The Android Devices Blog

Lots of rumors are circulating about the HTC Dream, which is supposed to be the first Android phone to be released. Only a few days ago the conclusion seemed to be that it’s going to be delayed and may not meet the Q4 target that had previously been set by Google for the release of the first Android device. Both Google and HTC denied those rumors, stating that it was still on track for a Q4 release. A bit later a video was leaked that showed the device in action running a recent version of Android, with some of the more tricky features like the orientation sensor working properly.

And now TmoNews report that it may even be a bit early. Well, not exactly, but they claim that pre-ordering will start on September 17th for existing T-Mobile customers. This makes a lot of sense, considering that T-Mobile were previously reported to be offering an Android phone for their 3G launch in October.

Anyway, I guess we’ll have to wait a few more weeks to find out what’s really happening. Maybe we will see this device sooner than many of us thought – until then, it will remain a dream. Let’s hope it turns into a HTC Dream soon.

Looking across the fence to other projects is usually a good idea. So congratulations to the OpenMoko folks who have just announced the availability of the Neo FreeRunner device. This is the first mobile phone that has been designed from the very beginning to run on 100% Free Software, based on GNU/Linux. The version that’s now shipping can do all the things one can expect in a mobile phone, so you can make calls, send text messages and manage your contacts. Periodic software updates will enable new features, such as support for location based services using the builtin GPS receiver. But what makes it really open is the fact that a complete set of development tools is available that will allow everyone to create and distribute customized versions of the software.

The phone itself may not be the most impressive device out there, but it’s still an intriguing project. If it gains enough momentum, we can expect to see interesting applications pretty soon. And it’s available now – no need to wait for a Q4 release that may or may not happen. Due to its open nature, it may very well be able to run Android as well, by the way. It’s probably only a question of time until a port becomes available, so even if the software concept fails, the hardware should still be useful. Now if only I could afford spending almost €400 on this, I’d love to give it a try.