HTC Aria Android Phone (AT&T) Review

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(More customer reviews)Well, my wife and I have been using our new Aria phones for about a week now. I switched from a Blackberry Bold and she was using a 1st generation iPhone (although hers didn't have any data plan). We also purchased one of the 3G MicroCells from AT&T at the same time - so our cell signal at home is now better than I thought would be possible.
As far as our profiles go: I'm a tech addict - I work at home as a C/C++ programmer and tend to be an early adopter of anything tech related. My wife is kind of the opposite - she relies on me to keep the tech stuff going and tends to resist new technology since she knows it can often be more of a headache than it is worth:).
Fortunately, this phone is working for both of us. The Android OS has been great - although there are some features in the next version (Froyo) that I wish were on this phone already. I spent several hours yesterday figuring out how to 'root' this phone and I did end up getting it done last night. My wife's went a lot faster since I already understood the process.
Here are some things I like about the Aria:
1) The size of the Aria is perfect. It is smaller than either the Blackberry Bold or the iPhone, yet the screen is very usable. This is a very 'pocketable' phone.
2) The touch screen works great. It supports all the common touch controls like zooming, swiping, etc...
3) There is a version of Kindle available for Android! And it works great - I'll still use my Kindle, but this will work when I'm out without it.
4) I like being able to mix programs and widgets on each screen. It took a few days of playing with it, but we both now have our phones setup to work well for us.
5) The text input works well; but, if you decide to root your phone, do yourself a favor and install the latest version of Swype. This has turned out to be an unbelievably great method of inputting text and both my wife and I are loving it for e-mails and texting!
6) The selection of apps available to this phone through the market is great! I've been able to find apps for everything I want, and I'm looking into writing some myself just to see how it works.
7) The voice quality is excellent. When I first started using the phone I would get that 'Wow!' impression every time I talked to someone - even when out of range of the MicroCell.
8) Web browsing is very snappy and easy. This is an area where the Blackberry really sucked, so I'm loving the real browser with Flash.
9) Once I figured out the task switching and status bar at the top, I've found them very useful. On the other hand, I'm not sure my wife will ever take the time to look into those features.
10) I really like that I can get both my personal e-mail (GMail) and work e-mail (Exchange) - and they integrate together very intuitively. I'm using multiple GMail accounts on this phone with no problem.
11) This is one of those phones that really doesn't need a protective case. The back cover is 'rubbery' and easy to grip - and actually seems to be as protective as any additional cover would be. I like the protective cover much more than the decorative cover that comes on the iPhone (that most people end up covering anyway).
12) This phone supports pattern unlocking; which is a much easier form of security than typing a PIN or password. Once again, this is an area where Android comes through against the iPhone. (NOTE: If you connect to Exchange, the pattern unlock feature can be disabled by your Exchange policy - but this can be worked around if you're willing to do some tweaking.)
13) I've been playing around with the voice input for a couple of days and it works great (although it isn't perfect). You can use it anywhere you can enter text - and it just converts your voice to text. I've been alternating between voice input and Swype, depending on whether other people are around who would make fun of me talking to my phone. :)
Things I'm looking forward to:
1) This phone does not support voice dialing through BlueTooth - but the next version (Froyo) does. I am excited to get that feature on this phone.
2) This phone has some nice accessories that seem to be in the pipeline, but they aren't available yet. iPhones, on the other hand, have gobs of accessories available from day one. (My wife wants a red cover for hers so we can tell them apart more easily.)
Things that could be improved:
1) As with any phone, I think we can always wish for better battery life. If I use the phone non-stop through the day (which I did at first), the battery will last an entire day. I can get through about 2 days of normal use without charging. There is an app called 'Advanced Task Killer' in the market that helps with battery life.
2) I wish there was a way to change sound profiles when charging. I found a program called 'Setting Profiles Lite' that does this, but it seems like it should be built into the Android OS like it is in the Blackberry.
3) The contact manager could be improved. When sending a text, for example, it gives the option of every phone number for a contact instead of just mobile numbers...
Anyway, I've probably yammered on enough already; but I really am enjoying this phone. If you're using AT&T, and looking for an alternative to the over-hyped iPhone, then I think this is probably THE phone to get at this point.

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Pocket-sized and packing the power of the Android 2.1 platform, the HTC Aria mobile smartphone for AT&T offers a combination of fast 3G speeds, a responsive capacitive touchscreen display and an optical joystick help you stay in touch on Facebook, Google Talk, Flickr, and more while on the go. Offering an amazingly comfortable design, the HTC Aria weighs less than 4 ounces and measures less than a half-inch thin. The 3.2-inch display is complemented by a seven-panel home screen that provides plenty of screen real estate for apps and widgets.

Enabled for use on AT&T's lightning quick 3G network--with its High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 Mbps technology--you'll be able to easily access the Internet as well as quickly download video, music, and more. Additionally, with AT&T's 3G network, you can make a call while simultaneously receiving picture/text messages and e-mail, or viewing Web pages. This GPS-enabled phone can access the AT&T Navigator service for turn-by-turn directions.

With integrated Google technology, the HTC Aria brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps with Street View, Google Talk instant messaging (with presence capabilities), YouTube, and Picasa. The Aria also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail.

Through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets, and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day. The HTC Aria also includes HTC Sense, a user interface overlay from HTC that offers even more ways to stay connected--including Friend Stream (which delivers Facebook), Twitter, and Flickr updates in a single, consolidated view.

In addition to accessing home and business networks with its Wi-Fi capabilities (802.11b/g), the HTC Aria will also receive AT&T Wi-Fi access at U.S. hotspots (with more than 20,000 U.S. hotspots) included as part of an unlimited data plan. Other features include a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera with video capture capabilities, Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, 2 GB microSD memory card (with support for optional cards up to 32 GB in size), and up to 6 hours of talk time.



Key Features
Fast 3G connectivity via AT&T's HSDPA/UMTS network (850/1900 MHz bands; 3.6/7.2 Mbps speeds with network availability).
Powered by the Android operating system (version 2.1) with deep integration of Google services and access to thousands of apps to customize your phone via the Android Market.
HTC Sense personalized widgets
Customizable HTC Scene home screen panels for creating specific home screens with apps for work, play, travel and more.
Universal search: Simply start typing to begin searching your contacts, applications, Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia and Twitter. Universal search narrows down the possible results as you type, so it's easier to find what you need.
Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go. Connect for free using one of the over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide.
GPS navigation capabilities via AT&T Navigator service includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and re-routing options. This phone also includes a digital compass.
3.2-inch touchscreen display (320 x 480 pixels) with virtual onscreen keyboard.
Optical joystick control with PC-like viewing and navigation of the Web with pinch and zoom.
5-megapixel auto-focus camera with video capture capabilities.
Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB (2 GB card included).
Bluetooth connectivity (version 2.1) includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP Bluetooth profile--enabling you to wirelessly stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.
Full HTML Web browsing
Text, picture and video messaging
Instant messaging is available through AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo!, and Google Talk.
Push e-mail via Google and Exchange using support for IMAP and POP, MSN Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and AOL Mail.
Google and corporate calendar supports Exchange 2003 and 2007 protocols.
Rich mobile multimedia including YouTube, AT&T Music, AT&T Radio, MusicID, MobiTV, and Mobile Video.
Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off.
Quickoffice for viewing Word and Excel files
Security with VPN and SSL plus password enforcement with remote wipe.

Vital Statistics The HTC Aria weighs 3.9 ounces and measures 2.3 x 4.1 x 0.46 inches. Its 1200 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of talk time, and up to 372 hours (15.5 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as AT&T's dual-band 3G network (850/1900 MHz; HSDPA/UMTS).

What's in the Box HTC Aria handset, rechargeable battery, charger, USB cable, 2 GB microSD memory card, quick start guide, user manual



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