Home › Reviews ›

Review: HTC Freestyle

Form Basics Extras Video Wrap-Up Comments 11

Menus Calls/Contacts Messaging Social Networking

The Freestyle offers scaled down messaging support when compared to other Sense devices. It uses the same SMS/MMS application as found on HTC's smartphones, but email support isn't nearly as good.

The Messages application, which can be placed on one of the home screens, offers threaded, conversational text and picture/video messages. It looks good and works just as it would on an Android device.

Instant Messaging is limited to a weak third-party application that only offers AIM, Windows Live and Yahoo support. Google Talk and other IM clients are MIA. The generic IM app works, but is clunky.

Email addicts will have to be satisfied with AT&T's terrible POP3/IMAP4 software. It supports a wide range of webmail accounts, but interacting with your inbox is anything but fun. First, HTML emails are not supported at all, which takes all the visual flair out of your inbox. Second, the email program doesn't effectively pull email down to the device. You have to manually refresh your inbox if you really want to know what's going on. Third, emails need to be downloaded from the server each time you read them — and even then they are truncated. The email app (amazingly) supports all the folders you have available in your webmail account, but there's no support for attachments. Last, and worst, you have to pay $5 per month to use the application.

Also, the typing experience on the Freestyle is miserable. The software keyboard is simply too small, at least for my fingers. I could barely type two words without accidentally pressing a wrong key. Additionally, the predictive software is too slow. If you type too fast, it will get confused and eventually just give up. You may lose half a sentence if you go too quickly. The only solution is to use the software QWERTY in landscape mode, which gives it a lot more breathing room. Rather than simply rotate the phone onto its side, however, you have to press a button to get the landscape QWERTY to appear.

Next page: Social Networking

Related

Samsung Refreshes Galaxy S Series with S Pen, New Cameras

Feb 9, 2022
Samsung today announced its lineup of flagship phones for 2022: the Galaxy S22 series. The top-end S22 Ultra sees the biggest changes as it essentially absorbs Samsung's Note series with an integrated S Pen stylus and a more Note-like shape and design, instead of the Contour Cut design of the other models.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Redefines AI in Flagship Phones

Nov 15, 2022
Qualcomm has announced its newest top-end chip, intended to power most flagship-level Android phones in 2023. As expected, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is more powerful and power-efficient across the board (compared to Gen 1), but the most impressive improvements and new features involve AI.

Qualcomm Taps Iridium for Satellite Connectivity

Jan 5, 2023
Qualcomm has revealed Snapdragon Satellite , the company's solution for connecting Android phones directly to satellites for truly global coverage. The feature uses the Iridium network, a satellite constellation that has has been in operation for 25 years.

Qualcomm's New Chip for Entry-Level Phones Moves to 4nm

Jun 26, 2023
Qualcomm has a new Snapdragon 4 chip for entry-level phones. Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 brings improved performance and efficiency, largely thanks to a newer 4nm manufacturing process.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Can Run Generative AI Voice Assistant On-Device

Oct 24, 2023
Qualcomm has taken the wraps off its new flagship chip for phones: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Unsurprisingly, AI is the emphasis among the new features and performance gains.

HTC Freestyle

3.2" display 320 x 480 pixels
S1 MSM7225 processor
1,300 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Headphone Jack (3.5mm)

more news about: