That old phrase "You've come a long way baby," could be an apt description for cellphones. Its amazing to think, that just twenty years ago or less, that these devices were as big as a small suitcase. They used to have no battery life, having to be constantly connected to something due to their small charge, and were only good for making calls. That line one came with a caveat, if you could get reception. The times have changed, and while cell phones aren't perfect, the technology and the networks that support them, have made improvements. Dropped calls, are not as prevalent as they used to be, and I am happy to report the blood pressure has gone down due to that as well. The HTC Sensation with its Android capabilities are impressive. There is no denying that this is just a phone, but rather a computer, with its 1.2 ghz dual core processor, incredible camera options, and a LCD screen that provides vibrant colors.

HTC Sensation Appearance

This is one good looking phone. There are no flip issues to deal with, nor any keyboards with small buttons. Goodbye Blackberry, there's a reason RIM(Research in Motion) has been crushed. Rather, what you have here is a square shaped device, that fits in a shirt pocket, or in the belt holder that I have for it. The light weight of it is appreciated, as while it has a bit more heft than the RAZR's of a few years back, its minimal and the capabilities are simply astounding. Where the buttons are located makes sense, from both an engineering and consumer use standpoint. The power/lock key up top, allows for less "butt dialing," thus saving you money and/or being embarrassed like other phones could cause. As the volume key is on the left side, that allows you to quickly place this on vibrate or mute, I think this is a sensible place. Here if you are rushed into a meeting or a theater, its easy to get rid of the phone ring, and make it quiet without much effort. Likewise, the home,menu, back, and quick search keys at the bottom of the screen, make using various functions simple for anyone.

The Screen Makes All the Difference

No offense to any other "smart phone," but this one has the best looking screen. Whether you have a screen saver or not, you will not have to worry much about smudges with this one, unless you've just dipped your fingers into a vat of oily popcorn. I cannot believe how bright this is, and the colors are phenomenal. This is of course useful for whatever wallpaper design you want, and I have the social one, that allows me to connect to facebook and other networks. The time is easy to see,  as is the current weather conditions. I also appreciate being able to see what the weather forecast is by just using my thumb to go between screens, and to place apps on the main screen with fingers as well. This makes for having such objects, like the flashlight, easy to find and use. Thank you for that by the way, as it has helped find the right key in the dark.

Watching sports on this phone is a joy. Yes, its a 4 " screen, and not going to be confused with that monster you have in your man cave. Yet, for what it is, I have to say that the images are crystal clear. I've enjoyed everything from baseball to football on it, along with watching movies and just the news. All formats are fine, and as someone with not the best vision, I appreciate hte clarity as well as the bright display. You can of course see internet sites with this easily too, and you will not make a mistake ordering items shopping with it, nor going to the wrong site. The google search engine is just as reliable here, although be careful with the push to talk or texting options.

Microphone Texts?

You can speak text messages here. By deploying your microphone, it has a 60% or so voice recognition rate. This needs some help, and within a couple of years, this is going to be incredible. I have used other phones, with better luck, so be careful before hitting the send button. Yes, grill has become grope, among other words. Hilarious indeed, but at the same time, if you are sending a serious text, just do it the "old fashioned way" with its on screen keyboard. This is a brilliant device, as if you miss a letter, it will most of the time give you the correct word you are looking for. That is very helpful, both with regards to spelling and saving time. The microphone text is fun, but the regular version is efficient, and the best route to go.

The Camera

I cannot stop raving about the quality of the pictures. Guess who does not have a digital camera anymore? That's right, I use this phone, and upload them to shutterfly and other photo services, when I want them printed. If not, they just go right to facebook and other places, with just a few finger clicks. This camera allows you to change lighting conditions, directions, and it is simple to use. There's no real learning curve, and all of your pictures, unless you delete them, go to your HTC Gallery. This holds a lot of photos, and I haven't been told memory is full yet, with well over two hundred in there. I like the video camera, and it is possible to have those special moments on film, whether its my son saying something funny, or for beautiful views from a mountain. You can switch the lens around for what is appropriate, and also based upon conditions.

How about the Net?

This phone allows you, providing that your carrier is above average, with lightning fast speeds of browsing. I find it to be almost as quick as my home computer, and if wi-fi networks are available, the speeds are even more fast. You can download long emails in mere seconds, and videos or still images are not a problem for this one. It keeps your web history like a traditional browser at home, and you can find every site just like a regular computer. I think this phone should get an A+ for this, as I have yet to find a faster browser with this type of mobile technology, and it makes me laugh thinking just a few years ago a powerful PC couldn't touch this.

Phone Calls-Those are Made?

We are getting away from phone communications to a degree. A quick text is often all that there is time for, and that is alright to me. Others might disagree, but it is the world we live in. You can save your contacts here, and this phone handles calls very well. I like the reception, the dialing procedures are easy with the phone icon on the bottom of the screen, and the rings of course save you from unintended calls. The phone comes preloaded with a whole bunch of rings, but of course ring tones are still popular, and I do have obnoxious ones. The vibrate on the volume control is the best one, and it does give you a good shake, to let you know you better get to that bill collector's call. The speaker at the top is good for those of us, who have been at too many heavy metal concerts, although some have complained that I'm loud. That's not the phone's fault, and the speaker for that is where it should be, at the bottom of course.

Battery Life

This is what kills this phone, pardon the pun. If you use the net fairly often, you are at the most, only going to get eight hours before a charge is needed. That is irritating, especially when you work more than per day. Bring a charger, because  at least this does go back into the green quickly. The battery icon is useful. It goes from showing a battery full of green, to yellow, then red, then red with squiggly marks. It also gives you a percentage of battery life left when down on the lower end, allowing you to employ the "battery saver." This is a gimmick, and it doesn't matter if you are using all kinds of apps or not, I am very disappointed with its length of service. Even for regular calls, it just doesn't have the juice necessary. In the coming years, I hope that the folks at HTC will consider giving this more. The battery and simcard are easy to remove, so you can get a second one if needed. No equipment is required.

Durability

This is one tough phone. I was worried about it, and am still considering one of those plastic shells. Yet without that, it has been dropped a couple of times, and the LCD screen was mercifully spared. There are a couple scratches on the sides, but those are war wounds. I don't purposely try to destroy phones, but have in the past, and this one has survived the house, going hunting, fishing, work, and other activities, but also my natural "klutz" that has caused the elimination of previous mobile devices. This is made with strong materials, and I am impressed with the build quality. The camera lens on the back has been directly impacted on one occasion, and there was not a crack, or any decrease in the quality of images captured by it. This is a smart phone, that could also be called a "tough phone."

Cleaning

The screen is virtually smudge proof. Compared to earlier LCD screens, this is one that appears to be immune to catching grime. The rest of the components are as well, and a damp cloth will do just fine. The included one isn't that good, so go with an aftermarket product, or just a decent rag without too many ridges. It is a true wash and wear phone, and even some mud that got caked on it, was taken off in a matter of seconds. This is why I recommend it to outdoor types, because some of the earlier ones and current LCD screens, seem to collect every type of dust and dirt known to mankind. Save yourself time and elbow grease.

Final Thoughts

I like this phone a lot, as it does more than make calls. Its app store is easy to use, and I think its great for those who want to play app based games. Yes, my whoopie cushion and piano are fantastic. The audio controls are fine for most areas, but in noisy spots, use the include headphones. I like the already loaded FM radio while mowing the lawn, and how quickly this device has helped me with its built in GPS, and other applications. If only the battery life could be improved on, I would give it higher marks, but its above average. I think it is a fine value, $200 was what I paid for it with a two year contract, but for those who like to go month to month, or purchase it separately, it is going to cost more than that. Yet due to its durability and multiple uses, especially with regards to social media and being able to watch movies, and hop on the net, I think its a "Swiss Army knife" type of telecommunications device. You can find it at a host of electronics retailers, along with service providers also marketing it. This is a good phone, and I am quite pleased with my purchase, and the performance that it continues to provide.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 200.00
Recommended for: Adventurous Technophiles - Tough and Durable