Google and HTC's "Dream" phone prototype semi-revealed

Sure, a Google-sponsored phone OS in the way of Android is pretty great news for mobile phone land, but what if your really had your heart set on some Google hardware this Monday morning? Well take heart, because Forbes has the skinny on an HTC device labeled "Dream," (most likely not pictured above) which could very well be oft-rumored hardware of legend, and could also be hitting the market as early as next year. Apparently the phone is one of roughly five prototypes that Google had built to demonstrate the Open Handset Alliance software to potential members, and HTC's Peter Chou says in the two years it's been working on OHA designs, "this is the best one we've seen." The device itself, which measures about 3 x 5-inches, sports a touchscreen, navigational controls at the base, and a full swivel out keyboard. When swiveled the screen goes from portrait to landscape mode, but unfortunately that's the limit of info on the actual hardware. The software apparently has "time-sensitive" touch controls that expands your area control the longer you touch. Icons for your most important apps -- which are apparently email, text documents, and YouTube -- are lined up across the top of the screen. There's also some fancy stuff under the hood to keep an ongoing browser session open to speed launch times, and the browser downloads large files in stages to speed delivery. HTC is considering a commercial version of the phone, which we could be seeing as soon as the second half of 2008.

[noazark @ Nov 5th 2007 3:12PM]

oh thats soo good.

[D.L. @ Nov 5th 2007 3:42PM]

so you would pay a monthly fee AND have ads on your phone?

[superfresh @ Nov 5th 2007 3:48PM]

Not ads, dummy, sponsored links. SPONSORED LINKS!

[Nick @ Nov 5th 2007 4:05PM]

if it brings down the cost of hardware and monthly service..then sure il deal with the sponsored links

[Homer J @ Nov 5th 2007 4:32PM]

With the right off-set that keyboard look uncomfortable to type on

[- k E n - @ Nov 5th 2007 4:38PM]

i don't get it. why is it that the word "ad" pops up every time there is an article on the gPhone. I've been looking and looking everywhere and no where does Google mention they are gonna incorporate ads into the OS. I think i might be missing something among the flurry of news.

And even if it DOES have ads, isn't the whole point of this gPhone an open source platform? So, lets say if it has ads somewhere in the OS, doesn't that mean you can tweak the OS to remove the ads? It will be kinda like Linux right? Everything open source?

I am definitely missing something here.

[D.L. @ Nov 5th 2007 4:51PM]

"sponsored links" or ads

WTF is the difference??

[riggs @ Nov 5th 2007 7:51PM]

the difference is that neither are gonna be on android....oh wait thats a similarity. =\

[JP @ Nov 5th 2007 3:13PM]

Not too shabby.

[joe23521 @ Nov 5th 2007 3:15PM]

I don't know about the offset square buttons.
Also, if it's touch screen, why still use a nav wheel?

[Ellianth @ Nov 5th 2007 3:44PM]

because people like choice.

[Ryan P @ Nov 5th 2007 5:47PM]

That's why you make two different phones. I'm looking at you APPLE.......

[Erwos @ Nov 5th 2007 3:15PM]

Give it:
1. A VGA screen
2. A good dock
3. WiFi and BT-2.0
4. WiMax/EVDO/HSDPA

... and I'm sold. I'll lay down my $600 without blinking.

[LordJohnWhorfin @ Nov 5th 2007 3:23PM]

HTC makes some crappy-ass unreliable phones. Amazing feature list, decent price, but they never quite work right (check out the Sprint Mogul, it's been shipping for months and they still can't get bluetooth to work!). I wouldn't get too excited. If it weren't for Sprint's dirt cheap SERO plan I'd be really really sorry I didn't go for the iPhone.

[Adam @ Nov 5th 2007 3:52PM]

@LordJohn

They released a firmware update a week or two ago that takes care of the BT issues with the Mogul. I didn't bother updating since I personally never experienced any problems at all with mine. Now I'm glad I didn't as that update has been recalled and the BT fixes are slated for re-release in the the early 2008 update which is supposed to include and EVDO Rev.A update (It's Currently Rev.0). Honestly I'm very pleased with the Mogul though. I've personally never had any problems with it...and I can't even start to complain about my SERO plan.

[Electromodo @ Nov 5th 2007 4:13PM]

@Erwos

You underestimate the software, IMHO. While hardware is important and all, the crappy software can ruin everything. For a while I had Sharp Zaurus which has a distinct hardware (VGA touchscreen, multi flash card support, USB hub, QWERTY keyboard, WiFi, etc.), but it runs Qtopia Linux (by Trolltech) with such a limited functionality and inconvenient interface, that I can not use all the glory of the hardware.

I tried ALL Linux distributions available for Zaurus (about 6-7 of them) and I could not find any coming even close to Symbian, WinMo, not to mention iPhone.

Though many good Linux developers worked on Zaurus software (part time), it did not help much.

Also, remember the GreenPhone from Trolltech, which did not gain much popularity? Same Qtopia, that's why.

Now we are talking of Google as "His Majesty the King of Java apps", so I hope the interface on top of Linux core would be really fast and convenient. I hope.

But generally I would agree with you (forgive my rant). With nice hardware parameters + distinct software I would pick it up immediately!

[SouthEastBeast @ Nov 5th 2007 4:17PM]

@Erwos

BT2.0 as in B|T2.0? if so add an external yagi antenna connection and it would be a warwalking/driving beast =D

[Dan @ Nov 5th 2007 4:22PM]

@Adam

HTC took down that fix because it introduced additional problems, the next update is now scheduled for early Q1 2008.

[Adam @ Nov 5th 2007 5:28PM]

@Dan

Dan...I said that in my post:

"Now I'm glad I didn't as that update has been recalled and the BT fixes are slated for re-release in the the early 2008 update which is supposed to include and EVDO Rev.A update."

[nak @ Nov 5th 2007 3:19PM]

To those of you complaining about the looks:

"(most likely not pictured above)"

[Frankenstein Black @ Nov 5th 2007 5:02PM]

Exactly! And I actually like the looks even though "(most likely not pictured above)".

Also @ Erwos
The way to achieve GSM, CDMA, WiFi, WiMax, EVDO, HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE all in a single device is via SDRs which are just about ready for prime time ;^)...

[j @ Nov 5th 2007 3:22PM]

Apparently it is for folks with an abnormally long right thumb. I don't know about anyone else, but when I use my HTC with a slide out QWERTY, I hold the device by the ends and use my thumbs to type. With this device, you could do that , but it would involve reaching quite a distance as well as reaching down past a ridge that the fold down screen uses. This means awkwardly holding the left hand on one end, and the right hand somewhere closer to the middle. I would have to try it out before I could commit to such an arrangement. If however they put the clickwheel type doohickey on the back, and gave more room to the keyboard, I might be more intrigued.

[Jason @ Nov 5th 2007 4:06PM]

most likely not pictured above !!!!

[Aaron @ Nov 5th 2007 3:25PM]

Am I the only one not seeing an image?

[Namarrgon @ Nov 5th 2007 8:19PM]

most likely not pictured above !!!! :-)

[superfresh @ Nov 5th 2007 3:25PM]

Relax everyone. It's just a mockup. Just because Steve doesn't like buttons doesn't mean we all have to march in lockstep.

But, having said that, I still can't resist...

I think I would find it hard to type with an offset keyboard. That's a lot of clickwheel real estate for your right thumb to cover.

If they would move forward with that styling, which doesn't look to shabby to me, I would make the whole top slide to reveal the keyboard, not just the screen.

[Johan S @ Nov 5th 2007 3:26PM]

It's ugly. The screen area looks too small to be usable for web browsing (why is there a wide plastic border margin around the LCD?). And the LCD probably lacks decent resolution (it's probably not even VGA).

[Alan @ Nov 5th 2007 3:27PM]

Absolutely wonderful I think this is the greatest idea, an open source software for cell phone with all the google apps, although there should of course be a phone especially designed to run all this software but I truly believe that this will help create a great tool for developing creativity and functionality, this will allow us to have a very personal cell phone experience filled with people's necesities... plus if google develops an easy to use platform we will be able to create programs and apps very easily... Good bye Windows Mobile & Iphone. The big G is here!

[booblik @ Nov 5th 2007 3:29PM]

Can you add a little bit more gloss to that screen? IMHO, it's not photoshopped enough.

[Jon @ Nov 5th 2007 3:45PM]

Keyboard doesn't look ergonomically friendly. They should perfect the design of the Wizard/Kaiser keyboard.

[ark_v2 @ Nov 5th 2007 3:47PM]

That's ridiculously sexy.

[Greg @ Nov 5th 2007 3:48PM]

Pretty cool. Although I was expecting an iPhone killer

[blade417 @ Nov 5th 2007 3:50PM]

I know that may not be the actual phone. But that phone has me sold. I love the design.

[Jason @ Nov 5th 2007 3:50PM]

just make it thin enough (ie: .5" or less) to be pocketable. these .7" and thicker bricks are a joke. I like to carry my phone in my pocket, not in a holster. And yes, that .2" makes a difference. Hold the iPhone or the Dash vs something like the Wing or the 8125 and you'll see.

[palehorse @ Nov 5th 2007 4:11PM]

I agree completely! Some of the new "bricks" are just as large as the Ipaq I had six years ago!

Ridiculous!

The iPhone is the perfect size... anything larger, even with a QWERTY, is unacceptable to me. Figure out a way to add real QWERTY, with feedback, and a wheel, to a touchscreen phone the size of the iPhone. Do that, and throw in a fully unlocked open source OS, and you'll get my money!

[ASDAWEAW @ Nov 5th 2007 3:52PM]

ugly.

[Kevin @ Nov 5th 2007 4:03PM]

looks a bit like a Zune 80. don't flame, please.

[Trace The Hedgehog @ Nov 5th 2007 7:23PM]

hoshi- its teh Zunephone! =O

[critopa @ Nov 28th 2007 4:10AM]

"don't flame please"

[timatl @ Nov 5th 2007 4:06PM]

i want to see video of the interface.

[Ricardo @ Nov 5th 2007 4:07PM]

"The device itself, which measures about 3 x 5-inches"

That's way too big for my taste.

My current phone is 2" x 3.8", and I definately would like to have one with a similar size. Actually what made me buy it is that it is the smallest smartphone I have ever seen (Motorola A1200i).

[Ricardo @ Nov 5th 2007 4:07PM]

"The device itself, which measures about 3 x 5-inches"

That's way too big for my taste.

My current phone is 2" x 3.8", and I definately would like to have one with a similar size. Actually what made me buy it is that it is the smallest smartphone I have ever seen (Motorola A1200i).

[PEZ @ Nov 5th 2007 4:22PM]

Wowee. I havent seen this photo in a long while. It was a fake from way a back, maybe 18-24 months.

[xbit @ Nov 5th 2007 4:29PM]

Microsoft must be DELIGHTED that all of their biggest partners (HTC, Samsung, Motorola) are on-board.

This must be the first HTC-branded phone without Windows Mobile on it.

[wrabbit @ Nov 5th 2007 4:49PM]

what's up with youtube getting put on all these new smartphones? is a bookmark in a browser not enough?

i guess the saving grace here is that since it's gonna be built on android i'll be able to remove that icon and replace it with something more useful, like an engadget feed.



see how i slipped it in there? ;) Now where's my money engadget?!

[Alex @ Nov 5th 2007 5:17PM]

How many times do we have to remind all the people who can't read that the device pictured in the post is most likely not the actual phone?

[Nicholas FitzRoy-Dale @ Nov 5th 2007 5:55PM]

Great, we've got "Android" and "Dream" -- I look forward to the upcoming built-in razor attachment, "Electric Sheep".

[Anthony @ Nov 5th 2007 5:59PM]

wow, i would get this in a flash, but too bad its a prototype, its bound to change.

[boe @ Nov 5th 2007 6:17PM]

I've given up on HTC phones for the time being - the mogul has been out for 4 months and they still can't get the Bluetooth working properly on it - they released a firmware "patch" after 50,000 hits on the topic and then pulled it because it caused more damage than good.

I'm checking out i-Mate and Eten - I've had it with the large clunky, THICK, low resolution, buggy HTC phones with crappy battery life. If iphone can make a fast processor, fast video chip, good battery life phone with decent resolution, I know that the technology exists on the hardware end that we just aren't seeing from HTC.

[Nick @ Nov 5th 2007 7:18PM]

Why didnt they just stick with the old concept design.. I mean this one:
http://www.mycellphoneblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/googlephone.jpg
Much sexier if you ask me..