HTC Desire – My Review

The new HTC Desire with Google Android.

Have had this phone now for a couple days and here are my thoughts so far.

HTC Desire

My review…

Software – User Interface

The Desire runs Android by Google, this is my second Android device, having started of with a T-Mobile G1. Android now at version 2.1 on this phone had been getting better and better on each release. 2.1 brings even more refinement and ease of use, the bugs are virtually all gone and overall the experience is very good. Android devices like the Iphone have access to an App Market, on here you will find some excellent and some not so excellent applications to install on your device. These can be both free or chargeable. And of course it goes without saying that all of Google’s services (GTALK, MAPS, GMAIL, etc) integrate seamlessly with the smart-phone. I will go into more details of the software later in this piece, i.e. media, internet, et al.

These include seamless integration with your Facebook and Twitter accounts if you have them.

HTC have also added their Sense UI to this phone which sits on Android and adds a few nice visual and functional improvements. These include seamless integration with your Facebook and Twitter accounts if you have them. To make use of this they have also added widgets like Friend Stream which display recent updates easily on your home screens.

Another improvement in this release of software is multitouch, used for zooming and controlling the phone.

Hardware – Form Factor

The design of the HTC Desire is very pleasing to the eye, and a marked improvement over my last HTC phone. Of course you would expect this as it is a newer model. It feels solid in your hand and being roughly the same size as an Iphone, Nexus One, easy to handle. It will fit in your pocket without a problem, but having seen some comments on this, it is advisable only to do so with it in a good case/pouch (common sense really avoids screen scratches etc). The AMOLED 3.7″ touch screen is both responsive and easy to look at. Bright enough to look at in sunlight, but only on full brightness in this situation (this no doubt is a battery hog). To sum it up, personally I like the feel, weight and looks of this device, very much!

Hardware – Connectivity

The desire offers a myriad of ways to connect you to the world. Firstly it is a phone so normal calling and messaging services are there. For the internet and mail functions etc, the phone offers the ability to connect over GPRS, 3G, and Wifi. Also built into the device is GPS for Google Maps or any of the SAT NAV applications available. For audio you have the choice of a 3.5mm jack or stereo bluetooth, with the bluetooth also available for data connections. There is also a micro USB port for charging and linking to you computer. A very useful function of the Desire is that using the USB cable you are able to share your 3G internet connection with a laptop etc. Thus negating the need for a 3G dongle. I use this function a lot, but if you do please make sure you have a good data plan with your phone.

I use this phone on the T-Mobile network in the UK and must confess am very pleased with the 3G speeds etc.

Hardware – Camera

The camera on this device seems to be ok, it is a 5MP camera with a LED flash. below you can see a couple pictures taken today with it.

Sunset - low light shot

my car - also taken in low light no flash

Results seem ok to me. The camera has a small digital zoom function and the ability to change some settings manually. Focus is either automatic, with face recognition. Or you can touch an area on the screen to focus on a specific item, this seems to work well. Also you can capture video with it. Apparently the hardware has the ability to do this in 720 HD, however the software as of yet does not.

Hardware – Performance

The phone uses a 1Ghz Snapdragon processor… it is snappy and responsive even when multi tasking.

The phone uses a 1Ghz Snapdragon processor (must be my age but I remember when my home PC had less than that!). Also included is 576mb Ram, and 512mb of internal phone storage. Coupled with the ability to have upto a 32GB micro SD card. The processor and ram combine to give this phone an excellent performance, it is snappy and responsive even when multi tasking. Much impressed by this.

Battery

Not really had this phone long enough to give you a full experience of this. But for the few days I have had it, the battery seems to last at least a day with moderate to heavy use. So charge it every night and there will be no problems?

EDIT – 18/04/2010

After my second full discharge and recharge I am now into day two without a charge and still at 50%. Wifi & 3G on all the time and moderate use. Seems good to me and an improvement on the G1.

Music and Video

Android on this device will cope with the following audio formats, .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma, and these video formats, .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv. This it achieves with little fuss, using the included Music and video players. Also you have pre installed an Youtube app and a flash player for handling internet video. the flash is not a full version so you only have a limited compatibility with this. The music and video experience is not as good as you would find on  an Ipod/Phone but by no means is it a bad one either. Other things in my opinion make it far better than an Iphone.

Internet – Mail – Etc

The HTC Desire and Android is an excellent device for mobile internet and email. Being that Android is a Google product you would expect this. Android’s inbuilt browser is an overall pleasant experience, only let down by its lack of full flash support. However this is the case with most if not all smart phones currently (Adobe are working to fix this). It is a WEBKIT browser meaning it renders web pages as you would see them on most computer browsers (a plus over Blackberry here). E-mail is handled by applications pre-installed on the phone. Google’s Gmail is excellent however there is also the ability for standard email and exchange accounts.

Social networking is an integral part of this phones abilities too, HTC’s Sense UI integrates with both Facebook and Twitter seamlessly. You can also download applications from Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace etc, to handle these separately if you want?

Maps and Navigation

Google Navigation now works officially in the USA and UK

As I mentioned before, Google maps is installed as standard on Android. This works seemlessly with the phones GPS. The Google maps application includes Latitude and Navigation (USA only) so you can stalk your friends and also get directions to them if you want? Google navigation is currently only supported (officially) in the USA. This is Google’s free SAT NAV. Now I say only offically supported in the USA, if you want to use a cut down version of this on your Android device there is a way (message me for details). Otherwise in the marketplace there are other navigation programs available (co-pilot etc).

EDIT as of 21/04/10 Google Navigation now works officially in the USA and UK! Well done Google, free turn by turn Sat nav to all Android users on version 1.6 and above in these countries…

To Sum it UP!

Overall I am VERY impressed with this phone so far! It has only been in my possession for a few days, but as an upgrade for my HTC Dream/T-mobile G1, I am more than happy. Well done HTC and Google, the Android experience gets better and better.

Links

HTC – Desire

Google for Android

T-Mobile

Links to some other reviews on XDA website.