HTC EVO 3D: Device Review

Image via CrunchBase

This is a review of Sprint’s HTC EVO 3D.  This is a slight upgrade from the original HTC EVO 4G with one main added feature, taking 3D photos and watching 3D movies.  The EVO 3D also got a usability upgrade placing the camera clicker on the side of the phone rather than making you touch the screen itself to take a picture.  Touch sensitivity increased from the original.  With all the upgraded usability upgrades in mind I would rate this: 
Usability 9.5 out of 10

Next test is the battery life.  Looking at the original HTC did make this phone have a slightly longer battery life.  I was able to use it most of the day with a decent amount of usage and it came out ok.  This version also has an expandable battery pack but it leaves it feeling bulky and heavy.  The added battery does help it last much longer but is not generally need for this phone.
Battery Life 9.0 out of 10

Connection stability I thought was much better on the 3D then on the original.  I was more often getting a cell phone signal than the original.  Not sure if they made an upgrade to the internal antenna but I definitely saw an improvement. Wifi no change but the speed did obviously increase from the regular 3G signal.  The 4G feature is also present but eats a ton of battery so I never really use it.  But when 4G works it works great.
Connection Stability 9.7 out of 10

Overall speed and responsiveness of the HTC EVO 3D is quite an upgrade from the original as I mentioned before touch sensitivity increased immensely with this new iteration.  The processing speed when loading apps is also an improvement.  All the load times and transitions from one app to another are crisp and clean.
Speed 10 out of 10

I know this post will be dated but if you’re thinking of jumping to this phone from the original HTC EVO 4G, I would highly recommend doing so.  A lot of improvements and upgrades were added.  My overall feel for functionality and reliability are very high.  Check one out at your local Sprint store.

Overall 9.55 out of 10

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Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Wireless Hotspot by Sprint

This is a device review for the Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Wireless Hotspot by Sprint. 

Working on the road can be frivolous unless you have a good connection to the World Wide Web.  There’s only so much you can do from your smart phone.  The Overdrive Pro is very ideal for this type of situation.  I tend to travel quite a bit for conferences and this is little powerful device is perfect for me.  Living in NYC I get a strong 4G signal anywhere I go excluding the subway and my apartment.  The subway is obvious but my apartment’s lack of good signal is due to faulty construction.  Anywhere else, the park, coffee shops, work, and etc.  I have had no problems.  I’ve read a lot of other reviews of this device so I’d like to go through some of pros and cons. 

A lot of people complain about the battery life and I would concur it’s not the best in this department.  From a full charge I get about 4 hours before it needs to be plugged in.  Granted the Overdrive is tiny in size and therefore the battery itself is also tiny in size, making it difficult to have long battery life in such a compact package. 

Battery Life 7.5 out of 10 

I used it non-stop so I always had it plugged in.  Another concern I heard was a problem overheating.  From my experience the device did get a little hot but for all intents and purposes it never affected the connection stability.  In fact I never had any problems finding and keeping a strong signal.  I think connection stability is a more important factor than battery life for this type of device. 

Connection Stability 9.9 out of 10

Usability of the Overdrive Pro couldn’t be easier.  You simply turn it on and wait till it connects.  Then read the password displayed on the front and plug it in to your network settings on your computer, iPad, Smart-phone and etc. Shazzam your surfing the web at high 4G speeds.  Watch videos and whatever else you want; like it’s a wired broadband connection. 

User Experience Design 10 out of 10

Speed is also very important when you are dealing with the wireless hotspots.  Many people use the Internet for many different things.  I for one use the Internet for the full spectrum so I’d like to be through. For web surfing and watching movies on Netflix there were absolutely no problems.  The only problem occurred with online gaming and only occurred in my apartment building with the faulty construction.  To test it elsewhere I ran it through the rigors and had a buddy of mine test it on his PlayStation.   His conclusion was it worked more than a decent amount with online gaming; however his FiOS connection was still faster than the 4G wireless Hotspot.  In conclusion although 4G is wicked fast, online gaming still requires more speed for optimal playtime. 

Speed 8.7 out of 10

The Price tag of Overdrive Pro is extremely reasonable and the value you get from Sprint’s 4G network is awesome.  The base price of the Overdrive Pro is $349, but if you sign a 2 year contract and send in for the mail-in-rebates; your effective cost for the device is only $50.  Service is also only around $50/month depending on which data plan you sign up for.  In my opinion this is an incredible deal. 

Price Tag: 10 out of 10 

Overall Value 9.22 out of 10   

Image by Global X via Flickr

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• The Transformation and Adaptation of Mobile Hotspot Technology (mycricket.com)
• Clear Spot 4G Mobile Hotspot With New LCD Display Hits The FCC (slashgear.com)
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