The HTC Amaze 4G comes in a direct competition to the Samsung Galaxy S2 on T-Mobile. It’s bringing high speed data, fast dual-core processing and a high quality camera. Does it stack up to the competition?

Hardware & Design

The Amaze 4G comes with at 4.3 inch super LCD display with qHD resolution, 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of ram, 16 GB of build-in storage, HSPA+ 42Mbps data speeds, 2 megapixel front facing camera and a 8 megapixel rear facing camera with a backside illuminated sensor, f2.3 and 28mm wide-angle lens to take in more light for photos. Photos come out great with good lighting and color reproduction. The video comes in 1080p and while the quality of the video image is good the audio for it is terrible. With such a great camera and a flagship phone having poor audio quality when recording is inexcusable.  Check out our sample pictures and videos at the bottom of this review.

As we know most HTC devices tend to look-alike but the Amaze 4G has some unique design features being that it’s a unibody design and the back cover comes off where you will see the 1730 mAH battery, sim card and micro SD card slot. There is also a dedicated button for video recording right next to the camera button.  The overall feel of the phone is nice and solid and feels like a quality product that will last. The specs are where they should be for a high-end phone and the design is just different enough to tell it apart from other HTC phones.

Software & Usability

As you know with HTC you will get Sense UI on op of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Sense UI stays the same for most HTC smartphones. You have 7 desktops and different HTC Scenes and Skins to customize the look and feel. For apps you have standard Google Android apps and HTC apps such as Peep, HTC Watch, Footprints, etc. The camera software is updated to give you more shooting options and works more like a standalone point and shoot camera. The software overall works smooth without hiccups and if you’re a fan of Sense UI you will like it.  Call quality is good but the battery life is very standard android. Power users will always need to look for a place to charge while intermediate users will get through the day on a single charge.

Overall

The Amaze 4G is a great phone. It’s build is great, the specs are solid in it and the camera will be a great point and shoot replacement. The battery life isn’t great and HSPA+ 42 Mbps is not available everywhere just yet but if your looking for an alternative to a Galaxy S2  and want a top Android phone on T-Mobile this is the one to get.

The idea behind the HTC EVO Design 4G is to bring you quality specs at a value price. The EVO branding is known for high-end devices from Sprint but can it also conquer the mid-range as well?

Hardware & Design

The EVO Design 4G comes with a 4 inch Super LCD display with qHD resolution, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, 5 megapixel LED Flash with 720p HD video capture, 1.2 GHz single core processor, 3G global roaming, 4G WiMax and  8 GB of pre-installed micro SD card storage. It’s specs that would be top of the line one year ago and now provides a solid mid-range option for most out there.

The processor is fast enough to keep it going smoothly, the display is great to look at especially with the qHD resolution and while the camera is only 5 megapixel its good enough for uploading to Facebook, Twitter and picture messages. The 720p video is also comes with good image and audio quality. You can check out the same pictures and video at the end of the review The overall hardware package here for the price is great.

Software & Usability

Like most HTC devices the EVO Design 4G runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Sense UI on top of it. Not much here is different here in Sense UI that from what you have seen before. There are 7 home screens to choose from that are customizable. You can also use HTC Skins to completely change the look and feel of Sense UI. The Skins have preset widgets and wallpaper but you can customizes those as well. For apps you have your standard android apps, HTC apps such as Watch, Hub, Footprints Peep and pre-installed Sprint apps like NASCAR, Sprint Radio, Sprint Music  and so on. None of these apps can be uninstalled. Call quality is decent with good audio quality when you keep the volume a few notches below max. Battery life is ok. It’s better than what you usually get with Android but not by much.

Overall

HTC and Sprint have put together a solid middle of the road option that gives a good value for the price it’s offered at. It would be nice if the camera was better but it’s not a deal breaker. If you’re not looking to break the bank but want a solid smartphone the EVO Design 4G is a great option.

The HTC Rezound is the new 4G LTE smartphone on the Verizon block. It comes with a 4.3 in Super LCD Display and 720p HD resolution screen a first for any HTC device. There is a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, front facing VGA camera, 8 megapixel rear facing camera with dual LED flash, 1080p HD video capture and a f2.2 lens to get the most light for your shots. There is plenty of storage with 16 GB of built-in storage and 16 GB of micro SD card storage for a total of 32 GB. The Rezound comes with Beat Audio technology inside to give you the best audio experience on a mobile phone and you get a pair of Beats Headphones as well. Check out our unboxing below watch for our review to come soon.

Press Release:

11/03/2011

NEW YORK, NY —

HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, and Verizon Wireless today announced the HTC Rezound™, the only phone in the United States with Beats Audio™ integration. A result of the recent partnership between HTC and Beats, the HTC Rezound delivers a powerful entertainment experience with unparalleled audio and multimedia capabilities highlighted by a 4.3-inch true HD 720p display. The HTC Rezound, a premium designed smartphone that includes the latest HTC Sense experience and access to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless on Nov. 14.

“HTC is dedicated to delivering the latest in sight and sound innovation and we’re excited to be introducing the first U.S. smartphone featuring Beats Audio technology,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. “Paired with Verizon Wireless’ blazing-fast 4G LTE network and a robust multimedia experience, the HTC Rezound enables customers to enjoy their favorite music and entertainment on-the-go like never before.”

The HTC Rezound enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning by Beats that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Unique to HTC, the HTC Rezound also includes new lightweight Beats headphones, created exclusively to integrate with the Beats’ audio profile on the device. Hands-free calling is easy with the built-in microphone and the on-cable remote to pause, advance or rewind and answer a call mid-track.

“HTC fully recognizes the destruction to audio caused by the digital revolution. They embrace our vision to repair this ecosystem and bring the feeling from the recording studio to the smartphone,“ said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Beats By Dr. Dre. “This is only the beginning of our plan to fix how music is delivered.”

Lightning-fast mobile entertainment
The HTC Rezound is the first HTC smartphone to feature a true HD 720p display and is perfect for enjoying high-quality entertainment on the 4.3-inch super LCD screen. HTC Watch puts an entire library of the latest premium movies and TV shows right at your fingertips. Using a wireless connection, HTC Watch uses progressive download technology on the HTC Rezound which makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for them to finish downloading. Customers can rent or purchase videos through HTC Watch and enjoy content on up to five different HTC devices. The HTC Rezound features Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) connectivity, so customers can watch content from the device on an HDTV, including 5.1 surround sound and SRS WOW™ HD surround to take advantage of a home theater setup. Equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, the HTC Rezound offers a speedy mobile experience even for the most demanding media enthusiast.

“HTC Rezound combines sleek design, innovative entertainment features and the power of Verizon Wireless network to create a multimedia phone that consumers have been waiting for,” said Jeff Dietel, vice president of marketing, for Verizon Wireless. “4G LTE speeds take mobile entertainment to a new level, providing customers with advanced functionality in a phone they can count on for everyday use.”

Advanced multimedia features
The HTC Rezound boasts an 8-megapixel camera featuring autofocus, dual LED flash, a f/2.2 and 28mm wide-angle lens with BSI sensor to fit more of the scene into every shot and for better low-light performance. The enhanced camera features available through HTC Sense offer new scenes and effects such as panoramic mode for capturing life on a grand scale or action burst scene for the perfect action shot.

For self-portraits or video conversations, the HTC Rezound also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. With a 1080p camcorder, the HTC Rezound enables customers to record a perfect moment with stunning clarity and incredible stereo sound, perfect for sharing on YouTube or Facebook. Customers can also wirelessly send their media to a compatible TV for looking at videos or pictures with friends and family using Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA).

HTC Sense
Featuring the latest version of HTC Sense, the HTC Rezound enables people to create a unique and intuitive user experience that matches their personal preference and lifestyle. A customizable active lockscreen experience transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display. In addition, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets people quickly jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an email, taking a picture or anything else with the same quick gesture usually used to unlock the phone.

HTC Sense also delivers a new group messaging experience simplifying group and multimedia messaging so people can stay up-to-date on the latest conversations quickly and easily. People can view recent status updates from popular social networks in one place using FriendStream™, as well as sync their contact list with all email accounts and social networks for smooth integration.

“HTC and Beats have been important partners to Best Buy over the years and we are thrilled to help them bring the HTC Rezound on the Verizon Wireless network to consumers,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “This is going to be a big holiday for smartphones and people will be looking for new and different features. The HTC Rezound, with HTC’s mobile expertise and audio excellence from Beats, will be a great option for our customers.”

Additional features

• Mobile Hotspot capability: share 4G connection with up to ten Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• Operating System: Android 2.3™ (Gingerbread) with latest HTC Sense – an upgrade to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will be available in early 2012
• Internal Memory: 16 GB on-board memory, 1 GB DDR2 RAM
• Memory Card: 16 GB MicroSD™ pre-installed
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth®: 3.0 – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access and object push for vCard and vCalendar
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Battery: 1,620 mAh
• Special Features: HDMI (through MHL), G-sensor, Light sensor, Compass, Proximity sensor, MicroUSB, USIM/CSIM/ISIM, audio jack and Wireless Charging capable
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM8660 1.5GHz, Qualcomm® MDM9600
• Dimensions: 129 x 65.5 x 13.65 mm

Availability
The HTC Rezound will be available beginning Nov. 14 at Verizon Wireless and at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers who purchase the HTC Rezound will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Rezound to sign up for more information.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

About Beats Electronics LLC
Established in 2006, Beats Electronics is the brainchild of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records Jimmy Iovine, who set out to develop a new type of headphone with the capability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. For more information, please visit http://beatsbydre.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

The HTC Rezound is the new 4G LTE smartphone on the Verizon block. It comes with a 4.3 in Super LCD Display and 720p HD resolution screen a first for any HTC device. There is a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, front facing VGA camera, 8 megapixel rear facing camera with dual LED flash, 1080p HD video capture and a f2.2 lens to get the most light for your shots. There is plenty of storage with 16 GB of built-in storage and 16 GB of micro SD card storage for a total of 32 GB. The Rezound comes with Beat Audio technology inside to give you the best audio experience of any other mobile phone and will come with a pair of custom beats headphones. November 14th is the launch date and will retail for $299 on a two-year contract. Check out our hands-on video and pictures below.

Press Release:

11/03/2011

NEW YORK, NY —

HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, and Verizon Wireless today announced the HTC Rezound™, the only phone in the United States with Beats Audio™ integration. A result of the recent partnership between HTC and Beats, the HTC Rezound delivers a powerful entertainment experience with unparalleled audio and multimedia capabilities highlighted by a 4.3-inch true HD 720p display. The HTC Rezound, a premium designed smartphone that includes the latest HTC Sense experience and access to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless on Nov. 14.

“HTC is dedicated to delivering the latest in sight and sound innovation and we’re excited to be introducing the first U.S. smartphone featuring Beats Audio technology,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. “Paired with Verizon Wireless’ blazing-fast 4G LTE network and a robust multimedia experience, the HTC Rezound enables customers to enjoy their favorite music and entertainment on-the-go like never before.”

The HTC Rezound enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning by Beats that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Unique to HTC, the HTC Rezound also includes new lightweight Beats headphones, created exclusively to integrate with the Beats’ audio profile on the device. Hands-free calling is easy with the built-in microphone and the on-cable remote to pause, advance or rewind and answer a call mid-track.

“HTC fully recognizes the destruction to audio caused by the digital revolution. They embrace our vision to repair this ecosystem and bring the feeling from the recording studio to the smartphone,“ said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Beats By Dr. Dre. “This is only the beginning of our plan to fix how music is delivered.”

Lightning-fast mobile entertainment
The HTC Rezound is the first HTC smartphone to feature a true HD 720p display and is perfect for enjoying high-quality entertainment on the 4.3-inch super LCD screen. HTC Watch puts an entire library of the latest premium movies and TV shows right at your fingertips. Using a wireless connection, HTC Watch uses progressive download technology on the HTC Rezound which makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for them to finish downloading. Customers can rent or purchase videos through HTC Watch and enjoy content on up to five different HTC devices. The HTC Rezound features Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) connectivity, so customers can watch content from the device on an HDTV, including 5.1 surround sound and SRS WOW™ HD surround to take advantage of a home theater setup. Equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, the HTC Rezound offers a speedy mobile experience even for the most demanding media enthusiast.

“HTC Rezound combines sleek design, innovative entertainment features and the power of Verizon Wireless network to create a multimedia phone that consumers have been waiting for,” said Jeff Dietel, vice president of marketing, for Verizon Wireless. “4G LTE speeds take mobile entertainment to a new level, providing customers with advanced functionality in a phone they can count on for everyday use.”

Advanced multimedia features
The HTC Rezound boasts an 8-megapixel camera featuring autofocus, dual LED flash, a f/2.2 and 28mm wide-angle lens with BSI sensor to fit more of the scene into every shot and for better low-light performance. The enhanced camera features available through HTC Sense offer new scenes and effects such as panoramic mode for capturing life on a grand scale or action burst scene for the perfect action shot.

For self-portraits or video conversations, the HTC Rezound also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. With a 1080p camcorder, the HTC Rezound enables customers to record a perfect moment with stunning clarity and incredible stereo sound, perfect for sharing on YouTube or Facebook. Customers can also wirelessly send their media to a compatible TV for looking at videos or pictures with friends and family using Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA).

HTC Sense
Featuring the latest version of HTC Sense, the HTC Rezound enables people to create a unique and intuitive user experience that matches their personal preference and lifestyle. A customizable active lockscreen experience transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display. In addition, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets people quickly jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an email, taking a picture or anything else with the same quick gesture usually used to unlock the phone.

HTC Sense also delivers a new group messaging experience simplifying group and multimedia messaging so people can stay up-to-date on the latest conversations quickly and easily. People can view recent status updates from popular social networks in one place using FriendStream™, as well as sync their contact list with all email accounts and social networks for smooth integration.

“HTC and Beats have been important partners to Best Buy over the years and we are thrilled to help them bring the HTC Rezound on the Verizon Wireless network to consumers,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “This is going to be a big holiday for smartphones and people will be looking for new and different features. The HTC Rezound, with HTC’s mobile expertise and audio excellence from Beats, will be a great option for our customers.”

Additional features

• Mobile Hotspot capability: share 4G connection with up to ten Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• Operating System: Android 2.3™ (Gingerbread) with latest HTC Sense – an upgrade to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will be available in early 2012
• Internal Memory: 16 GB on-board memory, 1 GB DDR2 RAM
• Memory Card: 16 GB MicroSD™ pre-installed
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth®: 3.0 – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access and object push for vCard and vCalendar
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Battery: 1,620 mAh
• Special Features: HDMI (through MHL), G-sensor, Light sensor, Compass, Proximity sensor, MicroUSB, USIM/CSIM/ISIM, audio jack and Wireless Charging capable
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM8660 1.5GHz, Qualcomm® MDM9600
• Dimensions: 129 x 65.5 x 13.65 mm

Availability
The HTC Rezound will be available beginning Nov. 14 at Verizon Wireless and at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers who purchase the HTC Rezound will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Rezound to sign up for more information.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

About Beats Electronics LLC
Established in 2006, Beats Electronics is the brainchild of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records Jimmy Iovine, who set out to develop a new type of headphone with the capability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. For more information, please visit http://beatsbydre.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

The HTC Rezound is the latest 4G LTE handset coming to Verizon with a 4.3 inch Super LCD display with HTC first HD display at 720p resolution.  It comes with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of Ram, 32 GB of storage split between 16 GB of internal storage and 16 GB of micro SD card storage. The phone is infused with Beats Audio technology to deliver premium sound and will be available November 14th for $299 and will include a custom pair of Beats headphones.

Press Release:

11/03/2011

NEW YORK, NY —

HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, and Verizon Wireless today announced the HTC Rezound™, the only phone in the United States with Beats Audio™ integration. A result of the recent partnership between HTC and Beats, the HTC Rezound delivers a powerful entertainment experience with unparalleled audio and multimedia capabilities highlighted by a 4.3-inch true HD 720p display. The HTC Rezound, a premium designed smartphone that includes the latest HTC Sense experience and access to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless on Nov. 14.

“HTC is dedicated to delivering the latest in sight and sound innovation and we’re excited to be introducing the first U.S. smartphone featuring Beats Audio technology,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. “Paired with Verizon Wireless’ blazing-fast 4G LTE network and a robust multimedia experience, the HTC Rezound enables customers to enjoy their favorite music and entertainment on-the-go like never before.”

The HTC Rezound enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning by Beats that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Unique to HTC, the HTC Rezound also includes new lightweight Beats headphones, created exclusively to integrate with the Beats’ audio profile on the device. Hands-free calling is easy with the built-in microphone and the on-cable remote to pause, advance or rewind and answer a call mid-track.

“HTC fully recognizes the destruction to audio caused by the digital revolution. They embrace our vision to repair this ecosystem and bring the feeling from the recording studio to the smartphone,“ said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Beats By Dr. Dre. “This is only the beginning of our plan to fix how music is delivered.”

Lightning-fast mobile entertainment
The HTC Rezound is the first HTC smartphone to feature a true HD 720p display and is perfect for enjoying high-quality entertainment on the 4.3-inch super LCD screen. HTC Watch puts an entire library of the latest premium movies and TV shows right at your fingertips. Using a wireless connection, HTC Watch uses progressive download technology on the HTC Rezound which makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for them to finish downloading. Customers can rent or purchase videos through HTC Watch and enjoy content on up to five different HTC devices. The HTC Rezound features Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) connectivity, so customers can watch content from the device on an HDTV, including 5.1 surround sound and SRS WOW™ HD surround to take advantage of a home theater setup. Equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, the HTC Rezound offers a speedy mobile experience even for the most demanding media enthusiast.

“HTC Rezound combines sleek design, innovative entertainment features and the power of Verizon Wireless network to create a multimedia phone that consumers have been waiting for,” said Jeff Dietel, vice president of marketing, for Verizon Wireless. “4G LTE speeds take mobile entertainment to a new level, providing customers with advanced functionality in a phone they can count on for everyday use.”

Advanced multimedia features
The HTC Rezound boasts an 8-megapixel camera featuring autofocus, dual LED flash, a f/2.2 and 28mm wide-angle lens with BSI sensor to fit more of the scene into every shot and for better low-light performance. The enhanced camera features available through HTC Sense offer new scenes and effects such as panoramic mode for capturing life on a grand scale or action burst scene for the perfect action shot.

For self-portraits or video conversations, the HTC Rezound also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. With a 1080p camcorder, the HTC Rezound enables customers to record a perfect moment with stunning clarity and incredible stereo sound, perfect for sharing on YouTube or Facebook. Customers can also wirelessly send their media to a compatible TV for looking at videos or pictures with friends and family using Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA).

HTC Sense
Featuring the latest version of HTC Sense, the HTC Rezound enables people to create a unique and intuitive user experience that matches their personal preference and lifestyle. A customizable active lockscreen experience transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display. In addition, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets people quickly jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an email, taking a picture or anything else with the same quick gesture usually used to unlock the phone.

HTC Sense also delivers a new group messaging experience simplifying group and multimedia messaging so people can stay up-to-date on the latest conversations quickly and easily. People can view recent status updates from popular social networks in one place using FriendStream™, as well as sync their contact list with all email accounts and social networks for smooth integration.

“HTC and Beats have been important partners to Best Buy over the years and we are thrilled to help them bring the HTC Rezound on the Verizon Wireless network to consumers,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “This is going to be a big holiday for smartphones and people will be looking for new and different features. The HTC Rezound, with HTC’s mobile expertise and audio excellence from Beats, will be a great option for our customers.”

Additional features

• Mobile Hotspot capability: share 4G connection with up to ten Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• Operating System: Android 2.3™ (Gingerbread) with latest HTC Sense – an upgrade to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will be available in early 2012
• Internal Memory: 16 GB on-board memory, 1 GB DDR2 RAM
• Memory Card: 16 GB MicroSD™ pre-installed
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth®: 3.0 – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access and object push for vCard and vCalendar
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Battery: 1,620 mAh
• Special Features: HDMI (through MHL), G-sensor, Light sensor, Compass, Proximity sensor, MicroUSB, USIM/CSIM/ISIM, audio jack and Wireless Charging capable
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM8660 1.5GHz, Qualcomm® MDM9600
• Dimensions: 129 x 65.5 x 13.65 mm

Availability
The HTC Rezound will be available beginning Nov. 14 at Verizon Wireless and at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers who purchase the HTC Rezound will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Rezound to sign up for more information.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

About Beats Electronics LLC
Established in 2006, Beats Electronics is the brainchild of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records Jimmy Iovine, who set out to develop a new type of headphone with the capability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. For more information, please visit http://beatsbydre.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

The EVO Design 4G is a “re-design” of the original HTC EVO with a slimmer design. It comes with a 4 inch  Super LCD display with qHD resolution, 1.2 Ghz Processor single-core processor, 5 Megapixel rear facing camera with HD video capture, front facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat, Bluetooth, 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n , 3G World Roaming capabilities, 4G WiMax data speeds and will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Sense UI. Check out our unboxing, hands-on and first impressions of the HTC EVO Design 4G.
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The HTC EVo Design 4G is bringing the very popular EVO design in a slimmer package. It comes with a 4 inch qHD display, 1.2 Ghz Processor (no word if it dual-core or single-core), 5 Megapixel rear facing camera with HD video capture, front facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat, Bluetooth, 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n , 3G World Roaming capabilities, 4G WiMax data speeds. It will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Sense UI,  and is coming to Sprint October 23 for $99 after a $50 mail in rebate. Check out the press release and pics below.

Press Release:

Sprint Expands Award-Winning HTC EVO Family with

HTC EVO Design 4G, First EVO with World Phone Capabilities

HTC EVO Design 4G debuts Oct. 23 for less than $100 – offering

high-end 4G capabilities at an easily affordable price

 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., & SEATTLE – Oct. 19, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE: S) continues the award-winning HTC EVO™ family legacy with the addition of HTC EVO Design 4G™, the first EVO family member touting World Phone capabilities. HTC EVO Design 4G boasts many of the “must-have” features of its predecessors, including Sprint 4G and a large touchscreen display, while sporting a slim, pocket-friendly aluminum unibody design at an easily affordable price.

 

HTC EVO Design 4G goes on sale Oct. 23 for just $99.99 (excluding taxes) with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $50 mail-in rebate via reward card¹. It will be available in all Sprint sales channels, including Sprint Stores, Web Sales (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1).

“Priced at under $100, HTC EVO Design 4G is the perfect device for consumers looking for both the benefits of 4G and the latest in device style,” said Fared Adib, Sprint vice president-Product Development. “When matched with one of the Sprint Everything Data plans, our customers will unlock the value of unlimited without worrying about the cost or surprises on their monthly bill.”

 

Designed for customers who want to stay connected and be entertained, HTC EVO Design 4G combines the acclaimed HTC Sense™ experience with a stylish and robust feature set to make the 4G experience more accessible than ever. Other key features include:

 

·Android™ 2.3, Gingerbread

·HTC Sense – Award-winning user experience taking social networking, navigation and customization to new levels

·Aluminum unibody design gives the HTC EVO Design 4G a slim, streamlined profile –guaranteed  to get attention and nicely compact in your hand, pocket or bag

·1.2GHz processor

·4-inch qHD capacitive touchscreen display

·Dual cameras: 5MP rear-facing camera/camcorder with flash and HD video recording and 1.3MP front-facing camera for video chat

·World Phone capabilities to make and receive calls and texts, and to access email and news from locations around the globe

·3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices on the Sprint 3G or 4G network

· Wi-Fi^® b/g/n capable

 

“With HTC and Sprint working together, the smash-hit HTC EVO 4G introduced the world to the possibilities of 4G,” said Martin Fichter, vice president product management, HTC Americas. “With the introduction of the fifth addition to the EVO family – HTC EVO Design 4G – HTC is expanding its diverse portfolio of 4G smartphones on Sprint’s powerful 4G network.”

 

HTC EVO Design 4G requires activation on one of the Sprint Everything Data plans plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, Anytime^SM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $40 per month vs. Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web, or $10 per month vs. Verizon’s 450-minute plan with unlimited text and 2GB Web. The Mobile Hotspot option is available for an additional $29.99 per month and supports up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously². (Pricing excludes taxes and surcharges.)

 

Sprint was unbeaten among major wireless carriers for customer satisfaction according to results from the 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index. In addition to tying for first place among wireless carriers, Sprint was also the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, during the last three years, according to the survey.

 

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 52 million customers at the end of 2Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

 

About HTC

HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

Hardware & Design

The HTC Status uses the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) + HTC Sense Platform. It has a 2.6-inch touch that is pretty good for its size. Below the screen are your touch menu controls for back, home and search. Below that there is a full QWERTY keyboard that is laid out well and excellent to type on. Keys feel very as you click them down. Dubbed the “Facebook phone”, it has a dedicated Facebook share button at the bottom right, below the keyboard.  At the top edge, you will find the 3.5 mm headphone jack and phone lock button. . The phone itself has a slight bend in the middle, bringing the touch screen up at an angle for better viewing. Inside it comes 800 MHz processor, 2GB of storage and 3G global roaming with pre-installed SIM card.

In the back there is a 5.0 megapixel main camera and VGA front facing camera for video chat. Images from the main camera are good enough quality for uploading to Facebook while on the go.

Software & Usability

From the main screen, the default is a News Feed of your social media accounts, with shortcuts at either corner to use All Apps and Personalize. There are multiple screens to personalize with widgets and shortcuts, and the “end” button can also serve as the shortcut to viewing your multiple screen options. The customizable key-ring/unlock is very easy to use, and allows you to use that specific app upon unlocking. New message notifications can easily be accessed by using the left corner of the touch screen.

The target customer would definitely be a social media addict. There are THREE ways to reach Facebook from the main screen. Newsfeed, Facebook (for Android) and Facebook button which lets you update your status, upload photos and post links. With a more enhanced caller-id, when making or receive a call, you will see their status update, and even upcoming birthday. Battery life could be an issue for a heavy user. With calls and data usage, you will be charging it at least twice a day. Call quality is not the best with people telling me that after a while I start to fade in and out and I also hear the same on my end and even dropped a couple of calls. Chat can also be affected with low signal strength, and the more recent posts will not refresh when your signal increases

Overall

The HTC Status has a very light-weight, thin design that many will like, and it is very easy to use. For those who have used various other QWERTY keyboards, some of the keys and symbols take just a bit of getting used to.  It’s a good phone for what it is and will attract not only social networking addicts but some business users looking to get away from a Blackberry but still want that form factor.

Hardware & Design

The EVO 3D shares some design cues from its predecessor the EVO 4G. There is a 4.3 inch display with higher resolutions at qHD and stereoscopic 3D which basically means glasses free viewing. The front facing camera is the same at 1.3 megapixels and the touch sensitive menu keys are also exactly the same. The sides have your volume buttons, micro USB, 3.5 mm headphone jack , power button 2D/3D camera mode switch and camera button. The back had a rigid plastic finish and no longer has a kickstand.

The main camera is downgrade in the megapixel to 5 but they are dual 5 megapixel cameras with 720 video  2D and 3D video. The video quality in 2D or 3D is alright for the most part. It’s not quality that is going to blow you away but gets the job done. 3D video effects really depends on what you are recording for how well it looks. For still images the quality is ok  in both 2D and 3D.

3D Video

2D Video

Inside you have a 1.2 Ghz dual core processor, 4 GB of internal memory with a pre-installed 8 GB SD card, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 1730 mAH battery and 4G WiMax data speeds. Great improvements from the original while keep for the most part the same design minute the kickstand.

Software & Usability

Android 2.3 with Sense UI 3.0 is the software that runs the EVO 3D. The new version of Sense UI shows great improvements. Graphics are greatly improved with cool effects especially with weather. The lock screen has 4 shortcut icons that you can customize. You drag the icon down to the ring and the phone will unlock directly to that application a very useful quick feature to make the lock screen more interactive. Pulling the ring up to open the phone you will see the familiar Sense UI look and feel with 7 desktops and if you scroll fast enough you will get a cool 3D effect to it. The overall speed of the user interface feels faster and snappier. There isn’t too much preloaded software to Sprint stuff and some 3D games and movie trailers which most of this stuff can be uninstalled if desired. HTC has included the Watch app where you can rent or buy full length movies, trailers and TV shows download right in the app.

View 3D content is a  mixed bag. You will need to find the right angle and the right content to get the full 3D effect. I seem to remember back at our first hands on at CTIA 2011 that the 3D effects were more profound and the OS was 3D. Maybe they changed the screen from what we saw before but the 3D is just not as good as when I first saw it.

Battery life is better than the original EVO 4G by a lot. For moderate users you will be able to get though a full day without needed a charge but heavy users will look to charge at least one time during the day. Call quality is good as test calls were clear on both ends.

Overall

This is an excellent upgrade from the original EVO 4G. The 3D is more of a gimmick that benefit. its nice that its there but it doesn’t add or take away anything from the phone. The improvements to the screen, software and battery life make the EVO 3D a worthy upgrade the best android phone now on Sprint and one of the best smartphones in the market.

T-Mobile will be launching the HTC Wildfire S on August 3 for $79.99. The Wildfire S is in the mid ranger are when it comes to smartphones with a 600 Mhz processor, 512 MB of RAM/ROM  3.2 inch screen, 5 megapixel camera and 3G data speeds but does come with Android 2.3 with Sense UI on top.

It seems that T-Mobile and HTC are positioning  the Wildfire S to compete with the very successful Optimus line from  LG and on T-Mobile the Optimus T which is a mid range phone that is fast and works well at an affordable price.  The Wildfire S will go for $79.99 after a $50 mail in rebate.

Via Andronica

Source T-Mobile News Room