InformationWeek will have a full hands-on report about the new HTC Magic soon, but I wanted to share with you right away that there's one really interesting new feature. Android can now record video.This has been a feature that users begged for, and HTC/Google listened. The HTC Magic, due out on Vodafone's network later this year, can record and play back video. The HTC G1, which was the first Android phone to hit the market, doesn't have the ability to record video. It only shoots pictures.

I was told that the new-found capability of the Magic's Android software is part of the "cupcake" update to Android. The video recorder was very simple to use, and took decent video. Users can save their videos in their photo gallery, as well as organize them. Obviously, since it can record videos, it can also play them back.

This is a very welcome update to the Android software.

HTC couldn't say if or when this feature would be made available on the G1. Let's hope that is can be added via the "cupcake" update whenever it is ready for distribution.