HTC myTouch 3G White Cell Phone
Overview
What's good: *extremely* customizable - both inside and out, sleek design, excellent touch screen, the "with Google" brand means that it's open and ready for modification.
What's bad: no multi-touch, stock Google keyboard not as good as third-party replacements, no camera flash, a little more power would be nice, major software problem out of the gate, the "with Google" brand means this phone will never see HTC's Sense UI.
Introduction
Originally codenamed Sapphire, the phone we Americans know as myTouch was released as Magic in the UK and Canada, and was given away at the 2009 Google I/O conference christened the Ion. It's an appropriate follow-up to the G1, doing away with the hardware keyboard and sporting some much needed, more refined lines. With double the ROM, 50% more RAM, and a stronger battery, the device feels like a nice bump from the old G1 Experience. However, with Hero on the horizon, some feel the myTouch is too little too late. I still think it's a great handset, but my time with myTouch was not without problems. (cont.)
 (The Vodaphone Magic - same hardware as the MT3G)
Design & Features
The first thing you're likely to notice when handling the myTouch - especially if you have used the G1 - is how smooth it feels. A rounded face and curved edges let it fit very comfortably in the hand and pocket. Everything is right where it should be, including the seven primary hardware controls on the front of the unit: trackball (action), home, menu, back, search, send and end. There is also a volume rocker on the left side of the phone.
The flash-less 3.2 MP cam takes decent still and moving images in bright light but low light shots leave a lot to be desired. Despite a handy dongle that makes corded hands-free calls a breeze, many will be wishing for a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It's not a huge deal for me, but that is one extra piece of equipment you need to keep track of.
As for Android 1.5 - the operating system myTouch sips with - the experience is great. The software is coming along quickly, and while still very young, important advancements have been made in the last year. The Android Market is still lacking but is improving rapidly. It offers a wide selection of homescreen and keyboard replacements, but no multi-touch means a mediocre keyboard, which is a considerable dent in the MT3G's armor. (cont.)
 Usability & Performance
The number one concern I have about a phone that relies almost entirely on the touch screen for input is the virtual keyboard. I am not fond of Google's solution, and replaced my G1's "Cupcake QWERTY" with HTC's Sense keyboard from the Hero. This is a simple but unsupported procedure, and does not require that your phone be hacked to complete. However, without hacking the G1 or myTouch, you are left without multi-touch, and the Hero keyboard is therefore rendered nearly impotent.
I cannot recommend as part of a review that someone tweak a brand new device at the risk of destroying it, so when it comes to keyboards, I just have to say that the myTouch needs improvement badly. The best solution I have found (that doesn't require hacking) is an application in the Market called Better Keyboard. The Hero theme is lovely, and while you won't get multi-touch or many of the other features that make the Hero keyboard so lust-worthy, you will get a cleaner layout and a glossier interface. So if you have a myTouch, I'd recommend installing Better Keyboard ASAP. Anything to get away from Google's bland and squished-together keys.
Despite me not complaining about the Hero's processing power - which is the same, save a subtle processor variation, as that of the myTouch - I have to say that I was very anxious to hack the MT3G because of a little sluggishness. I wanted to over-clock it (crank up the processor speed) and maybe put swap space on my SD card. There are lots of little tricks and tweaks that one can perform on a hacked Android phone. But I never got the chance. Just as I started to read of progress in the myTouch hacking world, my phone died - without a single hacker tweak.
After spending a considerable amount of time getting the myTouch almost exactly how I wanted it, to a state I would have been happy with for the next year or so of mobile computing, the phone got stuck in a boot loop. It would not go beyond the start up splash screen. I reluctantly performed a factory reset on the device, but to no avail; the phone was clearly broken.
I searched the web and sent out a few feelers via Twitter, and to my dismay, I found that the problem was fairly common. Users reported that they became stuck in the boot loop after an OTA update to COC10. My phone shipped with COC10. I spoke with people who were on their third and fourth exchanges because T-Mobile kept sending "like new" devices that were already stuck in a boot loop when unboxed.
I have experienced problems with T-Mobile's exchange process before, and am well aware of what sometimes passes for "like new" in their National Exchange Center. I had hoped the logistical issue had been resolved since my faulty G1 debacle. I was still within the 14 day return period for the myTouch, meaning that I could exchange for a brand new unit or simply return it. After the 14 days, you get a "like new" replacement. I didn't want to risk getting stuck with a broken unit outside of the 14 day period, so I returned mine; no exchange.
I'm already missing the MT3G. It's stronger and sexier than the G1, and I'm sure future updates will resolve my primary complaints. Maybe I'll get another one later, once this whole boot loop issue has been resolved. If I do, I'll probably flash a cooked ROM to avoid problems in the future.
Conclusion
If you are looking to get into Android but are a a little weary of the complicated options it presents, the myTouch 3G may be just the phone you're looking for. T-Mobile has bundled some apps together to make the transition easier and more fun. You can also get lots of cool accessories that can be customized with your own images. One welcome accessory is a functional and interesting extended battery that connects to the base of the phone - not requiring an extra-deep battery cover like the third-party solutions available for the G1.
The MT3G is slimmer, cuter, and less prone to creaks and squeaks than the G1. Removing the hardware QWERTY eliminated all of the major problems I had with the G1 hardware. The MT3G is not a perfect phone, but it is great on the web, good for messaging, and capable of email - though multi-touch (hopefully coming soon) is required to round out the experience. It works well as a music player and gives you a plethora of methods for personalizing the user experience - as well as the external appearance of the phone. Android and the MT3G are very young, and I expect both to grow (via updates) in the coming months.
Thumbs up, but I'm waiting for some bumps to be ironed out before I would consider making it my personal phone. Read full review » Noah gets in-depth with T-Mobile's flagship Android phone, the myTouch 3G with Google. Part two of two. Noah gets in-depth with T-Mobile's flagship Android phone, the myTouch 3G with Google. Part one of two. Magenta went all out in San Fran on Saturday with smoking (in the decorative sense) skydivers, corporate break dancers, and lots of balloons to mark the street date of the T-Mobile myTouch 3G with Google. I also spotted some giant "100% YOU" text lingering in the background. It's easy to make fun, but I have to say I would have liked to have been there. Nice weather you're having, BTW.I have to admit that the first thought that crossed my mind... Noah gets T-Mobile's new flagship Android smartphone, the HTC-made myTouch 3G with Google. It comes with a box and a case! Noah goes hands-on with the newest Android phone: T-Mobile's myTouch 3G. Live from breakfast (!) in San Francisco. Hands-on with the T-Mobile myTouch 3G with Google Android phone, and a very cool new Android app: Sherpa from Geodelic. Verizon jumped into the Android game with both feet last Friday, selling the much hyped Motorola Droid and its more-than-capable little Sis, the HTC Droid Eris in stores across the nation. With the US' number one wireless carrier now selling phones built around Google's Android OS, the platform is poised for a big uptick in mass consumer adoption. Heck, AT&T might even start carrying a Google phone before too long.
We want to take you on a... They launched it with skydivers. They advertized it with icons. Now, T-Mo is pushing the myTouch with...Oprah? Yup. Check out the screenshot below of T-Mobile's site and you'll see a blurb reminding you to watch Oprah's 24th season premier, which is taking place in the streets of Chicago. And in order to maximize the return on that airtime, T-Mo has cut $100 off of the myTouch price, "for a very limited time." (cont.)
So, I guess this means the... The Sapphire has finally made it's way to the States. Is it worth the wait? What's good: *extremely* customizable - both inside and out, sleek design, excellent touch screen, the "with Google" brand means that it's open and ready for modification. What's bad: no multi-touch, stock Google keyboard not as good as third-party replacements, no camera flash, a little more power would be nice, major software problem out of the gate, the "with... Look, I'll be the first to admit: I like BlackBerry devices. Despite the troubles and manufacturing issues I've had this year, I do think RIM makes a good product, with a lot of potential (now, how to expand into that potential is an entirely different story). By the same token, though, I'm not exclusive to the device by any means. I've owned several different platforms, with the most recent one being webOS (Palm Pre). ... Carrier: T-MobileRetail Price: $399.99 or via ebayContract Price: $199.99 or via Lets TalkHot Features: Google device, 3.2MP camera with one click sharing So you're in love with Sense, but can't afford (wait for/settle for the US 2G of) HTC's Hero. Well, LevelUp Studio has what you need in the form of five Hero-inspired beautiful widgets called...Beautiful Widgets. They cost €0.99, which is about $1.40. I purchased mine the day they were released, which I would guess was about two weeks ago. Since then, there has been one widget added, and at least one fix for the clock/weather widget,... Pros: it has my space gps navigation free apps voice dialer and finder screen is very fast it has everything i need Cons: it turns off very quick u have press the menu key to start something were u left off Summary: it is a great phone it has everything i want so useful one of a kind very unique in it's own way 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful Pros: Large screen that is very accomodating. SUPER FAST processor allows for multiple running Apps. Easy file transfer via USB, not limited to media stored in iTunes to name a few. Cons: On screen keyboard can be a pain at times. End key turns off the screen. No ability to create groups for sms/mms Summary: Let's try for just a minute to not compare EVERY device to the iPhone and treat the myTouch as its own device. Imagine driving in city or state you are visiting and looking for the closest Wal-Mart. Voice search on this device makes it all too easy to tap the on screen microphone and say your potential destination out loud. From that point driving directions(or walking directions for that matter) are just a touch away. We all know a device is only as good as the media you can put on it. I connect to my PC and have immediate access to whatever songs, video, or pictures I have on my hard drive. I can't tell you how great it is not to be limited to the confines of a particular media player(iTunes for example). So, you might want to put applications on your device these days right? One touch access to the Android Market gets you in the game with tons of quality FREE apps. Hands down this device is the best I've used in quite a while and definitely a force to be reckoned with. This review was written on my myTouch. 17 out of 17 people found this review helpful Idk man, the huawei seems kinda KINDA outdated. Up to 8GB of micro sd storage -_- but, it has an additional camera for video calls (which... i dont think it will make a difference since in the US - or unless you're not from the US - voice calls are VERY LITTLE accepted and no carrier supports it). Specs are kinda good tho, but mostly similar as the magic (MT3G) so maybe you should stop waiting and get the MT3G. Or, if you're the... ok i kno the huawei isn't out yet but i want to kno WHICH PHONE WOULD BE BETTER? they both share the android market so the app question is solved. But as for the overall phone function which is better? i kno may be nearly impossible to compare these phones cuz 1 isn't even out yet but ....any advice would help =) go for the myTouch. the curve doesn't have 3G and the sidekick is ok. the G1 is a Chodey POS (message me if you don't know what a chode is) I'm not an Android fan believe I hate it, but the mytouch looks very nice. Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in;... Right now I have an iphone 3g with a family talk plan but sometime next month i was thinking about getting a plan for myself and i was wondering which of these phone i should get mytouch 3g black or apple iphone 3g T-Mobile or AT&T is all I would be asking. =P
In terms of open OS, I would go with the myTouch. Can do more multi-tasking than the iPhone would, and you are not 'sucked' in so much into the Android world as you would with Apple.
Both can do 3G connectivity, however, the iPhone is just into it's 3rd generation, and the Android has some catching up to do, but it's certainly up there in quality and reliability.
If it was my time to... ok im on t-mobile and im getting a new phone, but outta these choices i dont know which one i want... any help?
the phones
G1
G2
Sidekick(not the new lx)
Blackberry Curve 8900
if you anwser tell me the ups and downs please Definitly the iPhone has less qwerks and things to fix on it or worry about being that its not in its birthing stage anymore i have played with the mytouch for a while since i was stationed in germany and it was a very cool phone actually but i still feel more secure with my iphone and have more fun while bored with it as well lol. Buying choicesWith new service  With pre-paid service This item is not being sold with a pre-paid service service plan by any online merchant. Purchase phone only Accessories Purchase compatible accessories for this phone Ringtones & MediaShop for compatible mobile content for this phone
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