Review: Verizon HTC Ozone

The Verizon HTC Ozone (Cedar) is the respond to the crumbling Motorola Q9 series and fits in nicely with Verizon'south revamped and full-featured Windows Mobile lineup.  The phone is a sis device to the HTC Snap but differs from that model in significant and beneficial ways.

I've had the chance to use the device extensively e'er since the quick easily-on report weeks ago.  In short, Verizon customers are very lucky to have such a not bad WM Standard device. Packing WiFi, EvDO Rev A and a GSM radio with a cozy keyboard, the HTC Ozone sets the bar for not-touchscreen devices and breathes new life into this series.

Read on for the full run down!

Features

• 524mhz CPU
• Available Storage: ~72mb available (256mb total)
• Available Retention/RAM: ~70mb available (192mb)
• WiFi (802.eleven b/thou)
• GSM Radio (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
• 1x/EvDO RevA
• BT 2.0
• 1500mah battery (~5hrs talk time)
• Visual Voicemail
• 3.7 oz
• WM6.one Standard
• microSD

Information technology is almost odd to meet a WM Standard device packed so with and so much engineering science. Ordinarily such specs are reserved for the more than "high end" WM Pro devices.

What is fifty-fifty more than revealing is how Verizon is offering this new on contract for the low $49 — near 2/3 less than the $149 Sprint is asking for the inferior Snap (yous can become the Sprint Snap for $49 at Best Buy/Radio Shack though).

Build Quality

HTC has been building these devices for years, just dare I say ... only now are they really hitting their stride, having plant what works and what doesn't in these devices. (FYI, I blame the Snap on carrier interference.)

The Ozone has a great feel to information technology: glossy in the front, a nice two-toned soft impact back.  At 3.7oz, it is very light and hands slips into a pocket with ease.  The forepart, feels a little "plastic-y" and at offset seems sort of cheap.

However, it is much nicer than the Sprint version and you apace adjust to the fashion the button click and respond. The angled cuts on the device too add a prissy bear upon.

Screen

Only gorgeous.  Granted, we are dealing with a 2.4" 320x240 not-touchscreen--hardly cutting edge, but I'm happy to report that they have improved the screen clarity, brightness and sharpness greatly.  It'due south no VGA screen only for existence a dedicated telephone/messenger device, information technology really gets the task washed.

Unfortunately in that location is no sensor to suit effulgence automatically, something which I've learned to greatly appreciated on the Touch Pro 2.

Keyboard

The keyboard is small and the Q9c even so edges it out (at the cost of beingness wider).  The Ozone'southward keyboard is very expert though and is leaps and bounds better than the Sprint Snap'due south (which I've never adjusted to fifty-fifty after weeks of utilize).  For in one case Verizon changed things for the better.

With ample spacing between the rows, a normal QWERTY layout and keys that are higher in the center than their sides, typing on the Ozone is a breeze. With a nice clicky sound, the keyboard is a highlight.

Speed

Clocking in at 524MHz and running WM6.1 Standard (and perhaps eligible for WM6.5?), the Ozone flies.  Granted, WM Standard has always seemed faster than its Pro sibling, so adding that extra horsepower here pays off when running apps over WiFi or larger programs similar Skyfire.

The device multi-tasks very well and you'll accept no problem managing multiple apps.

HTC-ified

HTC has finally started to do its custom work to WM Standard, which is a welcome change.

On this device they have their custom Photographic camera program, which is and so much better than Microsoft'south — basically information technology adds more controls, streamlined menus and speed.  To complement the camera, they accept their own HTC Anthology, which offers full-screen viewing with slide-furnishings, updated transparent menus and ability to zoom/pan.

Other notable additions are Audio Boost, which is a graphic blaster featuring pre-gear up profiles for headphone use; RSS Hub, which is a full featured RSS reader; QuickGPS that offers offline-aGPS; Bluetooth Explorer for file transfers; Comm Manger for working your radios; MP3 Trimmer for making ringtones; and Phonation Recorder for sending sound files.

Finally, they take their own custom 'HTC Dwelling' Sliding Panels theme, which includes access to the weather condition with gorgeous icons.  The black color scheme melds nicely with the device'southward--no need to modify it.

Bottom line:  all of those apps really add to the experience of the device, making information technology more media-friendly and filling in the gaps left by Microsoft.

Radios/Speakers

Hopping to the radios is very piece of cake on the Ozone: button FN + Space Bar and information technology brings you to HTC's Comm Manager. From there y'all but toggle which yous want on/off, including Airplane manner, Information and Directly Push.  WiFi connects up hands enough when turned on and doesn't hammer the battery also badly.

Speakers (both ear and rear) are very good.  Aplenty sound from both with no distortion--in that location's even a nice resonance to the device.

Once again, HTC has wisely pushed the rear speaker to the side slightly, pregnant when the device is on its dorsum, the speaker is unobstructed.  Nigh the earpiece, yous have an LED for alerts/charging on the left side (one could imagine a ambience light sensor going on the right side-tsk!).

Miscellaneous

Yup, GPS in unlocked on this device which is crucial for a World Phone, eh?  It works very well, specially with QuickGPS which downloads satellite data expert for 1 week and assists with locking in on start up.

The Ozone also features Microsoft's VoiceCommand, which is ane of their best technologies. Information technology comes pre-assigned to the Green push: simply hold information technology down and wait for the piffling Mic to appear on screen.

VoiceCommand greatly simplifies functions such as getting your battery life, reading your next appointment, play a vocal or to call someone.  Information technology's an under-appreciated feature that not many phones come with pre-installed, and so kudos to Verizon to making information technology so attainable.

Battery life is very good for such a device.  Information technology seemed to last for ever, though of course it will depend on your usage--just lets say information technology is on the high-end for longevity.

Missteps?

Not many on this phone, but if I had to nitpick:

• No 3.5mm headset jack
• No roller ball/side gyre wheel
• No ambient light sensor
• Could employ more storage space

None of those are deal killers, unlike maybe the Sprint Snap's keyboard.

At 70mb for storage, it will be fine for most folks, but if you install many apps you'll quickly run downwards to helps manage battery life and improve usability by adjusting the screen for you according to current lighting conditions.

The headset jack consequence is well known--the Ozone just missed the revamped position of HTC.  Too bad, merely they practice throw in a a very elegant adapter for 2.5mm/3.5mm/USB headphones.  I always complain about the lack of a side curl bicycle, because when reading emails or websites, I notice them useful for reading.

Conclusion

It should be obvious at this point: I actually similar the Ozone.  I could violently shake the other carriers for not getting this version.  Information technology has all the radios you'll demand, not bad design, prissy KB, looks sharp (when doesn't black and greenish look proficient together in technology?) and the telephone Just WORKS.  WM Standard is a very reliable OS and is and so like shooting fish in a barrel to work with.  Considering of that, information technology is overnice to see information technology melded with such corking hardware from HTC and their added software tweaks.

For $49 this is a steal.  If you lot are new to smarpthones, need a solid messaging device or want something for your romps around the globe, await no further.  And Sprint/T-Mobile?  Acquire from this.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/review-verizon-htc-ozone

Posted by: justicebeirsed.blogspot.com

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