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March 20, 2008 10:02 AM PDT

Dreaming of the Google phone

by Kent German

So far, we've only seen prototypes of a cell phone running Google's Android platform, but InfoWorld has some gossip on what the first real device might be. According to a source "close to the situation", HTC may become the first company to manufacture an Android device. Yet it also appears that Samsung, which also is a member of the Open Handset Alliance, is not far behind.

Details are slim but the source reported the following specs. The HTC device will be called the "Dream" and will be about 5 inches long by 3 inches wide. What's more, it will feature an alphabetic keyboard that will either slide or swivel out from under the display. There isn't much more to tell at the moment, but the above details match rumors that Forbes reported last year. We apologize that we can't offer any photos of the Dream but we can give you a look at an Android prototype that we examined last month at the GSMA World Congress. See the video for more details.

Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry. E-mail Kent.
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Pitifully v0.1
by gminetos March 20, 2008 11:27 AM PDT
Yawn, whatever. I'm so tired of hearing Google this Google this everytime I page a blog. This is such a pre- pre- pre- version why even mention it ?! It's got graphical icons dating from 10 years ago and the screen isn't even touch. It's embarrassing that they'd even want this to be seen given the state-of-the-art today (eg. iPhone, Mogul). Move on, nothing to see here.
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Pitifully v0.1
by gminetos March 20, 2008 11:27 AM PDT
Yawn, whatever. I'm so tired of hearing Google this Google this everytime I page a blog. This is such a pre- pre- pre- version why even mention it ?! It's got graphical icons dating from 10 years ago and the screen isn't even touch. It's embarrassing that they'd even want this to be seen given the state-of-the-art today (eg. iPhone, Mogul). Move on, nothing to see here.
Reply to this comment
by atcj0611 April 25, 2008 6:11 AM PDT
Hence the "PROTOTYPE" label. Functionality is the concern here. Not how pretty the icons are. I'm sure the icons can be taken care of over some designers lunch break. Remember that the big deal with the google phone is the open source android software so any average joe with reasonable programming knowledge can create apps or user interfaces that can work on a bunch of different phone models on different networks instead of things having to be made for every individual phone. This model doesn't look like it has a touch screen but touch screens are supported by android and there will be models coming (see http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/02/28/mystery.android.phone/ )
will there are other touch screen handsets.
by 7aji88 March 20, 2008 5:26 PM PDT
The whole thing is that it's an open source OS for cell phones that will compete with others like Windows mobile, Palm, and Blackberry. and don't worry about the icons because there will be plenty of other icon sets out there.
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will there are other touch screen handsets.
by 7aji88 March 20, 2008 5:26 PM PDT
The whole thing is that it's an open source OS for cell phones that will compete with others like Windows mobile, Palm, and Blackberry. and don't worry about the icons because there will be plenty of other icon sets out there.
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