HTC Touch Pro XV6850 Phone, Black (Verizon Wireless)

HTC Touch Pro - Very good for business January 24, 2009

Reviewer:  RFW 

I will admit to initially having some of the same frustration(s) with this device, to which others have alluded, and I, also, considered returning it within the thirty-day period allotted by Verizon. However, the capabilities of the HTC Touch Pro are extensive, and I found it difficult to fully appreciate everything the device can do in six weeks, let alone three or four.

First, my hands and fingers are larger than average, but I've found it easy and quick to navigate using the touch-screens and buttons. I use the stylus from time-to-time, and my experience is that it is sometimes necessary to use it when objects are crowded close together on the touch-screen, but I found this to be an infrequent necessity. The keyboard is very good, though I initially found the odd placement of the letter "M" a little disconcerting, but I did eventually get used to its location. These are certainly things one can try out in any Verizon store, and don't have to be left to chance; the same with build-quality, which I've found to be very good, check it out to your own satisfaction.

I use my Touch Pro mainly for business and am a heavy user of Microsoft Outlook Tasks, Calendar, and Contacts, so easy synchronizing these things with the same items on my desktop PC is very important to me; the HTC Touch Pro does this very well, though I'd have liked the Verizon Wireless Sync capability included with the basic data package, without having to pay extra for wireless sync. But I've gotten used to synchronizing by using the USB cable; it's quick and easy.

Setting up the device to download my email from four different email accounts, and four different providers, was easy and quick. One just types in the email address and password (you only have to do this once at setup) for an account and the device software does most of the rest. I did not find it necessary to download any additional software for this. I just followed the directions in the user guide. For each account, you can choose from a variety of time-intervals for checking your email (5 min., 10 min., 15 min., 30 min., 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, or once per day), or you may check manually in just seconds.

At first, I did find the operating system seemed to slow down or freeze from time-to-time. Invariably, this was due to having too many programs running at once, a condition cured with two touches on the main screen (with two touches, you can close any one program or close all open programs). Also, I found that getting photos and music off the device and onto a memory card resulted in faster operation. The device has a lot of memory, relatively speaking, but keep in mind that it has a lot of programs and capability. Re-setting the device (soft-reset, that is) is also a solution, but probably should only be done with the same frequency as you do it on your desktop or laptop--which is, hopefully, infrequently. If the device completely freezes, of course, your choices may be limited to a re-set. You may find, as I did, that once you learn how to get around in the device, moving more efficiently between and among its functions and programs, the incidence of freezing will drop to zero.

This is a great device for business, though the 3D TouchFLO interface (an I-Phone-like experience) seems fun to use and may be easier for some to navigate to more frequently used functions; I don't use this interface much, preferring the--perhaps more boring--"TODAY screen" interface and the full complement of functions available through menu choices. In any case, I found there are a number of ways of accomplishing typical tasks, some easier and quicker than others. For instance, text messaging, of which I do a lot with my daughter, is as easily accessible as it is for a regular cell phone; just three or four quick touches will get you there with the Touch Pro. For receiving a text message, a notification link takes you to the read/reply screen with only one touch.

In the end I've reacted positively to this device, especially for business. And I very much like the familiar "Windows" look and feel. Among those things for which I have less appreciation are: Cost (it's a pricey phone from Verizon); the highly polished, piano-black finish, is easily smudged with fingerprints; there is an atypically long delay in the phone ringing when a call comes in--the person calling will hear five rings while you will have heard only two--even if you're in the same room. Incidentally, in the event you plan to get your device from a non-Verizon source, you might want to check with Verizon to see if you might be by-passing some benefit (like "new-every-two" or a credit on a new phone when your plan expires--just a thought).

Terrible OS, Cumbersome - I sent mine back January 15, 2009

Reviewer:  Etta Wildberry 

I had this phone for three weeks, sent it back to Verizon within my 30 days, paid and restocking fee of 35 dollars, and am awaiting the Blackberry Curve.

Pros:
-Lots of features and capabilities. Top of the line in terms of the list of things it can do. I wont repeat since they are listed in the description.

-I liked the Opera browser and once I got email working, its a nice interface.


Cons:
-Did not find navigating menu items and settings intuitive. Took navigating through 6 menu items to get to a text message unless that person was in your favorites list. Could not figure out how to switch between video and camera mode, for example.

-Minimalist buttons forced me to use the stylus on this phone frequently, which is cumbersome at times. It has only the buttons on the front of the phone, and a volume control on the side. Thats it. It really should have stuck with the buttons and side navigation wheel that its predecessor had.

-Ironically (since this runs a Windows OS), it was easy to set up my gmail email account, but I had to download extra software (which took multiple tries to get to install correctly) and many attempts to get my hotmail accounts setup.

-Slow OS, freezes. I found it annoyingly slow to switch between applications and functions on this phone. The phone also froze on me repeatedly and I had to reset it on three occasions in the three weeks I had it. Unacceptable.
BTW - when I went to the Verizon store to look for a different phone the salesperson told me that the latest version of Windows OS is "lightyears better" that previous versions. Maybe is it (I never used them) but in my experience, it still sucks. Freezing and resetting your handheld should not be part of regular use. Why can't Microsoft get this right?

-Back cover was flimsy and popped off a few times when I was trying to slide the keyboard open.

I could go on, but why? I was disappointed in this phone. Based on my experience, I ruled out Windows OS, check out Palm software but found it outdated or else without a physical keyboard, and so ended up choosing from Blackberry. I've got two good friends who love their Blackberry Curves, and I liked my experience with it in the store, so I am hoping for the best with that one.

Two other things - as of the time of this review Verizon does not make these phones available in their stores for a physical, hands-on experience.
AND, Verizon has created a new requirement that you MUST buy the add-on monthly data package for $29.99/month with any smartphone. So keep that in mind.

Good luck.

Great Phone, But Verizon crippled it February 6, 2009

Reviewer:  Tech Freak  (Los Angeles, CA United States) -

I'll give you the bad news first so I can end on a positive note. Verizon took an AMAZING phone from HTC and dummied it down. The original phone has a really cool "TouchFLO 3D" interface that you can see on HTC's website: http://www.htc.com/www/product/touchpro/overview.html then click on TouchFLO 3D. You'll see that each screen transitions into the other and has a 3D feel. 1) Verizon's version, maybe because of a reduced the memory size, doesn't have this. Instead, they opted for this dark red 2D version of TouchFLO, seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKweHBO6Cks . On top of that, the interface can get slow and unresponsive, especially once you leave your phone on for a long time or run a lot of apps. I've seen good reviews on CNET for the AT&T version (fuze) and bad reviews for the Verizon version. 2) NEXT, Verizon disabled the GPS. The phone has a GPS, and is GPS capable, but Verizon wants you pay a monthly fee to use VZ Navigator, which is the only "official" way to get the GPS working. This is big blow to fans of Google Maps Pocket PC version, which worked great on my AT&T Tilt. Google Maps is a free app that can show you where you are and get you directions, find the nearest anything, and show you the Traffic flow on freeways in major cities. There is GPS hack/crack thing out there which I tried but it didn't work for me yet. 3) The original HTC has an angled back, and Verizon's has a flat one. I wish I had the angled one, because I think it gives you a better grip on the phone. 4) I believe there is also an FM feature that is disabled unless you subscribe.
So what's the good news? The phone is pretty good overall. Most of the interface is big enough that it can be operated with your fingers instead of the stylus. The dialer is friendly for a touch screen dialer. It's kind of a sacrifice not having the actual dialing buttons of non-touch-screen phones, but it's all the other technology that makes it worth it. Internet is decent, email is reliable. The camera is nice with the bright flash light. There are apps out there to use your phone as a flash light too. And overall, the phone functions better that it's predecessor, the Tilt.

Compared to front-Qwerty Devices such as Blackjack August 31, 2009

Reviewer:  A. Kansal  (Los Angeles, CA United States) -

This review is for you if you are comparing between a phone with a Qwerty keyboard on the front with the HTC Touch pro. I have had the Samsung Blackjack that has a qwerty keyboard on the front for a while and switched to the HTC Touch pro. The touch screen and slide out qwerty keyboard offer some advantages but Verizon and HTC seem to have messed it up. Below is a comparison:

The good:
1. On phones with qwerty keyboard on front, if the number you wish to dial is specified using letters, such as 800-323-ABCD, there is no way to convert the ABCD to actual numbers. On touch pro, the on-screen numeric keypad has the letters on top of the numbers.

2. Touch pro has dedicated number keys on the slide out qwerty keyboard and that is very useful for typing email/text msg.

The bad:

3. Touch pro's touch screen turns on when a call is being received: thus when pulling out the phone from the pocket, you inadvertently touch some part of the screen which messes with receiving the call.

4. If the screen is set to lock after some time, you cannot see the mail accounts and calendar events without unlocking the screen (on blackjack these things are visible even on a locked screen).

6. When touching the "Contacts" button on Touch-pro, the screen shows 2-3 contacts only as the lower portion of the screen is hidden by a keypad display
a. Also, the keypad displayed is the numeric keypad. I would want the qwerty keypad instead, to type the name of the contact I want!

7. You cannot turn on speakerphone when a call is received if the screen is locked.

8. If the received call is from an automated system that asks you to press some number key for some task, this cannot be done if the screen is locked. My airline often calls me using an automated system when there is a flight status change and after playing the brief message, asks to press some number for more options.

9. Stopwatch application is missing.

10. Calculator application is missing.

11. The alarm is not usable. If the screen is locked, there is no way to snooze or dismiss the alarm. If you do unlock the screen first (with the alarm ringing all the while) there is still no snooze button. Rather there is a "Reminder" button which when touched, opens the alarm dismiss window. It is only then, if you press dismiss, will the alarm stop.
a. It is very hard to set the alarm in the first place. You access it in some hidden menu under settings and the buttons that appear on the touchscreen are really tiny to use.

And the ugly:
1. Has happened a couple of times that pressing the top power button did not turn on the screen and I had to remove and reinsert the battery to get the phone back to working.

2. On the iPhone when the screen is locked, there is a keypad to enter unlock password AND a button to make emergency calls. On the Touch pro, when the screen is locked, there is only a keypad to enter your password and an unlock button to press after entering the password. The text on top says emergency calls can be made but its not intuitive how. (It is in fact possible to make emergency calls, its just not as intuitive as on the iPhone)

3. The phone says it has GPS and it seems from online documentation that the GPS is unlocked, but neither GoogleMaps nor BingMaps could actually acquire GPS satellites using the built in GPS (I tried several times in different outdoor locations).

4. In general the icons on the screen are very small (1/4th to 1/6th the size of typical icons on the iPhone) and hence very difficult to touch. The touch-pro does includes a stylus to compensate for this weakness but then you have to use both hands and it looks rather old fashioned to use a stylus.

unstable junk December 18, 2009

Reviewer:  opiniated "opiniated"  (so. california) -

I have had the HTC Touch pro through Verizon for approximately one year. This is the worst phone that I have ever used. It is slow and unstable. It changes screen randomly, opens applications without being prompted, makes calls on its own. The Touchflo program is unavailable when using Verizon's Wireless Sync program. Verizon replaced the phone once, but the reploacement functioned exactly as the original phone. If you're considering this phone, reconsider.

Don't buy this phone unless you want to Flash April 21, 2009

Reviewer:  Lauren Modery 

This phone can be great, but you have to be willing to flash the room. Simple as that. Don't bother getting the phone unless you are willing to do it. Simple as that.