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T-Mobile G2 by HTC spotted in wild: no QWERTY, coming May

21 January 2009 by Chris Davies


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The first images of the T-Mobile G2 have emerged, showing another HTC-made smartphone that now lacks the full QWERTY keyboard of the T-Mobile G1.  The G2 handset keeps the touchscreen and trackball of the G1, but tweaks the front-panel buttons and is, of course, slimmer thanks to the absence of a slide-section.

t-mobile_android_g2_1

HTC have also given the T-Mobile G2 a 3.2-megapixel camera, though it’s unclear whether it has autofocus or not, and there appears to still be no flash.  The casing has a high-gloss finish, but we’re not sure of measurements as yet.

t-mobile_android_g2_2

The original source of the photos reports that the G2’s interface is “very similar” to that of the original G1, and that T-Mobile will be releasing the smartphone come mid-May.  No spec details available as yet, though we’d presume an on-screen keyboard – something the G1 lacked as standard – has now been developed.  Renders of the new G2 were among the leaked shots of HTC’s 2009 line-up.

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  1. I will consider the May release as a rumor and not confirm.

    If they release a new Android phone, I see it coming out Q4 of this year.

    The May release date is just too soon.
  2. It looks like one of those clock radios you mount under your cabinets. Meh, no keyboard, no flash, probably no head phone jack = DayDream.
  3. I would agree with secrecyguy, I think May is too early -- unlikely.

    I don't like the elongated chin -- not particularly attractive. And personally I prefer both a Qwerty keyboard plus a virtual keyboard. If this is in fact, the G2, I'm not tempted at all. I would stick with my G1.
  4. I disagree I love it ! Thinner and looks sexier ! What a great way to wake up this cold morning !!
  5. Meh, it has no keyboard.
  6. I agree with webrun

    I like having both keyboard and touchscreen. They both come in handy in different situations.
  7. What's with the buttons? It's ugly.
  8. Well if google makes android were is its mark because I didn't see it or missed it or wasn't
    Paying close enough attention and I would not like that phone at all I like real keyboards
    This is gay I swear
  9. I think I would stick with my G1 and not get the G2, first off I like having the option of a physical keyboard, the G1 should get the on-screen keyboard soon... and second I prefer the look of the G1 over this phone, I don't know, just didn't catch my eye.
  10. May makes sense since most ppl agreed that the g1 was ugly. Tmo needs a better looking android phone and this phone may catch consumers attention. Let's face it, a physical keyboard isn't considered cool anymore. An all touch phone is the new fad and tmo needs to please those ppl.
  11. Quote:
    Originally Posted by rynosaur View Post
    It looks like one of those clock radios you mount under your cabinets.
    Hahaha, great minds..... I said "80s alarm clock" in the other thread, but you are quite right, it IS the cabinet mount clocks that I am thinking of...

    And yes, thats exactly what it looks like. Ick.
  12. Well, it looks like a prototype still and so it lacks the T-Mobile and Google branding that the eventual release will have.

    It looks like a nice compliment to the G1. I think it says a lot about the strength of the demand for Android that a second phone is being considered. I think this one will sell alongside the G1 and not in place of.
  13. I think it's fine. Will not buy, tho, as I want the keyboard. My son and of course, his girl friend, have iPhones and they both hate the virtual keyboard.
  14. Can anyone tell from the photos if the G2's screen resolution is the the same HVGA as on the G1? For some reason it looks like higher rez to me. Look closely at the notification bar and at the text on the apps' icons.
  15. if the screen resolution is not over 320x480 then I don't care. If the screen resolution is over 320x480 then I do care.
  16. DAM! SO SOON ?

    Anyways, the design is sexy but it would be awesome if it had a keyboard but it doesn't . I won't be buying this since HTC doesn't know how to listen to consumers....WE WANT BOTH! (PHYSICAL KEYBOARD AND VIRTUAL KEYBOARD lol.) The G1 wins so far, only if the Cupcake update comes and proves itself lmao.

    Why can't companies just make a decent phone ? THIS IS AMERICA!!!!!!! Dam this I am going to Japan to score me some phones LMAO. (I JUST GOT UP...SO DON'T MIND ME)
  17. No qwerty? Forget it.

    IMO that thing looks like crap.

    I'm gonna go ahead and say it- HTC sucks. I'm waiting for some different manufacturers to get in the Android game- someone like Sharp who knows how to build a Qwerty properly.
  18. Not impressed at all
  19. if this comes with pre installed "cupcake", bigger internal mem and better battery.. im definitely going to get this
  20. Too much screen space wasted, why not follow the Touch HD design?
  21. Things I want from my next Google Android phone:

    A bigger screen, with at least the same resolution as the G1.
    The DUN bluetooth profile.
    Full XMPP support.
    The Wayfinder app from the Nokia n810.
    The physical keyboard and every other existing feature of the G1.

    This "G2" isn't what I am looking for.
  22. Well, this evening I am going to be getting my G1 and I have been worried what specs and such the G2 is going to have. This seriously put my mind to rest because the most important thing to me was a physical keyboard.

    I don't care what my phone looks like as long as the software is good and it has a qwerty for me. G1 it is!

    I'm not surprised by this move from T-Mobile. It looks like they're going to be milking the G-series just like the Sidekick line. They released the SK3 and then you'd see a new Sidekick every 3-6 months with barely any features or just changing small quirks.

    Maybe the G3 will be more updated with flash, etc etc.
  23. This should be the cheaper, smaller, sexier alternative to the G1, but not a serious "advancement".

    Assumptions are it will have a longer battery life and full utilization of the Cupcake features.

    As I posted in http://www.googleandblog.com/dream-g...id-phone/3636/ this should be brought out publicly at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month.

    ,Michael Martin
    Google And Blog
  24. I was thinking the same thing as you were Vincent, that this may be for a completely different carrier, and they just took some feedback from the G1 to make this phone.
  25. Hmm so since the VK is standard I'm guessing its going to be running cupcake and so far the VK in cupcake isn't bad or atleast on the source build I've tried so I'm really looking forward to this if it comes to T-Mobile :-)
  26. I won't be getting it if it doesn't have a keyboard. I have too much trouble typing on a screen.
  27. Lol, amazing..... we know so little about this phone just some spy shots and people are making a huge fuss... First off no one has any hard proof as to what specs this phone will have, and like Vincent said who knows if this is even the "sapphire" tmobile is rumored to get.

    All I heard when people starting getting thier G1's was its too thick, I hate black / brown when is white comming out, I want a slimmer phone with touch screen. So here you go one is beset infront of you , albiet were not even sure this is going into t mos lineup at this point.

    My point..we are a nation of complainers, we get what we want then we want better, granted this is common and normal, but come on peeps give the whining about tmobile android a break.
  28. Quote:
    Originally Posted by djwaz View Post
    Lol, amazing..... we know so little about this phone just some spy shots and people are making a huge fuss... First off no one has any hard proof as to what specs this phone will have, and like Vincent said who knows if this is even the "sapphire" tmobile is rumored to get.

    All I heard when people starting getting thier G1's was its too thick, I hate black / brown when is white comming out, I want a slimmer phone with touch screen. So here you go one is beset infront of you , albiet were not even sure this is going into t mos lineup at this point.

    My point..we are a nation of complainers, we get what we want then we want better, granted this is common and normal, but come on peeps give the whining about tmobile android a break.
    Tmobile is known for reupping a version that looks cosmetically better with no real updates to the platform. Yet its full price. Its easy to complain about something like that. If this is the real G2 and had a better camera, this that and the other then it'd be understandable. But this phone seems to be a G1.25 currently.
  29. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Waffle Slayer View Post
    Tmobile is known for reupping a version that looks cosmetically better with no real updates to the platform. Yet its full price. Its easy to complain about something like that. If this is the real G2 and had a better camera, this that and the other then it'd be understandable. But this phone seems to be a G1.25 currently.
    Even though this might be called the G2 when it is released, it doesn't necessarily mean it's an updated version of the G1. It may just be a related model in the lineup, but actually a different product. For example this has no qwerty so we know it's not an updated G1, it's likely a whole different product aimed at different people (mainly those who don't need the keyboard). Not sure if people mentioned this before.

    They might have a whole line of G-series phones planned which all have different specs.
  30. After using the VK on steel pretty consistently for the last month, which I think is a pretty good VK - I can say that for a short text message or for entering in a URL or username/password on a web page to login the VK is fine and is actually preferable to the popping out the keyboard. I find that I type fast enough and make few mistakes with it.

    However, for typing a long text message or an email that is more than one sentence (or for using the MS Office app that dataviz is building for Android in 09) the VK is not suitable at all. My fingers tend to get cramped and fatigued after typing more than a few words on the VK, and I find that I tend to start making a lot of spelling mistakes and generally just get frustrated with using the VK as it is too slow.

    This is where the QWERTY pad comes in handy, it's much faster for those long texts, emails, and future MS office use, and it's more accurate.

    I prefer having both, though I only write long emails/texts very infrequently and MS office isn't even out yet. That being said I'd like to see my next android phone have keys that aren't as flush mounted as these, as it'd make it easier to type.

    With all that said, I still might go for an android phone w/ only a VK, but it's design would have to be compelling as hell (the G2 isn't) for me to even consider switching.
  31. Quote:
    Originally Posted by stopcrazypp View Post
    Even though this might be called the G2 when it is released, it doesn't necessarily mean it's an updated version of the G1. It may just be a related model in the lineup, but actually a different product. For example this has no qwerty so we know it's not an updated G1, it's likely a whole different product aimed at different people (mainly those who don't need the keyboard). Not sure if people mentioned this before.

    They might have a whole line of G-series phones planned which all have different specs.
    Yes, I understand and that's probably what it is. I was just going by what others are saying and the header for the article.
  32. There's no way that thing is going on sale with those buttons.
  33. Those buttons are terrible. And no QWERTY keyboard? YIKES. I guess I will be sticking with my g1 -Luis
  34. G1 users are screaming for a decent vk for their phone, G2 users will be screaming for a physical keyboard for their phone.
  35. I dunno, I think the fact that this phone does not have physical keyboard is the reason why we're seeing it so soon. So now consumers can either have an Android device with keys, or without.

    Using an iPhone kind of showed me why having a fully capacitive display and no physical keyboard to accompany it can be a bad idea - at least for me. Sometimes when I use a virtual keyboard, I have a tendency to use my fingernails to type - which is a no-go on a capacitive screen. Thats one scenario where I actually prefer a resisitive screen.
  36. i dont know why they refuse to give the best of both worlds. There is the capability, so let it be done, geeeeeez

    give me slideout and virtual keyboard
  37. Quote:
    Originally Posted by goodfellabk718 View Post
    i dont know why they refuse to give the best of both worlds. There is the capability, so let it be done, geeeeeez

    give me slideout and virtual keyboard
    Im sure well get it as before the supposed release of the "G2".

    I bought the G1 for its QWERTY keyboard so there not much to for me too get all pissy about. Now if the OS gets a higher firmware version I'll be kinda pissed!!!
  38. hmmmm why would u buy this maybe for looks its shinys and slimmer but there is nothing new and a full qwertykeyboard is taken away
  39. all they need to do is make the g1 not have the ugly ergonomic curve and make it glossy because when u get right down to it the iphone is like .75 the width of g1 so take a lesson from apple and give it curved edges so it appears to be thinner or they could also make it wider and thinner like iphone because the g1 is a better phone but kinda ugly wit a crappy battery flash a qwerty keyboard and touch would make it amzing .video recording to all im really asking for is a damn cup cake
  40. Quote:
    Originally Posted by tomdroid View Post
    hmmmm why would u buy this maybe for looks its shinys and slimmer but there is nothing new and a full qwertykeyboard is taken away
    Not everyone has a G1, they don't only make new phones so that you can trade in your old ones. They can make this phone because people who don't have a G1 may want the newest phone out, or to appeal to different customers.
  41. Who says this is the G2?

    I think the Android Community mods should be careful when posting these stories. Giving false hope to a device that may not even come out or has been confirmed for anything for release is stupid.

    Leaks most of the time are a hint to what's to come or most likely to distract everyone to what the real products will be.
  42. reading all the comments and its a clear that a majority of us want a physical keyboard and a virtual one as well but somehow these companies are either ignorant or dont read their customer's post.

    Give us both and we'll love you. Give us one but not the other we'll criticize you.
  43. If HTC and Google were smart, they would bring the photo shopped "G2" to life. Then hundreds of G1 owners would spend their hard earned money on that.
  44. I'm glad the G1 isn't glossy. I can't stand finger prints all over my black DS and PSP.

    I love matte finished.
  45. If reading posts and looking at fabricated (aka leaked) images of the new G3 just 20 minutes after you get your new G2 will torque you off, then you should probably skip the G2 and wait for the next best thing – or stop reading posts, but I don’t recommend that!

    Imo – I like the physical keyboard for longer messages and email, but would like to have the VK for quick texts and other short entries. Without experience with the Android VK, I’m reluctant to abandon the physical keyboard just yet (or whenever G2 is released).

    I’m willing to skip the possible sophomore slump of the G2 and wait for potentially bigger enhancements later in the next device.
  46. new G2 is for me to ugly, why HTC made Android cellphone ugly.
  47. Quote:
    Originally Posted by HCSC View Post
    new G2 is for me to ugly, why HTC made Android cellphone ugly.
    Just to annoy you.
  48. It doesn't look like the new G2 everybody was talking about before... A simple search on "g2 phone talkandroid" will reveal the possibily of THAT phone being the G2. That one looks more possible since it has couple images of the newer "possible" android system. And I hope THAT phone is the G2 since it looks a LOT NICER and CLEANER than this one.
  49. Maybe I'm the minority here.. But I think it looks sleek.

    If the on screen keyboard functions as well as the iphones, i'll be trading my G1 in for it. (As long as other specs match it or are better).

    I assume the screen is a 3.5 inch right? Looks bigger than the G1.
  50. Wow, what a hideous looking device.
    Furthermore, they should be worried more about the OS and NOT the form factor.
    At this point the OS is still far behind the hardwares abilities.
  51. THAT IS ONE GARBAGE LOOKING IMITATION OF A DEVICE. I HOPE THIS REALLY AINT G2 GOD!! BCUZ IF IT IS IMA HOLD MY PRIDE UP AND REPEAT WE WERE ALMOST THERE... almost
  52. Quote:
    Originally Posted by henchman View Post
    Wow, what a hideous looking device.
    People looking for a good-looking Android phone should wait for Samsung or LG. Or even better, praying for Lenovo to launch a HSDPA version of the OPhone
  53. no qwerty? Sorry. No way.
  54. Looks like a thermostat....
  55. i dont like the look of the front...looks to kiddie like!! think it would look better if the whole shape was more rectangle and flat kind of likethe behold shap! i dont like the fact that the g1 has that curveture part in the front either so i dont think it should be on the g2!! and i think it should be offered in various colors!!!
  56. i agree i think it should have both touch screen keyboard and the acutal keyboard!!! and it should come in various colors which will make it fashionable and allows you to personalize it!!
  57. THAT IS REALLY CRAPPY ABOUT NO QWERTY KEYBOARD. IF I WANTED
    A FREAKING IPHONE, I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ONE. BUT YKNOW
    WHAT, I DIDNT! WHY? CUZ TOUCH SCREEN TYPING SUCKS HORRIBLY !!!
    • This is really awesome because the g2 is way more easier than the g1 i hate you haters
  58. @above: awesome first post....
  59. lol that is a great first post.... haha welcome to a.c.
  60. well.. its obviously got more features than the g1, but not having a physical keyboard makes me feel like the android platform is turning into an iphone platform... thats what separates the g1 from the iphone.. its physical keyboard...
  61. If it doesn't have a physical QWERTY keyboard then what is the point? That was the whole point I chose G1 over an iPhone.

    Really, HTC to focus on continuing to hit this niche in the market.
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