HTC Aria Landing in Stores June 20th June 15, 2010
Posted by Zev Rosenbaum in : Cell Phones , add a comment
Enough about video games, lets talk phones. AT&T announced yesterday the first not horrible Android phone for its’ customers. The HTC Aria is a 3.2 inch Android phone coming to stores June 20th. This phone will have a 3.2 inch multitouch screen and Android 2.1, unlike AT&T’s first Android phone the Motorola Backflip (which is still running 1.5). Like pretty much all new HTC phones such as the Droid Incredible and the EVO 4G, the Aria will come with HTC Sense which will allow you to keep in touch with your social life while on the go, with HTC’s FriendStream app making Twitter and Facebook just a swipe of the finger away– all while also offering a much nicer and cooler Android homescreen.
Personally, I am excited about this phone because it will stand out as a viable iPhone opponent. Sure it’s not crazy high spec’d and powerful like Verizon Droid Incredible or Sprint EVO 4G (phones designed as true iPhone competitors), but for those on AT&T not looking for an Apple phone, the Aria will be AT&T’s first good Android phone. The thin, sleek design and beautiful touchscreen will rival the iPhone, and when combined with HTC Sense and Android 2.1, offer a nice change and in my opinion a big step up from the Motorola Backflip. It really looks to me that the HTC Aria will blow the Backflip out of the water.
Other specs for the Aria include 3G, GPS (with Google Maps Navigation), and WiFi, a microSD card slot, and a 5 megapixel camera. The Aria will be available starting this Sunday (June 20th), for $129 after a $100 mail in rebate and new 2 year contract.
HTC EVO 4G Out Now June 4, 2010
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Cell Phones , add a comment
Ready for the first 4G phone Sprint users? The time has come– today is June 4th, and you know what that means– the HTC EVO 4G is here!
For those who don’t know why this is a HUGE day, here are a couple of features of the phone that may peak your interest:
- 4.3 inch multitouch screen with a 480×800 resolution in a thin, sleek design
- 8 megapixel camera with flash and support to shoot 720p HD video with a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera– for you guessed it, mobile video chatting!
- Android 2.1 with the latest and greatest version of HTC Sense as well a 1 GHZ Snapdragon processor in here that should keep everything on the phone itself nice and fast.
- 3.5 mm headphone jack, HDMI port, and a kickstand for media playback
And of course this is the first US phone that offers built-in 4G. This gives you not only faster internet speeds, but the EVO also has the ability to turn this into a mobile hotspot (like the MiFi and Overdrive), and share the 4G (or 3G if 4G isn’t available yet where you live) with up to 8 (!) other users at once (though this will run you an extra $29.99 a month, its still cheaper than the $59.99 a month needed for the MiFi or Overdrive). The EVO 4G costs $199.99 on a new 2 year contract with a data plan and Sprint’s $10 a month “Premium Data” add-on.
So, who out there is heading over to your local Sprint, Best Buy or Radio Shack to pick one up? And if you already have, what you think of it? Let us know in the comments.
And for those of you with the patience to not be the first to have one, you can head on over to Sprint’s site and order one for yourself right now.
EVO 4G Coming to Sprint on June 4th! May 13, 2010
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Cell Phones , add a comment
Sprint users, mark your calenders. On June 4th, one of the hottest gadgets of the year will be released for you guys– the HTC EVO 4G, for $199.99 on 2 year contract.
Sprint released a whole bunch of other details on the EVO 4G particularly in terms of pricing. You will have to sign up for the traditional Sprint Everything Plan ($69.99 for unlimited text, calls and web) with an additional “Premium Data” cost of $10 a month (odd and annoying, I know). Using the mobile hotspot for up to 8 devices will also run you an additional $29.99 a month, though this is by far better than getting a smartphone and adding an Overdrive which runs $59.99 a month.
On a less expensive note, Sprint also said that video chatting will work over both 3G and 4G using the free Qik app for Android, and work whether it’s mobile to mobile video chatting or mobile to computer video chatting. Definitely nice.
For all the info on the EVO 4G, see our previous post here.
So there you have it. Now who else is excited for June 4th?
Sprint: The HTC EVO 4G is Our Nexus One May 11, 2010
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Cell Phones , add a comment
Waiting for Sprint to release their Nexus One? Wait no longer. Today, Sprint came out and said that they are not getting a standard Nexus One; instead that device is the coming-soon HTC EVO 4G. This makes sense, as the EVO 4G pretty much matches or beats the Nexus One in every category– both have Android 2.1, 1 GHZ Snapdragon processors, while the EVO 4G throws in a larger 4.3 inch screen, 1 GB of built in storage, an 8 megapixel camera with an additional front facing camera, HTC Sense on top of Android 2.1 and of course– 4G support. (And all this isn’t so shocking– Verizon also canned their plans for their Nexus One in favor of the Droid Incredible).
As to when the EVO 4G will come out, the latest rumors say that it will be on June 6th (a day before Apple kicks off their WWDC conference where they are expected to release that rumored 4th iPhone), for a not too bad $200. So Sprint users– excited?
Droid Incredible by HTC Out Now for Verizon– Already Sold Out Online! April 30, 2010
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Cell Phones , add a comment
So the latest and arguably greatest Android phone (or perhaps even just the best overall phone) for Verizon, the Droid Incredible by HTC, is finally out. And, while not a huge surprise (yet still very impressive), it’s already sold out online! Now don’t worry if you didn’t already order or pre-order your Incredible, as you can still try your luck at your local Verizon store (and if that doesn’t work out, you can still place your orders online, though new orders aren’t expected to ship until next Tuesday 5/4). Oh, and all Droid Incredible buyers between now (including those who pre-ordered) and May 31st get a free 2 GB microSD card, bringing the built in memory up to around 10 GB (it also has 8 GB built-in).
Now for those that we’re able to get an Incredible, what you think of it (is it Verizon’s best phone yet? Better than an iPhone?), and if you didn’t yet– do you plan to? Lets us know in the comments.
And for all the details on what is the Droid Incredible and why it’s so great, see our previous post here.
Pic and info from Verizon.
Verizon Announces the Droid Incredible By HTC April 15, 2010
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Cell Phones , 2comments
The first thing that came to mind when I saw this: wow. If you’re on Verizon — between this and the KINs — you’ve got some really tough choices ahead. This phone truly is crazy, a seeming mix of the Nexus One and HTC Desire, taking pieces from both and making one sick phone. The Droid Incredible really looks to bring “the next chapter in the Droid saga” (Verizon’s words, though I completely agree). Just look at these specs:
- 3.7 inch AMOLED touchscreen– This is a really high quality screen. Think of it like the Nexus One‘s screen– very clear and very bright.
- Very thin design– Look at the pic above. See the Droid Incredible in the side angle? Yeah, it’s that thin.
- 8MP camera with flash, auto–focus and video capture– Not only do you get great shots, but this can also shoot full 720p HD (yes, HD!) video.
- 3G, GPS and WiFi
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Android 2.1 with next generation Sense UI– As we’ve seen from MWC, this takes the Android homescreen to another level with features like “Leap” (for viewing all 7 homescreens in an Expose like way) and “Friend Stream” for viewing Facebook, Twitter and Flickr updates in one combined view.
- 1 Ghz Snapdragon processor– To keep everything running really fast and smooth.
- 8GB built in memory — with the ability to add up to 16GB more through microSD. The built in 8GB can hold about 2,000 songs.
So when can we expect this beast to arrive? Thankfully, Verizon plans to release this soon– in 2 weeks, on April 29th.
You can pre-order the Droid Incredible starting next Monday, April 19th. The Droid Incredible will cost $199.99 on new 2 year contract with data plans ($29.99 a month). So what will you choose this or the KIN?
The Future is Now: Sprint Announces the HTC Evo 4G March 23, 2010
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : CTIA, Cell Phones , 3comments
We figured this was on it’s way, and today Sprint and HTC made it official. The first 4G phone is coming to the US this summer in the HTC Evo 4G (aka the rumored HTC Supersonic) and wow is this insane–like blow your mind insane.
I mean look at these specs:
- 4.3 inch multitouch screen with a 480×800 resolution– in other words, a crazy awesome screen (similar to that on the Nexus One).
- Thin, sleek design– think like HTC’s recently released T-Mobile HD2
- 8 megapixel camera with flash and support to shoot 720p HD video– yes, your phone can now record videos in HD! (Oh, and this is even better than what was rumored to be only a 5 megapixel camera– showing rumors aren’t always right).
- 1.3 megapixel front facing camera– for you guessed it, mobile video chatting! All I can say to this, it’s about time we in the US get this feature that’s been around overseas for awhile (though don’t get me wrong– I’m still pretty pumped about it).
Taking a video with Qik on the HTC Evo 4G
- Android 2.1 (with an updated, higher quality YouTube app to take advantage of the faster 4G speeds) with the latest and greatest version of HTC Sense (as we saw back at MWC)– there also is a 1 GHZ Snapdragon processor in here that should keep everything on the phone itself nice and fast.
- GPS, compass and WiFi with the ability to turn this into a mobile hotspot (like the MiFi and Overdrive), with support for up to 8 (!) users at once! The MiFi and Overdrive by comparison only allow 5.
- 1 GB of built in storage with microSD card slot (with room for up to 32 GB).
- 3.5 mm headphone jack, HDMI port (seriously, when do you ever see this on a phone!), and a kickstand for media playback (so you can prop it up on a table and video chat, watch movies, view pix etc. like you would on a laptop).
And of course– built-in 3G and 4G! This phone has both, which means not only solid 3G coverage when you’re outside of the growing 4G coverage, but also for when you do have 4G– you can now make a call over 3G while at the same time browse the web over 4G (something you’ve probably seen of in AT&T’s latest ads. This is pretty big news in its own right).
For the first 4G US phone, I gotta say, HTC and Sprint look to have set the bar really high. This is the future of our cell phones– truly a computer in our pockets, and now finally with the 4G speed to let you do all you could want, wherever you want.
Unfortunately, we’re going to have to wait till sometime this summer for this bad boy to arrive (and Sprint hasn’t yet said the price for the phone or the plan, if there is a different plan required for the new 4G devices), but again– wow!
We will of course be all over this as more info comes out, but what you think– are you impressed with this new 4G phone? Will this be your new phone (and would you switch to Sprint for it)? Sound off in the comments.
For more info on the HTC Evo 4G, see Sprint’s site here.
Sprint Announcing a 4G Phone This Week? March 21, 2010
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Cell Phones, Rumors , add a comment
A rumored shot of the 4G packin HTC Supersonic for Sprint
Ok Sprint users– you can now think of this past week as an awesome one. Not only was it announced that you guys will soon be getting the Nexus One, but if these rumors are true– then we got for you something that will make that look like a toy. So what could possibly upstage news of the “Google Phone” coming to Sprint? Try the first US 4G phone! Yes, you read that right– a 4G phone!
As we know, for the past 2 years Sprint has been working hard on the rollout of their upcoming 4G network all across the US– already covering major cities such as Baltimore, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Seattle and Chicago (just to name a few); with others like New York, Boston and San Francisco said to be on the way in the “near future.” So with all that ever-expanding 4G coverage and only 2 data modems– like the Overdrive– being the only devices able to use it, it would make sense for Sprint to be preparing to launch a 4G phone to really kick off the 4G party (particularly with Verizon and AT&T beginning their 4G rollouts later this year/early next year).
So what could this first 4G phone possibly be? Obviously it has to be something insane, and from what this looks to be– we can definitely see this being it. Pix and info are pointing to an all touchscreen, Android 2.1 running phone called the HTC Supersonic (maybe the name has to do with the “super fast” 4G speeds?) to do the honors as the first Sprint 4G phone. The Supersonic is also said to be packing HTC’s latest and greatest version of it’s Sense UI (as we saw back at MWC), a 1 GHZ Snapdragon processor (as seen on the Nexus One), a 5 megapixel camera, and a 4.3 inch touchscreen (like on the HD2). All this in a very slim and sleek design as you see in a rumored shot of the device above.
Now those are just some rumored specs on the device (remember– until we hear official word from Sprint or HTC that’s all we can say this is), but according to the Wall Street Journal, we shouldn’t have to wait to long for this to all become official as Sprint is expected to do so this week at CTIA (think of CTIA as a part 2 of the big cell phone shows along with MWC, just this is taking place in Las Vegas and with more of a focus for US phones. This was where the AT&T Samsung Impression was announced last year for example).
We’ll of course have all things CTIA covered for you when the event takes place this Tuesday through Thursday– so stay tuned and keep checking back!
Pic and info from Phone Arena