Verizon Ozone: Hands On!

Ozone%20Hands.jpg

So concluding we checked in we went over the Sprint version of the HTC Snap (hands on; review), which while a pretty solid WM6.ane Standard device, it did have quite a few annoyances (cough, keyboard, cough).

Lo and behold, the Verizon version (chosen the Ozone for some reason) is like a dream come truthful. It's as if someone waved their hand and magically fixed all the boneheaded problems with the Dart model. Not but is the design better, it has WiFi and is a globe phone with a GSM radio — all for $100 less than Sprint is selling . How is that even possible?

Dare we say ... way to go Verizon? Read on for some quick pics, an overview of features and some cursory comparisons to the Sprint Snap.

Jumping right to the specs, we meet that the Verizon Ozone and the Sprint Snap compare pretty closely, but of course the Ozone edges it out for having WiFi and GSM:

WM6.1 Standard (Os v.2.21041/Build 21043.1.6.ii)
Available Storage: ~72mb available (256mb total)
Available Retention/RAM: ~70mb available (192mb)
External Storage: microSD (under cover)
Processor: Qualcomm MSM-7625 at 528MHz
Resolution: 320x240
Bluetooth two.0
Data: EvDO Rev A
Bombardment: 1500mAh
Connector: MiniUSB
Camera: 2MP (fixed focus)
GPS: aGPS due west/QuickGPS
WiFi (802.11 b/g)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

No joke, the Sprint Snap and Ozone have, like, 95 pct of the aforementioned hardware and software. They take the same battery, the speakers are the aforementioned, photographic camera is the same and even the OS build is the same.

What's missing?

No iii.5mm headphone jack
No side pollex-wheel
No trackball

Okay, while Verizon also let slip a couple of killer features, they more than than make upwardly for information technology in design and price betoken.

Ozone%20vs%20Snap.jpg

Software Included

(Items crossed out are unlike from Dart's)

Internet Explorer 6 (new version)
~~Internet Sharing~~ Modem Link
~~HTC Inner Circle~~
Windows Live/Messenger
MS Vocalization Command
Adobe Reader LE
MS Office
HTC Anthology
HTC Domicile
Audio Booster (for headphone use)
Bluetooth Explorer
HTC Camera/Video
HTC Comm Director
HTC Streaming Media
~~HTC YouTube App~~
HTC Voice Recorder
~~Google (links to Google downloads)~~
~~Live Search~~
Mobile IM
HTC MP3 Trimmer
QuickGPS
Remote Desktop
RSS Hub (Illium Newsbreak)
Visual VoiceMail
Verizon Mobile Email (download link)
VZ Navigator (download link)
SIM Managing director

First impressions

Lets not beat around the bush. The keyboard on the Ozone is 100 per centum improve than the Sprint version. It has the traditional layout. The keys are actually larger and it merely works. Plus it is easier to actually encounter. Certain, no Inner Circle (more gimmicky than annihilation, not missed), no shortcut keys to the camera or Internet Explorer, but the quick-keys to toggle Vibrate mode, speaker phone/mute and Comm-manager take up the slack nicely.

Ozone%20Lock.jpg Ozone%20bottom.jpg

The overall pattern is also just nicer. The D-pad feels softer to the bear on and is less tiring to operate. The ii-tone color scheme plus green keys looks cooler, and that gray back is soft-touch pigment, which handles so much better than all sleeky black. It just rocks.

How the phone operates is analogous to the Sprint version — they're basically the same. Both are extremely zippy and the Verizon version actually has less ~~crap~~ carrier software on board, giving a few more megabytes for storage and — nosotros're quite okay with that.

Standalone GPS works. There, that is answered! It also has "QuickGPS" for the added advantage of offline-aGPS. Cold kick got me five satellites in about 25 seconds. Using QuickGPS got me eight birds in less than 10 seconds. (Caveat: By default, GPS is off on the device and you must enable under Settings --> Phone --> Location Setting!). Also, its pretty funny that Google Maps and Live Search are not to be constitute anywhere on the device. Ah Verizon ... ya withal got information technology!

You also get HTC'due south new Home theme, which has its conditions app and sleeky pattern. Pretty sweet. Then at that place are those little things: MS Voice Control is included, like the Sprint version, simply by default it is on for the Ozone and pre-assigned to the Greenish telephone primal. Heck, yep! The Sprint version took me 10 minutes to effigy out how to assign it. Smart, Verizon, very smart.

Ozone%20Battery.jpg

Look, for $49 (new contract; $429 calendar month-to-month) this telephone has a ton of killer features: EVDO Rev A, CDMA/GSM, WiFi, standalone GPS, it's fast, stable and rocks Windows Mobile 6.i. That's a lot of blindside for your buck, plus it's actually a solid device with not bad battery life (just shy of five hours talk time).

Bottom line: Verizon has a killer phone/messenger device on its hands, and it trounced Sprint on this release. It's a winner.

Look for the full review coming up next week. Now, if someone can aid me port this to Dart'south network.

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