Posts Tagged ‘htc hd7’

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#Maxis10 HTC HD7 : Will it get my SIM card?

December 10th, 2010, posted in Computer, Phone review, Random rants, Shennanigans

After 2 weeks of reviewing this beast, today would be the last day of the #Maxis10 reviewers programme for HTC HD7 and man…. I cant believe ill be apart from this wicked beast.

Its only 2 weeks but i can really feel that the phone is part of my life. All my calendars, MS Doc and Excel documents, One note, pictures and etc are all synchronized to the cloud server and can be accessed on the PC. Its been such a breeze especially for work as i don’t need to bring a pen drive and lunge on external hard disk for my stuff. x

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Not only that, my contacts are always updated, saved and sync and in events such as my phone ran out of juice, all i have to do was to go to Windows Live portal and i can browse all my contacts there and then.

My online social life? Its been nothing more than hell of an experience. Facebook integration, Awesome twitter application and full featured Flickr account allows me to stay updated and interact with my homies out there yo.

These are some examples of how this phone really made an impact in my life. The phone is an all rounder and did as what it was advertised. But of course like every phone out there, it still falls short of glory. No, not because the phone sucks but because its a new Operating System, not mature yet and still picking up.

Several unique features that got the crowd go wild and made my life easier is THE plus point on why you should get the phone.

 

- Unique UI. I am pretty sure the interface will make your Fruit phone peeps and others alike just go gaga over it. Its not something useful but it surely is something to hit the next chick at your local club joint!

- Integration – Almost everything you can think off that needs backup are integrated to the cloud portal : Windows Live. You name it, its there.

- Xbox Live – Gamers behold. Here’s your future gaming platform = CrossPlatform Gaming system. With this, you can sync all your gameplays, scores and interact with other gamers either from your PC, XBox 360 or even on your WINDOWS PHONE 7.

- SLEEK AND FAST. How many of you Android users wanted to make a quick call for something urgent and flip out your phone only to realize your phone has exceed the RAM limit and wallahhhh… you cant press a single button at all… oh wait.. Windows Phone 7? IT NEVER HAPPENS!

- Find my phone! What?! Yes, Windows Phone 7 has the ability to track your phone down and provide you with its location regardless of what SIM card you use. Normal aint it? The best part is, it allows you to lock the phone and send a “Please Return” message with a speical ringtone to alert people around it. Oh yeah, you can even erase all your data in case you are going to say Goodbye to it. All can be done via Windows Live. Now this is what i call… SECURITY!

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I have to admit, despite awesome features like this, the phone still falls short of glory in certain aspect. Maybe the saying is true : There’s nothing perfect in this world.

In terms of functionality, heavy task users like me would expect to load a website in the background, listening to music and play some games all at once. Unfortunately, Multitasking is missing in WP7. To me this feature is important but i still do see some light in the absence of it. Android has this feature and overdoing it results in RAM Overkill thus rendering the phone ‘paralyzed’ making me unable to make or receive any calls!

The second problem of course does not lie on Windows Phone 7, but the phone itself HTC. The most common problem people face with HTC is the camera and in this case, PINK HINGE. Its quite serious especially in low light, the whole frame will turn to pink and if you use flash, your photos will be very feminine!  Other than that, the camera still take good 5MP pictures. More details here : http://tinyurl.com/2esf6ms

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Low Light w/ Flash

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Good Lighting w/o flash.

 

Other than that, are just small flaws that are ALL correctable by firmware updates. For example copy-paste, Internet tethering, more settings and options.. These features are all correctable and assuming Microsoft is really serious in making WP7 into a WONDER PHONE, then really, with software UPDATES, this will beat Android and Iphone in no time.

Considering Android appeals to me at the moment because of the availability of features like Multitask, Internet tethering and copy paste, I am sure, i will soon move to Microsoft because i still have some soft spot for it.

So the golden question is : Will HTC HD7 gets my sim card in the end?

YES!

Ill keep the phone alongside my Android. Android maybe good in terms of multitasking, but once you fill your RAM out, i just wanna cry. I cant make or receive calls and everything is basically …… NOT RESPONDING. And that’s just where HD7 steps in.. It never fails to make or receive any calls. Oh no please.. don’t get me started on Iphone.

Although Windows Phone 7 has a long way to go, but for Microsoft to be able to pull something that’s a strong contender to Iphone and what more Android, I think its worth the buy. Microsoft will continue to roll out updates that will address issues like copy paste and it will be a bang for the bucks. Seriously, not even Iphone can beat this anymore. My 2 favorite OS ?

 

Android and WINDOWS PHONE 7

p.s : Here are more pictures to let you guys see the pros and cons of the camera. The camera actually performs really well but i think the programmer suck in programming the algorithm for White Balance settings.

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Here’s a shot at Paddington Gardens MV.
WB: Landscape, No flash, Metering Average and 5MP.

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WB: Auto,No flash, Metering Average and 5MP.  = PINK HINGE

 

CONCLUSION? I need a software updates from HTC!!!!

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#Maxis10 HTC HD7 “HIDDEN FEATURES”

December 9th, 2010, posted in Computer, Phone review, Random rants, Review, Shennanigans

Windows Phone 7 that is preloaded on HTC HD7 is one heck of an OS. The features that were included were never seen on any other phone. OF course there are tons of them but for today, i am just going to talk about the 4 unique features that were implemented. These features amazes me because it is something useful yet Microsoft is able to pull it.

WINDOWS LIVE DEVICE – FIND MY PHONE

Security has been always an issue with it comes to handphones. Handphones nowdays are more than just a tool to call or sms. With Smartphones becoming the talk of the town, many people are using it as an alternative to their PC or Laptop and stores sensitive data in it. What Microsoft has done is to address this concern and came out with what they call “Find My Phone” feature that is intergrated with their online portal, Windows Live.

I know there are a lot of other 3rd party program that tracks your phone on GPS, WP7 is different . Wanna know why?image

Yup! There is just more than viewing your location! You will have the ability to ring the phone, lock the phone or even ERASE IT.

MAP IT – FIND YOUR PHONE

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When you click on the Map IT, it will use your WIFI/3G signal to locate you and mark your location based on the GPS. The phone will periodically save your location so that if there is no internet connection OR GPS signal, they will display the last location that your phone was seen. Ok, now you guys know where is my workplace already…… TAIPAN! (:

RING IT – RING YOUR PHONE

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This ring it feature is a feature to ring your phone to locate it. It will ring your phone with a special ring tone even if your phone is on silent or vibrate. Of course when its off, you cannot ring the phone. Its an awesome feature to locate your phone if you misplace it! Woots… you can also preview your special ringtone so that you’ll know how does it sound like.

LOCK IT – LOCK AND WARN!

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Lock it feature allows you to lock your phone with your own pre-defined security code and send a “Please Return” message. Of course the message is also customizable. Its an awesome feature. You can warn him of your knowledge on his location and threaten to call the police!!!! It rings too you know. Imagine annoy the heck out of him till he gives back the phone! :P

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Here’s the set up screen to lock the phone! Cool right? (:

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ERASE IT – DELETE EM’ ALL

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The erase it feature will reformat your phone to prevent unauthorized use of sensitive data if you misplace your phone. It will completely wipe the phone and do a factory reset of the phone so be rest assured your sensitive data will not go to the wrong hands (:

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WIRELESS SYNC

Apart from the Windows Live Device, Zune player and WP7 allows synching over WIFI! Thats right, unlike some fruit phone that implements the same concept of having a software on desktop to sync songs and videos to the phone, WP7 can do it wirelessly over WIFI.

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One just have to dock the phone at the dock station or charge the phone and after 10 minutes it will be sync automatically!

Hassel free right? (:

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Just connect the phone and your computer to the same wireless network and follow the on screen step and viola! (:

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Internet Sharing via Zune Player

Microsoft Actisync is a hell good feature. It allows WP7 to connect to your PC internet via your PC’s wifi/internet connection. All you have to do is to connect the phone to the laptop, fire up ZUNE PLAYER and you can surf the world wide web! Here’s an excerpt on the news i found :

One of the interesting capabilities of Windows Mobile and ActiveSync is that the device can access the Internet via USB and the desktop computer’s network connection. For the original Windows Mobile PDAs that only had WiFi, this ActiveSync passthru provides a way to access the Internet when WiFi is not available. Developers even found a way to take advantage of this capability to remotely control Windows Mobile devices from PCs and display the Windows Mobile screen in a window on desktop computers.

I was surprised to learn today that this ActiveSync “passthru” capability is available with Windows Phone 7 and the Zune desktop software. To try it out, turn on airplane mode on your Windows Phone, connect it to a computer running the Zune desktop software, open Internet Explorer on the phone, and open a web site. I am hopeful that developers will find a way to take advantage of this passthru capability to provide remote display and remote control applications like those that were available for Windows Mobile.

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These features are either not announced or not publicized but it is the feature that will surely have the non tecky and techy users alike to love Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7. These features has not been seen on any other phone ( at least the ones i know) and is certainly something welcomed to the mobile smart phones scene. In the next review, i will be summing it up and concluding

WHICH PHONE WILL HAVE MY SIM CARD AT THE END OF THE DAY.

So stay tune to this spot for a final verdict on what’s hot and what’s not!

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#Maxis10 HTC HD7 : YAY Features and NAY Features.

December 8th, 2010, posted in Advertorials, Phone review, Random rants, Review, Shennanigans

Like every other phone out there, there are bound to be something awesome about the phone and of course something that just turn you off. As Windows Phone 7 is a new OS by Microsoft, many new features and UI are introduced to us that was never seen on any other phone. But at the same time, in the midst of rolling out something great, Microsoft tends to leave out some minor but important features that are supposed to be included in this beast.

So before i start elaborating on the awesome features, lets have a quick look on what makes this phone a beast!

1. User Interface ( Live tiles, animation, superior graphics )

2. Awesome hardware guidelines

3. Integration of contacts and calendars to Windows Live.

4. Full support of One Note, Word, Powerpoint, Excel and Sharepoint.

5. Integrate and sync with Web Office.

6. XBox Live and MultiPlatform gaming ( In future )

7. Zune player + Desktop Zune app.

8. Speedy, smooth, stable and reliable

9. Find my phone feature

10. Integrated search through Bing for Online and Offline.

11. Superb Microsoft Exchange support

12. No CRASHES but only occasional lockups.

I would like to highlight my point no. 12 because it is something that has to do with what all phone users want : NO CRASHES. Windows Phone 7 should be given a 2 thumbs up for their real stable OS. Ive been using this phone for about 2 weeks and I’ve never experience any real crashes and only occasional lockups due to my need for speed. LOL. Microsoft has come a long way to developed such a stable OS that is comparable to Apple’s IOS. If you would like to compare Android to WP7.. here’s a picture : I have 10 FORCE CLOSE popup on average everyday on Android. I’ve had none on WP7. So way to go Microsoft.

In terms of uniqueness, WP7 has a new revamped UI that is NOT a copy of any other OS out there. I’ve never seen such beautiful UI in any other phone and its something I really look up for once. For Microsoft to come up with something that amaze all of us, its an achievement for them.

On the integration part, Microsoft once again did a wonderful job with Windows Live. All contacts, office document, pictures, and email are seamlessly synced with the Phone. Anything that is dealt on your phone can be viewed and managed on the desktop. This is something Microsoft would like to push, the phone as your secondary laptop on the go. So that the thing you do on your desktop can be brought over to your phone! That’s something amazing i must say..

XBox Live integration is another wonder product by Microsoft which incorporates multiplatform gaming on their existing infrastructure. Before WP7, Microsoft came up with games like Shadowrun that is multiplatform such that it is playable online with Xbox 360 users and PC users. Now it has been brought over to WP7 although not fully implemented. But i think, this should be awesome when Microsoft really rolls out this feature.

NAY PART

For the nay part, Microsoft really did roll out Wp7 with style, with features that are never seen on any other phone but again, like ive mentioned earlier they too missed out features that are SUPPOSED/COMPULSORY to be on a phone. So lets break it down now :

1. Tethering. Any sort. No wifi and not even USB tethering.

( Tethering involves making your phone into a connection point be it wireless or wired and using your phone’s HSDAP/3G/EDGE connection for internet )

2. Copy-Paste function. MISSING. But so as Iphone when it was first launch. LOL

3. USB Flash Drive – You cannot transfer any files unless you use Zune. And like ITunes, only files like songs and videos are allowed. Any other, no…

4. Custom ringtone – Ringtones are pre-defined and not user assignable. 

5. Settings for system and apps are very limited

6. No true multitasking.

7. Push Notification do not work for 3rd Party apps

8. Limited customization of the home screen and other stuff.

9. No screenshot capability

Although these are the features that are missing in WP7, but all of these are not hardware related but rather software and can be address with updates, that is only if Microsoft ones to. There has been report on copy paste working on developers phone and some hacks on Samsung Omnia II to have USB tethering. So indeed in future, this missing stuff will be fixed and then it can only be a BEAST.

Overall, looking at the capability of the phone right now, it still falls short of glory. Its a half baked OS and it has lotsa room to improve. Hopefully Microsoft will be very passionate in their struggle to be get back on par with big guns like Android and Iphone. As for now…. Hmmm… I’ll still keep it for its stability.

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