I recently bought a HTC Radar with Windows Phone 7.5 Mango and would like to bring to you my own little review of the device. I recently wrote a post about Windows Mango where I mentioned that I would buy a HTC Titan. Well I ended up with the HTC Radar instead because I think the Titan is too big for a phone and because the HTC radar also is cheaper. After about a week with the HTC Radar I have no regrets about that decision.
My first impression of the HTC Radar
My first impression of the phone was very good. It good a really great LCD screen with great contrast. The touch screen reacts very fast and precise and it seems that the 1 GHz processor has no problems to deliver the power needed to make it a great experience to use the phone. The Mango start screen is really working great. You got all what you need in one screen: E-mail, SMS, pictures, contacts, Browser (IE9), calendar, marketplace and more. If you are missing an app on your start page you can easily add it to the start screen and rearrange if you like.
My HTC Radar
I am not sure that it will be the same all over the world, but here is what was in the package of my HTC Radar:
- The Phone itself
- 1 Power adapter
- 1 USB cable (Used both for data and when charging the phone)
- Headphones with built-in FM radio antenna
- A stack of a warranty papers for the trash can (I guess the need to be there)
No driver CD’s or manuals included you will have to download that yourself.
But wait, how about Apps for Windows Mango?
With the release of Windows phone 7.5 Mango Microsoft have launched a new Marketplace where you can get Apps just like you know it from Apples App Store. The Windows marketplace does of cause not yet have 500.000 apps as Apple does, but according to Winrumors the marketplace already have reach the 35.000 mark. My guess is that this number will increase fast as more people gets Windows Mango phones in their hands and because Microsoft is doing a lot to get developers around the world to start making apps for their new phone OS. Here is a couple of approaches Microsoft has made to increase the number of apps in the Marketplace:
- Microsoft and Nokia are giving out 25,000 Windows Phones to developers
- Microsoft teams up with Klout to give away 500 Windows Phones
- Microsoft India To Give Away Windows Phone Devices To Student Developers
What has impressed me most about the HTC Radar
- Great look and feel
- Great screen, great colors and very good touch functions
- Quick response
- For a brand new Phone OS more than 35.000 apps is pretty well I think and I have been able to find most of the one I was looking for.
- Great multitasking capabilities make it possible to jump between active programs. That is working a lot better than their earlier versions of Windows Phone.
- Very well integrated with the Windows Live, SkyDrive, Twitter and other online services.
The downside about HTC Radar
- It is a bit hard to hit the right letters on the Keyboard (Maybe I just need to get used to it)
- No application for Contact management/sync. It can’t even Sync with your desktop Outlook. I needed to import all my contacts to my online Google Account to import them!!
- No file Explorer to manage files – I really miss this feature that I have had on all my phones in the past.
- Non-removable battery (When the battery is death the phone is death)
- The Local Scout service only works in the U.S
HTC Radar Specifications:
General
2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA900 / 2100
Size
Dimensions: 120.5 x 61.5 x 10.9 mm
Weight: 137 g
Display
Type: S-LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size: 480 x 800 pixels, 3.8 inches
– Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate
– Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
– Gyroscope sensor
– Multi-touch input method
Sound
Alert types: Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
Loudspeaker: Yes, with stereo speakers
3.5mm jack: Yes
Memory
Phonebook: Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records: Practically unlimited
Internal: 8GB storage, 512 MB RAM
Card slot: No
Data
GPRS: Yes
EDGE: Yes
3G: HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA
Bluetooth: Yes, v2.1 with A2DP, EDR
Infrared port: No
USB: Yes, microUSB v2.0
Camera
Primary: 5 MP, 2560х1920 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features: Geo-tagging
Video: Yes, 720p@30fps
Secondary: Yes, VGA
Features
OS: Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
CPU: 1 GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset
Messaging: SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM
Browser: HTML
Radio: Stereo FM radio with RDS
Games: Yes
Colors: Active White, Metal Silver
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS support; Bing Maps
Java: No
Battery
Standard battery, Li-Ion 1520 mAh
Stand-by: Up to 360 h (2G) / Up to 330 h (3G)
Talk time: Up to 5 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)
Video reviews from Winrumos.com and PhoneArena.com:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QgoG_6b01w&feature=feedu
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-MjjDbDORY
Now this was all from me for now. I will properly make a couple of follow-up post about the Windows Phone Mango OS in the next couple of weeks as I get more experience with it. Until then I would like to hear what you think about the HTC Radar? Please drop me a comment below.
Great Post. Thnx so much for your info. Keep It Up ((Hugs))
Hi Amit
Thank you very much. Glad you liked it.
Hope to see you back soon 🙂
Great phone and congrats for the new aquisition. Your article made me consider Win 7 Mango, I was never very sure about Windows on phones
Hey Marty
I have had 2 earlier versions of Windows phone and was not very impressed with them. I seems like they was trying to put a desktop OS on a mobile. This time is really different. They have made a serious mobile OS and are investing a lot in this version. I am not saying they are going to beat the iPhone, but I think this will be a good alternative to the iPhone.
Great Review Thomas. As for me, i think i’ll wait a little longer before buying a Windows OS phone. It would be best for me if more great apps are available in this OS before getting one.
By the way, any special reason to not opt for Android based phone and this one? For now, I think Android and iOS are the only top leaders in mobile OS. Besides the app support of windows mobile is not that great (compare this to Android and iOS)
Hi Saqib
I have been following the reviews of Windows Mango the last couple of months and I think Microsoft has finally has come up with a Mobile OS that can compete with Android and iOS. Of cause Android and iOS has a big advantage over Windows Mango, but I guess a lot will changes for the next 6 months. By the way 35.000 apps for a brand new OS is pretty good I think. Of cause it is a change to go for a brand new system, but I think that Microsoft means business this time and that they have learned their lesson with their earlier versions of Windows Phone. I guess only time can tell. Thank you for your comment 🙂
I think Windows Phone OS is great platform but for this time around it is difficult for it to stack up against Android and iOS. However its partnership with Nokia is a step forward for both companies.
Hi Zamahsari
I sure will be a hard fight for Microsoft, but I think they have done a good job so far. I agree with you about the Nokia partnership. With Nokia’s great hardware and the new Windows Mango release they should be ready for the battle.
I just got my first smart phone. It’s exciting to be able to do more than just talk on it.
Congratulation Joyce.
What phone have you got?
I am waiting for the HTC Radar metal silver to come in the market or online stores. Everywhere only the white model is in stock. Lets see. I really would love to buy this phone. You didn’t mention about Xbox live feature. Is there any difference in that than other mobiles. For example for android phone angry birds game is free but for Xbox live it is for $1.99, there should be some difference..
Also, I heard that voice commands, speech recognition is only for US users?
Hi Sanskar
Welcome to my blog. I think you should go ahead and buy this phone. I have been very happy with mine so far. I don’t know much about the Xbox live, but it is correct that Angry Birds is not for free.
Regarding speech recognition you can use it as long as you set the language of your phone to English. You can tell it to read up a SMS message or make a search on Bing.
One thing that is only working for US users is the Local Scout service, but I guess it will be available sometime in the future.
Looking absolutely wonderful phone and got all the feature what a phone must have. Impressive specification!
Hi Thomas. Great review. One of my friend is using Windows Phone too but the user experience is not as good as iOS and Android. Many features are still lacked in Windows Phone OS. But with new Mango, it is slowly catching up with iOS and Android.
Hi Alvin
I have also had earlier versions of Windows Phone and have really not been impressed, but the Windows Phone Mango I think they are getting a lot closer to close the gap to Android and iOS. Of cause there are still missing some apps, but I guess that is only a matter of time.
it is the best article .it would be very helpful for those who are interseted in this sector .nice one like u r article gud one .it helps in future
HTC Evo 3D is just a ming freaking device with its sharp on hand 3D images
What is the best site to download the driver for the radar? As with your kit there is non included with mine. Great phone by the way.
For me it was just plug and play. The only thing I installed was the Zune Player. Have you tried http://www.htc.com?
it needs a data usage app so you can keep track of data use so you don’t have to log in to t mobile just to see how much data ya use ?
Sumsung touch phone is my favorite phone.Many great features about sumsung touch phone.I think all people very well about sumsung touch.Display is very nice and clear and really very smooth touch and lot of feature provide sumsung with affordable prize.My opinion is very latest feature of sumsung touch provide map facility.
Excellent Review Thomas, i am really impressed by the quick feedback you are providing to your blog audience.
Hi Sonia
Thank you very much. I do my best to provide feedback for the people leaving comments on my blog. I think it is important and hope you all bookmark my blog and comback soon.
i want to download the drivers of, What is the best site to download the driver for the radar? As with your kit there is non included with mine. Great phone by the way.thnx for share
I have really not been able to find any drivers for the device. When I plugged my phone to My Windows 7 PC it find it automatically and installed Windows Zune Player.
I still haven’t tried this HTC radar because I still got my phone. I was quite hesitant of buying other brands but because of this review I am a bit convinced. Thanks!
guru
Great phone and congrats for the new aquisition. Your article made me consider Win 7 Mango, I was never very sure about Windows on phones
a very much comprehensive review on htc radar but i would still go for samsung galaxy units.thanks
The Samsung Galaxy does for sure look nice too.
Hello, I have one question, if i root my HTC phone then it will consider in Warranty?