3G Speeds and The Wrap Up

Original Post Link:

http://mblspt.blogspot.com/2011/06/spotlight-on-htc-evo-3d.html

3G Speeds:

As I performed my rounds in the Sprint Space forums I noticed several posts speaking to poor 3G speeds on their EVO 3D.   I wanted to see if there was any merit to the claims that it was device related so I decided to leverage Speedtest.net’s connection speed testing app to check it out for myself.  Over the course of two weeks I collected 25 reading attempting to capture test results from work, home, and while on the road.  Here are a few key stats:

Average Overall Speeds:

            Download:                  758kbps

            Upload:                       100kbps

Peak Speed Reading:

            Download:                  1608kbps (Sprint campus workspace)

            Upload:                       648kbps  (same location)

Slowest Speed Reading:

            Download:                  120kbps (Home which is BFE Missouri)

            Upload:                       12kbps (surprising at Sprint campus workspace)

Average Reception:               

            Overall:                       4.5 out of 6 bars

            Work:                          Full

            Home:                         1.5 out of 6 bars

            Travel:                         4.5 out of 6 bars

So what does all this mean?   Well the information’s usefulness is limited since I didn’t take baseline readings with another device at the same time.  All though my overall average speed is less than the expected 3G customer experience of 1 to 1.5 mbps my results highlight how important reception and capacity is to data services and the related speeds.   Given I work at a location where everyone has a Sprint device, we don’t take to kindly to employees with competitor devices, my speeds were all over the place and I have to assume it is due to several users taxing a particular cell site.  I noticed my speeds were in line with what I expected when taking readings during what I would consider light traffic times.  Given my overall experience with the device I would have to say my speed experiences are directly related to network aspects rather than the device but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any devices out there that don’t have issues.   Take some tests for yourself and if your speeds are regularly under 1mbps take it by one of our friendly Sprint store locations and have it checked out.        

The Wrap Up:

It is time for the Mobile Spotlight to move on to the next device so I wanted to sum up my experience with the EVO 3D.   Here is a quick hit list of my pros and cons:

The Pros:  

–        Battery Life much improved over EVO/EPIC (no extended battery for me!)

–        Hardware-  first android device that has been able to keep up with my constant use

–        HTC Sense UI-  best UI I’ve interacted with, ease of use

–        3D-  can’t get over the pic quality and depth of field it provides

–       

The Cons:      

–        External speaker- quality and volume an issue

–        Widgets perform random acts of violence

–        Can’t share 3D, 3D content not readily available in all mediums

–        No kickstand-  may not seem like a big deal but you would be surprised

In all seriousness I really like this device.  The 3D aspect of the phone is a cool thing to have but I have to say the hardware improvements over the original EVO are what will keep this one around as my main device for a long time.  Originally I said that I had “Epic” anxiety letting go of my previous device, well I can say my EVO 3D therapy has resolved that phobia and has turned me into a fan boy of HTC.   So what’s next you ask?   Great question!  (and thank you for providing the transition. . . )   The Motorola Photon!   I’m excited to get to get my claws into this device because I haven’t had a chance to experience Motorola’s Blur UI.  I have several topics planned for the device but if you have anything you would like to see covered just let me know!              

The Skinny and Netflix!!!!!

Original Post Link:

http://mblspt.blogspot.com/2011/06/spotlight-on-htc-evo-3d.html

While I’m gathering sample readings for my 3G data speed assessment I thought I would give everyone an update on my protective case, now that it has finally arrived.   In addition the long awaited compatibility with Netflix is finally here!  Well sort of. . .

The Skinny

If you have been following my posts you are aware that I decided to order Case Mate’s “Barely There” case option for my EVO 3D.   It took some patience on my part, due to a US Postal Service screw up, but I finally got it and love it.   When they say it is barely there they mean it, the case maybe adds an 1/8^th of an inch to the width and side profile of the device.   In order to give my readers the insider edge you deserve I spent thousands of dollars on professional pics so you can compare the device naked vs. Barely There equipped:     

                                            Front View Comparison:

Without Case:                                                               With Case:

            

                 
                                            Side View Comparison:

Without Case:                                                              With Case:

Ok so maybe I didn’t shell out the cash for the comparison views. . .  I’m on a budget here.   So not the greatest pictures in the world but I hope they illustrate the minimalist approach Case Mate took with this case.   The case provides backside and corner protection without changing the elegant form of the device, perfect for people like me that are easy on your phone and would like protection from the occasional drop and wear from pulling it in and out of pockets.  Although the case doesn’t have a film layer covering the front side display the case’s edging is raised enough that if you did decide to lay it face down it would rest on the case not the display screen.  Given the slim factor and providing protection where I need it this is my case of choice going forward.

Netflix

The idea of being able to stream my instant queue on my EVO 3D has been teasing me for the past month as rumors have run rampant about when additional devices would be supported.   Well imagine the smile on my face on 7/20 when it was officially announced that the EVO 3D is now supported.  Then imagine the look on my face when I tried to access the application today and got a server capacity issue.  The problem is a known issue and Netflix is working on it.  The following is a good article on the situation from CNET.com, I’ve waited this long so I’ll consider this an extended opportunity to further develop my patience.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20081303-93/netflix-outage-prevents-streaming-to-some-devices/    

From the Cuff

Original Post Link:

http://mblspt.blogspot.com/2011/06/spotlight-on-htc-evo-3d.html

Quick update on a couple of points while I'm going through writer's block.  As previously mentioned if there are any points of interest that people would like to hear about I would love to get some feedback.

Battery Life Update: 
It is official!   I'm not going to go down the extended battery route with this device, the need simply isn't there.  Although I would like to have a little more life out of the device while I'm using multimedia and data intensive programs I find that the battery experience is better than your average smartphone.  Based on my experience with the EVO 3D thus far here is what you can expect for battery life:

     1.  Consistent 3G/4G Data Use (Pandora, Twitter, Web, etc.)-               4-5 hours
     2.  Consistent Multimedia Content Use (Including 3D content)-               2-3 hours
     3.  WiFi Data Use (Pandora, Twitter, Web, etc.)-                                  Full Day
     4.  Avg Voice/Text use with Syncs set at 15 min intervals-                     Full Day
     5.  Standby, minimal checks, with Syncs set at 15 min intervals-            Full Day (half battery life left)

Where battery life seems to benefit most is during voice, text, and standby duties as I have no issues getting over a full day's worth of use.  I personally didn't own the original EVO but from those that I've talked to say that overall battery consumption was bad but the standby battery life seemed to be one of the biggest pain points.  I have to assume that the Gingerbread updates actively controlling background activity coupled with the dual core processor are the main contributors to the battery life benefits.  The need for an extended battery is in your hands but if you find that during the day you have access to WiFi or have it laying around on a charger at your desk while you work I wouldn't spend the money.  If you are truly mobile 90% of your day the justification for the investment is definitely there and I would go straight to the 3000 or 4000mAH options.  For you mobile folk what fun is a device this capable if you have to constantly worry about your battery! 

Case Update (sort of)

I would love to be able to share with you how much I’m enjoying my new case and provide some pics on what it looks like but I can’t. . . the dang thing hasn’t arrived yet.  I patiently waited the 7-10 day delivery period and finally called into Case Mate to figure out what is going on.   The rep was very helpful and stated that there was an issue with the delivery on the courier’s end and that they would be sending me a replacement order.   For now you will just have to stay tuned for a bit longer, it is coming via priority mail this time so hoping I can have an update by Monday or Tuesday of next week.

I think I may have just run across an idea for future updates, writer’s block be gone!  In the blogosphere I’ve run across a couple of posts that are voicing concerns over 3G data connection speeds with their device.  Over the next week I’ll take random speed tests while at home, work, and during travel to see if what kind of speeds I’m getting.   

Accessories Galore

Original Post Link:

http://mblspt.blogspot.com/2011/06/spotlight-on-htc-evo-3d.html

My original plan of attack on how to do a write up on accessories completely fell apart after I started researching the massive amounts of options there are out there.  I was really surprised how much the aftermarket community has stepped up to create a vast amount of options for the EVO 3D this early in the device’s life.  If you are reading this I think I can safely assume you have an internet connection and can experience that overwhelming joy for yourself so I’m going to focus on just a few options I found compelling.  When the topic of accessories comes up in conversation most people want to know what protective cases and battery options are available. (unless you are a pre-teen girl and in that case it is all about hot pink and sequins)   Let’s get the ball rolling with cases.

Case Options:

Like Apple, Otterbox has a cult like following largely due to the quality they put into their products.  For the EVO 3D Otterbox is offering a few options depending on how much additional girth and ultimately protection you want.  Sprint.com shows two options, the Commuter which is the thinner of the two and the Defender which just might be able to withstand a dynamite blast.

Commuter Case:

http://shop2.sprint.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/OSBrowseAccessoriesDetail?categoryRefName=Carry+%26+Protect&PHONE_ID=APX515CKT&selectedAccessoryID=CFH9823Q&topPageNumber=0&subPageNumber=0

Defender Case:

http://shop2.sprint.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/OSBrowseAccessoriesDetail?categoryRefName=Carry+%26+Protect&PHONE_ID=APX515CKT&selectedAccessoryID=CFH5610Q&topPageNumber=0&subPageNumber=0

If you jump over to Otterbox’s website a third option is listed called the Impact series which is an even slimmer option than the commuter case. If I hadn’t already ordered the case I’ll mention in a minute I might have gone the Impact series route.  Ultimately I think Otterbox provides the best protection you can buy but for someone like me who is a cubical creampuff it is just more than I need.  If you are regularly on a job site, dropping your phone repeatedly, or in a dusty environment the defender is your best bet.  I personally want a case that is minimally intrusive and provides protection from the occasional drop, which the Impact series fills nicely, so I decided to go with our next option.

I promise I’m keeping this site PG-13 when I mention Case Mate’s “Barely There” case option.  Similar to the Otterbox’s Impact services I ordered this case late last week because I liked it’s extremely thin profile while providing scratch protection for the camera glass and device corners.  Once I receive the case I’ll post a picture and some comments on what it looks like in real life.  If I’ve already intrigued you here is the link to Case Mate’s site.

http://www.case-mate.com/HTC-Evo-3D-Cases/Case-Mate-HTC-Evo-3D-Barely-There-Cases.asp

Where is my kickstand!

As quirky as the kickstand seemed to be when the original EVO launched people are really disappointed that the EVO 3D doesn’t include this feature.   Fret no more as several manufactures, including HTC ironically, have stepped up to fill the need.  Here are a couple of the options I preferred, unfortunately you will have to be patient as they are pre-order only right now:

Kickstand cases:

http://www.mobilecityonline.com/wireless/store/productdetail.asp?productid=28040

http://www.mobilecityonline.com/wireless/store/productdetail.asp?productid=28132

Battery Options:

If you have been following my posts you will already be well aware of my addition to extended batteries.  Although you do sacrifice the slim profile you gain complete mobile freedom by breaking the chains of battery conservation oppression.  (told you I had a problem. . .)   Seidio is offering a couple of options, first is a 1900 mah solution that doesn’t require a new battery door.  A nice solution to give you 10-15% more battery life without losing the form factor and you find you need just a little more juice at the end of the day.   If you are willing to loosen the belt and bulk up a bit a 3000 or 3500mah option is in play.  I’ve gone this route before with my Epic and I have to say being able to do what you want with only an overnight charge is a spectacular thing.      

1900mah Extended Battery

http://www.mobilecityonline.com/wireless/store/productdetail.asp?productid=28146

3000+ mah Extended Battery

http://www.mobilecityonline.com/wireless/store/productdetail.asp?productid=28193

Just like some of the case options above you will have to be patient as both of these battery options are pre-order only with a TBD release date.  I’m still up in the air on what I’m going to do because I plug in the device while I’m listen to music at my desk and the Gingerbread enhancements seem to be doing their job in extending standby battery life.  My advice is use the phone as you see fit and don’t worry about battery consumption. After a few test runs see what life you get out of it then make a decision.  If the profile tradeoff is acceptable and you are craving more juice I would skip the 1900mah option and head straight for the big boy. 

Well so much for me keeping it short and sweet, until next time!

EVO 3D Day 15(or so) Update

I’m a little past due on my day 15 update so without further delay here we go. . .

Original Post Link:

http://mblspt.blogspot.com/2011/06/spotlight-on-htc-evo-3d.html

The Keyboard Dilemma:

Outside of a device’s ability to play Angry Birds the next concern people normally face is what type of keyboard they want.   So enters the debate, do you want a physical or virtual keyboard.   Virtual keyboards are not for everyone and in the past I’ve preferred a physical keyboard for text messaging and email as I found virtuals to be less than accurate.   As stated in my previous posts the desire for a physical keyboard is what pushed me toward the Epic over the first EVO a year ago and although I don’t regret the decision I feel like I cheated myself a bit for not giving Swype a shot sooner.  The virtual keyboard on the EVO 3D isn’t perfect but is the most user friendly variant that I’ve run across.   In landscape mode the buttons are large enough that even someone like me who has Frankenstein fingers can type rather accurately.  The haptic (vibration) feedback in virtual keyboards is a nice touch and seems very well calibrated in the EVO 3D.  Without it I don’t think I would have the same level of satisfaction and confidence in using the virtual keys.  The portrait view is a different story though and if you are a bigger person like I am I wouldn’t even mess with it.  That brings me back to swype which is another functionality that has a rather polarizing effect on people.  If you can get past the first couple of days of using it I think you will find this will become your preferred method of text entry.  I’m finding I’m much faster now with swype than I am using normal typing so if you can hang in there it will pay off.  Don’t forget the handy talk to text option represented by a mic icon in the virtual keyboard spread.  I used this from time to time on my Epic and it is a viable option but haven’t messed with it much because I enjoy swyping.  Ultimately you will have to decide for yourself what is best for you in this great debate but I would challenge anyone that feels they have to have a physical keyboard to give the virtual one on the EVO 3D a shot.  Learn from my mistakes people! 

Well I have to run to a 4^th of July shindig so I will leave it at that for now.  I don’t want any of the 3 people following this blog to feel cheated so I will post an update tomorrow on some of the accessory options available for the EVO 3D.  Happy 4^th everyone!     

EVO 3D Day 10 Update

We’ve approached day 10 and I’ve settled into my EVO 3D, a few thoughts on device performance and other areas. . . 

Device Update:

Of the HTC specific widgets I’ve decided to set up the People app which consolidates notifications from various sources into one window view.  Yes this may seem rather redundant to the phones basic functions but it does create a consolidated view and I’m finding it quite entertaining.  I’ve taken pictures of each contact included in my landing widget and asked my victims to make strange faces.  Let's just say that creativity is not an issue with this group, if you don’t know my friend Tony you would say by his pic that I was mentoring a special needs patient.  The device is still humming along with no delays or system hiccups.  I have everything on it that I need from a day to day standpoint so outside of the impulse need for a new game from time to time this is as much demand as I will place on the hardware.  I can’t tell you how pleased I am that the device is performing like it just came out of the box.   This is the first Android handset that I’ve owned that hasn’t grinded to a halt after customization.  The dual core processor and massive amount of RAM are proving their worth and living up to the hype.             

The Wild Wild World of 3D continued

All though the device is so much more when you have 3D in your name guess what folks are going to focus on first.   Now that I’ve had the device in my hands for a while I’ve had some time to polk around the various 3D content sources available.  But therein lies the problem, it’s rather difficult to locate.  Here are the main sources initially available:

1.      HTC Watch App-  The device comes preloaded with “The Green Hornet 3D” which is backend supported by HTC’s content app called Watch.  The Watch application allows you to buy, and in some cases rent, movies with roughly the same new release availability as Redbox.  I’m sure in time this will be a good avenue for 3D film content but I wasn’t able to find any and unfortunately I wasn’t able to access The Green Hornet either.  I doubt my issues with the Hornet will translate into your experience as I’m pretty sure I hosed something up when I attempted to access it prior to the release of the content license and a system update to the Watch application was issued on 6/24.  If anyone reading this has success and gets to view the movie in its entire 3D splendor let us know what you think.    

2.      BlockBuster On Demand-  After having to entirely rearrange their business model largely due to Netflix and Redbox, Blockbuster is now streaming content directly to your phone.  Blockbuster’s content catalog appears to stay the most current with new releases and provides the option to buy or rent each title.  Pretty cool idea to have 3D cinema content on demand but the downside is I couldn’t find any specifically marked 3D.  I searched on 3D and several movies came up but none of them state if they are in 3D format.  Given the modest rental fee I’m hesitant to download anything unless I know for sure the content is 3D format.  I may just have to take a leap of faith and try it out, stay tuned.    

3.      Gameloft- Gaming in 3D, now were talking.  I previously mentioned the preloaded Spiderman content and after getting past the first level I purchased the full game.  3D imagery isn’t as dramatic for gaming so if other content drives your eyes nuts give this a shot. 

4.      YouTube-  Jackpot!  I happen to stumble onto a tutorial video from the staff at YouTube providing users how to post 3D content.  If you search on “YT3D” a slew of content will come up that will knock your socks off.   Most of the content is compatible with our devices but some aren’t.  If in the first couple of seconds the content is blurred or appearing as a doubled picture move on.

I’m still getting the consistent reaction of “holy crap my eyes. . .” followed immediately by a “wow” and a deer in the headlights look when people pick up the 3D imagery.  True 3D depth seems to be most apparent with YouTube content and your own homemade pics/videos so I would recommend starting your experience there.   Once I make the leap of faith I reference above I will let you know what I think of full length movie features.  

Well I’ve run a bit long on the 3D subject so I will end it here and save my accessory, sound quality, and keyboard use updates for next time.   See you on day 15!

Original Post Link:

http://mblspt.blogspot.com/2011/06/spotlight-on-htc-evo-3d.html

EVO 3D Day 5 Spotlight Update

It is the start of day 5 with the EVO 3D and wanted to touch on a few areas:

Device Update: 

I’ve had a chance to run wild with Android market downloads and I basically have everything loaded that I had on my Epic, which is roughly 40 applications.  A pretty wide range of stuff, which I won’t go into here, but includes everything from reading apps, financial tools, widgets, gadgets, and of course games!  On the subject of games I would highly recommend purchasing the full version of the preloaded Spiderman content, the 3D imaging is subtle and game play is addicting.   Getting back to device mods, on top of my familiar widgets from the Epic I’m leverage desktop folders to categorize app shortcuts.  I find that this system allows me to locate what I need quicker than pulling up a massive app list.  Now that I have the old familiars in place it is timed to start getting familiar with HTC’s goodies, stay tuned.     

HTC Sense UI:

In my previous post I commented on how much I liked HTC’s UI, and the more I interact with the phone the more I like it.   The processor and available RAM have a ton to do with it but the screens just seem to flow together extremely well and the options to customize the screens, including the lock screen, are much easier to manipulate compared to my previous Android based devices.  There is a laundry list of key features included in the Sense UI but I wanted to highlight a couple of them here:

1.       Carrousel window navigation-   This might seem inconsequential until you see it.  Gone are the days of having to scroll back the opposite way once you have reach the far right or left home screens.  The UI was designed to simply continue through your home screen progression continuously and the view changes depending on how fast you swipe.   The faster you swipe the smaller the home screen tiles become creating a carrousel like view of all at maximum warp speed. 

2.      Animations-   Sense’s use of screen transition and app start/end animations are the second piece of the secret sauce that makes the device so fluid.  Several other reviews have commented on the 3D aspect of the UI but you really won’t catch it unless you pay attention during home screen scrolling.  (nice touch but not visible when viewing set screens)

3.       Friend Stream-   The stream allows you to update the status on all of your social medial accounts simultaneously.  Nice little tool if you are over extended with social media accounts and want to provide quick updates.    

4.      People Widget-  This feature allows you to choose a group of contacts  and display them in widget form on one of your screens.  The widget provides updates with the latest from their social network status, and any missed calls or SMS messages from them.  This one is on my to do list so I will comment further in future posts.

Battery:

Unfortunately I have bad news here, on average I’m getting anywhere from 2-4 hours of use before my battery life meters starts to make me antsy.  In standby mode and extremely limited use the battery life is a little better ranging 4-6 hours.  As mentioned above I do have a ton of apps loaded to my device, which I’m sure has an effect, but I am rather diligent about connecting to WiFi when available, leveraging the task manager to kill unused apps, and only activating GPS and 4G when necessary.  I really don’t like modifying my usage behavior to make sure my battery will last so an extended battery can’t come soon enough.

That’s it for now, expect to see an update from me by on other topics by week’s end and again if there is anything you would like to comment on just let me know!     

Link to original HTC EVO 3D Post  
http://mblspt.blogspot.com/2011/06/spotlight-on-htc-evo-3d.html

Spotlight on the HTC EVO 3D

Salutations All-  The first device that we'll shine the spotlight on is the HTC EVO 3D.  As many of you are aware the original EVO was a very popular device so the next iteration has sizable shoes to fill.  When I heard that I was getting the opportunity to experience the device prior to launch I was extremely excited but at the same time I started feeling separation anxiety as I’m attached to my Samsung Epic.  I felt like I was saying goodbye to a good friend.   With that said since I have an unhealthy reliance on my Epic I will from time to time make comparisons back to that device that made me such a fan of Android.  In an effort to stay true to my mission statement let’s jump into my thoughts on the device.  I’ve decided to organize my initial experiences into the specific areas. Feel free to read all, pick and choose some, or simply run now while you still can. . .        

Activation   

Given the EVO 3D falls into the “smartphone” category I was fully expecting to have to walk through a 100 page manual to get the device activated and connected to my email and social media accounts but that wasn’t the case.  I leveraged Sprint.com to swap my device which was a simple process.   From there I simply turned on the device and was given straight forward instructions, via a wizard like screen progression, linking everything up.  So easy a cave. . . (better stop before I violate copyright laws)  No issues thus far, I will keep you posted as I get into really using the device more extensively. 

Hardware/How the Device Feels

The hardware and the Sense UI is probably where I am most impressed with HTC.  They have really done their homework and focused on making a very solid feeling device.   One of my only reservations with the Epic is it didn’t have a sturdy feel due largely to the spring based slider unit which the EVO 3D doesn’t have to contend with.  I’ll get into the keyboard debate later, patience young grasshopper, but the combination of the form factor and HTC’s design philosophy lends to a very quality feeling device in your hand.    In terms of computing hardware I’ve picked a couple of specs that are important to performance:

1.       Processor-  1.2GHZ dual core Snap Dragon

2.       RAM-  1GB  (yes, a whole fricken Gig)

So what does that mean?  The phone is fluid and fast, seamlessly transitioning between screens and applications.  If you have ever had an Android device that didn’t seem to keep up with the OS or appropriately run an app that won’t be the case here.  Keep in mind this is all based on a clutter free system, one that I haven’t dug my dirty fingers into and polluted yet.  As I cram the EVO 3D full of apps I will update you on how it withstands the onslaught.  Since the processor and RAM specs are entering laptop territories I’m anticipating I will continue to be impressed, stay tuned.          

Display

The superior display and the fear of needing a physical keyboard were the deciding factors on why I chose the Epic over the original EVO a year ago.   Now that I’ve conquered my phobia and HTC has upped the ante on screen brilliance and resolution the playing field has leveled.  I’ve done some limited side by side views of the Epic’s super AMOLED display vs. the EVO 3D’s QHD display and found that the EVO’s face has the slight edge.  (that’s saying a lot because the Epic has trumped every device I’ve judged it against)  I’m looking forward to reviewing playback performance from Blockbuster and Netflix streaming content to see how the EVO 3D handles HD content.  It is inevitable that everyone wants to know how devices stack up against the iPhone so I’ve listed the following display resolutions specs:

           

HTC EVO 3D-                                   960x540

Samsung Epic-                                    800x480

iPhone 4-                                             960x640 

I’m a bit of a Home Theatre nut so my standards are high when it comes to display quality and this device doesn’t disappoint.  All applications thus far are producing a bright, color correct, clear image.  Enough said.    

  

3D

I’m going to keep my initial thoughts on 3D exceedingly short because I want to really experience more 3D content before I bestow my incredible insights. .  .  I don’t want to short change you either though as this is the first thing my peers at the office ask about when they see the phone.  I’ve been able to experience 3D on the device in two mediums, the preloaded Spiderman game and the pictures I’ve taken.  The 3d photo content has drawn mixed reviews.  I liken the experience to those holographic pictures that were once sold at malls across America, once you figure out how to look at the image you get it.  It is not for everyone but for those of us that do get it the feature is amazing.  For now I will leave it at that and keep you posted as I progress through more content, the first of which will be the full version of the Spiderman game I referenced which is a blast. . . goodbye productivity. 

Battery Life

The phone displays in 3D. . . [smartphone user]- How long does the battery last?   The phone packs Gingerbread. . . [smartphone user]- So how long does the battery last?   This device can connect to 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, and is GPS and Bluetooth enabled. . . [smartphone user]-  Battery?   I can safely bet you that it is nearly impossible to read any review online that doesn’t mention the challenges that smartphones and their users face when it comes to battery life.  Several EVO users are already asking in posts if battery life has been address in the 3D variant so let me share what I know thus far.  Stock battery capacity has been increased from 1500mAH to 1730mAH and the Gingerbread version of Android now includes more functions that manage and kill programs useless running in the background.  With that said I will be getting an extended battery as soon as it is available, not because I don’t think the improvements won’t materially extend the hours of operations but because I am a chronic heavy user that has purchased extended batteries for my last three devices.  (I’m usually always running something during the day)  As I get past a couple of charges and break the battery in I will let you know what to expect, more to come.

I’ll stop for now and state in summary that I’m already starting to let go of my Epic anxiety and am really embracing the EVO 3D.  I’ve got several more areas I want to touch on in future posts like virtual keyboard use, HTC’s Sense interface, sound quality, and various apps.  If there is anything you would like me to review and mention let me know and I will work it in.  So long for now, as is the joy with any Android device I’m off to customize the heck out of this thing and load it up with more apps than I can ever dream of using!