Help I'm thinking of buying this phone (questions/any Bell customers?)

[unity04]

I'm thinking of buying this phone as my new smartphone here in Canada on Bell next week but I have a few questions:

1. Is the new gingerbread android update available on this device?

2. Are there any known bugs & issues on this phone such as faulty text messaging, receiving phone calls, alarm not going off?

3. How's the browser?

4. How's the battery life?

5. Does the phone ever randomly shut off?

6. In comparison to the iPhone 4, how's the camera?

7. How's call quality? Does it sound clear, or does it sound staticy and also like there's a hallow effect over the person's voice?

8. Is the phone good at connecting to WiFi?

9. Any signal issues? How's the GPS?

10. To Bell customers: have you experienced any issues with your device?


Thanks.

 

[WarningU2]

Hi ... my wife and I obtained the HTC Incredible S from Bell Canada in June and we're very happy with it. We've had no major issues but a few quirks that I will list below.

1. Is the new gingerbread android update available on this device?

Unknown - don't use gingerbread.

Edit: Realize my answer is stupid. Looked up Gingerbread and realize its the Android OS (stupid name btw) ... Yes there was some update that applied (took forever and rebooted several times)... but I'm running Android version 2.3.3 if that is any help.


2. Are there any known bugs & issues on this phone such as faulty text messaging, receiving phone calls, alarm not going off?

The only semi major complaint I have is that the phone reception is extremely sensitive i.e. if on the GO Train ... going very briefly under a bridge/tunnel while talking ... 50% of the time the call with drop. This didn't happen with my old Samsung "stupid" phone.

The other quirks (which is why I was on the forum today) ... is that my wife's phone won't display pictures occassionally from the gallery. They are there but the thumbnails are blanked out. I've resolved this by rebooting the phone and showing the album again. I've not had this issue on my phone but I have a much larger SD card - 32 GB (it only comes with 8 GB). I also removed all the thumbnails which appear to accumulate.

3. How's the browser?

Excellent! There is a google widget that is quick to look up info and to access sites rather than type full url. Browser is very responsive.


4. How's the battery life?

For our use we have to charge daily. Was a little surprised how quickly the battery runs out of juice.

5. Does the phone ever randomly shut off?

No ... has not shut off on me but my wife's has a couple of times. I don't know what she was doing. She has downloaded a lot of games - Angry Birds and Cards.

6. In comparison to the iPhone 4, how's the camera?

I don't know what the Iphone 4 camera is like but I can tell you the camera and pictures are excellent quality on this phone with one issue is that at low light it doesn't show well on the viewer setting up the picture but the resulting picture is actually good at low light. The flash seems to be too strong. That said since obtaining the camera ... I've taken all our summer pictures from the phone. My Sony camera is getting jealous.

7. How's call quality? Does it sound clear, or does it sound staticy and also like there's a hallow effect over the person's voice?

Extremely clear most of the time! I am amazed at the call quality to tell you the truth. You can be in a crowded noisy bar and still hear and the caller can still hear you without any issue. For me this is a huge bonus because my wife doesn't know when I'm in a noisy crowded bar anymore . The only time it is not clear is when it echos ... I get a feedback on some calls ... very random.

8. Is the phone good at connecting to WiFi?

Yes

9. Any signal issues? How's the GPS?

None. Haven't used the GPS but the phone appears to track you well on Google maps. Used it in Texas and it was fine. There is a map application that comes with it that has 5 GB of maps preloaded. Chews up a log of space that I removed because I really don't need maps of the Southern USA.

10. To Bell customers: have you experienced any issues with your device?

None other than my holder that I purchased at Bell for $40 broke when my knapsack caught it. I found a better one at http://www.gocellular.ca/ ... my wife is disappointed that they don't have pretty colored holders for it.

One other thing I'll mention is that it plays videos very very well. People have been amazed (strangers actually struck up a conversation with someone on the GO Train - you don't do that normally) and commented on the quality of the playback for TV shows I've downloaded and put on the phone (reason for the big SD card). This is my first "smartphone" and I'm very pleased with it. I am amazed at how many dumb things - i.e. Twitter you can do with it.

Hope this helps. I have no regrets from getting this phone.

Ahhh ... just remembered by only other major frustration with this phone ... the cyberon voice recognition SUCKS! I've eventually got it to work so I can call in my car through my motorola visor but I had to record my own voice tag for each of the numbers and I had to tediously turn off all the songs individually (as there is no way that I could find to disable the ability to play songs). What was happening I would say CALL John Smith at home and I'd get a song playing! Or it was say Pardon. Pardon. Please refer to the instruction manual. ARRRGHH screaming at the visor in my car I would have been less distracted if I could have manually dialed. But after several hours of setting it up and turning all my music off.... it works now.

 

[mobile363]

why go with bell? Virgin or Telus have superior plans. And Virgin has this phone as well.

 

[sindh1963]

why go with bell? Virgin or telus have superior plans. And virgin has this phone as well.

+111111111

 

[sindh1963]

I'm thinking of buying this phone as my new smartphone here in Canada on Bell next week but I have a few questions:

1. Is the new gingerbread android update available on this device?

Don't think so

2. Are there any known bugs & issues on this phone such as faulty text messaging, receiving phone calls, alarm not going off?

Text msg time is screwed up (i had to get sms fix app and now things are all good). But no problem with sending or receiving text, mms etc

3. How's the browser?

I like it, its fast and good. You can get opera mini since it uses less data if your concerned about it.

4. How's the battery life?

I use the phone a lot for talking and texting and occasional surfing. I charge it every second day.

5. Does the phone ever randomly shut off?

Never happend

6. In comparison to the iPhone 4, how's the camera?

I love the camera. Its really good for pictures etc and the software used for taking pictures is self focusing etc. I'd say its up there with Iphone 4

7. How's call quality? Does it sound clear, or does it sound staticy and also like there's a hallow effect over the person's voice?

No, call quality is as it should be. I haven't noticed anything

8. Is the phone good at connecting to WiFi?

Yes; university and home network

9. Any signal issues? How's the GPS?

Indoors doesn't work very well. But outdoors it works well; i've used it with google maps and few other gps systems.

10. To Bell customers: have you experienced any issues with your device?

I have a bell phone that i unlocked and use it with fido. Why are you going with bell? Virigin has the same phone and better plans.

Thanks

 

[bradburnard]

JUST GOT MINE ON TUESDAY - LOVE IT!!!! (From Bell Canada)

I'm thinking of buying this phone as my new smartphone here in Canada on Bell next week but I have a few questions:

1. Is the new gingerbread android update available on this device? YES

2. Are there any known bugs & issues on this phone such as faulty text messaging, receiving phone calls, alarm not going off? - NOTHING YET

3. How's the browser? - WORKS GREAT & FAST

4. How's the battery life? - HAVE TO CHARGE MINE EVERYNIGHT - I LEAVE IT ON ALL DAY

5. Does the phone ever randomly shut off? - NO

6. In comparison to the iPhone 4, how's the camera? - BETTER!!!

7. How's call quality? Does it sound clear, or does it sound staticy and also like there's a hallow effect over the person's voice? - NO - BEST QUALITY I"VE HAD ON ANY OF THE PHONES I'VE USED

8. Is the phone good at connecting to WiFi? - SUPER EASY - NO PROBS

9. Any signal issues? How's the GPS? - NO SIGNAL ISSUES - GPS SEEMS OK

10. To Bell customers: have you experienced any issues with your device?

NONE SO FAR

Thanks.