HTC's Android-driven Dream revealed in glorious spy photos

by Joshua Topolsky posted Aug 30th 2008 at 12:25PM

Sure, we've seen some blurry videos and a few stolen glimpses when Andy Rubin demonstrated this beast, but now we've gotten our hands on a slew of pictures showing off a very real T-Mobile-branded Dream in all its Android-running glory. Not only does this confirm the design spied in those FCC docs as well as show off that nearly-done version of Android, but it seems to confirm the fact that this will be headed to T-Mobile, and sooner rather than later judging from the looks of the above device. Needless to say, our inner-geeks are completely geeking out right now. Hit the gallery below for a handful of other views of the phone. [Warning: read link is a forum, requires registration, and is in Chinese]

[Thanks, Michael]

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, T-Mobile, Android

Tags: android, breaking news, BreakingNews, dream, Features, g1, google, google android, google phone, GoogleAndroid, GooglePhone, gphone, htc dream, HtcDream, leak, leaked photos, LeakedPhotos, spy, spy photos, spy shots, SpyPhotos, SpyShots

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Rusty Shackleford @ Aug 30th 2008 12:48PM

The UI is really starting to mature. When we got our first look at Android, I was worried that it looked a little chintzy; which would have been especially worrisome since Android is going to be constantly compared to the iPhone OS. Now, I'd say the UI looks about as classy as what the iPhone offers. Also, the resolution of the text in the browser error screenshot really is outstandingly sharp. I think Google really got the message from Apple that when it comes to cellphones, "it's the interface, stupid!" Hopefully the rest of the industry follows suit behind these two leaders.

Neutral

Andy @ Sep 10th 2008 7:07PM

OK, seem that they've worked out the software UI somehow, with SDK iterations. But, doesn't people see that the hardware design of this HTC Dream is a PIECE OF CRAP? To me it looks very much like a small brick, I would say the HW design is somewhat from '80s. And this keyboard? Huh?

Neutral

Geoff Gibson @ Aug 30th 2008 1:18PM

UI is definitely showing improvements over the last time that Is aw it. Which is nice, Google always releases quality software and I'm happy to see this mantra maintains with their first phone OS. On a side note, I am questionable about the actual phone's design. While I don't necessarily think it's ugly (although I do hope it will come in black) I am worried that typing with the right hand will get cumbersome.

Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait until I get my own come October. :)

Neutral

ej @ Aug 30th 2008 1:21PM

Its about time t-mobile stepped up in providing some nice PDA phones. From what I hear you won't have to get a new phone plan to get this phone at reduced costs. You can stiil keep your grandfathered phone plan, and just pay for the increase cost for internet services (like $20-$30) with new contract. My contract is up but will still be able to keep my $39 1500 whenever minutes and get this phone for $!50. Niiiice !!!

Highest Ranked

iJITSU @ Aug 30th 2008 1:28PM

Am I the only one dissappointed in the look and form factor of this device? White, clunky, bigger than older HTC WM devices. Android looks very promising, but this hardware bores me to tears.

Highly Ranked

Esquire0399 @ Aug 30th 2008 1:49PM

I agree with you completely. The design of the phone itself definitely clashes with the polish of Android. It looks very toy-like and uninspired. Let's hope future Android devices get better treatment than this one.

Neutral

John @ Aug 30th 2008 2:13PM

Agreed.. Totally fulgy design. Though, HTC doesnt just throw a device together.. they design and make what Google is looking for or the carriers are looking for in their handset, and build it to spec.

Neutral

Anthony @ Aug 30th 2008 5:45PM

I actually think it looks interesting (white aside) but what concerns me is the bulk on the right side left from the buttons not sliding. Seems like it'd be hard to hold comfortably since one side is thin & the other thick.

Neutral

teufel @ Aug 30th 2008 9:40PM

it is actualy going to coming in 3 different colors not just the white .... i beleive it is white, black , and brown

Neutral

RF9 @ Aug 31st 2008 2:57AM

Yu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-uck! yuck, this thing looks terrible! C'mon, how is Android going to succeed when this is the best they can come up with for the debut. I how this is just a proto and the real one is better.

Neutral

dgduris @ Aug 30th 2008 1:30PM

Meh!

looks like a toy phone.

Highly Ranked

Blad3 @ Aug 30th 2008 3:22PM

exactly what I thought when the iphone came out.

Neutral

James @ Aug 30th 2008 1:39PM

This is only the first Android phone, guys. There will be many more to come in more appealing form factors and designs. I'll wait to see any that come out for Sprint or AT&T

--James

Neutral

teufel @ Aug 30th 2008 9:41PM

AT&T will not get an andriod phone since they are not a member of the open handset alliance .. sprint will be the other united states carrier that will get one .. no time table in when of cours at this time ... t-mobile should have 2 or 3 andriod phones before sprint or any other carrier has a andriod

Neutral

MobileRoar @ Aug 30th 2008 1:53PM

Yummy. Dreamy. Me loves. Although it looks bizarrely 1980s for some reason. Or am I the only one who things that?

http://androidforums.com

Neutral

TareX @ Aug 30th 2008 1:51PM

There's a black one, and a brown one coming up.
Here's the black render:
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/45/fdc41tmobiledreamuv8.jpg

Looks miles better in black.
Slightly dissapointed? Sadly, yes.

Neutral

Matt @ Aug 30th 2008 7:11PM

Where'd you get that black render?

I must admit, it looks very nice in black, but I'm still worried about just how usuable the keyboard will be with that big ass chin on one side. I guess I'll have to wait and see... I'll probably be waiting a while, considering I'm waiting for an android device to be released in Australia. We got nothing in Aussie-land.

Neutral

Esquire0399 @ Aug 31st 2008 10:05AM

The black does look better, but to be honest the color of the device is not the problem I have with it. The problem is the extremely toy-like design that looks like it was created in 2001.

Neutral

mrHiDefinition @ Aug 30th 2008 1:54PM

I like the form factor but I'm predicting there are going to be issues typing on this qwerty keyboard. It doesn't look spaced out enough and on top of that, the keys don't look raised enough either. Hopefully future Android phones will have better hardware. I am curious to see what the big fuss was about with Android though. I'll probably just get my brother to buy this the day it comes out since he is with T-Mobile.

Neutral

sixfootrabbit @ Aug 31st 2008 10:50PM

You've obviously never typed on a sidekick keyboard... it's the best mobile to type on by far and this looks exactly like it.

Neutral

furiousyellow @ Aug 30th 2008 2:06PM

Wish we could have seen photos showing the thickness. KB looks huge for a phone. The function buttons sitting that low might make one-handed operation difficult.

Neutral

t-pain @ Aug 30th 2008 2:09PM

Why T-Mobile though? And I agree that it's not the most attractive device- but I can get down with the black version.

Neutral

maikel @ Aug 30th 2008 3:56PM

Oh wow!!!! Is this device targeted to the Sidekick users? 'cause it sure looks like one.This is such a bad design from HTC.

Neutral

Valicore @ Aug 30th 2008 4:56PM

I'm entirely underwhelmed. By no means am I an apple fanboi but come on, while the picture quality is great the design is tired and kinda hideous... I'm more excited about Android than the phone itself. It just looks slapped together...

Neutral

Jon Lam @ Aug 30th 2008 9:56PM

It looks like it'll be difficult to hold and type comfortably with that chin sticking out on the right. When I have the charger plugged in on the bottom of my Tilt (the left side when the keyboard is open), it makes things very awkward for me, and it looks like the chin may have the same effect for the Dream.

Neutral

Laura @ Aug 31st 2008 1:49AM

looks like a Sidekick O_o

Neutral

Orbitalz @ Aug 31st 2008 12:26PM

Yea, I concur. They could've done a much better job on this phone. The 4 buttons doesn't even match the architect of the phone. Plus, the chin is way too big. I would've been happy with just a 1 push-button analogue wheel. I expected alot more from HTC. I hope this isn't truly the final production model, cuz it's crap.

Neutral

Dude from Finland @ Aug 31st 2008 2:33PM

I like more about that TouchFlo 3d interface than this one. It could be also be difficult to use right hand on G1s keyboard because of those navigation buttons on the right-side are on your way. Touch Pro's slide-keyboard is better as far as you can see from the pictures.

I'm very disappointed to HTC. They could have done better work, even Touch Pro with TouchFlo 3d UI on Android could be much more better. Touch Pro was revolutionary device when it was introduced but only minus is that it's running on old and unstable WM OS.

They said that Android OS could be modified to meet any manufacturer's requirements but this product looks not to have any ideas why I should buy this. If this is going to be the real 'Dream' I'm going to wait until Nokia Tube gets launched and then I will compare it to Iphone. Then the better and most revolutionary phone will be mine.

Neutral

Godstyle @ Aug 31st 2008 7:13PM

What I find interesting is, if this same phone were made by Palm it would be universally bashed.

Neutral

Patrick Horne @ Aug 31st 2008 7:19PM

Obviously designed by someone named Bud Tuggly!

Neutral

jvoss @ Aug 31st 2008 9:02PM

Meh... Looks cute, I still lust for the touch pro diamond, which will now obviously not be coming to USA on tmobile... :(

I guess the price is the key and I wonder whether it will synch with outlook, but so far the look doesn't have me excited...

looks consumer oriented ...

Neutral

G building @ Sep 1st 2008 8:59AM

see it in action and in black

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2llGxzWXudw

Neutral

Android Fan @ Sep 2nd 2008 1:44PM

Sprint will get the HTC Palm Treo Pro simply because they are the masters of treos , the HTC Dream should be metal

Neutral

Andy @ Sep 10th 2008 7:02PM

The keyboard is so ugly! I bet it's hell uncomfortable to type on it. The design is ugly as well. The device is too thick. And this should be the killer of iPhone? Guys, are you kidding? This is 100% a geek device, especially for the fat ones with aquarium-like glasses! No, no, Googie. Not this time.

Besides this, as I see there are many Android apps out there at http://www.android-freeware.org/ Does anyone know whether they will work with a real Android phone? I guess no, because they all were compiled with different SDKs! Or maybe executables are somehow compatible between each other?

Neutral