Earlier this year, HTC and Microsoft released a Windows Phone 7 device on Verizon Wireless. Called the Trophy, this is the one and only phone presently on Verizon sporting the Windows Phone 7 interface. With all the hype about "Windows 8" and the new user interface for that, I thought this would be an appropriate time to review not only the interface but the phone, and render a verdict on whether or not it is competition for iOS and Android.
Poduct Name: HTC Trophy
Review by: Chad
Pictures by: Chad
Two-In-One
This review is going to cover both the Windows Phone 7 interface as well as the phone itself, and it should be noted that this version of WP7 (Windows Phone 7) does NOT contain the 7.5 "Mango" release on it. The WP7 interface is a change from what most of us are used to seeing on a mobile phone device. iOS features icons on a screen that you just click to open a program, and Android has a mixture of icons and submenus and widgets to keep the user entertained. However, most applications on Android and all applications on iOS have "static" or fixed icons on the disply. Not Windows Phone 7. WP7 has active desktop tiles that provide live feedback and information right on the home screen. See the quick look video below to illustrate this in action.
As I attempt to describe in the video, Windows Phone 7's Metro interface is almost like looking at a giant map or poster with a magnifying glass, and the magnifying glass is the only potion of the interface that you can see. What I mean by that is when you open an application and there is too much information on the display (like a really long name for a heading), you scroll to the right to see the rest of the name. Instead of accessing submenus, you slide to the right to see the various menus. The font that they use for Metro is extremely beautiful and the color scheme is customizable to fit your viewing level and taste.
Apps
But how are the apps you ask? @BrandonWatson is the man in charge of applications on the WP7 interface, and he was recently touting on an episode of This Week in Tech that they have some 30,000 apps and that their goal was to obtain a large percentage of the "big apps" on iOS and Android. So yes, there is a Twitter app and an Angry Birds app. What is truly interesting about WP7 though is that there is not really a huge need for all the social apps, because the integration of Facebook (and Twitter and Foursquare with "Mango") negates the necessity to launch a separate app to keep track of a particular social network. While that potentially takes revenue away from the social network (since it does not register the user the same way) it does make the phone much more integrated and much more of a joy to use.
Annoyances
Metro is not without its annoyances. If you are used to a "traditional" smartphone where everything resides on the screen (and maybe you scroll to different screens) the Metro interface is going to feel cluttered. It is a weird sensation when you scroll to the right that an entire new screen does not come up, but it is just one fluid motion of scrolling. Also, while there is a reference spec for Windows phones, the system is not as closed down as the Apple iPhone is...
What?!
Yes, I actually value the closed down restricted interface on the iPhone. Why? Since Apple controls the entire ecosystem, app developers know exactly what hardware they are writing for. Also, controling the entire system from computer to phone also allows for a better user experience as long as the user wants to stay within the defined ecosystem. While I believe iTunes is a bloated and useless program, because I live the "Apple way" I never have issues with my computer or with the iPhone. Microsoft has gone through great pains to try to have more control over the ecosystem, and WP7 does sandbox its applications so even if a virus or piece of malware was written for the phone, it would not be able to cripple the phone or other applications.
Windows Phone 7 Operating System Verdict
It's a win... with restrictions. I love the Metro UI, and I enjoy using it and trying something new. As I mentioned in the video, and other people have also mentioned that Windows Phone 7 is designed for the "Think Different" set, and Apple and iOS are the "safe bet" for people purchasing a smart phone. I believe as "Windows 8" grows closer to launch, more and more people are going to want to be exposed to this interface on their phones, and I believe WP7 is poised to really take off from that point. Since I believe that iOS is the "safe choice" I believe that if Windows Phone 7 is going to take aware marketshare from anyone in this space, it will be taken away from Google and the Android platform. I'm sure that I have mentioned this already, but I do believe that the Metro Windows Phone interface will be on the next phone that I purchase and keep.
HTC Trophy
Now onto the phone. How does this phone function as a telephone? Well, it is a CDMA phone (since it's on Verizon) but it is a "world phone" so it does sport a GSM SIM pre-installed for when traveling abroad. It is still only a 3G phone, so data speeds are on par with normal Verizon 3G connection speeds. I really do like Verion's network, and it works very well where I live. Call quality is excellent. Once you become used to the Metro UI it is easy to locate contacts in the phone book and dial them.
Hardware wise, the machine is "standard". There is nothing overly special about it. In testing, it appears that the apps that need to connect to cellular data are a little slower to load than the apps on my iPhone 4. Connecting to wifi does not seem to improve matters either. If this was your first smart phone or you didn't just jump into this phone from another faster phone, you would never know the difference; however it is something that I noticed right away.
There is no physical keyboard with this phone, so everything is done on-screen. Predictive text appears to be accurate and the dictionary will learn as you type. Because the screen is a little bit larger at 3.8" than the iPhone 4, I do believe it is a little bit easier to type on than on my iPhone. The screen does not have the same pixel density as the iPhone 4, which means it does not have a Retina display like the iPhone 4. Yes, you can tell the difference. I have yet to see a display on a phone that rivals the iPhone in quality. The camera appears to take good pictures, but not great pictures, and there is an integrated flash so you can see in the dark. Definitely a plus.
In real world design it appears to be close to the same size as the iPhone, but it is definitely thicker than the iPhone. I like the rubbery back to the Trophy and do not feel like I am going to break the phone everytime I use it unlike the iPhone which I am scared to use if it's not in a case.
Verdict
The HTC Trophy is a good phone, but it is not a great phone. Verizon is selling it normally for $149 with a 2 year contract, which does make it much less expensive than some of its competition, and I think it's a great first time smart phone for someone. However, until I see the new hardware for Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" I will not feel compelled to make the switch from iOS. Good effort Microsoft, you're getting there!