Some hands-on impressions of the T-Mobile G2 / HTC Sapphire
HTC Sapphire / T-Mobile G2
No, not my own hands-on impressions on the HTC Sapphire, sadly, but those of somebody I trust. I’ll not go into details, in order to protect her identity, but let’s just say that it makes perfect sense that she would have access to this phone.
Bear in mind that these comments are about a pre-production device, and much can happen between now and when the device gets released for real. But here’s what my source said (paraphrased):
- The OS looks pretty much like that on the G1 (for now, at least)
- The phone body itself looks nice, and has a smaller chin than the G1
- It is solidly built, and quite a bit lighter than the G1
- The paint is a smooth and shiny pearly white color
- The button to the left of the trackball is the Home key, not a MyFaves key
- Auto-focus camera, but still no flash
- Still no video (though again, this is pre-production software)
- It uses the same screen as the G1
- Auto-rotation works only for certain apps, like the browser. No auto-rotate support for the home screen or main menu at this point
- Still no 3.5mm headphone jack
- All of the “iPhone lovers” seem to love the virtual keyboard
- The virtual keyboard works in both landscape and portrait modes
As my friend says, it is “basically a G1 without the keyboard.” She also confirmed that the photos we saw earlier are indeed of the G2/Sapphire.
Anything else we should ask about? Leave your question in the comments….
This is enormously disappointing. How can someone release a new model of a phone without making any key improvements!?!
No 3.5mm jack?! come ON!!
Is the battery live improved at all? Any VOiP support?
Do you guys have any idea about the hardware specs? Is this going to be at the same level as the iPhone? I would love to buy a G2!!!
Seems like a good move. Just make a thinner, lighter G1 without that keyboard (not for me, but lots of people don’t want a slider keyboard, I’ll stick with my G1). It’s all about choice and having many different models, one for every preference in design.
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No keyboard? Not interested. That was one of the big selling points for me when deciding between the iPhone and G1.
@Roxy: I have to agree. I really need a physical keyboard for any device I am going to use for real personally. Even the bad “real” QWERTY keyboards I have used have all been better than the best on-screen virtual QWERTY keyboard I’ve used.
I kinda have to differ.
Maybe it’s a getting used to thing, but I can type a lot faster and more accurately on my iPhone (hides from hisses) then I have been able to on any qwerty phone, Voyager included.
But then again, it probably is a getting used to thing, because I found my thumbs hurting after using physical keyboards.
hehe
How much thinner is this than the G1 and how much lighter is it?
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