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Google’s first entrance to the cellular market was with the T-Mobile G1. Though it received major attention, it was practically behind most smartphones available, especially due to poor design, resulting in an arrantly non-esthetic phone. Now, after a year of collaboration with known mobile phones’ manufacturer HTC, T-Mobile presents the myTouch 3G, a vastly better cell phone that can clearly compete with most smartphones on the market.
The myTouch 3G design is the most noticeable improvement. It is a classic, scalloped shell, sized conveniently at 4.45 x 2.19 x 0.58 inches. Furthermore, the interface is fully touch-based, using a reasonably large screen with a 3.2” in diagonal. In total the device weighs 4.1 ounces, making it tiny in comparison to the G1 and easy to fit in a pocket.
Although the Android OS handles well most features (mainly thanks to functions such as autofill and autocorrect), it is somewhat slow, and the screen feels a bit less sensitive and accurate when compared to other phones. The number of third party applications supporting the Android OS has increased rapidly (now more than 6,000 are available for download), but its natural advantage is the strong integration with Google services. For instance, users can search Google with voice commands.
According to HTC, the multimedia features are up to standard; with 3.2-megapixel camera, full audio support and online streaming ability, the myTouch 3G matches most smartphones available. However, the relatively mediocre screen resolution of 320 x 480 pixels might create a less pleasant user experience.
One of the main advantages the myTouch 3G offers is longevity; its standby time, according to the manufacturer, is 600 hours, and talk time is 6 hours. These are made possible thanks to the 1340 mAh lithium-ion battery.
T-Mobile is currently pricing the new phone at $200, but a two-year contract applies.
TFOT has previously covered other smartphones made by HTC, including the Touch HD, featuring 3.5G connectivity, and the S740, which offers advanced interface and a full keyboard. Other related TFOT stories include a preview of the Nokia N97, one of the most advanced phones on the market, and a detailed coverage of the smartphones introduced at CeBIT 2008.
For more information about the HTC T-Mobile myTouch 3G, see its website.
