Early views of Android phones bubble up

T-Mobile's G1, aka the HTC Dream

(Credit: Boy Genius Report (used with permission))

A few hours ahead of the official launch event in New York, T-Mobile has begun showing views of its G1 phone, the HTC Dream model that will be the first to sport Google's Android operating system.

For a peek at some of the photos, we recommend a look at Boy Genius Report, which got its shots from T-Mobile's G1 site.

Also worth a peek are some shots at TmoNews and Gizmodo, which shows some comparatively rare white-case models of the handset.

The views reveal few surprises for those who've seen Google's earlier Android demonstrations, earlier leaked shots, the Dream specifications from the FCC's Web site, and a grainy video. The phone includes an orientation sensor that can shift the display from portrait to landscape mode, a sliding screen that reveals a five-row QWERTY keyboard, and a rollerball to point and click.

Also unsurprising: the phones run Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and of course Google search, which is where Google hopes to make its money off the Android project.

Stay tuned for CNET's live blog of the T-mobile's launch event at 7:30 a.m. PDT.

Another view shows some of the applications the phone can run.

(Credit: Boy Genius Report (used with permission))

The T-Mobile G1 can be rotated to show a portrait view.

(Credit: Boy Genius Report (used with permission))

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[HunterA3]

The OS on this phone better be freakin' amazing because the phone itself is not going to carry it. If this is a HTC phone, they must have used up all their recent creativity on the Touch Diamond and TouchPro phones.

[dustinsherrill]

I agree with HunterA3. The phone is not much to look at but the functionality I hope is great. I like the slide out qwerty board and I like the screen size but the buttons at the bottom remind me of my old pager from the 90's

[johnqh]

Does it have touch screen? If so, why the scroll ball?

[ausernamenoonehaschosen]

I was wondering the same thing (about the scroll ball). On top of the 80's buttons, this thing is thick. The OS better be amazing to make up for the hardware short-comings.

[jackrambo]

Why the rollerball pointing device? Because it's designed to support apps that require near pixel-level control. Can't do that very effectively with a fingertip.

[techman21]

and it better have Exchange Activesync!

[jackrambo]

What does it say about our culture that the first comments about a piece of technology relate to its appearance?

Aren't features, functionality, performance, and ease of use really what's important here? I guess not.

Perhaps my daughter unwittingly summarized it best when her sole explanation for insisting on a Mac for her dorm room was the fact that it came in the color she wanted.

[4 Herb]

Just ordered the G1 and am looking forward to delivery on or about oct.22, we will see how the technology of the phone works out.

[AmrcnHstryX]

I was hoping that they would announce other phones that would come out with the OS. The real Dream would be Android running on the Touch HD.

[renGek]

Doesn't t-mobile know? Our current society values looks and packaging over substance every time. They need to redo this in 5 different models of different shiny colors. Then people will buy it for sure.

[sarah_oneill]

there are lots of locks on the hardware, but I love the open source spirit in the no DRM support. there's more at <a href="http://www.atelier-us.com/mobile-wireless/article/google-and-android-define-the-gphone-for-t-mobile">this article</a>.