HTC Magic hands on: Nice-sized Android

If the first Android to descend on Singapore didn’t raise your expectations, the second one coming to stores next month will surely get your attention.

The HTC Magic, a “Qwerty-less” version of the the HTC Dream which started selling here two months ago, is coming to town for a cool S$1,048 (without subscription contract).

Unlike the HTC Dream, which also ran the Google Android OS, the Magic will not be tied to SingTel or any other telco here. This is good news for people tired of all these “exclusive” deals that make it just a bit more troublesome to get their hands on their desired handsets.

I had a chance to gets a quick hands-on with the Magic, as it was launched – for the first time in Asia – at Raffles Hotel today. Thinking it was just another Android, I was pleasantly surprised. …