Last minute questions before I buy the EVO help please :)

[berardi1111]

Ok so I'm 95% sure I want this phone just want to clarify a couple things

#1. Are there any other Sprint phones planned for this year? I saw the Moto Droid X but I think that's Verizon only?

#2 Will HTC sense hamper our OS getting updated? If so, can this be circumvented through rooting or will this only allow the same OS version to be updated. What I mean is if we're on 2.1 and 2.2 custom rom is released, will we be able to upgrade to it? Or will it only be 2.1 custom roms available?

#3 Build quality issues - should I wait a little longer until build quality is resolved? I don't really want a refurb back - if I have an issue will Sprint replace with a refurb or new?

Thanks a lot!!!

 

[SprintFun]

1) There will always be better and new phones on the horizon, that's the nature of the game. Recently the Galaxy S Pro has been rumored to sprint, but not details of date or price, etc. And it has a slide out keyboard - some don't care for it. I would expect Sprint to come out with a nice new phone in the fall or holiday too. It's up to you ultimately, but to me I wouldn't mind getting "stuck" with an Evo for a year or two

2) I don't think Sense will hamper the upgrade as much as Sprint potentially can. But you can root the phone easily enough and put whatever you want on there. I'm sort of rooted (using the unrevoked method which is basically clicking a button to initiate) and have the whole Sense UI turned off and don't miss it really. Once some stable 2.2 roms are floating around I'll run that.

3) No build quality issues for me, or the majority of people. Don't let theisolated incidents scare you. And if anything goes wrong or you aren't satisfied you can return everything for a full refund within 30 days.

 

[ap3604]

Ok so I'm 95% sure I want this phone just want to clarify a couple things

#1. Are there any other Sprint phones planned for this year? I saw the Moto Droid X but I think that's Verizon only?

#2 Will HTC sense hamper our OS getting updated? If so, can this be circumvented through rooting or will this only allow the same OS version to be updated. What I mean is if we're on 2.1 and 2.2 custom rom is released, will we be able to upgrade to it? Or will it only be 2.1 custom roms available?

#3 Build quality issues - should I wait a little longer until build quality is resolved? I don't really want a refurb back - if I have an issue will Sprint replace with a refurb or new?

Thanks a lot!!!

1. Yeah another 4g phone, Samsung galaxy pro I believe is coming to.sprint soon with 4g and a slide.out keyboard.

2. Sense + Sprint will DEF slow down getting updates

3. Of say the majority are very happy with the build quality. Probably about 15% of people are having issues. Its just that you hear them much more

Id personally wait at least another month before purchasing the Evo...

 

[kheovnien]

i don't have all of those answers in front of me but you can google or read up on all of those questions. samsung galaxy pro is coming out for sprint (if you mean android phones). good luck with your search or maybe someone one here will make your life easier.

 

[berardi1111]

Thanks guys.

I'm guessing that more custom roms will be available for the Evo than the Samsung Galaxy, and I'm a big tweaker so that's a primary concern for me.

2) I don't think Sense will hamper the upgrade as much as Sprint potentially can. But you can root the phone easily enough and put whatever you want on there. I'm sort of rooted (using the unrevoked method which is basically clicking a button to initiate) and have the whole Sense UI turned off and don't miss it really. Once some stable 2.2 roms are floating around I'll run that.

So if I'm understanding you right - rooting + custom roms means we'll be able to flash to any OS available? (of course, within reason, hardware limitations)

 

[SprintFun]

So if I'm understanding you right - rooting + custom roms means we'll be able to flash to any OS available? (of course, within reason, hardware limitations)

Right. I could get FroYo on my Evo right now if I really wanted to (and had the knowledge to do so), but last I heard the cameras don't work and the wifi tethering doesn't work. Have you ever been to XDA? They have tons of people creating their own custom ROMs.

 

[MrX8503]

You can check out my experience here if you like

http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g/102357-htc-you-can-go-hell.html

If you can overlook those problems, then the EVO is fine for you.

 

[berardi1111]

Right. I could get FroYo on my Evo right now if I really wanted to (and had the knowledge to do so), but last I heard the cameras don't work and the wifi tethering doesn't work. Have you ever been to XDA? They have tons of people creating their own custom ROMs.

yeah I love XDA I have Android on my Sprint Touch. I'll have to do some reading over there. Thanks!

 

[berardi1111]

You can check out my experience here if you like

http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g/102357-htc-you-can-go-hell.html

If you can overlook those problems, then the EVO is fine for you.

Thanks that's definitely good to know. For me, I'm not going to be using it as a gaming device very much, and from this comparison I found it doesn't appear to be a horrible problem:

15 FPS vs. 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS - A Visual Comparison

who knows, maybe they will patch it. If not probably someone at XDA will figure it out

 

[Rigmaster]

You will end up with a first-gen product whether you buy Evo now or someone else's first-gen (if it's Wimax-capable) later. My advice - why wait when this one works and there's already a commitment to it by Sprint and HTC. If you're going to wait, make the wait worthwhile and get the next-gen which tends to come out about 12 months after the first-gen.

You can address quality through 30-day exchange or TEP insurance.

And finally, waiting on another Android phone means only makes sense if you think Samsung or some other maker will be better than HTC. I don't think any will be better - different yes, but not likely better.

Most of all, consider that if you weren't waiting to make the decision, you'd be on this forum talking about things you're doing with your Evo right now, like me streaming world cup. It was great to be able to stream it while driving (I only listened and had it clippled in my Seidio case/clip combo) today and not lose track of what going on with the current match.

I haven't had a chance to hop onto 4G yet, but I'm looking to make it into NYC or Philly this weekend to check that out.

 

[berardi1111]

You will end up with a first-gen product whether you buy Evo now or someone else's first-gen (if it's Wimax-capable) later. My advice - why wait when this one works and there's already a commitment to it by Sprint and HTC. If you're going to wait, make the wait worthwhile and get the next-gen which tends to come out about 12 months after the first-gen.

You can address quality through 30-day exchange or TEP insurance.

And finally, waiting on another Android phone means only makes sense if you think Samsung or some other maker will be better than HTC. I don't think any will be better - different yes, but not likely better.

Most of all, consider that if you weren't waiting to make the decision, you'd be on this forum talking about things you're doing with your Evo right now, like me streaming world cup. It was great to be able to stream it while driving (I only listened and had it clippled in my Seidio case/clip combo) today and not lose track of what going on with the current match.

I haven't had a chance to hop onto 4G yet, but I'm looking to make it into NYC or Philly this weekend to check that out.

HEYYY!! I keep hearing everyone say 4G is in NYC. Is it true?
4G Coverage and Speeds
On this site they don't even show NY being in coverage. Have you seen any reliable listing of where actual 4g coverage is, have you? Any idea if it is coming to NJ or CT?

And I'm curious - how are you streaming the world cup? an app?

THanks for that post, good points!

 

[sagedil]

World Cup on Sprint TV. ESPN Mobile.

 

[berardi1111]

World Cup on Sprint TV. ESPN Mobile.

Thanks... rats! now I need to get one fast

 

[BrianFX]

Wait for the Samsung Galaxy S (NYC press event on June 29th). You won't be disappointed for waiting. The Galaxy S runs circles around the EVO when it comes to screen quality (Super AMOLED), CPU performance (90 million polygons/sec vs 22 million on the Snapdragon), power consumption, 720p recording bitrate, etc. This is not to mention the laundry list of EVO issues (30fps cap, glass separation, ground capacitance issues, etc).

 

[berardi1111]

Wait for the Samsung Galaxy S (NYC press event on June 29th). You won't be disappointed for waiting. The Galaxy S runs circles around the EVO when it comes to screen quality (Super AMOLED), CPU performance (90 million polygons/sec vs 22 million on the Snapdragon), power consumption, 720p recording bitrate, etc. This is not to mention the laundry list of EVO issues (30fps cap, glass separation, ground capacitance issues, etc).

See I know that Samsung makes quality products, but from what I hear they are not good about supporting their phones - they don't release software updates. Also it seems their phones have less of a development community (custom roms) than HTC. I dunno =/

 

[firemedic1343]

Wait for the Samsung Galaxy S (NYC press event on June 29th). You won't be disappointed for waiting. The Galaxy S runs circles around the EVO when it comes to screen quality (Super AMOLED), CPU performance (90 million polygons/sec vs 22 million on the Snapdragon), power consumption, 720p recording bitrate, etc. This is not to mention the laundry list of EVO issues (30fps cap, glass separation, ground capacitance issues, etc).

The EVO didn't have any known "30fps cap, glass separation, ground capacitance issues, etc)" until it was released. The Samsung Galaxy S will be no different than every other massed produced phone, it will be found to have it's own issues.

The EVO issues I can live with. Plus the one issue that can't be beat is the EVO has .3" inches more...a little extra size never hurt anyone.

 

[MrX8503]

Wait for the Samsung Galaxy S (NYC press event on June 29th). You won't be disappointed for waiting. The Galaxy S runs circles around the EVO when it comes to screen quality (Super AMOLED), CPU performance (90 million polygons/sec vs 22 million on the Snapdragon), power consumption, 720p recording bitrate, etc. This is not to mention the laundry list of EVO issues (30fps cap, glass separation, ground capacitance issues, etc).

I agree with almost all of your points here, the only problem with Samsung devices is....NO SUPPORT.

They sell you the device and they'll dump you. That is quite unfortunate as the Galaxy S seems to be a really hot phone.