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HTC Magic - Revealing the Secret

By Seow Tein Hee - 20 May 2009

Conclusion

Concluding the Magic Show

So there you have it, the second Android device named the HTC Magic. True to its name, the Magic is the embodiment of a few things magical, such as the slew of updated features that came with the Cupcake firmware upgrade for the Android operating system. We are definitely in agreement and pleased with the addition of the Microsoft Exchange Activesync support to further synchronize with the PC for those who use Microsoft's Outlook program for most of their contact and scheduling information. The new virtual QWERTY keyboard (or if you prefer to use the numeric virtual keypad) is able to sustain a high level of typing accuracy and speed, which further cements the Magic's strength as an easy to use mobile device.

Multimedia wise, the Cupcake update has managed to resolve the issues that came with its first Android build, and helped pull devices using it get back on track with the standard multimedia support such as video handling found on its competitors. The Magic does have more tricks up its sleeve, and the addition of the new music player and calendar widgets proved to be useful for the general consumer. With the Android Market growing and gaining support from various developers, things could get interesting for both the consumers and developers on the software front.

With minimal hardware upgrades, the Magic's greatest strength lies in its collaboration with the Google Android platform. The upgrades that came with the Cupcake update, namely a virtual keyboard, a video recording and playback application, and a semblance of productivity features (thanks to HTC's addition of the QuickOffice and PDF Viewer app), is a welcomed addition. Some might argue that the Magic caught on slightly slower in providing what its competition did in the Windows Mobile space. But if we were to consider that the Magic is now on the same level of performance, with an added advantage of an intuitive and fast user interface, plus the potential of the Android Market looming ahead, it is clear that the Android platform will be a force to be reckoned with.

The Open Handset Alliance has already wooed major players in the game, which includes big names such as LG and Samsung. The competition is coming, because in our labs, we already have an early unit of the Samsung Android device, the Samsung i7500 . And to their benefit, the Korean chaebol will also be dishing out more Android devices, with at least two more in the pipeline. The upcoming Worldwide Developer Conference might see the unveiling of the new iPhone, whilst the annual CommunicAsia event in Singapore will also reveal much more on the mobile market. So it's anybody's game here, and it's likely that the young Android upstart might be making its presence felt even more later this year.

The Android phones are coming, starting from HTC's Dream and Magic, and coming soon, the Samsung I7500 which should be seeing a commercial availability sometime in the second half of 2009.

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