Drawings of Android phone revealed

The blog "Android Guys" has published an engineering drawing of T-Mobile's soon to be released Android phone codenamed the T-Mobile G1.

The images show more information about the device than any of the other mock-ups that have zipped around the blogosphere.

One of the more interesting tidbits from the drawing is a slight tilt of the bottom part of the phone where the trackball is located. The device has a full QWERTY keyboard with nicely spaced buttons. The Android Guys note this is reminiscent of recent Sidekick designs, and the site gives it a thumbs-up.

The blog "Android Community" has used the drawing to calculate the phone's dimensions and reports that the thickness of the G1, also known as the HTC Dream, is approximately 0.64-inches or 16.35mm. Apple's iPhone, which doesn't have a flip-out screen, is 12.3 mm thick. It also looks like the G1's screen size is comparable to the iPhone's 3.5-inch screen.

There is also a "menu" button on the G1, according to the drawing, which will likely be used to launch Google services.

The HTC phone, which is expected to be widely available on T-Mobile's network in October, is the first phone that will use Google's Android operating system. Rumors about the phone have been flying through cyberspace for months in anticipation of its launch.

The device is expected to be priced at about $399 full retail or about $150 with a two-year contract from T-Mobile. One blog reports that the device will go on sale October 13, 2008, with pre-orders for existing T-Mobile customers to begin September 17.

Some of the rumored specs for the device include: a full QWERTY keyboard; 3G/Wi-Fi; full HTML browser; easy access to Google apps, maps (with Street View); YouTube; IM and text; e-mail; 3-megapixel camera; video playback; a music player plus a memory card slot; and an application store.

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[Kreuzer33]

Looks like Android will finally be a reality soon. Please put the phone in consumers hands so they can give actual feedback and I'll be interested to learn more at that time.

http://kreuzer33.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/google-android-update-size-of-the-htc-dream-revealed/

[johnnydfred]

I don't see GPS on the feature list. Seems to me Google Maps' use will be limited with only cellular triangulation capability. It will certainly limit those of us who wish to develop navigation apps for the platform.

[smilin:)]

Hm. I'm not getting much "Wow" from this. It doesn't appear to really have anything revolutionary that makes me want to give up my Windows Mobile device. The iPhone at least has some very slick UI features that at least tempt me (can't use one...too many business features lacking).

Maybe it's just not targetted at my market: Enterprise user that also wants a fun toy.

..besides, the Mesh client for Windows Mobile is hitting the streets any minute. Mmmmm... Mesh.

[UITD]

This product will be rife with viri and the like.

[Rants&Raves]

Do you have anything to support that contention ? Have you looked at the OS code or are you the kind who gets a thrill at throwing FUD around ?

[KeeganHill]

He's probably the second one. Anyone who has actually played with the Android emulator and worked at making their own app for it knows this thing is fun. (like me)