Thunderbolt out selling iPhone 4 at VZW stores

[RetiredJedi]

A little over a week ago, I walked into a Verizon wireless store to buy an iPhone and walked out with a Thunderbolt. My reasons?

-- larger display for the Thunderbolt (really liked the extra-large clock display on the home screen)
-- camera with a higher megapixel count (figured it might do a better job when zoomed in because of that)
-- can change the battery myself if I need to (hated the thought of having to make an extra trip some place in order to have it changed)
-- had never had a smartphone before so any learning curve would seem normal to me (this was in response to my husband's opinion that the iPhone would probably be easier to adjust to than an android one would)

So far, I'm in love and can't imagine using something else. The only downside for me is the fact that it's not compatible with Netflix or Hulu (something I wasn't aware of at the time I bought it). But since PlayOn appears to be an answer to that issue, I don't consider that to be as much of a negative anymore - and truth be told, I probably won't use it as a video player very often anyway.

When I was asking questions prior to Tbolt release, VZW store folks told me that if something happens to the i*hone I can't even take the phone to the VZW store for repairs. I have to send it to Apple to get it fixed except of course if I were just doing a straight up one for one exchange. The bigger display, personalizing, and lack of battery exchange is what decided it for me and my wife.

 

[TnTexas]

Hulu's site says that Android support is coming soon.

I know. The question is: How soon is soon?

Honestly, the lack of access to those two sites isn't a huge deal on a practical level since I'd rather read on my phone than watch a video. It was more a disappointment than anything else since I know the iPhone has that capability (Netflix at least; I'm pretty sure Hulu too) and I was expecting the Thunderbolt to as well.

 

[TnTexas]

My workaround for the Netflix issue has been to use Slingbox. My TiVo box can connect to Netflix and since I can control it through the Slingbox, voila, Netflix is on my phone! It's a workaround but it does the trick!

Hmmmm. I'm not familiar with Slingbox. Does it allow you to access the sites even when you're away from home?

 

[TnTexas]

When I was asking questions prior to Tbolt release, VZW store folks told me that if something happens to the i*hone I can't even take the phone to the VZW store for repairs. I have to send it to Apple to get it fixed except of course if I were just doing a straight up one for one exchange.

That's what I was told too. That idea drove me batty!

 

[Treknologist]

Hmmmm. I'm not familiar with Slingbox. Does it allow you to access the sites even when you're away from home?

Slingbox is a box that you connect to your TV/TiVo/Cable box/DVR and that allows you to watch content from those devices anywhere you are. You can do so on the web with a computer or you can use the phone app. Because you essentially get a virtual remote control of your device, you can do anything the device you're connected to does. So, I can control my TiVo to watch what's recorded or do any of the functions of the TiVo, such as streaming Netflix. You can check out info on slingbox.com. For the record, I don't work or have any relation to Slingbox other than being a very happy owner! I've watched content while traveling overseas or even live TV!

 

[TnTexas]

Slingbox is a box that you connect to your TV/TiVo/Cable box/DVR and that allows you to watch content from those devices anywhere you are. You can do so on the web with a computer or you can use the phone app. Because you essentially get a virtual remote control of your device, you can do anything the device you're connected to does. So, I can control my TiVo to watch what's recorded or do any of the functions of the TiVo, such as streaming Netflix. You can check out info on slingbox.com. For the record, I don't work or have any relation to Slingbox other than being a very happy owner! I've watched content while traveling overseas or even live TV!

Able to watch something in my TiVo queue on my phone? While I'm traveling? Cool! I have some shows on there that Hulu and Netflix don't have. I'll have to check into that. Thanks for mentioning it!

Just out of curiosity, does it support Hulu as well?

 

[Rem]

Two: The audio capture for the camcorder doesn't work very well. You can hear me (the camerawoman) just fine, but you can barely hear the person I'm video-ing - even when he's talking in a normal tone of voice. That's a bit more problematic, but I do have a Flip video camcorder I can continue using so it's not a humongous deal. I was just hoping to be able to carry one memory-capturing device instead of two. (The still camera on the Thunderbolt seems to work fine.) Three: Can't figure out how to download an mp3 file (a class lecture) from a website and play it back. Those are the only three things I've found that keep the Thunderbolt from being a perfect experience.

You may have already found this information around the forums, but!:

two) I believe I read that there's a fix for this coming with the next OTA update. Mine does the same and it's pretty annoying, but fortunately it seems to be a software bug and not a problem with the actual hardware.

three) Is this a matter of not being able to find the mp3 once you've downloaded it? Try getting Astro File Manager from the Market - makes it super easy to grab things out of your downloads folder, then you can play it through the stock music player (or whatever third party app you may use).

 

[TnTexas]

You may have already found this information around the forums, but!:

two) I believe I read that there's a fix for this coming with the next OTA update. Mine does the same and it's pretty annoying, but fortunately it seems to be a software bug and not a problem with the actual hardware.

three) Is this a matter of not being able to find the mp3 once you've downloaded it? Try getting Astro File Manager from the Market - makes it super easy to grab things out of your downloads folder, then you can play it through the stock music player (or whatever third party app you may use).

For the camcorder: That would be wonderful! I hope that turns out to be the problem, and they get it fixed.

For the mp3 files: No, that's not the problem. I haven't been able to find anything that will even download the files for me. When I touch the button for the file, I'm given the option of downloading it with BUZZ player (an app I found in the Market), Streaming Media Player, or TuneWiki (the phone came with those installed). If I use BUZZ player, it shows up in the app's history, but won't play. Streaming Media is apparently only for videos, and TuneWiki doesn't appear to do anything with it at all. Any other suggestions? Anyone?

 

[Treknologist]

Just out of curiosity, does it support Hulu as well?

That depends on the equipment that you have hooked to your Slingbox, not the sofware. If you have a DVR/TV or unit that support viewing Hulu, then you'll be able to see Hulu. You see, it is streaming to your equipment and the Slingbox sends it to your phone or computer so you can watch in the Slingbox software.

 

[nate44]

I don't think Apple is worried about this news. They recently announced they had a $6 billion dollar profit in Q2.

Apple beats estimates with Q2 earnings: $24.67 billion revenue, $5.99 billion profit -- Engadget

 

[TnTexas]

That depends on the equipment that you have hooked to your Slingbox, not the sofware. If you have a DVR/TV or unit that support viewing Hulu, then you'll be able to see Hulu. You see, it is streaming to your equipment and the Slingbox sends it to your phone or computer so you can watch in the Slingbox software.

Ah, so it's not sending directly to the Slingbox? Gotcha. That would make sense then. Thanks.

 

[TnTexas]

So far, I'm in love and can't imagine using something else. There are only three downsides that I've found. ...... Three: Can't figure out how to download an mp3 file (a class lecture) from a website and play it back.

I still haven't figured out how to download the mp3 file from the website directly to my phone, but I think I've found a workaround. If I download the file to my PC and place it in my Dropbox folder, then I can use the TuneWiki app the phone came with to open the file in my Dropbox folder on my phone and listen to it. It takes some advance planning on my part to do it this way, but at least it works. Yay!

 

[experiment 626]

Just to keep everything in perspective: Verizon activates 2.2 million iPhones in first quarter, 260,000 HTC Thunderbolts | ZDNet Over a quarter million is still impressive though.Plus LTE will get another boost when the Charge and Revolution are released.