We've got specs and pictures, so all we need now is official word that Motorola will be next to try beating the iPhone.
It'll do so on two carriers, with the Morrison (pictured) going to T-Mobile and the Sholes being carried by Verizon Wireless, according to the blog Android and Me. Both phones have slide-out QWERTY keyboards, kind of like the existing G1/HTC Dream, along with 512/256 MB of ROM/RAM, a 5 megapixel camera, microSD slots for storage and GPS navigation.
From there, the phones dovetail, particularly in appearance. The Morrison takes the colorful approach with a white shell and blue keyboard frame against a mostly black front panel. The Sholes is sleeker, going for the shiny black iPhone-style look.
Based on the presence of a magnetometer and ambient light sensor in the Morrison, I'm guessing we'll see a compass and a screen that adjusts brightness based on the phone's surroundings. There's also a proximity sensor, which I imagine will mirror the iPhone's ability to turn the screen on when your head moves away from the ear speaker. These are nice perks to have in a smartphone, and I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually turn up in the Sholes' specs as well.
We know that the Sholes' touch-sensitive display will measure 3.7 inches in 854 x 480 resolution, but it's not clear if we're looking at single or multi touch. Android doesn't currently support multi touch, which is really a drag, but it's possible for a phone to include it should Android make the necessary upgrade, as was done with the G1.
This brings up an important point: As good as these new phones look, the quality of a smartphone is only as good as its operating system and software. Android phones are showing a lot of potential, but Android itself needs to get a little slicker if it hopes to compete with Apple's game-changer.
