T-Mobiles new MyTouch 3G Android device launches, with no hope for the Hero

As promised back in June, T-Mobile launched it’s new Android device right on time. The MyTouch 3G has been officially shown to the world, and the highly customisable smartphone has been getting fairly good reviews all round. But sad news for those who loved their HTC Dream (or G1, if you like) - T-Mobile has no intention of releasing it’s successor, the HTC Hero

The MyTouch 3G is still a nice little device. It’s another HTC unit, the HTC Magic. It takes what people liked best about the G1 and builds on it. Since it abandoned the slide-out keyboard in favour of full-touch QWERTY, it’s a slimmer phone. It has the usual selection of smartphone features; large hi-res touchscreen, music player, good camera, mobile browser. The usual. It also has access to the Android Market, sporting 5,000 apps - not impressive compared to Apple sure, but it’s growing.

T-Mobile has really focused on the customisation apsect of this device. On launch there are a ton of custom cases you can buy for your phone, along with other accessories.

The MyTouch will launch with the Android 1.5 Cupcake update, and will be commericially available on August 5th for $199 with a two-year contract.

Via PC World

What we think?

Yes, this is a nice device. But it’s in serious danger of being immediately put into the “also ran” category. It has the Palm Pre and the 3G S to contend with, both of which were launched ahead of it. There are a lot of smartphones being launched this year, and I’m wondering how the MyTouch really differentiates itself from those.  It’s even in danger in it’s own category - Android devices.