HTC Announces New HTC Sense, Phones, etc.

Share

Today, HTC unveiled 2 new devices as well as announced a new version of HTC Sense. Sense has been the most popular skin for the Android operating system, so this comes as big news that HTC chose to change their interface a bit.

The new and improved Sense, says HTC, has some major improvements.

• Boot time has been improved, down to just 10 seconds.
• The mapping app has new caching functionality, reducing rendering time.
• The map now orients itself to the direction you are going with the aid of a digital compass.
• The incoming call screen now slides up from the screen's bottom instead of using the entire screen.
• DLNA support is built-in.
• Sense is now less about presenting data to you and more about allowing you to control and interact with your data.

HTC also announced the coming launch of HTCSense.com. Here is their announcement below:

With the new HTCSense.com service, people can simply manage their mobile phone experience from their HTC phone or personal computer. For example, people can easily locate a missing phone by triggering the handset to ring loudly, even if it is set to silent, or to flag its location on a map. If the phone's been lost or stolen, users can remotely lock the phone, forward calls and texts to another phone, send a message to the phone to arrange its return or even remotely wipe all personal data from it. HTCSense.com makes it easy to setup a new HTC phone or access archived mobile content such as contacts, text messages and call history from a PC browser. People can also customize their phones with exclusive HTC content like wallpapers, HTC scenes, sounds or plug-ins

It is not quite clear when HTCSense.com will launch, but it will be welcomed when it is ready.

HTC is also planning to launch 2 devices: the HTC Desire Z and the HTC Desire HD. 

The HTC Desire Z is essentially an a generic T-Mobile G2. It has all the same specs, from the 5 megapixel camera and 720p video recording to the 800MHz Qualcomm processor. It even features the same hinge style that the G2 has. 

The HTC Desire HD on the other hand is a more powerful phone. It will feature a 4.3 inch screen, 8 megapixel camera, 720p video recording, and a 1Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (the same processor used in the HTC Evo 4G). The Desire HD promises to be a powerful and very competitive phone.

Availability of these two phones is less clear however with the announcement stating, "the Desire HD and Desire Z will be broadly available in European and Asian markets from October 2010" with the Desire Z coming to North America later this year. 

Does that mean the Desire HD is not coming to North America? Only time will tell.

HTC has been very busy and this group of announcements has something for almost everybody to get excited about.

HTC Evo 4g Battery Life

Share

Ok, I know everyone has been hitting the HTC Evo 4g hard with the poor battery life that the device suffers from. I was also one of those people as well, personally expecting 6-8 hours a day out of my Evo. Well I had been having trouble with my Evo running a bit sluggish, and performing poorly. I took the phone to my local Sprint store, as I was struggling to figure out what was causing the battery drain. It turned out, task killers and antivirus applications actually often do more harm than good on these devices. I didnt believe Sprint at first when they told me this, but after a hard reset, I noticed my battery life was greatly improved. This prompted me to begin my own test the other day. Of the past two battery cycles, I have managed to get my Evo to last 20.5 hours (pulled at 9%) and 20 hours (pulled at 8%), without any drastic measures. I even left wifi on for the entire first cycle. (I do not live in a 4G area, so obviously that was off) I used my phone a good amount, probably about the same an average user does during the day. Now on the 3rd battery charge, with about 50% remaining, I have had my phone running for just over 12 hours. Both the first and third tests have been performed with the stock HTC battery, and the 2nd test was performed with a 1800 mAh aftermarket battery.

Now here are a few things I have noticed over these tests:

1. GPS (particularly when used for navigation) is a big drain on the battery. Its ok to leave it on and enabled, but if something is constantly using it, you will quickly deplete your battery. GPS was used for navigation for about 20 min in Test #2.

2. Wifi also has a large effect on the battery. It can account for up to a third of your battery usage, although it does reduce the battery usage of your mobile network, so does not have a large net effect on overall battery life, if any at all.

3. Early results from these tests make the claim of 61 hours of battery life on one charge seem feasible, although not practical at all. (Link to post claiming this in title of article).

4. The HTC Evo 4G can be a pratical phone.

5. If you disable the setting "Enable always on mobile data" you will save battery life, with virtually no disadvantages.

So it is obvious that if we are careful, we can get the Evo to have good battery life. If you are having trouble with battery life, try resetting the device. In terms of preventing these problems, there is not much you can do other than be careful in the App Market.

Hope this helps anyone with battery issues!

*Note: Sorry I have not posted new articles as much lately, had a busy schedule with school about to start up. If you would like to help be an author for fun, and have some tech knowledge, please leave a comment in the section below.

HTC Evo 4g Full Review (After 2.2 Update)

Share

As requested, this is a full review of the HTC Evo 4G. After my last review comparing the top smartphones in July (seen here: http://www.elliottselectronicsblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/smartphone-showdown-apple-iphone-4-vs.html), I decided to purchase an Evo, and therefore after nearly a month of use, I feel as though I am ready to give a complete comprehensive review of this device.

Ever Since the HTC Evo 4G was unveiled at the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) show, there has been great hype about the device. Now that the device has been available for several months, we can finally review the real world application of this device.

To begin with, we will begin with one of the notable features of the device, Sprint's 4G WiMax network. Sprint was the first network to transition to 4G services, and at this current point in time, it is still the only network with 4G services, although Verizon is not far away (expected to be introduced early 2011). However, there is one downer to 4G. It is only available in 48 markets as of today, although more coverage is being rolled out continuously. Even if you do not live in a market with 4G, Sprint requires you to pay the $10 premium data fee. However, even without 4G, most if not all customers are still going to enjoy the Evo, and many will be able to justify that extra $10 a month.

Moving on, the Evo is a large phone in size. measuring 4.8 inches tall, 2.6 inches wide, and 0.5 inches thick. With this phone's large size, it weighs 6 ounces and packs a large 4.3 inch screen. Some people will not like the large size of the device, but it makes viewing videos on the go much more enjoyable. The thin nature of the phone also makes the large size more manageable.

In terms of the display, the WVGA 800x480 resolution makes everything look crisp and vibrant. The built in light sensor also can adjust the backlight automatically based on ambient light. There large screen also makes typing on the on screen keyboard relatively easy. Below the screen, there are 4 touch sensitive buttons. These buttons are nice, but occasionally most users will have problems with accidentally tapping them when reaching across the screen. This is a relatively minor gripe, but it can be frustrating. The sides of the phone are fairly empty, with just volume controls on the right side. On the bottom, there is a Micro-USB and HDMI (Type D) port. The HDMI port is great as it allows you to watch your videos from your mobile device on your TV in 720p resolution with a cable. The top of the phone consists of the power button and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the back there is a kickstand which can be used for video viewing. The kickstand surprisingly is a very good clever feature (with quality construction), one in which I and others who I have talked to have come to really appreciate.

The accessories the device comes with in the environmentally friendly packaging are not anything special. It comes with an AC adapter, and USB cable, an 8GB microSD card, and reference material.

In terms of the user interface, the Evo shines compared to most other Android based phones. This is because it runs HTC's Sense interface, which is widely accepted as the best skin for the Android operating system. The reason why the Sense interface is so widely liked is because it really adds a lot to the Android experience in comparison to the other interfaces. The UI looks good, and is one of the best at contact integration (it can link your contacts with their facebook and twitter profiles). One of the most appreciated features, is the leap screen. Pinching the home screen, or pressing the home button while you are on the center panel allows you to view thumbnails of all your home panels, and allows you to jump directly to one of your choice.

The Evo is very feature rich. Underneath Sense, the device is running either Android 2.1 (stock) or 2.2 (as of 8/3, newly available free upgrade) and has 1GB internal memory. The device has a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera for video chat, and a 8 megapixel primary camera that can should HD quality video in 720p. However, with video chat, the only real option at the moment is to use Qik, although Skype is expected to come to Android in the next few months. Other various features on this phone include Bluetooth 2.1, Wifi b/g/n, GPS, Sprint TV, and some more exclusive applications.

Another feature to note is Sprint's Mobile Hotspot feature. Sprint charges $30 a month for this feature, and you can connect up to 8 devices. Many people will probably not bother with this feature though, as you could always use Pdanet or Easytether to USB tether the device to your computer.

One of the most important issues with any phone is performance. The HTC Evo 4G does a great job in most performance areas. Great call quality, decent speakerphone quality, and good bluetooth connectivity. Powered by the 1Ghz Snapdragon processor though, the Evo is a snappy device, with little time spent on waiting for things to load.

On another note, however, there is one major issue with the Evo. Battery Life. With all of these high end features and a powerhouse of a device, it is not surprising to see that the Evo gets terrible battery life. Although it was improved in an over the air update some time ago, the battery life still remains at an unsatisfactory level. Most people, however, should be alright if they purchase a spare battery with a wall charger. I found one myself on ebay for about $20-25 about a month ago. After a while most will not mind switching out batteries once a day.

In conclusion, the HTC Evo 4G is probably the most impressive device currently on the market. It is a real powerhouse of a smartphone, and has plenty of features without becoming too overwhelming. Anyone, from computer geeks to the average consumer, would be able to enjoy this phone. If you can get past the poor battery life and $10 premium data charge, this device will bring you the best smartphone experience of any smartphone.

Overall Value: 9.5/10

Display: 9.5/10

Performance: 10/10

User Interface: 9.5/10

Functionality: 10/10

Battery Life: 3.5/10

Feature Set: 9.5/10

Android 2.2 Not Coming to Droid X Until September

Share

According to a Motorola employee, Android 2.2 will not be out for the Droid X until early September. This is big disappointment for Droid X owners, as the device has been riddled with software bugs, most of which are expected to be fixed with the update. It also appears that the original Droid will not obtain full Flash support until August 18th. Unfortuanately for these owners, they are going to have to play the waiting game, while Evo and Nexus One owners enjoy Android 2.2 in its entirety.

Froyo 2.2 on Evo 4G, Motorola Droid

Share

As expected, yesterday Android 2.2 Froyo was released for the HTC Evo 4G on Sprint and now today customers using Verizon's Motorola Droid can manually obtain the update. Although not much was changed aesthetically, just a few minor tweaks here and there, there was a big change under the hood. The new OS is speedier and more efficient, and web browsing is now noticeably quicker as well.

The biggest feature of Android 2.2 however, is full Flash 10.1 support. You know those flash based games on websites that never worked on your phone before? Well now they do, thanks to this update. Other updates include new security options, voice dialing over bluetooth, and new management features.

The performance of the new Android OS is perhaps the biggest advantage of upgrading next to Flash support, and now that Froyo is rolling out, we should begin to hear leaks of information about the next future OS version, 3.0 Gingerbread.

*Note: Many people have asked me why Android 2.2 has been nicknamed "Froyo". Google has given a nickname to each version of the operating system beginning with cupcake (1.5), followed by donut (1.6), then eclair (2.1), and now froyo (2.2). Froyo, for those who don't know, is short for frozen yogurt.

Droid to get Android 2.2 in the next week

Share

According to verizon's website, the Motorola Droid will be updated to Android 2.2 within the next week. This will make the 3rd device with the updated operating system, behind the Nexus One and the Evo 4G. Unfortunately for Droid X users, Verizon is still being vague, stating that Froyo will be available sometime late this summer.

Note: I apologize if the posts over the next few days are short, as I am getting my laptop repaired and am having to make posts on my phone.

Android 2.2 on Evo pushed back to August 3rd

Share

Following up from a post made yesterday about Android 2.2 on the Evo 4g, Sprint has made a formal announcement and it appears users are going to have to wait just a few more days. The official release date for 2.2 Froyo on the Evo is August 3rd. That is now just 4 days away, so users can start anticipating obtaining the new operating system on their devices.

As this is an official statement from Sprint, the August 3rd date is fairly set in stone.

Leave a comment about what you expect from Froyo!

HTC Evo 4g to get Android 2.2 Tommorow

Share

According to a report from Engadget.com, the HTC Evo 4g is scheduled to get the update to Android 2.2 Froyo tommorow. This is big news for Evo owners, as this update will include many new features. The one downside to this update however, is that rooted users who use their device as a wifi hotspot for free using android-wifi-tether may not be able to continue their free hotspot capability, as Sprint is charging $30 a month for that service and is attempting to keep customers paying. This shouldn't come as a surprise, but for some this may be a dealbreaker.

Froyo 2.2 will greatly increase the capabilities of the Evo, and many will be looking forward to it.

HTC Evo Helps Sprint Gain Net Customers for First Time in 3 Years

Share

Over the past 3 years, Sprint has lost more customers than they have gained. This year, Sprint has placed a focus on having a better image for their company, and it has helped tremendously. They have vastly improved their customer service, which has been a helpful contributor to this turnaround.

The main reason behind the turnaround however, was the HTC Evo 4G. This phone single handedly has helped put Sprint back in contention with the top companies AT&T and Verizon. And with the Samsung Epic 4G coming out soon, Sprints second 4G phone, it looks like they have no plans on slowing down anytime soon.

CONFIRMED: HTC Evo 4G battery life fixed with OTA update

Share

Initially, the HTC Evo 4G was reviewed harshly by users as having unacceptable battery life, but otherwise a great phone. Well there is some great news for Evo owners. It appears that the over the air update that was recently released has fixed the battery life problems. With this update, users can now expect their device to last up to a day and a half (expect more like 1 day, but much better than early reports with users stating 4-5 hours of moderate to heavy use).

With this update however, this helps the Evo pull ahead in the smartphone race, and this device is now clearly as good or better than the Droid X. The question now is, when is the Evo 4G going to be available again?

Smartphone Showdown: Apple iPhone 4 vs HTC Evo 4g vs Motorola Droid X vs HTC Droid Incredible

Share

This year has truly become the summer to buy a smartphone. So many great choices, but which one to get? Lets break it down in a summary here:

Apple iPhone 4 (AT&T): Ah, the ever so popular iPhone. This year, the iPhone has a bit more competition than in the past. The iPhone 4 comes in either 16gb or 32gb (not expandable), 5 megapixel camera, VGA front facing camera, and an impressive 3.5 inch retina display. The iPhone runs iOS4, and has access to Apple's App Store. The iPhone is powered by Apple's A4 processor (unknown clock speed, reports say 1ghz).

*There are reports of signal issues if held a certain way. Apple is giving away free bumpers to help issue.

HTC Evo 4G (Sprint): This amazing device has a spec sheet to dream of. The only phone on this list that can run on a 4G network, which makes its mobile hotspot feature (in which you can connect up to 8 devices) very useful and effective. It also sports a 8 megapixel rear facing camera, as well as a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera (useful for video conferencing). This device also has a 4.3 inch screen, and a speedy 1ghz Snapdragon processor. This phone runs Android 2.1 with HTC Sense. Other notable features include an HDMI port and a kickstand. It comes with 1gb internal memory, and an 8gb micro sd card (expandable up to 32gb).

*Many users report poor battery life, over the air update may have partially/fully fixed this.

Motorola Droid X (Verizon): This smartphone is very similiar to the Evo, with a few differences. To begin with, it has a 4.3 inch screen, just like that Evo, but it is thinner and taller (screen size is measured diagonally). The Droid X also has an 8 megalpixel camera, but no front facing camera. This phone features a 1ghz ARMv7 processor. This phone also runs Android 2.1 with Motorblur. The Motoblur software has been greatly improved, but HTC Sense is still superior. The Droid also supports a mobile hotspot feature for up to 5 devices. This device also includes an HDMI port. This phone comes with 8gb of internal memory and a 16gb micro sd card (expandable up to 32gb).

*Reports say it cannot be modified, hackers and power users will not like this.

HTC Droid Incredible (Verizon): This speedy phone has a 1ghz Snapdragon processor, an 8 megapixel camera, 3.7 inch screen, and has 8gb of internal memory, with a micro sd slot that supports cards up to 32gb. This smartphone runs Android 2.1 with HTC Sense. An overall impressive phone.

Conclusion:

Best Smartphone: HTC Evo 4G

2nd place: Apple iPhone 4

3rd place: Motorola Droid X

4th place: HTC Droid Incredible

In my comparison, the winner is the HTC Evo 4G. However all of these phones are great phones, and it really is up to personal preference. For some users, the Evo's lack of battery life (most likely will last 1 day at most) will make the phone impractical. However, with Apple's signal issues, and the lack of a front facing camera on the Droid X and Incredible, I feel confident that the Evo 4G is currently the best phone on the market. Please, let me know what you think!

Good luck getting your hands on any of these!