All touch fashion does not satisfy everyone. If BlackBerry and Nokia realizes, for followers of the Android system, the choice was thin. With the Z Desire, HTC returned again in dance and did not just simply add a keyboard sliding to one of its terminals as star of the time.
More : finishing, performance, screen, overlay Sense
Less : autonomy, weight, mechanism of the keyboard a little brutal, a few non-annoying software bugs
If the front Desire Z can quickly recall his little brother’s Desire, is the difference obvious once you look at more carefully this phone or from a different angle. As on the giant of the family, the HD Desire, physical buttons have unfortunately left place to tactile buttons.
Yes, they have the advantage of being discrete and thus preserve the phone line, but they have the downside to activate without that necessarily, it is desired. But frankly, which contrasts with the classical Desire, it is the thickness of the newcomer, thickness due to the addition of the keyboard which we’ll talk later. With her grey dress and his massive and boilerplate speed, Desire Z seems more destined to professionals and design enthusiasts.
Yet, its optical mouse and its rear valve brushed aluminum confer a certain charm. This valve, provides access to the battery as well as the location for the SIM card and microSD card (8 GB are provided as standard). Damage that should remove the battery to access the card is…
Whether in a hand or Pocket, this phone to the facade to make plastic to the affected gum will not forget. Indeed, with 180 grams on the balance, it is heavier than a BlackBerry Torch… In return, he breathes the strength and finish seems excellent.
A solid but perfectible keyboard
I turn to the mechanism of extraction of the keyboard. Known systems that intended to make dragging or sliding the upper part of the phone to bring up the keyboard, such as on an N900 or a N97. Desire Z is particular and to release the keyboard, it both to raise the upper part of the terminal and push it. The upper part will then be placed just above and at the same level as the keyboard.
This system seems solid and should resist many trips. Handled quickly, the mechanism, a little brutal, tends to be noisy. Few things wrong with respect to the comfort of strike. Retro-lit keys are well separated and same users with large fingers should be too many typos. However, the arrangement of the keys is such that the regulars of the terminals Nokia or BlackBerry will not be able to type text directly without looking at the keyboard.
Similarly, the keys would have earned to be a little deeper, but it is a matter of taste. Finally the presence of two customizable shortcut keys. If ever you need additional shortcuts, be aware that you can always assign a function to any letter on the keyboard. The last criticism that could make this keyboard is the lack of directional keys or pad. HTC undoubtedly thought that the optical mouse would be sufficient, but this is not easily accessible when the phone is open.
Performance and multimedia
The screen Super LCD a size 3.7 inches and a resolution of 800 x 480 pixel displays quite accurate colours and remains relatively legible, even in full sun. It has nothing to envy to that of an iPhone or a Galaxy S.
Processor 800 MHz, processor Qualcomm MSM Desire Z 7230 is announced as a faster and more efficient in energy that fitted the classic, yet quick Desire to 1 GHz. associated with 512 MB memory RAM and the same graphics accelerator on Desire HDAdreno 205, this Desire Z behaves exemplary with Android and there are few slowdowns of the graphical interface.
Evidenced by the results in the two tests that we’ve launched: 57 fps Neocore (which tests the graphics performance) and more than 1550 points average to Quadrant (which tests general performance).
With 1.5 GB of internal memory, with 500 MB already occupied, this phone is pale figure Windows Phone or iPhone that offer at least 8 GB (but non-repeating). But that’s not counting on the possibility of the androphones to accept microSD cards. As HTC delivers an 8 GB card with its product, you have a sufficiently large space for installing applications, and store photos, videos and music.
The photos of this smartphone device is equipped with a sensor of 5 megapixels and a LED flash. We do repeat never enough that the resolution of the sensor does not any. HTC, which is not deemed to provide its effective sensor terminals fails not to his reputation with the Z Desire. Pictures it produces poor quality and lacking details, especially to those issued by a Nokia N8 (who only competes in the same category). What are the detection of faces and different effects if the hardware part is not? Video capture, which may be in 720 p (1280 x 720 pixels) is in the same vein.
The audio part of the Z Desire is classic. Audio output is located in the Middle, but you need to replace the headphones provided to take advantage. The speaker integrated, if there is no shortage of power, is poor and will be used just to troubleshoot.
Let us not forget that we are also dealing with a phone. In the telephone conversations, the voice of our interlocutors was audible, even in a noisy environment. Hook network remains in the Middle, but it is surprising that the quality of the signal varies according to whether the keyboard is deployed or not. It is the same for the signal Wi – Fi… Little more significant, the LED can blink to signal the receipt of an SMS, MMS, mail or missed call. It is the same for the outline of the optical pointer.
Internet and Sense
One of the strengths of version 2.2 of Android (Froyo) installed on the smartphone is support for Flash. Surfing the Internet with the built-in browser is not an issue and Flash animations are displayed correctly.
Who says HTC Sense, said the wrapper developed by the Publisher for its terminals under Android. The Z Desire all aboard the same version as that of the HD Desire. We invite you to refer to this test for more information on what makes Sense to HTC as Android smartphones. Small stop on HTC Likes and HTC Hub.
The first is a community application that offers the most popular applications by other users. The second also allows to download applications, widgets and other wallpapers. But most importantly, connected to the servers of HTC, it allows to put the device to sound at a distance, or even to erase the content. Useful in case of loss or theft of his mobile. An attempt to counter Nokia and Ovi Maps free navigation service, HTC offers its own solution, HTC Locations, in addition to Google.
Android and HTC Sense is that it rarely leaves this Desire Z side. In addition, his keyboard incentive to write messages, emails or tweets. In intensive use (Gmail, mails in push, Twitter, Facebook etc.), our test model was barely half a day. Plan a day in more conventional use. In all cases, you will need to go through the box recharge every day.
Until now, if you want a mobile under Android equipped with a physical keyboard, you turn you to the Motorola Droid. Now, you have the choice: Sense or MOTOBLUR. In addition to the usual functions that offer a smartphone under Android, this Desire Z easier if you are addicted to the messages, emails and social networks.
|