Android HTC Evo the iPhone Killer

by Antonio Wells Mar 27, 2010 10:13 AM – 7 Comments

When Google unveiled the Nexus One, the superphone was forecasted as being the “iPhone Killer”. As impressive as the hardware marriage with is powerful Android software is; Google’s choice on distribution and marketing of it hindered main stream adoption for it to claim its crown. To date you cannot simply go into a store to check out the phone and features whereas you only can purchase online. Also Google introduced a habit-breaking consumer concept to buy unsubsidized phones full price offering cost savings long term.

Enters the 4G HTC Evo for Sprint. Its form factor is similar to the HTC HD2 Windows Mobile smartphone; solid, light and huge touch screen. What make it an iPhone Killer is its features; first phone to run on a 4G network in the U.S. offering speeds 10 times faster than 3G, 1Ghz processor fully capable of running Google’s latest Android software, and the largest touch screen display at 4.3 inches. It is a total mobile multimedia hub with 2 digital cameras (a 1.3 megapixel forward facing camera for video calls and 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash), records 720p HD video, plays back HD video on phone as well as to a TV via HDMI out, and is a mobile 4G hotspot for up to 8 devices.

The most important reason it will dominate the iPhone will be the distribution and marketing. Unlike the Nexus One consumers will be able to go to Sprint stores this summer and pick up the phone, ask questions, check out features and receive carrier subsidy on price. Sprint is already aggressively promoting 4G or WiMAX network coverage at an undisclosed amount. In a report recently compared we’ve seen Android smartphones slightly outselling iPhones due to Verizon’s 100 million advertising campaign of the DROID.

Like clock work, we expect Apple to unveil the latest iPhone in June. Hopefully they will step up their game now that many handset makers embedding Android are clawing at their smartphone dominance daily.

These are my personal thoughts with the growth of Android and the positioning with this phone… what are yours? Do you agree or think I’m absolutely insane… share in the comments below!

Tags: 4G, Android, HTC Evo, HTC Evo for Sprint, iPhone, iPhone Killer, WiMAX

Categorised in: Apps Blog

7 Comments

By bjbm on March 27, 2010 at 12:40 pm:

This phone is like a Ryu/Ken dragon punch to Steve Job’s vagina.

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By Mark on March 27, 2010 at 6:51 pm:

Don’t ever call any phone an “iPhone killer”. It’s honestly the dumbest thing you could do as a critic of mobile devices and will do nothing but cause people to lose respect for your website and your writing.

I’m an Android user and wish the best for the OS as much as anyone, but when you say stuff like this, it just sounds desperate. First of all, this phone is sold on Sprint, which alone makes it a killer of nothing. Even though Palm’s ad campaign sucked, the Pre was once labeled as an “iPhone killer” and has failed miserably with Sprint. And while this HTC device looks incredibly impressive on its own, it has no chance at outselling the iPhone (especially if AT&T loses exclusivity).

Yes, Android as an mobile platform is making great strides in cutting into Apple’s share of the market, but to claim that any single device is going to single-handedly kill sales of the iPhone (especially without seeing what is coming this summer) is ignorant and ridiculous.

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- By Rob on March 29, 2010 at 4:40 am:
  
  Mark, I have to agree.. I was kinda put off by the Term “iPhone Killer”. I have heard it time and time again..and question the use of it. Android will progress on it’s own and do it nicely. And the PLATFORM will chew at the Apple base..but a single phone won’t do it..
  
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- By Brandon on April 21, 2010 at 11:37 am:
  
  Mark, I have to assume when wrote that you knew very little of the Htc Evo and the Iphone 4.0.
  
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- By Bob on July 8, 2010 at 1:33 am:
  
  Keep in mind, it is us as a people, not the carriers, Sprints CEO has never called any phone and Iphone killer, and when asked about the Pre, he said he wouldn’t say that, and that he gives credit to the Iphone.
  
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By Ryan on June 2, 2010 at 10:35 am:

I want to start off by saying a) that I am not at all an Apple Fanboi; I’m a PC-guy till the day I die…and b) that I DEEPLY wanted this phone. DEEPLY. With all that is within me. It’s so sexy, so awesome, so capable! I was willing to trade in my iPhone 3GS, the only Apple device I’ve ever owned – and the single greatest piece of technology that I’ve ever owned for that matter – for the HTC Evo. I am also still in contract with AT&T and so I would have terminated early and paid the fine just to switch to Sprint so I could have this phone. I absolutely love my iPhone – it’s familiar to me, easy to operate, and fun. But I hate AT&T. I want to see Flash display in the Safari browser. I want to be able to customize my iPhone background. Push notification constantly fails. Dropped calls. I despise the bottleneck of Apple & iTunes. I hate the lack of compatibility it has sometimes with my PC.

But after reading all of the reviews, I am sorry to say that I will not be getting this beautifully gorgeous phone. And here’s why: Horrible battery life. MicroSD card failures. Can’t talk and surf at the same time on Sprint (only on 4G, not on 3G). Gotta pay an extra $10 for something that I might not even use because it will kill the battery and might be spotty connectivity at best. Can’t install apps to the MicroSD card. A camera lens that the phone actually sits on, resulting potentially in a scratched-up lens.

I’m super bummed. I mean, it’s only a phone, right? But still: Why didn’t both HTC and Apple really think of these things? Why not put absolutely everything in the phone that people will need, and MAKE IT RIGHT, so there are no regrets on any side? Sprint: Why make a 4G network and then charge a surplus on it? What’s with not providing protection for the camera lens so that I can actually ditch an extra device and use the camera on this phone? Apple: lose the ego and incorporate Flash. AT&T: Fix your network so calls don’t drop.

As a followup, I certainly will not be upgrading my iPhone 3GS now that I see that the iPhone 4G screen is smaller…what a stupid move by Apple. When will people get it right???

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- By Guyver on June 2, 2010 at 2:53 pm:
  
  You can transfer apps to the card. Android upgraded this. It also has 1GB internal memory. SD Card failure? it didn’t even come out yet. You can’t really say that without proof. Gotta pay an extra $10? that’s still half of what your paying to have your iphone so what’s the problem? I can’t stand when people bring up the extra $10 when they’re paying twice as much for less. Kill the battery? I know a lot of people with the iphone and that batter runs out quick. Depends on your use and everyone uses differently so throw that out of your bag of excuses. Can’t talk and surf the web at the same time unless on 4G? um. iphone just got video last year. Can’t currently multitask and the new multitasking is sort of multitasking. It doesn’t really. Apple just pauses the app when you go to another one. that’s not multitasking…that’s pausing. Iphone has the lowest camera resolution in the industry. They have a front facing camera on the new iphone which may not even be active when released because you need faster speeds to video chat or it will be choppy and Apple won’t stand for that! You can’t change your battery if something goes wrong you have to take it to apple. If you need more memory you have to buy a new phone. They treat their customers like babies. You can’t even wipe your butt without Apple’s help. I’m tired of people complaining about sprints phones and what you can’t do and the exrtra $10. You have less with the iphone and you pay more…period!!!!
  
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