Smartphone Reviews

Making EVO Better!

I really have been enjoying my HTC EVO! It has made my life so much easier. I want to pass on the information that I have gather over these few months. I hope these sites and applications will make using your EVO even better!

Hot EVO Accessories

Are you looking for the best accessories on the market? Well we have you covered. Our staff has personally used every single accessory on this list. Our favorite has to be the “bluetooth headset”. This is an amazing pair of bluetooth headphones that will blow you away. They are a little steep in price, but they are well worth it.

Have an accessory that should be on this list? Tell us about it and we will put it up.

Feel free to leave any questions you have in the comments.

	Simulated diamonds and gems stud the surface of the case Customized cutouts maximize functionality of your device Made with high quality plastic Color/Design: Black Specifically designed for: HTC EVO 4G This Crystal Diamond Protector Case is specifically designed for your device. It is crafted out of high quality plastic which provides superb protection for your phone. The awesome detail of this case is that it is studded with simulated diamonds and gems which give your phone an unmatched look and feel. The case sparkles and shines while encasing your phone in its protective shell. This is perfect for those who seek protection for their phones but want that one of a kind look as well. Price: $19.98 ORDER HERE
The Nokia BH-905 Wireless Stereo Headset Noise Cancelling head set. Can be wired or wireless. Active Noise Cancelling unit. Corded use will allow the unit to funtion as standard headphones even if batteries are removed. Price: $253.96 ORDER HERE
	with FM Transmitte Function, Shift call, music through car speaker via FM radio frquency. Read your phone book without cell phone – store 50 ~ 100 Caller Names and ID. Super sound quality – speaker out power vantage Max. 2W. Price: $98.95 ORDER HERE
This Innocell Extended Life Battery is designed for the customer who needs extra life, but doesn’t want to add any thickness to their device. This model fits in your device’s existing battery space and doesn’t require a replacement door, which makes it a perfect replacement for your original battery Price: $41.00 ORDER HERE
	High storage capacity (16GB) for storing essential digital content such as high quality photos, videos, music and more Optimal speed and performance for microSDHC compatible devices Speed performance rating: Class 2 (based on SD 2.00 Specification) High Quality microSDHC card backed by 5 year limited warranty Built to last, with an operating shock rating of 2,000Gs, equivalent to a ten-foot drop SanDisk is proud to announce our newest format and capacity to the SD card family: microSD High Capacity (microSDHC) 16GB flash card. Price: $28.65 ORDER HERE
Unique design allows for syncing and charging at the same time Charge via included USB cable LED power display Compatible with Seidio’s Innocases and Innocell Extended Life Batteries The Innodock Jr. is a convenient desktop cradle that allows you to sync and charge your device at the same time. It is compatible with bare phones as well as phones using any one of our Innocases or skins. The Innodock Jr.’s distinctive dome shape provides users an alternative to a boring, square dock Price: $25.00 ORDER HERE
	Interior casing made from highly durable and impact absorbing polymer Skeleton provides extra protection at impact points such as corners and sides Hard exterior skeleton finished with our signature rubberized coating Lightweight material with an overall thickness of only 2.2mm All ports and controls remain accessible and fully functional Created for those that have and want to maintain their active lifestyle in mind, the Innocase Active Limited Edition provides great shock absorption while adding minimal bulk. This two-layer case features a compact and lightweight rubber polymer with a precisely positioned hard skeleton for added protection. The arachnid design of the skeleton extends out to protect vulnerable parts of your device, such as the corners and sides. Price:$24.95 ORDER HERE

The Verdict

After using the EVO all day today I am very happy with my purchase. The phone did not let me down. I really did not enjoy waiting in line, but man was it worth it. The HTC EVO is taking the cake for me. I knew that I would most likely enjoy it, but I did not expect to fall so in love with it.

This phone is sure to be the staple to the Sprint handset lineup. I do not want you to be confused with my feelings. I will admit that I looked at the Incredible and the iPhone, but nothing really came close to the EVO. When the Incredible was introduced I almost jumped on board, but with the lack of 4G and the new termination fee that Verizon has enacted, I decided that waiting was a much better option. The combination of features and the network speed made the choice so easy.

I know that we have been spouting off numbers a lot lately, but when you hold this phone in your hand, you will understand. You can feel the power of the 1GHz Snapdragon flowing through the phone. It runs to my every call and beckon. The display is incredible and the camera is far better than I expected. The phone is a phone, and not a camera, so I did not put to much faith into it being amazing. I was flat out wrong. I have been playing with the video chat almost all day and it is beautiful. My battery is low, but that is why you need an extra charger. Don’t think you can make it all day on this one.

I did my best to push the battery to the limits. I do have to say that it did the best it could with all of the features. I was not expecting it to last past 4pm with all of the applications that I continued to use throughout the day. The biggest drain on the battery is the 4G network, the hot-spot feature and Wi-Fi. I also used the camera a lot during the day was well. I will say that it came through with flying colors compared to previous Android handsets.

I was very impressed with the speed of the 4G network. I do understand that since the network is new, that it will be fast until it is bogged down with other folks jumping on board. Until that day comes, I will use the speed to the fullest.

I did a lot of testing and pushing on the EVO and not once did I have any complaints. I made call after call expecting someone to tell me that I was fuzzy or in a tunnel. Again, I was happily surprised with the call quality. The speakerphone was also great. I even tested a few blue-tooth headsets to ensure that I would always have clear calls.

A few things that really stand out on the EVO are the charging port. It is nice to have a port on the bottom instead of the side. It is a lot easier to charge when you have to plug in the bottom. The ability to choose which version of Android is another great feature. It is nice to have the standard version of the OS as well as the HTC Sense UI.

The only major con of the device is the battery and the monthly price. If you get past those two issues, this phone is a buy. I suggest you head into your local Sprint Store and play with the EVO. I do warn you though, once you touch the phone, you are hooked.

Hands-On with the HDMI Port

Sprint’s new HTC smartphone has several features never before seen on a phone and it’s a monster. The underside of the phone has a Mini-HDMI interface port.

You will need to purchase the Micro HDMI cord from Sprint, HTC, or an online retailer. The Micro section fits securely in the bottom of your handset and the other snaps into your HD television or other HDMI compatible device.

To test out the feature set I encoded a couple of different videos in various sizes and settings. Videos encoded at the EVO 4G’s 720P resolution performed the best of all the tests. The file format of choice landed consistantly on the MP4 encoding format. Videos above 720P resolutions stuttered and skipped frames more than was acceptable.

Videos stored on the phone or streamed off of the video site Youtube were all that is available currently to use with the HDMI Port. So any movies or television shows that you want to watch on the go need to fit on your Micro-SD card beforehand. Overall there was no settings within the menus or application control of how the HDMI performed.

Suprisingly applications that you would expect to work such as private streaming apps, Slingbox Mobile, and even your stored photos cannot be viewed through the connection. However, there is a slight workaround for photos if they are placed within a slideshow.

As to be expected the best looking videos we played using the phone were cell animated television shows and movies. They upscale really well because of the lack of extreme detail. Animated content as small as 500 by 280 upscaled to near perfect 720P.

Which is great since this 4G phone only outputs at it’s native 720P resolution no matter what content you throw at it. The volume of the content is controlled by the normal volume slider on the phone’s side. Also it takes several moments to switch from phone mode to outputting in HDMI mode. This causes you to miss several opening seconds of your content.

Video recorded and played back with the 8 Megapixel inbuilt camera looked exceptional on the phone’s 4.3 inch display, but a little ugly when output to a television. There was constant stuttering and several dropped frames which is unsettling.

Overall, the HTC Evo’s HDMI offering is acceptable at best. Sure it is an exciting new feature but it just has very few practicle uses considering the limitations. Possibly in the future when the phone receives a needed upgrade it will get some much needed use. Depending on your output display and the encoding settings of your video files you may greatly enjoy this feature. Right now there are to many what if’s and maybe’s to reliably suggest.

Sprint’s Meteor Of The Smartphone Generation

Sprint unvelied it’s HTC EVO 4G recently. This is a big phone made by a little Taiwanese company. How exactly the smartphone will come packaged is still a mystery: Sprint still neglects to set a price for the phone, but we do know it will hit store shelves tomorrow, June 4th.

This HTC EVO Review will tell you a little about this Google Android OS powered device. Which can connect the the web faster than any existing phone on the market.

The HTC EVO 4G is loaded to the brim with a heaping amount of firepower. 4G delivers speeds up to ten times faster than the 3G network can handle. This is broadband speed on your mobile phone, and the EVO is the first handset to support it. The WiMAX netowrk has been growing massively lately, with plans to expand into over twenty-nine major markets by the end of the year.

Dan Hesse has said some bold things regarding the recent EVO release. “We plan to continue to lead with 4G into the coming decades since it’s an experience like nothing else, Sprint’s CEO, loudly proclaimed. “It is a complete feature strong handset which is the first of it’s kind to gain 4G capabilities with movies, music, and more.” But who is to say that it will live up to the hype.

The HTC EVO leads the pack in the hardware area as well. With dual cameras on the phone the EVO comes with a 1.3 MP camera on the front and a 8MP camera on the back. You can shoot video of your destinations and a travel log of how excited you are at the same time.

The phone also sports a high resolution 4.3 inch touch screen. This phone’s father the Nexus One also carries the extreme 1GHZ Snapdragon Qualcomm processor. This is great for video playback.

Now with 4G and High Definition video recording your slow Youtube uploads and encodes will soon be way behind us. Facebook, Myspace, and other multimedia sites will soon fly. Plus soon you will be able to video call and stream LIVE with a program called Qik.

The phone even supports an HDMI out cable so that you can watch your videos and media on your television.

Is the HTC EVO 4G ready for our current market? Can Sprint turn it into the success that it needs?

The EVO is primed to be an IPhone killer with all the features that phones will start carrying far into the future. Don’t think. Head down to your local Sprint and pick one up.

HTC Camera In-Depth Review

I recently obtained an HTC EVO 4G from Google I/O and have been using it on my recent vacation. I have taken quite a few shots and will attempt to showcase the smartphone’s capabilities.


The EVO has an 8-Megapixel camera, as well as, a LED flash so that your pictures turn out fantastic. Take a look at the images below and post a response in the comments on what you think. Now on to the review:

The on-board camera takes amazing day and afternoon shots and far outdid my wildest expectations. The photos came out crisp and saturated which is quite unusual for a smartphone camera. The photos were so sharp that I wondered if there was some sort of physics trickery going on within the lens.

Depending on the conditions your photos will turn out in a multitude of differnt ways. If you are in the dark your pictures will not turn out as good as you might hope. So this still is not a replacement for a standalone camera.


The camera auto-focuses fast and sharp simply by pressing a finger against the touchscreen. With a 2-Way light emitting diode flash it can brighten up and take quality pictures in some dark spaces.

One flash focuses the camera on the object or person, while the second flash illuminates the subject for the shutter. This is great for candid party shots or night vacation photography.

So, what about the slow processing speed? How do we overcome that? Simple. With a 1GHz Snapdragon processor similar to the one seen in the Nexus One takes very fast and snappy pictures. Very little to no lag even when the phone is under load. The software is on the Google Android Operating System which is constantly getting improvements.

Sadly switching between the two cameras that the phone sports takes far to long at this stage. Hopefully we will see some software updates soon to remedy this. The good news is that the software supports a Widescreen shooting mode which will add an interesting edge to your videos and photos.

The camera can see resolutions as high as 3264 by 1952 when using the 8 Megapixel camera in Widescreen Mode. The camera can see 3264 by 2448 when in the square photo mode. This gives you a lot of resolution to work with especially for post-processing.

With an ISO at around 100 and going all the way to twelve fifty. The 1.3 Megapixel camera goes all the way to 1280 by 960 resolution.

Sometimes and quite annoyingly I sometimes touched the ‘touch-sensitive’ buttons on accident. This opened random applications and widgets on my phone. One time I even accidently called someone. This should be fixed in a future software version.

All in all, the HTC EVO 4G won’t replace your stand-alone camera but it comes a lot closer than any mobile phone before it.

Start Your Engines- June 4th Is Here

The first, and only, 4G cell phone hits the shelves today. We decided that it was best to make sure our readers are still informed. Just in case you have been living in a cave all year, let me recap what this phone is all about.

The HTC EVO 4G is the first phone to have WiMax capabilities. This handset will work on a much faster network, opening up so many avenues. Sprint has been working on 4G for a few years and now is promising to have the network up to 44 markets and 120 million potential customers. This is incredible news for the technology industry. The EVO is so far ahead of anything that is available at this time.

For one the phone has 4G, secondly the phone works as a mobile hotspot for up to 8 wireless devices. The EVO has brought two devices together and made them much cheaper to own. It will be like carrying about cable internet in your pocket. The phone is possible of download speeds of more than 10Mbps, that is 2 to 3 times faster than the current 3G network.

EVO has so many other features; a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera, 8.0 megapixel camera capable of capturing video in HD, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and so many more. The duel camera is a feature that is sure to spark many amazing applications. The possibility of video calls is sure to set the market on fire.

The HTC EVO continues to amazing with more features such as the vivid 4.3 inch WVGA touchscreen, the ability to choose between HTC Sense UI or the original Android OS, a kickstand, and much more. No longer will you be stifled when you want to send pictures of high quality. It will be effortless with 4G.

Another amazing feature is the new Friend Stream application. Friend Stream brings all of your social networks and chats into one easy to use place. The EVO also gives you quick access back to the home screen when you wish to get out of apps by hitting the Home button. If you hit the button twice you will open up a screen that allows you to switch easily from screen to screen.

Don’t forget about the kickstand. That one small feature will allow you to watch Sprint Tv and YouTube without having to figure out some way to keep you phone up. I am so glad to not have that annoyance any more. You will be glad that HTC has made the scrolling so smooth in the EVO. It feels like an appendage of your finger when you swipe on the screen. I do have to say that with all of these great features, there has to be something bad. The only bad thing I have found is the battery life of the handset. With all of the amazing features it should be expected, but I was really hoping to not have that as an issue.

I hope that everyone is able to get out to the stores and pick up Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G. I will be in line, and I hope to see you there as well.

Worth A Contract?

What’s large, blazing quick, and it’s amazing enough to talk us into a 2 year contract with Sprint? I have to talking about the new HTC EVO 4G. This phone is a beast of a handset; and that’s putting it lightly. This phone stole the show at CTIA and is set to hit the shelve on June 4th. Will you be there? I think you should. You don’t want to miss out on a phone like this one.

The potential behind this phone is great. EVO tears through the competition with features like a 4.3 inch touchscreen, custom interface called HTC Sense UI, 8 megapixel camera, and I can go on for a bit. This phone takes the best out of HTC’s handsets and makes a fool of the Hero. With a 1GHz Snapdragon process and 4G how could it not be the best phone on the market.

I do have to say that WiMax is not the best yet. It is going to be a stuggle getting the network off of the ground. Sprint led the pack on digital, but can they do it again with this break through technology. I can only hope they pull through on the promise of having 44 markets in the upcoming year. If Sprint does, that will mean the 120 million people will have access to the 4G network.

HTC EVO 4G is going to be the first of Sprint’s phones to be able to use voice services and internet services. This is due to the fact that the handset, has both, 4G and EVDO Rev. A. This is a game changing event for Sprint. EVO is breaking ground on this new feature for CDMA customers. It will be interesting to see how Sprint reacts when LTE comes out by 2011. Sprint claims they will make the transition if needed.

You should be a little concered at the battery life on the handset. It is not the best, but it is expected due to the numerous features that the EVO offers. This phone will be a daily charge. The monthly pricing is a concern as well. Sprint will offer the handset to customers that have, at least, the $69.99 Everything Data 450 plan. To use 4G you will have to hand over $10 more a month. This is a little nickel and dime, but if the phone utilizes the network, it will be well worth the extra cost.

Read Write Web

Hitting the shelves this June 4th, only for Sprint, the EVO will leave you speechless; loaded with any, and everything, that you would want. How does a mobile hotspot with dual cameras, a HDMI output and FM tuner sound?

After the announcement at CTIA, we were left practically breathless at the specs. But is it worth it?

You will get a chance to decide for yourself after taking a look at the pros and cons list below.

Pros

The pros list is easy – it’s a list of what the EVO offers:
* 8.0 megapixel camera
* 4G (via WiMAX)
* HDMI out to your HDTV
* 1 GHz Snapdragon processor
* Wi-Fi
* 4.3-inch screen
* FM tuner
* 720p video recording and playback
* 1 GB built-in memory
* Option to pick either the Sense UI or the stock Android experience
* Live video sharing via Qik
* Mobile hotspot capability for up to 8 Wi-Fi enabled devices
* Visual voicemail
* 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera
* microSD card slot
* GPS, compass, proximity and motion sensors
* Sprint apps (Sprint TV, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile)
* Social networking integration and access to Android Market’s 30,000 plus apps
* 512 MB RAM

Cons

Personal taste aside, the EVO has more pros than cons. Some might say that having Adobe Flash, a built in kickstand, and the data plan pricing are major cons, but again this is mostly personal taste. Why would Adobe Flash be considered a con? Well if you enjoy decent battery life then you might as well never use the internet, as this will eat your battery considerably. Sprint has not anounced if the all inclusive $99.99 plan is going to include the hotspot, but I would assume that this feature will indeed cost the extra fee per month.

Some might view the price of the EVO as a con, at the almost $200 mark, but with all pros the device is priced competitively.

Pricing

If you want to experience EVO then you will have to have, at least, the Everything Data 450 plan. The plan starts at $69.99 a month and if you want 4G then you will have to shell out $10 dollars more. Not only will you be paying for the 4G, but if you plan on using the phone as a hotspot expect to pay an extra $29.99 for that service. You should take into consideration that this is much cheaper than having the phone plus a data card.

4G Coverage

Does your city have 4G? If not, you might want to reconsider paying the extra price for the handset. Sprint is continuing to build out the 4G network, but it will take time. Sprint has released that at least 18 new cities will be getting 4G by this summer. You can find a list of the cities on Sprint’s website.

Getting the Rebate

If you are not keen on mail in rebates you should consider making your purchase from retailers such as Best Buy or Radio Shack instead of the Sprint corperate stores. It is a considerable trade off, but if you choose to purchase from a Sprint store you can expect better service and “Ready Now” to have you understanding the phone. If you do not mind waiting for the rebate, I would consider purchasing from them. Radio Shack also has a great deal if you choose to preorder the EVO. If you go that route you will receive a $20 gift card that can be used on accessory purchases.

Worth It?

After looking at the price, both monthly and device, is it really worth it? The device has tons of features, but does it add up to the cost. And what about when Android goes 2.2? It has been stated that the next version will have the ability to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots.

Despite everything, this device looks great. I plan on purchasing one for myself, if that means anything.

June 4th!

After all the hype and speculation, the day has finally been anounced; June 4th is the offical release date of Sprint’s HTC EVO. Users will be impressed with all of the features that the EVO is bringing to the table. EVO will have a 4.3 multitouch screen with an updated verion of HTC’s Sense UI. The EVO also have HTC’s most recent release of the Android OS, 2.1. With the large display, variety of video codecs, and a kickstand the device is sure to be a success with video fanatics.

The improvements to the Sense UI, similar to that of the Legend and Desire, is expected to be a smash with new features. A major improvement is the feature known as Leap; a new multitasking element. Leap is somewhat simliar to Palm’s Web OS card feature. Like the Palm OS you will be able to open 7 screens and close out applications that you are not using.

The EVO will also have a 1GHz processor known as Snapdragon. This processsor is also on the Nexus One. The handset will also have duel cameras, one being an 8-megapixel camera and the other a 1.3-megapixel. The phone is also capable of HD video recording.

A new feature to Android, called Friend Steam, will allow users to view updates to things such as, links, pictures, and status updates of their friends.

With Sprint’s transition to the new 4G network, we expect great things out of the EVO. Sprint has states that users can expect download speeds up to 10 times faster than that of the 3G network. Until recent, Sprint has only offered mobile broadband cards and modems that use the network. Sprint is continuing to grow the 4G network with 18 cities being added this summer.