According to Vodafone’s iPhone supplier, Brighthand, the 16GB iPhone 3G has been classified as End Of Life (EOL). A leaked email from Vodafone to their retail staff suggests that Brighthand has “only a few weeks stock available”. While unconfirmed by Vodafone or Brighthand themselves, the leak lends weight to the rumor that Apple will announce a new, third-generation iPhone at the WWDC09 keynote on June 8th.
We unboxed it last week, and seven days later our Vodafone HTC Magic review is live over at Android Community. The second Android-powered smartphone to reach the market, the Magic keeps much of the T-Mobile G1’s spec sheet but abandons the hardware keyboard for OS 1.5 Cupcake, a new on-screen ‘board and a slick, slender body.
Android OS 1.5 Cupcake video demo after the cut
We’ve had some much-anticipated and long-awaited gadgets land at SlashGear this week, so we’ve gone overboard with unboxing videos and hands-on galleries. The Verizon MiFi 2200 only had its official announcement earlier this week, but we’ve been waiting for the Novatel EVDO-hotspot for so long you must forgive us some excitement. Meanwhile the Vodafone HTC Magic has the honor of being only the second Android phone to the market, while the Tonium Pacemaker manages to offer something unique in a sea of PMPs.
The Vodafone HTC Magic has arrived, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time for an unboxing video! The second Android handset to reach the market, the Magic has the same 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen and 3.2-megapixel camera of the T-Mobile G1, but drops the hardware keyboard in favor of a slimmed-down profile. It also runs Android OS 1.5 ‘Cupcake’, which means out-of-the-box video recording and playback.
Video unboxing after the cut
In the second piece of significant Android news today, Vodafone Spain have announced that sales of the HTC Magic begin this morning. Exclusive to the carrier in Europe, the Magic was nonetheless expected to land in the UK first, from May 5th; Spanish customers will have to pay a little more for the privilege, however, as while the phone will be priced from free (tariff depending) in the UK, in Spain it will range from €19 to €199 ($25 to $262).
The HTC Magic has been listed for pre-order from Vodafone UK, ahead of an expected May 5th launch. Announced back at Mobile World Congress in February, the Magic will be priced from free in the UK (contract depending); it has a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, HSDPA and WiFi, and will be the second generally-available Android handset after the T-Mobile G1.
Google have apparently pulled all tethering software from the Android Market, claiming that the apps violate their distribution agreements with carriers. According to one of the developers behind WiFi Tether for Root Users, since tethering contravenes T-Mobile’s terms of service Google have removed access to all such software through the Android Market thanks to a clause in the Developer Distribution Agreement.
Arch carrier rivals Telefónica and Vodafone have signed a deal that will see them share cell-tower hardware, consolidating existing 2G and 3G base-stations and working together on future installations. The agreement will first impact the UK, Germany, Ireland and Spain, with further negotiations taking place regarding the Czech Republic.
According to Spanish media, carrier giant Telefonica has grabbed the all-important Palm Pre exclusivity deal in Spain, the United Kingdom and Latin America. If the reports – currently unconfirmed by either Palm or Telefonica – are true, that would see the carrier’s UK subsidiary O2 selling the Pre alongside the iPhone 3G.
Vodafone UK have confirmed that the Android-based HTC Magic, which officially launched at Mobile World Congress last month in Barcelona, will be available on the network in April. The handset will be the second official Android device to launch, after the T-Mobile G1.
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