Unwired View
When a company names one its key products after an adjective that describes how wonderful the product supposed to be, it makes you wonder that company compensating something. What exactly missing that product that makes the company feel like it has to tell you how to feel about it?
This was my first impression upon hearing about HTC Droid Incredible. If HTC feels like its best marketing strategy is name it something as extravagant as Incredible, chances are will come out review feeling exact opposite. Samsung employed same strategy with Impression; these kinds names make manufacturer sound cocky.
The difficulty the Incredible was that, according to the official specs sheet, it really SHOULD Incredible. Everything about this Android 2.1 smartphone just appeared great on paper. But how did it hold up after using it for week half? All all, it turns out that the device lived up to its name many categories. Let's dig deeper.
Verizon HTC Droid Incredible video overview
Design of the HTC Droid Incredible
Heard One & Co.? Don't feel ashamed you haven't; it's a design firm acquired by HTC near end 2008 in an effort HTC change its image and come out fresh and innovative-looking handsets. If you remember crazy design on back HTC Touch Diamond, then you've seen some One & Co's craft. The Incredible another example, and its unique design clearly evident.
There are several aspects of the Incredible's design worth noting and commenting on, so we'll start with the basics. Upon viewing the Incredible we were graced with a 3.7? capacitive touchscreen that, upon using, feels very responsive. Most activities were done rather smoothly and without issue, with one exception: noticed that the touchscreen didn't seem properly calibrated when would try to click a small link; even though my finger would touching the correct spot it would at times register my touch just a few millimeters below that spot. This became annoying when looking up certain sites the web, such as Google Reader. Beyond that small inconvenience, however, the touchscreen worked wonderfully.
The Incredible is very natural fit in my hand. It doesn't feel too bulky or out place in any way. It sizes up at 4.63 inches tall by 2.3 inches wide by 0.47 inch thick and weighs 4.59 ounces. The device itself is narrower than iPhone, making screen feel little more cramped left right, but that didn't present any sort problem me. In fact, thought it fit even more comfortably in my hand than iPhone does.
I loved how thin phone is. There no bulky feeling when handling phone, whether I'm talking or just scrolling through various screens.
I would say most unique aspect of phone's design its back. Like Touch Diamond, design unlike anything we've seen before on phone. The back bit bumpy and actually has three different levels, highest part of back taking up most space middle. This where 8 MP camera and accompanying flash found, as well as obligatory HTC and Google logos. Since picture says thousand words, picture below will best way for me to describe its shape.
The cover can be opened up from narrow notch found at bottom of phone. It's not easiest cover to take off, presumably because of back's design. The best method to start at notch detach it clockwise, little at time. Removing cover can be almost blinding, as entire back (including battery) bright red. We find 1300 mAh battery MicroSD slot (fortunately accessible on side of phone, not under battery itself), as well as camera.
In terms other outside componentry, we find 3.5 mm headphone jack and power button on top (acting as both screen lock and full power on/off), and simple volume up/down and MicroUSB charging port on left.
In attempt maintain simplicity, bottom right side have absolutely no buttons whatsoever. On front there an optical joystick four buttons that touch-sensitive instead physical — home, menu, previous screen, search. These buttons will only be accessible when screen turned on. The optical joystick also nice alternative navigating screens, as you can use joystick by simply brushing your finger across it whichever direction you need to.
Since there no physical keyboard, extra consideration on-screen keyboard must given. HTC opted throw its own keyboard instead relying stock Android. The keys vibrate default when touched, indicating you actually typing something. Fortunately, you're not fan that feature or just trying conserve battery life, this can turned off phone's settings. Overall keyboard was comfortable use, though found it rather easy touch wrong keys time time. Because this always bound happen, even you best on-screen typist, keyboard includes predictive text feature that gives you 3-4 other ideas words that you may have been trying type. It also predicts certain words before you type entire thing instance, typing "are" gave me an option type "aren't". This capability allowed me type faster than could typical Android keyboard.
The touch screen itself can somewhat picky. Even after calibrating touchscreen my own style and method, still found at times that would try touch a certain link screen thought was touching a different link that was nearby. After a while got used this happening and adjusted my method using screen, would prefer see it adjust me, not other way around.
An extra note about the screen: it looks more narrow than other competing phones such as the EVO 4G or iPhone, that didn't hinder my experience or make it uncomfortable any way. still felt that scrolling pinch-to-zoom (among other things) were just as easy on the Incredible as it on phones wider screens.
User Interface of the HTC Droid Incredible
The HTC Sense UI appears to be universally accepted as the best custom Android UI the market, enjoyed my experience with it. Most custom UI's tend to make the Android OS worse, usually due to being slower buggier, adding unnecessary screens, or limiting the types activities you can do with Android. Sense offers UI that's more user-friendly has better integration with those features that the OS already has.
After turning the Droid Incredible, was treated lock screen that need slide my finger down order unlock it. The device comes with default UI "Scene" though Sense gives you several different scenes choose from. Each scene different what offered the 7 home screen panels. This amount of customization important me, because like the ability change the look feel of the UI adjust my tastes. If there's certain widget or screen don't like, want have the opportunity get rid of it or at least change it something else. Fortunately the Sense UI gives me full control of that customization.
The Droid Incredible uses the new updated Sense that was announced February at Mobile World Congress. So far we've seen this UI update show up the Legend Desire, both which were also announced at MWC as well, this the first we've seen it device sold US carrier.
The update adds weather animations illustrate the current weather your area, whether you're at home or traveling. If it's cloudy, wispy clouds will pass over the screen when it's first unlocked. From the main screen can either scroll left/right other screens, or can use the new Leap option. By hitting Home or doing pinch-to-zoom, was treated thumbnail images all 7 home screen panels. Touch whichever panel you want, you "leap" that screen instantly.
Other updates include Group Contacts, which frankly puzzles me that this hasn't actually been available most smartphones first place. Group Contacts gives me option of separating all of my contacts into separate groups, whether it be friends, family, work, etc.
The new Sense also throws feature called Friend Stream, which takes all your social networking updates combines them into one feed.
I love having the ability make my own folders which I can put whatever Market apps I want. One my favorite customizable features, however, is adding widgets. Many my most-used apps or features can accessible the main screen with widgets. For instance, I can put toggle switches things like Bluetooth and WiFi one my home screen panels, instead having dive through 3 settings menus do the exact same thing. This is huge difference-maker me.
Features of HTC Droid Incredible
Diving more into the actual specs features of the phone, I have determined that the Droid Incredible offers top-of-the-line specs while keeping the cost competitive with other smartphones that can't keep up with what the Incredible has.
The Incredible uses Snapdragon 1 GHz CPU throws in 512 MB ROM 512 MB RAM, turning device into one fastest most responsive smartphones have ever used. rarely had wait longer than 1-2 seconds when switching screens check email, texts, Twitter updates, or even going into internet. Simple activities such as using pinch-to-zoom were amazingly smooth with faster CPU inside, which just helped solidify user experience.
Another top-notch component 8 MP camera dual LED flash and autofocus.
I took several pictures both inside outside for the most part the pictures came out crisp sharp. Sure there was the occasional fuzzy picture that didn't look quite right, generally one or two quick retakes would resolve that problem. Below are some examples of pictures taken the Incredible's camera.
There also lot of available memory up for grabs. 8 GB included phone already, has MicroSD expansion that potentially can add up 32 GB more. Not only does this give vast majority of Droid users more than enough storage space for music, movies apps, imagine how much better it will be once Incredible can be updated Android 2.2 Froyo, when it will have support of Simplify Media's streaming media services.
One of my absolute favorite features Incredible speech-to-text capability. The keyboard that pops up when composing a message features a key bottom left that resembles a mic; simple press mic and start speaking, and include words describe punctuation. For instance, say phrase "hi, how are you?" you just need say "hi comma how are you question mark". found this very handy use. And frankly, it's easy enough hit backspace once delete whole thing and just try again.
Emailing breeze with the Droid Incredible. Multiple email accounts can set up universal inbox and virtually every type email account supported. This includes Exchange, PỌ, and IMAP. was able sync my Gmail exchange calendar and contacts easily and without incident, and added an extra Gmail account as well as Yahoo and Hotmail.
HTC has few apps integrated with the Incredible that help enhance the Android experience, such as Footprints. This app adds geotags to your photos lets you add other relevant information to each photo. Essentially the goal of Footprints is to turn each photo into its own digital postcard. also noticed Peep, HTC-developed Twitter app. Peep was actually rather nice to use, though still prefer using other third-party Twitter apps through the Android Market. With Peep on, this would give me double notifications whenever somebody responded to one of my tweets or sent me DM. Naturally this got bit annoying for me, so had to limit my Twitter apps to just one.
The Incredible also throws FM radio top of support for most music video file formats codecs (MP3, WAV, WMA, MP4, 3GP, WMV, name few).
I was glad see threaded conversations text messaging. The threads aren't designed any creative or peculiar way; no comic speech bubbles as iPhone, instance. It's just a simple list view each text conversation. It does show pictures those who you're interacting with, however.
The default internet browser is Webkit-based, uses pinch-to-zoom. As noted before, the pinch-to-zoom was incredibly smooth the browser was very convenient. When text is zoomed in, it wraps fit the screen. In other words, have zoom view sites that use smaller text, it doesn't force me scroll left right just read the entire text; all have do is scroll up down because the new size text fits the screen no matter what. The one downside this, however, is that pictures aren't fitted screen when zoomed just causes the pictures look more pixelated fuzzy.
Fortunately speech-to-text capability is built into web browser as well. When touching search soft key bottom right phone itself, you're presented with google search bar and mic button its right. said "unwired view dot com" and sure enough, was offered Google search results page complete with unwiredview.com as number one option. This was actually much faster and easier than if had go into browser separately and type it in.
Note that mentioned this is default browser. There several alternatives available through Android market, so don't hesitate check all them out in an effort find your favorite.
Last but not least, the phone app itself should be mentioned. Sense UI puts the phone app conveniently large button the bottom the screen, then opens up to show address book the top number keypad the bottom. The keys huge should not give you any concern about dialing the wrong number. For added assistance, smart dial is featured in the app. This enables you to start typing the call recipient's name the address book will filter it you. This is nothing new, but is always welcome. The Droid Incredible also has 3-way calling, speed dials, voice command, speakerphone.
An extra phone-related feature is Verizon's new Skype mobile service, offered front center Verizon's very own Android Market channel. Skype can be used 3G as well as WiFi, any Skype-to-Skype calls won't count towards your monthly minute allotment. Skype also offers some great international rates, so we highly recommend using this service instead calling international long distance using just Verizon's network.
My major beef with Incredible native multimedia support. The music player only featured as a home screen panel one or two scenes, and otherwise needs brought main screen as a widget, which seems a little weird me. The fact that have download 3rd-party apps just enable device sync up with my computer seems absurd me. While can still connect my computer via USB and do drag-and-drop, it seems as though Google or HTC would have a better alternative than this.
Performance Droid Incredible
Running Verizon's network, never had any doubt that Droid Incredible would make good quality calls. Obviously Verizon known its coverage and call quality, so that's given almost every phone network offers. The one exception this, however, was that Incredible's antenna. While hardly dropped any calls or had any interrupted service, low reception Incredible sure made me nervous at times. Checking others who have reviewed phone and some who use it as their primary device, know that wasn't only one who had same concern. NEVER saw reception my Incredible go above 2 bars. Regardless, though, still didn't have any obvious static or fuzziness my calls. Quite frankly, it was rather bizarre. My opinion that phone showed lower reception than it was actually experiencing.
Battery life was okay. Rated at a talk time of 5.2 hours, the Incredible lived up to the rating. could go a full day without charging it up, provided was only using it moderately. Whenever used it for constant emailing, web surfing, and doing other random tasks on the device, it definitely did not last all day. This will an important thing to keep mind you plan on using it nonstop throughout your workday. Expect the talk time to last roughly 5.5 hours, and mixed usage to last anywhere between 15-20 hours.
One limitation the Verizon network is that you cannot use both voice and 3G data at the same time. You're fine if you are connected WiFi network, so try find one nearby if at all possible.
I loved quickness device due its Snapdragon processor. Everything was speedy and snappy, and felt same Verizon's 3G internet speeds as well. On 3G achieved speeds 1.15 Mbps down and .41 up; over my home's WiFi connection got 2.0 Mbps down and 1.02 Mbps up. Was it 4G fast? No, phone still did good job accessing most websites as quickly as needed.
Streaming radio and video was a breeze both WiFi and Verizon's network. was able use apps like Pandora and Podkast without having wait for music buffer. used my Skullcandy in-ear headphones Droid Incredible listen podcasts, music, and YouTube, and was impressed audio quality.
Even without headphones in, phone's speaker was rather loud when making calls and listening music. never had worry about not being able hear my calls a noisy environment.
Final Thoughts the HTC Droid Incredible
My final thoughts on Incredible similar my first impressions. was very satisfied in using Incredible. It was quick, snappy, used intuitive user interface that made it incredibly easy use and customize, and had top-of-the-line specs that were out this world. couldn't find anything that was truly lacking on Incredible, and feel that HTC was able make product that lives up its arrogant name.
This is third phone in Droid series far surpassed first two in specs overall performance. It has been my favorite Android handset review so far (I am still expecting review EVO 4G soon). This doesn't mean it is without flaws, as there isn't phone this planet that doesn't have something improve on. For instance, multimedia could have better presence home screen panels should be much easier sync up with my computer without having search around for third party app.
To me, though, that is small gripe when compared capabilities phone otherwise. HTC is clearly doing wonderful job establishing successful Android presence an incredibly competitive market, and that will help company go very long way.
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