HTC Magic, the Google Android Smartphone

PC World — Not yet for sale in the United States, the HTC Magic surfaced Thursday in the form of a developer's version dubbed I/O, distributed at the Google conference of the same name. And the second-generation Magic indeed has a touch of magic: Its lightweight design, gorgeous screen, and new Android 1.5 operating system make a compelling combination. The phone will be released by T-Mobile this summer, under an as-yet-unannounced name.

T-Mobile's Google Android G1 Phone: What You Need to Know

The eye-catching Magic handset is what the T-Mobile G1 should have been--sleek, elegantly curved, and graced with distinctive design touches. When the G1 first came out, I described it as bland. Viewed side-by-side with the HTC Magic, the G1 now looks downright kludgy. It feels bulky, too, and no wonder: Though the Magic is only slightly smaller than the G1 (measures 4.5 by 2.2 by 0.5 inches versus the G1's 4.6 by 2.2 by 0.6 inches), it feels significantly smaller than the G1, and it is noticeably lighter (weighing 4.1 ounces versus the G1's 5.6 ounces). The Apple iPhone 3G is taller than the Magic, but it is slimmer, as well.

The Magic's gentle curves are more than aesthetic touches. The phone has a more pronounced curve at the bottom, where the resulting shape forms a comfortable thumb grip, than at the top. The curves, coupled with the shiny black finish, make it eminently more pocketable than the G1. Like the iPhone 3G, the Magic is highly prone to showing fingerprints--on its screen and on its front and back chassis--due to its shiny finish. The only element that didn't attract fingerprints was the blue, rubberized texture stripe that runs around the edge of the phone.

Other design touches I appreciated were the well-cut, light-up navigation buttons beneath the screen (Home, Menu, back, and search-a new addition) and the deep well that surrounds the navigation trackball. Also, the volume rocker is longer and easier to press than the one on the G1. The back slides down and off easily, and the microSD Card is accessible without your having to remove the battery.

I didn't like the placement or size of the oblong Talk and send/power buttons, however. These critical buttons were unduly small, and I often inadvertently hit the power button instead of the back button bcause of their proximity. Also annoying is the design decision to have the mini-USB port at the bottom double as the headphone jack; as a result, you have to use HTC's proprietary headphones or add a dongle for regular headphones. At least the port is free and clear, and omits the troublesome cover that the G1 sports.

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