This has got to be the worst named mobile phone in existence.  Last week T-Mobile released the myTouch 3G.  My goodness. Nothing screams out sexual predator quite like this.  The irony is that this is the same exact phone as the HTC Magic (a much better name) and the Google Ion (a much, much better name).

Despite the lousy name, this phone is supposed to be a worthy competitor to the almighty iPhone.  The myTouch runs on the same 1.5 version of Google’s Android OS that the T-Mobile G1 (T-Mobile’s first Android phone) runs on.  However, with faster hardware specs and improved design it is supposed to be a much more superior phone.

T-Mobile MyTouch 3G

I keep saying “supposed to be” because I haven’t actually tried out the myTouch (except on my wife – sorry, couldn’t resist) or even seen one up close.  I am very interested in playing with one for a couple of weeks to try it out and report back here.  So, if anyone wants to hook me up, that would be great.   Thanks.

One of the big differences between the MyTouch and the G1 is that the myTouch does not have a physical keyboard much like the iPhone.   Because of this, the myTouch is smaller and lighter than the G1.  The myTouch also has increased memory of 288MB RAM and 512MB ROM vs the 192 MB RAM and 256 ROM of the G1. It also ships with a 4GB microSD card (which you can upgrade to 32GB when they become available).  The myTouch also has stereo bluetooth (A2DP) out of the box, G1 owners had to upgrade their software to enable stereo bluetooth.  It sill lacks a standard 3.5mm headphone jack which is pretty lame, but it does ship with an adapter.

The Android Market may not have the selection of apps that Apple AppStore does, but with the growing number of Android handsets expected in the coming year, it should start to really take off.

I’m not sure what T-Mobile’s 3G capabilities are like here in Tucson.  I recall that they were preparing to upgrade their data speeds here about a year ago, but I am not sure how that’s going.

Do you own one, or want to own one?  If so, do you like it, hate it?  Let me know in the comments.

UPDATED:
I was just checking the T-Mobile website for their 3G coverage.  It looks like Tucson is pretty well covered.  I imagine over time this will only get better.

Scottsdale and Mission Viejo, CA are the sites for the first two Microsoft Stores.   Microsoft announced the news via their Twitter page on Friday.  The photo that MS posted was from Coogan Photo’s flickr page.

Microsoft Store in Scottsdale - click to enlarge

A lot of folks are saying that they’re copying Apple (again) – which may be true.  They plan to sell Microsoft hardware and software.  They also plan to have a help station similar to Apple’s ‘Genius Bar’.  However, some may not realize that Apple did not invent the retail store.  It’s true.

However, it seems odd to me that Microsoft, who markets themselves to the ‘common man’ with their “I’m A PC” campaign, is setting up shop in such upscale neighborhoods.

Regardless, it looks like the store will open at Scottsdale Fashion Square in the fall to coincide with the October 22nd launch of Windows 7.

It looks like Radio Shack is changing its name to The Shack.  Good.  Does anyone even buy radios anymore?  I guess when you buy a car you get a free radio, but other than that…I’m not sure.  Regardless, for as long as I can remember they’ve sold more than just radios – I think the name change is long overdue.  I like Radio Shack, though.  Some of my earliest tech gadgets came from Radio Shack.

1978 Portable Cassette Recorder

Way back in the late 70′s my Dad bought a portable cassette recorder for my brother and me.  We would make up “radio shows” and record them onto the very popular compact cassette format.  We preferred listening to our radio shows rather than the actual radio because we always knew our favorite songs would be played right after we read the fake news that we typed up on my Dad’s typewriter.

My Dad liked recording us onto the not-so-popular 8-Track cassette format.  He would set up his Realistic brand microphones (one panned left, and the other panned to the right) and my brother and I would record “letters” on 8-Track for my aunt back east in stereo.

One Christmas I got a remote control Pontiac Firebird from Radio Shack.  Firebirds were cool in the 70′s.  They sold a lot of RC cars.  I think they still do.  I also remember having a groovy,  yellow AM radio.  Back in those days there was actually music on the AM band.  It wasn’t all sports talk and political nutjobs.

One of my first credit cards was a Radio Shack card. I bought an Optimus brand car audio amplifier. I think I still have it in the garage.  Then in 1993 I built my first PC.

1993 Tandy Monitor - $500

A screaming fast 386-40Mhz, 4 MB of RAM, and 200MB hard drive.  The monitor I bought came from Radio Shack.  It was a Tandy 14 inch CRT.  I think I paid like $500 for it.  Yikes!

I no longer have a need for radios, 8-Tracks or $500 monitors.  But, I still go to Radio Shack if I need a power adapter, speaker cable or headphone coupler or something. It’s not always the best shopping experience, but it’s not the worst.  Even though the new name is kinda kitschy, I’m glad they’ll be sticking around.

The pictures that are used in this post came from www.radioshackcatalogs.com.   They have Radio Shack catalogs that go back to 1939.  It’s really fascinating to look back at it all.

$400 CD-ROM drive, also from 1993