The anticipation for a Windows phone loaded with a snapdragon processor built into a fever pitch especially after it was released by HTC to consumers in Europe. Naturally it was a priority on my ‘to-do’ list when it was finally released on T-mobile just around a month ago. After spending some quality time with the device I’ve found myself disappointed once again.
The lightning fast processor allows you to navigate thru the screens in the windows mobile 6.5 HTC sense UI without a problem. However after spending most of my time roaming on T-mobile’s EDGE network I have found the internet surfing to be a frustrating waste of time unless I’m in a Wi-Fi hotspot. All of that despite T-mobile’s claim that I live and work in areas that have good coverage. Still, there are a lot of great features to this new phone; Google maps and Gtalk, enhanced calendar functions, 5 megapixel camera w/flash, the new “swipe” keyboard, and old favorites such as “windows my phone” and office mobile.
The first thing that grabs your attention is the 4.3 inch crystal clear touch screen. This screen makes watching movies and MobiTV a great experience. With the current technology the battery life is such that you will have to find a charger at some point shortly thereafter if you want to use your phone for anything else. The 5 megapixel camera takes the best day or night photos of any camera phone that I’ve ever used. Pair that with the stock 16 gig micro SD card and you won’t have any trouble with storage space.
The Microsoft my phone wireless backup feature has been available for some time now and in my opinion offers superior restore support by backing up files such as notes, photos, text messages and the old favorite, contacts and calendar entries. This is where the other guys at Google and Palm come up short. This feature is free to anyone with a Hotmail or Live email address and even offers remote delete enhancing the security functionality of the phone.
The few problem areas that I have found revolved around the phone freezing up within text messages and the music player. The end result will be a power cycle (power button reset). While the reboot doesn’t take too long, it is a hassle. This is especially so when you’re trying to respond to an important message. Once in awhile the freeze up will cause the power button to become unresponsive forcing you to pull the battery to complete the power cycle. This has exposed a major design flaw in that if you are not careful when putting the battery back in, it is possible to bend the middle pin upwards so that it no longer makes contact to the battery. The phone will still power on after this, however it will no longer charge.
Overall it’s a great phone with just a few quirks that you will need to adapt to. If you’re a typical user and plan on keeping your phone for years to come you should consider waiting for this fall and the expected release of windows phone 7 and not waste your time with this worn out 6.5 platform. For die hard WinMo fans, such as myself, who replace their device every time a new one is released this is a must have and you will want to pick this one up.
Accessories: Grab the slick that you see in the picture up top. Under $6
