I have some HTC Incredible Inquiries?

[Ruuki]

Okay, I'm hoping (hoping...) to get a HTC Incredible in the upcoming month, and I've been going through plenty of reviews from Engadget, CNET, and even youtube. Plenty. But there are some questions I just cant find the proper answers to -- certain things I'd like to see or be sure of as I'm getting mixed answers. Can anyone help me?

Firstly, what is your opinion on the phone in general? Your personal opinion? I'm more of a QWERTY keyboard that slides out person, but hey, I'm willing to make the transition and I'm in love with the phone based on the reviews.

How many applications can I download from the Market App, and are they free? Mostly free? Do I have to pay for them?

With the Camera: is it possible to zoom in? I saw an app for it but I have to pay for it. Is there any other way?

Is it possible to access hotmail and yahoo from the phone's email app? And to chat, would I have to download a separate application like ebuddy or meebo?

What kind of headphones can this phone use? Are there special headphones for this? Or could I use a regular headphone that I can get from any store?

I live in a country separate from the US -- a friend is bringing this phone in for me -- would I have to unlock it to make it work here? (yes, I'm aware it is CDMA and not GSM)

Would the weather widget and the footprint widget work in another country?

I can use my own music as ringtones, right? No special software or anything? Last phone I got irritated me with that...

What comes in the box with purchase of this phone?

Are there any problems with using the SD card? I noticed some reviewers complain and others dont. Mixed signals here.

This one's just a me question.. can I remove that Twitter widget? I dont use Twitter and I don't particularly like it..

How long would the battery last if all I do is text? Do you eventually get used to that on-screen texting? I tried it on my mom's iPhone and I have so many problems with it.

Sorry about the tons of questions!!! I just really want to know what I'm getting into here!

Oh one more -- sometimes when we bring phones here, and we put numbers into the phone, we only put 7 digits into the phone, and then it doesn't show the name like:

xxx-xxxx and then it'll show it as not saved and it'll put +xxx-xxx-xxxx with the full country code and everything. Other phones reads it either way. Will this be a problem on that phone? I hope not.. it's irritating.

THANKS!!
Oh dang!! One more vital question~~~ Since I live in another country.. how much will this phone cost for me in USD? Since I cant exactly get it on contract or anything at Verizon or whatever -- what'll just the phone cost?
One more thing -- about the unlocking thing I just read up on some questions asked here on yahoo answers, and noticed several comments about the phone not being able to unlock or be used worldwide due to it being CDMA, but according to the FAQ on one of the providers in this country:

quote:HOOKING UP A PHONE THAT IS BROUGHT IN FROM THE U.S.
•What type of phones can I purchase in order to use with Smart?

You can purchase an unlocked phone with CDMA 800 MHz or 850 MHz technology. We do not offer any warranty on these phones.

•Can a phone that uses a SIM card work on your system?

No, our company uses strictly CDMA 800 and 850 MHz technology.

will it work there?

[Kasey C]

<<Firstly, what is your opinion on the phone in general? Your personal opinion? I'm more of a QWERTY keyboard that slides out person, but hey, I'm willing to make the transition and I'm in love with the phone based on the reviews.>>

Why not look at Droid 2 or Samsung Epic 4G? Both have hard keyboards.

<<How many applications can I download from the Market App, and are they free? Mostly free? Do I have to pay for them?>>

As many as will fit in your phone's memory. Some are free, some cost $$$. Most will use Google Checkout (just feed in a debit or credit card number), others will let you pay via Paypal.

<<With the Camera: is it possible to zoom in? I saw an app for it but I have to pay for it. Is there any other way?>>

Camera 360 is free (pro version cost $$$).

<<Is it possible to access hotmail and yahoo from the phone's email app? And to chat, would I have to download a separate application like ebuddy or meebo?>>

Yes, and there are individual apps for Hotmail and Yahoo mail as well. And yes, load a separate chat app. Lots of them to choose.

<<What kind of headphones can this phone use? Are there special headphones for this? Or could I use a regular headphone that I can get from any store?>>

it's a regular headphone plug, and Bluetooth.

<<I live in a country separate from the US -- a friend is bringing this phone in for me -- would I have to unlock it to make it work here? (yes, I'm aware it is CDMA and not GSM)>>

You'll need to 'flash' it to make it work with your carrier. No idea if there's oen compatible with your carrier yet. GSM's a little easier. Unlock, then add new SIM.

<<Would the weather widget and the footprint widget work in another country?>>

Weather yes, it uses GPS. Footprint? You mean GPS? It should.

<<I can use my own music as ringtones, right? No special software or anything? Last phone I got irritated me with that...>>

Yes, and there are free apps to help with that.

<<What comes in the box with purchase of this phone?>>

Usually, just the phone, a memory card (microSD, probably 4 GB or maybe a bit larger), AC charger (120V as it is US package), and USB charge cord.

<<Are there any problems with using the SD card? I noticed some reviewers complain and others dont. Mixed signals here.>>

No way to tell.

<<This one's just a me question.. can I remove that Twitter widget? I dont use Twitter and I don't particularly like it..>>

Widgets are completely optional There are plenty of alternative Twitter apps if you do dig that. Else, just remove the Twitter widget from the home screen.

<<How long would the battery last if all I do is text? Do you eventually get used to that on-screen texting? I tried it on my mom's iPhone and I have so many problems with it.>>

Screen is probably the biggest user of power. You may last a day, but usually recharge once or twice. You can get extended battery for it from Seidio. There are power saving apps you can download as well.

And you can get alternative soft keyboards for it, such as Swype, Swiftkey, and more.

<<Oh one more -- sometimes when we bring phones here, and we put numbers into the phone, we only put 7 digits into the phone, and then it doesn't show the name like: xxx-xxxx and then it'll show it as not saved and it'll put +xxx-xxx-xxxx with the full country code and everything. Other phones reads it either way. Will this be a problem on that phone? I hope not.. it's irritating.>>

There are programs that will "clean up" your phone book for you.

<<Oh dang!! One more vital question~~~ Since I live in another country.. how much will this phone cost for me in USD? Since I cant exactly get it on contract or anything at Verizon or whatever -- what'll just the phone cost?>>

Several hundred dollars, probably $500 or so.

<<One more thing -- about the unlocking thing I just read up on some questions asked here on yahoo answers, and noticed several comments about the phone not being able to unlock or be used worldwide due to it being CDMA,>>

According to CNET, Droid Incredible is CDMA 800/1900 dual band. So it *should* work.

http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/htc-...?tag=specs

---
Kasey C, PC guru since Apple II days
Artificial Intelligence usually beats real stupidity.