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I Chose My Broken HTC Trophy Over a Brand NEW iPhone 4!

November 28, 2011 By 9 Comments

By Ashley

I can say with all certainty that I am a windows phone girl! I’ve had the chance to play with Androids, there is an iPhone in our house… and yet… I was holding out with my HTC Trophy… cracked screen and all. Talking about a cracked screen may not be the best way to start a glowing review, but letting all of you know that I loved the Windows operating system, the user interface, and all of the features of the HTC Trophy Windows Phone SO MUCH, that a broken screen couldn’t even stop me from using it.

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So I am definitely not a “techy” and that will probably be VERY evident in my review. I’m going to apologize in advance for that… BUT the good news is I can give a review in mommy talk. I hope you don’t mind. IMG_5735

The Windows phone available on Verizon has so many things that I love, it’s hard to know where to start. The whole tile based user interface is awesome. The home screen (hopefully that’s the right word) is filled with tiles. You can choose what tiles you want to have up. You easily pin any app, contact, or even email account to your screen. Then, you are able to access it with the touch of a button… well more like the touch of a tile! Tiles update with the most recent email, text, and even personal notification information (if you link your accounts). This allows you to just look at your screen and get a glimpse at everything! The Trophy does come with a privacy lock option and as a mom, I love this. Not only do I love the fact that it exists (keeping my toddler from calling random people…), but it doesn’t ever just lock you out of your phone or wipe your phone out. Instead, it just takes a 2-minute break if your pass code hasn’t been entered correctly. IMG_5739

The new Mango update has really brought the Windows 7 phone up into the big leagues. It now provides voice to text messaging, 2 touch voice search, and step-by-step voice navigation though the Maps program. Any search you do also allows you to choose local, image, or web results. Even better that that is the link to Yelp reviews for restaurants… AND the easy access to indoor maps! Simply do a search for your favorite mall, tap the link, the tap the option for “indoor map.” It’s incredible! IMG_5738

The size and texture of the HTC Trophy is also a perfect fit for me. The design is simple and sleek with a small chrome detail bordering the front screen. The back has a soft black rubberized cover that makes the phone much easier to hold onto and grip. It also keeps the Trophy from sliding off counters, center car consoles, etc.

The only downside to the Verizon HTC Trohpy is the lack of accessories. You may remember my mention of a cracked phone. Well, I didn’t have a cover or anything protective on my phone, because there was nothing available. I dropped my phone, and the glass screen broke. It was still usable, but not so safe. I still chose it over a different phone though. Thanks to Windows and Momstart, I was able to get a new phone to review! Bye-bye cracked screen! Now I get the phone I love, a brand new screen, and I even found a silicon cover!

If you’re in the market for a phone, I highly recommend whatever Windows 7 phone your provider offers. It’s a great UI for anyone and is easy to personalize it to be just what you want! FINALLY… a Windows phone that really is AMAZING!

Feel free to check out my review of the silicon cover.

 

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and President of our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

MomStart is a Windows Champion we receive products and information from Microsoft to review.

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The HTC Rhyme on Verizon

November 3, 2011 By 5 Comments

For me phones are all about the software, and I have to start out this review saying that so far I’m not a fan of the android software. I think if I made a permanent switch I might like it, I’ve had plenty of friends tell me that they love it and I should make the switch, but for now and only about two weeks of trying it. I just have to say I’m not ready to switch.

However, there are aspects of a phone’s hardware that can be quite redeeming for a new phone on the android platform. HTC sent me the HTC Rhyme on Verizon and these are my thoughts on the phone itself.

The HTC Rhyme is a beautiful phone. It comes in my favorite color purple and includes a charm. It is perfect for stylish socialites or parents juggling schedules who are looking for advanced features but want a phone that is sleek lasting a full day of social media usage. You know taking photos, uploading them to Facebook and sharing them on twitter.

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The HTC Rhyme offers unique accessories.

Tired of fumbling for cords at your bedside to charge your phone? The HTC Rhyme comes with a chic docking station that plugs in over USB, just drop your phone into the dock and watch as it becomes transformed into an alarm clock and a music station. So it’s charging while you’re still using it. This is the best way to plug this phone in because the plug on the side of the phone has a door (I think it should just be an always open hole that you plug the chord into) that makes it more of a challenge to get the plug in.

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How many times have you missed a call in the thick of shopping’s hustle and bustle?  Well, be prepared to never miss one again with the Charm indicator, which plugs into your phone and dangles out of your bag, emitting a soft glow to inform you of an incoming call or text message. Instead of rummaging through your bag and turning it inside and out to find your phone, you simply use the cord to pull the phone from your bag. I only received one text message while testing out this phone and I think I missed the charm going off.

imageThe enhanced HTC Sense experience brings the most important parts of your life to the forefront. With the new and improved clock makes it so you can more prominently feature pictures of your kids, friends or pets on the homepage. I do love personalizing my phone and having an easy to read clock is important. My current phone doesn’t allow me to see the clock until I unlock the phone, the HTC Rhyme puts the time right there in front before I even unlock it.

Instead of a screen full of icons, HTC Rhyme gives you the most commonly used apps right up front. Each of these icons lives on a preview tab that gives you a quick glimpse into your calendar, messages, mail, photos, and more. The icons aren’t static – they update in real-time to reflect what is happening in your life. For example, the Photos icon will show the most recent pictures in your library and the Music icon lets you play and change your music right from the home screen. HTC Rhyme is just $199.99 exclusively at Verizon Wireless. For high-resolution device images and specification information, please visit www.htc-press.com.

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The Positives:

I love the color

I love the four buttons on the bottom, home, search, back and menu

I love the dedicated camera button

I love the battery on this phone

The negatives:

It’s just the android software is harder to learn than other phone operating systems out there.

I’m not fond of the plug door flap

 

We received a phone on loan from HTC for this review.

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Enjoy Speed! Try Verizon 4G LTE Community and Win

August 10, 2011 By 29 Comments

I received a new phone at Blogher this year, no it wasn’t from Verizon, it was from HTC, and I gave it to my husband. That was before I realized what I had in my hands. The phone I gave him is a 4G LTE phone and when I took my turn at playing with it, I was blown away with how fast it was. And wishing I kept it for myself.

On his 4G LTE phone, My husband can stream MP3’s from his Amazon Cloud player and we spent some time going through the MomStart Youtube channel looking at older videos of the kids. I’m quite impressed with the speed everything loads at. Do you even understand what 4G LTE is?

4G LTE is the fourth generation step in wireless technology. 4G is a faster data network that will initially be available to users on two USB modems and offer speeds much faster than the current 3G network that Verizon customers use with USB modems, MiFi units and smartphones. Do you have more questions?

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To further answer questions and support customers, Verizon created a new community fueled by consumers called Livin’ in 4G LTE. The initiative is centered on a dynamic, real-time microsite with everything you ever wanted to know about 4G LTE. It’s all here: tweets, reviews, news, and even videos from people like us, showing what happens when you live your life in Verizon 4G LTE.

I went to check it out for myself and you’ll find honest opinions about products, services, and needs from Verizon consumers. Maybe you just want to find a product review, or become educated before you buy. You’ll find the information you need in the Livin’ in 4G LTE Community.

In addition to engaging in existing content pulled from all over the web, you can submit your own stories, videos and photos showing how you would live life in 4G LTE. Even YouTube celebs have created videos showing how they would live their lives in 4G LTE.

Checkout Destorm and the Network Throwdown.

 

Of Course there’s a giveaway.

By submitting a video you could win a new phone, $500 in Verizon credits and more!!!!

Grand prize includes: Droid Charge by Samsung, Motorola Xoom, Motorola Xoom Otterbox, Defender Series Case, Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot, Jawbone Headset, Jawbone Jambox, and $500 in Verizon Wireless Gift Cards.

If you don’t want to submit videos or photos, you can still be entered into weekly prizes just by sharing and commenting on the existing content. The Grand prize will go to the entrant with the greatest number of votes.

 

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How To Get a Free Xbox 360 4G and a Free Xbox 360 Game

May 23, 2011 By 1 Comment

They say nothing in life is free, and there is quite a bit of truth to that statement, but there are ways to get really great values and Microsoft is offering some pretty sweet deals for Xbox 360 fans.

Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor copyStudents in need of a new computer are eligible for a free Xbox 360. If you are in high-school, college or some university and purchase a Windows PC priced at only $699 or more at a participating retailer then you will get a free Xbox 360 4G console. Choose the Windows PC that has what you need for school, you pick the size and features that suit your needs, at  your price (at least 699) and then you get an Xbox 360 while supplies last. Students with an .edu email address can purchase a new PC through one of Microsoft’s participating retailers including Dell.com, HP.com or the Microsoft Store. Students will need to verify student status in order to purchase. Check your local retailer for specifics. Quantities are limited and end dates vary by retailer so shop early starting May 22, that was yesterday!

Another awesome deal is with Verizon and their new Windows 7 phone. I’m super excited about the phone finally, yes finally coming out on Verizon. We’re going to order our phone really soon, I need it for social media. My current smart phone is not that smart, I can’t wait to be able to upload directly from my phone to Facebook. Anyways, back to the really cool deal. If you’re with Verizon or thinking of switching to Verizon you may be eligible for a free Xbox 360 game. Starting May 26 on-line or in Verizon retail stores starting June 2 there is a special promo: for anyone who gets the HTC Trophy before July 15, they’ll get a free Xbox 360 console game (valued up to $60). You read that right, a free video game. Check out the Windows Phone Blog for more details on the offer. Windows Phones are now available on all four major carriers.

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