own application, known as |
| famous applications such as search, maps and street | | | | 'MotoBlur' which checks Twitter, MySpace and |
| view. And most people who reviewed the phone | | | | Facebook for status updates and displays these on |
| were impressed with the speed and reliability of the | | | | one of it's five home screens. Clearly aimed at the |
| connection made to the internet while they were out | | | | social network generation the Dext also re-introduces |
| and about - this was, after all, a project which aimed to | | | | the slide-out QWERTY keyboard which is a lot more |
| make the internet truly mobile? | | | | easy to use than the original concept trialled in the G1. |
| HTC Magic | | | | The Motorola also includes a nifty security application |
| The world didn't have to wait long for some | | | | which allows users to remotely wipe all personal data |
| improvements to take place with the release of the | | | | from the phone should it be lost or stolen. |
| HTC Magic in April 2009. The slide-out keyboard was | | | | Samsung Galaxy i7500 |
| ditched in favor of an intuitive touch screen function, | | | | The first Android phone on the O2 network, as well as |
| the much criticised camera was upgraded to 3.2 mega | | | | Samsung's first foray in this sector, the Galaxy i7500 |
| pixels and the handset itself was smaller, lighter and | | | | features a 3.2" screen, 8MB built in memory and a 5 |
| much more attractive. | | | | mega pixel camera with integrated flash and |
| The critics started to wonder whether, in fact, Google | | | | auto-focus. Some of the Android features have been |
| were on to something here? | | | | cut down but, overall, a quality smart phone that will |
| HTC Hero | | | | undoubtedly be a hit? |
| Just a few short weeks later and the HTC Hero, also | | | | The speed and pace of development of the Android |
| known as the G2 Touch, came onto the market and | | | | project over the last twelve months has been |
| now people really were taking notice. The HTC Hero is | | | | phenomenal and there can be no doubting Google's |
| a sleek, modern looking handset with all the usual | | | | commitment to be a major force in mobile technology |
| features and some notable improvements. | | | | development in the future. Whether the Google phone |
| The 3.2" display with touch-screen functionality is bright | | | | concept will ever topple Apple's iPhone as the handset |
| and responsive with an iPhone like 'pinch-to-zoom' | | | | of choice remains to be seen, but given the progress |
| feature and also displays useful weather updates as | | | | so far it will be interesting to see how the concept |
| well as updates on all your favorite twitter and | | | | develops over the next few years. |
| Facebook feeds. | | | | |