Verizon Finally Announces First Windows Phone 7 Device, HTC Trophy

Verizon's first Windows Phone 7 device, the HTC Trophy, goes on sale at Verizon's online store on May 26 and in brick-and-mortar stores on June 2.

The 3G device costs $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year contract. If you buy one before July 15, Verizon will throw in a free Xbox 360 game: either Halo: Reach, Kinect Sports, or Lode Runner.

The media-centric device features a 1-GHz Snapdragon processor, surround sound through SRS WOW HD, 3.8-inch WVGA touch screen, 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and 720p HD video capture, 16 GB of storage, Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 b/g/n). It's also quad-band and will work in more than 200 countries, Verizon said in a press release.

Verizon's first WP7 device has been whispered about since last November, when Engadget saw a leaked pamphlet revealing the HTC Trophy was coming in "early" 2011; a week later, a Verizon spokeswoman denied that the carrier was unveiling a WP7 phone in the near future, despite a (since deleted) tweet from the @windowsphone Twitter account saying the phones would be in stores by December 2010.

Verizon has made it clear in previous earnings reports that its priorities lie in iOS and Android devices.

On Thursday a Gartner report showed that consumers were continuing to snap up Android and Apple iOS mobile operating systems, but Windows Phone 7 sales were still weak, estimating 1.6 million units sold in the first quarter. Even though Nokia's deal with Microsoft could help boost WP7 sales, Gartner said, the first WP7-based Nokia phone probably won't hit stores until next year.

PCmag

Android 2.3 test for HTC Thunderbolt leaks out

An early indication that an official Android 2.3 build for the HTC Thunderbolt is indeed coming soon comes in the form of a test build of the software now available for download. Hosted by 911 Sniper, the test build is a big hint that HTC is working hard to meet its June 30 deadline for the launch of the official OS for this smartphone. Not much else is known about the test OS at this point, including how difficult it is to install on Thunderbolt handsets.

With the upcoming official update, the Thunderbolt will get better support for the front-facing camera, better power management, built-in voice over IP calling, and a better media framework that includes AAC encoding and overall WebM support, among other improvements.

Electronista

HTC Flyer goes on sale in Europe

The 7-inch HTC Flyer Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) tablet is now on sale in Europe. The device is shipping in two models, one a 16GB Wi-Fi only and a 32GB Wi-Fi plus 3G version. The tablet is shipping with the Magic Pen, unlike Best Buy in the US, which will be selling the stylus as an $80 extra.

Although limited by running Android 2.3, when many other newly shipping tablets are equipped with Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), the tablet offers the ability work with a stylus as well as through capacitive touch input. Another potential drawback is that the tablet is shipping with a single-core Snapdragon processor, but it is clocked at a fast 1.5GHz.

It also ulitizes HTC�s customized Sense 3.0 UI, while 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP provide connectivity. The included onboard memory is expandable through a microSD slot. The front camera is 1.3-megapixels, while the rear is 5.0-megapixels. Codec support includes AAC, AMR, OGG, M4A, MP3, WMA, WAV, 3GP, 3G2, MP4, WMV, AVI and XVID.

The 16GB version of the HTC Flyer will soon be shipping in the States for $499.

Electronista

HTC Thunderbolt Review

HTC Thunderbolt Report

The wait is finally over for Verizon Wireless's first 4G LTE smartphone! Say hello to the HTC Thunderbolt, which will be taking advantage of the company's new 4G LTE network. After reviewing AT&T's Inspire 4G, which is cut from nearly the same cloth, it was apparent that Verizon customers were the lucky ones based on the Thunderbolt's overall package. Not only does it connect to Verizon's new 4G LTE network, but the HTC Thunderbolt actually offered some significantly advanced features when compared to its AT&T cousin. Competing smartphones should be sweating copiously with the release of the Thunderbolt, which offers 40GB of storage out of the box, a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera with skype video chat on the rise, kickstand, and access to the burgeoning Android Market. The HTC Thunderbolt is not the most groundbreaking device on the planet, but we found it to rank amongst the top smartphones in its time. Join us on our hunt for the storm as we chase the Thunderbolt (specs) throughout the InfoSync labs.

Design

From a head-on perspective, the HTC Thunderbolt is almost identical to the HTC Inspire 4G. We're assaulted by a sizable 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen display and a panel of haptic feedback buttons: Home, Menu, Back, and Search. Just like the Inspire 4G, the phone's screen was highly sensitive and offered an impressive graphics spread. However, the Thunderbolt strays from the Inspire by embedding a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera next to the handset speaker. At some point, users will be able to take advantage of video calling via skype, but that wasn't available to us just yet. To compliment the front-facing camera, the phone is equipped with an 8-megapixel primary camera on the back with 720p HD video recording capability and a dual LED flash.

Aside from the front-facing camera, the phone is a memory machine compared to the Inspire 4G. Out of the box, we get a whopping 32GB MicroSD card and 8GB of internal storage, bringing the total to 40GB from the starting line! The HTC Inspire 4G has 4GB of internal space and an 8GB MicroSD card, offering a net of 12GB out of the box. For the multimedia junkie, the Thunderbolt packs in one of the largest storage capacities in its class. Unfortunately, accessing the MicroSD card on the Thunderbolt means removing the battery�something we didn't have to accomplish on the Inspire 4G, thanks to its separate compartments. Therefore, we found it was best to connect the phone to a computer via the included USB cable for drag-and-drop action.

Lastly, you'll notice that the phone has a kickstand for propping the phone up while watching movies and playing certain games. Not only that, but we truly dig the Thunderbolt's style, flaunting a gunmetal gray and matte black color combination with stainless metal kickstand running across like a belt. The Thunderbolt also offers the standard architectural fanfare, including a 3.5mm audio jack, volume control rocker, open USB terminal, and Power/Lock switch. Portability wise, the phone is slightly thicker than the HTC Inspire 4G, but we prefer its looks over its AT&T cousin any day.

Software and Interface

The HTC Thunderbolt is equipped with a 1GHz Snapdragon MSM8655 chipset with the Adreno 205 GPU for improved graphics and video hardware acceleration, which is the same configuration found in the Inspire 4G. More common traits consist of the Thunderbolt's Android 2.2 OS with the latest iteration of HTC Sense. It's worth noting that the phone will receive an Android 2.3 upgrade within the near future, an OS tweak that we praised on the Nexus S. Let's just say the Thunderbolt was one of the faster smartphones we've tested, enabling us to fly through screens and pages effortlessly.

But the star of the show was HTC Sense. The latest version of the highly acclaimed interface offered more versatility in the appearance department via the Personalize feature. Here we could choose from various Scenes, which acted like profiles that were tailored to a particular user's interests. Social, Work, Play, and Travel were some options offered by HTC, and we could also apply Skins (Themes) that customized the entire look of the phone. In fact, when we tap and hold on one of the Thunderbolt's 7 home screens, the Personalize screen pops up, offering Widgets, Applications, Shortcuts, Folders, and even Sound Settings.

We got Leap, which allowed us to pinch and zoom a home screen to display all home screens minimized at once, and HTC Sense offered its famous Weather widget with live weather updates and animation. We really liked the fact that the dropdown menu displayed our most recently opened applications, and Androids Manage Applications program enabled us to kill programs that were hanging around and chomping memory and battery life. Overall, the HTC Sense experience was seamless and refined�certainly an example of premiere phone software.

Internet

Thanks to Android 2.2 with Flash 10.1 support, our browsing experience was enhanced with the ability to view flash content right from within the browser. For instance, we could load one of our reviews and watch the embedded YouTube video right on the page without a hitch. Audio matched up perfectly, and we could even pinch and zoom while watching. The HTC Sense experience fortified our browsing experience with a robust Bookmarks menu and the ability to scroll through open windows. Bookmarks included Favorites and History, controlled via a virtual sliding switch with flawless graphics.

Search allowed us to not only search our phone for anything, but the Internet as well, so it was more of a universal experience. We will say that our HTC Thunderbolt review unit froze while we were jumping between windows, and the phone needed a restart in order to get back on track. We're hoping that the Thunderbolt used its "Get Out of Jail Free" card with that unfortunate behavior, but based on the random glitches we found on the HTC Inspire 4G, it looks as though it might be more of a normal occurrence.

Multimedia and Productivity

The Android Market was readily available to handle all of our gaming and application needs, belonging to a giant library of titles that seems to be increasing the quality of its content. 3D gaming was a snap for the HTC Thunderbolt, and the phone offered DLNA for wirelessly streaming to digital home devices. With 40GB of storage, the HTC Thunderbolt rocked for compiling giant movie libraries and storing ample music titles. Social networking was taken care of by the FriendStream widget, which acted as a live stream of status updates, and we could keep a Rolodex of our favorite contacts thanks to the Favorites widget.

In addition to Google, Verizon Wireless' new 4G LTE smartphone gave us Flickr, Skype, Facebook, AIM, and other IM programs that could only be used as part of a My Verizon profile. Skype will offer video calling down the line, but we'll have to wait for it, and that's going to be one of the highlight features on the Thunderbolt. Lastly, the phone had QuickOffice for modifying Microsoft Office documents, and Exchange Email support. The bottom line is that the HTC Thunderbolt is one equipped phone.

Call Quality/Battery Life

We had no major complaints with the call quality on our HTC Thunderbolt review unit, and actually preferred it over the HTC Inspire 4G on AT&T. That said, both phones exhibited a very similar battery performance, though the phone has a more superior 1400 mAh pack compared to the Inspire 4G's 1230 mAh juice box. Regardless, the phone will definitely need a daily charge, just like any high-end smartphone, and in some cases an additional charge throughout the day will be necessary.

Camera

One arena that the HTC Inspire 4G has the HTC Thunderbolt beat is the camera department. The phone has an 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and 720p HD video recording. When we looked at the diminutive size of the Thunderbolt's lens compared to the Inspire 4G, it was obvious that low light for the Thunderbolt would be taking a major hit. And it did. We tested the Thunderbolt against the Inspire 4G and HTC's new Arrive, and both phones offered twice the amount of exposure when the lights went out. Bright light shooting was great, however, and above many other phones in its class. However, you'll find that the flash will be needed very frequently on the HTC Thunderbolt.

We experienced the same phenomenon in video mode�bright light looked dandy while low light was exceedingly temperamental. Fortunately, the video light and touch focus could be employed while recording video, and that is a prime feature to have on a phone these days. However, the phone does not handle motion that well, especially in minimal/low lighting conditions. It's still a phone camera, while we look at the iPhone 4, which rivals certain point-and-shoot cameras. The HTC Thunderbolt does have a great shooting interface with Effects and control over Exposure, Sharpness, ISO, and more. The camera on the Thunderbolt is good, but the Inspire 4G holds the edge, thanks to its superior low light sensitivity.

HTC Thunderbolt � infoSync Diagnosis

Verizon's first 4G LTE phone is not too shabby at all. The phone joins one of the strongest data networks in the country and gives users 40GB of storage space out of the box. It has a front-facing camera, Android 2.2, HTC's beautiful Sense interface, and a kickstand to hang with the rest of the premiere multimedia smartphones. Yes, the phone is indeed a striking start for Verizon's LTE network, and will certainly be a hot seller this year.

We could have used some extra battery life and a camera with better low light sensitivity, but our main concern centered around the Thunderbolt's tendency to freeze randomly like a deer in the headlights. After spending over a month with the HTC Inspire 4G, we have seen the phone freeze or glitch up intermittently, but it's usually due to an unstable application. The fact that the Thunderbolt called it quits while we were browsing the Internet led us to proceed with caution when we were prepared to go balls to the wall with this phone.

Regardless, the phone is one of the best smartphones on the market, and will definitely fit the needs of those who live within LTE territory. With download speeds of 5 - 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 � 5 Mbps, the HTC Thunderbolt is the first of the soldiers on its way to 100/50 Mbps speeds Verizon Wireless hopes to one day offer. But for now, the Thunderbolt has struck, and the competition will be scrambling to clean up the debris.

Price and Release Date

The HTC Thunderbolt is available now from Verizon Wireless. It costs $250 with a new two-year contract.

Infosync

HTC HD7 Review

The HTC HD7 brings entertainment on the go to a whole new level. Is it enough to beat the EVO 4G and Droid X? Find out in our review.

HTC HD7 Report

The Windows Phone 7 fleet aims at delivering something for everyone. There's the HTC Surround for music lovers, LG Quantum for avid texters, and the Samsung Focus for style conscious users. With a massive 4.3-inch display, Dolby Mobile sound, an a kickstand, the HTC HD7 is an answer to Sprint's EVO 4G and Verizon's Droid X. Of course, those who are fond of the Windows Phone 7 experience and advanced mobile entertainment will want to look into the HTC HD7 for T-Mobile. The phone offers the largest virtual QWERTY out of the Windows Phone 7 family, and is designed to keep you entertained no matter where you go. Will the HTC HD7 have what it takes to defeat the EVO 4G and Droid X? Find out in this review.

Design

Without a doubt, the HTC HD7's 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen display steals the show. With such a monstrous screen engulfing the landscape of the phone's fa�ade, it is inherently obvious that the HTC HD7 is designed to be a mobile cinema, and the HD7 represents the largest screen on a Windows Phone 7 to date. It's got 16 million colors at a resolution of 800 x 480, and our experience viewing movies was top notch. The screen also offers the largest virtual QWERTY in the Windows Phone 7 lineup. However, just like our experience with the HTC Surround, the HD7's screen does not perform well while swiping and scrolling in the home screens. What happens is that text will become pixilated and translucent, which is highly disturbing. HTC needs to fix this screen bug, as this is not the first time we've encountered this problem.

The HTC EVO 4G and Motorola Droid X finally have some competition though, from Mr. Gates & Co., and the we know that HTC does not fool around when it comes to a quality portable multimedia machine. The HTC HD7 even incorporates a flip-out kickstand and features high quality Dolby Mobile and SRS WOW HD surround sound for an even richer experience. We will say that the HTC HD7 is one of the premiere multimedia devices on the market.

As far as the rest of the phone, the HTC HD7 is rather plain, sporting only a Power/Lock button, large Volume control, Camera button, USB terminal, and 3.5mm audio jack�a standard fleet of external controls. Being a Windows Phone 7, the HTC HD7 is slightly shafted when it comes to memory, relying on 16GB of NAND flash memory rather than support a removable MicroSD card. Stylistically, the HTC HD7 is one of the sexier phones on the market, featuring brushed metal inlays and a silver accent within the kickstand/camera lens region. The symmetrical headset and reciever bookend the giant screen unobtrusively, and the phone features its three haptic feedback touch buttons along the bottom of the screen�Back, Home, and Search. If HTC really wanted to get crazy, they could have migrated the touch sensitive buttons even further southward and stretched the screen out to 4.4 or 4.5-incher. Now that would have been hot.

Software and Interface

Before we leap into the infamous Windows Phone 7 experience, let's see what the HTC HD7 has to offer in terms of hardware. The phone has a 1GHz Snapdragon processor with Windows Phone 7 OS. The HTC HD7 also incorporates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, and a gyroscope/accelerometer combo for gaming, so the phone is on par with the rest of the Windows Phone 7 lineup. HTC threw in Netflix for movie streaming on the HD7's ample screen, T-Mobile tossed in T-Mobile TV for live and on-demand TV with some free programming, and Slacker Radio was also preloaded on the phone. Unfortunately, the HD7 does not fall in the HD2's footsteps, which offered Transformers 1 and 2 right out of the box. It would have been nice if HTC and T-Mobile gave us something to show off that screen, particularly with Megan Fox in it, but we have to lay down some Netflix cash this time around.

T-Mobile did get away with Family Room, which is an application that allows family members to converge and communicate via a virtual chalkboard and update calendars together. Family Room offered real-time notification alerts and allowed us to send pictures, though keep in mind that each family member involved must have a T-Mobile phone that is equipped with Family room, which is quite a marketing ploy if we've ever heard one. Our advice is to call or email your family members in order to stay in touch. There's also that little application called Facebook, which happens to be integrated into the Windows Phone 7 hub interface. All Facebook contacts will appear within the People hub, and can be contacted via email, phone, or any other method that the contact has listed.

The same goes for Music and Videos, which is a direct portal to the HTC HD7's fantastic music and video player with album art, in addition to the Zune store for buying additional music and videos. In order to load our own music or videos onto the HTC HD7, we needed to download the Windows Phone 7 Connector, which functioned quite similarly to iTunes. For gaming, the Xbox Live hub let us create our own avatar and purchase games directly from the store. As you can begin to see, the Windows Phone 7 experience is more like a series of cubbies that house individual interests on the phone. There are only two home screens, and the icons are animated, updating with contact pictures and recent notification tallies.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 was our browser. Pinching and double-tapping to zoom was rapid and offered text wrap. Unfortunately, the Windows Phone 7 experience lacks Flash 10.1 support, so we had to rely on YouTube for playing videos. Google Maps is fantastic on the HD7, and we could access an address by simply tapping it within a browser or email. One other setback with the HTC HD7 is that its Marketplace is nothing compared to the Android Market or iTunes Store. After spending time with the Nexus S, we came to the conclusion that the HTC HD7 was not the most advanced experience on the market, but offered a pretty interface.

Call Quality/Battery Life

The art of dialing out was met with our approval, though the HTC HD7 featured one microphone, so the phone was devoid of any noise canceling systems. Rarely did we encounter the dreaded compression-laden background noise blanket, but it would show up in certain calling environments. However, for a T-Mobile phone, the HTC HD7 was a better performer when it came to call quality, and that was a plus.

Battery life was average, as the phone drained to half capacity in the span of 12 hours with some light gaming, Internet browsing, and camera usage. This is definitely a phone you'll have to charge regularly, unlike the awesome Nexus S with the golden battery life we just tested.

Camera

The HTC HD7 has a 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash. Although the hardware ranks among the more advanced phones on the market, the HTC HD7 produced mediocre images. Never in quite some time have we encountered a camera that exhibited such a strong degree of sharpening. Lines and edges of objects were almost eroding into oblivion, and any dip in lighting brought moderate to heavy dosages of red and blue noise. We're not expecting a stellar performance out of a phone, but we've seen better performances from the iPhone 4, HTC EVO Shift 4G, and Motorola Cliq 2. For controls, the HTC HD7's Auto Focus functioned quite well, though the phone lacked touch focus and we lacked the ability to toggle the light on or off in video mode.

Speaking of video mode, the HTC HD7 captures 720p HD videos, but they might as well be standard-definition because the quality was in that ballpark. We're getting a bit sick of manufacturers tacking on 720p video capability for the cheap marketing ploy, and we've yet to see a Windows Phone 7 that gives us an above average performance. The iPhone 4 and certain Samsung Galaxy S phones have given us hope for the future of HD in the phone world, but HTC really needs to step it up in the camera department if they want to compete.

HTC HD7 � infoSync Diagnosis

As we come to a close with our Windows Phone 7 entertainment machine, we can't help but compare it to the entertainment giants on other carriers, like the HTC EVO 4G and Motorola Droid X. Unfortunately, the Windows Phone 7 experience lags behind the two aforementioned contenders. Part of it has to do with our non-expandable 16GB of NAND flash memory, part of it comes down to the lack of applications from the Marketplace. Also, what about that strange screen glitch that plagued text in the home screens?

Yes, we have a giant 4.3-inch screen, excellent sound quality, and a kickstand. However, look at the EVO 4G's HDMI terminal, access to the Android Market, and superior Android 2.2 OS. Yes, the Windows Phone 7 is pretty and plays nicely with Microsoft Office, Windows Live accounts, Zune, and Xbox Live. But if you're not wired into the Microsoft lifestyle, then the HTC HD7 might not be necessary. T-Mobile also has a fantastic fleet of phones this year, so we recommend exploring your options before settling on this Windows Phone.

Infosync

HTC Flyer pen to ship separately, cost $80

The HTC Flyer Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) tablet has had its companion Digital Pen priced at Best Buy, for $80. Sold separately, the device joins a leather pouch ($35) specially designed to accommodate both the Flyer and the pen. Both the Digital Pen and the leather pouch can also be purchased in a bundle for $109. All the accessories are listed as shipping in 1-2 weeks.

The Digital Pen is supported by purpose designed apps that allow users to hand-draw notes and images. HTC's software can also detect the difference between a deliberate touch, and a user resting their palm on the screen to use the pen interface.

The HTC Flyer itself is also on pre-order at Best Buy for $499. It centers on a 7-inch capacitive 1024x600 touchscreen and is powered by a single-core, second generation 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It also incorporates HTC�s customized Sense 3.0 UI. 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP provide connectivity.

Other specs include 16GB of onboard memory expandable through a microSD slot. The front-facing camera is 1.3-megapixels, while the rear is 5.0-megapixels. Codec support includes AAC, AMR, OGG, M4A, MP3, WMA, WAV, 3GP, 3G2, MP4, WMV, AVI and XVID.

Like its accessories, the Flyer should be shipping in 1-2 weeks.

Electronista

HTC prepping woman-oriented Bliss smartphone

HTC is developing an Android smartphone built specifically around women, one insider said Wednesday. Known so far as the Bliss, it would be targeted at women in their 20s and 30s and would have both hardware and software shaped around stereotypes of what women want. It would have a "calming" green-like color, This is my next said, as well as a rubber back for the grip and clich� apps like calorie counters and shopping tools.

Accessories would play an important part, according to the tip. A light-up "charm indicator" would wire up to the phone but would be an easy way to spot a phone call or message without getting to the phone itself. It would also help find the phone in a crowded purse. A dock with a wireless charging pad would turn the phone into a pseudo-alarm clock the moment it's in contact, and there would be both a voice-guided speakerphone and a matching Bluetooth headset.

The design, said to be a cross between the Desire S and Desire Z (T-Mobile G2) in looks but touch-only, would ship by the end of the year. Verizon was so far the only mentioned carrier.

Such a rumor is unconfirmed and may not necessarily come to pass. Companies are often known to focus group phones or otherwise experiment only to kill a project before it becomes public. HTC's tendency towards a rapidly widening phone range, often with relatively slight differences, could still see the Bliss arrive as a way of gauging real interest in gender-oriented phones.

Electronista

European HTC Desire HD, Incredible S get Android 2.3 update

HTC Europe revealed on its support site that the Desire HD and Incredible S have begun receiving the Android 2.3 update over the air. Phones will get notifications advising users they can now begin the download. HTC is urging them to do so over Wi-Fi or an unlimited data plan.

The update is build number 2.36.405.5 for the Desire HD and 2.12.405.7 for the Incredible S. HTC also suggests users back up their handsets before performing the install.

The new OS should bring faster processing speeds, a number of bug fixes and greater system stability. Both phones should also get official front camera support for apps that use it, but neither has the built-in NFC wireless that defines the new OS.

Electronista

Windows Phone 7 'NoDo' Update Rolling Out to HTC Surround

Microsoft on Tuesday started rolling out its Windows Phone 7 "NoDo" update to the HTC Surround, the last U.S. smartphone on the platform to get the upgrade.

Separately, Microsoft also started rolling out the first security update for Windows Phone 7, which fixes nine fradulent third-party digital certificates.

Like other Windows Phone 7 users, those with an HTC Surround will receive two updates, the first of which will be for a minor update first rolled out in February. Once that's updated, users can move on to the March update, which includes copy and paste, improved Marketplace search, and faster app launching.

Windows Phones check for updates every three days, so it might not appear right away. If you don't want to wait, you can check for it manually via the Zune software on the PC. Just plug the phone in via USB and click "update now." Once the February update is installed, you will have to unplug the phone and plug it back in to receive the March "cut and paste" update. Microsoft has a how-to guide on its Web site.

The update is also rolling out to Surround users on Deutsche Telekom in Europe and Optus customers in Australia; Microsoft is also scheduling "NoDo" for Telstra users in Australia.

"As I've said many times, we're not resting until we complete this job for everyone," Microsoft's Eric Hautala wrote in a blog post. "We know there's more work to do�including tracking down and solving issues as they come to our attention."

The update, known as "NoDo," started rolling out to the HTC HD7 and the Dell Venue Pro in March and to the Samsung Focus and LG Quantum in April. The update came pre-installed on the HTC Arrive.

This first Windows Phone 7 update has had a bit of a rough road, and it appears Microsoft is still working through some issues. Hautala said some Samsung Focus users have not yet received an update notification, and this is likely due to the phone's flash memory components.

"To accommodate high demand for the Focus last year, two separate sources of flash memory components were required during manufacturing. Focus models are identical in all other ways," he wrote. "Most Focus owners are receiving our updates. But some customers with handsets containing the alternative memory component aren't. We're now working closely with Samsung and AT&T to test and deliver an update for this group. As soon as I have more specifics, I'll let you know."

Hautala also said Microsoft recently stopped the update for the Samsung Omnia 7 after learning of a technical issue that required a new update software package. "The new package is nearly ready, and we're eager to resume updates to this model," he wrote.

On the security front, meanwhile, Microsoft is rolling out an update known as "7392." It "adds no new features to your phone. Its sole purpose is to fix nine fraudulent third-party digital certificates," Hautala wrote. "Once installed, you'll see 'OS version: 7.0.7392.0' when you tap Settings>About>More Info on your phone."

The digital certificates are used to access popular Web sites and email portals, Microsoft said, including Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, Skype, and Mozilla.

"Although this is not a Microsoft security vulnerability, these untrusted certificates may be used to spoof content, perform phishing attacks, or perform man-in-the-middle attacks against all web browser users," Microsoft said in its security advisory. "This update moves the affected certificates to the 'Untrusted Publishers' certificate store on Windows Phone, which helps ensure that these fraudulent certificates are not inadvertently used."

In other Windows Phone 7 news, Microsoft said the Bank of America app is now available for U.S. customers in the Marketplace.

PCmag

Vodafone lists dual-core HTC Sensation due May 19

UK provider Vodafone has listed the dual-core HTC Sensation handset on its website. The carrier promises to deliver pre-orders by May 19, with those who opt for a minimum �35 ($58) per month plan getting the handset free. Highlight features of the phone include its dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor and its 4.3-inch, 540x960 display.

Its eight-megapixel camera is similar to earlier models but can record 1080p video with the extra performance underneath. The phone gets just 4GB of built-in memory, but more can be added in the form of microSD cards. It should be HTC's first shipping phone with Android 2.3 and the newly enhanced Sense 3.0 interface.

Other European carriers are expected to get the device soon thereafter, with T-Mobile USA also due to get the device, likely sometime this summer. Sprint is getting it in modified form as the Evo 3D.

Electronista

HTC Thunderbolt smartphone underwhelms

The key feature of HTC's new Thunderbolt smartphone is its ability to tap into Verizon's speedy next generation data network. Unfortunately, there's little else to distinguish or recommend about the device.

The Thunderbolt is the latest in a string of super-sized smartphones running Google's Android operating system. With its 4.3-inch screen, touch-sensitive buttons below the screen, forward-facing camera above it and 8-megapixel camera and metallic kickstand in back, it's a close cousin of the Evo 4G, a phone that HTC released for Sprint nearly a year ago.

The chief difference between the two is that the Thunderbolt can access Verizon's 4G network rather than Sprint's.

Verizon turned on its LTE (or long-term evolution) network last fall. The network, which had connection problems earlier this week, promises download speeds of up to 12 megabits per second, about 10 times faster than the top speeds offered on Verizon's older 3G data network.

The Thunderbolt is the first smartphone that can access that network, which until now could be accessed only by a PC using a USB modem.

In my tests, the Thunderbolt clocked impressive connection speeds. Outside my office, I saw download speeds as fast as 5 megabits per second and upload speeds as fast as 4 megabits per second. That kind of throughput was about five times faster than what I've seen on the Verizon version of Apple's iPhone, which is a 3G device.

And that speed does make a difference. It allows users to download Web pages, online games or digital songs much faster than they would be able to do otherwise.

Web surfing in particular was a joy on the Thunderbolt. Downloading pages is nearly instantaneous, similar to the experience one gets when connecting a smartphone to a fast landline network via a Wi-Fi hot spot.

I also enjoyed using the Thunderbolt's large screen and high-resolution camera. The screen made Web pages easy to read, and the camera took beautiful, vibrant shots that looked great on the Thunderbolt's display.

But there was a lot about the Thunderbolt that left me underwhelmed.

For instance, your ability to use it to access the Internet at ultrafast speeds may be limited. Verizon is still building out its LTE network. It covers much of many major metropolitan areas, but those areas of coverage are like little islands; outside of them, you won't get LTE service.

Even inside those islands, coverage can be spotty. At my desk, for example, I could easily access Verizon's 3G service with the Thunderbolt but usually couldn't get its LTE network.

When you can connect to the LTE network, the speed comes with a big price: the battery life on the Thunderbolt is very short. You'll be lucky to get through a day of normal usage without needing a recharge.

And except for downloading data, the Thunderbolt felt sluggish. Some of the latest Android smartphones, such as Motorola's Atrix, have been able to speed up their performance by running on so-called dual-core processors, which include two processing areas on a single computer chip.

Not the Thunderbolt, though. It runs on a single-core processor.

In my tests, the Thunderbolt often seemed to take a beat or two to switch applications or load up new ones. It often took several minutes at least to acquire satellite signals for its navigation program. And the video in games such as "Raging Thunder" were sometimes herky-jerky.

The Thunderbolt also runs an older version of the Android operating system. That's not a huge problem, given that its version includes one of the more important of the recent updates to Android, the ability to run Adobe's Flash software. But it does mean that if you are looking for the latest features in Android, you won't find them on the Thunderbolt.

All that said, the Thunderbolt is not a bad device, especially if you're dying to have a Verizon LTE smartphone. But with plenty of other such devices slated to hit store shelves in coming months, at least some of which will feature newer, faster processors, the rest of us will be better off waiting.

Seattle Times

HTC Wildfire S with North American 3G reaches the FCC

The HTC Wildfire S has made an appearance at the FCC. Listed in the FCC documentation as the PG76110, the device has been approved for use on the GSM 850 and 1900 bands and WCDMA bands II and IV. At this stage, it is possible that the phone could make to AT&T�s network, although this has yet to be confirmed.

An mid-range smartphone, the Wildfire S centers on a 3.2-inch capacitive display and runs a 600MHz processor matched with 512MB of RAM. It also incorporates a 5-megapixel rear-camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. It is expected to ship with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) when it arrives this spring.

Electronista

Review : HTC Droid Incredible 2

The HTC Droid Incredible was a huge success in the United States when Verizon launched the smartphone last spring, so it makes sense that Verizon and HTC would team up again to deliver the next generation, the Incredible 2. The Incredible 2 doesn't represent a drastic overhaul of the original Incredible's design or specs, but I noticed some nice minor upgrades and refinements in design throughout the phone. One potential dealbreaker for users, however, is the phone's lack of 4G connectivity.

I actually saw the international version of the Droid Incredible 2, the Incredible S, back in February at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona. The Incredible 2 is essentially the same as its international sibling, except that it is built to run on Verizon's global CDMA network, whereas the HTC Incredible S is a GSM phone.

Unibody Aluminum Design

The biggest differences between the Droid Incredible and the Incredible 2 are in the design. The Incredible 2 has a solid unibody aluminum design. This is becoming HTC's trademark for its high-end phones, and I'm all for it. The phone feels tougher, yet more elegant than the somewhat plasticky original Incredible.

The Incredible 2 is an impressively minimalist phone with an all-black color scheme. It has a soft-touch matte rubberized back that not covers both the back of the phone and its spines. The backing is nicely sculpted around the battery and camera lens, much as on the original Incredible. I like the backing of the phone, but I'm not so sure about covering the spines too. It makes the phone look as though it were wearing a permanent bumper. The Incredible 2 isn't the most eye-catching HTC phone, but some people will appreciate its simplicity and solidness.

The Incredible 2 is obviously quite a bit larger than its predecessor, but neither Verizon nor HTC could give me its exact measurements before we published this review. I'll update the review once I get confirmation. The original Incredible measured 4.63 by 2.3 by 0.47 inches thick and weighed 4.6 ounces. You'll find the standard Android touch-sensitive buttons below the display (Home, Menu, Back, and Search). A volume rocker and a micro-USB port occupy the left spine, while the right spine is bare. At the top, you'll find the power button and the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The crisp, bright 4-inch display (bumped up from the original Incredible's 3.7-incher) attractively showcases HTC's Sense custom UI overlay, and the UI moved fluidly throughout the phone. The 800-by-480-pixel-resolution display is marketed as a "super LCD display," which means that it provides an 800:1 contrast ratio and a viewing angle of up to 160 degrees. We've seen this technology in other HTC phones such as the Thunderbolt. The display performs very well indoors; but once you get it outside in bright sunlight, it completely disappears. To be fair, most smartphone displays we've tested have this problem.

Android 2.2 With HTC Sense

Like many other new Android phones we've seen this year, such as the T-Mobile G2X, the Incredible 2 will ship with Froyo (2.2)--not with Gingerbread (2.3). HTC promised an upgrade to 2.3, but hasn't given a solid date as to when that will happen. We've covered Android 2.2 and 2.3 extensively in the past, so check out our hands-on reviews of both versions (linked).

HTC's Sense overlay adds some pretty aesthetics to Android, including a dynamic, playful Weather app; a social network aggregator called Friend Stream; and a revamped Contacts system. My favorite feature, called Leap, serves as an elegant way of navigating through your homescreens. Pinch anywhere on any home screen, and you'll jump to thumbnail versions of your screens. From there, you can go to any one you want by simply tapping on it.

Some people love HTC Sense, while others prefer the plain Android experience. My advice to anyone shopping for an Android phone is to try three different phones: two with overlays (like Sense or Samsung's TouchWiz) and one with vanilla Android. You should quickly get a pretty good idea of how they differ and which you like best.

The Incredible 2 provides quite a few preloaded apps, courtesy of HTC and Verizon, including Adobe Reader, HTC Footprints, City ID, NFL Mobile, and all of Verizon's VCast apps.

Multimedia

The Incredible 2 boasts SRS WOWHD surround sound for videos and music, which I've seen on other HTC Phones like the HTC Surround. I couldn't discern how the sound differed when it was piped through the external speakers. When I put on high-quality headphones, however, my music sounded rich and full, and the surround effect was definitely apparent.

Unfortunately, the plain Android music player is marred by the annoying presence of Verizon's VCast music manager. Every time you try to sync your phone to your PC, the needy Verizon VCast music manager will pop up and tell you that you need an update. At least, that's been my experience with it.

I was quite impressed with the Incredible 2's video playback. Verizon VCast apps played smoothly over 3G with no distortion or stuttering. YouTube videos looked about as good as YouTube videos can--and of course, way better when YouTube HQ was an option.

Camera

The Incredible 2 sports an 8-megapixel camera with a dual-LED flash and received a welcome upgrade to 720p video capture. The camera interface has built-in face-detection software, which registers when you're taking a portrait of somebody and adjusts the camera settings accordingly. This feature worked adequately for me in a normally lit room; but in a darker office with lots of backlighting, the person I was shooting still came out somewhat dark. Photos taken outdoors looked great, with rich color and sharp details. My indoor shots looked good too, though without the flash they had a bit of a dark cast. The flash is powerful, but not too powerful. Unlike a few other phones I've seen, it didn't completely blow out the details in my shots.

The video clips I shot outside with the Incredible 2 looked pretty good. The camcorder handled fast-moving action well, though the sound was a little muddled.

The Incredible also sports a front-facing, 1.3-megapixel camera for making video calls. With no 4G connectivity, however, you may not use this feature much.

Performance

The Incredible 2 is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 Snapdragon processor, the same one that the HTC Thunderbolt uses. We've been hearing so much about dual-core phones that 1GHz seems weak in comparison. But a lot more goes into how a phone performs than just its processor speed. The Incredible 2 did just fine as I opened multiple apps and navigated throughout its interface without any glitches.

To test the Incredible 2's data speeds over Verizon's 3G CDMA network in San Francisco, I ran the FCC-approved Ookla Speedtest app. The Incredible 2 had average transfer speeds of 0.67 megabit per second for downloads and 0.17 mbps for uploads. These speeds are pretty sad when compared to the averages we achieved with the HTC Thunderbolt over the 4G LTE network: In our five-city 4G tests, the Thunderbolt averaged 18.30 mbps for downloads and 7.39 mbps for uploads.

The HTC Incredible 2 has built-in noise cancellation technology, which I put to the test on a busy street corner in San Francisco. My callers on the other end of the line reported that my voice sounded nice and clear, but I had some difficulty hearing them, especially when the wind picked up. I heard a lot of blowback in my earpiece, which made hearing what my friends are saying somewhat difficult. I didn't experience any dropped calls or distortion, however, and I had a strong signal just about everywhere I went in San Francisco.

Bottom Line

The HTC Incredible 2 is an excellent upgrade from the original Incredible in terms of display, design, and specs, but I couldn't help but feel slightly cheated by the absence of 4G support, especially since the phone is so great for watching video. For what it offers, I think it should be priced $50 lower. At $200, it's only $50 less than the HTC Thunderbolt. I would willingly shell out the extra $50 for the Thunderbolt, which lets me switch between 3G and 4G when I need to.

HTC Flyer with Wi-Fi hits FCC

The upcoming 7-inch HTC Flyer tablet has just shown up undergoing testing by the FCC. The device is due to arrive in Best Buy in the same Wi-Fi configuration as is being tested here. It also appears to have Bluetooth onboard, but as expected lacks a 3G radio.

The device has gone up for pre-order on Best Buy for $499 this past Sunday, though ship dates weren't revealed other than spring. It centers on a 1024x600 resolution touchscreen with both multi-touch and pen support, an aluminum body, a 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor and Android 2.3 preloaded with Sense 3.0.

Electronista

HTC Droid Incredible 2 made official, we review it

Verizon on Tuesday finally confirmed plans to launch the HTC Droid Incredible 2. The phone we already reviewed is a CDMA adaptation of the Incredible S and centers on its very bright, rich four-inch Super LCD screen and its signature "topographical" back. The Verizon model has specific support for Verizon's 3G hotspot plan and dual-mode support for GSM and HSPA 3G roaming outside of the US.

The Incredible 2, like the Incredible S, still runs on a second-generation 1GHz, single-core Snapdragon chip and has both an eight-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front camera. HTC has given a handful of mostly software tricks that include DLNA media sharing, face detection in the camera app, noise cancellation during phone calls, and SRS WOW HD virtual surround sound. Android 2.2 still ships out of the box but comes with Flash already installed.

Buyers can pick up the sequel phone on April 28 for $200 on a contract. Hotspot access works for up to five devices and should cost an extra $20 per month for 2GB of data.

When we reviewed the phone, we came away with a mostly positive look through the excellent display, reasonably quick performance and the good camera.

Electronista

Best Buy to take HTC Flyer pre-orders April 25

Best Buy wrapped up Friday by detailing more of its launch plans for the HTC Flyer with Wi-Fi. Pre-orders will start on April 25 and will see the 16GB tablet cost $499. The release date was kept vague and only promised a release in the spring.

The Flyer is one of the few single-core tablets shipping this spring and has a 1.5GHz Snapdragon at its heart, but HTC has promised a unique angle through strong support for an included pen. Owners get apps to hand-draw notes and artwork without having to abandon more intuitive finger touch. The customized version of Sense UI can detect the difference between intentional finger presses and a palm resting on the screen while drawing.

Although it uses Android 2.3, Sense is heavily optimized for the seven-inch, 1024x600 display. HTC has also given it both a rear five-megapixel camera and a 1.3-megapixel front camera. Movie viewing is a side feature with HTC's own Watch movie store providing downloads.

Electronista

HTC Evo Shift 4G hits Walmart site with full specs

Any doubts about the listing for the Sprint phone on its store. The WiMAX-capable Android slider is now known to be using Android 2.2. Some details appear to have been mistakenly lifted from the Evo 4G; the device uses a 3.7-inch screen and not a 4.3-inch display, and it uses a five-megapixel camera instead of the original Evo 4G's eight.

Although not mentioned at Walmart, the Evo Shift 4G should have a newer 800MHz Snapdragon like that on the T-Mobile G2. The primary downgrade should be the lack of a front camera.


Pricing and an in-store date haven't been mentioned, but Sprint is near certain to unveil the phone this week and should ship it on January 9. Radio Shack listed the phone as costing $150 on contract in its advance flyer

source

HTC Desire Z Review

Android users who need a physical landscape QWERTY keypad don't have many high-end devices to choose from. This is why the HTC Desire Z is an important product for the company as it gives such users a choice aside from the Motorola Milestone. It is available now in Asia for S$868.

Design
One of the biggest draws of the Z is its slideout QWERTY keypad. The first Android phone from HTC to have such a feature was the T-Mobile G1 (or HTC Dream), which was also the very first commercially available Android handset. It's been a long wait for those who absolutely can't do without physical keys.

We tried out the keypad and found it to work well. Individual keys are raised with a rounded finish and we were able to distinguish between different letters by touch alone. Aside from the standard letters and punctuation keys, HTC also added two shortcuts that let you get to your favorite applications quickly.

The hinge mechanism found on the Desire Z doesn't make a simple sliding motion. When pushed, the screen raises slightly before folding back down into an opened position. This gives a certain "snap" to the action, which can be rather odd initially, but is strangely gratifying. This design also allowed HTC to make the bottom edge of the screen sit a little lower than a conventional slider. The advantage to this is that the top row of keys is less obstructed by the display portion of the phone.

We liked the aluminum material used for the Desire Z. It felt solid throughout though some may find the device a tad heavy at 180g. Like newer batches of the HTC Desire, the Desire Z utilizes a 3.7-inch WVGA (480 x 800-pixel) Super LCD panel. This looked good with sharp images and crisp text.

The Desire Z comes with four touch-sensitive shortcut buttons below the screen. We prefer physical buttons to this implementation as the likelihood of performing an action accidentally is higher with touch-sensitive keys.

Below these shortcuts is an optical navigation pad that can be depressed to select items. This worked well though some may find it unnecessary because most tasks can be completed by tapping on the screen.

A power button and 3.5mm audio connector are found on the top of the device, while volume controls and the micro-USB port are located on the left side.

Features
Connectivity-wise, this Android smartphone comes with all the options you would want in a modern smartphone including HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and A-GPS for satellite navigation.

The Desire Z will come with HTC's latest version of Sense and a suite of online services managed via the Web site HTCSense.com. Read our review of the Desire HD to find out more. In a nutshell, the new version of Sense adds useful apps such as free turn-by-turn navigation, while the HTCSense.com provides some security features that may be useful when you lose your phone.

On the back of the Desire Z is a 5-megapixel camera capable of shooting 720p high-definition video clips. There is also an LED flash for lighting up subjects and onscreen creative controls for more interesting shots. Photos and videos taken are of good quality. Click here to see some of our samples.

Performance
Equipped with the new 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7230 processor, the Desire Z may seem underpowered since 1GHz chips in smartphones are getting more common. However, that doesn't tell the full story. This processor also comes with the improved Adreno 205 graphics, which, like the Desire HD, was able to churn out better frame rates compared with the original Desire. We witnessed a performance on par with the Samsung Galaxy S using the Neocore for Android benchmark app.

During our review period, the Desire Z felt snappy when performing most tasks. In day-to-day usage, it didn't feel any slower than a phone using a 1GHz processor. We did not experience any dropped calls and found voice quality to be good. Take note that you cannot make video calls as HTC did not add this feature to the phone application. Furthermore, it doesn't have a front-facing camera to facilitate such a use.

The 1,300mAh battery gave us slightly over one day of use with two email accounts on push and social-networking services on two-hourly syncs. This wasn't great but is common among most high-end smartphones. Those who make voice calls frequently should have a charger or extra battery handy during the day.
Conclusion
Aside from the Motorola Milestone, there has not been any QWERTY-enabled Android devices in Asia Pacific catering to the high-end market. The Desire Z should fill that gap nicely, with its greatest competitor being the upcoming Motorola Milestone 2. There's currently no word as to whether HTC will update the software to the latest Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). However, that doesn't take away from the fact that this is a competent Android smartphone for those who must have physical keys. Those who need something more basic do have lots of other choices including various models from Motorola and the Xperia X10 mini pro from Sony Ericsson.

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HTC A7373 set to be launched on January 9, 2011

This one is getting seriously interesting. A leaked screenshot showing projected launch dates for a few Sprint devices tells us that a mysterious handset branded "HTC A7373" is set for January 9, 2011 release.

Now, a research points that the HTC Desire Z is officially called "HTC A7373 Desire Z" in Russia. This leads us to two logical conclusions - first, Sprint has decided to release a spin-off of the HTC Desire Z (T-Mobile already did so with the release of the G2 and Verizon is about to do the same with the launch of the highly-anticipated HTC Merge) and if everything goes according to the plan, we'll see this handset on January 9 next year. However, there is a second, even more interesting possibility - that this is the long-awaited HTC Shift 4G, which is actually something of a hybrid between the HTC Desire Z and a small-scale version of the HTC EVO 4G.


Sadly, not enough information and images are available to make a definite conclusion, but January 9 is just around the corner. And it's almost certain that a few more leaks will occur before this phone's actual release, so stay tuned for more info on the subject.

source: Android Central