HTC Rhyme Android Phone (Verizon Wireless)

 

HTC Rhyme Android Phone (Verizon Wireless)

 

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Offering a smart, elegant unibody design with every detail carefully crafted to deliver a unique sensory experience, the Android-powered HTC Rhyme for Verizon Wireless features a fast 1 GHz processor and beautiful 3.7-inch multi-touch display. In addition to Android, it also offers the next-generation HTC Sense user interface experience, which includes quicker startup times from hibernation mode as well as a consolidated view of your favorite social networking sites.
The stylish HTC Rhyme.
HTC RhymeAt a Glance:

• 3G connectivity
• Android 2.3 OS
• 1 GHz processor
• 3.7-inch multi-touch screen
• 5-MP camera + HD 720p video capture
• 8 GB microSD card
• GPS navigation
• Wireless-N Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity
• Corporate/personal e-mail

With the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system, you'll get seamlessly integrated access to a wide range of Google Mobile Services, including Gmail, YouTube, Google Search, and Google Maps, as well as access to more than 250,000 apps available to download from Android Market.
It comes with three accessories so you can immediately set up your system. When you open the box, you'll find a pair of tangle-free headphones, a multifunctional docking station, and a charm call indicator. The docking station wirelessly charges your phone and activates Dock Mode, making your HTC Rhyme an all-in-one alarm clock, music player, and picture frame. The stylish Charm call indicator goes with anything, and it sits atop your bag and alerts you of incoming calls, missed calls, and messages.
In addition to 3G connectivity, you can also share the built-in Mobile Hotspot via Wi-Fi among up to five devices--laptop, another phone, MP3 player, and more (additional service charge).
The HTC Rhyme has a 5-megapixel rear camera that also captures HD 720p video. Shoot professional-looking portraits with the Portrait scene, which makes skin look smoother without significantly altering other parts of the photo, or capture life on a grand scale with the Panorama scene. When life is in motion, savor it with slow-motion video or capture the perfect moment with Action burst. The phone also includes a front-facing VGA camera for video chat.
Other features include Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, included 8 GB microSD card (with expansion up to 32 GB via optional cards), GPS for navigation and location-based services, full HTML browser with support for Adobe Flash, access to personal and corporate e-mail, and up to 7.3 hours of talk time (see full specs below).
HTC Rhyme Experience
Boasting the latest HTC experience, the Rhyme features a customizable active lockscreen that transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply waking up the display.
Additionally, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets your quickly jump to your most used features--whether it be making a call, sending an e-mail, or taking a picture. For example, the camera can be launched right from the lock screen with a single motion, saving precious seconds when you're trying to capture the action.
Vital Statistics
The HTC Rhyme weighs 4.77 ounces and measures 4.69 x 2.39 x 0.43 inches. Its 1600 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 7.33 hours (440 minutes) of talk time, and up to 410 hours (17+ days) of standby time. It runs on the CDMA 800/1900 frequencies as well as EV-DO, Rev A 3G frequencies.What's in the Box
HTC Rhyme handset, rechargeable battery, charger, docking station, headphones, charm, 8 GB microSD card, quick start guide, user manual
Included charm, headphones, and dock.
Verizon Wireless Services
Reliable 3G Network: With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, you'll enjoy fast access to the Internet and Verizon Wireless multimedia services (additional charges applicable), with average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps and peak rates up to 2 Mbps. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.)
VZ Navigator Capable: With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access the Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps.
Visual Voice Mail: This innovative service enables you to delete, reply, and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions. Visual Voice Mail is the ideal tool for the busy mobile professional who may need to prioritize which messages he or she listens to first. Features include on-screen access to voice mail message status, save up to 40 messages for 40 days (or archive permanently), create up to 10 different caller ID-based greetings, and reply via call back, text or even voice mail.
VZW Backup Assistant: Automatically back up your mobile contacts to your online address book. If your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged, or you decide to upgrade, easily restore your saved address book to your new phone. You can also add, delete, edit, and print your contacts online and send the changes to your mobile phone.
Android Gingerbread Operating System

The HTC Rhyme runs the Android 2.3 operating system (dubbed Gingerbread)--the fastest version of Android available for smartphones yet. It features a cleaner, more refined interface with new icons, improved top notification bar, and more intuitive navigation.
Multitasking in Gingerbread allows you the ability to run more than one app at a time. If you're playing a game, you can easily switch to an incoming e-mail and then switch back to the game without losing your place. And like the previous version of Android ("Froyo"), Gingerbread provides support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for access to the full Web.
A new onscreen keyboard makes it easier to type thanks to additional spacing between the keys and larger font sizes. And the more you use the keyboard, the easier typing will be as the enhanced suggest feature records previous input history to make better suggestions.
The HTC Rhyme also brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services you use every day. It also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. And through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets, and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day.
Google Integration

• Android Market for browsing and downloading thousands of free and paid apps
• Pre-loaded Android apps: Browser, Calculator, Calendar (Google or Corporate), Camera, Clock, Contacts, Email, Gallery, Messaging, Music, News ; Weather, Phone, Settings, Video Player, Voice Dialer, Voice Search, YouTube
• Google applications: Gmail, Google Search, Google Voice Search, Google Latitude, Google Maps, Google Places, Google Talk
• Google Maps Navigation with spoken turn-by-turn directions showing real-time traffic and 360° views of the destination

Connectivity

• Fast 3G connectivity thanks to the reliable Verizon Wireless EV-DO, Rev A network
• Onboard GPS for navigation (via integrated Google Maps and optional VZ Navigator service) and location-based services
• Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.
• Mobile Hotspot capability allows you to create a Wi-Fi hotspot using your 3G connection, which can then be shared among up to 5 Wi-Fi-capable devices.
• Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity backward compatible with older Bluetooth-enabled peripherals and includes stereo audio streaming.

Hardware

• 1 GHz single-core processor speeds up everything--from playing games to watching shows to opening files from work.
• 3.7-inch multi-touch display (480 x 800 pixels)
• Onscreen keyboard
• Removable battery

Communications ; Internet

• Full HTML Web Browser with Flash 10.1 Support
• Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture/video, and IM instant messaging
• Personal and corporate e-mail access with support for Exchange ActiveSync as well as personal e-mail accounts (Google push, Yahoo!, POP3, IMAP).

Memory

• Included 8 GB microSD card with support for optional cards up to 32 GB.
• 4 GB internal memory

Camera

• 5-megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash
• HD 720p video capture capabilities
• Front-facing camera (VGA) for video chats and self portraits

Multimedia

• Music player compatible with MP3, WMA, and AAC/AAC+/eAAC+
• Video player compatible with MPEG4, WMV, H.264, H.263
• Access to V CAST Music and V CAST Video services (additional charges applicable)

More Features

• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Speakerphone for hands-free communication.
• Hearing Aid Compatibility: M4/T4

Also Available for This Android Device
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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 2.4 x 0.4 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B005PT550Q
• Item model number: Rhyme
  

Technical Details

• Stylish 3G-enabled, Android-powered smartphone with 3.7-inch multi-touch screen and 1 GHz processor
• Includes tangle?free headphones, a multifunctional docking station, and charm call indicator
• 5-MP camera with HD 720p video capture; front-facing camera for video chats; included 8 GB microSD card; Wi-FI; Bluetooth; GPS
• Up to 7.33 hours of talk time, up to 410 hours (17 days) of standby time; released in Septembers , 2011
• What's in the Box: handset, battery, charger, docking station, headphones, charm, 8 GB microSD card, quick start guide, user manual

Customer Reviews

Back in August during the BlogHer conference in San Diego, I attended a HTC Insight Meetup were women bloggers met with HTC managers to talk about what we love and hate about our smartphones. HTC wanted to know our thoughts on how women use smartphones and I was very happy to give my perceptive because smartphones are really becoming a staple in the lives of busy women. So when HTC asked me to review their newest smartphone marketed toward women, I jumped at the chance.
For the past two weeks, I have been reviewing the newest smartphone from HTC on the Verizon network - The HTC Rhyme. This is the first smartphone that I know of that is squarely marketed at women. When I first saw the TV advertisement for the HTC Rhyme, I was spellbound in front of my TV. The ad shows a woman with 6 arms which is suppose to visualize how the HTC Rhyme's many features work together to make life easy for busy women.
I have found the HTC Rhyme to be a very "smart" smartphone that is stylish and comes with lots of useful accessories. It runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) on a powerful 1GZ processor and comes with a 5mp rear facing camera and a VGA front facing camera for making video calls. The phone can also be used as a Mobile Hotspot for up to 5 devices. I have always loved the HTC Sense experience and I particularly loved the interface of the HTC Rhyme where the phone figures out and displays a tab of apps that you use the most. The phone also makes scrolling through the list of apps easier by scrolling a page at a time instead of a row at a time.
5 Cool Features...
This smartphone has a lot of great features, but there are 5 things in particular about the HTC Rhyme that I think women will really love:
1. The Color - I was wondering when a manufacturer was going to make a smartphone that is not basic black. The HTC Rhyme comes in a pretty shade of purple that is very stylish. Plus all the accessories that come with the phone match in color.
2. The Purse Charm - This is a simple idea that is a blessing for those of us who carry our smartphones in our purses. The purse charm is a tether that plugs into the headphone jack. When the phone rings or you get an alert, the charm on the other end of the tether lights up to let you know you have a call or message. Then you can fish the phone out of your purse using the tether. Simple, but genius!
3. The Desk Dock - This is my favorite feature since I use my smartphone as my alarm clock. The Rhyme come with a docking station that charges the phone and automatically puts the Rhyme display into landscape mode and shows the time and weather. The dock can also display photos and play music through the bluetooth speakers. And you will not be annoyed while sleeping by an overly bright display at night since the dock automatically dims the brightness after a few minutes or you can dim it manually with the press of a virtual button in the right lower corner of the touchscreen.
4. The Size - The HTC Rhyme is a very slender phone that weights under 5 oz. I use both a Verizon HTC Thunderbolt (I call it "the beast" with its 4.3" screen) and a Virgin Mobile LG Optimus V (3.2" screen) and the HTC Rhyme is sized in between the two phones with its 3.7" WVGA Display. It fits nicely into most women's hands while being not too big nor too small.
5. The No-Tangle Headphones - I carry a set of small in-ear headphones in my purse and they are always tangled in knots when I need to use them. The HTC Rhyme comes with a pair of in-ear headphones that match the color of the phone and are very hard to get tangled because the cords are flat like a pancake.
3 Needed Improvements...
I really enjoyed using the HTC Rhyme, but there are 3 improvements that would make this smartphone even more attractive to women:
1. More Internal Storage - The HTC Rhyme is marketed at the woman who uses her smartphone for everything, which means she downloads tons of apps to turn her smartphone into all kinds of devices. But the Rhyme only has 4GB of internal storage and an 8GB SD card. I am always in the Android marketplace downloading more apps and some of my apps, like Google Music, takes up tons of storage. It took me close to an hour to load all my apps on the Rhyme and I filled up the entire 4GB of internal space. Most woman are going to load as many apps as possible. The reason I love my HTC Thunderbolt is because it comes with 8GB of internal space and an 32GB SD card. I think women would flock to the HTC Rhyme if it also came with 8GB of internal space.
2. Verizon 4G LTE -I was quite surprised to find out that the Rhyme is not on the Verizon 4G LTE network. Although Verizon 3G is still fast, Verizon 4G is lightening fast and what women would not want her data to load as quickly as possible using the newest Verizon technology.
3. A Docking Station with adjustable volume - It also would be nice if the HTC Rhyme docking station had speakers with adjustable volume. It appeared to have one volume level no matter if I had the phone's volume up high or down low.
The HTC Rhyme is a very nice smartphone that I think will appeal to women who want their phones to be an extension of their personal style and those looking for smartphones that will double as mini home entertainment centers. It has smart accessories that really should be included with all smartphones.
It will be interesting to see if other manufacturers also market phones targeted to women. I guess time will tell based on how well the HTC Rhyme does in the marketplace.
The HTC Rhyme is priced at $199 with a two year contract on the Verizon network.

Got the phone for my wife who was very hesitant to move from her Samsung Instinct feature phone on Sprint, but when she saw the charm thing she said that would help her find the phone in her purse and was enough of a reason to switch. The phone feels great, looks sharp, and the battery seems to last all day at least. However, there are two things that I am concerned about. First of all a little background, I have an HTC Thunderbold, so I am not a novice with Android, but on the Rhyme whenever my wife misses a phone call that goes to VM, she gets a message for the missed call and then a message for the VM indicator (which seems appropriate). When she hits the message to check the VM, she get ANOTHER message indicating a new VM message just for checking her VM. This is extremely annoying and I cannot find a way to stop her getting a new message just for checking VM. The number of messages for each phone call is driving her nuts and she is at the point of wanting to return the phone if we cannot figure this out. Secondly, the signal strength does not seem to be as strong as on my Thunderbolt, we are still trying to determine if this is a real issue as she only had two dropped calls, but they were in challenging areas anyways (although my Thunderbolt does not drop calls in the same areas).
Hopefully we can figure out this VM message issue, if not, we will have to try a different phone and I have to now figure out what the Amazon return options are just in case.
11-4-2011 Update: Spent a long time on Verizon tech support, level 2 even, and it seems the problem of the notifications is with the account setup, so not a phone issue. It has been a couple days and they are still working on it, but hopefully this will get resolved.
Regarding the signal strength, the phone has dropped several calls and the signal strength jumps all over the place even when standing still, so this might be a deal breaker. I did try holding the phone differently, and it DID seem to effect the signal strength. When I experimented with the holding issue (another antennagate possibly) the signal was consistent around -80dBm when I barely held the phone with two fingers and keeping my grip below (when phone was held vertically) the phone and not blocking the back at all, but when I held the phone like "normal" (so almost the entire back of the phone is covered by my hand) the signal strength goes to -101 immediately and zero bars, and definitely NO 3G. I can then remove my hand and hold the phone the other way, and the strength goes back to around -80. I hate to say it, but this phone might have a serious antenna problem. I have NOT flushed out this problem with Verizon yet, but I am highly concerned.
1-6-2012 Update: after 2 weeks of efforts the final result was that Verizon could not resolve the issue and said to get a different model phone. We went with the Incredible 2 as it was the closest option in size and wieght and everything works like normal now. Verizon said it must have been a bad batch of phones, but who really knows, this was really wacky.