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Topic: Smartphones

Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

Summary: Apple announced the iPhone 4 today with some great new features, but there was nothing compelling enough for me to return my Sprint HTC EVO 4G. Are you planning to pick up a new iPhone 4?

Matthew Miller

By for Smartphones and Cell Phones |

Jason posted his WWDC iPhone 4 checklist today and now that we know all about the iPhone 4 I would have to say this checklist shows exactly why I am planning to skip this version of the iPhone and stick with my new Sprint HTC EVO 4G device. The HTC EVO 4G has everything on Jason's list and more already up and running. It looks like the pace of Google has brought Android into the lead with Apple for innovation and excitement in the mobile space.

Looking at Jason's list I would have to say that the most appealing features in the HTC EVO 4G over the iPhone 4 are the no limit multi-tasking, OTA updates, free navigation, Google Voice support, and WiFi mobile hotspot functionality. I would also add that Google leads the iPhone OS in the notifications system, multiple carrier support, customizable home screens, and removable battery. I do think Apple has a great OS though and think the long reported battery life, incredible display technology, better capacitive QWERTY keyboard performance, and better gaming support (6 axis motion looks slick) are compelling features of the new iPhone. As with any mobile phone, it is a personal preference that each of us has to make since one device doesn't fit everyone's needs and desires. I plan to stick with the HTC EVO 4G and cancel my Verizon Palm Pre Plus service soon.

Apple is really pushing their iAds support and while the ads do look slick and are very appealing for sellers, I am quite leery of paying big bucks for a device and service and then having ads all over my smartphone.

I thought their Face Time app and functionality was a bit lame though with support only for iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 devices both connected over WiFi. With Fring you can call from your Android or Symbian phone to or from a regular computer running Skype and make these calls over the cellular or WiFi networks.

The iPhone will continue to do well, but to really hit it out of the ballpark I still think Apple needs to roll out the iPhone on other carriers in the US. Maybe we will see this in 2011 or 2012 when my Sprint contract with the EVO 4G runs out.

Topics: Smartphones, Hardware, HTC, iPhone, Mobility, Telcos, IT Employment, Wi-Fi

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125 comments
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  • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

    Apple will have to be gifted technology from aliens before 2012, or Android will swamp them with innovation waaaay before then.
    joshagilman@...
    Reply Vote

    • Let me tell apple something If I have to view ads to use my phone then....

      My service had better be free. If not then you will be receiving a harassment suite very soon after i was to see the first ad. I figure if i pay for the phone service then I shouldn't be harassed by ads. It should be totally ad free. Otherwise the ads are paying for the phone and its usage.
      dougogd@...
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

        @dougogd@...

        First, try doing 30 seconds of research before you post. iAds do not work the ay you seem to think they do.

        Even if they did:
        " If not then you will be receiving a harassment suite very soon after i was to see the first ad."

        Yeah, I really doubt that. The likelihood that you will back up your internet bluster with action is as close to zero as makes no difference.

        "Otherwise the ads are paying for the phone and its usage."

        Yes, it is now clear you don['t know what you are talking about.
        SpiritusInMachina
        Reply Vote

      • Do you ever check things before you open your mouth

        @dougogd@...

        The ad is not activated until you click on it. And if you do, you can jump right back to the App. Go view the video then you will hopefully understand. The good part about iAd is it will help keep the cost of the app down!
        MacNewton
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

        @dougogd@... You are a frickin idiot. Ads come with free apps. Pay for the apps and you will have no ads. Paying for cell service means nothing.
        chrisb1234
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

      @joshagilman@... Or maybe the consumer can choose for his or her self and we judge the competition that way.
      Zc456
      Reply Vote

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  • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

    I was in the Sprint store holding an EVO in one hand and scrolling my HTC Touch Pro through the live blogging for the WWDC in the other hand.
    Feature for feature, the EVO smacks the iPhone and I'm typing this on a new MacBookPro, so don't let me hear about bias.
    wilsonhines@...
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

      @wilsonhines@...
      doesn't have to be bias, its all opinion. What features are important or "better" is all subjective. You can say the EVO is better, and another person can say iPhone 4 is better, and you can both be right.
      doh123
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

        @doh123 The opinion can be respected, not right. Apple OS is smoother, but the EVO has far more capabilities. Watch the iPhone die. It is old news and a smart phone for the technology impaired.
        chrisb1234
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

      @wilsonhines@... Yes, I love my macbook too, but the EVO is a superior phone.
      chrisb1234
      Reply Vote

  • What about Evo poor battery life and bad wifi reception?

    Matt,<br>Doesn't the abysmal battery life and poor wifi reception of the Evo 4G concern you? I admit I was considering getting an Evo, but after seeing the iPhone 4, I'll be purchasing the latter for sure.
    Paul4
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

      @Paul4 It is really not as bad as everyone says. It really depends on how you use the phone. I did email, browsing and a lot of video on Saturday and needed two charges. The 3GS lasts longer right now, but it is not significantly different. I think you will see people complain about it like people have for all smartphones - as well as the 4 when it arrives. But until you have either device and use it yourself in your daily activities, then it is hard to really make an unbiased opinion.
      bubbatex
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

        @bubbatex

        Actually, there's a pretty big difference: Android OS does a poor job of power management because its multitasking is implemented a little too cavalierly for a mobile device.

        I've had friends and family vent about the time they spent trying to rejigger the configuration to get the battery not to drain so quickly; and every feature they turned off bricked the poor phone bit by bit. I've heard it elsewhere.

        Unfortunately, all the gee-whiz features in the world become less impressive when you're tethered to a charger.

        Apple's multi-tasking is smarter; their feature set is missing quite a few ingenious gizmos the nice people at Android Central have cooked up.

        Buy what you like, be happy there's healthy competition: these bums fleece us at every turn, we should get something good for our money.
        credulousDolt
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

        @bubbatex Download a free app called "Advance Task Killer" and run it and it will close any apps you don't want running. I have not problem with battery life any more.
        rusty@...
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

        @rusty

        Advanced task killer will NOT kill all tasks reliably. It is buggy, and often leaves tasks in the background that it fails to even list. Took a co-worker a reboot to get the FM radio to stop playing.
        SpiritusInMachina
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

        @bubbatex android battery life really is that bad i was constaly closing down apps i didnt want to have close because i need them one day i went to nyc half way through the day guess wat no battery life left! middle of nyc with no battery on my phone! android batterys are horrible and until that improves im sticking with iphone :)
        technerd2345
        Reply Vote

      • 2 times a day

        @bubbatex
        you had to charge your android phone two times a day to do some browsing and video? man, that is outrages. didn't know battery life on android devices is that bad.
        banned from zdnet
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

        @CredulousDolt<br><br>The multitasking isn't poorly handled by Android, people jut don't know how to use it... Basically, if you use the back button you will exit the application but most use the home button which backgrounds the application.<br><br>As for the battery on the EVO, nice try to brandish the apple is perfect torch here but, I can get a higher capacity battery for the EVO and instead of lasting 9 hours with good use it will last a good 12 or more (pretty much all day). Of course this is HTCs failing they always put weak batteries in their phone but it is still better than the apple approach of non user replaceable batteries.
        slickjim
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Good job with iPhone 4, but the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is staying

      @Paul4 I haven't experienced any WiFi reception issues and live on WiFi in my house. Battery life has also been about the same as all my other smartphones, except when I am actively connected via 4G so no problem there for me.
      palmsolo (aka Matthew Miller)
      Reply Vote
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