Why would Verizon want you to be able to delete their apps from the phone you got from them at a big discount over retail? They wouldn't. Marketing is everything in the world of smartphones, and Verizon wants you to see their logo anywhere they can, even in your phone with all the bloatware they stuff in there, hoping you may want to buy some of it someday. All the carriers do it and it's annoying, but there's so much memory in this phone I'm not too worked up over a few hundred MBs of crapware. I just try to make sure it's not running and clear all the icons off my home screen.
Time is all most up - who's keeping - who's not?
- Thread starter Mike_is_Mike
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Why would Verizon want you to be able to delete their apps from the phone you got from them at a big discount over retail? They wouldn't. Marketing is everything in the world of smartphones, and Verizon wants you to see their logo anywhere they can, even in your phone with all the bloatware they stuff in there, hoping you may want to buy some of it someday. All the carriers do it and it's annoying, but there's so much memory in this phone I'm not too worked up over a few hundred MBs of crapware. I just try to make sure it's not running and clear all the icons off my home screen.
If this phone is the best thing HTC has to offer, I stick with Motorola hardware, locked bootloader or not.
Treknologist
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This phone is the best HTC has to offer as of today on Verizon. The HTC Pyramid is better from the specs we've seen so far (including a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor). Rumor has this phone going to T-Mobile, I believe.
The logic is simple. Dollars! While we may not like it there is a price to pay for devices that are subsidized by the distributor. Verizon is compensated for everyone of those apps or icons that appear in your app drawer. Contractually they cannot be removed. This is a marketing strategy that works for the provider or they would not continue it. Verizon devices have more of it then other carrier simply because they have more subscribers and therefor a more attractive marketing conduit.
For some reason techies complain about commercialism and enterprise more than most other populations. Free apps, no ads, no bloatware is the mantra. Just like the "pro" version of apps that carry a price tag how many bloatware complainers are willing to pay a fee for the right to remove the offensive content and not void one's warranty? The question is, of course how much? Lets say for an annual subscription of $50 you can own a program that will remove whatever you want to remove exclusively from your device. How much do you hate the bloatware?
With help and tips from this site, I have made adjustments to make the battery last longer and 4g service more tolerable. This is my last day and I have decided to keep it. The good out weighs the bad. But I probably wish I waited for the Bionic or iPhone 5 or when the TB drops to $50 as you know it will.
Tempest in a teapot, this.
Battery and crapware will be remedied greatly once CM7 and some other custom ROMs are available. That or an extended battery for the non-technical crowd. And I personally have found 0 bugs that can be attributed to the Thunderbolt itself. I am lucky to not have the camcorder issue, and I'm not sure how widespread it really is. YMMV
I've not been this pleased with or excited about using a phone since getting my original iPhone way back when. This is hands-down the best, most reliable phone I've owned, even only after 2 weeks use!
Battery and crapware will be remedied greatly once CM7 and some other custom ROMs are available. That or an extended battery for the non-technical crowd. And I personally have found 0 bugs that can be attributed to the Thunderbolt itself. I am lucky to not have the camcorder issue, and I'm not sure how widespread it really is. YMMV
I've not been this pleased with or excited about using a phone since getting my original iPhone way back when. This is hands-down the best, most reliable phone I've owned, even only after 2 weeks use!
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I'm keeping my Thunderbolt. Was aiming to return it initially, but I'm really loving it now.
----All of the major issues I encountered that made me want to return the phone have been solved, mainly through this forum! Thanks to everyone here.
----The poor battery life has been fixed when I changed to 3G only (thanks AndroidCentral!). Battery life is absolutely amazing on 3G (better than my friend's iPhone), and I can use 4G when I actually need the speed (ex. downloading videos, etc...).
----GPS locking issues were fixed when I download GPS status app and used the "download GPS assistance data" and "reset GPS cached data" options. Wish it would lock on quicker on it's own; hopefully will be fixed with updates.
----I thought the size/weight would be rough coming from a 4 oz device with a 2.8" screen. I actually love it now. And not too difficult to carry on my holster at all.
----Was debating on getting the iPhone; has many advantages, but I really don't like the mandatory 2 yr contract, not having the ability to download Swype, and the smaller screen.
----Was also debating on getting the Samsung Charge (I really like the Super Amoled, and I love the light weight feel of it); but, I've noted they probably won't update things as well as HTC.
Thanks
----All of the major issues I encountered that made me want to return the phone have been solved, mainly through this forum! Thanks to everyone here.
----The poor battery life has been fixed when I changed to 3G only (thanks AndroidCentral!). Battery life is absolutely amazing on 3G (better than my friend's iPhone), and I can use 4G when I actually need the speed (ex. downloading videos, etc...).
----GPS locking issues were fixed when I download GPS status app and used the "download GPS assistance data" and "reset GPS cached data" options. Wish it would lock on quicker on it's own; hopefully will be fixed with updates.
----I thought the size/weight would be rough coming from a 4 oz device with a 2.8" screen. I actually love it now. And not too difficult to carry on my holster at all.
----Was debating on getting the iPhone; has many advantages, but I really don't like the mandatory 2 yr contract, not having the ability to download Swype, and the smaller screen.
----Was also debating on getting the Samsung Charge (I really like the Super Amoled, and I love the light weight feel of it); but, I've noted they probably won't update things as well as HTC.
Thanks
i honestly dont see how people can get this phone in a 4g area and then make it use 3g. what is the point of getting this phone then? the only thing this phone offers over any other phone on verizons current line up is the 4g really. yes the processor is slightly faster but only marginally. maybe the kickstand? the screen is a little nicer than the droid x. its not really a fix when you cripple it. thats like saying i have an infection on my leg. lets cut it off, there, you no longer have an infection. okay.. but i also no longer have a leg.
if u're upgrading from a much older phone then its slightly different. this was more of referencing droid x users (as i was). i love the phone and if i did not have battery issues, i would have kept it. however a 5 hour max battery life is not acceptable for my daily routine and the only thing it has over the droid x i find extremely desirable is the 4g.
if u're upgrading from a much older phone then its slightly different. this was more of referencing droid x users (as i was). i love the phone and if i did not have battery issues, i would have kept it. however a 5 hour max battery life is not acceptable for my daily routine and the only thing it has over the droid x i find extremely desirable is the 4g.
im not sure what the fuss is about with the battery... mines going for 16+ hours in 4g, been installing apps, texting emailing all day. maybe u guys expect too much.
really doubt its us expecting too much. i just want to be able to get through a normal day with moderate use which would be something along the lines of 10 mins worth of phone calls, read about 20 emails, and about 50-100 text at the absolute most. It has not been able to do that. worst experience so far was when i got a text in the morning, i unplugged it at 100%. read the text, put it on night stand and slept another 3 hours. woke up to a phone at 44%. either i got a lemon or something is not quite right with either the software or signal issue. however i never saw 3g on my phone. it was always 4g lte.
i dont understand how some people are getting such good battery life. i really wish whatever is causing the dismal battery life is identified and worked out.
just for comparison. i am using the droid x for the first time in 2 weeks today. i have had the same usage as i did on the tbolt. with the 1930 mah extended battery, i am sitting at 85% (guessing from voltage since moto only reads at 10% increments). this is after unplugging the phone 10 hours ago. my tbolt would have been dead, fully recharged and be at around 60% at this point in time.
I think I was in that boat when the TB came out, but decided to pull the trigger because no matter how long you wait something better will be out within 2 months. If something I can't pass up comes out I can sell my 'bolt and just buy it. It would have to definitely be 4g, and I would prefer to avoid Motorola phones.
I personally am lasting through the days no problem, haven't even had to use my spare battery yet.
Sent from my Thunderbolt using Tapatalk
I believe I already said it, I am keeping it. Staying with HTC, do not care about any other brand at this moment. I can upgrade whenever another HTC phone at Verizon shows up, using my second line that is ready for an upgrade at any time. Loving the phone. 
Nice analogy O
I asked the same question you did---- why would I want to buy a 4G device and not use the 4G???? I was pissed off initially that I couldn't use my 4G. Wanted to return it. But, I figured out that 3G for me is pretty fast for routine things like push e-mail, web browsing, so why keep my 4G on all the time? I wish I could, but I can't. I can literally watch the battery draining on 4G fast while doing nothing!! I figure I can turn on 4G when I want to watch streaming video, or download a large file. I think that's reasonable. I wish that I could get the 16 hour life that some report on 4G- not happening for me and many others. I'm hoping that as the LTE network improves in my area, the battery life may improve.... or if some "updates" are made.....I needed to upgrade my phone now, and maybe I'm wrong, but I thought that this was the Verizon Android phone with the best specs available at this time..... Coming from a 2 yr old Windows Mobile device that is barely still alive, this device is extremely fast and amazing........ I can see your point that coming from a Droid X, this is not much of an upgrade at all!!!
I'm also a bit disappointed that the battery seems to go much faster on 4g, but I'm fine with a toggle-- I wish it were a bit more straightforward (and it sounds like it might be in a future update). But it's nice that when I really need the speed, I'm only about 10 seconds away from kicking 4G on; when I'm just "playing" and time isn't critical, I can flip it down to 3G and have the battery last much, much longer...
It'd be GREAT if I didn't have to toggle, but I'd rather have the option of 4g than be on a 3g-only phone!
(and since I'm now over 14 days-- guess I'm keeping mine!)
It'd be GREAT if I didn't have to toggle, but I'd rather have the option of 4g than be on a 3g-only phone!
(and since I'm now over 14 days-- guess I'm keeping mine!)
YourMobileGuru
Formerly VZWRocks
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Do you own any of the other recent Verizon Android phones?
* Droid Incredible
* Samsung Fascinate
* Droid 2 Global
I own all three of these (never got around to getting a DX) and trust me the ThunderBolt blows then all out of the water.
Treknologist
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That was my situation as well. I had an aging Windows Mobile device that desperately needed to be replaced. To me, the TBolt is lightyears ahead of my old Windows Mobile phone and I'm quite pleased.
yes yes and no
and it does not blow any of them out of the water. better, yes but i would not go as far as that.
of course i say that in regards to normal usage. text, phone call, web browsing, and just normal stuff. speeds were pretty comparable. i would have had the d2 but felt it wasn't really that great of a phone compared to what was out. that one had 800 mhz right?
I got a little less that 5 hours yesterday from full change to 25% with the 2750 mAh battery. It was getting more like 11 hours just a few days before too, and I didn't really change anything.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
YourMobileGuru
Formerly VZWRocks
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Respectfully disagree.
* As much as I love the Incredible it is slooooow compared to the TBolt (as an aside I was looking at a live Evo in the BB Mobile store earlier this afternoon and thoiguth the same thing about that)
* The Fascinate was super fast when I first got it but over time I've come to be really disappointed in the much hyped hummingbird processor. Mine locks up every time I upgrade more than about 4 apps at a time (with the upgrade all button)
* and the D2Global the biggest improvement I have seen with that one is battery life. It's really only marginally faster than the DImc.
Thunderbolt is all around fast, the processor itself and the 3G radio. Believe it or not the 3g data [wireless hotspot] is faster through that than my MyFi 220. As much as I was wowed by the DInc a year ago (coming from the Moto Droid) I was even more wowed by the TBolt.
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