T-Mobile's MyTouch 4G Slide aims to be a killer camera phone

T-Mobile announced the latest addition to its Android smartphone lineup last night, the MyTouch 4G Slide. The phone sports a slide-out hardware keyboard, as expected, but it also features a surprisingly capable camera, as well as some photo tools that will help you make good use of it.

While T-Mobile subscribers will surely appreciate having another keyboard phone option, in addition to the G2 and revamped Sidekick, it’s the Slide’s camera capabilities that will win it some fans. The Slide appears to be one of the few Android smartphones that can go toe-to-toe with the iPhone 4’s capable shooter, and perhaps even take on Nokia’s obsessively constructed smartphone cameras.

The MyTouch 4G Slide features a 3.7-inch screen and a 1.2 gigahertz dual-core processor, which puts it in the same league as most new Android smartphones. Since it’s manufactured by HTC, the phone also comes equipped with HTC Sense 3.0 — the company’s latest Android beautification software. The phone will come with Android 2.3.

That’s all well and good, but the Slide really shines when it comes to its camera hardware. T-Mobile says the phone sports a backside illuminated sensor (like the iPhone 4) with a wide aperture lens, both of which will make it ideal for shooting pictures in low light. The company also promises zero shutter lag, thanks to “innovative software” that will allow the phone to take a picture the instant you hit the shutter. The Slide will also be able to record high-definition video up to 1080p.

Software photography niceties include SweepShot, which will let you easily take panaromic pictures by sweeping the phone across a scene; ClearShot HDR, a simple way to take high dynamic range photos (also something the iPhone 4 sports); and BurstShot, which will allow you to take a quick burst of photos.

The MyTouch 4G Slide will be available in black and khaki colors sometime in July. T-Mobile hasn’t revealed any pricing yet, but expect it to be around $200 with a two-year contract.

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