As we wait for the HTC Magic to land, with what’s expected to be a May 5th launch on Vodafone UK, this week has been all about alternative devices from the standard Android smartphone. We kicked off with a video demo of a hacked-together Android netbook, only to find the real thing – or at least the promise of it – in the shape of the Skytone Alpha 680 later.
Based on an ARM11 processor, the Alpha 680’s specs might have trouble blowing the skin off of custard, but it’s enough to run Android “fairly well” including some YouTube viewing. In fact the only real disappointment could be the price: early rumors led us to believe that Skytone were aiming for $100 sticker, a figure new information from the company’s co-founder has proved inaccurate. The Alpha 680 will actually come in at around $250, with Skytone’s target audience being emerging markets.
If you’d rather a more pocketable device, and don’t mind giving up the QWERTY keyboard, then Routon’s P730 and P760 might fill a niche. The compact MIDs are currently seeing distributors, with the promise of Android to sweeten the deal. Finally, what’s tipped as Samsung’s first Android handset, the I7500, has broken cover. Bearing an AMOLED touchscreen and the usual UMTS/GPS/WiFi connectivity of Android handsets we’ve seen already, the I7500 is apparently headed to O2 Germany in June.
