My HTC ONE Journey

[bmac4]

Sorry I didn't reply. I missed your post. I do plan to keep the One. I'm awaiting the camera software update since it seems unanimous that the results are much better. I'm hopeful that'll help me reconcile the hit or miss camera.

Read my OP for more in-depth details why I think One is ultimately a keeper despite HTC making some really stupid decisions.

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UPDATE: After some careful consideration, I've decided I am going to return the Dev Edition One and get the One through Tmobile.

I'm really annoyed that HTC made an unlocked GSM phone that is only LTE-capable with one network. That is stupid. What's the point of getting it if you're not on or planning to go to AT&T then?

As a T-Mobile user, you're stuck on HSPA 21 MB/s (not even the good HSPA+ which is 42 MB/s). And you'd think up to 21 MB/s is good enough, right? Except Tmobile's coverage sucks [in NYC]. I am constantly seeing "E" for Edge and "3G" on my device. That's unacceptable this day and age on a 2013 super smartphone.

Again, a huge knock against HTC.

So, reluctantly, I give up the extra 32GBs, the $100 Blackberry Curve trade-in, and the fact that I'll get updates directly from HTC (this one hurts the most).

And for trading all that, I'll get LTE with HSPA+ 42 MB/s to fall back on (and I guess WiFi calling). When you tally the math for the full priced Tmobile HTC One, it comes out to about $630 bucks after tax. That's significantly more than the $550 I paid for the Dev. Edition One (after $100 rebate from the trade-in).

That REALLY sucks, but ultimately, more reliable coverage and faster data service is more important to me. It's something I would use everyday.

Thoughts on whether I'm making the right decision or not?

Well if you really desire that LTE then good choice, but do you know for sure the coverage is great in NYC? If not not such a great choice. I am on the nexus 4 and gave up LTE and never looked back. Now I do I have note 2 to fall back on if I want LTE, but really I am OK without it.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Well if you really desire that LTE then good choice, but do you know for sure the coverage is great in NYC? If not not such a great choice. I am on the nexus 4 and gave up LTE and never looked back. Now I do I have note 2 to fall back on if I want LTE, but really I am OK without it.

Yeah, it's a really sucky trade off.

I'm trying to clarify if the Dev Edition will support HSPA+ 42 MB/s down the road. I'm really confused by this whole refarming and frequency network... Trying to get some answers over at XDA, too.

I've seen threads of the dev edition getting LTE on Tmobile network, and that doesn't make any sense to me (they have pics too) because I thought Tmobile's LTE is 1700 MHz which the dev editions do not have. So I'm just really confused.

 

[Krimsonmyst]

Why do Americans have to pay so much less for electronics? Seriously, 550 for 64gb!

Australians get screwed on this as well. I had to pay $798 for my Galaxy S4, and the damn things are manufactured closer to us than most other places.

Taxes and all the other **** makes it painfully expensive.

Anyway, on topic - I decided to go with the S4 over the One, and I'm glad I did - this review confirmed a lot of the things I felt would be dealbreakers for me. Namely the camera and the positioning of said camera, as well as the home/back buttons, and sleep/wake.

 

[MRU]

Thoughts on whether I'm making the right decision or not?

If you need LTE and its worth $80 and 32 GB go for it.

I assume you get your curve back, what do they sell for on Craigslist ?

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Thanks for your response. It looks like a great device, and I would not mind trying it out. I can not justify buying it though because I have the nexus 4 and note 2. I love stock android so have no desire to lose the nexus 4. That is the one thing I was worry about with the One. All the HTC sense stuff. I am glad to hear that it seems to work more so than just be something to drag the phone down. I am not sure about your statement about is being the first android phone without lag. What was the last android phone you owned? Both the nexus 4 and note 2 neither have lag for me. Again thanks for the response and keep us posted on which device you like better.

My last two Android devices were the HTC One X and the Galaxy Nexus.

With both they were mostly smooth but still felt there was a delay between doing things such as launching apps etc.

The HTC One launches apps 'instantly' ... Its just so fast.

And even when launching 9 apps and then going into multi-tasking then back to home there is never a hint of redraw.

Haven't experienced the Note 2 or Nexus 4.

 

[onthecouchagain]

If you need LTE and its worth $80 and 32 GB go for it.

I assume you get your curve back, what do they sell for on Craigslist ?

Except now I'm really confused. Folks over at XDA say the dev edition will get Tmobile LTE as are a few other websites. But I don't understand how that's possible when the dev edition doesn't have 1700 MHz. Are they getting a different form of LTE from the Tmobile version?

I'm confused by this whole mess.

 

[fredaroony]

If you need LTE and its worth $80 and 32 GB go for it.

I assume you get your curve back, what do they sell for on Craigslist ?

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My last two Android devices were the HTC One X and the Galaxy Nexus.

With both they were mostly smooth but still felt there was a delay between doing things such as launching apps etc.

The HTC One launches apps 'instantly' ... Its just so fast.

And even when launching 9 apps and then going into multi-tasking then back to home there is never a hint of redraw.

Haven't experienced the Note 2 or Nexus 4.

I have Nexus 4 and HTC One X, the nexus is instant but like you said regarding the One X, there can be a slight delay sometimes opening apps.

 

[MRU]

Except now I'm really confused. Folks over at XDA say the dev edition will get Tmobile LTE as are a few other websites. But I don't understand how that's possible when the dev edition doesn't have 1700 MHz. Are they getting a different form of LTE from the Tmobile version?

I'm confused by this whole mess.

Does the Dev edition then actually have more LTE support but maybe locked out via firmware or are they suggesting its T-Mobile who are going to use a different band?

Yeah VERY confusing. I don't envy you.

Thank god LTE doesn't exist here


Edit.. Oh I see it now over on XDA. AWS being LTE for T-Mobile and that in some areas H is shown on the device for LTE.

So many standards, so confusing.

What download speeds were you getting when your phone has H displayed?

 

[Fernandez21]

Here is a thread at T-Mobile support boards where they ate discussing this and it's still kinda confusing, but maybe it will help you out.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...fuJ0jWesFH1OZSOzw&sig2=s7R4Bel-OUAmZCvuiQxYDA

 

[daneoni]

-A lot of Sense makes no sense

This pun is past its sell-by date. Otherwise interesting read. Still...you're VERY picky.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Here is a thread at T-Mobile support boards where they ate discussing this and it's still kinda confusing, but maybe it will help you out.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...fuJ0jWesFH1OZSOzw&sig2=s7R4Bel-OUAmZCvuiQxYDA

That actually does help, but I'm still slightly confused. Does that mean AWS LTE is a different kind of LTE from Band IV 1700 LTE? And if so, is it worse/better?

I have to assume it's worse in some way because no matter what, the dev edition simply doesn't have 1700 bands.

Right?

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And then there's this from the folks at XDA:

I don't understand how that's possible when the dev edition doesn't have 1700 MHz.

What the heck? I mean it's great news, but I just want to be absolutely sure I'm making the right decision keeping the dev edition.

 

[Kashsystems]

http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/23/4...ouldnt-sell-an-lte-phone-without-att-nonsense

This probably what is causing your issues. I guess ATT was pushing LTE lockin and HTC One did their phone in this setup to get around it.

 

[onthecouchagain]

UPDATE: I've scoured the XDA forums and the final result is:



YES, THE HTC ONE DEV EDITION DOES SUPPORT TMOBILE LTE ON AWS. "AWS" is 1700/2100.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, anyone.

 

[johnjefferson]

UPDATE: I've scoured the XDA forums and the final result is:



YES, THE HTC ONE DEV EDITION DOES SUPPORT TMOBILE LTE ON AWS. "AWS" is 1700/2100.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, anyone.

You are on a MAC forum.. Try an Android or HTC forum dude. It's clear no one here knows because you've asked like 5 times. I wouldn't go to an Android forum if I needed answers about my iPhone......

 

[MRU]

UPDATE: I've scoured the XDA forums and the final result is:



YES, THE HTC ONE DEV EDITION DOES SUPPORT TMOBILE LTE ON AWS. "AWS" is 1700/2100.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, anyone.

Ok a bit of research suggests YES. Its the same system that has just allowed the iPhone 5 to work on T-Mobiles LTE network. Its the same band AWS 1700/2100 and so if an iPhone 5 on AWS gets TMobiles LTE, in theory any device supporting that same band frequency will also get it. This includes the HTC One.

Basically your dev edition supports AWS LTE but not AWS HSPA+

 

[onthecouchagain]

Ok a bit of research suggests YES. Its the same system that has just allowed the iPhone 5 to work on T-Mobiles LTE network. Its the same band AWS 1700/2100 and so if an iPhone 5 on AWS gets TMobiles LTE, in theory any device supporting that same band frequency will also get it. This includes the HTC One.

Heck ya. I'm keeping the HTC One Dev Edition.

 

[MRU]

Heck ya. I'm keeping the HTC One Dev Edition.

It just depends on your t-mobile coverage that they are using AWS LTE if so your sorted, if they use AWS HSPA+ you will only get 3G not HSPA+ speeds.

The only difference between your model and official t-mobile version is additional support for AWS HSPA+ on tmobile specific version which of course means a more consistent level of performance if someone is moving in and out of areas of coverage.

I imagine T-Mobile would eventually be moving HSPA+ areas over to full LTE coverage at some point regardless.

 

[onthecouchagain]

It just depends on your t-mobile coverage that they are using AWS LTE if so your sorted, if they use AWS HSPA+ you will only get 3G not HSPA+ speeds.

The only difference between your model and official t-mobile version is additional support for AWS HSPA+ on tmobile specific version which of course means a more consistent level of performance if someone is moving in and out of areas of coverage.

I imagine T-Mobile would eventually be moving HSPA+ areas over to full LTE coverage at some point regardless.

Yup. TMobile is lighting up their LTE network in a lot of new places this summer, including NYC. I should be fine without AWS HSPA+. It's still a damn shame it doesn't have this.

And it's really HTC's fault for all this goddamn confusion.

Their website should just say "1700/2100" instead of "AWS". That's what threw people off. By not seeing 1700, people just assume "no Tmobile LTE Band IV on 1700." But AWS is 1700. Argh.

Also, their own website for the unlocked 32GB version says "This will not support Tmobile 1700 MHz LTE."

That's absolutely puzzling because the 32GB also has AWS. So why the heck not? And if it is true, why isn't that same warning labeled for the 64GB dev edition when it has the same exact frequencies as the 32GB unlocked?

HTC... :T

 

[PerfectDB]

Heck ya. I'm keeping the HTC One Dev Edition.

Hallelujah! Couch has a keeper ...for now at least

Seriously though, I really appreciate you posting your views on the One. I very nitpicky myself and switched to the S3/One X/Nexus 4 last year before coming back to iphone for similar reasons to yourself. I'm really tempted by the One and have followed the back-and-forth banter between you & MRU - your experience will go a long way in helping me decide whether to give one a go or not.

That said, I look forward to hearing both your views on the S4

 

[MRU]

.

That said, I look forward to hearing both your views on the S4

The count down has already begun.....

Actually whilst I'm waiting for it to arrive (and my One is gone back for replacment) I'm using a really crappy Samsung toco and as I've been using 'So' many smartphones last few years, the thing that surprised me most is battery life. I'd actually forgot there was a time when battery life was a few days rather than merely a day.....

I'll start a new thread when I get the S4, I've also ordered some accessories so I'll post my thoughts and photos on them too.


At the end of the coming month I will decide which phone is the keeper and which will be sold.

 

[Obscurelight]

Yup. TMobile is lighting up their LTE network in a lot of new places this summer, including NYC. I should be fine without AWS HSPA+. It's still a damn shame it doesn't have this.

And it's really HTC's fault for all this goddamn confusion.

Their website should just say "1700/2100" instead of "AWS". That's what threw people off. By not seeing 1700, people just assume "no Tmobile LTE Band IV on 1700." But AWS is 1700. Argh.

Also, their own website for the unlocked 32GB version says "This will not support Tmobile 1700 MHz LTE."

That's absolutely puzzling because the 32GB also has AWS. So why the heck not? And if it is true, why isn't that same warning labeled for the 64GB dev edition when it has the same exact frequencies as the 32GB unlocked?

HTC... :T

The warning is weird but as far as the 32GB unlocked version vs. The Dev edition they are exactly the same. Both will support LTE on the T mobile AWS bands. As far as HSPA+ goes, the HTC Ones will get that signal if it is refarmed to the 1900 band if not then no dice

 

[fredaroony]

Are any of you guys having issues with build quality? i.e. gaps etc

 

[EstaVidaLoca]

I thought we established this weeks ago that the developer's edition would get LTE from T-mobile if it was on in your city but no HSPA.

 

[MRU]

Are any of you guys having issues with build quality? i.e. gaps etc

No gaps or anything like that, but did notice my camera lens was defective with a crescent mark in every photo and in camera viewfinder.

So yeah it's gone back for replacement.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I thought we established this weeks ago that the developer's edition would get LTE from T-mobile if it was on in your city but no HSPA.

Yeah. I panicked a little when someone said it wouldn't get lte and then I saw there was no 1700 band.

Didn't realize aws means 1700 (and 2100).

 

[bembol]

I agree about the point of hTc logo and size of the Back & Home keys, it took me a while to get used it.

The swipe to wake-up is an amazing feature, I first got a taste of it on the BlackBerry PayBook and recently on the Z10 but I'm still not a fan of OS, Faulty Media and Lack of Apps.

I wish hTc had the swipe-to-wake, their poor decision on the Power Button/IR placement is starting to be a PITA especially when there's no Home Button like on the S4.