Picking up the buzz from the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where I am not, the second HTC Google Android phone seems to show promise. Gizmodo gives it a cheer:
HTC and Google are getting closer to perfection with the new Android G2, the HTC Magic. Nice finish, great form factor. Check out our video, including the obligatory comparison with Apple's iPhone, and hands-on impressions.
However, it has some gripes about the software keyboard.
Engadget has a couple of videos and even more photos, and sums it up:
Overall, we love the phone -- it's pretty much exactly what keyboard-hating, touchscreen-addled folks (like this particular editor) have been waiting for in an Android phone, other than the ones hoping we'd see Android on a Touch Pro2, that is. HTC is keeping the look and feel of its Android devices distinct from its Windows Phone lineup, and that's looking like an increasingly good idea. We could use a bit more slim, and some of the other more advanced hardware features of those Windows Mobile-running brethren, but this is still a great phone for the time being. Unfortunately, it's only in Europe for now, and the lack of US 3G bands means it'll probably be in Europe for the foreseeable future, so folks stuck Stateside are currently out of luck. We await your next move, HTC.
Indeed, the HTC Magic smart phone will be a Vodafone spring exclusive in the UK, Spain, Germany and France, and also available in Italy.
Although I've not had my hands on one, it still doesn't look like a phone I'd buy. Also, there doesn't seem to have been a flood of hot Android phones, and you might have thought there would have been something more challenging by this time. Still, signs of improvement are welcome, and while it's not much to brag about, Android is doing better than previous attempts at doing a Linux phone.
