gPhone to debut tomorrow - HTC Dream running Google Android on T-Mobile

By Aaron Besson at 22 September, 2008, 4:24 pm

According to MacRumors, T-Mobile sent out invitations to the media to “experience the first Android-powered phone” on Tuesday, September 23rd. Google has teamed up with T-Mobile and HTC and will officially unveil the new HTC Dream running it’s Android OS.

The HTC Dream is a swivel-out full keyboard mobile device with a accelerometer and a large touch screen. It has some dedicated web/browser buttons that are a reminder that this is Google’s OS.

Google (and T-Mobile) are obviously targeting iPhone users and the touchscreen phone market and has developed it’s own Android Market to allow developers to distribute their apps wirelessly (over 3G, Edge and Wifi) similarly to Apples AppStore. Google released the Android Software Development Kit so developers and handset manufacturers could start developing the Android Mobile OS for thier particular mobile devices.

Google Android Features

Open

Android allows you to access core mobile device functionality through standard API calls.

All applications are equal

Android does not differentiate between the phone’s basic and third-party applications — even the dialer or home screen can be replaced.

Breaking down boundaries

Combine information from the web with data on the phone — such as contacts or geographic location — to create new user experiences.

Fast & easy development

The SDK contains what you need to build and run Android applications, including a true device emulator and advanced debugging tools.

The main differences between the iPhone SDK and the Android SDK is that Google will allow developers to access any part of the OS and allow background processes. This means that apps can access/change the native apps such as the dialpad or system settings like themes/icons and OS skins and will allow apps like chat and GPS to run in the background while you access other parts of the OS.

These are parts of the OS that are off limits to iPhone developers. The Android Market already has some great apps and when the device is launched officially tomorrow we should see allot more, maybe even some iPhone Apps may be ported over.

I personally think the HTC Dream to be a bit of a Ugly Betty. Not really much to look at but really nice on the inside. From the Android UI videos I have seen on YouTube, it really looks like there are allot of possibilities as far as really really rich user interfaces are concerned.