I jumped on the smartphone bandwagon

[Root beer]

I bought the HTC Incredible today. So far, so cool. I've been trying set it up to my liking and scrolling through some fishing apps. I need search this forum for that fishing apps thread. lol. It's a lot easier to use then I thought it would be as far as texting and emailing goes. I'm still trying figure out all of the features this thing has.

Only thing I'm concern is the battery life, it seems very skeptical. lol. I probably won't used it non-stop. 

[BASSclary]

You say you probably wont use it non-stop, but you eventually will. Smart Phones are just so handy.

[Root beer]

I just use it to check my stock portfolio, business news, play Angry Bird, plan out a trip, and minor things while I'm sitting in class or between class, or eating, etc.

Anyone recommend a good case cover? I'm looking at Otterbox and this other case that very rugged. I thought I used the real rugged one for when I go backpacking and hiking, then use a regular cover for regular commute so it'll slide in my pocket better.

[SirSnookalot]

I had the incredible for 3 weeks then returned it and reactivated my old flip phone.  Very short battery life and the sound from the earpiece was not very clear.  After playing with it for a few weeks I decided I had no use for those aps or games and I don't text.   The camera was excellent. 

[Fishing Rhino]

My wife just got the Droid Incredible. Make sure you know what features are included in your plan, and what will add to your bill.

We have a 500 minute per month Verizon plan. We never get close to using them. We tried the nav system for a short run and it worked fine with one glitch. When we made a turn, a blue arrow appeared in the bottom left corner.

If you did not click on the arrow, the image would stay at the interchange/intersection until you touched the arrow.

There is a two dollar charge per 24 hour period, and it seemed the minutes were ticking while you were using the navigation app.

There was a story in the news recently about a man who got his son one of the smart phones, not realizing there were charges for using some of its apps. He got a bill for 18,000 dollars the next month. The company eventually rescinded the fees.

Toys are nice, but sometimes they come with a hefty price. Check your plan carefully. Make sure you know which features will incur additional charges.

When the phone info was transferred from her regular cell to the Incredible, the only info put into the contacts or person app was the mobile/cell phone numbers, no home number or work number, and there seems to be no way to enter it into the contacts page.

When a contact is to be entered, the page that opens has a line with mobile phone on it.  There is a button to the right which on a computer will open either a menu or a list of options when you click on it.

Nothing happens when it is clicked on, which seems a bit odd.  The instruction book for the contact feature only shows how to enter mobile phone numbers.

[Root beer]

I think if I used the Google map APP it's free. I have to double check the other GPS featured apps. I got unlimited data, so I shouldn't get any surprised charges unless I download the apps that actually cost money.

[Root beer]

I had the incredible for 3 weeks then returned it and reactivated my old flip phone. Very short battery life and the sound from the earpiece was not very clear. After playing with it for a few weeks I decided I had no use for those aps or games and I don't text. The camera was excellent.

I hear ya on the battery life, but I'm pretty shock to hear you say that about the earpiece...I'm hearing impaired and I turned it on high and heard pretty good on it then when I turned the hearing aid amplifier on it was even better. It's better than my previous phone. Weird.

[fathom]

got the otterbox for an iphone.

it feels a lot safer now.

[endless]

I thought the Incredible with just Verizon's version of the Evo? It looks similar from the commercial. I do have the Evo and love it, I do have a hard time typing with it. I hit the wrong button all the time. If the case's are the same I bought the Platinum case from BestBuy for $35 and the screen protective cover. If anything make sure you get the screen cover. But for the case I do like. Its a two piece that clips to your belt and swivels. It has an hard outer casing around around phone and clips to the case on your belt facing your  on a soft velvet like padding to your hip. Very nice. If looking for something time being just to stick your phone into go check out 5 and below.

I just looked at Bestbuy online and couldn't find any platinum series case for the Incredible. Otterbox couple of other brands but they don't seem to be the same. If they incredible is the same as the Evo in size and style the Evo case might work. From online I can't tell a different from the two.

But on another note far as pics go. If you never messed with it yet always allow the phone to adjust first or the pic will come out blurry. The flash also watch out for that, very blinding bright.

[hookingem]

You'll end up finding out how useful a smartphone can be. I have a droid 1 for Verizon and it has came in handy too many times to count.

[HookSetDon]

the otter is definetly worth the money, im a tradesman and use it on my black berry bold, last month i dropped it from an 80 ft scaffold - not a scratch

[jeb2]

Try searching on some of the good smartphone sites like http://forum.xda-developers.com and ppcgeeks.com for ways to improve your battery life. I have an Evo and find the battery life to be very good, but only after shutting a lot of stuff off when it's not needed.

I like the Otterbox. I have the Commuter and it comes with a screen cover. I had a Body Glove at first, but didn't like it. I like the combination hard and soft cover this commuter has much better.

[GrundleLove]

I bought the HTC Incredible today. So far, so cool. I've been trying set it up to my liking and scrolling through some fishing apps. I need search this forum for that fishing apps thread. lol. It's a lot easier to use then I thought it would be as far as texting and emailing goes. I'm still trying figure out all of the features this thing has.

Only thing I'm concern is the battery life, it seems very skeptical. lol. I probably won't used it non-stop.

Make sure you download "app killer" from the market to save battery life.

Also make sure you "cycle" the battery. That means, charge it to 100%, then it drain to 10, rise and repeat. That makes the LiON battery get used to its charge and then it will hold a charge longer.

[NateFollmer]

We tried the nav system for a short run and it worked fine with one glitch. When we made a turn, a blue arrow appeared in the bottom left corner.

If you did not click on the arrow, the image would stay at the interchange/intersection until you touched the arrow.

There is a two dollar charge per 24 hour period, and it seemed the minutes were ticking while you were using the navigation app.

2 things just for future reference:

1. I bet you touched the screen at some point. If you touch the screen while your navigating, it stays right where it was until you hit that arrow.

2. You shouldn't have to pay a cent for navigation with Android phones. Use Google Maps/Navigation instead of VZNavigator or AT&T Navigator... Same thing and it's free.

The Otterbox cases are awesome. Seidio Innocase's are even better at protecting your phone, but my gosh are they bulky.

As far as battery life goes, Juice Defender is a good one to try out. It can sometimes double the length between charges, but like anything else, the more you use the phone, the quicker it's going to die. Your screen brightness is the #1 killer of your battery, so put it on automatic or turn it down as far as you can.

[shootermcbob]

I am not sure what an otterbox is, but to protect your screen you may want to look at Zagg invisishield...I have one on my ipod touch and it is bulletproof...well, at least it seems to be scratch proof

[Root beer]

I was looking at some battery saver apps last night. I'm think I'm go with Seidio Innocase II for everyday use, and then used the rugged version when I take it on outdoor adventure.

[Root beer]

Has anyone used Android Booster FREE or battery Saver by eDroid App?

[NateFollmer]

Has anyone used Android Booster FREE or battery Saver by eDroid App?

Nope, I only ever tried Juice Defender and I used App Killer before... I don't want to start a war in this thread, but App Killers are worthless. Android (Linux) handles memory differently than Windows does and just because it's 'running' in the background doesn't mean it's going to kill your battery quicker. The problem comes when the app is poorly coded and it's using other resources like CPU and data transfering while its in memory and not being used. Most of the time these app killers kill necessary processes and you actually use MORE battery because the phone has to start these processes up again. What Juice Defender does is looks at whats going on and turns off things like wifi, data transfer, etc... when its not being used, rather than killing apps. 

[Root beer]

Sounds like Android Booster. when I'm at my apartment or not using 3g I just turn it off and some related apps. No point in letting 3g drain battery when I can use my laptop. Which uses more battery, wifi or 3g? When I'm on campus I could use the wifi instead of 3g. I was at the mall earlier picking up some stuff and my accounting partner sent me a text saying he emailed me an answer to our work and I downloaded the Excel file from my phone at the mall. I'm starting to make use for this thing.  ;D

[jeb2]

I agree the free google nav app works well. But it has serious limitations. If you're roaming, none of them will work. And it's hard to input waypoints, or footprints as Google calls them. I'd like to import all my waypoints from my Garmin devices to footprints on my phone, but have not found a way to do it easily. I need to search for an independent GPS program, like Garmin's Mobile XT. I had that on my WinMo phone. You have to load maps to the SD card, but it worked if you were roaming or had no signal at all.

The Zagg shield is very nice. I have used a bunch on my older smartphones, on the Garmin's, on the wife's Evo, on the Humminbirds, etc. And I actually have one for my Evo sitting unused. I planned to use it, but the Otterbox came with a shield so I figured I might as well try it. It's been as good as the Zagg so far, and I have 3+ months on it. No complaints about it.

[jeb2]

Which uses more battery, wifi or 3g? When I'm on campus I could use the wifi instead of 3g.

Wifi for sure uses battery faster on my Evo.