HTC Magic Review (Verdict: A Good Start)
By Simon Sage on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 10:45 AM PST In Android, HTC, Reviews, Rogers
Verdict
If I had to place the HTC Magic somewhere on the useful/cool spectrum, it would be between the iPhone and BlackBerry, leaning towards the prior. The user interface is smooth, new, and polished compared to BlackBerry’s snappy, efficient, blocky interface, but is not quite as slick as the iPhone (though very close). In the long run, I think the Android platform will have greater appeal to developers who are either frustrated with BlackBerry’s limits or who are getting shouldered out of a crowded iPhone app market. That being said, the only other handset really inhabiting the same space is the Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre, where I think Android will encounter the fiercest competition.
There’s one big reason the HTC Magic won’t be replacing my BlackBerry: the experience isn’t complete yet. Android is still a work in progress with a lot more Google services to add, developer APIs to include, and features to squeeze in. This is situation is simultaneously disappointing as well as exciting, since those who are on board 100% are seeing a lot of change and improvements as the platform takes shape, while those just casually picking one up may be disappointed if they don’t appreciate the rate of change the platform is undergoing. The iPhone’s recent OS 3.0 release perfectly illustrates how long it takes for a smartphone to really get up to speed and be ready to throw punches with the big boys. I think the HTC Magic is a fine indicator of the progress Google has made since the G1, and if it can keep up this respectable clip, Android will be competing with the major platforms in no time. For now, the HTC Magic gets three and a half out of five, which would have been a four if things like copy and paste in e-mail and Bluetooth file transfer were intact. If a few more of my favourite Google services were integrated (like Panoramio with the camera app and Google Reader) and the Canadian Android Market had premium apps, the Magic would be in the four and a half out of five range.
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- HTC Magic taking pictures in sunlight
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- HTC Magic taking close-up pictures
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- HTC Magic taking pictures in low light
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- HTC Magic taking pictures in at night while moving
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- HTC Magic taking pictures with digital zoom
[...] tight integration with Google (NSDQ: GOOG) services like GMail, GTalk, Maps, and lots more. I just finished a review of the HTC Magic which is coming soon to the US as T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) MyTouch 3G, and was amply impressed.The [...]
[...] Unfortunately, Android doesn’t support Bluetooth file transfers yet. I know, it sucks, was one of my major complaints after using the HTC Magic. [...]
i have been using winmo for last couple of years (o2 xda orbit), and am looking for change. from my perspective, android, lacks the punch.
no synching with exchange server for emails, lack of radio(!), no office document viewer, no bluetooth file exchange … etc etc these are all deal breakers for me.
at the price it’s selling, business features are expected in the device. now i am left with either some blackberry (i dont like storm) or or iphone (i already hv an ipod touch) or some HTC winmo once again.
@Shreyas Kulkarni: Dude!! The phone has all the features what you told are not there !! Check it out the magic now comes with the cupcake update ! you can finally move from Winmob to Powerful Google android! And forget about ifail(iphone)