The HTC Magic, the long awaited second mobile device to run on the Android mobile OS, has been delayed until early May due to last minute changes. Originally supposed to be released on April 17th, the Vodafone-exclusive device should now be available for those with a pre-order by May 5th. In other news, now might be a good time to go and get a Magic pre-order!

The device comes with the usual spread of smartphone features – high-res touchscreen, internet, email, GPS, a variety of messaging options, camera, video and music playback and storage, the works. It has on-screen QWERTY keyboard instead of the slide-out version from HTCs previous Android device, the HTC Dream (or G1, if you like). And it has full access to the Android Market application marketplace.

What we think?

Man, a delay is the last thing we want with this phone. At least it’s only a few weeks. At this point, Android has a lot to prove. There’s a vast amount of interest in the OS, despite it’s only existing on one device. By the end of the year not only will we have the Dream, but Samsung has announced three Android devices, and Sony Ericsson and Motorola have announced plans to develop Android powered devices. T-Mobile even declared it’s intent to release two devices powered by Android that aren’t even smartphones.

HTC revealed a few more details on it’s upcoming smartphone devices, the Diamond Touch 2 and the Touch Pro 2. Among the various technical and software details was one piece of info that has caused a collective wince – the price.

The pricing details were only for the Singapore launch, but it gives us an idea of what to expect for the global launches. The Diamond 2 will exchange hands for the princely sum of 555 euro, while the Pro 2 comes in at 675 euro.

What are you getting for that?

The handsets have the newest version of HTCs TouchFLO user-interface installed. Complaints that the previous version was only visible on the surface level, and that once you got into the menu system it was a user-hostile experience, must have made an impact on HTC. The new version is apparently integrated much deeper into the menu systems of the phone.

The phones have introduced a new Push Internet technology, which sounds much like the push capabilities of iPhone 3.0 – allowing faster mobile web browsing.

For the Diamond 2, it keeps all the functions of the original and improves on them slightly. The camera is bigger, the screen is higher res.

The Pro2 is designed for businessmen. The main feature seems to be the new Straight Talk function that allows email, voice and speakerphone to be accessed at the same time. HTC claims that the Pro2 allows conference calls from any location by having advanced speaker and microphone capabilities – simply turning the Pro2 face down on a surface will automatically turn into a speakerphone.

The HTC Diamond Touch 2

What we think?

Hoo boy, that’s a big price tag. It’ll be interesting to see what the prices are like when those devices get a US and European launch. High prices proved no barrier for the iPhone, but that was a first of it’s kind. Even for the Pro2, you can understand why they might ask that much – after all, it is an enterprise class device. But for the Diamond 2, a consumer device, I just can’t see how a price tag of over 500 euro is going to do well.

A free beta version of DataViz’s RoadSync for Android-based phones is now available. This application uses the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol to provide secure, wireless, and direct push synchronization with an Exchange Server.

G-Phone True Exchange Sync Beta

The Android OS is strongly tied to Google’s online services. This device keeps its owner’s personal information synchronized with the appropriate Google online database, but this doesn’t help the millions of people who depend on Exchange for business-related messages and scheduling. That’s where something like RoadSync steps in.

It supports Exchange Server 2003 and 2007, and the beta supports push e-mail, attachments, and contacts.

DataViz RoadSync can now be downloaded from the Android Market, and more information is available on its developer’s website.

Sometimes information on upcoming models leaks out in tiny drops; sometimes it pours out. Today it’s the latter. Details have emerged on no less than seven smartphones coming later this year from HTC.

All of these models were part of an equally massive leak in January, but previously there were few details available these Windows phones. Today’s report fleshes them out somewhat.

HTC Whitestone
The replacement for the HTC Touch HD is code-named the Whitestone — its predecessor was code-named Blackstone. According to the latest source, it is scheduled to be released by Verizon in September, and will be able to access both CDMA and GSM networks.

The Whitestone will have much in common with this current model: a 3.6-inch, WVGA touchscreen; 528 MHz processor; 256 MB of RAM; 5 MPx camera; and GPS. One of the few significant changes will be the inclusion of a stand (see here), not surprising on a multimedia-oriented smartphone.

It will launch with Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro; whether an upgrade to version 6.5 will be released is considered unlikely.

HTC FirestoneHTC FirestoneAnother models on HTC’s drawing board is the Firestone, which seems to combine the features of the Whitestone and the Touch Diamond2.

This model will run Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro on a 600 MHz Qualcomm processor, and an upgrade to version 6.5 is considered probable.

The Firestone will apparently have squarer shape than the curvy Whitestone, but have the same 3.6-inch, WVGA touchscreen. Other features include 256 MB of RAM and an 8 MPx camera

It will supposedly be released for GSM networks in August, possibly in N. America.

HTC ThothHTC Thoth
The successor to the HTC Athena  — AKA the HTC Advantage series — will apparently be the HTC Thoth. According to both unconfirmed sources, it will use the same general shape as the current model: a tablet with a large display and a detachable keyboard (see image at left).

The Thoth will supposedly sport a WVGA touchscreen that’s considerably larger than the one on the Whitestone: 4.8 inches.

It will run Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro on a 1 GHz Qualcomm processor and sport 256 MB of RAM and a 5 MPx camera.

It is expected to hit the market in September.

HTC Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2HTC has already announced the Touch Pro2 and the Touch Diamond2, but won’t say anything about which wireless carriers are interested in it.

According to the unconfirmed sources, the Touch Diamond2 is headed to the U.S. carriers AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. The Touch Diamond2 is supposedly on its way to AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile — European and USA.

HTC Maple and Cedar
Most of the details on the HTC Maple emerged in a separate leak yesterday, but for those who missed it, this smartphone will be the successor to the HTC Excalibur, better known  at the T-Mobile Dash.

It will supposedly run Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard on a 528 MHz processor and include 128 MB of RAM. Below its 2.4-inch, 320-by-240-pixel display will be a trackball and a QWERTY keyboard.

The Maple is scheduled to be released by T-Mobile USA in May.

A very similar model, code-named the HTC Cedar, was on its way to Verizon in June, but it may have been canceled.

Product summary from Cnet:

The good: The T-Mobile G1 features a full QWERTY keyboard, 3G support, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. The Google Android operating system offers good integration with Google applications as well as access to the Amazon MP3 Store and YouTube. As more applications become available, the G1 will also become a more powerful smartphone for all types of users.

The bad: The G1 doesn’t include a standard headphone jack and lacks stereo Bluetooth and Microsoft Exchange support. There are some annoying design quirks that make the smartphone uncomfortable to hold and difficult to use. The GPS tracking was disappointing, and speakerphone quality wasn’t the greatest.

The bottom line: While we’re not in love with the design and would have liked some additional features, the real beauty of the T-Mobile G1 is the Google Android platform, as it has the potential to make smartphones more personal and powerful. That said, it’s not quite there yet, so for now, the G1 is best suited for early adopters and gadget hounds, rather than consumers and business users.

Specifications: OS provided: Android; Installed RAM: 192 MB; Processor: QUALCOMM 528 MHzMSM7201A;