HTC Dream - a powerful iPhone contender
Muthu Ramadoss
HTC Dream - a powerful iPhone contender
The first phone to use Google's Android operating system in Canada is a definite iPhone competitor. The HTC Dream packs all the fun features and boasts some serious business applications to boot.By: Brian Jackson
Google wants you to use its services on your phone so much that it is giving away the Android operating system (OS).
Any hardware manufacturer who wants to can adopt the Google OS by joining up with the Open Handset Alliance.
Acer is the latest hardware vendor to do that, and other members of the Alliance include LG Electronics Inc, Sony Ericsson, Samsung Electronics and Motorola, Inc.
HTC is the member with the first entry into the Canadian market. They’ve taken the Android platform and even layered other features on top of it, adding Microsoft’s ActiveSync Exchange functionality to the device.
Google’s approach is intriguing , enticing many hardware vendors to adopt the OS and in theory, lowering the cost of the handset for consumers.
ITBusiness.ca had the opportunity to review the HTC Dream phone from Rogers Wireless. The Dream features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard (while the HTC Magic phone is touch screen only).
First, the specs, then we’ll tell you what it’s like to use the HTC Dream, which is a serious contender to the iPhone.
Specs
The Dream runs on the Rogers GSM network with 3G connectivity. It has a 528 MHz processor and 192MB of RAM. The device supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, has a GPS locator and digital compass. The touch screen is 3.2 inches, with a 320x480 resolution.
Keyboard
The keyboard is one of the winning features of the HTC Dream. It is one of the largest QWERTY keyboards I’ve seen on a smartphone, thanks to its slide-out design.
They keys have plenty of space between them, so it's harder to strike an incorrect key. Though they are flat, due to the sliding mechanism, the keys are raised enough to enable your thumbs easily find each key.
A couple of nice perks are a dedicated period button, and @ button. It makes typing e-mails that much easier. The “menu” key brings up an options menu.
The slider mechanism feels solid, and is easy to move back and forth.
The Dream makes typing a pleasure. I wouldn’t think twice about whipping out my device to fire off an e-mail, text message, or tweet.
http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=53699take care,
Muthu Ramadoss.
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