Archive for September 2nd, 2010

The HTC Desire, released in Europe in May and in Canada on August 6, is the older brother, so to speak, of the ill fated Google Nexus One. Unlike the Nexus One, the HTC Desire features a slightly difference design, an optical trackpad instead of the physical trackball, lacks a noise cancelling microphone, features the HTC Sense UI, as well as a few other minor differences.

Hardware

The HTC Desire features a 1 GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor, 576 MB RAM, a 3.7 inch Super LCD screen with a resolution of 480×800, and a 5 Megapixel camera with an LED flash. It includes an 8 GB MicroSDHC card, but supports up to 32 GB. The camera is capable of 720p video once it receives the 2.2 “Froyo” update to the Android operating system. For physical buttons, the Desire has a power button up top, a volume rocker on the side, an optical trackpad below the screen and four other buttons (home, menu, back, and search). It connects to the computer, and charges with a micro USB port and features a standard 3.5mm headphone jack up top. The only problem I’ve had so far with the buttons is that the headphone jack and power button are reversed from what the Apple iPhone (which I’ve switched from), so I’ve accidentally turned on the screen when placing the phone in my pocket, and pressed the headphone jack in vain more than once. Both the SIM card and the microSDHC card are housed behind the battery cover, and the battery has to be removed to get at them. This is mildly disappointing, but how often are you really going to be switching memory cards? The battery is a 1400 mAh Lithium-ion, and while many reviews have complained about the battery life on this phone, I’ve found it to be far better than that on my old iPhone 3G. The only thing about this phone that I was nervous about, while waiting for it to ship, was the screen. I had read on a number of sites that the Super LCD screens had a far worse contrast ratio when compared to the AMOLED screens the Desire is using elsewhere (Samsung has decided to hoard all the AMOLED screens for themselves, so HTC had to switch). I have to say, however, that the screen is simply beautiful, and far better than anything I’ve seen on a phone, with the possible exception of the iPhone 4. The phone also lacks a front-facing camera, like the ones you’ll find on the iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant with Bell, but it’s always seemed more of a gimmick to me, and I don’t see myself wanting that feature. In the box, the phone comes with a micro USB cord, an AC adapter, stereo headphones and a bunch of guarantee info and user guides. I was mostly unable to test the quality of the headphones since they wouldn’t fit in my ear (a problem I have with more non-in ear ear buds), and I just got frustrated and switched to my normal headphones.

As I mentioned before, the Desire has a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor and 576 MB of RAM. Even with all the UI flourishes that are added with HTC Sense, the phone is extremely snappy, and never sluggish. It easily blows away my old iPhone 3G and my sisters 3GS, and matches, at the very least, the iPhone 4. I am just amazed at this phone. Especially when I consider that about 10 years ago, the first computer that was actually mine, had lower specs than this phone.

Software

The HTC Desire runs Android OS 2.1 (“Eclair”) with HTC’s Sense UI on top of it. HTC has rolled out the 2.2 (“Froyo”) update in Europe, but it has yet to hit Canada. The Sense UI just makes Apple’s iOS look antiquated. Everything from the colour screen, to the widgets, to the full application menu, to the notification system, is just… better. I haven’t played with the stock Android UI, but I have toyed around with MOTOBLUR on the Motorola Dext and the UX Platform on Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X10, and I have to say that the HTC Sense is my favorite of the bunch. Both the MOTOBLUR and UX Platform just feel over complicated compared to the HTC Sense.

Like many Android phones with a custom UI, the Desire has 7 home screens. The layout is definitely iOS reminiscent, however, it does manage to avoid feeling like it’s trying to clone iOS. It feels more like they took the good aspects of iOS, removed the bad aspects and just improved it. I do have to agree with Tyler Hardemen at thewunderbar, that Palm’s WebOS handles multitasking better than Android, however I’m not sure if I agree about the notifications. I never actually owned a Pre, just played around with them at the Bell store, so I’m not sure how it’s notifications worked. (I also have to disagree that TELUS doesn’t have a phone to rival the Galaxy S, but more to that later).

Applications

As an expatriate of the Apple iPhone, I was a little nervous about the app situation. While Android’s app numbers are growing, it still pales in comparison to the Apple App Store. That said, the apps I needed the most are either already on the Android Marketplace (Facebook, Soundhound), or have replacements (Seesmic instead of Tweetdeck, Mileage instead of Roadtrip Lite). Another thing I love about Android is that it’s ok to release an app that replaces the functionality of what was included on the phone. For example, I’m really not a fan of the stock Android keyboard, but a quick search brings up a number of alternatives, including SwiftKey. It’s not all roses with the Android Marketplace, however, as finding new apps is a pain. Rather than search the Marketplace, I’ve just been looking for articles on recommended apps on sites like Engadget. This is one thing I really miss from the Apple App Store.

Summary

The question I’ve been asked over and over again since buying this phone is “is it better than the iPhone?” Personally, I think it is, however, if you want an iPhone, buy an iPhone. While I think this phone is far superior, if you’re looking for an iPhone, you will find a reason to hate the HTC Desire. If, however, you are looking for an amazing smartphone, and were debating between Android and Apple, give this phone a serious look. The only phone, in Canada, that could possibly rival the Desire, in my mind, is Samsung’s Galaxy S Vibrant. This is, simply, the best phone I have ever owned, and I absolutely love it. It’s a little disappointing that TELUS hasn’t been advertising this phone at all. When they got the Milestone, they pushed it like crazy, and Bell is running a number of ads for the Galaxy S Vibrant, and I’m worried that this phone will get looked over. If the freaking wunderbar managed to forget about this phone, I have to wonder how many non-techie’s will notice it.