HTC Dream review
Network and connections
HTC, in partnership with TIM, is launching a device equipped with Google's Android platform on the Italian market. But let's start by talking about the technical features, such as the GSM Quadband receiver. It guarantees excellent signal coverage, also thanks to UMTS network support. Browsing the Internet is absolutely fast and immediate, allowing you to make the most of the features offered by Google. The internal modem handles data traffic over HSDPA, allowing the HTML browser to open any page without any problem. You can also take advantage of networks distributed via Wi-Fi. Naturally, Bluetooth is not missing, handy for exchanging data with other devices. Or the USB data cable to sync with your PC.
Design and features
The lines are simple but elegant, showing only the essentials to give the device a light and dynamic imprint. The front is occupied by the screen, a 320x480 pixel TFT, capable of displaying up to 65,000 colors. It also features Capacitive Touch Screen technology, to go beyond every functional boundary, using the touch of your fingers to quickly manage any operation. Just below are some quick keys for the main functions, which can be configured as desired. The side slider opening motion reveals an extended QWERTY keyboard inside. The dimensions are reasonable for a device of this kind, 17.1 mm thick for 158 grams in weight. The sales package includes the data cable and the earphones.
Main features
As mentioned, the strength of this HTC device lies in having Google's Android platform, clearly geared towards multimedia functions on the Web, such as Google Maps and YouTube. The 528 MHz Qualcomm processor guarantees high processing power, so you can install additional software without any problem, also thanks to Java support. Managing documents of any kind is really easy with HTC Dream, thanks to the Pocket Office package and the PDF reader. This way you can send and receive E-mail with attachments without any problem. A customizable Notification Bar is handy for displaying the most important information on the screen at any time. The voice aspect is rich, from the speakerphone, to the voice recorder, to voice calls. Multi-conference support and the ability to make video calls are also included.
Entertainment and multimedia
To complete the offering of this HTC Dream, the designers have integrated complete multimedia functions. The digital camera has a good resolution, 3.15 megapixels for sharp and bright photos in any condition. You can also record videos, to be saved on the 192 MB RAM memory, further expandable with microSD type cards. A direct connection to the Android Store lets you download games and new applications from the network. It is also possible to faithfully play audio and video files in various formats, thanks to the media player. The GPS receiver is also present, to use the Dream as a satellite navigator. Good battery life with the lithium battery, up to 406 hours in Standby.