Defying Google's pathologically closed (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/14/android_developer_unrest/) approach to its open mobile platform, someone has posted video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggR18cBzd8I) of a top-secret Android phone to YouTube.

The video's a bit blurry. And even if it wasn't, it wouldn't tell you much. But if you want a glimpse of the current Android SDK, this is the only way to get it. For more than five months, in a display of perverse cruelty (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/15/google_adc_email/), Google has hidden SDK updates from all but a select few mobile developers.

Apparently, this is the HTC Dream - an Android handset under development at Taiwenese-based manufacturer High Tech Computer. Word is that this will be the first Android device to market sometime later this year.

When he demoed (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/29/google_android_demo/) Android at Google's San Francisco developer conference in late May, engineering director Steve Horowitz was likely handling an earlier version of the Dream. You can see (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arXolJrLVEg) it on YouTube too.

The newer video shows off a retractable keyboard. But more importantly, it shows off some rogue developer breaking Google's strict code of secrecy. ®

Bootnote

A tip of the hat to Nicolas Gramlich (http://www.anddev.org/htc_dream-ing_once_again-t2686.html).

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