All HTC Inspire 4G Previews/Reviews in here!

[YouGotRedOnYou]

Yay! Thanks.

Someone posted in the wiki thread that htc had switched to Tom Tom only and was charging for turn by turn

I've been looking into that, and it looks like it was wrong info from a different phone overseas. I submitted to the thread the possible correction.

 

[harlenm]

I know where you are coming from. If signal was based on speed, then it would be easier to track, you would see these indicators:

E - edge
U - umts (slower 3g)
H - HSDPA (faster 3g)
H+ - HSPA+ (4g)

but sadly it doesnt work that way.


When I am on 3g, some places ill get 500 kb/s down and some places ill get 3 mb/s down. 500 kb/s isnt really 3g speeds (or at least to me) but it still says im connected to 3g. Same situation going on here.

I have a friend who works for Tmobile. He will have full bars of 4g, but only get 2 mb/s in one place, but 5-6 mb/s another.

I agree though, AT&T probably should have flipped the backhaul switch before sending out those review units but in all honesty, the average customer wont be able to tell the difference between edge, 3g, 4g, 5g, elevendy-seven gee

The problem is because HSPA+ is not 4g, so the phone doesn't see the difference. The Thunderbolt on verizon will say LTE when connected to the LTE network, an probably 3G when it falls off it.

 

[MarcMaiden]

The problem is because HSPA+ is not 4g, so the phone doesn't see the difference. The Thunderbolt on verizon will say LTE when connected to the LTE network, an probably 3G when it falls off it.

well we havent heard a review talking about what happens when you actually lose 4g connection.

but as far as we are concerned, hspa+ is 4g. its a completely different antenna. I dont care if LTE is a faster, AT&T will have that in the second half of the year as well. Good for verizon for having LTE first, but the coverage is so patchy, that you will be on their slow 3g network most of the time anyways. When you are on LTE its pretty amazing though.


right now, we cant say anything until the phone officially launches. Then you can come and complain your socks off

 

[harlenm]

well we havent heard a review talking about what happens when you actually lose 4g connection.

but as far as we are concerned, hspa+ is 4g. its a completely different antenna. I dont care if LTE is a faster, AT&T will have that in the second half of the year as well. Good for verizon for having LTE first, but the coverage is so patchy, that you will be on their slow 3g network most of the time anyways. When you are on LTE its pretty amazing though.


right now, we cant say anything until the phone officially launches. Then you can come and complain your socks off

I'm not really complaining, I'm just trying to figure out if this phone justifies a $450 purchase, as I don't know if I can have my upgrade moved up 4 months, and I'm not gonna pay $300 for an early upgrade if the full price is only $150 more.

That, and if the upload speeds are capped while on HSDPA, but not while on HSPA+, which we won't know at first.

It's just a discussion at this point.

 

[coreymcl]

I'm not really complaining, I'm just trying to figure out if this phone justifies a $450 purchase, as I don't know if I can have my upgrade moved up 4 months, and I'm not gonna pay $300 for an early upgrade if the full price is only $150 more.

That, and if the upload speeds are capped while on HSDPA, but not while on HSPA+, which we won't know at first.

It's just a discussion at this point.

The good news is you have a buyers remorse clause so you can buy the phone and test it for a while before deciding if you want to keep it. The buyers remorse time is different depending on where you buy the phone so check with them.

 

[MarcMaiden]

I'm not really complaining, I'm just trying to figure out if this phone justifies a $450 purchase, as I don't know if I can have my upgrade moved up 4 months, and I'm not gonna pay $300 for an early upgrade if the full price is only $150 more.

That, and if the upload speeds are capped while on HSDPA, but not while on HSPA+, which we won't know at first.

It's just a discussion at this point.

sorry, didnt mean to direct the "complaining" line at you,

but i definitely understand. At this point id wait if you arent sure. No need to rush into buying this phone if you arent sure. thats what the early adopter crash test dummies are for (me)

 

[harlenm]

sorry, didnt mean to direct the "complaining" line at you,

but i definitely understand. At this point id wait if you arent sure. No need to rush into buying this phone if you arent sure. thats what the early adopter crash test dummies are for (me)

But I want it!!!

I might just buy it anyway, give it the 30 days, and see what happens. My wife loves her iphone, and I wish they had it on tmobile so I could switch to them and get the Pyramid when it comes out in the summer.

 

[jonhcox]

Boom. iPhone 4 sold for $550. Inspire here I come. BTW- I think Lisa's review could be the best one I have seen yet. Her review directed me to the Evo.

 

[lsutigers03]

Boom. iPhone 4 sold for $550. Inspire here I come. BTW- I think Lisa's review could be the best one I have seen yet. Her review directed me to the Evo.

Where did you sell your iPhone and was it 16GB or 32GB?

 

[YouGotRedOnYou]

Boom. iPhone 4 sold for $550. Inspire here I come. BTW- I think Lisa's review could be the best one I have seen yet. Her review directed me to the Evo.

Congrats on selling your iPhone 4!

 

[ttusomeone]

if you have an Xbox 360 or PS3, you can use those as a media connector for DLNA

Sweet - I haven't done much research into DLNA, so I wasn't aware that my PS3 had that ability. That's exactly why I'm reading these forums - to learn stuff I didn't know.

 

[jonhcox]

Congrats on selling your iPhone 4!

Thanks! Now I just have to be patient until Sunday.

On another note- I found the unboxing of the Thunderbolt. WHY does AT&T insist on the dumpy packaging? I'm a graphic designer and love great packaging especially what HTC typically does, see the Thunderbolt or the Nexus One. Am I the only one that cares?

 

[MarcMaiden]

Sweet - I haven't done much research into DLNA, so I wasn't aware that my PS3 had that ability. That's exactly why I'm reading these forums - to learn stuff I didn't know.

Im not too sure how the Ps3 works, (i know it can be used as a dlna extender,

but for the xbox, when you go into the the network settings, you can locate and connect to devices (such as zune player, computer, windows media center, dlna cell phone) and on the phone, it will appear as "Xbox media extender"

 

[Blanco720]

Thanks! Now I just have to be patient until Sunday.

On another note- I found the unboxing of the Thunderbolt. WHY does AT&T insist on the dumpy packaging? I'm a graphic designer and love great packaging especially what HTC typically does, see the Thunderbolt or the Nexus One. Am I the only one that cares?

Some people like a simple, clean look. i.e. apple.

 

[Allenfx]

Some people like a simple, clean look. i.e. apple.

Disagree.

How is a screen FULL OF ICONS "cleaner looking" than a nice clock and maybe a calander and weather widget.

Has the definition of "clean" changed?.... I suppose "cluttered" now means clean and "clean" now means cluttered?

Its like that episode of the twilight zone where the guy had to learn to speak all over again....

 

[Blanco720]

Disagree.

How is a screen FULL OF ICONS "cleaner looking" than a nice clock and maybe a calander and weather widget.

Has the definition of "clean" changed?.... I suppose "cluttered" now means clean and "clean" now means cluttered?

Its like that episode of the twilight zone where the guy had to learn to speak all over again....

I was responding to the person talking the packaging as compared to the thunderbolts unboxing. nothing to do with the phone when you turn it on, brosef.

 

[Allenfx]

I was responding to the person talking the packaging as compared to the thunderbolts unboxing. nothing to do with the phone when you turn it on, brosef.

Doh!

 

[emuneee]

well we havent heard a review talking about what happens when you actually lose 4g connection.

but as far as we are concerned, hspa+ is 4g. its a completely different antenna. I dont care if LTE is a faster, AT&T will have that in the second half of the year as well. Good for verizon for having LTE first, but the coverage is so patchy, that you will be on their slow 3g network most of the time anyways. When you are on LTE its pretty amazing though.


right now, we cant say anything until the phone officially launches. Then you can come and complain your socks off

Marc, HSPA+ is technically a 3.XG technology, I wish they never called it 4G, because its confusing. It uses the same antenna, chipset, and frequency as UMTS. Essentially what AT&T did was take a Desire HD and replaced the H icon with an H+ icon. The issue here is that (to my knowledge) Android doesn't distinguish between the different flavors of 3G. The icons you will see will be G for GPRS, E for EDGE, H+ for UMTS "regular 3G"/HSPDA. Brandon hit on this in his HSPA+ rant. Despite the Mobile Network State saying UMTS, the H+ icon showed in the taskbar. The same applies for T-Mobile. For example, when you move from an area with HSPA+ to an area with vanilla UMTS (if they still exist) I bet H+ will still be seen in the taskbar.

For phones with separate radios for 4G (ie. WiMax - Sprint, LTE - Verizon) Android is able to distinguish between those because its a different radio, different antenna, riding on a different frequency, as well as being a different connection option...similar to WiFi on these devices.

 

[Allenfx]

Marc, HSPA+ is technically a 3.XG technology, I wish they never called it 4G, because its confusing. It uses the same antenna, chipset, and frequency as UMTS. Essentially what AT&T did was take a Desire HD and replaced the H icon with an H+ icon. The issue here is that (to my knowledge) Android doesn't distinguish between the different flavors of 3G. The icons you will see will be G for GPRS, E for EDGE, H+ for UMTS "regular 3G"/HSPDA. Brandon hit on this in his HSPA+ rant. Despite the Mobile Network State saying UMTS, the H+ icon showed in the taskbar. The same applies for T-Mobile. For example, when you move from an area with HSPA+ to an area with vanilla UMTS (if they still exist) I bet H+ will still be seen in the taskbar.

For phones with separate radios for 4G (ie. WiMax - Sprint, LTE - Verizon) Android is able to distinguish between those because its a different radio, different antenna, riding on a different frequency, as well as being a different connection option...similar to WiFi on these devices.

I dont think it has as much to do with android as it does with the actual hardware of the phone.

Here are the specs for the inspires second generaton snapdragon.

Second-Generation

MSM8x55™ Chipsets



The MSM8x55 chipset platform consists of the MSM8255™ and MSM8655™ and features a newly designed and optimized multimedia sub-system over previous Snapdragon generations.

• Scorpion 1 GHz CPU
• Integrated 3G mobile broadband connectivity
  • MSM8255 support for HSPA+ networks – up to14 Mbps downloads and Mbps uploads
  • MSM8655 support for HSPA+ networks – up to 14.4 Mbps downloads and 5.76 Mbps uploads – as well as CDMA2000 1X, 1xEV-DO Rel 0/A/B
• Low-power 45nm process technology for higher integration and performance
• High-definition (720p) video recording and playback up to 30 frames per second

Notice how HSPA+ is under the "3G mobile broad band connectivity" section of the outline above?

You could be correct that it is reading H+ regardless of it is getting HSPA+ or vanilla 3G.

If so i suspect this will be a problem and cause a major outcry.

However lets get one thing straight....assuming thats true its an issue with the display icon ONLY, not the signal. The end user will still get HSPA+ speeds when available and regular 3G speed when not available. The issue will simple be they might see H+ the entire time.

On the flip side...this TOTALLY EXPLAINS why so many reviewers are seeing H+ in the icon tray while only getting 3G speeds...and why a FEW are seeing H+ and geting "4G" speeds... (assuming HSPA+ is ONLY WORKING in a hand full of locations at the moment).

However, the result of this is that you are NOT wasting your money on this phone...as it WILL do the HSPA+ speeds (where available). 14mpb download and 5.76mb upload (also i suspect AT&T is artificially throttling upload speeds some how).

Thoughts?

Edit; the format did not come acros when i copied it.

Here is the link.

Those specs ARE INDENTED in the outline format..which from outline format rules...indicate they fall UNDER THE HEADING of "3G functionality".

link:

http://www.qualcomm.com/products_services/chipsets/snapdragon.html

 

[MarcMaiden]

Marc, HSPA+ is technically a 3.XG technology, I wish they never called it 4G, because its confusing. It uses the same antenna, chipset, and frequency as UMTS. Essentially what AT&T did was take a Desire HD and replaced the H icon with an H+ icon. The issue here is that (to my knowledge) Android doesn't distinguish between the different flavors of 3G. The icons you will see will be G for GPRS, E for EDGE, H+ for UMTS "regular 3G"/HSPDA. Brandon hit on this in his HSPA+ rant. Despite the Mobile Network State saying UMTS, the H+ icon showed in the taskbar. The same applies for T-Mobile. For example, when you move from an area with HSPA+ to an area with vanilla UMTS (if they still exist) I bet H+ will still be seen in the taskbar.

For phones with separate radios for 4G (ie. WiMax - Sprint, LTE - Verizon) Android is able to distinguish between those because its a different radio, different antenna, riding on a different frequency, as well as being a different connection option...similar to WiFi on these devices.

Interesting. Ill have to test this out when i get the phone. I know spots where its edge only so I guess time will tell

 

[MarcMaiden]

I dont think it has as much to do with android as it does with the actual hardware of the phone.

Here are the specs for the inspires second generaton snapdragon.



Notice how HSPA+ is under the "3G mobile broad band connectivity" section of the outline above?

You could be correct that it is reading H+ regardless of it is getting HSPA+ or vanilla 3G.

If so i suspect this will be a problem and cause a major outcry.

However lets get one thing straight....assuming thats true its an issue with the display icon ONLY, not the signal. The end user will still get HSPA+ speeds when available and regular 3G speed when not available. The issue will simple be they might see H+ the entire time.

On the flip side...this TOTALLY EXPLAINS why so many reviewers are seeing H+ in the icon tray while only getting 3G speeds...and why a FEW are seeing H+ and geting "4G" speeds... (assuming HSPA+ is ONLY WORKING in a hand full of locations at the moment).

However, the result of this is that you are NOT wasting your money on this phone...as it WILL do the HSPA+ speeds (where available). 14mpb download and 5.76mb upload (also i suspect AT&T is artificially throttling upload speeds some how).

Thoughts?

Edit; the format did not come acros when i copied it.

Here is the link.

Those specs ARE INDENTED in the outline format..which from outline format rules...indicate they fall UNDER THE HEADING of "3G functionality".

link:

Qualcomm Products and Services - The Snapdragon? Platform

thats an excellent way of putting it

 

[emuneee]

I dont think it has as much to do with android as it does with the actual hardware of the phone.

Here are the specs for the inspires second generaton snapdragon.



Notice how HSPA+ is under the "3G mobile broad band connectivity" section of the outline above?

You could be correct that it is reading H+ regardless of it is getting HSPA+ or vanilla 3G.

If so i suspect this will be a problem and cause a major outcry.

However lets get one thing straight....assuming thats true its an issue with the display icon ONLY, not the signal. The end user will still get HSPA+ speeds when available and regular 3G speed when not available. The issue will simple be they might see H+ the entire time.

On the flip side...this TOTALLY EXPLAINS why so many reviewers are seeing H+ in the icon tray while only getting 3G speeds...and why a FEW are seeing H+ and geting "4G" speeds... (assuming HSPA+ is ONLY WORKING in a hand full of locations at the moment).

However, the result of this is that you are NOT wasting your money on this phone...as it WILL do the HSPA+ speeds (where available). 14mpb download and 5.76mb upload (also i suspect AT&T is artificially throttling upload speeds some how).

Thoughts?

Edit; the format did not come acros when i copied it.

Here is the link.

Those specs ARE INDENTED in the outline format..which from outline format rules...indicate they fall UNDER THE HEADING of "3G functionality".

link:

Qualcomm Products and Services - The Snapdragon? Platform

I agree with what you said. I was making the distinction between 4G (ala LTE & WiMax) and HSPA+. And AT&T does throttle HSUPA (not really throttle, HSUPA is simply disabled in software) for devices not called the iPhone 4. The highest upload users will be able to achieve will be around 400Kbps unfortunately. On the Captivate, this was easily circumvented.

 

[g_patrick15]

Sold my iPhone 4 on eBay just now for $485! Will be getting my Inspire 4G first thing Sunday morning!

 

[YouGotRedOnYou]

Sold my iPhone 4 on eBay just now for $485! Will be getting my Inspire 4G first thing Sunday morning!

Nice!!!

 

[mattbe213]

I'm not sure if anybody has posted this video yet, but IMO it is a great review!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D0ucca4iJc&feature=player_embedded

Matt