Sprint and HTC released their latest Android hand held in their line this weekend. While the device went on sale at Sprint Stores this weekend it was available for purchase from Radio Shack three days prior. Go figure. I picked up a Shift from Radio Shack on Friday, transferred my Apps and data from my Hero and have been using the Shift ever since. Below is my review

 Sprint HTC Evo Shift 4G Review
[wp_ad_camp_2]

The features that attracted me to the Shift were it’s speed, size, and sliding keyboard.

Speed
My first Android phone was the Sprint HTC Hero. The Hero will never win any speed contest. My need for speed almost prompted me to get the original Evo but I thought it was just too big. The Evo emphasizes video playback and multimedia uses with its 4.3 inch screen. Multimedia playback is not that high on my list of requirements.

I am impressed with the Shift’s speed. Everything flows smooth and quick. The Evo Shift is the embodiment of technology not getting in the way of what you are trying to accomplish. I am able to go from App to App to perform whatever task I am trying to perform without having to wait for the hand held to keep up with me. It is the same impression I had when I tried out an iPhone for the first time. On a five point scale I give the Shift a solid 5 for speed.

Size
The Shift’s size is good. It has a 3.6 inch screen that I thought might have been too small. After using the phone for a while I am satisfied with the screen’s size. The device itself is a little too thin left to right and definitely thicker than non-slider phones, as you would expect. However, it is not as thick as you might think. I’ve ordered the Seidio Innocase for the Shift. That should give it the amount of width I’d like. One thing that I’ve also noticed is that after using the phone for an extended period of time, like reading an Ebook, it begins to feel a little heavy in my hand. I’m not complaining, just making an observation.
For size I give the Shift a 4.

Keyboard
A physical keyboard is the one thing I missed the most when I switched to Android. Coming from a Palm Treo it took awhile to get use to the on-screen keyboard. While I got faster at using the on-screen keyboard it was never fast enough to take notes in a lecture or meeting. There is something about the level of concentration needed to accurately use the on-screen keyboard that distracts from effectively taking notes.

The Shift’s slide out keyboard works well. It is spacious and easy to type on. Actually, I’m using the Shift to type this review. The keys are easy to see and reach but have very little travel. I would like a little more travel, but they work well. I can certainly type a lot faster with the slide out keyboard than with the on screen one. I give the keyboard a 4.

Other thoughts

Connections
Overall I love the Shift. However, there are a few things I wish HTC included or changed with the device. To start, I wish it had a front facing camera. There I said it. Leaving it out might have been a marketing choice, not technological. I don’t care for the side Mini USB connector either. I would rather it on the bottom of the device. Having said that however, when plugged in it would probably have made it more difficult to type or hold the phone if the plug were anywhere else.

Something I find odd is the headset jack. The back of the phone is tapered and it seems that some headsets don’t make a proper connection. I have a cassette adapter in my car that allows me to listen to audio from my Android through my car’s speakers. For some reason when it is fully plugged in to the Shift the audio still plays through the Shift’s speaker not the car’s. I have been able to use other headsets and headphones with the Shift just fine. Maybe the cassette adapter is a bit off, but it works fine with the Hero and other devices.

I’m not too impressed with the Shift’s speaker volume. It seems a little tinny and not very loud. I think my Hero is louder.

The battery seems to drain a bit slower in the Shift than in the Hero, which was not that great to begin with. I normally plug in the Shift to charge when I am in the car or at my desk. I doubt it would make it through a full day without being plugged in.

So, there are my impressions about the Evo Shift so far. It is basically a smaller version of the original Evo with a slideout keyboard but with no front facing camera or kickstand. I think Sprint could have given us a 8gb card instead of the 2gb card it comes with. Luckily I already had a 8gb card in the Hero that I’m using in the Shift. I will be getting a 16gb card shortly.

Summary

Likes
Speed
Size
Keyboard

Dis-likes
Headphone Jack
Speaker-phone volume
Lack of front facing camera

Terry