A post from Rogers PR over on AndroidForums gives new hope to owners of the HTC Magic that an Android 2.1 rollout could be right around the corner.  Apparently, the Android 2.1 update for the Rogers HTC Magic has been floating around for some time.  The update is now in Google’s hands, awaiting final approval.  Once Google give the official signoff on the new build, HTC will start rolling out the OTA update to the Rogers HTC Magic. 

Rogers has noted that customers will not lose any data on their phones when they install the Android 2.1 update.  However, in order to get the update over the air, you will need to have the Android 1.5 update which includes HTC Sense.  This leads up to believe that the Android 2.1 update will essentially be identical to the Android 2.1 build on the HTC Hero.  Those who do not have the HTC Sense build currently installed will be able to download the update and install in manually or can get installation assistance at Rogers retail locations.  We don’t have an exact date for the rollout, but we’re hoping it will start hitting handsets within the next few weeks. 

News of the Android 2.1 rollout for the Rogers HTC Magic should give myTouch 3G and other HTC Magic owners hope that they will be seeing an update to their handsets as well.   Back in June, leaked documents from T-Mobile indicated that the myTouch 3G would be receiving another Android update, though there has been no new news on the T-Mobile front since then.

Source: AndoridForums

We typically get treated to an occasional rumor or tip, but it’s not often the we get a sneak peak at a carrier’s 6 month handset roadmap.  Apparently, AndroidSpin has been treated to pictures of a slide which outlines what T-Mobile has in store for the next six months.  HTC and T-Mobile have always had a pretty close relationship, so it’s no surprise that there are a few HTC references in the lineup. 

T-Mobile’s roadmap indicates that the myTouch 3G and the Slide will both be getting Android updates over the summer.  Starting in September, HTC will be introducing the HTC Vanguard with the HTC emerald and Schubert to follow in November. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of everything included in the roadmap:

• July: Android 2.2 update for the myTouch 3G Slide
• August: Android update for the myTouch 3G
• September: Launch of T-Mobile HTC Vanguard (aka HTC Vision, Android)
• November: Launch of T-Mobile HTC Emerald (aka “Project Emerald”, Android )
• November: Launch of HTC Schubert (aka HTC Scorpion, Windows Phone 7 with 1.5 GHz processor)

Quite a few people have been pretty vocal about T-Mobile not getting any of the new higher end smartphones that have been hitting other carriers over the past few months.  Fortunately, T-Mobile and HTC appear to have listened to the complaints of their customers.  We still don’t know many of the details regarding HTC’s upcoming phones, but if the rumors and speculation are true, we’re in for a great treat. 

Source: AndroidSpin

Those who took the early plunge on Android last summer when T-Mobile launched the myTouch 3G (aka HTC Magic) should get ready of an incredible surprise.  It turns out that T-Mobile and HTC have plans to roll out Android 2.2 to the original myTouch 3G.  Apparently Éclair wasn’t up to snuff so T-Mobile is shooting for a Froyo update to the nearly year old handset.  TmoNews has just posted up a screen shot of the Android 2.2 announcement from T-Mobile which highlights some of the new features that will be coming to the myTouch 3G.  There have been rumors that the original myTouch was going to receive the same Android 2.1 build with the Espresso build of HTC Sense sometime this summer.  Those rumors may still hold true since the image also states that the newly released T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide will be getting the Android 2.2 update as well. 

In addition to Android 2.2, T-Mobile will also be incorporating a modified version of the Faves Gallery, the new Genius Button application that they introduced with the myTouch 3G Slide, and full exchange support.  T-mobile finished off the announcement by stating:  “We hope this makes you as excited as it makes us. No phone left behind.  That’s our pledge.”  I’m sure we are all a bit excited to read this news, just don’t mention it to T-Mobile Samsung Behold II customers who just got word that the only update their phone will get is Android 1.6 later this year.

Source: TmoNews

Here at HTC Source we don’t report on all the price changes for HTC devices in the U.S. market, but we thought we would let you know that T-Mobile has just dropped the price of the myTouch 3G down to zero. That right, T-Mobile is the first U.S. carrier to offer up an Android handset for free. At the moment, you will only be able to take advantage of the offer through T-mobile’s website as this is a “Web-only discount” though there’s no reason it couldn’t roll out to stores in the coming week. T-Mobile customers taking advantage of their Even More Plus plans will still need to shell out $399 for the myTouch. There’s no indication that anything else is afoot here, but it’s always fun to speculate why T-mobile’s trying to push out a few extra handsets by offering them up for free.

Our guess? T-Mobile’s clearing inventory to make room for a new shipment of myTouch 3G handsets with Android 2.1. Don’t quote us on that, but I’m sure you guys may have a few crazy ideas of your own.

Source: T-Mobile

While a few of you may be crossing your fingers, hoping that Verizon rolls out Android 2.1 for the DROID Eris today, we have some good news for T-Mobile customers who have stuck with their myTouch 3G. Techland is reporting that T-Mobile is working on an Android 2.1 update for the original myTouch 3G, which will also include the same Espresso build of HTC Sense that will make its debut of the upcoming myTouch 3G Slide (expected to hit store shelves in the first half of June). The new Android build will also include the exclusive “Genius Button” feature which acts as a super voice control interface for search, voice commands, dictation and more.

Internal testing of the new Android 2.1 build is currently under way, but don’t expect the new update to roll out until after the launch of the T-mobile myTouch 3G Slide.

Source: Techland

The T-Mobile myTouch 3G was initially launched in August of 2009. It was T-Mobile’s second Android powered phone and came with T-Mobile’s “make it mine” promise. The idea was that customers could customize the handset to their heart’s content, making it unique the the users needs and style. Unfortunately, the original myTouch 3G suffered from low memory and lacked a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack. Rather than ordering up a new handset from HTC, T-Mobile chose to keep the phone, but bumped up the specs a little.  Before we get into it, I’d like to thank the team at WireFly.com for making this hand-on review possible.

Hardware
The new myTouch 3G 3.5mm features the same exterior look as the original. I spent a few minutes going over the details and the only real change is the addition of the 3.5mm headphone jack located at the top of the handset. Like the original, the new myTouch comes in white, black, and merlot. The front of the phone is covered in a shiny plastic casing, six hardware buttons (tops: home, menu, back, search; bottom: call, end) with a white trackball right in the middle. The back side of the myTouch 3G is coated with soft-touch rubber which allows for a solid grip on the handset. The left side features the volume rocker, while the bottom sports a mini USB port and microphone. Screen size and resolution also remains the same as the original (HVGA 480×320 3.2 inches) and well as dimensions (113×55.56×14.65 mm ) and weight (116 grams).

On the inside, the myTouch 3G 3.5 still has a 1350 mAh battery, 3.2MP camera, and 528 MHz Qualcomm® MSM7201a processor. The only difference in specs is the bump to 288MB of RAM from 128MB. It may not sound like much, but the extra memory gives customer more than double the memory for running and installing apps on their phone.

Software
Though the Nexus One, HTC Desire, and Legend feature the newest Android 2.1 update, the myTouch 3G 3.5mm still sports the Android 1.6 build that was released last fall. However, T-Mobile has given it a little boost by adding in the new Swype keyboard and swapping out the standard Android music player with the HTC Music app found on the HTC Hero and all their other HTC Sense equipped phones. Android 1.6 may not be the most up to date version of Android, but myTouch 3G owners will be able to take advantage of the new turn-by-turn navigation feature included in Google Maps.

Conclusion
It’s easy to say that the new myTouch 3G 3.5mm is not going to blow anyone’s minds. If you own the original, you’re not missing much. The addition of the 3.5mm headphone jack, new music app, additional RAM, and the Swype keyboard do give the phone a much needed boost, but many of these features should have been included when the myTouch was originally launched. However, the phone was a pleasure to use and the size of the handset seemed to be perfect for my daily routine. To be honest, I found myself using the myTouch 3G a lot more than the HTC HD2 I have sitting right next to it. The reason for this could be the difference in operating systems, but I can say the myTouch feels a lot more like a phone while the HD2’s monstrous 4.3 inch screen makes it feel like a tablet.

If you plan on picking up the new myTouch 3G 3.5mm, WireFly is currently featuring the handset for $87.99, much cheaper than the $149.99 asking price at T-Mobile stores.

HTC is now facing not one, but two lawsuits for alleged patent infringement. This suit comes from inventor Judah Klausner, in regards to technology related to visual voicemail. Klausner Technologies said on Monday that the HTC MyTouch 3G uses these technologies. HTC has yet to issue a statement.

Visual voicemail allows users to see who has left them a voicemail, along with the date and time it was left. This is quite convenient, allowing users to skip through all the menus and access certain messages, without having to listen to all of the others that may be saved.

Klausner has also sued other phone makers, such as Motorola (makers of the Droid) and RIM (the makers Blackberry) for the same technologies, and has won suits in the past against Apple and LG. While this seems likely to be settled out of the courtroom, it still doesn’t bode well for HTC, who is facing another lawsuit from Apple.

Source: Reuters

HTC has promised Android 2.1 for the Hero (CDMA & GSM) and the DROID Eris. We’re still looking for an exact date, but it should be coming soon.  But what about the HTC Magic, Dream or even the Tattoo?  There has not been much talk about these phones from HTC, but we have just learned that the HTC Tattoo will indeed be getting an Android 2.1 update with Sense.  Frandroid is reporting that a new ROM is in the works which will give Tattoo owners the much anticipated Android 2.1 update. 

Kindly note we understand that now that a phone running Android OS 2.1 is available that you are excited to get an update for your Tattoo. We are still working hard to building Sense for this new version but we expect to have the upgrade finished and ready to go soon. Please understand that it takes time to customize any Android version to ensure you have the intuitive experience Sense provides, and we hope you can be patient for just a little while longer.

Since the HTC Tattoo is note sold here in the U.S. market, we don’t have a real grasp on how well the handset is selling.  We would find it hard to believe that the Tattoo is more popular than the HTC Magic even with its lower price and interchangeable face/back plates. We’re still hoping to hear something from HTC in regards to the Magic and the Dream, but at what point does out hope turn into a delusion?

Source: Frandroid