The latest and greatest device out from HTC is the new Thunderbolt 4G smart phone, running the Android operating system and powered by Verizon Wireless. Running actually may be too slow of a word—this phone connects you to the web, to your emails, to your videos and anything else faster than anything I’ve used that isn’t directly connected to an Ethernet cord.
Last week I took the phone up to Chicago with me as I watched a Chicago Cubs game from the rooftop across the street. Normally, I’m one of those people that get annoyed at people checking their phones constantly during games (if you’re there to watch the game, watch it!), but in this case I joined their side.
I loaded up YouTube from the rooftop, I checked out Facebook on the train, and was tweeting in the car (note: my wife was driving). Having used several Android devices before, I was familiar with the operating system, but on the Thunderbolt, I could tell it was just faster.
Even the keypad grew on me after a few days. I’m personally partial to the Blackberry Curve-style keypad with actual, physical keys, but after using the touch-screen keypad on the Thunderbolt, I was surprised how easy the transition was.
I unfortunately wasn’t able to utilize the built-in DNLA connectivity, which allows you to take the photos (8 mega-pixel camera) and videos (720p HD) from directly from the phone to compatible televisions – wirelessly.
I also wasn’t able to use the video-chat, which just seems crazy that it is available on a device as small and mobile as the Thunderbolt. If this phone is any indication of the progress of HTC, Verizon Wireless, and Android’s technological capabilities, the future looks promising.
Having never used a 4G-capable device before, I was pleased to learn that you can still access the 3G network everywhere the 4G was not yet available. It’s good to know that the Thunderbolt is a great purchase, whether you’re in Chicago all the time, some of the time, or if you want to be ahead of the game when 4G eventually makes its way to Northwest Indiana.
For more information on the HTC Thunderbolt 4G, visit www.verizonwireless.com/thunderbolt.