2 Biggest complaints about this phone

[mjz773]

I love the EVO screen, and think the phone is awesome, but my two biggest gripes are the Keyboard and front camera.

First let me say that I had a hero, which had basically the same keyboard except a smaller screen, but then I sold it 3 weeks before the EVO came out and used a basic flip phone and an iPod touch.

The keyboard on android (black one) and the one on the EVO Sucks!

Yes, HTC did a good job hiding the colors, but the space between each key is terrible, it is too small.

the iPhone has a 3.5 in screen while the EVO has a 4.3 in screen and yet I can still type faster and more accurately on the iPhone.

The EVO does not learn the way you type, if I type in a word that clearly should not be a part of the sentance it will guess something different, it doesn't adapt to the way you text, like the iPhone does.

Apple did so much research on the best colors for the keyboard, space between each key, and position and size of keyboard and they nailed it, it seems HTC just through something half ass together.

If you could have a full ported version of the iPhone keyboard on the EVO, I guarentee alot of you would prefer it but not admit it.

And secondly the Front facing camera is very clear, and works perfectly in the camera application.

But the whole point of the front facing camera was to video chat, correct??

Again, the iPhone lets you do it without signing up for anything, you just make a call and click the screen once, thats it.

The EVO doesn't even come with preloaded software for video chatting.
The qik EVO application on the market didn't even work when I tried it on mine and my dads phone. I signed up, which was not that bad, but then had to confirm and add to my phone, and then when you invite or call the other person, you have to open up the internet browser, and it didn't even connect.
Tried Fring, had to sign up for another account, that didn't do it, so I had to sign up for skype, after making confirming and attempting to make a call neither phones answered to the other one.

Again it seems like this feature was done half ass.

I am not being biased but apple does give a feature and make sure it works perfectly and easily, and they deliver.

It seems HTC was more focused on throwing specs out their for these two features and not really perfecting it.

 

[grindstoneslave]

You have 30 days from date of purchase to return the phone

 

[grindstoneslave]

Keeping my Bad Boy!!!! The keyboard is perfect IMO!!!

 

[Aragorn]

Keyboard: This is going to be a personal preference thing. It's almost certainly just a matter of getting used to it. If you've been using the iPhone keyboard for a year or two, of course you're going to be more comfortable and faster on it than on any new keyboard. Give it some time and I'm sure you'll learn to adapt.

Alternatively, Android actually lets you switch out the stock keyboard for a third party one. There should be some on the Market. Also, a lot of people are very impressed with Swype. Google it.

Video chat: I'll admit, I haven't done any phone-to-phone video chatting, but I was able to do some Skype phone-to-PC chatting using Fring and didn't have much trouble. It's possible that you need to update the version of Qik you're using. I think the version that came pre-loaded didn't do direct video chat, just video streaming to the web.

 

[mjz773]

I like this phone, but the KB is just terrible, its too slow and not accurate.

 

[Hairydawg75]

The Iphone keyboard is awesome, I agree with you there. Hopefully I'll find something similar for the EVO eventually....gotta love the choices that Android provides.

 

[kronium]

Uh, no, you don't just make a call. With an iPhone, you have to turn on your WiFi,wait to log in to a router, notify the party you want to call, wait for them to jump on a WiFi router, then you start video chatting. Hardly flawless. At least once you get Fring set up, you just just call from the program, and the other party picks up automatically with their Fring background client. On 3g or 4g to boot. And for keyboard, just download a new one, the beauty of Android.

 

[zpilot]

Uh, no, you don't just make a call. With an iPhone, you have to turn on your WiFi,wait to log in to a router, notify the party you want to call, wait for them to jump on a WiFi router, then you start video chatting. Hardly flawless. At least once you get Fring set up, you just just call from the program, and the other party picks up automatically with their Fring background client. On 3g or 4g to boot. And for keyboard, just download a new one, the beauty of Android.

Just download a new one you say? If the Evo keyboard was good enough, we wouldn't be wasting our time downloading new keyboards when it should be done right the first time around.

 

[bwillie007]

Well OP is right. The keyboard isn't the best. I just use the swype keyboard, even if I'm not using long keystrokes, it works alot better. So it's not hard to get a different keyboard. The stock keyboard has the keys too close together, even if they are bigger.

 

[KoukiFC3S]

Go to settings, language & keyboard, touch input, text input, and calibration tool.

It will make you type a sentence and calibrate the touch screen to your input. After that the keyboard will be much more precise. Enjoy.

 

[kronium]

Just download a new one you say? If the Evo keyboard was good enough, we wouldn't be wasting our time downloading new keyboards when it should be done right the first time around.

Some say Swipe is the ultimate input solution. Do you see that on the iPhone?

 

[zamardii12]

Well, I can tell you that using Fring I can videochat just fine with my fellow Droid using friend on Verizon as well as anyone I know on Skype so I think the application is okay. Another bonus is that I can do it over 3G to all kinds of different phones and computers, as opposed to Apple's Facetime app for iPhone 4 which is wifi only and only between iphone 4 to iphone 4.

I switched from a 3GS last Friday when I got the Evo and I have not looked back yet. My Evo can already do everything the iPhone can and much more. I do agree the keyboard feels different, but you need to give it time because I can remember even the iPhone keyboard wasn't easy to get used to at first either and now I like the Evo keyboard. It's nothing revolutionary but it works just fine... and if you don't like typing then push that little microphone icon and speak what you want to text.

The iPhone limits you so much, excuse me, I mean Apple limits you so much. I mean, for instance how long has it been said that you can tether with the iPhone? Well, once they release it for the iPhone you will have to pay a extra $20 to tether on top of a data plan that isn't even unlimited anymore. With AT&T I was paying $100 for 450 minutes, 1500 text messages, data plan... nothing was unlimited... not even my night and weekend minutes. I switch to Sprint's Everything Data plan and EVERYTHING is unlimited... mobile minutes to any cell phone, text, data... except you get 450min/month for landline calls but I never make those anyway so it works out. And with the $10 extra for the Evo for 4G I can't use it still comes out to $80 a month which is cheaper that AT&T and I pay less. If Sprint's plan was the same price as what I was paying before with AT&T I would still get it because I get so much more.

Here's another example of how great it has been for me to get my first Android device, the Evo... I wanted to tether my laptop to my computer so I called Sprint and after a half an hour on the phone with them (because of my account type) I would not be able to tether without getting the $30/month wifi hotspot service for my phone (normally you would just be able to add the service on for what they said was $15). However, I go onto the marketplace and I find a app called Easy Tether. I install it on my phone, install a little app on my laptop, plug my phone in via USB, and BAM... i'm tethering over decent speed 3G at no extra cost. That just goes to show you how great a open market can be.

If you look at the overall package, Sprint nailed it... especially considering how much money i'm saving and how nice of a phone I got.

Realistically speaking, the new iPhone is very underwhelming. I mean, they're using a 4 year old OS that gets functionality that other devices have been using for years and it's so odd how people find it amazing that the iPhone can, say... multi-task, send MMS messages, or record video... With every new iPhone something that has already been done before has been added on it making it new(er) to current iPhone users but in reality is nothing new. However I will say the screen resolution is very impressive but will soon be trumped by the HTC HD2 running Windows Phone 7 OS at 1280x800 resolution on a 4.5" screen... And I know it's hard to keep up with tech but the new iPhone has that one thing going for it... the screen resolution.

So in conclusion, i'm satisfied with my choice... and until using a Android device I never realized what a stranglehold Apple had on me and now I feel free to use widgets, apps, and whatever I want to make my phone, my own personal experience... as opposed to what Apple wants me to use.

 

[TopherG]

can i return to any sprint store or does it have to be the same sprint store?

 

[ashykat]

I've owned every generation of iPhone so far. The HTC keyboard is very comparable in my opinion.

 

[justinholt123]

if u got fat fingers which it sounds like you do, download betterkeyboard app its worth the 2 bux its got a much bigger keyboard for chunky thumbs. and its got tons of skins for free

 

[Aragorn]

Just download a new one you say? If the Evo keyboard was good enough, we wouldn't be wasting our time downloading new keyboards when it should be done right the first time around.

The idea of an open platform like Android is that there isn't necessarily one "right" solution for every person. The iPhone (and Apple products in general) are great at having a solution that works for the majority of people right out of the box. But, woe betide the user who doesn't like the stock experience. I much prefer the option to "roll my own" solution that works better for my specific needs.

 

[seigex]

The idea of an open platform like Android is that there isn't necessarily one "right" solution for every person. The iPhone (and Apple products in general) are great at having a solution that works for the majority of people right out of the box. But, woe betide the user who doesn't like the stock experience. I much prefer the option to "roll my own" solution that works better for my specific needs.

Agreed apple has always made products for the lowest common denominator and people who don't want to think about wha their phone/computer ... people like us don't want someone else dictating for us how we use or set up products we pay for. Apple stuff looks pretty but that's about it at the end of the day it still has to be functional...

By the way I typed this out with shape writer which kicks the Iphones keyboard's ass any day of the week.

Submitted from my Evo 4G.

 

[Dreamliner]

The iPhone will be easier to use, less buggy and smoother...because its more locked down.

The EVO is a bit more 'glitchy' but less restricted and more customizable.

Double edge sword, I guess.

 

[Thefoodman52]

I'll take my 'harder to use' phone over one that's locked up tighter than a windows 95 machine trying to run 3 or 4 programs at once.

 

[cary328is]

The iPhone will be easier to use, less buggy and smoother...because its more locked down.

The EVO is a bit more 'glitchy' but less restricted and more customizable.

Double edge sword, I guess.

Absolutely. Let's not forget the philosophy behind Apple design is totally different from Google's design. The things some people consider "glitches" in Google's Android are a PURE reflection of the "open" philosophy - that things are in a constant work in progress. Google understands not all of its apps can be "perfect" because it is the people, the users, US who make them better with our input. They are in a constant state of evolution (no pun) and improvement. The most blatant and OBVIOUS demonstration of this is the fact that Google literally gives this option:

"UNKNOWN SOURCES - ALLOW INSTALLATION OF NON MARKET APPLICATIONS"

you will NEVER EVER see that on a NON jailbroken Iphone. So yes there are benefits to both sides and people who love just accepting what Apple tells them is "perfect". Then there's people who love the fact that everything in Android is so open to change based on what WE want and that WE decide what WE think is perfect.

Good night all..

 

[freeza]

iphone this iphone that iphone-- annoying

 

[rassclawt]

I don't understand the defensive attitude to what the OP is saying. If his previous phone was an iphone, it's perfectly legitimate for him to use it as a benchmark for his Evo. Saying stuff like "GTFO AND buy an iphone loser" makes our community look like intolerant little fanboys who can't take any criticism of our device or platform.

Personally, I like the evo keyboard more than my previous iphone's. But I have small fingers, so that might be why.

OP: You might want to try Swype which is EXCELLENT. Or one of the other 3rd party keyboards a few people have already mentioned.

 

[misterzeno]

I don't understand the defensive attitude to what the OP is saying. If his previous phone was an iphone, it's perfectly legitimate for him to use it as a benchmark for his Evo. Saying stuff like "GTFO AND buy an iphone loser" makes our community look like intolerant little fanboys who can't take any criticism of our device or platform.

Personally, I like the evo keyboard more than my previous iphone's. But I have small fingers, so that might be why.

OP: You might want to try Swype which is EXCELLENT. Or one of the other 3rd party keyboards a few people have already mentioned.

No its not that, this type of thread comes up to dam often and the mods refuse to make one sticky about it. One guy even posted that he shouldnt have to download another keyboard if he didnt like the stock one...smh. And after a while it just gets annoying as hell. You click on one of these threads thinking it could be a person needing some help or something but yet another comparison to the iJesus phone, its just getting annoying. I swear I cant wait til the dam iGod4 comes out so they all can leave.

/rant

 

[PhippsyB]

If you're looking for a decent keyboard with bigger spacing and a iPhone look use Smart Keyboard Pro. It's the best keyboard replacement and i've used quite a few.

 

[bandityo]

Your talking about only software issues......thats android..not the EVO...