The HTC Dream is one of only two Android-based phones available in Canada, the other also from HTC (the Magic). We all know the iPhone rules for fun and apps; and the BlackBerry rules for business and e-mails. So where does this device fit? I took one out for a spin to find out.

The Look

At first glance, the Dream reminds me of the Nokia N95 music phone: a bit clunky with some weight to it, and a slide-out face that reveals a horizontal QWERTY keyboard (although the N95's face slides up rather than out, and reveals only a standard numeric keypad). But the design is clean and sleek. There's the large 3.2″ 320×480 resolution touch-screen LCD (with an accelerometer that automatically adjusts the display for vertical or horizontal viewing), a BlackBerry-esque trackball, standard "home", "call", "back" and "power" buttons, volume controls on the left, and one-touch access to the camera on the right. One small, but important detail worth noting, especially for women with long nails, is that the USB charge port at the bottom is really cumbersome to open. I had to use an Exacto knife to pry it open via the tiny gap!

Getting Started

Accessing certain features, like setting up e-mail, requires a Gmail account. If you have one already, just log in using the existing user name and password. Then, tap the cute little Android alien that pops up on screen to begin a walk-through of the phone's various functions.

The tie-in with Google is immediately noticeable via a prominently-placed Google Search field at the top of the homepage, along with four shortcut buttons at the bottom for making calls, viewing contacts, reading mail, and accessing the Internet. Scroll left and right to reveal additional menu items; or click the arrow below these four to access a full menu of programs.

It was pretty easy to navigate menus and pages, although I often forgot the trackball was even there, opting to use the touch-screen alone. Over time, however, one is likely to get better used to the dual functions for navigating. The QWERTY keyboard is fairly sensitive to the touch, but really easy and comfortable to type with. I appreciate the "@" and "." key that allows you to quickly type a web or e-mail address without clicking the "shift" key.

E-mail & the Web

My usage of smartphones is typically focused on e-mail and Web browsing, and both experiences were positive with this device. E-mail was easy to sift through and compose, reminding me a lot of the iPhone interface. I did encounter a few messages that appeared in weird characters on the phone, even though they were find on both my PC and BlackBerry, and I couldn't figure out why (nor could anyone at HTC or Rogers!) I really appreciate the one-touch access to sorting mail by a number of parameters, including oldest to newest and alphabetical by name.

Web browsing was favourable as well. While there's no "pinch" function to zoom in or out of a web page like you can with an iPhone, the Dream does allow for scrolling side to side by swiping your finger. And a quick tap on the screen reveals a zoom bar that allows you to adjust the view to your liking.

The browser automatically opens up to Google as the home page, which you can instantly use to get to a destination site; or manually type in a URL by tapping "Go" under the "Menu". Alternatively, you can bookmark sites, or visit the history to access them. Various views are available, including a preview that displays the entire Web page, and auto-fitting pages to the width of the phone. Several windows and Websites can be browsed at a time, much like with the "tabs" feature of Internet Explorer.

Apps

One of the main features of the Android platform is the dedicated app store, accessed through the Market icon on the phone's menu. There are already more than 3,200 apps available for Android phones; which is significantly fewer than the 35,000 available to the iPhone, but three-times as many as BlackBerry owners can download. The range seems fairly diverse, from standard apps like weather, news, and maps; to the "fun" apps you'd often find in the iPhone App Store, like a Peter Griffin soundboard, funny jokes, and horoscopes.

One thing that differs with other app stores I've seen is a notification that advises you before downloading an app exactly what functions of your phone that app will access. For example, if I attempt to install the Stewie Griffin Soundboard free app, I'm warned that it accesses my Internet and phone call information (in order to trigger when a call comes through, obviously). The Movies & Showtimes app from Stylem Media will access the Internet, as well as my location information in order to use GPS to determine the theatres closest to me. It's a minor feature, but one that people who aren't familiar with apps will appreciate.

Like the other app stores, apps can be viewed by popularity, date, and category; and certain apps are always featured. You can see ratings for each app, including how many people have downloaded it, along with a detailed description. You can also see comments, read about the developer, see more apps he's created, send an e-mail to him, and flag content as inappropriate.

Bottom Line

I can't with any certainty say that the HTC Dream or Android platform offer anything more than competitive devices and app stores do. The touch-screen interface gives the device a leg up on any BlackBerry (with the exception of the Storm), while the trackball, along with the physical navigation buttons and keyboard, give it a leg up on the iPhone. But it's also a thicker than both devices, and doesn't incorporate some potentially deal-breaking functions like iTunes integration and BlackBerry Messenger.

Let's face it: iPhone lovers want the iPhone. I can honestly say that I've never met anyone who owned one who didn't absolutely love it. Ditto for BlackBerry owners, who appreciate features like BlackBerry Messenger, the compact design of most models, and superior e-mail functions. If you're not really tied to either format, and you're willing to branch out into the realm of the new, the Dream and Android are certainly worthwhile options. It's quite possible that with so much manufacturer support, the Android format could develop a niche following of its own.

The HTC Dream currently sells through Rogers Wireless for $149.99 on a three-year voice and data plan with a minimum combined monthly service fee of $45. Until July 1, 2009, Rogers is also giving buyers of the Dream, as well as the HTC Magic, access to the $30/month for 6GB of data plan. (This plan is also available to customers who buy the iPhone 3G or 3G S up until July 31).

Article Tags:  iphone, blackberry, access, phone, android, dream, touch, screen, available, functions, really, internet, appreciate, buttons, google, including, trackball, features, stores, reveals, device, standard, keyboard, rogers, format, store, messenger, three, pl