An Open Letter to HTC and Sprint: How About a Compromise?

[tarun.patel]

I don't think it's so much about being a man, it's just stupid to me that people are complaining about such insignificant things. I only want this phone for the hardware honestly. Glossy plastic, I don't care. It's a great device, I want it. Thank you, gawd bless Amerkuh.

isn't is stupid that Sprint and HTC added that two color design at first place?

 

[Y2Dre]

Since everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I'm about to put mine out there. I, for one, am glad that so many people are complaining about this (in my opinion) insignificant issue. That means I have a better chance of getting one on launch day.

However, I can't understand why so many people are so adadmant about it. They had me at "kickstand".

 

[crzycrkr]

In all honesty, I also find it kind of funny that everyone bashes Samsung for their "cheap plastic" yet give HTC a complete pass on it. I realize its only part of the phone, bit that glossy black piece looks far cheaper than anything I've ever seen Samsung put out.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mercury81]

Who cares about the back, put a cover on it, plus it in your hand facing away from you, and remember you look at the front of the phone not the back.

Once in a while I take the cover off just to peek at my Evo's back....the nerve,lol

From my EVO4G

 

[bwithey11]

People complain bc phones are so plain and boring and similar, then HTC goe sand makes an amazing looking phone (which I no doubt will look even better in hand) and people complain bc it doesn't look just like the One X. Are you [deleted] kidding me? Just bc it isn't what was expected doesn't mean it's ugly. It's unique, bold, and striking. I admit that at first I thought it didn't look right bc I, too, was expecting the One X design. But after looking at all of the photos of it, I have come to realize the genius and beauty behind it. Think of all the things in the world that are two-tone like this. People have painted the walls in their homes like this for years, you see custom painted cars with this same style, and an infinite number of clothing items with the same top/bottom two-tone. And instead of doing something ridiculous like making it half red half black, they went with a less drastic black/charcoal combo. And as for the different finishes, it may not seem right, but why isn't it? The bottom 2/3 are of a finish optimal for grip and holding, while the top 1/3 is more for aesthetics. The contrast of the two split with a red band is one of the most striking and good looking designs I have ever seen on a phone. HTC didn't make this decision lightly (they know more about making phones than Sprint, and their opinions carried a lot more weight.) and decided to make a radical change from the norm (being a black, sometimes white, slab back). They should be applauded for this design, not drowning in a pool of whiner's tears.

 

[neopanther]

My issue with your letter is of all the things you chose to take them to task over it's the battery cover? Dude seriously? My issue is with that damn non-removable battery. I buy a cradle charger and spare batteries every time I get a device. This will be my 6th HTC device. I saw the open letter and got excited because I hoped they would surprise us (I know better) and send another official letter saying something to the effect of: "We're paying attention and from now on we're producing a version of the device with a removable battery." All that energy over a cover? I'm sorry man. I'm not with you on that one.

 

[int_architect]

Awesome post! I couldn't have stated it any better. I'm in the number so turned off the glossy "dutch door" that I'm waiting to see what Samsung will offer in its next device. I'm not even remotely considering Apple, as I prefer the flexibility of Android, but I know whatever Samsung does, it will be harmonious.

 

[orlanka]

It's easy to bash another persons opinion, especially if it's not the same as yours or delivered in the way you would have written it. For those that were/are passionate about the aesthetics of this phone it's often easier to post the knee jerk reaction piece of 'I hate you guys and I am on my way with a posse, pitchforks and torches'. I appreciate the time that was taken to present solutions rather than rant simply about the problems. Are they viable solutions that HTC or Sprint can apply before launch? As many have said, probably not. The 'problem' does present itself, however, as an opportunity for either Sprint or HTC to create aftermarket options or for a third party to come in and fill that void. Either way, it's not the end of the world, it's not the end of the EVO, and there will always be other options down the road.

There are better ways to debate what we perceive as issues with the phones that are presented to us throughout the year. I'm not going to be quoting Rodney King any time soon but keep in mind that this is a community of people with the same basic interest.

I am ready to relinquish my soap box to who ever is next in line, but one question before I go. Was this open letter sent to HTC or Sprint? Of all the opinions and ideas presented in it, I hope it was more than just a post in some random forum on some Android website (no offense Phil and the gang).

 

[BigDinCA]

For everyone who sits here and says that "real men don't whine about what their phone looks like": get real. It's a piece of eye-candy. And if you're a man, you like the things you own to look good. Women want it to have butterflies and crystals and Hello kitty on it. Men just want it to look good out of the box.

I would imagine that not one single guy that has posted the "real men" type of comment would be okay with his brand new, Candy Apple red 2013 Shelby Mustang rolling off the lot with a Bondo/primer-colored spoiler on the back. And what would it matter? It's still functional and it still gets the job done, right? Why not roll around with 3 different colors on your quarter panels as well? And while you're at it, have them make two of the tires whitewalls. As long as they are the same size and model, they'll be just as effective.

And if you're the type that says "screw it, I'm gonna put a case on it anyway", what would you do if the only case that was offered was a pink one that had "I Love Kittens" lettered across the back in glitter? Or if the only case had the New England Patriots logo on it? You'd be complaining to the company that makes the case! I realize those examples are not realistic, but when you pick out your case, you DO think about how it looks. There will be dragons or motorcycles on it. It will have your favorite team on it. Or your college. Or you want a different color red than HTC offers, so you go for the Seidio two-piece instead.

People need to stop pretending that the look of the tech doesn't mean anything. It does. Especially when you're going to be dropping $200 or more on it.

That being said, the back glossy piece is nothing special, save for the lens cover. And it wouldn't take much for HTC to make the same exact cover in different colors. Plastic injection molding isn't that difficult if you already have the molds created. I just don't know if it would be that cost-effective for them unless they sell a ton of these things in black. But if you're one of the people who's going to just put a case on it anyway, help out your fellow geeks here and sand the glossy piece down or paint it with some different types of paint so we can figure out how to change it ourselves. It's been done before.

 

[posterboy7596]

blah blah blah, my diamond slippers are white diamonds not the pink I prefer....Talk about first world problems.

I'm not going to defend sprint or htc's decision about device design, I don't really care. Killer camera, good memory, nice screen, and an upgraded kickstand. They could decide to make it in only purple and I'd buy one. I'm still tickled every time I pull up netflix on my original evo and flip out the kickstand and watch some stuff sitting at my desk at work.

 

[BigDinCA]

My issue with your letter is of all the things you chose to take them to task over it's the battery cover? Dude seriously? My issue is with that damn non-removable battery. I buy a cradle charger and spare batteries every time I get a device. This will be my 6th HTC device. I saw the open letter and got excited because I hoped they would surprise us (I know better) and send another official letter saying something to the effect of: "We're paying attention and from now on we're producing a version of the device with a removable battery." All that energy over a cover? I'm sorry man. I'm not with you on that one.

I think a lot of people agree with the removable battery aspect of the phone, although I (for various reasons) am not as concerned about it as I would have been with my OG EVO. The problem is that hundreds of thousands of these have already been made. They're sitting around, waiting to be loaded up with the release ROM and packaged and sent off to your local store. The battery issue can't be changed now. It's too late for this phone. Hopefully they will recognize this and deal with it in the next design. But the back cover is a relatively easy fix, if they wanted to do so.

At least our battery is bigger than the rest of them and we got the microSD slot! AND A KICKSTAND!!!

 

[suitcasejohnny]

Wow... that was a lot of writing to basically say that you'd like a different back cover. Most people get cases for their phones, so it's not gonna matter too much anyway. Also, if it really becomes an issue, and people are clamoring for a different back cover, I'm sure there will be plenty available on eBay shortly after the release of the phone.

If you really don't care about the cover, why take the time to construct a letter? Clearly you do care.

Anyway, looks like a good phone to me!

Rock on!

 

[neopanther]

@BigDinCA Your point was brillliantly made. As I said my biggest issue was the battery. I hate Apple with a passion and though we have benefited much from many of their ideas. I think we should not have to suffer the consequences of their dumb ideas. One of the worst is a non-removable battery. Phone dies? It will. No matter how good the battery is you NEED a spare. There are times you are going to be out somewhere and can't sit next to (or find) a socket and waste 1-2 hours waiting for it to charge. It's just not realistic. Google showed the world that they can make devices that provide what narrow-minded and greedy Apple couldn't. Maybe if they spent more time reading forums and less time trying to sue away competion they could continue to hang.

 

[ab304945]

I won't buy this phone until back is fixed period. I don't use phone case. Sprint and HTC- whats wrong with you guys? You have screwed original one X design.

There is nothing broke to fix on the back.

And they didn't mess up the One X design. the one X isnt coming to Sprint. if you want the One X go to AT&T.

Ya the Evo is based off the One X. But it wouldn't ne an EVO is it looked like the One X

 

[Mikey47]

I guess it just shows how out of touch I am. I am past the "high school" point in my life where I care about what other people think about something as insignificant as what the back of my cell phone looks like. Why are people so vain?

I, for one, applaud sprint and htc for daring to be different! As so many people have said obviously the is going to be an aftermarket cover. Given the number of people complaining I would be willing to bet someone is going to make these and have them available before the phone is even released.

 

[neopanther]

@Experiment626 I caught the Lilo & Stitch reference in your name. Clever...

 

[BroodjeBami]

To the people that say "Just put a case on it":

"The screen is bad"
Whatever you're going to use a screen protector and set the brightness to the lowest anyway

"The camera is bad"
Just buy one of those lenses you can put on the phone to improve your pictures

"The software is bad"
Just put a custom rom on it... Geez

What you guys are saying is actually as ridiculous as what I said, just a little less ridiculous because more people use cases.

 

[bumpandrun]

I understand your letter and why your wrote it. However, I don't agree with the solution. Anyone who would buy another phone that isn't as good because a part of the phone that will more than likely be covered by a case or skin anyway doesn't need a phone with the ability of any Evo. They need that little phone made specifically for facebook since that is probably all they will ever do with it.

 

[elbaso]

I?m not an engineer, so I have no idea why that particular aesthetic decision was made...

Well, there's an issue right here. As an Engineer, I can say, with complete authority, that Engineers should not be making aesthetic decisions.

Sorry if this has already been said.

 

[orlanka]

Curtains don't match the carpet. This phone reminds me of my dating life. (had to do it)