HTC Archives - MomStart

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with HTC Windows Phone 8X

February 3, 2013 by Momstart 4 Comments

HTC has created an amazing phone, my husband has one and I’ve played with it a lot. It’s the HTC Windows Phone 8X. I love the Windows 8 Phone software and the list of apps is growing larger and larger every day.

Sometime this week I’ll be getting my own Windows 8X Phone by HTC in red, my husband bought it for me yesterday on his way home from work. They were out of red at the store so it will come in the mail. I’m really looking forward to upgrading from my Windows 7 phone. I’ll be able to organize my tiles and change the size of them. I love how you can have three differently size tiles and that you can even group certain tiles together. I can create a group of friends and keep up with them. I mean, I think it’s cool that you can group your friends together.

The Windows Phone 8X has an amazing front-facing camera with HTC ImageChip. ImageChip allows you to take perfect pictures in almost any conditions with minimized blurriness and sharp, true-to-life colors. Even in low light, the light-pulling f/2.0 aperture lens and backside sensor illumination helps make your pictures bright. You can take great photos easily with a dedicated button, which means your camera is one press away. The wide-angle front camera captures more in self- portraits and video chats. Another feature of the Windows Phone 8X is Beats Audio, which belts out studio-quality sound. Hear deep bass, crisp vocals and detailed high notes. There is also a built-in headset amp, which means more power and bigger sound with less distortion and noise. The built-in speaker amp boosts speaker performance for maximum loudness and bass. Beats Audio enhances all the audio on your phone including Xbox Music. We just started paying for a membership of Xbox Music. It’s a great program with a smart DJ playing music you like based on similar bands, artists or genres. We also love using the SmartGlass app for Xbox. You can control your Xbox 360 from your phone.

Post pictures to Facebook faster than ever. Go from shooting to sharing in seconds, with one-touch tagging and auto-uploading built in. And with the People Hub, you can bring all your social media together. Some phones make you jump between Facebook, Twitter, Outlook, and all your other apps to keep up. On the Windows Phone 8X you can see and respond to everyone’s updates, chats, calls, messages, even photo uploads, all in one place. Plus it’s built for peace of mind because every single app is tested for malware before you download it. It also works with Windows so you can access your documents and pictures from virtually anywhere with SkyDrive. Come meet your Windows Phone, and see why the phone you bring to life is as unique as you are.

Over 7 billion people in the world but just one perfect person for you. Give your special someone something as unique as they are – the Windows Phone 8X by HTC. With bold, eye-popping colors and live tiles customized to their wants and needs, the Windows Phone 8X by HTC delivers the most personalized mobile experience on any smartphone. Pick one up today at any T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless or AT&T store for just $199. HTC has a number of devices perfect for your significant other this Valentine’s Day other than the Windows Phone 8X by HTC. There is the Droid DNA by HTC, the HTC One SV, and the new HTC One X+. I’ve used a phone or two in the HTC One line and I really like that phone too.

I received this information from HTC, we are purchasing our own phone because I love it so much, my opinions are my own and I’m a Windows Champion disclosing all my connections.

Photography: Sharing Special Moments with AT&T HTC One X: First Day of Kindergarten

September 11, 2012 by Momstart 7 Comments

Using my borrowed AT&T device (will be a giveaway at the end of the month so you know) to take great pictures of things so far throughout the month of September has been easy and fun. I get to easily share them with my friends, family, and social networks at the exact time that they happen. For example, my daughter has her first day of school and I snagged her stepping off the bus as she came home from her first day of Kindergarten. All my friends and family who follow me on Facebook were able to share in that moment together and Look how precious it was!

Big huge smile on her face!!!!

I’m also in the process of snapping a photo a day depicting my city in the fall as the leaves and weather starts to change. Then AT&T will create a larger art display out of my image as well as images from other bloggers across America and I can’t wait to see it.

AT&T loaned out a phone to me and then is letting me give it away to one of my readers.

Back to School App Recommendations from HTC

August 25, 2012 by Momstart 10 Comments

Back-to-School – App Recommendations:

Students are using their cell phones more than ever to aid in their school studies and HTC smartphones offer access to a variety of useful applications that make it easy for students to stay productive and on-track with the information they need right at their fingertips. Below are ten of HTC’s favorite applications for students:

Apps for Students:

1. Pageonce – Money & Bills (Free): Pageonce lets you pay bills, organize and track your cash, credit cards, bills and investments all in one easy place. This application helps you to understand and keep track of your money so that you never miss a payment or overdraw your account.

2. Grades: Student Organizer ($0.99): Keep track of your classes, school assignments, homework and exams with ease. You can even watch your attendance, manage your time, keep a record of your test scores and monitor your GPA. A multiple-view calendar also shows your daily schedule, weekly plans, attendance tracking, a general schedule and includes Google Calendar integration with handy reminders and computer data import options.

3. Astrid Task/To-Do List (Free): With Astrid you can set priorities, deadlines, add descriptions, tag and add notes to items. The organization is taken one step further by giving you the ability to separate your work, social and college life tasks. You can also search by title, date, importance and more.

4. Evernote (Free): Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders and more. Notes are searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on-the-go.

5. Math Formulary (Free): Math Formulary covers all mathematical formulas that are usually used in high school and college. Topics include: Basic Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry and more.

6. Document Scanner ($3.98): Scan documents and convert to PDF to easily e-mail and upload to GDocs/Dropbox/Evernote – share and store notes and documents from class.

7. Recordoid Dictaphone Lite (Free): With Recordoid Dictaphone you can easily record audio/voice from a microphone and add notes, send via e-mail, save and view recording location on the map.

8. Wolfram Alpha ($3.99): Get instant expert knowledge and computation right on your phone to help answer any of your questions. From Physics and Statistics to Geography and History, Wolfram Alpha has the answers.

9. StudyDroid Flashcards 2.0-Pro ($1.99): Instead of carrying around hundreds of flashcards in your pocket, keep them all stored on your mobile device. StudyDroid lets you create flash cards online or on your phone and then sync them to access on both.

10. Grammar Guide ($1.00): Grammar Guide is an easy-to-use, quick reference guide with general rules and helpful hints for using grammar. Topics that are covered include a glossary of terms, punctuation, capitalization, misused words, misspelled words, when to use numbers and tips for proofreading.

I received this information from HTC and it was my choice to share them with you.

Back To School with HTC One X on AT&T

August 24, 2012 by Momstart 10 Comments

The DROID 4G LTE by HTC at Verizon is a perfect device for teens because of the size and features and the HTC One X on AT&T is a great device for busy parents. The HTC One X is available for only $99.99 at AT&T as part of their back-to-school promotion but it is for a limited time only. I’m spending the month of September with the HTC One X and so far, yes I started my month early, I LOVE it. It’s so fast and takes really great pictures.

AT&T has loaned out the HTC One X to me for the month of September so that I can participate in a photo sharing campaign. So stay tuned for a giveaway and a month of photos from my phone on Facebook.

About HTC One X

Currently on sale for just $99.99 as part of AT&T’s back-to-school promotion, the HTC One X runs the latest version of Android and HTC Sense, as well as features a beautiful white color finish and 4.7-inch HD display. Its 8-megapixel camera comes equipped with HTC ImageSense, improving every part of the camera including the lens, sensor and software. The HTC One X also offers 1080p HD video recording, with the ability to take photos while capturing video. With Beats By Dr. Dre Audio integration, HTC One X customers can enjoy an enhanced sound experience when listening to music, watching movies or playing video games. Access to AT&T’s speedy 4G LTE network paired with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor make this smartphone super-fast.

Back-to-School for Parents:

Have you ever been in a hurry to leave the house and left your phone on the table? At what point does the panic set in that you will be “unreachable” without it? According to a study commissioned by Lookout and done by Harris Interactive, 94% of respondents said that they live in a constant state of fear that they will lose their mobile phone. It makes sense – these days, your smartphone is your connection to everything including your personal and work schedules, e-mail, social networks, friends and family. With the start of a new school year fast approaching, make sure you are ready to stay on top of your family’s new and busy schedule by equipping yourself with the HTC One X now available at AT&T for $99.99.

Back-to-School for Teens:

Do you feel like your child never takes his or her nose out of their phone? Well if you do, there is some truth to this theory. According to Nielsen, mobile data usage among teens ages 13-17 has increased 256% in the last year which means teens are relying heavily on their smartphones to stay in touch and connected to the things that matter most to them. Available for $149.99, the DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC is the perfect back to school essential to keep your teen happy and connected. With this device they will be able to listen to their favorite music, play games and instantly share updates with all their friends and social networks. They will also be able to set reminders and update their own calendars so that they never miss another sports practice or dance lesson.

Back-to-School Shopping Essentials:

Back-to-school means more than just the end of summer, the start of classes and daily homework for kids – it also means parents are stretching the budget to buy new school supplies, clothing and gear for the school year. Finding the best deals on all of these items can sometimes be a challenge which is why consumers are turning to their smartphones to help with this process. Did you know that 45 million smartphone owners used shopping applications in June 2012 alone and 46% of consumers use their smartphones to compare prices in-store while shopping? Having a smartphone like the HTC One X can help you stay in the loop on all the best deals during the back-to-school season. Check out the HTC One X available at AT&T for only $99.99 for a limited time!

This information was provided to me by HTC, choosing to post it was my choice. Stay tuned because I’m currently working with HTC and will be hosting a giveaway for the HTC One X next month.

Capture Father’s Day With These Cameras: Sony NEX-F3 Camera, Microsoft LifeCam Studio & More

May 28, 2012 by Momstart 31 Comments

LifeCam Studio: Is your student heading back to school this fall? Make sure they stay connected every step of the way with the high-powered Skype Certified LifeCam Studio. The LifeCam Studio features all the latest and greatest features to give you a superior interactive experience. So, whether you student is venturing off to campus for the first time, or heading back for another year, connecting with Microsoft’s LifeCam Studio will make them feel as if they’re right there with their friends and family back home. Price: $99.95

Purchase this accessory online at the Microsoft Store

Sony NEX-F3 Camera

The new Sony NEX-F3 camera features the same space-saving mirrorless design as other models in Sony’s E-mount family as well as an advanced, 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor, identical in size to sensors found in traditional DSLR cameras. The large sensor takes in more light during image capture, resulting in flawless, low-noise photographs and crisply detailed Full HD videos (60i/24p). Photographers can also easily create images with beautiful defocus effects, where the subject is focused sharply against a smoothly blurred background.

“Sony continues to redefine digital photography with our E-mount series, packing a large APS-C size sensor into a small, lightweight camera body to produce professional-quality images with ease,” said Mike Kahn, director of the Alpha business at Sony. “Featuring a diverse set of imaging technologies and offered at a great price, the new NEX-F3 model reinforces our commitment to this rapidly growing compact system camera market."

The NEX-F3 camera adds a whole new perspective to self-portraits with a 180° Tiltable LCD screen, a first for Sony’s E-mount camera line. By simply holding the camera at arm’s length and flipping the LCD screen vertically, users can adjust the on-screen preview image and properly frame photos.

Additionally, the new model features a useful built-in flash to broaden shooting options indoors or in low light situations. Already introduced on Sony’s acclaimed NEX-7 camera, this pop-up flash handily brightens portraits and other shots without the need to carry an additional flash accessory.

the Nokia Lumia 900 jam packed with the features that will help Dad get the most out of his free time:

· People Hub/Camera – Updating his social networks has never been easier or faster than with built-in Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. With Windows Phone, it takes only four seconds to take a picture and upload it to a social network. It’s simply faster than other phones.

HTC TITAN II™

At a glance

The HTC TITAN II™ comes equipped with a brilliant 4.7" super-LCD capacitive touchscreen display for an optimized viewing experience for movies, games, photos or videos. Access to AT&T’s speedy 4G LTE network, paired with a 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S2 processor by Qualcomm, enables the HTC TITAN II™ to deliver fast web surfing, streaming, and downloading. This new, powerful smartphone will also feature a 1,730mAh lithium ion battery for a long-lasting mobile experience on one of the fastest 4G LTE networks.

The Camera – 16MP camera with a dedicated button, autofocus, dual LED flash, f2.6 28mm wide-angle lens and 720p HD video recording – 1.3MP front-facing camera with video recording capability

I’m a Microsoft Windows Champion and they gave me this information to share with you.

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

November 28, 2011 by Momstart 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

The HTC Rhyme on Verizon

November 3, 2011 by Momstart 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.

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.

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.

The 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.

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.