Review: Otter Box Impact Series Case for HTC EVO

If you own a smart device other than Apple's, you will know that it's pretty hard to find accessories for them.  Things get harder to find when it comes to devices that are one off design for selected manufacturers, for instance, all of the HTC phones.  Well, if you happen to own the best HTC Android smartphone today (IMHO), then your HTC EVO 4G is in luck.  OTTER BOX just released it's Impact series case for the EVO and in short, it works and fits very nicely (and I like it!)

Otter Box is famous for it's high quality and durability in cases (see a handful of my reviews on various Apple products here).  That same ruggedness is now available to protect your top dog 4G smartphone. The Impact series case is a one piece silicon sleeve, albeit one thick silicon case offering ample protection.  In Otter Box's own description, it's toughness is rated level 2 out of 4, those looking for ultimate levels of protection should look into their level 4 case, the DEFENDER series (see my reviews).

I was surprised at how much I liked the Impact case for the EVO, it fits the device perfectly, as if the case and EVO have fused together the instant they met.  The cutouts are precise and the texture (especially) on the backside looks amazing, even better than stock. Since the EVO has a smooth/high gloss finish, using the case provides addition grip with it's rubbery finish which also decreased the devices tendency to slide off surfaces on an incline.  The case also offers extra padding around the front of the phone to make sure that gorgeous LCD will not make contact with the flat surface thus avoid unnecessary scratch; this is on top of throwing in a free LCD protector laminate film.

All Otter Box cases tend to add some thickness or heft to the devices but it didn't feel this way with the EVO.  Prior to trying out this Impact Series case (MSRP: $19.99), the EVO was used naked in it's default state, now this EVO will always be rocking inside the Otter Box Impact Series case.

Bottom line: One of the best cases with a good balance of pricing, fit and performance, its a little nugget of protection for your top of line Android device....  If you weren't sure, just go get it, you'll love it!

HTC EVO and Adobe Flash 10.1 Problem (Resoultion)

A while back, as I was testing the Android Froyo 2.2 featuring Flash capabilities, I also agreed to install an update to Adobe Flash 10.1 shortly after.  Ever since that installation, my mobile Chrome has gotten buggy, constantly crashing for no reason.  Once I've made the connection, I attempted to uninstall Flash 10.1 but to no avail (the uninstall button is grey'd out in Settings>Applications>Manage Applications).

For a while, my work around was to use Opera Mini for Android (which, to my surprise, is really pretty fast for web surfing) but it's as if I had thrown the towel.  Over the weekend, I am glad to have found the fix.  Search Market Place for "Adobe Flash" and you will find an update to 10.1.95.2, click install and you be on your way to Flash/Web/Chrome bliss!

Keywords: How to uninstall Flash 10.1
Keywords: HTC EVO Flash 10.1 Browser Chrome Crash

Tango App is Awesome!

I don't usually review apps unless they offer the ability to enhance one's mobile experience.  Tango App is definitely one that enhances mobile experience.  It fills a huge void in the premium smartphone space:  Cross-platform Video Chat over 3G or 4G data network (with ease).

Its what Facetime and Qik should've been.  Simply download Tango on your iPhone 4 or HTC EVO.  Then dial your friends from your address book via Tango.  Tango has no registration process and will tell you if your friend has Tango installed so you can call them.  Video call over 3G data is decent and I had no problem doing so with other iPhone 4 or HTC EVO users.  There are some bugs that needs to be iron'd out, for instance, somehow  my iPhone won't ring when a friend is Tango-calling me even though Tango is running in the background (yet, it works on my friend's iPhone 4) [UPDATE: There is no bug, the app will not alert you if during installation, you've disallowed push notification, albeit they could have explained it better or provided some reference in the settings menu, it can be fixed if you go to your iPhone's SETTINGS>PUSH NOTIFICATION>ENABLE Sound and Display for Tango, thanks to my friend at KRAPPS for the tip!].  In any case, the application is still working pretty good, doing the job that Facetime or Qik should've done.

Tango is an amazing app and I highly recommend it!

Review: HTC EVO 4G, the Godzilla is Here!

Godzilla! it was the first word come to mind when I held on to the HTC EVO 4G for the first time.  I was grinning from ear to ear, whispering under my breath, "welcome home!"  The HTC EVO 4G is a beast of a smartphone, measuring just a tick smaller than 5" x 2.5" and has the thickness slightly wider than a no. 2 pencil and the phone surface is largely covered by gigantic LCD that is full of HD goodness at 800x480 resolution (hey, is that TV in your pocket or are you happy to see me?  No, its the HTC EVO :P )

While the finish is not quite as elegant as the iPhone 4's Glass/Aluminum combination, the EVO 4G holds its own with a glossy, dark/glass/plastic finish.  It reminds me of the NEXUS ONE I've had but bigger, better and faster.  The features on the HTC EVO 4G is nearly endless, aside from the screen real estate, its got 4G WiMAX +Hotspot (unfortunately not available for NYC area yet), 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, HDMI output, 8MP camera & 1.3MP front-mount HD camera plus even a lovely kick stand to prop itself up (this is really handy!).  The only thing I have to complaint about, which is not limited to this phone but most of the HTC built phone, is the button response/feedback is not quite as firm and snappy as the iPhones, in this case, its the power button that bugs.

The operation is your typical Android 2.0+ experience, if you've owned or played with a NEXUS ONE in the past, you would not be blown away, other than the excessively large, and gorgeous LCD screen.  I am tempted to drive myself to one of the nearby 4G markets to try out the 4G speed.  Browsing the web and using Google Maps on the large screen is a real treat.  The 8MP camera features auto focus and camera is very comparable in performance with the iPhone 4, except, well, takes higher quality photo; it's crazy to know that this phone makes my Canon Digital ELPH SD630 obsolete in every way!  Today happens to be the day OTA 2.2 (Froyo) is available, I'll do a quick write up about its highly anticipated FLASH support after this post.

This won't be a comprehensive review, more like a first impression; I haven't played around long enough to comment on the battery life just yet but I will update shortly.  In conclusion, this gorgeous-huge-smartphone is every bit I have anticipated and I absolutely love it!

Apple, It's your game to lose now...

When Apple announced and launched the iPhone 3GS a year after iPhone 3G was introduced, I was pretty disappointed, Apple did a basic revamp and did not offer some of the much needed hardware improvements (i.e front-mount camera, flash-camera, etc.).  In the past 6 months, a crap load of Android-based hardware have finally arrived to various carriers all over the world with even more to come, it has got to apply some pressure at the Cupertino camp.

The latest and greatest blow to Apple's territory has to be Sprint's amazing comeback story of WiMAX-enabled HTC EVO; this handset is beautifully sculptured with amazing features to match (ie. 8.1 MP camera + front-mount camera, blazingly fast 4G, 4.3" screen and lots more).  What is most interesting for me is the timing of Sprint's announcement; there has been no sign of an upcoming iPhone and its been almost a year since the iPhone 3GS release; out of the nowhere comes with Sprint's WiMAX phone.  This news will surely make anyone whose iPhone contract is about due reconsider their options.

Apple's last big announcement has been the iPad which in my opinion has been receiving lukewarm responses.  With the smartphone market more competitive than ever, Apple's next iPhone announcement has to count, the problem is that the HTC EVO might have taken the thunder away from Apple as it pretty much offered all of the missing features from current iPhone model lineup.  Its as if Apple must now make two moves in advance to regain their leadership position.

Having said all this, I will now wait for Apple's future iPhone announcement with bated breath.