So, I returned to India recently and looking to get a mobile phone, settled on what seemed to be the only android phone available in India - the HTC magic. Could not find any detailed reviews specific to Airtel's offering, but it did not appear as if the phone should be any different from that described in other reviews or on the HTC website.
So imagine my surprise when I cannot find the promised integrated google applications on the phone. The biggest disappointment is that there is no android market to get your apps and you have to settle for what is available at Leafs 'Openmarket' or Handango.
Turns out there are two versions of this phone - one is the google version which has all the goodies and a HTC version which instead has none of the google goodies and some additional software (most of which I am not interested in, and none of which compensates for the lack of access to android market).
Searching around on the internet, I find I am not the only one to have been surprised by this after buying the phone. I think the blame is on the seller for not making the distinction clear. SO I hope this post helps warn other potential buyers to be prepared for this when you buy the phone.
Apart from this, the phone feels great and the virtual keyboard works wonderfully. And for the geek side, ASE (Android Scripting Environment) could be installed and using connectbot I have a local shell and can use ssh ! At some point, I think I will be tempted to take the risk and attempt flashing a new ROM.
Edit - 08 Nov 2009 - I rooted the phone and put in a new ROM - freedom !
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7 comments:
Same Boat as you. flabbergasted that this was done! anyway, what i am stuck with now is even worse than you think - you cant flash the version that is available here - the particular version of ROM that is sold here is somehow locked and cannot be FastBooted remotely to flash a native google ROM into it...
If u do figure out a way around it, lemme know...
Rishi
Same Boat as you. flabbergasted that this was done! anyway, what i am stuck with now is even worse than you think - you cant flash the version that is available here - the particular version of ROM that is sold here is somehow locked and cannot be FastBooted remotely to flash a native google ROM into it...
If u do figure out a way around it, lemme know...
Rishi
So ConnectBot works well with the touchscreen keyboard?
I heard reports that it only works well with the HTC Dream/T-Mobile G1's keyboard.
@Rishi:
As I understand, as mentioned here, the SPL on this phone is still not hackable, and that is why as you point out you cannot flash another ROM. Still I think this is mostly an issue of time and someone will hack it soon.
@Rishabh:
Yes, I can confirm that connectbot works well with the virtual keyboard. I will post some screenshots soon.
This got me too. I bought the airtel HTC in Chennai and it appears I am stuck with a phone that has none of the applications on it and cannot be flashed to the hero firmware/rom. I actually purchased a second htc magic from the states that is unlocked and just flashed it to the hero rom in my hotel room in Singapore. I feel rather ripped off since I purchased it for quite a bit and did not know. But, its a case of buyer beware even with the exchange sync thing, its really difficult adding applications. Slideme.org is nice and it has a launcher you can install. A second thing is that the airtel build seems very frail and its locked up on me about three times requiring hard resets each time.
Just a word of warning to anyone desiring a HTC Magic. Inspect the phone carefully before buying.
@ Raja,
yup... am optimistic that someone would crack it soon - only keeping my fingers crossed - hope it doesn't involve any JTAG or soldering...
am a little faint hearted you see... ;)
Your phrase is very good
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