Ugh..should I return my EVO for something else?

[hatfield]

..... And, I find using the phone itself a bit difficult while driving...maybe I am missing something (I probably am)..but is there an easy way to pull up a contact and dial. I feel like I have to pull over to make a call.

You SHOULD pull over to make a call.

 

[Runnin_it]

Look in the market for a keyboard called "bigbuttons". It's a big keyboard, but it helped me immensely when I first got my EVO. It doesn't have word prediction/correction yet, but after a little while you won't miss it.

 

[thekarens]

The Evo isn't for everyone. If it doesn't work for you there's no shame in returning it for something that does work for you.

 

[Runnin_it]

Or. look for a keyboard called swiftkey if you're feeling adventurous! It predicts the NEXT word you are going to type, not the current one. I just sent a text that was three sentences long, and I actually typed three words!

 

[meyerweb#CB]

I have gotten some nice pictures with ideal lighting. I have NOT, however, gotten any pictures using the flash to turn out well. They are always blown out. Is there some way to adjust the timing?

Are you setting focus on your subject? I noticed that if I didn't tap the screen to tell it where the subject was, the camera seems to want to expose for the background. Setting the subject made a huge difference for me.

You can also use the exposure adjustments to tone down the exposure if it's still necessary.


As far as the keyboard, search the forums here. there are a number of aftermarket ones available the many people like better than the factory one. Myself, I'm partial to a hacked htc keyboard from some other phone, which can be downloaded from here:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=624416

I think there are two problems with the stock keyboard, for me. The first is that the arrow keys take up space that could be used to make the other keys a little bigger. The second is that the keys are just too close together, making it too easy to hit the wrong key.

The hacked keyboard solves both problems. It doesn't have the arrow keys: instead you can set it to use the volume buttons to move the cursor left and right (and just scroll and tap the screen to go up and down).

It also allows you to increase the gap between the keys (by making the keys smaller). This has helped me a lot, too.

There are a lot of other options, but these are the two biggies for me.

 

[Darth Pooh#CB]

This is going to come off super douchey... don't take it that way.

Return it.

It's clear you're not happy with it and you have every right to be if it doesn't meet your needs/satisfaction. It's ok that you like the iPhone, it is a clear basis of comparison for you. Don't apologize for it and don't feel guilty. You might have to bite the bullet however and port over to ATT for the iPhone. It makes sense IMO, sure you'll pay a few more bucks in the long run (yearly) but, if it makes your life easy/happy, do it!

A phone/computer should operate as an extension of our brains/body... if you can't adjust properly or don't think you should have to...

Your Computer Really Is a Part of You | Wired Science | Wired.com

 

[pwnst_r]

I have had my EVO for 4 days now and have spent tons of time playing with it.
I want to love it, I really do. And there are things I really do like...like the screen size, browsing experience, and speed (I am coming from a Blackberry Curve)

But, there are a few things I really don't like.

The biggest problem I am having is typing on that darn keyboard. I just can't get used to it and I am making contant typos. I do not have this problem with my husbands iphone though. So, I don't think it's the lack of a physical keyboard...just seems this keyboard not good for me
I am shocked that the quality of the pictures I take aren't better. I took a few pics of my kids and they looked a little fuzzy and the color looked "off"..again (hate to keep comparing to iphone) but when I took pics with my husbands phone in the same room, of the same scene..his came out WAY better...clearer with better colors.
My email from my yahoo accounts take FOREVER to show up...like hours! Is this normal?
And, I find using the phone itself a bit difficult while driving...maybe I am missing something (I probably am)..but is there an easy way to pull up a contact and dial. I feel like I have to pull over to make a call.

I am REALLY trying to avoid going the route of getting an iphone for a few reasons. I have been with Sprint a long time. I love their unlimited plan...can't beat it! So....
Should I return my EVO and maybe wait for Epic?
Or a different phone?
Or, are there solutions to the problems I am having?
It seems like everyone loves the EVOs...so is it just me having these issues?

Please help..I wanna feel the love either for EVO or something else

I think you'll be happier with the Epic.

 

[tadrscin#AC]

My wife and I both came from BB Curves and hated the stock keyboard, especially with the auto correct. I just tried Smart Keyboard Pro and it's a huge improvement. The auto correct actually works very well and now I can type better than I did on the BB.

I totally agree that the camera sucks. The video is pretty good and it's so easy to do mobile uploads with this phone.

We use gmail and it's every bit as fast as e-mail was on the BB. You might not want to switch, but it's something to think about.

As for talking on a phone while driving, my only suggestion is please don't.

 

[dwaynewilliams#WN]

I really liked the iPhone keyboard, but I like the HTC keyboard of the EVO a lot better. It seems to be more spacious to me. I also use the autocorrect function of the keyboard as well. I will say that virtual keyboards aren't for everyone. My wide hates themand I love them. I must say though that when I first got my iPhone, it took me a couple of weeks to become fast and another couple if weeks to become accurate. I had come from a blackberry smartphone that had an amazing physical keyboard so it was an adjustment. But now I really appreciate the typing experience of my EVO. I actually prefer it to typing on my computer if you can believe that.

 

[PM-Performance]

Honestly now that i think about it the arrow keys are the ones that give me problems and the number switcher. Rest are normally fine for me

 

[mcduffer]

Love my EVO and its keyboard and everything else about it. Ill tire of it about June 2011 when its upgrade time.

 

[Robbie317]

This is going to come off super douchey... don't take it that way.

Return it.

It's clear you're not happy with it and you have every right to be if it doesn't meet your needs/satisfaction. It's ok that you like the iPhone, it is a clear basis of comparison for you. Don't apologize for it and don't feel guilty. You might have to bite the bullet however and port over to ATT for the iPhone. It makes sense IMO, sure you'll pay a few more bucks in the long run (yearly) but, if it makes your life easy/happy, do it!

A phone/computer should operate as an extension of our brains/body... if you can't adjust properly or don't think you should have to...

Your Computer Really Is a Part of You | Wired Science | Wired.com

Agreed..... If your not happy after a few days your probably not going to be happy with it 2 months or 6 months from now. At first I thought it was actually too big when used as a phone but with in 24 hours I had semi gotten use to it and after 3 - 4 days I felt it was great. I came to the EVO/Android from an iPhone.... I found both stock keyboards to be similar but the iPhone keyboard was a little more spread out and easier to use.. I got on the Swype beta and I just flat out love that keyboard a million times better than any virtual keyboard you can use.

As far as the camera you have to manually adjust the settings... It kind of sucks but the phone on "AUTO ISO" does a horrible job in poor/low lighting situations. If you adjust the ISO settings manually you will get much better pictures... basically the lower the number the more light and the darker the room/area the higher you need to set the ISO..... I have taken pictures while on Auto or manually setting the ISO and it's a world of difference.... The iPhone OS does a better job for auto settings....

If you decide to get an iPhone make sure you have a case or get some duct tape so you don't have reception issues...

 

[yaescr]

Get Smart Keyboard Pro. It has several types of keyboards to choose from, including the IPHONE one. PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

 

[usualsuspect]

try ddroid x keyboard

 

[AaronTV]

As far as the camera you have to manually adjust the settings... It kind of sucks but the phone on "AUTO ISO" does a horrible job in poor/low lighting situations. If you adjust the ISO settings manually you will get much better pictures... basically the lower the number the more light and the darker the room/area the higher you need to set the ISO..... I have taken pictures while on Auto or manually setting the ISO and it's a world of difference....

Good call! I took a series of comparison photos on my Evo, all with auto flash on, alternating between auto-ISO and manual. The manual ISO shots were always better, whereas the auto-ISO photos tended to have that blown out look that I've been lamenting. So, your tip definitely helps.

 

[newmomto1]

Thank you

Thanks so much for all the wonderful replies!
As of now, I think the Evo is going to work for me (I hope!!)
See my update in the OP...thanks again

 

[chaosrecords]

And, I find using the phone itself a bit difficult while driving...maybe I am missing something (I probably am)..but is there an easy way to pull up a contact and dial. I feel like I have to pull over to make a call.

Heres whats missing... You arent supposed to use the phone while driving. That little voice that tells you to pull over is right.

We have enough bad drivers on the road as it is. Playing on your cell phone driving can kill people.

 

[newmomto1]

Heres whats missing... You arent supposed to use the phone while driving. That little voice that tells you to pull over is right.

We have enough bad drivers on the road as it is. Playing on your cell phone driving can kill people.

Just to clarify: I do not play with my phone while driving. I am a mom of two and also care for my aging mother. When i need to place a call i do so at a stop light or sign. I meant i find it difficult to quickly place a call while in the car. I am used to my bb curve with which i could contact my husband, mother, kids school, etc with the touch of one button. I didnt even have to look at the phone. What is missing for me is an easier way to place a call.

 

[Lorak]

Just to clarify: I do not play with my phone while driving. I am a mom of two and also care for my aging mother. When i need to place a call i do so at a stop light or sign. I meant i find it difficult to quickly place a call while in the car. I am used to my bb curve with which i could contact my husband, mother, kids school, etc with the touch of one button. I didnt even have to look at the phone. What is missing for me is an easier way to place a call.

You could try aTakePhone. It replaces the htc dialer and has an "I bar" which you can place your favorites pictures on. Just press the picture of the contact to call them.

Here is a thread on it. (started in 09, so read to the end to see whats in it now).
http://forum.androidcentral.com/android-applications/462-atakephone-released.html

 

[Lorak]

Other option which works pretty good is the HTC favorites widget. Add the people you need to call while driving to favorites and put the widget on your phone. so you can easily press thier picture to open the contact to dial,text, ect.